When I saw this recipe in La Cucina Italiana, I was intrigued because a sformata was something new and different to me. It's a baked, savory custard, but it's not terribly rich. It's mostly pureed, cooked cauliflower with bechamel sauce and parmigiano cheese. In the magazine, the sformato was baked in a pretty, wide tube pan the likes of which I do not own, so I used a bundt pan. Really, it could have been baked in any sort of pan, and it wasn't entirely necessary that it be unmolded, but I was hoping for a nice view of the browned outer surface. The browning was due to a coating of breadcrumbs that was sprinkled onto a thick layer of butter in the pan before pouring in the custard. Considering that I was so eager to see this well-browned surface, you would think that I would have let it set the appropriate amount of time before trying to remove it from the pan. No, I rushed it out of hunger, and my sformata was a little wobbly because of it. As it sat, it firmed up, and next time I'll have more patience, but the good news is that it very easily plopped right out of the pan. Presentation aside, the reason I'm going on so much about this dish is because the taste was fantastic. The creamy texture of the custard with the parmigiano flavor running throughout was delicious with a bit of crunch from the breadcrumbs.
To begin, a head of cauliflower was quartered and cooked, covered, in a pan with an inch of water for about 20 minutes. It was drained, and each quarter was placed in a towel, and the towel was twisted to remove excess water. The dried cauliflower was pureed in a food processor. A simple bechamel sauce was made, and I melted the parmigiano into the sauce. The sauce was cooled a bit before being added to the cauliflower puree along with two eggs. Once the sauce, eggs, and cauliflower were combined, the resulting custard was poured into a generously buttered and breadcrumbed bundt pan, and it baked for 40 minutes. I should have let it rest for an additional 20 minutes, but I got antsy after about 10 minutes and turned it out onto a platter. The shape held up ok, but I realized that it firmed up a bit more after sitting another 10 minutes or so.
The texture was light and almost fluffy with a sliver of crust on the outside. The cauliflower was mild allowing the flavor of the parmigiano to take the lead. This keeper of a dish even held up well to re-heating the next day. I was delighted with the result, and it's always fun when something looks far more complicated than it is.
My sourdough starter just turned one year old. I'm proud of everything it did in that first year, but I think it can do a lot more. Out of fear, I stuck pretty closely to the Breads from the La Brea Bakery book all year since that's where it all started. I followed the instructions in that book for making the starter, and I've only used that book for baking bread. It hasn't failed me yet. I've made the bagels several times, and just this morning I was branching out by adjusting that recipe to include some whole grains. But, now that a whole year has gone by, I'm ready to start attempting some other sourdough breads. When I saw these sourdough corn bread bowls at Wild Yeast, they went to the top of my list. I loved the idea of cornmeal and corn flour used with sourdough, and a bread bowl for a winter soup was perfect. I followed Susan's instructions carefully, and everything went fine. I think it's going to be fun to keep trying new and different sourdough recipes. For the soup, I had a hearty vegetable chowder in mind, and I found just the thing I wanted in Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone .
The sourdough corn bread was a breeze to mix. I combined bread flour, corn flour, coarse corn meal, water, salt, a little butter, and sourdough starter in the bowl of a mixer and let the dough hook do the work. The dough was transferred to an oiled bowl where it fermented for two and a half hours. It was then divided into six pieces which were left to rest for 30 minutes. Then each of those pieces was placed in a soup bowl, covered, and refrigerated until I was ready to bake. I let the dough come to room temperature while the oven pre-heated. Just before sliding the little loaves into the oven, they were slashed around the tops. The oven was spritzed, and I placed the loaves directly on a baking stone. The circular slash on each loaf made a good cut line for removing the tops and turning them into soup bowls.
The soup was even easier to prepare. First, parsley, thyme, bay leaves, sliced onion, peppercorns, and juniper berries were steeped in milk that was brought to a boil. That was covered and set aside while chopped leeks, carrots, turnips, rutabaga, celery, and potatoes were cooked in melted butter. After about 10 minutes, flour was stirred into the cooked vegetables, and then water was added. That was left to simmer for 25 minutes. Last, the milk was poured through a strainer into the soup, and seasoning was checked and adjusted.
A simple meal of bread and soup with some great cheese and olives seemed like a feast. The cornmeal and corn flour brought a little sweetness to the bread, and the crunchy crust gave way to a chewy, tasty, light yellow interior. The soup was a showcase of fresh, local, winter vegetables that was thickened just enough from the flour, starch from the potatoes, and the milk. As the soup disappeared in the bowl, it was easy to drag your spoon across the inner surface and bring bits of bread through the remaining chowder. Even better than that was pulling the bowl apart and eating the whole thing.
This is the cake Kurt chose for his birthday this year. It wasn't just any birthday, so the cake needed to be a little special. This cake was made to celebrate Kurt's 40th birthday. We actually did quite a lot of celebrating for this momentous, milestone of a birthday. We spent a long weekend in Las Vegas and indulged in several incredible meals. Sure, there was a little gambling and we were there for Super Bowl weekend, but all those interesting restaurants in such close proximity to one another was the highlight for me. I've included descriptions of our meals and links to the restaurants on facebook. You can read all about it and even become a fan if you'd like while you're there. So, after returning home, I baked this festive cake and the celebration continued. The cake is found in The Greyston Bakery Cookbook . With freshly grated coconut and coconut mousse between the layers and as frosting, I was pretty sure this was going to be good.
In the book, it's presented as a three-layer, eight inch cake. I made two nine-inch layers instead. The cake itself is very straightforward, and the batter is made with flour, baking powder, salt, egg yolks, sugar, melted butter, milk, and vanilla extract. There was supposed to have been some coconut extract which I wasn't able to locate, so I used coconut milk instead of cow's milk. Maybe I should have tried a baking specialty store to find coconut extract because it was nowhere to be found at Central Market, Whole Foods, Williams Sonoma, or Sur la Table. The coconut milk was a fine substitution, and once the batter was mixed, egg whites beaten to a state of stiff peaks were folded into it. The cakes baked for about 30 minutes and were cooled. Don't skip the parchment rounds in the pans before pouring in the batter, because these cakes were not the easiest to remove. While the cakes cooled, a very simple mousse was made with just heavy cream, confectioner's sugar, vanilla, and freshly grated coconut. Again, there should have been some coconut extract, but I skipped it. The recipe suggests using two coconuts worth of gratings for the mousse and for decorating the cake, but I used one and had plenty. I grated the coconut finely for the mousse. Then, for the outside of the cake, I grated larger pieces of coconut and toasted them in a 400 F oven for eight minutes or so. I liked the look of the toasted coconut, and the nutty flavor and crisper texture of it were nice too.
I was a little worried the whipped cream mousse may not hold up well in the refrigerator after a day or so, but I was completely wrong about that. The cake survived well for four days with no running mousse at all. In fact, it was still light, airy, tender, and delicious right to the end. The coconut extract may have given it even more flavor, but as it was, it didn't seem lacking to me. Kurt was happy with his birthday cake, and hopefully that's not just because he's so old he doesn't even know what he's eating anymore.
Last weekend, I flipped through the A16 book looking for something interesting and seasonal for a dinner meal. I decided on a braised fish dish and this warm roasted potato salad to go on the side. The fish was fine, we were happy with it, but it wasn't something I was compelled to shout about from the rooftops. This potato and cauliflower dish, however, was very shout-worthy. Kurt and I agreed this was a big winner, and then we raced back to the kitchen for seconds.
Chunks of potatoes were tossed with olive oil and salt and then roasted in a 450 F oven. Throughout this book, it's common that seasoning will be with salt only if chile flakes are used later in the dish. The cauliflower was chopped into florets and tossed with a generous quarter cup of olive oil and some salt. It was then sauteed with that oil until the cauliflower just started to brown. Then, the saute pan went into the oven where the cauliflower roasted until browned but not limp. As the vegetables roasted, more olive oil was heated in a saucepan. Capers were fried in it, and then chile flakes were added with sliced red onion. When the onion had softened, the mixture was taken off the heat, and red wine vinegar was stirred into it. That mixture was the warm dressing which was then tossed with the roasted potatoes and cauliflower.
It's a simple combination of things that obviously go together well, but the olive oil and careful seasoning at each step and the warm caper, chile, onion, vinegar dressing all made it outstanding. As I said, this was the highlight of our meal served warm and crisp just from the oven. However, this could also be made in advance and served at room temperature. As a third option, if you're lucky enough to have leftovers the next day, it's also delicious as a cold salad taken right from the refrigerator and topped with tuna.


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Digital TV News: Dialog Axiata
Dialog Axiata introduces Cloud TV service powered by Kaltura
Sep 3, 2019 – Kaltura has announced that Dialog Axiata has selected Kaltura to power ViU, its cross-screen Cloud TV service. ViU is now available to the operator's existing subscribers as well as every mobile user in Sri Lanka, regardless of the network.
News categories: Kaltura, Dialog Axiata, Ron Yekutiel, Dr. Rainer Deutschmann, Android TV, Content Distribution, Digital TV, OTT, Set Top Box, Sri Lanka
1.2 million pay TV subscribers at Dialog Axiata
May 14, 2019 – Dialog Axiata has announced results for the three months ended 31st March 2019. Dialog Television ("DTV"), continued to consolidate its leadership position in the Digital Pay Television space with a subscriber growth of 16% YoY to reach 1.2 million.
News categories: Dialog, Digital TV, Results, Satellite, Sri Lanka, Subscribers
Dialog Axiata adds Eros Now to its ViU OTT app in Sri Lanka
Jun 28, 2018 – Dialog Axiata has announced a partnership with Eros International to launch its premier Video Over The Top (OTT) platform, Eros Now. The deal allows users in Sri Lanka to browse through over 20,000 hours of original Indian content in over 10 languages.
News categories: Eros International, Dialog Axiata, Rishika Lulla Singh, Mangala Hettiarachchi, Apps, Digital TV, OTT, Sri Lanka

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Northants Police are installing amnesty bins for football fans to surrender fireworks & flares they illegally bring to Sixfields stadium.
Coventry City fans expressed anger last night with a mid-match protest.
They held up signs saying "Why?" and "When?" to question why the club left the Ricoh Arena to play at Northampton Town's Sixfields Stadium and when the Sky Blues will return to Coventry.
The protests took place in the 35th and 61st minutes of the FA Cup game against Arsenal. The 35th minute was chosen because it represents the distance in miles between Coventry and Sixfields, where the Sky Blues currently play their home matches.
The second protest was staged after half-time, 61 minutes in, reflecting Jimmy Hill's takeover of the club in 1961, which marked a major period of transformation for the club.
Coventry lost 4-0 to Arsenal.
Just 1,100 fans travelled to Northampton's Sixfields stadium for the Sky Blues' first 'home' game at their new base.
There were protests outside by angry fans demanding the team be kept in their home city.
Meanwhile, around six times that many headed to the Ricoh Arena for a legends match in celebration of the club's 130th anniversary.
Fans at a charity legends match at the Ricoh Arena have sung official Sky Blues song Let's All Sing Together to the sound of a brass band.
The match is being held to herald Coventry City's 130th anniversary.
Angry football fans have staged a protest outside Coventry City's new 'home' ground in Northampton.
Fans have packed into the stands of Coventry's Ricoh Arena for a legends match in honour of the club's 130th anniversary.
The game was expected to attract thousands of fans boycotting the team's first 'home' game at Northampton's Sixfields stadium.
Coventry City will play a home match outside the city today, for the first time in the club's 130 year history.
The Sky Blues have moved to Northampton Town's Sixfields Stadium for at least three years.
It follows a long-running rent row with the Ricoh Arena, which saw the club fall into administration.
Around 500 Coventry fans are expected to go the match.
Meanwhile, thousands of supporters will instead be at another game happening at the same time.
A legends match has been organised at the Ricoh Arena, to celebrate the club's 130th anniversary.


Self Storage facility with over 800 storage units ranging in size. Safe & secure storage with an on-site resident manager.
Founded in 1970, Nisivoccia offers complete set of business services spanning all business applications and industries in the New Jersey metropolitan area.
Ken's Auto Body, is dedicated to providing professional customer service and quality automotive repair and restoration services to the Ledgewood community.
Texas Smoke Barbecue is a family run business with a deep passion for barbecue.
The Roxbury Day Care Center, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization providing full-day and part time child care.
We are here to assist clients with their auto insurance, home insurance, small business insurance, life insurance and banking needs. We have a plan to fit your needs.
Bagels on the Hill offers a variety of breakfast, lunch and catering menu items, all of which are homemade with fresh ingredients.
Vehicle Rentals: cars, minivans, 15 passenger vans, cargo vans, and box trucks. Locations in Hackettstown, Newton, Chester, Dover, and Parsippany.
Roxbury Business Campus offers small industrial and commercial space for lease located at 19 Route 10 East in Succasunna.
Lordigyan Insurance Agency provides the right fit for all of your insurance needs. We strive to take the anxiety out of purchasing insurance.
We are a comprehensive and aggressive architectural firm that takes prides on being able to incorporate original building design with functional proficiency while advancing and utilizing emerging technologies.
Main Street Custom Homes & Remodeling designs and builds new homes, additions/renovations and light commercial projects.
A Brilliant Solution provides professional pressure washing in Morris County for properties of all shapes and sizes.
Roxbury Automotive has the experience and knowledge to handle all of your automotive repair needs.
Mills & DeFilippis specializes in assisting small businesses in the areas of taxation, business finance, auditing, quickbooks maintenance and business continuation.
Production in house of screen printed and embroidered apparel for schools, sports, business and clubs.
Analysis and sale of Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Long Term Care Insurance, Disability Income Insurance and Investments. Financial planning for small businesses, individuals and estates.
An American Tavern, celebrating America's diversity through food!
Cindy Donaldson is an Allstate Insurance Agent from Succasunna, NJ offering auto insurance, home insurance, life insurance, and insurance quotes.
Castle Printing in Ledgewood, New Jersey is a full service digital and offset printer with wide format, poster, banner and signage capabilities.
Since 1973, Mr. Gates has tried hundreds of cases, representing seriously injured people and those charged with major and minor crimes.
Davy's Dogs and Grill is a restaurant in Mt Arlington serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and coffee.
Bob DeFillippo is an at large member of Roxbury Township's council, currently serving as Mayor.
The Asian Diner specialize in Asian Cuisine. Japanese, Chinese, and even Thai!
Founded in 1979, Wunner Engineering Associates, P.A. has extensive experience within the Northern New Jersey area.
Traditional Indian music complements the tranquil mood at The Clay Oven, and a background of soft, soothing notes underscores the serene decor.
We are a 24/7 emergency service plumbing, heating, and drain cleaning company.
At the Landing facility, Prudent Publishing produces greeting cards and a variety of business related products such as Executive Presentation Folders and business cards.
Giancarlo's is a family-run bakery and deli offers fresh treats for every appetite.
Investors Bank serves the banking needs of New Jersey & New York residents with over 85 retail branches.
G Environmental is experienced in the field of Regulated and Unregulated Underground Storage Tank removal for over a decade.
Circle Bowl and Entertainment is an entertainment center that provides bowling, laser tag, arcade games and a full service bar and grill.
We are an old fashioned specialty butcher shop. Serving customers for over 75 years.
The Animal Hospital of Roxbury is a full service facility that provides veterinary services, boarding and grooming.
Lake Hopatcong Foundation is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to improving Lake Hopatcong for all, now and in the years to come.
SERVPRO of Dover/Stillwater provides 24-hour emergency service for commercial and residential needs.
RP Smith and Son is a concrete block manufacturer, large supplier and retailer of masonry and landscape materials.
Staples helps the world work better with work solutions that deliver industry-leading products and services.
The Chocolate Finish has all of your chocolate gift needs.
From a simple as a sign on your vehicle to as complex as a large lit building sign, Custom Sign Source can handle all of your sign needs.
John Johnson Automotive Group servicing the automotive needs of greater North Jersey with dealerships in Budd Lake, Hackettstown and Washington Twp New Jersey.
Roxbury Financial Advisor Group is engaged in providing comprehensive Financial Advisor Services.
Woodmont West in Mt. Arlington, NJ has 300 luxury apartments and is home to more than 600 residents.
A community coalition dedicated to promoting an appreciation of the arts in and around Roxbury Township, New Jersey.
At Helrick's Custom Framing, we offer innovative matting and framing solutions for all of your needs.
We have a restaurant and bar on site, a meeting room and an indoor heated pool and hot tub. Located in an easily accessible location near area attractions.
Roxbury Township's Manager John Shepherd serves as the Chief Executive Officer and is responsible for the day-to-day activities of the departments.
Mary Axelson of RE/MAX First Choice Realtors II works hard to provide her clients with the most positive real estate experience possible.
Authentic Italian, Italian American, Pizza or hand-rolled Sushi — the choice is yours.
Every day at The Philly Pretzel Factory, we mix our freshly made dough and hand twist each and every pretzel.
Besides boasting the best ice cream this side of Minty Mountain Hop, Cliff's is fun, family-friendly, and open all year round.
A former Chamber President; Kathy is currently serving as a member of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
For over 20 years, Pro Image Promotions has been supplying the state of New Jersey the highest quality promotional items available.
State Farm Insurance, established in 1922 is the #1 Property & Casualty insurer in the US.
Located on Sunset Strip in the Roxbury Mall, Cinépolis Succasunna offers the premiere cinematic experience in Roxbury Township.
LTW is a leading systems integrator, specializing in network, wireless communications and security technology integration.
Carol A. Scheneck is an attorney in Succasunna, New Jersey.
For over 40 years, Joe's Pizzeria & Restaurant has enjoyed the reputation of consistently being the best Italian restaurant in the Kenvil area.
The Paintball Depot store has everything you need for your paintball, airsoft or lasertag experience including supplies, clothing and equipment.
The Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum displays an extensive collection of memorabilia, photographs, historical artifacts, and exhibits about the Lake and on the history and working of the Morris Canal.
Architectural Block, Cast Veneer Stone & Hardscaping Products. For 110 years the only thing we value as much as the products we make are the relationships we build.
General auto repairs and services for all makes and models, AAA approved auto repair facility. All technicians are ASE certified.
Growth and Profitability Specialists for Closely Held Businesses.
Balfour Beatty Communities at Picatinny Arsenal provides a professional on site management and maintenance team to our residents and families.
Native Fields Landscaping provides an extensive range of services to Home Owner Associations and Property Managers across Northern New Jersey.
Outback Steakhouse starts fresh every day. Best known for grilled steaks, chicken & seafood, Outback also offers a wide variety of salads, soups & sides.
Sandwiches Unlimited offers fresh food the way you want it, our dining room offers table service or take out is always available.
T. Daniel Specialty Heating, Inc.
T. Daniel Specialty Heating specializes in Heating, A/C, Plumbing, Oil & Gas Conversions and more!
When it comes to your financial future, it's important to work with someone who takes time to understand you and your situation. At Edward Jones, we take a step-by-step approach to identify your goals and develop specific strategies to help you achieve them. Contact me today to see how personal service can make a difference.
Bill Wilkins, of Wilkins & Wilkins, is a member of the Roxbury Area Chamber of Commerce.
AAA meets your needs as a travel agency, insurance agency, with financial services and as a travel store.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites is located in Mount Arlington / Rockaway area near Parsippany NJ that provides lodging for leisure, military, business travelers and people visiting the area.
At Academy for Babies & Children, LLC, we're bringing back the high standard of quality child care to the Roxbury Township area.
Our small firm offers caring, personalized service to each of our clients.
Minuteman II Limousine and Car Service is a family owned transportation company serving the tri-state area.
The professional, experienced insurance agents at Henry O. Baker take pride in being a traditional, Main Street community leader.
Our professional advice, knowledge, and expertise regarding current market activity and local trends ensure a positive and seamless process for both buyers and sellers from contract to closing.
Note: Businesses are displayed in random order.


A package by Robert Forsman <[email protected]> to manipulate BSD Unix TCP/IP stream sockets. The netpipes package makes TCP/IP streams usable in shell scripts. It can also simplify client-server code by allowing the programmer to skip all the tedious programming related to sockets and concentrate on writing a filter/service.


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Coming out in the wash
'Efficiency' makes good business sense, so a process that maintains the efficient operation of water treatment filters but also saves time and costs in doing so is worth investigating. Mouchel's Melanie Bright explains.
Published 1st December 2011
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Anyone who has ever attempted to clear a blocked plughole will appreciate that it takes time and effort to do it properly. In the water industry, where the filtration units at treatment works are that much bigger, it is a task that typically takes weeks – but not any more.
Mouchel and its partners have perfected a new way to clean filter media and optimise efficient running at water treatment plants. The process was successfully trialled on a large scale last year at Thames Water's Advanced Water Treatment Works (AWTW) at Ashford Common, where it not only reduced the downtime needed to clean the filter media, but also halved the cost. All water companies have an ongoing commitment to cut wastage in order to meet the high expectations of the regulator and customers. To do this they need to maintain efficient treatment plants, with filter media kept free of biofoul and inorganic materials.
This is achieved through scheduled backwashing (reversing water flow to flush out accumulated debris) and air scouring (injecting compressed air to increase water flow and loosen deposits), but also through the replacement of filter media. This overall process might typically take four weeks to complete, resulting in the loss of valuable filtration time.
So for Mouchel, it was a logical step to partner Blue Earth Labs and Brenntag UK in order to develop a more efficient process. This alliance led to a pilot of the flexible Floran filter treatment process at Ashford Common.
There, instead of weeks, it took three days for the cleaning process to produce quality results. This simple process has been perfected by Mouchel and its partners over five years to create a precise dosage operation and one that conforms to all UK standards – for everything from its effects on the environment and infrastructure, through to its delivery and storage.
The process has proved to be effective and has delivered long lasting results, helping to maintain the efficient operation of the water filters. Just as importantly, though, the cost and time to maintain these filters have been cut significantly, minimising disruption to plant operations and delivering further efficiencies to water companies.
Report: Investors pumping $13bn into 'stranded assets' due to water risks
Sustainability Communications and Disclosure Handbook 2023
Business action on the SDGs: The Sustainable Development Inspiration Sessions


Now that it's hot out, make sure you are fueling your body with the right foods. ET Dietitian, Laurie Schubert, shares some of the best snacks to pack in a cooler.
Remember to bring utensils and napkins for some of these snacks!
For more information, or to book a nutrition consult with Laurie CLICK HERE.
Swim Training Tip – Join a Group!


At King's St Alban's we are fortunate to be able to supplement our own, excellent facilities with those on the Senior School campus, located just a few steps away. Specialist facilities include an art studio, IT suite, music room and fully equipped science laboratory.
In addition, our Pre-Prep department houses a large, multi-purpose hall which offers an excellent performance space on site as well as our delightful Chapel. Our bright, welcoming Pre-Prep classrooms complement the Junior School which, though steeped in history, combine up-to-date facilities and technology.
The historic College Hall and 300-seat, John Moore Theatre on the Senior School site provide a venue for larger scale performances.
Our sports facilities are second to none with extensive playing fields, AstroTurf pitches, two sports halls and a 25-metre indoor swimming pool.
Outdoor spaces are varied for educational and recreational use with a delightful Forest School area, secure Pre-Prep garden and playground edged with a traversing wall and adventure zone.


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Solar Radiation Testing
Solar radiation compliance testing determines the effects of UV exposure pertaining to the physical and operational integrity of equipment. Keystone takes a consultative approach throughout the entire test program. Our pricing is competitive and we offer volume discounts. When products do not meet the requirements, we assist with finding solutions.
Request a quote to learn why we are one of the fastest-growing compliance test labs in the country. Ready to get started? We are. Contact us to see why so many companies work with us to achieve their environmental standard testing needs.
Solar Radiation Test Capabilities at Keystone Compliance
Solar radiation test setups are custom designed for each test setup. Solar arrays can be provided for small or large test articles. Arrays are designed and calibrated prior to placement of the test article. Testing takes place within any of our various temperature chambers.
Solar arrays are microprocessor controlled and are capable of delivering greater than the 1,200 watts per meter squared as required by most commonly used test specifications. Custom programs can be designed to simulate real world test cycles of sunrise to sunset. Keystone Compliance offers Solar radiation testing for heating effects only.
Solar Radiation Test Lab Equipment at Keystone Compliance
Solar Radiation setups are unique and tailored to the attributes of the test article. Solar arrays are designed and assembled as required. Microprocessor automation allows for uninterrupted solar radiation testing with precise intensity control. Testing takes place within any of our environmental chambers, allowing for testing of small to large test articles. Our drive in chamber has internal dimensions of 12' wide x 10' depth x 9' tall and can be used for solar radiation testing.
Solar Radiation Test Overview
Solar radiation testing, per MIL-STD 810, is conducted to determine the effects of solar radiation on equipment that may be exposed to sunshine during operation or unsheltered storage on the Earth's surface or in the lower atmosphere. The heating effects of solar radiation differ from those of high air temperature alone in that the amount of heat absorbed or reflected depends on the roughness and color of the surface on which the radiation is incident. In addition to the differential expansion between dissimilar materials, changes in the intensity of solar radiation may cause components to expand or contract at different rates, which can lead to severe stresses and loss of structural integrity.
Solar radiation can cause the following heating-related (infrared portion of the solar spectrum) problems:
Jamming or loosening of moving parts
Weakening of solder joints and glued parts
Change in strength and elasticity
Loss of calibration or malfunction of linkage devices
Loss of seal integrity
Changes in electrical or electronic components
Premature actuation of electrical contacts
Fading of colors of color-coded components
Changes in characteristics of elastomers and polymers
Blistering and peeling of paints and other finishes
Softening of potting compounds
Solar radiation can cause the following actinic-related (non-infrared portion of the solar spectrum, primarily ultraviolet) problems:
Fading of fabric color
Checking and fading of paints
Deterioration of natural and synthetic elastomers and polymers through photochemical reactions initiated by shorter wavelength radiation
Expert Solar Radiation Regulatory Lab Testing
Solar Radiation testing is just one of the climatics testing services we offer and our lab is fully equipped with the necessary equipment. Keystone Compliance is a solar radiation test lab. Contact us to determine how we can help you meet your solar radiation testing needs.
For more information on solar radiation compliance testing, please follow the link below:
MIL-STD-810 Testing Method 505 Solar Radiation Testing
IP Code Testing
Shock Testing


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Tag Archives: Gaza
Reflections on an Unforgiving Day
Stratfor: Geopolitical Diary
Courtesy, Stratfor Global Intelligence
THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2014 – 21:17
We ate breakfast to the news that an airliner had crashed in Ukraine. We had lunch to the news that Israel had invaded Gaza. An airliner crashing is perhaps more impactful than an invasion. We have all wondered, when we hear of a crash, or even in quiet moments on board an aircraft ourselves, what living our final moments in a plane plunging to earth, knowing that we will die, would be like. An invasion is harder for some of us to empathize with. Most of us have never invaded a country nor been in a country while it was invaded. But it shares this much with a plane crash: Your life is in danger, and your fate is out of your hands.
We don't even know for certain what happened to the plane or how far the invasion will go. But no reasonable person looking at today could argue that we are the masters of our fates. At one point in the afternoon, it was announced that the White House had been placed on lockdown, which meant that a significant security threat had been found. It turned out someone's lost backpack caused the whole episode.
Our job is to find order in the apparent disorder, even if meaning is fleeting. There are two things we can point to. First — tragedy aside for the moment — the plane crash had to do with the struggle for Ukraine, between the right of Russia to be secure from the West, the right of the Ukrainians to determine their own fate, either as one country or two, and the right of Western powers to involve themselves in these affairs. Gaza is about the right of Israel to have a nation, the right of the Palestinians to have a nation and the right of Western countries to involve themselves in the matter.
Both issues are matters of competing national rights, not dissimilar from one and other. The Russians have historically experienced multiple invasions from the west, all of them devastating, some of them through Ukraine. Ukraine means "nation on the edge," or what we could call a borderland. Usually under Russian domination, it is now independent. But for Russia, it is the buffer between the kind of armies that invaded Russia in 1941 when the Nazis came. The names of many of the cities that are spoken of now are the names of the cities in which the Soviet army fought. For the Russians, this is the borderland that can't be given up. Yes, no one is planning to invade Russia now. But the Russians know how fast intentions and capabilities change, and they wonder why the Americans and others are so concerned with having a pro-Western government in Kiev.
For the Ukrainians, who have rarely experienced sovereignty, this is their opportunity to chart their own course. For them, the Russians' need for a buffer is another way of saying Russian oppression of Ukraine. Of course, not all living in Ukraine see this as oppressive. They see the Ukrainian government as oppressing them, by tearing them away from their Russian roots. For western Ukrainians, these Russophiles are thugs trying to destroy the country. For the Russophiles, it is hypocrisy that Ukraine demands that its right to self-determination be honored, but it has no honor for the right to self-determination of the Russophiles.
It is a question of national self-determination, which is one of the foundations of modern Euro-American civilization and always becomes complex when competing nations all claim that right. Does Russia have the right to assure that it will never again have to live through an invasion? Does it have the right to do that at the expense of Ukrainian self-determination? To the extent that the West has involved itself, can it be said that Ukraine is truly free to determine its future?
And so an airliner was shot down and some 300 people died. It is hard to draw the connection between the abstract discussion of national rights and the debris and lives strewn around, but there is a connection. The plane would not have crashed if the question of national interest and national self-determination was not so important to so many people.
The same issue caused four children to be killed on a Gaza beach and a man to be blown apart by a mortar round in Israel. The Israeli Jews claimed a homeland in today's Israel. They were occupiers, but there is not a single country in the world that wasn't, in some way, founded by occupiers. Almost everywhere, there was someone there who was displaced or absorbed to make way for the current occupants. Every nation that exists was born out of some injustice. Consider the United States and Native Americans and slavery. Both were fundamental to America's birth, but the right of the United States to remain intact is not questioned. Look at Europe and the way it was reshaped by armies. Perhaps that happened centuries ago, but is there an expiration date on injustice?
At the same time, there was someone there before Israel. They were not annihilated as in the case of some nations that disappeared with the arrival of newcomers. They are still there, in Israel, in the West Bank and certainly in Gaza. This is the borderland between Israel and the Arab world, and it is filled, particularly in Gaza, by people who are claiming their right to a state. Some who want the creation of that state to include the annihilation, expulsion or absorption of Israel.
There are others who want a two-state solution. They are not really as thoughtful and reasonable as they would like to believe. A state divided in half by Israel would be peculiar to say the least. Could Gaza, a small place packed with people, and a distant West Bank ever become economically viable? And could the Israelis ever trust the Palestinians not to open fire on Tel Aviv from the few miles that would separate it from a Palestinian state? The Arab state would be an economic impossibility. The Israeli state would be at risk. Westerners are filled with excellent advice as to what the Palestinians should do and what the Israelis should do. But as with Ukraine, the Westerners are playing with peripheral issues, things that don't affect them personally and existentially. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is attempting to do good. But if he fails, his children won't live with the consequences.
And therefore, an endless and pointless debate rages as to who is right and who started the war in an infinite regression that goes back to times before any living Jew or Palestinian. This is the same as in Ukraine. Ukraine's history had been shaped by its relation to Russia. A debate can be held as to whether this was just. It really doesn't matter. Russia is there and needs things, Ukraine is there and needs different things, and the West is there providing advice, which if it fails won't directly affect it.
What ties Ukraine, Russia, Israel and Gaza together is that they are all fighting for their lives, or interests that are so fundamentally important to them that they cannot live without them. They are fighting for their nation and for that nation's safety in a world where unspeakable things happen and where the only ones who will defend you are your family, friends and countrymen, and where all the well-wishers and advice-givers will quietly take their leave if dangers arise. There is nothing easier and cheaper than advising others to get along. These conflicts are rooted in fear, and fear is always a legitimate emotion.
Others would have approached today by saying that the Russians are evil or the Ukrainians really the oppressors, the Israelis killers or the Gazans monsters. We are sure we will hear from many condemning our moral equivalency, by which they will claim that the only truly moral position is theirs. But this is not a moral equivalency that argues that Ukrainians and Russians, Israelis and Palestinians should therefore sit down and recognize that they really haven't got anything to fight over. This is a moral equivalency that says these people have a great deal to fight over, but that it is their fight, and that — as when the Romans began wiping out Europe's Celts — it will be settled by steel and not by kindly advice or understanding. The problem between these people is not that they don't understand each other. The problem is that they do.
And therefore an airline crashed and reportedly some 23 Americans, my countrymen, died. And yes, these are our countrymen and we grieve for them before others, much as Russians, Ukrainians, Israelis and Palestinians grieve for their own. We are no better. But we live in a stronger and safer country for which we are grateful. It allows us to give advice and means we don't have to experience our misjudgments, even on a long sad day.
"Reflections on an Unforgiving Day is republished with permission of Stratfor."
Filed under Conflict, Life, Reason
Tagged as Gaza, israel, Malaysia, palestine, Russia, tragedy, Ukraine
Stratfor: The Israeli Periphery
By Reva Bhalla
Vice President of Global Affairs
Stratfor Global Intelligence
The state of Israel has a basic, inescapable geopolitical dilemma: Its national security requirements outstrip its military capabilities, making it dependent on an outside power. Not only must that power have significant military capabilities but it also must have enough common ground with Israel to align its foreign policy toward the Arab world with that of Israel's. These are rather heavy requirements for such a small nation.
Security, in the Israeli sense, is thus often characterized in terms of survival. And for Israel to survive, it needs just the right blend of geopolitical circumstance, complex diplomatic arrangements and military preparedness to respond to potential threats nearby. Over the past 33 years, a sense of complacency settled over Israel and gave rise to various theories that it could finally overcome its dependency on outside powers. But a familiar sense of unease crept back into the Israeli psyche before any of those arguments could take root. A survey of the Israeli periphery in Egypt, Syria and Jordan explains why.
Maintaining the Sinai Buffer
To Israel's southwest lies the Sinai Desert. This land is economically useless; only hardened Bedouins who sparsely populate the desert expanse consider the terrain suitable for living. This makes the Sinai an ideal buffer. Its economic lifelessness gives it extraordinary strategic importance in keeping the largest Arab army — Egypt's — at a safe distance from Israeli population centers. It is the maintenance of this buffer that forms the foundation of the 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.
The question percolating in Israeli policy circles is whether an Islamist Egypt will give the same level of importance to this strategic buffer. The answer to that question rests with the military, an institution that has formed the backbone of the Egyptian state since the rise of Gamel Abdul Nasser in 1952.
Over the past month, the military's role in this new Muslim Brotherhood-run Egypt quietly revealed itself. The first test came in the form of the Gaza crisis, when the military quietly negotiated security guarantees with Israel while the Muslim Brotherhood basked in the diplomatic spotlight. The second test came when Egypt's Islamist president, Mohammed Morsi, attempted a unilateral push on a constitutional draft to institutionalize the Muslim Brotherhood's hold on power.
The military bided its time, waiting for the protests to escalate to the point that rioters began targeting the presidential palace. By then, it was apparent that the police were not to be fully relied on to secure the streets. Morsi had no choice but to turn to the military for help, and that request revealed how indispensable the military is for Egyptian stability.
There will be plenty of noise and confusion in the lead-up to the Dec. 15 referendum as the secular, anti-Muslim Brotherhood civilian opposition continues its protests against Morsi. But filter through that noise, and one can see that the military and the Muslim Brotherhood appear to be adjusting slowly to a new order of Nasserite-Islamist rule. Unlike the 1979 peace treaty, this working arrangement between the military and the Islamists is alive and temperamental. Israel can find some comfort in seeing that the military remains central to the stability of the Egyptian state and will thus likely play a major role in protecting the Sinai buffer. However, merely observing this dance between the military and the Islamists from across the desert is enough to unnerve Israel and justify a more pre-emptive military posture on the border.
Defending Galilee
Israel lacks a good buffer to its north. The most natural, albeit imperfect, line of defense is the Litani River in modern-day Lebanon, with a second line of defense between Mount Hermon and the Sea of Galilee. Modern-day Israel encompasses this second barrier, a hilly area that has been the target of sporadic mortar shelling from Syrian government forces in pursuit of Sunni rebels.
Israel does not face a conventional military threat to its north, nor will it for some time. But the descent of the northern Levant into sectarian-driven, clan-based warfare presents a different kind of threat on Israel's northern frontier.
It is only a matter of time before Alawite forces will have to retreat from Damascus and defend themselves against a Sunni majority from their coastal enclave. The conflict will necessarily subsume Lebanon, and the framework that Israel has relied on for decades to manage more sizable, unconventional threats like Hezbollah will come undone.
Somewhere along the way, there will be an internationally endorsed attempt to prop up a provisional government and maintain as much of the state machinery as possible to avoid the scenario of a post-U.S. invasion Iraq. But when decades-old, sectarian-driven vendettas are concerned, there is cause for pessimism in judging the viability of those plans. Israel cannot avoid thinking in terms of worst-case scenarios, so it will continue to reinforce its northern defenses ahead of more instability.
Neutralizing the Jordan River Valley
The status of the Jordan River Valley is essential to Israel's sense of security to the east. So long as Israel can dominate the west bank of the river (the biblical area of Judea and Samaria, or the modern-day West Bank) then it can overwhelm indigenous forces from the desert farther east. To keep this arrangement intact, Israel will somehow attempt to politically neutralize whichever power controls the east bank of the Jordan River. In the post-Ottoman Middle East, this power takes the form of the Hashemite monarchs, who were transplanted from Arabia by the British.
The vulnerability that the Hashemites felt as a foreign entity in charge of economically lackluster terrain created ideal conditions for Israel to protect its eastern approach. The Hashemites had to devise complex political arrangements at home to sustain the monarchy in the face of left-wing Nasserist, Palestinian separatist and Islamist militant threats. The key to Hashemite survival was in aligning with the rural East Bank tribes, co-opting the Palestinians and cooperating with Israel in security issues to keep its western frontier calm. In short, the Hashemites were vulnerable enough for Israel to be considered a useful security partner but not so vulnerable that Israel couldn't rely on the regime to protect its eastern approach. There was a level of tension that was necessary to maintain the strategic partnership, but that level of tension had to remain within a certain band.
That arrangement is now under considerable stress. The Hashemites are facing outright calls for deposition from the same tribal East Bankers, Palestinians and Islamists that for decades formed the foundation of the state. That is because the state itself is weakening under the pressure of high oil prices, now sapping at the subsidies that have been relied on to tame the population.
One could assume that Jordan's oil-rich Gulf Arab neighbors would step in to defend one of the region's remaining monarchies of the post-Ottoman order against a rising tide of Muslim Brotherhood-led Islamism with heavily subsidized energy sales. However, a still-bitter, age-old geopolitical rivalry between the Hejaz-hailing Hashemite dynasty and the Nejd-hailing Saudi dynasty over supremacy in Arabia is getting in the way. From across the Gulf, an emboldened Iran is already trying to exploit this Arab tension by cozying up to the Hashemites with subsidized energy sales to extend Tehran's reach into the West Bank and eventually threaten Israel. Jordan has publicly warded off Iran's offer, and significant logistical challenges may inhibit such cooperation. But ongoing negotiations between Iran's allies in Baghdad and the Jordanian regime bear close watching as Jordan's vulnerabilities continue to rise at home.
Powerful Partners Abroad
In this fluctuating strategic environment, Israel cannot afford to be isolated politically. Its need for a power patron will grow alongside its insecurities in its periphery. Israel's current patron, the United States, is also grappling with the emerging Islamist order in the region. But in this new regional dynamic, the United States will eventually look past ideology in search of partners to help manage the region. As U.S.-Turkish relations in recent years and the United States' recent interactions with the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood reveal, it will be an awkward and bumpy experience while Washington tries to figure out who holds the reins of power and which brand of Islamists it can negotiate with amid messy power transitions. This is much harder for Israel to do independently by virtue of ideology, size and location.
Israel's range of maneuver in foreign policy will narrow considerably as it becomes more dependent on external powers and as its interests clash with those of its patrons. Israel is in store for more discomfort in its decision-making and more creativity in its diplomacy. The irony is that while Israel is a western-style democracy, it was most secure in an age of Arab dictatorships. As those dictatorships give way to weak and in some cases crumbling states, Israeli survival instincts will again be put to the test.
"The Israeli Periphery is republished with permission of Stratfor."
Filed under Conflict, Reason
Tagged as egypt, Galilee, Gaza, israel, Jordan, Lebanon, security, SInai, Stratfor, syria, Turkey, West Bank
Stratfor: Egypt and the Strategic Balance
By George Friedman
Founder, Chief Executive Officer
Immediately following the declaration of a cease-fire in Gaza, Egypt was plunged into a massive domestic crisis. Mohammed Morsi, elected in the first presidential election after the fall of Hosni Mubarak, passed a decree that would essentially neuter the independent judiciary by placing his executive powers above the high court and proposed changes to the constitution that would institutionalize the Muslim Brotherhood's power. Following the decree, Morsi's political opponents launched massive demonstrations that threw Egypt into domestic instability and uncertainty.
In the case of most countries, this would not be a matter of international note. But Egypt is not just another country. It is the largest Arab country and one that has been the traditional center of the Arab world. Equally important, if Egypt's domestic changes translate into shifts in its foreign policy, it could affect the regional balance of power for decades to come.
Morsi's Challenge to the Nasserite Model
The Arab Spring was seen by some observers to be a largely secular movement aimed at establishing constitutional democracy. The problem with this theory was that while the demonstrators might have had the strength to force an election, it was not certain that the secular constitutionalists would win it. They didn't. Morsi is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, and while there were numerous claims that he was a moderate member, it was simply not understood that he was a man of conviction and honor and that his membership in the Brotherhood was not casual or frivolous. His intention was to strengthen the role of Islam in Egypt and the control of the Muslim Brotherhood over the various arms of state. His rhetoric, speed and degree of Islamism might have been less extreme than others, but his intent was clear.
The move on the judiciary signaled his intent to begin consolidating power. It galvanized opponents of the Muslim Brotherhood, which included secular constitutionalists, Copts and other groups who formed a coalition that was prepared to take to the streets to oppose his move. What it did not include, or at least did not visibly include through this point, was the Egyptian military, which refused to be drawn in on either side.
The Egyptian military, led by a young army officer named Gamal Abdel Nasser, founded the modern Egyptian state when it overthrew the British-supported monarchy in the 1950s. It created a state that was then secular, authoritarian and socialist. It aligned Egypt with the Soviet Union and against the United States through the 1970s. After the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, who was later assassinated by Islamists, shifted Egypt into an alliance with the United States and signed a peace treaty with Israel.
This treaty was the foundation of the regional balance of power until now. The decision to end the state of war with Israel and use Sinai as a demilitarized buffer between the two countries eliminated the threat of nation-to-nation war between Arabs and Israel. Egypt was the most powerful Arab country and its hostility to Israel represented Israel's greatest threat. By withdrawing from confrontation, the threat to Israel declined dramatically. Jordan, Syria and Lebanon did not represent a significant threat to Israel and could not launch a war that threatened Israel's survival.
Egypt's decision to align with the United States and make peace with Israel shaped the regional balance of power in other ways. Syria could no longer depend on Egypt, and ultimately turned to Iran for support. The Arab monarchies that had been under political and at times military pressure from Egypt were relieved of the threat, and the Soviets lost the Egyptian bases that had given them a foothold in the Mediterranean.
The fundamental question in Egypt is whether the election of Morsi represented the end of the regime founded by Nasser or was simply a passing event, with power still in the hands of the military. Morsi has made a move designed to demonstrate his power and to change the way the Egyptian judiciary works. The uprising against this move, while significant, did not seem to have the weight needed either to force Morsi to do more than modify his tactics a bit or to threaten his government. Therefore, it all hangs on whether the military is capable of or interested in intervening.
It is ironic that the demands of the liberals in Egypt should depend on military intervention, and it is unlikely that they will get what they want from the military if it does intervene. But what is clear is that the Muslim Brotherhood is the dominant force in Egypt, that Morsi is very much a member of the Brotherhood and while his tactics might be more deliberate and circumspect than more radical members might want, it is still headed in the same direction.
For the moment, the protesters in the streets do not appear able to force Morsi's hand, and the military doesn't seem likely to intervene. If that is true, then Egypt has entered a new domestic era with a range of open foreign policy issues. The first is the future of the treaty with Israel. The issue is not the treaty per se, but the maintenance of Sinai as a buffer. One of the consequences of Mubarak's ouster has been the partial remilitarization of Sinai by Egypt, with Israel's uneasy support. Sinai has become a zone in which Islamist radicals are active and launch operations against Israel. The Egyptian military has moved into Sinai to suppress them, which Israel obviously supports. But the Egyptians have also established the principle that while Sinai may be a notional buffer zone, in practice the Egyptian military can be present in and responsible for it. The intent might be one that Israel supports but the outcome could be a Sinai remilitarized by the Egyptians.
A remilitarized Sinai would change the strategic balance, but it would only be the beginning. The Egyptian army uses American equipment and depends on the United States for spare parts, maintenance and training. Its equipment is relatively old and it has not been tested in combat for nearly 40 years. Even if the Egyptian military was in Sinai, it would not pose a significant conventional military threat to Israel in its current form. These things can change, however. The transformation of the Egyptian army between 1967 and 1973 was impressive. The difference is that Egypt had a patron in the Soviet Union then that was prepared to underwrite the cost of the transformation. Today, there is no global power, except the United States, that would be capable of dramatically and systematically upgrading the Egyptian military and financially supporting the country overall. Still, if the Morsi government succeeds in institutionalizing its power and uses that power to change the dynamic of the Sinai buffer, Israel will lose several layers of security.
A New Regional Alignment?
A look at the rest of the region shows that Egypt is by no means the only country of concern for Israel. Syria, for example, has an uprising that, in simple terms, largely consists of Sunnis, many of which are Islamists. That in itself represents a threat to Israel, particularly if the relationship between Syria and Egypt were revived. There is an ideological kinship, and just as Nasserism had an evangelical dimension, wanting to spread pan-Arab ideology throughout the region, the Muslim Brotherhood has one too. The Syrian Muslim Brotherhood is also the most organized and coherent opposition group in Syria. As Morsi consolidates his power in Egypt, his willingness to engage in foreign adventures, or at least covert support, for like-minded insurgents and regimes could very well increase. At a minimum Israel would have to take this seriously. Similarly, where Gaza was contained not only by Israel but also by pre-Morsi Egypt, Morsi might choose to dramatically change Egypt's Gaza policy.
Morsi's rise opens other possibilities as well. Turkey's Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party is also engaged in a careful process of reintroducing Islam into a state that was militantly secular. There are fundamental differences between Egypt and Turkey, but there is also much in common. Turkey and Egypt are now engaged in parallel processes designed to create modern countries that recognize their Islamic roots. A Turkish-Egyptian relationship would both undergird the Egyptian regime and create a regional force that could shape the Eastern Mediterranean.
This would, of course, affect American strategy, which as we have said in the past, is now rapidly moving away from excessive involvement in the Middle East. It is not clear how far Morsi would go in breaking with the United States or whether the military would or could draw a line at that point. Egypt is barely skirting economic disaster at the moment because it is receiving a broad range of financial aid from the West. Moving away from the United States would presumably go well beyond military aid and affect these other types of economic assistance.
The fact is that as Egypt gradually evolves, its relationship with the United States might also change. The United States' relationship with Turkey has changed but has not broken since the Justice and Development Party came to power, with Turkey following a more independent direction. If a similar process occurred in Egypt, the United States would find itself in a very different position in the Eastern Mediterranean, one in which its only ally was Israel, and its relationship with Israel might alienate the critical Turkey-Egypt bloc.
Prior to 1967, the United States was careful not be become overly involved in protecting Israel, leaving that to France. Assuming that this speculation about a shift in Egypt's strategic posture came to pass, Israel would not be in serious military danger for quite a while, and the United States could view its support to Israel as flexible. The United States could conceivably choose to distance itself from Israel in order to maintain its relationships with Egypt and Turkey. A strategy of selective disengagement and redefined engagement, which appears to be under way in the United States now, could alter relations with Israel.
From an Israeli point of view — it should be remembered that Israel is the dominant power in the region — a shift in Egypt would create significant uncertainty on its frontier. It would now face uncertainty in Egypt, Syria and Lebanon, and while unlikely, the possibility of uncertainty in Jordan. Where previously it faced hostile powers with substantial military capabilities, it would now face weaker powers that are less predictable. However, in an age when Israel's primary concern is with terrorist actions and uprisings in Gaza and the West Bank, this band of uncertainty would be an incubator of such actions.
The worst-case scenario is the re-emergence of confrontational states on its border, armed with conventional weapons and capable of challenging the Israeli military. That is not an inconceivable evolution but it is not a threat in the near term. The next-worst-case scenario would be the creation of multiple states on Israel's border prepared to sponsor or at least tolerate Islamist attacks on Israel from their territory and to underwrite uprisings among the Palestinians. The effect would be an extended, wearying test of Israel's ability to deal with unremitting low-intensity threats from multiple directions.
Conventional war is hard to imagine. It is less difficult to imagine a shift in Egyptian policy that creates a sustained low-intensity conflict not only south of Israel, but also along the entire Israeli periphery as Egypt's influence is felt. It is fairly clear that Israel has not absorbed the significance of this change or how it will respond. It may well not have a response. But if that were the case, then Israel's conventional dominance would no longer define the balance of power. And the United States is entering a period of unpredictability in its foreign policy. The entire region becomes unpredictable.
It is not clear that any of this will come to pass. Morsi might not be able to impose his will in the country. He may not survive politically. The Egyptian military might intervene directly or indirectly. There are several hurdles for Morsi to overcome before he controls the country, and his timeline might be extended for implementing changes. But for the moment, Morsi appears in charge, he seems to be weathering the challenges and the army has not moved. Therefore, considering the strategic consequences is appropriate, and those strategic consequences appear substantial.
"Egypt and the Strategic Balance is republished with permission of Stratfor."
Tagged as egypt, Gaza, israel, Middle East, Morsi, strategy, syria, Turkey
Amnesty from Reason
When it comes to the Middle East, Amnesty International appears not only to be promoting freedom from subjugation but from rationality as well.
Leading the group's charge toward a brave, new, logic-free future (and possible self-inflicted irrelevance) is Ann Harrison, Amnesty's Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa, who was quoted yesterday on the group's website: "The UN Security Council should meet urgently to impose an international arms embargo on Israel, Hamas, and Palestinian armed groups in Gaza."
Absent from this simplistic demand is any recognition of the fact that arms smugglers and state sponsors of terror, like Iran, pay little heed to UN Security Council resolutions, let alone to pronouncements from human rights orgs like Amnesty — unless they're directed against Israel, of course.
The proposal would be somewhat less ludicrous if Israel faced a threat only from Gaza, but militant groups (most of which aspire to the complete erasure of the Jewish state) are active in every country bordering Israel and receive open or covert support from sympathetic sources worldwide.
Perhaps Ms. Harrison and her colleagues are unfamiliar with this famous quote from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "If Israel were to put down its arms there would be no more Israel. If the Arabs were to put down their arms there would be no more war."
When it comes to serious statements, elegant simplicity trumps simplistic superficiality every time.
For a nuanced view of the potential for peace in the Middle East, see the document A Peace of Jerusalem, an evolving, collaborative proposal that we have been proud to host here since 2009.
Filed under Conflict, Reason, Words
Tagged as Amnesty International, arms, embargo, Gaza, Hamas, IDF, israel, Israeli, Palestinian, terror, WAR
Hamas Test-Fires New Missile
New weapon puts Tel Aviv within range of Hamas attacks
Debkafile is reporting that the new addition is a modified Iranian version of the Chinese Silkworm missile. Though originally designed as a ship-to-ship or shore-to-ship missile, the Silkworm design is easily adaptable for precise ground-to-ground assaults. (Note: It is also possible, though less likely, that the missile could be an Iranian C-802 variant called the Noor. A surface-skimming, cruise missile of this type was used by Hezbollah during the Second Lebanon-Israel War in 2006, causing heavy damage to the Israeli corvette INS Hanit.)
Meanwhile, in Lebanon, Iranian proxy Hezbollah has already claimed that it can hit Tel Aviv from north of the Litani River with its Iranian-supplied Zelzal-2 missiles.
'Hamas has many 60-km range missiles'
(JPost.com) Hamas has likely succeeded in smuggling dozens of long-range Iranian-made missiles, capable of striking Tel Aviv, into the Gaza Strip, a top defense official said on Tuesday after OC Military Intelligence Maj.-Gen. Amos Yadlin revealed that the terrorist group had test-fired a rocket with a 60-km. range.
Yadlin told the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that the IDF had detected the launch of a rocket with a 60-km. range from the Gaza Strip into the Mediterranean Sea last week.
The missile, officials said, was probably a version of an Iranian-made artillery rocket that is 5 meters long and can carry a 45-kg. warhead. To increase the rocket's range, they noted, Hamas had the option of shrinking the warhead to 25 or 30 kg., enabling it to strike deeper into Tel Aviv.
In what the IDF said was a coincidence, the Home Front Command is scheduled to test the air sirens in the Tel Aviv area on Wednesday, as part of nationwide tests that began earlier this year. Defense Ministry officials recently met with representatives from the Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan municipalities to discuss the latest developments.
Officials said that the Hamas missile test took place on Thursday, when the rocket was fired into the Mediterranean Sea under cover of darkness and bad weather. Israeli tracking systems detected the launch and tracked the projectile as it flew some 60 km., the farthest Hamas has reached since it began firing rockets in 2001…
Filed under Conflict
Tagged as Gaza, Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, israel, Lebanon, Middle East, WAR


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text:
Kate Mulvany as Richard III in 'Richard 3", directed by Peter Evans.
FILED UNDER Performance POSTED BY Matt
"Sin, death, and hell have set their marks on him, And all their ministers attend on him"- Queen Margaret, Act I, Scene III.
Actress, Kate Mulvany takes on the role of Richard III in Bell Shakespeare's adaption of William Shakespeare's Richard III.
The play is a historical portrait of a Machiavellian psychopath with an unquenchable ambition to rule- again proving that Shakespeare is always relevant.
When Preview Thursday 6 April at 7.30PM. Opens Friday 7 April at 7.30PM. Until Saturday 15 April.
Where Canberra Theatre
Cost $95.50
More Canberra Theatre


Find recent news about Wholebeing Institute, our faculty, and partnership announcements below. To ensure you don't miss the latest news, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
For the first time, Wholebeing Institute, a leading educational organization focused on the science of well-being, will offer its acclaimed Certificate in Positive Psychology (CiPP) program on the West Coast.
You can learn to read and to write. To knit, play tennis, cook or even understand quantum physics. But can you learn to be happy? Could the most sought after – and often elusive – of human emotions be merely another skill to master?
Geelong Grammar School and the Wholebeing Institute, an educational organisation at the forefront of whole-person wellbeing based in the US, are thrilled to announce a collaboration to deliver Australia's first Certificate in Whole Person Positive Psychology.
Wholebeing Institute and VIA Institute on Character recently announced a partnership to offer professionals a free online course on approaches to working with character strengths. This free course shows how to use the VIA Survey assessment in coaching, leading, or teaching to foster engagement and well-being in individuals, teams, schools, and organizations.
Ms. McDonough, a yoga practitioner and author, and Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, who once taught the largest course at Harvard University on positive psychology, have combined their ideas and knowledge to create the Wholebeing Institute.
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Nortal becomes first Estonian company to join Digital Cooperation Organization
Nortal HQ, January 5, 2022
The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) has today announced the expansion of its membership to include Nortal, a leading digital transformation company, to work collaboratively globally on digital inclusion and the empowerment of youth, entrepreneurs, and women in the digital economy.
The DCO is a global multilateral organization established to enable digital prosperity for all, with a focus on digital economy initiatives supporting youth, entrepreneurs, and women. The DCO has member state countries with a combined population of half a billion people, with Nortal joining as an official observer.
Nortal is a leading global technology company headquartered in Tallinn with a footprint in 18 countries across Europe, the United States and the Middle East. Nortal has joined the Digital Cooperation Organization as an official observer organization to promote the inclusive development of the global digital economy. Nortal's membership in the DCO builds on the company's position as a global digital economy leader, and adds to the DCO's growing international membership base.
DCO Secretary-General, Her Excellency Deemah AlYahya said: "We are very pleased to welcome Nortal to the DCO family and look forward to building a constructive partnership together. Nortal's expertise in e-government, cybersecurity, digital commerce, digital healthcare, and artificial intelligence will be of huge benefit to all DCO member states.
"Nortal and the DCO share the same global vision of building a seamless digital society where every person has a fair opportunity to prosper. Today's announcement reaffirms the DCO's commitment to multilateral collaboration with governments and private sector organizations across the world to facilitate build an inclusive global digital economy."
Nortal becomes the first Estonian headquartered company to join the DCO, bringing aboard vast experience in building a digital seamless society as the company has planned and implemented over 40% of Estonia's digital transformation.
Priit Alamäe, Nortal Founder and CEO, commented saying "Over the past 20 years, Nortal has accumulated a unique experience by playing an essential part in Estonian digitalization story. It has continued with helping governments, healthcare institutions, and leading businesses in the GCC region, Germany, Finland, and the US with their digitalization efforts. Thus, we are honored to partner with a global multilateral like the DCO to jointly accelerate the growth of the digital economy and increase social prosperity across the world. We see a lot of overlap in our aspirations to support digital transformation, empower entrepreneurs and start-ups, and promote digital inclusion across different social groups."
The announcement continues the DCO's ambitious global membership expansion goals to partner with governments, leading technology companies, and non-profits to create global digital prosperity. The DCO agenda includes high-impact initiatives to enhance cross-border data flows, support for market expansion for small and medium-sized enterprises, and the empowerment of entrepreneurs, women, and youth.
Nortal HQ - January 05, 2022
Nortal expands cybersecurity capabilities with acquiring a minority stake in Talgen
Nortal increased revenue in 2020 to over €100 million, EBITDA up by 34%
Nortal HQ - July 01, 2021
Nortal makes leadership changes in Finland
Travel app SimplyGo completes successful live test
by Nortal HQ - February 03, 2021
Nortal undertakes another systems reform in the Finnish public sector
Nortal Oy - October 26, 2020
Nortal named Company of the Year in Estonia
Nortal HQ - October 08, 2020
Nortal to acquire Schütze, a recognized strategic consulting and IT solutions company in Germany
Nortal HQ - September 10, 2020
Nortal increased revenue in 2019 to €86 million
by Nortal HQ - June 25, 2020
info@nortal.com
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Nortal is a leading digital transformation company with 1000 experts across 18 offices in North America, Europe and the Middle East. We help leading healthcare institutions, governments and businesses achieve long-term success via sustainable growth, improved efficiency and agility.
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At Anthony Spink Dental Suite, you can find an entire suite of high-quality dental services for you and your family. No matter which of our solutions you require, you can feel confident that we'll take the time to understand your needs and evaluate your oral health. Once we've determined your goals, we'll partner with you to create a treatment plan that works for you.
Obstructive. The most common form, it occurs when your throat muscles relax, causing a narrowing of your airway. Your brain, sensing that you cannot breathe, will wake you to reopen your airway. You may wake up to hundreds of times every night. It's no wonder that you might feel exhausted all day!
Central. If your brain doesn't send the right signals to the breathing muscles, you don't breathe for short periods.
Complex. A combination of obstructive and central sleep apnoea occurs, which is also called treatment-emergent central sleep apnoea.
You might be wondering if you might have sleep apnoea or have a chance of developing it. Certain groups have a higher risk of sleep apnoea. It happens more often in males. It is commonly associated with high blood pressure and diabetes. Being overweight or obesity, snoring and excessive daytime tiredness may also mean that you have sleep apnoea.
It can be difficult to decide when you need to seek the help of a medical professional, particularly if you've suffered from a problem for a longer time. If you think you may have sleep apnoea, we recommend that you book an appointment immediately. Getting the proper treatment can mean that you finally get the good night's sleep you've hoped for, relieve your symptoms of pain and fatigue and help you enjoy your everyday life more.
If you think that your life may be affected by sleep apnoea, please discuss it with a member of our team at your appointment. We will speak to you about your concerns and let you know how you can proceed to get the attention you need.
Don't let sleep apnoea prevent you or your partner from getting the rest you require. We have the solutions to make sure you sleep well. Contact our friendly team by phone or email today to arrange an appointment! Our experienced staff will evaluate you and make the appropriate recommendations for sleep apnoea treatment Brighton. If you'd like to be seen immediately, same-day visits are available. We also have convenient late opening hours.


Monica practising Viparita Virabhadrasana, or "Reversed Warrior Pose" on the shores of Lake Ontario.
On a quiet road where the houses all face the wide St Lawrence River, Monica Muller has created a healing space for men and women who have experienced life-altering trauma. For most it has been the trauma of war. For others it was an incident while performing their work; responding to a fire, a road accident, or an altercation in a Corrections facility. Most of these 'responders' whether it be in a war zone, or in a work-related situation, have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)—a form of Operational Stress Injury (OSI).
Sitting in meditation in one of Monica's classes.
Monica Muller brings her vast training in Hatha Yoga, Mindful Meditation, Therapeutic Yoga, Trauma Sensitive Yoga and Meditation, and Reiki into the ongoing teaching at her Op Yoga studio. There she creates a healing program and environment for injured minds and bodies.
Monica has retired from the Department of National Defence, and is both a military spouse and the daughter of a military father who served in WWll. Her teaching programs of Mindful Yoga and Meditation have been experienced by those taking part in a research study with the Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston and Queen's University. At healing retreats and support group meetings for those with Operational Stress Injuries, and for their families, help is provided with the Veterans Yoga Project program 'Mindful Resilience for Trauma Recovery'. Here Breath Work, Meditation, Mindful Movement, Yoga Nigra and the encouragement of an attitude of gratitude are all part of Monica's treatment programs for the trauma-injured in her practice.
During my quiet, sharing, learning visit with Monica Muller, I came to know and understand her dedication to the healing of Veterans, and all those men and women who have experienced traumas to their minds and bodies. I am grateful that there are teaching and treatment programs, grounded in tested therapies, that are reaching out from centres such as Op Yoga and from creative, caring, people like Monica Muller.
Beth is the author of "Please Write" a memoir of her time as an Occupational Therapist during WWII – available from Borealis Press.
Monica Muller founded Op Yoga (Operation Yoga) in 2012, which is a registered Yoga Alliance business. Monica is a registered experienced Hatha Yoga Teacher specializing in a Trauma Sensitive Yoga and Meditation, specifically the Veterans Yoga Project (VYP) Mindful Resilience for Trauma Recovery program and Rehab Yoga for Injury Recovery. Monica is also a Reiki Master, Spiritual Healer and offers Reiki Training.
Monica teaches VYP Mindful Resilience for Trauma Recovery Teacher Training with Dr. Dan Libby, in Kingston, ON. As Director of Canadian Operations for VYP, Monica organizes Healing Retreats for Veterans, Military Members, First Responders and family members.


Whether it's for your group vacation, bachelorette party, or bridesmaid gifts, these wine tumblers are perfect for keeping drinks cool while looking beautiful!
- 12 colors to choose from.
Choose the color tumbler you prefer and pick any design from our 30+ options. Don't see what you like? Feel free to request something custom and we'll work with you on a design. Please include the necessary engraving details in the Special Instructions text box.


text:
<?php

namespace Arrilot\DataAnonymization;

use Arrilot\DataAnonymization\Database\DatabaseInterface;
use Exception;

class Anonymizer
{
    /**
     * Database interactions object.
     *
     * @var DatabaseInterface
     */
    protected $database;

    /**
     * Generator object (e.g \Faker\Factory).
     *
     * @var mixed
     */
    protected $generator;

    /**
     * Blueprints for tables.
     *
     * @var array
     */
    protected $blueprints = [];

    /**
     * Constructor.
     *
     * @param DatabaseInterface $database
     * @param mixed             $generator
     */
    public function __construct(DatabaseInterface $database, $generator = null)
    {
        $this->database = $database;

        if (is_null($generator) && class_exists('\Faker\Factory')) {
            $generator = \Faker\Factory::create();
        }

        if (!is_null($generator)) {
            $this->setGenerator($generator);
        }
    }

    /**
     * Setter for generator.
     *
     * @param mixed $generator
     *
     * @return $this
     */
    public function setGenerator($generator)
    {
        $this->generator = $generator;

        return $this;
    }

    /**
     * Getter for generator.
     *
     * @return mixed
     */
    public function getGenerator()
    {
        return $this->generator;
    }

    /**
     * Perform data anonymization.
     *
     * @return void
     */
    public function run()
    {
        foreach ($this->blueprints as $table => $blueprint) {
            $this->applyBlueprint($blueprint);
        }
    }

    /**
     * Describe a table with a given callback.
     *
     * @param string   $name
     * @param callable $callback
     *
     * @return void
     */
    public function table($name, callable $callback)
    {
        $blueprint = new Blueprint($name, $callback);

        $this->blueprints[$name] = $blueprint->build();
    }

    /**
     * Apply blueprint to the database.
     *
     * @param Blueprint $blueprint
     *
     * @return void
     */
    protected function applyBlueprint(Blueprint $blueprint)
    {
        foreach ($blueprint->columns as $column) {
            $this->updateColumn($blueprint->table, $blueprint->primary, $column);
        }
    }

    /**
     * Update all needed values of a give column.
     *
     * @param string $table
     * @param array  $primary
     * @param array  $column
     */
    protected function updateColumn($table, $primary, $column)
    {
        $columns = $this->mergeColumns($primary, $column['name']);
        $where = $column['where'];

        foreach ($this->database->getRows($table, $columns, $where) as $rowNum => $row) {
            $this->database->updateByPrimary(
                $table,
                Helpers::arrayOnly($row, $primary),
                $column['name'],
                $this->calculateNewValue($column['replace'], $rowNum)
            );
        }
    }

    /**
     * Calculate new value for each row.
     *
     * @param string|callable $replace
     * @param int             $rowNum
     *
     * @return string
     */
    protected function calculateNewValue($replace, $rowNum)
    {
        $value = $this->handlePossibleClosure($replace);

        return $this->replacePlaceholders($value, $rowNum);
    }

    /**
     * Replace placeholders.
     *
     * @param mixed $value
     * @param int   $rowNum
     *
     * @return mixed
     */
    protected function replacePlaceholders($value, $rowNum)
    {
        if (!is_string($value)) {
            return $value;
        }

        return str_replace('#row#', $rowNum, $value);
    }

    /**
     * @param $replace
     *
     * @return mixed
     */
    protected function handlePossibleClosure($replace)
    {
        if (!is_callable($replace)) {
            return $replace;
        }

        if ($this->generator === null) {
            throw new Exception('You forgot to set a generator');
        }

        return call_user_func($replace, $this->generator);
    }

    /**
     * Merge columns for select.
     *
     * @param array  $primary
     * @param string $columnName
     *
     * @return array
     */
    protected function mergeColumns($primary, $columnName)
    {
        return array_merge($primary, [
            $columnName,
        ]);
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub