text:
Editor's Сhoice
US Foments Regime Change in Nicaragua
Roger HARRIS
The US has targeted Nicaragua for regime change. Some former supporters of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and his Sandinista party echo the US talking points: Ortega's "entire government has been, in essence, neoliberal. Then it becomes authoritarian, repressive."
One would think that a neoliberal regime, especially if it were authoritarian and repressive, would be just the ticket to curry favour with Washington.
'Threat of a Good Example'
In Noam Chomsky's words, Nicaragua poses a threat of a good example to the US empire. Since Ortega's return election victory in 2006, Nicaragua had achieved the following, according to NSCAG, despite being the second poorest country in the hemisphere:
Second highest economic growth rates and most stable economy in Central America.
Only country in the region producing 90% of the food it consumes.
Poverty and extreme poverty halved; country with the greatest reduction of extreme poverty.
Reaching the UN Millennium Development Goal of cutting malnutrition by half.
Free basic healthcare and education.
Illiteracy virtually eliminated, down from 36% in 2006.
Average economic growth of 5.2% for the past 5 years (IMF and the World Bank).
Safest country in Central America (UN Development Program) with one of the lowest crime rates in Latin America.
Highest level of gender equality in the Americas (World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report 2017).
Did not contribute to the migrant exodus to the US, unlike neighbouring Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala.
Unlike its neighbours, kept out the drug cartels and pioneered community policing.
The World Bank, IMF, and EU countries have certified Nicaragua for its effective use of international loans and grants. Funds were spent for the purposes they were given, not syphoned off into corruption.
Before April 18, Nicaragua was among the most peaceful and stable countries in th region. The otherwise inexplicable violence that has suddenly engulfed Nicaragua should be understood in the context of it being targeted by the US for regime change.
Nicaragua has provoked the ire of the US for the good things it's done, not the bad.
Besides being a "threat" of a good example, Nicaragua is in the anti-imperialist ALBA alliance with Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, and others. The attack on Nicaragua is part of a larger strategy by the US to tear apart regional alliances of resistance to the empire.
Nicaragua regularly votes against the US in international forums such as challenging retrograde US policies on climate change. An inter-ocean canal through Nicaragua is being considered, which would contend with the Panama Canal. Russia and China invest in Nicaragua, competing with US capital.
The NICA Act, passed by the US House of Representatives and now before the Senate, would initiate economic warfare designed to attack living conditions in Nicaragua through economic sanctions, as well as intensify US intelligence intervention. The ultimate purpose is to depose the democratically-elected Ortega government.
Meanwhile, USAID announced an additional $1.5 million "to support freedom and democracy in Nicaragua" through non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to overthrow the government and "make this truly a hemisphere of freedom." That is, freedom for the US empire.
Alternatives to Ortega Would Be Worse
Those on the left who also call for Ortega's removal need to accept responsibility for what comes after. Here the lesson of Libya is instructive, where the replacement of has resulted in a far worse situation for the Libyan people.
Any replacement of Ortega would be more, not less, neoliberal, oppressive, and authoritarian. When the Nicaraguan people, held hostage to the US-backed Contra war, first voted Ortega out of office in 1990, the incoming US-backed Violeta Chamorro government brought neoliberal structural adjustment and a moribund economy.
"Dictators don't win fair elections by growing margins," notes longtime solidarity activist Chuck Kaufman, citing Ortega's 2006 comeback win with a 38% plurality, followed in 2011 with 63%, and 72.5% in 2016. The Organization of American States officially accompanied and certified the votes.
The dissident Sandinistas who splintered off from the official party after the party's election defeat and formed the MRS (Sandinista Renovation Movement) are not a progressive alternative. They are now comfortably ensconced in US-funded NGOs, regularly making junkets to Washington to pay homage to the likes of Representative Iliana Ros-Lehtinen and Senator Marco Rubio to lobby in favour of the NICA Act. Nor do they represent a popular force, garnering less than 2% in national elections.
When the MRS left the Sandinista party, they took with them almost all those who were better educated, came from more privileged backgrounds, and who spoke English. These formerly left dissidents now turned to the right in their hatred of Ortega, have many ties with North American activists, which explains some of the confusion today over Nicaragua.
Most Progressive Country in Central America
The world, not just Ortega, has changed since the 1980s when the Soviet Union and its allies served as a countervailing force to US bullying. What was possible then is not the same in today's more constrained international arena.
Nicaragua is the most progressive country in Central America with no close rival. There is a disconnect between urging Nicaraguans to replace Ortega with new elections and advocacy against US imperialist depredations. Unconstitutional elections in Nicaragua would further destabilize a profoundly destabilized situation. Given the unpopularity and disunity of the opposition and the unity and organizational strength of the Sandinistas, Ortega would likely win.
Most important, the key role of Northern American solidarity activists is to end US interference in Nicaragua so that the Nicaraguans can solve their own problems.
The rightwing violence since April in Nicaragua should be understood as a coup attempt. A significant portion of the Nicaraguan people has rallied around their elected government as seen in the massive demonstrations commemorating the Sandinista revolution on July 19.
For now, the rightwing tranques (blockades) have been dismantled and citizens can again freely circulate without being shaken down and threatened. In the aftermath, though, Nicaragua has suffered unacceptable human deaths, massive public property damage, and a wounded economy with the debilitating NICA Act threatening to pass the US Senate.
truepublica
Nicaragua Ortega Regime Change
August 5, 2018 | Editor's Сhoice
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Brian Erickson brings a decade of experience leveraging digital and earned media strategies to win policy reforms at local, state and federal levels. Prior to joining The New School, Brian worked at the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico's Regional Center for Border Rights (RCBR) to advocate for just and fair immigration reform and policing reforms at our nation's largest federal police force–U.S. Customs and Border Protection. A trained media spokesperson, Brian led the RCBR's messaging development and trained community leaders and staff in media advocacy best practices.
Brian recently moved to NYC to complete his master's degree in The School of Media Studies at The New School, focusing on Transmedia and Digital Storytelling. A firm believer in the power of story-based strategies to shift public opinion, Brian hopes to return to strategic communications with honed audio and video productions skills to help social impact organizations reach and activate diverse audiences. Brian currently serves as Project Manager for The New School Collaboratory digital knowledge hub.


Devoid of physical limitations, games examine what museums represent and what they soon could be.
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2012 Dodge Journey SXT Now Available with Four-Cylinder Engine. 2016 Dodge Journey Reviews and Rating | Motor Trend. 2012 Dodge Durango Reviews and Rating | Motor Trend. Dodge Journey 2008 Road Test | Road Tests | Honest John. Alex the Car Girl (9) - DodgeForum.com.
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Full coverage matte loose powder foundation for oily skin.
Since my face produces enough oil to make me a prime target for greedy, aspiring oil barons, I prefer powder foundation over liquid, especially when my acne is relatively subdued. First of all, powder foundation is quicker in the mornings; no need to bother with setting powder. Secondly, touch-ups are going to be powder anyway, so might as well avoid the liquid part to begin with. Finally, powder masks oil better than liquid on my face and keeps me matte for longer. This way, I can avoid being identified - and therefore, apprehended/exterminated/abducted - by bounty-hunters appointed by said oil barons and oil-mad governments.
Full coverage, airbrush and powder/matte finish are magic words to me, so I just had to get the Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Powder Foundation, which promised a flawless, wrinkle-free and lasting finish.
Check out my review, swatches and results with the Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Powder Foundation.
The Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Powder Foundation comes in a round 7gm pot. I love the faux wooden finish of the lid. Inside, you have a round mesh sifter which keeps the powder in place. Don't you hate loose powder in pots without a sifter, where the powder goes everywhere?
This foundation contains Amazonian clay, tourmaline, pearl powder, camellia leaf extract and mineral pigments. It is paraben-free. The powder is silky and well pigmented. The last thing you expect from loose powder is full coverage and staying power; this foundation does both. At first, I thought the swatches looked shimmery, but it is matte on my face.
The powder does a great job with most of my acne pigmentation and scars but does not hide my gazillion pores. Staying power is about four hours for me, and then I need to touch up. It does not settle in fine lines, but during the day, once my T-zone becomes oily, it does get into my pores. A little goes a long way, so a jar should last for a good while.
I don't think this will work too well on dry skin, considering how matte the powder appears.
While I swear by the Original Beautyblender for both powder and liquid foundations, this is the first loose powder foundation I tried and the SA recommended the Tarte Airbuki Bamboo Powder Foundation Brush along with this.
Having tried other buffing brushes, I find that the Tarte Airbuki is the best way of applying this foundation. One touch to the sifter will pick up enough to cover half the face - the quantity shown below.
The powder is easy to buff in and blend, but it can be a tad time-consuming to get even coverage all over the face. I am just too used to a few bounces with the Beautyblender.
The brush does not work well with liquid foundations. I'm keeping it exclusively for the Tarte powders.
I was first matched to Medium Neutral, which is described as "medium skin with yellow and pink undertones". I wasn't too happy with that after a couple of uses - I thought it was too light and too pink, so I got matched to Medium Tan Sand, which is "medium to tan skin with yellow undertones". The latter is incredibly yellow. Think mustard-face.
These were the only two that suited my skintone; everything else was too dark or too pale. I would have loved something with this intensity but with neutral undertones.
Here are the swatches. In direct sunlight first, followed by natural light. No primer; swatched with fingers. The swatch on top is Medium Tan Sand while the one below is Medium Neutral. On my arm, I prefer Medium Neutral.
My skin has the weird habit of turning yellow when Auntie Flo visits. I have seriously yellow undertones anyway but it becomes super-pronounced during that time. Virulent mustard yellow. So the whole point of foundation is to counter this effect and I try to apply something a tad pinkish at the time.
Medium Tan Sand appears even yellower on my skin. When I wear it, my friends think it is that time of the month. Does this foundation contain bilirubin or something that makes me look jaundiced? It is more yellow than my yellow undertones. If I wore this foundation at that time of the month, I bet my face could create traffic problems. While Medium Neutral is more pink-toned.
Here are full-face photos, both in natural light, in the same location with the same background and time of the day. So it wasn't the lighting's fault.
I am wearing Medium Tan Sand in the first photo (to the left) and Medium Neutral in the second photo. Both are full-coverage - ignore the oiliness beginning to seep through on the nose - and have been applied over Porefessional primer, without blush/bronzer/setting powder/finishing spray.
I am wearing Jane from the NARS Audacious lipsticks, reviewed here, and Nectar and Cool Gray from the Lorac Pro 2 palette to go with the mustard effect, in the first photo. Any yellower and they'll quarantine me for jaundice.
In the second photo, I've opted for Charcoal and Cool Gray from Lorac pro 2 and Rimmel Provocalips in I'll Call You. This, on the other hand, looks "powdered", if you get my drift.
Yes, I have tried mixing both shades and the result isn't pretty.
This foundation gives full coverage, mattifies oily skin, hides my acne marks, has reasonably good staying power and blends well with the Airbuki brush, BUT be very careful about finding an exact shade match.
I've struggled despite the variety, and I'm usually easy to match. A number of shades in this range have evident yellow or pink undertones. I wanted something neutral for my skin but did not find one.
Also, I do not get airbrushed finish, as I do with, say, Shiseido Sheer Mattifying Powder Foundation. But I have a feeling that is because I apply other foundations with a damp Beautyblender. This foundation comes in 16 shades - check them out here.
Which is the better match for me, Medium Tan Sand or Medium Neutral? What are your thoughts? Which foundation looks better on me? Tell me in the Disqus comments widget below.


We're open every day this winter. See what's happening before you pop your wellies or walking boots on.
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text:
Date Set For International Space Station's Burial At Sea
12:12 minutes
The International Space Station. Credit: NASA
The International Space Station was never going to last forever. And its expiration date had already been moved from 2024 to 2030. But NASA finally released the plan for what happens after the end of United States support for the orbiting research lab.
In a report released this week, NASA announced the station, once decommissioned, would orbit into the ocean in 2031. More specifically, it would end at a place between New Zealand and the southern tip of South America called "Point Nemo"—a final resting place for other spacecraft chosen because it is the place on Earth farthest from land masses.
Science journalist Maggie Koerth joins Ira to explain the end of the ISS and other stories, including two black holes that may or may not exist and may or may not collide, the U.S. Geological Survey's effort to monitor a sleeping volcano, what we're learning from COVID-19 "challenge" trials and a centuries-old act of resistance involving human vertebrae stacked on reeds against colonial forces.
Examples of the vertebrates found stacked on reeds in southwestern Peru. New research is tying these remains to the Indigenous Chincha people, who hundreds of years ago may have been trying to honor ancestors killed under colonization. Credit: C. O'Shea
Maggie Koerth
Maggie Koerth is a senior science reporter with FiveThirtyEight.com. She's based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
IRA FLATOW: This is Science Friday. I'm Ira Flatow. Later in the hour, we'll talk about how researchers are using donated brains– just like yours, yeah– to understand conditions like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and even depression.
But first, it's orbited above us for decades. It's a valuable tool for scientific research. And in 2031, it will crash into the sea. I'm talking about the International Space Station. The aging station, NASA reported this week, has a set expiration date and will join assorted spacecraft from history, including the Russian Space Station Mir and Skylab, in a watery ocean grave.
Here with this and other selected short subjects in science is Maggie Koerth, senior science writer for FiveThirtyEight. Welcome back, Maggie.
MAGGIE KOERTH: Hi. Thanks for having me.
IRA FLATOW: You're welcome. So why are we losing the ISS in 2031?
MAGGIE KOERTH: Mostly because it is a 20-plus-year-old piece of spacecraft that is not going to be in good working order for a whole lot longer than that. NASA and the Biden administration have decided that they want to keep it flying until 2030, which would extend its life by an extra six years from where it's currently set. They still need to get some sign-offs from that to make that plan happen, though, both from Congress and from Russia and from a bunch of other international partners. But it could end up meaning that the old girl is with us just a little bit longer.
IRA FLATOW: And they have a place that they're aiming for to bring it down, right? A very famous place.
MAGGIE KOERTH: They do. It is called Point Nemo. It's Greek for "no man," which is very apt because it is the spot in the Pacific Ocean that's optimized to be the furthest from land that you can get anywhere on Earth. It's more than 1,600 miles from the nearest land. The astronauts who are currently aboard the space station are often the closest humans to Point Nemo as they pass overhead in orbit.
So over the years, like you said, this Point Nemo has turned into a popular retirement home for spacecraft. And the deal is that, like, nobody wants to have to worry about what or who craft might hit as they land. So we land them in this place where there's nothing, really, at all, like not even that many fish.
That's because the Point Nemo is in the middle of a gyre. So it's this location in the ocean where currents kind of move in a circular pattern, so you don't even get very many new nutrients flowing in. There's not a lot of plants or fish, even, in this area, which is probably a really good thing, because there's a lot of environmental concerns, actually, around dumping space junk into the ocean. These are things that can leak toxic hydrazine rocket fuel and also radioactive chemicals.
IRA FLATOW: Wow. Yeah. It's interesting that you can actually pick the spot where you want it to land.
MAGGIE KOERTH: It super is. It super is. One other thing that I found about this that maybe you'll enjoy is that the ocean may perhaps someday have its revenge. In 1928, years before anybody started dumping rockets there, HP Lovecraft had identified this general area as the location where Cthulhu lies sleeping.
IRA FLATOW: Whoa.
Whoa. Think about that for a while. Let's go elsewhere in space. There are two black holes that may be about to merge.
MAGGIE KOERTH: Maybe. This is such a great story. I love this so much. So at the center of a galaxy 1.2 million light years from Earth, there are two gigantic black holes that are about to crash into each other. This event could release a huge burst of light, surges of gravitational waves and neutrinos, and it would give scientists a chance to witness something that's previously only been theorized.
It could happen in as soon as just 100 days. Or it might not happen at all. And also, the black holes might not exist.
IRA FLATOW: Wait a minute. Wait a minute. That covers all the bases, doesn't it? I mean–
MAGGIE KOERTH: It sure does. You know, welcome to the wonderful world of interstellar astronomy. You know, there's so many things that we can't see directly. And what scientists do when they can't see things directly is they make assumptions based on kind of all of these things that they can measure.
And in this case, what they've spotted is not two supermassive black holes. It's this galaxy with a bright shining center that dims and glows. This effect is something that some scientists have theorized would be caused by two black holes orbiting each other very closely, sucking in and heating surrounding matter in this kind of churning oscillation. And the fact that the oscillation periods are getting shorter suggests that the black holes, if they do exist, might be getting closer to each other.
There is no way to know in advance what is actually happening. The scientists who think this is going to happen think that it will happen somewhere between 100 to 300 days from now. So scientists are jockeying for telescope time in that range.
People are getting poised to be ready for it in case it does happen, because if it does, there would be a whole bunch of signals that show up, and everyone in science will go wild. Like, this will be in a really super amazing thing. Or we'll all just spend the next year sitting around, and nothing happens, and nothing continues to happen.
IRA FLATOW: Wow. Let's turn to something that is really very interesting and a bit more serious. And this is a story about Indigenous sovereignty, resistance to colonization in South America hundreds of years ago. Tell us about this mortuary rebellion, as it's called.
MAGGIE KOERTH: Yeah. So some 500 years ago, people living on what's now the southwestern coast of Peru began to take human spinal columns and thread them onto reeds one vertebra at a time. The collections look a little bit like creepy rhythm instruments. But archaeologists think these spines are actually a way for people to reclaim their ancestors and rebel against Spanish imperialism.
There's a lot of good reasons why the scientists think that. It's kind of this accumulation of evidence over time. So here's some of the evidence. The researchers already knew that people of the ancient Chincha kingdom venerated their dead. They made mummies, they interred them in these stone towers, and these stone towers are where many of these vertebrae on sticks are found.
Scientists also knew that when the Spanish arrived, the colonizers tried to wipe out this ancestor veneration, because they thought it was idolatry. So they were desecrating bodies, and they were robbing tombs. And there are known cases where the Native Chincha people were coming back later in the wake of the Spanish destruction and building themselves new effigies of their loved ones from scraps of hair and fingernails that had been left behind.
But the real clincher here is dates. So this new study performed radiocarbon dating on three bones and nine of the reeds. And they found that the bones were coming from people who died between 1520 and 1550, which is a time when there were just massive numbers of Chincha people being killed by starvation, disease, directly by the Spanish. And the reeds, meanwhile, were picked as much as 40 years later. So like, this just– this hit me really hard, because you can almost imagine a grown child coming back and piecing together all that remained of a parent they'd lost years before.
IRA FLATOW: So these vertebrae may have been how colonized people were resisting conquest by continuing to mourn their dead, right?
MAGGIE KOERTH: By continuing to honor their dead, and have their dead with them in ways that celebrated their dead and made their ancestors a part of their family.
IRA FLATOW: Let me just add that the image of these bones are really, really powerful. And we've linked to it, that image, on our website if folks are curious to see what we're talking about. Your next story is about a volcano stirring in Oregon. Should folks be worrying, Maggie?
MAGGIE KOERTH: No. That's the good news. You're fine. So this is really interesting, though.
Like, even though it is not an emergency situation, I think it's worth paying attention to because it's really cool, because 20 years ago, scientists were watching this mountain, South Sister, an Oregon volcano, kind of changing in ways that suggested there was activity happening underground in its magma chambers. You were getting bulging on its slopes. There were tiny earthquakes.
And then in around 2001, the changes just stopped. And for two decades, South Sister sat there, silent and immobile. And now she's moving again.
So just to give you some sense of scale, in the months before Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980, the side of that mountain bulged out hundreds of feet. And in contrast, over the span of 1995 to 2001, South Sister bulged five inches. This is a much smaller, much smaller scale of changes. And that's actually what makes it cool, because what this represents is how much work has gone into learning how to monitor these kind of volcanoes at a– in minute detail.
We are getting data back about changes that nobody maybe even would have noticed 40 years ago. So now we have this satellite imagery, and we have these highly sensitive seismometers that can spot earthquakes that are less than, you know, less than magnitude 1. And we are learning about what it looks like when a volcano sort of mumbles in its sleep. And that helps scientists better understand what to watch for and what changes actually are concerning.
IRA FLATOW: Cool. Cool story. Our last story we have is a bit of COVID-19 news. There's now finally a chance for those of us who have been lucky enough to escape the virus to get deliberately infected. Do it for science, right?
MAGGIE KOERTH: Do it for science. Yeah, the world's first COVID challenge trial is seeking a new round of volunteers who would have samples of virus inserted into their noses so that scientists can learn things like how much virus it takes to trigger an infection and what kind of immune responses are necessary to fight one off. Now, these are not anything new as a kind of trial. Scientists have done this kind of study before, but just with different kinds of pathogens. This is just the first time we're doing it with COVID.
And when they do these trials, in this case and in the past, they're often a way of understanding infection on a much more detailed basis than you can do with a natural infection, so that you can make better vaccines. They've done this with cholera, flu, and dengue fever, and a whole bunch of other things.
This particular trial has had a couple of studies published already. One of them involved 36 18 to 29-year-olds who were exposed to droplets of COVID virus. 18 became infected. 16 developed cold-like symptoms. 13 temporarily lost smell and taste.
The researchers were working in that case on figuring out the lowest possible amount of COVID you could expose someone to and still infect them. And that knowledge is now going to help them better perform this next round of experiments, which are aimed at figuring out what level of antibodies and T cells are needed to prevent infection. And that information is going to help scientists design better, more effective vaccines in the future.
IRA FLATOW: Thank you, Maggie. Maggie, it was great having you on again. Great stories.
MAGGIE KOERTH: Yeah, thank you.
IRA FLATOW: Maggie Koerth, senior science writer for FiveThirtyEight. She was joining us from Minneapolis.
Christie Taylor
About Christie Taylor
@ctaylsaurus
Christie Taylor is a producer for Science Friday. Her day involves diligent research, too many phone calls for an introvert, and asking scientists if they have any audio of that narwhal heartbeat.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
package ro.pub.cs.systems.pdsd.practicaltest01;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.view.Menu;
import android.view.MenuItem;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.Button;
import android.widget.EditText;
import android.widget.Toast;

public class PracticalTest01MainActivity extends Activity {

	private Integer clickTL = 0;
	private Integer clickTR = 0;
	private Integer clickBL = 0;
	private Integer clickBR = 0;
	private Integer clickCenter = 0;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_practical_test01_main);

        final Button buttonTL = (Button)findViewById(R.id.buttonTopLeft);
        final Button buttonTR = (Button)findViewById(R.id.buttonTopRight);
        final Button buttonCenter = (Button)findViewById(R.id.buttonCenter);
        final Button buttonBL = (Button)findViewById(R.id.buttonBottomLeft);
        final Button buttonBR = (Button)findViewById(R.id.buttonBottomRight);

        buttonTL.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {

			@Override
			public void onClick(View v) {

				EditText text = (EditText)findViewById(R.id.editText1);
				String s = text.getText().toString();

				s += ", " + buttonTL.getText().toString();

				text.setText(s);

				clickTL++;
			}
		});

        buttonTR.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {

			@Override
			public void onClick(View v) {

				EditText text = (EditText)findViewById(R.id.editText1);
				String s = text.getText().toString();

				s += ", " + buttonTR.getText().toString();

				text.setText(s);

				clickTR++;
			}
		});

        buttonCenter.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {

			@Override
			public void onClick(View v) {

				EditText text = (EditText)findViewById(R.id.editText1);
				String s = text.getText().toString();

				s += ", " + buttonCenter.getText().toString();

				text.setText(s);

				clickCenter++;
			}
		});

        buttonBL.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {

			@Override
			public void onClick(View v) {

				EditText text = (EditText)findViewById(R.id.editText1);
				String s = text.getText().toString();

				s += ", " + buttonBL.getText().toString();

				text.setText(s);
				clickBL++;
			}
		});

        buttonBR.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {

			@Override
			public void onClick(View v) {

				EditText text = (EditText)findViewById(R.id.editText1);
				String s = text.getText().toString();

				s += ", " + buttonBR.getText().toString();

				text.setText(s);
				clickBR++;
			}
		});

        Button secActivity = (Button)findViewById(R.id.buttonNavigateSec);

        secActivity.setOnClickListener( new View.OnClickListener() {

			@Override
			public void onClick(View v) {
				// TODO Auto-generated method stub

				EditText text = (EditText)findViewById(R.id.editText1);

				Intent intent = new Intent("ro.pub.cs.systems.pdsd.practicalText01SecondaryActivity");
				intent.putExtra("sequence", text.getText().toString());

				startActivityForResult(intent, 12345);
			}
		});
    }

    @Override
    public boolean onCreateOptionsMenu(Menu menu) {
        // Inflate the menu; this adds items to the action bar if it is present.
        getMenuInflater().inflate(R.menu.practical_test01_main, menu);
        return true;
    }

    @Override
    public boolean onOptionsItemSelected(MenuItem item) {
        // Handle action bar item clicks here. The action bar will
        // automatically handle clicks on the Home/Up button, so long
        // as you specify a parent activity in AndroidManifest.xml.
        int id = item.getItemId();
        if (id == R.id.action_settings) {
            return true;
        }
        return super.onOptionsItemSelected(item);
    }

    @Override
    protected void onSaveInstanceState(Bundle outState) {
    	// TODO Auto-generated method stub
    	super.onSaveInstanceState(outState);

    	outState.putInt("btnTLClicks", clickTL);
    	outState.putInt("btnTRClicks", clickTR);
    	outState.putInt("btnCenterClicks", clickCenter);
    	outState.putInt("btnBLClicks", clickBL);
    	outState.putInt("btnBRClicks", clickBR);

    	EditText text = (EditText)findViewById(R.id.editText1);

    	outState.putCharSequence("clickSequenceText", text.getText().toString());
    }

    @Override
    protected void onRestoreInstanceState(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    	// TODO Auto-generated method stub
    	super.onRestoreInstanceState(savedInstanceState);

    	setClickTL(savedInstanceState.getInt("btnTLClicks"));
    	setClickTR(savedInstanceState.getInt("btnTRClicks"));
    	setClickCenter(savedInstanceState.getInt("btnCenterClicks"));
    	setClickBL(savedInstanceState.getInt("btnBLClicks"));
    	setClickBR(savedInstanceState.getInt("btnBRClicks"));

    	EditText text = (EditText)findViewById(R.id.editText1);

    	text.setText(savedInstanceState.getCharSequence("clickSequenceText"));

    	Toast.makeText(this, "Number of clicks: TL " + clickTL + ", TR " + clickTR + ", Center " + clickCenter + ", BL " + clickBL + ", BR " + clickBR, Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
    }

	public Integer getClickTL() {
		return clickTL;
	}

	public void setClickTL(Integer clickTL) {
		this.clickTL = clickTL;
	}

	public Integer getClickTR() {
		return clickTR;
	}

	public void setClickTR(Integer clickTR) {
		this.clickTR = clickTR;
	}

	public Integer getClickBL() {
		return clickBL;
	}

	public void setClickBL(Integer clickBL) {
		this.clickBL = clickBL;
	}

	public Integer getClickBR() {
		return clickBR;
	}

	public void setClickBR(Integer clickBR) {
		this.clickBR = clickBR;
	}

	public Integer getClickCenter() {
		return clickCenter;
	}

	public void setClickCenter(Integer clickCenter) {
		this.clickCenter = clickCenter;
	}

    @Override
    protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
    	// TODO Auto-generated method stub
    	super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data);

    	Toast.makeText(this, "Returned from secondary activity: " + resultCode, Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: Why does changing my desktop through python result in a red wallpaper? I created a simple script that gets the hottest post on /r/wallpapers, downloads it to a directory, and is supposed to set it as my Windows 10 wallpaper.
However, every time I run the script my wallpaper turns red. If I were to right click on my downloaded image and set it as my wallpaper, it works fine.
import praw
import urllib.request
import os
import ctypes

def main():
    change_wallpaper(get_image())

def change_wallpaper(url):
    SPI_SETDESKWALLPAPER = 20
    directory = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__)) + "\\bin\\" + 'image.jpg'
    urllib.request.urlretrieve(url,directory)

    ctypes.windll.user32.SystemParametersInfoA(SPI_SETDESKWALLPAPER, 0, directory, 0)

def get_image():
    reddit = praw.Reddit(client_id='id', client_secret='secret', user_agent='app')
    get_hottest = reddit.subreddit('wallpapers').hot(limit=1)

    for post in get_hottest:
        url = post.url
        title = post.title
        author = post.author
    return url
main()

A: user mkrieger1 suggested using SystemParametersInfoW instead of SystemParametersInfoA and it works now!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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We are a full-service South Carolina roofing contractor with thousands of successful residential and commercial projects to our credit. Roof Roof's customer service and exceptional workmanship are unmatched, resulting in our reputation as the premier roofer in Spartanburg, Greenville, Anderson, and many other communities in upstate South Carolina.
Are you looking for a qualified and reliable roofing contractor? Are you sick and tired of companies that are trying to scam you? Well, you have come to the right place. Our experienced and skilled team provides Easley, SC and the surrounding areas with a wide range of gutter, roofing, solar and siding services. At Precision Roofing LLC, we are dedicated to providing our valued clients with the affordable and efficient solutions they need, along with the superior customer care they deserve. We have been catering to the roofing service needs of local residential and commercial property owners for more than 15 years. Once you experience the numerous benefits of our top quality services, you will quickly realize that our contractors are the right choice for all your roofing projects. Our goal is to offer the finest roof repair and maintenance service to all our clients, achieving lasting success through unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction and an understanding of our clients' requirements and needs. Precision Roofing, LLC's technicians are professionally trained, experienced, and take great pride in catering to the roofing needs of the local community. We are well-known for our impeccable craftsmanship, and you can have peace of mind knowing that your project will be completed right the first time. Let the most trusted and qualified roofer in Easley, SC lend you a helping hand with your project. To find out more about our company and the benefits of using our timely and professional services, get in touch with us today. You will be very fortunate to have our knowledgeable, friendly, and skilled contractors take care of your needs. Call us today!
DLV Roofing Systems, Inc., is the premier roofing company for Asheville, NC, and its surrounding areas. Our President, Pete De La Vega, a third generation roofer, established DLV Roofing Systems, Inc. in 1999. We are a fully licensed and insured general contractor happily serving both residential and commercial customers out of our Fletcher, NC, and Charleston, SC, offices. We use only top-rated, premium, quality products while offering competitive prices and a guarantee on all of the work. Our courteous, professional staff provides superior, dependable service with an attention to detail that sets us apart from industry affiliates. DLV roofs over 500 homes each year in Asheville and the surrounding areas. Whatever the material, we have got you and your roof covered. Quality begins at the top and it is our commitment to offer nothing but high-quality work and service to our customers. Your home is one of the largest investments you will typically make in your lifetime. We value our role in protecting your investment now and for generations to come. Discover why DLV Roofing is the best choice for your Asheville roofing needs. Call or email us today for a free estimate!
Family owned and operated roofing company. With more than 25 years in the construction industry, Jerry is well qualified and experienced and he always supervises every job. Our goal is 100% customer satisfaction and we strive to make your roofing experience easy and affordable.
In business for more than 15 years, Roman's Roofing provides reliable roofing installations and inspections in Western North Carolina, serving the communities of Jackson, Macon and Transylvania counties. We know the characteristics of a roof are dependent upon the purpose of the building that it covers, the available roofing materials and the local traditions of construction and wider concepts of architectural design in our area. Inspection We offer a full 25-point roof inspection that covers the current state of all aspects, including gutters, valleys, ridges, vents, missing or damaged shingles and more. Installation Each type and material of roofing requires an understanding of its particular application to ensure installation is complete, accurate and up to code. All Roman's Roofing projects are to manufacturer specification and in compliance with all local building codes. Click through for more information on the installation process of each of the roofing types we install: Asphalt, Cedar Shake, Flat, Metal, Shake. Repairs & Re-Roofing For roofing repairs, we offer free estimates and consultations with photos documenting the current state and problem areas of the roof as it exists at the time of inspection.
We are a small company founded with the concept of complete customer satisfaction at our core. Due to our size we are able to provide very personalized services to each one of our clients. All of our projects are executed with care and completed efficiently.
Apex Construction combines talent, experience and locally-owned Southern friendliness. Apex Construction's owner is a licensed residential builder and also insured and bonded for repairs due to water damage, wind damage, hail or related storm damage. Your roof, siding, or gutter replacement and any other general construction experience with Apex Construction will make you confident that you can refer us to your friends and colleagues. Our inspectors will give you an honest estimate regarding the work that will need to be completed for your home. Your project will also be assigned to a project manager that will oversee all the work to its completion and your satisfaction. We offer a wide range of shingle choices, utilizing all major brands including GAF-ELK, Certainteed, Pinnacle, and Owens Corning . Contact Us today for your new construction, re-roof, or storm and water mitigation and restoration projects!
Our business is here to serve customers no matter how big or small the job is, at any time and anywhere.
We are a licensed, bonded and insured residential roofing company that proudly services the Upstate of SC and surrounding areas. We strive to put our consumers first and provide quality workmanship. We provide a 5 year workmanship warranty and a manufacturer's warranty with all roof replacements.
Beemer Kangaroof is a full service residential roofing company serving the Greater Greenville, SC area. Roof Inspection, Roof Repair, New Roofing Installation, Roof Maintenance Plans and Gutter Cleaning and Installation.
Check out our awesome reviews from our awesome customers on Homeadvisor( https://tinyurl.com/y93aypwv) and on Angies List( https://tinyurl.com/y886ht65)!! Quantum Roofing was founded off of a desire to provide more. With so many contractors interested in doing whatever it takes to just "get the job", Quantum Roofing takes a different approach. We focus on doing what we say were going to do in a timely manner, with exceptional customer service and second-to-none craftsmanship. Quantum Roofing believes that if you focus on the people and the quality, then the numbers will follow. With HAAG certified hail/wind inspectors and a vast knowledge of the insurance industry, we can even handle your insurance restoration project. Whether you have a residential or commercial roof give us a call today to experience the best roofing company in the industry.
CS stands for Precision Contractor Services, a roofing contractor in Simpsonville SC. Precision is at the heart of everything we do. Our team knows that every job is unique and deserves an individualized and detail-oriented approach. We handle everything from new roofing installations, roof replacements and minor repairs.
Address: 188 Continuum Drive, Fletcher, North Carolina, 28732 Baker Roofing Company offers roofing construction and repairs, as well as window replacements, gutters, and more. Since 1915, we have served homes and businesses throughout the southeastern United States.
What do roofing companies in Greenville, SC do?
Your Greenville, SC roofing contractor can install a new roof or repair an old one, as well as repair and replace gutters. Good roofers in Greenville, SC should be able to promptly inspect roofs and gutters to assess damage after a natural disaster or other event, and give you an estimate for the necessary roof repair immediately. Some Greenville roofing companies specialize in specific types of roofs, such as tile or metal, so make sure the one you are interested in works with the materials you have or desire.
Find a Greenville roofer on Houzz. Narrow your search in the Professionals section of the website to roofing companies in Greenville, SC. If you're planning a large-scale project, find other professionals on Houzz who can help get the job done. Here are some related professionals and vendors to complement the work of roofing & gutters: General Contractors, Specialty Contractors, Siding & Exteriors, Door Sales & Installation, Garage Door Sales & Installation.


Had to be done! The iconic C64 SID demo from the early days. Gave us a good hint at the power of the complex 3 channel 6581 synth chip in the Commodore 64.
All 9 tunes played in full, number 1 is my favourite but all are great really.
Puppy Music. Music Designed to Soothe Young Dogs and Puppies!


text:
Alexa Archibald
Commodities Analyst @ ETM Analytics
Takudzwa Ndawona
Kieran Siney
Published byETM Analytics
Macro Analysis /
US pledges $55bn to Africa, Ghana secures staff-level agreement with the IMF
Forex: Slow progress on debt restructuring is compounding pressure on the Zambia kwacha
Fixed Income: Ghanaian Eurobonds rally on news that the country has secured a staff-level agreement with the IMF
Macroeconomic: Major central banks are expected to scale back on the pace of tightening
Fixed income: Unsurprisingly, US Treasury yields declined sharply yesterday following the weaker-than-expected US CPI figures. The benchmark 10yr yield has dropped back below 3.50%, while the 2yr yield is nearing 4.20% as traders have pared their bets on further aggressive Fed rate hikes. The market is now pricing in a terminal rate of around 4.85% for the Fed, down quite significantly from the more than 5% pencilled in a few months ago. With the upper bound of the Fed Funds Rate already at 4.00%, this suggests that the FOMC could announce a 50bp hike today and then provide one last increase at the start of 2023 by 25bp before pausing its tightening to give the higher rates time to bring inflation back down to target.
Commodities: Brent crude has again breached the $80 per barrel level following a rally yesterday after the US CPI miss. US consumer prices posted their smallest monthly gain in a year, which has sparked hopes that the Fed will begin easing its aggressive monetary policy tightening. This weighed heavily on the US dollar and supported the global commodity markets, including oil. How much further oil prices can rally, however, is questionable.
Africa: The United States of Africa has pledged to commit $55bn to Africa over the next three years. According to White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, the US is bringing "resources to the table," and US commitment to invest in the African continent compares favourably to other countries. Sullivan also said Biden will host a dinner on Wednesday night for about 50 African leaders and announce US support for the African Union to join the Group of 20 (G20) major economies. He will also push for a permanent member from the African continent on the United Nations Security Council.
Kenya: Kenya is reportedly set to import 10mn bags of various foods, including maize, following limited harvests as the country experiences the worst drought in decades. According to local reports citing President William Ruto, the importation of foods is "to close the gap temporarily because the harvest was limited in this year's agricultural season occasioned by climate change and failure of rain." Last month the United Nations said it was seeking $472.6mn to support Kenya's efforts in dealing with the worst drought. The UN expects the situation to likely worsen as the country faces a fifth consecutive below-average rain season from October to December. Forecasts indicate the possibility of a sixth poor rainfall from March to May.
Angola: Consumer price inflation in Angola slowed further in November, coming in at 15.24% y/y from 16.68% y/y in October. The November reading marked the slowest pace of price growth in the economy since January 2016. On a m/m basis consumer prices rose by 0.82% during the month. November marked the tenth consecutive month inflation has slowed and this has mainly been due to a firmer Angolan kwanza against the USD this year. The continued slowdown in the inflation rate will further widen Angola's positive real interest rate, which will, in turn, continue to support the currency. Angola has one of the highest real interest rates at 4.26%.
Ghana: Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta on Tuesday said that Ghana will consider the Common Framework if it is assured that the process of reworking its debt obligations will be swift. Ghana has started debt talks this week with bilateral lenders and foreign investors. Chad, Ethiopia, and Zambia have applied for debt treatment under the Common Framework, with only Chad reaching a deal so far.
Rwanda: The International Monetary Fund has approved $319mn for Rwanda under a new financing arrangement aimed at helping countries deal with prolonged risks such as climate change. The lender, in a statement, said that the Resilience and Sustainability Facility was created this year for low-income and vulnerable middle-income countries to address the challenges with longer-term, low-cost financing. Rwanda is the first African country to secure the funding, and according to the IMF, "the RSF will support Rwanda's ambitious agenda to build resilience to climate change and help catalyze further financing." Moreover, the program will "facilitate green public investment, create further fiscal space, mitigate financial risks, and strengthen public debt dynamics and prospective balance-of-payments stability."
Namibia: Namibia has signed an agreement with the German development bank, KfW, for $134mn of concessional loans for water and road infrastructure projects. According to a joint statement, the projects include a water reclamation plant to boost supplies to the capital Windhoek. Note that Namibia is water scarce, with more than 80% of the land area being desert or semi-desert.
The final quarter of 2022 has been one for the kwacha bears, with the currency having shed nearly 10.0% against the USD. That has seen the kwacha rank as the sixth worst-performing African currency against the USD on a quarter-to-date basis. Aside from demand for hard currency outweighing supply, the kwacha has been weighed down by subdued investor sentiment amid delays in the debt restructuring progress. Zambia has been struggling to strike a deal with diverse creditors ranging from holders of the country's $3bn in Eurobonds to Chinese lenders that account for about one-third of its public external liabilities of more than $17bn.
The World Bank recently said that Zambian creditors must make the next move in a two-year debt restructuring process that has already taken too long. The next milestone is for Zambia's official creditors' Committee to sign a memorandum of understanding laying out the key parameters of the restructuring. Each creditor will then implement the accord through bilateral deals.
While Zambia's real effective exchange rate has been trending downward, the kwacha remains overvalued. This suggests there is further room for the kwacha to weaken, especially given Zambia's current macroeconomic backdrop. There is yet to be certainty on how the debt will be restructured, and timelines have proved overambitious. Therefore, the kwacha will likely remain on the back foot in the final quarter of 2022.
The big news on Tuesday was that Ghana had secured a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund for a $3bn financial aid program. The IMF said in a statement released yesterday that the government's strong reform program aims at restoring macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability while protecting the vulnerable, preserving financial stability, and laying the foundation for a strong and inclusive recovery. The international lender added that to support the objective of returning to a sustainable debt trajectory, the government has embarked on a comprehensive debt operation, which includes a debt restructuring.
According to the IMF, in addition to the debt restructuring, the fiscal strategy includes a medium-term plan to generate additional revenue and advance reforms to bolster tax compliance. While the main objective is to improve the country's fiscal position, the measure will help create space for growth-enhancing measures and social spending. Reducing inflation, enhancing resilience to external shocks, and improving market confidence are also important program priorities.
As was to be expected, Ghanaian Eurobonds rallied on the back of the news that the government has secured a staff-level agreement for a $3bn bailout from the IMF. Ghana's 2027 Eurobond gained in excess of 7% on the session to outperform its peers. It must be noted however, that Ghanaian bonds would've also found support from the weaker-than-expected US CPI data, which bolstered bets for the FOMC to gear back on its pace of monetary policy tightening tomorrow night.
The first of the final developed market central bank rate decisions for the year kicks off today. The Fed is expected to deliver its rate verdict today, followed by the BoE and ECB on Thursday. Expectations are for all three central banks to deliver a 50bps hike at their respective policy meetings. If this is the case and central banks provide less hawkish guidance, this will suggest a global monetary policy pivot is underway.
Fed speakers, including Chair Jerome Powell, have been signalling a slowdown in the pace of rate hikes amid mounting growth concerns and signs that inflation has peaked. However, the Fed has stressed that it is wary of pivoting too early as inflation remains elevated. However, the softer-than-expected US inflation figures released yesterday suggest that inflation pressures are easing.
The ECB is also expected to ease its pace of tightening on Thursday. The slowdown is being aided by a less aggressive Fed and comes after inflation in the shared bloc cooled for the first time in a year and a half. Similarly, the Bank of England is also expected to deliver another 50bps hike, with the central bank reaching the end of its hiking cycle.
From Africa's point of view, the less aggressive pace of policy tightening in the world's major markets should provide some relief for regional bonds and currencies. Moreover, a deceleration in the pace of tightening in core markets will take some pressure off central banks to provide more outsized rate hikes. A concern for many African central banks has been falling behind the curve of the likes of the Fed.
This publication is being distributed by Tellimer solely for information purposes irrespective of a particular user's means, financial situation or investment objectives. The information does not constitute investment recommendation, and nor is it investment, legal or tax advice or an offer or solicitation to purchase or sell any financial instrument.
This publication is not intended for distribution to, or use by, any person or entity in any jurisdiction in any country where such distribution or use would be contrary to law or regulation, or which would subject Tellimer to any registration requirement within such jurisdiction or country.


The fire fighting operations were, however, still underway to douse the flames even after 18 hours of the incident. As many as 16 fire tenders were deputed at the spot, including those from Jagraon, Samrala, Khanna and Halwara Air Force Station.
A major fire broke out at a hosiery unit on Bahadurke Road here on Friday. No casualty was reported as all 14 workers inside the two-storey building managed to escape.
Owner of the unit Brij Mohan said goods and machinery worth crores perished in the incident. "A part of the building also collapsed and rest was badly damaged," he said. Cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, police said.
As per information, labourers were working in the night shift when the fire broke out. One of the employees Rajnish who was present in the factory at the time of the incident while he came down to prepare tea, labourers were working on the first floor. "At around 12.30am, I saw smoke emanating from the office of the owner at the ground floor where an inverter was kept. I tried to douse the flames using fire extinguishers, due to no avail," Rajnish claimed.
After his failed attempt, Rajnish said he said he raised an alarm. "Three labourers were stuck on the first floor, but came down using a cloth as a rope," he claimed.
Labourers gathered around the unit as cloud of smoke emanated from the factory, following which fire engulfed the building. The unit is spread in around 4 acres with around 2 acres of built-up area.
Sub-fire officer Shristi Nath claimed 16 fire tenders made around 250 rounds, but were not able to douse flames completely due to presence of acrylic material in the unit.


Several injured passengers are currently demanding payment, well over $1 million, after their midnight voyage in Baltimore's harbor came to a crashing halt.
Some travellers say the impact has left them out of work with lingering injuries, medical bills are stacking up, and Spirit Cruises should pay for them.
Nearly 30 passengers are suing for the crash, with one Baltimore County couple demanding one million dollars in damages, claiming in court documents, "the impact caused Maurice Franklin to 'hit the glass walls behind him,' and his wife Tonya was 'violently jolted from her seat.
According to the Baltimore Sun, the captain fell asleep at the helm. The 119-foot ship hit two boats and crashed into a dock in Fell's Point.
Of the 28 passengers who have filed a claim, 17 are demanding a jury trial. Attorney Seann Malloy, tells WJZ his client wants this to set an example.
Spirit Cruises released a statement to WJZ, saying the captain was almost immediately fired and they are committed to reinforcing safety policies.


text:
Skip to section navigation
Project Air Force
Graham Andrews
Pedro Nascimento de Lima
>Project AIR FORCE
Project Air Force is Making a Difference with the Air Force
/content/rand/paf/jcr:content/par/wrapperdiv/teaserlist
Weighing the Cost and Necessity of Nuclear Modernization
The United States has fielded a Triad of air-, sea-, and land-based nuclear delivery systems since the 1950s. Major components are nearing the end of their service lives, raising the question of whether to extend or replace them. Meanwhile, Russia and China continue to modernize, diversify, and expand their nuclear arsenals.
/content/rand/paf/jcr:content/par/teaserlist
Improving Intelligence Support to the Future Warfighter: Acquisition for the Contested Environment
How can U.S. Air Force intelligence best support the acquisition community? A RAND report finds that the main challenge is in ensuring the ability of the acquisition community to deliver capabilities that meet a threat as it exists when capabilities are delivered, not as it was when requirements were set.
Getting To Outcomes® Training: Planning an Evaluation
These presentations consist of a set of videos that explain how U.S. Air Force Community Action Teams can use Getting To Outcomes® (GTO) to build a Community Action Plan (CAP).
Improving U.S. Air Force Training and Development in the Cyber Field
The U.S. Air Force has been looking for ways to revamp the training of its offensive and defensive cyberwarfare workforce to develop the best fighting force possible. Is the training and development process that exists now working well for the cyber workforce? Is there a need for improvement?
Leveraging Complexity in Great-Power Competition and Warfare: Volume I
The United States should aim to minimize the element of complexity for itself while maximizing it for its adversary in great-power competition and warfare. But what does complexity mean in an Air Force context? And how can it be used as a method of attack?
Leveraging Complexity in Great-Power Competition and Warfare: Volume II
The Air Force should apply a complexity lens through which to review ongoing and future efforts to best leverage complexity to U.S. decision advantage. The technical companion to an initial exploration includes a literature review and a user manual.
Aligning Roles and Missions for Future Multidomain Warfare
The formal decisions, documents, and events that established the roles, missions, and functions (RMF) of the U.S. Department of Defense and the military services in the early postwar years are over 70 years old. Is the existing RMF framework fundamentally sound, requiring only modest adjustments?
How Can the Department of the Air Force Prepare for Natural Hazards?
Some Air Force facilities are exposed to flooding, high winds, wildfires, or even multiple hazards. Future costs of damages are uncertain, and climate change could affect the frequency and scale of these hazards. The process for making investment decisions regarding resilience should be flexible.
Frank G. Klotz
Lt Gen Frank Klotz (USAF, Ret) is an adjunct senior fellow at the RAND Corporation. From April 2014 to January 2018, he served as the Under Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Security and Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration. In this Senate-confirmed position, he was…
Retention of Enlisted Maintenance, Logistics, and Munitions Personnel: Analysis and Results
Modernizing the U.S. Nuclear Triad: The Rationale for a New Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
Assessing the Readiness of Contractor-Provided Space Operations Capabilities
Establishing Feeder-Designation Relationships with Colleges and Universities to Increase Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Air Force Officer Accessions
Project AIR FORCE Menu
About PAF
PAF Management
PAF Oversight
Air Force Fellows


RVNetwork.com is Escapees RV Club's online discussion forum. Our discussion forum is used by tens of thousands of RVers, and is open to all RVers, not just SKPs, unlike many of the Club's other properties. Post a question, learn from fellow RVers and stay up-to-date on events happening around the country.


Nelkin Designs Blog: A TNNA Recap and Namaste Giveaway!
Well all, I am back from the most wonderful 6 days of yarn, knitting, friends, and more yarn! Trust me when I say that you don't want me to go through a blow by blow of everything I did at the show... I was a bit of an energizer bunny and I think you might need a nap after reading a detailed account!
The biggest difference between this TNNA and others was that besides my trunk show at Ravelry I was not married to being in any one booth so I could wander the show floor. This allowed me to make GREAT connections with vendors and gather ideas for future projects. I have some potentially AMAZING things lined up for the coming year and look forward to firming up those details so I can share them with you. The biggest hole in my knitting knowledge base is around yarn lines so I spent a fair amount of time finding "new to me" companies and learning about their yarns and their stories.
I particularly fell in love with: Frog Tree Yarns (a non-profit that is inspiring), Alisha Goes Around (for Alisha and her polar Bear!), Shelridge Farms (US sourced and milled), Art Yarns (can you say cashmere?), Anzula (they have an orange I want to marry....), Fleece Artist (might just be knitting on a skein I got at the show!), Juniper Moon Farm (because anything that Susie does ROCKS!), and Koigu (Rhichard might have given me some skeinlettes for Adorn!). I look forward to sharing more about these yarns and stories behind them as I start to knit with them. SQUEE!
Evenings were spent eating, hanging, knitting, and LAUGHING, oh my. The knit nights held in the Hyatt lobby are legendary, this year I even got to knit and sing-along with Amy while she played her uke. I met up with old friends, and made lots of new ones. My roomie was a great support, and excellent at telling me to shut up and go to bed!
Ready for your GIVEAWAY? Friday night Marly Bird hosted a Designer Dinner which was a lovely way to meet lots of my people all at once before they show floor opened. Marly put tons of energy and thought into the event and it was AWESOME, so great in fact that we all left with GINORMOUS goodie bags that included.... are you ready? A NAMASTE Bitty Bag in Lime!!!! WOOT! I have a Zuma that I use everyday, Namaste Bags are truly fantastic.
I've been feeling so incredibly lucky and thankful for the opportunities that have been flowing my way lately and it is time to GIVE BACK to you all for the incredible support. So, who wants to win the bag?
Comments will be open until Monday June 20th at 12:00 EST... Good Luck!
what a nice giveaway, for that I am thankful. and we finally have wonderful weather!
Thanks for the giveway & who doesn't love green!
I'm thankful for how supportive my husband & family are with my design efforts!
glad TNNA was good for you!
I am so thankful that my family is heathly and employed and able to give back to the community in many ways. I count myself lucky everyday!
Laura - Thank you for another great give away. I am thankful today for the my family's health and happiness. And for the ability to connect with other knitters! I am on your mailing list and love getting newsletters from you.
Thankful that we were just, 10 mins ago, told that my 6 yr olds eyes are going to be ok, maybe needing glasses but ok. Very, very, thankful.
This is going to sound so squishy, but today I'm really thankful for my inlaws. They are being particularly thoughtful & helpful right now & I know that I could have nightmarish inlaws. I got really lucky.
I've been keeping up with you on Facebook but signed up for the newsletter too. Glad you had so much fun - it's always fun for us "regular" knitters to hear about TNNA.
I'm thankful for so many things - the sun is finally out here in California after a very long, wet winter, for my family, my employment, and I'm even thankful for my mischevious puppy!
I am thankful for my dad's health. He just turned 89 and still works part-time a couple of days a week and is probably more active than I am!
I just signed up for the newsletter and look forward to receiving it.
I'm thankful that currently everyone in my family is healthy. I'm thankful for the wonderfully, supportive, knitting community.
I am thankful for naptime right away, because I could really use one!
Awesome giveaway! I am thankful for the wonderful people I have in my life, online and off. They make life so much more rewarding and adventurous!
I am thankful for my hands that allow me to knit and thankful for my arms that allow me to hug.
I am grateful for mild, cool weather--good for sleeping with the windows open!
I am thankful for my mother, who long ago taught me to knit. I didn't stick with it at the time but was able to pick it up quickly many years later.
I am thankful that I can knit!
I'm thankful that even though things could be better in my life right not, it is still the best it can be at this time and I am happier than I have been in years.
I'm thankful for the bag giveaway and for the good weather up here in MI. It's finally time to put the winter coats away. :) Hopefully no more weather in the 40's until Oct!
I am currently thankful for my health, my love and life! Sometimes bad things happen to other people and watching it makes me so thankful for everything I have!
I am thankful that my daughter is finally potty-trained :) It's been a long road and now that we're there, my house is a lot less stressful!
OH I love that bag! I am thankful for summer vacation!! I had a rough teaching year this year!
I'm already signed up for your mailing list!
So much to be thankful for. Right now, it's the rain and cool temps. And, of course, all the wonderful knitting info and supplies that I keep coming across in blogs like yours and others too.
I am thankful for the beautiful weather today. Especially since it's been raining so much and today, at work, we're having a picnic lunch.
I am thankful for my wonderful kids, who are really adults now!
I just signed up for your mailing list.
Hi Laura, I'm thankful for dates and olives from Tunisia, think I'm on your mailing list, and love your enthusiasm.
I'm thankful for so many things, but today I'm thankful for my job. Not only because I have one, when so many people don't, but because it's one I love!
Also, I signed up for the e-news, but under my yahoo account, rather than the gmail account associated with blogger (I never check my gmail). The address is the same, just the extension is different.
Already on the mailing list. I am incredibly thankful that my mother made a spur-of-the-moment decision to drive 5 hours to spend 2 days with my family and me this week -- and when I went to work, did the grocery shopping and dinner prep with a smile.
I am thankful for our 19 grandkids!
I'm thankful for people who make gorgeous yarn and design amazing patterns for the rest of us to knit!
I am thankful that my son's handsurgery went well and that after his PT things should work completely well!!
I am thankful for my family and the wonderful Ravelry community!
I've been unemployed for a while and recently landed a new position. It's not my dream job but I'm definitely thankful to have a paycheck again!
I'm thankful for all the wonderful knitting designs that are out there and thankful that I can enjoy knitting every day of the year.
I'm thankful for a certain actor whom I recently discovered. He's gorgeous and talented and it's great fun to watch his movies and shows over and over again. I am on the mailing list but I think that's under my other identity.
I am thankful that my son graduated from film school and that he and his twin brother are friends again and can laugh together. It has been too long!
I'm thankful for my husband who is soo supportive with my new job that he rearranged his morning schedule at work and take our daughter to school to accommodate my schedule, my oldest daughter is graduating from high school and is going to college. all of my kids are healthy and very smart, and I'm thankful that I learned how to knit and create beautiful garments for myself and my famly.
I'm thankful the gentle rain that is doing my garden good today.
I am grateful for another day to celebrate friendships, creativity and to enjoy it all with my family.
I'm grateful I found your blog! It's quite nice to read and I'll be returning to check it out. Thanks!
I am thankful that today was a productive day with my students at school. And for this giveaway.
I am thankful for beautiful mornings when I can do errands, work, or just pick up my latest project which jumps off the needles with a personality of its own !!
I am thankful that the military will be packing up our house to move in 2 weeks and I don't have to pack it up myself. It would be great to have a new knitting bag to take with me on our move though!
I am thankful to be 37.5 weeks pregnant- the end is in sight!!!!!
I am thankful for my family...so very thankful for each of them.... and a savior who loves me. Thank you also for the giveaway!
I am so thankful mynhoney will grill in a rainstorm!
I'm thankful for my kids. That will always be my answer. Any day, any time.
I am thankful for my children and their laughter.
I am thankful for my husband, he is a great guy and yarn enabler.
I just joined the mailing list.
I am SO thankful for my family and my country. AND, I am thankful I can de-stress by knitting.
I am grateful for spring finally being here and for my garden producing delicious food and for sunshine during lunchtime walks and for my wonderful husband who can really cook and is so sweet to me and for my darling cat and for my fabulous friends and for the soft yarn I'm knitting with right now and for my health and that of those I love.
I missed you at Squam this year, but thankful that I was able to go.
I'm thankful for friends, old and new!
I'm thankful the school year is almost done we could all use a rest!
I signed up for your newsletter. I am thankful for life itself and the ability to do most anything I want/need to. We take that so for granted!
I'm so thankful for a healthy family and healthy pregnancy at the moment. I've been feeling very blessed recently.
I'm thankful for my life being good. I have had many ups and downs but over all LIFE IS GOOD! Thank you for making me reflect. Oh, cute namaste too!
I am thankful for the wonder people I have in my life - family, friends, and others. Oh - I am also very thankful to my SIL for starting me on my fiber path 2 1/2 years ago.
I'm thankful for knitting and yoga - things that keep me calm.
I am thankful for so many things, family and a wonderful neighbor (Pat) who taught me to knit! Just to name a few.
I am thankful to be alive to see the state of IL legalize civil unions, and to have been able to get here to share in my daugher's joyous day!
This is so generous of you--I love Namaste bags! Right now I'm thankful to have a great internship AND a promising job interview lined up. So hopeful even in this economy.
I am thankful for summer and my family.
I am thankful that my children are happy and healthy!!
I'm thankful for my new life and new adventures even though it is far from Ithaca and all the wonderful people and yarn there!
Today I am thankful that its Thursday because tomorrow I have the day off which means I get to take my daughter to school and pick her up. The smile on her face as she skips down the path to me still melts my heart after 18 months.
I am thankful that we only have 2 days left for VBS this year. I want to get back to morning knitting.
I'm thankful that I've exercised 15 days in a row-- today will be 16. Normally I'm a couch potato.
I'm thankful that I've got an "A" right now in the class (dev psych) that made me miss TNNA!
I am so very grateful that my daughter's 5 mo. old triplets are healthy and growing and showing no signs of any kinds of problems.
How nice of you to do this! I am thankful that in this time of flooding in Bismarck, my house is safe and dry.
What a wonderful giveaway! Anything by Namaste is wonderful. This morning--as everyday--I am thankful for my loving husband who loves me in spite of my shortcomings.
What a cool giveway!Thank you for that! My fingers are "super" crossed!
I'm currently thankful for some nice weather, at long last! That looks like an awesome bag!
I'm just thankful for knitting. I need the de-stressing effect these days!
I'm grateful that summer has arrived and the hollyhocks are blooming.
i'm thankful that my 2 boys will be here soon together for a visit. one's in china and the other's in oregon so we can't be together often. i joined your mailing list. thanks for the giveaway.
I am thankful that I have a husband that understands when I drop everything for a friend in need and stands beside me while I do it.
I'm thankful for the beautiful weather today!
I can honestly say that I have nothing in my life that I am not grateful for...I would not change a thing.
I am thankful I got to go to TNNA at all, though I'm sad I missed the designer dinner! It was great to see all these people I admire in one place!
I am thankful for the great comeback of knitting! It is such an exciting craft and there is no end to the possiblities!
Awesome give away. I love my Namaste!
I'm thankful for this beautiful, sunny day! Fantastic giveaway too!
i am thankful for the sense of peace i feel today... it is nice!
I am thankful for my family! Love them and miss them all so much.
I am thankful for the gift of knitting that helps calm my world after a long couple of stressful days. I love my Zuma,too.
thanks for the opportunity and TGI(almost)F!
Thanks for the giveaway! I am thankful for my first grandson!
I am thankful for having more yarn than I can ever knit. And a DH that says if I'm happy, he's happy.
I'm thankful for my new dog, recently adopted from the animal sheltwr, who has reintroduced me to the joys of evening walks.
I wanted to hear your TNNA stories in person, but this is a great substitute for now. At this moment I am very thankful for this beautiful Ithaca day.
I am thankful for the health of my children. They are all wonderful kids and I am blessed to be their mom!
I am thankful for this giveaway, but I am thankful that I can knit andfor the community I have found thru knitting. I have a new family to add to my others and I am grateful.
I am thankful that even faced with all the hard time we have had, my son (20) continues to be grateful, humble and awesome. Bring light to my world everyday.
Great give-away! I am thankful that it's not as hot today as in the last days.
I'm thankful for the ability to knit. So far, it is what's keeping me sane today. LOL!
I am thankful that both my DH and I are working and that my mother is feeling better! Thanks for the great giveaway!
Im thankful for my health, my hubby and children, and for my friends!
I am thankful for my husband, healthy children, and a steady job to support my knitting habit!
Will rejoin you email list. Think I am already on it.
What a wonderful give away. I have joined your mailing list and have favorited your blog. I look forward to following your blog and seeing all of the wonderful designs you come up with.
I am Thankful for my family and my wonderful Husband, who sends me out to yarn shops when he knows I need a break.
I am thankful that my teaching contract didn't get renewed and I can think about other exciting opportunities. Great give-away. Thanks!
I am thankful that God and my husband have given me the opportunity to quit my job and spend more time knitting and with my dear mother who has dementia before she loses her mind totally. While I am sick, I pray to God that I am granted disability.
I'm thankful for TNNA. Our LYS comes back with so many wonderful new ideas to share.
I'm already on the mailing list, but I'm thankful that there are only 3.5 days of school left in this year. Now my knitting time can expand!
I am VERY thankful that I was just offered an awesome job! That way I can do what I love, and save money to go to VKL!! YAAAY!
I am so thankful to have met you at TNNA over the weekend! We are excited about incorporating some of your designs into our future classes!
since today is Father's day, I'm grateful for a patient and loving husband, who has been a wonderful father and partner and who I love dearly.
So glad TNNA rocked for you! Here's to great connections and upcoming opportunities!
I am thankful for Amazon Prime and expedited shipping which just saved me from having to waste 60 freshly butchered chickens.
I'm thankful for my family, and a cozy rainy Monday. Love the recap!
Yesterday I was and AM thankful for fathers, especially mine who is only with me in spirit. Today I am thankful for all the designers like you who share their talents and knowledge with us all. NAMASTE!
I am grateful for my yoga practice. Namaste is a Sanskrit word that means "the divine in me greets the divine in you." this is how I greet my fellow yogis and how I attempt to approach everyone I come in contact with.
I am thankful for family and friends, without them life would be so hard and with them, life is wonderful!
Thank you so much for sharing the bounty of TNNA.
Today I am grateful that our CSA starts up on Wednesday - and there will be PEAS.
I am scifiknitter at gmail dot com.


Is your dad or someone else you know an avid camper and would just as happily be out in a field than sitting at home? If so this is the mug for him!
A mug that is ideal for the outdoors - it's unbreakable, hardwearing and incredibly clever. The mug has a unique vacuum space inside the mug which stops the outside of the mug getting hot but keeps the drink lovely and warm.
Personalise this Happy Camper mug with a name/role and a message on the back.
The words 'happy camper' come as standard.


I have played Gran Turismo 5 and I like the animated wall paper in the main menu; showing different cars at different locations. Does anybody know if that animated wallpaper was adapted into a screensaver for Windows?
You could grab some images from IGN or other videogame review sites and make your own screen saver. There a bunch of tools to do that, online. You could probably grab the background from the main menu (this on a PS3?) - but not sure where that file is.


Perhaps you have sat there and thought about why everyone loves baseball a lot? This information will current every thing you'd will need regarding baseball. If you are a right-given batter, you should shift your excess fat on the right foot whilst keeping these lower body muscle tissue small. This will give you energy from the rear ft . during your golf swing. When you are a coach that can't appear to secure your team's consideration as you process, then you need to try out mixing up things up somewhat. If completed exactly the same way each day, the group will end up fed up. So try to do for every exercise. You must put on a batting helmet when striking. The headwear is perfect for defense in opposition to brain accidents. The best safety helmets have shields that safeguards the face from poor pitches and nasty balls. Basic safety is a vital facet of any sporting activity. This is especially valid with baseball. You have to keep an eye on the ball constantly so you don't accidentally be harmed. Errant balls could cause dropped teeth get rid of. Safety factors are important when playing all kinds of baseball. This is also true with baseball. It is best to be aware of where the tennis ball will be so you don't unintentionally get strike by it. Should you not pay attention, you can aquire a teeth knocked out by errant tennis ball. If you are working bases, don't ignore the basic mentors as well as their signs. Remember that your instructors have a far better look at the complete field. Your trainers allows you to see. End if the mentors let you know to prevent. If they signal anyone to go, don't wait. You should be the very best hustler your team to success because they are a hustler.You need to be the one that massage off on the staff. This is the type of clubhouse innovator that alterations a game within the clubhouse. Try to end up being the distinction producer and team leader that your teammates look for for responses. Get to by helping cover their your glove towards the emerging chuck, and move with the reverse feet for the golf ball whilst keeping one foot on base. It does shell out to be effective it in before you begin enjoying, ensure that your baseball glove is properly damaged in just before the period.Should you be lucky enough to have new equipment for that impending year. Chuck a baseball frequently involved with it continuously.Use a natural leather softener to break within the leather material. Make use of your fist to force the weave.A broken in glove operates a lot better than a rigid one particular. You can very easily drop sight of your ball as a result of lighting or the direct sun light. Be sure that your glove is secure before the season. It does pay to operate it in prior to starting actively playing if you're fortunate enough to have a fresh glove for the period. Toss your ball involved with it. Leather-based conditioner could be used to soften the natural leather in.Punch within the weave with the fist. A damaged-in glove operates better in practice. If you're a mixture, don't be frightened to forfeit yourself. That's component of as being a staff.It may be a lot more successful to succeed yet another player by compromising your personal reaching. If you'd hit a residence operate, but reliable enjoy delivers more is the winner than flash, it might not get you to as fashionable as. Plenty of periods the time it just gets trapped and sends it back. Often you are likely to have to engage in shield quickly, and you require the capability to behave swiftly. Be aware of what your body's impulses as a pitcher. Shoulder joint injuries usually occur just because a pitcher uses his left arm. To minimize the potential risk of a arm tension, reduce pitching methods to three occasions every week. This provides your shoulder sleep on alternate days to stop trauma. People around the globe love baseball as a way to escape the doldrums of daily life. Taking part in a complete set of 9 innings together with friends is a difficult, exhilarating strategy to devote per day. The information within the report will educate you on beginner as well as advanced methods to use in the area.


Recover My Files Full Version is a data recovery application that can recover deleted files emptied from the Windows Recycle Bin, lost due to formatting or re-installing a hard drive, or files that have been removed by a virus, Trojan infection, unexpected system shutdown or a software failure. It is just a comprehensive utility which retrieves deleted files that are emptied from Recycle Bin or files that are lost due to format or corrupted hard drive or computer software failure that is unexpected. It also retrieves data from memory cards, outside USB or other supported media. It's the functionality to recover any lost documents, images, email, and music. It is really a recovery that is good, which gives you a safety net in the event you mistakenly delete important information from your computer. This has a screen that is basic nonetheless it does include some solid search and recovery tools. The application guides you through the file recovery process by enabling you to choose drives and folders to scan. You can search for any type of file on a regional or outside drive, and you will particularly look for graphics, documents, archives, emails, or databases in purchase to speed the procedure up. You may also refine your search by choosing to scan dates and keywords that are specific.
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