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World Cup: Colombia annihilates Poland in 3-0 win
Colombia thrashed Poland with a 3-0 win, eliminating Poland out of the World Cup. … READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2018/06/24/world-cup-live-poland-vs-colombia What are the top stories today? Click to watch: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSyY1udCyYqBeDOz400FlseNGNqReKkFd euronews: the most watched news channel in Europe Subscribe! http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=euronews euronews is available in 13 languages: https://www.youtube.com/user/euronewsnetwork/channels In English: Website: http://www.euronews.com/news Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/euronews Twitter: http://twitter.com/euronews Google+: http://google.com/+euronews VKontakte: http://vk.com/en.euronews
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When Ryan Payne took a plea deal in July in the case against the occupiers of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, it was an important win for the prosecution: Payne was considered one of the strategic leaders of the 41-day occupation.
But earlier this month, Payne asked the court to reverse his plea from guilty to not guilty.
Payne, 33, is an electrician and Army Veteran from Anaconda, Montana, who has been characterized as a tactical leader in the occupation. Prosecutors say he and Ammon Bundy went to Harney County in November and December and met with Sheriff Dave Ward to present their "redress of grievances." Prosecutors also said Payne and Bundy demanded that Ward provide a safe haven for ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond, to prevent them from having to report to federal prison.
Ryan Payne agreed to speak with OPB by phone under the condition that we send him a list of questions in advance of the interview. He also stipulated that Gary Hunt, his friend and a board member of the militia group Operation Mutual Defense, be allowed to sit in on the call, and that OPB pay for the cost of the call from the Nevada detention center where Payne is being held. OPB agreed to these stipulations.
The plea deal Payne originally struck with prosecutors recommended he spend somewhere between 41 and 51 months in prison. He was facing a conspiracy charge that carries a maximum of six years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
In addition to conspiracy and weapons charges related to the Oregon occupation, Payne also faces a slew of criminal counts tied to the 2014 standoff in Bunkerville, Nevada. He hasn't entered a plea for those charges yet.
Payne agreed to answer OPB's questions by phone from the Southern Nevada Detention Center, where he is being held without bail.
Q: Why does Ryan Payne want to withdraw his guilty plea in Oregon?
Payne said that he didn't have much time to reflect upon and consider the Oregon plea deal, and that he was under "duress and pressure" from the government.
"I succumbed to that duress and pressure," he said. "And I was able to regather my wit, mostly through my faith in the Creator … that the people will be the righteous judges."
In his Oct. 11 motion to withdraw the plea, Payne's attorney Rich Federico argued the foundation of the Oregon deal was an assumption that Payne and the government would also reach a deal in Nevada. That apparently fell through.
"On the date Mr. Payne signed the Oregon plea agreement, the Nevada offer was only in a draft format," Frederico wrote. "Notably, the entire 'statement of facts' section of the Nevada plea offer had been left blank. When Mr. Payne arrived in Nevada, he was only then provided a 'statement of facts' that Nevada prosecutors demanded he agree to in order to secure the deal."
Payne told OPB that the government's evidence against him is and was unclear: "You don't know what the government has. The indictment is very vague. It doesn't say who was impeded, who conspired, where they conspired," he said. "So you're left in the dark and that's part of the pressure and duress.
"They mount a massive amount of pressure on you to try and scare you into taking these pleas," he said.
Q: Why does Payne believe that the judge might honor his request?
Payne said his responses when he originally entered his guilty plea were equivocal. When U.S. District Court Judge Anna Brown asked if he actually impeded federal officials, he responded, "as it has been presented to me, it is my understanding that I did."
"I surely don't answer in a way that alludes to my understanding that I committed a crime," Payne told OPB.
Payne said he also believes that some of the evidence presented after he reached his original plea deal works against the government's case, including revelations about the FBI's use of confidential informants during the occupation.
"These people definitely have an interest in fabricating stories," he said. "Just that knowledge, it removed some of the darkness; it shed some more light, and I was able to make a decision with a clearer head."
The government's use of informants came out in the ongoing trial of Ammon Bundy and the other defendants, months after Payne's plea deal was settled. Payne pointed to government informant Fabio Minoggio, alias "John Killman," who testified that he unwittingly assumed a leadership position in training occupiers.
"We can see now, a known federal informant inserting ideas into people's heads and trying to stir people up in an already tense situation," Payne said.
Q: The first occupation trial for those other seven defendants is in jury deliberation right now. So why did Payne ask to withdraw his plea now, instead of waiting for a verdict?
Payne believed the timing would strengthen his case to the judge, and expressed certainty that the seven defendants will be found not guilty.
"I didn't want to have the impression with the court that the reason I was doing this was because of some outcome in the current trial that's going on up there," he said.
Brown will likely decide whether or not Payne can withdraw his plea after the jury has issued a verdict for the other occupiers. If she agrees, Payne could go to trial with the remaining defendants in Oregon, a case scheduled for mid-February. Or he might first be tried in Nevada for the Bunkerville charges along with Ammon and Ryan Bundy. That trial is schedule to occur concurrently with the second Oregon case.
Q: Why did Payne want to talk?
Payne told OPB that his attorneys had recommended he not speak to media.
"The public defenders are absolutely advising me that I should not talk to the media," he said. "Everything that I could say, the government will try to misconstrue it to use against us in court."
He is represented by Lisa Hay, the federal public defender for the District of Oregon, along with Rich Frederico, the district's assistant federal public defender.
But Payne echoed a mantra of Cliven and Ammon Bundy in explaining why he wanted to speak publicly: "Sunshine is the best disinfectant."
You can hear more about the federal trial of the Malheur Refuge occupiers on OPB's podcast "This Land Is Our Land."

subset: commoncrawl


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Atafu is known as the most traditional of the three atolls. Its valuable kanava trees are used for building village homes.
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SeaBird Exploration reports 33 per cent revenue decrease in Q1
- Business & Finance
SeaBird Exploration PLC has announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2014.
– Revenues for the quarter were $33.7 million, a decrease of 33% compared to the comparable period in 2013 and down 13% relative to Q4 2013.
– Contract revenues for the period were $30.5 million, down 39% from Q1 2013 and down 9% from Q4 2013.
– Multi-client revenues were $3.2 million, up from $0.1 million reported in Q1 2013 and a decrease of 37% from $5.1 million reported in Q4 2013.
– Contract surveys during the first quarter represented 64% of vessel capacity compared to 53% during the fourth quarter 2013.
– EBITDA was $10.2 million compared to $11.5 million for Q1 2013 and $3.9 million for Q4 2013.
– EBIT for the quarter was $2.4 million compared to $5.4 million for Q1 2013 and negative $4.6 million for Q4 2013.
– Vessel utilization for the period was 76% compared to 56% in the prior quarter.
Operational review
Higher utilization and multi-client investment resulted in improved earnings for the period. Enhanced focus on expense management also positively impacted results. Market demand for 2D and source capacity strengthened towards the latter part of the period. However, the 3D segment has been slower to recover. Pricing has remained firm.
Contract surveys represented 64% of vessel capacity compared to 53% for the fourth quarter of 2013. Hawk Explorer and Northern Explorer commenced a joint 20,000 kilometer survey in East Africa. In March, Osprey Explorer initiated a 5,800 kilometer 2D survey in South America. Aquila Explorer completed a 2D survey with a major oil company in Australasia and is continuing to operate within the region. Harrier Explorer and Munin Explorer both performed source operations during the period.
We continue to see demand for source operations and a significant portion of the fleet was employed in this market during the first quarter. There has also been further interest in longer-term contracts as well as framework agreements. During the quarter, we signed a three-year master service agreement with a major industry participant. Moreover, the company executed a letter of intent with TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company to acquire up to 200,000 kilometers of 2D seismic data in Mexico.
Multi-client sales were lower compared to the previous quarter. The majority of revenues in this segment related to prefunding of Geo Pacific's West African survey. The remaining portion was primarily associated with late sales from pre-2013 surveys.
Multi-client utilization was 12% for the period compared to 3% in the fourth quarter of 2013. The increased activity relates to the Geo Pacific's 2,600 square kilometer 3D multi-client program. The survey is anticipated to be completed towards the end of the second quarter.
There were no yard stays or significant upgrades carried out during the period.
Vessel utilization was 76%, up from 56% in the fourth quarter. Operational performance of the fleet was solid, with technical downtime below 4%.
The company reported lost time injury frequency rate of zero. Pre-qualification audits were also completed for two oil companies, with both resulting in the company's status being upgraded to the highest level.
Regional overview
Revenues in Europe Africa and the Middle East improved significantly from the prior period with half of the fleet active in this region. Repositioning of vessel capacity to the EAME region resulted in decreased revenues in North and South America. Asia Pacific revenues were down slightly from the fourth quarter of 2013 due to reduced multi-client sales. Lower niche 3D demand also impacted this region.
Sales in EAME of $17.1 million accounted for 51% of total revenues. Revenues increased compared to the prior period as Northern Explorer completed a longer contract in the Mediterranean and repositioned to commence a joint project with Hawk Explorer in East Africa. This project will keep both vessels active in the region through the majority of the second quarter. Moreover, Geo Pacific initiated its first multi-client project in West Africa. Harrier Explorer continued its source contract in the North Sea.
APAC sales of $10.4 million accounted for 31% of total revenues. APAC revenues were down slightly compared to the fourth quarter 2013. Aquila Explorer completed a 2D survey with a major oil company and will operate within the region throughout the second quarter. Towards the end of the quarter, Voyager Explorer commenced a 2D project.
Sales in NSA of $6.2 million represented 18% of total revenues. The decrease in NSA revenues was mainly due to the repositioning of the Geo Pacific to West Africa and a delay in contract start-up for Osprey Explorer's project in South America.
The 2D and source market tender activity improved in the first part of 2014 and the company's backlog recovered substantially. However, we continue to see delays in permitting as well as commitment of prefunding, which are both impacting the startup of new projects. Moreover, in light of the short visibility in the seismic industry we would like to see the current demand continue for some time before we feel comfortable that the market has fully stabilized.
The recovery in the niche 3D market has been slower to materialize. While we are reviewing a number of potential contract opportunities, the tender activity is below historical market levels.
Pricing in all segments and regions has remained firm and we would largely anticipate day rates to remain stable through the first half of the year.
Given the current levels of prefunding, the company may find it more challenging to identify attractive multi-client opportunities. For existing surveys, late sales are expected to continue but revenues are difficult to predict given the limited size of the library.
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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031788573474805284.post8628630727993341444..comments2020-07-02T03:51:23.052-07:00Comments on Classy with a Kick: WIOW - Row, Row, Row...Jill J.http://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031788573474805284.post-11092073369682423582020-04-23T11:41:14.055-07:002020-04-23T11:41:14.055-07:00In the event that you are set out toward the surf ...In the event that you are set out toward the surf you should get a marginally littler board from a companion if conceivable and check out it. thesupguru.com
Michael Smithhttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031788573474805284.post-22449397560136845312018-10-23T21:19:01.302-07:002018-10-23T21:19:01.302-07:00Are you tired of carrying around the extra pounds?...Are you tired of carrying around the extra pounds? Or do you want to reduce extra weight once and for all? I found an amazing product of weight loss just see this Best rated rowing machine under $300e in this you will learn how to lose weight by following a healthy diet.Donald McManushttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031788573474805284.post-51035588831030712252013-08-14T15:23:59.399-07:002013-08-14T15:23:59.399-07:00I've never been on one, but I will have to giv...I've never been on one, but I will have to give it a try!

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www.vogueandheels.com Anonymoushttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031788573474805284.post-29482925629367426392013-08-14T11:38:21.555-07:002013-08-14T11:38:21.555-07:00it is surprising how much of a workout you can get...it is surprising how much of a workout you can get with a row machine! brooke lynhttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031788573474805284.post-38702427076075044162013-08-14T09:42:55.245-07:002013-08-14T09:42:55.245-07:00I used to row in high school and I loved it!! now ...I used to row in high school and I loved it!! now i miss this!Helene in Betweenhttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031788573474805284.post-64309480905540991942013-08-14T08:39:55.484-07:002013-08-14T08:39:55.484-07:00I love the rowing machine! It is so awesome! I wan...I love the rowing machine! It is so awesome! I want one in my house.

As for the stand up paddle boarding we have been wanting to try it FOREVER, but boards are freaking crazy expensive down here!

Maybe I'll buy a one time sesh to see it's if it's really for me, but if I fall in love, than my bank account will most likely suffer from it! :):) Hallie Oceansidehttps://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031788573474805284.post-8917526184300807262013-08-14T07:34:01.483-07:002013-08-14T07:34:01.483-07:00I love the rowing machine! My dad had one in our b...I love the rowing machine! My dad had one in our basement growing up and I always used to play on it - so naturally it became my favorite piece of workout equipment as I got older!Niki {Glossy Blonde}https://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031788573474805284.post-2056142939155801612013-08-14T06:54:20.706-07:002013-08-14T06:54:20.706-07:00I've never tried it but I can only imagine how...I've never tried it but I can only imagine how hard it would be. Talk about upper body strength - that I don't have!

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Fashion and Beauty FindsAmy Shaughnessyhttps://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031788573474805284.post-31154693863928177552013-08-14T05:34:53.300-07:002013-08-14T05:34:53.300-07:00Going to the gym tonight so I will give this a go....Going to the gym tonight so I will give this a go.. Love this post! :)

I Pink i Love YouMelaniehttps://firstname.lastname@example.com


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showroom is also a live kitchen, where we have cooking
demonstrations. We will feature various chefs that will
introduce us to different and creative cuisines. You
will also be able to see various cabinet lines, many
different countertop materials (Granite, Corian, Tile
and laminates), stone and tile flooring as well as high
end appliances.
Currently our showroom hours
are by appointment only.
are licensed, bonded and insured in the state of Arizona.
Advanced Concepts in Kitchens & Baths is
also a member of the National Association of the Remodeling
Industry (NARI) and the National Kitchen and Bath Association
(NKBA) Being affiliated and participating with these
associations keeps us informed with new products, ideas
and keeps us up to date with industry standards.


text: Our choir sings informally as a group on Sundays at the 9.30am service, and also forms for special services during the year. Highlights have included inductions services, Good Friday, a Musicians' Service, Evensong and the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. If you are a competent singer and interested in joining the choir, we would be very pleased to hear from you, as new members are most welcome. Please contact Lorelle George at firstname.lastname@example.com or ph 027 418 4325.


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I have three texture mapped objects in a scene. The rendering of each needs to effect just one color channel of the final image. I'm currently able to accomplish this by assigning each to a separate render layer and combining them the compositor. Is it possible to achieve this with just shader logic?
The hope is to produce a reasonable looking image in the 3D view.
The objects are currently using Emissive Transparent materials to give "Shadeless" behavior.
An example blender file is available at: https://github.com/BrianSwift/JunoCam/blob/master/Juno3D/P00_102c.blend
Additional solutions that work in BI or EEVEE would are also appreciated, but Cycles is needed because BI doesn't have the equirectangular (panoramic) camera model.


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The strongest force
There is a force of which the likes you have no idea; it may be considered the strongest on earth. Yet, this force resides in, around and through you. I am talking about your mind. Scientist determined that we use between 5-10% of our mind. Are you satisfied with that? All great inventions you and I enjoy today is a result of mind in action.
You see most people try to live from their conscious mind; trying to will their way through live. The issue is that seldom works, if at all. Everything that happens to you; everything you get; and, how you live your life is a result of your subconscious mind.
But, hold up, did you know that your subconscious mind is in charge of your whole life? It runs your life based on your beliefs and habits. Yet, your beliefs and habits were gifted to you. That's right your parents, other family members, and environment pre-programmed you as a child. You never had a chance to develop your own paradigm.
This means your thoughts are not really your own as your thoughts are formed based on your beliefs. These beliefs and habits that are in your subconscious mind is referred to as your paradigm. And, your paradigm is usually what keeps you back from your highest potential. This depends on what family you came from, and/ or environment. The greatest revelations you will ever have is when you start to study yourself. Good news, you have the power to change it...
Leave a Reply.
Tony Williams:
July 2018
Note from the Author:
Greetings to all my new readers, Tony Williams here…
Project Your Mind: where science meets spirituality!
What if I told you most truths are hidden in plain sight!!!
What I am bringing to you are scientific, and physiological truths. These truths I have researched in-depth and, most, personally put into practice. So, I know they work.
What I present to you are missing pieces. Many of who I call giants have left us clues for us to follow, yet with missing elements from each. What I did and am still doing, is researching all the missing ingredients and putting them all together. Some of which came out of my very own mind in meditation. And, now I am bringing it to you, read my book "Inspiration Corner" and refer back to this blog.
It will start coming together, and now all you have to do is put it into action. I even show you how and why this science works. Now it is all up to you!
"Whatever the mind of man can conceive, and bring itself to believe, it can achieve" – Napoleon Hill
"You become what you think about most of the time" – Earl Nightingale


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J.C. Yang
An experimental technique to study the rapid release of liquid cryogenic fluids from a pressurized vessel orientated downward is described. A rupture disc was used as the release mechanism. Experimental observations were made on the discharge characteristics of two cryogenic fluids, C4F10 (FC-31-10) and C3F8 (FC-218), which were proposed as potential candidates for replacement of halon 1301 (CF3Br) as fire suppressant. For comparison, halon 1301 was also included in this study. Various parameters that could influence the discharge process were studied. These parameters were: (1) orifice opening, (2) the effect of an extension tube at the vessel exit, and (3) initial charge pressure. The events occurring internal and external to the vessel during discharge of FC-31-10 or FC-218 were studied with high-speed photography and a transparent acrylic vessel. The average penetration velocities of the spray at various locations downstream were measured by means of a laser extinction technique. Two distinct flashing behaviors were observed at the vessel exit. The first flashing occurred immediately after the bursting of the rupture disc, and the second appeared at or before the moment the liquid was depleted from the vessel. During depressurization, no internal boiling of FC-31-10 or FC-218 was observed. Increasing the initial charge pressure reduced the emptying time of the liquid. Decreasing the orifice opening was found to increase the liquid emptying time significantly. The behavior of the liquid inside the vessel was found to be very similar whether an extension tube was present or absent at the vessel exit: an indication of two-phase critical flow.


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Ready for the Democratic National Convention? Democrats come together in Philadelphia this week to nominate Hillary Clinton as their 2016 presidential candidate. Throughout the political hype and rhetoric, TaxVox will continue to do its best to keep taxes on your mind. The Daily Deduction will post only today, but TaxVox will be running daily posts on Clinton's tax agenda. If you missed last week's posts on Donald Trump's tax agenda, you can check them out here.
Would Trump pull out of the WTO over tariffs? He's already said he'd change the terms of the NATO Alliance and reverse regional trade agreements such as NAFTA, but yesterday GOP presidential nominee stepped up his isolationist rhetoric by threatening to pull out of the World Trade Organization, which he called "a disaster." His remarks came after NBC's Chuck Todd asked Trump whether his proposals to impose big new tariffs on China and Mexico would pass muster with the trade organization. If they won't, Trump insisted, "Then we're going to renegotiate or we're going to pull out." The problem, of course, is the WTO is the very venue the US has used to block unfair Chinese trade practices.
International tax reform…from 30,000 feet. At a recent TPC conference to discuss two new corporate tax reform plans, Columbia University law professor Mike Graetz provided some valuable context. As TPC's Howard Gleckman said, "Graetz did the rest of us a great service by providing an easily understandable 30,000-foot overview of the challenges of international tax."
Senate Finance Committee's top Democrat names a new tax team. Senator Ron Wyden chose Victor Fleischer to be co-chief tax counsel with current senior tax counsel Tiffany Smith. The team will start working together October 11. Fleischer is a tax professor at the University of San Diego Law School and an expert in financial taxes who has long argued last year that carried interest be barred or at least be disclosed on tax forms and to private equity investors.
More transparency about corporate tax rates, thanks to a new auditing rule. The Financial Accounting Standards board issued a new rule on stock option accounting, reports The New York Times. The rule goes into effect in March 2017, and will present a truer picture of a company's financial position. Said one tax accounting expert: "These companies were not paying taxes on account of option exercises, but the financial statements made it look like they were. Companies' tax rates were overstated, and there can't be any defense for that."
New Jersey Democrats have a gas tax deal for Governor Christie. The state's Democratic legislative leaders have veto-proof support for a plan that would raise the state's gasoline tax by 23 cents a gallon. Revenue would help fund transportation projects and other tax cuts. The plan would also phase out the estate tax, boost a tax credit for low-income workers, raise the retirement and pension tax exemption, and create a new tax break for veterans. Motorists who earn $100,000 or less would receive a $500 tax deduction to offset lessen the pocketbook impact of the gas tax hike.
Congress is recess. The Daily Deduction will post Mondays until it resumes.
Interested in subscribing to the Daily Deduction, the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center summary of the day's tax news? Sign-up here to get the Daily Deduction delivered to your inbox every morning. If you'd like to tell us about a new research paper or have any comments about our feature, write us at dailydeduction "at" taxpolicycenter "dot" org.
Posts and comments are solely the opinion of the author and not that of the Tax Policy Center, Urban Institute, or Brookings Institution.
- © Urban Institute, Brookings Institution, and individual authors, 2020.


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Social Media Then and Now
Eight years ago, I wrote a post discussing the role of social media in planned giving based on an interview with Beth Kanter, a leading expert on the use of social media by non-profits. It's amazing how much and how little has changed in that time. While social media has taken off for outright giving, it remains primarily a vehicle for engagement and stewardship for planned giving.
The following questions Beth Kanter raised in her interview about social media are still relevant today, regardless of where you are on the social media spectrum. So, how much have things changed or improved for you in your use of social media since then?
"To understand how social media can help your cause, you must be clear about what you are trying to accomplish and then determine which avenues will take you there."Beth Kanter
- Q: What should organizations ask themselves before diving into social media?
- What are your guiding principles – how will you define success? It's about building relationships, not just about numbers.
- What resources do you have available and what is your staff experience?
- Does leadership understand the risks that are inherent in this channel?
- Does your leadership understand the potential value and are they willing to invest in low risk experimentations? In other words, not say up front, "show me the money."
- Have you created reasonable starter goals, not related to how much money you want to raise, but rather how much time you will invest? Is your audience there? Do you know what they are saying about you?
- Are you keeping things as simple as possible? One of the most common organizational pitfalls is making the process and expectations too complex in the beginning.
- Are you ready to engage and have a conversation with your donors?
- Q: How do you tie all of your various social media outlets together?
- All of the channels, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, etc. should be tied together by your goals and your metrics. Your social media activity can be further integrated by automating feeds to share content among channels. Content sharing can also be done manually without taking a lot of time, so that content is artfully selected. Make an inventory and ask yourself if you are strategically and purposefully cross-pollinating content and conversations, weaving content among networks?
- Q: How do you measure the effectiveness of your social media efforts?
- After 6-18 months of experimentation, your organization is ready to move into the area of measuring engagement (comments on blogs, liking or commenting, listening post – create a mini-focus group) and conversion (traffic, acquiring email addresses, and outright fundraising).
- Q: What are some suggestions for online strategies and managing expectations?
- Provide updates and reports at intervals of a marketing campaign.
- Storytelling is important, so have a plan: (1) what's the impact of money (2) talk about your supporters (3) talk about your recipients (4) and why do people like your organization and its cause?
- Say thank you – often.
- Q: How important is it for non-profits to monitor their brand?
- It is essential because if you are not listening or at least tracking your organization in this space, you'll become irrelevant. At minimum, set Google alerts when your organization name is mentioned on social media. Monitor your brand for sentiment, volume, and tone. Remember, bad comments are gifts in disguise, because it's an opportunity to engage.
- Q: What is the future for social media in the non-profit world?
- Social media will permeate the entire organization. The organization will, as a result, become more open, and people will be receptive to receiving feedback. Social media channels will be less like isolated islands, and more like colonies.
Here are a few examples of what organizations are doing in terms of planned giving social media. The majority of these examples are either through the organization's blog or Facebook page.
- Boston College financial aid
- Johns Hopkins donor profile
- Duke University giving blog
- Brigham and Women's Hospital survey


text:
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Sportneer Pull Up Bar Doorway Chin Up Pullup Bar Multi-Grip Trainer Workout for Home Gym, Up to 330 lbs
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Iron Gym Total Upper Body Workout Bar – Extreme Edition
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A not-so-distant but definitely futuristic Los Angeles. Theodore Twombley (Joaquin Phoenix) is a sweet, sensitive thirty something guy, undergoing a mid-life crisis in a form of a civilized divorce with Catherine (Rooney Mara). As he is left alone in his modern, spacious flat, he is feeling horribly lonely. He could use a little recreational sex in his life, love too if it is only possible. Somebody with a heart as big and soft as his, similar to those squishy Valentine-gift velvet pillows, shouldn't be left on his own for longer periods of time. It doesn't help that Theodore works at a website called BeautfulHandwrittenLetters.com, and he specializes in composing love notes for strangers to send to their spouses, friends, love interests and children on different occasions . With every sweet, funny, emotional letter he becomes more and more miserable, seeing clearly what his life could be and what it really is.
One day an ad for a new generation of intelligent OS catches his eyes. Theodore has nothing to lose – he buys it, installs it and here he goes: he is not lonely anymore. The OS, a.k.a. Samantha (played by the voice of Scarlett Johansson), a name the system chose for itself after Theo had decided it should be a female, fills the emptiness of his existence very effectively. Samantha is reorganizing Theo's files, redirecting his calls, sorting his mail, making him laugh, and developing quickly something like a human consciousness, tailored to meet every Theodore's need. She claims she's been designed that way – to learn how to take care of her human owner in a way resembling closely a perfect human relationship. How very sweet of her…
After a while Theodore rediscovers his zest for life and cannot imagine living without Samantha. He switches her on the first thing in the morning, when still in bed. He switches her off the last thing at night, while falling asleep. Like real friends, they tell each other their most intimate secrets . They fall in love. They have virtual sex. They live, almost literally, in each other's pocket. It seems an OS is the best thing that might happen to a single modern guy or a modern girl because no, Theodore is not alone – other people around him, his best friend Amy (Amy Adams) among them, are having a relationship with AI OSs as well. Are computer-generated partners the real answer for all your troubles? What will happen when troubles start also in the virtual paradise?
My impressions:
In the first half an hour I was so impressed with this movie. Everything worked just fine – the premise, the settings, Joaquin Phoenix, giving something close to the best performance of his life, even the voice of Scarlett Johansson as the embodiment of your perfect virtual better half. A future Los Angeles was portrayed as a city full of pastel colours with appropriately gentle inhabitants strolling peacefully to and fro never using a car, like in a more advanced version of Simms or Second Life. In fact a big part of the movie's charm is just how thoroughly Jonze has imagined and constructed this future Los Angeles, from its smoggy skies to its glittering skyscrapers to its efficient mass transit system. Everybody, from Theodore's friend Amy (Amy Adams) her husband Charles (Chris Pratt) to his coworkers at BeautifulHandwrittenLetters, were gentle, tender and affectionate, as if they had majored in zen meditation or sensibility care. I, however, couldn't help thinking they all were on drugs…
Of course, after a while it becomes clear that even among perfect people nobody's perfect. Marriages sunder, romance goes wrong, especially for Theodore who seems to be extra-sensitive or maybe extra-caring but attracts the attention of wrong people. What begins as a great blind date with a hot woman gets complicated when she instructs him in how much tongue to apply while kissing. Everything must be perfect – for her. A late-night phone assignation progresses nicely until the woman on the other end of the line tells Theodore to pretend he is choking her with a dead cat while having sex. And in the photo album of his memories, he can't discard snapshots of the departed Catherine, a successful lawyer whom he's not quite ready to divorce but whom divorce he must because they get on each other's nerves after five minutes of even most innocent conversation.
Then Theodore progresses from sweet to annoying; I felt as if a big portion of his brain was switched off (and, as his boss tells him that he must be half male half female, I think I know what part of brain it was). He falls in love with the new, artificially intelligent operating system of his computer. The movie shows this product advertised and, presumably, bought in remarkable quantity, but focuses on Theo's interaction with his private OS, which he gives a female voice and personality. And here I started to wonder why an allegedly intelligent guy never asked himself or his sweet Samantha any incisive questions which mostly begin with 'why'. Why such an advanced system was being made available to ordinary people. Why Samantha wanted to learn humanity's tics and quirks so badly. Why she was so keen on being likable to Theo. Why she never talked about herself and other tasks she performed while making Theo believe he was the 'one' and 'only' (I don't want to spoil you so I am deliberately vague).
Theo and Samantha's interactions were troubling from my point of view just because everything was going so smoothly. Their growing entanglement progressed quickly from sweet to creepy, especially after one scene in which Samantha hit on an idea to provide a corporeal ersatz of herself for Theo who was apparently missing the physical aspects of having a partner. The ending left me befuddled – mainly because by that point I was far more interested in things that weren't said/shown than in the trials and tribulations of poor Theo and his best pal Amy, both caught in the throes of loving a half-imaginary half-real AI partner they knew nothing about.
Final verdict:
I think I would like this movie far better if it had a more sinister overtone, for example featuring a nice little conspiracy theory. Yes, I always prefer intelligent thrillers to sappy love stories. The first part was fine, the second left me underwhelmed and the ending…eh, the ending simply didn't make sense from my point of view as it answered all the questions I didn't and wouldn't want to ask.


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As a premier provider of health and safety courses in Brisbane for over twelve years, Harness provides accredited training courses that meet safety needs across a variety of industries. We offer globally recognised courses as well as nationally accredited units of competency in Australia. Our team of highly trained industry professionals all has oil and gas industry experience to ensure that they are teaching from a place of experience, not just from a curriculum.
We believe that culture of safety is best taught by those who have practised it in the real world, not only in a simulator. Whether you need generalised courses such as CPR, fire and safety training, or confined space entry, or one of our specific Well Control classes, Harness has a convenient schedule available. With a well-crafted mix of classroom and practical instruction, we devote ourselves to making sure that every participant leaves our course with a full understanding of course material.
Harness health and safety courses in Brisbane are offered in our state-of-the-art workplace health and safety education facility. We use the latest technology to simulate emergency situations, which ensures a high level of participant engagement and allows for supported practice using realistic equipment and scenarios. We also have a second Australian location in Toowoomba, a training facility in Papua New Guinea, and a mobile training unit that provides classes throughout Queensland and Northern New South Wales. Call us on 1800 HARNESS for more information on our course material or to book any of our safety courses.


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And so is Bugs Bunny. (This student is so fast, literally drawing this in less than 10 minutes. The shading didn't take him much longer than that! His mom says he's been serious about drawing since he was three!)
We've moved on to our next project, but I may HAVE to show you some more of their drawings- I think they are wonderful!!


text: If you are looking for dress pesta import anak you've come to the right place. We have 15 images about dress pesta import anak including images, pictures, photos, wallpapers, and more. In these page, we also have variety of images available. Such as png, jpg, animated gifs, pic art, logo, black and white, transparent, etc.


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Camper shower curtain,Cotton can be an historic organic dietary fiber consisting of a three-sided prism framework providing woven fabrics a wonderful sheen viewed from different angles. This organic dietary fiber has been utilized for eons to create elegant house furnishings and clothing products. Actually with the development of artificial fabrics the popularity of a silk filled duvet has never receded. Evidently there will constantly become something endearing about this marvelous fabric. shower curtains sale online
Relating to ancient Chinese fable, Empress Hsi Ling Shi discovered man made fiber quite by incident. Having tea under a mulberry woods she was shocked when a silkworm cocoon all of a sudden fell into her cup and unraveled its twinkling strings. Her husband Emperor Huang Ti was therefore impressed he ordered his people to cultivate the silkworms and spin the newly found fiber into luxurious fabrics.
Shower curtains 95 inches long,The egypt trade expanded by method of the Man made fibre Road which began in the western Han Dynasty from 202 BC to 9 AD. It hit its peak during the Yuan Dynasty (1279u20131368). The route eventually extended 4,350 kilometers from western China, central Asia and into European countries. The silk paths transformed into multiple twigs to distribute man made fiber, porcelain, sugar, spices or herbs, salt and tea. inappropriate shower curtains.
Beach Weekend #digitalart #nature Shower Curtain
Taffeta's extra making procedure gets rid of thread slubs to create a smooth surface finish as compared to the less sophisticated structure of dupioni. It also gives taffeta more original appeal and a crisper hands. Its extra handling makes it somewhat even more costly than dupioni. Taffeta is normally mostly used for formal gowns and superb bed bed linens and drapes. shower curtains xl length.
The main difference between dupioni and taffeta silks are the slubs. Dupioni is certainly nubby and a little more rough than taffeta with its signature slubs found throughout the fabric. The humps are an build up of raw a silk filled duvet as it is definitely unique into wool. The slubs stay within the threads and are woven into the fabric. Dupioni silk is normally widely made into huge dresses, home supplying materials and elegant curtains.
Taffeta's extra making procedure gets rid of thread slubs to create a smooth surface finish as compared to the less sophisticated structure of dupioni. It also gives taffeta more original appeal and a crisper hands. Its extra handling makes it somewhat even more costly than dupioni. Taffeta is normally mostly used for formal gowns and superb bed bed linens and drapes.
Shower curtains disney,As wistful as silks are they inevitably wrinkle. So how perform you proceed about smoothing out the wrinkles? You can look the various other way if your a silk filled duvet drapes have got a few lines and wrinkles. But a ball dress decreased to a mass of lines and wrinkles is definitely by no means in design. Great warmth problems man made fibre materials so utilizing a hot iron is usually totally out of the query. Remove wrinkles with light steam–by either dangling the fabric in the bathroom after a shower or using a professional steam machine.
You can also try the steam establishing on your iron. Steam the fabric by holding the iron at least 6-8 inches from the fabric. When utilizing a vapor method be cautious not really to allow wetness condense on the cotton. Water causes stubborn distinguishing which is normally difficult to remove. To be on the secure part take your man made fiber creations to the dry cleaners. It might not end up being the cheapest route but it't the best method to protect your purchase.
As delicate as silks show up, they are very durable textiles. However, there can be a special way to clean and maintain both curtains and dresses to avoid long lasting harm. Never try hands washing or dealing with stains at home. Keep that to the professionals. Discover a dry cleaner expert in good materials to treatment of your valuable a silk filled duvet items.
Cotton and ultraviolet light do not really combine. While your man made fiber evening dress is normally safely stored in the closet your drapes are another matter. UV rays can spoil silk in simply a few brief years. Once the fibres become brittle and the color fades they're beyond restoration. Make sure your drapes are covered and interlined to provide a hurdle from the elements. It's also a good idea place blinds between the drapes and windows or hang them in a space without direct sunlight.
Giving your cotton a well-needed rest once in a while is a good idea. Shop it in a cotton handbag or trash can that will enable the silk to inhale. Become sure cotton doesn'big t become completely creased. The folds up can become brittle and tear after getting stored in place for too lengthy.
Before placing silk dresses and drapes into storage make sure they're clean, completely dry and free of charge of harmful chemical substances. Store them in a dry, dark space and great. Dry out cleaning bags or PVC storage hand bags are sure loss of life for any type of man made fibre fabrics. Plastic barriers normal dampness ending in mildew and discoloration. Don'to ignore moths like to munch on silk, so throw in cedar potato chips, blocks or tennis balls to repel starving larvae.


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Q: Can you remove the white background in my artwork when setting up my logo for embroidery?
A: Yes, the white background can be removed. If there are white design elements that should be embroidered in white thread let your embroiderer know about these items.
Q: Can the colors in my embroidered logo be different than in my artwork?
A: Yes, you can change the colors but you should see a proof with the new colors before having your logo embroidered.
Q: Will my logo work for baseball caps?
A; Possibly. Cap designs are limited to 2.25" high x 4" wide. If your logo meets those size requirements then your design will work for caps. But, your set-up may need to be redone so it works well for caps.
Q: Can a photo be used as artwork to create my embroidery set-up?
A: Possibly. If your design is simple and the photograph is clear then it might work. But, if your logo is detailed, the photo isn't clear or the image is distorted you may need to have artwork created before continuing with your embroidery set-up.
Q: How can I make sure the correct thread colors will be used for my embroidered logo?
A; If you provide PMS colors for your logo then your thread colors will match as closely as possible. If you are still unsure you can request to see an embroidered sample before continuing with production.
Q: What is the most common mistake people make when ordering embroidered shirts?
A; People choose a shirt color that's the same or very similar to a color in their logo then their logo doesn't contrast well against their shirt color.
Sunday, January 1, 2017
Your Embroidered Logo: Most Common Questions Answered!
Posted by Jennifer DeRosa at 8:43 PM


text: China On Verge Of Cashless Society By PNW Staff November 06, 2017 Share this article: China is about to cross the threshold to becoming a cashless society. Though cash still exists, many Chinese today never touch paper bills or plastic debit or credit cards at all in their day to day life. Increasingly now, financial transactions in the Chinese economy are taking place through payment apps on smart phones. Watch special report below:Imagine a leaving your house in China and hailing a taxi that you pay for by scanning a QR code on an app, buying food from a street vender again with a phone app, since no cash is accepted, then later going out for lunch by renting a bike just by scanning its QR code. At the restaurant, just input the price of the meal into the app to pay again. On the way home, you may feel charitable, so you give money to a street beggar performing a song for money, again within the app, before stopping at a Buddhist temple where you can increase your karma by donating with the app.The two most popular payment apps are WeChat Pay and AliPay. WeChat Pay is linked to the WeChat social network, a sort of Facebook on steroids that now connects nearly all Chinese in a network of social profiles, chat, shopping, payment, music, videos and a dozen other functions. AliPay, an app created by Alibaba affiliate Ant Financial Services, is the other major player. Alibaba is the world's largest online shopping company (which dwarfs Amazon in size) and AliPay payments are accepted at tens of thousands of stores across China. Ant Financial Services is linked to an online money market fund, Yu'E Bao, which encourages users to invest and spend with AliPay. Its 4% interest rates have transformed Yu'E Bao into the world's largest money market fund now with $217 billion by the end of June (1.43 trillion yuan). Both payment apps allow Chinese consumers to send peer-to-peer payments directly between bank accounts as well, much like a fully integrated and easy to use version of PayPal.It was not long ago when the West was debating whether China would ever enter the modern financial age by adopting credit cards en masse, but the Chinese were reluctant to take on personal debt. Now it would seem that China has leapfrogged the credit card era (and the huge debt burden many in the developed world now face) entirely with payment apps that both link directly to Chinese bank accounts and often provide attractive interest rates. The Chinese are estimated to have spent $5.5 trillion through mobile payment platforms last year, at least 50 times what those in the US spent, and this continues to accelerate. Estimates are that this will quadruple by 2021 and, by next year alone, reports indicate that there will be as many as 45,000 stores in Japan that accept AliPay, to cater to Chinese tourists.The phenomenon of bike rentals is just one example of an innovation made possible by these mobile payment platforms. Just two of the largest bike rental companies, Ofo and Mobike, have scattered more than 13 million GPS equipped bikes around the city. One has to merely to scan the QR code, hop on and ride. When done, you can leave the bike by the street for its next user to scan, a feat made possible by app-based payment. Many experts point to this lack of point of sale equipment, expensive and vulnerable to hacking, that has allowed so many stores and restaurants quickly to adopt payment apps rather than credit or debit cards.For foreigners without Chinese smartphones, payment app profiles or bank accounts, conducting any financial transactions at all has become difficult. But this fact also exposes the drawbacks of mobile payment platforms as an exclusive means of financial transaction. Given that the Chinese government maintains control over both the Internet and bank accounts in China, as well as companies such as Alibaba and WeChat, Chinese citizens are surrendering every last vestige of privacy they once had. Every financial transaction, no matter how minute or fleeting, is now tracked and logged. Every personal connection is recorded, and every account can be monitored in real time, or frozen, by the government. Dissenting opinions can be quickly pinpointed and dissenters can be easily closed off from all buying and selling. Unable to rent a bike, hail a taxi, take a bus, or buy fuel for a car, they would be stranded. Unable to purchase food or other necessities at a store or restaurant, they would be starved into submission. In short, Chinese citizens, under the guise of convenience, are being forced into a system that surrenders total control to the state. Yet there has been little to no debate or opposition to the adoption of mobile payment platforms. Those on the bottom care little for privacy and worry more about the convenience and security that such apps provide, e.g. from theft and counterfeiters. For these reasons, those in power are quick to herald in this new electronic system of total population control.As can be seen from the passive indifference of the Chinese people, the Chinese model could easily be adopted by that world system the Bible foretells: "And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." (Revelation 13.16, 17) Liked this article? Don't miss an urgent PNW update. Back to home page


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Marigold Montessori is best described as the kind of day care centre you'd expect to find in a small village, only in a convenient downtown Whitby location. Standing at the entrance to the centre at the back of the church, it's hard to believe that you're even close to the bustle of downtown Whitby. The fenced-in yard is covered in neatly trimmed grass, away from the main street. Inside, there's a small but dedicated staff who work closely together and run a variety of concerts throughout the year for parents and children to enjoy. A few of the staff members that I met on my tour had been working at this location for more than seven years.
You'll find the entrance at the back of the church, next to the area for parking and the yard. This entrance connects to stairs that will take you down to the basement level of the church where the centre is located. Once you arrive, the pride of ownership is immediate. The facility is immaculate. At no point in any tour was I expecting to see perfection in the way a centre is kept clean. If I was, this would be the place to beat. All Montessori learning materials are neatly stacked on shelves and not once did I ever see a dusty corner or shelf.
What I like about this centre is that children are exposed to music, French and sign language programs in addition to their regular classroom schedule. I spoke to the sign language program instructor and without my asking, she made a comment that the children at this facility were among the best behaved that she's ever worked with. I would never have believed it if I didn't see it with my own eyes. The energy here is a lot more subdued and mature than other centers that I've visited, with an even mix of children of all ages up to five. If your child thrives in a structured and personal environment, this option could be the one for you.
- Accepting children from 18 months onwards.
- Part time and full time care available.
- Parking is easy to access with more than 8 spaces available.
- Fees start at $330 per month for three half days per week and goes up to $1,000 per month for five full days (for children starting at age 18 months in the Pre-Casa program).
- Full days begin at 9am and end at 3.30pm.
- Additional time between 7-9am and 3.30-6pm is billed in 15 minute increments at a fee of $2.50.
- Registration is $50 and is non-refundable.


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The question that arises is – can the countries of North East Asia cooperate and bring stability in the region? For any meaningful cooperation in North East Asia, two factors stand out that would always cast their shadow on the geo-political relations among the countries of the region. First, is the historical baggage carried by Japan for her ruthless invasions in the first half of the twentieth century. The Russo-Japanese War broke the might of a European power by an Asian power and subjected Russia to a humiliating treaty at Portsmouth. It resulted in Japanese occupation of the Korean peninsula and resultant oppression and use of Koreans as 'comfort women' for the Japanese Imperial Army during the Second World War. Then was the Sino-Japanese war; the rape and sack of Nanking and the atrocities that were committed on its people by the Japanese Imperial Army, was indeed a sad chapter, as yet unforgotten in the minds of the Chinese. All this has caused a xenophobia among the Chinese and Koreans towards Japan. It may take another generation to heal the wounds and soothe the minds for positive relations to be built.
If there is a part of the world that has seen intense churning in recent times, it is the geopolitical cauldron of North East Asia. The nations of the region in the cauldron are Russia, the Koreas, China and Japan while the outside players are the US, ASEAN, India and Australia. North Korea conducted nine missile tests and one thermonuclear test last year.1 Its ninth missile test in 2017 'Hwasong-15' confirmed its credentials to threaten all the cities in the US including New York and Washington.2 Even if it were to drop short of the US mainland, the resultant tsunami and the nuclear fallout would have a devastating effect on its Western coast. All that is left, is how soon a hydrogen bomb would be ready. However, it is believed that it already has a stockpile of fission bombs.3 Time is running out and sooner the world is able to bring it to sanity, the better it is for its safety. Next; what about allies of the US namely South Korea and Japan? Two of the North Korean missiles flew over the island of Hokkaido creating a crisis in Japan. South Korea, across the 38th parallel, is ever vulnerable and precariously placed. Kim Jong Un is determined not to end up as Saddam Hussein or a Gaddafi, but to live and thrive on his own terms as a renegade. The world is caught in a 'Catch 22' situation. China is watching the geo-political power-play and as smug as she is at the precarious situation of the US and her allies, China is not very comfortable with her own lack of control over Kim.
Her occupation of Tibet a year after the founding of the PRC was her first move to assert her future resolve….
Historical Baggage of Japan
The question that arises is – can the countries of North East Asia cooperate and bring stability in the region? For any meaningful cooperation in North East Asia, two factors stand out that would always cast their shadow on the geo-political relations among the countries of the region. First, is the historical baggage carried by Japan for her ruthless invasions in the first half of the twentieth century. The Russo-Japanese War broke the might of a European power by an Asian power and subjected Russia to a humiliating treaty at Portsmouth. It resulted in Japanese occupation of the Korean peninsula and resultant oppression and use of Koreans as 'comfort women' for the Japanese Imperial Army during the Second World War. Then was the Sino-Japanese war; the rape and sack of Nanking and the atrocities that were committed on its people by the Japanese Imperial Army, was indeed a sad chapter, as yet unforgotten in the minds of the Chinese. All this has caused xenophobia among the Chinese and Koreans towards Japan. It may take another generation to heal the wounds and soothe the minds for positive relations to be built.
Paranoia of China
The second factor is the 'Century of Humiliation' suffered by China from mid-nineteenth to mid-twentieth century. In this period, the Chinese, who were so proud as a 'Middle Kingdom,' were defeated, exploited and humiliated by Britain, France and the US. During the Opium Wars, the summer palace at Beijing, considered to be an architectural splendour, was pillaged and burnt. Chinese silk, pottery and tea were traded with opium to make their population addicted and also to ensure a continuous demand for opium from the addicted population. The Boxer Rebellion and its reprisals by Western powers against China and its own civil war, added to its woes.
This experience has made China unforgiving, expansionist and seized with paranoia to redeem her insult. Her occupation of Tibet a year after the founding of the PRC was her first move to assert her future resolve. Her continued repression including the extermination of over 86,000 Tibetans in the aftermath of 1959 uprising, has shown that she will not hesitate to use force to safeguard her national interest.4 Also; her border conflict with Russia, Vietnam and India and recently, her intimidating stance in Bhutan, has shown unambiguously that she would use force to solve border disputes.
China has crafted geo-strategic arrangements around her with a long-term perspective…
China's belligerence has been displayed on the seas as well. Her occupation of the South China Sea, construction of artificial islands to manufacture sovereignty in utter disregard to the claims and sensitivity of the rim countries of the ASEAN, has been her method of employing military power without inhibition. Also, she displayed absolute disdain towards the verdict of Permanent Court of Arbitration convened under the UNCLOS that had dismissed Chinese claims over the South China Sea as balderdash. Her diplomatic manoeuvre, to split the ASEAN countries by bribing smaller countries such as Laos and Cambodia to ensure that no resolution is passed against her for expansion into the South China Sea has entailed that there is no collective opposition to her expansion. Her unilateral declaration of ban on fishing and intent to impose an 'Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ)', has literally threatened the sovereignty of the South East Asian countries. It has also threatened the 'Freedom of Navigation' in the South China Sea, where world trade of over five trillion dollars passes each year.5 Presently, China is sitting astride the shipping lanes that can threaten the world economy; an intimidating prospect indeed! China is unrelenting, as her previous experience of exploitation is weighing on her mind so heavily that she perceives that this is the time to exploit other countries, as a sweet revenge to what she had suffered previously. To expect any accommodation from China, to improve the conundrum of North East Asia, is indeed far-fetched.
China's Geo-strategy
China has crafted geo-strategic arrangements around her with a long-term perspective. She has created a strategic redoubt both on her Eastern and Western flanks. On the West, she has created a rogue state out of Pakistan, whom she has nuclearised.6 Thereafter, she encouraged Pakistan to share nuclear technology with North Korea in return for missile technology.7 By this barter, she created Nuclear and Missile powers on both Western and Eastern Flank. The former would take care of India and the latter South Korea and Japan, in addition to the US. Now, she can fight her potential adversaries through proxies. It is a calculated and smart geo-strategy.
China has replicated the same strategy over and over again; if one analyses her strategic thinking for the past 200 years. As a 'Middle Kingdom', she had her 'Han Heartland' protected by barbarians – Manchus, Mongols, Hui, Uyghurs, Tibetans and Zhuang in the outer perimeter. The same concept has been extended to its East and West in having rogue nations Pakistan and North Korea being the first line of defence against potential adversaries. A similar design has been replicated on its Eastern Seaboard facing the Pacific Ocean. The First Chain and Second Chain of Islands are its protective perimeters. The occupation of South China Sea, by construction of artificial islands and manufactured sovereignty, is to fortify the first chain of islands. We can see how the same geostrategic mindset has been applied for centuries in protecting the Chinese heartland. As she enhances the capability of her armed forces, she would like to engage the enemy as far forward as possible so that the wars are waged far away from her mainland. A study of her weapons profile proves the point.
North Korea's nine missile tests and the sixth nuclear test, have given her a shield of invincibility…
Sino-Japanese Conflict Points
In the East China Sea, China is in conflict with Japan for the Islands of Senkaku, which she refers to as 'Diaou'; these islands are controlled by Japan. The present owners of these islands are also Japanese citizens. Here again, China has repeatedly sent patrol boats and fighter jets to intimidate the Japanese, who are holding these islands. There have been clashes with fishing vessels from China intruding into the territorial waters of Japan. China has again unilaterally declared ADIZ in the East China Sea, transgressing into Japanese air space. China is aggressively pushing Japan away from its pacifism towards a more provocative stance.
Again in 2013, China unilaterally converted her 'Nine Dash Line' an arbitrary line showing more than 90 percent of the South China Sea as her own – into a 'Ten Dash Line'. The Tenth dash drawn East of Taiwan incorporated Taiwan to be within her territory.8 This action, not only came in conflict with Taiwan; but also with Japan. The last island of Japanese archipelago, Yonaguni is just 111km from the Eastern Coast of Taiwan. Obviously, the territorial waters claimed by Taiwan, Japan and China, have again come into conflict. Here, China instead of heralding peace is increasing the conflicting points in the region. Little wonder that Japan has a rethink on her constitution that professes only self-defence.
North Korea: A 'Frankenstein Power'
It has become a 'Frankenstein Power' feared by the whole world as it has an 'H' Bomb and a delivery system that can traverse the Pacific Ocean. It is challenging the might of the leading world power – the USA. The biggest vulnerability of the US is her allies, who are literally at the mercy of North Korea. Japan has deployed the Aegis Ashore (Land Based Anti-Missile System) and South Korea has deployed the Theatre High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) System. The fact that PM Abe got a thumping re-election victory also shows that the people of Japan have supported his militant stance.
North Korea's nine missile tests and the sixth nuclear test have given her a shield of invincibility. It has taken a more aggressive stance against the world in general and the US in particular. There is a panic in South Korea as in the event of a war, the first nuclear weapons would be rained on her notwithstanding the fallout that may affect North Korea itself. The Chairperson of South Korea's ruling party Ms Choo Mi-ae has warned the US that it should not resort to any military action without the consent of South Korea.9
In an absolutely strategic move, on New Year's day, Kim offered the olive branch to South Korea and even decided to consider sending a contingent to 'Winter Olympics' at Pyeongchang. In the same vein, he warned that the nuclear button is on his table and if he is threatened, he would not hesitate to use it against the US. This diplomatic 'coup de grace' has softened South Korea's attitude towards the North. With the North Korean contingent in the games village, it gives the required security from terrorist attack that could disrupt the games. As expected, a delegation from South Korea met the North Korean delegation at Panmunjom. The athletes of the two Koreas have decided to march under a unified flag at the opening ceremony and also to field a joint women's hockey team. In the last count, they also held a practice session together. President Moon of South Korea has indeed fallen headlong into the trap laid out for him. He has not only decided to postpone the joint exercise with the US Navy, but is also having a rethink on deployment of the 'THAAD' missile system, inducted by the previous regime.10
In North East Asia, Japan has emerged as a lead player that can compete with China…
The move by North Korea is a master stroke to gain time to operationalise the fusion bomb and refine its launch capacity achieved during the tests conducted last year. The world should realise that these are the geopolitical games played by the wily Kim. It does not need immense knowledge on geopolitics to read between the lines. Will Kim ever agree to unite with democratic South Korea? Will not, as he and his family members would be thrown out in the very first elections! Secondly; would the unified Korea ever be under the totalitarian dictator like Kim? Would the South Koreans ever agree to such a proposal in their wildest dreams? The answers are obvious. The unpredictability of North Korea has become its strategic asset, as it can twist and turn the geo-strategy of North East Asia to its advantage by clever manoeuvre and putting out the spectre of nuclear threats and playing on the psyche and compulsions of other countries in the fray.
US and her Allies
The US has two of her close allies in South Korea and Japan with her troops and bases stationed in these two countries. She also has Taiwan in the extended neighbourhood of the region. Sad but true that South Korea and Japan have issues between them. In addition to the historical baggage carried by Japan, there is also a dispute over rocky islets of Dokdo/Takeshima. Hence, the real bonhomie between the allies is lacking. However, they have healthy trade relations and also in the face of a common threat, have a common ally in the US.
Currently, in addition to the US 7th Fleet responsible for the Western Pacific Ocean, she has additional two aircraft carriers making it a total of three aircraft carriers in the Sea of Japan. The attendant surface vessels and submarines that accompany such a large and powerful flotilla is mind-boggling. An array of destroyers, corvettes, patrol vessels, helicopter ships, submarines and logistics ships occupy a couple of hundred kilometres of sea and undersea spaces. The flotilla has been joined with seven battleships of the South Korean Navy and also ships from the Japanese Self Defence Forces. This has to be seen in conjunction with the US forces based at Pusan (Chinhae), Seoul, Okinawa which are on high alert to join the conflict at a moment's notice. Not to forget, the US air and naval base at Gaum which is monitoring the operational situation round-the-clock.
Also, in the air, are the Airborne Warning & Air Control System (AWACS) platforms and satellites, which are giving 24/7 coverage and intelligence over the entire extended battle area. The helicopters hovering over and around the flotilla provide close and immediate updates of the immediate battle area. Overall, it is a combat force of over 300 fighter jets, fifty helicopters and thousands of marines. This force can be unleashed from the Sea of Japan at a moment's notice; no doubt a formidable force that can make any country wilt.
President Trump's 'New Security Strategy' is to keep the balance of power in favour of the US in the Indo-Pacific Region, Europe and Middle East…
In spite of the above, the biggest weakness of the US is that her own house is not in order. The 'deep state' in the US government does not give President Trump an unbridled say in major decision-making. With the enquiry into the likely Russian connections during the elections being an issue; earlier Michael Flynn and now George Papadopoulos, President's first National Security Adviser and his Election Campaign Aid respectively have been exposed. The chinks in the Presidential armour are getting deeper, further curtailing his moral authority.
The disparate statements from the President and his Secretary of State, Tillerson on North Korea, have portrayed doubts that the President's own confidants are not in sync with him. The just released book 'Fire and Fury' with inputs from Steve Bannon, former Chief Executive of Presidential Campaign and later, his Chief Strategist, has created controversies that has roiled the Presidential image. Lastly, the 'America First' policy, President Trump's campaign promise smacks of a repeat of earlier 'Munroe Doctrine', where America sought isolationism rather than involvement in European affairs. President Trump's washing his hands off East Asia and his wholesome praise of Xi has made Japan, Korea and even Taiwan perceive a feeling of abandonment. His abrogation of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade block proposed by former President Obama as a counter to China's 'One Belt, One Road' initiative has raised doubts about America's commitment in providing global leadership. Naturally, her allies in North East Asia are countering the fallout by self-reliance and by crafting new and innovative geo-political realignments.
Russia is the next big player in the conundrum, which can make a difference. However, the sanctions imposed on her by the EU and the US for her assimilation of Crimea, has left her with no choice but to join China, as she is an ever-ready market for her oil and natural gas. A $400-billion gas deal between the two countries was signed in 2014.11 Two oil pipelines are operative for transporting 30 million tonne per year of crude from Russia to China.12 Russia also has a running feud with Japan over the sovereignty of Kurile Islands presently controlled by Russia and claimed by Japan. It is difficult for both the countries to resolve the dispute, as it has become an issue of national honour, as there is still an overhang of the humiliation suffered by the Russians in Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. The islands were occupied by Russia after the defeat of Japan in the Second World War. Though the resolution of the dispute seems far-fetched even to consider, Japan, US and the EU can cooperate and wean Russia off from China.
Russia is also in secret parleys with North Korea as they share a common land border. Putin is also observing Trump's predicament with curiosity and amusement; he wants to play a role in freezing North Korea's nuclear programme in return for a freeze in South Korea and US joint exercises that threaten North Korea. It is similar to China's policy of 'double freeze', which the US is unwilling to consider. If Russia negotiates with Kim successfully, it will herald her world power status, which she had lost to China in the last two decades. It is geo-politics at its best, where each country is deriving pleasure out of the discomfort of other competing countries and is strategising – what best can serve their national interest in the prevailing conundrum.
Japan in a Leadership Role
In North East Asia, Japan has emerged as a lead player that can compete with China. Besides being the third largest economy, politically she is under an astute leader who has the sagacity to assume the leadership. The prevailing geo-political situation and the aggressive stance of China, are pushing Japan towards militarisation. In 2015, Japan reinterpreted Article 9 of the constitution and asserted that the clause of 'Collective Defence' enables her to come to the aid of her allies.13 Prime Minister Abe, after his massive mandate in the elections of 2017, intends to legitimise the existence of 'Self Defence Forces' by an amendment in the Japanese constitution by 2020. Its defence budget for the year 2018 has increased to $45.6 billion. Joint naval exercises are being carried out with the US, India and Australia. Recently Prime Minister Abe met the trade ministers of 11 countries to form the 'Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership' to counter China's 'Belt and Road' initiative.14 Even UK is interested in joining the group.15 Japan also has activated the 'Quad' comprising US, Japan, India and Australia. Even though the character of Asia-Pacific has now been termed as Indo-Pacific, it is just a change in terminology. However, the prism though which the region is being looked at, is quite clear and unambiguous.
Japan also has opted for an 'Open Indo-Pacific Strategy', which pursues stability and prosperity on the basis of an international rule-based order in the region. Her negotiations with China would be on the basis of parity to respond to China's maritime assertiveness.16 Her economic strength, science and technological prowess and her industrial capacity is now being backed with enhanced military might that would give Beijing a run for its money in the geo-politics of the Western Pacific.
China's aggressive stance along her borders has made India search for suitable strategic partners in the 'Big Game of Geo-strategy'. Though, President Trump in his 'New Security Strategy' has called India a strategic partner, one needs to see the positive fallout of the new strategy. The recent stoppage of $255 million aid to Pakistan and the accountability sought from it, is indeed a positive step, but needs to be watched as to how it would manifest on ground. The looming threat of enforcing stringent rules for H1B visa not being pursued so assertively is another positive step. However, we cannot put all our eggs in the basket of President Trump. Hence, the reactivation of 'Quad' by Japan is a good bait to bite. The Bi-annual Naval Exercise 'Milan' has to be expanded to include the countries of Quad and Singapore. Gradually, the exercise should include Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia and other ASEAN countries. Its frequency should be increased from biannual to annual exercise. It should be held alternatively in the Bay of Bengal and the Western Pacific Ocean. The India – ASEAN commemorative summit in New Delhi focused on counter terrorism, security and connectivity. Freedom of Navigation and Maritime Cooperation and Security was the theme during the retreat. Beyond doubt, it is to counter an assertive China in the Indo-Pacific theatre including the South China Sea.
The above realignment would also give the Indian Navy the outreach into the South and East China Seas. India also should enhance her naval capacity to choke entry points into the Indian Ocean from the Pacific Ocean, like the Straits of Malacca, Sunda, Lombok and Timor Sea. These strategic cards are diplomatic leverages while dealing with China on the border issue.
India, Australia and the rim countries of the Indian Ocean should cooperate to ultimately keep extra-regional powers out of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The IOR countries should ensure freedom of navigation for world trade in the Indian Ocean and also be the net security provider. China's frantic base-building spree in Djibouti, Gwadar/Jiwani, Maldives, Hambantota, Chittagong and Kyauk Pyu needs to be contested.
The Way Forward
President Trump's 'New Security Strategy' is to keep the balance of power in favour of the US in the Indo-Pacific Region, Europe and Middle East. It means whatever is required to keep US dominance in North East Asia would be done. It also implies reigning in North Korea, keep China reconciled and accept the US' dominating presence in the Western Pacific Ocean as well as continuing with the 'hands off Taiwan' policy and non-recognition of China's 'Nine Dash Line' in the South China Sea. He has called Russia and China as revisionist powers. However, he wants to build great partnerships with them keeping US interests in mind. It is a cold and calculating strategy with the hand of friendship extended towards both Russia and China. His visit to five countries in the Indo-Pacific Region last November has to be seen in light of this policy which was announced subsequent to this visit.
In pursuit of this policy, he is asking China to apply pressure on North Korea to desist from further nuclear and missile testing in return for lifting sanctions and providing aid. His trust in Xi is unfounded as the latter is also playing his geopolitical cards deftly. It may also be partly true that China's power to control Kim Jong Un is apparently limited. President Xi's special representative Song Tao was sent to North Korea for a customary briefing to another socialist country on the recently concluded '19th Plenary Meeting of the CPC'. However, even he did not get the audience of Kim, thus making it explicit to China, its limited control over North Korea.
China is not disappointed with the rebuff as it can tell the US that they are also helpless in pressurising Kim to toe the line. The recent revelation by South Korea of Chinese oil getting transported on high seas to a North Korean tanker has exposed China's duplicity.17 Obviously China is 'running with the hare and hunting with the hounds' – a pretty situation, where it can shirk the responsibility towards the irresponsible North Korea and at the same time, provide it with essential logistics to sustain and cause disarray in the US camp. For the US, the cost to sustain such a huge force for a long time in the Western Pacific is enormous. Longer this intransigence, greater would be the economic and political cost to the US.
As mentioned above, Kim's diplomatic manoeuvre by offering talks to South Korea, opening up the hotline and sending a contingent for the Winter Olympics has divided the US and her allies. South Korea has accepted the proposal with undue haste even shedding the customary time that is required for perfunctory consideration, consistent with its national dignity. The US also had to accept the delay in the Annual Joint Military Exercise with South Korea, as it does not want to show to the world that it is an impediment in the rapprochement. Incidentally, President Trump is taking the credit for Kim's offer on the grounds that it was due to his pressure that brought Kim to offer an olive branch to South Korea. Whatever be its interpretation, the actual fact is that Kim is gaining time to operationalise his capability of a fusion bomb and ballistic missile to credibly threaten the US mainland. The US should not shy away from this truth, whatever be its political compulsions.
Hence what is the alternative? The US has to wait and watch the developments in the region rather than shape the geopolitical situation in the region. Till the time the Winter Olympics successfully concludes, South Korea is exceptionally vulnerable and no one would like to cause an imbalance in the precarious peace or tenuous geopolitics of the region. President Trump's statement that he is prepared to meet Kim should be considered as his accepting the present situation for the time being.
The US is not ruling out a military option. If Obama got rid of Osama, Trump would also like to make history at Kim's expense. The massive naval force would continue to be in the Western Pacific Ocean. Any offensive into North Korea for a regime change would require much more intelligence about North Korea's actual nuclear and missile capabilities. It would require much more legwork for the CIA to penetrate the steel curtain of North Korea and cause dissension among the confidants of Kim Jong Un who is believed to trust no one. The operations have to take place with lightning simultaneity. The first is the 'Electromagnetic Assault' with an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) over the entire geographical area of North Korea. It should be able to incapacitate all the electronics of the entire country. It is indeed a technological challenge and scientists need to work on it as was done for a 'Neutron Bomb', which gave out enhanced radiation, while limiting the blast.
Similarly, what is required is an 'Enhanced Electromagnetic Pulse' to be generated without blast and radiation that only neutralises the electronics of the country. The pulse should be strong enough to even incapacitate 'EMP hardened' devices in North Korea. It should be followed with rapid simultaneity, the destruction of nuclear arsenal and launch pads and incursion of Special Forces, which should neutralise its leadership and take over the country in collusion with leaders who are sympathetic to the cause. The destruction of the entire North Korean Armed Forces is not an option as it has the fourth largest armed forces in the world. Its leadership needs to be subverted as was done with the commanders of Saddam's Republican Guard.18 It should be entirely a covert operation with surprise as the key element to the plan.
The US should not forget her experience in the Korean War as a part of UN Forces, when the 'People's Voluntary Army' (PVA) of China joined the war with over a million men. It was a tough battle that ended in a stalemate. The assessment of the 'China Factor' would be the most difficult part of the US strategy. If the reports are right, China is already keeping her troops ready and building a six-lane highway in Jilin Province that borders North Korea.19 It could be a move to put pressure on the US not to indulge in military operations. It should not be a repeat of history. On October 15, 1950, when President Truman met General MacArthur at Wake Island, they came to a conclusion it was most unlikely that China would intervene in the Korean War. Just four days later, over 100,000 troops of PVA crossed the Yalu in the first phase of offensive. The ability to read President Xi's bluff correctly or otherwise, would make President Trump either a professional or an amateur in geopolitics. His ability to exercise his military options successfully would make him a genius in world history.
It is now left to the US to unravel the conundrum in North East Asia and use it to its advantage. Currently, in the first round, it was Kim, who has played his cards well and postponed possible military action, if intended, by two months. It gives him time for the 'H' bomb and ballistic missiles to be operationalised. For the US, the disarray among its allies is unfortunate. South Korea has again brought up the issue of 'comfort women' that was once settled with Japan. Prime Minister Abe has rejected the proposal and is unlikely to attend the Opening Ceremony of Winter Olympics.20 Like Kim, President Trump is also unpredictable and is able to re-engineer the geopolitics of the region. His defence secretary, General Mattis and NSA, General McMaster, both professionals, would indeed give him correct advice on the use of military forces in North Korea. The time gained would also give the US opportunity to gauge the inscrutable China. The key to untangle the conundrum lies in the cooperation by China and possibly, Russia. If the US goes it alone, the conflict could conflagrate into a nuclear exchange. In that case, if North Korea is obliterated, it would still be a defeat for the US.
1. McCurry Jutine and Borger Julian: Japan Braces as North Korea threaten hydrogen bomb test in Pacific: The Guardian; 21 Sep 2017.
2. Keating Joshua; North Korea Can Now Hit Washington with a Missile and We are going to have to live with that: Slatest; 29 Nov 2017; http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/11/29/north_korea_can_now_hit_washington_with_a_missile_and_we_re_going_to_have.html
3. North Korea's Nuclear Weapons; Al Jazeera News; 01 Jan 2018; http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/05/north-korea-testing-nuclear-weapons-170504072226461.html
4. Facts and Details; Chinese Takeover Tibet in 1950s: http://factsanddetails.com/china/cat6/sub32/item228.html
5. Fensom Anthony; $5 Trillion Meltdown: What if China Shuts Down The South China Sea: The National Interest; 16 Jul 2016.
6. Karnad Bharat; Countering the Rogue Nuclear Triad with China, Pakistan and North Korea: The Wire: 25 Jul 2017. https://thewire.in/53338/countering-the-rogue-nuclear-triad-of-china-pakistan-north-korea/
7. Ibid.
8. Callar Michaela Del; 'China's new 10 Dash line map eats into Philippine Territoy'; GMA News Online; 26 Jul 2013; http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/319303/china-s-new-10-dash-line-map-eats-into-philippine-territory/story/
9. South Korean Says "US must not strike North Korea without Seoul's consent": Reuter News; World News; 15 Nov 2017.
10. Subramaniam Garimella; Another Window; The Hindu Newspaper, Bengaluru City Edition; 25 Jan 2018.
11. Farchy Jack and Hille Kathrin; 'China and Russia sign $400 billion Deal'; Financial Times; 22 May 2014.
12. Shuo Zou and Xin Zheng; '2nd Line of China-Russia Oil Link Starts' The State Council; The People's Republic of China; 03 Jan 2018: http://english.gov.cn/news/international_exchanges/2018/01/03/content_281475999729510.htm
13. Paliwal Pinaky; 'Reinterpreting Article 9 of Japanese Constitution: War, Peace and Self Defence'; pg 1; http://www.rslr.in/uploads/3/2/0/5/32050109/7._war_peace_and_self-_defense__a_.pdf
14. AP; Kyodo; 'TPP 11 Forge Ahead with Renamed Trade Pact after close call'; The Japan Times, 11 Nov 2017.
15. Smout Alistair; 'Britain interested in joining Trans –Pacific trade deal after Brexit; Financial Times; 03 Jan 2018.
16. Aneja Atul; Bilateral Visits set to Deepen Ties Between Japan and China; The Hindu Newspaper; Bengaluru City Edition, 25 Jan 2018.
17. Choe Sang Hun; 'South Korea Ships seizes Ship suspected of sending oil to North Korea'; The New York Times; 29 Dec 2017.
18. Mueller Arabist Eric; 'Bribed Iraqi Generals Already in US. CIA Used Peace Shields' Newswire; 15 Apr 2003.
19. Trayner David; 'China is Preparing for a massive Land Invasion of North Korea Revealed' Daily Star Sunday; 16 Oct 2017. https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/652188/north-korea-news-trump-china-us-war-invasion-highway-border-jian-Shuangliao-Expressway.
20. Kim Chiristina; 'South Korea's President Moon meets former 'Comfort Women' Reuters World News; 4 Jan 2018.