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Emerging from the birthplace of grunge - and ironically, the home of Microsoft - Zeke first blindsided Seattle then took on the world. Their songs, about Satan, cycles, women and rednecks, owes more to the likes of Maiden and Motorhead, but their attitude is total punk. Zeke gets in, trashes the joint and they've outta there before you even know you're bleeding!
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FAA to Decide on Closing Lakeland Airport Tower on March 18
Facility officials have until March 13 to appeal to keep tower open.
Published: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 12:02 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 2:31 a.m.
LAKELAND | The air traffic control tower at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport may close April 7 because of automatic federal budget cuts.
A decision on whether to close the air traffic control tower by the Federal Aviation Administration will be made March 18, said Gene Conrad, airport director. Conrad received a letter from the FAA on Tuesday that states airport officials can respond to the FAA by March 13 about why the tower should remain open.
The FAA will make its decision on the future of Lakeland and other airport towers across the U.S. based on how the towers impact the nation, not local communities. The automatic budget cuts are known as sequestration.
"Negative impact on the national interest is the only criterion the FAA will use for deciding to continue services to an airport that falls below the activity threshold," wrote Michael Huerta, FAA administrator, and J. David Grizzle, FAA chief operating officer, air traffic organization.
Conrad said he will tell FAA officials that during an emergency, such as a hurricane, the tower and the airport would be vital to Central Florida and the area for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The letter did not provide a date for closure, but an FAA official who asked to remain anonymous said Wednesday they will close 173 air traffic control towers at small and medium sized airports April 7.
Conrad said he's still waiting on an official word of the date.
The mandatory federal budget cutbacks could impact the Sun 'n Fun Fly-In, which begins April 9. The airshow uses more than a dozen FAA air traffic controllers for the event.
John Leenhouts, president of Sun 'n Fun, said the organization will hire private air traffic controllers if the FAA doesn't help.
"The public won't know the difference," Leenhouts said. "We're doing everything we can to ensure there are qualified controllers in the tower during all hours of operation.
"But if the FAA doesn't support us that will cost us money."
That's thousands of dollars that would typically be used for scholarships and grants in Polk County schools, he said.
But Conrad remained optimistic that FAA employees will work at Sun 'n Fun.
Unionized employees must be warned 30 days in advance of upcoming furloughs, he said.
"If those don't go out until the 18th, I would think the FAA controllers are still coming as scheduled," Conrad said.
Sun 'n Fun also faces the possibility that the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will cancel its show because of budget cuts. The F-16s were scheduled to be at Sun 'n Fun on April 13 and 14.
"We've taken the Thunderbirds off our schedule," Leenhouts said. "Right now, we don't know."
Other towers scheduled to close in Florida are at airports in Punta Gorda, Kissimmee, Naples and downtown St. Petersburg.
Closing the tower could be a safety concern, Conrad said.
Aircrafts will continue to take off and land but there won't be anyone to separate the traffic, Conrad said. He compared it to losing a traffic light at a busy intersection.
"Who will sequence the aircrafts coming in and out?" Conrad said. "There is a reason we have these towers."
The tower currently staffs seven workers from RVA Robinson Aviation, which contracts with the FAA at airports throughout the Southeast and Southwest.
Dave Moore, air traffic manager at the tower, said some businesses don't allow planes to fly into airports without towers.
"It will hurt the city's economy and Sun 'n Fun," Moore said.
Moore, 62, moved to Lakeland two years ago. He said he's not sure what he will do if a deal can't be reached.
"If they close all these towers ... this is the only thing I've done for 30 years," Moore said. "I wanted to work as long as I can."
[ John Chambliss can be reached at email@example.com or 863-802-7588. ]
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


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As Translational Medicine Data Become More...
Researchers Wrestle with When to Make...
Treatment of B-Cell Lymphomas with Monoclonal...
The Promise of a Big Payoff...
Genzyme unveiled plans to construct an R&D center in Beijing. Expected to open in 2010, the site will cost about $90 million. The 200,000 sq. ft. facility will be able to accommodate 350 employees, Genzyme reports.
The firm will conduct research in orthopedics, oncology, and endocrinology as well as transplant, immune, and cardiovascular diseases at this center. It will also include laboratory-scale operations for MACI® (matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation) cell therapy and polyclonal antibody operations.
The facility will feature an environmentally clean design. It will incorporate features like a living roof to reduce pollution caused by storm-water runoff, a solar thermal system that will provide a significant portion of the building's hot water and reduce its energy consumption, and low-flow fixtures to limit water usage. An all-glass exterior will provide employees with significant natural light, reducing the building's dependence on electricity.
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LOMA, Colo. - This week, Dixie introduces us to a man who plays a key role in keeping our western heritage alive.
Although Loma rancher, Terry Nash, always a rancher at heart, was away from it for awhile, he soon managed a full-time job, ranching and developing his passion for telling the rancher's story thru his cowboy poetry.
"I grew up, it was a farm/ranch operation out in eastern Colorado, out in Idalia, Colorado, and was around cattle and agriculture all my life," Nash revealed.
Cowboy poetry came about after a stop for an iced tea in 1981 ended up introducing him to a performer that had a profound impact on Nash's life.
"There was a cowboy off in the corner with his guitar, sitting up on the stage. He was singing to my heritage, and it was waking me up, and I was inspired," Nash explained. "And I sat there as long as I could listening to him playing those songs and... from then on I knew what I really loved."
A move to the Western Slope got him back to ranching, and opened up his cowboy poetry world.
"There's a couple here in (the) Grand Valley named Tom and Rhonda Lee Sharp, and they were doing cowboy poetry gatherings down at Two Rivers...," said Nash. "And I started going down there, I had a poem or two that I had written, and they had an open mic station when I could get up on stage and read my poems."
It was here in western Colorado where he found his true love.
"I married Kathy and we're raising hay, and she had the horses already, and we started with a little herd of cattle," Nash explained.
He loves performing for all sizes and types of groups.
"...You can get that many people giggling at everything you say, it's, it is a lot of fun," he said.
As Nash explained, there is an art to being a cowboy poet, most critical, he says, is to write what's in your heart and what you know.
"...And if it's in there it'll come out," he explained.
There's a Grand Junction cowboy poetry gathering coming soon, to entertain and remind us of our rich western heritage.
"It's a fun gathering," Nash said. "I think there's about 15 of us, 15 performers. We'll be gathered at the Museum of Western Colorado the first and second of November."
That gathering takes place at the Whitman Education Center on 4th and Ute in Grand Junction.
As Nash shared what cowboy poetry has brought to his life, it was obvious that he's the real deal.
"I've got a big family out there that I didn't have before cowboy poetry," Nash explained. "It absolutely amazes me, the number of people that I know and think highly of that I've met through cowboy poetry."
If you're interested in the November 1st and 2nd cowboy poetry events in Grand Junction, visit the Museum of Western Colorado website. You can also call 970-361-1136 for more information.
For more information on Terry, his CD's, how to book a performance, and more, visit Terry's website or call 970-261-6037.


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The drama continues in the battle to keep calorie information off NYC fast food menus. Subway's compliance with the law continues to make other fast food chains look foolish.
For some reason, I feel the customers who are ordering the BK Eggnormous breakfast sandwich won't be detered by having the calories posted at the register.
Also, would this need to be posted at the drive-thru? 99% of the time I ever find myself eatting fast food, it's becasue I'm enroute somewhere and have just enough time have someone hand me food through my car window.
Do people walking into Mcdonald's really care about the calorie count?? If they care, then they shouldn't be eating fast food in the first place. In restaurants would add far too many complications. "I'm sorry, you cannot substitute a salad for soup as the calorie count will be incorrect".
When I have fast food (much less lately) I know it's bad for me. I know that that Ultimate Cheeseburger (ketchup only) and curly fries is not healthy. I don't really want to know exactly how bad either. If I want healthy I'll cook my own food and eat smaller portions.
I'm surprised that NY did this first…sounds more like something that would be done here in California.
Something tells me that the people with the 48″ waists that park in the handicap stalls won't really care either way. They'll still order their Big Mac meal supersized with a Diet Coke.
I'm more concerned with the actual ingredients than the calorie count. I will absolutely avoid any food with MSG or Aspartame in it, because not only are they really unhealthy, they really screw with my system.
I think consumers should have the right to know what is in the food they eat, and if the companies aren't hiding anything, they shouldn't mind letting us know.
Most people who eat at McDonald's really don't care about the content.
WHAT? I thought ordering quadruple mayo on my ULTRA-MATE sized, "Deep Fried Pork-a-Burger" Mega Manly Meal was healthy! Like, with vitamin C and stuff.
It's not about that. For people who want to lower their calorie intake without going insane, it would be nice to know that you don't have to just go to Subway every day. Did you realize that Taco Bell has some great lower calorie alternatives like their Spicy Chicken Soft Tacos? (they're 170 calories each, but with a decent fiber count. They'd be 3 Weight Watchers points).
Sandwich places are just inconvenient because you have to deal with "yes, I want pickles, no I don't want olives, yes, I want peppers, no I don't want jalapeños" (Subway online hasn't made it to the Las Vegas area yet, but Port of Subs has).
@G-Dog: Only if the Pork-A-Burger is grilled before being deep fried. Grilling makes it healthy!
Yes, certainly it's the restaurants fighting the unnecessary and heavy-handed intrusions into their businesses and not the moronic city requirements.
God help this nation if this lunacy is upheld.
@rocnrule: That's exactly the point!
If they post the caloric content of the food at least a few more people will care.
@badlydrawnjeff: Oh give me a break. This is not an intrusion into the "free market", and there's certainly no slippery slope into forcing caloric restrictions.
Of course it's an intrusion into the market, and into the ability of companies to do business without having inane regulations put on them. No one's claiming a slippery slope here, I just think it's absurd that no one's bothered by this nonsense.
You should care! 540 calories for a Big Mac! That doesn't include fries or a drink!
A Whopper is 670 calories and 39 grams of fat! Something like 13 grams of that fat is mayonnaise, which is just awful anyway!
Basically, if you eat a Big Mac or Whopper meal, you shouldn't eat for the rest of the day!
What food products do we have in the US that don't have standard nutrition information on the label?
Is it invasive to know that hot dogs contain sodium nitrate or whatever?


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Ziggy Gifts LbNA # 13828
|Baby Bear
|Placed Date
|Mar 13 2005
|Johnson City, TX
|Found By
|Last Found
|Dec 21 2015
|Hike Distance
|Last Edited
|Dec 22 2015
Difficutly: Moderate (route finding)
Distance to Letterbox: 1/2 mile
Status of letterbox: Alive and Well on 2/15/2010 (UPDATED CLUES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
The "Ziggy Gifts" letterbox is hidden in Pedernales State Park, in the Texas Hill Country. THis is a beutiful park, with great views and recreational activies. Plus multiple letterboxes!!
From Austin, go west on Hwy 290. Turn right on FM 3242 for 6 miles, then follow signs into the park. Drive to the main waterfall parking area.
To the Letterbox:
(It seems this box has become very hard to find. I will try to get up there soon and see if I can locate again, then update clues).
Walk to the overlook, the find the same sign as the other boxes start with. Go on trail to the right (if coming up from overlook, to the "No Trespassing" sign. Now count roughly 330 steps as you follow the "Trail" (gets confusing as to what the actual trail is some times. You should keep going roughtly straight, and sometimes a little to the right). You should end up at a trail juction, with the right fork going down toward the water (should be sandy). You want to stay straight, counting 11 more steps. The trail forks again. Take the left most trail (going at 240 degrees) and count 14 steps. Now go South at 180 degrees up the hill on the rock path for 20 steps. Turn left (east) at 100 degrees and go 9 steps on a faint path. Now walk 15 steps at 70 degrees to a hollowed out tree. Box is in the hollow, about 2 feet off the ground.
Let me know the status of this letterbox: email@example.com


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With 40 years experience cooking delicious Indian delights for her friends and family, Mrs Curry knows her bhaji from her biryani. The mother of business owner Mohinder, Jas or 'Mrs Curry' as she is fondly known, teaches aspiring chefs and Indian food fanatics alike the secrets of her long loved dishes. With a goal of learning 4 starters, 4 mains and 2 desserts all in a day's work, I hot footed it to Central Street Cookery School to brush up my (non existent) Indian cooking skills.
I love Indian food but as soon as it comes to cooking it myself, it's a different story. Too much chilli, bland rice and fear of spice pretty much sums it up. It's a real shame as the thing I love most about great Indian food is the depth of flavour. Unfortunately I can never get it quite right due to lack of ingredients and more likely, lack of knowledge. The class (mostly inexperienced, thankfully) was split into pairs and kitted out with Mrs Curry handbooks containing helpful photos, lists of ingredients and all the recipes we'd need for the class. Handbooks or not, with 10 dishes to teach us before the day was over, Mrs Curry had her work cut out.
We started with pakoras, or onion bhajis as they are more commonly known. Cutting potato and onion into little thin 'chips', we then mixed with flour and a whole load of delicious smelling spices until a sort of potatoey/oniony batter was formed. We then popped the little pakoras into a pan of oil and deep fried them until they were golden brown. Serving them with a generous dollop of mint sauce, we offered our creation to Mrs Curry to taste before devouring the lot. I was afraid the knowledge of how to make something as indulgent and scrumptious as these would resolve in my becoming a morbidly obese pakora addict.
Next, we made a firm favourite of mine; chicken tikka kebabs. Contrary to what I'd assumed, they were unbelievably straight forward to make. It's easy when you know how! You basically mix up all the ingredients, stick them on a skewer and pop them under the grill. Simple, and so, so tasty.
By the end of the day, I had learnt to make everything I could possibly need to show off my Indian cooking skills and I wasn't the only one. The class had become amusingly competitive each time Mrs Curry arrived at their station to sample their creation as each pair waited for her nod of approval with baited breath. When the time came to announce the winners, sadly it wasn't to be. The Spice Girls (as my team was called), needed more spice and we unfortunately came in last place. I did however win 'best in class' for my semolina cake or 'Halva'. Every cloud…!
Mrs Curry taught me that the key to great cooking is confidence. Go bold with flavours and don't be afraid to add a pinch of ginger here and a dash of chilli there. It was amazing to learn from someone with such passion and experience, and learning to make these recipes was like being told a secret so good you want to share it with everyone.
From roti to chicken balti to pilau rice; i'd prepped, cooked, presented (and nibbled away at) 10 dishes I'd happily cook again for friends and family. I'd promised my boyfriend an array of Indian delicacies for dinner but unfortunately for him, I had devoured almost every last morsel during the class. Proudly presenting him with one measly spicy mince kebab, I vowed to cook an Indian feast with my new skills. And anyway, the most important thing i'd learnt from Mrs Curry was ALWAYS taste test.
Click here to spice up your life with the Mrs Curry Groupon!
Twitter & Instagram @humphriesmillie


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What were the best books of 2013? Or, to propose a second category, what were the best books you read during the last year (whether or not they were published in 2013)? These can be in any genre or field.
The best books of 2013?
December 31, 2013 by Gene Veith Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Literature Tagged With: Year in Review 2013 Leave a Comment
Related posts from Cranach:
About Gene Veith
Professor of Literature at Patrick Henry College, the Director of the Cranach Institute at Concordia Theological Seminary, a columnist for World Magazine and TableTalk, and the author of 18 books on different facets of Christianity & Culture.


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NEWS UPDATE & GIST...Politics, Sports, World Views, Entertainment, Lifestyles, Pictures, Odd World...
Monday, May 7, 2012
CRAZY PICS: Another Crazy Nigerian Gay Posed Nude With BLASPHEMOUS PLACARDS
This is what the reader sent:
CRAZY WORLD: Surgeon Sets His Patient On Fire
RAPE: Two Medical Personnel [A Doctor & Pharmacist] Docked In Edo State For Raping A 25-Year-Old Lady After Allegedly Injecting Her
I AM A RAPIST, Man Who Raped A 10-Year-Old Girl In Lagos Tells The Court…Rapist Referred To A Mental Hospital For Doctors To Check His Sanity
A Lagos court judge today [May 7] ordered that a man who admitted that he was a rapist should be taken to a psychiatric hospital Yaba, Lagos, for doctors to check his sanity.
The 27-year old man, Emmanuel Omayebu stunned a Lagos court when he proudly and openly admitted before the court that he actually raped his neighbour's 10-year old daughter to satisfy his sexual desire as alleged by the police.
THE PROPHESY: Prophet TB Joshua Did Not Prophesy About Chelsea FC Winning 2012 UEFA Champions League!
Don Jazzy Launches New Record Label – Signs Tiwa Savage
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Jay-Z: I'll Probably Have The Worst, Spoiled Little Kid Ever...
What Killed Ex-Nigerian Striker, Rashidi Yekini…Mother Told supersport.com
Saturday, May 5, 2012
JUST IN: Suspected BOKO HARAM Sect Members Shoot Dead Three At Wedding Party In Maiduguri, Earlier Today, The Army Said
PHOTOS: Body Of Ex-Nigerian Striker Rashidi Yekini Committed To Mother Earth At His Native Town, Iraa, Kwara State
Usain Bolt In Race Row As Jamaicans Accuse Him Of Suffering From 'WHITE WOMAN COMPLEX' Due To His Fashion Designer Girlfriend
The kiss that sparked abuse: Sprinter Usain Bolt and Miss Slovak were subjected to a barrage of abuse after this picture was released
His arm around her waist, sprinter Usain Bolt and his latest girlfriend are the picture of togetherness. The world's fastest man has been dating fashion designer Lubica Slovak for six months and the relationship is described as 'very serious'.
It has been 20 years since "The Cosby Show" went off the air, and since then, many black sitcoms have tried to fill the void that the iconic show left behind. It was light years ahead of its time when it debuted in '84, and from it, we learned a lot of things. For instance, why you shouldn't drink, the importance of Gordon Gartrelle shirts, the song "The Night Time (Is the Right Time)," and what the Cosby sweater was, among other more serious and important things. It has been a long while since we've seen everyone, so why not catch up with some of the cast below?
Bill Cosby
As Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable, Bill Cosby was the quintessential black father. He was funny, but stern, and he was cool as hell! Peep out those Coogiesque sweaters he was rocking, his dancing skills, and that time he ran track with his old team in those short shorts. Fastest. Dad. Ever. But anyhow, Cosby did more work before the show on-screen, but afterwards, he did more producing and hosting. TV wise he did "The Cosby Mysteries", "Cosby", hosted "Kids Say the Darndest Things," and currently does the show "Obkb", where interviews kids across the US. Movie wise, he was in movies like The Meteor Man and Jack. Aside from all that, we know Cosby likes to speak up on political issues, problems in the black community, and more. Plus, he's racked up a number of honorary degrees just for being him.
Phylicia Rashad
Fashion forward Clair Huxtable stayed busy after the show ended, and while she did a little TV work ("Cosby" and the TV movie, "A Raisin in the Sun" for example), she more or less got her kicks doing plays and movies. Her film work post "The Cosby Show" includes Once Upon a Time…When We Were Black, Frankie & Alice, Just Wright, Good Deeds, For Colored Girls, and she's currently working on the Steel Magnolias remake. Of course, on Broadway, she was in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," and was the first black woman to win a Tony for leading actress in a play for her role in "A Raisin in the Sun".
Malcolm Jamal Warner
The show wouldn't have been as fun without Theo Huxtable, the girl obsessed only son of Heathcliff and Clair. Early on he was seen as the troublemaking slacker, but as time went on, he became a hard-working teacher in the end. After the show, Warner stuck mostly to TV, and doing an occasional movie: King of the Underground, and "The Tuskegee Airmen (the TV movie)." But TV wise, he did "Here and Now," was a voice on "The Magic School Bus," had the fabulous show "Malcolm & Eddie," (those locs made him look so fine!) "Sherri," "Reed Between the Lines," and he also has a recurring role on the NBC show, "Community." He currently dates Regina King (they're so cute), and used to date Michelle Thomas (Myra from "Family Matters" and Justine on the show) before she passed away in '98. He also had a long relationship with Karen Malina White, who played Charmaine on "The Cosby Show."
Keshia Knight Pulliam
Rudy Huxtable was the very cute youngest child of the Huxtable family. She was smart beyond her years, and had the most interesting friends. After the show ended, a show in which we basically watched her grow up, she went off, went to school at Spelman (got her Bachelor's in Sociology), became a member of Delta Sigma Theta, and basically lived a normal life. But when she was ready, she popped back up on the scene doing game shows (celebrity episode of "Fear Factor" and "The Weakest Link") and appeared in Chingy's video for "One Call Away." She also did a lot of movie work, including "What About Your Friends: Weekend Getaway," "Motives," "Beauty Shop," "The Gospel," and "Madea Goes to Jail." And of course, she appeared recently on the TV show, "House of Payne."
Tempestt Bledsoe
Vanessa was the often nosey daughter who went head to head with Rudy and Theo, and as she got older, she went from bickering with them, to trying to marry her boo Dabnis (they didn't end up walking down the aisle). After the show, Bledsoe stuck to television, doing shows like "Johnny B Good," "Husband for Hire (TV movie)," and just completed Para Norman and is filming the TV movie, "DILFs".
Bledsoe was also the host of her own talk show, appeared on "Celebrity Fit Club," and temporarily hosted "Clean House" on Style Network. She's still dating the actor Darryl M. Bell (from "A Different World"), and the two appeared on "Househusbands of Hollywood."
Sabrina Le Beauf
When the show ended, Le Beauf slowly started moving out of the limelight. She did a show called "Fatherhood," and a TV movie called The Stalker Within, and had guest appearances on "Cosby " and "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Nowadays she has her own interior design business.
PHOTOS: Nollywood Actor, JIM IYKE In India On A Business Trip WITH HIS SISTERS
First Picture Of Barack Obama's FIRST SERIOUS GIRLFRIEND...And How She Went On To Marry A Serbian Boxer [MAIL ONLINE EXCLUSIVE]
This is the woman who was Barack Obama's first serious girlfriend, MailOnline can exclusively reveal.
Alex McNear is a mother-of-one who runs a green energy company and lives in a $2million mansion in Sag Harbor, New York. She is also a Democrat who is understood to have voted for Mr Obama in the 2008 election.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Ex-Nigerian Striker Rashidi Yekini Is Dead, Aged 48
Reports from Offa, Kwara state have it that the Legend Rashidi Yekini is dead, aged 48. He has been sick for a while and was taken from Ibadan, Oyo State where he lived to his home town Irra, Kwara State for treatment, Yekini was said to have died in his hometown, Irra today [May 4].
Some of Rashidi's 'trusted' colleagues/friends have also confirmed the death of the ex-Nigerian International.
Some of Rashidi's 'trusted' colleagues/friends have also confirmed the death of the ex-Nigerian International.
Rashidi Yekini was born on 23 October 1963 in Kaduna.
JAILBREAK: Gunmen Attacked Prison In Borno…Killing Two Guards And Freeing All Inmates
RAPE: Nigerian-Born Ibraheem Giwa, Now 15, Leader Of Teen Gang Who Raped 11-Year-Old Girl Jailed
PICTURED: Horror Moment British Woman Was Mauled By 'Tame' CHEETAHS At Holiday Safari Park And Had To Play Dead To Survive
Calm before storm: Violet D'Mello seconds before she is attacked by cheetah
A quick-thinking British holidaymaker played dead to avoid being mauled to death by supposedly tame cheetahs at a South African wildlife park in Port Elizabeth. Violet D'Mello, 60, was wrestled to the ground by a captive big cat after she entered an enclosure at a wildlife park where tourists are invited to pet the animals.
'The Bachelor' Host Chris Harrison Splits From Wife Of 18 Years
Thursday, May 3, 2012
VIDEO & PICS: Meet The Twin Sisters Who Share A HUSBAND…And He's Also Married To Their Cousin…
VIDEO: Bobby Brown Opens Up About Whitney Houston's Funeral, Bobbi Kristina & More…In Part Two Of His Interview With The Today Show
In part two of his interview with the Today Show, Bobby Brown opened up about the drama surrounding Whitney Houston's funeral, claiming he felt "disrespected" when he was asked to not sit with the Houston family.
The New Edition singer also went on to say that people are making assumptions about his 19-year-old daughter Bobbi Kristina who has been linked to drug use and spoke of the late Whitney Houston's family cutting all ties with him.
Filipino, 47, Raped & Impregnated 13-Year-Old Girl In Lagos…Now In Police Custody
A company manager, who is a Filipino, Alex Fortaleza, 47, has landed himself in trouble after he allegedly raped a teenager who later became pregnant.
Alex was charged before a Family Court in Surulere, Lagos State for allegedly raping a 13-year old victim. The court ordered him to be remanded in Ikoyi prison, Lagos.
According to PMNews, the girl was a sister to the Filipino's cleaner. The little girl usually followed the cleaner to Fortaleza's house where she was allegedly raped.
After the act, Fortaleza pacified her with dollars. However, the deed blew open when the girl became pregnant.
Her sister cajoled her to know who did it. After persistent pressure, she confessed that the Filipino was responsible.
The victim's sister reported the matter to the police at Area 'B' Command, Apapa, Lagos. The police arrested Fortaleze and took him to the station where he reportedly confessed that he actually had sex with her, claiming that he did not force her.
When asked about the victim's age, he said that he did not know that she was under age because she has big boobs and buttocks.
The defendant was charged to a Family Court in Sururere where pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.
The court granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.
The matter has been adjourned till 24 May 2012.
Fortaleza was remanded in prison custody at Ikoyi, Lagos because nobody showed up to bail him. Meanwhile, his defence has been taken up by Barrister Bibele Dagogo of the Nigerian Legal Aids Council.
BIG BROTHER AFRICA 7: Celebrity Housemates Unveiled…Including Nigerian Singer Goldie Harvey, South African Model Babalwa, Zambian R&B Diva, Mampi, Etc
VIDEO: EMOTIONAL RETURN - Tearful Fabrice Muamba Returns To The Reebok To Thank Bolton & Spurs Fans For Support Following His Cardiac Arrest
VIDEO: Catholic Priest, Father Kevin Lee, Admits To Being Secretly Married…Says Many Other Members Of The Priesthood Are As Well
|Father Kevin Lee
Father Kevin Lee, a Catholic Priest who presided over Padre Pio parish in Sydney, Australia, admitted to being secretly married for a year, and says many other members of the priesthood are as well, 7 News reports.
"I've fallen in love and I've got married and it's outside of most people's awareness", Lee told 7News. "...I'm sure my family is going to be very deeply disappointed about these revelations."
TRAGEDY: Jealous Wife Sets Co-Wife Ablaze In Ebonyi…A Day After Co-Wife Was Married To Their Husband
TRAGEDY struck on Monday [Apr. 30] at Akpoha community in Afikpo North local government area of Ebonyi State as a woman (names withheld) allegedly set her co-wife ablaze over marital acrimony.
The assailant, whose name was identified as Ogeri, Vanguard learnt, has already been arrested by the police.
ACCIDENT: Driver Found With N4m Escapes From Badagry General Hospital
Christian Onyenora, the driver of a blue Honda Accord 2003 from which Federal Road Safety Corps recovered huge sums of money on Saturday, is presently on the run, police sources have said.
Onyenora was involved in an accident in the Badagry area of Lagos on Saturday. The FRSC, RS 2.11, Badagry Unit Command, on getting to the accident scene, recovered the sum of N4.09m.
Ellen DeGeneres Surprises Nigerian Mum-To-Be, Busola Ayeni With INCREDIBLE GIFTS Including A Brand New 2013 FORD SHO
NEW VIDEO: Nude Chicks in New Presh Video…'Who Goes There'
Nude scenes in the new video from Presh [of former KC Presh]…the Clarence Peters directed visuals are for his single 'Who Goes There' - feat Eva & Zee.
Fast Forward to the 2.30 minute mark, really if you blink you just might miss it, as the topless girls dancing in their panties and covering their boobs only appear for micro seconds.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
D'Banj Talks To Sky Sports, UK About His Single, His Love For Man United…PLUS…He Would Like Man United Players Dance To "Oliver Twist"
BOKO HARAM: Nigerian Christian Leader, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor Warns Worshippers Would Abandon Their Restraint If Suicide Car Bombings Doesn't Stop
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) - A top Christian leader in Nigeria warned Wednesday [May 2] that worshippers would abandon their restraint if a campaign of suicide car bombings and gun assaults by a radical Islamist sect doesn't stop.
The comments by Ayo Oritsejafor, the president of an umbrella group known as the Christian Association of Nigeria, come as attacks by the sect known as Boko Haram grow in size and complexity, killing dozens at a time while the country's weak central government appears unable to stop the violence. It also underscores the long-simmering tensions in Nigeria, a multiethnic nation of more than 160 million people largely divided between the two faiths.
Speaking to journalists in Nigeria's capital Abuja, Oritsejafor said his comments should be taken as a "final call" to the government to take action.
"The church leadership has hitherto put great restraint on the restive and aggrieved millions of Nigerians, but can no longer guarantee such cooperation if this trend of terror is not halted immediately," he said.
He did not elaborate on his comments.
It isn't the first time Oritsejafor has hinted at the possibility of retaliatory violence over Boko Haram attacks. In January, he told journalists that Christians would "work out means to defend ourselves against these senseless killings."
While merely words, they reflect a growing frustration among Christians in Nigeria, who now attend Sunday church services that require passing through metal detectors and navigating informal roadblocks set up to stop suicide car bombers. Muslim groups have roundly condemned the ongoing attacks.
Boko Haram, whose name means "Western education is sacrilege" in the Hausa language of Nigeria's largely Muslim north, is blamed for killing more than 480 people - both Christian and Muslim - this year alone in Nigeria, according to an Associated Press count.
Diplomats and military officials say Boko Haram has links with two other al-Qaida-aligned terrorist groups in Africa. Members of the sect also reportedly have been spotted in northern Mali, where Tuareg rebels and hardline Islamists seized control over the past month.
In its most recent attack, the sect claimed a suicide car bombing at the Abuja office of the influential newspaper ThisDay, as well as a bombing at an office the paper shares with other publications in Kaduna. At least seven people were killed in the blasts. A video released Thursday by Boko Haram promised more attacks against the media over what it describes as unfair reporting on the group.
VIDEO: Bobby Brown On Whitney Houston…"I Didn't Know She Was Still Struggling!" - Interview Part 1
DEFENDING HER MAN: Kim Kardashian Explains Kanye West's Wardrobe Malfunction
Kim Kardashian has cleared up the confusion surrounding her boyfriend Kanye West's embarrassing wardrobe malfunction.
The 'Way Too Cold' rapper was literally feeling the cold when he emerged from a car with Kim, with his leathertrousers around his thighs. While some speculated the two had gotten up to no good, Kim says it was an innocent mishap.
HARD DRUGS: US-Bound Passenger, Nnadume Jude Ewelle, 43, Caught With HEROIN At Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos
|Nnadume Jude Ewelle
Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 43-year old trader in connection with illicit smuggling of heroin, the agency said yesterday [May 1].
NDLEA said the suspect, Mr. Nnadume Jude Ewelle, was apprehended with 500 grammes of heroin at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, as he was about boarding a Lufthansa flight to the United States.
"Nnadume Jude Ewelle was found with 30 wraps of heroin hidden in the breast pocket of his jacket which was inside his hand luggage. We also found two tickets with him. Apart from the valid ticket to the United States, there was also a fake Turkish Airline ticket indicating Lagos to Pakistan. This was to divert attention from him taking drugs into United States", NDLEA quoted Hamza Umar, the agency's airport commander.
"During interrogation, Nnadume said he wanted to raise money for his business and that he had no helper. While attempting to justify his criminal act, the suspect said that Customs officials impounded his goods worth N10 million", Mitchell Ofoyeju, NDLEA Head of Public Affairs said in a statement.
He quoted the suspect as lamenting: "I have suffered several setbacks in life. My major problem was when Customs officials impounded my containers of fairly used tyres worth N10 million. This trip was to enable me make some good money for my business".
NDLEA said that Nnadume is married with a child, adding that he attended Agulu-Awka Primary School, Awka, where he left in 1983.
"The suspect sells shirts at Onitsha main market. He made his first trip to the United States in 2010. Nnadume had also lived in France for five years in search of better conditions of living", NDLEA said.
BIG BROTHER AFRICA: Big Brother Stargame Show Starts On Sunday [May 6]
Big Brother StarGame show starts on Sunday May 6 in the brand new launch timeslot of 20:00 CAT, and will screen live 24/7 for 91 days on DStv channel 198.
Prize: With an attention grabbing 'winner takes all' grand prize of USD 300,000 at stake, plus the new 'doubling up' of contestants entering the series with partners, Big Brother StarGame is set to provide more of the entertainment, romance, action, suspense and drama that the series is famous for!
FOOTBALL: Sunshine Stars Players & Officials Trapped In Bamako After Renewed Fighting In The Malian Capital
According to SuperSport.com Players and officials of Sunshine Stars are left stranded in the capital of Mali, Bamako.
Renewed fighting in the Malian capital has led to the players and officials of the Akure Gunners being trapped as routes leading to the Aeroport International Airport has witnessed gun shooting.
'Octomum' To Star In Porn Film To Help Pay Off Debts More Than £600,000
OCTUPLETS mum Nadya Suleman has agreed to star in a porn movie to help pay off debts of more than £600,000.
Nadya, 36, was already a skint mum of six when she gave birth to eight more kids just over three years ago. She has now filed for bankruptcy after failing to pay debts including her mortgage, power bills and money owed to a Christian school, court papers show.
Child protection workers in California have also visited her after reports her kids were living in squalor. "Octomum" Suleman, who appeared topless in a magazine for £3,800 this year, had vowed not to appear in adult films.
But after having her house sold off, she has signed up to appear alone in a raunchy movie being filmed in the summer.
She said: "I'm going to eat my words. All that matters is I take care of my family.
"If it's a well-paying job, and it allows me to move into a safe home that they deserve, I'm going to do it."
Suleman's home was due to be auctioned on Monday [Apr. 30], but it has been delayed a week.
PHOTOS: Rihanna Tweets X-Rated Lesbian Photos From Strip Club!
Rihanna shocked fans by tweeting a graphic, x-rated photo of a woman stimulating a sex act on another woman.
The 'Where Have You Been' songstress appeared to be having a wild time at a strip club last weekend, and shared several snaps from the night. One photo shows Rihanna getting a crotch dance from a scantily-clad woman, while holding dollar notes in her hand.
Serena Williams Vows To Not Date For 10 Years…
PHOTOS: Rihanna Spotted Trekking Her Way Through The Streets Of NYC In Floral Print Shorts
VIDEO: Beyoncé Says "You Conspiracy Theorists Who Think I Used A Surrogate Mother Are Crazy!"
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The United States Army was indispensable to the execution of the National Military Strategy (NMS) in FY 1999. Throughout the year, the Army met the nation's increasing requirements for making use of our land force component in response to rapidly changing world security needs. The nature of these requirements, from maintaining readiness for combat operations anywhere in the world, to conducting military exercises with and training the forces of friends and allies, to the critical and dangerous work of implementing the peace in Bosnia and Kosovo, underscores the vital role the Army will continue to play as the 21st century unfolds. The more than 100,000 soldiers forward stationed around the world, and the 25 to 30 thousand deployed to over 70 countries every day of the year, are a testament to the Army's boots on the ground support for U.S. leadership in the world. To meet the threats and challenges of the 21st century, the Army has accelerated its transformation to the future by developing a new Vision that stresses lighter, more lethal, more agile forces that require less lift and have a smaller logistical footprint. While striving to increase its effectiveness and efficiency, the Army remains ready to play its part in the execution of the NMS.
The Army supports the NMS by maintaining a force capable of a full spectrum of military operations. It is designed to provide the joint team with decisive land combat power. Meeting this fundamental requirement for the world's only superpower entails a force of high–quality people, with modern equipment, trained in the broad range of skills required for modern military operations. The nature of this force, in turn, enables the Army to provide pivotal support for the three pillars of the NMS—shaping the international environment, responding to crises, and preparing for an uncertain future. Transformation of the Army requires maintaining the current warfighting capabilities that our regional commanders in chief are counting on, while investing in developing the new capabilities the Army's Vision calls for.
As of the end of FY 1999, the Army was the largest service component of DoD, with 479,426 active component soldiers, 564,305 reserve component soldiers, and 224,902 Army civilians. It is trained and equipped for the overwhelming and synchronized application of decisive combat power on land, and it performs this function better than any other land force on earth. Land power is uniquely decisive. Committing soldiers on the ground is the ultimate statement of U.S. resolve to defeat an adversary or compel him to change his course of action.
Since the effective use of modern combined arms requires diverse capabilities, the Army trains soldiers in over 500 specialties. Skills that support the application of combat power also play a central role in operations aimed at shaping the international environment. Civil affairs, water purification, power generation, and engineering are just a few of the skills necessary for land combat which are also essential for stability and support operations. Furthermore, armies are the dominant component in the military forces of most nations. These forces, designed for common functions, share organizational features with the Army that facilitate cooperative endeavors such as combined training and exercises. Therefore, the United States Army is not only critical to America's ability to win wars, it is also the principal instrument to conduct military–to–military engagement to influence the capabilities, policies, and actions of other nations.
Thus, the Army is vital to meeting the requirements of the NMS. The Army's warfighting effectiveness stems from its mastery of the unique competency of land power—the ability to exercise, by threat, force, or occupation, comprehensive and continuous control over people, land, and resources. Due to the diverse range of specialized skills and the peerless abilities of well–trained American soldiers, the Army is well–suited to perform missions across the full spectrum of military operations. These are the characteristics that make the Army ready today—ready to defend freedom from the Demilitarized Zone of Korea to the deserts of Southwest Asia, ready to bring peace to the troubled streets of the Balkans, and ready to create hope for people the world over. Throughout FY 1999, the Army demonstrated its unique effectiveness for shaping the international environment in ways favorable to U.S. interests, responding to crises, and preparing for an uncertain future.
America's Army conducted a wide range of shaping operations around the world in FY 1999. Operations in the Balkans and sustained presence in Korea and in the Middle East enhanced regional stability and reassured allies. Deployed soldiers practiced critical skills repairing or emplacing infrastructure in the wake of natural disasters and in support of nation building. The International Military Education and Training (IMET) program and numerous army–to–army activities abroad enhanced interoperability and fostered military values that enhance military professionalism, strengthen democracy, and stress protection of human rights. Through the presence of our forces, robust programs of nation–building, military–to–military engagement, and other activities, Army shaping operations contributed greatly to enhancing U.S. interests abroad in FY 1999.
While continuing its central role in Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia, the Army also assumed the principal role for the peace implementation mission in Kosovo, Operation Joint Guardian, in 1999. The NATO force in Bosnia was commanded by the Commanding General of United States Army Europe (USAREUR) from 1996 through 1999. One of the three multinational divisions comprising this NATO force includes 5,500 U.S. soldiers and is under the command and control of a U.S. Army division headquarters. This force monitors the most important crossing points on the Bosnia–Herzogovina and Federal Republic of Yugoslav border, supports civil implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords, and provides security for displaced person and refugee visits and returns. In addition to this continuing effort, the cessation of hostilities in Yugoslavia paved the way for the deployment of over 6,000 American soldiers in support of the Kosovo peace implementation force (KFOR). Throughout the region, America's Army continues to do what only a ground force can—promote a self–sustaining, safe, and secure environment in which democracy can take root. The U.S. Army creates the context in which U.S. and other governmental, nongovernmental, and international organizations can build anew the essential institutions of civil society consistent with U.S. values and interests.
Although events in the Balkans captured most of the world's attention, thousands of American soldiers performed other important overseas shaping functions as well. In Europe, USAREUR led U.S. participation in the Partnership for Peace (PfP), a NATO program designed to foster interoperability and cooperation between the 19 NATO members and 26 participating Partner nations. A total of nine PfP exercises were conducted in 1999; these exercises included participation by most NATO and Partner nations. Forces from 28 nations participated in Exercise Combined Endeavor, one of the largest PfP exercises conducted in FY 1999.
In the Middle East, the continuous presence of an Army headquarters, a mechanized task force comprising both ground assets and attack helicopters, Patriot missile units, and other supporting forces helped deter aggression, reassure regional allies, and support implementation of UN resolutions. Forces deployed for Operation Desert Falcon and Operation Desert Focus maintained an in–theater Patriot capability. The forward positioning of these assets enhanced rapid response capability to the Middle East and demonstrated commitment to our allies. Army forces deployed to this area also provided important support for Operation Southern Watch, the joint and combined operation enforcing UN sanctions against Iraq. In the Sinai, FY 1999 marked the eighteenth year in which approximately 900 U.S. soldiers have helped monitor the treaty of peace between Egypt and Israel as part of the Multinational Force and Observers.
The 25,000 soldiers stationed on the Korean peninsula, as part of the nearly 100,000 U.S. service members either stationed or deployed in East Asia, remained a major bulwark for regional stability in Asia. Their presence underscored U.S. resolve, strengthened our nation's position in U.S./Republic of Korean talks with the North Koreans, and deterred North Korean adventurism even as North Korea continued development of its long–range missile program. Army forces stationed in Japan also contribute to stability in Asia; these units participated in Exercise Yama Sakura, the ground portion of a joint and combined exercise (Keen Edge) conducted with the Japanese in 1999. Around the world, the Army maintained forward–deployed forces and supported deployments that shaped the geopolitical environment in critical ways.
Because the preponderance of other nations' militaries consist of army and army–equivalent land forces, Army training of foreign military personnel constituted a significant portion of U.S. military engagement activities. Army Special Operations Forces (SOF) deployed to 22 nations to conduct training in mine awareness, mine clearing techniques, emergency medical care, and procedures for establishing national mine action centers. Army SOF also trained several African armies for peacekeeping operations and potential humanitarian crisis response under the African Crisis Response Initiative. Army National Guard (ARNG), U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) civil affairs units, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Surgeon General also engaged in various efforts in Africa designed to support the transition to democracy and to improve infrastructure and health. The IMET program provided an outstanding vehicle for fostering cooperation and democratic values by training 6,929 students from 154 foreign countries. Most of this training took place in the United States, where the students not only received formal instruction but were also able to form friendships with American sponsors and experience our democratic and egalitarian society first–hand. The training of foreign military personnel under these programs expands the capabilities of other nations to support both their own people and the international community.
U.S. Army School of the Americas
The United States Army School of the Americas (USARSA) is one program for training foreign personnel that is worthy of special note. Located at Fort Benning, Georgia, USARSA has provided high–quality professional military education in Spanish for more than 60,000 select personnel from Latin American armies over the past 54 years. Subjects taught include humanitarian demining, counterdrug operations, peacekeeping, and natural disaster response. USARSA is a key element in a U.S. regional engagement strategy that focuses on the military's role in strengthening democracy and protecting the institutions of civil society against external threats. USARSA graduates from nations throughout the region played key roles in the Military Observer Mission Ecuador and Peru that led to the successful resolution of the long–standing border dispute between those two nations in 1999. A graduate is credited with helping stop a 1992 coup attempt in Venezuela. Four other graduates have been instrumental in ending 36 years of civil war in Guatemala. The presence of USARSA graduates in key positions in the military, government, and economic institutions of the region over the past several decades have made the transition toward democracy easier in Latin America, a region in which Cuba is now the sole remaining authoritarian regime. USARSA's curriculum includes Army doctrine, a comprehensive human rights program, and instruction on the role of a professional military in a democratic society. Several investigations by external agencies have confirmed that the school's instruction is consistent with U.S. human rights policy. The Army is committed to taking the steps necessary to ensure USARSA's operations are fully understood and remain consistent with the expectations of Congress and the values of the American people.
Counterdrug Efforts
In 1999, the Army supported the war on drugs through training and support of foreign counterdrug forces in many nations of Latin America, the Caribbean, and the heroin trafficking regions of Southeast and Southwest Asia. Activities in these regions included SOF training of host nation personnel, as well as aviation, transportation, intelligence, planning, and reconnaissance support. In Colombia, for example, Army support to U.S. counterdrug efforts included training and equipping a special Colombian Army counterdrug battalion. Among other things, the Army also provided nearly $20 million in materiel support under the provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act. This support ranged from spare parts for UH–1 and UH–60 helicopters to binoculars and trucks.
Army support for the war on drugs extended into the domestic arena as well. More than 2,000 active and reserve component soldiers performed tasks ranging from construction of fences along the border with Mexico to providing intelligence analyst support to Drug Law Enforcement Agencies. The Army National Guard provided additional unique support to the 54 states and territories under the provisions of Title 32, United States Code. This support involved over 3,000 people and included cargo inspections and drug demand reduction activities. Both at home and abroad, American soldiers played a significant role in stemming this transnational threat.
Nation Building Activities
In addition to their other activities, Army soldiers and civilians combined training with nation–building projects and other civic assistance efforts in FY 1999. For example, Army engineers repaired the roof on a charity hospital in Mongolia and repaired clinics, roads, and schools in the Marshall Islands. Through Medical Readiness and Training Exercises, Army reserve component personnel provided medical treatment around the world. In just one of these exercises, 44 soldiers from the 4224 U.S. Army Hospital treated more than 2,000 patients in Mariquita, Colombia. The Army also continued its work in Haiti under authority of Operation Uphold Democracy. Approximately 200 soldiers performed security missions as well as medical and civil assistance projects in support of this operation. In the Ukraine, USAREUR's 30th Medical Brigade provided surplus Army medical equipment to civilian hospitals in Operation Provide Hope. From August through October 1999, Army personnel delivered equipment and instructed Ukrainian personnel on its use. Through the professional work of its soldiers, the Army fostered good will while training and enhancing America's credibility abroad.
While training and engagement activities prevent and deter wars, the Army's core function is to remain ready to respond anywhere in the world to fight and win the nation's wars. The deployment of combat forces to Kuwait, Albania, and Kosovo in FY 1999 validated the Army's readiness to respond. Other emergency deployments arising from the Balkan crisis, Hurricane Mitch, and the unrest in East Timor underscored the Army's responsiveness and utility.
Training to Respond
Effective response is the product of a rigorous training program. To that end, the Army conducted training at home station, deployments to combat training centers (CTCs), and major joint and combined training exercises in 1999. Home station training ranged from individual and small unit training to major exercises at brigade and division level. Having honed their skills at home station, some 82,000 soldiers were able to participate in 47 CTC rotations in FY 1999. These rotations afforded our soldiers the opportunity to conduct sustained operations against a highly skilled opposing force under realistic conditions. In 1999, CTC rotations were also used to prepare units for contingency operations in the Balkans. In addition to home station and CTC training, major joint and combined training deployments, such as Exercise Cobra Gold in Thailand, Ulchi Focus Lens in Korea, and Bright Star in Egypt, offered valuable opportunities for leaders to execute deployment plans and conduct operations upon arrival. The experience and proficiency gained by planning, resourcing, and conducting this training is essential to preserving near–term readiness.
Operational Deployments
In November 1998, the United States and its allies conducted Operation Desert Fox, four days of bombing operations in response to Iraq's failure to comply with UN resolutions. The crisis erupted while the Army had two mechanized battalion task forces and an aviation task force training with Kuwaiti forces. The Army quickly deployed additional forces. Under control of Combined/Joint Task Force–Kuwait, these ground forces deterred Iraq from using the strikes as an excuse to move against Kuwait. The rapid buildup of this potent force highlighted the value of the Army's training and equipment prepositioning programs.
The Army also employed forces in support of the NATO bombing campaign against Yugoslavia from March to June 1999. In addition to providing nearly 200 augmentees to Joint Task Force–Noble Anvil, the Army deployed a 5,000–soldier strong task force—Task Force Hawk—to Albania in April to provide Army–specific capabilities for campaign planners. These soldiers demonstrated the Army's ability to deploy forces anywhere in the world, overcoming the most difficult terrain and weather conditions. The deployment of this warfighting force not only sent a clear signal of the coalition's resolve, but also put a capable force into position to participate in the peace implementation operation.
Two other deployments of Army personnel provided critical support to the successful implementation of U.S. policy in the Balkans by emplacing the infrastructure to support follow–on operations in Kosovo and supporting refugees. In Europe, U.S. soldiers designated as Task Force Sabre expanded the base camp that would later prove critical as a staging base for the U.S. contingent to KFOR. This vital effort included the emplacement of key force protection and sustainment assets and was instrumental to the rapid introduction of U.S. forces into Kosovo after the bombing stopped. Closer to home, the Army's 507th Corps Support Group from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, formed the nucleus of a joint task force (JTF) helping to host displaced Kosovars at Fort Dix, New Jersey. JTF Provide Refuge, which also included active and reserve component augmentees, was the DoD element supporting this Department of Health and Human Services endeavor from May through July 1999. In all, the task force cared for over 4,000 displaced Kosovars, underscoring the U.S. humanitarian commitment and helping preserve the NATO coalition's solidarity.
When U.S. forces crossed into Kosovo to begin the difficult task of bringing stability to the province, the Army led the way. Elements of USAREUR's 1st Infantry Division have provided the bulk of the U.S. contingent, dubbed Task Force Falcon, since the peace implementation operation began in June. On a daily basis, American soldiers are face to face with the people of Kosovo, doing the dangerous and difficult work of disarming former combatants, resettling refugees, protecting minority populations from retribution, and setting the context for the rebuilding of the democratic institutions of civil society. In addition to the contribution of its U.S. elements, Task Force Falcon is providing command and control for more than 3,100 Greek, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, United Arab Emirates, Jordanian, and Lithuanian soldiers. Together, this combined force conducts patrols, operates roadblocks and checkpoints, and guards key facilities in the designated U.S. sector. As it has in Bosnia, the Army is leveraging its diverse skills to provide a force tailored to this challenging mission.
In addition to providing forces for missions such as those in the Balkans and the Middle East, the Army led U.S. efforts to assist the nations of Central America in the wake of Hurricanes Georges and Mitch in 1999. The XVIII Airborne Corps, with reserve component augmentation in critical specialties, deployed more than 4,000 soldiers to help alleviate the immediate suffering caused by Hurricane Mitch. Dubbed Operation Strong Support, this effort lasted from November 1998 until January 1999. It provided aviation, logistics, emergency evacuation, engineer assessment, road repair, and medical care for affected areas in Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala. Operation Strong Support was followed immediately by the annual Exercise Nuevo Horizontes (New Horizons), which was enhanced to provide continuing, comprehensive assistance to Central American and Caribbean nations devastated by Hurricanes Georges and Mitch. More than 20,000 USAR and ARNG soldiers worked on civil projects designed by the Department of State and operated medical support sites for the local populace from January through August 1999. In all, American soldiers provided medical treatment for more than 100,000 local civilians and either built or repaired 33 schools, 12 clinics, 27 high–capacity wells, 26 bridges, and 175 kilometers of road.
Beginning in September 1999, the Army was also engaged in operations in Indonesia. American soldiers performed critical medical, intelligence, communications, and civil affairs tasks as part of the U.S. contingent supporting Operation Stabilize in East Timor. The rapid deployment of soldiers in these key specialties was a noteworthy contribution to this important operation.
Responding at Home
Throughout the year, the Secretary of the Army's role as DoD Executive Agent for Military Support to Civil Authorities kept the Army in the forefront here at home. In fact, the Army coordinated military support to civil authorities on 38 separate occasions during FY 1999. Army National Guard soldiers provided additional critical assistance to local authorities throughout the year while acting under state control, and the Army trained first responders throughout the nation on consequence management procedures for weapons of mass destruction. Whether responding to tornadoes in Oklahoma, wild fires in California, or hurricanes along the eastern seaboard, the Army's timely and comprehensive efforts were vital to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's response capability.
The recent accomplishments and activities of the Army clearly demonstrate its effectiveness and versatility. Thus, the Army remains ready, when called upon, to provide ground combat capabilities, such as those fielded in Kuwait during Operation Desert Fox. Even in Operation Allied Force, where Army forces were not committed to combat, our soldiers and civilians provided critical enabling capabilities for U.S. military operations. Throughout the year, Army capabilities were an important contributor to achieving national objectives.
The Army worked hard in FY 1999 to balance global shaping and responding operations with the imperative of preparing for an uncertain future, including transforming the Army. Contingency operations abroad generated additional training and operational requirements, added to wear and tear on equipment, and increased personnel tempo. Supplemental appropriations eased the funding impact of contingency operations on near–term readiness, but did not address many funding requirements for modernization and recapitalization. The Army's new Vision will drive the transformation of the 21st century Army so that it projects combat power more rapidly, dominates at any point on the spectrum of operations more readily, and sustains its readiness more affordably than today's force.
The Army Vision
The spectrum of 21st century operations demands land forces in joint, combined, and multinational formations for a variety of missions extending from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to peacekeeping, peacemaking, and winning major theater wars—our non–negotiable contract with the American people. The Army will be responsive and dominant at every point on that spectrum. It will provide to the nation an array of deployable, agile, versatile, lethal, survivable, and sustainable formations, which are capable of reversing the conditions of human suffering rapidly and resolving conflicts decisively.
The Vision calls for improving strategic responsiveness. To achieve this, the Army will continue to emphasize forward–deployed forces and forward–positioned capabilities, engagement, and enhancing the deployability of all Army forces. Ultimately, Army units will erase the line between light and heavy by developing organizations with the deployability of today's light forces but with the lethality and mobility of today's heavy forces. Restructuring of two initial brigades will begin in FY 2000 at Fort Lewis, Washington. These brigades will initially feature off–the–shelf equipment to stimulate development of doctrine, organizational design, and leader training. The Army will restructure its modernization program to support development of tailor–made platforms for the Objective Force. The Army's goal is to improve its responsiveness and deployability so that it can put a brigade combat team anywhere in the world in 96 hours after liftoff, a warfighting division in 120 hours, and five divisions in 30 days.
The units that the Army deploys within these timelines will be capable of dominating at any point on the spectrum of operations because they will be designed, manned, and equipped to transition rapidly from stability and support operations to major theater warfare. Army Service Component Commands and corps will have the resources to function as Joint Force Land Component Command and Army Force headquarters. The warfighting units will be manned to their full authorizations with soldiers and leaders ready for whatever mission they are given. Their equipment will continue to provide our soldiers with overmatching capabilities. It will incorporate information technology as well as material technology.
While continuing to ensure overwhelming combat power in the theater of operations, the Army will aggressively reduce its logistics footprint by controlling the number of systems deployed, employing the full reach–back capability technology allows, and evolving systems that are easier to sustain. Deploying only essential capabilities while using modern technology to streamline in–theater support functions is one step towards achieving the goal of a smaller logistics footprint. For instance, communications technology may provide commanders the intelligence, medical, and other support capabilities needed for some contingencies without deploying the equipment and specialists necessary in the past. Logistics modernization initiatives are already reducing the need for large stockpiles by providing near real–time visibility of supplies and requirements. As technology allows, the Army will move to an all–wheeled fleet of vehicles. Seeking common platform, common chassis, and standard caliber designs for these follow–on systems will further reduce sustainment requirements.
The Army's Vision also stresses investing in our most important asset—our people, including their military and civilian education, and their housing and health care. Additionally, the Army will continue to pursue two critical initiatives that contribute to reaching our Vision—digitization and active component/reserve component integration.
Digitization and Active/Reserve Component Integration
Digitization is the process of applying digital information technologies to allow warfighters to share a constantly updated common view of the entire battlefield. It will enhance combat power by integrating existing command and control capabilities with communications, sensors, and combat platforms. Digitization will increase effectiveness and efficiency by combining digital hardware with trained soldiers in organizations designed to optimize the information sharing that technology allows.
In anticipation of the enhancement to combat power afforded by digitized platforms, the Army began to transition some divisions to a new design in 1999. Key features of this new design include a reduction in the number of tanks and infantry fighting vehicles in mechanized battalions, an increase in the number of dismounted soldiers in infantry platoons, and the integration of reserve component units and personnel throughout the division. The new design will take several years to implement, but it will reduce the strategic lift requirement for affected divisions by 11 percent.
Another force structure initiative in 1999 was the establishment of two integrated divisions. These divisions combine active component division headquarters with three ARNG enhanced Separate Brigades (eSBs). The two divisions established were the 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) (–) and the 7th Infantry Division (–). The 24th ID (M)(–) has its headquarters at Fort Riley, Kansas, and includes mechanized eSBs from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The 7th ID (–) has its headquarters at Fort Carson, Colorado, and includes infantry eSBs from Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Oregon. While these units are not deployable as divisions, the full–time planning and training management support of the active component headquarters will facilitate the readiness of the assigned eSBs.
Missile Defense and Domestic Preparedness
The Army was also active in the areas of missile defense and domestic preparedness, experiencing significant successes in the national and theater missile defense programs under its purview. As the Executive Agent for the development of the dedicated National Missile Defense (NMD) ground–based elements, the Army supported the Joint Program Office for NMD in the initial hit–to–kill flight test of the Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) in October 1999. The EKV correctly discriminated between a reentry vehicle and another object, tracking and destroying the reentry vehicle. In the theater missile defense realm, the Patriot Advanced Capability–3 (PAC–3) and Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) programs both had successful intercepts as well. The success of the PAC–3 upgrade capitalizes on the nation's investment in the Patriot system, the only fielded U.S. system capable of defeating theater ballistic missiles (TBM). While PAC–3 will provide enhanced lower–tier theater missile defense in the short term, THAAD's two successful intercepts were encouraging milestones on the road to upper–tier protection as well. Together, PAC–3 and THAAD promise critical protection against the TBM threat to soldiers in the field.
The Army also continued its role as the Executive Agent for the DoD Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Domestic Preparedness Program in FY 1999. Army personnel supported the Federal Training Team in providing train–the–trainer training to 33 cities. Almost 19,000 people in 65 cities had received this training as of the end of the fiscal year. The Army also fielded special teams designed to improve the nation's ability to respond to terrorist or other attacks involving WMD. Ten WMD Civil Support Teams (formerly called Rapid Assessment and Initial Detection Teams) were activated and trained. These teams, each consisting of 22 full–time ARNG or Air Guard personnel, are aligned with the ten federal regions and stand ready to support civil authorities in the event of a disaster involving WMD. In addition to this effort by the National Guard, the USAR began training its chemical and logistical units to provide augmentation in the event of a WMD emergency. These critical missile defense and domestic preparedness capabilities contribute significantly to national security.
The Army performed important functions related to treaty implementation in 1999. For instance, the Army is the DoD Executive Agent for Chemical Demilitarization. Under provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention and applicable laws, the destruction of the U.S. stockpile of chemical agents, munitions, and non–stockpile chemical warfare materiel is proceeding on schedule. To date, the Army has safely destroyed more than 17 percent of the chemical agents stored in the U.S. stockpile.
The Army also led U.S. efforts pertaining to the hand over of the Panama Canal and the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Panama. The Secretary of the Army is the Secretary of Defense's designee to the Board of Directors of the Panama Canal Commission (PCC) and serves as Chairman of the Board. It is through this role that the Secretary of the Army exercises the authority of the President of the United States with respect to the Panama Canal Commission. The PCC Board of Directors has been very active preparing the transfer of the Canal and overseeing an ambitious capital improvement program. Regarding our military presence in Panama, as the DoD Executive Agent for implementation of the Panama Canal Treaty, the Army orchestrated the final drawdown and transfer of U.S. forces out of Panama. This effort entailed successfully transferring five major installations, several support facilities, and over 50,000 acres of former military ranges to Panama. Our support for endeavors such as Chemical Demilitarization and the implementation of the Panama Canal Treaty is a strong endorsement of the technical competence and versatility of Army leadership, soldiers, and civilians.
FY 1999 was one of the most challenging years for recruiting since the beginning of the all–volunteer force; however, record reenlistment rates helped the Army meet its required end strength. The ARNG exceeded its recruiting quota, accessing 132 soldiers above its target of 56,958, but the active component fell about 6,300 soldiers short of its goal of 74,500, and the number of USAR recruits was 10,300 below the goal of 52,084. A booming economy, low unemployment, and increased opportunities for college undoubtedly contributed to the difficult recruiting environment. However, new initiatives sparked a year–end upturn in the number of accessions and provided a good head start for the challenge of meeting FY 2000 recruiting targets.
To meet the challenge of recruiting in the post–drawdown era, the Army is aggressively restructuring its entire recruiting operation, including upgrading its research into youth attitudes; improving its in–house marketing expertise; fully reviewing its advertising strategy and execution; and improving training, positioning, and incentivizing of recruiters. The Army will also field two new recruiting initiatives. The College First program will try to attract candidates who are already in college or who are college bound by providing education benefits up front in return for a period of service. Another pilot program will attract high–quality, non–high school graduates who score well on motivation indicators and mental aptitude tests. This program will offer assistance in obtaining a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) to a select number of candidates. The Army will continue to emphasize creative solutions to the challenge of attracting sufficient numbers of young Americans to military service.
Notwithstanding its recruiting challenge, the Army met its end–of–year strength requirements because of its tremendous success in retention. The active component exceeded its retention goals by 6,147 soldiers in FY 1999. Enhanced bonus programs implemented by the Army, as well as the improvements in military compensation begun by the Administration and Congress, have bolstered retention efforts.
Sustaining this kind of retention success is important for readiness, but will become more difficult as today's recruiting shortfalls lead to smaller cohorts of soldiers available for reenlistment. Recent studies indicate that the propensity to remain in the military has declined steadily among junior officers (13 percent) and non–commissioned officers (17 percent) over the past nine years. These statistics have correlated well with actual retention in the past and merit further observation. Both military and civilian leaders must continue to take steps to improve quality of life and compensation if the Army is to retain sufficient numbers of our high–quality soldiers, noncommissioned officers and officers.
Though not a recruiting program, the expansion of Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) programs may help motivate young Americans toward military service. These programs will educate America's youth about the military while providing them with the discipline and values that will contribute to their future success. With the assistance of several distinguished members of Congress, the Army developed a plan to expand its JROTC program over the next five years to include 275 additional high schools. The expansion will bring the total number of high schools offering Army JROTC to the congressional ceiling of 1,645. Participation in JROTC increases self–confidence, attendance, and performance among high school students. The expansion of JROTC will inform young Americans about the opportunities available in the military while providing a positive influence during the critical high school years.
Improving efficiency is another way the Army is striving to maintain readiness within fiscal constraints. Resource constraints and increasing commitments have made efficiency an imperative. The Army has responded to this challenge by implementing a series of Defense Reform Initiatives. Among the Army's successes are a number of programs designed to reduce the cost of day–to–day operations, streamline its logistics systems, and reduce excess infrastructure. Under the competitive sourcing initiative, for instance, organizations and installations examine selected operations to determine whether they might be performed more efficiently by either a streamlined government workforce or a private organization. The Army plans to study operations affecting 73,000 positions by FY 2005 and has initiated studies affecting 40,000 positions over the past two years. This initiative will save approximately $2.8 billion by the time it is completed.
Logistics Modernization
The Army is also achieving significant efficiencies by using information technology to revolutionize its logistics systems. A series of ongoing initiatives dramatically reduces logistics costs by reducing the quantities of supplies maintained in stockpiles around the world. Information technology makes this possible by providing global visibility of materiel. Global visibility makes possible more efficient use of existing stocks. The Single Stock Fund (SSF) initiative, for example, capitalizes on this increased efficiency by merging wholesale and retail portions of certain Army supply activities, including repair parts and packaged petroleum products. The SSF will allow customers to use a single, nationally managed Army inventory, thereby eliminating retail stocks.
Base Realignment and Closure
Reducing excess infrastructure continues to be one of the most effective ways to improve efficiency. The Army has reduced its infrastructure by only 21 percent over the past 10 years, while its force structure has decreased by about 33 percent in the same time period. The Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process is the most powerful tool for decreasing the expenditure of scarce Real Property Maintenance (RPM) dollars on excess infrastructure. The Army has completed closures and realignments authorized under three of the four BRAC processes completed to date, and annual recurring savings have exceeded the cost of implementing authorized actions since FY 1997. Closures and realignments authorized under the last BRAC process are on schedule to meet the July 2001 deadline for completion. Environmental cleanup and property disposal associated with all four BRAC processes will continue through FY 2005. The Army strongly supports the DoD request for additional BRAC authorizations as part of its ongoing efforts to support the Defense Reform Initiatives and optimize conversion of scarce resources into required capabilities. Achieving base closure savings is critical to funding Army transformation initiatives.
Residential Communities Initiative
One area of the Army's infrastructure that received a great deal of attention in FY 1999 was Army Family Housing. Faced with an enormous facilities backlog to eliminate inadequate government housing, the Services were authorized by the 1996 Defense Authorization bill to attract private sector expertise and capital to improve housing facilities and services provided to military members and their families. Pursuant to this authorization, the Army developed its Residential Communities Initiative (RCI), a plan to privatize Army Family Housing by FY 2005. In response to congressional concerns about the pace of service privatization programs, the Army added $250 million in traditional Army Family Housing funding back into its Military Construction program for fiscal years 2001 through 2005. Also, privatization initiatives were scaled back to Fort Carson, Colorado, and three pilot RCI sites: Fort Lewis, Washington; Fort Hood, Texas; and Fort Meade, Maryland. The Army is excited about the potential of RCI to deliver the kind of quality housing that contributes to soldier retention.
The Army's Total Obligation Authority for FY 1999 was $69.2 billion. Of this amount, the Army received $26.7 billion for the Military Personnel accounts, $25.3 billion for the Operation and Maintenance accounts, and $13.9 billion for the Investment accounts. The remainder was applied to other accounts, such as Military Construction, Army Family Housing, and Environmental Restoration. In order to fully fund operating tempo (OPTEMPO) for priority units, the Army funded Base Operations (BASOPS) and RPM below desired levels. In addition to the original FY 1999 budget appropriation, the Army received funding from several non–offsetting supplemental appropriations acts, including $2.9 billion for Contingency Operations. The Army reprogrammed $375.9 million in FY 1999, mostly to address readiness issues, closeout costs for the Conventional Ammunition Working Capital Fund, and other requirements. The source for this reprogramming was under execution savings in the Military Personnel accounts. The Army is committed to helping itself as much as possible to meet the funding requirements of Vision transformation without jeopardizing current capabilities or sidetracking critical recapitalization efforts.
From the tense streets of the Balkans to Korea's Demilitarized Zone, the United States Army stands ready to defend and promote the nation's interests. It is a quality force composed of America's sons and daughters—citizens who have met stringent entry requirements and endured rigorous training to earn a place in the world's best Army. Having earned this distinction, America's soldiers are frequently called upon to serve long tours in dangerous places accomplishing difficult missions. Wherever they go, they are the living, breathing symbols of a society in which people of different religions and ethnic backgrounds live and work together productively and in harmony—a society with an economy, an infrastructure, and a vitality that are the envy of much of the rest of the world.
When we send our sons and daughters abroad to improve the international environment, the freedom of the society they represent is their most powerful tool. American soldiers are potent symbols of this freedom and of the power and promise of America. They are volunteers, serving in a values–based organization that exemplifies loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. In the midst of foreign lands struggling to achieve basic order and dignity, our soldiers are a beacon that illuminates what is possible.
From Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to the jungles of Colombia, the Balkans, and elsewhere around the world, 65 brave American soldiers gave their lives in 1999 training hard and performing dangerous duties in support of our nation. Their service and sacrifice is a reminder of the generations of soldiers who have served and sacrificed on behalf of our nation for over 224 years. As it has been throughout our history, only the determination and vigilance of this and succeeding generations can safeguard the freedoms that make our nation great. We must ensure that our Army has the resources to prepare for tomorrow as well as meet the requirements of today.
Louis Caldera
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'The true Santa Claus': A once-in-a-lifetime Christmas gift from Mr. Claus
Six months after receiving the transplant, much to their surprise, James and Barbara learned that they would be allowed to write an anonymous letter to the bone marrow donor. But according to the rules, the letter could not include any personal information about themselves. The letter was first sent to the donor bank, where it was read and found to be acceptable, and then it was forwarded on. A few months later, the couple got a response. The bone marrow bank called with the donor's information. His name? Chris Claus. Three days before Christmas, Mr. Claus had given James the gift of life.
James emailed Chris and the two began a weekly email correspondence. They realized they had a lot in common—same blood type, played Little League, liked the outdoors, around the same age, married to Scorpios, recently moved out of state and loved dogs. Barbara was in contact with Chris's fiancée, Hang, and they planned a surprise for Chris: to show up at the Claus's wedding.
So, in July 2012 Barbara and James flew to California and met Chris for the first time at his wedding. It was also an opportunity for Chris's friends and family to learn about the gift that he gave. James and Barbara call him "the true Santa Claus."
James and Barbara moved to Damascus, PA in September and James will celebrate his third "birthday" in February.
[It's easy to give the gift of life. To become a bone marrow donor, visit marrow.org to learn how.]
[Every once in a while you hear a story about someone who gave or received a life-changing gift during the year-end holiday season. The River Reporter is looking for an individual with just such a heart-warming personal story to share. We are calling this feature "A Gift from the Heart," and we want to tell several of these stories in our newspaper during December. If you are someone with such a story to share or know someone, kindly contact email@example.com or call 845/252-7414, ext. 29. Join us in celebrating the joy of the season with our readers.]


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Tobacco-to-hotels major ITC has set its sights on being India's top non-cigarette FMCG company. Yogesh Chander Deveshwar , Chairman , ITC Limited tells ET's Sutanuka Ghosal his successor will in all probability be an insider, a safe pair of hands. Excerpts:
It's been more than 10 years since you began your current wave of diversification. What have been your successes and failures?


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I blogged a while back about our acquisition of the Rosetta ESB. As mentioned by others, we've made significant progress on our SOA story over the past few months. With the release of JBossESB 4.0 Beta1, we're making another important statement to our customers and community: Redhat+JBoss is a powerful combination in the SOA space.
Looking specifically at JBossESB, we spent a lot of time and effort working with customers on our architecture and the Rosetta code donation has helped us to start to deliver on the goals. The fact that it has been in production use for 3 solid years is a critical component in the solution for our customers. It has a pedigree associated with it that is impossible to come by any other way: for any software system/application to be solid and reliable, it needs to be deployed, run and tested. This beta release may not be precisely where we want to be, but then what beta release is? It is fair to say that for this release we have concentrated on getting the core right, setting the foundation on which to build the product release. So don't expect lots of bells and whistles, but do expect a good offering.
The list of things to look out for in this beta release include:
One thing I definitely don't want to let slip by un-noticed is that this ESB is truly a release build by the community and for the community. We've got a great team, composed of full-time employees as well as community members. The forum has always been active and this has helped us develop the ESB. Many of the forum contributors have subsequently joined the team in one way or another. I have been very impressed with the way in which the team has pulled together in this effort and I think it bodes well for the future!


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Synonyms of faculty in English:
1 the faculty of speech
power, capability, capacity, facility, potential, potentiality, propensity, wherewithal, means, preparedness;
(faculties) senses, wits, reason, intelligence
2 he had a quite unusual faculty for unearthing contributors
ability, proficiency, competence, capability, potential, capacity, facility, readiness;
expertise, expertness, adeptness, adroitness, dexterity, prowess, mastery, artistry, accomplishment;
propensity, inclination, natural ability, suitability, fitness;
head, mind, brain
informal know-how
3 the arts faculty
department, school, division, section
4 the vicar introduced certain ornaments without the necessary faculty to do so
authorization, authority, power, right, permission, consent, leave, sanction, licence, dispensation, assent, acquiescence, agreement, approval, seal of approval, approbation, endorsement, imprimatur, clearance
informal the go-ahead, the thumbs up, the OK, the green light, say-so
rare permit
Definition of faculty in:
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Sensors 2011, 11(7), 6575-6592; doi:10.3390/s110706575
Polynomial Method for PLL Controller Optimization†
1 Institute of Civil Aviation, National Cheng-Kung University, No.1 University Road, Tainan 701, Taiwan 2 Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA 3 MediaTek Inc., No.1 Dusing Road. 1, Hsinchu Science Park, Hsinchu 30078, Taiwan
† Based on "Nonlinear Phase-Locked Loop Design using Semidefinite Programming", by Ta-Chung Wang, Tsung-Yu Chiou and Sanjay Lall, which was presented at the 16th IEEE Mediterranean Conference on Control and Automation. ©2008 IEEE.
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 12 May 2011 / Revised: 15 June 2011 / Accepted: 22 June 2011 / Published: 27 June 2011
(This article belongs to the Section Physical Sensors)
View Full-Text | Download PDF [687 KB, uploaded 21 June 2014] |
AbstractThe Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) is a key component of modern electronic communication and control systems. PLL is designed to extract signals from transmission channels. It plays an important role in systems where it is required to estimate the phase of a received signal, such as carrier tracking from global positioning system satellites. In order to robustly provide centimeter-level accuracy, it is crucial for the PLL to estimate the instantaneous phase of an incoming signal which is usually buried in random noise or some type of interference. This paper presents an approach that utilizes the recent development in the semi-definite programming and sum-of-squares field. A Lyapunov function will be searched as the certificate of the pull-in range of the PLL system. Moreover, a polynomial design procedure is proposed to further refine the controller parameters for system response away from the equilibrium point. Several simulation results as well as an experiment result are provided to show the effectiveness of this approach.
Keywords: non-linear systems; phase-locked loop; optimization
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 3.0).
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Wang, T.-C.; Lall, S.; Chiou, T.-Y. Polynomial Method for PLL Controller Optimization. Sensors 2011, 11, 6575-6592.View more citation formats
AMA Style
Wang T-C, Lall S, Chiou T-Y. Polynomial Method for PLL Controller Optimization. Sensors. 2011; 11(7):6575-6592.Chicago/Turabian Style
Wang, Ta-Chung; Lall, Sanjay; Chiou, Tsung-Yu. 2011. "Polynomial Method for PLL Controller Optimization." Sensors 11, no. 7: 6575-6592.
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