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Backgrounder #2347 on National Security and Defense
December 3, 2009
December 3, 2009 | Backgrounder on National Security and Defense
Abstract: President Barack Obama recently announced a new strategy to lead the 43-nation NATO International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan to victory. Upon the request of General Stanley McChrystal, President Obama has ordered the deployment of 30,000 additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan in the coming months. He also announced the drawdown of U.S. troops beginning in July 2011. It is vital that America's NATO partners also step up to the plate by providing additional combat troops, equipment, and political support for General McChrystal's counterinsurgency strategy. For too long, ISAF has been short-changed militarily and politically by Continental Europe. The United States and the United Kingdom have been forced to shoulder an unfair share of the burden for the mission in Afghanistan, losing disproportionate amounts of blood and treasure.
At the end of August, U.S. General Stanley McChrystal, the top NATO commander in Afghanistan, advised the Obama Administration that the mission in Afghanistan "will likely result in failure"[1] unless the U.S. and NATO implement a new counterinsurgency strategy backed by a significant surge of up to 80,000 additional U.S. troops.[2] Importantly, he noted that, given the right strategy, success in Afghanistan is achievable.[3] Having taken three months to reach a decision, President Barack Obama has announced a surge of 30,000 U.S. troops and has appealed to the NATO allies to contribute additional troops and resources.[4]
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will travel to Brussels on December 3 to meet with NATO foreign ministers to discuss Europe's contribution to the new strategy for Afghanistan. A surge of 40,000 troops will give General McChrystal's strategy a greater chance of succeeding with less risk to the deployed troops. Therefore, it is critical that NATO's European members send at least 10,000 additional troops together with critical enablers and other resources that General McChrystal identified by as necessary for victory.
With a few honorable exceptions, NATO's European members--especially France, Germany, Italy, and Spain--have underresourced the U.N.-mandated International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan from the start. They have provided too few troops with too many national caveats on their deployments. Furthermore, their support for the civilian component of the comprehensive strategy approved at NATO's Bucharest summit in 2008 has been woeful, despite a stated eagerness to forgo combat missions in favor of aid and development projects.
At the Bratislava defense ministers' summit in October, two European NATO members stated that Europe was waiting to see President Obama's direction before deciding whether to provide additional resources for Afghanistan.[5] President Obama's limited resourcing of General McChrystal's counterinsurgency strategy means that additional European contributions will likely be decisive to the war effort. The European commitment to Afghanistan must be increased in several ways if General McChrystal is to have a realistic chance of succeeding. These contributions will need to include additional combat troops, police trainers, embedded training teams, and helicopters.
The Gap Between NATO's Talk and Actions
President Obama came to power pledging that his cooperation and consultation with America's allies would be greater than his predecessor's.[6] However, he has quickly found that President George W. Bush's inability to secure greater Continental European contributions to the mission in Afghanistan was not because of his supposed "unilateralism," but because of Europe's lack of political will to fight long wars abroad. In spite of President Obama's high personal approval ratings among Europeans, he did not receive the much-needed additional commitment of combat troops at the Strasbourg-Kehl summit in April, and he did not unify the alliance around his "spring surge" strategy for Afghanistan.[7]
Stung and frustrated by NATO's lack of commitment, President Obama has excluded the NATO allies almost entirely from his decision on General McChrystal's strategy for Afghanistan. British Defense Secretary Bob Ainsworth recently took the unusual step of publicly criticizing the President for his lack of decisiveness on this matter.[8]
Despite the change in tone and style from his predecessor, President Obama has experienced exactly the same conspiracy of reluctance that President Bush faced in seeking more equitable burden sharing for the Afghanistan mission. Since October 2006, when NATO assumed full responsibility for Afghanistan's security, the U.S. has repeatedly attempted to secure greater European input for both military and civilian operations in Afghanistan. The contributing nations have had ample opportunity to make their voices heard through the countless NATO summits, ministerial meetings, bilateral discussions, strategy sessions, speeches, conferences, and compacts.
It is therefore disingenuous to attribute the problems that ISAF is experiencing in Afghanistan to too few opportunities for the allies to consult. Rather, NATO has repeatedly agreed to strategies for Afghanistan but then failed to provide adequate resources. The comprehensive approach, which was endorsed at the heads-of-state level in Bucharest in April 2008, is a striking example of this disconnect.[9] The alliance endorsed a strategy for a greater civilian-military footprint in Afghanistan, but after a short-term surge of largely American and British troops to combat the Taliban's spring offensive, ISAF's overall strength was almost the same in October as it had been in April. No additional Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) have been created since April 2008.[10]
At the October 2009 defense ministerial summit in Slovakia, NATO endorsed General McChrystal's assessment of the mission but specifically refused to commit resources toward his recommendations. However, NATO did adopt four priorities that fully underscore General McChrystal's counterinsurgency strategy:
The alliance also stressed the need to better coordinate and fully resource the training of Afghanistan's security forces through the NATO Training Mission for Afghanistan (NTM-A).[12] However, as with previous tactics and strategies endorsed by NATO, the alliance seems to have adopted the plan without acknowledging the vast resources needed to implement it.
Location of NATO Forces
At present, ISAF's total strength of 71,030 personnel is split unevenly among regional command centers in Kabul (the capital), Kandahar in the South, Herat in the West, Mazar-e-Sharif in the North, and Bagram in the East.[13] By a large margin, the South and East are the most volatile areas of Afghanistan, accounting for the vast majority of insurgent attacks. Helmand, Kandahar, Pakitka, Ghazni, Zabol, Uruzgan, and Khost average the greatest number of daily insurgent attacks.[14]
The Dutch, British, and Canadians rotate lead nation status for the 36,500-man deployment in southern Afghanistan, supported by American, Australian, Bulgarian, Polish, Estonian, Danish, Romanian, and Slovakian deployments. The United States acts as the lead nation for the 18,300-man deployment in eastern Afghanistan, supported by the Czechs and New Zealanders.
By contrast, the North and the capital have been largely stabilized, accounting for the fewest security incidents, although instability has started to creep into some areas in these regions, such as Kunduz and Wardak. Western Afghanistan experiences greater numbers of insurgent-initiated attacks than the North, but far fewer than the South.[15]
Germany leads the 5,700-man Mazar-e-Sharif deployment in the North, supported by Swedish, Hungarian, and Norwegian troops. Italy leads the 4,400-man Herat deployment, supported by Spanish, American, and Lithuanian troops, and France rotates leadership of the 6,130-man Kabul deployment with Turkey and Italy.
The 43,800 troops from the U.S. and U.K. comprise more than 60 percent of the total ISAF contingent. By year's end, the U.S. will have 68,000 troops deployed, operating either under ISAF command or as part of the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom.[16] The additional 30,000 troops announced by President Obama will further increase the American military footprint in Afghanistan as they steadily insert into theater through 2010.
In contrast, the "big four" Continental powers-- France, Germany, Italy, and Spain--provide just 11,255 troops combined. Excluding the U.K., the remaining 20 NATO-EU members provide 20,083 troops.
Troop Losses. The location tends to determine the nature of a nation's deployment. For example, British, Canadian, and Dutch troops in Helmand and Kandahar have faced some of the fiercest fighting of the entire campaign, while German troops in the northern provinces undertake a largely peacekeeping role. This is reflected in the wildly uneven troop losses among the ISAF nations.
The U.K. has lost more men--235 soldiers killed, almost exclusively in Helmand--than all other NATO-EU members combined. In comparison, 210 Czech, Danish, Estonian, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, and Spanish servicemen have died in Afghanistan. In Helmand and Kandahar alone, 547 troops have died, primarily British (209), Americans (194), Canadians (104), and Danes (24).[17] (See Table 1.)
Caveats. Although NATO closely guards the comprehensive list of national caveats on deployments, the operational and maneuverability limits placed on troops and equipment is a significant problem for ISAF commanders. These limits on ground forces and what they can do adversely affect operations in Afghanistan.
In a press conference in 2006, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General James Jones said that there were 102 national restrictions on the deployments in Afghanistan.[18] Testifying before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee in June 2009, current SACEUR Admiral James Stavridis stated that there are 69 caveats.[19] Troops from countries with few or no national caveats--including Denmark, Poland, the U.K., and the U.S.--are largely based in the South. Germany, Italy, Spain, and Turkey are reportedly among the worst offenders.[20] Notable caveats include the following:
A further problem with caveats is that they are occasionally unofficial, unwritten, and not declared until an operation is underway.[24]
What Europe Can and Should Do
In his report to President Obama and to NATO three months ago, General McChrystal stipulated that the U.S. and NATO have a 12-month window of opportunity to turn around the worsening situation in Afghanistan and defeat the insurgencies.[25] In a special address to the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) in London in October, he stated: "We need to reverse the current trends and time does matter. Waiting does not prolong a favorable outcome. This effort will not remain winnable indefinitely."[26]
One of the primary reasons for the lack of progress since 2001 is the underresourcing of operations.[27]
With just nine months remaining on General McChrystal's timetable, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen will be a key player in ensuring additional European commitments for the mission in Afghanistan. As President Obama stated in outlining his strategy for Afghanistan, "this burden is not ours alone to bear. This is not just America's war."[28]
Secretary General Rasmussen needs to continue his informal "direct diplomacy" tour of the allies. He has already visited Budapest, Ljubljana, London, Berlin, Oslo, and Bratislava in recent weeks, pressing individual nations on what resources they can and will deploy to Afghanistan. As the former prime minister of a geographically small country who committed combat troops to both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, Secretary General Rasmussen can speak with authority to national leaders about domestic political pressures and the necessity of winning this war.
Rasmussen and Obama must continue to reinforce the message that the burden for Afghanistan is not one that the United States can or will shoulder alone. As U.N. Special Representative for Afghanistan Kai Eide stated bluntly at the NATO summit in Bratislava, "[A]dditional international troops are required…. [T]his can not be a U.S. only enterprise. There has to be contribution from other troop contributors, and in particular the Europeans."[29]
Political Will. There is a sense of despondency over troop losses among Europeans, matched with a pervasive sense that the war cannot be won. European leaders need to counter the public perception that it is an unwinnable war of choice and help to shape public opinion in favor of bolstering NATO troop levels.
European officials could more easily convince their publics about the necessity of fighting in Afghanistan if President Obama would make an unequivocal statement on European soil about the stakes of winning in Afghanistan. President Obama has visited Europe multiple times since his election, as have Vice President Joseph Biden, Secretary of State Clinton, and other senior officials. Now is the time for the Administration to leverage its strong public diplomacy investment and realize tangible gains in the form of troops, equipment, money, and political support from Europe for the mission in Afghanistan.
The Obama Administration's long debate about the new strategy for the war has already reduced the President's credibility among the NATO allies. For example, while waiting for the results of his long deliberations on General McChrystal's recommendations, the alliance postponed a major force generation conference on Afghanistan planned for November.[30] It is important for President Obama to reverse the impression, growing among the allies, that he lacks the commitment to "finish the job."[31]
Specifically, in December, President Obama should give a major speech in London solely on the issue of Afghanistan. President Obama is already scheduled to be in Copenhagen and Oslo in early December and should add London to his itinerary because the U.K. is the largest European contributor of troops to Afghanistan. President Obama should call on other NATO members to follow the example of Britain, which has deployed 9,000 combat troops without national caveats. He should also lay out the risks of failure in Afghanistan, both for international security and for the future of NATO.
Combat Troops. In his report, General McChrystal stipulated that 40,000-60,000 troops would give his strategy a medium chance of success and that 60,000-80,000 additional troops would maximize his strategy's chance for success as well as reduce the risks to NATO forces. The deployment of just 30,000 U.S. troops restricts the sheer geographical area that can be covered and, unless backfilled by other NATO allies, will fail to achieve a key NATO priority: protection of Afghan civilians.[32] A true counterinsurgency strategy can be implemented only with a higher troop-to-civilian ratio. Having endorsed General McChrystal's assessment at the October ministerial meeting, NATO has already given its political blessing to the strategy, but NATO's European members need to work with the United States to fully resource General McChrystal's recommendations.
Removing national caveats would provide some reinforcements to hotspots for troops already deployed in Afghanistan. For example, French troops based in Kabul could be moved further into the East. But additional troops are needed. Secretary General Rasmussen recently stated that he expects nations to pledge "substantially more forces" to Afghanistan.[33] Slovakia has already announced that it intends to double its 246-man contingent.[34] The U.K. will also increase its large deployment by 500 troops as well as 500 additional special forces.[35] However, Europe needs to substantially boost its contribution, above the 5,000 troops that Secretary General Rasmussen expects to announce later this month.[36]
Almost all nations in the alliance have additional combat forces that could be deployed to Afghanistan--especially France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Turkey. Albania and Croatia also have spare capacity to boost their relatively modest deployments, which would demonstrate their willingness as the newest members of the alliance to provide as well as to consume security.[37]
In addition to providing combat forces, these nations should supply critical enablers to increase the efficacy and flexibility of these troops where possible. Their deployments should be announced and arranged sooner rather than later.
President Obama and Secretary General Rasmussen should make it clear that France and Germany's provisional announcement that they will wait until January to consider additional troop requests is unacceptable, especially in light of General McChrystal's pressing timeline for action.[38] Secretary Clinton should make it a top priority to press Berlin and Paris on this matter during her visit to Brussels and hold French President Nicolas Sarkozy to his statement that this strategy gives "new momentum" to ISAF's mission in Afghanistan.[39]
Considering the vital need for additional European combat troops in Afghanistan, the Netherlands should reconsider its planned withdrawal of forces on December 1, 2010. The Dutch have led the ISAF mission in Uruzgan, the province directly north of Kandahar, and have achieved notable successes working alongside Australian troops and local Afghan leaders. Since 2006, 16 Dutch soldiers and nine Australian servicemen have given their lives in Uruzgan.[40] Defense Minister Eimert Van Middelkoop is currently considering whether to withdraw the entire 1,450-man deployment--in accordance with a recent motion by the Dutch Parliament--or to move the troops to another part of the country.[41] It makes little sense to withdraw operationally tested soldiers with local knowledge, who have made significant progress and have earned the trust of local people, and move them to an unfamiliar province for reasons of domestic politically expediency.
Central and Eastern Europe. It remains to be seen whether the Obama Administration has any credibility to seek additional combat troops from Poland and the Czech Republic after its shameful decision to abandon the missile defense deal with Warsaw and Prague. This problem extends to the Baltic nations, which will have difficulty committing significant defense resources to Afghanistan when they have little confidence in the alliance's Article V guarantees. For example, NATO has still not formally responded to Russia's recent simulation of a nuclear attack on Poland.[42]
Central and Eastern Europe have long sought more than mere reassurances about the indivisibility of transatlantic security but have failed to secure tangible deliverables on this goal, such as contingency planning or the permanent stationing of U.S. troops in the region. President Obama's apparent willingness to trade away the "third site" missile defense installations at Moscow's behest has exacerbated this nervousness and discouraged greater participation in the American-led operation in Afghanistan.
Nevertheless, this provides an opportunity for Poland and the Czech Republic to demonstrate their commitment to NATO's first operation under Article V. As NATO continues the negotiations for its new strategic concept, Warsaw and Prague will have greater authority to emphasize the importance of contingency planning for Article V operations if they have invested in the Article V operation in Afghanistan. Poland has provisionally indicated that it will send several hundred additional troops to Afghanistan and should be partnered by other leading nations in the region.[43]
Civil and Military Trainers. There is widespread agreement among the allies that the Afghan government needs the capacity and capability to provide more of its own security. The creation of a functional, non-corrupt security apparatus is essential for a successful counterinsurgency strategy and the long-term creation of an Afghan identity.
President Obama has emphasized General McChrystal's recommendation that Afghanistan's National Security Force (ANSF) should number 400,000, consisting of a 240,000-man Afghan army and a 160,000-man national police force.[44] Within the next year, General McChrystal aims to expand the Afghan National Army (ANA) from 94,000 to 134,000.[45] Considering his warning that the window of opportunity to defeat the insurgency is now just nine months, this will require an expeditious increase in the training of Afghanistan's security forces.
Afghan National Army. NATO currently has 59 Operational Mentoring and Liaison Teams (OMLTs), each composed of 13-30 personnel, that train and mentor Afghan troops and accompany ANA trainees on missions. To reach existing projections of a 94,000-man ANA, nine more OMLTs are needed. Achieving General McChrystal's recommendation of a 134,000-man ANA by the end of 2010 will require 103 OMLTs.[46]
A number of Continental countries have the capacity to staff additional OMLTs for Afghanistan, especially those members of the alliance that have comparably small deployments, including Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Portugal, Slovenia, and Turkey. Increased OMLT training and mentoring of the ANA should be complemented by the provision of modern equipment as the ANA seeks to upgrade its kit and weapons.
Afghan National Police. When the European Union launched its police training mission in Afghanistan in June 2007, NATO had high hopes that the EU would shoulder a large portion of the burden for the creation of a viable, non-corrupt Afghan police force. A fully functional police force is also a critical element of General McChrystal's counterinsurgency strategy. However, the European Union has not been a serious player in training the Afghan National Police (ANP), nor will it be in the future unless major changes are implemented. As noted by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the EU Police Mission in Afghanistan is too small, underfunded, slow to deploy, inflexible, and largely restricted to Kabul.[47]
NATO members should therefore coordinate their efforts through the NATO Training Mission for Afghanistan, which was announced at the Strasbourg-Kehl Summit in April. The NTM-A will bring together the various training programs for both the ANA and ANP and will be led by a single commander, who is also responsible for the U.S.-led Combined Security Transition Command-- Afghanistan.[48]
Many European NATO members have home guard, paramilitary, and armed police resources that could provide the civil-military and paramilitary police training needed in Afghanistan. According to IISS's The Military Balance 2009, non-deployed capacity available within NATO member states includes:
AWACS and Surveillance Platforms. Controlling the skies in Afghanistan denies cover to the Taliban and gives allied forces critical advantages on the ground through real-time intelligence and communications. The modern Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) and other surveillance platforms can conduct around-the-clock reconnaissance and observation missions, covering very large areas of territory. This frees ground troops from the hazardous and time-intensive task of conducting the same patrols on the ground. Information and battlefield intelligence gathered by radar can be communicated between air and ground forces instantaneously, enabling quicker operational decision making. Further, as part of a counterinsurgency strategy, increased air surveillance will provide additional protections to Afghan civilians.
However, national caveats have complicated the deployment of NATO AWACS to Afghanistan. Multinational crews operate and support the 17 NATO AWACS based in Germany. Several nations, including Germany, are restricted to largely noncombat roles in Afghanistan, and this has led to a protracted debate over their deployment.
Earlier this year, the German Bundestag finally approved deployment of up to 300 additional personnel to operate AWACS in Afghanistan in support of the ISAF mission, stressing that they should be used primarily for air safety missions.[50] In June, the German government announced that it would deploy 100 personnel aboard four AWACS to support the ISAF's stabilization mission.[51]
However, Germany's four AWACS have effectively been grounded since August, and Berlin announced in November that it would not renew its mandate for the AWACS deployment this December.[52] Berlin is claiming difficulty in securing overflight rights from Azerbaijan, a claim that Baku has hotly denied.[53] The German government needs to work with Baku to find a solution before December and request the Bundestag to extend its mandate for deployment of the AWACS at the same time it renews Germany's mandate for the deployment of troops to Afghanistan.
Helicopters. Insurgents in Afghanistan have stepped up their use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which account for nearly 80 percent of NATO casualties.[54] Deploying troops by helicopter greatly reduces their exposure to IEDs, but the House of Commons Defense Committee recently reported that British troops are facing greater risks of IED attacks because of the shortage of helicopters in Afghanistan.[55]
Air mobility also greatly increases the speed and versatility with which forces can be inserted into combat zones. Given the vast geographic sprawl of Afghanistan and the low troop-to-population ratio, small units are often responsible for wide areas of operation and need helicopters to maintain the initiative in combat operations. Moreover, access to medical airlift can mean the difference between life and death for wounded troops.[56]
British forces have experienced some of the most intense combat of this war, but they have just 23 transport helicopters supporting 9,000 combat troops.[57] The military inventories of Continental Europe show the ability to backfill the critical shortage of helicopters in Afghanistan, but the nations are reluctant to do so because of operational risks and the considerable costs of shipping and maintenance.[58] As a result, Dutch, British, American, and British Chinooks bear a disproportionate burden, which cannot continue indefinitely.[59]
Several European nations, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Turkey, could contribute enhanced airlift capability that, absent national caveats, would markedly increase the security and efficacy of combat operations in Afghanistan. Greece also has capacity at its disposal, including 15 Chinooks.[60]
Greece has been a reluctant contributor to the mission in Afghanistan, deploying fewer troops than Macedonia, even after Greece unilaterally blocked Macedonian membership in NATO in 2008.[61] In 2003, Athens refused a request from NATO for additional helicopters due to the financial pressures of hosting the 2004 Olympic Games.[62] In 2007, it joined France, Germany, Turkey, and Spain in again turning down a NATO request for additional helicopters. NATO has since contracted commercial helicopters to compensate for military shortfalls.[63]
What NATO Should Do
The NATO alliance should identify the political, military, and civilian resources needed from individual European countries to further support the mission in Afghanistan and outline a plan for their deployment, consistent with General McChrystal's counterinsurgency strategy:
President Obama has repeatedly called Afghanistan a war of necessity.[64] Winning will not be easy or quick, but victory is certainly possible given the right strategy and adequate resources.
For too long, several Continental allies have hidden behind pretexts and excuses, forcing other members to carry unfair shares of the burden. Since the beginning of the Afghan campaign in 2001, the United States and the United Kingdom have committed disproportionate amounts of blood and treasure to uprooting radical extremism at its source, taking the fight to al-Qaeda and the Taliban. France, Germany, Greece, Italy, and Spain can no longer hide behind political pusillanimity or stall for time.
Other geographically smaller nations have fought bravely alongside countries that are not even in the NATO alliance. Newer members of the alliance--including Romania, Albania, Poland, Bulgaria, and Croatia--also have an opportunity totake the initiative within the alliance and shape their standing within NATO.
The war in Afghanistan was undertaken following NATO's first and only invocation of Article V. If Europe continues to fail America in this endeavor, America will have genuine cause to doubt NATO's founding ethos that transatlantic security is indivisible. Europe may consequently find itself without America's security guarantee, which has kept the peace in Europe for the past 60 years. The stakes in Afghanistan could not be higher--for freedom, for transatlantic security, and for the future of NATO.
Sally McNamara is Senior Policy Analyst in European Affairs in the Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, a division of the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International Studies, at The Heritage Foundation. Nicholas Connor, an intern with the Thatcher Center; Aaron Church, an intern with the Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies; and Erica Munkwitz, assistant in the Thatcher Center, aided in preparing this paper.
Show references in this report
[1]Bob Woodward, "McChrystal: More Forces or 'Mission Failure,'" The Washington Post, September 21, 2009, at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/20/AR2009092002920_pf.html (November 10, 2009).
[2]Tony Karon, "Is Escalation Obama's Only Choice in Afghanistan?" Time, October 20, 2009, at http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1931050,00.html (November 10, 2009).
[3]Woodward, "McChrystal."
[4]Barack Obama, "Remarks by the President in Address to the Nation on the Way Forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan," The White House, December 1, 2009, at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-address-nation-way-forward-afghanistan-and-pakistan (December 2, 2009).
[5]Associated Press, "2 NATO Members: No More Troops to Afghanistan Now," October 23, 2009.
[6]Leo Cendrowicz, "Europe: No Blank Check for Obama on Global Security," Time, February 09, 2009, at http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1878135,00.html#ixzz0X3rvHCCi (November 16, 2009).
[7]Sally McNamara, "NATO's 60th Anniversary Summit: Unfocused and Unsuccessful," Heritage Foundation WebMemo No. 2388, April 8, 2009, at http://www.heritage.org/Research/Europe/wm2388.cfm (November 16, 2009).
[8]James Kirkup, Thomas Harding, and Toby Harnden, "Bob Ainsworth Criticises Barack Obama over Afghanistan," The Telegraph, November 25, 2009, at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/6648419/Bob-Ainsworth-criticises-Barack-Obama-over-Afghanistan.html (November 25, 2009).
[9]North Atlantic Council, "Bucharest Summit Declaration," April 3, 2008, at http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/official_texts_8443.htm (November 16, 2009).
[10]North Atlantic Treaty Organization, "International Security Assistance Force and Afghan National Army Strength & Laydown," April 3, 2009 and October 22, 2009, at http://www.nato.int/isaf/docu/epub/pdf/placemat.html (November 16, 2009).
[11]North Atlantic Treaty Organization, "NATO Ministers Agree on Key Priorities for Afghanistan," October 23, 2009, at http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_58510.htm (November 13, 2009).
[13]North Atlantic Treaty Organization, "International Security Assistance Force," October 22, 2009.
[14]Insurgent-initiated attacks are classified by NATO as direct-fire attacks, indirect-fire attacks, improvised explosive devices, or surface-to-air fire. See Center for Strategic and International Studies, Strategic Advisory Group, "Unclassified Metrics," April 2009, at http://media.csis.org/pcr/090511_isaf_metrics_april09.pdf (November 19, 2009).
[16]Jim Garamone, "Press Secretary Cites Candor on Afghan Troop Levels," www.army.mil,October 15, 2009, at http://www.army.mil/-news/2009/10/15/28781-press-secretary-cites-candor-on-afghan-troop-levels (November 18, 2009).
[17]iCasualties.org. "Operation Enduring Freedom," at http://www.icasualties.org/OEF/ByProvince.aspx (November 17, 2009).
[18]General James Jones, "Update on NATO Operations in Afghanistan," U.S. Department of State, October 24, 2006, at http://2002-2009-fpc.state .gov/75030.htm (November 18, 2009).
[19]Hearing to Consider the Nominations of Admiral James G. Stavridis, USN for Reappointment to the Grade of Admiral and to Be Commander, U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander, Europe; Lieutenant General Douglas M. Fraser, USAF to Be General and Commander, U.S. Southern Command; and Lieutenant General Stanley A. McChrystal, USA to Be General and Commander, International Security and Assistance Force and Commander, U.S. Forces, Afghanistan, Committee on Armed Services, U.S. Senate, June 2, 2009, at http://armed-services.senate.gov/Transcripts/2009/06%20June/09-36%20-%206-2-09.pdf (November 18, 2009).
[20]Julian Hale, "Continuing Restrictions Likely on Some NATO Forces in Afghanistan," Defense News, September 21, 2009, at http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4286208 (November 19, 2009).
[21]Andrew Feickert, "U.S. and Coalition Military Operations in Afghanistan: Issues for Congress," Congressional Research Service Report for Congress, updated December 11, 2006, at http://italy.usembassy.gov/pdf/other/RL33503.pdf (November 18, 2009).
[22]David P. Auerswald and Stephen M. Saideman, "Caveats Emptor: Multilateralism at War in Afghanistan," prepared for Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, New York, February 15-18, 2009, at http://profs-polisci.mcgill.ca/saideman/Caveats%20and%20Afghanistan,%20isa%202009.pdf (November 18, 2009).
[23]Reuters, "Restrictions on NATO Troops in Afghanistan," AlertNet, November 26, 2006, at http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk /L26451165.htm (November 18, 2009).
[24]See General John Craddock, "NATO and Afghanistan: Equitable Burden Sharing," remarks at Reserve Officers Association of the United States, Washington, D.C., video file, July 9, 2009, at http://www.heritage.org/press/events/ev070909a.cfm (November 18, 2009).
[25]Woodward, "McChrystal."
[26]General Stanley McChrystal, address at International Institute of Strategic Studies, London, October 1, 2009, at http://www.iiss.org/recent-key-addresses/general-stanley-mcchrystal-address (November 12, 2009).
[28]Obama, "Remarks by the President in Address to the Nation."
[29]Al Pessin, "UN Envoy Endorses More Troops for Afghanistan," Voice of America, October 23, 2009, at http://184.108.40.206/search?q=cache:T5BfCrkn3foJ:www.voanews.com/english/2009-10-23-voa13.cfm (November 13, 2009).
[30]Thomas Rietig, "German Government to Extend Afghanistan Mission, Parliamentary Approval Needed," The Hamilton Spectator (Ontario),November 18, 2009, at http://www.thespec.com/Wire/News_Wire/World/article/674935 (November 20, 2009).
[31]President Obama has stated: "It is my intention to finish the job." See Scott Wilson, "War Speech to Outline Escalation and Exit," The Washington Post, November 25, 2009, at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/24/AR2009112401010.html (November 25, 2009).
[32]Tom Donnelly and Tim Sullivan, "McChrystal Lite," The Weekly Standard, November 9, 2009, at http://weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/017/149jrjkv.asp (November 10, 2009).
[33]John J. Kruzel, "NATO Chief Predicts 'Substantially More Troops' in Afghanistan," DefenseLink News,November 17, 2009, at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=56738 (November 18, 2009).
[34]BBC News, "Helmand to Get More Afghan Troops," November 18, 2009, at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8366932.stm (November 18, 2009).
[35]Garamone, "Press Secretary Cites Candor on Afghan Troop Levels."
[36]Ahto Lobjakas, "NATO Struggles to Match Obama's Afghanistan Strategy," Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty,December 2, 2009, at http://www.rferl.org/content/NATO_Responds_To_Obamas_Afghanistan_Strategy/1893250.html (December 2, 2009).
[37]International Institute for Strategic Studies, The Military Balance 2009 (Abingdon, U.K.: Routledge, 2009).
[38]Associated Press, "NATO Chief: Allies Will Provide 5,000 More Troops," Boston Herald, December 2, 2009, at http://www.bostonherald.com/news/international/asia_pacific/view/20091202nato_chief_allies_will_provide_5000_more_troops (December 2, 2009).
[39]Voice of America, "NATO Chief: US Allies Pledge 5,000 More Troops to Fight in Afghanistan," December 2, 2009, at http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/europe/NATO-Chief-US-Allies-Pledge-5000-More-Troops-to-Fight-in-Afghanistan-78306287.html (December 2, 2009).
[40]iCasualties.org, "Operation Enduring Freedom."
[41]Mark Kranenburg, "Parliament Outmanoeuvres Foreign Minister over Afghanistan," NRC Handelsblad, October 7, 2009, at http://www.nrc.nl/international/article2380560.ece/Parliament_outmanoeuvres_foreign_minister_over_Afghanistan (November 12, 2009).
[42]Matthew Day, "Russia 'Simulates' Nuclear Attack on Poland," The Telegraph, November 1, 2009, at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/poland/6480227/Russia-simulates-nuclear-attack-on-Poland.html (November 18, 2009).
[43]Associated Press, "NATO Chief."
[44]Reuters, "Obama's Afghan Strategy to Emphasize Training," November 30, 2009, at http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN3034849820091130 (December 2, 2009).
[45]Slobodan Lekic and Vanessa Gera, "NATO Chief Says Alliance Must Remain Focused on Afghan Effort," Yahoo News, October 22, 2009, at http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/091022/world/eu_nato_defense_ministers_4 (November 13, 2009).
[46]North Atlantic Treaty Organization, "NATO's Operational Mentoring and Liaison Teams (OMLTs)," October 2009, at http://www.nato.int/isaf/topics/factsheets/omlt-factsheet.pdf (November 19, 2009).
[47]NATO Parliamentary Assembly, "NATO Operations: Current Priorities and Lessons Learned," 2008 Annual Session, at http://www.nato-pa.int/Default.asp?CAT2=1458&CAT1=16&CAT0=2&COM=1476 (November 17, 2009).
[48]North Atlantic Treaty Organization, "NATO Training Mission--Afghanistan," April 4, 2009, at http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive /news_52802.htm (November 19, 2009).
[49]International Institute for Strategic Studies, The Military Balance 2009.
[50]Federal Republic of Germany, Foreign Office, "Cabinet Decides to Deploy AWACS Aircraft in Afghanistan," July 3, 2009, at http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/en/Aussenpolitik/RegionaleSchwerpunkte/AfghanistanZentralasien/AktuelleArtikel/090617-AWACS.html (November 20, 2009).
[51]Deutsche Welle, "NATO to Send AWACS to Afghanistan," June 12, 2008, at http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4320757,00.html (November 20, 2009).
[52]Reuters, "Germany Won't Extend AWACS to Afghanistan: Guttenberg," November 17, 2009, at http://www.reuters.com/article/gc05/idUSTRE5AG4PF20091117 (November 19, 2009).
[53]News.Az, "No Problem for NATO Overflying Azerbaijan--Foreign Ministry," November 19, 2009, at http://www.news.az/articles/2847 (November 20, 2009).
[54]Kim Sengupta, "Helicopters Boost Troops in Afghanistan," The Independent, November 16, 2009, at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/helicopters-boost-troops-in-afghanistan-1821250.html (November 20, 2009).
[55]Richard Norton-Taylor, "Helicopter Shortage Seriously Undermines UK Operations in Afghanistan, Report Says," The Guardian, July 16, 2009, at http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jul/16/afghanistan-helicopter-shortage-commons-defence-committee (November 20, 2009).
[56]The survival rate among injured personnel who receive medical care in less than an hour is more than 90 percent. See Tom Coghlan, "Scramble for Survival: Helicopter Medics Risk Death to Save Others," The Times, November 18, 2009, at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/Afghanistan/article6919290.ece (November 23, 2009).
[57]Norton-Taylor, "Helicopter Shortage Seriously Undermines UK Operations in Afghanistan."
[58]"NATO Short of Helicopters for Afghanistan," Military.com, November 27, 2007, at http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,157097,00.html (November 20, 2009).
[59]"NATO About to Lease Troop Helis for Afghanistan?" Defense Industry Daily, November 6, 2007, at http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/nato-about-to-lease-troop-helis-for-afghanistan-04157 (November 20, 2009).
[60]International Institute for Strategic Studies, The Military Balance 2009.
[61]North Atlantic Treaty Organization, "International Security Assistance Force," October 22, 2009.
[62]Embassy of Greece, Consulate General, "PM Simitis: Greece Cannot Send Helicopters to Afghanistan," October 24, 2003, at http://www.greekembassy.org/Embassy/content/en/Article.aspx?office=2&folder=363&article=12193 (November 20, 2009).
[63]Afghan Conflict Monitor, "NATO Funds Additional Helicopters in Afghanistan," October 29, 2007, at http://www.afghanconflictmonitor.org/2007/10/nato-funds-addi.html (November 20, 2009).
[64]Maeve Reston, "Obama Tells Veterans Afghanistan Is a 'War of Necessity,'" Los Angeles Times, August 18, 2009, at http://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug/18/nation/na-obama-vfw18 (December 2, 2009).


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Pacific Crest Securities
http://www.pacific-crest.com/default.aspxPacific Crest Securities is privately held investment bank. The firm focuses exclusively on technology and provides research, institutional sales and trading, and investment banking services to technology investors and companies worldwide. Pacific Crest Securities is headquartered in Portland, OR.

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You've never seen anything like these incredible cutters. They're made of virtually indestructible tungsten carbide welded to steel shanks. They'll last for years and they won't load up, break down or overheat like ordinary steel cutters. Use on all woods, fiberglass, stone, ceramic or plastic (not recommended for use on metal). 1/8 inch shanks fit in hand drills, rotary tools and drill presses.


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Listen To Cramer: Don't Bet Against Lululemon
Cramer wrote a piece for TheStreet's Real Money that I wish would put it all to rest, but it won't.
For whatever reason, large numbers of investors will never free their minds and allow the rest to follow. Unfortunately, for many, buying, selling and shorting stocks begins and ends with a so-shallow assessment of valuation. The word that every MBA and Finance program in America needs to re-situate in "updated" versions of old, stale business textbooks.
Riffing on Lululemon (LULU) , Cramer asked:
Do people wait for the call or the interview we did with CEO Christine Day?
Of course they don't. That would be inconsistent with the knee-jerk reactions so many of us make in other areas of our lives.
It might be the number one problem in investing: Human emotion doesn't pick and choose. It pervades across life's activities. This includes investing. Only the strong survive; traders and investors who set preconceived notions aside and fight back against powerful psychological forces such as confirmation bias and cognitive dissonance.
Cramer closes with:
The stock's not cheap, but no quality growth story is.
... this is a darned good story and it deserves to go higher, as it did, once the more informed buyers took over from the weak hands and the ill-informed.
Just like Amazon.com (AMZN) . Weak hands sometimes take the stock down post-earnings. The dust settles. And here we are, AMZN holding relatively strong above $250 during uncertain times.
LULU fought back hard several times from the $60s. Now, watch it power back, complete with the standard fits and starts, to its 52-week high of $81.09.
If you're not a believer, reflect on your attitude toward stocks such as AMZN and LULU. That doesn't mean you have to buy these particular names. If you're not comfortable, you're not comfortable. And you should never get yourself into a situation that will keep you up at night.
But, with that said, consider the retail space.
Which factors make up success? Can you find companies other than LULU, AMZN and Apple (AAPL) hitting it harder in areas such as customer loyalty, nailing the target demo's lifestyle, e-commerce, mindshare, marketshare, keeping premium prices (except AMZN there, of course) and selling exclusive products (or in Amazon's case, not-so-exclusive) in unique, compelling and convenient environments?
In uncertain times, these names should be "flight to safety" stocks.
If you can't get on board, just don't short these things. They're the most likely to crush their guidance and unleash a whipping on the shorts.


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College readiness upon entry to college is an important predictor of college success. This research addresses a range of ways that colleges in Texas are engaging high schools in initiatives designed to reduce the need for remediation in college. Using multiple methods to investigate existing models, we present a typology of partnerships and programs and discuss ways to identify those with the greatest potential for scale-up and/or further research.Participants:
Download the PDF.
Type: Lectures & Talks
Location: Orlando Marriott World Center, Crystal Ballroom Salon M
Date & Time: 4/21/2012, 8:45:00 AM - 10:15:00 AM
Website: http://www.cscconline.org/home/conferences/2012_conference/


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- News tagged "indoor location"
Monday, 25 Mar 2013
Apple Gets in on Indoor Mapping with WifiSLAM Acquisition
Apple has recently acquired WifiSLAM, a company that specializes in indoor mapping services, for about US$20 million. The only other tech giant that offers similar services (airports, shopping malls and sports venues, etc) is Google.
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Ara Table Lamp
Designed by Philippe Starck read more...
Ara table or desk lamp in polished chrome provides direct illumination. Head adjusts to direct lighting throughout a 90 degree angle. ON/OFF switch activated by adjusting head up and down. In-line transformer included. 55 cinh long cord. One 35 watt 12 volt MR11 GU4 base halogen lamp included. Directional light distribution. Made in Italy.
About Flos Lighting
FLOS was founded in 1962. The very same year Flos lighting began producing a number of lamps that were to become classics in Italian industrial design. From the very outset, Flos has been distinguished by its high quality approach to lamp design and production. Many of the numerous lamps designed for Flos are undoubtedly some of the best-known and most successful products of industrial design. They have won awards and historical-critical accolades, and are included in all the most important collections and design museums around the world. Some significant product examples over the last forty years are: Parentesi (1970), Brera (1992), Fucsia (1996), Rosy Angelis (1994), the Romeo Moon (1996), Archimoon (1998) series and the recent Diabolo (1998). Throughout the nineties the work of Achille Castiglioni and Philippe Starck has been flanked by a series of products from new and other designers. This reflects a desire to keep the attitude to discover the most talented designers to maintain Flos leadership in innovation.


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Aluminum Foil Steam Table Pans & Lids
Clean-up is a Breeze at Catered Events with Foil Steam Table Pans and Lids
Aluminum steam table pans and lids are perfect for serving entrées and side dishes at graduations, parties, and weddings or for packaging large to-go orders. They can be filled with everything from salads and rolls to casseroles, meats, and layered pasta dishes like lasagna! These foil steam table pans can go straight from the oven onto your table, and they're disposable, saving you from cleaning more dishes! Thanks to their heavy-duty aluminum foil construction, they won't bend like some other thin and flimsy pans will. Read more
Available in half, third, or full sizes, these aluminum steam table pans feature curled rims to prevent spills while in transport. They're also oven safe, and some have compatible lids, allowing them to be stacked and stored before you serve them. You can also take them straight out of the oven and place them into a chafing dish for an easy and convenient way to bake and serve food all in the same pan.


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Crew Selects Mendes
The Columbus Dispatch - December 05, 2011 02:19 PM
For the second straight season, the Crew is one of a handful of teams to make use of the first round of Major League Soccer's Re-Entry Draft. Today, the Crew selected former New York defender Carlos Mendes.
A seven-year MLS veteran, Mendes spent all of them with the Red Bulls. The team did not exercise its option on Mendes following the 2011 season when his contract paid him a guaranteed $101,300.
He missed most of the 2009 season with a torn labrum in his hip but regained a spot in the starting lineup by the middle of the 2010 season. In 146 career MLS games, Mendes has logged 11,498 minutes. Jonah Freedman, the managing editor of MLSSoccer.com, tweeted his surprise that Mendes was there for the Crew to select.
"Still scratching my head as to why RBNY left Carlos Mendes dangling in the wind," he wrote. "Good, reliable player who deserves better."
The Crew now owns Mendes' rights, but the two must come to terms for the 2012 season. Last year, the Crew were not able to sign Aaron Hohlbein after selecting him in the first round of the draft and he spent the last year playing for the North American Soccer League.
Two other players were selected in the first round. New England took defender Danleigh Borman formerly of Toronto FC with the second pick and Chivas nabbed Arturo Alvarez formerly of Real Salt Lake.
The second round of the draft will take place next Monday.
Twitter: @AdamJardy


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Martin Matalon at the BBC Proms and NOISE in Chihuahua, MexicoPosted by Christian Hertzog in Broadcast, Chamber Music, Concerts, Contemporary Classical, Orchestral, tags: BBC Proms, Chihuahua Mexico, Martin Matalon, noise
Perhaps I missed it if Rodney Lister posted about this, but fun spectral work, Lignes de fuite by Martin Matalon, heard at the Proms last Thursday, Sept. 2. You have approximately 19 hours left to listen to it free online here. I don't hear anything earth-shattering, but it's well written with lots of electronic-music-like sonorities and a good sense of forward motion.
For anyone online tonight, check out San Diego New Music's resident ensemble, NOISE, performing in Chihuahua this evening at 8 pm Mountain Standard Time. You can watch it live here. They will perform works by Sidney Marquez Boquiren, Christopher Burns, Matthew Burtner, Christopher Adler, Ignacio Baca-Lobera and Mark Menzies.


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Has anyone seen my camera?
I lent it for use in the photography workshop Meghan ran last month. Meghan thought Xabina had it but that was actually a different one.
Mine is a Minolta X-700 that once looked like this picture, but it's missing the front panel that says MINOLTA, so you can see some wires and bits in there.
Did you use it, or did you see who was using it, or do you know where it's gone?


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Select™ – Multiple Filament Types Short Handle • For decorative and technique painters.
Created by the fine craftsmen of Princeton in partnership with well-known artist Willow Wolfe. A vast line of 22 distinct shapes created for decorative and technique painters. This is the line that Willow, her students, and fellow-instructors always wished for. Now you can explore traditional and avant-garde techniques on nearly any surface. There is a variety of synthetic and natural hair in this range. Satin-finish jewelry-box blue handles and silver ferrules make Select™ as beautiful to look at as it is to paint with.
About Willow Wolfe:
Accomplished in oil, acrylic, and watercolor, Willow Wolfe is an award-winning artist in juried competitions. She is the author of several internationally-published books. Her work in magazines and media is renowned for its creative originality, expressed in varied and bold style. Willow personally teaches thousands of students a year and recently began to certify artists with her techniques and concepts throughout North America. Willow passionately believes that a great teacher can inspire, motivate and renew the artists she mentors. For more information about Willow, her publications, and teaching events go to www.willowwolfe.ca


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Kropp Pavlik Upset Top Seeds to Win Florida Open
B.J. Hoeptner Evans
Manager, Communications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (May 27, 2012) – No. 2-seeded Jenny Kropp and Whitney Pavlik upset top-seeded Lauren Fendrick and Brooke Hanson on Sunday to win the Florida Open, the first event of the 2012 Jose Cuervo Pro Beach Volleyball Series in Fort Lauderdale.
Despite losing the first set, Kropp (Hawthorne, Calif.) and Pavlik (Laguna Hills, Calif.) came back to defeat Fendrick (Redondo Beach, Calif.) and Hanson (Ventura, Calif.), 14-21, 21-18, 15-10 in the final.
Both teams went undefeated in the tournament to reach the final. Kropp and Pavlik defeated No. 7 Angie Akers (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and Brittany Hochevar (Fowler, Colo.) in the semifinals, 14-21, 21-19, 15-13.
Fendrick and Hanson defeated No. 3 Nicole Branagh (Torrance, Calif.) and Tyra Turner (Fort Myers Beach, Florida), 21-17, 17-21, 17-15.
On the men's side, the No. 1-seeded team of John Hyden (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) and Sean Scott (Redondo Beach, Calif.) sailed through the bracket without dropping a set, defeating No. 2 Brad Keenan (Santa Ana, Calif.) and John Mayer (Culver City, Calif.) in the final, 21-14, 21-18.
Hyden and Scott topped No. 6 Adrian Carambula (Miami Beach, Fla.) and Braidy Halverson (Grass Valley, Calif.) in the semifinals, 21-11, 21-15.
Keenan and Mayer beat No. 5 Billy Allen (Fallbrook, Calif.) and Russ Marchewka (San Diego, Calif.) in the semifinals, 21-15, 21-19.
Both winning teams pocketed $11,000.
Events on the Jose Cuervo Pro Beach Volleyball Series are produced by IMG and sanctioned by USA Volleyball.
The Series will continue June 22-24 with the Belmar Open in New Jersey.
Matches from Fort Lauderdale are being live streamed at www.josecuervoprobeachvolleyballseries.com/Broadcast/LIVE_Webcast.htm.


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I admit I was slightly relieved when our armored car got stuck in a thick pool of mud about a quarter of a mile down the jungle road that led to the minefield. I had arrived in Sri Lanka just two days earlier, and everyone told me that a visit to the former conflict area of Kilinochchi was essential to understanding the Northern Sri Lankan experience. I, however, was growing increasingly nervous as our bumpy ride brought us closer to the fields where the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam (LTTE) and Sri Lankan military buried tens of thousands of compact but powerful mines as they advanced and retreated through the lives and lands of rural farmers during Sri Lanka's 27-year civil war. After all, our wonderful hosts at The HALO Trust had just finished recounting the alarming frequency of mine discovery in Kilinochchi: they dug more mines out of the ground in Sri Lanka during the first year of their program than all their other demining sites in the world put together.
I half-heartedly offered to get out and help push the car, but our clever driver managed to liberate our vehicle before I could pull off my armored vest and declare a premature defeat. As it turns out, I'm glad he did. Because I will never forget my walk through that field, where I watched unbelievably brave young women and men undertake some of the most dangerous work in the world -- with tools as small as a toothbrush and as simple as a pick -- in an effort to make the land safe for their neighbors and families. To date, the approximately 1,000 Sri Lankan employees of The HALO Trust have cleared 108,000 anti-personnel mines by hand. In 2011 alone, The HALO Trust's survey teams responded to 915 reports from local communities of unexploded ordnance, recovering over 6,000 items such as grenades, mortars and rockets.
Another amazing demining fact? It turns out there aren't any fancy scanners or high-tech mine removal gadgets that can compete with old-fashioned sweat, discipline, and patience when it comes to picking mines out of the ground. Our HALO hosts showed us how each employee is assigned his or her own lane, about a meter wide and cordoned off with string. I watched as young war widow (one of nearly 250 women employed at HALO) ran a simple metal detector over a thin strip of land. We didn't have to wait long before we heard the high-pitched whir indicating a metal object was in the ground just inches away from her plastic face guard. She carefully put down the detector, picked up a small hoe, and began digging fearlessly toward the offending area.
Katy Bondy, my guide, leaned over and whispered through her plastic mask: "Very exciting!""Yes," I whispered, as I slowly inched behind her. As luck would have it, our deminer unearthed a bottle cap.
I continued gingerly across the field to the remnants of a destroyed home. Several meters away, tattered yellow skull-and-crossbones warning tape divided HALO's field from a tarp home on the other side. The ruined home before me belonged to the family living under that tarp. It was clearly once a sturdy stone structure with steps leading to a raised floor and a hand-built well nearby. The house, yard and well were dotted with red stakes indicating where HALO had located and removed mines -- just below the last step leading down from the house, for example, or under the patch of ground where a child would stand to draw water from the well.
Looking across the field of red stakes, it was hard not to wonder what was left underground -- not just in this field, but across all of Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka. Landmines, of course, do so much more than kill and maim people. They cast a chilling shadow upon agricultural efforts, emotional and psychological healing, economic development and community cohesion. Their removal is essential to all other efforts that NGOs or the Sri Lankan government undertake in the area. It was humbling to spend an hour experiencing the kind of fear that Sri Lankans in Kilinochchi live with every day: the fear of uncertain ground.
The State Department is a proud funder of The HALO Trust in Sri Lanka. If you would like to learn more, please visit HALO's website.
Arnold B. in the United Kingdom writes:
Sadly the miones don't even look dangerous more like a can of food.
Jessica in Hungary writes:
Excellent read. Thanks Emily and Halo Trust for all your hard work! Regards from Budapest.
Ananda K. in Australia writes:
It is extremely sad hoe US State Dept is trying to sabotage good work on ground in SL by supporting LTTE rump in US who funded these destruction for thirty years. Mr Blake who was the US envoy in Colombo must know better. It is a shame he has been entangled in agenda to destroy the harmony created by the end of the war. Support SL rather than threaten. Us was a good friend but not any more for Sri Lankan in Sri Lanka. embesidor
Ben C. in the U.S.A. writes:
Too much valuable things are shared here,I really appreciated form above information ,In past I was searching like that,now I caught all the information which I want,So thanks for sharing pretty good post.
L.I. in Sri Lanka writes:
I dont think people really appreciate just how dangerous this work is. People dont get rich doing this work they are more likely to die! It's not only people who die but animals also, elephants loose limbs, baby elephants are orphaned, fortunately the Government runs an orphanage for the elephants but that's little consolation. Sri lanka is a beautiful place and i hope they can solve this terrible problem.


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January is National Blood Donor Month
With the beginning of a new year comes a fresh start. New Year's resolutions are often made to form good habits and reach new goals. This New Year's, the American Red Cross encourages people to resolve to help patients in need through regular blood donations.
As the winter season continues, blood donations are especially needed. Donations typically decline this time of year, as many regular donors are impacted by inclement weather and seasonal illnesses.
There is no better resolution to make this New Year's than to help save lives with the Red Cross. Give the gift of life and help give patients another year with their loved ones. Make an appointment to donate blood at redcrossblood.org or 1-800-RED CROSS.
Since 1970, National Blood Donor Month has been celebrated to educate Americans about the importance of regular blood donation. Every day, about 44,000 pints of blood are needed in the U.S. to help treat trauma victims, surgery patients, organ transplant recipients, premature babies and cancer patients.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities include:
Delta County
– Jan. 29 from 12 to 6 p.m. at Delta Plaza Mall, 301 N. Lincoln in Escanaba.
– Jan. 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Delta Plaza Mall, 301 N. Lincoln in Escanaba.
Menominee County
– Jan. 22 from 12 to 5 p.m. at Carney Evangelical Free Church, U.S. Highway 41 in Carney.
To donate blood simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.


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Topic: Ruby Exercises?
I'm just wondering if anyone knows where I could find some places or books that have Ruby exercises I could follow so I could get a better understanding of the language. While lots of these books I have are great, they don't have any exercises or anything to follow. I learn by doing, not just by reading.
By the way, I know about Ruby Quiz, but as I've been looking through the site, I've noticed how I really don't know enough to do any of them. So, preferably a little bit easier than that.
Thanks in advance.


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Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (10 votes).
In short: Perfect including the weatherIn full: This was my first trail race and run longer than 14 miles, despite this it was so well organised with route details published in advance and hundreds of route markers on course that it just flew by. Marshals were great and there were plenty of refreshment points- more than even I needed. The finish medal was a nice surprise although the tech T, TORX gel plus the free food and drink would have been quite sufficient.Date of review: January 15, 2013
In short: A brilliant adventureIn full: This was my first long trail run. The route was very well marked and the scenery stunning. Great marshalling and lovely food at the end.It may be a race that elite athletes enjoy but it is still accessible for others. If you are new to trail running, don't be put off, it's a great chance to explore a beautiful part of the country. I'll never win a race but I got round in just over 3.5 hours and loved it! Huge sense of achievement when crossing the line! Well done to the organisers!Date of review: January 15, 2013
In short: great course, great organisation, great areaIn full: This is a really well designed course covering some of the best Cotswold scenery and villages in the area. A great atmosphere from start to finish, a real pleasure to run. It is an out and out trail race, but for those that enjoy off racing, there will be few races that can better this one for route design, views, and a bit of a challenge. Good technical T shirt, and post race refreshments (not just tea, but homemade soup and cake!). Well done to the organizers at Cotswold Running.Date of review: January 15, 2013
In short: Great race for experienced trail runnersIn full: Despite suffering from cramp in the second half, I really enjoyed the race and will definitely consider it again. The route takes you through a lovely area and it's probably all runnable if you're in good condition.Kurt & the other organisers didn't lack enthusiasm. In terms of constructive criticism: I'd prefer having all information available from a single webpage rather than the mixture of emails, attachments and embedded links alongside the website, a company Facebook page and a separate Facebook event page.The spacing and contents of the aid stations should be reviewed. I didn't see anyone stop at the first and I'd have been grateful for something like a banana at the third. Would also have liked some nutrition immediately on crossing the finish line (as opposed to inside the hall after having to remove muddy shoes).The race is not really targeting beginners or charity runners, so I'm not sure we needed medals. Good quality t-shirt.Nice touch providing route maps in so many formats so that we could print them out or upload to our own devices. Reassuring, particularly once it thinned out, to know I was still "on course".Date of review: January 15, 2013
In short: Lovely jubblyIn full: A fantastic race in the glorious setting of the Cotswolds. Very well signed and marshalled. Nice t shirtage and a free cuppa and cake at the end. BravoDate of review: January 13, 2013
In full: stunning scenery and ideal preparation for a spring marathon.this is probly one of the easier events to do in the cotswold running series but still challenging enough.a good technical t-shirt,coffee and cake for all finishers was much appreciated.maybe could have race name printed on shirt?overall,very good and satisfactory raceDate of review: January 13, 2013
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Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (131 votes).
In short: Great race - cold and rainy! But that is what you get at the end of November so no complaints heree!In full: Great race - thanks to all who stood in the rain for us. Ran with my dad and enjoyed relaxing and looking at the lovely views for a change. Undulating most of the time with some uphills, but nothing too serious! Did anyone else notice the T-Shirts had Downton 2009 on them? Or am I seeing things! Great, thanks will be back next year!Date of review: November 30, 2008
In short: Fantastic Race, which was very well organised and the coffee and bun was the icing on the cake really!! Will be there next year.In full: Before the race i had heard that this race was very hilly and would be a challenging race. It was indeed challenging being my first half-marathon but i managed a excellent time and so did my mate a second time runner. See you next year Downton!Date of review: November 30, 2008
In short: Great scenery and challenging hillsIn full: Shame about the weather but a great event. Lots of New Forest scenery and plenty of ponies! 2 good hills but still quite fast. A very nice Sunday run with a small field of mixed ability. Thanks to the friendly marshalls who stood out in that rain. Date of review: November 30, 2008
In short: Great race, lovely scenery.In full: Fab race around the village I grew up in, I remember hurtling down all those hills we had to run up!Date of review: July 20, 2008
In short: Hilly but beautiful run!In full: This was my first half marathon and although it was hilly i really enjoyed it. Marshalls were friendly and it was good to be cheered on at the end and to see my time straight away! Will do it again next year. Date of review: December 1, 2007
In short: Great weather, excellent course, well organised.In full: A glorious winters day, a great course, and a well organised event made for a thoroughly enjoyable race. A varied interesting course with encouraging marshallers. The instant availability of the race results was fantastic. Will leave a space in the diary for next years race.Date of review: November 27, 2007
In short: A very pretty race, well orgainsed. Worth turning up for.In full: I always enjoy this race, it is midly challenging in places. But very pretty and very well organised. No complaints at all.The Tea and Bun afterwards was a very nice touch indeed.I will always try to keep space in my calender to run this one.Date of review: November 27, 2007
In short: A well organised friendly race with a beautiful courseIn full: Well done the organisers, marshals and cadets for a great morning. Challenging course, but loved it!! The tea and bun at the end was a very nice touch and much appreciated. Will be back next year. Thanks again.Date of review: November 26, 2007
In short: I loved this run. It was a real challenge with all of the hills but a fantastic atmosphere and amazing scenery.In full: Luckily we had the perfect weather and the views were fantastic. The hot drink and bun at the end was a nice touch and much appreciated. I will definitely be doing this race again next year.Date of review: November 26, 2007
In short: Amazing scenery and and ever changing, challenging course. What more could you want? Great!Date of review: November 26, 2007
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text:
Penn State introduces James Franklin as coach
Penn State officially introduced James Franklin as its new head football coach on Saturday, with Franklin calling the position his "dream job."
Franklin is a Langhorne native who played quarterback at Neshaminy High School and East Stroudsburg University.
His first coaching position was as an assistant at Kutztown. He has spent the last few seasons at Vanderbilt.
Franklin's contract is reportedly worth $25.5 million over six years.
WFMZ's Dan Moscaritolo has more from Happy Valley.


text:
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Category Theory Screws You Up!
At least I haven't reached the stage where I sit down to dinner wondering whether or not my eating it is an operation with a left or right adjoint. (But I thought it didn't I, so I must be pretty far gone.) And I'm not dreaming commutative diagrams yet.
So here's my advice: if someone comes up to you in a shady bar or alleyway and offers you a monad, or an adjunction, or even an innocent little natural transformation, just say "no!".
4 comments:
- Fritz said...
When I was an early teenager I picked up a book on CT at the local university library, after reading about 2 pages in and thinking: "Gee, if CT generalizes all these other theories, starting with it will make a great shortcut!" (like I said, a teenager ...). Anyway, when I got it home my dad, an applied mathematician, asked to see what book I had taken out. When he saw that it was CT, his reaction was probably worse than if it had been Playboy or Penthouse. My memory tells me that I first heard the classic "abstract nonsense" epithet as he then read me the riot act, but I imagine that aspect is a later reconstruction.
In retrospect, my lack of solid background on CT probably prevented me from getting better results in my dissertation ... but I am reasonably gainfully employed despite, so I guess it has worked out to my dad's satisfaction after all :) .
- Friday, 04 August, 2006
- Peter Marks said...
Right with you on this sigfpe. A few days ago I had an idea for generalising functions to arrows in a language I've been toying with for a while now - my head is just broken right now. I sleep but am not refreshed, I sit at my desk but produce nothing useful and I find myself halfway through conversations in which I have had no concious involvement.
The first time this happened to me was some fifteen years ago. I was engulfed by a game called Kye. It was a simple puzzle game, but the interesting aspect was designing your own levels. I was driving on the motorway (freeway) planning a cunning lock mechanism and found I had missed my exit by three junctions. I cannot account for that fifteen minutes of my life.
- Thursday, 05 April, 2007
- pivo said...
Actually, examples of category theoretical principles in casual everyday situations, if possible, would be very cool. In fact our beer debates about everything revolve around analogies all the time. I don't have good enough grasp of the TC yet, so is it naive of me to hope for a useful application of the TC even in the "field" of real life?
- Monday, 29 March, 2010
- Eric said...
I studied Mathematics for 7+ years and must say that there are many hours of my life I just cannot account for. If you study abstract notions, like CT, in any science you will become engulfed. You might be able to pull yourself away for weeks, months, or even years. But, like the island on the TV show Lost it will call you back over and over again.
- Wednesday, 21 April, 2010
Blog Archive
- ► 2011 (13)
- ► 2010 (20)
- ► 2009 (21)
- ► 2008 (35)
- ► 2007 (37)
- Quantum Probability
- A Neat Proof Technique
- The General Theory of Self-Reproducing Programs
- Stanislaw Lem has Passed Away
- The Most Amazing and Mysterious Thing in All of Ma...
- 6
- Sets, Classes and Voodoo
- The Representation of Integers by Quadratic Forms
- Category Theory Screws You Up!
- What can I do with adjoints? And Lemma 28.
- Answers and questions
- Homotopies between proofs and between programs
- Cellular automaton puzzle
- Coalgebras and Automata
- Hyperfun!
- It's a square, square world!
- Blind Games
- When is one thing equal to some other thing?
- An Actual Application of Fractal Dimension
- A Cautionary Tale for Would-Be Generalisers
- ▼ March (20)
Some Links
About Me
Dan Piponi
- Blog: A Neighborhood of InfinityCode: GithubTwitter: sigfpeHome page: www.sigfpe.com


text:
French-Canadian Genealogical Society of Connecticut
The French-Canadian Genealogical Society of Connecticut, located in the Old County Courthouse on the town green in Tolland, Connecticut (Exit 68 on I-84), is dedicated to collecting, preserving and disseminating genealogical and historical information about our ancestors who settled in Quebec and Acadia and their descendants. Our focus is on the genealogy of people of French-Canadian and Acadian heritage who settled in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and throughout New England, though we also have information about other areas of the United States and Canada.
At our library in Tolland, you will find numerous resources to trace your family history back to the founders of New France and Acadia. In addition, meetings, seminars and other events provide more opportunities to learn. The Connecticut Maple Leaf, our society's journal, provides valuable articles and information to our members.
Our Library Hours Are:
Monday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Members are entitled to full use of the library during regular hours, including borrowing privileges. The fee for one-time use of the library for non-members is $5, which may be applied to a membership later. Become a member today or stop by the library and join us on a trek back in time to the New France of our ancestors.
Research Resources
Useful Links
French-Canadian Genealogical Society of Connecticut, Inc.
Post Office Box 928 / Tolland, CT 06084-0928


text:
every sunday evening on hbo, is a fabulous show titled curb your enthusiasm. it stars larry david. and it is as close to seinfeld as you can get. some may argue it is seinfeld. this season will feature a seinfeld reunion...sort of.
the latest episode was "the bare midriff". arguably the funniest episode of seinfeld/curb yet made. just brilliant. it was note for note, word for word perfect. anyone here have the pleasure to have seen it?


text:
Childcare Unionization Town Hall Meeting
To the editor:
The Sibley County GOP invites its Sibley County friends and neighbors to attend an informational meeting on the extremist DFL push to unionize Childcare providers and PCAs (personal care attendants).
This event is Tuesday, Nov. 5 in the Hutchinson library beginning at 7 p.m. Speakers will be District 18 legislators serving Sibley County and include:
State Representative Glenn Gruenhagen (Sibley & McLeod)
State Representative Dean Urdahl (McLeod, Meeker, Wright)
Sen. Scott Newman (Sibley, McLeod, Meeker, Wright)
Hollee Saville, Expert on Childcare Unionization.
Hollee has been one of the driving forces to stop the radical DFL's effort to force unionization on childcare providers.
This extremist approach to caring for children does two things:
1. It drives up child care costs for all families, especially the low-income which the lying DFL always tells us they are concerned about most; and
2. It is raises more money for unions, which everyone knows their leaders run the DFL.
Please join us and invite your friends. It will be held at the City of Hutchinson Library, 50 Hassan Street SE, Hutchinson.
Imagine a society with taxes and utility rates so low that mothers have the economic freedom to choose to stay home with their children, again. We know there are liberals (some are even Republicans) at City, County, State, and National levels, however, with the involvement of common sense Americans we can stop their radical agenda and get them un-elected. Imagine that!
Mark Santelman
GOP Chair, Winthrop
Emily Gruenhagen
Deputy Chair, rural Glencoe
Brandon Ronning
Deputy Chair, Arlington
Nathan Kranz
Treasurer, rural Gaylord
Barb Bumgardner
Secretary, rural Winthrop
Larry Bumgardner
Vice Chair, rural Winthrop
Rae Anderson
Vice-Chair, rural Arlington
Don Mader
Vice-Chair, rural New Auburn
Jessica Wiborg
Vice-Chair, Winthrop
Morris Lieske
Vice-Chair, rural Henderson


text:
Mary Elizabeth Tinetti, MD
Gladys Phillips Crofoot Professor of Medicine (Geriatrics) and Professor in the Institution for Social and Policy Studies; Section Chief, Geriatrics
Research Interests
Accidental Falls; Decision Making; Geriatrics; Nursing Homes; Risk Factors
Research Organizations
Research Summary
Through a series of epidemiologic and intervention studies in the area of falls and fall injury, our group identified risk factors in older persons related to falls and injuries associated with a range of serious adverse outcomes including nursing home placement and functional decline, and that multifactorial risk reduction strategies were effective and cost-effective at reducing the rate of falling. Efforts to translate these research findings into clinical and public health practice, with suggestions for prevention, are in place.
Other clinical research studies, with resulting publications, cover the areas of functional disability, mobility impairment, and the adverse effects of multiple medications. A recent area of investigation is clinical decision making in the face of multiple competing health conditions.
I direct an interdisciplinary research program in geriatrics and clinical epidemiology at the Yale School of Medicine.
Specialized Terms: Falls and injuries; Mobility; Clinical decision-making in the face of multiple health conditions; Harms and benefits of medications
Extensive Research Description
Many of the most frequent health conditions that cause morbidity and compromised functioning and quality of life among older persons result from combinations of medical, psychological, social, environmental, and other factors. The focus of my work has been on the assessment, management, and prevention of multifactorial geriatric health conditions such as falls, immobility, and dizziness. Observational studies and randomized controlled trials are conducted in various settings including the home, hospital, nursing home and outpatient clinics. The research projects are interdisciplinary including nursing, rehabilitation, epidemiology, biostatistics, medicine, and other disciplines.
Other ongoing projects include determining the contribution of multiple conditions to death; mapping disease-specific health outcomes onto a set of universal health outcomes; determining the prevalence and effects of the co-occurrence of competing health conditions; and determining the disease-specific and universal health outcomes associated with treating one disease in the face of the co-occurrence of another disease that worsens with treatment of the first disease (therapeutic competition).
- Multimorbidity in older adults (Variable priorities in the face of competing outcomes: The tradeoff among cardiovascular events, medication symptoms, and fall injuries.)
- Universal outcomes as a common metric across multiple diseases among elders.
- Determination of whether multiple co-occurring chronic and acute conditions contributed to the deaths in two cohorts of older adults and the extent of the contribution of these conditions to the deaths.
Selected Publications
- Tinetti ME, Fried TR, Boyd, CM. Designing Health Care for the Most Common Chronic Condition: Multi-morbidity. JAMA 2012; 307(23):2493-2495.
- Tinetti ME, McAvay G, Murphy T, Allore H, Gross, C, Lin H. Contribution of Individual Diseases to Death in Older Adults with Multiple Diseases. J Am Geriatr Soc 60(8):1448-56, 2012.
- Tinetti ME, McAvay G, Chang SS, Newman AB, Ning Y, Fried TR, Yaffe K, Fitzpatrick AL, Harris T, Satterfield S, Peduzzi P. Effect of chronic diseases and disease-related symptoms and impairments on universal health outcomes in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 2011: 59: 1618-1627.
- Tinetti ME, McAvay G, Chang SS, Newman AB, Fried TR, Fitzpatrick AL, Satterfield S, Peduzzi P. Contribution of multiple chronic diseases to universal health outcomes in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011; 59: 1686-1691.
- Tinetti ME, McAvay G, Chang SS, Newman AB, Fried TR, Fitzpatrick AL, Satterfield S, Peduzzi P. Contribution of multiple chronic diseases to universal health outcomes in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011; 59: 1686-1691.
- Tinetti ME, Studenski SA. Comparative effectiveness research and patients with multiple chronic conditions. N Engl J Med. 2011;364(26):2478-81.
- Tinetti ME, McAvay G, Fried TR, Allore HG, Salmon J, Foody JM, Bianco L, Ginter S, Fraenkel L. Variable priorities in the face of competing outcomes: The tradeoff among cardiovascular events, medication symptoms, and fall injuries. J Am Geriatr Soc 56:1409-1416, 2008.
- Tinetti ME, Baker DI, King M, Gottschalk M, Murphy T, Acampora D, Leo-Summers L, Allore H. Effect of translating evidence into practice on rate of serious fall injury. New Engl J Med 359:252-61, 2008.


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Job for a Cowboy -- Montreal, Quebec -- December 10th, 2012
Venue: Foufounes Électriques
Opening bands: Rosewood, Legion & I Declare War
Tour: The End of the World Tour
My french class this morning just got cancelled, so I'll have a little time to write this up. This show started early and I only managed to get there for the third band, which means that I missed local openers Rosewood (apparently the new name for a lame deathcore band I saw 3 years ago then called Corpse of the Seventh) and touring nobodys Legion. My friend told me they were another boring deathcore excuse for a band, so no tears were shed for missing them. I actually got upstairs in the middle of I Declare War's first song. I was initially expecting a good set, since they're one of deathcore's bigger acts right now. I was at least expecting some riffs. There were none. It was chug after chug after chug after chug for 25 long, soporific minutes. Obliviously, the song structures were horribly bland and uninspired. The drummer looked like a robot whose only properly working program was called "4/4 breakdown". His blast beats and alternated thrash beats were basic and tame to the point that they were difficult to distinguish from the grooves. He couldn't provide the aggressivity to carry the rage that the band was trying to communicate through their songs. Speaking of rage, their vocalist looked like he had snorted 10 lines of cocaine or took a pretty band steroid shot right before getting on stage. He constantly made hilarious faces and postures and he seemed like he wanted to beat the fuck out of everyone in the venue. Sadly, his vocals were extremely monotonous and didn't reflect that anger. The musicians moved and had some energy, but they still probably gave the most boring musical performance of the year. At least, the hardcore dancers seemed to have fun. A friend told me they only played new material and that the older stuff, with Jonathan Huber of Pathology fame on vocals, is better, but I'm skeptical.
After them, the place considerably emptied, since most of the scene kids left. There was still a decent crowd for a grind band on a monday night. Cephalic Carnage went on stage and did their usual sound check/goofing around. Pat Hamelin from Martyr was still filling in on drums (and making the band thighter and better) and Nick Schendzielos was back on bass (at Trois-Rivières they had brought Jawsh Mullen). Lenzig was wearing a Blue Öyster Cult pendant over a Colorado Avalanche jersey, that actually hid a Blue Öyster Cult t-shirt. Pure badassery. As usual, the Colorado dudes grinded throughout their set with unmatched energy and brutality. Maybe it was the sound that had improved or maybe it was because of the recent weed legalization in Colorado, but they were definitely better than the last time I saw them. Lenzig did his usual rambling; he has different stories for the origin of his song lyrics everytime he comes here. For example, this time, "Warbots A.M." talked about a french Transformers episode they watched here years ago while eating poutine and "Abraxas of Filth" talked about Cthulhu goaling for the Montreal Canadiens. The story for "Lucid Interval" was the craziest, but the high amount of nonsense made me forget it. This and the succession of varied riffs makes them one of the most entertaining bands in the death metal scene today. You never get bored for a second in their concerts. The crowd didn't seem to get bored either. The pits were inconsistent, but still good - everyone was very enthusiastic. My highlights were the crushing "Abraxas of Filth" in which Nick nailed Ross Dolan's vocals brilliantly, the "stoner grind pits" during "Black Metal Sabbath" (plus the usual corpse paint and horse masks) and the totally insane grind of "Divination and Volition". I still can't believe they really played it; the level of violence was immeasurable.
Then, it was the time for the headliners of this End of the World Tour (lame name, but whatever). Job for a Cowboy gave their best performance I've seen to this day. I've always accused Jon Rice of lacking tightness on the drum kit, but he tore it up this time. For once, they also had lowered the kick drum triggers in the mix and my ears were thankful. The guitar sound was still a bit muddy, but it was better than what I was expecting. The only one who seemed to have trouble with his performance was Jonny Davy. He had trouble getting the right volume and tone with his growls, but these are the hazards of touring in a death metal band - and going bottoms up with Jack Daniels' on stage. He really should take it easy on alcohol and try to save his voice a bit, but whatever. He still gave a good show. The band was brutal and muscly as always. Fuck, Tony Sannicandro has become so huge it makes no sense. The Arizona boys got outplayed by Cephalic Carnage, but it still was fun to hear the doomy crushing closer of their newest record, "Tarnished Gluttony" and the song that made me discover them back in the day with this classic Spongebob video. It was karate fest in the pit during "Knee Deep", but there was no tension - everyone had a good time. The show ended pretty early, but I didnt compalin since it was monday. I was already tired by my trip to New York to see D.R.I. this weekend and I felt pulled by my bed.
Cephalic Carnage
Warbots A.M.
Abraxas of Filth
Kill for Weed
Raped by an Orb
Divination and Volition
Endless Cycle of Violence
Lucid Interval
Black Metal Sabbath
Job for a Cowboy
Entombment of a Machine
Imperium Wolves
Unfurling a Darkened Gospel
Children of Deceit
Tarnished Gluttony
Regurgitated Disinformation
Knee Deep
Constitutional Masturbation
8/6 - SubRosa
wtf 10 songs from a headliner? Oh well seeing them tonight anyway. And I don't think that's Tony sannicandro, everytime they come to Canada a dude from despised icon replaces him.
Nice review.
I agree totally with I Declare War, super generic deathcore. Their singer was crazy looking at their TO show as well - eyes popping out of his head, foaming at the mouth, etc.
Not sure what they are doing in the JFAC camp both Tony and Jonny have gotten huge. I heard someone say "good to see they found enough time between workouts to record a new album"
It was really cool to hear Tarnished Gluttony, it went over much better live than I had anticipated. It was good to see all of Entombment and Knee Deep again as they have been avoiding playing Doom material on their last few tours.
04/05 - Kataklysm, Aborted
04/08 - Carcass, Gorguts, TBDM
04/23 - Behemoth
04/24 - Nile
And, yeah this is Tony. The dude from Despised Icon is Alan Glassman, the rhythm guitarist (this guy).
8/6 - SubRosa
Nice review man! Cephalic Carnage sounds amazing.I'm pretty bummed I have to miss them this weekend, but I gotta save some $$. One of these days I'll see them.
5/21 Weekend Nachos
5/22 Hellshock
5/31 Rotten Sound
6/2 Venom inc
6/18 Deceased
6/24 Sleep
7/8 Nuke
Sounds like a great time either way. Cephalic set is great, Jobs hasnt changed much but the additions of Knee Deep and Tarnished Gluttony woulda been sweet! Wish I coulda gone but with Xmas around the corner, no moolah avail
Going to the Worcester show this Saturday. Wish Cephalic was playing longer but I haven't seen them since 2007 so I'll deal with it.
Cool review as usual!! Was considering going, but figured they'd play a lot from the new album, which I didn't particularly care for all that much. But that's a decent setlist! Did they play all of Entombment, or just the first minute or so like they did last year?
Yes, Tony is a big dude, but I don't think he's any bigger than he was last year. He's definately hit the juice since 07-08 , but he looks the same as he did last year, to me at least.
I hope you're well. Go to hell.
8/6 - SubRosa
|cephalic carnage, i declare war, job for a cowboy
|Thread Tools


text:
OUT OF RANGE // 24th March 2011
What's interesting with things invisible is when they become visible. Timo Arnall, Jørn Knutsen and Einar Sneve Martinussen, three Norwegian interactive artists and designers worked together on Immaterials: Light painting WiFi, an attempt to visualize and trace the immaterial networks of wireless waves. In order to do so, the artists built a WiFi measuring rod, … Continue reading


text:
Submit News
The Pirate Bay Briefly Taken Down, Admins Mock the "MAFIAA"
Jason Mick
August 25, 2009 11:20 AM
Recipient E-mail
Sender E-mail
Say what you will about The Pirate Bay and its admins, but you can't say they lack a sense of humor.
(Source: The Pirate Bay)
Arggh, the ship isn't sunk yet!
Many times the good things in life just don't last. That may yet be the case with The Pirate Bay. For years internet users worldwide used the site to get their music, TV, and movie fix. Some of the torrents were legal, others were orphaned works (technically illegal to share), and still others were blatant examples of infringement. But all these torrents had one thing in common -- they brought people across the world together through enjoyable experiences.
However, yesterday the legal woes of the world's largest torrent site forced it to temporarily go offline, signalling a potential end to those happy times. The site's legal crisis first began when Swedish courts found the site's admins guilty of copyright infringement and ordered them
jailed and fined
over $3.6M USD.
The site was
by Sweden's Global Gaming Factory, which made a bid to make the site legit under a rather nebulous plan. Now it appears that bid -- and the site -- may be in jeopardy thanks to the aggressive legal action of copyright protection organizations.
MPAA, RIAA, and IFPI sued the ISP that provided service to The Pirate Bay's ISP and won. That ISP was ordered on Monday by a Swedish court
to take down the site or face daily fines of
$70,000 USD. The site was
quickly taken down
, only to pop back up after a few hours, only to be taken down yet again.
The site owners, who are currently appealing the original judgement, write, "
The good people at the MAFIAA decided to sue. Not TPB [The Pirate Bay], not the owners of TPB. Not even TPBs ISP. They decided to sue TPBs ISPs IS
And you know what? They won. They made a court believe their #lies and they made them force the ISPs ISP to shut down access to TPB."
The MAFIAA has spent millions of dollars and endless amounts of time to get this ban in order.
Our guess is that they also bribed a bit to get it since it violates so many laws not only in Sweden but also in the EU, not to mention violations against human rights. And what do they have to show for it? [Three] hours of partial downtime."
The Pirate Bay admins refer to the MPAA, RIAA, and IFPI, collectively, as MAFIAA due to the organizations' reputation for resorting to at times thuggish legal tactics. Whatever name you know these organizations as, it is clear that they're on a roll, with massive
jury verdicts
over U.S. citizens Jammie Rassett-Thomas and Joel Tenenbaum, and securing an order to takedown of the world's largest torrent site.
However, The Pirate Bay admins remain defiant and determined. As of this morning the site was back online, with no apparent service interruptions. The admins are now offering a new T-Shirt for sale on the home page mocking the copyright protection organizations. The shirt reads, "I spent months of time and millions of dollars to close down The Pirate Bay and all I'll get is this beautiful t-shirt!"
Further, the true impact of the takedown and other potential future takedowns may be minimized by the spread of a recently released, easily accessible,
archive of the entire site
, including all its torrents, written in SQLite3.
"We don't know how to make a $500 computer that's not a piece of junk." -- Apple CEO Steve Jobs
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August 18, 2009, 7:55 AM
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The Pirate Bay Gets Purchased, New Owners to Pay Copyright Holders
June 30, 2009, 8:42 AM
Swedish Court Sends Pirate Bay Leaders to Brig, Takes Their Bounty
April 17, 2009, 9:30 AM
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