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But with the fluorescent dyes currently used to image the interior of laboratory mice, the view becomes so murky several millimeters under the skin that researchers might have more success divining the future from the rodent's entrails than they do extracting usable data.
Now Stanford researchers have developed an improved imaging method using fluorescent carbon nanotubes that allows them to see centimeters deep into a mouse with far more clarity than conventional dyes provide. For a creature the size of a mouse, a few centimeters makes a great difference.
"We have already used similar carbon nanotubes to deliver drugs to treat cancer in laboratory testing in mice, but you would like to know where your delivery went, right?" said Hongjie Dai, a professor of chemistry. "With the fluorescent nanotubes, we can do drug delivery and imaging simultaneously – in real time – to evaluate the accuracy of a drug in hitting its target."
Researchers inject the single-walled carbon nanotubes into a mouse and can watch as the tubes are delivered to internal organs by the bloodstream.
The nanotubes fluoresce brightly in response to the light of a laser directed at the mouse, while a camera attuned to the nanotubes' near infrared wavelengths records the images.
By attaching the nanotubes to a medication, researchers can see how the drug is progressing through the mouse's body.
Dai is the one of the authors of a paper describing the research published online this month in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The key to the nanotubes' usefulness is that they shine in a different portion of the near infrared spectrum than most dyes.
Biological tissues – whether mouse or human – naturally fluoresce at wavelengths below 900 nanometers, which is in the same range as the available biocompatible organic fluorescent dyes. That results in undesirable background fluorescence, which muddles the images when dyes are used. But the nanotubes used by Dai's group fluoresce at wavelengths between 1,000 and 1,400 nanometers. At those wavelengths there is barely any natural tissue fluorescence, so background "noise" is minimal.
The nanotubes usefulness is further boosted because tissue scatters less light in the longer wavelength region of the near-infrared, reducing image smearing as light moves or travels through the body, another advantage over fluorophores emitting below 900nm.
"The nanotubes fluoresce naturally, but they emit in a very oddball region," Dai said. "There are not many things – living or inert – that emit in this region, which is why it has not been explored very much for biological imaging."
By selecting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTS) with different chiralities diameters and other properties, Dai and his team can fine-tune the wavelength at which the nanotubes fluoresce.
The nanotubes are imaged immediately upon injection into the bloodstream of mice.
Dai and graduate students Sarah Sherlock and Kevin Welsher, who are also coauthors of the PNAS paper, observed the fluorescent nanotubes passing through the lungs and kidneys within seconds after injection. The spleen and liver lit up a few seconds later.
The group also did some "post-production" work on digital video footage of the circulating nanotubes to further enhance the image quality using a process called "principal component analysis."
"In the raw imaging, the spleen, pancreas and kidney might appear as one generalized signal," Sherlock said. "But this process picks up the subtleties in signal variation and resolves what at first appears to be one signal into the distinct organs."
"You can really see things that are deep inside or blocked by other organs such as the pancreas," Dai said.
There are some other imaging methods that can produce deep tissue images, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computer tomography (CT) scans. But fluorescence imaging is widely used in research and requires simpler machinery.
Dai said that the fluorescent nanotubes are not capable of reaching the depth of CT or MRI scans, but nanotubes are a step forward in broadening the potential uses of fluorescence as an imaging system beyond the surface and near-surface applications it has been restricted to up until now.
Since nanotube fluorescence was discovered about ten years ago, researchers have been trying to make the fluorescence brighter, Dai said. Still, he has been a little surprised at just how well they now work in animals.
"I did not imagine they could really be used in animals to get deep images like these," he said. "When you look at images like this, you get a sense that the body almost has some transparency to it."
Louis Bergeron | EurekAlert!
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Ultrafast lasers have introduced new possibilities in engraving ultrafine structures, and scientists are now also investigating how to use them to etch microstructures into thin glass. There are possible applications in analytics (lab on a chip) and especially in electronics and the consumer sector, where great interest has been shown.
This new method was born of a surprising phenomenon: irradiating glass in a particular way with an ultrafast laser has the effect of making the glass up to a...
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Researchers from the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) at the University of Waterloo led the development of a new extensible wiring technique capable of controlling superconducting quantum bits, representing a significant step towards to the realization of a scalable quantum computer.
"The quantum socket is a wiring method that uses three-dimensional wires based on spring-loaded pins to address individual qubits," said Jeremy Béjanin, a PhD...
In a paper in Scientific Reports, a research team at Worcester Polytechnic Institute describes a novel light-activated phenomenon that could become the basis for applications as diverse as microscopic robotic grippers and more efficient solar cells.
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In a statement, a spokesperson for Eastbourne RNLI said: “Our D-class Inshore lifeboat 'David H' was requested to launch on service at 1.28am by Solent Coastguard, they were requested to join a multi agency search for a potential missing person.
“The launch was approved by the duty Launch Authority and the crew were paged before making their way to the station and quickly launched arriving on scene to join Coastguard Helicopter 163, multiple coastguard units and police.
“After 40 minutes of searching the decision was made to launch the All-weather lifeboat to assist.
“Both boats worked together with all agencies in deteriorating weather conditions and almost total darkness.
“After an extensive search was carried out, all assets were stood down and returned to their stations at 5.30am.”
Following this, volunteers crews were called out just over an hour later to attend to another incident at sea.
The spokesperson added: “Most of our volunteers had barely got home before the pagers sounded again at 6.49am requesting an immediate launch of 'Esme Anderson' after reports of a person in the water towards Hastings.
“The crew were stood down just before launch after local coastguards reported the casualty was safe on land.
“The crew was then paged again at 9.10am to launch the 'Esme Anderson' lifeboat to continue the previous nights search alongside partner agencies before being stood down at 11am.
“This was the first, second and third taskings for the new Eastbourne Lifeboat 'RNLB Esme Anderson'.
“All of our crew are volunteers and we would like to thank their employers for being supportive of them during this busy operational period.”
The ‘Esme Anderson’ is Eastbourne RNLI’s new all-weather lifeboat which was welcomed by hundreds of residents on Saturday, February 10 with the lifeboat previously on service for almost 30 years in Ramsgate in Kent.
All-weather lifeboats support the RNLI’s lifesaving work and are capable of high speed and can be operated safely in all weather conditions.


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The U.S.' (Not So) Mysterious Case of the Missing Men
It’s been some time since the United States was considered to be amid the Great Recession, a period of general economic decline that spanned from the late 2000s until, depending on who you talk to or what source you are using, sometime in 2015. One of the big effects of the Great Recession, was very high unemployment in the US. At the height of the Great Recession, in October of 2009, unemployment peaked at 10%. Way back in January of this year, Timothy Taylor, the Conversable Economist, wrote a post on the unemployment rate falling and falling fast on its way to pre-Great Recession levels, “the unemployment rate in the last three years has fallen by more than even the most optimistic member of the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee believed was likely.”
Fast forward to 2 September, the monthly jobs report was released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics that found that unemployment was at 4.9% for the third month in a row. So, the number has halved since the Great Recession, which sounds like great news, right? Not so fast. There are concerns that the statistic is masking a greater problem: The mystery of disappearing men from the workforce.
NPR published an article on this very subject recently, which has elicited responses from a number of economic analysts. The issue centers on men in what is called the “prime working age” or “prime working years”. Basically, men between the ages of 25 and 54. According to the NPR report, “millions of men in their prime working years have dropped out of the workforce — meaning they aren't working or even looking for a job."
Apparently, this mystery of the missing men is not a new trend. It has actually puzzled economists going back decades.
“In the 1960s, nearly 100 percent of men between the ages of 25 and 54 worked. That's fallen over the decades,” said NPR.
A recent report released by the U.S. Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) helps to put the statistic into perspective by putting a number to it. The report said that 83% of men in that prime working age of 25-54 that are not in the labor force also did not work the year before, meaning that 10 million men are missing from the workforce.
So, what is really going on here?
Nicholas Eberstadt, an economic and demographic researcher, says that not much is known about the mystery of the missing men, however, he asserts that “there are factors that make men less likely to be in the labor force — a lack of college degree, being single, or being black.”
Eberstadt also believes that having a criminal record plays a factor with 20 million Americans having felony convictions, the majority of whom are, of course, men. There has also been an influx in people collecting disability insurance.
Another view comes from Robert J. Samuelson who wrote in the Washington Post recently on the subject, referencing the gig economy in an article entitled “A New Era of Labor Scarcity.”
Both Eberstadt, NPR and to some extent Samuelson, seem to be hinting at an issue of a supply nature, rather than a demand one, which brings us to other possible reasons for the mystery of the disappearing men.
NPR does brush over rather quickly that some men have also found it harder to find so-called “blue-collar” jobs as technology and overseas outsourcing, has moved a lot of jobs out of the U.S.
In, On the Economy, a blog by Jared Bernstein, he writes that, “there’s little mystery here: the driving factor is the loss of employment opportunities, or what economists call weak labor demand, particularly for non-college-educated, prime-age (25-54) workers. It’s not the only factor, but it’s the main one. There are various ways to show this, but the one I find most intuitive, as it’s kinda staring us in the face, is the cyclical pattern of the employment rates of prime-aged men.”
He goes on to explain that overlooking the demand-side overstates the supply-side issues: “when you downplay the straightforward demand-side story, you end up emphasizing supply-side stories about disability insurance, the safety net, and other less important explanations which lead you to prescriptions that are ineffective at best and harmful at worst.”
Indeed, a recent report by the U.S. CEA found that “reductions in labor supply—in other words, prime-age men choosing not to work for a given set of labor market conditions—explain relatively little of the long-run trend…In contrast, reductions in the demand for labor, especially for lower-skilled men, appear to be an important component of the decline in prime-age male labor force participation.”
Dean Baker in a post for the CEPR Beat the Press blog commented on the NPR piece, echoing Bernstein’s assertions, however he goes on to say that it’s not just men, it’s women too!
“Actually, (the mystery of the missing men) really is not much of a mystery. While the (NPR) piece wants to attribute it to the peculiar situation men face in the labor market, it is worth noting that there has also been a sharp decline in the percentage of prime-age women in the labor market. (Actually, a better measure is simply looking at the share of people who are employed. Many workers stop saying they are looking for jobs when they are no longer eligible for unemployment benefits. With a sharp reduction in eligibility for benefits over the last three decades, people who are not working are now much less likely to say they are looking for work.)”
He goes on to say emphatically, “the problem is not too many men getting disability or lacking the skills needed in a 21st century economy, but rather just not enough demand … the villains are not lazy men … the lazy welfare cheat story doesn't fit the data at all.”
“Bottom line, no mystery, just the need for a lot more labor demand. And given the persistence of this trend and the extent to which the economy leaves these guys behind, I’m not at all sure we can count on the market to do this for us … we may well need to think in terms of direct job creation,” says Bernstein.
While the question of where the men have gone may not be a mystery after all, how to get them back to work, on the other hand, does appear to be something of a mystery.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FocusEconomics S.L.U. Views, forecasts or estimates are as of the date of the publication and are subject to change without notice. This report may provide addresses of, or contain hyperlinks to, other internet websites. FocusEconomics S.L.U. takes no responsibility for the contents of third party internet websites.
Date: September 13, 2016
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Mar 03, 2012If you have internal floating roof tanks, you could use API 2000 in my opinion. Two inbreathing and outbreathing rates are given, one for low vapor pressure product (basically 1 volume of air for 1 volume of liquid) and for high vapor pressure product which for outbreathing, has a higher allowance because of the vapors being displaced. Is there an internal floating roof oil tank?Is there an internal floating roof oil tank?Internal floating roof tank is a floating roof storage tank which is covered with a fixed roof on the floating roof, which can prevent the tank itself from been suffered from wind and rain, guarantying the quality of stored oil under the floating roof.Internal Floating Roof Storage Tank VS External Floating api oil storage tanks internal floating roof
There are different types of storage tanks such as the fixed roof type, open roof type, external and internal floating roof type, etc. Floating roof tank is that which the roof floats directly on api oil storage tanks internal floating roof2 Types of the Roof Storage Tanks in Oil and Gas Industry Floating roof storage tanks From the very name you may understand that these tanks are designed with a roof that floats on top of the liquid. This floating roof moves up and down as the level of liquid changes (like filling or emptying) in the tank.
Roof), is considered an internal floating roof tank (IFRT). 3.5 external floating roof tank EFRT An aboveground tank with a floating roof, which has no fixed roof and has an open top. 3.6 flash A complete discharge of the cell between the thundercloud and ground (as it applies to cloud-to-ground lightning) (Uman, The Lightning Discharge, p. 10).40 CFR § 63.1063 - Floating roof requirements. CFR US api oil storage tanks internal floating roofThe owner or operator who elects to use a floating roof to comply with the requirements of § 63.1062 shall comply with the requirements in paragraphs (a) through (e) of this section. (a) Design requirements - (1) Rim seals. (i) Internal floating roof. An IFR shall be equipped with one of the seal configurations listed in paragraphs (a)(1)(i)(A) through (a)(1)(i)(C) of this section.
Is The Tank Governed by API 650?Check The FlashpointEmissions IssuesFirst of all, API 650 states that the tank contents must be less than 200°F and 2.5 psig under standard operating conditions. Otherwise, it doesnt fall under API 650. Tanks are low pressure and low temperature, and are distinct from/different from pressure vessels. (There are some exceptions in the appendix that can extend the temperature of API 650 tanks up to 260°F, but then youve got to worry about the boil-up1of water).See more on smartprocessdesignEstimated Reading Time 5 minsPublished Dec 01, 2010Oil Storage Tanks Internal Floating Roof System api oil storage tanks internal floating roofSandborn Roofs manufactures the patented Sandborn full contact internal floating roof system (IFR). Our floating roofs are used by all major oil companies, as well as oil storage and pipeline companies because they are safer, more cost effective and more environmentally friendly than other floating roof systems. Sandborn IFRs are safer because api oil storage tanks internal floating roofAPI Standards for Tanks - EnggCyclopediaSep 23, 2011Evaporating Losses from Internal Floating Roof Tanks. Summary of performances of internal floating covers to prevent evaporation losses. Effects of internal floating covers on tank operation as well as the provisions for gaging, sampling, and temperature reading
At the same time, internal floating roof can effectively reduce the oil loss, therefore, internal floating roof storage tank has the advantages of fixed roof tank and floating roof tank. The American Petroleum Institute the perfect designed internal floating roof is the best and lest investment method to control the oil evaporation loss of api oil storage tanks internal floating roofDesign and Study of Floating Roofs for Oil Storage TanksMain two Types of Floating Roof Tanks Single deck Floating roof In single deck roof, which is also called pontoon roof, the buoyancy is derived by the pontoons, according to API 650. The deck of single deck floating roofs shall be designed to be in contact with the storage liquid during normal operation, regardless of the service.
Storage tanks have been widely used in many industrial particularly in the oil refinery and petrochemical industry which are to store a multitude of different product with crude oil as one if it. There are different types of tank such as fixed roof tank, open roof tank, floating roof tank etc. Floating roof tank is which the roof floats directly on top of the product, with no vapour space and eliminating the possibility of Estimated Reading Time 14 minsInternal Floating Roofs - ErgilERGIL Internal Floating Roofs reduce emission from the storage tank. The Storage Tank remains covered as the influence of wind, rain and lightning are eliminated. This further reduces product emissions, product contamination by rainwater and the risk of rimfires. This is possible as it is designed under strictest of environmental regulations.
inspection, testing and documentation of a Sandborn Internal Floating Roof as applied to steel oil storage tanks operating at low pressure. 2. CODES AND STANDARDS API Standard 650 Welded Steel Tanks for Oil Storage, Appendix H API Standard 653 Tank Estimated Reading Time 2 minsTotal Lightning Protection for Floating Roof Petroleum api oil storage tanks internal floating roofLightning protection systems for floating roof petroleum storage tanks (FRTs) should do more api oil storage tanks internal floating roof by 16 oil industry companies, found that 52 of 55 rim seal fires were caused by lightning, and api oil storage tanks internal floating roof the floating roof. Evaluation of API RP 545 Recommendations 1. Submerged Shunts Shunts are used for the conduction of the fast and intermediate api oil storage tanks internal floating roof
The roof is a single lap-welded spherical dome with an internal radius of 50 ft and a thickness of 1/4 in. The maximum design liquid level is 6 in. below the plane of the juncture of the tank API 650 SUG III tanks roof and sidewall.Estimated Reading Time 6 minsUse of Floating and Fixed Roof Tanks - Make Piping EasyJan 20, 2021Use of Floating and Fixed Roof Tanks. Storage tanks are an essential part of the oil & gas fields. They are mainly used to store different fluids or petroleum products. To transport fluids from places of production or processing units to end-users, we require storage tanks to store the products. Storage tanks are a key factor in the expansion api oil storage tanks internal floating roof
Closed floating roof tankthis has an internal floating roof but eliminates natural ventilation of the tank vapor space. Instead, the CFRT is equipped with a pressure-vacuum (PV) vent and may even include a gas blanketing system such as that used with fixed roof tanks, these tanks are designed as in Appendix C of the API Standard 650Fire Protection for Floating Roof Tanks - Detection api oil storage tanks internal floating roofOct 01, 2019The roofs help minimalize evaporation losses as the liquid levels change inside the tank. This, in turn, helps prevent fires. Lightning strikes are the culprits for most fires at storage tanks with floating roofs. Most external floating roof tank fires are rim seal fires caused by lightning. The lightning ignites the vapors which then catch fire.
Jun 24, 2007Floatation Test of Internal Steel Internal Floating Roof per Appendix-H. Sunday, June 24, 2007 By Prashanth  Since API doesnt prevent installation of the rim seal prior to tank hydro test, whether the tank hydro test as per Cl 5.3.5 after installation of the Internal floating roof and rim seal is suffice to meet the requirement of api oil storage tanks internal floating roofFloating Roof Tank Systems ALLENTECHALLENTECH is a privately held manufacturer and erector of internal floating roofs and perimeter seal systems for above-ground storage tanks and covers for API separator basins.
ApplicationsDesignPurposeClosed Floating Roof TankFloating Roof Tank Networking CapacityProduct Vapor Control with Floating Roof TanksGeneral ReferencesNoteworthy Papers in OnePetroExternal LinksThe internal floating roof tank (IFRT) was developed in the mid-1950s to provide protection of the floating roof from the elements, including lightning strikes to the floating roof. The tank vapor space located above the floating roof and below the fixed-roof includes circulation vents to allow natural ventilation of the vapor space reducing the accumulation of product vapors and possible formation of a combustible mixture. Fig. 1shows a typical internal floating-roof tank. 1. Fig. 1Internal pan floating See more on petrowiki.speWhat is the API for a floating roof tank?What is the API for a floating roof tank?1.3.1 Literature Review Literature review is conducted to study the basic design and requirement of the floating roof storage tank in the storage tank design code (API 650 Welded Steel Tanks for Oil Storage).Design, Construction and Operation of the Floating Roof TankFrangible Roof - Storage tank engineering - Eng-TipsDec 07, 20172 - Type of roof = Dome Self-Supported Radius = 0,8 D. 3 - Roof Thickness = 3/8 9,5 mm. 4 - The tanks are connected at the top by a platform structure. 5 - All the tanks with internal floating roofs. 6 - The tanks were designed with 0,8D dome roof with 3/8 thickness to adequately withstand the self-weigth and weights of the platform structure api oil storage tanks internal floating roof
HMT offers a comprehensive line of internal floating roofs for aboveground storage tanks. Constructed with a variety of materials for product compatibility, HMT internal floating roofs are customized for each specific storage tank. From Skin and Pontoon to Full Contact, HMTs internal floating roofs are unmatched in design, quality, craftsmanship and commitment to offering comprehensive solutions How Floating Roof Storage Tanks Work - Detection api oil storage tanks internal floating roofApr 07, 2021April 7, 2021 by Erin Schmitt As the name suggests, floating roofs float on top of a product, such as crude oil, in a storage tank. As the level of the product fluctuates, the floating roof moves up and down with it, maintaining a sliding contact with the tank wall.
imagesAPI 650 Internal and External Floating Roofs api oil storage tanks internal floating roofAPI 650 Internal Floating Roofs and API 650 External Floating Roofs. International Tank Service fabricates and installs new API 650 Floating roofs. We can revamp floating roof tanks, repair or replace floating roof support legs, wind girders, overflows, vents, circular or radial stairs and rolling ladders. International Tank Service can install or repair all types of existing primary and secondary
Pontoon Type Internal Floating Roof Storagetech is a major supplier of pontoon type internal floating roofs, which fully comply with API 650 standards. Pontoon type floating roofs are the most economical type of floating roofs in the market.Internal Floating Roofs for Storage Tanks Manufacturer api oil storage tanks internal floating roofInternal Floating Roofs. Altech Aluminum Internal Floating Roofs are custom design to each individual tank within the requirements of API 650 Appendix H. All IFR's are designed by our design and engineering team utilizing the latest technology to assure that you have the most efficient IFR in your storage Tanks.
Internal floating roofs (IFR) first found their place in the oil industry to conserve product and prevent fires. Later, they were required for controlling hydrocarbon emissions into the atmosphere, as regulated by the U.S. EPA. An IFR tank has a floating deck below a fixed roof.Setting of pressure and vacuum valves - API 650 tankSep 17, 2007Roof Design - API-650 TanksSep 14, 2007API 650 TANKJun 03, 2005external floating roof API650Apr 25, 2005See more resultsOil storage tank, API 650 Oil tank, API STD 650 Welded TanksLarge-scale oil storage tank is mainly used in refineries, oilfields, oil depots and other industries. The oil storage tanks mainly adopt A537CL1, Q345R, 16MnDR, Q370R, S30408, SU30408, A516 grade 70, A516 grade 60 etc. steel grades. Large-scale oil storage tanks are divided into fixed-roof tanks, floating-roof tanks and spherical tanks api oil storage tanks internal floating roof
Dec 15, 2016Over the past 60 plus years, thousands of tanks with Fixed Roofs with internal Covers, and Floating Roofs, have been used to store Crude Oil and Middle Distillates. Refiners derived significant advantage through the Floating roofs which are used to store very large volumes from super-tanker shipments, and meet the escalating demand for hydrocarbons in industry.Storage tanks, Fixed-roof tanks, Floating roof tanks api oil storage tanks internal floating roofProductsCharacteristicsIndustryTypesAdvantagesOther usesConstructionFutureVersionsEquipmentFunctionSummaryOperationExamplesA typical external floating roof tank consists of an open-topped cylindrical steel shell equipped with a roof that floats on the surface of the stored liquid, rising and falling with the liquid level. The floating roof is comprised of a deck, fittings, and rim seal system. Floating roof decks are constructed of welded steel plates and are of three general types pan, pontoon, and double deck. Horizontal tanks are constructed for both above-ground and underground service. Horizontal tanks are usually constructed of steel, steeSee more on wermacAPI Tanks - Function and Uses - Punchlist Zero - What You api oil storage tanks internal floating roofAPI Tank FeaturesAPI Tank ConstructionAPI Tank TypesAPI Tank RoofingTank MaintenanceAPI tanks can have a variety of roof types. The type of roofs include fixed-roof, external floating roof, internal floating roof tanks, and domed external floating roof. Fixed roof tanks are the most common tank type. They feature a closed and completely welded roof. Roof designs are usually cone or dome-shaped. Usually, these tanks will also have a valve used to control and maintain the internal pressure of the tank. External floating roof tanks feature a cylinder with an open-top while the roof floats on the surface of thSee more on punchlistzero7 Types of Industrial Storage Tanks Explained - GSC TanksEstimated Reading Time 7 mins Industrial Fuel Storage Tanks. Industrial fuel storage tanks, known as petroleum tanks also, can Industrial Chemical Storage Tanks. Industrial chemical storage tanks are employed for storing Industrial Oil Storage Tanks. Oil storage tanks are reservoirs or containers that hold oil temporarily Industrial Hot Water Storage Tanks. Industrial hot water storage tanks are ASME certified built to Industrial Water and Liquid Storage Tanks. Water and liquid storage tanks are used to store a Industrial Plastic Storage Tanks. Water storage is important for domestic, residential, industrial, Industrial Gas Storage Tanks. Most materials which are in gaseous state at ambient pressure and
May 01, 2000 For normal venting, API 650 (G.8.3 and H.6.2) specifies vents in the fixed roof, tank shell and internal floating roof. The vents in the floating roof protect the roof and rim seal and accommodate liquid movement and thermal breathing. Emergency venting is not specified for either the fixed roof, shell or internal floating roof. In case of fire, the seal material on the floating roof would melt
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WSP reports growth
WSP Global’s financial results for the second quarter of this year show revenue growth everywhere except Canada and a 4.9% rise in the backlog of orders.
The group reported an adjusted margin for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) of 10.3%, compared to 9.7% in Q2 2015.
Revenues and net revenues were CA$1,545.7m and CA$1,215.5m, representing rises of 3.2% and 11.6% compared to Q2 2015, respectively. The increases were mainly due to acquisition growth; consolidated organic growth in net revenues for the period was flat.
The backlog is reported as CA$5,667.4m, representing approximately 10.6 months of revenues.
"I am pleased with our performance in the second quarter as all reporting segments, with the exception of Canada, achieved positive organic growth,” said Alexandre L'Heureux, incoming president and CEO of WSP. “We also increased our adjusted EBITDA margin, which is now at 10.3%. During the last few months, I have had the opportunity to visit several of our teams around the world. As we look forward together, we remain focused on our 2016 priorities, namely: building on our strong technical expertise and collaboration to drive the existing business; continuing integration activities, in order to drive costs synergies and improve margins; and advancing key initiatives to drive future growth, via both organic growth and select acquisitions"
L'Heureux added: "Despite the economic slowdown in Western Canada and the potential impact of Brexit in the UK, we enter the second half of the year with good momentum. We are therefore reaffirming our full year financial outlook."
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This article was published on 4 Aug 2016 (last updated on 4 Aug 2016).


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King John, who visited Ireland in 1210, established there a civil government independent of the feudal lords, and during the 13th century it became more fully organized.
Who evangelized Ireland?
Patrick, who speaks of himself as having evangelized heathen Ireland, is not to be confused with Palladius, sent by Pope Celestine I in 431 as “first bishop to the Irish believers in Christ.” Toward the end of his life, he retired to Saul, where he may have written his Confessio.
Who was responsible for the spread of Christianity in Ireland?
Christianity had arrived in Ireland by the early 5th century, and spread through the works of early missionaries such as Palladius, and Saint Patrick.
How did St Patrick evangelize Ireland?
Elected a bishop, Patrick was sent by the Church in Britain to evangelize Ireland. … As a missionary bishop in Ireland, Patrick was a typical 5th-century bishop. He recorded that he baptized many thousands of people. He celebrated the Eucharist, instituted nuns and monks, and ordained clergy.
Who converted the Celts to Christianity?
Tradition holds that Ninian established an episcopal see at the Candida Casa in Whithorn, and named the see for Saint Martin of Tours. He converted the southern Picts to Christianity, and died around 432.
When did paganism end in Ireland?
In short by the early 7th century after several generations of proselytising by Christian missionaries Christianity was the most popular spiritual practice in Ireland. However this did not mean Paganism was completely eliminated and indeed the Christianity that emerged was not what as we might imagine it.
When did the Vikings come to Ireland?
The Vikings who came to Ireland from 795 AD to 840 AD were mainly from the area now known as Norway. The Danish Vikings came to Ireland from about 849 AD and fought the Norse Vikings.
Who brought Catholicism to Ireland?
Patrick brought Christianity to the country in 432 CE. It is said that St. Patrick used the three-leaved clover (shamrock) to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity to Irish pagans. The shamrock thus reflects the deep connection between Catholicism and the Irish identity.
What kind of country was Ireland before Christianity?
Paganism. Before Christianization, the Gaelic Irish were polytheistic or pagan. They had many gods and goddesses, which generally have parallels in the pantheons of other European nations.
What religion was Ireland before Christianity?
Celts in pre-Christian Ireland were pagans and had gods and goddesses, but they converted to Christianity in the fourth century. Q: Where did Celts originally come from? The Celts are believed to come from Central Europe and the European Atlantic seaboard, including Spain.
What was Patrick’s sin?
Patrick’s was a sexual sin with…. his sheep! Beach knows the literature well and this is the first time such a thing has been suggested. The Irish pentitentials did have penance for coupling with animals.
Why are there no snakes in Ireland?
When Ireland finally rose to the surface, it was attached to mainland Europe, and thus, snakes were able to make their way onto the land. However, about three million years ago, the Ice Age arrived, meaning that snakes, being cold-blooded creatures, were no longer able to survive, so Ireland’s snakes vanished.
What was St Patrick’s real name?
The man who would come to be known as Saint Patrick, apostle of Ireland, was born in Britain circa 386 A.D. Much of his life is unknown to historians and can’t be verified, though some sources have listed his birth name as Maewyn Succat, with the name Patrick later taken on during his religious journeys or ordainment.
Is Celtic cross Protestant?
The Celtic Cross is a world known typically depicted and has become a traditional Christian symbol used by the faithful in Ireland for religious purposes.
Are the Celts mentioned in the Bible?
Yes, that’s right, Galatia in Turkey. Those people in Paul’s New Testament Epistle to the Galations were Celts, from Gaul. These Continental Celts eventually arrived in Macedonia in 279 B.E., where they gathered under a tribal leader named Brennus.
Why is Celtic a contested term?
This was primarily by archaeologists, who called into question the term “Celtic” for being used lazily and unthinkingly. They challenged the use of the term to describe art and artefacts, and extended this criticism to call into question the political and social motivation behind the use of the term more widely.

domain: history


text:
Srinagar: Joint Resistance Leadership on Sunday reiterated call for complete shutdown tomorrow, November 27, in Kashmir against “unabated atrocities” by government forces in the Valley.
“The gruesome atrocities committed by Indian forces across North and South Kashmir, are crossing its limits. The condition of thousands of innocents languishing in jails and police stations is also worsening day by day,” said JRL comprising of Syed Ali Geelani. Mirwaiz Mohammad Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik.
“Kashmiries are always protesting against these human rights violations and strike call for Monday, 27 November 2017 is also intended for highlighting these oppressive measures,” they said.
They said forces have unleashed a reign of terror across whole valley especially south and north of Kashmir, where “crackdowns, vandalizing properties, beating, torturing common people, arrests and other oppressive measures have became an order of the day.”
“Similarly NIA and ED terrorism is also going on through which Indians intend to defeat our resistance. Leaders said that likewise thousands of Kashmiries have been put into jails and torture centers where these people are terrorized and intimidated endlessly.”
They said that from Tihar jail to the jails of Jammu Kashmir, Kashmiri leaders and other people are being put to worst hardships. They appealed people to observe a complete shutdown against these “atrocities”.

domain: sociology


DataSecOps is a dynamic, comprehensive, security-integrated method for managing the constantly changing data and its users of today’s world. Its goal is to quickly provide data-to-value while maintaining data privacy, security, and data governance.
It is an evolution of data security that bridges the transition from “Default to know” to a “Need-to-know” approach by requiring organizations to treat security as part of their daily data operations, instead of something added as an afterthought.
From “Default-to-know” to “Need-to-know”
Many businesses operate in a data access mode known as “default to know,” particularly when they are in hyper-growth mode. The result is that there can be an uncontrolled and overly permissive approach to data access which can lead to hidden costs in terms of security and compliance. Growing and expanding companies will require more secure sharing of critical assets, resulting in a shift from “default to know” to a “need to know” approach.
The need-to-know concept combines modern economics and data security by allowing users access to only information they require for their tasks and responsibilities. With this enforcement, safe sharing is enabled and suppliers can work efficiently in today’s globalized world while ensuring data security and compliance. Previously, monitoring and granting need-to-know access via manual tools and procedures have significantly slowed innovation and growth as access granting might take up to days to complete the actions. However, in today’s dynamic digital environment, it is important for this to be completed in real-time to ensure authorized users can easily access data, while remaining secure and keeping the business agile.
Streamlining “Need to Know” With DataSecOps
Now, it is possible to transition from “default to know” to “need to know” without stifling innovation by using DataSecOps. With a single, integrated platform, it is easy to automate and simplify data access while ensuing compliance.
Through centralized data governance and automation of security at every stage of the data lifecycle, DataSecOps platforms further streamline “need to know” data access for real-time and secure access without compromising security while improving compliance standing & business agility. With improved business agility and more accurate decisions, businesses will be able to respond quickly to changes in market conditions and requirements, which is vital to surviving and winning in highly competitive markets.
Why is DataSecOps Important
Organizations are switching from on-premises databases to more adaptable and effective cloud-based alternatives as they adopt and expand cloud computing at an increasing rate. In order to protect these hybrid and multi-cloud environments, it calls for a dynamic approach to protect sensitive information.
DataSecOps has the potential to be the key to cloud security. As manual processes can take up valuable time and cause inaccuracy, it will be crucial to automate and streamline data access. When creating a cloud environment, it is important to implement security automation. DataSecOps will enable core process to run quickly and efficiently which enhances efficiency while enabling regulatory compliance.
With increased collaboration, it is also key to implement a shared responsibility model which is a security and compliance framework that outlines the responsibilities of cloud service providers (CSPs) and customers for securing every aspect of the cloud environment. The streamlined access strategy enables enhanced collaboration between departments and external parties, bringing faster time-to-value.
Segregation of Duties
A successful DataSecOps approach should be a shared responsibility between all stakeholders with a streamlined “need-to-know” process & segregation of duties. This works hand-in-hand with segregation of duties, an internal control designed to prevent error and fraud by ensuring that at least two individuals are responsible for the separate parts of any task.
Segregation of duties (SoD) is based on the idea of shared responsibilities. It is a crucial component of a business control system. It is designed to divide up a task or transaction and allocate each component to a different individual in order to prevent any one person from acquiring exclusive or excessive control and then abusing that control for unethical or unapproved purposes. Streamlining access control and automating security with DataSecops will simplify the implementation of segregation of duties by providing the following capabilities:
- Enabling Data Democratization
Data democratization makes digital data available to non-technical users of information systems, mainly for analytic purposes. Streamlining access control with DataSecOps will remove any intermediaries and increases data transparency and availability which will help SoD to prevent control failures
- Protection of Sensitive Data
While supporting compliance with GDPR, CCPA, and other legal requirements, dynamic masking & segregation of sensitive data at run-time can be based on selected security rules and identities, data locations, and data categories. With this, it will enable SoD to meet compliance requirements & prevent potential breaches.
- Fine-Grain Access Control
Fine-grained access control is the ability to grant or deny access to critical assets, such as resources and data, based on multiple conditions and/or multiple entitlements to a single data resource. The use of Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) with DataSecOps will benefit SoD with fine-grained security controls and data governance to safeguard information.
- Efficient Data Classification
DataSecOps requires data to be classified on an ongoing basis to protect sensitive data. It is easier to optimize and use data when these are gathered into a single and comprehensive format across the organization. With streamlined data classification, it will also help SoD to achieve sustainable internal controls and risk management.
- Maintain Compliance and Governance
For organizations to comply with regulatory compliance standards, comprehensive reporting and monitoring offer a real-time audit trail and visibility into the utilization of all data. Thus, further streamlining risk management for SoD by preventing frauds and human errors.
Therefore, using a DataSecOps approach allows organizations to design an effective and secure access strategy to enable need to know access while promoting innovation and growth. Using a DataSecOps , access controls, security, and governance can be embedded seamlessly and automatically into data operations in a timely and secure manner. Therefore, enabling organizations to make better decisions, improve compliance, lower risk, and maintain highly accessible data.
Learn more about how having a DataSecOps platform will be crucial towards achieving Zero Trust Architecture & the importance of Zero Trust Architecture in today’s world.


House Republicans wanted to stay take action to lower gas prices and break our dependence on foreign oil, but Democrats wanted to… begin their vacations.
No wonder the Democrat-led House of Representatives is about as popular as Nancy Pelosi’s book.
The vote to adjourn for the summer passed 213 to 212. Only 17 Democrats voted “no.” Ten House members didn’t vote at all — apparently they were already on vacation.
For Dems, there’s a small glitch in their plan, but it sounds as if they’ll be able to get back home on gas you and I paid for in time for their five-week vacations.
How concerned are Dems with gas prices? Watch Mitch McConnell (R-KY) call out Ken Salazar (D-ILDO) and get him to admit that he doesn’t even care if gas gets to $10 a gallon — we ain’t drillin’!
Update: With Republicans still speaking on the subject of oil, House Speaker Nancy “oil can… oil can…” Pelosi turned off the lights, killed the microphone, and left to spend the rest of the summer with her plastic surgeon.
Read the last few paragraphs of this update and spend the weekend praying that somebody invents a car that runs on childish, agenda driven jerks.


Backdated from previous BA website
A prolific crack dealer was banned from parts of the London Borough of Camden after eyewitness accounts and CCTV evidence helped secure an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) against her. Click on title for the full story………….
London Borough of Camden
London WC1H 9JE
Tel: 020 7974 2464
Fax: 020 7974 5718
ASBO FOR DRUG DEALER CAUGHT ON CAMERA 05/253
A prolific crack dealer was banned from parts of the London Borough of Camden after eyewitness accounts and CCTV evidence helped secure an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) against her.
Camden Council and Camden Police were granted the order against Latoya Monte at Highbury Corner Magistrateâs court on Friday (2 September). Under the terms of her ASBO she is banned from various parts of the boroughs of Camden, Westminster and Islington that are drugs hot-spots. She is also banned from carrying and dealing prohibited drugs or associating knowingly with anyone else carrying illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia.
The court was presented with eyewitness accounts and CCTV evidence of Miss Monte passing substances from her mouth to well-known drug addicts in broad daylight. She was often found with large amounts of money when searched by police and swallowed hard â as if to get rid of the substance in her mouth when approached. On one occasion she assaulted a police officer who was trying to see if her mobile phone was stolen.
Ms Monte accepted that her actions amounted to anti-social behaviour and did not contest the evidence presented to the court.
A local community representative from the West End Drugs Partnership who attended the hearing said:
âLatoya Monte is a well known and very recognisable Class A drug dealer in Camden Town and Bloomsbury where she was the main dealer in the area for many months, dealing openly on the street and oblivious to residents and workers and passers-by. She operated with a gang of runners in the area and has been seen many times handling large amounts of cash. It was obvious to any passer-by that she was ‘in charge’ and seemed to think she controlled the streets she operated in. She is a prolific, aggressive and very greedy drug dealer who we would prefer to see behind bars.
âThis ASBO is the bare minimum that this women deserves considering the amount of misery she has caused to our communities, not to mention the vast amount of community, police and council time required to get her into court.
âWe hope the police and council will continue to pursue drug dealers such as Latoya Monte – they are a danger to the public and flaunt common decency, we do not want them on our streets.â
Cllr Theo Blackwell, Deputy Leader of Camden Council said: âHand-to-mouth dealing makes it very hard for police to get evidence when it can be easily hidden and swallowed. The ASBO puts the breaks on this sly type of dealing which has a profound effect on the local community. Huge thanks must go to the community members who contributed evidence to help us get this ASBO.
âCamden Council has been granted just under 190 ASBOs, the vast majority for adults and related to drugs. These work alongside longer-term treatment programmes and crime prevention projects. Residents in areas like Kingâs Cross have enjoyed dramatic drops in and anti-social behaviour and around a 60 per cent drop in street crime as a result. And one Kingâs Cross sex worker, now in education, credits her ASBO with saving her life.
He added: âCamden uses ASBOs only where they are appropriate. A case like this clearly shows how ASBOs have again proved a very useful tool in protecting the community and preventing anti-social behaviour.â
Pc Issy Webster, local community officer and the lead officer in the case, said:
“This case is an excellent example of how an ASBO can be used to protect the community from serious anti-social behaviour and how the police can adopt different tactics to tackle the problem of drug dealing, which is taken extremely seriously by Camden. The prohibitions will ensure that Monte is banned from the main drug markets in Central London and that she must address her behaviour or more action will be taken against her in the future.”
Ms Monte will have to apply to the court to lift the ASBO prohibitions. Breach of an ASBO is a criminal offence and risks up to 5 years in prison.
Notes to editors:
For further information contact Susannah Agathou, Camden Council press office on 020 7974 2464, firstname.lastname@example.org
Latoya Monte is of no fixed abode and gave different dates of birth in court and to the police. The date of birth given in court is 2/8/1987 and she had previously told police she was 22 years old.
In addition to using ASBOs to curb the impact of anti-social behaviour caused by drugs on the community, Camden Council and the police work with partners to address drugs and the root causes of drug misuse. Examples of activities are:
â¢ Police operations against drug dealers carried out every day in the borough â resulting in almost 200 âClass Aâ drug dealers charged over the last year.
â¢ Crack houses can now be closed almost immediately, which means there are significantly fewer crack houses in Camden than in the past.
â¢ A group of professionals working to address drugs problems meet regularly to keep an eye on people on the streets. The group make sure help is offered to change their behaviour and warnings given that they face enforcement if offers of help are rejected and their anti-social behaviour continues.
â¢ Environmental improvements, including better lighting and re-design of areas to deter crime. Five hundred new âwhite lightâ streetlights are about to be installed in Camden Town, with more planned for other areas of the borough.
â¢ Twelve Street Wardens provide re-assurance patrols in Camden Town, Bloomsbury and Kingâs Cross. They have helped gather evidence for ASBOs and set up football clubs for local young people to give them a better alternative to hanging around on the street.
â¢ 24 hour CCTV cameras and a roving CCTV van to help deter crime and gather evidence.
ï§ Camdenâs Drug Action Team has commissioned a range of drug treatment facilities for Camden residents including a rapid access treatment centre to ensure the most chaotic and problematic drug users are treated immediately. Non-Camden residents are referred to treatment in the area where they live. In 2004, 2,281 drug users accessed treatment to overcome their addiction.
ï§ All adults and teenagers aged 14-17 years old in Camden charged for âtrigger crimesâ are tested for drugs on arrest to ensure their drug use is identified and treatment to tackle their addiction put in place.
ï§ Many Camden hostels have liaison drug workers to ensure homeless hostel residents are able to access treatment services.
ï§ A team of outreach workers â the Street Services Team â work with people on the streets to ensure they have the opportunity to access accommodation, treatment, education and training.
ï§ Camden Council is also piloting an innovative scheme with Pentonville Prison to help offenders on their release access drug treatment services and accommodation.
Advice on how members of the public can help:
â¢ If you see a drug deal happening, donât intervene. Try to remember the details and report them to the police or a street warden. If violence is being used call 999.
â¢ If you are offered drugs directly keep your own safety in mind and walk past. Try to remember the details and report them to the police or a street warden.
â¢ If you see a needle, call the councilâs Drug Action Response Team (DART) on 0800 032 3278. Do not move the needle yourself.
â¢ Give money to charities rather than to those begging on the street â evidence shows 86 per cent beg for money for drugs and alcohol. To find out more visit http://www.killingwithkindness.com
â¢ If you are worried about the welfare of drug users and rough sleepers call the Street Services Team on 020 7833 7970. They work on the front line providing help directly to people on the streets 24 hours a day.


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Justices affirm constitutionality of Affordable Care Act amid Republican attacks on key provision
The US supreme court has upheld the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, after Republicans attempted to gut an important provision of the law during the Trump era.
In a 7-2 decision, the court ruled Republican states ultimately did not have “standing” or the right to sue. The ruling avoided the issue of whether the tax provision of the law called the “individual mandate”, and therefore the entire law, was unconstitutional.Continue reading...
Amy Coney Barrett’s appointment is a wake-up call for women voters | Cecile Richards
It’s not only Roe v Wade on the line. Parental leave, affordable childcare, equal pay, the Affordable Care Act - all are under threat
The pandemic and its collateral economic crisis have illustrated like never before that women are the backbone of America. Before Covid-19, women made up more than half the workforce, nearly two-thirds of minimum-wage workers, and the majority of caregivers. One in three jobs held by women has been designated as essential. Right now, millions of women are pulling off an impossible balancing act: working while trying to keep their families safe and healthy during a terrifying time. Others have lost jobs, have had their wages or hours cut, and more than 800,000 women have left the workforce.
This crisis is disproportionately burdening women, especially women of color. They need immediate relief, but instead of solving this crisis, Donald Trump and Senate Republicans have focused on one thing: pushing through a supreme court nominee who wants to take away healthcare for millions and strip away rights women have had for decades. And they’re doing it against the will of the majority of Americans, who believe that voters should decide who makes the next appointment to the court.Continue reading...
Amy Coney Barrett pledges ‘open mind’ and plays down conservative record
- Nominee avoids answering directly on how she would rule
- Lindsey Graham hails ‘woman who is unashamedly pro-life’
Judge Amy Coney Barrett, Donald Trump’s nominee to the US supreme court, promised to keep an “open mind” when considering cases before the court during a final round of questioning on Wednesday, as Republicans declared her confirmation all but assured despite Democrats’ forceful opposition.
Members of the Senate judiciary committee on Wednesday att...
RBG says women are being “tossed to the wind” in Supreme Court birth control case
The US Supreme Court today heard oral arguments in controversial cases about religious and moral objections to contraception coverage under the Affordable Care Act. The Trump administration expanded existing “conscience exemptions” dramatically but a nationwide injunction has so far blocked the new rules from going into place.
The justices’ phone debate was long and sometimes painfully technical. However, distilled, the issue at the heart of these matters is relatively simp...
Why US businesses are opining on a Supreme Court case about contraception
On May 6, the US Supreme Court will hear arguments in two cases about the Trump administration’s expansion of the “conscience” exemptions to contraception coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The changes allow institutions providing health insurance to avoid paying for birth control, for religious or moral reasons, without notice.
A nationwide injunction has blocked implementation of the changes so far. Now the justices are faced with three very technical legal que...

domain: law


text:
The Skin of Color Seminar Series, led by nationally recognized faculty, takes a case-based approach to train dermatologists on the safe and effective treatment of skin of color through a series of live demonstrations and lectures.
- Treatment across the skin of color spectrum for medical conditions such as melasma, acne, PIH, and alopecia
- Dermatologic conditions unique to various skin of color segments
- Differences in skin of color responses to cosmeceuticals, fillers and neuro-toxins
- Guidance on interacting with patients of diverse social and cultural backgrounds
- Expert instruction in performing cosmetic procedures in skin of color
The Skin of Color Seminar Series is the only series to address the ever-increasing demand for sound medical and aesthetic training to treat patients with skin of color. Don't miss this rare event.
Add the Skin of Color Seminar to Your Calendar
Reasons to Attend SOCSS
- Gain greater confidence in performing laser procedures in skin of color
- Improve your management of pigmentary and hair disorders in patients of color
- Boost your practice and Expand your treatment offerings
- Master nuances in the management of common dermatologic disorders in diverse populations
- Find out more
Upon completion of this CME activity, participants will be able to:
- Identify the top dermatological issues for patients with skin of color.
- Distinguish the prominent differences between skin of color and Caucasian skin and how each reacts to acne, melasma, rosacea, and laser treatments.
- Formulate informed treatment regimens for patients with skin of color.
- Classify skin of color on at least one established scale.
- Contrast treatment regimens for Caucasian and skin of color patients.
- Determine the efficacy and safety of laser use in patients with skin types of IV to VI, with fewer risks of epidermal adverse events.
- Assess appropriate laser settings for treatments of skin of color patients.
- Explain how fillers and neurotoxins must be utilized with specific patient populations in mind.
- Discuss the importance of sun protection specialized treatment regimens for skin of color patients.
- Indicate the importance of patient compliance and adherence to sunscreen use.
- Distinguish the differences between skin of color and Caucasian skin in regards to skin cancer incidence and clinical presentation.
- Recognize best treatment options for skin rejuvenation and skin aging for patients with pigmented skin.
- Detect and manage common skin conditions in skin of color pediatric patients.

domain: medical


text:
Living in an area that has one of the highest risks for interface fires in the North Okanagan, BX and Silver Star residents are urged to take caution.
“The biggest threat would be the BX Creek area to Silver Star,” said Bill Wacey, BX-Swan Lake fire chief. “There are hundreds of homes up Silver Star Road.”
With only one-way in and one-way out for the majority of residents, a wildfire could be devastating in the area.
Which is why, in celebration of National Wildfire Preparedness Day, residents are urged to do what they can to mitigate the risk.
“Remove branches that are down right on the ground level, cut and pull the brush away from the house,” urges Wacey.
But in the event that an interface fire were to take place, BX-Swan Lake Fire Rescue is the best prepared in the region to respond.
The department owns a sprinkler protection unit – a trailer which can be deployed to set up sprinklers to protect homes in an interface fire.
“We have enough protection in the trailer to do up to 20 homes,” said Wacey.
It’s a unique piece of equipment, and the first in the North Okanagan.
“There’s very few of them in the Southern Interior,” said Wacey, who runs one of only three.
“It’s another really good tool to have in the tool box.”
Purchased in 2012, the unit hasn’t been needed locally, yet. But it has been lent out to other departments, such as Williams Lake last year.
And the result of having such a unit on-hand can make a drastic difference, according to Wacey, who is also the structure protection supervisor with Emergency Management B.C.
“I’ve seen these trailers do fabulous things.”
He recalls a rank 6 fire which he attended to set up a similar sprinkler protection unit at, but with little hope that it would do much to protect the structure in the area considering the intensity of the blaze.
“We didn’t expect anything to be left,” said Wacey, who returned the next morning to see an area devastated by fire with the only remaining greenspace being that around the cabin, where the sprinklers were set up.
The unit at the BX-Swan Lake fire hall is available for other department’s to use. And considering there haven’t been any major fires in the region for a while, it is a possibility that the unit will get some use this year.
“We are long overdue,” said Wacey, adding that it has been a drier spring than normal, which only increases the risk.
Meanwhile, there will be a storm of activity brewing at the BX fire department this year.
Construction is expected to begin at the end of May for the addition to the 40-year-old building.
Two new truck bays, four offices and a second-storey meeting room/training space will be added with the 3,500 square foot addition.
“There’s very much a lack of training space/classroom space for us,” said Wacey of the existing structure.
The hall will remain fully operational, with the existing bays intact, but office and meeting space will be moved into a trailer. The project is anticipated to be completed sometime near the end of the year.


text:
Ellis-Ellsworth-Giddings Genealogy - Family Card
(1774 - 31 Jan 1854)
Hannah Elizabeth Mack
(1771 - 8 Oct 1826)
30 Nov 1814, p n/k
Simeon Fisher , of Colchester, Vt.
Mary (Polly) Ellis
1794, Montague, Franklin, Ma.
All research and data compiled by CWO Edward Dale Ellis and Kathlenn Annabelle (McCorkle) Hartman Ellis
This database was an act of love and this family is ever so grateful for the work put into it.
Return To Main Page

domain: library


text:
A loving memorial cross spray of Red Roses and White Carnations
Floral Design by: Ali Blu Florist
The flowers were pressed and presented on an ivory background and
framed in a 16x20" gold frame. The "Dearest Husband" ribbon was included.
Also, added was the gold engraved plate at the bottom.
The little red rose heart petals were found inside the roses.
Red Rose Pendant and Earrings made from perfect Rose Petals.
Thank you, Kathie, for the privilege of honoring your husband.
~ Annie, Pressed Garden
All Pressed Flower Art by: Annie Smith, Pressed Garden, LLC, Austin, TX

domain: artistic


text:
VanderWiel Sets Vision For Sonora Police Department
SPD Chief Turu VanderWiel
Sonora, CA — This weekend’s Mother Lode Views will feature the newly appointed Police Chief for the City of Sonora.
Chief Turu VanderWiel will talk about recent changes he’s made to the department and his vision moving forward. He will also speak about crime trends, law enforcement challenges following the state’s legalization of recreational marijuana, how the new city budget impacts his department and the benefits of city’s recent action to maintain a school resource officer.
VanderWiel is a Sonora High graduate who later went on to serve in the military, joined the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office and then the Sonora Police Department. He was the Lt. (second in command) to former Police Chief Mark Stinson.


text:
Proposal for Final Project:
I would like to shift away from my midterm project and focus on working on making some AR prototypes for the Microsoft Hololens. I also want to be fluidly using Unity and coding with it, so to begin I have to figure out how to create direct communication between my unity via my laptop and the Hololens headset.
With this application, I would like to help develop another dimension to the graphic novel experience. With every page, there could be another layer of depth added to the story which could bring the readers further into the story.
TACO CITY MIDTERM:
This is a project that I was working on last semester but I continued to finish it using unity during this semester.
A friend of mine is creating a graphic novel and I mentioned that It would be fun to try and add some sort of AR aspect to his project. He sent me this photo as a chance to experiment, and asked that I added Taco City to fit within the green screen of his drawing.
During this time at home, I'm working to refine where I was with this project and make it feel more clean. Many of my assets in Taco City were lost when I added the AR to this project, and I'm not exactly sure why.
Description of AR prototype:
THE PHANTOM OF MENACE
21 Ideas for Augmented Reality:
Thoughts on an Existing AR project:
FLIGHT OF PASSAGE: Pandora World Disney


text: Gilbertsville, KY – A Republican campaign group says erased audio recovered from a digital recorder reveals Bruce Lunsford telling a staff member to keep the recorder. After Thursday's debate in Kentucky Dam Village, a Lunsford campaign member took a GOP staffer's recorder after he left it on Lunsford's podium during the debate. Lunsford's campaign has acknowledged it erased the recording because it thought the staffer had tried to "bug" Lunsford's podium. A McConnell spokesman says the man placed the recorder on the podium in an attempt to get a good recording of the debate. A Lunsford spokeswoman says the disagreement over the recorder is an attempt to distract voters from important issues in the race. Marshall County Sheriff Kevin Byars tells the Courier-Journal authorities probably won't use the recovered audio in the investigation because it was recovered by someone hired by the National Republican Senatorial Committee and not an official investigator. He adds he'd tried since Thursday to obtain the recorder from the group.


text:
Aston Villa have announced that seven of their up and coming players have agreed professional contracts.
While the club’s situation currently involves a battle to survive in the Premier League, Villa have moved to ensure that the future looks bright by tying down a host of promising teenagers to deals to remain at the club for the foreseeable future.
Among those players is striker Louie Barry, who arrived at the club in January from La Liga outfit Barcelona, having spent six months in Spain upon leaving West Brom.
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Defender Kaine Kesler, who like Barry has been training with the Villa first-team since the resumption of the league season, is also on the list of players who the club have offered terms to.
Twins Myles and Harrison Sohna, defender Bradley Burton, midfielder Charlie Farr and striker Tristan Goodridge make up the seven names.
Villa last week announced their retained list, which involved a number of high profile departures.
Defender James Chester and striker Borja Baston were among those names on the list of players leaving Villa Park, while academy prospects Callum O’Hare, Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, Jake Doyle-Hayes, Andre Green and Matjia Sarkic also appeared on a list of 14 players not offered new deals by the club.

domain: sports


text:
Lin, an immigrant from Taiwan, is a naval flight officer with an extensive signals intelligence background. He served as a signals intelligence specialist on board the Lockheed Martin EP-3E Aries II reconnaissance aircraft. He has also been a department head for the Hawaii-based Special Projects Patrol Squadron Two ‘Wizards’ (VPU-2) as well as a congressional liaison officer.
Aside from several counts of espionage, Lin is charged with patronizing prostitutes and adultery, both violations of military law. Even though Lin’s alleged spying was only recently revealed, he has been confined for the past eight or so months at the Naval Consolidated Brig in Chesapeake, Virginia.
Details of what Lin allegedly passed to the Chinese have been redacted from his charge document for reasons of national security. How the Chinese recruited Lin is not yet known, though the revelation about prostitutes is a tantalizing hint. It is known that he traveled outside of the United States to meet with his Chinese handlers to pass intelligence and receive instructions.
However, Lin’s job with a unit that flies what are essentially spy planes would give him knowledge of how electronic signals are gathered on missions near a foreign country such as China. That fact means that he was likely able to pass critical intelligence to the Chinese about what the Navy has picked up as well as technical knowledge needed to counter such electronic eavesdropping.
While the Lin case is being compared to that of John Walker, the last active-duty Navy officer to have been convicted of espionage during the Cold War, John Schindler, writing for the Observer (2), suggests that Lin constitutes just the latest security breach that has afflicted the Navy. He says these security breaches are because of political correctness.
Schindler cites two other security breaches that involved civilian contractors of foreign extraction. Mostafa Ahmed Awwad, a civilian naval engineer, was recently convicted of passing secrets about the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford to a person he thought was an Egyptian intelligence officer but who was actually an FBI agent.
Another civilian engineer, who called himself James Robert Baker, was found to have been actually Majid Karimi, who was born in Iran. “Baker” seems to have acquired a large amount of money that he cannot account for and has traveled on his Iranian passport in violation of security rules. He lied about his true identity and biography for 30 years. If he is involved in espionage, no one is saying at this time.
The point is that it is a legitimate counter-intelligence practice to pay particular attention to the ethnic backgrounds of people who might be recruited by a foreign power. The Navy has apparently failed to follow this practice.
In addition to these spy cases and the Washington DC Naval Yard shooter, a financial scandal has been uncovered. This involved a Malaysian entrepreneur suborning senior Navy officers, including several admirals and an NCIS officer, to steer ship-repair business to his benefit. This suggests that a breakdown has occurred in how the Navy handles security.
Failures in Navy Security
While it is a truism that everyone spies on everyone, including friends and allies, the apparent failure in Navy security, especially in the Lin case, should be cause for alarm.
The United States military relies on its technological edge to deter and, if necessary, defeat enemies. The more of that technology that a potential enemy such as China can acquire, the harder it will be for the American military to prevail.
China, which is aggressively laying claims to large swaths of international waters in the South China Sea (3) and the East China Sea (4), is a grave concern to the United States and its Pacific Rim allies.
The Chinese are conducting a massive military buildup as part of a long-term strategy to supplant the United States (5) as the world’s sole superpower. It would behoove the armed forces to take greater care in guarding their secrets against such an ambitious, imperialist power.
References & Image Credits:
(5) TSW: Has the War Between China and the US Already Begun?
(6) Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st class Sarah Murphy/Navy

domain: politics


Etobicoke General Hospital is quickly outgrowing its neonatal intensive care unit.
But with the help of the Walk and Roll Fest for Healthy Kids this Sunday, plans for an expanded centre are in the works.
The William Osler Health System Foundation says the area served by the Etobicoke hospital has the highest birth rate in Canada.
Currently, the maternal/newborn centre welcomes 2,500 babies into the world each year and that number will rise to 4,000 annually by 2025.
“It’s an older facility — 40 years old — and we need to double our capacity,” said Ken Mayhew, CEO of the foundation.
“The north Rexdale area is home to many new Canadians and they are reliant on the hospital. The community is incredibly diverse and needs a strong community hospital.”
As of Thursday, the foundation had raised $87,000 of its $90,000 goal for the new unit with funds from the Walk and Roll Fest.
The new addition to the hospital is expected to be completed by late next year.
“We are so grateful to our sponsors and volunteers who are helping us realize our dream,” Mayhew said.
“We will succeed our goal.”
The Walk and Roll Fest will help purchase hundreds of pieces of equipment, including vital signs monitors, baby bassinets, neonatal incubators and ventilators, as well as new spaces for young patients in the emergency department.
The Walk and Roll takes place at Woodbine Racetrack. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. and the five-kilometre walk begins at 11 a.m. followed by a lunch.
For more information, go to www.oslerwalknroll.ca
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CHARLOTTE – We then processed into another area (our new terminal was still under construction), where we again used our bracelets to ID us to Virgin Sailors who were to check us in. They confirmed our Covid 19 test status (negative for all of us), confirmed our staterooms, confirmed our bracelets were connected, then cleared us to board. Boarding was on Deck 7, and our Stateroom was on deck 13 (Gasp! I had never been on a ship or a high rise building that had a level 13). We had chosen a “Sea Terrace Extra Large Stateroom with Balcony” We were not disappointed as our cabin was very large. We had a King size bed (really), plenty of space around both sides of the bed, a comfortable chair, a dressing table and mirror, a stand-up chest 6 feet high, 6 feet of hanging space, with a top-shelf, and a handicapped bathroom that you could lie down on the floor and take a shower if you wanted to. Walking outside onto the balcony, I found it to be very adequate. It had a comfortable Hammock and a table and chairs. Here we go with Innovative Award #2, the Hammock. There was an extra bonus with our room. We were 1 deck and immediately below the Control Room where all the action takes place. We became friends immediately with a cheerful wave from the captain and several crew members. They actually took the time to look for us during docking maneuvers, and always had a wave, a smile, and even took a bow when I gave the Captain a hardy “Thumbs Up” for a very skillful docking on Cozumel. All 3 top officers dressed like sailors with no shoulder stars and stopped us to say hello several times during the cruise. Here we go again, Innovative Award #3.
Phil and Barbara have owned Leisure Travel experts here in Mint Hill since 1994 and are proud members of the Mint Hill Chamber of Commerce. Contact them at (980) 406-1650 or email@example.com

domain: travel


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Local people attempting to shake up local politics
The Great Get Together is a weekend of community events meant to commemorate the 1 year anniversary since the assassination of Jo Cox MP by a far-right extremist. Her husband, Brendan, and his Jo Cox Foundation have joined forces with The Big Lunch and the Duchess of Cornwell, as well as celebrities like Jamie Oliver.
HOPE not hate is one of the national partners – last year, the Jo Cox Foundation chose them as the charity to further her legacy of tolerance and community cohesion and last summer they organised over 80 community events across the UK under the #MoreInCommon banner.
The Jo Cox Foundation hopes thousands of community get-togethers will be held over 17 and 18 June. Community events can be of various sizes, from indoor food and music events, to street parties or a multicultural fair in the park, but they must reflect Cox’s “dynamism and joy at life” and her passion for championing diversity, while bringing people together in order to celebrate that we have #MoreInCommon than the things that divide us!
HOPE not hate’s aim is for the community event not just to be great fun and bring people together who wouldn’t otherwise meet, but to create a wide coalition/ network that in the future can organise events and trainings to challenge hate and build community cohesion.
There’s a meeting on the 5th of April at 7pm in the High Flyer to plan a Great Get Together event in Ely. Why not go along, and help shape something meaningful.


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Effect of Copper on Tribological Characteristics and Subsurface Structure of Cast Fe-Cr-C Alloys in Sliding Friction
- Viktor Novytskyi
- Volodymyr Havryliuk
- Volodymyr Lakhnenko
AbstractThe purpose of this work is to research the tribological characteristics and peculiarities of subsurface structure of friction layers formation of the cast Fe-Cr-C (1.2% C, 17–19% Cr) alloys with the copper content lower (0.4%) or higher (14.0%) than its limit of solubility in the matrix of the alloy. The different contents of copper in cast alloys have a significant influence on the characteristics of the alloy structure in the original state and subsurface friction layers and thus influence the tribological characteristics of these alloys. The alloy with 14.0% copper has minimal wear rate under dry and boundary frictions at the pressures of 1 and 5 MPa. This is achieved through optimizing the parameters of the fine structure of the surface friction layers of alloys and through plating effect of copper transferring from specimen to the counterbody and preventing the friction pair from severe wear.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Google-based Impact Factor (2017): 5.94
h-index (January 2018): 13
i10-index (January 2018): 20
h5-index (January 2018): 12
h5-median (January 2018): 26
- John MartinEditorial Assistant

domain: literature


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In July 2015, Dr. Redbord became the president of the Washington D.C. Dermatological Society, whose membership is composed of dermatologists in the D.C.-metropolitan area, including Northern Virginia and Maryland.
No one is completely immune from warts, but some people are more susceptible to these unattractive skin growths, one expert says.
Psoriasis is perhaps the most studied of all dermatologic disorders, affecting over 7 million individuals in the United States alone.
Dr. Adam Friedman offers his insight in this article on TIME.com.
The way Dr. Adam Friedman sees it, dermatologists deserve a prominent place at the table when it comes to the treatment of acute and chronic wounds.
A special issue of Future Science OA, guest edited by Dr. Adam Friedman, examines current research in Nitric Oxide, focusing on delivery and detection strategies in medicine.
For the first time in decades, there is a healthy pipeline of new eczema drugs in development, including the first biologic drug indicated for moderate to severe eczema. All this development will bring profound change for physicians.


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The Grand Wazoo
On this, the jazziest of his records, Zappa assembled a huge band - six woodwinds, five brass players and more - for several extended pieces of orchestrated jazz. Musicians are layered on top of each other, often doubling their lines, giving Zappa’s music a bombastic, big band feel, even in its trickier passages. But the key to this one comes in the second half, when George Duke delivers solos on “Eat That Question” and “Blessed Relief” that shine even on repeated listens. Zappa’s playing, meanwhile, is restrained and tasteful here, settling into a nice, laid back groove.


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Exit Strategies of the Rich and Famous
Estate conservation is too important to put off. Do you have a smart exit strategy?
Have A Question About This Topic?
When selecting a fixed-rate mortgage, a borrower has to determine how many years to finance the loan.
Looking ahead can help you conquer these unique obstacles.
Protect yourself against the damage that your homeowners policy doesn’t cover.

domain: finance


Hotels became an increasingly desirable investment in New York's red-hot commercial property market this year as tourists flocked to the city. But some experts believe the trend will cool along with the economy.
In the first nine months, 23 hotels have been sold for a total of $4.2 billion. One of the hotels, The Carlyle, garnered $1.7 million per room, while the average was $515,000. Those deals account for 21% of the total dollar value of commercial sales transactions in the period. During the first nine months of last year, 10 hotels were sold for a total of $911 million, or 11% of the period's total commercial transactions.
“Hotel sales have been incredibly strong,” said Tom McConnell, co-head of the hospitality group at Cushman & Wakefield Sonnenblick Goldman, which provided the data.
Thank Manhattan's tourism boom. In the first eight months of 2011, the average room rate rose 7%, to $246.87 a night, from the year-ago period, according to the latest data from PKF Consulting. The average room rate hit a low in May 2009 of $191.51 a night.
Meanwhile, the average occupancy rate hit 83.2.% in New York hotels, down 2.1 percentage points from the same period last year but still up over the dire days of the Great Recession, when the rate plummeted to 63.1% in January 2009.
Now that the economy appears to be heading back into the doldrums, however, Mr. McConnell expects hotels to lose their investment sheen. “I don't think the interest in them is sustainable,” he said.
Financing large commercial purchases is already getting more difficult. Plus, hotels, with their near-instantaneous susceptibility to bad economic headwinds, have traditionally been more challenging investments to fund than office buildings or apartment houses. After all, it's much easier to cancel a vacation than a lease.


Noah Syndergaard gave the Mets exactly what they needed last night in Game 3. Hope. And life. And momentum. And strikeouts.
What he did that few other teams have been able to is miss the Royals bats, getting them to swing and miss. He recorded six strikeouts, if you are keeping track.
He let the Royals know from the very first pitch who was in command. That pitch tried to decapitate Kansas City’s leadoff hitter Alcides Escobar, known for swinging at the first pitch he sees. It knocked him on his butt. Good thing he saw that pitch and was able to get out of the way.
The Royals were not amused. They were also not able to do much about it.
Syndergaard’s fastball averaged 99 miles-per-hour. Averaged. He mixed in a knee-buckling curve and a devastating change-up.The fact that the Royal got anything off him shows how good they really are.
Fortunately for Syndergaard, he was backed up by the Mets’ bats finally coming alive.
The final score was 9-3. The Mets proved they could out-Royal the Royals when it comes to putting up long innings and keeping the line moving.
While the game didn’t have the drama of earlier games, it infused some drama into the Series. Now it’s two games to one.
Tonight’s Game 4 will put Kansas City on the brink. Or the Mets on a mission.
It might just put a few batters on their butts as well.


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|Southwest Asia News Digest
Behind Annapolis and the Iran NIE
Dec. 8 (EIRNS)The war party faction in the Bush Administration has suffered a pair of stunning political setbacks to their plans for further military confrontations in Southwest Asia. The danger of yet-another Persian Gulf war is not over; but the prospects of perpetual war in the world's oil patch is reduced, for the first time in a long while. See this week's InDepth coverage for full analysis of Washington's battle over Southwest Asia.
NIE Report on Iran 'Snatched' Netanyahu's Agenda
Dec. 7 (EIRNS)Under the headline, "How Netanyahu's Agenda Was Snatched," the Israeli daily Ha'aretz has a short interview with Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, commenting on how the U.S. National Intelligence Estimate has undercut his crusade against Iran's nuclear program. Journalist Yossi Verter writes that Netanyahu claims he started his campaign in 1996, when he addressed a joint session of the U.S. Congress. (This was also when Netanyahu was given the "Clean Break" report by U.S. neo-conservatives including Richard Perle and John Bolton.) Verter writes that "henceforth, the slogan he coined of which he is so proud, 'The year is 1938 and Ahmadineijad is Hitler,' will be greeted with raised eyebrows internationally. After all, what does Netanyahu know that 16 American spy agencies don't know?"
Netanyahu shrugs off the NIE, saying, "There will be other reports."
'Israel Won't Attack Iran Alone'
Dec. 7 (EIRNS)Commenting on the National Intelligence Estimate which concluded that Iran has closed down its nuclear weapons program, an unnamed Israeli Cabinet official told Time magazine, "It looks like this ends the military option against Iran for now. Israel won't attack alone. Iran's facilities are too many and spread far apart." This is also reported in the Jerusalem Post.
Ha'aretz adds a comment by Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai to the Knesset: "For now, Israel believes diplomatic pressure on its top enemy must be exhausted." But when asked if he believed an Israeli strike was possible, Vilnai said that "no option needs to be off the table."
LaRouche: Barghouti's Call for Peace Is Decisive
Dec. 3 (EIRNS)Marwan Barghouti, the imprisoned Palestinian leader, told a delegation of Knesset members visiting him in the Hasharon Prison yesterday, that the Palestinian people in both the West Bank and Gaza would support a peace agreement.
Barghouti is quoted by Ynet: "The end of the [Israeli-Palestinian] conflict is near. All that is needed is a leader courageous enough to sign [an agreement]. I believe we are on the brink of a solution. If a permanent agreement is drafted, the Palestinian Authority will hold a referendum to approve it."
Lyndon LaRouche commented, "This is really significant. This one thing is really decisive. A lot of people are on the fence on this issue, but Barghouti is not. Our pushing of the Annapolis conference was the right thing to do."
As for the release by Israel of 429 prisoners today, LaRouche said, it "is a joke. Most of those slated for release would have been freed a few months from now anyway. Israel can free thousands of prisoners, not just 400. Abu Mazen [Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas] requested the release of more prisoners, but was denied by Israel." Israel is holding 9,000 Palestinian prisoners.
In response to the fact that Palestinian prisoners have no access to a public phone, Knesset Member Nadia Hilou (Labor) said, "This is especially bewildering when one takes into account that another security prisoner in Israel named Yigal Amir [Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassin] enjoys 24-hour access to a phone."
LaRouche and former Secretary of State James Baker III have called for Barghouti's release as key to furthering the peace process. Israeli Infrastructure Minister Benjamin Ben Eliezer has also called for his release.
Barghouti is recognized as a legitimate leader of Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement in the West Bank, and was elected as a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council in 1996. In April 2002, he was arrested and placed on trial before an Israeli court. He received a sentence of five life terms from the court, whose jurisdiction he refused to recognize during the proceedings. He has continued to be active politically in jail on behalf of an peace agreement. The fact that he called for the signing of such an agreement, lends crucial support to the post-Annapolis peace process.
Syrian MP: Mediated Talks with Israel Have Never Ended
Dec. 7 (EIRNS)While denying there were secret Israeli-Syrian talks ongoing, Syrian Member of Parliament Dr. Muhamad Habash said that mediated talks have never stopped. "Every time, the Israelis say there are secret contacts going on between Israel and Syria, but it soon becomes clear that these remarks are made simply for domestic political concerns in Tel Aviv. Syria doesn't need clandestine negotiations," Habash said in a press interview reported by today's Ynet. Nonetheless, "We're ready for public talks. If this is so, why engage in clandestine negotiations? The mediation between Syria and Israel has never ended. The Russians are aiding in the mediation as well as the Turks and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, as well as a number of other countries that have mutual interests."
Laying out conditions necessary for peace, Habash said, "If half a million Palestinian refugees who are currently living on Syrian land are returned to Israel or their lands in Palestine, and the Golan Heights is reinstated as Syrian, then we would be able to say thank God and enjoy the long-awaited peace."
He warned of a continuing war danger: "The prospect that Israel might take some adventurous steps is reasonable to assume. In the last year, the Israelis decided to carry out some risky maneuvers, and they were on the losing side, and even today there are those who are pushing for war, even though Israel was on the losing side. The possibility that Israel were to infringe upon Syria's sovereignty is a possibility that exists and that we're not ruling out, although at the same time, we are not looking to reach this stage, and we do not want to escalate the situation." Warning that Syria would even attack Israel's Dimona nuclear reactor if necessary in an all-out war, Habash said, "The Dimona reactor is located within range of our missiles. Nothing will stop the fervor of the Syrian soldier and the Syrian warrior in this situation."
Olmert Spoke to Putin About Moscow Peace Conference
Dec. 7 (EIRNS)Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert telephoned Russian President Vladimir Putin on Dec. 6, and discussed, among other things, the follow-up Moscow peace conference proposed by Russia as a venue for Syria-Israeli talks.
A statement released by Putin's office, and reported in the Jerusalem Post Dec. 7, said Olmert called Putin to congratulate him on his party's victory in the Russian parliamentary elections, and to discuss the peace conference at Annapolis, the upcoming Paris donors' conference, and "preparations for the next international conference in the first half of 2008."
The two were said to have also discussed Iran and the new U.S. National Intelligence Estimate, which states that Iran has suspended its nuclear weapons program.
Another Annapolis Result: Iraq Declares PKK a Terrorist Organization
Dec. 5 (EIRNS)In a new, tertiary outcome of the Annapolis summit talks, Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, the leader of Iraq's largest Shi'ite party, the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council, said today that Iraq considers the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) a terrorist organization, and will not tolerate attacks launched by the group against Turkey from Iraqi soil, in comments reported by Turkey's Hurriyet newspaper. Al-Hakim added that he wants to ensure "that Turkish forces do not enter Iraq" and "that security in Iraq can be provided by Iraqis themselves."
Hakim's statement accords with EIR's recognition of the general success of the Annapolis summit. Of the most important accomplishments at Annapolis, was that Vice President Dick Cheney, and other war-party fanatics in the Bush Administration, were robbed of an opportunity to press, as they had intended, for an immediate military attack on Iran. According to some former senior officials, who spoke to EIR, Cheney had been banking on a breakdown of the Annapolis talks, and a discrediting of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who staked her reputation on some modicum of success in bringing together a wide array of regional and international players, to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, after a seven-year shutdown. One key Annapolis objective on the part of Cheney and his "permanent warfare/permanent revolution" grouping, was to create a war-like situation around the Kurdish issue, isolating Turkey. Cheney has lost this round.
Hakim said today at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) in Washington, that Iraq cannot take any stance that could harm its neighbors, particularly Turkey.