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With The X Factor 2017 live tour now all over, here's a look at some of the highlights from the live arena shows.
This year's live tour kicked off in Nottingham last month as the top eight contestants from last year's series hit the stage.
And they're joined by Emily Middlemas, Honey G, Ryan Lawrie, Samantha Lavery and Four Of Diamonds.
On the tour, the finalists hit the stage with performances from last year's live shows as well as a few special collaborations.
Performances included Four Of Diamonds and 5 After Midnight pairing up together for a Spice Girls cover while lovebirds Ryan and Emily also sang with one another, performing an intimate cover of Birdy's Wings in the centre of the audience.
Emily also teamed up with Sam and Saara on a belting performance of No More Tears that saw the girls singing in the crowd before hitting the main stage together.
You can watch a few clips from some of the performances from the final dates in Brighton in our highlights video above.
Following opening night, the tour now moved across the rest of the UK and Ireland with gigs at locations including the massive O2 Arena in London.
In all, the group played to thousands of fans over around 30 live shows.
The X Factor will return to TV in the autumn for its fourteenth series.

domain: celebrity


Matched 'Everyone’s a freakin’ stylist': 1 result(s)
Everyone's a freakin' stylist, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, mtv, MTV EMA, MTV EMAs, Status Magazine, statusmagonline
Published on Saturday, November 5, 2011
Two of our STATUS cover girls, Katy Perry and Lady GaGa, made it cool to wear unusual “costumes” again. Let’s see and read how our STATUS X MTV EMA: EVERYONE’S A FREAKIN’ STYLIST contest winners would style them.


A sustainable and ecological choice!
The innovative biodegradable solution that respects and does not harm the environment
Biodegradable bag made of organic materials that can be recycled & composted to reduce pollution
Alternative and quality solution that advertises innovation and green consciousness!
Description of Biodegradable Packaging
Biodegradable ecological bags:
- Made from renewable sources such as starch, potato and corn
- Designed to break down quickly and naturally in the environment
- They are designed to be quickly and easily biodegradable and are quickly and easily removed in a natural way
- Biodegradable materials that do not create waste
- 100% decomposition and return to the environment in a natural form like fertilizer
- Collection from the brown bins that will soon become neighbours of every street
Biodegradable bags are a promising solution to the problem of packaging waste and environmental pollution. It is important for businesses and consumers to switch to environmentally friendly packaging options to protect the planet. The future of biodegradable packaging looks bright as the need and demand for biodegradable packaging is rising rapidly.
Get your biodegradable bags and invest in a better and sustainable future.
Xenos Packaging through its high quality and sustainable materials can offer you a unique experience with eco-friendly bags in which you can directly store your food, beverages and cosmetics.
Biodegradable bags | The alternative solution
The world is facing a growing environmental crisis caused by the excessive use of plastic packaging. Plastic waste is among us and polluting the environment. In response, there has been a sharp increase in demand for environmentally friendly solutions such as biodegradable packaging.
These bags are made from renewable and sustainable materials, such as plant-based materials like corn starch, sugar cane or potatoes, and are designed to break down quickly and naturally in the environment. These materials are biodegradable, i.e. they decompose naturally and do not contribute to environmental pollution. Biodegradable packaging can be used for a wide range of products to suit your needs.
But what are the advantages of biodegradable packaging?
- Reduces plastic waste: This means that it will not contribute to the accumulation of plastic waste in landfills and oceans.
- Environmentally friendly. Manufactured from natural materials that are renewable and sustainable, making it a more environmentally friendly option than traditional plastic packaging.
- Lower carbon footprint: they require less energy to produce than traditional plastic packaging, meaning they have a lower carbon footprint.
- Flexible: Biodegradable packaging can be used for a wide range of products such as food and beverage packaging, cosmetic packaging, etc.


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Turkey’s central bank has announced that it will ban crypto to prevent payment providers from providing fiat onramps for crypto exchanges.
It has been reported by the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey that the ban will come into effect on April 30, rendering any crypto payments solutions and partnerships illegal.
However, the bank stated that “any direct or indirect usage of crypto assets in payment services and electronic money issuance” will be forbidden. While banks are excluded from the regulation, which means users can still deposit Turkish lira on crypto exchanges using wire transfers from their bank accounts, payment providers will be unable to provide deposit or withdrawal services for crypto exchanges.
Oh, bummer! The central bank of Turkey is banning payment providers from offering fiat-to-crypto onramps for cryptocurrency exchanges. https://t.co/Jay6xr0fMs — Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) April 16, 2021
The report said that payments providers and digital wallets are widely used in Turkey to transfer fiat funds to crypto exchanges and vice versa. Binance partnered with local payment provider Papara when it had first entered the Turkish market to provide a lira onramp for several different cryptocurrencies.
Likewise, this new regulation means that users have two weeks to clear their balances if they exclusively use payment providers as fiat-to-crypto gateways. The Turkish government has always had a tight grip on the payments ecosystem. In 2016, Turkey banned major global payment provider PayPal in the country.
Thus, crypto regulation has been a hot topic for Turkey in recent months, last month, the Turkish Ministry of Treasury and Finance announced that it was going to monitor the crypto ecosystem and work with the Central Bank, Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency, and Capital Markets Board to regulate crypto.

domain: law


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Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia’s mosques will not reopen for Ramadan, says Ministry
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs denied on Monday rumors that mosques around the Kingdom would reopen soon for congressional prayers after the coronavirus pandemic forced their closure last month.
For more coronavirus news, visit our dedicated page.
“There is no truth on what is being circulated about a set date for the re-opening of mosques for congregational prayers. The decision to suspend the prayers in the mosques is ongoing,” the ministry said on its official Twitter page.
“The current cleaning, sterilization and maintenance work for the mosques is one of the precautionary measures previously taken by the Ministry,” it added.
The current cleaning, sterilization and maintenance work for the mosques is one of the precautionary measures previously taken by the Ministry.— Ministry of Islamic Affairs 🇸🇦 (@Saudi_MoiaEN) April 26, 2020
May Allah remove this epidemic.
Saudi Arabia halted all communal prayers inside mosques across the country last month, including two of the holiest sites in Mecca and Medina, as part of efforts to curb the outbreak.
Prayers were suspended to the public inside Mecca’s Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina.
Saudi Arabia’s Council of Senior Scholars on April 19 urged Muslims around the world to pray inside their homes during Ramadan if they reside in countries that have imposed coronavirus restrictions such as curfews and lockdowns.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced mosques around the world to shut their doors to communal prayers.
Around the Arabian Gulf and the Middle East, the calls to prayer which instructs Muslims to “hurry to the prayer” has been changed to “prayers in your homes”.

domain: news


text:
Country Super Buffet
Drag box to select area
Country Super Buffet is a large restaurant serving Asian food. At the back is a sushi station and a chef who will cook the meat and vegetables of your choice while you wait. The restaurant is well-maintained and the buffet is always kept well-stocked.
5010 E Bay Dr, Clearwater, FL 33764
- Accessibility Details: Ramps along curb
- Hours: Daily, 11am - 10:30pm
- Hours: Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm
- Accessible: yes

domain: food


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CAM File structure
This page describes the organization of CAM's folder and file structure (CAM 3.1). Hopefully this will help a new user become familiar with CAM. Note: see NCAR models for instructions how to run a simulation.
CAM Folder Overview
Go to http://subversion/projects/ncar_models/, Open CAM, then trunk. The file structure looks like:
data atm CAM2 ggas inic ozone rad scam scyc sst topo lnd clm2 inidata2.1 pftdata rawdata srfdata scripts make-cam.csh run-cam.csh source cam1 models atm cam bld src test tools ice lnd clm2 src biogeochem biogeophys main mksrfdata riverroute
Level 1: CAM/WACCM/MOZART/CARMA/etc
The first level in http://subversion/projects/ncar_models/ includes links to different types of models. Open CAM.
Level 2: Trunk/Branches
There are two key folders here: Trunk and Branches.
Trunk - Contains all of the files which are directly a part of CAM.
Branches - Contains all the folders which represent add-ons to CAM, such as CARMA.
Level 3: Build/Data/Run/Scripts/Source
Open trunk. There are three subfolders - Data, Scripts, and Source. Additionally, after CAM is built on a user's machines, the folders Build and Run are created. (See how to run the NCAR models).
Build - Contains the necessary files for instructing CAM how to run a simulation. A noteworthy file, Namelist, is in this directory. The Namelist file includes specific instructions for CAM to run a simulation. The Namelist file can be modified to easily change the settings of a CAM simulation. There is a comprehensive list of Namelist commands in the CAM user manual.
Data - Contains all the necessary datasets for CAM simulations, such as greenhouse gas concentrations since 1870, sulfur emissions, etc. Most of the datasets have separate files for each model resolution. All of the files should be netcdf format (have a .nc extension).
Scripts - Contains two key scripts for Toon group users: make-cam.csh and run-cam.csh. Chuck Bardeen created these files to automate the process of building and running CAM.
Source - Contains the source code for the CAM dynamical core calculations as well as the other subroutines that are involved in a climate simulation. These are coded in FORTRAN and have a .f90 extension. It is helpful to look through these files to better understand how CAM works behind the scenes. Also, if a simulation fails, look at the RUN.out file in the simulation folder and it might point you to a file that is in this folder. For more information on these files, see the "Source Files" section on this page.
Level 4: Atm/Lnd/Ice
These are subfolders within each of the Level 3 folders; the files are organized into Atm (Atmosphere), Lnd (Land), and Ice components.
Noteworthy Source Files
Atmospheric Source Code: Open CAM/trunk/source/cam1/models/atm/CAM/src. This is the set of folders containing atmospheric source code. There are six folders.
advection control dynamics ocnsice physics utils
(control folder). This is the first subroutine called when a CAM run is started. It calls appropriate initialization, time-stepping, and finalization routines, including runtime_opts (the namelist file).
(control folder). This module handles filenames needed for the model, including input filenames, and most output filenames that the model uses. All filenames that the model uses will use methods or data constructed by this module. In some cases (such as the history module) other modules or routines will store the actual filenames used, but this module is used to determine the names.

domain: library


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Abby’s super easy tutorial can show you how to make a knock off striped shirt for $5!
This piece is perfect for a map/travel themed room for all the wanderlust-ers out there.
If you’re a fan of the series (book or T.V.) Game Of Thrones this The Mountain and The Viper Cocktail may just be the top to your Sunday night television show.
Angie’s version of this summer beach sign looks great, and it only cost her around $22 to make.
When Jessica saw Anthropologies Pattern Pop Tee she knew she could attempt to make her own for much less.
This friendship bracelet watch would make fantastic birthday or holiday gifts for your closest friends.
Here is how you can make your own Anthropologie knock off mirror using dollar store compacts!
This awesome Pottery Barn Knockoff Rope Knot Lamp was made for $220 LESS than original price.
Vanessa created this coral topiary knock off and it looks awesome!
Save tons of money on this beautiful Pottery Barn Faux Succulent Arrangement for your summer time décor!
Savory, creamy copycat Panera Macaroni and Cheese will have everyone begging you to make this every night!
Delicious, easy, mouthwatering and fast Homemade Egg Rolls.
This Pottery Barn Inspired Crate would be a great addition to your little superheroes room.
Amy made her own version of Ralph Lauren’s Polo Romper for only 50 cents!

domain: artistic


Back to School Essentials for Everyone
Back to School essentials to make you excited about Back to School season
Does the thought of Back To School season instantly fill you with dread? Yeah, me too. The Back to School commercials are taking up every TV channel and every store is stocked with backpacks and shiny new shoes. All of this means summer is over, Labor Day is coming, and the fall semester starts soon.
No matter what phase of life you’re in, you can’t escape Back to School season.
When you’re in college, each September means you’re one year closer to having to figure out what to do with your life. As a parent, your Back to School season is filled with signing last-minute permission slips, making sure your kids did their summer homework, and shopping for their growing bodies.
Even if you’re somewhere in the middle — out of school but child-free — the dawning of September signifies a change. We like to call it “Back to Productivity” Season. Summer Fridays are over, everyone is back from their Euro trips, and Q4 is just over the horizon.
No matter who you are, it’s time to get your life together and set yourself up for the rest of the year.
But one thing that’s for sure to ease those September woes? September shopping. Whether you need new outfits for the kids, a new planner for class, or a new novelty water bottle for your desk (a work essential, if you ask me), there’s no better time than now to stock up on all the things that make you your best, most productive self.
All products featured are independently selected by our editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.
For Kids in School
HS Senior backpack trend? Is this everywhere or am i just old now? #backpacktrend #highschool #millennialsoftiktok #imold #relateable
No matter what age your kids are, a new backpack is essential for the school season. They go through so much and always end the year torn, tattered, and unable to hold another textbook. They’re also a way to show off your kids’ personality and send them to school with a smile. And for older kids, a new TikTok trend shows high school seniors rocking kids’ novelty backpacks to class. Whether it’s all a joke or they’re trying to heal their inner child, don’t be surprised if your 17-year-old asks for a Toy Story or Barbie backpack.
Work hard, play hard. For kids in school, recess is usually the best part of the day. This means their sneakers need to be stylish and comfortable enough to last the day, and durable enough to face PE as well as the playground. And for older kids, shoes are one of the biggest statements you can make. So stick to the classics and let them rock some fresh kicks.
School snacks? Big no. Like it’s a Christmas stocking, pad your kid’s (new!) backpack with some healthy snacks. It’s a love language.
For College Students
A Sturdy Water Bottle
College is a busy time. Running around isn’t running around without your Emotional Support Water Bottle. You don’t need me to tell you about the wonders of the Stanley — it can keep your drink ice cold for hours! — TikTok probably already has. Back to School season is the excuse you’ve been looking for to pick one up. Or another alternative, if you prefer.
A New Planner
Maybe this year is the year your planner really does change your life. Here’s to hoping.
I spent most of college in different sweatsuits, shivering in the library or going to the late-night cafe for a midnight snack. It’s not the outfits you wear to parties you’ll remember, it’s the comfies that get you through.
Now that summer is ending and chillier months are upon us, the weather is less accommodating of our Hot Girl Walks. Instead of giving up on getting your steps in, now is the time to invest in a walking pad so you can walk from home while you work from home.
To go with your walking pad, duh. Experts say these supercharge your productivity — and I need all the help I can get to brave the post-summer slump.


Press Release 12 October 2023
DanChurchAid urges the Danish government and the international community at large to push for the swift establishment of a humanitarian corridor to Gaza, allowing food, water, electricity, and medicine to reach the civilian population.
Birgitte Qvist-Sørensen, Secretary General of DanChurchAid, says:
“There is an urgent need to open a humanitarian corridor to Gaza. More than 300,000 people have lost their homes or have been displaced, and the number is constantly rising. The humanitarian crisis is worsening by the hour, and it will only escalate if a humanitarian corridor is not quickly established. The Danish government and the international community must work towards international action to enable the UN and civil society organizations to provide the necessary aid to the civilian population in Gaza.
Gaza is running out of drinking water and food very soon due to the rapid pace of bombardments. The current blockade prevents the civilian population from accessing clean drinking water or putting food on the table.
In addition to the shortage of food, the people of Gaza are losing access to electricity as Gaza’s only power plant will run out of fuel within the next few hours. The lack of power will have dire consequences for hospitals, which need light and electricity for machines to treat wounded civilians. In practical terms, the power shortage will make it impossible to store the limited remaining food. It will also make it impossible to charge phones, cutting off families across Gaza from being in contact with each other.
DanChurchAid’s employees in Jerusalem and Gaza are in close contact with local partners to explore possibilities for helping the civilian population. One of DanChurchAid’s partners has stockpiled hygiene items, blankets, mattresses, and other essentials to distribute to displaced families and is investigating what can be purchased in local markets.
The ongoing heavy bombardments create an extremely challenging security situation. The mobile network is unstable, electricity is limited, and it is associated with significant risk to move outside.”


Amr Salama’s parents wanted him to be accountant, but for the young man growing up in Egypt who showed a passion for animation and could do a mean version of the Moonwalk, crunching numbers was never going to be a satisfying career. Yet he indulged his parents’ wishes, going to school for math while keeping some time for himself to pursue his own interests.
“While I was studying accounting, I was teaching myself everything that I wanted to learn,” recalls Salama. “3D animation, some photography, and then editing, and then this and that, until I found out that film directing is the thing that combines all my passions together, so I thought directing makes sense. I started making short films and I signed my first contract for a feature film before I even finished college.”
Salama has just finished his fifth feature, “Sheikh Jackson,” which premiered recently at the Toronto Film Festival, and it’s no doubt his most personal to date, imagining a double life for a conservative imam named Khaled (Ahmad El-Fishawy) as he arrives at a crisis of conscience. Now having an impressionable child of his own, Khaled recalls his own difficult relationship with his father (Maged El Kedwany) during his teenage years, following his mother’s death when he sought solace in the music of Michael Jackson to his gym rat dad’s disgust that he might be becoming soft as he latches onto such empowering anthems as “They Don’t Care About Us.”
For those within the same age range of the 35-year-old Salama, the frenzy that Khaled, then going by the nickname “Dudu” (and played in his younger years by Ahmed Malek), gets swept up in as Jackson released the “Dangerous” album in 1991 will feel especially familiar, but the writer/director’s tale of making peace with one’s personal identity is likely to hit home no matter where you are, crossing any borders of time and place. Venturing into the surreal as Khaled begins to have visions of Jackson walking into the mosque he presides over, “Sheikh Jackson” stays grounded in the reality that Salama so lovingly recreates, from the discotheques he frequented as a young man to the tiny clicker Khaled uses to count his good deeds and his sins as an Imam in the present.
While Salama was in Toronto, he spoke about the challenges of investing himself in a story that he didn’t initiate and making a film that references the King of Pop, as well as finding the right length for the film and showing it to his own family.
How did this come about?
Actually, the story started when a guy that I didn’t know [cold-]called me and said, “I have this story” and I [dismissed it] like, “Another guy with a story.” And he said, “I’m thinking about making a film about an Islamist who loves Michael Jackson,” and he said, “I only have a very short treatment.” And I said, “Man, I really want to write that because [that premise is] very personal to me. I’ve been religious for some time and a Michael Jackson fan for a long time and [I told him] I really want to write that.” That was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, which is to try to fit your memoir into a movie drama.
It took me a lot of drafts. I usually write very systematically – 100 pages, and I know my plot points. I think like an engineer about any film I’m doing – I think about it broadly and brainstorm, but then when I get to the writing phase, I’m very systematic. In this film, I wanted to be free from all of that and just write what I was feeling. That’s why the first draft was like 300 pages. [laughs] And then I tried to shorten it and shorten it. I had a couple of script consultants and one of them was very harsh on me. She said, “Listen, Amr. I see this as a book, not as a film.” And I was shocked, so I decided to step back and think of it as a film I’m watching in theaters, not just as a self-indulgent memoir.
After I did all the [work] to write it as I wanted with my heart, I tried to think of it as if this is not my story at all. As a filmmaker, I was questioning myself, how I’m going to interpret that visually? How can I color plan it and cinematically deliver the kind of emotion that I want the audience to feel? So there was a big part when I thought about it with my heart, but then came the part when I was a professional that’s trying to make the film as cinematic as it can be.
A film involving Michael Jackson is no doubt difficult because the rights to his music are likely prohibitive or simply getting permission, but it seems like that pushed you to be more creative. Was it a blessing in disguise?
Yes. It was a lot of effort and a lot of pursuing the rights – I was fighting for that. I used all the contacts in the world and it was hard [when] we didn’t get the rights. But on the other hand, I said, “Okay, let’s look at the bright side. I will now imagine myself doing the music I want Michael Jackson to hear.” So I did the music as if I’m pitching to Michael Jackson. I sat with the composer and I was like, “Okay, put that theme [in]… We wanted to create something that’s totally different but still has the same spirit. So reworking the score was actually some of the most fun while doing the film because we created the score at first hoping that we’d get the rights. And then after we didn’t get the rights, we made the whole score from scratch, and this was the first time I involved in making the score because I’m not a music guy, and it was painful [probably for the composer] because I don’t have the lingo even of music making, so it took some time, but when we made the different soundtrack, I said, “Wow, that’s better than actually getting the rights.”
You have that amazing montage referencing a number of his music videos. What was that like to create?
That was the hardest part of the film. It took months with the CGI guys to do it right. You could combine them together, you could go from one to the other, and you can [create transitions because you] have the same look of each video depending on the time that the video was made. It was really hard, but I studied [the videos] completely and I’m glad with the end result.
How did you find the actors to play Khaled at different ages?
Everybody that read the script said Ahmad El-Fishawy has to be the guy [to play the older Khaled] because for some time he was very famous for being religious and he was very famous for being a party animal, so he had this identity crisis and I knew him for so long. He was actually in my first film, so our relationship is really good, and it was very obvious as well that Malek should play the younger version [Dudu] because everybody says that [Ahmed] Malek is the younger Fishawy in real life. So it was really easy casting these two guys.
Khaled has this clicking device to count his sins against his good deeds. How did you come across that?
It’s actually a thing. There was a site selling that online and I thought, “Wow, this must be very pressuring.” And then when I was doing the film, I remembered I was talking with one of my script consultants, an American, who said, “You have to have something that shows that issue you have in Islam.” You’re thinking all the time about this balance sheet. So I thought if I use this [clicker] it will make it obvious to everyone what exactly he’s feeling when he’s dealing with God and religion.
Was there a particularly tricky day of shooting?
[The dance number] in the last scene was really tricky, and the funny thing about it is that me and Fishawy both had the same outfit exactly because I was the one doing the Moonwalks. So all the shots were only on the legs – and those are actually my legs. Because I can do the Moonwalk better than anybody in Egypt. [laughs]
Given it’s such a personal story, have you actually been able to show it to your family before the premiere?
Yeah, I showed it to my mother, and she is always happy about anything I do, so her opinion is not that critical. But I’ve shown it to a lot of friends and I really trust their opinions because [many] work in the field. Whenever I finish a draft of the script or a cut [of the film] they give me their opinions and I tweak based on that a lot of the time.
This [premiere at TIFF] is the happiest moment in months or years now. I’m really happy that this film is done. I didn’t believe in life after “Sheikh Jackson,” to be honest, so now I’m panicking about next projects, but I think the audience at TIFF is the best audience to watch the film and I’m crossing my fingers that this film will get me where I want to go. My ambition is to cross borders and do international films, especially in the States, so I hope this film will get me noticed somehow.


9th Gen Intel Core i7 9700 (8-Core, 12MB Cache, up to 4.7GHz with Intel Turbo Boost
8GB 1x8GB DDR4 2666MHz
256GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive + 1TB 7200 rpm 3.5" SATA Hard Drive
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR5
Windows 10 Home
4Yr Basic Warranty
Once the user has seen at least one product this snippet will be visible.


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Inter legend flunks Pavard deal
An Inter legend rejects Pavard's deal
Speaking on the German edition of Sky Sport, Lothar Matthaus had his say on the possible move of Benjamin Pavard from Bayern Munich to Inter: "The Bayern management had promised Pavard to let him go, now forò the men have changed and therefore also the situations. I understand that he is feeling bad about it, but on the other hand è he has always been super professional. What I don't understand è whyé Stanisic" was let go.
According to the Nerazzurri legend, però not è the right move for the player: "In the end I think Inter and Bayern will find a solution, otherwise the German club could lose Pavard as a free agent next year. Inter is coming from a Champions League final, but I don't think we can talk about an upgrade for him in moving from Munich to Milan. I think Pavard wants to come back to play as a center back, also in view of the European Championship".
Marotta and Ausilio have already found an agreement with Pavard and Bayern Munich (there is talk of an amount close to 30 million euros plus 2 million in bonuses) but the German club, before giving the 'green light' to the Frenchman, must find his replacement.

domain: sports


text:
The evaluation calls into question Berger’s "capacity to proceed," District Attorney Ben David said.
More: continued here
Posted in Wilmington | No Comments »
A federal appeals court has delivered a serious setback to President Barack Obama’s health care law
According to film permits, Secrets and Lies, will begin filming Tuesday, July 29 at the Graystone Inn and City Club in downtown Wilmington.
New Hanover County Clerk to the Board Sheila Schult announced her resignation Monday, and according to her contract, will be owed six months of salary.
Officers responded to calls in reference to the breaking and entering of three different vehicles in Greenfield Park early Monday.


Ever since I learned as a teenager that the Saturday Evening Post magazine was actually published on Wednesday mornings, I have been very skeptical about words. “Gun control” laws do not control guns, “rent control” laws do not control rent, and government “stimulus” spending does not stimulate the economy…
Does anyone seriously believe that people who are prepared to defy the laws against murder are going to obey laws against owning guns or large-capacity magazines?
Sowell, T. (2013). Feeling Sorry for Jay Carney. National Review. Available http://www.nationalreview.com/article/351894/feeling-sorry-jay-carney-thomas-sowell. Last accessed 16th May 2015.


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Gwernaffield and Pantymwyn villages are both on the Flintshire Tourist route. Follow the brown signs from the north (Cilcain) in ascending order, and from the South in contra direction.
Once in Gwernaffield, follow the road as it climbs to top the hill at the Golf Course, and it then descends into Pantymwyn.
From Mold (from Town Centre) Climb the High Street past St Mary’s Church. Bear left at Bailey Hill through Pwll Glas. At the Give Way, follow directly straight up the Gwernaffield Road for 2 miles. To reach Pantymwyn, continue through Gwernaffield.
From Mold (All other directions) At the large ROUNDABOUT (McDonalds, and Aldi), follow the Denbigh Road, past Lidl, for 400 metres. At the mini-roundabout, turn left into Dreflan. Follow this road, turning right into the Gwernaffield Road. Continue for 2 miles, and 3 miles to Pantymwyn
From Ruthin After Loggerheads Country Park, follow the road towards Mold and Gwerrnymynydd, turning left in Cadole. Follow the road from Cadole to Gwernaffield (1 mile). At the crossroads by the Church, turn left for Pantymwyn.
From Cilcain This road descends a steep hill (Trial Hill) with sharp bends to the narrow bridge (maximum width 6ft 6 ins). It then climbs on a single track road, no passing places, towards Pantymwyn. Although it is on the Tourist Drive, it is recommended to drive with extra care and attention. Vehicles should be prepared to give way by reversing up or down hill. In Pantymwyn, a sharp bend to the left drops firstly to the Post office, and then climbs towards the Golf Course. Descend the hill again into Gwernaffield.
By Bus The bus route from Mold visits the villages before arriving at the terminus in Pantymwyn. The service to Mold and beyond leaves hourly, on the hour from Pantymwyn.
Please note: An experimental “Do NOT use SAT-NAV” sign is erected in Gwernaffield. This is to prevent large vehicles going beyond the bus terminus in Pantymwyn. Please be advised that SAT-NAV directions on any other routes than the ones listed above will lead you through extremely narrow, winding, and single track roads, and should be negotiated only with extreme caution.
This is a farming area, and animals may be on the narrow lanes.

domain: travel


Since 1967, ATS has been a leading NDT company offering a wide variety of services to many industries.
Applied Technical Services (ATS) provides NDT Visual Testing for a wide variety of material and product compositions. Our highly skilled examiners are thoroughly trained in advance techniques to determine and interpret visible surface imperfections. In addition to visual inspections we are capable of using computer controlled imaging systems for measuring or inspecting components.
Visual testing offers a vast range of options to evaluate proper systems or product quality utilizing effective techniques for detection of surface flaws and discontinuities. Our quantified results are achieved with the use of advanced tools such as templates, displacement and depth gauges.
Our certified staff of NDT professionals provides quality inspection services to a broad range of industries throughout the US and abroad. Visual Testing services are offered in our laboratories, field locations and/or customer premises.


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Welcome to the NCHS monthly newsletter for key collaborators and partners. This newsletter provides updates on NCHS activities, publications, and media reports. Please send all questions and feedback to Hallie Andrews (HAndrews@cdc.gov) and share this information with your network. Email firstname.lastname@example.org to become a new member of the Friends of NCHS community.
NCHS/AcademyHeath Data Visualization Challenge Winners Announced!
In 2021, NCHS and AcademyHealth forged an innovative partnership to promote the use of NCHS data systems. Together, they challenged graduate students to create an interactive data visualization that used two or more specified tables from Health, United States to examine health data trends. The goal was to identify and explain an important public health trend or disparity, and to tell a compelling and policy-relevant story to a wide audience.
First place winners from Johns Hopkins University produced the visualization titled, “Sound the Alarm: Data Show Large Inequities in Rates of Gun Deaths Among Young People.” The group’s visualization demonstrates that young people (ages 15-24) are at high risk for intentional injury.
Second place winners from the University of Wisconsin-Madison produced the visualization titled, “Investigating Temporal Trends in Preventable Death: Suicide and Drug Overdose.” The group’s visualization highlights aspects of the relationship between suicide and drug overdoses.
Learn more about the program here.
Article from the ASA:
State of the Nation’s Health Data Infrastructure
The American Statistical Association (ASA) recently spoke with experts about the advances NCHS made two years into the COVID-19 pandemic and opportunities for supporting NCHS’s work in the years to come. The conversation was part of the ASA series “State of the Data Infrastructure.” Interviewers spoke with Jennifer Madans, retired NCHS Associate Director for Science; Ninez Ponce, professor of health policy and management at UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health and past member of the NCHS Board of Scientific Counselors; and Charlie Rothwell, retired director of NCHS.
Read the article “State of the Nation’s Health Data Infrastructure: Experts Weigh in Two Years into Pandemic” and find other articles from the series here.
Recent and Upcoming Publications
Released in March 2022:
|Changes in Births by Month: United States, January 2019–June 2021
|The largest declines in the number of births by month for the first 6 months of 2021 were observed in January.
|Suicide Mortality in the United States, 2000—2020
|After increasing from 2000 through 2018, the age-adjusted suicide rate declined from 2018 to 2020.
|Emergency Department Visit Rates by Selected Characteristics: United States, 2019
|Across all primary expected sources of payment, the emergency department visit rate for patients with private insurance was lowest. The rate for patients with Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program/State Children’s Health Insurance Program was highest.
|United States Life Tables, 2019
|Between 2018 and 2019, life expectancy at birth increased by 0.1 year for males (76.2 to 76.3) and by 0.2 year for females (81.2 to 81.4). This report provides estimates for the American Indian, Alaska Native, and Asian populations for the first time.
Upcoming Releases in April 2022:
|Dental Care Utilization Among Adults Aged 18-64 Years: United States, 2019 and 2020
|Health Insurance Coverage: Early Release of Quarterly Estimates from the National Health Interview Survey, October 2020 – December 2021
|Interactive Quarterly Estimates from the National Health Interview Survey, January 2019 – December 2021
|Interactive Biannual Estimates from the National Health Interview Survey, January 2019 – December 2021
|Early Release of Selected Estimates Based on Data from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey
NCHS in the News
Los Angeles Times — Pregnancy-related deaths climbed in pandemic’s first year
Opportunity to Propose New NHANES Survey Content
NCHS invites you to propose content for the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Federal and non-federal partners can submit potential survey content for the 2024 survey. Details and instructions are available on the NHANES website.
Partnerships with new and established collaborators are essential to ensure that NHANES meets its mission to capture an accurate portrait of our nation’s dynamic health. Through the content proposal process, new and existing partners can be a part of the renewed NHANES vision.
Proposed content should address topics of public health significance. Proposals should focus on data collection that is best suited for a national health survey that incorporates interviewing, examination, and biospecimen collection. Emerging public health topics are welcome as are assessments using innovative technologies. Other content considerations are specified at the weblink above.
An Update on Children’s Mental Health Surveillance
CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report recently published Mental Health Surveillance Among Children — United States, 2013–2019. This new report found that poor mental health among children was a substantial public health concern even before the pandemic. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety among children of all ages, and symptoms related to depression among adolescents, are the most common concerns. The report also aimed to summarize positive indicators of children’s mental health.
The report relied on data from nine different sources to describe mental health and mental disorders in children during 2013–2019. It includes data from three NCHS sources: the National Health Interview Survey, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, and the National Vital Statistics System.
The report is a collaboration between CDC staff and other federal agencies including the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the National Institute of Mental Health. This 2022 report is an update to the first ever cross-agency children’s mental health surveillance report that was published in 2013 (found here).
Healthy People 2030 Webinar Series
NCHS is excited to join HHS’s Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) in hosting a webinar series on Healthy People 2030. Throughout the decade, these webinars will feature the leading health indicators, overall health and well-being measures, and Healthy People 2030 objectives, as well as the latest data released for Healthy People 2030.
The first webinar in the series, Bridging Healthy People 2020 and Healthy People 2030, took place on March 31st and will be available online soon. It focused on Healthy People 2020 achievements and the transition to Healthy People 2030.
- RADM Paul Reed, MD (Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health; Director, ODPHP)
- Carter Blakey (Deputy Director, ODPHP)
- Brian Moyer, PhD (Director, NCHS); and
- Irma Arispe, PhD (Director, Division of Analysis and Epidemiology, NCHS)
Check back on the ODPHP website here for more information on the webinar series and updates on Healthy People 2030.


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Concerts are one of the things that had to go on an indefinite hiatus during this pandemic. But with Netflix’s growing number of new releases and the era of live streams, you can literally get someone’s concert in the comfort of your own home! If you’re looking for choices, here are some that might uplift you:
HOMECOMING: A Film by Beyonce
Say “Hey Miss Carter!” because Beyonce will take you to her 2018 Coachella concert and reveal the emotional road she’s been paving with her artistic concepts and fierce performances.
Springsteen on Broadway
Springsteen takes Broadway in this intimate concert celebrating his journey in music while telling the stories that inspired so many musicians up to this day. One small room, one big talent: that’s exactly every fan’s dream – and guess what, you can get that experience, too!
Taylor Swift’s Reputation Stadium Tour
Taylor Swift’s prime continues in this stadium tour concert film which features the Reputation album songs with the unforgettable hits from her previous ones. You can also watch her documentary, Miss Americana, on Netflix.
Ben Platt Live from Radio City Music Hall
Ben Platt isn’t a kid with a cast, a Mormon, or a nerdy magician in this Netflix special. He’s simply himself singing the songs he has released so far. He’ll be serenading you heartfelt songs you’d get attached to.
Barbra: The Music… The Mem’ries… The Magic
Watch the gorgeous greatest star belt out the tunes that earned her the long-lasting fame she has. Reminisce the music, the memories, and the magic in this once in a lifetime concert event produced by Netflix.
Justin Timberlake + the Tennessee Kids
Jam the songs from the 20/20 Experience album as Justin Timberlake teams up with the talented musicians and artists from all over the country, heating up the stage. Just try not to get naked at the end of each song.
2015 Dream Concert
K-pop deserves a slot on this list, too! 2015’s biggest K-pop groups have teamed up in one concert held in Seoul World Stadium. Watch BTS, 4Minute, EXO, SHINee, GOT7, INFINITE, SISTAR, and more in this exciting outdoor concert which you can watch inside your home!
Michael Jackson’s This Is It
The legend doesn’t stop as Michael Jackson conquers Netflix even after his death. Relieve the songs that made your childhood or adulthood and be inspired all over again!
More concerts definitely deserve to get a spot on this list but for now, we hope you watch all of them and be comforted by music!


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El Fasher — A Unamid military observer from Zambia was killed in an attack by armed men in El Fasher, North Darfur on Friday. The men stabbed him and hijacked his vehicle.
The incident occurred in the afternoon when the Officer was parking a mission vehicle at his private accommodation. The victim was immediately transferred to a Unamid medical facility where he died later the same day.
In a statement, Unamid Joint Special Representative Mohamed Ibn Chambas said: "I condemn in the strongest terms this criminal and ruthless act. An attack on a peacekeeper is a war crime. Unamid personnel are here in the service of peace and to protect the people of Darfur."
"I call on the Government of Sudan to do its utmost to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice. We affirm our usual readiness to closely cooperate with the relevant authorities to make that happen," he added.
Chambas extended the Mission's deepest condolences to the family and friends of the late peacekeeper, and to the Government of the Republic of Zambia, and commended the sacrifices that Unamid peacekeepers make in their constant effort to bring peace to Darfur.
Photo: 14 July 2013 - Unamid peacekeepers 'rest on arms reversed' in salute. The bodies of their seven fallen comrades killed in an ambush were then loaded to be repatriated to Tanzania.


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This tiny Kurdish village outside the city of Van in Turkey’s southeast is home to the ruins of a once-famous 11th-century Armenian Christian monastery.
Known to Armenians as Varagavank, it thrived as a place of worship until Turkish forces looted it and murdered parishioners in the mass killing sprees of 1915.
Today, the roof is collapsing. Toppled stone columns lie nearby. And with no signage, there is no acknowledgment it was once a celebrated church for Armenians.
Varagavank is one of hundreds of disappearing physical reminders of a community whose history in present-day Turkey goes back more than 2,000 years. Over the past century, the Turkish government — in writing its own narrative of what Armenians call genocide — has destroyed many Armenian churches, homes, schools, and cemeteries, or allowed them to fall into ruins. They are sites other countries might consider valuable antiquities.
“The term we use for this is ‘cultural genocide,’” said Vahram Ter-Matevosyan, a historian at the American University of Armenia in Yerevan, Armenia’s capital.
“We consider what is happening to many churches a continuation of the genocide which started at the beginning of the 20th century. It is painful, utterly painful.”
Historians and visitors have noted holes in the ground of Armenian historical sites throughout Turkey, evidence of widespread rumors that Armenians buried their riches before fleeing.
Hermine Sayan, an Armenian who lives in Istanbul, said her heart was broken when she visited what remained of a destroyed church in Malatya, a city in eastern Turkey, a few years ago.
“We stood together saying our prayers, and we were crying,” said Sayan, whose grandparents survived the genocide.
On April 24, Armenians worldwide will commemorate 100 years since almost 1.5 million of their ancestors died in the last days of the Ottoman Empire, in massacres, by starvation or during forced death marches into the Syrian desert.

domain: sociology


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Dietary Changes for Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is a disorder that damages your small intestine and keeps it from absorbing the nutrients in food. The damage to your intestinal tract is caused by your immune system's reaction to gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Some oats contain gluten.
When you have celiac disease, gluten causes your immune system to damage or destroy villi. Villi are the tiny, finger tubules that line your small intestine.
The villi’s job is to get food nutrients to the blood through the walls of your small intestine. If villi are destroyed, you may become malnourished, no matter how much you eat. This is because you aren’t able to absorb nutrients.
Complications of the disorder include anemia, seizures, joint pain, thinning bones, and cancer.
Lifestyle changes to cope with celiac disease
A gluten-free diet is the only treatment if you’ve been diagnosed with celiac disease. You’ll have to avoid gluten for the rest of your life. Even the slightest amount will trigger an immune system reaction that can damage your small intestine. Eating a gluten-free diet requires a new approach to food.
A gluten-free diet generally means not eating most grains, pasta, cereals, and processed foods. The reason is that they usually contain wheat, rye, and barley. You’ll need to become an expert at reading ingredient lists on packages. Choose foods that don’t contain gluten.
You can still eat a well-balanced diet with many different foods, including meat, fish, rice, fruits, and vegetables, along with prepared foods that are marked gluten-free.
Gluten-free bread, pasta, and other products have long been available at organic food stores and other specialty food shops. Today, you can find gluten-free products in just about every grocery store. Gluten-free dishes are on menus at all kinds of restaurants.
Tips for following a gluten-free diet
Here are steps to take when getting gluten your diet.
Rethink your grains:
- Avoid all products with barley, rye, triticale (a cross between wheat and rye), farina, graham flour, semolina, and any other kind of flour, including self-rising and durum, not labeled gluten-free.
- Be careful of corn and rice products. These don’t contain gluten, but they can sometimes be contaminated with wheat gluten if they're produced in factories that also manufacture wheat products. Look for such a warning on the package label.
- Go with oats. Recent studies suggest you can eat oats as long as they are not contaminated with wheat gluten during processing. You should check with your healthcare provider first.
- Substitute potato, rice, soy, amaranth, quinoa, buckwheat, or bean flour for wheat flour. You can also use sorghum, chickpea or Bengal gram, arrowroot, and corn flour, as well as tapioca starch extract. These act as thickeners and leavening agents.
Become a label expert:
- Know terms for hidden gluten. Avoid einkorn, emmer, spelt, kamut, wheat starch, wheat bran, wheat germ, cracked wheat, and hydrolyzed wheat protein. Stay away from emulsifiers, dextrin, mono- and di-glycerides, seasonings, and caramel colors because they can contain gluten.
- Check the labels of all foods. Gluten can be found in food items you’d never suspect. Here are some ly to contain gluten:
- Beer, ale, and lagers
- Bouillon cubes
- Brown rice syrup
- Chips, potato chips
- Cold cuts, hot dogs, salami, and sausage
- Communion wafers
- French fries
- Imitation fish
- Rice mixes
- Seasoned tortilla chips
- Self-basting turkey
- Soy sauce
- Vegetables in sauce
More strategies for a gluten-free lifestyle
Here are ideas to better make the transition to a gluten-free diet:
- Separate all kitchen items used for preparing gluten and gluten-free foods. These include cooking utensils, cutting boards, forks, knives, and spoons.
- When eating out, if you’re not sure about the ingredients in a particular dish, ask the chef how the food was prepared. You can also ask whether a gluten-free menu is available. Most restaurants have a website where you can review the menu in advance.
- Ask your pharmacist if any of your medicines contain wheat or a wheat byproduct. Gluten is used as an additive in many products from medicines to lipstick. Manufacturers can provide a list of ingredients on request if they are not named on the product. Many herbals, vitamins, supplements, and probiotics contain gluten.
- Watch your portion sizes. Gluten-free foods may be safe and good for you, but they're not calorie-free.
If you still feel symptoms on your gluten-free diet, double check that you're not still consuming small amounts of gluten hidden in sauces, salad dressings, and canned soups or through additives, such as modified food starch, preservatives, and stabilizers made with wheat. Even some medicines can contain gluten. Tablets and capsules can be sources of gluten contamination. The risk of your medicines containing gluten is very small but, if you are concerned, you should discuss this with your healthcare provider.
As you and your family become experts in reading food and product labels, you’ll be able to find hidden sources of gluten before they can cause a problem.
You might also get more ideas from joining a support group, in person or online, that can help you adjust to your new way of life.
These are great forums for learning a wealth of delicious recipes for everything from gluten-free cookies and banana bread to biscuits, trail mix, and grits.
You Asked: Do I Have a Gluten Allergy?
People tend to conflate the terms allergy, intolerance, and sensitivity when they talk about food-related reactions, and especially gluten. The first two refer to well-understood digestive disorders with predictable symptoms, says Dr. Robert A. Wood, division chief of allergy and immunology at Johns Hopkins.
If you have a true allergy, your immune system produces antibodies designed to protect you from something it sees as a threat—be it nuts or shellfish. Even a little nibble can cause cramping or stomach pain, a runny nose, skin rashes, or swelling and breathing issues, Wood says.
An intolerance is an inability to properly digest or absorb specific foods or nutrients, often due to a lack of one or more digestive enzymes.
(For example, people who are lactose intolerant don’t have the enzymes required to break down lactose.) This inability can lead to gastrointestinal problems stomach pain, vomiting or diarrhea.
Wood says food intolerances, un allergies, tend to be “dose dependent”—meaning the more of the food you eat, the worse you feel.
Take gluten, a type of protein found in grains wheat, rye and barley. When it comes to gluten-related health concerns, says Dr.
Alessio Fasano, director of the Center for Celiac Research at Massachusetts General Hospital, roughly 1% of the population has celiac disease—a condition that causes a sufferer’s immune system to attack the small intestine whenever gluten is present. A smaller percentage of people, maybe 0.5%, have a related wheat allergy.
“We can verify each of these through blood tests and screening,” Fasano adds. Blood tests are the first step in identifying the underlying condition; to get a definitive diagnosis, a gut biopsy is usually required. For people with these conditions, cutting gluten or wheat is an absolute necessity.
But un allergies and intolerances, food sensitivities occupy a gray zone. an allergy, they may be related to immune reactions. But they’re poorly understood and symptoms are hard to pin down, says Fasano. “If you believe reports, a food sensitivity could cause a stomachache one time, then a headache, then joint pain or even cognitive problems,” Fasano says.
Because the mechanisms underlying sensitivities aren’t known, Fasano says there’s no way to test and validate them. That ambiguity has led to a lot of confusion and disagreement among researchers, while creating ideal conditions for spurious health “experts” to push food elimination diets that may do more harm than good, he says.
Eliminating gluten is the most common (and some would say trendy) example of this, Fasano says. Some estimates suggest a third of Americans are trying to avoid or altogether ditch gluten. “There’s this misconception that gluten-free foods are healthier or somehow linked to weight loss,” Fasano says. “But for most people, going gluten-free probably will not be beneficial.”
There may be another category of people who suffer from a sensitivity to wheat or gluten. Some popular books have suggested, in the words of Grain Brain author David Perlmutter, that gluten “represents one of the greatest and most under-recognized health threats to humanity.
” But there’s not much data to support such claims. Fasano says what data there is point to stomach or abdominal pain as the most common symptom of gluten sensitivity, followed by skin conditions eczema.
While foggy thinking and fatigue are tied to gluten, there’s no agreed-on explanation for these symptoms, Fasano says.
Aside from celiac disease, Johns Hopkins’s Wood says that the medical science community is so convinced gluten isn’t a major health issue that there’s very little funding or interest in studying the subject further. “I think the bulk of people avoiding gluten are avoiding it unnecessarily,” he says. “Most doctors or people who’ve looked into it think it’s more of a lifestyle choice than a valid health issue.”
And when people claim to feel healthier after ditching wheat or gluten? “Lots of junk foods and snack foods contain gluten,” Fasano says.
Some estimates show one-third of all grocery store items contain gluten—many of them the additive-stuffed, overly processed packaged foods nutritionists would love for you to eighty-six from your diet.
“If you cut out those things, of course you’ll feel better,” Fasano says. “But it’s not because your body has a problem with gluten.”
While he doesn’t believe gluten is the health villain many have made it out to be, Fasano says food-related reactions are common, from gastrointestinal issues stomachaches or cramps to non-GI issues headache and joint pain. Fruit, beans, alcohol and many other common foods have been linked to symptoms of allergy or intolerance.
If you feel certain foods, including gluten or wheat, may be triggering pain or another type of physical reaction, Fasano recommends visiting a gastroenterologist or an expert dietitian—someone who can help you identify the source of your problem without putting you at risk for a nutritional deficiency.
“You wouldn’t take antibiotics or insulin without seeing a doctor first,” he says, “and you should take the same precautions when it comes to making changes to your diet.”
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NOW we're certain that the formation of the next Gilas Pilipinas team has been far from smooth sailing for Tab Baldwin, who, insiders confirmed, has yet to get the commitment of most PBA teams with regards to the players he wants for the national pool ahead of the Fiba Asia championships.
One insider said he's not even close to getting the players that he wants for Gilas 3.0.
Red flags were raised when the PBA and Baldwin kept pushing back the announcement of the 26 players on Baldwin's wish list, which was supposed to be made public weeks ago.
Those fears were confirmed by one insider who wondered why Baldwin is not getting the full support from PBA team owners when the pro league itself was part of the selection committee that named the American-New Zealander to the national coaching job.
Unlike former Gilas coach Chot Reyes who was appointed by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), the insider pointed out Baldwin was named by a committee of major stakeholders headed by the PBA itself and should be getting the full support of the owners.
That obviously is not the case.
Another source from the SBP admitted the basketball body needs to sort out the lineup - and fast - since Baldwin is set to start practices on August 1 and not all the players he wants are on board.
With that, we name four players who are at risk of not being part of Gilas 3.0:
Paul Lee made quite an impact as a late addition in the Gilas team that went to the Fiba World Cup last year, but sources revealed he is not yet a sure thing for the next batch of national players.
Baldwin, sources said, has yet to get an assurance that he can have all the Rain or Shine players that he wants, unlike last year when three Painters - Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood and Lee - as well as reserve Beau Belga were made available to the Gilas program.
“May mga nagbabanggit na nga sa akin na mukhang ganun nga raw. Hindi na siya mag-gi-Gilas. 'Yun daw initial statement sa kaniya ng management,” said Lawrence Chongson, Lee's agent.
“Kung ako lang, malaki mai-a-ambag ni Paul kung lalaro siya ulit sa national team."
Calvin Abueva's stock has risen since the last time Gilas went to war, proving to be an 'X-factor' for an Alaska team that has maintained its status as one of the elite teams in the league.
But for some reason, 'The Beast,' sources said, was not on the wish list of Baldwin. Neither is guard JVee Casio. Instead, the national coach wants veterans Sonny Thoss and Dondon Hontiveros from Alaska, as well as Alex Compton who he is set to name to his Gilas coaching staff.
“Hindi raw hiniram yung dalawa (sa Alaska) eh. Hindi na raw type ni Tab si Calvin, si JV naman loaded na sa guard spot. Kaya di na na-consider,” said the source.
The last time they were called up for Gilas, Greg Slaughter and Marcio Lassiter begged off, basically saying they don't want to take World Cup spots away from the national players who suited up in the Philippines' runner-up finish to Iran in the Fiba-Asia qualifier.
Now the two are once again on the spotlight as talk once again centers on the commitment the San Miguel Corp. group is willing to give to the Gilas program, which, we all know, is being run by the rival MVP camp.
Among the players under the SMC umbrella that can be considered for Gilas duty are June Mar Fajardo, Arwind Santos and Marcio Lassiter of San Miguel, LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar and Slaugher of Ginebra, and Marc Pingris, Mark Barroca, PJ Simon and Joe Devance (Star).
The big question is, who among them is San Miguel willing to lend?


Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) is a delightful hybrid flowering perennial, deriving its name from the snowy white petals reminiscent of Mount Shasta in California where it was developed. These cheerful flowers boast a sunny yellow center surrounded by rays of petals. Thriving in USDA zones 5-9, this carefree perennial features dark green toothed foliage that remains evergreen in milder climates. The bloom time of Shasta daisies spans from early summer to early fall, bringing joy to your garden throughout the growing season.
These daisies exhibit greater resilience and more extensive blooming periods compared to their wild counterparts. With dozens of varieties available, you can choose from different plant sizes and either single or double flowers, making them suitable for small urban gardens or spacious properties, ranging from 6 to 48 inches in height. Moreover, their sturdy stems and long vase life make them an excellent choice for cut flowers.
Planting Shasta Daisies:
- Choose the Right Location: Select a sunny site for your Shasta daisies, ensuring they receive at least 6 hours of sunlight each day.
- Plant Spacing: Plant 1 to 2 feet apart depending on variety.
- Prepare the Soil: Prior to planting, loosen the soil in the designated area and enrich it with compost or other organic matter. This will provide the daisies with the necessary nutrients and ensure proper drainage.
- Dig and Plant: Dig a hole that is twice as wide and slightly deeper than the root ball of the plant. Carefully remove the Shasta daisy from its nursery pot and gently untangle the roots if they are potbound. Place the plant in the hole, making sure the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil.
- Backfill and Water: Fill the hole with soil, lightly tamping it down to eliminate any air pockets. Water the newly planted daisy thoroughly to help it establish its root system.
- Regular Watering: Keep the plants well-watered, especially during the initial establishment period. Once they are established, they can tolerate some drought, but regular watering will promote healthier growth and better blooms.
Soil: Shasta daisies need well-draining soil with organic matter throughout. Avoid poorly draining soil because this can cause root rot. When planting in pot be sure to use a high quality potting mix.
Watering: Provide an average amount of water. Overly wet soil can lead to root rot. Shasta daisies are moderately drought tolerant once established. Water more frequently when there are prolonged heat waves.
Fertilizing: Apply a slow-release all-purpose fertilizer. Another option is the use of a water soluble fertilizer once a month during the spring and summer.
Overwintering: In colder regions, plants will benefit from winter protection. After cutting plants back in fall add a layer of mulch to protect the plants from extreme cold.
Incorporating these simple care and planting steps will ensure your Shasta daisies flourish and brighten up your garden with their beautiful blossoms. Enjoy the long-lasting charm and effortless beauty these perennials bring to your outdoor space!
Frequently Asked Questions about Shasta Daisies:
Are Shasta daisies perennials? Do they come back every year?
Yes, Shasta daisies are short-lived perennials, meaning they return and bloom each year. To promote their vitality and extend their lifespan, regular division is recommended.
Do deer eat Shasta daisies?
Deer typically avoid Shasta daisies due to their scent, bitter taste, and prickly leaf texture. However, if food sources are scarce, hungry deer may eat them.
Do Shasta daisies spread?
When grown in their preferred environment, Shasta daisies will expand their clumps each year. If desired, you can divide the clumps and transplant them to other parts of your garden.
What months do Shasta daisy plants bloom?
Bloom time can vary depending on the plant variety and region. In general, Shasta daisies bloom from June to September, especially with regular deadheading.
What is the difference between a daisy and a Shasta daisy?
While the term "daisy" is used for plants with daisy-like flowers, Shasta daisies are a well-known type, recognized for their classic flower form.
How long do Shasta daisies last?
With regular deadheading, Shasta daisies can bloom for several months. Each individual flower can last for about a week to 10 days, making them excellent cut flowers.
Should Shasta daisies be cut back?
Pruning Shasta daisies is best done in the fall when they finish blooming. Cut the stems back to the base.
Do I deadhead Shasta daisies?
Regular deadheading of Shasta daisies prolongs their bloom time. Learn more about the why and when of deadheading your flowers.
Are Shasta daisies good for pollinators?
Yes, the attractive flowers of Shasta daisies entice bees, butterflies, and other insect pollinators.
Where is Shasta daisy native?
Shasta daisy is a hybrid created by American hybridizer Luther Burbank of Northern California, combining oxeye daisy and other species from Europe and Japan.
What is eating my Shasta daisies leaves?
Insect pests that may feed on Shasta daisy leaves include earwigs, slugs, and aphids. If you notice foliage damage, closely inspect the leaves for signs of these pests.
Why is my Shasta daisy not blooming?
Several factors can affect bloom, such as overcrowding, insufficient light, improper fertilization, overwatering, root rot, and extreme temperatures.
Can Shasta daisies be grown in pots?
Shorter varieties are suitable for containers, while standard varieties, reaching up to 4 feet tall, are best grown in the ground.
Can Shasta daisies be divided?
Shasta daisies thrive when divided every 2 to 3 years. Signs that it's time to divide your plants include fewer blooms, reduced vigor, or the center of the clump dying out. Divide plants in early spring or fall in warmer regions.
Will Shasta daisies bloom the first year?
Plants grown from clumps will flower in their first growing season. If grown from seed, they will bloom in their second growing season.
Shasta Daisy Landscape Design Ideas:
There are many ways to use these flowers in your landscape. Here’s how:
- Plant in a mixed border along with other summer flowering perennials such as these Perennials with a Sunny Disposition.
- Grow in a cut flower garden alongside other summer bloomers such as dahlias, coneflower, zinnias, gladiolus and sunflowers.
- Include them in a pollinator garden with other plants such as aster, milkweed, bee balm, blazing star and tickseed. Here are 26 Yellow Plants for Bees.
- Plant a dwarf variety in a container by itself or alongside other plants with similar growing needs such as heuchera, calibrachoa and salvia.
- Mass a smaller variety in a bed or along a slope for weeks of continuous color.
- Use a shorter variety to edge pathways and borders.
Shasta Daisy Companion Plants
The white and yellow blooms of Shasta daisy pairs well with most other colors. As far as sun and watering needs, pair full sun and well-draining soil plants.
Mixed Border Use:
- Russian Sage:
- Can be planted in either the early spring or late fall. Fabulous planted with a flower that can pick up the violet, blue of its many flowers. Additionally, Russian sage is aromatic and has a calming effect.
- Cone Flower
- Tall Verbena
- Bee Balm
Cut Flower Garden Use:


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Stone fruit is one of the most popular types of fruit on the market. Fleshy, tart and sweet, these fruits are versatile, tasty and brimming with important nutrients.
Not only that, but they’re also tied to an impressive list of health benefits, ranging from improved eye health to enhanced immune function.
So is avocado a stone fruit? Is mango a stone fruit?
In this article, we’ll cover a few of the top types of stone fruit, along with some of the many reasons you may want to consider adding them to your diet.
What Is Stone Fruit?
A stone fruit, also known as a drupe, is a type of fruit that contains a large stone (or pit) in the center. These fruits generally belong to the Prunus genus and tend to have a thin skin with soft flesh.
Unlike other fruits, fruits on the stone fruit list stop ripening right after being picked, meaning that the stone fruit season is somewhat narrow. However, different varieties ripen at different times, making it easy to find several types available throughout the year.
Many unique fruits are classified botanically as stone fruits, ranging from familiar favorites like peaches, plums and raspberries to less common varieties, such as green almonds, which are a green stone fruit notable for their fuzzy outer hull.
Like other types of fruit, fruits on the stone fruit list are an excellent source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and could potentially help enhance bone health, boost weight loss, improve immune function and more.
Top 16 Types/Varieties
There are many different types of stone fruit available, each of which offers its own unique set of nutrients, health benefits and uses. Here are a few of the top stone fruits examples:
- Green Almonds
Stone fruits are delicious, nutritious and bursting with health benefits. Here are a few of the top reasons you should consider squeezing a few servings of stone fruit into your diet.
1. High in Antioxidants
Stone fruits are high-antioxidant foods, which are important compounds that can help fight free radicals to protect against cell damage and disease. In fact, studies show that antioxidants may play a central role in the development of chronic conditions, such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
According to one study out of Zaragoza, Spain, stone fruits like nectarines are an excellent source of several key antioxidants, including vitamin C, flavonoids and anthocyanins, all of which can reduce inflammation and prevent oxidative stress.
2. Promote Digestive Health
Stone fruits are loaded with fiber, an essential nutrient that is involved in several aspects of health. Fiber moves through the intestinal tract undigested, slowing the emptying of the stomach and adding bulk to the stool to support regularity.
In addition to promoting better blood sugar control, lowering blood pressure and keeping cholesterol levels in check, research shows that upping your intake of fiber may also help protect against several digestive issues, including acid reflux, hemorrhoids, constipation and diverticulitis.
3. Strengthen Bones
Most types of stone fruit are high vitamin K foods, a fat-soluble vitamin that is most well-known for its role in blood clotting. However, vitamin K is also essential for bone health and can help prevent serious issues, like fractures, bone loss and osteoporosis.
Interestingly enough, one study published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition noted that low vitamin K intake was associated with decreased bone mineral density in women. Plus, another study showed that supplementing with vitamin K could help protect against fractures in postmenopausal women.
4. Support Immune Function
Adding a few servings of stone fruit to your daily diet is a great way to ensure that you get enough vitamin C in your diet. Vitamin C is a water-soluble micronutrient that doubles as an antioxidant, blocking the buildup of harmful free radicals that contribute to disease.
Not only that, but vitamin C is especially important when it comes to immune function. According to one study, getting adequate amounts of vitamin C in your diet could potentially help reduce symptoms and decrease the duration of respiratory infections like the common cold.
What’s more, vitamin C foods may also improve outcomes for other conditions as well, including pneumonia, malaria and diarrhea.
5. Boost Weight Loss
Stone fruits are low in calories yet high in fiber, making them an awesome addition to a well-rounded weight loss diet. Because it moves through the body slowly, increasing your intake of fiber can help keep you feeling full between meals to fight cravings and enhance weight loss.
In fact, one study in Journal of Nutrition even found that eating more fiber was linked to a reduced risk of weight gain and fat gains in women.
Other research suggests that fruit intake may even help support weight management as well. One review out of Korea reported that the anti-obesity effects of fruit may be due to the ability to promote satiety, improve gut health, decrease total caloric intake, and provide a variety of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients.
6. Improve Vision
Boasting a wide array of antioxidants and polyphenols, enjoying a few servings of stone fruit each day may help maintain eye vision and protect against disease. In particular, studies show that stone fruit could aid in the prevention of age-related macular degeneration, a disease that affects nearly 9 percent of the global population and is considered one of the leading causes of blindness among older adults.
One study conducted at Ewha Womans University in Seoul found that increased consumption of fruits and vegetables could protect against macular degeneration, thanks to their content of compounds like vitamin C and beta-carotene. Another study had similar findings, reporting that eating just two servings of fruit per day was linked to a lower risk of macular degeneration.
Although most types of stone fruit can be enjoyed as is for a satisfying and nutritious snack, they can also be incorporated into your favorite recipes for an easy way to ramp up your fruit intake. Here are a few simple recipes to get you going:
- Very Cherry Snack Bites
- Nectarine Salad
- Homemade Blackberry Sorbet
- Raspberry Oatmeal Cookies
- Peach Cobbler
Risks and Side Effects
Although stone fruits can be included in moderation as part of a balanced diet for most healthy adults, some people may need to reduce or moderate their intake.
In particular, those with a stone fruit allergy should avoid these fruits, as they can trigger symptoms like itching, swelling and even anaphylaxis. While fruits that have been cooked, canned or processed are sometimes safe for those with an allergy, it’s best to exercise caution and consult with a trusted health care professional prior to consumption.
Those with an allergy to birch, alder pollen or latex may also experience adverse side effects after eating stone fruit. This is because they contain similar proteins, which can confuse the immune system and trigger an allergic reaction.
If you notice any food allergy symptoms after consuming stone fruit, discontinue use immediately and talk to your doctor.
Finally, keep in mind that some types of fruit may be relatively high in sugar and carbohydrates, including dried fruits like prunes. While these fruits are fine when consumed in moderation, eating large amounts in a short period can increase blood sugar levels, especially for those with diabetes.
Be sure to keep your intake in check and enjoy as part of a well-rounded diet to maximize the potential health benefits.
- What is stone fruit? Stone fruits, also known as drupes, are a type of fleshy, thin-skinned fruit that contain a large seed (or pit) in the center.
- There are a number of familiar favorites on the list of stone fruits, including mangoes, blackberries, raspberries, peaches and plums.
- Also classified as some of the healthiest stone fruit options, less common varieties such as green almonds, apriums and pluots are other stone fruit options.
- In addition to being high in antioxidants, stone fruits may also enhance immune function, promote digestive health, strengthen the bones, improve vision and support weight loss.
- However, some types may be high in sugar and can trigger food allergy symptoms in some people.

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Turkey has been a staple on holiday tables for generations, but it was likely absent at the earliest celebrations of Thanksgiving. Instead, communities shared meals of venison, geese, clams, and lobster. Around the time that Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863, turkey became the go-to main dish for American tables. We’re thankful for all of our customers, and this meal is designed for up to 4 — so invite a few friends over for dinner, or enjoy the leftovers tomorrow!


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Pat Riley, a member of the famous Rupp’s Runts, played in the 1966 National Championship game. Whiile in the NBA he played on one NBA Championship team (L.A. Lakers) and coached 5 NBA Championship teams (the 80s Showtime Lakers and the 2006 Miami Heat). The man was a coaching genius who could get multiple star caliber players to mesh into a cohesive team and win. No easy feat. Especially in todays game. He, also, took the ’94 Knicks to the Championship game but came up short that year. No one has been able to do much with the Knicks since.Coach Riley joins his mentor and Coach–Adolph Rupp–in the Hall of Fame as well as NBA greats like Red Auerbach and other legendary NCAA coaches such as John Wooden.
Congrats Coach Riley on a great honor and an incredible and exemplary career.
This is an excellent article on Coach Riley by Rick Bozich of the Louisville Courier Journal. (article here)
“I wish that coach (Adolph) Rupp, Harry Lancaster, Joe B. Hall, Mr. (Bill) Keightley and Louie (Dampier), Larry (Conley), Thad (Jaracz) and Tommy (Kron), God bless him, could be here to share this moment with me because the University of Kentucky was a special time in my life,” Riley said.
Indeed it was. Riley arrived at UK in 1963 from Schenectady, N.Y. He credited his basketball development to all 16 of his coaches, starting with his first coach — his father, Leon, a minor league baseball player.
At UK, Riley said he was assigned to share a room with Dampier, another freshman, from Southport, Ind. Riley had not begun to slick back his hair, but he said when he pulled out his blue-suede shoes and fancy clothes, the more conservative Dampier flinched.
Said Riley: “Louie had to be thinking, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me! I’ve got to live with this guy the next four years?’ “


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The Billboard Awards were last night and Eminem, Rihanna and Beyonce were some of the big winners. In untraditional music biz fashion, everyone was dressed relatively simply in solid colors and demure gowns. The big accent last night was the hair — red, pink and braided.
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Emily Kinney from "The Walking Dead" talks Broadway, new music and of course...zombies. We also have Jennifer Rowley on the eve of her Met debut, the next big thing in music, Lake Street Dive, "So You Think You Can Dance" alum Jakob Karr and more.
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January 19th, 2023 1:00pm-3:00pm EST Virtual, ON24
With the rise of electronic warfare, or EW, the battle for control of the electromagnetic spectrum is intensifying. The electromagnetic spectrum and directed energy can be used in military applications to detect, disrupt and deceive adversarial forces while protecting U.S. and allied forces. These tactics can target communication systems, radar and other military and civilian systems that rely on the electromagnetic spectrum.
In recent years, EW threats have become more complex and frequent, and U.S. adversaries and competitors are more capable now than ever before — today, control of the EM spectrum is critical to our national interests and missions.
During the ExecutiveBiz Electronic Warfare Forum, you’ll hear from military leaders, government officials and industry executives as they discuss the state of EW today, how the U.S. military can outpace its competitors and what industry can do to support this mission.
COL Kevin E. Finch was born in Orlando, Florida and entered active duty as a Field Artillery Second Lieutenant in 1995 upon graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. During COL Finch’s first assignment to 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, he served in the following positions: Company Fire Support Officer, D/2-5 CAV; Battalion Fire Support Officer, 2-5 CAV; Platoon Fire Direction Officer, C/1-82 Field Artillery; Platoon Leader/ Executive Officer C/1-82 Field Artillery; Battalion Fire Direction Officer, 1-82 Field Artillery and OPERATION JOINT FORGE; Battalion Fire Support Officer (Joint Military Commission Officer), 1-12 CAV and OPERATION JOINT FORGE; and Assistant Operations Officer, 1-82 FA. During COL Finch’s second assignment to Fort Lewis, Washington, he served in the following positions: Fires and Effects Coordination Cell Battle Captain, HHC/3rd Brigade 2nd Infantry Division; Commander, A/1-37 Field Artillery, 3rd Brigade 2nd Infantry Division; Warranted Contracting Officer, United States Central Command and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM; and Warranted Brigade Contracting Officer, 25th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade 25th Infantry Division and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. Subsequent assignments included: Test Officer, Operational Test Command, Maneuver Test Directorate at Fort Hood, Texas and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Brigade Warranted Plans and Operations Officer, 410th Contracting Support Brigade at Fort Sam Houston, Texas; a Department of the Army Systems Coordinator for the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology at the Pentagon; the Product Manager for Information Warfare under PEO Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors; ARCYBER’s Director Advanced Concepts and Technology; and most recently the PM for Electronic Warfare and Cyber (EW&C), where the Army Acquisition Executive selected EW&C the 2019 O-6 Level PM Team of the Year and the Association of Old Crows awarded him the 2021 Stanley B. Hall Executive Management Award . He holds a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy, a Master's in Business Administration from Texas A&M Central Texas, and a Masters in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. His military education includes the Field Artillery Basic Course, Air Defense Artillery Captains Career Course, the Acquisition Basic Course, Intermediate Level Education, and the Army War College. He is a Certified Acquisition Professional in Program Management: Advanced, Engineering & Technical Management: Practitioner and Contracting: Foundational. His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (Silver Oak Leaf Cluster), Joint Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (Four Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (One Oak Leaf Cluster), Parachutist Badge, and Air Assault Badge. He is married to LTC (R) Jennifer Finch and they have three children.
A member of the Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service (DISES), Mr. Flynn is currently serving as the Director for Cryptologic, Electronic and Cyber Warfare for the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare (OPNAV N2N6). Where he leads the execution of oversight and resource sponsorship for key Navy Cryptographic, Electronic Warfare and Cyber Mission force capabilities. Mr. Flynn is a graduate of Georgetown University, his naval service began when he received a Naval Reserve commission through Aviation Officers Candidate School and was designated a Naval Flight Officer in 1984. His operational tour in the EA-6B Prowler included worldwide deployments aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and USS Coral Sea (CV 43) with Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 133 (VAQ-133). In the fall of 1988 he was assigned to the SPEAR (Strike Projection Evaluation and Anti-Air Research) division at the Navy Operational Intelligence Center. He left active duty in December of 1991, and joined the Office of Naval Intelligence as a civilian, holding a variety of managerial positions in C4ISR and related operations. In 1997 he was selected for a 1- year special assignment in the Joint Intelligence Research Office (JIRO) as part of a special materials analysis team. From 1998 to 2003 he was the Deputy Department Head for Foreign C4ISR and intelligence support to Information Operations. In July of 2003 he was promoted to executive rank as a Senior Intelligence Professional to serve as the Assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence for Intelligence Support on the Chief of Naval Operations Staff. By 2008 as a Defense Intelligence Senior Executive he oversaw all substantive and operational intelligence support provided to Navy leadership, integrating daily intelligence production, service, and joint intelligence watch support as well as Deep Red’s alternative analysis functions. From 2008 through 2012 he was the founding director of the Farragut Technical Analysis Center for the Office of Naval Intelligence. The Farragut Center focuses all-source scientific and technical analysis on foreign naval capabilities, working closely with the acquisition and countermeasures communities preparing the Navy to meet current and future challenges. From 2012 through 2014 he served in a Joint Duty Assignment as the Defense Intelligence Agency’s lead for Analytic Modernization, developing an Intelligence Community governance structure for Object Based Production. He also served as a Naval Reservist as an EA-6B Mission Commander with VAQ-209 at NAF Washington from 1992 to 2003. Operational experiences included extensive combat missions supporting Operations Deny Flight and Allied Force in the Balkans, and four tours with Operation Northern and Southern Watch over Iraq.
Lieutenant General Maria R. Gervais assumed duties as the TRADOC Deputy Commanding General/Chief of Staff on May 28, 2021. Prior to her assignment, she served in Army Futures Command as the first Cross-Functional Team Director for the Synthetic Training Environment located in Orlando, Florida. She received her regular Army commission in 1987 as a Distinguished Military Graduate of the Lander College Reserve Officer Training Corps program in Greenwood, South Carolina, and assigned to the Chemical Branch. Her professional military education includes Chemical Officer Basic and Advanced Courses; Command and General Staff College; and U.S. Army War College where she received a Master of Military Strategic Studies. She earned a Master of Arts in Human Resources from Webster University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Lander College. She served in a variety of command and staff assignments at every level including: Brigade Chemical Officer and Headquarters Executive Officer, 17th Field Artillery Brigade; Platoon Leader and Executive Officer, 11th Chemical Company; Battalion Chemical Officer, 1st Battalion, 227 Aviation Regiment (ATTACK), 1st Cavalry Division; Division NBC Element Director, Division Headquarters and Headquarters’ Company Commander, and Brigade Chemical Officer, 101st Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); Joint Chiefs of Staff J5 intern, Policy and Strategy Directorate, Weapons Technology Control Division and Systems Integrator for Smoke and Decon Systems, Headquarters Department of the Army in the Pentagon; G3, DAMO-FDB; Executive Officer to the III Corps G3 and Operations Officer, 2nd Chemical Battalion, 13th Corps Support Command at Fort Hood; Logistical Planner and Chief of Operations, 21st Theater Support Command (TSC); Battalion Commander, 82nd Chemical Battalion and Chief of Staff, United States Army Chemical School and Maneuver Support Center; Commander, United States Army Environmental Command; Chief of Staff, Iraq Train and Advise Mission (ITAM) Director, Baghdad, Iraq; Division Chief for Full Dimension Protection, HQDA G-8, Pentagon; Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Cadet Command and Fort Knox; the 28th Chief of Chemical and the Commandant of the U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear School; and as the Deputy Commanding General Combined Arms Center-Training. Her awards and decorations include: Distinguished Service Medal; five Legions of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, seven Meritorious Service Medals, two Joint Service Commendation medals, six Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, two National Defense Service Medals, Southwest Asia Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Saudi Arabia Kuwait Liberation Medal, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Joint Staff Identification Badge, Army Staff Identification Badge, and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.
Martin ‘Marty’ Klein is the SVP for Global Defense and Intelligence at C3.ai. In this role, Marty is responsible for leading a group of Strategic Solutions Leaders, Solution Architects, and Technical Engineers in delivering Enterprise Artificial Intelligence (AI) to the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. Previous to his position at C3.ai, Marty served as the Chief Operating Officer of the DoD Joint Artificial Intelligence Center as well as in multiple corporate roles, culminating as a Vice President. Marty holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance) from Lenoir-Rhyne University, a Master of Business Administration (Finance) from Webster University and a Master of Strategic Studies from the Army War College. Marty is a combat veteran whose service to the Nation span’s a 31-year career as a commissioned officer in the United States Army and Army Reserve. He has commanded at every level within the Army, from the company to division level.
Mr. William (Willie) T. Utroska is currently serving as the Deputy Project Manager, Electronic Warfare & Cyber (EW&C) since March 2020. He was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry in June 1988 and retired in September 2012. He has served in a wide variety of Army and Joint assignments throughout his military and civilian career. His operational assignments include serving in the 8th INF Div and 1st AR Div as an Infantry Rifle Platoon Leader, Infantry Battalion Support Platoon Leader, and Infantry Rifle Company Executive Officer. His next assignment was with the 101st ABN Div (Air Assault) as an Assistant S3, Infantry Rifle Company Commander and Chief of Live Fires. He then was selected to a congressionally mandated AC/RC assignment as a Company Commander at Fort Chaffee, AR for 5th Army. Mr. Utroska’s acquisition assignments include PEO C3S as the Operations Officer for Horizontal Technology Integration and Assistant Product Manager, AFATDS. He was then assigned to USCENTCOM J2 as the Chief Intel Systems Requirements, Chief System Analysis & Design, and Deputy Chief Systems Engineering Division. During his assignment with USCENTCOM he deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Qatar in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Mr. Utroska then served as RDECOM’s first CSL Product Manager, C4ISR on the Move and prior to his retirement from the Army as the Military Deputy, Space & Terrestrial Communications Directorate, CERDEC. Upon retirement, Mr. Utroska worked in industry for five (5) years before entering government service to be the Deputy Product Manager Electronic Warfare Integration (EWI) in September 2017. Mr. Utroska holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Puerto Rico – Bayamon and a Master of Science in Information Systems Technology Management from the Naval Postgraduate School. His military education includes the Infantry Officer’s Basic and Advance Courses, the Combined Armed Services Staff School, Command and General Staff College, Joint and Combined Warfighting School, the Program Manager’s Course, and the Colonels Command Assessment Program. He is a member of the Army Acquisition Corps and holds professional certifications in Program Management (Level III), Systems Engineering (Level III) and Science & Technology Management (Level II). Mr. Utroska’s awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Clusters), Meritorious Service Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Superior Unit Award, Civilian Service Achievement Medal as well as multiple campaign medals for Iraq and Afghanistan. He’s earned the Air Assault badge, Parachutist badge, Expert Infantryman badge, and the Ranger tab. Mr. Utroska has three (3) daughters (Stephanie Utroska-Gaydosh, Jennifer Utroska-Repay, and Gabriela Utroska), and a beautiful granddaughter (Ava Rose Marie).
MG(R) Kirk F. Vollmecke specializes in defense acquisition and procurement management culminating in a 35-year Army career as the Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors. As the PEO, Kirk was the senior executive responsible for the acquisition life-cycle and portfolio management of over 90 major defense programs with an annual spend budget of $3 billion. His product development and life-cycle management activities spanned aircraft survivability, biometrics, electronic warfare, offensive cyber, space, assured-position, navigation & timing (A-PNT), national intelligence systems, force protection, TENCAP, aerial intelligence surveillance platforms, and ground target acquisition sensors. MG(R) Vollmecke is highly skilled in strategic planning, program management, manufacturing/acquisition logistics, procurement, contract administration, business management, and security assistance. He has over 28-years of acquisition and cross-functional leadership assignments. Kirk is extremely versatile and possesses in-depth knowledge about federal/DOD contracting and the Government sector’s services. His strengths include creating strategic plans, enabling business process re-engineering, and implementing adaptable acquisition programs. He has cultivated strategic partnerships and relationships across the military as well as the broader Intelligence Community, Industry, and Congress. MG(R) Vollmecke ran the largest security assistance program in the Defense Department. As the Deputy Commanding General for the Combined Security Transition Command- Afghanistan (CSTC-A), he focused on requirements development, inter-agency procurement and logistics coordination, and NATO trust project management activities in efforts to improve, train, and support the Afghanistan National Defense Forces. Prior to his Afghanistan deployment, Kirk’s portfolio and systems management expertise was proven as the Deputy for Systems Management working for the Army’s Acquisition Executive. He tackled troubled programs and modernization strategies across various sub-segments and oversaw major equipment procurements to fulfill wartime requirements in Iraq and Afghanistan. Before returning to the Washington DC, MG(R) Vollmecke was the Commanding General of the Mission and Installation Contracting Command. This buying command provided essential contracting solutions and contract administrative services to all Army commands and installations across the Continental U.S. MG(R) Vollmecke as a newly promotable Brigadier General helped to manage the Army’s $120 billion procurement system providing global, wartime, and international procurement support. Before returning to the Army’s secretariat, Kirk served on the Joint Staff as the J-8 Capabilities and Acquisition Division Chief and prior to that assignment as the Commander, Defense Contract Management Agency Iraq/Afghanistan providing contract administrative services directly supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Kirk has had other program and contract management assignments spanning product development, manufacturing and global sustainment and held a number of positions overseeing classified and sensitive programs. MG(R) Vollmecke is a member of the NACD and completed Corporate Board of Directors training. Kirk graduated from Centre College of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Management and English. He is a 2015 Distinguished Alumnus and member of the President’s Advisory Council. He has a Master of Science in Management from the Naval Postgraduate School with his concentration in Systems Management and Acquisition. In addition, MG(R) Vollmecke has a Master of Science in Defense Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. Kirk is a Certified Professional Contract Manager (CPCM) and Project Management Professional (PMP) as well as a member of the National Contract Management Association and Program Management Institute respectively. Kirk has completed the Executive Program Manager course as well as being DOD Level 3 certified in the Program and Contract Management fields.
1:00pm - 1:05pm EST
Welcome & Opening Remarks
1:05pm - 1:45pm EST
Keynote Speaker: LTG Maria Gervais
1:45pm - 2:45pm EST
2:45pm - 2:50pm EST