text:
Breaking anger, from Oakland to Tottenham
California activists worry UK police will import heavily armed enforcement tactics that violate the right to dissent.
Jesse Strauss Last Modified: 05 Sep 2011 13:26 Al Jazeera
Parallels between UK and California unrest worry activists that police will share ‘illegal and militaristic’ tactics to respond to urban unrest [Jesse Strauss/Al Jazeera]
British politicians are looking to the US for advice on techniques to stop future disorder after three nights of unrest in the United Kingdom last month – events that were sparked by the killing of Mark Duggan, an unarmed black male, shot dead by police.
But crowd control practice in the US, according to an example highlighted by official documents from US policing agencies, extends far beyond traditional law enforcement.
When the killing of an unarmed black man inOakland,California, by a police officer, triggered the community into angry disorder, local police called in reinforcements.
Numerous federal and local enforcement agencies were brought in to infiltrate crowds, subdue demonstrators and assist in mass arrests as a part of actions that lawyers say were unconstitutional and violate the police’s own regulations.
In the midst of an austerity crisis, local authorities also equipped themselves with a sophisticated weapons arsenal ranging from flash-bang grenades to deadly sound cannons which are now close at hand for future action.
Activists in Oakland say that their experience with the “increasing militarisation of society”, by intensifying the funding and riot-preparedness of police, is not a path to establishing peaceful communities – in either the US or the UK.
“b***h a*s n****r”
Early on January 1, 2009,Oscar Grant was shot in the back and killed by a white police officer while being handcuffed and lying down on a subway platform in Oakland. Just before he was killed, Grant watched another officer throw his friend against a wall and use the phrase “b***h a*s n****r” twice.
Bystanders captured the shooting on video and people in the community responded with numerous angry demonstrations in downtown Oakland over almost two years while the officer was on trial for murder.
Just as in London, media reports called the immediate aftermath of Oakland’s anger “riots“. Police responded with multiple uses of flash-bang grenades, tear gas, and hundreds of arrests.
“Initially, the police in both Oakland and England were caught off guard, and they themselves said that they couldn’t control the situation,” said Rachel Jackson, an activist with Oakland’s New Year’s Movement for Justice. “In January of 2009, the [Oakland] police and the city and state governments were quick to bring out all of their crowd control equipment and machinery.”
Months later, when Johannes Mehserle, the officer who shot Grant, went to trial for murder, documents obtained by Al Jazeera show that the Oakland Police Department [OPD] prepared itself for intense unrest, calling in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Department of Homeland Security (Secret Service agents and the Northern California Regional Intelligence Center), the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the California Department of Justice, and at least 16 other local police agencies, in what it dubbed “Operation Verdict”.
OPD Assistant Chief Howard Jordan told Al Jazeera that each of those state and federal agencies have a “regular” relationship with the OPD “for the purposes of assisting day-to-day crime fighting”, and declined to respond to any questions regarding the unrest.
Police in Oakland stocked an arsenal of “less than lethal” weapons and munitions. According to official documents, OPD prepared itself with munitions “estimated to last approximately seven days of full scale deployment”.
“The police did a major public relations campaign to scare people out of coming on to the streets at the time of the verdict,” said Jackson.
“It was as if, from the police statements and the mayor’s office statement, that there was going to be a bomb dropped and people had to evacuate,” saidWalterRiley, a long-time civil rights lawyer inOakland.
On July 8, 2010, a jury that did not include a single black person convicted Mehserle of the lowest possible charge, involuntary manslaughter.
Demonstrators took over the city’s central intersection. FBI, DEA and OPD helicopters buzzed overhead, 46 undercover officers from the OPD, California Department of Justice and DEA infiltrated the crowd, and secret service agents in OPD uniforms recorded the events on video, according to official documents and videos.
“There were a lot of young people who didn’t necessarily know Oscar Grant, but saw him as themselves,” said Riley. “There was a lot of identification with senseless brutality against people of colour.”
Near the start of unrest on July 8, 2010, an image of Riley being arrested in his suit and tie, with a bright green cap identifying him as a legal observer, was broadcast on local news. Riley, in his 60s, speaking recently, told AlJazeera that he was choked while being arrested.
“Their reason for arrest was resisting arrest and failure to disperse from the scene of a riot,” he said, but the District Attorney dropped all charges. A police email two days after the arrest identified Riley as a “Community Leader”.
Riley represented another arrestee in court, and said the police report on his client identified him “as ‘a young black man wearing dreads and looking angry'”, and used that description as pretense for making the arrest.
By the end of the night, 84 people had been arrested, fires smouldered in rubbish bins and cleanup crews cleared shattered storefront windows.
Four months later, a Los Angeles judge sentenced Mehserle to two years in jail, which would be cut in half for good behaviour. Hundreds of demonstrators again took to the streets, and police came prepared as they had in July, this time calling the event “Operation Sentence”.
Police documents show Operation Sentence involved the FBI, DEA, the California Department of Justice and 569 officers from at least 20 other local police agencies – clearly outnumbering protesters.
Security forces on November 5 surrounded a large group of people as they were marching away from downtown, allowed members of the media to exit the scene, and made 152 arrests.
“[Protesters] were corralled by hundreds of militarised police. They were given no opportunity to disperse,”MichaelFlynn, the President of the San Francisco chapter of the National Lawyers’ Guild (NLG), told Al Jazeera.
The OPD now faces a class action lawsuit filed by the NLG – a national association of progressive lawyers, legal workers and law students – which claims that police actions on November 5 were “violations of constitutional and statutory rights”.
The lawsuit says that the OPD and cooperating agencies violate the OPD’s own crowd control policy, and that the mass arrests amounted to violations of the first, fourth and fourteenth amendments to the US Constitution, false arrest, false imprisonment, negligence, and three California state laws.
It also says the arrest procedure included “an hour and a half seizure and detention on the street”, after which arrestees were loaded onto buses and denied restroom access. “Many of the class members [were] forced to urinate on the floor of the bus where they were sitting or standing.”
Citing the lawsuit, police officials declined interview requests.
‘Militarisation’ of police
Jackson, who was arrested in Operation Sentence, says that if the same unrest in either Oakland or the UK took place in Libya, they would be called “protests” instead of a “riot”, a term that “tends to be paired with ‘senseless violence’ and ‘pure criminality'”.
She says that the difference allows police to take advantage of their perceived power to create a degenerative crackdown on dissent.
Activists say the use of ‘riot’ removes value from the political nature of events [Jesse Strauss/Al Jazeera]


text:
The Complete Guide to Maine Coons: Finding, Preparing for, Feeding, Training, Socializing, Grooming, and Loving Your New Maine Coon Cat (Hardcover)
The Hardcover edition is printed in FULL COLOR
Author Jordan Honeycutt used interviews with 14 TOP Maine Coon Breeders to create the perfect guidebook for any new Maine Coon owner
This book is a comprehensive guide to everything Maine Coon Covering everything a new owner will need to know including:
- Selecting the perfect Maine Coon cat from a reputable breeder
- Health tests and certifications
- Preparing your home and family for your new Maine Coon cat
- The emotional needs of a Maine Coon
- Detering common bad behaviors
- Training and socialization (including clicker training basics)
- Grooming tips for a Maine Coon
- Nutritional advice
- Common Maine Coon diseases, illness, and prevention
- Cat shows and competitions: an introduction
- Adjustments for an aging Maine Coon cat
Commonly known as America's favorite feline, the Maine Coon is beloved by cat owners across the country. The largest of the domesticated cat breeds, this long-haired, lovable furball is a family favorite due to its gentle nature and playful temperament. Weighing in at up to twenty pounds, this regal cat is a sight to behold.
With a rich history in America, this breed was once almost extinct. Learn all about the Maine Coon's past and its resurgence, along with its popularity in literature and pop culture.
Whether you are a long-time Maine Coon owner or are thinking about becoming one, this book will detail everything you need to know. From breed history, training, health requirements, showing, and so much more, this comprehensive guide will be your go-to for any Maine Coon questions. We'll walk you through every moment, the good ones and bad, from the day you bring your Maine Coon home to the final goodbye.

domain: library


This version changes the operation of the Last Heard screen
Pressing the Green button changes the TG to the TG of the currently selected line
Pressing SK2 + Green changes the radio to make a private call to the station
Added APRS Beaconing feature plus lot os bug fixes in the APRS code.
Install the new CPS first then the new firmware and new voice prompts.
Changes in this version
* Channel order in zones can now be sorted by distance, using the Latitude and Longitude data entered into the CPS.
This works for all real zones, but Not the All Channels zone becuase this is not a real zone
Distance sorting is enabled via the "Dist sort" option in the Quick Menu
In this mode the distance is displayed in place of the channel number
* Distance can also be displayed at all times by using the "Show dist" option in the Display Options.
* GPS functionality has been added to the GD-77, DM-1801 and DM-1801 firmwares
* Fixes and improvements to GPS course and accuracy display (Thanks to Daniel F1RMB)
* Czech language update
* Various other internal code changes and optimisations (Thanks to Daniel F1RMB)
There have been many other changes to the firmware and CPS
• Remove APRS Destination from CPS and now use APOG77 built into the firmware
• Add APRS ambiguity support in CPS and firmware
• Add APRS support for 'Fixed position' location Lat/Lon in CPS and the firmware
• Add APRS support for 300 Baud transmission.
• Add Location Lat/Lon support to Channel data in the CPS and support in the firmware
MDUV380 shows distance in km from radio location to Channel Lat/Lon on the Channel screen.
GD77 and MD9600 the distance in km is shown if button SK1 (P2 on MD9600) is held in.
Note. The distance does not currently update if the radio changes position until the channel screen is reloaded. This function
will be improved in the future to automatically recalculate and redisplay the distance if it changes by more than 0.1km
• MD9600 now supports short APRS comments.
• Firmware character font – Add missing N/n with Caron (F1RMB)
• Fix frequency calibration bug on all radio types
• Change APRS Tx method. SK1 is no longer required to transmit APRS.
Channels with and APRS
config set, will now only transmit APRS, not voice and transmission of APRS is triggered simply by pressing the PTT.
APRS Tx ends immediately after the end of the data even if the PTT is held in.
• Improve 'UI Notification' popup (F1RMB)
• MDUV380 only – Add volume control visual display, See Options->Display options-> Volume : Off/On (F1RMB)
• Stop GPS NMEA output when CPS uploads/downloads the codeplug or other data (F1RMB)
• Satellite mode APRS frequency will now only transmit APRS
It is no longer possible to send APRS on the 'Voice' frequency of satellites
• Czech language updates (OK2MOP, Pavel )
• Changes to APRS screen to remove Destination and add Ambiguity and Fixed position and 300 baud Tx
• CPS has been updated to remove non functioning Tevel 1 and Tevel 8 satellites
• Maximum number of satellites has been increased from 15 to 25
• Channels can now have Latitude and Longitude values
Changes in this version are as follows
• Bug fix APRS
• Bug fix boot screen problem
• Bug fix MD9600 1750Hz Tx problem
• Bug fix DMR TA decoding
• Add APRS setting to Channel Details screen
• Added +/- 4.6Mhz repeater frequency shift
• Improve MD9600 and UV380 1750Hz and DTMF tone indication through speaker
• Improve satellite screen.
Maximum number of satellites has been increased from 18 to 25.
More satellites have been added to the CPS, e.g. TEVEL2,3,4,5 etc. Some nonfunctioning satellites have been removed.
Each satellite now has 3 possibly frequencies: Voice, APRS and Beacon, by pressing keys 1,2 or 3
APRS configuration is now defined for each satellite via the satellites.txt file in the CPS
To customise an APRS
configuation for a specific satellite e.g. "ISS" create an APRS configuration with the same name as the satellite, and this will be used instead of the APRS configuation for that satellite from
satellites.txt in the CPS
APRS Tx is possible on any satellite frequency where the Tx frequency has been enabled, but transmitting on the "Voice" frequency of a satellite e.g. ISS wil not result in your
position being sent to APRS.fi and will annoy anyone trying to use the Voice frequency of the satellite.
• Turkish language updates
• Czech language update
• Various other small bug fixes.
To use APRS and Satellite mode in this version, you MUST update to the latest CPS.
downloads/CPS/Latest/OpenGD77CPSInstall ... .18.01.exe
In this CPS you will need to re-create any APRS configurations and
link them to the appropriate channels, then upload the new codeplug into the radio
In the CPS you MUST upload new satellite Keps
APRS Tx will NOT work unless a channel or VFO has an APRS configuation.
There is no longer a default APRS configration in the firmware.
Remember also. For APRS you must enter your callsign into the CPS. If there is no callsign then the APRS transmission will not be valid.
Changes in this version.
-New GPS direction and speed etc screen (F1RMB)
- Turkish language update.
- Beep instead of voice prompt when GPS had fix, when voice prompts are not enabled (F1RMB)
- Tx Frequency offset function in the Channel details screen, By pressing Left / Right button on the Tx frequency (F1RMB)
- UV380 rotary control debouncing (F1RMB)
- Improve GPS NMEA data decoding (F1RMB)
- Various other GPS screen fixes (F1RMB)
- Improve Voice prompts on GPS screen (F1RMB)
- Fix MD-9600 scanning
problems. Rotary control restarts scan on paused channel, Up arrow sets currently paused channel as nuisance (F1RMB)
- Remove space characters from font data to save program memory space (F1RMB)
- Fix sunrise and sunset calculations, for use with the Day / Night theme (F1RMB)
- Fixes to Auto Night functionality (F1RMB)
- Fix â€"W+ power setting on Satellite screen (F1RMB)
- Automatically update realtime clock from GPS (F1RMB)
- Fix PIN code display when no theme is available (F1RMB)
- FM APRS Tx. Quick press SK1 while transmitting on FM - see also the new CPS (VK3KYY)
For details of the FM APRS functionality, see viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3120
Includes a night time display mode with brightness control in the options menu plus day and night themes for the colour display and some bug fixes. Uses a new CPS/Firmware/Voice Packs.
This version includes the following bug fixes and improvements
- Italian and German text updates
- Update Spanish Theme texts
- Update Catalan Theme texts
- Polish update from SP9EX.
- Add Last Used Channel In Zone feature. The firmware keeps track on last used channel in every zone (AllChannels included) BIG FAT NOTE: it needs a new CPS .
- No keypad beep option.
- Handle empty zones.
- Colin's DMR Private Call filter changes.
- Monitor mode available when Reverse Repeater is enabled.
- Add "Contact" edition in channel's details.
- Change text "rx group" to "tg list" in Channel's details.
- DMR filter "RxG" as been renames to "TGL".
- Fix bootscreen auto-hiding bug.
- (UV-380/RT3S/MD9600 specific): It's possible to change GPS power status in the GPS menu, using GREEN/RED + SK2.
- lot of bugfixes, code optimization and improvments.
- Fix problem of splashscreen not being illuminated when 'squelch' backlight option is selected
- Slight changes/fixes of the menus displaying (as we have more space on screen).
- Satellite screen: the visual visible marker as moved (and use the Satellite's colour)
- Squelch bargraph fills the notification window
- Display options -> Colour:Invert/Normal as been changed to Screen:Invert/Normal, as the code controls the LCD panel state.
- QuickKey support added to the GPS menu.
- Voice prompt announces the whole information when triggering a QuickKey.
- Voice prompts playback are now not disturbed while receiving DMR.
- More accurate voltage reading on RT3S.
- Fix contact's outer frame drawing in the TX Screen.
- make it possible to download a screengrab while RXing (doesn't clear the screen anymore).
- It handles inverted screen while downloading a screengrabs
To complete was Roger wrote about theme editing:
If you press the SK2 button while rotating the knob, the step is
increased by a factor of 3. The default step are 8 for Red and Blue (with a max value of 248), and 4 for Green (with a max value of 252). All these step/max values are related to the colour format (RGB 565).
In the theme menu (not the colour picker), if you press GREEN button alone, the changes are temporary.
If you press SK2 + GREEN, they are permanent.
If you press SK1 + GREEN, it will get back to
default theme (Black/White), temporary (just reboot to restore the latest saved theme).
If you press SK1 + SK2 + GREEN, the default theme (Black/White) will be permanent.
Of course, if you press RED, the changes are discarted.
Fixes bug with the 1750Hz tone generation and also volume control problems on the 1701
Some small bugs fixed in UV380 and DM1701 Firmware
Some small bugs fixed in UV380 and DM1701 firmware.
click problem experienced by some when accessing the menu's has been fixed in both the MDUV380 aned DM1701 firmware.
some small bug fixes for the keypad and calibration option and the DM1701 version has been moved to the other radio's folder as it is more similar to the UV380 than the GD77 where it
was previousoly stored.
Fixes some bugs introduced with the last version effecting SK1,SK2 and #.
Problem with using CTCSS and DTMF at the same time fixed.
This firmware version allows the transmission of CTCSS and DTMF/DCS at the same time.
This firmware version has an extra line in the menu firmware information which shows CPU is either STM the original processor or TYT for the Chinese clone processor chosen by TYT and
Retevis as a replacement.
New firmware version which works with the older radio's with the STM microprocessor and also with the new radio which uses a chinese clone processor.
New Firmware which stores the data in the flash memory instead of the RAM so it is not lost when the very weak battery in the mduv380/RT3S is depleted. Plus an experimental calibration
screen for those who would like to match the ouptut power of their radio to the value indicated by the firmware and also correct the frequency for both tx and rx.
New CPS which allows the use of the new satellite FO118.
Minor bug fixes
Minor changes to the TA function for
text as well as position informationl. System update now goes to the language screen after green okay, to make it easier to select a language.
version contains a new CPS which allows you to select various TA option in the channel informtion on a channel by channel basis. The default is master which uses whatever is selected in options menu of the radio.
turn on Talker Alias in the options then the radio will transmit your location as well as your call-sign which allows the networkk to plot your position on an APRS map. This works on the DMR+ network and in Brandmeister if you go to self care and set your radio type to Hytera and GPS in Call to on.
This version has a separate GPS screen, and removes the GPS page from the Radio Info screen
GPS has to be enabled in Options->General Options -> GPS
None - GPS detected in the radio
Off - GPS detected but not enabled
On - GPS detected and enabled
NMEA - GPS detected and enabled and NMEA data from the GPS module is sent via the USB Serial connection.
Note when NMEA is enabled, the CPS will intially not be able to connectÂ to the radio. You should disable NMEA when using the CPS.
The firmware will also automatically disable NMEA mode when
there is aÂ CPS request, but at the moment the CPS can not recover from receivingÂ NMEA data when it connects to the radio.
The new GPS screen has 2 pages,
Page 1 shows position
after GPS fix has been achieved and shows bar graphs of GPS satellite RSSI
Page 2 shows polar plot the satellites, when the GPS module provides this data and is not really usable by the blind..
Up / Down arrows now operate squelch and power in the correct direction
1750Hz tone can now be sent by holding SK2 during Tx, like on the GD77 etc.
Â DTMF characters
A,B,C & D can now be entered or sent using Up, SK1+Up, Down , and SK1+Down
Â Charcter input cursor position for channel name on the Channel Details screen is now correct
Â Channel and VFO
scan will start when holding the Up key. i.e no needÂ to hold and wait for the beep before releasing, simply holding down will start the scan
*Slight UI change to VFO Sweep scan.
Rotary control adjusts sweep center frequency.
SK2 + Rotary contorl adjusts step size / over sweep range
Up increases gain
Down decreases gain
SK2 + Up increases lower RSSI threshold
SK2 + Down decreases lower RSSI threshold
Â Bug associacted with holding SK2 while changing the Rotary control, while in VFO Scan mode has been fixed.
Â In Channel an VFO scan.
The Star ( * ) key
is now use to mark a channel or frequency to be skipped duing the current scan
Pressing the Up arrow recommences the scan, if its paused on a busy frequency.
In the CPS arbitary frequencies can now be entered rather than just 25/12.5 or 6.25Khz steps.
Fixes a hardware problem where some radio's mute the audio when the volume control is set to less than 25%.
New firmware and New CPS
* Problem with muted DMR audio should now be fixed.
* Radio show now turn off when battery reached 0%
* Reverse repeater function now displays channel name in inverse video
* Battery life
has been improved, by using the sleep function of theÂ C6000, which saves up to 10mA depending on which Eco level is used.
I have not had time to compare the current
consumption on the UV380/RT3S versus the GD77 etc. I think the UV380/RT3S will still take more current and therefore have worse battery life than the GD77, butÂ there may be nothing I can do about this, because the problem is the hardware in the UV380/RT3S takes more current.
* Auto power is now working
* When changing from DMR <-- > FM there is no longer short busrt of unsqueched FM audio
* VFO data is no longer occasionally erased when turning off the radio
CPS 2 bugs in split VFO fixed
transmit fixedÂ and better power saving but you must connect the radio to the USB before turning it on when transferring information to or from the radio or it may not be recognised by the computer.
new firmware which cures the DMR dropout problem some people experienced when receiving long transmissions.
reverted to version 1.1C as 1.1D version causes the volume control and on/off switch to hang.
fix to hopefully cure the problem of occassional dropouts in DMR when receiving a long transmission.
Some fixes for DTMF and VFO Scan now functions but needs more work. GPS also now working but will be further modified in a future release and voicing not yet finalised.
New CPS which cures a bug which doesn't affect the UV380/RT3S only the GD77.
now includes Eco modes and boot screen picture plus GPS turned off unless on the GPS screen. GPS not yet fully implemented.
On transmit led is now red.
Initial Alpha Release


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Control of Mobile Steam Powerplants
ISSN: 0148-7191, e-ISSN: 2688-3627
Published February 01, 1970 by SAE International in United States
Annotation ability available
The control of small mobile Rankine cycle powerplants presents a number of problems that are much more difficult than they at first appear. This paper attempts to present a review of the basic performance characteristics of typical individual components, the control functions and requirements of the powerplant, the control systems used in typical powerplants, and some new concepts that show promise of giving simpler, less expensive, and more reliable control systems for typical Rankine cycle systems.
CitationFraas, A., "Control of Mobile Steam Powerplants," SAE Technical Paper 700118, 1970, https://doi.org/10.4271/700118.
- Replotted from NACA data
- Fraas A. P. “Application of Modern Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow Experience to the Design of Boilers for Automotive Steam Powerplants.” Paper 690047 SAE Automotive Engineering Congress Detroit January 1969
- Fraas A. P. Ozisik M. N. “Heat Exchanger Design.” New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1965
- Agarwal P. D. Mooney R. J. Toepel R. R. “Stir-Lec 1, A Stirling Electric Hybrid Car.” Paper 690074 SAE Automotive Engineering Congress Detroit January 1969


text:
Farm fresh fruits & veggies available at Heirloom Farmers' Markets in Tucson and Southern Arizona.
20 May, 2015
Larry’s Green Thumb featured in Edible Baja.
Over the years, “We’ve had some years where we’ve made some good money and we’ve lost some good money,” Larry said. “As I get older, it’s about doing something that I love.”…
17 Dec, 2013
Article in The

domain: agronomy


text:
Rocky Road to Democracy
A struggle with legacy of two totalitarian regimes
Dr Veronika Valdová
This brief book provides an overview of historical and constitutional development in Czechoslovakia written by a veterinarian who for a long time was making a living as a pharmacovigilance scientist. Methods used for data handling in a different field of science were applied to democratic development and study of totalitarian regimes.
The first chapter is dedicated to constitutional development in Czechoslovakia and origin of constitutional crises which occurred in 1938 after the Munich crisis, 1939 after establishment of Protectorate, and during the period between 1945 and 1948. As Czechoslovak constitution is defined as a poly-legal document, some international treaties and constitutional acts are in fact part of the constitution. The meaning of Oath as an equivalent to the Pledge of Allegiance is discussed in relation to the loyalty split within the military and public service which occurred after abdication of President Benes and especially after establishment of the Protectorate of Nazi Germany. Behavior of key leaders during critical incidents in Czechoslovak history is discussed with respect to its effect on anti-Nazi resistance, both domestic and foreign. Assumption of the Nazi leaders that Czech politicians will choose not to fight if subjected to pressure was a correct one, and paid off in easy territory gain.
The decision to halt at Elbe is usually explained as purely military one, but the fact that by that time, the Czechs already made their choice and signed treaties on post-war cooperation with the Russians (Treaties with the USSR from December 12, 1943, and May 8, 1944), certainly contributed to the fact that Gen. Eisenhower promptly moved the remaining forces to the Pacific Theatre of Operations. With regards to Czechoslovakia falling in the Soviet zone, the conference at Crimea barely confirmed deals which were already in place. President Truman’s notes from the Potsdam conference suggest that atrocities committed during population transfers in Eastern Europe contributed to the decision to use nuclear weapon in Japan to intimidate Stalin. After the war, there were hundreds of thousands of unaccounted British and U.S. POWs stuck in the Soviet zone of which tens of thousands were never repatriated. Some members of Czech armed forces and demobilized civilians made a personal decision to flee the Protectorate and join some of the Czechoslovak units which were forming abroad, or to join foreign armies directly. Czechoslovak government in exile placed itself in charge of the anti-Nazi resistance abroad after voluntarily removing itself from its powerbase. The situation of members of foreign armies including those who served in the RAF after the war was extremely difficult. Heroic welcome expected by many RAF airmen welcome did not materialize. Their experience from real combat was not transferrable to people who spent entire war in relative comfort way out of the war zone. Soldiers and airmen from the western front were considered a threat by the post-war establishment, and were soon pushed out of any positions of influence. After the communist coup, enemies of the regime including RAF airmen were ruthlessly disposed off.
Last chapter compares current regime in the Czech Republic with Dahl’s principles of polyarchal democracy. Some important agreements are cited in the Appendix.
|ISBN:||1 46642 381 1|

domain: history


Senior Discount doesn't cheap out on sound in "The Best Revenge"
Ever listen to an album and know exactly where you would listen to it? Senior Discount's new album should be blasted-full volume of course-on the way to the beach or from a speaker once blankets are laid out. Even the album cover features skeletons with a beach scene (I solemnly swear I wrote most of this album review prior to seeing the album art!!). Senior Discount's latest album, "The Best Revenge," holds true to the upbeat, pop punk feel the group has produced on previous albums. This band has shared stages with other vets of the genre and you can hear the influence of other bands in their tunes. The band is a part of Warped Tour's Hartford stop this summer, and if you happen to be in the Northeast, be sure to catch one of their sets. We hope they tour down in Texas soon!
Enough of me, lets get to chatting track to track.
A Fistful of Discount opens up this album with an driving, guitar heavy, lyric-less track. It drives right into the next song, which makes it a tasty little appetizer to a much bigger picture.
Never Say Forever! gives me all the nostalgic feels with a familiarity that's tricky to pin. Perhaps the drum jams are ones I see in other tracks of the genre or maybe the vocals imitate an artist, but regardless this track is a perfect option for lovers of the pop-punk hits of the late 90s/early 2000s a la Blink 182 or Sum 41.
Cindy is like a sweet and cool glass of lemonade. Which I love. The simple, pulsing guitar riffs that loop remind me of old school punk. Cindy sounds like a real drip, but the track is one of the best on the album, full of energy and creative lyrics that are easy to connect with. This breakup anthem is one we will play on loop.
Smile plays with "Space Jam," lyrics, which grabs attention and alludes to future covers on this album. It slices, dices, and delivers a creative use of the original song, while still presenting a nice scoop of angst in the process. This bouncy track is probably the epitome of the fun, beachy tone we were referring to earlier. It asks the existential question all punk asks, "Where is my mind?"
Nothing's Left wraps its arms around us with the cozy nihilism that comes across from most punk albums. The songs bleak lyrics are accented with the most upbeat of musical accompaniment on the track. The balance of the two creates a striking punk track that we would love to see performed live.
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun is a straight laced cover, but is reimagined with heavier sounds tossed in the mix. Not going to lie, it's a rad little track, but I'm all about girl power coming from girls, so I am totally biased in reviewing this track. Check it out for yourself-I swear it's catchy!
Afterlife leads off with a catchy opening musical interlude that grabs attention. This song has an almost anthem feel to it that leads me to believe it could easily hit the radio. Honestly, keep your ears peeled (that's a gross phrase, but it works) and listen for this track to blow up.
Explode Rhode Island, a regional ode, leads me to want to purchase a plane ticket to visit Rhode Island. It calls for uniting the state under music and standing up for the scene of the area. These kind of tracks are like the meat of any punk rock sandwich-tasty and essential to a band's offerings.
Ataxia features a screaming, aggressive opening, which I can't help but love. This track is threatening, bouncy, and perfect. If this song doesn't get the audience thrashing at shows, I'm not sure what will. Will I bump this song again? Without a doubt.
Three Little Birds draws listeners back to the sunny beach feel of the album. This is a straight forward cover as well, but after hearing several artists try to cover Bob Marley, this track is unique in that it brings the group's own character center stage integrating their sound with Marley's original composition instead of trying to replicating it. This song makes me bob my head in appreciation and is easily one of the better covers I've heard in a minute.
I'm Crazy (Live and Revived) gives listeners a real feel for the group's live performance, which I find telling of band quality more than anything else. Any bum can bust their but in the studio and put together something decent, but musicians that can perform live are miles ahead of them. Showcasing gnarly guitar skills and well placed harmonies, I'm Crazy (Live and Revived) is worth the four minutes, taking you on a journey and leaving you amped up, ready to rage.
Afterlife (Acoustic) wraps the album up, showing the group can flex their soft muscles as well as their loud ones. Personally, I would have loved to see this track elsewhere in the album or right before I'm Crazy, but on a whole it serves as a nice track to accent an album chock full of goodness.
That last trip to the shore you take this summer should feature "The Best Revenge," and if you have the means, you should certainly see Senior Discount live. Don't sleep on this band or this album, there's a feeling in my gut that you'll be hearing their name more. And if you're lucky you'll be hearing their music more. In order to make that happen, check out their site here. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to be memorizing the lyrics to I'm Crazy...catch you on the flipside!


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The spiritual power of the human body is manifested in this bright burst of a pendant. Chakra is an eight-pointed flower-esque silhouette, furthered by decorative details and a diminutive white diamond at center.
Yellow bronze "Chakra" pendant
14k gold filled rolled box chain
Pendant size: 20mm
18" w/ 2" extender
Handmade with love in Sausalito, CA

domain: artistic


text:
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domain: biology


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It may be the hottest week of the year but things are about to get a lot hotter for the UK’s growing army of chilli pepper fans.
Not only has the recent good weather brought forward the UK’s chilli pepper season by five weeks but it means that there will be twice as many of the notorious Carolina Reaper – the world’s hottest commercially grown variety available this summer.
The pepper, which is grown exclusively for Tesco, by Bedfordshire chilli farmer Salvatore Genovese, was one of the supermarket’s most eagerly sought after products when it first went on sale last year.
Only a sliver of these sensationally hot chilli peppers is needed to excite any dish
It’s a dream shared by many people – growing your own tasty fruit and vegetables but not everybody has a garden or the required space to do so.
Now a new unique and super-productive indoor tomato plant is being launched by Tesco aimed at helping people living in urban areas without gardens.
The mini tomato plant has been naturally developed over the last five years by produce experts who have bred together varieties to come up with one that is small, compact and most importantly very productive.
The amazing little plant produces up to 150 tomatoes
They’re currently some of the trendiest but also trickiest foods to prepare without fuss – pomegranate, beetroot, watermelon and fresh coconut.
But now help has arrived from Tesco which has launched the first ever frozen prepared versions that will save shoppers time and hassle in the kitchen.
The new products will also help shoppers cut down on food waste in the home by allowing them to use only what they need and keep the rest in the freezer.
A nice bowl of pomegranate seeds – but it’s never easy getting them out.


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What we know about flooding in Michigan that forced 10,000 evacuations, may put city 9 feet underwater
About 10,000 people were told to evacuate from parts of Michigan after floodwaters caused two dams to fail following heavy rain across the state.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency Tuesday for Midland County after the Edenville and Sanford dams breached and warned that downtown Midland could be under 9 feet of water by Wednesday afternoon.
Her office has been in touch with the federal government and will ask the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for support.
The floods have surpassed a high point of 33.9 feet set by a downpour in 1986, known as "the worst natural disaster in the state's modern history."
The dam collapses have led to impassable roads, a boil water advisory — and raised regulatory questions about Edenville Dam's hydro-power generating license. It was unclear whether there were any fatalities from the flooding.
Here's what you need to know about the flooding.
Which Michigan dams are failing and where are they?
Several dams upstream of Midland along the Tittabawassee had either been breached or were releasing water uncontrollably after after 4 to 7 inches of rain fell Sunday and Monday.
The Tittabawassee River in Midland entered major flood stage Tuesday morning when the river was observed at 28.25 feet at 10:15 a.m., according to the National Weather Service. Flood stage is 24 feet.
By Tuesday afternoon, at least two rivers in mid-Michigan — the Tittabawassee River in Midland and the Rifle River near Sterling — had reached their major flood stage.
The Edenville Dam on the Tittabawassee River, which is owned by Boyce Hydro, breached Tuesday evening. A flash flood warning issued by the National Weather Service warned to expect flooding of small creeks, streams and other low-lying areas.
The dam, whose owners had its hydro-power generating license revoked in 2018 for its inability to withstand a major flood, is a 6,600-foot earthen embankment up to 54.5 feet in height, spanning both the Tittabawassee and Tobacco Rivers in Midland and Gladwin counties.
Water passing through the Edenville Dam breach headed downstream to Midland County's Sanford Lake, where the Sanford Dam, also owned by Boyce, was breached later in the day Tuesday. That dam lies south of Edenville and about 8 miles away from the city of Midland.
Lee Mueller, the architect and co-member manager of Boyce Hydro, declined comment Wednesday morning.
Midland City Manager Brad Kaye said that the extent of the structural damage to the Sanford Dam is not yet known.
If the entire dam structure is gone, as opposed to portions of it, “there would be a much higher surge that will come down the river and that could raise the level much more quickly than what we’re seeing right at the moment,” Kaye said.
As of Wednesday morning, the Tittabawasse River hit a historic high, rising above its previous record in 1986, and reaching 34.6 feet. Major flood stage is 28 feet. By the end of the day, the National Weather Service forecasted it would be at 38 feet.
Traveling amid coronavirus: What does evacuating while social distancing look like?
Whitmer said parts of the city of Midland, the village of Sanford, Edenville Township and Dow Chemical had been or were being evacuated.
Whitmer said despite stay-at-home orders generally telling people not to travel, it was important that anyone living in the affected areas evacuate as quickly as possible to safer areas, or go to the homes of relatives and friends. Three shelters had opened in Midland County, as well.
"This is unlike anything we’ve seen before... but this is truly a historic event that's playing out in the midst of another historic event," Whitmer said, referring to the coronavirus pandemic which has led to stay-at-home orders throughout the state and the deaths of more than 5,000 people.
"Please do not hesitate. Go to stay with a friend or relative or go to one of these shelters now," she said, adding that even at a shelter, people should try to do the best they can to practice social distancing and wear a face covering to protect themselves and others from coronavirus.
About 100 people slept at the shelter on cots and air mattresses spread across the basketball floor at Midland High School. The beds were kept 6-feet apart because of social distancing.
Dave Percha lives in an apartment in Midland in an area evacuated because of massing flooding. He said the fire department told him he had to leave, so he spent Tuesday at the high school.
Percha was unemployed for two months because of the coronavirus.
And now there's this.
"I’m just waiting for the meteor," Percha said Wednesday morning.
On top of the flood, they had to deal with social distancing in the shelter. Everybody was required to wear masks. Three volunteers walked around the gym, continuously wiping down beds.
Are the Dow Chemical headquarters affected? Will it affect the area?
Dow Chemical Co. has been headquartered in Midland for more than 120 years, and its main plant sits on the city’s riverbank.
With 9,000 employees and contractors in Midland, Dow shut down all operating units except those needed to contain chemicals on Tuesday, spokesman Kyle Bandlow said.
By Wednesday, floodwater was mixing with on-site containment ponds and the company and U.S. Coast Guard activated emergency plans, Dow said in a statement. No injuries were reported.
Dow implemented its flood preparedness plan, the details of which the company did not disclose. They also did not specify what types of chemicals may have mixed and spilled with the flood waters.
The situation is raising concerns among residents and environmentalists about potential widespread toxic contamination of the already hard-hit area, which with the evacuation of thousands of residents at the same time as the coronavirus pandemic.
In 1981, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency concluded that the plant's waste runoff was a significant source of the highly toxic chemical dioxin into the Tittabawassee River.
"If this flooding does what it's anticipated to do, the legacy from Dow's dioxin will become much more widespread and much more prominent in people's everyday lives," said Lisa Wozniak, executive director of the nonprofit Michigan League of Conservation Voters.
How has President Trump responded?
Trump posted his support on Twitter for efforts to respond to flooding in mid-Michigan.
"My team is closely monitoring the flooding in Central Michigan – Stay SAFE and listen to local officials," Trump posted about 10:20 a.m. "Our brave First Responders are once again stepping up to serve their fellow citizens, THANK YOU!"
He also said in a separate post that his administration had already activated military and Federal Emergency Management Agency response teams but said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer — who Trump has criticized in the past — "must not 'set you free' to help."
Whitmer said at a news briefing late Tuesday she had contacted federal officials for help and activated the National Guard, so it wasn't immediately clear what Trump was trying to say by saying she needs to take some additional action.
Flooding tops 1986 disaster, the state's worst in modern history
The Tittabawasse River is expected to reach 38 feet, more than 10 feet above major flood state, and surpassing the record set in 1986 when it hit 33.9 feet.
Back then, the Midland Daily News reported, the rain began on Sept. 9 and fell for days.
The flooding ruined crops, destroyed homes. It was, according to the National Weather Service, "the worst flood disaster in 50 years," causing damage of $400 million and $500 million, which is between $950 million and $1.2 billion today.
Part of the problem now, is that, in addition to sustained rainfall in the area, the river is swollen by massive downpours from north of Midland, which have swelled the rivers and creeks.
Still, National Weather Service forecasters said that a break from the rain until Saturday, when showers are expected, may give the state some time to allow waters to recede.
Next week, they said, could bring more rainfall.
Most Michigan dams aging, crumbling
The failing Midland County dams are just the most high-profile examples of a chronic problem in Michigan: dams that are as aging and crumbling as Michigan's roads and bridges.
Whitmer said the dam failures were a known threat and the state will be reviewing "every legal recourse that we have" because the damage requires that we "hold people responsible."
A 2018 report card on Michigan dams by the state chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers found that while the state had improved its D-grade from the society's 2009 report card, it still had persistent issues.
"There are approximately 2,600 dams in Michigan, of which about two-thirds are older than their typical 50-year design life. In the next five years, about 80 percent of Michigan’s dams will be over 50 years old," their report stated.
There were 19 high-hazard dams in unsatisfactory or poor condition in Michigan in 2018, ranking 20th among the 45 states and Puerto Rico for which The Associated Press obtained condition assessments.
What else is happening in Michigan?
Also Wednesday, a Michigan conservative group protested Whitmer's stay-at-home order and the closure of barbershops and salons by giving free haircuts outside the state capitol in Lansing.
President Donald Trump is also scheduled to visit a Ford Motor plant in Ypsilanti on Thursday where workers are making ventilators during the coronavirus pandemic. Whitmer's office said the visit contradicts rules to combat the spread of coronavirus she put in place, but she will not try to stop it.
Contributing: Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press and The Associated Press

domain: news


WHAT YOU'LL GET:
(immediately upon purchase)
⭐ Access to the 90 minute LIVE Event Recording
🔥 We will cover:
- I'll show you the exact prompts and process I've been using the past month to get over 200 digital product sales on Etsy
-How to use Midjourney to create digital products such as mockups and other profitable graphics
💡 Midjourney is an AI tool used in Discord to create images for all different use cases! In this workshop, I will teach you how to sign up for it, use it, and create products you can sell. You can be a total beginner and this will be valuable for you. 💗
FULL MIDJOURNEY TUTORIAL:
- How to communicate the changes you need to the images Midjourney creates (Adjusting prompts to tweak images, changing perspectives and image elements, adjusting colors, etc)
-How to make your images high enough quality (dimensions + DPI) for an Etsy product
-How to use a reference image to help Midjourney create exactly what you want
-How to make a Midjourney image "Etsy worthy" in quality
-How to use ChatGPT to come up with additional product ideas
⭐ A Recording of the Event that you will have ongoing access to for 6 months
⭐ Additional video tutorials including:
➡ How to setup a Midjourney account
➡ How to set up your own private server on Midjourney
➡ Midjourney 101 overview
➡ How to Create Sublimation Graphics in Midjourney
➡ How to generate listing descriptions and other product ideas in ChatGPT
➡ Canva/Picmonkey tutorial for improving your images
➡ How to create a Canva template for your customers
➡How to set up a digital product listing
⭐ A PDF with 20 Midjourney Prompts relevant to the mockup niche as I have used them to create products that are selling
⭐ A listing video file and template that you can use to create listing videos in your shop (Many AI shops are NOT including videos yet! It gives you an edge!)
⭐ Templates for creating important photo gallery graphics for to help your customers understand what they're getting
(All resources will be available until June 1, 2024. It will be outdated by this point anyway!)
🔥 After this workshop-- you will be able to create images like these to use to market your products, OR sell as digital products in your Etsy shop, other marketplace, or personal website:
WHAT WE WON'T COVER:
⚠ How to setup an Etsy shop or structure a listing
⚠ How to determine what products are in demand to design for
⚠ How to write effective SEO
🟢BUT-- if these are things you'd like to learn, I cover them in great detail in my flagship program: Listings that Sell 2.0: https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com/etsy-listings-that-sell
*You can add on this course at a $200 discount at checkout for the workshop. This is the best offer available for Listings that Sell 2.0!
💡 FAQ: Are mockups (let alone AI mockups) allowed on the Etsy Marketplace?
From what I understand, YES. After the recent debate about this-- Etsy provided feedback to Printify sharing that mockups are OK so long as they accurately represent the product that the customer will receive.
Also-- keep in mind, that many customers purchasing mockups on Etsy are using them for their own websites and other marketplaces as well.
Here is a TikTok showing the Printify communication: https://www.tiktok.com/@howtosellyourstuff/video/7296275792927952170?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7025714030754383365
Here are Etsy's own Listing Image Requirements for your review: https://www.etsy.com/legal/policy/listing-image-requirements/253962679005
💡 This is SUCH an exciting time and I believe from my experience (and that of others) that the potential is profound as we harness the power of AI on Etsy! I'm THRILLED to share what I've been seeing and testing! That being said, AI is still very new to the marketplace and much of the legal precedent is only now being set. We don't know what will or will not be legal in the near or distant future. Any time there is great opportunity, there is also great risk.🚀
💡 Please read the terms and conditions of this workshop carefully at checkout. We can take no responsibility for your experience applying this information-- Lizzie is only sharing her, so far, very successful experience in selling these products in her shop.
💡 Given the nature of this content, there will be NO REFUNDS.
My goal is to WOW you and give you amazing insight into a cutting edge, exciting business opportunity! If you're unsure, please email me at [email protected] to make sure that it's right for you and will give you the value you expect. I intend to share every secret I've learned, but appreciate that everyone is on a different level of AI experience.
TESTIMONIALS FROM PREVIOUS PROGRAMS BY LIZZIE
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This is one of those ultra special moments where you have a chance to jump on a trending opportunity just before it goes gang-busters.
🔥 Like the people who jumped on TikTok in 2016.
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This corner of the market will explode SO SOON. You don't want to wait on this. Master it now so you can be at the top long before saturation creeps in.


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SINGAPORE: The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) on Tuesday (Nov 21) launched a second public consultation on its proposed Payment Services Bill.
This follows its call for public feedback on the scope of the proposed payments regulatory framework last year.
In a statement on Tuesday, MAS said the new Bill aims to streamline the regulation of payment services under a single piece of legislation.
It also aims to expand the scope of payment services that will be regulated under the new Bill to include those such as domestic money transfers, for example transferring money through payment kiosks, merchant acquisition and the purchase and sale of virtual currencies.
New payment services such as virtual currencies fall outside existing regulations, the regulator added in its consultation paper. It warned that consumers and merchants using these new payment services could be exposed to risks.
When the new Bill is enacted, payment companies will only need to hold one license to carry out any of the specified payment services, the authority said.
Only payment activities that deal with consumers and merchants, process funds or acquire transactions and pose regulatory concerns will need to be licensed.
As different payment services have different levels of risk, MAS said that it will not apply a uniform set of rules surrounding risk to all payment firms.
Instead, it will differentiate regulatory requirements based on the risks posed by the particular payment service to help "ensure that the expanded scope of regulation is not onerous".
The Bill will empower the authoirty to regulate payment services for money-laundering and terrorism financing risks, strengthen safeguards for funds belonging to consumers and merchants, set standards on technology risk management and enhance "interoperability of payment solutions" across a wider range of payment activities, MAS added.
MAS said it was also proposing that larger service providers open up their systems to each other so that consumers get a simpler and more seamless experience.
"We want to put in place a forward-looking regulatory regime to encourage wider adoption of secure e-payment solutions," said MAS' managing director Ravi Menon.
The new "activity-based" licensing framework will aim to "right-size" regulatory requirements to address the risks posed by specific payment activities, he added.
"This will help to protect consumers and merchants while creating an environment conducive for innovation in payment services.”
The public consultation runs from Tuesday to Jan 8, 2018 and a copy of the consultation paper is available on MAS' website.

domain: finance


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Blacktone is an Argentine-Finnish band, formed in 2018. The group consists of Victoria Hartridge, Tero Peltonen and Mikko Keskinen. They describe the Blacktone sound being somewhere between electronic and acoustic ambient and/or alternative.
Blacktone’s first single Back in Time is out now.
Is a musical collective producing and remixing Folktronica, Digital Cumbia and Tropical Bass. Their influences come from all over the world, in particular the rhythms, beats and lifestyles of South America and the Caribbean.
Jaguar Blanco is due to release their new two-sided single in the autumn of 2018.
Music producer, songwriter and the creative director of Sisu Records. As an artist Mike moves mainly in the realms of House, Deep House and Nu Disco. As a producer he’s got an extra special place in his heart for Latin rhythms, Reggae, Hip Hop and Roots music.
Mike is working on a new Deep House inspired release as we speak. Stay tuned.
Back in Time by Blacktone is out now! Check out the new single here.
This is also the first ever release of Sisu Records label. We’re officially in business!
Blacktone’s first single will be released soon. More news to come.
We’re working on our website. Will be up & running in a couple of days.


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I’ve long been a fan of Fruit Routes at Loughborough University. The initiative encourages Loughborough residents and students to forage for food on campus, on a specially designed route full of fruit and nut trees and more.
This weekend saw Fruit Routes celebrating harvest with a community event. Groups including Transition Loughborough, Fearon Hall and Loughborough Sustainability came together to share pumpkin soup, freshly squeezed apple juice and foraged produce.
An apple-centric Bake Off had many impressive entries. I was particularly drawn to this autumn leaves decorated pie.
Sharing produce in a communal harvest celebration is a long-held tradition, and it felt good to celebrate the passing of the seasons – and donate apples I’d picked to be pressed.
If you live near Loughborough, check out Fruit Routes, and forage some food for free. Better yet, share what you find with others too.

domain: food


text:
Kohinoor Hardtmuth Graphite Pencil Graphics
• Create dramatic effects in illustrations, drawings and sketches • Made from the finest Hardtmuth graphite (5B, 4B, 3B, 2B, B, HB, F, H, 2H, 3H, 4H, 5H) • Graphite has high opacity and erases cleanly • Housed in strong, durable California cedar casing • Attractive sleek black finish with degree clearly marked
The Kohinoor Hardtmuth Graphite Pencil Graphics Professional Set is a comprehensive collection of professional-grade graphite art pencils. This set features a range of hardness grades, from 8B to 2H, providing artists with the versatility to achieve a wide range of tones and textures in their artwork.
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The set comes in a convenient package, ensuring that your pencils remain organized and protected. Whether you're a professional artist or an aspiring illustrator, the Kohinoor Hardtmuth Graphite Pencil Graphics Professional Set is an indispensable addition to your art supplies, enabling you to unleash your creativity and achieve professional-level results.


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text:
By Baba Sillah
Some 500, 000 Dollars was withdrawn from the Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation as a compensation deal reached between the Gambia and Ghana after Gambian security forces killed a number of Ghanaian migrants in 2005.
This was revealed by Njogou Bah, former secretary general who was called back to the Janneh Commission yesterday.
Njogou said the money was handed over to him by one Dr Basirat who was introduced to him by President Jammeh through the chief of protocol, Alagie Ousman Ceesay. “I don’t know what Basirat Niasse does but it seems she was negotiating between the two governments and apart from this compensation, I did not have any dealings or transaction with Dr Niasse,” Mr Bah said.
He said the second $500,000 he received from the corporation for onward transmission to Japan was cancelled.
On the issue of a D10 Million loan from GNPC for the rehabilitation of Prisons, Bah said he does not know whether there was any rehabilitation but acknowledged that he did receive the said sum and handed it over to the former president.
At that juncture, counsel Bensouda handed some documents to the witness and upon perusal, Bah told the Commission that the office of the secretary general does not hold an account at Access Bank but Counsel told him that even if the D10 Million was given to the office of the former president it would not have any use because the cheque was specifically meant for his own office as the then SG.
In response, Bah said there are many ways in which cheques can be cashed but the bank can help in locating as to whom the money was paid to.
At that juncture, counsel applied to tender the GNPC cheque payment of D10 Million as exhibits. While admitting the cheque, chairman, Sourahata Janneh observed that there was a GNPC cheque as well as a cheque from Access Bank Manager bearing the same amounts. He then said the bank should be summoned to come and explain. Counsel Bensouda quickly responded that the bank is already summoned on that issue.
Mr Bah informed the Commission that loans taken from SSHFC were intended to be paid through the Ministry of Finance and he did make a general follow-up of loans taken from SSHFC, noting that the corporation and GPA were once under the purview of the office of the president.
On the request of D15 Million loan for the purchase of Tobaski rams, Bah said the request was written by himself on instructions from his former boss with the promise that the loan will be paid after the sales as there were people responsible for the sales.
He however stated that he did not know whether the loan was paid as he had left the office before the three months agreement on it elapsed. He said he felt sorry for SSHFC and once told the former President that the Corporation’s book was in red and that they should be refunded but still his former boss insisted that the corporation had money and can take loans which will be refunded at anytime.
“I even requested the corporation’s statement of account to be shown to Jammeh,” he disclosed.
Regarding the loan for the state aircraft, Njogu said there was indeed a state aircraft but it was said that it consumed too much fuel which warranted for a Russian type to be identified and a loan of $148million was taken from SSHFC.
Documents relating to the purchase of the aircraft and supporting documents at that point were admitted as exhibits.
According to Njogou, the aircraft was flown from the United States to The Gambia but he did not know how much was spent for the check and maintenance of the aircraft.
He acknowledged that the aircraft does go for periodic maintenance and the loan for the aircraft was supposed to be paid by the Ministry of Finance but was not sure whether it was paid.
On the loan of €200,000 given to GRTS, Mr Bah said the management of the state broadcaster went to State House to seek assistance to enable people to watch CAF games on TV and GRTS was supposed to pay the loan from their commercial sales and there was an agreement signed between the corporation and GRTS to that effect.
Mr Bah however said he could not recall whether the loan was paid neither can he recall making any follow-up for the payment of the loan. He said it was news to him when GRTS said they never requested the loan even after entering into an agreement with SSHFC.
On the sum of $3.6 Million loan from the corporation to office of the former president for the purchase of fire tenders and ambulance, Bah said that was meant for the improvement of the airport and the request was made for that purpose.
Concerning 65 tractors bought from John Deere, Mr Bah said he was of the belief that the tractors and farming implements had to do with mechanised farming and Vision 2016 projects. He said Jammeh met the officials of John Deere and SSHFC was supposed to finance the farming implements which arrived in different segments and some of them were parked at State House while others were at MSA.
Documents relating to tractors and farming implements including correspondence were also admitted as exhibits.
Mr Bah said with regard to acquisition of tractors, fire tenders and aircraft, the office of the former president did not comply with the Gambia Public Procurement Act (GPPA) in acquiring those items because of the executive orders.
Next to reappear was Tony Ghattas, the former managing director of APAM but prior to his testimony, his attorney, Sheriff Tambadou applied to tender several documents from his client as ordered by the Commission.
The audited accounts of GADSON Company Limited from 2012-2016 and annual returns from 2015-2016 as well as audited accounts of Afristar Company Limited from 2012-2016 and annual returns from 2015-2017.
The audited accounts of Multi-shipping Agency from 2013-2016 together with annual returns of the same company from 2013-2017 were also tendered.
A letter dated 7 January, 2016 addressed to the MD, APAM from Geological Department and a letter addressed to the same MD of the same company dated 11 April 2016 were all admitted as exhibits respectively.
It has been noted that management plan mentioned in one of the letters would be produced by the witness, Tony Ghattas. He is also asked by the Commission to come up with his share transfers.
At that juncture lawyer Tambadou applied to cross-examine Tony Ghattas on the documents tendered and admitted by the Commission but chairman Sourahata said the Commission is for Jammeh and his close associates and his close associates know themselves including Mr Ghattas but Tambadou said his client never considered himself as a close associate of Jammeh. However he said the Commission Counsel has the right to cross-examine Mr Ghattas and if counsel for Ghattas is not satisfied, he can appeal.
Sitting continues today.

domain: law


text:
Massive Disneyland Attraction Database
Above: Donald Duck's BMW Toon Crash, a favorite attraction of Merlin Jones
Donald Duck's BMW Toon Crash
November 17, 1987
Avg. queue length:
47 minutes (or 25 minutes on foot)
The Donald Duck's BMW Toon Crash queue is like a trip across the seedy side of Toontown. The attraction bmws are formed like Bertie the Cab, and when you drive you can crash them by spinning the steering wheel.
- If it's the first thing in the morning, animatronic animals will have a tendency to make silly comments to scarves.
- Minimum height 33".
- Darkness may be too intense for chickens.
- For your insurance company's benefit, you should be free from fear of infrequent maintenance or hair, spinal, or leg issues or other thingies that could be aggravated by this attraction.
- Attraction is closed for relocation from April 5 until perhaps July 6.
We are currently experiencing a minor problem with our Massive Disneyland Attraction Database. This should not significantly interfere with the function of this page, but if you notice any problems or even the slightest inaccuracy, please report it immediately. Thank you for your prayers.

domain: entertainment


text:
Gift Lizard was created by Kevin Ohashi to create a different kind of gift searching experience.
Find gifts by describing the person you are trying to buy for. Use things like who they are (dad), their hobbies (star wars), their personality (geek, gamer). Other popular tag categories include jobs (engineer), and location (kitchen, garden).
Fling is a tactile game controller for iPad.
Level up your room with this Mario Themed wall graphics.
Those aren't the droids you're looking for.
This completely updated volume presents the effective and practical tools you need to design great desktop applications, Web 2.0 sites, and mobile devices. This book will teach you the principles of good product behavior.
Anyone who designs anything to be used by humans--from physical objects to computer programs to conceptual tools--must read this book, and it is an equally tremendous read for anyone who has to use anything created by another human.
All My Friends Are Dead presents a delightful primer for laughing at the inevitable.
Sometimes I wish I could roam around the mall like it were Azeroth. Now I can with my World of Warcraft Troll Mask!
This novelty light set features 10 R2D2 lights with 30-inch lead wire and 12-inch spacing.
Feel the Force as you transform yourself into a Jedi. Fully harnesses the power of the Kinect platform to deliver a natural and intuitive Star Wars experience.
A superb character mini figure style clock from the masters at Lego, featuring Alarm and a Snooze Button!
May the force be with you.
iPhone/iPod Case with Speakers? Yes Please.
Amazing all-in-one digital microscope takes scientific inquiry to a new level - yet is easy for even a young child to use.
Make your Mac Book go Sub-Zero in coolness.
Sword Umbrella. Need I say more?
Flying Sharks. Who wouldn't want one?
Turn up the sound with science (and not your battery)
Some dragons are helpful. Rest peacefully knowing this dragon is guarding the most important thing in the room.
George R. R. Martin has created a world that is as rich and vital as any piece of historical fiction, set in an age of knights and chivalry and filled with a plethora of fascinating, multidimensional characters that you love, hate to love, or love to hat
Imagine walking into the room with your children and their Muggle friends watching TV, whipping out a magic wand from under your jacket and changing the channel in a flash.
Razer Spectre StarCraft II gaming mouse is a lightweight, five button mouse that is ideal for gamers that prefer precision and control for an RTS.
A wry, mesmerizing portrait of being underprivileged, underage, and underdressed in 1980s New York City, Girlbomb provides an unflinching look at street life, survival sex, female friendships, and first loves.
Starcraft 2 Dogtag USB Stick ensures you're the coolest kid at the lan party.
The Swinging Sticks Kinetic Energy Sculpture is a high end, museum quality moving display that is ideal for offices, lobbies, waiting rooms, and conference rooms.
Can't find your charger? USBCELL AA Rechargeable Batteries work just like normal rechargeable batteries--but simply pop off the lid to recharge by any powered USB Port.
Protect your phone with classic style.
I probably will never know what time it is again.
This is the history of StarCraft. This is the love of e-sports. This is the Bible of StarCraft.
There's A Zombie On Your Lawn! Nobody was quite sure what caused it. An alien pathogen riding the tail of Halley's Comet? Some government "rage" virus? Radiation from a downed satellite?
Boldly go where no pizza has gone before with Think Geek's Star Trek Pizza Cutter.
This is a must for any collector Iron Man in this full body titanium color suit just like thr prototype in the movie.
Mini remote control helicopter. USB charger.
A wise man once asked, Is it better to be feared or respected? I say, is it too much to ask for both?
1.5 hours of high quality video stored on 4GB memory card.
Provides a complete, comprehensive overview of the Prequel movies (Episodes I-III) and the Trilogy (Episodes IV-VI), this is the definitive photographic guide to the entire Star Wars saga.
You should wait for the paint on your helmet to dry before launching head first into a sail barge, it may leave a nasty imprint of your defeat.
Take a closer look and you'll discover the holy grail of science fiction one-liners... IT'S A TRAP!
What would you do with the power? We feel a breeze in the Force.
Get ready for the comedy adventure that's "smart, funny, and tailor-made for the inner-Jedi in all of us"
All the light sabers glow in the dark, need I say more?
Make your own Star Wars animated signs that light up like Neon.
Kindle Fire isn't just for books anymore. Web, Apps, Video, Magazines, Music and More!
Forget the old concept of retirement and the rest of the deferred-life plan-there is no need to wait and every reason not to.
Thinner, bigger, faster, stronger... which 150 pages will you read?
What if, behind all of these conspiracies both real and imagined, lay one lone man? What if that evil genius created its most infamous document?
Includes R2D2, C3PO, Yoda, Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Stormtrooper, and Chewbacca
Star Wars Movie Your Empire Needs You Darth Vader Poster Print - 24x36
6 STAR WARS MOVIE POSTERS on Quality Stock Paper One full size movie poster from each Star Wars Episode.
1 each of Princess Leia, Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, and Han Salo
The Star Wars Large Recycled Tote is the perfect gift for any Star Wars fan.
Our set includes Star Wars logo, Darth Vader, Yoda and a Stormtrooper
This fun striped pattern is done in bold shades of lavender, yellow-gold,blue, fuschia, pink and lime.
A global phenomenon, exposing our individual aspirations, fantasies, and frailties -- our common humanity.
Construct your own Jedi lightsaber and mount your creation as a room light on the wall. Eight color effects let kids personalize their lightsaber, and a wireless remote control turns the light on and off.
This table top Death Star opens up into a planetary projector to display the cosmos on your bedroom ceiling.
Disney Star Wars Exclusive PVC 8 Figure Set
Why not take a load off and cuddle up with this wonderful, talking, soft plushes while war rages on between the Empire and the Rebel forces!
Are you ready to feel like the villain to end all villains This detailed DARTH VADER electronic helmet will make the action feel incredibly real!
Obi Wan Lego!
A story of intense poignancy, Isabel's tale of love and betrayal still resonates with modern audiences.
One of Virginia Woolf's greatest novels paired with an influential essay on the role of women in society.
Virginia Woolf's Orlando 'The longest and most charming love letter in literature', playfully constructs the figure of Orlando as the fictional embodiment of Woolf's close friend and lover, Vita Sackville-West.
Nine-year-old Oskar Schell has embarked on an urgent, secret mission that will take him through the five boroughs of New York.
This mighty warrior will watch over your desk and enforce the emperor's will on all who dare draw near.
Ian McEwan s symphonic novel of love and war, childhood and class, guilt and forgiveness provides all the satisfaction of a brilliant narrative and the provocation we have come to expect from this master of English prose.
All children should believe they are special. But the students of Hailsham, an elite school in the English countryside, are so special that visitors shun them, and only by rumor and the occasional fleeting remark by a teacher do they discover their uncon
In his captivating third novel, David Mitchell erases the boundaries of language, genre and time to offer a meditation on humanityâ€™ s dangerous will to power, and where it may lead us.
Dorian Gray, a handsome young man, receives a beautiful painting of himself from his good friend Basil Hallward. In the same moment, a new acquaintance, Lord Henry, introduces Dorian to the ideals of youthfulness and hedonism, of which Gray becomes immed
Collect of J.D. Salinger's books such as Catcher in the Rye and Nine Stories.
The story of a young man's painful sexual and intellectual awakening that echoes Fitzgerald's own career, it is also a portrait of the lost generation that followed straight on from the First World War, 'grown up to find all Gods dead, all
Just Kids begins as a love story and ends as an elegy. It serves as a salute to New York City during the late sixties and seventies and to its rich and poor, its hustlers and hellions. A true fable, it is a portrait of two young artists' ascent, a p
It was the birth of the nasty food web-trend. And it was delicious.


text:
Analysis by Maeve Reston, CNN
(CNN) - President Donald Trump returns to the campaign trail Saturday in Tulsa with his first rally since the coronavirus pandemic began, looking to reignite support for his struggling reelection bid while sweeping aside concerns from his own health experts and continuing to stoke tensions by threatening protesters outside his Oklahoma spectacle.
Trump is eager to resume the boisterous rallies that he believes were key to his 2016 victory at a time when his reelection prospects have dimmed, in large part because many Americans disapprove of his handling of both the coronavirus and his response to calls for racial justice that are gripping this country.
His own plans for the rally -- originally scheduled for Friday, which was Juneteenth -- the day marking the end of slavery in the United States -- may have only deepened the sense that the President, who has a history of making racist remarks and is opposed to renaming military bases named for Confederate leaders, is out of touch with a county trying to reckon with its racially violent past. That past is especially painful in Tulsa, home to a 1921 massacre of hundreds of Black Americans who were attacked by a White mob in Greenwood, a neighborhood then known as "Black Wall Street" that was looted and burned. Read more >>

domain: sociology


Huawei P40 series phones went official last week running the EMUI 10.1, the latest build of Huawei’s custom skin based on Android 10. The company has now revealed the rollout schedule of EMUI 10.1 internal beta testing for Huawei and Honor phones. But do keep in mind that the rollout plan listed below is only for China variants of the compatible devices, and it will be followed by a public beta testing before the stable build is released in China, followed by the international markets. Additionally, the company has also highlighted some of the new features arriving with EMUI 10.1 update.
As per a post on the official Huawei Club forum, the internal beta testing of EMUI 10.1 has already begun for the following phones and tablets:
This will be followed by a second phase of EMUI 10.1 testing that begins in early April. The eligible devices for this round of beta testing are Huawei Nova 5, Huawei Nova 5Z, Huawei Nova 5 Pro, Huawei Nova 5i Pro, and the Honor 20S. In mid-April, EMUI 10.1 beta update will be rolled out for Huawei’s 2019 flagships that include Huawei P30, Huawei P30 Pro, Huawei Mate 30 4G, Huawei Mate 30 5G, Huawei Mate 30 Pro 4G, Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G, and the Huawei Mate 30 RS Porsche Design. Late in April, the Huawei Mate X, Huawei Mate Xs, Huawei Mate 20 X 5G, Huawei Enjoy 10S, and the Honor 20 Youth Edition will land the beta update.
Talking about features, EMUI 10.1 introduces a unified hub that allows users to control all connected AIoT devices from a single place. It will also offer suggestions for connecting to nearby devices. The latest iteration of Huawei’s custom skin also brings a multi-screen collaboration tool that will let users control their phone with a compatible laptop and will also offer quick file sharing, cross-device calling, and more. Huawei will also release the in-house MeeTime video conferencing app with EMUI 10.1 and the Celia AI assistant as well.


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She has, for example, called for the elimination of the Energy Department and the Environmental Protection Agency, denounced the BP compensation fund for victims of the oil spill as a slush fund, and suggested that her candidacy was a mission for God.
It’s a strange political environment right now. Republicans are going to win a lot of elections in November, and that should mean that as a party, they get more moderate, right? It’s the same problem the Democrats suffer from now: they have a broad coalition that includes representatives and senators from conservative districts, so liberal ideas like, say, including a public option in the health care bill tend to be dead on arrival.
It seems like the opposite could be true this time. Republicans will make gains, but their caucus could very well be more conservative, not less, because there will be so many of these tea partiers around. Weird.


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Patricia Arquette: My mum’s a brilliant woman
Patricia Arquette got a producer banned from his own movie set after inappropriate behaviour.
The 47-year-old made waves at the Academy Awards this year, when she used her Best Supporting Actress winner’s speech to comment on wage equality. And it seems the star got her feminist attitude from her mother Brenda, who gave Patricia and her four siblings a solid upbringing in Chicago, Illinois.
“I feel like my mom did everything for us, we had very little but she’s a brilliant woman,” she told The Hollywood Reporter.
All of Patricia’s brothers and sisters - David, Richmond, Alexis and Rosanna - have joined her in the acting world. While the Boyhood star still loves taking on new characters, she is becoming increasingly focused on dealing with the issue of wage inequality and sexism in Hollywood. During her chat with the outlet, she opened up how she dealt with one particular producer’s bad behaviour.
“I did have to ban a producer from his own movie,” she recalled. “He was actually physically inappropriate with a lot of people in the cast and a lot of extras and I was talking to the insurance people and I was like ‘I cannot do a scene with this guy’ and he’s bad guys, like this guy is really a lawsuit waiting to happen.”
As well as her work on the big screen, Patricia has had major success in TV series Medium. And earlier this year her new show, CBS’ CSI: Cyber, premiered to hit ratings. Patricia is thrilled that a network is focusing on giving women of all ages strong roles to work with.
“We definitely talked about it, but it wasn’t my idea to have a middle aged woman be the new lead of CSI it was their idea,” she said. “They were very clear about wanting more woman and also wanting minorities to be present and wanting to have a realistic vision of what is really happening in America.”
© Cover Media

domain: celebrity


text:
World No Tobacco Day is an annual event that takes place on May 31st and aims to draw attention to the harmful effects of tobacco use while promoting effective measures to reduce its consumption. The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the initiative in 1987, and it has since evolved into a significant global campaign.
Tobacco use continues to be a major global health issue, causing millions of preventable deaths each year and posing serious risks to both smokers and non-smokers. Approximately 86% of tobacco users smoke it, while the remaining 14% use smokeless forms. Tobacco contains numerous harmful chemical agents, including potent carcinogens such as nitrosamines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen cyanide.
According to the WHO, tobacco is responsible for over 8 million deaths annually. Tobacco use directly causes approximately 7 million deaths, while exposure to secondhand smoke is responsible for over 1 million deaths. The toll on public health is alarming, with tobacco-related diseases including various types of cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular ailments, and other chronic conditions.
World No Tobacco Day serves as a platform to address several key objectives. Firstly, it aims to raise awareness among the general public about the dangers of tobacco use, including its addictive nature and the associated health risks. The campaign disseminates information about the harmful chemicals present in tobacco products and how they detrimentally affect individuals, families, and communities.
Secondly, the campaign promotes the implementation and strengthening of evidence-based policies by governments to reduce tobacco consumption. This involves advocating for comprehensive tobacco control measures, such as higher taxation on tobacco products, restrictions on advertising and promotion, the use of graphic health warnings, and the creation of smoke-free environments.
Thirdly, the day supports smokers in quitting by providing accessible cessation programs, affordable medications, counseling services, and support networks to overcome nicotine addiction and improve well-being.
Lastly, World No Tobacco Day emphasizes the importance of preventing tobacco initiation among young people. Highlighted are educational programs and campaigns that actively discourage tobacco experimentation and use among adolescents. By safeguarding the health of future generations, the campaign sets the stage for a tobacco-free society.
World No Tobacco Day prompts global activities and initiatives, including awareness campaigns by health organizations, educational institutions, and NGOs through social media, public service announcements, and community events.
Policy advocacy plays a crucial role, urging governments to strengthen tobacco control measures in alignment with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Stricter regulations on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, as well as the implementation of smoke-free legislation, are encouraged.
Community support is also a key component, with smoking cessation programs and resources made available to assist individuals in their efforts to quit. Helplines, counseling services, nicotine replacement therapies, and awareness-raising events focused on tobacco cessation are provided.
Furthermore, international collaboration among governments, health organizations, and international bodies facilitates the sharing of best practices, research findings, and strategies for tobacco control. This fosters a global movement against tobacco, encouraging cross-border cooperation and the exchange of knowledge.
World No Tobacco Day reminds us of the fight against tobacco’s impact on public health. Through awareness, policies, cessation support, and youth engagement, this campaign aims for a tobacco-free world. We can contribute by spreading awareness, supporting control initiatives, and empowering others to live healthier, tobacco-free lives.

domain: medical


text:
DESIGNED ORIGINALLY FOR SARAH AND KEITH
This wedding band echoes the concept of the heart as a universal symbol of love and literally translates it to an eternal one-of-a-kind adornment. The design was created from an actual scan of the bride’s EKG heartbeat reading and celebrates the pulse of life in three separate layers of metal – the heartbeat wave in 18k Rose Gold sandwiched between two layers of the custom Linhardt 18k “slate gold”. We love mixed metals and this complimentary combination is one of our favorites.
Recycled 18k Rose gold; Linhardt’s 18k Slate Gold; in satin finish. These rings were made in three separate pieces and soldered together as one.


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Two hurricanes a week apart — the disastrous 1955 flood
Sixty years ago this month, two major hurricanes arriving less than a week apart created the worst flooding in the history of eastern Pennsylvania. I well remember each of them and the havoc left in their wake.
As a writer/photographer for a local newspaper, I witnessed and photographed much of the resulting mayhem and devastation.
It was early August 1955, and Betty and I having been married less than a month, were planning a move to Lower Bucks County, where I had recently been hired by the Evening Press, then one of the area’s daily newspapers.
At the time, the chief topic of conversation here was the weather. Like most of the northeastern United States, Bucks County had been in the grip of a six-week-long drought and heat wave.
Since early June, the temperature had rarely dipped below 90 degrees and at times (including July 16, our wedding day) had exceeded 100. This in an era when home air conditioning was almost non-existent.
Even worse, there had been no measurable precipitation, and nearly everyone was hoping desperately for rain. We would soon get more than our share of it.
On Tuesday, Aug. 2, the afternoon temperature was a scorching 102 degrees. By 6 p.m., it still hovered at 100. The only visible signs of possible relief were weather reports forecasting the possibility of scattered showers for Sunday.
As predicted, that Sunday, Aug.7, a series of heavy thundershowers would bring a much needed respite from the stifling heat. Yet, these storms were merely a taste of what nature still had in store.
Far to the southeast, a few hundred miles off the Florida coast, a hurricane was forming. Named Connie by the U.S. Weather Bureau, it was moving northwest and would soon threaten the U.S. mainland.
Only a year before, a hurricane named Hazel had passed directly over eastern Pennsylvania and had wrought extensive damage to life and property. The path Connie would take was still anyone’s guess.
On Wednesday, Aug. 10, the U.S. Weather Bureau report included both good and bad news. Connie was now stalled off the South Carolina coast, with winds of 135 mph, and there were indications if she struck the mainland at all, it would only be as a mild storm.
But in the Caribbean, another hurricane was forming. This one would be named Diane.
At Neshaminy High School, the Red Cross began setting up headquarters and bringing in food, blankets and cots. At the then-brand-new Lower Bucks Hospital, generators were being readied for emergency service should normal power fail. Along the Neshaminy Creek and at Warner Cove in Tullytown, countless small boats were seeking whatever shelter they could find.
The following day, Thursday, Aug. 11, a spokesperson at the U.S. Weather Bureau station in Trenton stated firmly, “Connie will not strike Bucks County. It will pass about 150 miles off the New Jersey coast.”
He then added, “Connie’s little sister, Diane, is not a threat at all. She won’t bother us. She’s flitting around Bermuda and it looks like she’ll settle down there.”
Ominously, in Lower Bucks, rain was already falling.
During the afternoon and throughout the night of Friday, Aug.. 12, Connie’s high winds and heavy rains pounded the Bucks County area. In less than two days, more than six inches of rain would fall — more than four inches in 24 hours.
Already, the Delaware River, the sewers, and most of the area’s lakes and streams were beginning to overflow. In Bristol Borough, the Delaware River was spilling onto the Mill Street parking lot. In Levittown, Oxford Valley and Emilie roads were re flooded in places to a depth of more than five feet, and sections of Woodbourne Road were also covered with five feet of water.
Many of the streets in the Thornridge section of Levittown were submerged, and in sections of Route 413 between Langhorne and Newtown, the water rose to more than three feet.
Families living along the quickly rising Neshaminy Creek from Langhorne Terrace to Croydon were fleeing their homes in panic.
Although Connie had by now lost most of her strength and was headed out to sea, the fledgling Diane, although still far away, was quickly gaining in intensity.
By Tuesday, Aug. 16, four days had passed, and much of the mess left by Connie had been cleaned up. But again, ominous signals were coming from the south. Diane had reached the Carolinas, and once again the entire East Coast was on hurricane alert. History seemed to be repeating itself, and all too rapidly.
For a brief period, it seemed there might be a reprieve. On Wednesday, Aug. 17, Diane was still slashing the Carolinas, but it appeared she had lost most of her energy. Now only high winds and some rain were expected along her path.
The following day, Thursday, Aug. 18, disaster struck. In Pennsylvania, the skies opened up and throughout the afternoon, the entire state was deluged. In some locales, more than 10 inches of rain fell in a matter of hours.
Every river and creek in the state was spilling over its banks. Streets were flooded, and bridges were washed away. In Lower Bucks County, the raging Neshaminy Creek washed away homes in Newportville, Hulmeville, Fergusonville, and Langhorne Terrace, and was overflowing the bridge at Newportville Road — a bridge that was normally 15 feet above the water’s surface.
I vividly recall a concerned policeman shouting at me to “get off that bridge” as I stood at its center, in rapidly moving water, snapping photos.
Along the Delaware River, houses were wiped out, and some even carried downstream. Three homes smashed into the Yardley-West Trenton bridge, demolishing it. Farther north, both the Point Pleasant and Easton bridges were badly damaged by floating debris.
In Morrisville, the river rose 22 feet above normal, cresting at 28.6 feet.
In Lower Bucks County alone, nearly 500 families had to be evacuated from their homes. Some individuals sought shelter on rooftops and tree tops, where they would be eventually rescued by helicopters from the Johnsville Naval Air Station in Warminster
In Yardley, Lower Makefield and New Hope, water covered the rooftops of homes and some residents there were also driven onto treetops. In Bristol Borough, homes on Radcliffe Street and businesses on Mill Street were flooded.
For Bucks County families living near water, the summer of 1955 was a disaster that would leave more than 1,000 individuals homeless. It was an experience that anyone who witnessed it (this writer included) will never forget.
Jerry Jonas’ opinion column appears in the Life Section every Sunday. Reach him at 215-949-0376; email: firstname.lastname@example.org.

domain: geography