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Each week, The MERL garden is tended to and cared for by our team of dedicated gardening volunteers. Recently, we sat down with them over a cuppa and chatted about how they have prepared the garden for winter, and what they are looking forward to growing in the coming months.
As part of Our Green Stories, a campaign by The MERL and Reading Museum (Museums Partnership Reading) exploring the changing environment through our work and collections, join us below as our gardening volunteers share insights into what they’ve been up to of late and how we are caring for the garden in the year ahead.
Caring for plants and soil
Healthy soil is vital for a healthy garden. Both in autumn and winter we mulch the garden, which involves covering the soil with a thick layer of compost. This is then pulled into the earth by the worms, which increases the soil’s biodiversity and adds extra nutrients for future growth. It’s important to let the worms do their work! We make our own mulching materials and next year we are hoping to install water butts, which are a great way of collecting garden rainwater and reducing gardeners’ reliance on tap water.
To improve soil health, this year we are practising a ‘no dig’ approach. The objective is to protect soil structure and avoid compaction, which happens when soil is pressed down too much, causing air pockets to collapse and restricting opportunities for water to enter the earth. Rather than digging and disrupting the soil, we instead add compost to the surface. Our raised beds are great for this, as you don’t need to walk on them at all!
We’re complementing the mulching with the use of green manure. Now if you haven’t heard of this term before, green manure refers to types of fast-growing plants which are grown on bare soil, usually in autumn or winter. When these green plants are then dug into the ground in spring, they will increase the amount of organic matter in the soil and its water-holding capacity for growing future plants. Alongside several different types of plants, we are adding self-sown phacelia to our raised beds for this reason.
At the same time, we’re experimenting with different techniques for growing our plants. We are going to trial sowing some hardy annuals in autumn instead of spring so that they have a better developed root system when planted and can survive with less water. It’s important to sow at the right time for the plant. For instance, plant salad seeds when cooler in spring or late summer, for instance, to avoid wasting resources by trying to keep things alive or on limited germination.
We are also propagating our own plants rather than buying new ones in. This conserves resources but it also produces plants that tend to be better established, especially when they are from divisions of plants growing in the garden already.
Why not share our packets of seed? The MERL gardeners are collecting, drying and storing the seed from garden plants to sell in the shop. Take a look next time you visit!
Gardens are a vital tool for promoting and restoring biodiversity. For this reason, we avoid using any pesticides. We accept there will be losses of some of the plants we try to grow, but ultimately the garden is a space that we share with nature and wildlife. What we gardeners consider ‘pests’ are food for other animals.
For a garden to thrive, it needs pollinators, and we try to encourage these by growing plants they are attracted to or are good food sources, such as borage and phacelia. We’re also adding to our new bee meadow in an evolving way by replacing some overly prolific self-seeded plants with others that are more insect friendly. We will also be repairing and increasing the number of insect hotels and nesting areas. A solitary bee hotel is due to be installed in the coming months as an outcome of the London Road Bee Meadow project. We will also use coppiced materials and compost piles to create natural habitats and undisturbed areas for wildlife.
And while the garden is great for nature and wildlife, many people also find that gardening is beneficial for their wellbeing. The physical connection with soil, and the close contact with nature, is grounding and calming, and this is something that is much loved by our gardening volunteers and visitors alike. ‘Looking after animals benefits mental and physical health’, our volunteer Daisy said, ‘and sometimes gives you fresh produce too’!

domain: agronomy


Air National Guard: Fighter Pilot Training
Tucson International Airport is home to the Air National Guard's (ANG) premier F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter pilot training unit, the 162nd Fighter Wing. It is the largest ANG fighter wing in the country and resides on 94 acres next to the Tucson International Airport. The wing shares use of the runway, security, and fire control with the airport. Approximately 1,450 people work at the base. About 900 are full-time employees and the balance are drill status Guardsmen providing forces in support of wartime operations.
Since its activation in 1956, the 162nd Fighter Wing has fulfilled a federal and state mission. The dual mission, a provision of the U. S. Constitution, results in each Guardsman holding membership in the National Guard of Arizona and in the National Guard of the United States. Specifically, the wing serves the United States and allied nations by providing the finest fighter training programs in the world while partnering with the U.S. Air Force in overseas contingencies and Aerospace Control Alert.
The wing's federal mission is to maintain well-trained, well-equipped units available for prompt mobilization during war and provide assistance during national emergencies such as natural disasters or civil disturbances. Currently, the 162nd deploys its members as part of the Air and Space Expeditionary Force to provide combat forces in support of Operations in Southwest Asia.
When 162nd Fighter Wing Guardsmen are not mobilized or under federal control, they report to the governor of Arizona and are led by the adjutant general of the state. Under state law, the wing provides protection of life, property and preserves peace, order and public safety. These missions are accomplished through emergency relief support during natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and forest fires; search and rescue operations; support to civil defense authorities; maintenance of vital public services and counter drug operations.


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President Donald Trump’s decision to send troops to the southern border and funding transfers following the declaration of a national emergency pose an “unacceptable risk to Marine Corps combat readiness and solvency,” the Marine Corps commandant warned.
An internal memo sent in March 2019 by Marine Corps Gen. Robert Neller to Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer and Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan listed “unplanned/unbudgeted southwest border operations” and “border security funding transfers” alongside Hurricanes Florence and Michael as “negative factors” putting readiness at risk, the Los Angeles Times first reported.
The four-star general explained that due to a number of unexpected costs, referred to as “negative impacts,” the Marines will be forced to cancel or limit their participation in a number of previously planned activities, including training exercises in at least five countries.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Asia J. Sorenson)
He warned that the cancelled training exercises will “degrade the combat readiness and effectiveness of the Marine Corps,” adding that “Marines rely on the hard, realistic training provided by these events to develop the individual and collective skills necessary to prepare for high-end combat.”
Neller further argued that cancellations or reduced participation would hurt the Corps’ ties to US allies and partners at a critical time.
Border security is listed among several factors, such as new housing allowances and civilian pay raises, that could trigger a budget shortfall for the Marine Corps, but it is noteworthy that the commandant identified a presidential priority as a detriment to the service.
In a separate memo, Neller explained that the Marines are currently short id=”listicle-2632709751″.3 billion for hurricane recovery operations.
“The hurricane season is only three months away, and we have Marines, Sailors, and civilians working in compromised structures,” he wrote.
Marines help push a car out of a flooded area during Hurricane Florence, at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Sept. 15, 2018.
The Pentagon sent a list of military construction projects that could lose their funding to cover the cost of the president’s border wall to Congress on March 18, 2019. Among the 400 projects that could be affected were funds for Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station, both of which suffered hurricane damage in 2018.
Congress voted in March 2019 to cancel Trump’s national emergency, but the president quickly vetoed the legislation.
Critics have argued that the president’s deployment of active-duty troops to the border, as well as plans to cut funding for military projects, are unnecessary and will harm military readiness.
In October 2018, more than 5,000 active-duty troops joined the more than 2,000 National Guard troops already at the southern border.
The deployment, a response to migrant caravans from Central America, was initially set to end in mid-December 2018, but it has since been extended until at least September 2019 As of January 2019, border operations have already cost the military 0 million, and that figure is expected to grow throughout 2019.
This article originally appeared on Business Insider. Follow @BusinessInsider on Twitter.
The Soviet-run Red Star Kennel mated Giant Schnauzers, Airedales, Rottweilers, and Moscow Divers as the primary breeds. These were chosen for the Schnauzer’s agility and sharp guarding instinct; the Airedales’ happy disposition, perseverance, and staying power; and the Rottweiler for its massive make, shape, and courage.
Other breeds included Newfoundlands, Caucasian Shepherds, and others – including the now-extinct Moscow Water Dog.
They created the ideal working dog, a large breed that stays alert, is protective without being aggressive, and is able to withstand the extreme climates of Russia – which ranges from frozen Siberia to dry, hot desert. By 1983, it was declared a new breed worldwide.
As a result of the extremely selective breeding, the Black Russian Terrier is a big dog, upwards of three feet tall and 130 pounds – and needs a job to do in order to be happy.
While initially used to guard prison camps and against potential industrial sabotage, the dogs were needed at a time when the population of the Soviet military’s working dogs was on the decline. While not added to the American Kennel Club until decades later, the young breed was at work in the Soviet Union by 1954.
They love to run around in big spaces and a reportedly very lovable pets. But they need to be around people. Think of it: a specifically bred large, powerful dog with big teeth, who only wants to cuddle. Some owners report they will destroy your house like German Panzer Army if you leave them alone too long!
The Bangor, Washington-based USS Michigan (SSGN 727) will soon put to sea and submerge with a crew that includes four female NCOs and 34 junior enlisted women, marking the first time the Navy has deployed a submarine with women in the enlisted ranks.
The female sailors will be divided between the Gold and Blue crews of the guided-missile submarine.
According to the Kitsap Sun newspaper, the USS Michigan has undergone a $6 million retrofit to build out the crew quarters and heads to accommodate the female crew, including converting a bunkroom into shower space, splitting the aft washroom to allow for a shower and head combination and a watchstander head, and creating a new bunkroom from the old crew’s study.
The chief petty officers will bunk together two or three to a room, while the other women will split into nine-person bunkrooms and share a head, the newspaper said.
The Navy opened up the all-male submarine force several years ago to female sailors and deployed its first crew with women officers in 2011.
The USS Michigan’s crew is made up of 15 officers and about 140 enlisted sailors. The female enlisted submariners were chosen from 113 applicants, the Kitsap Sun reported.
The Navy reportedly plans to add as many as 550 female sailors to the submarine service by 2020.
In today’s combat environments, it’s not at all uncommon to see U.S. Marines burdened with more than 150 pounds of gear, with reports of some loadouts climbing over 200 for those tasked with operating or supporting larger weapons systems.
It goes without saying that carrying that much weight on foot can compromise a war fighter’s ability to operate, but that begs the question: just how much can you carry on your back before your trading gear for combat effectiveness?
It turns out, a whole lot less than you’d think.
FYI: It doesn’t get easier if you try to carry it higher.
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James R. Stilipec)
According to research conducted by Marine Corps Capt. Courtney Thompson at the Naval Postgraduate School, the most a Marine should be stuck carrying into the fight is a comparatively measly 58 pounds. While that may sound like a lot for your average Sunday hiker, for America’s warfighters, that’s a figure that seems impossibly low for today’s combat operations.
The problem with that figure is that the vast majority of that 58-pound load is occupied by non-negotiable personal protective equipment. A standard combat loadout tends to weigh in at around 43 pounds on its own — combat loadout in this case meaning flak jacket, Kevlar helmet, rifle and the standard gear you wear rather than pack. Whatever you may need for long term survival or other mission requirements has to be added to that 43-pound baseline, meaning the 58-pound combat-cutoff would allot only fifteen pounds for all other gear, from breaching tools to spare socks and MREs.
“Marines always have to be prepared to engage with the enemy,” said Captain Thompson. “In doing so, they typically have personal protective equipment, weapons, and other gear. Ultimately, the goal is to make those Marines as lethal and survivable as possible, and my thesis works towards that same goal.”
Like going into combat with a full grown dude on your back.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Caleb Nunez)
Captain Thompson’s research, of course, won’t create an immediate change in loadouts for troops in combat. Any Marine with a pair of knees can tell you that carrying 200 pounds on your back will make even the most basic infantry tactics an exercise in exhaustion and managed injury. Current combat loads are dictated by mission requirements, not comfort. But that isn’t to say that the research won’t lead to changes in the future. Her work was awarded the Stephen A. Tisdale Thesis Award by the Naval Postgraduate School Department of Operations Research, and according to Thomspon, the Marine Corps has taken notice.
“The commanding general of the Marine Corps War-fighting Lab is asking for my research and results,” Thompson said. “I also worked with a few people at Marine Corps Systems Command who’ve been looking at this problem specifically so they may use it to help support their further research.”
While it may be a long time before Marines see any relief in their combat loadouts, Thompson’s research can benefit any of us wondering just how effective we are with our kits on (whether it’s a hiking kit or full battle rattle). For most of us (if you’re still in Marine Corps shape), you should cut it off at around 58 pounds of total gear strapped to your body. If you’re not quite the Marine you used to be… that number is probably a bit lower.
Federal officials plan to crackdown on what they view as predatory lending schemes — reminiscent of the toxic practices seen during the housing boom — targeted at thousands of veterans nationwide who have VA home loans.
The abuses involve serial refinancings that generate hefty fees for lenders and loan brokers but leave borrowers in worse financial shape than they were before the transaction. Lenders are dangling teaser interest rates, “cash out” windfalls, and lower monthly payments, sometimes using shady marketing materials that resemble official information from the Department of Defense. Not infrequently, officials say, borrowers end up in negative equity positions, owing more on their loan balance than their house is worth.
Officials at the Government National Mortgage Association, better known as Ginnie Mae, say some veterans are being flooded with misleading refi offers and are signing up without assessing the costs and benefits. Some properties are being refinanced multiple times a year, thanks to “poaching” by lenders who aggressively solicit competitors’ recent borrowers to refi them again and roll the fees into a new loan balance.
The costs to the veterans can far outweigh the relatively modest reductions in monthly payments. In an analysis of questionable refinancings, Ginnie Mae found “many” examples where the borrowers were persuaded to switch from a long-term fixed interest rate to a lower-rate, short-term adjustable, but saw the principal amount owed to the lender jump by thousands of dollars. In an average fixed-rate to adjustable-rate refi, according to data provided to me for this column, borrowers added $12,000 to their debt in order to reduce their monthly payment by $165. Just to break even on that deal would take more than six years, according to Ginnie Mae, and could push unsuspecting borrowers into negative equity.
A typical pitch for one of these loans was received recently by a veteran and his wife who live in Silver Spring, Md. Along with a fake “check” made out to the veteran in the amount of $30,000 — all he had to do to get the cash was sign up for a refi — were come-ons like this: a new 2.25 percent interest rate, no out-of-pocket expenses, a refund of his escrow money, and up to two months with zero mortgage payments.
“Call now and lock in your rate before rates go any higher,” urged the lender. In small print on the back of the check were a couple of key disclosures: Homeowners would have to switch from their current 3.75 percent fixed rate to a “3/1” adjustable rate that could increase 36 months after closing and rise to as high as 7.25 percent during the life of the loan. There was nothing about fees or the fact that opting for the refi could add to the family’s debt load.
VA home loans are backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and often have no down payment. Lenders who originate them receive guarantees of a portion of the loan amount against loss in the event of a default. Ginnie Mae bundles VA and Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans into mortgage bonds, which are then purchased by investors who receive guarantees of timely payments.
In an interview, Michael R. Bright, acting Ginnie Mae president, said some of the abuses he is seeing hark back to 2005 and 2006 — heyday years of the boom before the bust. “We’re seeing borrowers refinance three times in less than six months and (their) loan balances going up.” Homeowners also are dumping fixed-rate loans for riskier adjustables.
“That was the play back then” during the boom, he said. Now it’s back.
Bright declined to name mortgage lenders who are most aggressively involved in abusive refis, but he said violators of agency rules face financial penalties and loss of eligibility to participate in bond offerings — essentially closing down their funding source.
Bottom line for VA borrowers: Look skeptically at all refi promotions. Run the numbers to see whether refinancing will leave you better off — or deeper in debt.
Howard Banks is a WWII veteran who was injured while protecting Old Glory. Not in Europe or the Pacific, but in front of his Texas home.
The 92-year-old Banks is legally blind, but could spot someone trying to tear down the American flag posted in front of his house in Kaufman, Texas. When he went out to see what was happening, he was pushed to the ground.
Banks didn’t stay down for long. Just the previous year, vandals took down his U.S. flag, shredded it and then tore up his Marine Corps. Still holding on to the railing, Banks stood back up, ready to meet his attackers.
But they ran off. Banks was left with a twisted knee and some other bruises, but his flags were intact. Neighbors moved to help the 92-year-old, whose flags were still there. Banks attributed his dedication to the flag as more than just defending his property and his Marine Corps heritage.
“We’ve honored our flag all that time and doggone it, with our political climate the way that it is, we need something to rally around and that’s our flag,” Banks told the local Fox affiliate. “Once a Marine, always a Marine. I try to live that way.”
In the days since, Banks was surprised with a gift from Honor Flight, whose mission is to help older veterans by flying them to Washington, D.C., free of charge so they can visit their war’s memorial.
Banks’ neighbors moved in quickly to assist him. He now has security cameras in place to monitor his flags.
The world has gone straight past the hipster phase of just looking vintage, and right into recalling the bygone era of the Great Depression culture. Long before zero waste was made cool, lived a generation who were thriftier than you could ever hope to be. We’re taking a page out of their book for some vintage life hacks coming in handy right about now.
Everyday staples are disappearing from the shelves, and stockpiles only last so long. The next time you fry, take the excess bacon grease and store it in the fridge for a delicious addition to your oily arsenal. Southern vegetables have a reputation of not being vegan for a reason…bacon!
Spread your meat
Meat can be a luxury and getting the most per pound right now counts. Sorry bodybuilders, your entire chicken breast per meal might not be possible these days. Swapping meat for lentils, adding mushrooms to meatballs, or simply cutting the beef portions is smart quarantine meal prep.
Celery, green onions, romaine stalks and more are all possible to regrow quickly and simply at home. Double your fresh food lifespan by searching to see everything you can count on to regrow and yield a whole new batch without having to plant in the ground.
It’s funny how every American now loves soup. Soup stocks and broths are one item missing from the shelf yet are incredibly easy to make at home with a little forward-thinking. Save the scraps of celery, carrots, onions and herbs and toss them into the freezer for safekeeping. As is, you have the ingredients to make a delicious vegetable broth, but add in beef, chicken bones and even a little of that bacon grease to add depth.
Grow your own
Forecasts are showing we might be staying thrifty for a while. Want to guarantee the foods you want will always be in stock? Grow your own “Victory Garden” to combat any sort of shortage in your area. Years ago, neighborhoods and whole communities joined forces to swap produce, keeping everyone fed.
They have achieved cult hero status for their exploits since 9/11, but their success on the battlefield is taking a personal toll on Navy SEALs and members of other US special operations elite forces.
Reports of rampant illicit drug abuse by special operators — while on deployment and at home — have prompted congressional lawmakers to call for an accountability review of the “culture” inside special operations units.
Drug and alcohol use by some members of special operations units is nothing new to the culture within the teams, who see such behavior as a coping mechanism in response to the unforgiving tasks these soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines have been asked to carry out.
“They are pretty much out there on a daily basis in very dangerous situations and working with [partners] who you don’t know if they are going to put a bullet in your back,” one former team member with knowledge of personnel issues told The Washington Times. “The level of stress these people are experiencing is off the charts,” he said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
The unprecedented pace and tempo in which US special operations forces have been used in the post-9/11 global war on terrorism, beginning with al Qaeda and the Taliban and now encompassing Islamic State, Boko Haram, and other groups, has exacerbated those stress levels, leading to even riskier coping behaviors.
“Kill/capture” missions by US special operations units combined with clandestine drone strikes formed the backbone of the Obama administration’s counterterrorism doctrine. Six months into his term, President Trump has shown little sign of abandoning that strategy. Defense Secretary James Mattis said in May that the United States is entering an era of global conflict defined by protracted small wars with extremist militant groups.
“This is going to be a long fight,” Mr. Mattis said.
Aside from deploying hundreds of special operations military advisers to the front lines of the Islamic State fight in Syria and Iraq, the Trump administration has ordered the expansion of US Special Operations Command’s mission in Africa, battling the Somali-based terrorist group al-Shabab.
“You see our forces engaged in that from Africa to Asia. But, at the same time, this is going to be a long fight. And I don’t put timelines on fights,” Mr. Mattis told CBS News.
‘Something has to give’
The operational tempo for Navy SEALs, Army Special Forces and other “Tier One” US special operations forces units, which spend a majority of their time overseas on deployment, is a vicious cycle but a prerequisite for the job, the former team member said.
“We’re not talking about 18-, 19-year-old kids. You have to have a level of resilience to get where they are,” he said. But even with the most seasoned and battle-hardened veterans, “something has to give” from the relentless demands to deploy.
A pair of random, command-wide drug screenings conducted from November through February uncovered a total of 59 cases of illicit drug use among sailors serving in Naval Special Warfare Command.
Seven command members tested positive for illicit drug use from among more than 6,300 subjected to a sweep of random tests late last year, according to figures that command officials provided to The Times. The command also uncovered 52 cases of illegal drug use among 71,000 tests carried out since August 2014.
Of the 52 command members who tested positive for illegal drug use during the most recent round of tests across the Navy command, 10 were SEAL team members. Command officials could not confirm how many SEAL members were part of the seven positive drug tests found during a round of testing in November and December.
Drug abuse, domestic abuse, or other behaviors tied to the seemingly constant rotations to conflict zones are “endemic of what these people are going through,” the team member said. “These are your franchise players. They want to be the best of the best. It’s a quality you need but also makes it hard to disengage. A lot of it is just coping just the physical toll [the job] takes on you. You have to find an outlet.”
The problem of drug use within the special operations community gained unwanted attention in April when news leaked of a closed-door speech by Capt. Jamie Sands, head of all East Coast-based Navy SEAL teams. The captain warned all 900 Navy special operators in the command about cracking down on the use of illicit drugs — including cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, and ecstasy — among the SEAL teams that went public.
One active-duty SEAL attached to the East Coast teams told CBS News at the time that a number of his team members had tested positive for illegal drugs multiple times but remained on active duty since the Navy was unable to monitor their drug usage on a regular basis. Their frequent, extended deployments overseas allowed team members to avoid regular drug screenings.
Capt. Sands said that would no longer be a loophole in the command.
“We’re going to test on the road,” the officer said. “We’re going to test on deployment. If you do drugs, if you decide to be that selfish individual, then you will be caught.”
Rep. Jackie Speier, California Democrat, in June pushed for legislation requiring US special operations command and the head of the Pentagon’s special operations directorate to conduct an accountability review of the military’s elite units amid reports of heavy drug abuse within the teams.
The review was included in the House draft version of the Pentagon’s spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year, which sets aside $696 billion for military programs and operations. The full House overwhelmingly approved the defense spending package this month.
The measure would require Mark Mitchell, acting assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict, as well as top brass from Special Operations Command in Tampa, Florida, “to provide a briefing regarding culture and accountability in [special operations forces].”
Critics say the Pentagon’s policies do not properly address the problem of illicit drug use among special operators, a claim US Special Operations Command officials vehemently deny.
“No one has turned a blind eye to the challenges special operations forces face after a decade and a half of continuous combat operations,” command spokesman Kenneth McGraw said in a statement to The Times.
Command officials and their counterparts in the services’ special operations directorates formed a task force to address issues such as drug use and other symptoms related to prolonged deployments of the elite US troops. The task force takes a “takes a holistic, integrated approach” to post-deployment issues unique to Special Forces units “designed to maximize access to treatment and minimize any stigma associated with seeking help,” Mr. McGraw said.
Despite the command’s task force and other associated efforts, lawmakers are pressing command officials on the problem of drug use inside the teams.
Ms. Speier’s office declined repeated requests for comment on the legislation and the level of cooperation House members are receiving from command officials and the Pentagon. But her characterization of the need for accountability within the special operations teams to address drug use is the wrong way to view the problem, the former team member said.
“I do not know if this is an accountability issue. It is not just about bad people. I think a lot of it is just what they have been through,” he said. “You have to realize you are not going to eradicate this [problem]. You cannot eradicate those experiences” of war.
It says a lot about a Britisher to even be considered for the title of “classiest,” but Maj. Robert Cain should definitely be in the running. He took on six Nazi tanks by himself while holding off the rest of the coming German onslaught. In the end, he was forced to retreat, but only because he ran out of ammunition. Before he did, however, he stopped killing Nazis long enough to take a shave. Only after he was properly clean-shaven did he make his retreat.
Classier than most of you are, anyway.
Cain was an officer of the British 1st Airborne Division during Operation Market Garden, the World War II Allied invasion of the Netherlands. British and Polish forces were to be dropped near Arnhem to advance on the city over three days. Cain was to lead his men in the first lift over Nazi-occupied territory, but the disastrous operation was flawed from the start, especially for Cain. Because of a technical snafu, he had to wait until the second day. It would prove fortuitous for everyone in his periphery.
When Cain landed, he and his men were sent forward into the city, where they unexpectedly encountered heavy enemy armor. The only thing they had to fight back against these defenses were small anti-tank weapons and mortars. The anti-tanks were not enough to penetrate the armor, and they were soon forced to fall back.
The small PIAT anti-tank weapon used by the British at Arnhem.
Many British troops were forced to surrender. Others who managed to fall back did so in complete disarray, low on ammunition and unable to take out the approaching armor. Cain and the rest of the British were eventually forced to retreat to nearby Oosterbeek, where they formed a perimeter and tried to protect the howitzers that would be catastrophically destroyed if they fell back further. Cain was in command of forward units, who were digging in a populated area, trying to hold the armor back.
After one of his men was killed by a tracked, armored vehicle with a mounted heavy gun, Cain picked up the anti-tank weapon and poured round after to round into the tank until it was disabled. His PIAT anti-tank weapon eventually exploded from overuse, incapacitating Cain for a half hour. When his vision returned, he went back to work with whatever he could use. When he ran out of anti-tank weapons, he used a two-inch mortar.
Major Robert Cain was fighting these. By himself.
Cain fought off Tiger tanks, flamethrower tanks, self-propelled guns, and even Nazi infantry in an effort to maintain his position in the village of Oosterbeek. He personally was responsible for destroying six armored vehicles, four of which were Tiger tanks. The Germans were forced to fall back this time, but the British were in no condition to pursue them. They made an orderly retreat across the river but, before they did, Maj. Cain took a moment to shave his face (he had been fighting for a full week by then) for a proper appearance. When he returned to the British Army that day, his commanding general commented on it.
“There’s one officer, at least, who’s shaved,” said Gen. Philip Hicks. To which Cain replied, “I was well brought up, sir.”
The respect of his fellow officers wasn’t the only thing he won that day. Cain was awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry.
Israel and the U.S. inaugurated the first American military base on Israeli soil on September 18th, which will serve dozens of soldiers operating a missile defense system.
The move comes at a time of growing Israeli concerns about archenemy Iran’s development of long-range missiles. Together with the U.S., Israel has developed a multilayered system of defenses against everything from long-range guided missile attacks from Iran to crude rockets fired from Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
The base’s opening is largely symbolic and isn’t expected to bring operational changes. But the Israeli military says that along with other measures, it sends a message of readiness to Israel’s enemies.
“It’s a message that says Israel is better prepared. It’s a message that says Israel is improving the response to threats,” said Brig. Gen. Zvika Haimovich, the commander of Israel’s aerial defense.
The base is located within an existing Israeli air force base and will operate under Israeli military directives.
Israeli and U.S. military officials cut a ribbon at the base Monday, where the American and Israeli flags flew side by side and soldiers from both countries commingled.
Israel’s multi-tier missile defense system includes the Arrow, designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles in the stratosphere with an eye on Iran, and Iron Dome, which defends against short-range rockets from the Gaza Strip. David’s Sling is meant to counter the type of medium-range missiles possessed by Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants.
Israel considers Iran to be its greatest threat, citing the country’s nuclear ambitions, its development of long-term missiles, hostile anti-Israel rhetoric and support for anti-Israel militant groups. Israel has grown increasingly concerned about Iran’s involvement in the civil war in neighboring Syria, where its troops are supporting President Bashar Assad.
Israel is worried that Iran and its proxy Hezbollah will establish a long-term presence in Syria near the Israeli border.
Mary Walker, the only woman to be issued a Medal of Honor, is about to get some prime-time coverage, thanks in part to a graphic novel series produced by the Association of the U.S. Army. The latest edition of “Medal of Honor,” shines a light on the bravery and valor of Mary Walker, the first woman in the U.S. to earn a medical degree and the only woman ever to receive the Medal of Honor.
Dr. Mary Walker attended Syracuse Medical College before the start of the Civil War. Her parents encouraged her to pursue her education, and she graduated in 1855 with a medical doctor degree – the first woman to do so in the almost 100-year-old United States.
She knew she wanted to serve her country, she just didn’t know how it would happen. Dr. Walker worked in private practice for a few years until the Civil War broke out in 1861. Despite her best efforts to join the Army, she was denied on the grounds of being a woman. And since she’d worked so hard to earn a medical doctorate, Dr. Walker was nonplussed at the suggestion that she join the Army as a nurse.
Instead, she decided to volunteer and work for free at a temporary hospital set up at the U.S. Patent Office in Washington, D.C. There, Dr. Walker continued to face discrimination, as the male surgeons refused to address her as “Dr.” and instead regulated her duties to that of an assistant.
By 1862, Dr. Walker was living in Virginia and working at field hospitals throughout the state. A year later, her medical credentials were finally accepted by the Army. This was only because of the recommendation of Maj. Gen. William Sherman and Maj. Gen. George Thomas. Without their letters of recommendation, it’s likely that Dr. Walker would have continued to work as an unpaid surgical assistant, despite being a highly trained doctor.
With her recommendation letters in hand in hand, Walker moved to Tennessee and was appointed as a War Department surgeon, which is equivalent to today’s rank of either a First Lieutenant or Captain. Her position in Tennessee was paid.
Dr. Walker quickly became well-known among the troops and units. She would routinely risk crossing enemy lines to tend to wounded personnel or civilians. It was during one of these forays into enemy territory that Dr. Walker was captured by Confederate forces. Dr. Walker was sent to the infamous Castle Thunder Camp, located in current-day Richmond, Virginia. She was held as a POW for about four months and was eventually exchanged in a POW swap for Confederate medical officers.
Castle Thunder was mainly used for civilian prisoners, not POWs, so it’s not entirely clear what Dr. Walker witnessed and experienced during her time as a POW, but it probably wasn’t pleasant. But, true to her nature, Dr. Walker saw an opportunity instead of internment. While imprisoned, she cared for the ill and the wounded at Castle Thunder. She is credited with having saved several lives while waiting for her own life to resume outside the prison walls.
After being released by the Confederate Army, Dr. Walker worked as a medical director at a hospital for women prisoners in Kentucky. She was routinely seen wearing men’s clothes and was arrested several times for impersonating a man, always stating that the “government” gave her permission to dress that way. She was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Andrew Johnson even though she’d never officially been commissioned as an officer. That’s why her medal was rescinded in 1917, just two years before she died. Dr. Walker refused to return the medal and wore it until she died.
Due in part to the efforts of her family, President Jimmy Carter restored her Medal of Honor in 1977. As part of the Army’s efforts to bring to light the courageous acts of service personnel, Dr. Walker’s story is now available in graphic novel form. Her story is the third installment of 2020. A final issue for 2020 will feature Holocaust survivor and Korean War veteran Cpl. Tibor Rubin. Read Dr. Walker’s graphic novel here.
The nuclear-powered submarine. Ultra-advanced stealth bombers and fighters. These all represent the most lethal weapons in the U.S. military’s mighty arsenal — and they might soon all be close to obsolete
Well, at least if certain technological trends bear fruit, according to a number of think-tank reports, research studies, and in-depth essays that have been published over the last year.
America’s Carriers vs. China’s Missiles: Who Wins?
And while it might not all come to pass, or at least not right away and certainly not all at once, the trend lines are clear: America’s military, if it wants to retain its unrivaled dominance on the battlefields of the future, will need to do a great deal of soul searching and investment to <a href="http://nationalinterest.org/feature/pay-attention-america-russia-upgrading-its-military-15094" title=" maintain its edge over nations like Russia” target=”_blank”>maintain its edge over nations like Russia, <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/pentagon-lays-out-challenge-posed-by-chinas-growing-military-might-1402005458" title=" China” target=”_blank”>China, and many others in the years to come.
The aircraft carrier, a symbol of American naval and overall power projection capabilities, <a href="http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2016/02/stop-the-navy-aircraft-carrier-plan-000036-000036" title=" seems under the most threat of being rendered a relic of the past” target=”_blank”>seems under the most threat of being rendered a relic of the past. Almost every week, a new report casts a dark shadow on the future of this important U.S. military asset.
The newly developed DF-26 medium-range ballistic missile.
Take, for example, the recent report released by the Center for New American Security (CNAS) smartly titled, “Red Alert: The Growing Threat to U.S. Aircraft Carriers.” <a href="http://www.cnas.org/SaylerKelley" title=" Author Kelley Sayler” target=”_blank”>Author Kelley Sayler, an associate fellow at CNAS, argues that “the short, medium, and long-range threats to the carrier–including SAMs and other anti-access/area denial capabilities (A2/AD), in which China is investing heavily” will create a situation where American carriers “will not be able to act with impunity in the event of future conflict.” As Sayler explains in great detail in her report, carriers”will face a dense and growing threat across their full range of operations as A2/AD systems continue to proliferate. Operating the carrier in the face of increasingly lethal and precise munitions will thus require the United States to expose a multibillion-dollar asset to high levels of risk in the event of a conflict. Indeed, under such circumstances, an adversary with A2/AD capabilities would likely launch <a href="http://thediplomat.com/2013/02/missile-defenses-real-enemy-math/" title=" a saturation attack” target=”_blank”>a saturation attack against the carrier from a variety of platforms and directions. Such an attack would be difficult — if not impossible — to defend against.”
And as Slater points out, <a href="http://www.cnas.org/files/documents/publications/CNAS%20Carrier_Hendrix_FINAL.pdf" title=" China is increasingly able to target U.S. carriers at range (and well past the ability of their carrier strike aircraft to safely attack from out of range” target=”_blank”>China is increasingly able to target U.S. carriers at range (and well past the ability of their carrier strike aircraft to safely attack from out of range):
“China appears intent upon increasing its ASBM [anti-ship ballistic missile] capabilities further and, at a recent military parade commemorating the end of World War II, revealed that it may have an ASBM variant of a substantially longer-range missile — <a href="http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/chinas-2500-mile-range-carrier-killer-missile-nuclear-threat-14669" title="the DF-26” target=”_blank”>the DF-26. As with the DF-21D, estimates of the capabilities of the DF-26 vary widely; however, it is thought to have a range of 1,620 to 2,160 nm and to have both conventional and nuclear warheads. If accurate and operational, this system would give China the ability to strike targets within the second island chain – including those in and around the U.S. territory of Guam – as well as those throughout the entirety of the Bay of Bengal. In the event of a wider conflict, these systems could also reach targets throughout much, if not all, of the Arabian Sea.”
As for America’s nuclear-powered submarine force, the threats to its continued dominance in undersea warfare seem a little more further off, but nonetheless, something that must be planned for.
Once again, the Washington-based think-tank universe provides us some important clues concerning the challenges ahead. <a href="http://csbaonline.org/publications/2015/01/undersea-warfare/" title=" In a report by the always smart Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments” target=”_blank”>In a report by the always smart Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA), as well as in a follow on piece in this publication partly excerpted below, CSBA Senior Fellow Bryan Clark <a href="http://nationalinterest.org/feature/are-submarines-about-become-obsolete-12253" title=" lays out the challenge to America’s submarine force” target=”_blank”>lays out the challenge to America’s submarine force:
“Since the Cold War, submarines, particularly quiet American ones, have been considered largely immune to adversary A2/AD capabilities. But the ability of submarines to hide through quieting alone will decrease as each successive decibel of noise reduction becomes more expensive and as new detection methods mature that rely on phenomena other than sounds emanating from a submarine. These techniques include lower frequency active sonar and non-acoustic methods that detect submarine wakes or (at short ranges) bounce laser or light-emitting diode (LED) light off a submarine hull. The physics behind most of these alternative techniques has been known for decades, but was not exploited because computer processors were too slow to run the detailed models needed to see small changes in the environment caused by a quiet submarine. Today, ‘big data’ processing enables advanced navies to run sophisticated oceanographic models in real time to exploit these detection techniques. As they become more prevalent, they could make some coastal areas too hazardous for manned submarines.”
From there the problem gets worse. Clark’s CSBA report sees even more problems ahead:
“New sensors and related improvements to torpedo seekers could enable completely new approaches to finding and attacking submarines. Most significantly, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) forces could shift away from today’s skill and labor-intensive tactics that result from the short detection range of sensors that are precise enough to support ASW engagements. This limitation requires ASW ships and aircraft to methodically search a wide area for a submarine, then track it until they can get within weapons range for an attack. New sensor and seeker capabilities could instead enable a “fire and forget” approach in which ASW forces detect a submarine at long range and apply computer processing to obtain enough precision for an attack using long-range missiles with torpedo warheads. This kind of attack may not sink the submarine, but would likely compel it to at least evade, breaking its initiative and making it more detectable.”
Two F-22As in close trail formation.
(U.S. Air Force photo by TSgt Ben Bloker)
Finally, we come to America’s growing fleet of stealth fighters and long-range bombers. It seems advances in new types of radars could provide the targeting information needed to take down some of Washington’s most advanced aircraft — and most expensive.
As National Interest Defense Editor, <a href="https://twitter.com/davemajumdar" title=" Dave Majumdar” target=”_blank”>Dave Majumdar, points out, “China appears to be building a new high-frequency radar on an artificial feature in the Spratly Islands that could allow Beijing to track even the stealthiest American warplanes, including the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and even the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit.” He explains, in greater detail, that:
“While the system is called a <a href="http://ece.wpi.edu/radarcourse/Radar%202010%20PDFs/Radar%202009%20A_7%20Radar%20Cross%20Section%201.pdf" title=" high-frequency (HF) radar—that’s bit of a misnomer. HF radars actually operate on low frequencies relative to the VHF, UHF, L, S, C, X” target=”_blank”>high-frequency (HF) radar—that’s bit of a misnomer. HF radars actually operate on low frequencies relative to the VHF, UHF, L, S, C, X and Ku bands, which are more typically used by military radars. These low frequencies have <a href="http://www.radartutorial.eu/01.basics/Rayleigh-%20versus%20Mie-Scattering.en.html" title=" waves that are several meters long” target=”_blank”>waves that are several meters long and, consequently, most stealth aircraft show up on HF radar. In order to defeat low frequency radar, a stealth aircraft has to eliminate features like fins, which is why the flying-wing shape is the best way available to avoid detection. That is because there is an <a href="http://news.usni.org/2014/04/21/stealth-vs-electronic-attack" title=" omnidirectional resonance” target=”_blank”>omnidirectional resonance effect that occurs when a feature on an aircraft — such as a tail-fin — is less than <a href="http://www.nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/revealed-can-chinas-radars-track-americas-stealth-f-22-15261" title=" eight times the size of a particular frequency wavelength. As a result, there is a step change in radar” target=”_blank”>eight times the size of a particular frequency wavelength. As a result, there is a step change in radar cross section once that threshold is exceeded. Since every stealth aircraft currently in America’s fleet exceeds that threshold — even the B-2 is not large enough to avoid most HF radars — every U.S. aircraft would show up on the Chinese radar. Indeed — all stealth aircraft will show up at some frequency.”
How Should America Respond?
So what is Washington doing about the threats listed above?
First off, when it comes to America’s carriers, it should be noted that no one really knows how deadly China’s anti-ship missiles, especially at long-ranges, would be in a real firefight. For example, can Beijing find a U.S. carrier in the massive Pacific Ocean? Can they defeat American missile defenses? And as for the case of the dangers poised to advanced submarines, at least as of now, such threats are more on the drawing board than a clear and present danger. As for the challenges posed to stealth, that seems a more realistic and present-day challenge U.S. officials will have to deal with. (<a href="http://www.nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/revealed-can-chinas-radars-track-americas-stealth-f-22-15261" title="They seem to be working on negating the challenge as we speak” target=”_blank”>They seem to be working on negating the challenge as we speak.)
However, there is a clear recognition in the Pentagon that America’s chief competitors, <a href="https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/02/24/chinese-russian-subs-increasingly-worrying-the-pentagon/" title=" namely great power challengers like China and Russia” target=”_blank”>namely great power challengers like China and Russia, are catching up to many of the U.S. military’s chief abilities to project power <a href="http://breakingdefense.com/2015/09/russians-in-syria-building-a2ad-bubble-over-region-breedlove/" title=" or are quickly finding ways to negate such capabilities” target=”_blank”>or are quickly finding ways to negate such capabilities. While the Obama Administration’s recent budget request does smartly increase funding for research and development, I can’t help but wonder if such investments might be too little, too late. There is also the very real possibility that a new administration will have its own priorities, slowing down or possibly canceling any modernization efforts that could make a real difference. In fact, members on Capitol Hill seem to take such a possibility seriously. As <a href="https://joewilson.house.gov/" title=" Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC)” target=”_blank”>Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee, recently explained,
“This budget request is a good step in tackling the modernization challenges of the Department. Activities like the Third Offset Strategy and the Long Range Research and Development Plan are important to charting a course that takes a strategic view of the security environment; however, I remain concerned that it is too little too late. As I see it, starting major initiatives at the end of an administration makes it difficult to ensure that these things will survive the new budgetary and policy priorities that will naturally arise with a new President. I hope I am wrong, since I support many of the things being proposed in this budget request, but only time will tell.”
Indeed, only time will tell.
(This article first appeared in February 2016 and is being reposted due to reader interest)
This article originally appeared on Warrior Maven. Follow @warriormaven1 on Twitter.
The Marines from Camp Pendleton had a night to remember filled with laughs made by some the funniest celebrities Oct. 28. A-list comedians included Adam Sandler, David Spade, Rob Schneider, Leslie Jordan, and more.
“Comedy Boot Jam” was a private troops-only event put on by Boot Campaign and celebrity supporters to celebrate active and veteran service members. We Are The Mighty’s Weston Scott and Article 15’s Jarred Taylor covered the event from the red carpet at the famous Hollywood Improv!

domain: news


(One of the two Jar Tree founders in his store: Ian Thursfield Photo: Anna Ehlebrach)
This shop is different. It is all wooden and bright. The shelves are packed with big jars, filled with dry foods: basil, noodle nests, pecan nut halves. Close to them, one can find household items like toilet paper, soap and shampoo.
What you cannot find: plastic packaging.
The small cabin, Unit BS1 in Kirkgate Market, is Leeds’ first zero packaging store. Meaning: no plastic at all. In front of the unit, two wooden chairs are waiting for passersby. Next to them, a sign is indicating pastel-coloured: “Organic, vegan, dry foods, bring your own jars, weigh and pay”. This is the simple business model of Ian Thursfield, 30, and his business partner Aimee Charlotte.
“We want to change people’s minds and perceptions. We want to make them aware of what is going on in the world”, says Ian. “We wanted to do our bit to save the planet and reduce the consumption of plastic in Leeds”, he says. “We wanted to create an affordable way to buy what we needed.”
The shop opened on this year’s September 1st. The hesitating glances of passing people are still indicating: some are not quite sure yet on if to come in or not. But they come in and suddenly, it gets very crowded! Seven customers at once already make this little place quite busy. The card reader is not working. Ian jumps out of the shop into Kirkgate’s halls. “It worked!”, he shouts and laughs.
In every corner of the store, it smells differently. Once there is coffee, then there are herbs. One jar is indicating: “SOS Mix, 70p/100 g”. SOS? “Save Our Sausages”, explains a sheet of paper next to the box, is a vegetarian sausage mix. It contains amongst other things wheat, dried soya, modified potato starch and barley. There is also a website link with recipes on it.
Where do they get their products from? “Infinity Foods” from Brighton delivers natural and organic vegetarian and vegan food. “Suma” from Halifax delivers the liquids and drinking. “We picked the suppliers because they had a wide range of waste-free products”, Ian explains. By now, he has taken a broom and sweeps the ground. “The fun never stops!”, he laughs.
He says that he started to live a more plastic free lifestyle only six months ago. Is it hard? “Once you begin, it is difficult and the supermarket seems just so convenient. But it then becomes a habit and you are getting used to it”. He and his wife, who inspired him and dragged him into the sustainability, are making their own food. Without plastic waste and without the aid of supermarkets.
The Economist published numbers in this year’s march indicating that 6.3 billion tonnes of plastic waste were produced since the 1950s, but that only 9 per cent of these has been recycled and another 12 per cent has been incinerated.
At the Jar Tree, what is the price of sustainable products? 30p for 10 g of Basil, 1 Pound for 100 g of Shampoo, which is filled into huge cans, instant noodle nests for 50p each. There is also a stock suggestions board, where customers can express their product wishes. They can also send an E-Mail to the store founders. “It then depends on how many people request it – but we really want to get a mix of also what people want!”, Ian says.
“I am confident about the shop, so many people are already coming and using their own jars”, Ian says. “But a lot of people seem not to care. They just say: I don’t believe that plastic is a problem”. He continues: “And until something won’t fundamentally change in this country, starting with whether a tax or a law, people won’t understand.”
The Independent quoted in this year’s August the Local Government Association (LGA), which found out that only one-third of the plastic food containers in the UK were recyclable.
By 2025, the UK Plastics Pact wants to turn 100 per cent of the plastic packaging into being reusable, recyclable and compostable. The initiative aims in creating a circular economy for plastics.
In other countries, there is the existing system of bottle deposit. People return their plastic bottles to the shops and then get a small amount back, which they paid on top while buying the full bottles at first. “Homeless people all over Europe are collecting the plastic to get money. If they could do that here, they would have so much food”, Ian supposes, “not that it would completely disestablish the whole problem of homelessness, but…”, he remains unfinished.
“If every individual does a small hit towards sustainability, that can do a lot over the decade”, Ian concludes.


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Category: Fiction / M- O
Publication date: 20001002
Number of pages: 512
Prizes: Whitaker Gold Book Award,2001,W
This sequel to Frank McCourt's memoir of his Irish Catholic boyhood, "Angela's Ashes", picks up the story in October 1949 upon his arrival in America. It's the story of McCourt's American journey from impoverished immigrant with rotten teeth, infected eyes and no friends.
What the papers say:
"Tis feels like a friend, telling the tales of his life over a pint, with charm and humour, economy and pace. There is a sense of loss when you have to close the pages and sleep, or go on to other things. McCourt is a masterful writer... All who read Angela's Ashes will read 'Tis. They will love it, and so did I.' Independent on Sunday 'Few will be able to resist this pacey and fluid sequel... In post-war New York, McCourt moves through work as a longshoreman, a spell in the army, to night-school, to become a creative writing teacher encouraging his kids to "write about what you know" - the same policy that has led him to belated international celebrity...McCourt's gift lies not simply in having lived through interesting times, but having developed his skills as an editor and narrator to produce two fine, funny and moving slices of a past that is not simply Ireland's, but everyone's.' Guardian 'Every page contains an unforced laugh...The gloom is indivisible from moments of great joy and compassion - the sound of jazz pouring form a club, the comforting arm of a fellow worker - which McCourt is able to express in his fresh and supple prose. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, McCourt has the power to transform even the saddest recollections into sentences of great beauty, and in that beauty lies the possibility of salvation.' Mail on Sunday
frank mccourt has published just one book, Angela's Ashes. It won the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award; it has sold 1.8 million copies in its Flamingo editions alone and tens of millions worldwide. For thirty years he taught in NYC schools, before, in his 60s, settling down to write his story.
In Stock: 28 copies

domain: literature


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Since I saw them a week before my birthday in September 2011, Adelleda has been one of my favorite Hamilton Punk bands.
They have great songs, superb musicianship, and what they stand for is simple but inspiring. Hamilton and audience inclusion in the show. (The audience is encouraged to join in on songs, whether on the floor or on stage.
That’s why I thought it would be fantastic when Simon Marshall, Adelleda’s drummer, volunteered to give an interview over email for Thunder’s one year anniversary.
And the interview is pretty awesome. After that, I’ll doing something a little different here and in other issues. Instead of making interested people search out the band, I’ll be putting a link to the band’s page online page. (Where I can. Some bands I’ve even had trouble locating.)
I’ll also have some new band recommendations, and links to them.
Best part? Most stuff I listen to is legal AND free!
Here’s the interview. Enjoy:
KW: How did you become interested in Punk Rock?
SM: It all started after hearing Green Day’s Dookie at the ripe age of 12. Later that year Rancid’s ..And Out Come The Wolves found its way into my tape deck and I was locked in for life. Now I’m 28 and still get the same feeling when I hear those albums.
KW: At what age did you start playing drums?
SM: Believe it or not, I had always been a guitar player. After earning my first pay check ever at a part-time grocery store job, I put a deposit down on a vintage Ludwig kit and that’s how it started. I was 17 and starting to play drums in punk bands.
KW: Simon, you are, (and have been), in quite a few Punk bands. What is something you have learned from each one?
SM: Whether its punk rock, hardcore, skate punk, old school, new school, whatever, I’ve learned to mesh with a variety of backgrounds. I love to take something away with me and incorporate it into the next band. Recently I’ve heard some hilarious stories while playing with Glen and Crash in Hamilton Defence Army. At a rehearsal Crash was telling me about being a young punk out for a drink with his old man when a group of drunken hillbillies started heckling him from across the bar. He got so fed up with their antics that he went right over to their table, outnumbered of course and called them out. It went something like this:
Crash – “Yeah I hear you talking about me. So here I am. What’s up?”
Hillbillies – (Looks surprised then long pause) “Your style. What are you?”
Crash – “Canadian”.
They were so taken back that they ended up buying him and his old man pitchers of beer! I want to write a song about that some day. When you play in bands with older dudes I think it’s important to absorb much of what they have to say and learn from them.
KW: How do you think Punk Rock has changed since you became interested in it?
SM: The internet has made it so dispensable now. You used to find out about bands by going to shows and signing up for mailing lists. Now it’s all at your fingertips. You don’t have to dig as deep anymore and because of that I think fewer people actually go to shows just cause there’s a show in town.
KW: My next few questions will focus on Adelleda specifically. Now, Adelleda touts themselves as Hamilton proud. What is your opinion of the city, and the music it produces?
SM: Hamilton will always be my home and the guys in Adelleda really respect this city. In my opinion there is a level of culture and history here that can’t be compared to in surrounding cities. That’s what the song “Champion” is about on the new Adelleda E.P “Let’s talk about Adelleda”. It’s our anthem for Hamilton. We all know the city is a hub for touring bands which is great for not having to travel to Toronto. We have a lot of great local talent here to open up the shows. Some Hamilton punk bands that I’ve been listening to lately include: Wiggler and the Tiny Humans, Born Wrong, The Pre Nods, Web Society, NOT and The Steeltown Spoilers.
KW: Adelleda are a band, (I think), that works to include their fans in their shows, music, etc. How would you describe the band, in your own words?
SM: When I go see bands, I don’t want to just see music being played, I want a show! During an Adelleda set we want to give you a show. Our goal is to have everyone into it as much as we are. When everyone’s feet are on the ground at the same time, we know we must be off the stage. During our sets we invite our friends up to sing along (See our Bro Hymn cover by Pennywise). Often times the guys play from the crowd. One of these days I’m going to set my kit up from the crowd.
KW: Who are you listening to right now?
SM: I’ve been listening to a lot of Banner Pilot lately. I just saw them at the Fest and they dazzled me so much that I just had to have their whole discography. I guess it’s a custom at their shows for you to shake up your tall cans and spray each other in the crowd while they play.
You can check out Adelleda at: adelledapunk.bandcamp.com.
There, you can download their debut Herkimer Street and ‘5 Months In England’ from the E.P ‘Let’s Talk About Adelleda’ for free.
SOME BANDS TO WATCH:
The Drunken Knights.
I got a band pin from member Jsn ‘Disease’ Batista at this year’s Rebel Fest, (which falls in the spring), and was wondering what had become of the band. Well, I got my answer a few days ago in the form of this E.P. 5 tracks of crunchy guitars, thudding drums, a thundering bass, and enough topics to hook almost every kind of Punk listener. The E.P, entitled One Drunken Knight e.p, is available for free at: oithedrunkenknights.bandcamp.com
Playing with words, Rising Crust is a band that combines Hardcore and Metal; (awesome), and pizza is their theme. (Awesome too.) I got an e.p off their Bandc*mp page a while ago, but now there is only one song. Still, one song is better than none, as this track in particular seems to bring together elements of Punk, Metal, and even ambient music.
You can get a free track at: risingcrust.bandcamp.com
While a lot of Punk bands seem happy to play it loud, (and they sound great that way), Debt’d take it in the opposite direction. Sure, their sound is full and could be loud if turned up, but this is lo-fi at it’s best. Lyric-wise, this band covers A TON of content, from personal lives to not exactly loving authority.
Debt’d have 2 free releases, and they are available at: debtd.bandcamp.com.
SOME UPCOMING SHOWS:
Wiggler!?! And The Tiny Humans; and The F*ckholes, open for none other than Punk/ New Wave legends The Rezillos at This Ain’t Hollywood on November 23rd. I have a start time of 9pm and an admission price of around $20.
Dismantle, Debt’d, Born Wrong, and At What Cost play the 17th edition of Sunday Slamfest. Always reliable, admission is $6, bands start at 3pm, and the location is This Ain’t Hollywood. That’s Novermber 25th.
For more shows, I definitely recommend checking your local listings or asking friends. (The last one is especially interesting. Half the shows I go to aren’t even in listings and I wouldn’t know about if not for friends.)
This issue, I would like to thank:
The City Of Hamilton
The Province of Ontario
All my family
All my friends
Everyone who reads this zine, no matter what format they read.
This has been a Made Of Steeltown Publication.

domain: entertainment


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Columbia Factory Store
Thank you, Teachers!
Additional 20% OFF Entire Purchase
Active and retired teachers receive 20% off (before tax) at participating Columbia-owned stores in U.S. and Canada 09/25/2023 through 10/05/2023. Excludes U.S. and Canada employee stores. Must present valid school I.D. Offer is non-transferable and may not be applied to prior purchases, combined with any other offer or discount, redeemed at any other store, or applied to gift card purchases, taxes, or shipping charges. Columbia reserves the right to change or cancel this offer at any time.
Semi - Annual Clearance Event
Deals up to 60% off No coupon necessary for in-store offer. No additional discount applied. While supply lasts. Subject to change. See store for details.
Columbia Sportswear Tough Mother Funder
Round your purchase up to the next dollar or donate to support our 2023 nonprofit partners who protect our environment, encourage people to go outside and stay healthy. *Consumer donations made at point of sale from July 1st – September 30th directly benefits and will be distributed to the nonprofit partner Open OutDoors for Kids.
Open OutDoors for Kids creates pathways for kids to enjoy, understand and connect with nature in exciting ways by facilitating outdoor activity, experiential learning, and cultural heritage exercises. Learn more at https://www.nationalparks.org/our-work/programs/open-outdoors-kids
About Auburn Columbia Factory Store
Our Columbia factory store is located in Auburn, Washington at The Outlet Collection Seattle. We carry innovative outerwear, sportswear, footwear, and accessories for outdoor enthusiasts of all levels. Stop by our outlet store before you take on your next adventure this summer. Whether in need of hiking boots or camping essentials for a backpacking trip on Mount Rainier, we have the equipment to fuel your outdoor thrills. Before hiking Dash Point State Park, kayaking the waters of Puget Sound, or fishing at Lake Fenwick Park, stop by our Auburn outlet store where you will shop a large inventory of performance products that will keep you warm, dry, cool, and protected year-round.

domain: geography


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The nickname "Kuumba" was reportedly given to her by actress June Havoc when she attended the Repertory Theatre in New Orleans, then run by Havoc. "Kuumba" is a Swahili word for creativity.
New York City, New York, USA
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
As IMDb celebrates its 30th birthday, we have six shows to get you ready for those pivotal years of your life ... your 30s.


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Champagne Pannier is the largest champagne house in the western Marne Valley. It was founded in 1899 and Pannier's cuvées are distributed duty-free by a network of wine merchants, delicatessens, and off-trade outlets as well as exported to over twenty countries. In addition to the medieval cellars, which are one of the six proposed sites for the UNESCO charter, you can also visit their state of the art 300-seat amphitheater. Arrange to visit Champagne Pannier and other attractions in Chateau-Thierry using our Chateau-Thierry driving holiday planner.
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Champagne Pannier reviews
I visited Champagne Pannier while cycle touring through France, after seeing great reviews on Trip Advisor, and would highly recommend it. The tour was very well presented, interesting and...
I visited Champagne Pannier while cycle touring through France, after seeing great reviews on Trip Advisor, and would highly recommend it. The tour was very well presented, interesting and... more »
Visited on my own to do a few tastings. Was served by a lovely lady who went above and beyond to make a memorable experience.
Visited on my own to do a few tastings. Was served by a lovely lady who went above and beyond to make a memorable experience. more »
We had been here 17 years ago while on our honeymoon, and our teenagers wanted to see it. So, we called the day before, made a reservation for the four of us, and off we went. We had a private tour...
We had been here 17 years ago while on our honeymoon, and our teenagers wanted to see it. So, we called the day before, made a reservation for the four of us, and off we went. We had a private tour... more »
An amazing history and tour of the caves learning about how champagne is made, followed by champagne tasting and canapés.
Great tour guide. It's a great place to learn about how champagne is made. Nice visit down into the caves where it was made and stored. It's cool down in there even on a hot summer day. I was hot until I went down in there, and it was about 54 degrees. The tour guide said it's ALWAYS that temperature down there. That was pretty cool.
Pre Reservation was not needed, we just walked right in to the caves. No crowds, felt almost like a private tour (but when reading other reviews, it might be good idea to book prior visit). Wonderful staff gave us lots of information about champagne. A perfect start on our one week tour in champagne.
Visited with my 80 year old Dad exploring where his dad fought in WWI and had a great visit. The docent was very interested in my grandfather's story and told us so much about the champagne operations and how the caverns were used by villagers during the war. Great place, loved it.
Great champagne house. Loads of parking. Very friendly staff speak French and English. Tour is very good, full of history and interesting caves. Tasting is very nice. Good choice of souvenirs in gift shop.
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15 days in Hauts-de-France SEE PLAN Lille Plailly Amiens 56 days in France BY A USER FROM NEW ZEALAND Tremblay-En-France Nice Marseille 33 days in Paris BY A USER FROM AUSTRALIA Passerelle Leopold-Sedar-Senghor Musee d'Orsay La statue "Annibal" 15 days in Aisne BY A USER FROM FRANCE Chateau-Thierry Oulches-la-Vallee-Foulon Saint-Quentin City 4 days in Pierry BY A USER FROM BELGIUM La Chocolaterie Thibaut Champagne Michel Lenique Champagne Vollereaux 28 days in Hauts-de-France BY A USER FROM SOUTH AFRICA Amiens Le Touquet – Paris-Plage Saint-Omer 8 days in Pierrefonds & Coucy-le-Chateau-Auffrique BY A USER FROM FRANCE Pierrefonds Coucy-le-Chateau-Auffrique 1 day in Fere-en-Tardenois BY A USER FROM CANADA Chateau de Fere-en-Tardenois Oise-Aisne American Cemetery and Memorial Musee Jean de la Fontaine 8 days in Plailly BY A USER FROM NEW ZEALAND Aisne-Marne Memorial & Cemetery Aisne Marne American Cemetery Cimetiere Militaire Allemand de Belleau 22 days in Paris BY A USER FROM SINGAPORE Hotel de Ville Saint Germain des Pres Quarter Chateau de Fontainebleau 2 days in Aisne BY A USER FROM THE NETHERLANDS Chateau-Thierry 50 days in Reims BY A USER FROM THE NETHERLANDS Atelier de Reims Musee des Beaux-Arts Memorial De Mondement
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domain: travel


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MOSCOW — In some ways, the venue Vladimir Putin chose and the emotional lecture he gave the world about Russia’s actions in Ukraine said it all.
In an hour-long chat with a handful of Kremlin pool reporters at his presidential residence, Putin sat in an easy chair and spoke with the bravado of an ex-KGB agent suspicious of Western plots.
Wagging his finger at reporters, the defiant president dismissed the threat of U.S. and European Union sanctions, alleged that “rampaging neo-Nazis” dominate Ukraine’s capital, and called Ukraine’s new government an “orgy” of radicals and nationalists.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who arrived Tuesday in Kiev, urged Putin to stand down and said the U.S. is looking for ways to de-escalate the mounting tensions.
“It is clear that Russia has been working hard to create a pretext for being able to invade further,” Kerry said. “It is not appropriate to invade a country, and at the end of a barrel of a gun dictate what you are trying to achieve. That is not 21st-century, G-8, major nation behavior.”
Long famous for his cool public demeanor at public appearances that often are carefully stage managed, Putin made it clear Tuesday — televised live across Russia — that he takes the Ukraine crisis personally. He accepted questions from the reporters about the threat of war, the Russian military takeover of the country’s Crimean peninsula, and the looming Western sanctions.
But he batted them away with his usual mix of disdainful sarcasm and political arguments in a rapid-fire delivery.
The performance seemed to reflect his genuine anger about what he sees as the West’s hypocrisy and its heavy-handed involvement in Ukrainian affairs. His remarks also showed that he seems to see Ukraine as a defining moment of his 14-year rule and a key turning point for post-Cold War Europe.
Although Putin had obtained authorization to send in troops from Russia’s upper house of parliament Saturday, only Monday night did officials say now-ousted president Viktor Yanukovych had made the request. Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, showed the U.N. Security Council a letter, purportedly from Yanukovych and dated Saturday, asking for intervention.
“President Yanukovych requested military force to defend the life and health of Ukrainians,” Putin said. “Our main concern is the orgy that is happening, so many nationalists and radical extremists rampant on the streets of Kiev.”
Putin denounced the ouster of Yanukovych as an “unconstitutional coup and armed seizure of power” orchestrated and trained by the West.
“Armed, masked militants are roaming around Kiev,” he said. Asked if Russia would recognize the outcome of Ukraine’s election set for May, he said, “We will not if such terror continues.”
He insisted that Yanukovych, who fled to Russia, remains the only legitimate leader of Ukraine. But he also spoke about Yanukovych with disdain, saying he has failed in his presidential duties.
“I have a feeling that they sit somewhere in a lab in America over a big puddle and conduct experiments, as if with rats, without understanding the consequences of what they are doing,” he said.
Putin said that “we reserve the right to use all means we have” to protect Russian speakers in eastern Ukraine from violent Ukrainian nationalists. But he added that he hopes there will be no need for sending Russian troops there.
“We don’t want to enslave anyone or dictate anything,” he said. “But we won’t be able to stay aside, if we see them being hunted down, destroyed and harassed.”
Putin has shrugged off Western threats to impose political and economic sanctions against Russia.
“In the modern world, where everything is linked and everyone depends on others in one way or another, we can incur damage to one another, but it would be mutual damage,” he said.
Asked about the possibility that members of the Group of Eight will not show up at its summit scheduled in Sochi in June, he said: “If they don’t want to come, it’s OK.”
U.S. officials traveling with Kerry, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Obama administration is considering slapping Russia with economic sanctions as soon as this week. Members of Congress say they’re preparing legislation that would impose sanctions as well.
President Barack Obama said his administration’s push to punish Putin put the U.S. on “the side of history that, I think, more and more people around the world deeply believe in, the principle that a sovereign people, an independent people, are able to make their own decisions about their own lives. And, you know, Mr. Putin can throw a lot of words out there, but the facts on the ground indicate that right now he is not abiding by that principle.”
Speaking at a fundraiser later Tuesday, Obama said it might be possible for the situation to “de-escalate in the next several days and weeks.”
Denver Post news services contributed to this report.
Kerry vows U.S. to stand by Ukraine • KIEV, Ukraine — U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry on Tuesday promised a $1 billion energy-subsidy package to a Ukraine fighting to fend off bankrupty while paying tribute to “these brave Ukrainians” who stood up to autocracy in a three-month rebellion that drove President Viktor Yanukovych into Russian exile.
Kerry said the penalties against Russia are “not something we are seeking to do, it is something Russia is pushing us to do.”
Ukraine’s finance minister, who has said the country needs $35 billion to get through this year and next, was meeting Tuesday with officials from the International Monetary Fund.
Kerry said the people of the United States and their partners worldwide are prepared to help Ukraine overcome its profound fiscal problems as well as work to compel Russian President Vladimir Putin to roll back the military aggression committed against Ukraine, an independent country for more than 22 years.
Troops fire warning shots over Ukrainians • BELBEK, Ukraine — Russian troops who had taken control of the Belbek air base fired warning shots into the air as around 300 Ukrainian soldiers, who previously manned the airfield, demanded their jobs back.
About a dozen soldiers at the base warned the Ukrainians, who were marching unarmed, not to approach. They fired several warning shots into the air and said they would shoot the Ukrainians if they continued to march toward them.
The Ukrainian troops vowed to hold whatever ground they had left on the Belbek base.
U.S., Europe consider sanctions • BRUSSELS — The United States and the European Union are preparing economic and diplomatic sanctions against Russia unless Moscow pulls its troops on the Crimean peninsula back to its barracks.
The U.S. has already halted military and economic talks as it weighs further punitive measures. U.S. officials traveling with Kerry offered no details.
The U.S. and European members of the G8 — Germany, Britain, Italy and France — have halted preparations for a planned June summit in Russia’s Black Sea resort Sochi. Sanctions could target Russia’s energy sector. Trade in oil and gas accounts for about 60 percent of Russia’s exports and half its government revenues. Denver Post news services


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In the complex world of healthcare, the importance of efficient revenue cycle management cannot be overstated. A crucial component of this management process is physician billing. Physician billing encompasses the administrative tasks involved in accurately documenting and submitting claims for medical services rendered by physicians. This article aims to shed light on the role of physician billing in revenue cycle management, highlighting its significance and providing a simplified understanding of its processes.
Understanding Revenue Cycle Management
Before delving into the specifics of physician billing, it is essential to grasp the broader concept of revenue cycle management (RCM). RCM refers to the financial process that healthcare providers undertake to ensure the timely collection of payment for services rendered. RCM involves various stages, including patient registration, insurance verification, coding, and documentation, claim submission, payment posting, and denial management.
The Crucial Role of Physician Billing
Within the realm of revenue cycle management, physician billing plays a vital role in ensuring the financial stability and sustainability of healthcare organizations. Efficient physician billing services directly impact the revenue generated by healthcare providers, making it essential to understand its fundamental components.
Accurate and comprehensive documentation is the foundation of successful physician billing. Physicians must capture all relevant patient information, medical diagnoses, and treatment details. Proper documentation ensures that claims are coded correctly, eliminating potential errors that may lead to claim denials or delays in reimbursement. Documentation should include patient demographics, medical history, chief complaint, examination findings, and treatment plans. Clear and concise documentation is crucial for effective communication with payers and accurate coding.
Coding and Claim Submission
Once the necessary documentation is complete, the next step is coding. Medical coders assign specific codes to each physician service based on standardized code sets such as the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). These codes are crucial in accurately describing the medical services rendered and determining the appropriate reimbursement. Proper coding ensures that the services provided are accurately reflected in the claims submitted to payers, minimizing the risk of claim denials or underpayment.
After coding, the claims are submitted to insurance companies or government payers for reimbursement. It is crucial to adhere to the specific requirements and guidelines set by each payer to avoid claim denials or delays. Timely and accurate claim submission is essential for optimizing the revenue cycle and ensuring prompt reimbursement.
Timely Follow-up and Denial Management
In the realm of physician billing, proactive follow-up and denial management are indispensable. Insurance companies often deny claims for various reasons, including missing information, coding errors, or lack of medical necessity. Timely follow-up ensures that denials are addressed promptly, and necessary actions are taken to rectify any issues. Effective denial management strategies help maximize revenue by minimizing claim denials and ensuring timely reimbursements.
Denial management involves identifying the reasons for denials, appealing unjustified denials, and implementing corrective measures to prevent future denials. Timely and thorough follow-up with payers is crucial for resolving denied claims and ensuring that healthcare providers receive the reimbursement they are entitled to. By promptly addressing denials, healthcare organizations can reduce revenue leakage and improve their financial performance.
Patient Billing and Collections
Alongside insurance billing, physician billing also involves patient billing and collections. Patient billing includes generating statements for the patient’s portion of the medical expenses and facilitating payment collection. Efficient patient billing strategies encompass clear communication, transparent billing statements, and flexible payment options to streamline the process and minimize patient delinquencies.
Healthcare organizations should educate patients about their financial responsibilities, provide transparent and easy-to-understand billing statements, and offer various payment options such as online portals, credit card payments, and payment plans. By implementing an effective medical billing services company, healthcare providers can improve cash flow, reduce bad debt, and enhance patient satisfaction.
Physician billing plays a critical role in revenue cycle management. By ensuring accurate documentation, efficient coding and claim submission, proactive denial management, and effective patient billing, healthcare organizations can optimize their revenue streams. Understanding the significance of physician billing and implementing streamlined processes can contribute to the financial stability and success of healthcare providers. While the intricacies of physician billing may be complex, its importance can be simplified and appreciated by all stakeholders involved in the healthcare revenue cycle management process.

domain: finance


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Download Daily Yoga | Fitness Yoga Plan&Meditation App 8.25.30
By Daily Yoga Team
You are downloading an older apk version of Daily Yoga | Fitness Yoga Plan&Meditation App. Daily Yoga is an application. That can help you get away from the stress by practicing concentration exercises and enjoying this physical and mental discipline. To download the Join Daily Yoga just click on the download button above. Download the app’s APK file and install… Read review of Daily Yoga | Fitness Yoga Plan&Meditation App.
More information about this APK file
- Package name:
- 8.25.30 (288)
- File size:
- 60.2 MB
- March 3, 2023
- Minimum Android version:
- Android 4.4 (Kitkat, API 19)
- Screen DPI:
Updated Version of Daily Yoga Available:
What's new in this version of Daily Yoga?
- New course in February: Period Yoga For Back Pain Relief, Yoga For Period Pain Relief, Period Yoga For Joint Relief.
- New in eBook: 14-Day Sleep Plan for Better Body & Health
- New Challenges: Love Your Workout Yoga Challenge, Relief From Discomfort Weekly Challenge, Let's Get Moving Puzzle Challenge, Love Out Loud Puzzle Challenge.
- Fixed some issues.

domain: hobby


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|Improve mental health with good food, exercise|
By James Penland
Did you know that being more physically active can improve your mental health?
The news media are full of stories about the increase in overweight and obesity in the United States. We are reminded that excess weight is a major risk factor for many health problems. These include heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis. And we repeatedly are told that eating a healthy diet and being physically active are the keys to losing weight and avoiding weight gain.
MyPyramid.gov, which is based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2005), recommends that adults get at least 30 minutes of "moderate" physical activity most days of the week. Moderate activities include walking, housework, gardening, actively playing with children, and yoga. Children should be active for at least 60 minutes a day to avoid gaining weight. Adults trying to lose weight and maintain weight loss should be active 60 to 0 minutes a day. Everyone should spend less time watching television.
To learn more about these exercise guidelines, go to MyPyramid.gov, click on "Inside the Pyramid," and then click on the person climbing the stairs for a brisk primer on exercise guidelines.
More "vigorous" activities, such as jogging and aerobics, may provide greater benefits for physical health. Most people realize that physical activity can increase their endurance, strength and flexibility. What many people don't realize is that physical activity also is important for mental health.
Depression is a mood disorder. A person may be depressed if he or she has several of the following symptoms for at least 2 weeks. Feelings of sadness, worthlessness, hopelessness, fatigue or irritability. Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions. Problems with sleep or appetite.
A depressed person may have physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders and chronic pain. People with severe depression may have thoughts of death or suicide, or actually attempt suicide. People who are depressed often have poorer physical health and are less productive at work or school. Depression also results in less self-esteem, social problems and reduced quality of life.
"The Global Burden of Disease Study," a survey of health problems and their costs in countries around the world showed that depression is the fourth-leading cause of disability worldwide.
About 10 percent of Americans suffer from depression each year. Depression costs the U.S. economy $80 billion each year in lost work productivity and treatment. Treatments include psychotherapy (talk therapy), medication and hospitalization. Unfortunately, only about one in four of those affected seek treatment.
Studies have found that several months of moderate physical activity can reduce the symptoms of depression. In fact, the benefits of activity often were similar to those obtained from taking antidepressant medications and psychotherapy. And benefits continued even when people resumed a less active lifestyle.
But consistency is important. Brief periods of vigorous physical activity may not be as beneficial as regular moderate activity. In fact, some studies have found no effect of vigorous activity on depression. Others have found an increase in depression. In addition, we don't know whether moderate activity plays a role in helping prevent depression.
Studies at the Cooper Institute in Dallas have found that regular physical activity may help reduce the symptoms of panic and anxiety disorders. Fatigue and sleep problems which are common in mental health disorders also were found to improve with more physical activity. Other studies have found that more physical activity helps people to cope better with stress. And it improves self-esteem and overall quality of life.
Scientists now are trying to find out whether increasing physical activity might improve chronic disorders such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. Initial studies show that more physical activity improves quality of life in these groups.
The Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center is collaborating in a national study to find out what makes it so hard for people to eat healthy diets and be more physically active. We also are trying to find out whether the DGA recommendations work in all the different age and ethnic groups in the country.
Another goal of this study is to find out whether following the DGA recommendations for physical activity and diet will improve symptoms of depression and other aspects of mental health.
The message is clear. Being physically active promotes a healthy weight and reduces risk of chronic physical diseases. But it is also likely that physical activity reduces depression and it may be a useful treatment for other chronic mental health problems.

domain: psychology