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Read Part I here.
What went wrong
Simply put, a drill pipe is a tube within a tube. The outer tube is the bore of the well, and the inner tube the drill pipe, which in turn contains the drill head. As the drill head rotates and moves down within the well bore, pumps aboard the drill platform force a viscous fluid called mud down with it. The mud lubricates and cools the drill head, while simultaneously flushing dirt and cut bits of rock out the bottom into the ring-shaped "annulus" space between the drill pipe and the outside tube, or casing.
Mud can also be pumped from other locations—choke and kill lines, for example—so debris and mud may flow back up the drill pipe. However it gets there, the debris is eventually sent back to a separation manifold on the drilling platform for cleaning and reuse.
The huge BOP stack sits on the sea floor directly above the wellhead. Its two halves together are as tall as a six-story building and weigh over 400 tons. The top half, called a Lower Marine Riser Package (LMRP) contains two electronic control pods together with a pair of donut-shaped sealing devices called the Upper and Lower annular preventers. The preventers seal around the drill pipe and regulate upward fluid flow.
The lower half of the BOP stack contains a series of shear and bore 'rams,' and the valves and hydraulics that actuate them. Depending on the circumstances, these rams serve to 'choke' the well, or 'kill' it if necessary. The BOP stack is a complex device, and its job is critical: control pressure within the well, keep the drill pipe centered, and sever and seal the pipe in the event of an uncontrollable blowout. The Deepwater Horizon's BOP stack failed on all three counts.
On the night of the accident, shortly after a routine "leak-off" test of the Upper Annular Preventer, manifold pressures on the drilling platform increased five-fold. Oil and gas then began spilling onto the platform deck, and the rig caught fire. Personnel aboard the Deepwater Horizon activated the Emergency Disconnect Sequence (EDS) in an attempt to shut down the well, but they were unsuccessful. The rig was abandoned a half an hour later.
How it happened
DNV's analysis, supported by FEA data, indicates that the primary cause of failure was the BSR, or blind shear ram's inability to cut the drill pipe and seal the wellbore. The BSR is like a big pair of scissors, with opposing blades designed to cut the drill pipe and seal its end in a last-ditch effort to kill the well. FEA clearly showed that the shear ram should have been able to do its job. The required force was in the middle of the test and calculated data range for a nominal, centered pipe model, and there was nothing out of the ordinary with the strength of the drill pipe itself. The BSR would likely have worked, except for one thing: the pipe wasn't where it was supposed to be.
When activation of the blind shear rams occurred during ROV intervention, the annular preventers were already sealed around the drill pipe at the top of the BOP stack. The variable bore rams were sealed around its lower half. The pipe should have been in the center of the well bore, which is where the blind shear ram expected it to be. However, physical evidence from the markings on the recovered portion of the drill pipe indicated that the pipe was at the side of the wellbore instead.
The DNV engineers postulated a reason: One of the pipe's tool joints was positioned just below the upper annular preventer, which was closed on the drill pipe. When upward pressure became high enough due to the forces caused by the blowout, the pipe had nowhere to go and the upward forces (compression forces on the drill pipe) caused the drill pipe to buckle—pushing the pipe to the side of the wellbore. The blind shear ram tried to cut the pipe off-center, unsuccessfully. This jammed a portion of the drill pipe between the ram block faces, preventing the rams from fully closing and sealing the wellbore.
FEA supports theories of 'why'
As DNV's investigation into the proposed sequence of events deepened, FEA continued to support the team's theories. They started with a buckling analysis to determine what the necessary load would have been to move the pipe to the edge of the casing. The FEA models indicated that the applied pressures would have been sufficient to force it out of position (see figure above).
From there, it was necessary to determine two other things: would the pipe have sheared had it been in the correct position, and what forces were needed to shear it off-center? Once again, FEA models provided the needed insight (see image at left). "First, using a combination of the shear damage parameters, in conjunction with the known elastic and strength values of the material, our FEA data validated the estimated pressures needed to shear the pipe under a center-load condition," says Finneran.
Next, the engineers simulated the situation seen on the Deepwater. "Our shearing analysis showed that, with the pipe off-center, the rams would have been prevented from closing fully," says Finneran. "This allowed flow past the blind shear rams and caused significant erosion of the blind shear ram components and wellbore."
"We determined that, under blowout conditions of this well, it was possible for the drill pipe to buckle between the UA (Upper Annular Preventer) and U-VBR (Upper Variable Bore Ram)," says Finneran. The DNV hypothesis was supported by their off-center BSR shearing FEA model, which provided results consistent with those damaged pipe segments, as well as the erosion damage seen between the rams, wellbore, and recovered drill pipe.
Moving Forward
Now that FEA has been shown to be highly useful in helping identify the causes of the Deepwater Horizon failure, Finneran would like to see it used to lessen the likelihood of such events re-occurring in the future. "I believe finite element analysis can be a valuable tool in validating the capabilities of both new designs and existing equipment," he says. "It allows you to incorporate a number of scenarios and situations that are difficult, if not impossible, to analyze through experimental testing."
Finneran points out one challenge still to be overcome: incomplete raw material data. Because some of the material damage parameters of the actual materials used in Deepwater's BOP stack were unavailable, he and his team had to substitute equivalent materials with known values in their analyses.
"The industry as a whole would benefit from developing material-specific data that could help them to further fine-tune the FEA of their designs," he says. "This could enable the development of models that can verify the ability of existing and future BSRs to shear drill pipe under high-pressure blowout conditions. Given the appropriate material data, this kind of numerical modeling definitely has the ability to assess the extreme pressures and conditions that may be seen during a blowout event."
The DNV report makes numerous recommendations to the oil industry, including further studies to determine efficacy of backup systems and ROV effectiveness, as well as additional FEA modeling to more fully understand buckling stresses and fluid dynamics in a blowout situation.
"Whatever the outcome of this testing, regulations are expected to change," says Finneran. "Several alternatives are being considered within the industry, such as including redundant BSRs as a secondary backup, and pursuing more robust designs capable of cutting and sealing under most any situation presented."
"FEA can incorporate real world data into highly accurate predictive models," Finneran says. "Given the right material data, fluid flow characteristics, and downhole pressures, we could then simulate what would happen under those conditions, giving you a reasonable amount of certainty that your design will function under well blowout scenarios."


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Forty years ago this day, May 27, India's first prime minister passed into the ages.
Jawaharlal Nehru's legacy is�the theme of constant discussion in India and abroad.
Many Indians believe that many of India's achievements -- its vibrant democracy, its industrial prowess, its knowledge advantage, even its military strength -- would not have been possible without the strong foundations laid down by Nehru.
Many others believe that Nehru's policies -- his insistence on the public sector, on linguistic states, on non alignment, on blindly imitating the Soviet Union -- retarded India's progress and forced a great nation into the ranks of the Third World.
Over the next few weeks, rediff.com will bring you opinions and views from both sides in an effort to evaluate the true worth of Nehru's legacy.
Today: Lieutenant General Eric A Vas (retired) begins this debate with his perspective of Nehru's relationship with India's military.
On the anniversary of the death of Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister, it is customary to recall his many virtues. When India gained Independence, he was undoubtedly the darling of the masses. He was young, alert, handsome, well-spoken in English and Hindi, physically and morally courageous, modern and liberal in his outlook, and a patriot who had served jail sentences in the cause of freedom.
Like all democratic leaders, Nehru believed that military force was the last resort in any political struggle for power. But unlike others, Nehru carried his distaste of military power to extremes. This was probably because his belief was reinforced by Mahatma Gandhi's successful non-violent struggle against the British and his experiences whilst facing imperial colonial military power.
In fact, Nehru neither understood nor was interested in politico-military matters. At the time of Independence he believed, or was cleverly made to believe by Mountbatten, that there was no Indian capable of taking over as head of the army. The fact that he asked a British officer to stay on as commander-in-chief shows his frame of mind.
But in the initial decades of his rise to power, few perceived his distaste of the military as an obsession or considered it a serious liability. This was because India was busy celebrating its freedom, setting up democratic institutions, sorting out its internal problems, and integrating the princely states. Moreover, it was seen that India's military power was being used effectively to assert Indian authority on disputed borders in Jammu and Kashmir and in northeastern India. But military officers and others who were in close contact with Nehru had firsthand experience of his obsessions. A few anecdotes will illustrate what this implied.
Nehru, who was honest enough to admit that he knew little about military matters, left the setting up of the newly established defence ministry to Admiral Mountbatten and Lord Ismay. Nehru was advised by Mountbatten to organise the defence structure on the council system [each of the services having a council, composed of military staff] presided over by a politician and run very much on the lines of the Railway board, with military heads as chiefs of their respective service staff or boards. Under this system, there would be no need for a bureaucratic defence secretary [whoever hears of a railway secretary?] This would require the establishment of a Chief of Defence Staff to coordinate the three services at the defence minister level. But Nehru was unwilling to do that.
Lord Mountbatten has stated in a letter that 'although Prime Minister Nehru agreed with me in principle, he said it would be difficult at this moment to get through the appointment of a CDS as it would give to the Indian politician the impression of perpetuating the idea of the great Commander-in-Chief in India. Lord Ismay and I worked hand in hand on these proposals but I thought it would come better from him than the constitutional Governor General as I then had become. He [Ismay] also tried to negotiate a CDS but met with the same opposition from Nehru and for the same reason.'
Shortly after assuming the office of prime minister, Nehru was being taken around to the newly set up military wing of the Cabinet secretariat. When he entered the room he was startled to see several military officers wearing air force, naval and army uniforms. Nehru turned angrily on the secretary and began shouting and demanding to know what military officers were doing in the Cabinet secretariat.
Later Nehru calmed down when Lord Ismay explained the role of the military wing and why military officers were needed. Obviously the prime minister had no concept of the newly established higher defence system This episode was witnessed by military officers who were later told that they would always wear civilian clothes whilst at work; a practice which is�followed till today.
Nehru would lay down the law to his Cabinet ministers knowing that none would dare oppose him. He felt he could do the same while dealing with elementary military issues about which he was quite ignorant.
During the early days of the Jammu and Kashmir operations Nehru visited the Srinagar airfield and was being briefed by IAF pilots. He was told they were using 500 lb bombs. He at once said this was an excessive use of force and the less powerful 250 lb bomb should be used. He was told the target area was criss-crossed with nullahs and deep valleys and less powerful bombs would be ineffective. Nehru protested that this was a violation of the principle of 'minimum force.'
He was tactfully told this was not an aid to a civil power operation but a full-fledged war against aggressors. The principle of minimum force was not relevant in this instance. It was essential for the air force and army to use adequate force while dealing with this enemy. It is significant that the senior military officers who accompanied Nehru seemed to be overawed by the prime minister and kept quiet.
On another occasion, Nehru and his entourage were waiting at Palam air force station for a VIP to arrive. The prime minister turned to the air chief and pointing to an air force plane�parked nearby, asked, 'Why are your planes marked Indian Air Force? Surely no foreign planes could be parked here.' The air chief mumbled that�he would look into the matter. A young air force officer standing nearby intervened and said, 'All air forces follow the practice of using national names. Thus we have the Royal Canadian Air Force, the French Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force and so on.' Nehru seemed taken aback at this response, turned to the air chief and said, 'Do look into this.' Later, after the VIPs had departed, the air chief scolded the young officer, telling�him he should guard against talking about policy matters that were above his head.
Over the years, the army continued to press for a CDS and were supported by some members of Parliament. Nehru sensed a growing pressure for reform. In March 1955 he announced in Parliament the change in designation of the three service chiefs from commander-in-chief to chiefs of staff. This was nothing more than a verbal smokescreen. It is a misnomer to call our service heads chiefs of their respective service staffs without forming integrated service councils.
Whilst announcing this change of designation of the service chiefs, Nehru stated that as in other democratic countries, India too would have a defence council. The House loudly cheered this statement. Few understood what was being promised. However, this ploy confused the issue and silenced the political critics. Meanwhile, our irrational and inefficient system of politico-military command continues till today.
In the late 1950s, our government was keen to purchase modern guided missiles for the air force. Negotiations for this were in progress with the British government. The Indian military attach� in London was in touch with British suppliers. While Nehru was visiting the UK, the attach� arranged for the firm concerned to display a short demonstration film for the prime minister. Electronic display systems were not invented at that time and a projector was set up at the Indian high commission. A senior director of the firm made it a point to be present out of respect for the prime minister. Moreover, the deal was worth a lot of money.
The brief film was a very realistic and ended with a loud bang as a missile shot down an 'enemy' plane in a cloud of flame. Nehru got up in a rage, and shouted, 'I will have nothing to do with these sort of weapons' and stormed out of the room followed by his daughter Indira Gandhi. The British director who witnessed this scene was bewildered. He turned to the Indian military attach� and said, 'Extraordinary fellow.' A few minutes later, Indira returned to the room, apologised for what had happened and thanked the director for the trouble he had taken to arrange the display. The concerned weapon was later purchased.
At the personal level, the prime minister's attitude towards military officers was in sharp contrast to the treatment of bureaucrats and police officers by the home minister. Sardar Patel knew that his officers had served the British loyally. Nevertheless after 1947 he accepted them as apolitical civil servants. He did everything he could to raise the prestige and morale of those serving under him and never questioned their loyalty. The bureaucrats responded magnificently to their minister and served him handsomely. The smooth merging of the princely states into the Union is sufficient evidence of that.
During a conference in South Block, Nehru was very impressed by the performance of a young police inspector. He turned to Sardar Patel and muttered, 'Why can't we have men like that to lead our army, rather than employing highly paid majors and colonels?' The prime minister of India seemed blissfully unaware that police officers and military officers have different roles. This remark to the home minister was overheard by several military officers who were present and did nothing to enhance the morale of the officer corps.
After the end of the Second World War, a large number of the newly liberated colonies in Africa and Asia, including Pakistan, were overwhelmed by military coups. Nehru's casual approach to key defence issues and military officers was evident to the bureaucrats who surrounded him. Taking their cue from the prime minister, the Intelligence Bureau took every opportunity to denigrate senior military officers by questioning their loyalty. The more efficient and popular the military officer, the greater became the opportunity to play upon the politician's fear of a coup. Officers like Generals Thimayya, Thorat and others were spied upon day and night by junior IB minions. This further undermined the morale of the officer corps. Moreover, all this took place at the expense of genuine intelligence work, which was neglected.
Nehru hoped to create a world where nations, instead of forming groups to act against each other, would learn to eschew conflict and settle their disputes in a peaceful manner. He felt that India, with its philosophy and idealistic past, could provide a lead in this direction. He placed his faith in the United Nations. Overlying his idealism was a hatred of war and of all things military. Thus his intellectual make-up lacked an important dimension. He gave no deep thought to politico-military matters and this prevented him from making sound security decisions.
There should, therefore, be no surprise that the war in Jammu and Kashmir took the course it did and the Indian army was stopped from driving Pakistan out of Indian territory when it was in a position to do so. It is not surprising that he was later to order the Indian army to 'throw out the Chinese' from Thangla ridge when the troops located there were in no position to do so. It is not surprising that there were no longer any efficient and forthright senior military officers to question this suicidal decision.
It is not unusual for elected prime ministers to be ignorant of military matters. They offset this handicap by seeking the guidance of reliable advisers. Unfortunately, Nehru chose as his defence minister Krishna Menon, a man who was even more prejudiced and ignorant about military matters. Mountbatten wrote, 'The last time Nehru stayed with me here at Broadlands, before the Chinese invasion on the North-East frontier, I urged him to appoint General Thimayya to the CDS post right away as I could see trouble brewing up. I warned him that if a war came, the Indian army would suffer a quick defeat. He said there was no question of there being a war as India wished to be at peace with everybody. To this I replied that it took two sides to decide whether there would be a war or not and if either China or Pakistan were to invade, there would be a war on your hands. This [CDS system] however he was unwilling to do as Krishna Menon was against it.'
It was left to the Chinese to rid the Indian government of Krishna Menon, and leave Nehru a shattered man. Meanwhile, the unending debate on the CDS system continues.
It is convenient to blame Nehru for not initiating reforms in the early years of independence, because of a mixture of reasons: misguided fears of a military coup and a lack of knowledge of the legitimate role of the military in decision-making on security issues.
After Nehru's death on May 27, 1964, political instability at the Centre prevented any government from initiating such reforms. Bureaucrats adopted devious methods to bring down the services at every opportunity. This was particularly apparent in the succession of orders issued on the Warrant of Precedence. The committee of secretaries, which decides the Warrant of Precedence recorded that 'military officers have been placed unduly high in the old Warrant of Precedence, presumably as it was considered essential for officers of the old army of occupation to be given special status and authority.'
So after the Indo-Pak war [1947-1948] the service chiefs were made junior to Supreme Court judges. They further dropped in status after the 1962 Sino-Indian conflict and became junior to the Cabinet secretary. Their decline continued unabated and they were made junior to the attorney general after the Indo Pak war of 1965 Yet again, after the 1971 Indo-Pak war, they were put next to the Comptroller and Auditor General
Bureaucrats, who occupied key positions in the defence system, functioned as a 'wall' between harassed politicians and military officers. Insecure politicians preferred this arrangement as it left them free to indulge in their first preoccupation: to cling onto their seats in Parliament. Keeping their respective constituencies happy was their first priority. They had no time to worry about reforming a military system, which was apparently working fairly satisfactorily. But that is surely not the situation today.
History will record that Nehru's obsession about the military is easily eclipsed by his many other qualities and achievements. He was truly an extraordinary fellow. It is time that his successors rise to the occasion. India is the only major country, which has failed to adopt the Council System and has thus been losing out on maximising the efficiency of its three Services. It is absurd to keep talking about modernising our services without modernising this essential aspect of the higher command structure.
The reform of our politico-military higher command structure will not cost money. On the contrary, it will save the exchequer crores of rupees every year, reduce manpower, ease accommodation in Delhi, cut down paper work and will enhance political control of the services.
Image: Rajesh Karkera

subset: commoncrawl


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Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC Language: English Subtitles: English, Spanish Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.) Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Number of discs: 1 Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Studio: Lions Gate DVD Release Date: June 16, 2009 Run Time: 103 minutes
Madea Is Back "Leroy" Law Brown Looking for the Big House You Have the Right to Remain Silent! Bringing in the Heavy Hitters Madea's Crazy


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A self-dubbed "secretary of style," French-American designer Oleg Cassini was largely responsible for making Jackie Kennedy a style icon. Born in France and raised in Italy, Cassini immigrated to the United States in 1936. He subsequently ventured into costume design for Paramount Pictures and quickly became a Hollywood favorite, drawing the attention of one Jacqueline Bouvier. After marrying JFK, Jackie appointed Cassini as her couturier, whereupon he crafted a contemporary chic look for the First Lady that cast her as the embodiment of a New World royalty. Cassini became a household name, and Jackie's wardrobe of sheath dresses and wool coats was the envy of women across the country. Cassini's vision of simplified elegance continues to reverberate in fashion today.
Stylish Pairs: Top 10 Celebrity-Designer Relationships
Before Justin Timberlake got a suit, tie and high fashion advice from Tom Ford, Bob Mackie was Cher's cohort in crazy costumery and Halston dressed Bianca Jagger during the sparkly days of Studio 54. Here's a look at some stylish partnerships through history
1. Jackie Kennedy and Oleg Cassini
Full List
Top 10 Celebrity/Designer Relationships
- 1. Jackie Kennedy and Oleg Cassini
- 2. Audrey Hepburn and Hubert de Givenchy
- 3. Cher and Bob Mackie
- 4. Sofia Coppola and Marc Jacobs
- 5. Anne Hathaway and Valentino
- 6. Justin Timberlake and Tom Ford
- 7. Lady Gaga and Giorgio Armani
- 8. Renée Zellweger and Carolina Herrera
- 9. Bianca Jagger and Halston
- 10. Octavia Spencer and Tadashi Shoji


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These vehicles also create an attractive nuisance to children by presenting an enticing, but dangerous, plaything. There are several documented incidents of children becoming locked inside a vehicle and succumbing to the extreme temperatures produced within the vehicle. Inoperative vehicles also detract from neighborhoods appearance and can invite an undesirable element into your community.
The goal of Code Enforcement is to preserve the quality and value of public and private property and maintain a high standard of living by eliminating conditions that threaten the life, health, safety, and general welfare of the public. The Department recognizes that this goal is most effectively achieved through the education of, and cooperation with, the citizens of the City of Kimberly.


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Coal "Minors" Daughter? New Data Offers Light and Controversy on Loretta Lynn – Don't Believe Everything You Read
By Jon Black from www.AwaitingTheFlood.com
It is one of the best known and most iconic origin stories in American music: on April 14, 1935, a young woman was born into poverty in the rural community of Butcher Hollow along the Kentucky coal face. Married at 13 and a mother of four by 18, she received her first guitar on her 21st birthday and, overcoming all odds, by the age of 35 Loretta Lynn charted her first number-one country hit "Don't Come Home a Drinkin'."
Only now, like two cantankerous elder bluesmen arguing about an event from deep in the annals of Delta history, someone has stepped forward saying it didn't happen quite that way.
A recent story by Associated Press reporter Bruce Schreiner unveils documents discovered by AP indicating that Lynn was born in 1932 rather than 1935 and, by extension, suggesting she was married at almost 16 years of age and a mother of four children by 21. The documents presented by Schreiner include a birth certificate listing a date of April 14, 1932. The same date is featured on her marriage license, including affidavits from two witnesses to the document: Lynn's mother and a non-relative. A 1940 census record for the family also supports the 1932 birth date.
These documents contrast with Lynn's autobiography and other materials promulgated by Lynn, which have consistently adhered to a 1935 birth date. Thus far, Lynn, her management and surviving family have not substantially addressed the new information — responding in ways that all boil down to "no comment."
I am always happy to see original research making use of primary sources brought into music journalism. My career as a music journalist begun with precisely this kind of paper chasing: tracking down the First World War draft registration card of seminal blues guitarist/vocalist Blind Lemon Jefferson in the files of the National Archives and discovering not that his birth date differed from other accounts by as much as a decade but setting to rest the question of whether Jefferson had been blind from birth (he was).
At the same time, my experience with Blind Lemon Jefferson also gave me awareness of the perils and pitfalls of using various primary source documents in research. The materials discovered by AP are significant and deserve serious consideration but also need to be approached with an informed eye.
Of all the materials uncovered by AP, the 1940 census record is on the shakiest ground. While very useful, as anyone who used census records for genealogical research knows, they are not the iron-clad definitive records that popular imagination supposes them to be. Misspelled names and vague dates are among the more minor issues presented by dealing with these documents. Census enumerators gather their data on a household from
whoever happened to be home on the day of their visit. Sometimes, these individuals had faulty or incomplete information on other members of the household. Fortunately, for Lynn's 1940 census record the document lists her father, Melvin Webb, as the source thus minimizing those concerns. As with any census document, however, legitimate risks exist that enumerators did not clearly or correctly record the information provided.
The birth certificate and marriage license are on far more solid ground as sources. First, they are legal documents. Secondly, they were attested to by Lynn and/or immediate family members in the position to be certain of fundamental biographical data. Even here, however, there are grounds for looking at these documents with an objective eye.
One issue with both these documents is that they were not officially filed until 1965, a 30 or 33 year gap between date of birth (depending on whether one uses the old or new dates) and an 18 year gap between her marriage and when the documents were filed. To a digitized world where the instant processing and availability of records is taken as a given, this may seem strange. The idea of a birth certificate as something produced and filed before an infant has even left the hospital is, however, a surprisingly recent notion. Until well into the 20th century (and even longer in poor and rural regions such as the one from which Lynn comes), birth certificates were often not filed or recorded until years or decades after an individual's birth. While it seems unlikely that an individual or his or her immediate family would forget or incorrectly remember the year of birth, with a three decade gap – it can not be ruled out completely. The same holds true, albeit to a lesser extent, for the marriage license.
In any good mystery, one should also not neglect the question of motive. That is as true for historical research as for criminal investigation. It examining the date of Lynn's birth, it is insightful to look at what the motives could be to claim the 1932 date if the reality is 1935 … and the incentives to claim a 1935 date if the reality was 1932.
In the first case, claiming an 1935 birth date when the reality was 1932, it is helpful to consider both legal restrictions as well as cultural norms and mores. Schreiner's article cites Kentucky law expert R. Eric Hinninger as saying that, at the time of Lynn's marriage in 1948, it would have been illegal for a woman under 14 years of age to marry in that state. At the same time, it merits remembering that Lynn's wedding took place
less than a decade before public knowledge of Jerry Lee Lewis's marriage to his 13 year-old cousin almost wrecked the musician's career – suggesting there was already powerful social and cultural censure against the marriage of women so young. More refined perspective on that matter would require the professional observations of a sociologist or historian familiar with early 20th century Kentucky – but the legal obstacles and anecdotal evidence regarding social/cultural norms suggest that there would be a compelling incentive to supply an earlier birth year if Lynn was in fact born in 1935.
There is also understandable motive for claiming the 1935 birth year if Lynn was born in 1932. Great musicians are made as much by their stories as by their music. I know I am not the only music journalist in the world who selects his subjects based on what they say as well as what they play. If, at some point in the distant past, Lynn or someone associated with her decided that transcending marriage at 13 and four children at age 21 to become one of the most iconic musicians in her genre was a more compelling story … well, she would not be the first great musician to take liberties in tweaking her biography a bit. The annuals of blues, country and rock are filled with musicians who did everything from minor polishing of details to inventing tall tales (I think I have yet to meet a blues musician who did not claim to have played with B.B. King at some point). And, if that is indeed the case with Lynn, that in no way detracts from the power of her music.
The documents uncovered by the AP deserve serious consideration, but that consideration needs to come with an appropriate understanding of the historical context, strengths and weakness of these types of documents. In light of the extensive media attention given to AP's revelations, however, the question that really needs to be asked is not is not "Are they true?" but "How much do they matter?"
The answer, I believe, is that they matter a lot … but only within a limited context. For historical reasons, as well as for the fans who wish to know everything about the artists they love, it is important to understand the historical and cultural context from which these artists come. That means having the most accurate information possible. If the discrepancy suggested by the AP documents is correct, Lynn should come clean about that. And I don't think she needs to be concerned about repercussions.
At the end of the day, it shouldn't really matter whether she was born in 1932 or 1935. Is becoming one of history's greatest country musicians after being married at 15 and having four children by 21 genuinely less impressive than doing it by ages 13 and 18? No, of course it's not. And, if for whatever reason, Lynn, her family or her management decided it was necessary to adjust her age by three years, that does not change her 16 number one hits and giving the world classics such as "Coal Miner's Daughter," "Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man," and "One's on the Way." Either way, she remains the trailblazer who injected themes of social justice and gender equality into country music with titles such as "The Pill," "Dear Uncle Sam," and "Rated 'X'."
Whether 1932 or 1935, Loretta Lynn is still the Coal Miner's Daughter.
Link to original AP article
Originally posted at
(Jon Black is an Austin basic music journalist who shares the stories of musicians and their music from country, blues, roots, rock, Cajun, zydeco, and even punk. Follow him on Twitter @BlackonBlues)


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**This is cross-posted from [Pete the Temp's blog](http://www.petethetemp.co.uk/).**
*'They hang the man and flog the woman who steal the goose from the common, but let the greater villain loose that steals the common from goose'*
Today 70% of Britain is owned by 0.4% of the population
This Monday I went to Parliament (home to the House of Land Lords) to help represent squatting at a seminar about Community Land Trusts. The last time I was there I saw Kenneth Clarke, (who was at the time rushing through a piece of legislation to criminalise squatting in residential properties) stand in front of a sparsely populated House and say that that he saw "no difference between stealing somebody's home and stealing somebody's car".
I've never seen any property get driven away under cover of darkness. I have never seen people live in a car. I have never seen a car registered in a tax haven and left un-driven for decades waiting for the right price. I don't remember reading the paper and finding out that the sell- off of affordable cars by local government was to blame for the housing crisis. Nor have I, and excuse me for being sarcastic, seen any squatter steal somebody's home.
The squatted site where I live was left empty for 20 years. It is owned by an absentee land lord who holds several properties across the country. This one (classed as non-residential) is registered in a tax haven. The Council have been unable to stump up enough money to buy it and the local residents have been unable to turn it into communal land. This type of thing is no rare occurrence. The last empty building which we occupied was a five story London property registered in the haven of Liberia. It had been left empty for 5 years.
In late September I was interviewed on the BBC evening news about Alex Haigh – the first person to be imprisoned for squatting under the new legislation on 'residential' buildings. This twenty two year old trainee bricklayer will come out of Wormwood Scrubs having rubbed shoulders with hardened criminals. He will have a criminal track record and may never be able to work with children. His only crime was to move into an empty building – a property owned by a housing association. The Police came across him by accident and now he is in jail.
The BBC reporter was shocked when he interviewed the neighbours who were overwhelmingly opposed to the sentence – two of the three he interviewed were ex-squatters themselves!
Housing is a human right. Owning property is a human right too. Why have the Tories so aggressively asserted the right for people to own lots of properties and keep them empty against people's right to a temporary shelter?
Alex haigh – the first person to be convicted of squatting under the new legislation on residential buildings
Perhaps the answer could be distilled by the phrase "false scarcity". The housing activists, squatters, campaigners and academics at Monday's seminar (hosted by Michael Meacher MP and Martin Large of the National Community Land Trust Network were all concerned about this. The way we buy and sell the roofs under which we live is based on the false market concept of scarce housing resources. Keeping properties empty (and therefore their availability scarce) translates as higher property prices for the minority of rich landlords. For everyone else it means forced exodus from office blocks and luxury flats, a housing crisis, record, evictions and record homelessness.
One land activist from Grow Heathrow told how they made use of a piece of land that had been misused and then abandoned by the owner:
"Just because land is privately owned it doesn't mean that it doesn't effect other people … as we move towards a global food crisis there is only so far we can go in asking people nicely when they have a vested interest in keeping it the same"
In the rubble of this market failure is the well hidden reality of abundance. There are nearly a million empty buildings in the UK (80,000 in London alone). But if we treat houses like cars, instead of essential things that we all need and must find a way of managing fairly, we give people the incentive to steal them.
Squatting in non-residential properties is still a civil matter
Occupy – create – resist
[A funny little video about the history of enclosures and the commons from Bristol Radical History Group](http://www.brh.org.uk/site/articles/big-bang/)


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[Pages 647-652]
by Devora Rakavitch-Resel
Translated by Hanan Zacheim
After several years, suffering, cold and hunger and constant dangers, after years of wandering in forests, fields and marshes, and being in our "liberated" native village for over a year, we decided to leave that place, the earth soaked with innocent Jewish blood and to set out for the great[er] world [outside].
Elul 1945.[1] The village is quiet. No sign of the former Jewish life. One remembers the atmosphere that reigned when our dearest lived here, when life was normal.
Early [in the morning] Jews would hurry to the synagogue to attend Selichot [2] services. Jews would arrive from abroad, from other towns and villages in Poland in order to pray in the famous Mirrer Yeshiva[3] during the High Holy Days. A mysterious awe would awaken strange thoughts and emotions in all; some would visit ancestral graves at the cemetery during the days of Elul, and pour out their hearts of all their cares and woes at the silent graves. Women would say aloud petitions and prayers.
Unfortunately our village today possesses not only this ancient holy site, but [also] four more related graveyards have been added, besides tens of [other] individual graves spread out over various sites.
We both go to bid farewell to the graves, silently, each one deep in consideration of his thoughts.
The first related graveyard is located behind the forest on the Gorodzier Road, a kilometer away directly alongside the forest. Here the sadistic murderers cut short the lives of 24 victims - 6 Gentiles and 18 Jews, including also our dear brother Yeruchim Ressel, upon him be peace. He [was laid to] rest fourth in the first row. We bow our heads, tears pour from our eyes. How frightful, simply incredible was their last journey, the twenty sixth of Tammuz[4] 1941, three weeks after the occupation of our territories by the murderers. We had already experienced the great shortages and hunger, cramped dwellings but who can imagine that there awaits each one of us- a premature and gruesome death? Never-the-less we had begun to sense it.
Now to that day of the first massacre. The village is quiet. [People] are gathering together at minyanim in order to complete the prayers. Actually there is no need to assemble a minyan;[5] we are living [in such] cramped [conditions] that there is no shortage of men. We are living [in] such cramped [conditions], squeezed together, 5-10 families to a small house. But we do not notice this cramped condition because the nocturnal fear of attack by gentile neighbors, the fear of murder, beatings and robbery make us forget the discomforts. People seldom go about in the streets because they are insecure. A German could [suddenly] appear and be inclined to shoot us; and gentiles in general, who until recently smiled at us [in a ] friendly [manner] - a hellish fire of murder had suddenly ignited within them, and they beat and tear pieces out of innocent passers-by.
We sit quietly in the houses, the door closed and marked with a Star of David with "Jude"[6] in the middle. [The situation] is bad, but the families are whole, with a few exceptions. Suddenly towards evening Germans arrive: no one understands the technicalities of their troop formations. They call individual Jews, create a Judenrat,[7] instruct [us] to wear yellow patches and order all men to gather in the marketplace the next day. Whoever will hide, will be shot.
People begin to scramble and search for a piece of yellow cloth; experts in cutting and in attaching the yellow patches make their appearance. As these symbols are worn, our fate becomes sealed. We are public [property], we lose all our rights. The yellow patch can be seen from afar; it arouses mockery and scoffing in our gentile neighbours; our hearts are heavy with great pain and sadness.
The first order has been carried out. The yellow patches are now upon us; now each day new orders and decrees are issued.
The following day, Sunday, in the morning: Jews of various ages - long-bearded Jews, minors- have been lined up in rows at the marketplace next to the Russian Orthodox church, with the patches on the breast and back, cap in hand and with frightened faces they stand ready to follow orders. "Fetch leather"- an order is issued- "Fetch spades." Assistants are found: two Gentiles. One [named] Kirke, previously a peasant [an indentured labourer at Zamirer Yard"]; and Yalak, a leather worker Miranker Street. They both indicate which [persons] should be taken out. Eighteen Jews are taken out, well known people of the village amongst whom is our brother, Yeruchim, R.I.P. Six Gentiles are also brought. They are placed next to the wall of the church, [and they] are murderously beaten with feet and guns, [and then they] are instructed to get into the vehicle which is [used to take] them on their last journey.
Our parents, becoming aware that Yeruchim was taken away, are the first to arrive at the scene of the tragedy. They draw close, the earth trembles. The murderers' unextinguished cigarettes are lying about. A gentile, who had been herding cattle nearby approaches [them] and describes what occurred; murderously beaten, they dug their own graves and were buried alive, because the murderers would not spare a bullet.
A short while thereafter, at the request of the neighboring peasants [who advised] that wolves were gathering around the graves, the Judenrat was permitted to transfer the dead bodies to a deeper grave. My father, upon him be peace, joined the group of workers and, with his own hands, he took hold of his son like a small child and laid him to eternal rest. There was no sign of shooting on his body, only battered teeth and a twisted jaw. On the one side next to our Yeruchim, upon him be peace, Yashe Razovsky, upon him be peace, was laid to rest. His nose was missing; on the other side, Yona Pisetshner, upon him be peace, without ears. Thus all eighteen Jewish victims died, by having living pieces [of flesh] torn off them.
We bid farewell to our beloved brother. We bid farewell to each one individually. We stare at a cross that has been placed upon the grave; the gentile families erected it for all.
We go further to the other two mass graves [created] after the massacre of the 19th of Cheshvan[8] 1941. One mass grave is located on the new Shtolptzer Road, behind the site of the former Polish courthouse - a grave of hundreds of Jews, without any sign of a graveyard: No tombstone; no mound of earth. [Simply} a hole [in the ground] from where lime used to be extracted, and [subsequently] deepened and filled with the [prematurely] ended lives of children, women, men and the elderly. The second grave is situated on the road to the slaughter-house, a corner in the form of a "T " and enclosed with wires.
Sunday; white snow covers the earth which was red with Jewish blood. Unexpectedly, early in the morning, the town is encircled on all sides and the Jews are assembled at the market place. Mothers bearing their children in their arms; young people arm-in-arm; Jews wrapped in their prayer shawls.
We stand at the graves, we see them all and we bid them farewell
We draw near to the last mass grave of the last massacre which occurred on the first of Elul[9] 1942. The grave is located at the edge of the forest, at the same site of the first grave. How heavy are our hearts; how tragic the memories.
On the way we pick the blue cornflowers in the fields and place them upon the grave of hundreds of Jews, including our parents Fruma and Moshe Ressel, of blessed memory. We fall down upon the earth - we see before us father [and] mother in the depths of theirtragedy occasioned by the loss of our brother Yeruchim, and our sister Minia Ressel-Rosenthal, may her memory be blessed, in Ravav on the twenty-eighth day of Tammuz[10] 1941, at the age of only 28 years. We see them on the last night when we left the ghetto. We hear their soft weeping, their overpowering dread of our fate. We hear their last words; "Run, dear children, run. You must live and take revenge, and survive to live a decent life."
We now approach the old cemetery of Mir. There are many graves, but not a single tombstone. Not a single tree remains in an area once so densely overgrown. The gentiles tore out the tombstones to cover the muddy parts of their homes. We do not find the graves of our grandfathers, grandmothers and close relatives. We bid farewell to this sacred site, and to all those who rest eternally here having died a natural death.
We now go to bid farewell to the village.
At our house at the central marketplace, we go up to the yard, and we sit down on the cement bench. As arranged, and as directed by an inner force, we do not cross the threshold of the burnt house. Too difficult. Here we were born. Here we were raised by our parents, and from this place we were sent out to study in the town. Here we celebrated happy occasions, and married off children. Here we would enjoy a carefree moment with other youngsters; here the door would not be locked from early morning until late at night - a merchant's house, a house that gave sustenance to many people; labourers; coach drivers transporting food to the train; merchants from surrounding villages; merchants from farther afield; Jews and gentiles, peasants and wealthy Polish noblemen. Everything has been wiped out.
Silence all about, no one, no sign has remained. We wish to say goodbye, but we do not hear a "go well." We do not say "stay well." Slowly we walk about the market and the streets that used to be populated by Jews. We go as if in a funeral procession, stopping at each house of our close ones; we remain at length at the synagogues, at the synagogue-heath. We approach the Yeshivah, stand quietly - there is no sign of the sacred Yeshivah, the Yeshivah that radiated Torah to the whole Jewish world.
Everyone and everything has gone up in smoke, [has blown away] with the bloody windthe heart aches who can express with words our thoughts and feelings?
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Updated 11 Jan 2024 by JH


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Press Releases
Republic Bank partners with Arts Insight to host the "Through Art There Is Realisation" workshops
Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business launches Master of SME Management with special offer for Republic Bank clients
Republic Invests In Ghana Bank
Republic Bank Partners With Resonance Trinidad To Bring Convenience To Mobile Topup
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, November 14 2012: Arising from a collaborative effort between Republic Bank Limited and Resonance Trinidad, mobile customers (bmobile and Digicel) now have the added convenience of purchasing cell phone credit for their own or someone else's prepaid mobile phones. This can be done by direct debit from their Republic OneCard or Credit Card Accounts, using yooz.topup.
Republic Bank Records $1.2 Billion Profit at Year's End
Port of Spain, Trinidad: November 8, 2012: Republic Bank Limited has recorded profit attributable to equity holders of $1.2 billion, for the financial year ended September 30, 2012. This represents a 3.3% improvement on the corresponding 2011 period.


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Get PolitiFact in your inbox.
Rep. Hensarling says annual deficits under Republicans have become the monthly deficits under Democrats
We felt like President Barack Obama gave us a direct assignment on Friday afternoon.
In his retreat with Republicans on Jan. 29, 2010, Obama and Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, were sparring over deficits, when Obama issued this challenge.
"I am happy to have any independent fact-checker out there take a look at your presentation versus mine in terms of the accuracy of what I just said," Obama said.
It was like the president was speaking directly to us here at PolitiFact.
In this item, we'll examine Hensarling's side of the exchange.
Hensarling began by saying that an alternative 2010 budget offered by House Republicans in April would have grown government spending far slower than the Democrats' plan.
"And since that budget was ignored," he said, "what were the old annual deficits under Republicans have now become the monthly deficits under Democrats. The national debt has increased 30 percent."
Hensarling asked if Obama's 2011 budget would "continue to take us down the path of increasing the cost of government to almost 25 percent of our economy."
Obama said the question sounded more like a talking point from someone running a campaign and was an example of why it's so hard to achieve bipartisan legislation.
But was Hensarling right that the old annual deficits under Republicans are now the monthly ones under the Democrats?
Only if you do some serious cherry-picking.
In a press release issued by Hensarling after the meeting, he noted that the monthly deficit in October 2009 was $176 billion. That's really the first month you can attribute wholly to Democrats -- Obama and the Democrat-controlled Congress. And it's also a high-water mark. The CBO estimates a total 2010 deficit of $1.35 trillion, which works out to an average of about $112 billion per month. So while the deficits fluctuate month-to-month, we think the average is the fairest number when you refer to "monthly deficits under Democrats." So to begin with, Hensarling is choosing the highest number.
Hensarling compares the October 2009 number to fiscal year 2007 -- the last year in which the nation had a Republican president, George W. Bush, and a Republican-controlled Congress handling the budget -- when the total deficit that year was $162 billion. But that was one of the smaller deficits under Bush.
Over his full, eight-year term (including much of the 2009 deficit that rightly falls to him), the country ran up $3.3 trillion in total deficits. That works out to an average of about $412 billion per year -- more than double the number Hensarling is using. If you want to just look at the six years Bush had a Republican Congress, the average drops to about $260 billion a year.
Some would argue that to cut out the recession years -- when the deficit exploded -- is unfair (and we agree), but even under that scenario, Hensarling's statistic doesn't hold up if you consider the average monthly deficit under Democrats' full control rather than cherry-picking one particularly high month.
"If he were to say the highest monthly deficit months under Obama versus the lower deficit years under Bush and the Republican Congress, then his numbers are right," said Brian Riedl, lead budget analyst for the conservative Heritage Foundation.
With those kinds of qualifiers, you could argue that the deficit in October 2009 under Obama ($176 billion) was more than the entire 2007 fiscal year under Bush and a Republican Congress ($162 billion).
But that's not what Hensarling said.
For the sake of argument, let's do some cherry-picking of our own. In October 2008, the month before Obama was even elected, the monthly deficit was $232 billion. That's higher than any of the monthly deficits under Obama.
In fact, many of the monthly deficits since the recession began -- and which fall under the watch of Bush and a Democrat-controlled Congress -- have routinely rivaled the monthly deficits under Obama. So using Hensarling's technique, we could also claim that Bush's deficit was higher than Obama's.
Featured Fact-check
Hensarling's director of communications, George Rasley, said it was a mistake to look at the numbers as Obama versus Bush. Rather, he said, Hensarling was comparing Democrats to Republicans, not presidents. For the last two years of the Bush administration, he said, Democrats in Congress were "controlling the purse strings." But we think dialing back the clock to full Republican control not only leaves Bush entirely off the hook for his role in running up the deficit, it conveniently predates the recession, which has contributed greatly to the deficits.
As for Hensarling's claim that the national debt has increased 30 percent, that figure also is misleading. The public debt did increase 30 percent over the fiscal 2009 year. The fiscal year runs from the beginning of October until the end of September. In other words, Obama was inaugurated four months into the fiscal year. The Obama administration's first budget proposal was for the 2010 fiscal year. And the nonpartisan Congressional Budget office estimated the 2009 deficit at nearly $1.2 trillion on the day Obama was sworn in.
Obama increased it by about $250 billion, but we think the bulk of the deficit that contributed to the sharp increase in the public debt in 2009 falls to President Bush and the Democratic majority in Congress at the time. We note that under Obama and the Democratic Congress, the debt held by the public is expected to increase another 16.6 percent in the 2010 fiscal year.
Hensarling's comparison also ignores the hand Obama was dealt, said Jim Horney, director of federal fiscal policy at the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. While the stimulus has certainly contributed to the deficits in Obama's budgets, he said, they are also largely due to realities in place before Obama took office -- a recession, two wars, unfunded Bush tax cuts and Medicare prescription drug coverage. "Any year," Horney said, "the deficit is largely the result of everything that goes before it."
In summary, Hensarling's numbers only work if you cherry-pick the highest month under full Democratic control and compare it to one of the lowest years under full Republican control. If you compare average months (about $112 billion a month for Obama and the Democratic Congress) to average years under Bush (about $412 billion a year if you include his full 8-year term, or about $260 billion a year if you only include the first six years with a Republican Congress), Hensarling's numbers are wrong. There are so many bookkeeping tricks in this one that he's far from the truth. We rule his claim False.
Our Sources
Time, Transcript and video of House Republican Retreat with Obama, Jan. 29, 2010
Congressional Budget Office, The Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2010 to 2020, January 2010
U.S. Treasury, Monthly Treasury Statement of Receipts and Outlays of the United States Government
Congressional Budget Office, Monthly Budget Review
U.S. Treasury, The Debt to the Penny and Who Holds It
Web site of U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling, Press release: "Hensarling Statement On The President's Appearance At GOP Retreat," Jan. 29, 2010
Interview with Brian Riedl, lead budget analyst for the Heritage Foundation, Jan. 29, 2010
Interview with Jim Horney, director of federal fiscal policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Jan. 29, 2010
Interview with George Rasley, Director of Communications for Rep. Hansarling, Jan. 29, 2010
Browse the Truth-O-Meter
More by Robert Farley
Rep. Hensarling says annual deficits under Republicans have become the monthly deficits under Democrats
Support independent fact-checking.
Become a member!
In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.


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Five Skills Designers Have That Global Development Needs
"Development is being disrupted," says Raj Kumar, President of DevEx, a site devoted to helping the international development community deliver foreign aid more efficiently and effectively. Beyond the buzz generated by the "social entrepreneurship" and "impact investing" communities, I've seen a significant shift coming from traditional aid agencies in the past two years.
In 2010, USAID, the agency responsible for administering US foreign aid, launched the first-of-its-kind Development Innovation Ventures quarterly grant program. Its funding model is inspired by traditional venture capital and the focus is on scalable and entrepreneurial solutions to poverty alleviation. Similarly, in 2012 the World Bank hired a former Silicon Valley Google.org director to lead their new "Innovation Labs." UNICEF and the Inter-American Development Bank have also launched their own "Innovation Labs" with similar goals of promoting open-dialogue, new methods, and cross-pollination of models that enable innovative activity.
So with all this talk about "innovation," where are the designers, the technologists, and the entrepreneurs? The folks behind these initiatives are still folks with international and economic development backgrounds, economics and finance. If they're serious about innovative approaches, it's time creative problem solvers are added to the equation. Specifically, here are five strengths designers have that the development industry direly needs:
1. We are systems thinkers.
The problems that plague our world are complex, interwoven, and multifaceted. As designers, we solve problems through a combination of analytic and creative thinking. Many of the best designers I know are themselves multi-faceted and multi-disciplinary. In addition to a design degree, they're also engineers or MBAs or economists. It takes both sides of the brain to generate solutions to social challenges.
2. Fresh eyes.
Einstein's "We can't solve the world's problems by using the same type of thinking we used when we created them," couldn't ring more true. Many of the social issues we're fighting today have existed for decades and consistently been addressing using old mechanisms—policy, aid, and philanthropy. We are long overdue for fresh thinking to old problems.
3. We have a prototyping culture.
We make a lot of mistakes in development—mistakes that sometimes negatively impact people with everything to lose; mistakes that could potentially be avoided if the development sector fostered a culture of iteration and refining ideas before rushing to scale. Instead, I see a lot of money going towards untested ideas or worse yet, "solutions in search of a problem."
4. We focus on people.
Many decisions made today that affect the poor are made by people completely removed from their issues. A designer's viewpoint, driven by an understanding of the needs of people or end-users, is completely unique and lacking within the development sector. The key to better policy, better products, and better public services is rooted in understanding of the key players and what motivates them.
5. We create capacity.
We build things. We build products, services, websites—and by doing so we are intrinsically building the capacity of those who make, distribute, sell, or use what we create. On a fundamental level, giving people access to tools that enhance their capacity is what drives economic development. We play a central role in creating those tools that are useful, relevant, and meaningful.
$22.8 billion of our projected fiscal budget is earmarked for poverty-reduction activity in 2013. Traditionally, international development agencies use the amount of the money put towards poverty alleviation as a metric for efficacy. I'm hoping the next few years shift that metric towards understanding underlying problems and funding new solutions that address those problems. In order to do that, we need a new breed of development thinkers. The next generation of designers is inspired by careers that provide meaning and impact. Now is the perfect time for the development sector to start connecting the dots.


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Faster than a sluggish bureaucracy. More powerful than enemy radar. Able to scale tall buildings with a single engine. Up on the screen in the forthcoming Superman reboot, it's — it's — it's the debut of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the most expensive weapons program in human history.
Long before the family of stealth jets known as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will ever fly a combat mission, the F-35 will appear in theaters for the first time next summer in Man of Steel, Zach Snyder's anticipated re-imagining of the Superman franchise. It's perhaps the best cinematic debut possible for an aircraft program that's suffered numerous budgetary and engineering woes.
"It was a target of opportunity," Phil Strub, the Pentagon's Hollywood liaison, tells Danger Room. When the filmmakers visited California's Edwards Air Force Base in January to get shots of military aircraft for a scene, they were excited to learn that the base hosted a complement of F-35s for flight testing. The base arranged for two of them to be towed into the shot.
"They liked the idea of having the most modern, the newest fighter aircraft in the background," says Strub, who was on location with Man of Steel at Edwards. The F-35 had been digitally rendered in movies previously, including a scene in The Avengers when the Hulk tears it apart, but this was its first screen test for the actual plane. And it took only a few hours to film.
Offscreen, the F-35 is in about as much trouble as a superhero in the third act of an action movie. The advanced stealth fighter — intended to be the backbone of the Air Force, Navy and Marines' future combat air fleets — is estimated to cost as much as $1.5 trillion over its half-century lifespan. It's several years late and several hundred million dollars over budget. Its software is complicated, its engineering flaws are numerous, and the Pentagon no longer predicts when it will enter service. The Navy appears to be hedging its bets against the program ultimately collapsing under the weight of its costs — and inside the Pentagon, there's concern over whether the F-35 remains, as Sen. Claire McCaskill once called it, "too big to fail."
So it's understandable that the Pentagon would consider a Superman movie to be the right cinematic vehicle for the F-35′s introduction to the culture. (Well, except for the web videos.) Although the way Strub tells it, the arrival of the F-35 in Man of Steel was little more than a happy accident for the Pentagon. There is no footage as of yet of the planes in flight, just shots of it on the ground at Edwards. And it appears not to have a role in helping vanquish Kryptonian villain General Zod, the film's antagonist.
"I don't think there are any plot points for the F-35," Strub says. "I think it's just background candy." (That said, IMDB lists two actors as portraying F-35 pilots in the film.)
This is far from the first time the Pentagon turned to Hollywood to promote some of its big-ticket hardware. The first Iron Man movie featured a dogfight with the F-22 Raptor. Michael Bay got access to F-22s for his Transformers sequel, too. The Pentagon put a lot of fancy gear in The Avengers before withdrawing its support for that movie due to concerns about its fictional chain of military command. And beyond hyping its hardware, the Pentagon also turns to Hollywood to polish its public image, as with the forthcoming Zero Dark Thirty, a film about the bin Laden raid that received some technical assistance from the Defense Department.
It turned out that Man of Steel didn't have much competition to be the first firm featuring the Joint Strike Fighter. "The F-35 came up in very, very preliminary conversation in a very preliminary meeting regarding Top Gun 2," Strub says, but those discussions stopped after director Tony Scott's suicide.
Strub won't say if the plane actually interacts with Superman. But it gets the troubled aircraft program in the same sentence as the four-color symbol of truth, justice and the American way.
Update, 8:30 a.m.: Updated to make it clear that there have been CGI versions of the F-35 in films before, notably The Avengers. (I, uh, watched the DVD last night to be sure.) But as Strub says, Man of Steel will be the first film that shows the physical aircraft. Maybe it's appropriate that a comic-book movie could spark a debate about whether the first on-screen appearance of the physical plane is effectively a retcon. Also, Strub says the Pentagon didn't actually give much to Zero Dark Thirty beyond technical advice, despite much reporting on the matter, so I've changed that as well.


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ROTC Advocacy at Columbia | |
National Umbrella Group 2002-2005 Effort led by Advocates for Columbia ROTC
Columbia University has a long history of engagement with the nation's armed services. A statue of Colonel Alexander Hamilton, a student in its predecessor institution, Kings College, stands outside the building named in his honor. A plaque on its wall honors John Mitchell, a student who died as a combat pilot in World War I. At the university's heart, Butler Library a tribute to all Columbia students who died in the nation's military service is prominent in its entrance. On the library's walls, a plaque recalls the 23,000 Navy midshipmen who trained at Columbia and served in World War II – at one point, more per year than the Naval Academy. A university website --
http://www.warmemorial.columbia.edu -- records Columbia students who gave their lives in military service beginning with the American Revolution. A helmeted bust of Pallas Athena, the Greek goddess of war, wisdom, and civilization -- a patron Columbia shares with West Point-- stands prominently in the foyer of Low Memorial Library.
| Army ROTC | Air Force ROTC | Marine Corps OC | History at Columbia | |


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Asset Advocates Real Estate and Contract Lawyers
Real Estate Attorneys in Spring Valley, NV
As a real-estate attorney, our job is to represent our client in all matters relating to the buying, leasing, and selling of property. This includes drafting, reviewing, and conducting title searches as well as handling closing procedures. But our services go beyond just the transaction itself. We also offer counsel on zoning laws, property disputes, and any other legal issues that may arise during the process.
Las Vegas (US: ; from Spanish las vegas 'the meadows'), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and 2nd-largest in the Southwestern United States. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city, known primarily for its gambling, shopping, fine dining, entertainment, and nightlife. The Las Vegas Valley as a whole serves as the leading financial, commercial, and cultural center for Nevada. The city bills itself as the Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous for its luxurious and extremely large casino-hotels.
Amber Hills, Arts District, Beverly Green, Brighton at Providence, Canyon Creek North, Carmel Canyon, Centennial Heights, Centennial Hills, Centennial Point, Charleston Heights, College Park, Cottonwood Terrace, Crestwood, Desert Creek, Desert Park


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Show All Answers
The Department of Parks & Recreation is responsible for managing the various programs and recreational activities that the Town provides. Full-time employees and part-time seasonal personnel staff its various facilities during the summer months. This department oversees the Town's parks, beaches and marinas, pools, spray parks and an 18 hole par three golf course at Cedar Beach. The main office is located at 151 Phelps Lane in North Babylon and the phone number is (631) 893-2100. Each summer the department publishes the Recreation Guide listing the programs that it administers. Such programs include: special events like the Beach Blast; recreation programs such as swimming lessons, day camps, dancing and many others; sports programs and leagues; kayaking; tennis and many others. A full listing of offerings can be reviewed in the annual Summer Recreation Guide, a directory available at Town Hall or the Parks & Recreation Office. Any resident can register for a program. The Department of Parks & Recreation also issues permits for those seeking to use one of the many Town facilities for recreational purposes.
From Sunrise Highway - take exit 40 and follow the signs for Deer Park Avenue North; once you are on Deer Park Avenue, Phelps Lane is the left immediately before North Babylon High School.
From the Southern State Parkway - take exit 39 South to Deer Park Avenue; once you are on Deer Park Avenue, Phelps Lane is the right immediately after North Babylon High School.
From Montauk Highway - make a left onto Deer Park Avenue; Phelps lane is the left immediately before North Babylon High School.
In the guide you will find the names and phone numbers for the Town's recreation facilities, registration dates and times for Town programs, and information on annual Town events including the Beach Blast. Remember that the Recreation Guide contains information about all the programs for the entire year so keep it handy.
The guide contains the dates and times for the Department of Parks & Recreation's Fall, Winter, and Spring events and programs. These include the Fall Festival, Tree Lighting at Town Hall, the Spring Egg Extravaganza and a wide variety of other activities.
Please visit www.townofbabylon.com/parks and click "Recreation Guide" at the top.
Special Events include:
Recreation Programs include:
Sports Programs include:
Yes, golf lessons for Town residents are provided throughout the summer months at the Cedar Beach Golf Course. For more information, including specific dates and fees, see the Recreation Guide when it is distributed in the Spring
Yes, facilities for overnight camping (self-contained camping vehicles only) are located at the Cedar Beach Marina & Campground. The 41 campsites are available for weekly reservations, Friday – Friday. Reservations for the summer begin in March. Please visit the campground reservations page for more information.


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Continuing the tradition of the App Previews in Windows 8, Microsoft's new Metro-style Calendar app is high on promise but lacking some obvious functionality. I suspect it will only get better over time.
Microsoft has a rocky history with Windows-based calendar applications, but over the years its grown a competent stable of calendaring services through Hotmail, Exchange, and now Office 365. Powered by the Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) technologies that back these services, the new Metro-style Calendar app connects to Microsoft's services, of course. But it also connects to other EAS-based calendars, including Google Calendar.
Calendar offers a simple, full-screen, Metro-style interface. The default view provides a look at your schedule using a month view. But you can also display week or day views.
Like other Metro-style apps, Calendar utilizes web browser-like navigation. To move back or forward in time through your schedule, you can swipe the screen in either direction or use the Internet Explorer-like keyboard shortcuts CTRL + LEFT ARROW and CTRL + RIGHT ARROW (for back and forward, respectively). Or, when you move the mouse around on-screen you'll see small navigational arrows appear near the top left and top right of the screen. Click one to navigate in either direction.
These browser-like navigational movements take place within the context of the current view. So when you "go back" while viewing your schedule in week view, you go back to last week. Go forward while using day view and you will navigate to tomorrow. It's all very logical.
Once you start viewing your various calendars in the Windows 8 Calendar app, you'll probably want to use this interface to manage your various events as well. And as you might expect, Calendar offers some useful functionality around creating and viewing events.
To create a new event, open the Calendar app bar and tap New. (This button resembles a "+" sign.) As you can see, there are a number of items to configure here.
What's missing, for now at least, is any form of notification support. Checking PC Settings, you'll see that Calendar does not (yet) support notifications. It will, eventually, of course. Well, I assume it will.
One area where Calendar does work really well is in snapped mode. The snapped Calendar app provides a thumbnail view of the month as well as any events that are occurring today. You can also click other days in the month view to see the events for those days.
Two additional commands are available via the snapped Calendar's app bar: Go to Today and New (event). When you choose the latter, you get the nice snapped version of the new event screen too.
But the best aspect to Calendar, perhaps, is that it integrates nicely in Windows 8 in the places that make the most sense. Configured correctly, the Windows 8 lock screen can show detailed information about your next event. And the Calendar live tile animates through all of the day's pending events.
Overall, Calendar is in great shape but for its lack of support for notifications, which I assume is temporary, and its inability to work with non-EAS calendars. I have less faith in Microsoft's ability or desire to correct that last issue. But Calendar is pretty nifty regardless.


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Jacket for motorbike AGM-6024 Cordura Black-white-red type camouflage. Made of 600D textile (nylon) 100 % water proof and cordura. Anti-abrasion fabric , resistant to falls .
water proof and breathable fabric. Approved protections C.E. in elbows, shoulders , and back. Protections totally removable. Original YKK type zippers. Removable internal thermal lining.
Reflective strips for greater night visibility. jacket zipper with pants. ventilation for summer through ventilation ducts. it has two side pockets. fully adjustable in sleeves and waist.


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Fitzgerald Theater
10 Exchange Street E,
St. Paul,
1 person favorited this theater
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The Fitzgerald Theater (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Finkelstein & Ruben, General Cinema Corp., Shubert Brothers Theater Company
Architects: Charles Eli Fox, Benjamin Howard Marshall
Firms: Marshall & Fox
Functions: Concerts, Movies, Performing Arts
Styles: Beaux-Arts, Neo-Classical
Previous Names: Sam S. Shubert Theater, World Theater
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Box Office:
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Mar 20, 2009 — Remembering Cinerama (Part 23: Minneapolis)
Originally built as the Sam S. Shubert Theater in 1910, as one of four memorial theaters across the country built by the Shubert family in memory of their late brother Sam, this theater was modeled after Maxine Elliot's Theatre in New York City, built two years earlier (razed in 1960) and designed by the same architectural firm, Marshall & Fox of Chicago.
The Sam S. Shubert Theater was called 'one of the most splendid-looking theaters in Saint Paul' by papers when it first opened. Its sandstone facade was designed in the Palladian style, with sets of columns and pediments above the main entry. The interior was highly elegant, reminiscent of the opera houses of the turn of the century era. Its accoustically superb auditorium could seat almost 1,000, in burgundy colored seats, and eight boxes curved towards the large stage, decorated with gilded plasterwork and the same velvet curtain cloth used for the stage curtain. The proscenium arch reaches 30 feet high and stretches about 40 feet from edge to edge. Backstage are a green room and five dressing rooms, one with a wall signed by John Barrymore in the 1920's.
In 1933, the legitimate playhouse was converted into a movie house called the World Theater, as it played mainly foreign features at that time, but later played first-and-second-run features.
In 1986, the World was restored to its 1910 appearance, and began to be used for live radio broadcasts of Garrison Keillor's popular 'A Prairie Home Companion' radio show. A Mighty Wurlitzer organ, once in the Texas Theater in San Antonio, was also added during the restoration.
In 1994, the theater was renamed again, this time in honor of Saint Paul native F. Scott Fitzgerald and is home to Broadway shows, concerts and lectures. It is now the oldest surviving theater space in downtown Saint Paul.
Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
If anyone would like to see some historical photos, check them out:
View link
This is the theatre that Brian Williams broadcast the NBC Nightly News from a few weeks ago! I wonder if Brian saw Ben, the ghost!?!
Yes this is the theater that Brian Williams did NBC Nightly News.
No he did not, Ben we think finally crossed over, as no one has had any contact or sightings with him in a couple of years.
Glad to read that Ben is now at rest and that the theatre lives on today! When Brian broadcast the Nightly News from the Fitzgerald I just had to find out what theatre and where so wrote NBC and got my answer within a few days! :–)
No one seems to have mentioned yet that this is where, appropriately, the current Robert Altman movie A Prairie Home Companion was filmed.
Yes. Just came back from seeing it. The mighty Wurlitzer is beautiful, they showed it in a scene. The movie didn't show a great facade of the theatre whatsoever which is what I was waiting for, however there are other great shots of the various rooms, but no great big shots. It makes it seem cozy during the movie. There is a bust of F. Scott Fitzgerald in the luxury box.
Just saw "Prairie". The BEST part were the shots of "The Fitzgerald" According to David Naylor's "Great American Movie Theatres"…… The Architects were Marshall and Fox.
Looking at the aerial view found on google maps, it looks as if there might be another auditorium atop the six story office structure that houses the Fitzgerald Theatre lobby. Is this assumption correct?
The 2009 interior photos of the Shubert theatre are for the Minneapolis Shubert, not the St. Paul Shubert (now the Fitzgerald). The Fitzgerald was fully restored years old.
The Minneapolis Shubert is awaiting restoration.
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.


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Police Director Robert Hubner
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Robert Hubner, I am the Police Director of the Woodbridge Township Police Department and have held the position since March 1, 2011.
I have been a Woodbridge Township resident all of my life and attended Woodbridge Township schools graduating from Woodbridge High School. Upon graduation from high school, I attended William Paterson University and graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice Administration. My goal had always been to become a police officer and in November of 1981, I reached that goal and became a Woodbridge Township Police Officer. I served in both the Radio Patrol Division and in the Detective Bureau and later was assigned to the Special Investigations and Narcotics Unit where I spent a large portion of my career. I was promoted to both Sergeant and Lieutenant while in that Unit.
In October of 2007, I was promoted to the Rank of Captain commanding the Special Investigations Division which included the Special Investigations and Narcotics Unit, Crime Analysis and Intelligence Unit, Homeland Security, Grant Writing and the Special Operations Team until my appointment as Police Director.
During my career I had the opportunity to complete some of the best training offered to law enforcement officers. I also had the privilege to attend the FBI's National Academy in Quantico, Virginia which I would consider to be one of the highlights of my law enforcement career. As Police Director I consider it an honor to be associated with some of the best and brightest men and women in law enforcement while I still have the privilege of serving the community I grew up in.
The Woodbridge Police Department continues to be the best Police Department in the State of New Jersey due to the hard work and dedication of both the sworn officers and the civilian support personnel which make up the Woodbridge Police Department.
Deputy Police Director Joseph Nisky
Sworn in as a Police Officer with Woodbridge Township Police Department in 1985. Assigned to the Radio Patrol Division and Criminal Investigation Section. Promoted to Sergeant in 1994 and Lieutenant in 2007. Retired in 2010. Appointed Deputy Police Director in 2011 and Emergency Medical Services Manager in 2012. Completed New Jersey Firefighter I in 1984, graduated from the Middlesex County Police Academy in 1985 and was re-certified as an Emergency Medical Technician in 2012.
Received the following honors and awards:
- American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars Outstanding Policeman
- 200 Club Valor
- Veterans of Foreign Wars Lifesaving
- Honor Legion of the Police Departments of New Jersey
- Honor Legion of the Police Department of New York City
- Honor Legion of the Police Department of New York City Transit


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It would be great if the scientific basis of triathlon training was clear, but it's not. That's why there are so many different approaches and coaching styles. We know a lot about physiology, but putting it into practice is the art. Combining both brings success—reaching one's athletic potential without sacrificing health.
Here are seven of my favorite ways to get faster successfully; each can improve the body's economy. Whether swimming, cycling or running, the more efficient you are, the faster you can train and race at the same heart rate.
1. Triathlon twitch
Most athletes are familiar with slow- and fast-twitch muscles, referring to aerobic and anaerobic, respectively. For triathlons, virtually all of an athlete's energy comes from the aerobic system, which burns fat for energy. In fact, an IRONMAN victory is typically accomplished at around 70 percent of one's VO2 max. In an IRONMAN 70.3 it may be around 75 percent, and even the sprint triathlons may be 85 percent. To get fast for these events, training the aerobic muscles are vital. (For comparison, running 5,000 meters would require close to 100 percent of one's VO2max.)
One of the most important ways get fast is to train the body's aerobic muscle fibers—which are also referred to as slow-twitch. From the textbook Essentials of Exercise Physiology, a well-accepted but often forgotten fact about training: "Activation of slow-twitch fibers produces greater efficiency than the same work accomplished by fast-twitch fibers." Aerobic muscles are basically more economical, fatigue-resistant, and able to burn fat for long-term fuel.
2. Overreaching
The sweet spot of training means enough volume (time and/or miles) but not too much, and going fast but not too fast. This point is called overreaching, beyond working out simply to maintain fitness, but before the onset of overtraining. My high-performance formula is simple: training = work + rest.
The most common reason for overreaching is too much hard training. These anaerobic, hard efforts no doubt increase VO2 max and lactate threshold, but unfortunately, what often happens is that the thresholds are pushed higher at the expense of economy.
3. Muscle balance
Our muscles move us through the water, power us on our bikes and allow us to run effectively. But even a slight irregularity in our gait caused by an imbalance in muscles can slow us down. This may be due to running and cycling shoes that don't fit perfectly, an unhealthy diet, or overtraining.
A related muscle issue is strength. Traditional weight-lifting routines can often diminish aerobic function, impair gait, and reduce endurance, leading to sub-par economy that slows us down. Instead, rely on workouts that don't produce significant fatigue, including weight lifting, which strengthens without bulking or impairing the aerobic system.
Related: Bullet Proof your Run
4. The feet
Running on our feet (and lower legs) allow us to harness the impact forces from hitting the ground, and turning that contact into energy. This unique energy-return system won't work well in feet that are dysfunctional, which will lead to slower paces.
Muscle imbalance, overstretched tendons, inflexibility and other problems can render many feet inefficient. The main causes of poor foot function include shoes with over-supported, thick-soled, and outsized heels—which are also heavier.
The results of tests performed by legendary running coach Dr. Jack Daniels have shed light on how dramatic shoe weight could be. He tested runners on a treadmill using shoes weighted differently. Now Associate Professor of Physical Education at A.T. Stills College in Mesa, Arizona, Daniels demonstrated that this could lead a reduction in running economy of one percent. Translated to the marathon, this means about a minute or more for every 3.5 ounces of shoe. Still, almost all running shoes are between five and ten ounces in weight.
5. Healthy food
The food we eat directly affects our speed by improving fat burning, balancing muscles, increasing circulation, and helping build a better aerobic body. The most serious barrier to this endurance potential is refined carbohydrates—sugar and processed flour. Avoid them if you want to get faster.
This, however, does not mean during a race, where consuming carbohydrates actually helps fat burning. However, the less food in your stomach during a race, the less likely your body will be slowed by indigestion, diarrhea or other GI upset. In addition, the more aerobic function and fat-burning capability you develop, the less nutrients you'll require during a race because you'll be able to access more of your stored body fat.
Related: Burn More Fat with Metabolic Efficiency Training
6. Altitude
For decades, endurance athletes have sought altitude training as a way to get faster. But this is misleading. Just going to altitude (or using a true altitude chamber) does not guarantee results. Why? Because the process requires a healthy body. A poor diet, for example, may not supply all the nutritional needs (iron, folic acid or protein) necessary for living at altitude to increase quality red blood cells and better aerobic function.
7. The brain
The brain is the most misunderstood and neglected part of an athlete's body yet it regulates, directly or indirectly, all the factors noted above. Moreover, a healthy brain simply performs better. Bill Bowerman, co-founder of Nike and legendary coach, put it simply: "The idea that the harder you work, the better you're going to be is just garbage. The greatest improvement is made by the man or woman who works most intelligently."
Some of these factors can improve endurance speed quickly, while other may take more time. It depends on the individual, their discipline, and the artistry with which it is implemented.
Phil Maffetone is a best-selling author and has advised many of triathlon's greats, including Mark Allen. He is the author of The Big Book of Endurance Training and Racing. Visit him online at Philmaffetone.com


text: From 1pm to 5 today, you can visit the Post Memorial Art Reference Library to see artifacts of Joplin's past. Ranging from a key to the Connor Hotel to an embroidered towel from the Keystone Hotel, plus a number of other items, you have the chance to get a glimpse of Joplin's past through "fragments of people lives." The items come from the collection of Mark and Paula Callihan. Additionally, also on display are a number of tornado recovery posters created to benefit Joplin charity in the months that followed last year's catastrophe. The Post Memorial Art Reference Library is located inside the Joplin Public Library.


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OGF offers the opportunity to contribute to, and benefit from, activities that can only be accomplished at a collective, industry level: OGF is the primary organization that brings together the international grid community to develop standards which lead to interoperable products and software OGF hosts global events for information sharing, education, and collaborative problem solving OGF documents the collective best practices of the community to provide answers to today's deployment issues and problems OGF outreaches to other standards development organizations, affiliates, partners, press, analysts and the greater distributed community to clarify the role of grid as a key enabler for the 21st century knowledge economy The OGF Organizational Membership Program encourages members to participate, collaborate, and contribute to the success of our shared mission. There are 3-tiers to the program - Platinum, Gold and Silver. Each tier provides benefits commensurate with financial contribution. All tiers provide the following general benefits for participating organizations.
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Brian Williams
Top 10 Richest Rappers In The U.S.A
The world is very beautiful and attractive place, and music has added some more flavours in it. The world would not be that satisfying place without of music and many of you would agree with my statement. Music is like energy for the soul, it gives you the satisfaction, the romance and the feeling of …