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The Egyptian military produces a staggering array of manufactured goods: kitchen cutlery, flat-screen televisions, agricultural and household chemicals, refrigerators, industrial machinery, railway cars, and election booths. And while many of the military's factory webpages make a concerted attempt to promote their wares, the careful observer gets the feeling that the production of air conditioners and gas stoves has superseded the production of guns and ammo. Although the military has been co-producing weapons systems in its factories under license from Western arms manufacturers for decades, the production lines and maintenance facilities constructing and modifying American M1A1 tanks, British armored vehicles, French Alpha Jets, and Chinese versions of Soviet MiGs are remnants of agreements originally signed in the mid-1980s and early-1990s, initiated by the now-deceased former Field Marshal (and staunch US ally) Mohamed Abdel Halim Abu Ghazala.
The intervening decade saw few new agreements—none on the scale of these previous projects. Owing primarily to a reputation for poor quality, the Egyptian military lacks a robust export market for its defense products, many of which end up in warehouses. Yet the military's production lines continue to roll out weapons systems that exceed what even a bloated military can absorb: thanks to its continuing M1A1 co-production program with the United States, Egypt is now home to more tanks than all of Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America combined. The military's economic planners know that a revival of their defense industrial complex will not be achieved through an expansion of these aging operations, but rather through cultivating new smaller scale projects that partner the Egyptian armed forces with a diverse portfolio of second- and third-tier foreign defense manufacturers willing to transfer modern technologies in exchange for lucrative sales contracts with Cairo.
The centerpiece of this approach is the new three billion Egyptian pound "Mubarak Complex for the Defense Industry" being constructed somewhere along the Belbeis Desert Road, which runs from the northeast section of Cairo's ring road and extends about fifty kilometers to Belbeis in Sharkeya province. [1] This project has included the relocation of several of the military's largest factories—including Shoubra Engineering Industries, Maasara Engineering Industries, Maadi Engineering Industries, Heliopolis Company for Chemical Industries, and Abu Zaabal Company for Specialty Chemicals—from residential areas on the outskirts of Cairo to this new, more remote location. [2] The factories are reconstructed at the new five hundred-acre industrial park, purpose-built for the military whose leaders say the site will house twenty-eight factories by the end of 2012, with plans to ultimately add thirty-four additional manufacturing sites. [3] The location will also include a new two hundred million Egyptian pound laboratory and technical education complex, which former Minister of Military Production Sayed Meshaal said would help facilitate the transfer of relevant defense technologies. Before being replaced by Ali Sabri in December 2011, Meshaal also cited the continuing construction of the "Mubarak Complex II," which he said would comprise eighteen munitions factories on a separate 1,500 acre plot. [4]
The relocation process has occurred in tandem with an expansion in investment in the military's factories—especially those facilities that produce small arms and raw materials used in weapons production. The Ministry of Military Production's five-year development plan for the period between 2002 and 2007 detailed the expansion in factory activities. This included new production of steel and copper alloys and a wide range of chemical and explosives materials; the upgrading of machinery, including blast furnaces and chemical testing equipment; and new investments in infrastructure for the military's electronics and chemical industries. [5]
Other production targets included the development of longer-range artillery and ammunition and a collaborative radar development project with an unnamed foreign partner. Foreign firms are cooperating with Egypt in expanding the military's ability to produce raw materials for use in weapons systems, including the Austrian-based company VAIS (a division of Siemens), which is providing technical assistance on the new 1.7 billion Egyptian pound steel rolling mill at the Abu Zabaal Engineering Industries factory, which will be outfitted with equipment supplied by the Egyptian subsidiary of the German firm Ferrometalco. The Ministry of Military Production has slated some of the factory's future output for tank and armored vehicle construction, as well as for use in shipbuilding.
Gaining Access: Courting Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer for Expanding Weapons Development
Former Minister of Military Production Sayed Meshaal justified the cost of the new complex by citing dramatic (and therefore dubious) increases in output at the military's production facilities, giving a figure of 483 million US dollars in "production" for the 2009/2010 fiscal year and "revenues" of 345 million US dollars. [6] Meshaal also pointed to the intensification of technology and development collaboration with foreign defense manufacturers, including firms from the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, China, South Africa, France, and Italy [7], which necessitated the construction of new facilities for research, manufacturing, and testing. [8] Many of these partner countries are also home to international shipping conglomerates and petroleum companies that have recently launched joint ventures with Egyptian state-owned firms in which the military owns substantial shares. [9]
The Kuwait-based conglomerate Kharafi Group—whose operations hub is in Obour City near the new defense complex site—has been an instrumental link in the Egyptian military's efforts to gain access to foreign technologies and investment capital. Over the past decade the Egyptian military has established a number of "private" sector ventures with the group, which have facilitated the transfer of technologies from firms in Taiwan, Germany, and elsewhere.[10] This is in addition to a number of joint ventures between Kharafi's Egyptian divisions Kharafi National and EMAK, as well as various subsidiaries of state-owned holding companies widely perceived to be under the control of the Egyptian military.
In addition to investments in factories and infrastructure, the Egyptian military is adapting its protocol for eliciting co-production and licensed manufacturing agreements from foreign defense firms. Instead of focusing on domestic production of very large-scale equipment in collaboration with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and BAE, the Egyptian military appears to be diversifying its portfolio of partners, approaching subsidiaries and smaller independent suppliers instead. The relative success of both Jordan and the United Arab Emirates—which now manufacture and export a relatively wide range of weapons and equipment through various joint ventures with smaller-tier suppliers—may have influenced the Egyptian military's renewed vigor for this type of collaboration.
This strategy has two potential benefits. First, the related projects are more likely to result in sustainable production activities, since they do not necessitate the transfer of the most sensitive technologies that require official approval from the host states of exporting firms. This improves the likelihood of getting export contracts, since sales to third parties will not be hampered by concerns over technology proliferation. Although co-production programs are still ongoing for large-scale, highly advanced systems like the M1A1 tank, these do not provide any real possibility for generating exports, since very wealthy countries would prefer to buy equipment built in the United States and Europe, and poorer countries may not get the requisite technology waivers.
Therefore it makes sense for the military to concentrate on mid-range manufacturing such as small arms, as well as on tasks like upgrading and modifying armored vehicles, which can also be achieved through agreements with the smaller firms that generally provide the armaments, electronics, and fire-control systems that are added to the tanks and fighter jets built by the OEMs. Second, subsidiary firms and smaller independent manufacturers are probably more willing to acquiesce to co-production demands in order to secure a sale, since smaller firms have fewer capital resources and subsidiaries may be under pressure from the parent company to compete with other divisions.
The contracts concluded by the Egyptian military during the previous decade appear to reflect this strategy. Examples include a waterjet-powered fire-fighting vessel (with 4X4 vehicle deployment ramp) built in 2004 by the Helwan Company for Machining & Equipment (Factory 999) based on design technology and materials provided by Teknicraft Design (of New Zealand) and the local Egyptian agent[11] of Hamiltonjet (also of New Zealand); as well as a 2004 contract with US-based firm Accent Controls Inc. to "establish facilities required for the maintenance and repair of Egypt's fleet of high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles (HMMWVs)"—essentially military-grade Humvees—a maintenance line that had previously gone dormant.
The US Department of Defense said this latter contract would "help Egypt to expand its defense industry." The website of an Egyptian consulting firm revealed that it had worked on another product development plan, this one encompassing the military-owned firms Arab International Optronics [12] and Benha Electronics Factory, along with Motorola and the French defense firms Thales (which owns half of Arab International Optronics) and Thomson CSF. [13] Benha Electronics also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Latvian firm SAF Tehnika in 2009 pertaining to the procurement of communications systems for use by Egypt's police force, which would be supplied by SAF Tehnika but built in Benha factories. The MoU indicated that the contract would be the basis for a long-term joint venture that would make Benha the local hub for the Latvian firm's regional operations. [14]
A State Department cable from the American embassy in Belgrade released by WikiLeaks suggested that in 2008, Thales and Arab International Optronics were planning to import 520 kits for the Russian-designed SA-7 man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADs), allowing Optronics to gain experience and technological know-how in assembling the systems. The WikiLeaks cables also revealed that the South Korean firm Hanwha (operating as a subcontractor under industrial giant Samsung) had requested approval from the State Department to transfer US-origin technologies to Abu Zaabal Company for Specialty Chemicals in 2008. The specific technology in question—a method for testing propellants—was to be used in a production line for the manufacture of 155-millimeter ammunition (howitzers). [15]
This project was meant to expand the scope of local content used in the production of howitzers, connected to an earlier deal signed with the majority state-owned Finnish company Patria Vammas (the giant European defense consortium EADS owns the remaining shares of Vammas), which granted the Egyptian military a license to manufacture its howitzers and other mortars. The Ministry of Military Production recently announced that Abu Zaabal Engineering Industries is now producing gun tubes for these 122-millimeter and 155- millimeter howitzers, as well as mortars for use on M1A1 tanks—all using locally produced steel.
Far from slowing down in the face of economic uncertainty or concerns over political stability on the part of arms exporters, co-production agreements and technology transfers may be intensifying under the leadership of the interim military government. In February 2011, Egypt requested the modification of an earlier contract signed with the American firm Swiftships (a subsidiary of Singapore-based Halter Marine). The original thirteen million US dollar contract, signed in 2008, was for four twenty-eight-meter patrol craft, but the modified contract allowed for an Egyptian shipyard to "assemble" two of the patrol craft and "co-produce" the other two—at an increased cost of twenty million US dollars. [16]
In the fall, Egypt announced the purchase of six Onuk MRTP-20 fast-intervention crafts "with technology transfer" from the Turkish company Yonca-Onuk JV. Three of the units are to be assembled at the military-owned Alexandria Shipyard.[17] The increased cost that generally accompanies co-production agreements (meant to compensate foreign firms for transferring proprietary technologies) suggests that Egypt's military rulers are seizing the opportunity to expand their technological toolbox while they hold the formal reins of government—regardless of the additional cost.
Maintaining High-Profile Co-Production Programs
Naturally, the military is unlikely to forego continued joint production of high-profile systems like the M1A1 tank, which has more to do with institutional prestige and employment for officer-engineers than it does with tactical or strategic concerns. In the summer of 2011, the US government announced the tenth round of Egypt's co-production of the General Dynamics M1A1 tank, which included kits for 125 new tanks at a cost of 1.3 billion US dollars. Then-Minister for Military Production Sayed Meshaal stated that plans were to increase the military's share of the tanks' production from eighty percent to ninety per cent—a threshold that newly-appointed Minister of Military Production Dr. Ali Ibrahim Sabri indicated has since been met.
Like the M1A1 program, there are other similar examples of continuing large-scale projects with OEMs, notably in the area of armored vehicles. These include a 2005 agreement with United Technologies to co-produce M88A2 tank recovery vehicles, and a twenty million US dollar contract signed with Oshkosh Defense in 2009 to co-produce the M1070 tank transport and refueling vehicle. Both projects will be carried out at the Egyptian Tank Factory (Factory 200) where Oshkosh already co-produces the MTT (medium tactical truck) with the Egyptian army. Additional contracts have also been awarded for the construction of new facilities for depot-level maintenance (the most sophisticated form) of military vehicles, as well as for the expansion of existing facilities, including a 2011 contract that went to US-based Advanced Technology Systems Company to build a new facility for repairing and overhauling tank transporters and recovery vehicles. [18]
Although these projects are relatively large in scale, they are directly connected to Egypt's continued M1A1 tank production. As the number of tanks increases, so too must the number of tank recovery vehicles available in the army's arsenal—if not for truly strategic reasons, at least to perpetuate the illusion that procurement is somehow tied to issues of equipment and logistics. The significant influence wielded by the Egyptian army, as opposed to the other service branches, also helps ensure that their own equipment demands are a high priority.
Continuing these high-profile production activities in parallel with more middle-range projects also increases the likelihood that Egypt's military factories may be able to secure a spot in the increasingly globalized defense industry supply chain. The new gun tubes built at Abu Zaabal Engineering Industries, for instance, were used in the production of artillery rounds meant for the M1A1 tank, and according to Egyptian military officials, these new rounds met NATO specifications and passed US inspection. This could give the Egyptian generals greater bargaining power in future negotiations—perhaps convincing General Dynamics' executives to purchase the gun tubes (a practice known as counter-purchase in defense industry parlance) and use them for upgrades made to the armament systems of tanks sold to other countries.
Similarly, according to a US embassy cable released by Wikileaks, the impetus for the 2006 purchase of a Chinese firm called SiTex by Kharafi Group's Egyptian division was to secure technology transfer. As noted above, Kharafi Group has several joint ventures with the military, and the design for the Helwan-built fire-fighting vessel provided by the New Zealand firm Teknicraft includes radio technology manufactured by a firm called SiTex. Perhaps the Kharafi Group executed the purchase of the Chinese firm so the technology could be incorporated into subsequent boats manufactured by Helwan for export. Such reciprocity would not be unusual, and Kharafi Group benefited immensely from its military ties when soldiers were deployed to protect the company's critical infrastructure during the recent uprisings. Securing a new form of technology for use by the Egyptian military is a small price to pay for such security guarantees.
There are signs of growing collaboration with non-Western suppliers as well, including a 2005 agreement to co-produce 120 Chinese K-8E trainer/light attack aircraft at the AOI Aircraft Factory in Helwan that also includes electronic and mechanical technologies for use in civil aviation. [19] In 2010, several industry outlets reported that Egypt and Pakistan were advancing negotiations on the licensed production of the JF-17 multi-role fighter [20], and Lieutenant General Hamdy Waheba, chairman of the Arab Organization for Industrialization, told China's state-run news agency that negotiations with an unnamed foreign partner were underway to produce Egypt's first fighter drone.
Like all co-production programs, the 2005 agreement to co-produce Chinese jet trainers at the AOI Aircraft Factory in Helwan [21] had an inflated price tag. [22] However, the added cost appears to have secured a number of non-strategic goals for the military: first, the AOI factory assembling the planes claims that ninety-four percent of the work will be performed in Egypt—which represents a substantial increase over the proportion of manufacturing work (and therefore technology) transferred under previous co-production arrangements. Second, the nearby Factory 360 (the Helwan Metallic Appliances Company) now has a brand-new production facility churning out air conditioning units under license from Hisense, a Chinese state-owned company. Lastly, in 2011 the Aviation Industry Corporation of China signed another agreement with the AOI to collaborate on a range of aviation applications, including the establishment of a research and development facility in Egypt. [23]
Have Weapons, Will Export
The Egyptian military's current expansion plans reveal a few general policy trajectories: the construction of new factory infrastructure, research and training facilities, and testing labs to enhance foreign collaboration; an effort to gain access to defense technologies by seeking out projects with smaller defense firms; efforts to expand weapons maintenance facilities to break into defense industry supply chains; and renewed attempts to boost Egypt's meager record of arms exports. This last component—exports—not only generates hard currency earnings, which, like many items on the military's balance sheet, disappear into a budgetary black hole, it also enhances the military's institutional reputation.
Currently, criticism of the military's commercial ventures is widespread, with jokes and rumors circulating about military-owned warehouses brimming with substandard consumer goods. However, the new Minister of Military Production, Ali Sabri, has been keen to insist that the majority of the military's energy and capital goes into weapons development and production. Sabri's own appointment may provide a clue to the military's future manufacturing strategy. Although both Meshaal and Sabri served as directors in the National Service Projects Organization (which is responsible for a large segment of the military's civilian production), Sabri served in the war against Israel in 1973, and—unlike Meshaal—there are no pictures of Sabri distributing Egyptian banknotes to National Democratic Party (NDP) supporters outside polling stations. If the military wants to gain public support for channeling resources into ramped-up arms production while avoiding criticism about squandering public funds, Sabri certainly presents a better public face than his predecessor.
One successful case in Egypt`s arms export record has been its sale of military-grade jeeps. In 2010, Egypt signed a new foreign military sales (FMS) contract with Chrysler for thirty-three million US dollars worth of unassembled jeeps, tools, and spare parts destined for the AOI's Arab American Vehicle factory. [24] Two military-grade models—the Jeep TJL and the Jeep J8—are exclusively produced at the AAV factory, and have previously been exported to two-dozen countries, including Libya, where pro-government forces deployed the TJL Jeep during skirmishes with protestors in Tripoli. In contrast to many of Egypt's other defense products, the jeeps have provided a good export opportunity, and go a long way in burnishing the military's image as a competent producer.
The region's current political realities also bode well for Egyptian weapons exports, and the military appears to be gearing up for the renewal of export contracts with Iraq (historically Egypt's largest arms buyer) [25], as well as an expansion of sales to Libya, where the new government will likely face fewer import restrictions than the previous regime. A delegation that included a number of members of the Ministry of Military Production recently visited Libya to investigate business opportunities related to that country's reconstruction. Minister Sabri stated that the Arab Spring was in fact good for the business of military production, because reconstruction contracts would likely be forthcoming, and that the "states of the Arab Spring" represented a new opportunity for Egypt to export some of its M1A1 tank arsenal. Reports from the US embassy in Cairo in 2010 foreshadowed this renewed export drive. In documents released by Wikileaks, embassy officials indicated that TPT (third party transfer) requests from the Egyptian Armament Authority had increased considerably, signaling an expansion in Egypt's efforts to export weapons that contained technology of US origin, including potential sales of M1A1 tanks to Iraq, ammunition to Saudi Arabia, and the provision of technical support for Turkey's arsenal of Hawk Missiles. [26]
The executives and managers overseeing Egyptian military production have also voiced rhetorical support for exports and foreign collaborations, citing Egypt's advantages in labor costs and geographical location. A press release announcing the completion of the first Egyptian-built fire patrol vessels, referenced above, states that:
"For MAPSO [the local Egyptian agent for Hamiltonjets] and Helwan [the military factory building the ships], the next challenge will be to target the export market. It is believed that the features of this vessel together with the moderate price allowed by Egypt's lower labor costs and proximity to the Middle Eastern and European markets could make it a very attractive option."
Philippe Maari, MAPSO's Director, also stated that, "Export is our future. We invite owners worldwide to contact us for their special craft requirements." The military may also seek to supplement its export profile by selling items that have indirect security applications. For example, Maxalto—a joint venture between the Egyptian military and the Kharafi Group to produce smart cards using technology from the German company Siemens—already has orders from Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
If SCAF is able to use its executive power to engineer a post-transition system that protects the military's economic perquisites, the latter will use the tactics described above to augment the share of the economy already under military control. This is only likely to increase the longer SCAF remains in control of the political system, allowing the military to shape electoral outcomes and legal frameworks. And foreign arms manufacturers will intensify their collaborative activities with Egypt's armed forces for the same reason that they have historically formed partnerships with regime power brokers—preferential access to state contracts and the levers of economic influence. Or put more succinctly: profit.
Foreign arms manufacturers have long demonstrated a remarkable willingness to violate international laws and legal norms to enhance their influence with Egypt's officer corps. This, in turn, only increases the power of the officer corps itself, which gains illicit access to resources not available to other economic sectors or social classes. Incidents of illegal payments to military generals are numerous. There are currently several cases pending under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. And just two years ago, Chrysler's parent company Diamler-Benz [27] agreed to pay two hundred million US dollars to settle charges that it bribed foreign officials, including General Abdel Hamid Wasfi, the Chairman of AOI's Kader Factory for Developed Industries, in exchange for securing future supply contracts. [28] Such incentives will only proliferate if SCAF manages to use its current power monopoly to expand its influence over the Egyptian economy.
Even while our attention is (justifiably) focused on Egypt's proximate political realities—electoral outcomes, the repression of demonstrators, an evolving modus vivendi between SCAF and the Muslim Brothers—the Egyptian Armed Forces is quietly pursuing a parallel track of military industrial expansion. The physical centerpiece of this project is somewhere out in the desert northeast of Cairo, but the financial epicenter is closer to home—in the boardrooms of defense firms, where executives outline plans to increase shareholder profits, and in the halls of government, where our elected representatives do everything they can to help.
[1] Most of these relocations have been handled by The Arab Contractors, a division of the state-owned conglomerate. The Heliopolis Company for Chemical Industries may also have been on this list, as the Ministry of Military Production website cites a large recent investment made by the ministry in this factory and the state-owned National Company for Construction & Development reports having worked on a construction project for this factory in 2004 and 2005.
[2] Although this company was sold to former NDP head (and owner of the Salam ferry that sank in 2006) Mamdouh Ismail, the Ministry of Military Production reported that the factory was indeed re-located in 2010.
[3] These may in fact refer to the two separate complexes, one for manufacturing arms and ammunition, and another for developing chemicals and raw materials. Also see here. This article states that The Arab Contractors won the tender from the Ministry of Military Production to move the Abu Zabaal Factory to the Heliopolis Complex for Chemical Industries, which may be part of the Mubarak Complex II.
[4] "Minister: Egypt's Annual Military Production Reaches £2.7 Billion EGP," Al Masry Al Youm (English edition) (24 August 2010).
[5] Chemical infrastructure includes a new wastewater treatment plant at Abu Zaabal Specialty Chemicals.
[6] "Minister: Egypt's Annual Military Production Reaches £2.7 Billion EGP," Al Masry Al Youm (English edition) (24 August 2010). Also see here.
[7] Meshaal also claimed publicly that the MMP managed to sell all the civilian goods it had produced—and was not maintaining warehouses full of unsold goods (a common criticism levied at the MMP).
[8] The Helwan Aircraft Factory signed several technology transfer contracts with Sifle SRL, an Italian distributor of IVECO Military Vehicles—a division of Fiat Industrial. These contracts—signed sometime before 2008—included two CKD (complete knock-down) kits for the assembly of vehicle air conditioner production lines at AOI's Helwan Aircraft Factory and El Nasr Automotive Factory; the construction of a hot-dip galvanizing plant (the galvanizing process prevents erosion of numerous metals) and the supply and construction of machinery for a furniture factory (both for the Helwan Aircraft Factory); as well as the supply of mobile ambulance units to the Ministry of Health. IVECO armored trucks were used in confrontations between state security forces and protesters during the recent uprisings. Also, AOI factories have produced Fiat passenger cars for sale on the domestic market in the past, and with the recent acquisition of Chrysler by Fiat, it is likely these factories may bring more Fiat models onto their production lines.
[9] France, Kuwait, and China all have sizeable investments in new maritime infrastructure projects, in which the military also owns shares through the state-owned Holding Company for Maritime & Land Transport/HCMLT, the various port authorities, and the Ministry of Maritime Transport, all of which are dominated by military officers. Italy and China also have several joint ventures with Tharwa Petroleum, in which the military also has minority shares.
[10] For specifics on these ventures, see my forthcoming article co-authored with Joshua Stacher in the Spring 2012 issue of Middle East Report.
[11] This agent, Marine Propulsion & Supply Company/MAPSO, may be the result of a previous USAID project (with Morgan International Transport & Marine); Morgan lists MAPSO project as one of its USAID contracts in a document dating from 1988 (Chairman Gabriel Maari founded MAPSO in 1976).
[12] This is part of the National Service Projects Organization (NSPO).
[13] The Egyptian firm is El Zahraa Trade & Consultants Company.
[14] This planned collaboration may be on hold, since SAF Tehnika signed an agreement with a newly-formed Saudi investment fund (Najahat Company for Investment & Development).
[15] The original contract was signed in 2000—but supplementary agreements were signed again in 2001, 2002, and 2005. The deal is currently under scrutiny. Not only did the equipment ultimately fail to operate in the harsh terrain of the Egyptian desert (on one occasion the gun actually sank into the sand and could no longer operate), but the nine percent commission paid to a local agent—Wasfi & Wafik Doss & Co.—has been singled out as an illegal bribe by Swedish authorities, who are investigating the contract. A Swedish Patria employee told authorities that some portion of this commission was later transferred to the directors of the factory where the howitzers were to be produced.
[16] According to the Pentagon announcement, the contract includes "two co-assembly kits and two co-production kits to support the construction of the four twenty-eight-meter CPCs [coastal patrol crafts]. These kits, consisting of all material necessary for construction, will be shipped to Alexandria, Egypt, for construction by an Egyptian workforce, with oversight by Swiftships." US Department of Defense; issued 10 February 2011.
[17] Ipek Yezdani, "Egypt Eyes to Buy Turkish Unmanned Aerial Vehicles," Hurriyet Daily News (19 September 2011).
[18] Advanced Technology Systems Company was also awarded a contract in 2006 to expand Workshop 101—the army facility where M60 tanks are repaired. The 2011 contract is cited here. The 2006 contract is available on the USACE webpage.
[19] Counter Trade & Offset Newsletter 23(17), 2005. Factory managers claim that Egyptian technicians will perform ninety-four percent of the jets' assembly.
[20] The JF-17 is the Pakistani version of China's FC-1 (the JF-17 was a collaborative project between Pakistan and China). Industry reports include DefenseNews and Jane's Defense. See Usman Ansari, "Farnborough Debut Heralds JF-17 Export Drive," Defense News (US), 19 July 2010.
[21] Counter Trade & Offset Newsletter 23(17), 2005.
[22] Ibid. The contract cost was 345 million US dollars, which yields a per unit cost of about 4.3 million US dollars; the K-8E usually runs between 3-3.5 million US dollars.[23] J. Grevatt, "AVIC and Egypt-based AOI to Jointly Produce Equipment for Middle East," Jane's Defence Industry, 10 January 2011.
[24] Aram Roston and David Rohde, "Egyptian Army's Business Side Blurs Lines of US Military Aid," New York Times, 5 March 2011.
[25] Most of these exports took place during the Iran-Iraq War, and often involved the re-sale of foreign-produced equipment languishing in Egyptian stockpiles. Egypt may also have sold some of its Fahd armored personnel carriers to Kuwait, Sudan, and Oman, but these sales likewise took place two decades ago.
[26] Embassy Cairo, "TPT Blanket Approval for Non-technology Transfer Requests," 28 February 2010.
[27] Chrysler is now owned by the Italian car manufacturer Fiat, but the activity in question occurred between 1998 and 2007, during the time that Chrysler was merged with Diamler.
[28] The factory is the Kader Factory for Developed Industries in Heliopolis, which produces (or once produced) trainer aircraft, bombs, mortars, and armored vehicles, as well as the Mercedes Benz G320, known locally as the Kader-320. The bribe was in exchange for guarantees that Wasfi's factory would place orders for parts and supplies with Diamler-Benz instead of a competitor.


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Jacksonville Jaguars general manager David Caldwellrealized his roster had too many holes to allocate valuable draft picks to the quarterback position.
Instead of taking a mid-round flier on a signal-caller, Caldwell took Michigan wild-card speedster Denard Robinson in the 2013 NFL Draft while signing a pair of intriguing undrafted free agents.
NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that Aaron Rodgers' brother, Jordan, will join the Jags as a priority undrafted free agent out of Vanderbilt. Like Aaron, Jordan started his college career at Butte College in Oroville, Calif. Unlike Aaron, Jordan never developed the size and strength to tempt NFL teams into making him an early-round draft selection.
"He's got his brother's brain," an NFL scout recently told the Green Bay Press-Gazette "He's got some physical (tools) -- he's a good looking kid, but he just doesn't have the arm strength Aaron has."
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Scouts do believe Jordan has enough going for him to entice an NFL team into cutting a big-name backup to carry him as a third quarterback.
If Rodgers is going to make the Jaguars' roster, he's going to have to beat out an even more intriguing undrafted free agent in Arizona's Matt Scott. A plus athlete with read-option capability, Scott had drawn loose Russell Wilson comparisons after posting a 27-14 touchdown-to-interception ratio and 60.3 completion rate in Rich Rodriguez's spread-option offense.
Around The League's Gregg Rosenthal immediately quipped that the Jaguars' quarterback depth chart would read: 1. Chad Henne, 2. Scott, 3. Rodgers, 4. Denard Robinson, 5. Blaine Gabbert. He might not be too far off base.
Follow Chris Wesseling on Twitter @ChrisWesseling.

subset: commoncrawl


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This article is more than 1 year old
Prince's anti-YouTube crusade halted by American mommy
Let's all go crazy
A Pennsylvania mother of two of has stood-up to the internet-battling escapades of the artist formerly known as The Artist Formerly Known as Prince.
This summer, "mother, wife, writer, and editor" Stephanie Lenz filed a federal lawsuit against the artist's former record label, Universal Music Group, for ordering the removal of a YouTube video in which her eighteen-month-old son boogies to the Prince anthem "Let's Go Crazy."
The funkadelic pop star recently launched a very public crusade against unauthorized use of his name, image, and music catalog across the net, and the word from ABC News is that he personally told Universal to have the video taken down with a wave of the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
With her civil action, filed in a California-based federal court, Lenz claims that she was well within her rights when she posted the video, which contains less than 30 seconds of music. She wants the video clip up, and she wants damages. Well, the video is already back up, so scratch that part.
Eighteen-month-old Prince-infringer
Backed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a well-known internet watchdog, Lenz also hopes to teach Prince and his a label a lesson - and protect the rights of file sharers everywhere.
"The idea is to keep copyright owners honest," EFF staff attorney Corynne McSherry told The Reg. "To keep them from abusing [the DMCA]." It's the same lesson laid down by our favorite light-sabre-wielding Jedi Knight.
Let's go crazy
In early February, Stephanie Lenz videotaped her eighteen-month-old son Holden as he motored around the family kitchen. "Let's Go Crazy" played in the background, and at one point, the toddler decided it was time to cut a rug. According to the suit, "Let's Go Crazy" had been a favorite of little Holden's ever since he saw Prince perform during halftime of last year's SuperBowl.
Lenz then chucked a 29-second clip of the toddler's Prince-powered dance-fest onto YouTube "for her friends and family to enjoy." But less than four months later, Universal hit the Google-owned video-sharing site with a DMCA take-down notice, claiming that the Lenz Dance Video violated its copyright. And YouTube took it down.
"A well-placed source directly involved in the situation" told ABC that Prince was "directly involved" in the take-down notice. "This guy scours the Internet," the source said. "He's really intense about this stuff."
Someone inside the company told us much the same thing. "We have a deal where we license music to YouTube, and it's a great arrangement," our source said. "The only caveat is that if an artist or a songwriter decides they don't want their music up there, they inform us, and we ask YouTube to take it down."
Prince recently enlisted a British firm known as Web Sheriff to help with the removal of Prince-infringing material from YouTube, eBay, and the Swedish-based BitTorrent site PirateBay, but the Lenz Dance Video predates the firm's involvement. When we spoke to head Web Sheriff John Giacobbi, he confirmed that his company had nothing to with the take-down notice.
Let's go litigious
Whoever ordered the take-down notice, Lenz wasn't too happy about it. She soon contacted the EFF, and the foundation advised her to send YouTube a counter-notice, asking that the video be reinstated.
But the video remained off-line for six weeks, and the foundation helped Lenz take things to court. According to the suit, the clip constitutes "fair use" of the "Let's Go Crazy" copyright.
"You'd be hard pressed to find a better example of fair use," said EFF's McSherry. "It's entirely non-commercial. It's just a little snippet. And in fact, you can barely hear the Prince song in the background. It's just what her baby happens to dance to."
Universal has since allowed the video back online, but the suit goes on. Let's hope Prince takes notice. ®


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Source: Jonathan Partee, Iowa State University
Some physics TAs at Iowa State University read an article that claimed the average American does not know the correct answer to the following question:
If a pen is dropped on a moon, will it: A) Float away B) Float where it is C) Fall to the surface of the moon
So the TAs got together and gave their physics classes quizzes asking this question. Out of 168 people taking the quiz, 48 missed the question. The responses are below. Some people didn't write comments. The spelling and grammar were not changed, however, clarifying comments are enclosed in []'s.
"A body is at rest tends to stay at rest, plus there's no gravity"
"The gravity of the moon can be said to be negligible, and also the moon's a vacuum, there is no external force on the pen. Therefore it will float where it is."
"The pen will float away because the gravitational pull of the moon, being approximately 1/6 that of the earth, will not be enough to cause the pen to fall nor remain stationary where it is. The gravatational pull of other objects would influence the pen"
"Because moon has gravitation 1/6 of the gravitation of earth the force will be small toward the moon [so it will float away]"
"It will fall to the earth by force of gravity and by the attraction between the earth and the moon"
"Because the gravitational pull of the moon is much weaker than that of the earth. And object such as a pen is so lite that it will float"
"Because there are no external forces if you let go [it will float where it is]
"External forces that are present on the moon will attract the pen. There isn't gravity on the moon as there is on earth so the pen won't drop."
"Since there is no gravity it will float and fall slowly. It will not fall like in the ground quickly because there is no gravity"
"The force of gravity on the moon is a fraction of the gravity on the earth, so the moon would not be able to attract the pen to inself. Rather, it would only be able to suspend the pen"
"It will eventually fall to the surface of the moon because of the slight gravitational field plus the moment of inertia about the moon. Also with angular momentum being conserved, it must fall. I=MR^2" [We were studying conservation of angular momentum when I gave this quiz]
"The pen will fall to the surface of the moon. As we let go we will introduce some initial enerty into the pen thus putting it in a forward downward motion. Since on the moon there is no force of resistance the pen will fall very slowly towards the surface"
"If you are standing on the moon holding a pen and you let go, it will float where it is. It will not fall to the surface of the moon because a gravitational force strong enough to cause this does not exist. In addition, the pen does not have a lot of external force on it, so it will not be likely to move"
"The pen will fall to the surface of the moon because the moon generates a gravitational field by rotating and the pen must act under this force".
"It will float where it is because there is no gravity force on the moon. Also, if you just let go there isno acceleration so it should just float where it is."
"There is no gravitational force on the moon, the pen therefore has no weight so its mass has no effect on 'where it goes'. Plus, you know, there is no wind to blow the pen up there! =)"
"[It will float where it is] Because there isn't a real strong gravity force on the moon. Actually it is like having none at all. If I remember right, it is only like 2.9m/s (force of gravity)"
"It will float away because the gravity of the moon won't pull it down to the surface, but it won't stay where it is because there is always some force acting on mass - (even though the gravity of the moon isn't strong enough)"
"The gravity of the earth will pull it more than that of the moon, so it will float toward earth"
"It'll float away because your body is not able to stay completely still. So it would float in the direction your hand was shaking"
"There is not much gravitational pull on the moon to have it fall to the surface. The pen is so small and light, it probably would not be affected by the gravitation of the moon so it would float away."
"There is no gravity in space so if you just let it go, it will just gently float away."
"It will float away because the gravitational force is less than here on the Earth where it would fall. I think it will float away because of what I have seen of the space rooms NASA uses to get astronauts ready for flight."
"Theoretically, it should float away because it has no mass, gravity does not pull the pen towards the surface at a great enough rate to make it fall, however it does have enough force to keep it floating and ultimately it will drift away."
"Because there is no gravity on the moon. Therefore it would float away because there is nothing to hold it there or to pull it to the surface of the moon"
"[It will float away] Because there would be no gravitational force to hold it there or make it fall to the surface of the moon"
"There is no gravitational pull on the moon to cause pen to come back towards surface. The pen would float away probably toward the gravitational pull of the earth."
"[It will float where it is] Because there is no gravitational pull. It will neither fall towards the moon because there is no gravity to pull it there nor is there any other gravitational force that will pull it away from the moon."
"Float where it is and will not move because there is no gravitational pull, it will not float away unless it is pushed."
"The gravity on the moon is such that it won't be pulled to the surface, and since the pen won't make any movement it should float where it is."
"It will float where it is until a force acts upon it. There is no gravity to act upon it."
"[It will float away because there is] no gravity to hold it and no atmosphere"
"[It will float away] because the gravity on the moon is not as great as it is on the earth"
"Because the earth is a greater mass and the pen will be pulled toward the greater body because of gravity. The moon doesn't have that great of a gravitational pull"
"No gravitatational pull so it won't fall and no force pulling it away so it will float where it is"
"Lack of gravity on moon allows pen to float in space"
"Because there is no gravitational pull on the moon, there is no pull towards the moon or away from."
"The moon doesn't have gravity like the earth which would bring the pen down to the surface instead the moon's atmosphere would cause it to float above the moon's surface."
"Gravity will not pull it down, because there is less of it. It shouldn't float away just because I've never seen it happen. There's a balance between gravity and the opposite force."
"It would float where it is because gravity would not let it fall to the surface (there is no gravity) on the moon. It would not float away because it has no mass."
Source: Grandfather International Education Report
American students are consistently beaten by foreign students, even those from some countries I've never even heard of.
This article will be revised a bit when I get some more time.


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Soft Cell
Soft Cell
Soft Cell are an English synthpop duo who came to prominence in the early 1980s, consisting of vocalist Marc Almond and instrumentalist David Ball. The duo are principally known for their 1981 hit version of "Tainted Love" (#8 US) and 1981 debut album titled Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret.[1][2]
In the United Kingdom, they had ten Top 40 hits including "Tainted Love" (#1 UK), "Torch" (#2 UK), "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" (#3 UK), "What!" (#3 UK), and "Bedsitter" (#4 UK), and also had four Top 20 albums between 1981 and 1984. In 1984, the duo split but reformed in 2001 to tour and record new material, releasing their fifth studio album, Cruelty Without Beauty in 2002.
Soft Cell's songs have been covered by various artists including Coil, Nine Inch Nails, David Gray, Nouvelle Vague, and A-ha. Their track, "Memorabilia", earned recognition for the band as pioneers of the synth-oriented techno genre.[3] The duo have sold 10 million records worldwide.[4]
Mutant Moments and "Memorabilia"
Soft Cell was initiated during 1977 after Almond and Ball met at Leeds Polytechnic. Their initial efforts at recording resulted that year in an EP titled Mutant Moments which was funded by a loan of £2000 from Dave Ball's mother and made with a simple 2-track recorder.[5] 2,000 vinyl copies of the release were issued independently and the small number of copies have since become a highly valued collectors item. The group's live shows and EP caught the interest of certain record labels such as Mute Records and Some Bizzare Records.
Soft Cell's next recording, "The Girl with the Patent Leather Face", appeared as a contribution to the Some Bizzare Album, which featured then-unknown bands such as Depeche Mode, The The, and Blancmange. The duo ultimately signed to the Some Bizzare label, backed by Phonogram Records. Their first singles, "A Man Could Get Lost", "7" and "Memorabilia" 12", were produced by Daniel Miller who founded Mute Records. While "Memorabilia" was a success in nightclubs, Soft Cell would remain essentially unknown until their next release.
"Tainted Love"
After the chart failure of "Memorabilia", Phonogram Records allowed Soft Cell to record a second and final single in an attempt to score a chart success. The band opted to record a cover version of "Tainted Love", an obscure 1965 northern soul track originally released by Gloria Jones, the girlfriend of Marc Bolan at the time of his death, and written by Ed Cobb of The Four Preps.
Released in 1981, Soft Cell's "Tainted Love" was a No. 1 hit in 17 countries, including the United Kingdom, as well as a No. 8 single in the United States during 1982, and went on to set a Guinness World Record at the time for the longest consecutive stay (43 weeks) on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song's popularity developed slowly, needing 19 weeks to enter the US Top 40. The A-side of the 12-inch single of "Tainted Love" actually featured a two-song medley, with "Tainted Love" blending into the Motown classic "Where Did Our Love Go" (originally recorded by The Supremes, in 1964).
According to Marc Almond's book Tainted Life, Soft Cell had exited the "Tainted Love" recording sessions with only modest expectations that the track might break into the UK Top 50. Furthermore, Almond wrote that his only significant contribution to the song's instrumentation (besides the vocals) was the suggestion that the song begin with a characteristic "bink bink" sound which would repeat periodically throughout. Almond also wrote that he dedicated this song to his sometime partner Christian Andrews.
Usually, an artist releasing a cover version as a single would opt to write the song that appears on the B-side as this would still entitle the artist to some songwriting royalties stemming from sales of that single. However, as Soft Cell wrote neither "Tainted Love" nor "Where Did Our Love Go" (the 7" B-side track), they lost the opportunity to make a greater sum of money from songwriting royalties stemming from one of the most popular songs of the 1980s. Almond expressed regret for this in his book, and attributed the error to naïveté.
Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret
The duo's first album, Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret, hit UK No. 5 and further explored the now-trademark Soft Cell themes of squalour and sleaze. "Seedy Films" talks of long nights in porno cinemas, while "Frustration" and "Secret Life" deal with the boredom and hypocrisy associated with suburban life. A companion video titled Non-Stop Exotic Video Show was released alongside the album and featured videos directed by Tim Pope. The video generated some controversy in Britain, mainly due to a scandal involved with the "Sex Dwarf" clip. The original version of the music video was confiscated by police and censored before it was even released.
A re-filmed "Sex Dwarf" appeared in Non-Stop Exotic Video Show featuring Almond dressed in a tuxedo, directing a symphony orchestra of transvestites.
Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret garnered two additional hits: "Bedsitter" dealt with the loneliness and lifestyle of a young man having recently left home to live in a bedsit while partying hard. "Bedsitter" reached No. 4 in the UK Singles Chart in November 1981. The song was highly acclaimed in a retrospective review by AllMusic journalist Ned Raggett who wrote that it "ranks as one of the best, most realistic portrayals of urban life recorded."[6] The final single on the album, the ballad "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye", peaked at No. 3 in February 1982 and was subsequently covered by David Gray nearly 20 years later when his version reached No. 26 in the UK.
During 1982, the duo spent most of their time recording and relaxing in New York City, where they met a woman named Cindy Ecstasy whom Almond would later confirm was his drug supplier (it was Cindy Ecstasy who introduced them to the new nightclub drug of the same name). Soon after "Say Hello Wave Goodbye" dropped out of the chart, Soft Cell released a brand new song, another love song called "Torch" which was to prove the closest the band ever got to having a No. 1 hit with one of their own songs as it entered straight into the Top 20 and peaked at No. 2.[7] The 12" version of "Torch" featured Cindy Ecstasy singing and exchanging banter in a spoken dialogue section with Marc Almond where they reminisce about their first meeting. Despite their next album being almost ready for release at this point, a decision was made not to include "Torch" on the album.
The duo released their second album entitled Non-stop Ecstatic Dancing, a 6-track mini album containing remixes of older material along with their new hit single, "What!". This was a cover of the 1965 song by Melinda Marx. It was later covered in 1968 by Judy Street, whose version became extremely popular on the Northern Soul scene. Almond later admitted that the album was recorded and mixed under the influence of ecstasy.[8] "What!" placed at No. 101 in US Charts.[9] but was a major hit in the UK and reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart in August of that year[7]
Decline and dissolution
By 1983, fame and nearly constant drug use were having a bad effect on the duo. Marc Almond also formed the group Marc and the Mambas, featuring collaborations with The The's Matt Johnson and future Almond collaborator Annie Hogan, as an offshoot to experiment out of the glare of the Soft Cell spotlight. Soft Cell's third album release, appropriately titled The Art of Falling Apart, was a Top 5 hit in the UK but the singles were only modest successes. The first single "Where The Heart Is" only reached 21, while the double A-side "Numbers"/"Barriers" peaked at 25. "Numbers" also generated controversy due to references in the song to the drug speed. The album is highly esteemed by the leader of Nine Inch Nails, Trent Reznor.[10]
In September 1983, the duo released a new single "Soul Inside", which returned them to the UK Top 20, but by early 1984 the duo had amicably decided to end Soft Cell. They played farewell concerts at Hammersmith Palais in January, and released one final album called This Last Night in Sodom (UK No. 12) in March. Headed by the duo's final single "Down in the Subway" (UK No. 24), the album departed from its predecessors by featuring more live drums and guitars than previous albums. However, the controversial subject matter still remained true to the Soft Cell ethos, with songs such as "L'Esqualita" that glamourised transvestite culture in Manhattan.
Solo years
During Almond's solo years, he and Ball continued to communicate with each other. Dave Ball's ex-wife played violin in Marc Almond's solo band, though Almond and Ball did not work again together until 1990 when Ball remixed one of Almond's singles ("Waifs And Strays") and co-wrote and arranged some music for Almond's Tenement Symphony album in 1991. David Ball formed The Grid during 1990 with Richard Norris. The Grid ended in 1996, but reformed during 2005 and released an album during 2008 with the Some Bizzare company, named Doppelgänger.
Almond and Ball reunited as Soft Cell in 2001, with a series of live dates. They performed at the opening of the Ocean nightclub in London during March 2001, and a mini tour followed later in the year. The track "God Shaped Hole" featured on the Some Bizzare compilation titled I'd Rather Shout at a Returning Echo than Kid Someone's Listening, released during 2001. A new Soft Cell album, Cruelty Without Beauty, was released during late 2002, followed by a European tour and a small US tour during early 2003. The new album featured their first new songs together in almost twenty years. The second single from the album, a cover of The Four Seasons' "The Night", reached No. 39 in the UK. Soft Cell had considered recording "The Night" in place of "Tainted Love" during 1981, though as keyboardist David Ball stated in a 2003 interview with BBC's Top of the Pops, "I think history has kind of shown that we did make the right choice [in 1981]."
During August 2007, the band announced plans to release a remix album entitled Heat. The remix album was released in November 2008 and included Soft Cell tracks remixed by such acts as Paul Dakeyne, The Grid, Manhattan Clique, Cicada, Richard X, Ladytron, MHC, Atomizer, Mark Moore, Kinky Roland, Spektrum, George Demure, Yer Man, The Dark Poets and many more.[11]
In February 2018, Soft Cell announced that they would reunite for one last time. The show entitled Say Hello, Wave Goodbye will be at the O2 in London on 30 September.[12]
The group cited David Bowie and Marc Bolan as primary influences.[13] Almond also named Siouxsie Sioux as a major influence:[14] "You can even hear that I'm trying to sing like her on some of those early Soft Cell songs: I didn't want to sing properly, I wanted to sing in a punk way".[15]
- Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret (1981)
- Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing (EP) (1982)
- The Art of Falling Apart (1983)
- This Last Night in Sodom (1984)
- Cruelty Without Beauty (2002)
- The Bedsit Tapes (2005)
- ^ "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. 15 November 1982. Retrieved 30 July 2011.
- ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret – Soft Cell". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
- ^ "Soft Cell". tourdates. 26 March 2012. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
- ^ "Soft Cell album reviews and ratings". Musicfolio.com. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
- ^ Almond, Marc (1999). Tainted Life. London: Sidgwick & Jackson. ISBN 9780330372015.
- ^ Raggett, Ned. "Bedsitter – Soft Cell | Listen, Appearances, Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
- ^ a b "UK Top 40 Chart Archive, British Singles & Album Charts". everyHit.com. 16 March 2000. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
- ^ Interview with Marc Almond BBC TV programme 'Young Guns Go for It'
- ^ "Lost in the '80s: Soft Cell, "What!"". Popdose. 4 November 2008. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
- ^ "Radio One Rock Show hosted by Trent Reznor". Theninhotline.net. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
- ^ "Soft Cell remix album in the pipeline – Soft Cell news at". Side-line.com. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
- ^ https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/feb/21/soft-cell-marc-almond-dave-ball-farewell-concert-the-o2-arena-london?CMP=twt_gu
- ^ Simpson, Dave (March 20, 2017). "How we made Soft Cell's Tainted Love". The Guardian. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
- ^ "Electro-Pop Pioneer Marc Almond Talks New Album". advocate.com. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
- ^ Marriott, Phil (25 September 2017). "She was a huge influence on me and we became good friends': Marc Almond on Siouxsie Sioux". philmarriott.net. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
External links
- Soft Cell singles list
- BBC Top of the Pops Interview
- Marc Almond's official site
This article uses material from the article Soft Cell from the free encyclopedia Wikipedia and it is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.


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The federal government hosts 47 job-training programs, 44 of which overlap. It runs 80 programs for the "transportation disadvantaged."
Another 82 programs spread across 10 separate agencies endeavor to improve teacher quality -- something hundreds of local school districts are already focused on.
These are just a few of the findings in a blockbuster report on government waste and inefficiencies released by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office. The report identifies billions of dollars in potential savings if Congress just had the will to streamline initiatives that target politically popular causes.
Though lawmakers in both parties have long struggled to eliminate the common culprits of waste, fraud and abuse, they seized on the findings Tuesday. House Republican Leader Eric Cantor vowed to "get our fiscal house in order" in light of the report.
"Now again, we have said enough is enough. Our Congress is about delivering results," Cantor said.
"This report confirms what most Americans assume about their government. We are spending trillions of dollars every year and nobody knows what we are doing. The executive branch doesn't know. The congressional branch doesn't know. Nobody knows," Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., said in a statement Tuesday morning. "This report also shows we could save taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars every year without cutting services."
The well-timed release comes as Republicans and Democrats fight over how much to cut from the rest of this year's budget, not to mention next year's $3.73 trillion spending plan. Democrats have so far balked at GOP plans to cut $61 billion from the 2010 fiscal year budget. But while both parties are squabbling over a relatively small slice of the budget pie -- discretionary spending -- the GAO report suggests Congress could keep cutting and leave the operation of government intact.
"Reducing or eliminating duplication, overlap or fragmentation could potentially save billions of taxpayer dollars annually and help agencies provide more efficient and effective services," the report said.
The study found 33 areas with "overlap and fragmentation" in the federal government. Among them, it found:
-- Fifty-six programs across 20 agencies dealing with financial literacy.
-- More than 2,100 data centers -- up from 432 a little more than a decade ago -- across 24 federal agencies. GAO estimated the government could save up to $200 billion over the next decade by consolidating them.
-- Twenty programs across seven agencies dealing with homelessness. The report found $2.9 billion spent on the programs in 2009. "Congress is often to blame" for fragmentation, GAO wrote in this section, explaining that the duplicative programs in multiple agencies cause access problems for potential participants.
-- Eighty-two "distinct" teacher-quality programs across 10 agencies. Many of them have "duplicate sub-goals," GAO said. Nine of them address teacher quality in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.
-- Fifteen agencies administering 30 food-related laws. "Some of the oversight doesn't make any sense," the report stated bluntly.
-- Eighty economic development programs.
In some cases, the programs in question struggled to account for what they did. Take, for instance, domestic food assistance initiatives. According to GAO, 18 such programs are administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services -- with GAO estimating $62.5 billion spent on them.
But "little is known about the effectiveness" of 11 of those programs, the report states.
Similarly, of the 47 job-training programs run out of the federal government, only five could provide an "impact study" since 2004 looking at "outcomes." About half of them provided no performance review at all since 2004.
The report quickly became a political football Tuesday for lawmakers arguing over proposed cuts.
"Given the size and scope of the problem, there is likely much more duplication and fragmentation left to find," said Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., chairman of the Senate Budget Committee.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., said the report offered an opportunity to make "smart cuts, instead of reckless cuts."
"Today's GAO report shows us a path forward to responsibly, effectively reduce the deficit without slashing investment in our economy, cutting private sector job growth, or endangering the most vulnerable members of our society. We must eliminate outdated and unnecessary programs, as I have proposed before and as the GAO suggests here," she said.
The lengthy GAO report was mandated by Congress the last time it raised the debt limit in January 2010. Coburn said the report makes lawmakers look like "jackasses."
"We don't know what we're doing," Coburn said.
The Defense Department takes a number of hits in the report. The GAO found many instances of duplication in the sprawling agency. The use of "urgent need" funds have been expanded, GAO found, with "multiple places for a warfighter to submit" such requests.
GAO found that the Pentagon has "no tracking mechanism" for these funds, resulting in an estimated $77 billion spent since 2005 on communication and computer technologies, counter-measures for improvised explosive devices and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tools.
Congress asked GAO to look specifically at "federal programs, agencies, offices and initiatives with duplicative goals and activities, to estimate the cost of such duplication and to make recommendations to Congress for consolidation and elimination of such duplication."
Fox News' Trish Turner contributed to this report.


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Lightroom Video – Moving Your Develop Presets
Hey folks. Here's a quick video for you on moving presets. Say you get a new computer and you install Lightroom. Well, your old computer has all of your presets on it right? Once you know where they are, moving your presets from one computer to another is really just a drag-and-drop process. In fact, you can move more than just your Develop presets – you can move all of the presets you'd create in Lightroom (Print, Slideshow, Watermarks, Metadata templates, etc…) because they're all stored in the same folder. I hope you enjoy!


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Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)
As clashes continue between teachers' unions and local and state legislatures concerning evaluations of teachers to determine if they are to stay employed, I don't hear either side reacting to what students feel about how they are being taught. This includes the students themselves.
Such evaluations could and should ask students what they think being in school is going to mean for their futures. Teachers have their missions. But what are these students' missions beyond college degrees?
Accordingly, to get teacher evaluations, students ought to reveal more about their own real-life, real-time selves in a preparatory dialogue with the people recording their judgments. These people should ask the students such questions as:
—What do you most want to learn about, and why?
—Have any of your teachers gotten you interested, even excited about subjects or issues you hadn't previously thought about? If any did, how did they do that?
—How well do your teachers know each of you outside of class?
—What do you care about and do outside of this school?
—What was your life like before you ever came to school?
I would urge the people talking to the students to ask them to read the teacher-challenging advice Education Week Teacher's teaching coach David Ginsburg offers ("Assess All Students Before Assisting Any Students," Ginsburg, June 4, 2011).
He evaluates teachers at work by "when you can see sooner rather than later what students are struggling with and why they're struggling with it. It's only then that you can provide timely, differentiated feedback and remediation."
What happens in many schools, Ginsburg points out, is that "teachers often miss the chance to do this because they're assisting a few students at the expense of assessing all students. At the end of typical math lessons, for example, teachers assign practice problems for students to try on their own ... They then promptly help the first student whose hand shoots up. After two, three and sometimes five or more minutes, they finally move on to another student.
"Many students, meanwhile, sit idly as they wait their turn for the teacher's help. Some call out until the teacher signals or says, 'One minute.' Others raise their hands for several minutes, switching arms every so often to avoid fatigue. But eventually the bell rings or kids give up — and often act up.
"And because they never get the help they need with class work, they're unable to successfully complete homework."
I ask you, the readers, how many times did you experience this unavailability of teachers when you were students?
Douglas Ginsburg continues: "Teachers prematurely conclude what the class as a whole does or doesn't understand (and why they don't understand something) based on what they've seen or heard from just a few students."
Ginsburg is focusing on actual human teachers who interact with human students in the classroom — not the rapidly increasing "online" teaching and learning, where a human teacher may not be in a classroom and where students can be home interacting online with a robot-like digital teacher.
Returning to the in-person situations of many schools, Ginsburg has excellent advice that may seem revolutionary to some "advanced" digital education reformers:
"Assign students to mixed-ability groups, where they work at their own pace but can ask each other for help as necessary. Think of this as 'Independent and Interdependent Practice' rather than 'Independent Practice.'"
What is badly and urgently needed in so many schools is for students to learn critical thinking like Ginsburg's — something that will be necessary for the rest of their lives.
Meanwhile, there is still an insistence in far too many cities, states and, to some extent, the Department of Education that collective standardized testing of students' abilities is the way to evaluate teachers as well as students.
See the following critical thinking of Education Week Teacher's Susan Graham, in which she describes collective, standardized testing evaluations:
"I understand the necessity, but it is a strange sort of pantomime game where we say: 'I want to know what you know, but you have to tell me without speaking. No questions from you, no answers from me, no comments from either of us ...'
"What bothers me even more is that we've predetermined what the answers should be. It seems we insist that they answer in silence because the only answers we are interested in are the ones we've provided. We really don't seem to be very interested in what they think. Or how they think" ("The Sound of Silence," edweek.org, Graham, May 30, 2011).
Already, there is much bristlingly discordant interest in the 2016 elections around the nation. Who in the White House and Congress will shape our future health care, availability of jobs and security against increasingly diverse murderous enemies?
The citizenry should realize that these are the elected officials responsible for assuring students a meaningful, productive public school education. But we must keep in mind that so many teachers do not explain how to deepen our students' independent critical thinking, nor do they learn who each student actually is.
Nat Hentoff is a renowned authority on the First Amendment and the Bill of Rights.


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Just use Molten Armor and switch to Mage Armor when you have around 30% mana, like we do in fire spec?
Just use Molten Armor and switch to Mage Armor when you have around 30% mana, like we do in fire spec?
Last edited by Imnick; 2010-12-26 at 10:45 PM.
http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-a...s-classic.aspx Using this mod, type /powa, and click import set, paste the big one, then the single import button and the single one if you want it.
You should.
In fact you should spam scorch BEFORE you go oom.
Scorch returns mana to you and casts quickly. This also means that using scorch gives you a lot of crits and therefore a lot of pyroblasts.
You will do more damage by weaving scorch into your rotation and keeping molten armour on than by swapping to mage armour.
Plus mage armour makes you lose your ability to cast scorch while moving.
The idea of fire is actually not to just spam fireball and then run out of mana, you need to cast both fireball and scorch.
Drop yourself to 35% with fireball, evocate, drop low again and then keep using scorch until you are either back at high mana or the boss is at 35% health. Once the boss is at 35% health it is your execute phase and you should prioritise fireball again.
When your spellpower or crit has been boosted by a trinket, execute phase or some kind of boss mechanic then use fireball. At other times when you are running low on mana use scorch.
A scorch rotation does 90% of the damage a fireball rotation does.
Why did you even spec into free scorch if you don't use it for this?
Thanks for the guide, as mentioned by others its simple and goes straight to the point. Looks like I've been weighing haste and mastery wrong and misused BF procs :P
Originally Posted by Nawramsti
Great guide, mate! Really appreciated.
However, I just wanted to point out that the statement above is incorrect. Haste merely allows for more casts per time, but does NOT make mastery more powerful, because the percentage of FoF casts does not change. Had FoF been a 2-second buff or anything, then yes, it would have been true.
In fact, haste actually decreases the power of your mastery stat a bit by increasing the percentage of FoF procs used on Ice Lance relative to Deep Freeze, thus lowering the dps gain credited to mastery relative to other stats.
I hope you understand the math behind this. If not, I'll be happy to think of a good example to make it clear.
Sorry i don`t understand your claim.
Casts with Chill Effects (Frostbolt, Frostfire Orb) that are procing FoF are mainly effected by Haste. So more Casts with Chill Effects result in a gain of FoF Procs and therefore you have more Casts against Frozen Targets where Mastery comes into Play.
That is also the Reason why Simulationcraft has both Stats about even and when you rise up one Stat the Value of the other Stat is increasing.
I'll give you a simplified example that might help visualize it for you.
Situation 1: no haste.
Player casts 10 Frostbolts and gains 2 FoF stacks.
Situation 2: 50% haste.
Player casts 15 Frostbolts and gains 3 FoF stacks.
In both situations the player gets approximately 1 FoF per 5 Frostbolts. While haste has given you 50% more FoF stacks, it has ALSO given you 50% more casts unaffected by Mastery. The value of Mastery has not increased. (I'll leave out the explanation of how it's even slightly so that Mastery loses a bit of value, because that'd only make this more confusing.)
I hope this makes it more clear.
EDIT: However, if you don't mean the relative, but the absolute effect of Mastery per point of Mastery rating, then yes, of course that goes up. But the same goes for Intellect (SP), Hit Rating and Crit rating. Haste = more casts = more effect from anything improving any cast. Nothing special about Mastery there. (That is also what you notice in Simulationcraft.)
Last edited by mmocbd7c196845; 2010-12-28 at 12:19 PM.
I'm confused now... so, as a secondary stat (after int, hit, crit) should we prioritize haste, mastery or keep them even?
I'm hit capped and have been reforging all haste to either crit or mastery (depending on which stat is not on the item), should I only reforge haste to crit and leave haste alone on a haste/crit gear?
how exactly did u get the bliz textures to work with power auras?
i love how they work when im frost but when i got fire i have to turn the blizz auras back on and sometimes forget to >.<
I'm a new mage that is sort of confused. I just have one question: Is it really worth it to get early frost? I mean like how much of a dps increase is it?
Last I checked haste and mastery are within 0.02 DPS of each other, with mastery being the slightly better of the two. Your best bet is probably to keep them roughly even.
The newest update of power auras has the default blizzard textures near the end of the list. You could, if you really wanted, have any spec's default auras to use as whatever class.
The last math I read on it showed slightly over a 2% DPS increase for both points. Nothing spectacular but a DPS increase nonetheless.
Okay thanks for all the help!
Hi Kuni, I don't know if you can help me out here.
I'm looking for an upgrade with my valor points. Being frost I wonder what could that be.
I'm currently sitting at 1400 Valor Points.
This is my armory http://us.battle.net/wow/en/characte...smita/advanced
I'm doing around 13k dps currently, I'm using the crit meta, and it really helps a lot. So i wonder what should I buy first to increase my performance.
I've been told to get the t11 legs, and i'm 2 dreamcloths away from the crafted ones. My feet armor are soon coming from reputation.
So the other options would be cape (minor upgrade), feet (not much difference from ramkahen) and the ring which isn't that appealing either.
So I wander if it would be a good choice to get those pants, since the chest and hands are already covered with epics.
Thanks Kuni, any insight would be great.
[QUOTE=Kuni Zyrekai Using this mod, type /powa, and click import set, paste the big one, then the single import button and the single one if you want it.[/QUOTE]
i did this and it is working but whenever i enter combat this big arcane looking graphic appears over my character is there any way to turn this off?


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NASA has announced the selection of seven science instruments to be included on the Mars 2020 rover. Three scientists from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) — Sarah Fagents, Shiv Sharma and Anupam Misra — will be members on the instrument teams to conduct unprecedented science and exploration technology investigations on the Red Planet. The new rover will carry sophisticated hardware and instruments to perform geological assessments of the rover's landing site, determine the potential habitability of the environment, and directly search for signs of ancient Martian life.
Among the instruments selected is the Mastcam-Z, an advanced camera system with panoramic and 3-dimensional imaging capability with the ability to zoom. As the Mastcam-Z team's volcanologist, Sarah Fagents, a researcher at UHM's Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, will identify and interpret rocks and terrains of volcanic origins that are encountered by the Mars 2020 rover. Further objectives of the Mastcam-Z investigation on the NASA Mars 2020 rover are to assess current atmospheric and astronomical conditions, events, and surface-atmosphere interactions and processes; and to provide operational support and scientific context for rover navigation.
Her background in field investigations of volcanic deposits on Earth and past experience with the Galileo mission to the Jupiter system provide context for observations made by the new generation of Mars rover-geologists. In spite of this preparation, Fagents knows that she and the Mars 2020 teams are headed into uncharted territory. "Perhaps the greatest challenge will be reaching the Martian surface safely," Fagents said. "However, the current Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity has amply demonstrated that a successful landing is an eminently attainable feat of engineering. Once Mars 2020 reaches the surface, a scientific journey of discovery is guaranteed."
The SuperCam instrument can provide imaging, chemical composition analysis and mineralogy, and can detect organic compounds from a distance on and in rocks, soils and sediment layers on Mars. On this instrument team, researcher Shiv Sharma and associate researcher Anupam Misra, both experts in Raman spectroscopy and fluorescence at HIGP, will assist with detection of biomarkers — indicators that life has been or is present.
Raman spectroscopy is a technique that aims a laser beam at rocks or other material and, based on the specific wavelengths of light that are emitted back toward the instrument, uniquely identifies minerals and organic substances.
SuperCam encompasses the spectroscopy and imaging capabilities that were successfully fielded on Mars rover Curiosity and adds new remote Raman spectroscopy capability, which has undergone years of development in the laboratory and addresses the astrobiology component of the 2020 mission.
"This will be the culmination of over 15 years of work within HIGP developing the time-resolved active spectroscopic techniques for Mars rover from remote distances. We are thrilled to be the part of SuperCam Team," said Sharma of his and Misra's involvement in the SuperCam team.
"Mars research has been a major focus of HIGP since the late 1970s, when Chuck Helsley and Tom McCord founded the Planetary Sciences Division of [then] HIG, and researchers made many telescopic observations of the planet from Mauna Kea. Since then, HIGP faculty have been science team members or project scientists on several earlier missions to the Red Planet, including the Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Odyssey missions. We are proud to see the continuing success of HIGP scientists on the Mars 2020 team," said Rhett Butler, Director of HIGP.
"The Mars 2020 rover, with these new advanced scientific instruments, including those from our international partners, holds the promise to unlock more mysteries of Mars' past as revealed in the geological record," said John Grunsfeld astronaut, and associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. "This mission will further our search for life in the universe and also offer opportunities to advance new capabilities in exploration technology."
The Mars 2020 rover also will help advance knowledge of how future human explorers could use natural resources available on the surface of the Red Planet. An ability to live off the Martian land would transform future exploration of the planet. Designers of future human expeditions can use this mission to understand the hazards posed by Martian dust and demonstrate technology to process carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to produce oxygen. These experiments will help engineers learn how to use Martian resources to produce oxygen for human respiration and potentially for use as an oxidizer for rocket fuel.
"Today we take another important step on our journey to Mars," said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. "While getting to and landing on Mars is hard, Curiosity was an iconic example of how our robotic scientific explorers are paving the way for humans to pioneer Mars and beyond. Mars exploration will be this generation's legacy, and the Mars 2020 rover will be another critical step on humans' journey to the Red Planet."
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory will build and manage operations of the Mars 2020 rover for the NASA Science Mission Directorate at the agency's headquarters in Washington.


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Building Strong Clusters for Strong Urban Economies
Insights for City Leaders from Four Case Studies in the U.S.
Each of the case studies highlighted in this report offers actionable insights to help city leaders galvanize their cluster building efforts. They represent unique insights for the two types of cluster growth models that exist in the U.S.—cluster initiatives and cluster-oriented economic development plans—in different contexts. For city leaders designing new cluster growth strategies, we also offer a set of six general recommendations to ensure the strategies will maximize economic growth.


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"I Always Go For Non-Christian Guys"
- Kris Swiatocho and Cliff Young The Singles Network Ministries, Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
- Updated Dec 19, 2012
EDITOR'S NOTE: He Said-She Said is a biweekly advice column for singles featuring a question from a Crosswalk.com reader with responses from a male and female point of view. If you've got a question about anything related to singleness or living the single life, please submit it to He Said-She Said (selected questions will be posted anonymously).
QUESTION: I am a middle-aged, single lady who has never been married or in a serious a relationship. I always have feelings for non-Christian guys and I know that I shouldn't. I have had feelings for a non-Christian for 4 years guy. I know that he doesn't like me and I know that I should not like him, but I have deep feelings for him. All this time he has been dating other women, and is currently in a relationship. My questions are: 1) Am I not faithful to God and not putting Him as first, in that I always like non-Christian guys? 2) How do I get rid of the feelings for this guy I like? We are good friends and work in the same company, with no intention of changing jobs. 3) If I struggle as a single, and having never been in relationship, is it because I've not had enough faith in God?
Many of us have lived a majority of our years seeking the Lord and His desires for us, especially in regards to relationships. However, we live in a secular world and we grow to accept, enjoy and even yearn for those things of the world sometimes.
"Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive. 1 Corinthians 10:23
Don't beat yourself up over your "attraction" to a non-Christian guy. You recognize this isn't the most beneficial thing for you and you have not acted on your feelings. God understands the world we live in and knows the temptations we face.
This is in no way a "green light" or an open invitation to pursue all those "unequally yoked" we are attracted to nor date those whom we do not share the same beliefs, nevertheless we are ultimately called to befriend non-believers and share our lives with them in hopes of leading them to the saving knowledge of Christ. Being "faithful to God" is living in this manner.
You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. Acts 22:15
As for a "formula" to get rid of the feelings you have for a person, I have yet to find one. Since distancing yourself isn't an option, carefully consider (and even scrutinize) his life, ways, and what truly makes him tick, especially in regards to his heart, you may find your feelings begin to diminish.
What I have found to be most attractive is a person's God-blessed passion, their love for the Lord and how that is expressed through their actions.
Never having been in a relationship is no reflection of one's faith in God. I have witnessed some of the most unfaithful "Christians" who never have a shortage of "opportunities" to date or be in relationships, while faithful servants of the Lord rarely having any.
I would like to believe God protects some of His followers for that special one He has prepared.
And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:10
First I want to thank you for being so transparent with who you are and some of your background. I am also a never married middle-aged single lady who has not been in a serious relationship in many years. So I can relate to some of your circumstances.
Now regarding this desire and attraction to "lost" men. What is attractive about them? Some qualities are simply attractive in anyone, no matter their spiritual status. They might be kind, gentle, funny, giving and so on. So being attracted to a man, lost or saved, is not a bad thing. Let's explore reasons you might not be attracted to Christian men. Are you in church? Are you involved and serving? Are you a part of healthy singles group where you would meet and be friends with Christian guys? If my environment was made up solely of things which aren't good for me, I would eventually end choosing it. For example, if you all you have are cupcakes in the house, and no salad, you are going to end up eating cupcakes. Some of this may simply be who you are spending your time with.
Another thought is that being attracted to "lost" guys could be a way of avoiding being involved with a Christian guy. If you date a Christian, you are being held to a higher standard, as you are supposed to be growing in Christ. If you date a non-Christian, you get to be the "holy" one. How can any guy hold you accountable? Your measuring stick becomes him instead of Christ. If he is your measuring stick, then you will always come out ahead. But then you cease to grow.
So what I am thinking is happening here are some fears. Fears of dating a Christian guy that might end up leading to marriage... to revealing more about who you are, etc. Maybe it's time to be real with God about what you need to change to be more like Christ. Believe me, as you grow, you will desire less and less to be with someone who is not where you are spiritually. The thought of dating someone who does not share your heart for Christ, your hunger to know more, your commitment to serving the Lord, will go away. It's hard enough to make a relationship work when you do know Christ. I can assure you if you date and eventually marry a lost person, your goals, your purpose, your relationship with Christ will not be shared. Marriage is a triangle. As you both grow towards Christ, you both grow towards each other.
I will be praying that God reveals to you what you need to change so your desires would be to seek a mate with whom you are equally yoked. Not just because God's word says it, but because you desire it as well.
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Psalms 37:3-6
HE is … Cliff Young, a Crosswalk.com contributing writer and a veteran single of many decades. He has traveled the world in search of fresh experiences, serving opportunities, and the perfect woman (for him) and has found that his investments in God, career and youth ministry have paid off in priceless dividends.
SHE is … Kris Swiatocho, the President and Director of TheSinglesNetwork.org Ministries and FromHisHands.com Ministries. Kris has served in ministry in various capacities for the last 25 years. An accomplished trainer and mentor, Kris has a heart to reach and grow leaders so they will in turn reach and grow others. She is the author of three books: Singles and Relationships: A 31-Day Experiment (co-authored with Dick Purnell of Single Life Resources); From the Manger to the Cross: The Women in Jesus' Life; and the most recent, Jesus, Single Like Me with Study Questions (includes a leader's guide and conference/retreat of the same name).
DISCLAIMER: We are not trained psychologists or licensed professionals. We're just average folk who understand what it's like to live the solo life in the twenty-first century. We believe that the Bible is our go-to guide for answers to all of life's questions, and it's where we'll go for guidance when responding to your questions. Also, it's important to note that we write our answers separately (we think they sound eerily similar sometimes, too!).
GOT A QUESTION? If you've got a question about anything related to singleness or living the single life, please submit it to He Said-She Said (selected questions will be posted anonymously). While we are unable to answer every inquiry, we do hope that this column will be an encouragement to you. Click here to visit the He Said-She Said archives.
Publication date: December 13, 2012


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