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This is a collection of articles from international press and press within the United States on developments coming out of Hungary:
Letter from Budapest: Notes of Dissent by Alex Ross in The New Yorker, June 2, 2014
Hungary's Central Bank Seizes Bold Strategies by Danny Hakim in The New York Times, April 16, 2014
Hungary's Election Points To Dark Days Ahead by Máté Hajba on Forbes, April 14, 2014
Hungary's election: solidifying the radical right by Erin Marie Saltman on Policy Network, April 8, 2014
Hungary's Election: To Viktor the spoils by A.L.B. in The Economist, April 7, 2014
Viktor Orban Wins a Second Term in Hungary by Palko Karasz in The New York Times, April 7, 2014
Hungary signs EUR 10 billion Paks agreement with Russia by MTI on Politics.hu, April 1, 2014
A brief summary of the Russian-Hungarian agreement on the Paks nuclear power plant on Hungarian Spectrum, March 13, 2014
Power out(r)age: Hungary & Energy by E.L on The Economist, February 10, 2014
Rosatom Lands Nuclear Energy Project in Hungary by Western Default by Vladamir Socor from The Jamestown Foundation, February 6, 2014
Holocaust survivor and historian returns award to Hungary in protest via the AP on The Guardian, January 26, 2014
Putin $14 Billion Nuclear Deal Wins Orban Alliance by Zoltan Simon on Bloomberg.com, January 15, 2014
Russia to increase Hungary's nuclear power on Reuters, January 14 ,2014
Why Kaddish? Why Now? on Kaddishplay.com, January 3, 2014
Anti-Semite and Jew: The double life of a Hungarian politician by Anne Applebaum in The New Yorker, November 11, 2013
What Is a National Theatre: Róbert Alfökdu battles to invigorate Hungary's Premier stage with visions of the here and now by Robert Avila in American Theatre Magazine, November 11, 2011
Who's Winning Hungary's Truth-to-Power Standoff? by Jim O'Quinn in American Theatre Mazagine, November 11, 2011
Hungarian Parliament Approves New Constitution by Judy Dempsey in The New York Times, April 18, 2011
Hungary Approves New Constitution by Chris Bryant in The Financial Times, April 17, 2011
New Constitution Nears Completion by Gergő Rácz in Budapest Business Journal, March 8, 2011
Socialists Accuse Fidesz of Turning District Newspapers into "Propaganda Pamphlets" on Politics.Hu, March 8, 2011
Hungarian EU Presidency Primer by Robin Marshall on XpatLoop.com, March 8, 2011
Hungary Amends Media Law, Defusing EU Criticism on Reuters, March 7, 2011
Hungary: Gabor Vona Strategic Speech Outlining Jabbik Plan of Action for Coming Years on Mathaba, March 7, 2011
Nationalist Party Stages "Pro-Hungarian" Demo on Politics.Hu, March 7, 2011
Historians Want Hungary Communist Files Protected by the Associated Press, March 4, 2011
Philosopher Sparks Hungarian Clash in European Parliament on EurActiv.com, March 2, 2011
"There is No Crisis of Democracy" by Jan Mainka in The Budapest Times, March 2, 2011
Hungary Wants More Children, But Won't Ban Abortion by Veronika Gulyas in The Wall Street Journal Blogs, February 25, 2011
Justice Still Awaits Victims of Anti-Roma Hate Crimes in Hungary by Paul LeGendre in The Huffington Post, February 23, 2011
Hungary to Quiz Citizens About New Constitution by Margit Feher in the Wall Street Journal Blogs, February 22, 2011
Hungary: Ruling on Gay March a Human Rights Victory by Human Rights Watch, February 18, 2011
Hungary Tones Down Media Law to End E.U. Conflict by Stephen Castle in the New York Times, February 16, 2011
Fortress Fidesz Repels All Invaders in The Budapest Times, February 15, 2011
Budapest Gay Pride Banned By Police: Protestors in The Associated Foreign Press, February 14, 2011
Decisions on Restructuring of Country Could Be Taken Within 6 Months in Budapest Business Journal, February 11, 2011
Hungary Ruling Party's Support Declines, Nepszabadsag Reports by Balazs Penz in Bloomberg, February 11, 2011
Gov't Busy with Fighting, No Talks of Reforms in Budapest Business Journal, February 11, 2011
A Bomb Goes Off in Hungary by John Barry in American Theatre Magazine, February 2011
Jobbik Joins Socialists in Seeking Referendum on Hungary's New Constitution on Hungary.Hu, February 9, 2011
Hungarian Diplomats in Custody in Fraud Case by the Associated Press on The Washington Post, February 8, 2011
Hungary Sludge Plant 'Still a Threat', Says Greenpeace on BBC News, February 8, 2011
Orbán's Speech Lacked Substance, Say Opposition Parties by MTI on Hungary.Hu, February 8, 2011
Orbán Proclaims Hungary's Renewal in State-of-Nation Address by MTI on Hungary.Hu, February 8, 2011
Orbán Drags Hungary Through Rapid Change by Neil Buckley, Chris Bryant and Kester Eddy in the Financial Times, February 7, 2011
EU-Hungary Row: Changes to Media Law Agreed on BBC News, February 7, 2011
Dual Citizenship at its Logical Conclusion in The Budapest Times, February 7, 2011
"The State of the Union" Hungarian Style by Eva S. Balogh on Hungarian Spectrum, February 7, 2011
Hungary's Premier Wants Lower Interest Rates by Pablo Gorondi on Bloomberg Businessweek, February 5, 2011
Hungarian Academicians Blast Government Over Inquiry Into Research Funds by John Bohannon in Science Mag by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, February 4, 2011
Jobbik Leads Protest Against "Gypsy Crime" by Hungary Around the Clock on Politics.Hu, February 4, 2011
Hungary's Agenda for Europe by Janos Csak in The Wall Street Journal, February 3, 2011
Orbán Says Pension Reversal Won't Happen in Budapest Business Journal, February 3, 2011
Anti-Orbán Protest Held at Fidesz HQ; Organizer Detained by Police by Hungary Around the Clock on Politics.Hu, February 2, 2011
Hungarian PM: Don't Call Me a Thug by Eldad Beck in Yedioth Ahronoth (YnetNews), February 2, 2011
Viktor Orbán, a Latter Day Kuruc by Edit Inotai in Népszabadság (posted on PressEurop), February 1, 2011
Fidesz Sees Socialist Plot to Denigrate Hungary in The Budapest Times, February 1, 2011
Vona Lashes Out at Fidesz by Hungary Around the Clock on Politics.Hu, January 31, 2011
A Fidesz Retreat in The Economist, January 27, 2011
Hungary Plays Down EU Fears on Media Law by Peter Spiegel in Financial Times, January 26, 2011
Hungary Sent an Ultimatum Over Media Law by Peter Spiegel and Chris Bryant in Financial Times, January 25, 2011
Hungarian Presidency of the EU Plans on Ignoring Homophobia on The European Parliament's Intergroup on LGBT Rights, January 25, 2011
EU Threatens Hungary with Legal Action Over Media Law by Justyna Pawlak in Reuters, January 22, 2011
Hungary's Orbán Gets Frosty Reception in European Parliament by Christoph Schult on Spiegel Online, January 19, 2011
Gov't Moves to Increase Control of Central Bank Appointments in The Budapest Times, January 18, 2011
Hungary Media Law Falls Foul of Brussels by Stanley Pignal in The Financial Times, January 17, 2011
The Beginning of the End for Press Freedom? by Gulliver Cragg on France24, January 17, 2011
EU Says Hungary Media-Law Probe Will Extend to Other Member Countries by Zoltan Simon on Bloomberg, January 17, 2011
Hungary's New Law a Threat to Democracy on Index on Censorship blog, January 17, 2011
A Leader's Gamble in Hungary by Judy Dempsey in The New York Times, January 17, 2011
Orbán and His Men: Possible Cabinet Changes on Hungarian Spectrum blog, January 16, 2011
Hungary in EU Presidency 'Carpet' Row on BBC News, January 14, 2011
Thousands Demonstrate Against Hungary's Media Law on Voice of America, January 14, 2011
Thousands Attend Media Law Protest in Hungary on USA Today, January 14, 2011
Online Protest Taking to Streets in Hungary by Fanny Facsar on CNN, January 14, 2011
EP Attacks Hungary on Controversial Citizenship Law in Novnite, January 13, 2011
Liberal MEPs Initiate Hungarian Presidency Boycott on EurActiv, January 13, 2011
Hungary's Artists Take Fury at Media Law to Brussels by Vanessa Mock in The Independent, January 12, 2011
Commission Waiting for Details of Media Law by Constant Brand on EuropeanVoice.com, January 11, 2011
EU Presidency: Rocky Start for Hungary in The Budapest Times, January 10, 2011
What the Hungarian Minister Said in The Economist, January 8, 2011
Hungary's New Media Law Shows Contempt for Democracy, the Separation of Powers and Core European Ideals by Constanze Stelzenmüller on openDemocracy, January 8, 2011
European politics: Orbán's obsession with order in The Economist, January 7, 2011
Under Pressure, Hungary Softens Tone on Its Media Law by Stephen Castle in The New York Times, January 7, 2011
Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on 'Sensitive' Media Law on BBC News, January 7, 2011 (video)
Barroso vs. Orbán in The Economist, January 7, 2011
Hungary: Media Law Row Overshadows EU Presidency by Jonathan Marcus in BBC News, January 7, 2011
Hungary: Media Law Endangers Press Freedom by Human Rights Watch, January 7, 2011
Havel Signs Letter Criticising Hungarian Media Law in Prague Daily Monitor, January 7, 2011
Hungary's critics are too quick to judge by Viktor Orbán in The Financial Times, January 6, 2011
Hungary's Democratic 'Dictator in the Making' Takes Centre Stage in Europe by Ian Traynor in The Guardian, January 6, 2011
Taking Stock (SZÁMVETÉS) by János Kornai in NÉPSZABADSÁG, January 6, 2011
Hungarian Leader Takes On Foreign Critics by Stephen Castle in The New York Times, January 6, 2011
Subversion On Stage: can Theatre Change the World? in by Andrew Haydon in The Guardian's Theatre Blog, January 6, 2011
Hungarian Gov't May Change Media Law by Nick Holdsworth in Variety, January 6, 2011
Hungary Willing to Consider Changes to Media Law by Pablo Gorondi of the Associated Press, January 6, 2011
See also: Hungary May Reconsider Media Law in Al Jazeera, January 6, 2011
Hungary Pushes Back Against Critics by Margit Feher on the Wall Street Journal online, January 5, 2011
Hungary: One-Party Rule, editorial in The Guardian, January 5, 2011
France Blasts Hungarian Media Law on EurActiv.com, January 5, 2011
Mr. Orbán Forgets in The New York Times, January 4, 2011
Hungary's EU Presidency Starts on Wrong Foot in Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review, January 4, 2011
A Slow Poison Attacking Democracy: Facebook Generation Fights Hungarian Media Law by Walter Mayr in Spiegel Online, January 4, 2011
Front-page Protests at Hungary's New Media Law Which Threatens Fines for 'Unbalanced Coverage' in Daily Mail Online, January 4, 2011
Hungary Facing Possible EU Sanctions Over Policies by Stefan Bos in Voice of America News, January 3rd, 2011
Who will confront the hatred in Hungary? by Nick Cohen for The Guardian, January 2, 2011
Under Fire Hungary Media Watchdog Raises Concerns in BBC News, January 2, 2011
Blackout for Hungary on Blackout4Hungary, January 2, 2011
Hungary: Ice-T and the New Hungarian Media Law on Global Voices, January 2, 2011
Clampdown in Hungary by Alisa Solomon for The Nation, December 30, 2010
Hungary's tough new laws worry other EU countries by George Jahn for The Washington Post, December 29, 2010
Jeopardizing Democracy in Hungary by Anne Applepaum for The Washington Post, December 28, 2010
Hungary's 'Orbánization' is Worrying Europe by Erich Follath and Christoph Schult for Der Spiegel, December 28, 2010
Is Hungary becoming Putinised? in The Economist, December 28, 2010
The Putinization of Hungary in The Washington Post, December 26, 2010
Hungary Waves Off Criticism Over Media Law by Judy Dempsey for The New York Times, December 25, 2010
Hungary passes contentious new media law by Balazs Szladek for Bloomberg, December 21, 2010
Hungary for power: The government takes over Hungary's independent institutions, one by one in The Economist, December 16, 2010
Hungary's New Nationalism by Abby Martin on nthWORD Magazine,December 5, 2010
Hungary sees blank page protest over media bill in the BBC News Online, December 2, 2010
A distress call by the independent theatres in The Budapest Times, November 30, 2010
Has Orbán over-reached? in The Economist, November 25, 2010
Europe needs to send Hungary a signal by Jan-Werner Mueller for The Guardian, November 23, 2010
Constituting a problem: The government clashes with the courts in The Economist, November 18, 2010
Canary in the coal mine: Theatermaking gets scary in Hungary by Helen Shaw for Time Out New York, November 10, 2010
Der Spiegel gets it wrong in The Economist, October 22, 2010
Read the large print in The Economist, July 4th, 2010


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I'm a procrastinator. I will not deny that. I find that I work better when nearing a deadline. I focus more, because I realize that yes, I absolutely need to have this project done by X day/time. I hunker down and get things done under the wire. If projects don't have a deadline and I'm just making them for a gift, or to (eventually) list for sale on my website, I almost never complete them. I found myself getting into this habit in college. I'm pretty sure I understand why, too.
Back in my grade/middle/high school days, my mom never had to say to me "Do your homework." I came home from school and sat down and did my homework. I held myself accountable. I wanted to get good grades and make my mom proud of me. The idea that my mom might be disappointed by me was a HUGE motivator. Because my mom was (and still is) the coolest person ever. And here's why.
My parents split when I was young. Kindergarten? First grade? I don't remember exactly. But I know the exact moment when I found out their divorce had been finalized. I was in third grade. My mom collected me and my sisters from school that day and we drove from Michigan to Pennsylvania to attend my cousin's wedding. My mom had told us that we wouldn't be able to go to the wedding if the divorce hadn't been finalized. But we went. So it was. Though, third grade was a long time ago so it's entirely possible that I just made all of that up in my brain.
So there's my mom. Single. Raising three kids essentially alone. In a place where she had no family but her daughters. (We had moved from Pennsylvania, away from her family and friends, because my dad had gotten a job in Michigan.) She had to get a job, something she had never intended on doing after becoming a mother. She had to figure out finances, daycare for 3 kids, having a social life, and making it seem like everything was hunky-dory for her daughters who weren't really old enough to understand relationships and how life works.
And it was rough. For all 4 of us. For a long time. But we all tried to make the best of it. One year for Christmas, my mom bought each of us a Game Boy. TO THIS DAY I cannot figure out how she pulled that off. But I'm eternally grateful that she somehow managed it.
But here's the thing. I grew up watching my mom work, and work HARD. She had 2 jobs; she took ballroom dance lessons and worked hard at that too. When we got older, we became latchkey kids. We looked after ourselves, and each other. Sometimes we failed at that. Two specific memories of me failing to be a good older sister to Amanda come to mind. (Sorry you broke your collarbone. But really, it was your own fault. Love you!) But our mom trusted us to come home safely, to have a snack, sit down, do our homework, and generally behave while she was working to keep us clothed and fed and cared for.
So I worked hard because mom worked hard. Luckily I was somehow one of those people who didn't really have to study too hard in order to succeed. I feel like if I had actually done some serious amounts of studying, I would've done much better. I mean, I DID maintain an A average, but you know those kids who somehow manage to get a GPA above a 4.0? Yeah, those guys were jerks.
And I think my ability to get by without studying really killed my motivation. When I went to college, there wasn't as much "busy" work as in high school. No teachers were saying "complete this set of math equations by class tomorrow, it will be graded." It was more like "Oh hey, if you don't study this stuff, you'll probably fail?" But since I could sit in class and take notes and still do well on exams without having daily homework, I basically just cut down on the amount of time I spent staring at textbooks, on the amount of time I did actual work.
What about writing papers, you ask? I've been knocking those out of the park since elementary school. I LOVE looking stuff up and learning things, however briefly my silly brain retains them, and then trying to impart them to others. So I coasted by in college. I was on the dean's list nearly every semester, and I managed to get into grad school and get an advanced degree, but there was never really any pressure to get "homework" done by a specific time or date. And so I started putting things off, and putting them off. And TO THIS VERY DAY I look at the project I'm working on and what it entails, then turn to the calendar and think "yeah, this doesn't need to be worked on until …. next week?"
I need people other than myself to hold me accountable. Even though my mom never actually had to say "do your homework," her presence in my life was my accountability. And not that she's gone from my life or anything, but she's 750 miles away. She doesn't know what I've got on my plate at any given moment of the day. I think I need to join some sort of art collective or something, where the members keep track of each other and say "did you finish that Pikachu you were making for so-and-so? No? Isn't it supposed to be in the mail by Tuesday? Shouldn't you finish that?"
How do you work best? Do you need somebody to remind you about projects? I'm sure there are people that would find it annoying to have somebody watching over them. To think that people were keeping track of them and "checking up" on them like they were small children.
I would actually find it flattering if somebody remembered what I was working on and seemed interested in my work. Even if it was just a feigned interest. Occasionally a friend will ask about one project or another and I think that's great, it makes me realize I've been slacking. But I need that on a regular basis, consistently. I have very little internal motivation. At least I know that about myself and can work on it, I guess, but still. If you know me and at all care about the stuff I make, I URGE you to send me a message now and then saying "did you finish that thing yet?" and I'll probably reply with an enthusiastic Thank you! and some sort of crocheted gift. Deal?

subset: commoncrawl


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One of the pleasures of being a part of a turn-around is seeing the transformation of the systems, people, product and customer. On this last point, the customer, I want to relate an event that took place about five months after we began our transformation. This event was a visit we had from one of the purchasing executives from BMW in Germany. Since we had improved so rapidly, he decided to pay us a visit to see first-hand just what we had done to improve our quality and delivery.
I mentioned in my last posting that there were 48 measurement points to determine how well the hard top mounted to the vehicle. We greeted the executive team that had accompanied the purchasing executive, exchanging pleasantries and getting to know each other until he announced that he was going to our manufacturing area and that he would randomly select a completed hard top and have it mounted on their Z3. He further stated that his quality manager would inspect all 48 control points for conformance to specs. The quality manager took his time, inspected each point and concluded that all points met BMW's specs. The purchasing executive's eyebrows rose in disbelief and with a very heavy German accent said, "Mr. Sproull, the measurements are only part of what we expect." He then said, "Mr. Sproull, you will drive me on the Interstate at a high rate of speed and I will listen for air entering into the vehicle."
He and I drove to the Interstate and he instructed me to accelerate until he told me to stop, which I did. His ear was pressed close to the hardtop mounting area as he listened for the slightest sound of air passing under the hardtop. At 65 mph there was no sound, so he instructed me to accelerate again up to 75mph, but still no air entering the vehicle. He had a very disappointed look on his face so, on my own, I continued to accelerate to 90 mph, then 100 mph and finally to 105 mph. He looked at me with a fearful look on his face and instructed me to return to our facility. We had passed his functionality test with flying colors!!
When we returned, he explained that he wanted to mount a black hardtop on his vehicle so that he could compare our paint job to his. Painting at our facility was something we now took pride in, but not so in the beginning. When I had arrived at the Kentucky plant I saw first-hand just how bad our paint jobs were. We had a very old paint booth which was apparently full of dust particles that ended up on the surface of our vehicles. I put together a team of maintenance mechanics and explained that we needed to figure out a way to keep our paint booth free of particles and that I needed some good ideas. To make a long story short, one of the maintenance mechanics had a side business for lawn sprinklers. He had this bright idea that if we mounted such a system in the paint booth, we could actually clean the air between paintings by emitting a fine mist of water. We tried it and it worked like a champ!
Back to our story. The purchasing executive randomly selected a completed black top and we mounted it on his vehicle. We parked it in a highly lighted area and he scrutinized it for a good 30 minutes. When he was finished, he summoned me to the vehicle, looked me in the eye and said, "Mr. Sproull, we have a serious problem!" I asked him what the problem was and he told me that our paint job did not match the paint job on his vehicle. I was shocked because I knew our painting was the best in the industry. When I asked him what was wrong with our hardtop's paint job, he sneered at me and said absolutely nothing! The problem was with his own vehicle. There was an enormous amount of orange peel on his vehicle's surface. My response to him was, "Would you like us to add orange peel to our hardtop's surface?" He looked at me and simply said, "I don't find any humor in that remark!"
Yes, this day was one of our great days for our plant. All of the hard work and dedication of our employees had paid off as the purchasing executive from Germany told us that he wished all of his suppliers were as good as we were. I asked him to speak to my employees and let them know his feelings which he did. That day was clearly a turning point for our plant both in our reputation and the morale of our workforce. They had pride for the first time in years and I've always believed that "people who feel good about themselves….produce great results."
Just for the record, the first month that I took over this failing facility we lost about $600,000, but within two and a half months we were making roughly $500,000 per month. It was such a joy to see this wonderful team of people doing to well…..I was so proud of every single employee for it was them that made it all happen!! One of the things the management team learned and something I insisted upon that all improvement ideas would be considered on their merit as long as they didn't violate company rules, safety policies or customer requirements. I can honestly say that 95% of all of the solutions came directly from the shop floor workers…..the true subject matter experts. Since that fateful turn-around, I have successfully used this basic idea….what I call active listening. It worked for me then as a GM and it continues to work for me as a consultant.
The saga will continue in my next posting as I will continue to share both good and not so good experiences.
Bob Sproull


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PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. - According to the Calvert County Sheriff's department, two motor vehicle crashes occurred in Calvert County over the weekend. One was serious.
The first happened at Route 231 in front of Coastal Car Care near Barstow Road on October 13 at 3:09 p.m. and involved a school bus. A 2002 Toyota sedan, driven by Tina M. Sewell, 24, of Prince Frederick, was stopped in the eastbound lane of Rt. 231 to make a left hand turn into Coastal Car Care. A 1996 Acura 2 door vehicle, driven by Alexandra Harvey, 19, of Prince Frederick, struck Sewells vehicle from behind, pushing it into oncoming westbound traffic. A Calvert County school bus driven by Philip L. Wood, 56, of Prince Frederick, then struck Sewells vehicle head-on. Sewells car then skidded back into the eastbound lane where it struck Harveys vehicle again.
Sewell and her passenger, Troy Easton, 40, of Temple Hills, were both flown by MSP helicopter to Prince Georges Hospital Center where they are both in stable condition. The bus driver and the Acura operator were not injured.
There were no children on the bus at the time of the crash.
Charges are pending.
The second crash occurred on October 14 at 1:40 p.m. when a motorcycle, operated by Jesse Holland, Jr., 36, of Lusby, traveling north on Broomes Island Road at Chipping Wood Drive, suddenly left the roadway and struck a ditch, ejecting the driver. Holland was taken to P.G. Shock Trauma Center for his injuries.


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Empress Orchid
by Anchee Min
336pp, Bloomsbury, £9.99
Cixi, the last empress of China from 1856 to 1908, is one of those historical figures people love to be nasty about. Soon after her death, Edmund Blackhouse, a charlatan foreign correspondent, forged Chinese court documents portraying her as a psychopathic nymphomaniac; ever since, Cixi's many western biographers have gleefully wallowed in allegations of her badness: her extravagance (she splurged the fund for modernising the navy on a marble pleasure boat), her conservatism (she crushed the westernising reform movement of 1898), her ruthless disposal of inconvenient political opponents (including her nephew, whom she placed under house arrest for a decade and perhaps poisoned). This very partial version of events swallows whole the Confucian Chinese male view of history, which, wherever possible, deflects blame for monumental historical catastrophes - such as the collapse of the Qing dynasty in 1911 - on to women.
But the tide of opinion now seems to be turning for the last empress. Last year, Chinese television aired a hit drama series about the last years of the Qing dynasty, in which viewers were flabbergasted to see Cixi portrayed as "a nice person". (Deeply perturbed, China's rulers - all of them men - soon weighed in to criticise the show's historical heresies.) Empress Orchid is a further, feminist step on the road to her rehabilitation. Written by a woman, narrated by Cixi herself, the novel turns the last empress into a dignified, discreet sovereign, holding her country together in the face of foreign invasion, dissolute emperors and scheming courtiers.
Born into a declining gentry family in 1835, the 16-year-old Cixi travels to Beijing with her widowed mother, brother and sister. There they are sheltered by Cixi's uncle until she restores the family's fortunes by being selected as one of Emperor Hsien Feng's legion of concubines. Once received into the Forbidden City, however, she is ignored by the emperor - who, after all, has several thousand other consorts to occupy him. Thus neglected, she is left to contemplate the life choices open to imperial concu bines: allow yourself to be forgotten and grow old torturing coital moths (a traditional concubine amusement), or try to win the emperor's favour, risking assassination by rivals or, worse, mutilation by mother-in-law. Immediately after Cixi enters the palace, the empress dowager takes her on an educational visit to see a legless, armless concubine stored in a jar, whose limbs she removed as punishment for monopolising the emperor.
Understandably depressed by the prospect of a lifetime spent tormenting insects, Cixi bribes her way into the imperial bedchamber. Once there, she wins the jaded and impotent emperor's affections through a combination of plucky outspokenness and sexual wiles, and soon falls pregnant. But her success brings enemies: the moment her pregnancy is announced, she faces the threat of poisoning by jealous fellow concubines. Beyond the palace walls, meanwhile, China is being torn apart by western invaders and domestic rebellion. Hsien Feng disintegrates under the nervous strain, forcing Cixi to educate herself in government. As the emperor approaches death, Cixi has to fight to avoid being entombed with her husband, is hurled at a pillar by an enemy eunuch, and narrowly escapes assassination.
"Seduction is power, and treachery a way of life," the cover blurb trumpets, and Empress Orchid is strong on both sexual chicanery and violent conspiracy. A maid sent to spy on Cixi is beaten to death; when the empress protests, her chief eunuch shrugs: "My lady, she wouldn't shut up." Min keeps the melodrama under control with plenty of mind-improving history, while spicing up the stolid period detail with a few touches of romantic historical schlock: the evil, moneygrubbing uncle intent on marrying his beautiful niece off to his idiot opium-addict son, the will-they-won't-they sexual tension between Cixi and her bodyguard, Yung Lu.
Considering Anchee Min grew up in China and, according to her author biography, learned her English from Sesame Street, the language is generally pretty competent, and sometimes even engaging: bamboo rafts drift down a river "like a giant loose necklace". At other, less assured points, unfortunately, the tone swings queasily between fortune cookie wisdom ("A dead camel is bigger than a live horse"), Mills & Boon ("Take me," the empress gasps at Yung Lu when they find themselves alone together in the emperor's tomb) and the downright eccentric ("My body fermented like a steamed bun").
Empress Orchid delivers a fictional peek into the intrigues of the Forbidden City and a novel take on the much reviled last empress. But now that we have both the knives-out and revisionist versions of Cixi's life, maybe non-academic English-speaking authors could find someone else from the Chinese past to write about. Western fascination with Cixi springs from the west's fascination with itself: she appeals primarily because her rule coincided with western invasion of China - the opium wars, the unequal treaties, the sacking of Beijing. Anyone who read only popular books about China published in English could reasonably assume the Middle Kingdom barely had any history before westerners arrived en masse in the 19th century. Right now, China might have fewer cars, fridges and washing machines per capita than Britain, but history is one thing it isn't short of. It's high time we began taking interest in a bit more of one of the world's longest continuous civilisations.
Julia Lovell's translation of the Chinese novel A Dictionary of Maqiao was published last year.


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How are things at work? Millions of employees wish that someone would listen to their concerns about what happens at their workplace. Businesses, organizations and legislators don't have an accurate barometer to determine if workplaces are psychologically healthy, safe and fair. That's why The Faas Foundation is partnering with the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence on the Emotion Revolution in the Workplace, a study to measure how feelings drive organizational behavior. This is your chance to let your voice be heard. This sample survey is completely anonymous and will add to the body of data that will help improve working conditions for everyone. Here's the Emotion Revolution in the Workplace Survey.
Credit: BIGSTOCK


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Get top tips to help you through your English language exams with FREE resources and videos from our expert authors.
Author Chris Rose presents a series of Macmillan Readers activities all about encouraging creativity and creative writing.
Discover a range of educational apps to inspire you on your English language learning journey.
Word of the Day: pullet
Norman Whitby has an MA in TEFL from the University of Reading and the RSA Diploma. He taught in Italy for eleven years before moving to Egypt in 1997. He returned to the UK in 2001 and since then he has worked largely as a trainer for IELTS and business English and as a materials writer. He currently lives in North London.


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|This wiki is closed and NOT maintained! The up-to-date PPI wiki can be found at https://wiki.pp-international.net
ACTA Taskforce Agenda
Acta Taskforce Agenda
Next meeting 2009-12-20 at 20:00 (GMT+1 / CET) on IRC (#ppi-acta, irc.piratpartiet.se):
Discuss point 8 - 12 from last meeting
Add additional points here:
last meeting 2009-12-13 at 20:00 (GMT+1 / CET) on IRC (#ppi-acta, irc.piratpartiet.se):
Discuss point 5 - 7 from previous week + additional points, add new items on the top section of this Etherpad:
8) Door to door action? - Proposed by Ryan (USPP)
I.e ask task force volunteers to go talk to their neighbors about ACTA and urge them to contact their reps.
9) Audio recordings in regards to ACTA? - Proposed by Ryan (USPP)
10) Create a schedule of call in radio shows to coordinate call-ins trying to talk about ACTA - Proposed by Ryan (USPP)
11) Identify reporters who might cover the ACTA and try to schedule interviews with them - Proposed by Ryan (USPP)
12) Locating things to read and building up an internal knowledge base for own analyses (Proposed by Amelia Andersdotter PPSE)
2009-12-06 at 20:00 (GMT+1 / CET) on IRC (#ppi-acta, rc.piratpartiet.se):
1) Discuss PPI ACTA statement - Proposed by Nicco
Additional feedback?
2) Discuss status of press release for PP's - Proposed by Nicco
Who sent out press releases? What kind of feedback?
3) National actions - Proposed by Nicco
Do you have your own translated ACTA statement, what is the status?
4) ACTA EU actions (MEP's in particular) - Proposed by Nicco
The Swedish PP MEP (Christian Engström) is fighting ACTA in a very diplomatic way by asking the commission if the ACTA negotiations are fully in line with the letter and the spirit of these provisions in the Telecoms Package:
How should he address the issue on a deeper level (question the lack of transparency etc.) and what other MEP's and organissations connected to EU could we use to provide a clear message?
5) ACTA outside EU - Proposed by Nicco
How are the negotioations held in countries outside EU, how can we prevent the media from being a service of the state in countries or vice versa caused through corruption like in Mexico?
6) Work with other organisations? - Proposed by Nicco
FSF, EFF, FFII, ERDI, EuroISPA, IP Justice and La Quadrature Du Net etc. have campaigns that support our statement, how do we work toghether with them?
7) Anti-ACTA petition - Proposed by Mikulas (PPCZ)
How many signatures do we need, 100k, 1m? What is valid in each country, digital vs. analog? If digital should we do it ourself or use a established actor such as Avaaz.org for example?


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Computational Study of the Aerodynamic Design of a Segmented Rod Projectile
Computational Study of the Aerodynamic Design of a Segmented Rod Projectile
Author(s): Shohaimi Abdullah; Joanna Szmelter
No pages: 4
Year: 2001
Article ID: 4-2-1
Keywords: firepower and protection, segmented projectiles, segmented rod projectiles
Format: Electronic (PDF)
Abstract: A purpose of this study was to provide an enhanced understanding of typical impact and aerodynamic behaviour of segmented rod projectiles. A range of designs was examined by computational modelling. In all cases the segments have been treated as a dynamically changing configuration of free-flying bodies separated at launch. The paper highlights difficulties of this approach showing that, prior to impact, the segments rapidly lose alignment, which reduces effectiveness of penetration. Investigation of alternative design concepts is recommended.


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Jan. 23 through Jan. 30, 2012 A week of big, bold, beautiful, bi-coastal tastes.
Lunch at Manzo with Lidia Bastianich. Just the two of us chatting for three hours about everything: raising children; imparting wisdom to younger women who long to be in the food business; her career path and new tv shows; my career path and new projects; food, wine, friends, our hopes for the future. It was my first time at Manzo (located on the main floor of Eataly on 5th Avenue in NY) and it was wonderful. The best "tartare" I have ever had; voluptuous sweetbreads; a lovely unusual pasta dish of tajarin (thin egg noodles) with a roasted meat jus; a roasted ribeye with succulent sauteed cavalo nero drenched in sticky meat juices; wines from the Bastianich vineyards, and a plate of freshly-cut blood oranges for dessert. We enjoyed a brief visit from Baronessa Cecilia Bellelli and her sister. Cecilia is Arthur Schwartz's business partner in their cooking school called Cooking at Seliano in southern Italy. Espressos all around. Ciao ciao and grazie mille to Lidia.
The BEST raw yogurt and sour cream from Triangle Farm and Health Foods in Aaronsburg, PA. This was a gift from a new friend who frequents the Park Slope Co-op and cares deeply about the quality and provenance of her food sources. The sour cream was indescribable and much more like French creme fraiche than anything we are used to in the states. I encourage you to find out more about them. I know I will. Am savoring every spoonful and am enjoying it tremendously with a dab of my homemade carrot marmalade. Thank you to Anne Weisen who brought these wonderful products to me.
Many great meals in Vancouver and one of them was world-class! A superb Thai meal cooked by Angus An who worked for the revered David Thompson at Nahm in London (the only Michelin-starred Thai restaurant.) Angus' Vancouver restaurant is called Maenam: there we had a Thai dinner party for four -- including fried oysters with "nahm jim" sauce made with green chilies (they call them scuds), garlic, coriander stem, galangal, fish sauce and lime juice; hot and sour mussel soup with holy basil; Muslim beef curry with Thai curry paste; a spicy salad of seared tuna, mint, cilantro, nuts, & chili; and of course, pad Thai (the ubiquitous noodle dish.) Wish this restaurant existed right here in New York.
We had lunch at the sister restaurant to one of the world's most well-known Indian restaurants "Vij." His smaller place is called Rangoli and it, too, is special. Especially the "naan" pizza topped with roasted crickets! I didn't touch it and neither did my daughter who ordered it. What possessed her? But my husband thought it was awesome. He also enjoyed his lamb, chickpeas and potatoes in yogurt-date curry and our friend loved her goat and jackfruit in creamy curry with coconut cabbage salad, rice and naan. Endless glasses of credible (and authentic) chai made a chilly gray Vancouver day very welcoming.
Another meal was actually mine (!) and prepared at Vancouver's famous book store called Barbara Jo's Books to Cooks. At my cooking class with 18 wonderful students around the eating bar/open kitchen, we cooked a meal from Radically Simple: tiny walnut-onion muffins to accompany a glass of prosecco; my jade soup with crab and dill (made with heaps of Dungeness crab from Vancouver instead of the usual lump crab I generally use -- it was fabulous); chicken ras el hanout with fresh tomato-ginger chutney sitting on a swirl of milk carrot and parsnip puree, next to a timbale of coconut-pistachio rice, a "pre-dessert" of whiskey-laced warm carrot marmalade served on silver spoons; and the "little black dress chocolate cake" strewn with fresh raspberries and dolloped with creme fraiche. It was such an exercise in radical simplicity that the happy guests were stunned and a good time was had by all.
A lovely brunch overlooking one of Vancouver's most beautiful parks and lakes at The Boat House. Delicious eggs benedict atop a grilled cheese and lobster sandwich! Yes! A glass of terrific local BC pinot gris.
But the most extraordinary meal of all -- perhaps the best, and most inventive I've had in years, was at Diva @ the Met (Metropolitan Hotel) in Vancouver. More about the menu, the wine pairings and the chef later in the week. But suffice it to say, it is deserving of at least 3 Michelin stars and the chef, Hamid Salimian is a gentle genius.
Not easy to leave Vancouver but I bring home a basket of taste memories to last a long while.


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Honouring the fallen from the two world wars, The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall paid homage to the soldiers who perished on Indian soil trying to hold off the advancement of the Japanese through Burma as well as those who lost their lives in the Eastern theatre of war.
The Royals were noticeably somber as they paid their respects this Remembrance Sunday at the Commonwealth War Graves cemetery located in Kirkee, in Western India.
In 1952 the cemetery was created to 'save' the unkempt and ignored graves of over 1,668 soldiers in India.
Members from the Prince of Wales' North Staffordshire regiment, the Kent Cyclist Battalion and a host of others were present for today's ceremony at Kirkee.
Clearly taken aback was the Duchess upon seeing the grave of 15 year old Norman Halliburn. She "was very taken by the fact of how young he was. She was very moved," commented Deputy Head of Mission at the British High Commission in Mumbai, David Moore.
Known as a 'band boy,' Halliburn served in World War II with the Second Battalion of the Green Howards. It is believed that "he was recruited as part of a custom at the time for the teenage sons of army personnel to serve as medical orderlies and bandsmen," reported in The Telegraph.
"Perhaps his father was a serviceman based in Jabalpur and the Green Howards had space for a keen young boy in the band," wrote a military researcher.
The story of Kirkee's oldest soldier, Private Sydney Frankcom, who in 1944 died at the age of 68, struck Charles during his tour. Charles seemed "particularly moved by Pte Frankcom's sacrifice and his place as the oldest soldier buried in the cemetery," noted Military advisor at the British High Commission in New Delhi, Lieutenant Colonel Simon Colyer.
In 1941, Frankcom came to India and was part of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Berkshire Regiment, the Battalion that the Duke of Edinburgh serves as Colonel in Chief. Charles was shown graves of soldiers for the regiments he is part of.
The Ode of Remembrance from For the Fallen by Rover Binyon was read. Charles then placed a paper flower wreath that included the message: "In grateful remembrance of your service and sacrifice, Charles."
Prior to attending the ceremony in Kirkee, the Royal couple met with a few of the surviving veterans from World War II. They met the first Indian Army pilot, 91 year old Brigadier Furdoon Mehta and 92 year old Burma Star medal award recipient Madhukar Dongre.
Of the 2.5 million Indians who fought with the British during World War II, over 35,000 perished. Indian troops were awarded 38 Victoria and George crosses for acts of valour during World War II.
photo credit: CWGC via photopin cc


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Good interview questions to ask potential employees include "What interests you about this job?" and "Why would you excel at this job?" to determine a candidate's career goals and skills. Many interviewers begin by stating "Tell me about yourself" to allow the applicant to provide an overview of his qualifications.
Good questions that evaluate an applicant's knowledge of the industry and company include "What do you know about our company so far?" and "How could you impact the growth and development of our company?" Interviewers can also ask questions about skills and experience such as "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" and "How has your education and work experience prepared you for this position?"
Question about previous positions are also critical in evaluating an applicant. Questions such as "What was the most satisfying aspect of your previous position?" or "Why are you leaving your job?" often provide insight into a candidate's experience and attitude toward employers. Interviewers can also ask the applicant to identify personality traits that may benefit the company or inquire about how former co-workers and supervisors might describe his skills and ability to work with others. Many interviewers choose to close the interview with the question "Why should we hire you?" to evaluate a candidate's sales skills.


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Losing those pounds for good...
Some of you reading this know me personally, and have seen my many battles with the scale. My highest was 285 pounds, and all due to over eating and not being active. We have ALL been there, and for many, trying to lose the weight can sometimes be an uphill battle.
I'll share with you my little weight loss journey which took over a year to accomplish, and how I went from 285 to 135 pounds (give or take a few pounds). I know what you're thinking...over a year? Yes. This journey took that long because in the past when I lost weight too fast it all came back, and then some. I wanted to make sure that my new ways of eating and exercising routines stuck with me for the rest of my life, and to do so meant taking my time to get use to the new way of life.
I don't have a PHD, not a trained dietitian and I'm in no ways a personal trainer. So please see a doctor before starting any new changes in your activity (exercise) and eating. Especially if you are on medications.
I have been there...been called the "fat girl" in junior high to being the topic of conversation at work. The last girl to be asked out to the dance, to even having relatives make rude comments.
But even with all of that, I still over ate. It wasn't until I was in my late twenties that I took hold of myself and starting caring about me, and not what others thought of me.
I'll cut to how I lost the weight now that you know the whys. The first step was to weigh myself, just to get that logged in and see how many pounds I had lost to reach my goal weight which was ideally anywhere from 135-150 pounds.
Its best to weigh yourself 1-2 hours upon rising for the day, do not eat or drink anything. Then simply take a weekly reading of your weight (I usually weigh every Sunday morning). DO NOT get obsessed with checking your weight, some days you won't show a decrease in numbers but may have build muscle from your exercising and strength training. Believe me, following a healthy diet and working out will get you there.
I would start out every day with this: (I did get some help from sites like ediets.com...its worth it if you are serious about losing weight!)
"I will only eat healthy foods to fuel my body. I will do some form of exercise today. I deserve to look and feel great. I will reach my weight loss goals."
Feel free to create your own, this was my way of starting off the days.
Follow portion sizes on packages and meal plans given.
Typical breakfast for me -
Breakfast: 1 cup Oatmeal with blueberries...even frozen fruit is fine, I simply use those mini snack bags to break up portions of the frozen fruit into separate bags roughly 1/2 a cup and when I want to use one I take it out before I start cooking my oatmeal (I add wheatgerm for added nutrition). They thaw out pretty quickly, then when tossing onto oatmeal its pretty much ready to eat. 1/2 a small grapefruit or orange, 1/2 slice whole grain toast, 1 cup low-sugar OJ and water. I use wheat germ just about every day, its packed with nutrients including fiber, omega oils and protein.
Lunch: Low fat organic turkey and swiss cheese, one medium whole wheat or spinach tortilla. Simply roll the ingredients up for a healthy wrap. Small salad on the side: 1 cup arugula or spinach whatever you like - 1/2 cup red cabbage, 1 small beet sliced thinly, and cherry tomatoes. I use a homemade dressing like olive oil, lemon juice a little Mrs. Dash herb seasoning for flavor. A chilled glass of soy milk, and water of course.
Dinner: Grilled fish or whichever protein you like just make sure its low in fat. A side salad, small whole grain dinner roll, green tea (hot or cold) and water.
Snacks: Nuts, plain popcorn, pretzels, low fat string cheese, and lowfat yogurt.
Working out was simply walking 30 minutes a day on the treadmill, jumping rope or bike riding when possible. Stretch bands for strength training and an easy yoga tape. That's it.
I did something every day, and did not push myself into thinking I had to work out 3 hours a day 6 days a week. Your body will respond to the new healthier eating and the exercise, trust me!
With every pound lost I just got more excited to keep at it. Sure you'll have moments where not even a pound will go away, but don't ever let that discourage you. Its just your body re-adjusting. This happened to me several times, and usually lasts a week or so. Don't get frustrated and start eating and slacking off, this will surely hinder your goals. Just keep at it and in no time the pounds will start to go away again. Its like our bodies lose and lose the weight and at some point our bodies freak out and put everything on hold, so no matter how well you did for the week you didn't lose a pound. Don't worry, its only temporary. I usually use this as a sign to switch up my exercise routine.
On days that I did not have time to make or run out to grab a healthy meal I went for snacks in my drawer to tie me over. Never go without putting something in your belly, even if you think that you can hold off for another hour or two. If your body is hungry, feed it. If its lunch time and you have not eaten since breakfast, grab a 1/2 cup of nuts....yogurt and fruit, or even a Kashi cereal bar to keep those hunger pangs away. Water, don't forget the water. If you wait you'll only be setting yourself for an afternoon of over eating.
After 2 weeks I was seeing a difference and was surprised that my eating habits were easier to change than I thought. I looked forward to making those healthy meals and after a month or so my natural instinct was to grab the healthy products that would help me lose the weight and nourish my body. The sugar cravings I use to have were suddenly not there anymore. I felt lighter and just all around better.
After a couple of months I noticed that I walked with more confidence. Others started noticing my weight loss too.
Having that piece of cake is ok....
Of course we need to get in our favorites too, so having a small slice of homemade chocolate cake is just fine. Most times a piece of fruit like strawberries will curb that want. Remember, you will be faced with offerings such as your mothers apple pie, or grandmas pasta (and you know she likes to pile it on your plate). Go ahead, eat a portion you'd normally eat to stay on track and pack the rest to go. Refusing to eat only makes it worse! LOL..
You'll hit those walls, I certainly did. So mentally prepare yourself for them and what you will do to overcome them. To help with those times I turned to my video journal, which I started at the beginning of this journey...to remind myself as to why I'm doing this. Writing a journal is certainly fine too!
You can take a walk if you're feeling a craving coming on, or call a friend if you feel like you're about to raid the fridge. But what worked best for me was my personal video journal telling me all the reasons as to why I started this, need to finish it and why its important to my health and happiness.
I also use photos all around my office at home...such as photos of people biking on a mountain trail, a swimmer diving into the ocean, or someone running. I would visualize myself doing those things at my goal weight.
I'd also visualize myself in a size I wanted to wear such as a dress or top, and I'd close my eyes to draw in the feelings that I would feel being at that weight and shape. How happy I would be, the smile on my face and kick in my step. Whether its money you want, weight loss or having that loving relationship...it all starts with YOU truly believing that you can have those things.
Every month that passed that I stayed on track with my weight loss, I would do something special for myself.
Keeping things around me that reminded me of my goals is what kept me going, and every time I was faced with a vending machine dilemma or office gathering filled with sugary items I stopped myself. Went for my bottle of water that I kept with me and simply had a drink. AAAHHHH REFRESHING!
Then, I would go to my office or purse to grab my bag of healthy snacks and before I knew it that craving or dilemma no longer posed a threat.
You can control what you're eating, and it only takes a minute or two to switch your thinking around from wanting that candy bar to eating that satisfying cup of strawberries.
Preparation is key!!!
Get those snacks and meals made ahead of time so whatever crazy schedule you have, you'll always have those healthy choices to choose from.
I continue to eat healthy today and whenever I feel like jumping head first into the abyss of junk food I think about how I felt being over weight, and how I feel now. No contest!
Good luck on your journey!
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Item One is cow farts and pig belches. No, I haven't regressed to being a 13 year old boy, I'm serious. The EPA is proposing a tax (they call it an "annual fee"--smells like a tax to me) on farm animal gaseous output. Based on the article, I'm not sure how the money will be used to fight global warming. Probably by paying for the bailouts of GM and Ford, grumble, grumble.
Item Two is that Gwinnett County, Georgia wants to impose a $500 fine for those who don't recycle. They assure the residents that it will be used only for the serious recycling scofflaws. Given how RICO and various computer crime and anti-terror statutes have been misused in recent years, why does this smell like
Item Three is that climate scientists say that 2008 will be the coolest year in a decade. Even though their own graph suggests that the current "warm spell" is ending, they say that this doesn't indicate anything. Except that if the religion of global warming becomes discredited science, a lot of climate scientists are going to find themselves unfunded.
Now excuse me while I go throw another piece of wood on the fire.


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Julie Andrews: A Life Told Through Photographs
See Gallery
Julie Andrews turns 77 today, and we can't help but reminisce on the iconic star and some of her most standout moments. Mary Poppins, Sound of Music, and Princess Diaries are the movies that we still keep in our old school DVD collection.
So in honor of Miss Andrews we're taking a look back at her style throughout the years, and just like they say, she's perfect in every way.
Photo: Getty Images


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Event Coordination
What's the difference between a Full Service Event Planning Company and a Caterer?
With Rincon Events, it's not just about the food. To ensure that everything will be perfect, a personal Event Coordinator walks you step by step through the planning process from the event plan, menu selections, rentals, staffing and event decor. From providing you with a complete detailed rental list and lighting plan, we manage and produce your event from start to finish. From the initial site visit to a complete Estimate of Rincon Events Services, we offer Full Event Production.


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Did You Know?
- Kenya education system provides eight years of primary, four years of secondary and four years of university education. This is referred to as the 8-4-4 system of education.
- There are 30 universities in Kenya, 7 of which are public and 23 private. The University of Nairobi is the oldest university in Kenya.
- English and Swahili are the official languages of Kenya.
- Swahili serves as a national, or official language, of five nations: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, The Comoros, and The Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Some Swahili vocabulary is derived from Arabic. It has also incorporated Persian, German, Portuguese, English, and French words into its vocabulary through contact during the past five centuries.
- There are 42 tribes in Kenya
- The indigenous tribes of Kenya fall into three ethnic groups: the Bantus, the Cushites and the Nilotes.


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This is a shot of my inspiration wall.
On it, you will find
- the hat I wore to Texas Bowl where Arkansas decisively beat Texas at the Texas Bowl in Houston, where I was the passenger in a car for 10 hours one way while 6 months pregnant. Woo pig.
- art from my friends Emily Jeffords and MJ of Good in Store.
- my 2016 vision board I made with my friend Terra. Two weeks after I pasted those scissors onto that canvas I cut all my hair off.
- the business cards of the wonderful Memphis-based artist Maggie Russell and the oh-so-talented Funlola Coker.
- an out-take of the photo-booth I had set up for The Late Bloomer show.
- a piece of Late Bloomer art as well as several abstract pieces that have not seen the world until today.
And tucked away, in the middle of it all, my family's holiday card for 2015.
It says "happy holidays" in beautiful rose gold script but really it should say, "happy everything. I'm so grateful for this crazy life."
I stuck it in the middle of all the art and inspiration as a reminder that life without those two guys in the picture with me isn't imaginable.
As I've said before, I was creative before I met my husband but I didn't become "a creative" with a blog until I started dating my husband. I made art before my son was born but I didn't become an artist until he came along.
It's a holiday card - yes.
It was something that I was proud to send to friends and family scattered all over the country. It was something they most likely stuck on their fridge or have saved in some box that their kids will rifle through on a rainy day.
But it's more than a holiday card too.
It's a snapshot of my small family and our first thanksgiving as three.
It's the image I will measure all holiday cards against for the rest of my lifetime, perhaps.
And it's a reminder to be thankful for what I have, day after day after day.
As a part of The Hello Sessions, Minted offered the attendees a special offer for their holiday cards if they would write about their experience. I was wonderfully impressed with their service and product and would say so even if they weren't offering me a great deal.
p.s. I sent these as "Happy New Year!" cards because I was late getting them into the mail. Feel free to use that trick too if it seems too hard to make it to the post office before Christmas.


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The Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens, Bartlett Tree Experts and La Rocca's Country Market will host a free event for families in celebration of Arbor Day and Earth Day – The ArborEarth Day Family Festival. The Festival will be held on Saturday, April 22 (rain date: April 23) from 10:00 am-3:00 pm at the Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens in Stamford. Children can enjoy touch a truck, storytelling, face painting, crafting, gardening and more. The entire family can tour our garden and green house, view our pruning and planting demonstrations, learn about nature, conservation and sustainability at our booths, get assistance with ailing plants at our plant clinic and enjoy the music and natural beauty at the Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens. Stamford Mayor David Martin will also join us at Noon for a tree planting ceremony to commemorate the event. Join us for an activity-filled day. Find the complete release PDF here.
View our event calendar here.


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Monthly Archives: June 2013
Bashar – Your Own Room in Two Star Systems
The Collective Imagination 12th June 2013
Blogtalk radio interview with Darryl Anka (first hour)
Briefly Darryl first shares a bit about himself . . . what the symptoms can be that indicate a frequency change in a 'reality pocket' . . . as Bob's black African American eyes turned blue! . . . Lisa noted that the changes began just before leaving for the desert, as their group intentions were so clear and strong.
Darryl shares what he is seeing externally happening now . . . "the clearer we understand how reality is created, the more we will see it externally ". . . and he is seeing the trains are now leaving in all directions (or new timelines of new realities) . . . therefore, the further apart differing group realities will get now . . . and ultimately we will only experience what reality tracks or pocket what we each chose . . . so make sure you are always acting in your highest passion that will most represent our own truest self (while letting go of all actions that interfere) . . . or think of following your own 'energetic trail' . . . where synchronicity increases and seemingly magical things increase.
It was very interesting hearing Darryl further share how he interprets some of the things Bashar has said . . . and about his hybrid species . . . also in order to travel "elsewhere", all they do is change the frequencies of their ships to match where they wish to go" . . . so actually do not go anywhere, distance space-wise.
Towards the end he answers a caller's question around the steps towards unity . . . what the whole formula is . . . what 'the truth' is and the five laws absolutely universally true for all.
Darryl is working on a Bashar documentary with visual effects (that will help show things most of us cannot see yet that Bashar would like us to see in order help us change our old perceptions of reality).
On the above page you will also find a transcript of parts of the show.


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Mice on Ice
We had a first around here today. Brodie was in the Nursery nativity and not a prouder set of parents, grandparents and great grandparents could you find. His official role was as skating mouse number 5, but we like to think he stole the show.
He faithfully followed choreography and direction and sang every word. I think deep down, he actually might have enjoyed it a teeny, tiny bit.
The nursery asked us to send in a mouse costume and to be honest I think we got off easy after seeing the Christmas trees and snowmen and more complicated costumes on show.
We got the B boy a black t shirt and leggings which I sewed a skinny pink felt tail onto. I then made a simple mouse mask with felt using an elephant mask we already have as a template. It was quick and easy so I sewed one for Grier and hopefully they will live on in the toy boxes for a while yet.
I'm so proud of Brodie, forgive me, I'm a mushball anyone would think it was Christmas.
Oh, and this is Greig 'working from home'. Squeak.


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It's time to load up the semi trucks — the 2017 country tours start this week with new headlining tours from Lee Brice, Justin Moore and Eric Church.
Brice and Moore's American Made Tour starts Thursday (Jan. 12) in Indianapolis with William Michael Morgan and Brett Young. Brice promises his set will feature live premieres of songs from a forthcoming album, while Moore's show will mix selections from 2016's Kinda Don't Care with hits from his previous three albums.
Others co-headlining new tours in 2017 include Tim McGraw and Faith Hill and Vince Gill and Lyle Lovett.
Church's Holdin' My Own Tour starts Friday (Jan. 13) in Lincoln, Nebraska. The tour will feature a new 360-degree stage and visit just over 60 cities with a two-night closer at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena starting May 26. Unlike his previous tours, there will be no support acts — just two full sets by Church and his band with an intermission in between. As with past tours, all ticket orders placed by scalpers will be canceled and any tickets purchased through the secondary market will likely be invalid by show time.
Martina McBride and CMT's Next Women of Country Tour have partnered to extend her Love Unleashed Tour into 2017. The new dates start Feb. 2 in St. Louis with Lauren Alaina.
Also extending previous tours are Garth Brooks, Florida Georgia Line, Brad Paisley, Dan + Shay and Luke Bryan. Brooks restarts his World Tour with Trisha Yearwood on Jan. 21 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Florida Georgia Line's Dig Your Roots Tour returns Jan. 27 in Tallahassee, Florida with Dustin Lynch and Chris Lane. Paisley will resume his Life Amplified World Tour in Feb. 1 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario with Chase Bryant and Lindsey Ell. Dan + Shay pick up the Obsessed Tour on Feb. 9 in Rosemont, Illinois. Luke Bryan's Kill the Light Tour returns for 11 new shows with Brett Eldredge and Brett Young starting Feb. 16 in Huntington, West Virginia.
Reba, Brooks & Dunn: Together in Vegas will return to The Colosseum at Caesars on Feb. 22. Little Big Town start their residency at Nashville's Ryman Auditorum on Feb. 24. Kenny Chesney is booked for six festival performances starting April 9 at the Tortuga Music Festival in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He headlines two nights at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts starting Aug. 25.
Here is a list of 13 other country acts hitting the road in 2017:
Dierks Bentley: The first leg of Bentley's What the Hell Tour with Jon Pardi and Cole Swindell starts Jan. 19 in Dayton, Ohio and includes his headlining debut at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on Jan. 21. "There's a song on [Black] called 'What The Hell Did I Say' and it seemed like an appropriate title for a tour with Cole and Pardi," Bentley said in a press release. "I have a feeling I'll be asking myself that question the morning after many of our shows and late night hangs because you really don't know what will happen when the three of us get together."
The Cadillac Three: Aubrie Sellers, Brent Cobb, Ray Wylie Hubbard and the Quaker City Night Hawks will open various dates on TC3's new Black Roses Tour. Kicking off Jan. 19 in Memphis, Tennessee, the schedule includes festival shows at Stagecoach, Country USA and Country Fest.
Alan Jackson: The new Honky-Tonk Highway tour starts Jan. 20 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Lee Ann Womack will join him on the road for select dates, starting Jan. 27 in Pensacola, Florida. Performances at the Tortuga Music Festival, Tree Town Music Festival, Nebraskaland Days and Country Stampede are included in the schedule.
Tift Merritt: Merritt will support the release of her sixth studio album Stitch of the World (out Jan. 27) with a three-month tour starting Jan. 20 with a two-night opener in her hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina. Stops include City Winery locations in Nashville, Atlanta and New York City.
Cody Jinks: Most of the shows on Jinks' 2017 tour — including the Jan. 23 opener in Phoenix, Arizona — are sold out. The schedule includes three sold-out nights at the Tractor Tavern in Seattle. Paul Cauthen and Ward Davis will open on all dates through Feb. 18.
Drake White: The Spark Tour will hit 17 clubs nationwide starting Jan. 23 at Bub City in Chicago. The tour will visit Nashville's Exit/In on April 13. He will open for Darius Rucker for three shows in Switzerland, the Netherlands and Germany starting March 5 in Zurich. White's March 11 C2C Official Aftershow Party in London as part of the C2C: Country to Country music festival is sold out.
Miranda Lambert: The Highway Vagabond Tour will be heavy on new songs from her new double album The Weight of These Wings and feature openers Old Dominion and Aubrie Sellers. Before opening night in Evansville, Indiana on Jan. 26, Lambert will headline a one-night-only club show at Joe's Bar in Chicago with Natalie Hemby. Proceeds from the Joe's show will support Lambert's Women Creators Scholarship at Nashville's Belmont University. Lambert will take the Highway Vagabond Tour overseas with shows in the Netherlands, the U.K. and Ireland starting Aug. 16 in Bloemendaal, North Holland.
Brantley Gilbert: The Devil Don't Sleep Tour kicks off Feb. 2 in Reading, Pennsylvania with Tucker Beathard and Luke Combs appearing on most dates. Gilbert will donate $1 from every ticket sold through the BGNation pre-sale to the Disabled America Veterans, which supports the needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life.
Maren Morris: All the shows on Morris' Hero Tour 2017 are sold out except for her March 24 gig at Houston's House of Blues the Bronze Peacock Room. The tour starts Feb. 2 in New York City and includes two nights at Nashville's Cannery Ballroom starting April 4.
Hank Williams, Jr.: Bocephus' initial 2017 tour schedule includes 10 new shows starting Feb. 3 in West Wendover, Nevada. His festival appearances include sets at the Country 500 in Daytona Beach, Florida on May 27, the Bayou Country Superfest in New Orleans on May 28 and the Washington State Fair in Puyallup on Sept. 16. Additional shows are TBA.
Blake Shelton: The Doing It to Country Songs Tour with RaeLynn and Sundance Head kicks off Feb. 16 in Bakersfield, California. The title of the new tour gets its name from a song on Shelton's 10th studio album If I'm Honest. On April 23, Shelton will headline the Music & Miracles Superfest at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama. The day-long event will feature sets by Thomas Rhett, Kelsea Ballerini, Lynyrd Skynyrd and David Ray. Proceeds from the event will support cancer research and the fight against hunger through the Chicken Salad Chick Foundation.
Thomas Rhett: The Home Team Tour is Rhett's first time headlining a major concert tour. The trek starts Feb. 23 in Saginaw, Michigan with Kelsea Ballerini, Russell Dickerson and Ryan Hurd. The schedule includes two shows at Nashville's Ascend Amphitheater starting April 20. Rhett and Old Dominion will open for Chesney's Gillette Stadium shows in August.
Vince Gill and Lyle Lovett: In its third year, the nine-city Songs and Stories Tour starts March 22 in Thousand Oaks, California. Each concert will be a series of intimate solo and collaborative performances, during which Gill and Lovett will serve as their own accompanists. "For a night like this, there is no plan," Gill said. "I know Lyle won't have a plan, and I won't either. What he plays will inspire me, and probably vice-versa. It'll be like playing ping-pong. Whatever song he chooses to sing will inspire the next song that comes out of me." "I enjoy shows that are not planned out," Lovett added. "This will be two songwriters in the round. It's informal, so there will be lots of ad-libbing. It will be like little snapshots of our experiences."
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill: It's been a decade since McGraw and Hill toured together, when they reprised their original Soul2Soul Tour — which was in 2000 — for a Soul2Soul II Tour in 2006 and 2007. Soul2Soul II was the highest grossing multi-year country tour of all time. The couple will bring back the show for a 2017 run starting April 7 in New Orleans. The tour wraps Oct. 27 at the Barclays Center in New York City.


text:
I've been wanting to learn Processing for a while, but have been intimidated at learning to code. But this class has been awesome at giving me the foundation to start making stuff right away.
I'm a big fan of Sol Lewitt, and I think of his instructions for his wall murals as inspiration for how I approach these projects.
I tryied to keep the shapes I use simple, and use the contraints of that to just focus on a limited number of parameters to explore. I found that from just the lessons of this class, I had enough tools to play with and explore.
I come from an architecture background, so I'm obsessed with creating space in drawings. I think with some of these, I'm trying to figure out how to create depth in an axonemetric way. I also realize that I like to create disruptions and add a little chaos to the idea of the grid.
For this one, I also wanted to see what would happen if I started to line things up... so i went in on Illustrator and created rules for when a line would move to connect to another line. I wish i knew how to program that, but for now I see it as Processing giving me the raw samples that I can start to manipulate.
I did kind of the same thing with these, where I generated a drawing, and sampled it, then added another layer of rules where I hand adjusted elements. In this case, whenever there were two different colored triangles in a "square", I maded them both the same color, which gave me the effect of a more spacial drawing.
Before adjusting
After adjusting
So with this project, I wanted to use a simple group of shapes, and work with a grid where there would be layers that varied in size, but would stay aligned to the grid.
These were the shapes, and I gave a little space between each element in the grid. I then created a new layer on top that increased in size, but had to tweak the parameters on each one to fit into the grid of the basic units.
1 x 1
2 x 2
4 x 4
8 x 8
10 x 10
Then I just tried different variations of sketches with varying numbers of each element (using blank elements to create spacing).
Then I tried to do one where I "trimed off" the extra elements that were covered with larger elements, and got something like this:
I also tried one where I did minimal "cleaning up", and added a white stroke to create seperation, which I kinda liked better:


text:
The Hospital Gown, Fashion Malady, Worries Would-Be Redesigners Sick
Style Statement vs. Cost Savings; 'We Have Created a Product Nobody Likes'
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The traditional American hospital gown -- flimsy in front, open to the breeze in the back -- has been around about as long as the Band-Aid. If anything, it has changed less.
The one-size-fits-none garment remains one of the least loved aspects of American medicine. A bare-bottomed Jack Nicholson wore the most common model, open in back with a couple of ties, to comic effect in the 2003 movie "Something's Gotta Give."
Medical historians believe the current gown evolved from nightshirts patients wore in hospitals in the 1800s that were slit open in the back. Variations of the current style have been in use since at least the 1920s.
"Nobody is happy with it," says Blanton Godfrey, dean of the College of Textiles of North Carolina State University. "It is amazing -- we have created a product nobody likes."
Nobody, perhaps, except some hospital purchasing managers. Patient gowns are now a $76 million market, according to Premier Inc., an alliance of hospitals that negotiates to buy supplies and works with hospitals on quality improvement. Traditional models cost as little as $2 to $3 apiece, and can be washed and reworn dozens of times.
For the past 2½ years, with about a quarter of a million dollars in funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in Princeton, N.J., a small team of students and faculty at the College of Textiles has been working to update the traditional hospital gown. "It is a symbol of what needs to change in health care," says Rosemary Gibson, the RWJ foundation senior program officer who devised the "Down With the Gown" initiative.
The college has sponsored six focus groups, five at hospitals in North Carolina and one in Massachusetts. The team has also met with or sought comments from so-called "stakeholders" who would have a role in making or selling the new gowns.
"We thought that it would be a much easier problem to tackle," says Prof. Traci Lamar, who has been leading the effort for the College of Textiles.
In a drawer behind her desk at the foundation, Ms. Gibson keeps an especially ragged specimen of a gown salvaged from a New England hospital. It has snaps which she struggles to snap and a hole in it from wear and tear. When Ms. Gibson puts it on over her clothes, it is clear it doesn't cover all of her. "It is as if the patient is an object -- can't we develop a more respectful garment?" she says.
Ms. Gibson says she has held it up in front of audiences of 1,000 people to make her point: The gown has to go.
In November 2006, the foundation decided to escalate its effort by awarding the College of Textiles a $236,110 grant to work on the problem -- not just the design, but production and marketing. "It is not only coming up with a prototype," Ms. Gibson explains,
There have been other efforts to design new gowns. A decade ago, Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, N.J., hired designer Nicole Miller to reinterpret its gowns. Her colorful iterations, festooned with drawings of stethoscopes, syringes and other medical icons, are about double the usual price; the hospital says they are worth it.
In 2004, Maine Medical Center in Portland introduced a modest floor-length "sarong" for its Muslim patients who were so distressed with the usual gown they were missing appointments. A seamstress whipped up the new design, hospital officials said.
But in most American hospitals, the old gown design still dominates. Bud Konheim, CEO of Nicole Miller Ltd., said his fashion brand is "dying" to do more of them. But despite talks with several institutions, Hackensack remains the lone large client.
Michael Georgulis, a vice president at Premier Inc., the nonprofit alliance of 2,100 American hospitals, thinks the traditional gown has suffered a bum rap. In addition to being inexpensive, its easy-access design "works well" in emergencies, he says. "Given all the challenges facing hospitals and health care," aren't there more pressing problems worth tackling? he asks.
Prof. Lamar's team is undeterred. The group, which includes a Ph.D. candidate who used to work for Victoria's Secret and a professor specializing in textile design and product development, gathers to thrash out possible solutions. On a balmy April afternoon, the meeting gets off to a hopeful start. The team is brimming with ideas.
How about a gown with a handy pocket that could accommodate iPods and cellphones? Maybe raglan sleeves that would be loose and stylish? Should they try for a V-neckline instead of the banal scoop-neck? But that still doesn't get to the heart of the problem. What sort of design would revolutionize the gown and what kind of fasteners should hold it together: Velcro? Snaps? The familiar cloth ties?
Prof. Lamar holds up two bibs with Velcro-style closures that belong to her infant daughter. They have been laundered frequently and haven't held up. "I would not recommend it as a solution," she says firmly.
One of the team-members brings out a small mannequin and places it on the table. She wraps a gown around it; ideas begin to flow.
There's talk about a kimono-type gown. Another iteration would wrap 1½ times around the body for a more snug, precise fit. "I keep thinking of a wrap dress," says Leslie Hatch, the Victoria's Secret alumna. "You wrap it to fit your body."
The wrap approach looks appealing on the little mannequin. But then, team member Meryem Uluskan, a master's degree candidate, interjects: "If a patient has broken bones, and they don't need to be moved," she asks, how can they be put in a fitted wrap?
The group seems briefly stumped.
Prof. Lamar's team unveiled some of its new ideas at a recent in-house fashion show, displaying gowns with very wide, raglan sleeves, deep V-necklines, a pocket, as well as the 1½ wrap that they had envisioned some weeks earlier.
Dean Godfrey is hoping that these design ideas can be developed into something practical. "We are not in it for fun and games," he says. "We are in it to create products that end up in the market."
Write to Lucette Lagnado at firstname.lastname@example.com
Copyright ©2019 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8


text: News US Navy patents terpene aviation fuel blends By kannavida Posted on September 24, 2018 Share Tweet Share Share Email Comments READ MORE view source Jets may be flying on a greener fuel source soon as the US Navy continues to research terpene fuels Related Items: Share Tweet Share Share Email Click to comment Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment Name * Email * Website Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email.


text: However you do it, make a conversation about mental health Mental health problems affect one in four of us, yet people are still afraid to talk about it. Time to Talk Day encourages everyone to talk about mental health. This year's Time to Talk Day is all about bringing together the right ingredients, to have a conversation about mental health. Whether that's tea, biscuits and close friends or a room full of people challenging mental health stigma, we want you to get talking. However you do it, make sure you have a conversation about mental health this Time to Talk Day. Tips for talking Read our guide to having a good conversation about mental health. Download materials & resources for events Download posters, event guides and more useful resources. Get involved online Find out how you can support Time to Talk Day on social media! Getting the nation talking See how people are starting conversations across the country. More useful links: If you're fundraising for Time to Change, find out how to make a donation. If you're a content creator and want to take part in Time to Talk Day, read our guide.


text:
Free Resources
"The Acupuncture Thought of Wei-Chieh Young"
by Dr. Wei-Chieh Young
Click on the pop-out icon in the upper right corner of the document you want to view larger or download. This action will open the document up in a pdf viewer for reading or download. The documents are designed to be printed as a booklet if your printer have booklet printing capability.


text:
Creative Writing & Art
Summer Camp 2010
Paper & Palette: Exploring your writer and artist self
Do you love to write?
(or maybe you would like writing more if you could just come up with some cool ideas?)
Do you love to make art?
(or maybe you would like art more if you could learn to use some new materials?)
Come join us this summer and explore your writer and artist self!
This year we're in the East Bay and in San Francisco!
What we'll be up to:
We'll spend half of each day with paper and pencil, immersing ourselves in words. The other half of the day we'll work with pastels, charcoals, watercolors (and more!), immersing ourselves in visual art.
Plus, we'll read writing by well-known authors, look at art by famous artists and have fun drawing, writing, editing, painting, snacking, erasing, gabbing, reading stories, as well as admiring and sharing our work.
When & Where ?
East Bay
Camp will be held at the spacious and beautiful Classroom Matters,
a tutoring center in Berkeley, 2436 Sacramento Street (at Dwight).
Our East Bay camp is an all-girl camp. Campers should be going into 3rd, 4th and 5th grade in Fall 2010.
2010 East Bay Sessions
(All camp days are from 9 am - 4 pm.)
SESSION A (2 weeks) June 21- July 2
SESSION B (1 week) July 5 - July 9
SESSION C (2 weeks) July 12 - 23
San Francisco
Our San Francisco camp is for boys and girls into 3rd, 4th and 5th grade in Fall 2010.
Where & When?
Camp will be held at the spacious and beautiful CCE Painting Studio, in the Glen Park neighborhood of San Francisco.
2010 San Francisco Sessions
Half - day sessions are 2 - 5:30 Full day session is from 9 - 4.
SESSION A (1 week, half-day) June 21st – 25th
SESSION B (1 week, full-day) June 28th – July 2nd
SESSION C (1 week, half-day) July 5th – July 9th
How much?
Sessions A and C
$650. per 2 week, full-day session,
plus a $20
materials fee,
$670. total
Session B
$325. for 1 week, full day session
plus a $20 materials fee,
$345. total
San Francisco
Sessions A and C
Half day, 2:00 – 5:30
$170 per one week session
plus $30 materials fee
$200. total
Session B
Full day session, 9:00 – 4:00
$350 for 1 week,
plus $30 materials fee
$380. total
Teaching art this summer is artist, Angela Baker, who has a Bachelor of Fine Art from the Columbus College of Art and Design, with an emphasis in painting and drawing. Since 2001 Angela has been teaching both in-school and after school visual art classes with established San Francisco arts organizations such as Leap…imagination in Learning, ArtSpan and the San Francisco Arts Education Project. Angela is also an exhibiting painter whose work has been showcased in group and solo shows in Budapest, San Francisco and New York.
Teaching writing this summer is Sondra Hall, the founder and director of "Take My Word For It!" Sondra designed an innovative curriculum to teach creative writing to kids in after school programs and in community settings. "Take My Word For It!" 's program is now in seven schools in the San Francisco Bay area.
To Register:
Click here to request a registration form.
Come to camp with a friend or a sibling and you each receive 10% off!
Sign up a pair of campers at the same time, and pay in full
by May 1, 2010 and each camper receives 10% off the camp
fee. (The materials fee stays the same.)
Who we are: "Take My Word For It!" is a Bay area creative writing program that encourages kids to have a grand old time, as well as feel safe and supported while they grow as writers. We have been leading students on word expeditions for five years in after school programs and community settings.
Kids have been writing with us at Los Perales; Bay Farm; Thornhill, Chabot and Kaiser Elementary in the East Bay, and Miraloma Elementary in San Francisco. We have also been turning kids on to writing at 826 Valencia; Book Passage; 18 Reasons and Classroom Matters.
In 2010 we began teaching women seeking refuge from homelessness and domestic violence at Mary Elizabeth Inn, in San Francisco.
"Take My Word For It!" was founded by Sondra Freundlich-Hall, a writer and parent who believes in the power of the written word to transform. You can reach her at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
About now Defence Minister John Faulkner is having tea and biscuits with William Lynn, the deputy secretary of the US Defense Office, who is breaking some awkward news about the JSF Joint Strike Fighter project.
Namely, that March is going to be a very difficult month for the troubled project.
But if the Minister had already read the very long and detailed analysis released early this morning by Airpower Australia of the Russian answer to the JSF F-35, the Sukhoi PAK-FA, which made its first 'public' flight on January 10, the conversation might have been even more fascinating, and difficult, for Lynn.
The analysis has very grim implications for the JSF project.
But first, Lynn and the Defence Secretary Robert Gates are according to sources in DC doing the rounds of JSF client states bringing them up to date over the issues befalling the project in March
The anticipated unfavourable review of the JSF program by the US Government Accountability Office report to Congress next month will trigger the Nunn-McCurdy amendment to the Defence Authorization Act of 1982 which will force the government to get reauthorization to continue its funding because of unit cost overruns.
This embarrassment will occur less than two months after the official audit review into the project by Mike Gilmore, the US Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, which lead to the firing of the head of the project and the cancellation of $700 million in 'progressive' payments due to be made to the lead contractor, Lockheed Martin, this year.
In their report the co-founders of the Air Power Australia defence think tank, Dr Carlo Kopp and Peter Goon say:
"Analysis of PAK-FA prototype airframe aerodynamic features shows a design which is superior to all Western equivalents, providing 'extreme agility', superior to that of the Su-35S, through much of the flight envelope. This is accomplished by the combined use of 3D thrust vector control of the engine nozzles, all moving tail surfaces, and refined aerodynamic design with relaxed directional static stability and careful mass distribution to control inertial effects. The PAK-FA is fitted with unusually robust high sink rate undercarriage, intended for STOL operations.
"The available evidence demonstrates at this time that a mature production PAK-FA design has the potential to compete with the F-22A Raptor in VLO performance from key aspects, and will outperform the F-22A Raptor aerodynamically and kinematically.
"Therefore, from a technological strategy perspective, the PAK-FA renders all legacy US fighter aircraft, and the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, strategically irrelevant and non-viable after the PAK-FA achieves IOC in 2015.
"Detailed strategic analysis indicates that the only viable strategic survival strategy now remaining for the United States is to terminate the Joint Strike Fighter program immediately, redirect freed funding to further develop the F-22 Raptor, and employ variants of the F-22 aircraft as the primary fighter aircraft for all United States and Allied TACAIR needs."
They warn that, "if the US does not fundamentally change its future for the planning of tactical air power, the advantage held for decades will soon be lost and American air power will become an artefact of history."
Their analysis also moves on from previous arguments by Air Power Australia that the F-22 Raptor is the comprehensive answer to air superiority to a qualified view that only with an investment in both larger numbers and upgrades of the type can the line be held against the PAK-FA and then only with significant losses on both sides.
Designed to compete against the F-22 in traditional Beyond Visual Range (BVR) and Within Visual Range (WVR) air combat, the PAK-FA shares all of the key fifth generation attributes until now unique to the F-22 – stealth, supersonic cruise, thrust vectoring, highly integrated avionics and a powerful suite of active and passive sensors. While the PAK-FA firmly qualifies as a fifth generation design, it has two further attributes absent in the extant F-22 design. The first is extreme agility, resulting from advanced aerodynamic design, exceptional thrust/weight ratio performance and three dimensional thrust vectoring integrated with an advanced digital flight control system. The second attribute is exceptional combat persistence, the result of a 25,000 lb internal fuel load. The internal and external weapon payload are likely to be somewhat larger, though comparable to those of the F-22A.
The authors say "Russia intends to operate at least two hundred PAK-FAs, India two hundred and fifty of the Indian Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) variant, with global PAK-FA exports likely to add at least 500 more tails to the production tally. The stated intent is to supply the PAK-FA as a replacement for existing T-10 Flanker series fighter aircraft.
"Initial analysis of PAK-FA imagery and public disclosures by the Russian government and Sukhoi bureau indicate that a production PAK-FA will yield greater aerodynamic and kinematic performance to the current F-22A design, and similar low observables performance to the F-35A JSF.
"While the basic shaping observed on this first prototype of the PAK-FA will deny it the critical all-aspect stealth performance of the F-22 in BVR air combat and deep penetration, its extreme manoeuvrability/controllability design features, which result in extreme agility, give it the potential to become the most lethal and survivable fighter ever built for air combat engagements.
"It is important to consider that the publicly displayed PAK-FA prototype does not represent a production configuration of the aircraft, which is to employ a new engine design, and extensive VLO treatments which are not required on a prototype. A number of observers have attempted to draw conclusions about production PAK-FA VLO performance based on the absence of such treatments, the result of which have been a series of unrealistically optimistic commentaries.
"PAK-FA Low Rate Initial Production is planned for 2013, and Full Rate Production for 2015, with initial deliveries of the Indian dual seat variant planned for 2017.
The analysis raises time line issues for the decision announced last November by Faulkner to spend $3.2 billion on 14 low rate initial production F-35s for delivery in 2014 in order to evaluate them. If the IOC for the PAK-FA is 2015, even the on time delivery of the early F-35s, which the Gilmore report describes as poorly defined, wouldn't make sense.
In a position report on the PAK-FA and the US decision to limit production of the Raptor and deny its sale to allies, RAAF Wing commander (retired) Chris Mills says the killing of that program was a ploy to ensure that the F-35 JSF would become a forced monopoly in the production and sale of US air combat aircraft.
But he points out that this could fail massively if Israel, which already makes avionics for the Sukhoi range of military aircraft, and Japan, were to join India in buying the PAK-FA to ensure their future survival and combat superiority in battle zones in which the JSF would not prevail.
The quality of advice the Minister had received from defence at the time of embracing the early batch of F-35s needs to be called to account as it coincided with the quality of the review that Gilmore was conducting with such damning effect on the project in the US.
There is an obvious quality gap in the oversight this project is receiving in Washington DC and in Canberra.