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Russian strategy and the evolving anti-access/area denial threat in EuropeAdd bookmark
The trajectory of Russia's national policy combined with its on-going rearmament programme poses a growing threat to security in the Euro-Atlantic. Russian actions in Georgia in 2008, Ukraine since 2014, and the scale and scope of its 'snap' military exercises, especially their focus on high-intensity conventional – and in cases, nuclear – operations against NATO and allied countries (notably Finland and Sweden), highlight Russia's increasing belligerence and assertiveness. This is based on Moscow's deep dissatisfaction with the post-Cold War settlement, in particular with regard to Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, and a desire for recognition as a Great Power. Moreover, the fundamental long-term objective for Russian national policy is the assertion of primacy over the former Soviet Union, in particular in military-strategic terms.
This ambition and the desire for Great Power status provide the context for the modernisation of the Russian Armed Forces. An area of particular focus for the Russian military is the development of a robust conventional long-range strike capability, encompassing advanced air-, sea- and ground-launched ballistic and cruise missile systems. Together with investment in assets such as anti-ship and long-range air defence and electronic warfare systems, and fifth-generation aircraft, Russia's burgeoning long-range strike capability contributes to be a potent anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) threat. Russia is in the process of establishing a broad-based A2/AD capability within three distinct regions: the Kola Peninsula, the Baltic (focused on the Kaliningrad exclave) and the Black Sea (centred on Crimea). The three individually pose a significant regional challenge, but together, and augmented by assets such as Long Range Aviation (LRA) bombers and naval forces, constitute a wider threat to Europe.
A Burgeoning Long-Range Strike Capability
The Russian armed forces operate, or are in the process of developing, a number of systems intended to prosecute targets at stand-off ranges as part of an overarching A2/AD capability. This paper focuses particularly on the air and missile-based elements of this capability, which also includes, for example, naval mine warfare and special forces operations. Russia may also seek to utilise political, economic and 'activist'-based pressure to compel target states to withdraw access, basing and overflight rights. In this regard, the air and missile capabilities Russia is developing would provide the backing to non-kinetic leverage, especially as the Russian military seeks to develop the means to prosecute sustained, high-intensity precision strike operations against an adversary's critical national infrastructure in order to cause systemic disruption.
The development of a long-range precision strike capability is a central element of Russia's long-term military modernisation efforts. This encompasses both ballistic and cruise missiles: the former, principally the ground-launched Iskander-M; the latter, the air-launched extended-range (4,500 km) low-observable Kh-101, long-range (2,000 km) low-observable Kh-SD, supersonic medium-range (1,000 km) Kh-MT, and the sea-launched long-range (2,000 km) Kalibr. A submarine-launched variant of the Kh-101 has also been reported as part of the armament of the new Yasen-class nuclear-powered guided-missile submarines. The Kh-101 (a nuclear-armed version is designated Kh-102), Kh-SD and Kh-MT are primarily intended for carriage by the Russian Air Force LRA's long-range bombers: the Tupolev Tu-95MS Bear, Tu-160 Blackjack and the Tu-22M3 Backfire. The Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback tactical strike aircraft may also be capable of carrying the Kh-SD. An interim conventional air-launched cruise missile, the Kh-555, derived from the Kh-55 (AS-15 Kent), is also in service with the LRA, and along with the Kh-101 and Kalibr, has been used operationally in Syria. Russia is also believed to be developing a ground-launched cruise missile with a range exceeding 500 km. This would be in violation of the 1987 Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which banned the US and Soviet Union from possessing ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with a range of 500-5,500 km. Russia's compliance with the INF Treaty, and potential breakout capabilities will be discussed below.
The Russian Navy's nascent conventional long-range strike capability, centred on the land-attack variant of the Kalibr family of anti-ship, land-attack and anti-submarine missiles, will provide a major component of Russia's A2/AD potential. The Kalibr forms, or is intended to form, the armament of a number of Russian Navy ships and submarines, including the Buyan-M, Project 22800, and Gremyashschy-class corvettes; Gepard, Admiral Grigorovich and Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates; the Leader-class destroyer; the ex-Kirov-class nuclear-powered guided missile cruisers Pyotr Velikiy and Admiral Nakhimov; the Varshavyanka-class diesel-electric, and Akula, Oscar II, and Yasen/Yasen-M-class nuclear submarines. The Kalibr provides the Russian Navy with significant reach and the ability to conduct multi-axis strikes against an adversary. In a European context, Russian ships and submarines operating in the Black Sea, Mediterranean, Baltic Sea, Norwegian Sea and North Atlantic could prosecute targets across the continent: vessels in the Caspian Sea could also be used to strike targets in Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania and the British Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus. Moreover, the equipping of small surface combatants, such as the Buyan-M corvettes and Gepard-class frigates, with the Kalibr enables those ships to contribute to the long-range strike role, including from Russian coastal waters, under the protective umbrella of anti-ship systems, land-based SAMs and airpower.
Similarly, the range of the air-launched Kh-SD and Kh-101, particularly the latter, would enable Russian aircraft to conduct strikes against targets across Europe from within Russian airspace. To illustrate this, the 4,500 km range of the Kh-101 would enable a Bear operating out of Engels air base in central Russia to strike any target in Europe and even Keflavik air base on Iceland, from within the vicinity of the base. Kh-SD-armed aircraft cannot prosecute targets in France, Spain, Portugal and the UK from Russia itself, but could from the airspace of Kaliningrad and benefit from the protection of SAMs and fighter aircraft deployed there (targets in Spain and Portugal would however still lie beyond reach). This would enable the LRA to generate a higher sortie rate than would typically be expected for strategic bomber operations and allow the bombers to operate within airspace protected by SAMs and fighter aircraft.
The range of both Russia's air-launched and sea-launched cruise missiles, combined with the precision strike capability they confer, provides the means to target military installations and critical infrastructure across Europe as part of an anti-access strategy. In Eastern Europe, key facilities would also be at risk of ballistic missile attack from the Iskander-M, a precision-guided, road-mobile system with a range of up to 500 km: from the Luga missile base in western Russia, Iskander-M can strike targets across the three Baltic republics. If forward-deployed to Kaliningrad, the missile could cover much of Poland; whilst if deployed on Crimea, eastern Romania, including the coastal city of Constanta and the Mihail Kogalniceanu air base, would be within range. Although the range of the Iskander-M has been stated as not exceeding 500 km in order to remain within the limit established by the INF Treaty, it is believed the range of the missile may be around 750 km; Russian sources have been reported as suggesting that the missile's range could be extended to 1,000 km without modification to the launcher. A range of 750 km would place, for example, Stockholm, and the island of Gotland within range of Luga-based missiles. Forward-deployed launchers in Kaliningrad would be capable of reaching Gothenburg (Sweden), the German cities of Kiel and Hamburg, and much of the Czech Republic; whilst a Crimea-deployed launcher could target key facilities in Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine (such as the US Aegis Ashore facility in Devesulu, Romania). If Russia were to deploy an Iskander-M unit to its Pechenga base on the Kola Peninsula, close to the Norwegian border, the planned Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35A forward-operating location at Evenes Airport, Narvik, would be within range. It also warrants mention that the Iskander-M is believed to possess a moving target capability thus enabling its use in the anti-ship role. In this regard, Kaliningrad and Luga-based Iskanders could target shipping across the Baltic, much of the Gulf of Bothnia, and in the Kattegat; whilst Crimea-based missiles could target shipping in the Sea of Marmara and across the entirety of the Black Sea. The deployment of Iskander-M missiles to the Kola Peninsula would constitute a threat to maritime operations in the eastern Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea.
Whither the INF Treaty?
The potential capability of the Iskander-M ballistic missile and the Iskander-K cruise missile, which as with the ballistic missile, is stated as having a range of not more than 500 km, but again, is believed to significantly exceed it. This is because the Iskander-K missile, the R-500, is a ground-launched variant of the 3M14, which is also the basis for the Kalibr LACM. The Iskander-M and K missiles perhaps represent INF breakout capabilities: systems that, should the INF Treaty be removed as a constraint, be developed to their full potential. However, the United States has accused Russia of developing and testing another ground-launched cruise missile that violates the INF Treaty, and has the range to threaten most of the European continent. This would suggest, based on a launch position in western Russia (for example, the Luga missile base), a range of at least 2,000 km; a range of 3,000 km would be sufficient to threaten the British Isles and the entirety of France. A range of 3,600 km would be required to target the Rota naval base, outside of Cadiz, southern Spain, and home to the 'largest weapons and fuels facilities in Europe'. The missile, reportedly designated SSC-X-8 by the US, is neither a Kalibr nor Kh-101 variant, and is reported to be 'state of the art'; it is not yet in operational service.
A decision by Moscow to operationally deploy the SSC-X-8 would effectively render the INF Treaty obsolete (Russia could perhaps use a limited deployment as a negotiating tool to extract some form of US concession, in return for withdrawing the system, thus preserving the Treaty). A Russian withdrawal from the INF Treaty would enable Moscow to deploy a robust ground-launched long-range strike capability, complementing its investment in air and sea-launched systems. In this respect, a Russian withdrawal from the INF Treaty, although resulting in a renewed nuclear threat akin to that posed by such systems as the SS-20 of the 1980s, would be magnified by the potential for Russia to pose a theatre-level conventional precision-strike capability. As previously noted, the Iskander system can likely be upgraded to pose a threat at ranges of 1,000 (ballistic missile) to 2,000 km (cruise missile), whilst the SSC-X-8 also poses a theatre-level threat. The new Russian intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the RS-26 Rubezh, a two-stage derivative of the three-stage RS-24 Yars ICBM, may also represent an INF breakout system.
The Rubezh has been tested in a single-warhead configuration to a range of 5,800 km and thus qualifies as an ICBM; however, if armed with multiple warheads, the missile's effective range could be within prohibited INF limits. The SS-20, the principal Soviet intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) deployed in the 1980s, was similarly a two-stage derivate of the three-stage SS-16 ICBM; in addition, the SS-20 Mod-3 had a range of 7,500 km in a single warhead configuration. Moreover, Russia could also opt to deploy conventionally armed Rubezh missiles: as with the Chinese DF-21D and DF-26 ballistic missiles, Russia could potentially employ Rubezh in the anti-ship role using a guided manoeuvring re-entry vehicle. In this context, Russia would be capable of targeting shipping throughout the eastern half of the Atlantic, Norwegian Sea, Mediterranean, and to the south, the Arabian Sea (this would albeit be contingent on the necessary intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance support).
Denying Maritime Access
Having focused thus far on the land-attack component of Russia's A2/AD forces, discussion of its anti-ship component is required. The Coastal Troops, a service arm of the Russian Navy, include the Coastal Missile-and-Artillery Troops' sub-branch equipped with anti-ship missile systems, are currently in the process of re-equipping with the SSC-5 Stooge (Bastion) and SSC-6 Sennight (Bal) systems. The latter system currently has a range of 120 km, but is due to receive an upgraded missile with a range of 300 km with unmanned aerial vehicle-based targeting support. The road-mobile Stooge, equipped with the Yakhont/Oniks, a supersonic (Mach 2.8) sea-skimming cruise missile with a range of 300 km, constitutes a significant anti-ship threat. A Stooge unit was deployed to Crimea as part of the initial Russian operation to seize the peninsula in order to defend against potential external intervention.
The Stooge has currently been deployed on the Kola Peninsula and Crimea; if deployed in Kaliningrad, the system would pose a threat to shipping across the western entrance to the Baltic, and depending on launch position, up to the southern tip of Gotland. In March 2015, a Russian exercise simulated the seizure of the Finnish Åland archipelago, the Danish island of Bornholm, Gotland and northern Norway. In the event of conflict, a Russian seizure, for example of Bornholm and subsequent deployment of a Stooge unit to the island would place shipping transiting the southern half of the Kattegat at risk. A similar operation on Gotland would enable Russia to threaten access to and from the Gulfs of Riga and Finland, and the Swedish Navy's principal base at Karlskrona. Russia is also developing a hypersonic (Mach 5-plus) anti-ship missile, the 3M22 Zircon/Tsirkon-S, which may be derived from the Oniks. The 400 km range Zircon is, as with the Oniks, likely to include sea-, air – and ground-launched variants; the missile will reportedly enter production in 2018 (it is intended to form part of the armament of the refitted cruiser Admiral Nakhimov, which is due to re-enter service in 2018).
The LRA also has a maritime strike role, which is primarily undertaken by the Backfire armed with the Kh-22 and its replacement, the Kh-32. The latter is a substantially upgraded version of the Kh-22, featuring longer range (possibly 800-1,000 km – the Kh-22 had a range of 400-500 km), an improved guidance system and speed of Mach 5 (up from Mach 4.6). Combined with its combat radius (depending on mission profile) of 1,500-2,410 km, a Kh-32-armed Backfire would be capable of prosecuting targets at a range of 2,300 km to possibly 3,400 km. The Kh-SD and Kh-MT may also include anti-ship variants (Bear bombers have conducted simulated anti-ship strikes in exercises, and the bomber's primary armament of Kh-55 or Kh-101 missiles are land-attack weapons), thus potentially enabling Bear and Blackjack bombers to undertake maritime strike operations.
Counter-Air Capabilities
The array of ballistic and cruise missiles either in service or in development for the Russian armed forces, and the options they provide for conducting multi-axis strike operations, would pose a significant challenge to an adversary's operational and strategic planning. In this respect, Russia can, for example, hold at risk key airfields, ports and naval facilities, fuel and munitions storage sites, and transportation nodes across Europe, which would be critical to countering Russian military operations in the Euro-Atlantic. In addition, Russia's maritime strike capabilities, including a potential anti-ship ballistic missile, would pose a major threat to NATO naval forces, in particular those operating in the vicinity of the Kola Peninsula, in the Baltic, Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Moreover, Russia can significantly challenge the ability of Western air forces seeking to operate over Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and the Black Sea. In extremis, in the near-to-mid-term, Russian anti-air warfare systems could create zones of denied airspace to all but fifth-generation air systems, and even hold at risk low-observable assets. Further, the entry into service of the Sukhoi T-50, Russia's first fifth-generation aircraft, currently planned to achieve an initial operational capability by 2020, will provide the Russian Air Force with enhanced counter-air capabilities.
Three ground-based long-range surface-to-air missile systems warrant particular mention: the SA-21 Growler (S-400), the S-300V4, and the S-500. The SA-21 and S-300V4 are in service; whilst the S-500 is in development and may enter service in 2017. The S-300V4 and S-400 are both equipped with 400 km-range SAMs: the 40N6 in the case of the S-400, whilst the missile utilised by the S-300V4 has not been disclosed, but will likely be an evolved variant of the 9M82M, which equips the S-300V (SA-12 Giant/Gladiator). The S-400 system also includes the shorter-range (120 km and 200-250 km respectively) 9M96 and 48N6 missiles. The 40N6 missile is primarily intended to target high-value assets such as airborne intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) platforms and electronic warfare aircraft; that is, the key enablers and force multipliers central to Western air operations. An S-400 deployed in Kaliningrad, for example, would be capable of engaging aerial targets across much of Poland, the Baltic Sea and the entirety of Lithuania, and much of Latvia: whilst an S-400 deployed at, say Pskov, could cover the Finnish capital Helsinki, and the entirety of Estonia. The S-500, intended to provide a wider anti-air/anti-missile capability, including potentially an ability to intercept ICBMs, will have an engagement range of 500-600 km with an upgraded variant of the 40N6 – the 40N6M and two new anti-missile interceptors – the 77N6-N and 77N6-N1.
The Russian Air Force's forthcoming Sukhoi T-50 fifth-generation fighter aircraft will introduce a new aspect to Russia's A2/AD capability. Although perhaps not as low observable as the US F-22 and F-35, the T-50 will nevertheless provide Russia with a valuable 'day one' stealthy aircraft capable of operating within an adversary's defended airspace. The T-50 will be capable of delivering a variety of weapons from its internal bays, including the low observable Kh-59MK2 cruise missile (with a range of 290 km) and the Izdeliye 810, a 400 km-range air-to-air missile, most likely intended for use against high-value targets such as ISTAR and air-to-air refuelling aircraft. In this regard, and in light of potential budget and technical difficulties reducing the number of aircraft to be acquired, the T-50, likely only to be available in limited numbers, will perhaps be employed as an element of Russia's anti-access capability. Alongside low-observable cruise missiles such as the Kh-101 and Kh-SD targeting critical ground-based elements of an integrated air defence system, the T-50, with a combat radius of perhaps 1,600 km combined with a long-range air-to-air missile such as the Izdeliye 810, could be employed against airborne early warning aircraft and other enablers within defended airspace, and beyond the reach of ground-based systems such as the S-400. It is beyond the scope of this paper to discuss the operational implications of the entry into service of the T-50: it does warrant mention that the aircraft will provide Russia with a qualitative step-up in capability and enable new operational approaches.
A further aspect of Russia's A2/AD capability that warrants noting are its electronic warfare (EW) assets. The Russian armed forces operate a variety of EW systems, including, most notably, the ground-based road-mobile Krasukha-4, which is intended to suppress low-earth orbit satellites, ground and air-based radar systems (such as AWACS and JSTARS) at ranges of 150 km to 300 km. In effect, the Krasukha-4 provides an area-denial capability in the electromagnetic spectrum to complement the kinetic capability of the S-300V4 and S-400. The Krasukha-4, long-range SAMs such as the S-400, and long-range air-to-air missiles such as the developmental Izdeliye 810 and the in-service AA-13 Axehead (a 280 km-range missile equipping the MiG-31BM and Sukhoi Su-35) highlight Russia's focus on countering the airborne ISTAR systems that make such a contribution to Western airpower's effectiveness. Through targeting AWACS, JSTARS and electronic intelligence platforms such as the RC-135 Rivet Joint, Russian forces would seek to degrade Western forces' battlespace awareness and targeting capability, and thus operational effectiveness. The central question for Russian and Western planners alike would be whether Russia could attain a sufficiently favourable air situation in a defined area, such as over the Baltic and Poland, in order to achieve its objective before Western airpower could have a decisive effect.
One additional area of Russian effort deserves mention: Moscow's on-going development of anti-satellite (ASAT) systems. Russia reportedly successfully tested a direct-ascent ASAT missile, named Nudol, from its northern Plesetsk space launch facility on 27 May 2016, the second successful test of the system since November 2015. Russia also reportedly continues to pursue an airborne laser system designed to blind an adversary's space-based surveillance assets: it is planned to deploy the system operationally on modified Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft, under the A-60M designation. The development and deployment of ASAT systems is consistent with Russian efforts to degrade and disrupt an adversary's battlespace awareness and targeting capabilities: in this regard, consider for example, the operational implications of the disruption of GPS coverage over Europe at the onset of a Russian operation in the Baltic or Black Sea region.
Conclusion: Implications?
Russia's development and deployment of robust A2/AD capabilities combined with its assertive national policy, highlighted by Moscow's readiness to use military force to achieve its objectives, poses a distinct threat to security in Europe. Through the forward deployment of long-range strike and anti-air warfare systems in the exclave of Kaliningrad and occupied Crimea, plus on the Kola Peninsula close to the Norwegian border, Russia has created A2/AD zones that penetrate deep into neighbouring countries' territory, waters and airspace. In the case of the three Baltic republics, the range of the 40N6 SAM would be sufficient from launch sites in mainland Russia and the exclave of Kaliningrad to cover the entirety of their territories. Similarly, from launch positions in north-western Russia and Kaliningrad respectively, 40N6-equipped S-400s could cover much of Finnish and Polish airspace. In the Baltic and Black Seas, the range of Russian anti-ship cruise missiles, namely the Oniks and in the mid-term, the Tsirkon, and potentially the Iskander-M ballistic missile, would place NATO and allied maritime access at significant risk. The Iskander-M, along with air-, sea- and ground-launched cruise missiles can also threaten key military facilities and critical national infrastructure across Europe, which in the event of, for example, a Russian land grab in the Baltic or Black Sea regions, could be emphasised in order to deter a response. In this respect, the threat posed by Russian precision strike systems would be leveraged to compel states to deny access, basing and overflight rights or declare neutrality, or be subjected to kinetic strikes.
The scope and scale of Russia's developing A2/AD capabilities would, in the event of conflict, pose major challenges to NATO and allied states, in particular Finland and Sweden. The Russian focus on developing long-range cruise missiles warrants particular concern, as those weapons could reach many potential targets in Europe from launch positions (whether in the air, on land or at sea) deep in Russian territory and thus well protected. This could also complicate attempts to prosecute counter-force operations due to the escalatory risk involved with conducting strikes deep within Russian territory, and potentially against dual-capable assets, that is, those forces with a conventional and nuclear role (such as Bear and Backfire bombers). Moreover, the range of particularly the air-launched Kh-101 and submarine-launched Kalibr cruise missiles would enable the launch platforms to conduct strikes from multiple, and potentially unexpected directions: for example, a Blackjack could launch Kh-101s at European targets from over the North Atlantic. In addition, the Kh-101, Kh-SD and Kh-MT cruise missiles are designed to be low-observable, thus further complicating defensive efforts. This highlights the extent of the challenge posed by Russia's missile forces: the combination of multi-platform long-range, low-observable cruise missiles and tactical (perhaps to be joined in the mid-term by medium and intermediate-range) ballistic missiles providing a multi-axis attack capability. The entry into service of the Sukhoi T-50 and with it, a Russian Air Force fifth-generation capability will provide an additional air defence challenge, in particular with regard to its potential utility (from a Russian perspective) against airborne ISTAR assets, or for 'day one' strike missions within otherwise denied airspace.
Russia's focus on developing kinetic, including ASAT, and EW approaches to countering Western ISTAR assets in order to deny and disrupt battlespace awareness and targeting capabilities would also pose a particular challenge in the event of crisis or hostilities. In this regard, could the combination of long-range SAMs and air-to-air missiles, ASAT weapons, EW and strikes against ground-based infrastructure sufficiently disrupt Western battlespace awareness to cede operational initiative to Russia for a sufficient period of time for Moscow to achieve its aim? That is, could Russia create, for example, a 'no-fly zone' over the Baltic for long enough to prevent NATO airpower from being brought to bear against a Russian invasion of one or all of the Baltic republics? Moreover, what measures – both national and collectively across NATO and allied partners - are required in order to counter Russia's A2/AD capabilities? A combination of active and passive measures, including inter alia, investment in persistent, robust and resilient ISTAR, enhanced air and missile defence, EW, and counter-force capabilities, the hardening of potentially vulnerable facilities, and developing concepts for dispersed operations, are likely to be required. Most significantly, in developing a response to the Russian A2/AD threat, the robustness, resilience and credibility of the West's defensive posture must be demonstrated in order to reinforce deterrence and ensure security in Europe. This will likely incur a not insignificant financial cost, however, the cost of failure and war would be immeasurably higher.


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Allergan Expands PLEDGE Clinical Research Program in Diabetic Gastroparesis
-- Five PLEDGE studies now active and enrolling patients to evaluate the safety and efficacy of relamorelin (investigational drug) in people with diabetic gastroparesis --
May 17, 2019, 07:30 ET
DUBLIN, May 17, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN) today announced the expansion of the PLEDGE program with a fifth study now evaluating relamorelin, an investigational, ghrelin agonist being studied for the treatment of diabetic gastroparesis (DG). Recruitment remains underway for the pivotal Phase 3 studies RLM-MD-01 and RLM-MD-02. Patients who complete 52 weeks of the Phase 3 program will now be eligible for the RLM 3071-305-020 open-label study to evaluate the long-term safety of the investigational drug.
This new study (RLM 3071-305-020) will follow participants for up to five years to provide additional information on the long-term safety profile of relamorelin.1 It also enables eligible patients to potentially have access to relamorelin until it is commercially available. The clinical goal of this study is to collect additional information on the long-term safety of relamorelin in this highly challenging patient population.1
Diabetes is the leading cause of gastroparesis and affects millions of diabetic patients.2 It is a disorder in which there is a substantial delay in stomach emptying and is characterized by nausea, vomiting, bloating, and other gastrointestinal complications.3 This delay can worsen a patient's diabetes by making it more difficult to manage blood sugar,3 which is of paramount importance to patients with diabetes.4
"The goal of managing diabetes is to keep blood sugar levels within a safe range. This is problematic in people with diabetic gastroparesis, or DG, because they cannot predict when the food or medicine will be absorbed and what impact this delay will have on their blood sugar levels," said Dr. Brian E. Lacy, MD, PhD, Gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville. "New research, as done through the current PLEDGE program, is greatly needed as there are currently limited therapeutic options for patients living with DG."
PLEDGE is a multi-study, patient-centric program designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of relamorelin in people with DG. Allergan initiated the PLEDGE program following the results of a Phase 2b study that showed improvements in many of the core symptoms of DG compared to placebo.5
"The PLEDGE program is one of Allergan's many commitments to patients that could change treatment paradigms across gastroenterology," said David Nicholson, Chief R&D Officer, Allergan. "We're eager to continue enrolling additional patients and remain dedicated to helping the millions of people suffering from the debilitating effects of DG."
For more information on the PLEDGE program, or to participate, visit www.AllerganDG.com.
More About Relamorelin
Relamorelin is a potent ghrelin agonist in development for the treatment of diabetic gastroparesis.6 Relamorelin is administered via subcutaneous injection.7 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation to relamorelin for the treatment of diabetic gastroparesis.
More About the PLEDGE Clinical Research Program
PLEDGE consists of five studies with up to a five-year commitment.:
- RLM-MD-01 and RLM-MD-02 are two identical, pivotal, 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of relamorelin compared to placebo;7,8 Currently enrolling;
- RLM-MD-03 is a long-term extension roll-over (from -01 and -02) placebo-controlled trial that evaluates the safety and efficacy of relamorelin treatment for up to one year;9
- RLM-MD-04 is a non-pivotal 12-month study in less severe DG patients evaluating the safety and efficacy of relamorelin treatment;10
- RLM 3071-305-020 is a Phase 3b open-label extension trial which will enroll patients who complete either -03 or -04.5
More About Diabetic Gastroparesis
Diabetic gastroparesis is a disorder in patients with diabetes in which there is a substantial delay in stomach emptying with characteristic signs and symptoms of vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, early satiety, postprandial fullness, and bloating.3 Moderate to severe diabetic gastroparesis results in significant debility and hospitalizations and can interfere with nutrition and the absorption of medications.11 Up to 50 percent of patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes have been found to have delayed gastric emptying.12 However, diagnosed prevalence of symptomatic diabetic gastroparesis has been estimated to be as low as five percent of patients with type 1 diabetes and one percent of patients with type 2 diabetes, possibly reflecting under-recognition in clinical practice.2 There is high unmet need in this patient population as available therapies to treat this disorder are limited and may exhibit significant side effects.13
About Allergan plc
Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is a global pharmaceutical leader focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing branded pharmaceutical, device, biologic, surgical and regenerative medicine products for patients around the world. Allergan markets a portfolio of leading brands and best-in-class products primarily focused on four key therapeutic areas including medical aesthetics, eye care, central nervous system and gastroenterology. As part of its approach to delivering innovation for better patient care, Allergan has built one of the broadest pharmaceutical and device research and development pipelines in the industry.
With colleagues and commercial operations located in approximately 100 countries, Allergan is committed to working with physicians, healthcare providers and patients to deliver innovative and meaningful treatments that help people around the world live longer, healthier lives every day.
For more information, visit Allergan's website at www.Allergan.com.
Forward-Looking Statement
Statements contained in this press release that refer to future events or other non-historical facts are forward-looking statements that reflect Allergan's current perspective on existing trends and information as of the date of this release. Actual results may differ materially from Allergan's current expectations depending upon a number of factors affecting Allergan's business. These factors include, among others, the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of FDA approvals or actions, if any; the impact of competitive products and pricing; market acceptance of and continued demand for Allergan's products; the impact of uncertainty around timing of generic entry related to key products, including RESTASIS®, on our financial results; risks associated with divestitures, acquisitions, mergers and joint ventures; risks related to impairments; uncertainty associated with financial projections, projected cost reductions, projected debt reduction, projected synergies, restructurings, increased costs, and adverse tax consequences; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Allergan's periodic public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to Allergan's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and Allergan's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2019. Except as expressly required by law, Allergan disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Manisha Narasimhan, PhD
(862) 261-7162
Amy Rose
(862) 289-3072
Allergan. (2018). Diabetic Gastroparesis Study 05. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03786380). Retrieved from https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03786380
Choung RS, Locke GR 3rd, Schleck CD, Zinsmeister AR, Melton LJ 3rd, Talley NJ. Risk of gastroparesis in subjects with type 1 and 2 diabetes in the general population. Am J Gastroenterol. 2011;107(1):82–88. doi:10.1038/ajg.2011.310
Gastroparesis. (2017, October 16). Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/gastroparesis.html
Tight Diabetes Control. (2018, January 7). Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/blood-glucose-control/tight-diabetes-control.html
Camilleri, M., McCallum, R. W., Tack, J., Spence, S. C., Gottesdiener, K., & Fiedorek, F. T. (2017). Efficacy and Safety of Relamorelin in Diabetics With Symptoms of Gastroparesis: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study. Gastroenterology, 153(5), 1240-1250.e2.
Camilleri, M., & Acosta, A. (2014). Emerging treatments in Neurogastroenterology: relamorelin: a novel gastrocolokinetic synthetic ghrelin agonist. Neurogastroenterology and motility : the official journal of the European Gastrointestinal Motility Society, 27(3), 324-32.
Allergan. (2018). A Safety and Efficacy Study of Relamorelin in Diabetic Gastroparesis. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03285308). Retrieved from https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03285308
Allergan. (2018). Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Relamorelin in Patients With Diabetic Gastroparesis Study 02. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03426345). Retrieved from https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03426345
Allergan. (2018). A Safety and Efficacy Study of Relamorelin in Diabetic Gastroparesis Study 03. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03420781). Retrieved from https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03420781
Allergan. (2017). A Safety and Efficacy Study of Relamorelin in Diabetic Gastroparesis Study 04. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03383146). Retrieved from https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03383146
Krishnasamy, S., & Abell, T. L. (2018). Diabetic Gastroparesis: Principles and Current Trends in Management. Diabetes therapy : research, treatment and education of diabetes and related disorders, 9(Suppl 1), 1-42.
Gastroparesis. (2012). Retrieved from https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/gastroparesis/
Parkman HP, Fass R, Foxx-Orenstein AE. Treatment of patients with diabetic gastroparesis. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2010;6(6):1-16.
SOURCE Allergan plc

subset: commoncrawl


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Psalm 118:24 Easy-to-Read Version
This is the day the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be happy today!
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Lamentations 3:22-23 Good News Translation
The Lord's unfailing love and mercy still continue,
Fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise.
Would that I truly trust and have faith that each day was fresh and clean as a new rain-washed morning. Sadly, I don't live like I believe it.
The birds singing and the baby rabbit nibbling my garden delights have no doubt their bellies will be filled, their water provided, and their slumber undisturbed. They show me every morning the path to living carefree. Squirrels chasing each other up and down the tree run and jump and skip and hop and play together for the pure joy of it. These lessons and much more from nature's classroom daily instruct me. I am not a wise student. I continue to stick to my own ways … old, tiresome, and flawed.
I get it; intellectually I understand that each new day is a new beginning filled with twenty-four hours of joy-filled, fun-filled, peace-filled opportunities. Why do I hang on to the worries of yesterday? Why do I project future obstacles blocking my path? I don't know.
Dear Loving Father, help me trust You; help me let go of my own negativity; help me bask in the love and tender care You offer not only each and every day, but each and every moment, each and every breath I take.
I thank You for Your patience with my unbelief. I thank You for not giving up on me. I thank You for the many ways You approach me where I am. I thank You for knowing me inside and out. I thank You for every chance I get to stop what I'm doing, to stop what I'm thinking, and start over. You are so GOOD to me. May I be grateful for all Your many gifts. Amen


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Hi All! Yes, it's been quite a while since I've posted. 2017 has been a busy year and there's so much to catch up on. Devin and I spent the first 3 months of the year house hunting and moving! I can't wait to share pictures of our new home. But for now, I'll get on to the 5K! Dev and I ran last night - yes it was a night race - and had an absolute blast despite the heat. … [Read more...]
What Can You Learn During Training?
Training for any race, whether a 5K or a marathon, leaves a definite mark on a person. You learn a few things about yourself. Sometimes you learn that you're more equipped to hit the snooze button than you originally thought. Sometimes you learn that you have a little more to give than you ever knew. Either way, taking on the opportunity to jump into a … [Read more...]
Run Coaching
Last spring I took the RRCA Run Coach certification course. It was a weekend long intensive. Between the running fundamentals I learned that weekend and the tools I have from being a registered dietitian and group fitness instructor, I knew that I would love working with individuals towards reaching their running goals. Therefore, I'm excited to announce that I'm … [Read more...]
Running in the Dark
Here in the DC area, we've been dealing with a lot of weather change. This past weekend brought Hurricane Joaquin. Then the temperatures dropped to the 40s (it was just in the 80s I swear!), and now it's dawning on me that it's pitch black out until almost 7am :( When you prefer to run outside, you have to be willing to adapt, and also have a few essentials that … [Read more...]
Running for What?
I ran my first race in the fall of 2008. I had my number pinned to my back. Lots of lessons learned, miles run, and over 20 races – it's late 2015 and I have no race on the horizon. Not one. Typically, I am one that needs the carrot, and sometimes, the stick, to get me up and out the door. Usually I have half marathon or 10K in my future and my runs are a … [Read more...]


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Starring: Diana Rigg, Neil Dudgeon
Based on the novels by Gladys Mitchell
Format: VHS (also available on various PBS stations showing the Mystery! series)
Genre: Mystery
Running time: 4 hours on 2 cassettes ( 4 one-hour episodes)
Reviewed by Cherie Jung
Mrs. Adela Bradley and her chauffeur George Moody return in four new adventures. In "Death at the Opera," Adela arrives at the Hadleigh Heights Academy for Young Ladies, having been invited as guest speaker, ready to "get a few things off my chest," as she tells George. Her feminist ideas do not amuse the current staff any more than they did the staff when Adela, herself, was a student at the institute. As luck would have it, the speech is delayed by death.
One dead body may be an accident but two dead bodies? Surely, not. The proprietors of the finishing school don't want to bring scandal to their doorstep so they agree to allow Mrs. Bradley to investigate the suspicious deaths. An agreement they soon regret as Mrs. Bradley has never met a secret that she didn't want to expose to closer scrutiny.
In "The Rising of the Moon," a traveling circus is forced to extend its stay in a sleepy village when the performers begin dying of unnatural causes. Someone is slashing them. Inspector Henry Christmas, of Scotland Yard, arrives to take charge of the case and to ask for Mrs. Bradley's assistance in uncovering the the culprit responsible. While the Inspector is quite satisfied to charge one of the circus performers, Mrs. Bradley turns her attention to the sleepy village which has some secrets of its own that someone might be willing to kill for.
"Laurels Are Poison" finds Mrs. Bradley visiting an old friend who is trying to maintain her stature in a world gone awry. She has lost three of her sons to the war. Her only daughter is married to a man some call a hero though he seems less than heroic now. The house is said to be haunted. The ghostly spectre is said to be that of a soldier. Secrets are tucked into nearly every room. Death is close at hand, in the shadows.
This is probably my favorite episode because while searching to understand the truth about the ghost who haunts the mansion, we learn about the past that is haunting George Moody, Adela's chauffeur.
"The Worsted Viper" finds Mrs. Bradley at the seashore in a quaint resort village. She has been invited to present an award to Inspector Henry Christmas. He has chosen this village for his retirement. George has his own special reason for wanting to visit. His daughter works at the local hotel. Upon his arrival, George's daughter announces that she is soon to be wed. News to George, I can assure you. When another bride-to-be is discovered ritually slain, Mrs. Bradley and the Inspector take on the case. Meanwhile, George is put to good use, by Mrs. "B" and his daughter's mother-in-law-to-be. She has her eye on George, who has his eye on Mrs. Bradley, who seems to have her eye on Inspector Christmas. The story bogs down a bit in the background mumbo-jumbo of a mad man who preys on virgins and was hanged a goodly number of years ago. It was Mrs. Bradley's first big case so this new resurgence of the ritual slayings has her worried. It also has George worried. His daughter is a virgin...
I can't say that all of the clues are neatly tied up at the end of an episode, but the few that weren't resolved to my satisfaction didn't deter me from enjoying the overall experience. I've watched "The Rising of the Moon" two and a half times now and can't for the life of me figure out why the second person was killed. I have a few ideas of my own, but I didn't get the answers from the filmed episode. Portions of "The Worsted Viper" make no sense to me, at all, but I am willing to forgive and not nitpick, due to the enormous amount of fun I had spending the weekend at the charming coastal resort with Adela and George.
I am anxiously awaiting the next installment in what I hope will be a long-running series. In the meantime, I plan to head for my bookstore and see if I can locate any of Gladys Mitchell's novels.
Currently the second series of the Mrs. Bradley Mysteries is only available on VHS as part of a four-episode package. Although it does not bear directly on "Speedy Death" (the 90-minute pilot episode available on DVD) to receive the most enjoyment from this series, you should remember to watch "The Worsted Viper" after the other three episodes "Death at the Opera," "The Rising of the Moon," and "Laurels Are Poison." Actually, you can watch the other three episodes in any order that you choose, just watch "The Worsted Viper" last.
Copyright © 2003 Over My Dead Body! All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Over My Dead Body! is prohibited. OMDB! and OMDB! logos are trademarks of Over My Dead Body!
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Return to Over My Dead Body! Online.


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You are here
Torino Process: Kazakhstan Update
In the latest round of the Torino Process Kazakhstan is ahead of the pack! The Central Asian country is fine-tuning its draft report in the lead-up to the 2017 international conference. We caught up with national experts Alima and Dinara for a Q&A during their week-long visit to the ETF.
Q. You are here visiting the ETF for a week, what's the focus?
We are here to consult with the best VET experts in the world! Kazakhstan is one of the first ETF partner countries to finish the draft report. We are here to consult, improve and finalise it.
Q. You made a similar visit to the ETF in 2015, what did you learn?
The visit helped us to speak in one language with the experts, and raise the potential of our national team which has taken ownership of the reporting.
Q. What developments have been taking place in VET since you started the Torino Process?
We have a high level of political support for the Torino Process. We have seen the introduction of entrepreneurial learning specifically for VET. Another development has been in career guidance, traditionally this has been a weak area in our education. We have also been developing partnerships with employers.
Q. At the Torino Process National Coordinators' Meeting in February, Kazakhstan set a goal to involve more stakeholders. How is this going?
Following the meeting we established a working group with stakeholders from enterprise, VET schools, ministries and more! We have agreed which stakeholders are responsible for what data, and they are collecting it. After all, it is not only our work to gather the data. The working group is helping us to speed up the reporting!
Q. You helped facilitate an online Torino Process meeting with Russia, Ukraine, Tajikistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova and Israel this week. What messages do you have to other ETF partner countries?
Just start writing the report, and do it on your own! Taking ownership helps you to see, as a national team, your strengths and weaknesses, the gaps, the developments, and gives you a push to get going. And don't forget to involve stakeholders – this is critical!
Alima Ibrasheva and Dinara Alimkhanova are from the Technical and Vocational Development Department of the Information Analytical Center. The think-tank falls under the national ministry of education and science.


text: My 2000 328i has been "resting" for the past 3 months. Drove it this weekend & found the steering very stiff compared to my other 2 E46s (ZHP & 2002 325xi). Would old PS fluid or reservoir/filter cause this? I have a new reservoir I can install but if it didn't make sense would hold off.


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The small town of Aireys Inlet can be found nestled beside the Southern Ocean of Victoria on Australia's world famous Great Ocean Road and Dr Roderic Nathan is lucky enough to call it home. Seeking to maximise the performance of the windows in his dining / living room by improving occupant comfort and reducing energy … Continued
Aaron, owner of TintFX, did not hesitate to recommend Solar Gard® Ecolux™ 70 when Mark, a builder from Collaroy in NSW, consulted him for a solution to his kitchen / family room comfort issues. Mark was experiencing discomfort from the glare and heat radiating from his poolside glass feature windows. He was seeking a way … Continued
The country city of Wodonga is home to Carmel R., situated on the Victorian side of the New South Wales border. Carmel was experiencing discomfort from excessive heat through a large east-facing window at her home during Victoria's warmer months. The western side of her house is also prone to discomfort as it is exposed … Continued


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Pepper Lunch - Perth
2 reviews
$40 and under
View all
Restaurants you may also like
Pepper Lunch Perth CBD is a unique Japanese DIY Teppan restaurant serving sizzling steaks, pasta, curries and the signature pepper rice. This cool restaurant is located along Barrack Street and features a menu with dishes that are served on electromagnetic cookers, meaning you can sizzle your own way. We told you it was cool. We recommend ordering the famous salmon pepper rice; sizzling Japanese chicken karaage curry or teppanyaki beef with rice, though it's all so delicious you'll be sorted no matter what you order. Casual and lively, this Perth Asian restaurant is a favourite for good reason, so book a table and discover what Pepper Lunch in the Perth CBD is all about.
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This rating was created by diner reviews from another site.
Pepper Lunch - Perth is rated 3.8 stars by 2 OpenTable diners.


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NABJ President Sarah Glover Builds Greater Global Understanding for NABJ
By Stephanie Guerilus
MIAMI (Aug. 7, 2019) -- Sarah Glover, the first two-term president of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), met with María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, President of the General Assembly of the United Nations on July 12.
According to Glover, the meeting was a successful exchange of ideas between the two leaders in which the need for transparency and journalism as a function of advocacy were prominent in the conversation.
"For me, being an American journalist, when I thought of press freedom issues in the past I would think about something happening somewhere else in the world; someone being at risk if they were covering a war or conflict, you know thinking something in the Middle East or somewhere in a far place in Africa," President Glover said. "But press freedom issues are now very real and a threat to journalists in the United States because of politics and the political nature of things that are happening around Washington and the threats that journalists are under."
President Espinosa Garcés shared Glover's vision for press freedom and said she believed that the media was needed to bring awareness.
"I think that in terms of combating racism hate speech, you have a very, very important role to play," she said.
During the meeting, Glover also discussed her recent trip to Colombia where she met and mentored Afro-Colombian journalists. The trip was to ensure that U.S. journalists are having more global reporting experiences.
Glover highlighted issues facing Black men including the NABJ Black Male Media Project, which, in its third year, took place on June 1 in more than 20 cities and in Colombia. Founded by Glover in 2016 to examine the role the media plays in perpetuating negative stereotypes about Black men the project focuses on combatting those stereotypes while promoting more fair and balanced coverage of black men and boys. She said she hoped to further the global footprint of this initiative and improve the lives of Black men worldwide.
"Black men are literally in a crisis, not just in the United States but globally in terms of well-being, life expectancy and job," Glover said.
President Fernanda Espinosa Garcés made history as the first woman from Latin America to become President of the UN General Assembly. She said one of her goals was to make sure the U.N. was valued as more than just a bureaucracy but making a real impact in the lives of people.
"I have selected a theme and to be the cross cutting theme for this year's session of the general assembly which is to make the U.N. relevant and. That of course is to bring the U.N. closer to the people we serve but also the people we serve to the U.N.," she said. "We wanted to change the perception that the U.N was a huge elephant, difficult to understand and also the impacts of our work on the ground are not well known. And so, we've made a big effort on communicating better, interacting more with youth groups, with women's groups, academias, universities."
Female empowerment was another theme that was touched upon. Glover shared how the #MeToo movement has led to more gains for women in the media but much work was still needed. In response, Fernanda Espinosa Garcés said gender, gender equality, female empowerment, climate change, migration and refugees are some of her top priorities.
Migration was the common denominator amongst all these factors. Education and cooperation was needed between the countries to address the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion, the two agreed.
"There are more than 260 million people, migrants, around the world and the right of people for freedom of movement is very important. The problem comes when this movement of people are forced and not a decision that we freely make. And here's when the UN it comes to play," she said.
"Because just last year we approved the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration which is a major tool for countries to improve collaboration in working together. There is a need for partnerships between countries of origin, countries of transit, countries and destination."
Glover pledged her support and that of the NABJ to bring these critical issues to light.
Remember Me
9/25/2020On President Trump's Continued Attacks on the Press
9/25/2020Addressing Women's Issues in Media, Launching a New Webinar Series
9/16/2020NABJ, Black Male Media Project Issue Guidance on Reporting on Police Shootings, Criminal Records
10/15/2020NABJ Fall Chapter Grant Application Due
10/16/2020 » 10/17/2020NABJ Board of Directors Fall Board Meeting
11/1/2020NABJ Annual Student Chapter Audit Due
11/21/2020NABJ Regional Conference
12/1/2020NABJ Annual Professional Chapter Audit Due
Scripps Journalism
Career Program


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When the man Hitler began his campaign of hate and bigotry, he used the poor people of Germany to support him and get him into power. It turned out that his sole goal was just greed and wealth amassing. The masses remained poor while he drank the finest stolen wines and warm homes (he stole 15 mansions).
The same is true for Trump. His goal is wealth and his plan is to get it from the proposed segregation wall. He has created multiple shill companies that will be awarded the contracts to handle everything related to the construction, and of the proposed $5 billion, he will run off with about $10 billion. Of course the math doesn't equate, but his plan is to keep asking for money with claims that the costs have gone up. Just like the churches do for their never ending "building fund".
Since the crazed meeting with Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi and day dreaming Mike Pence regarding hate wall funding, Trump put out a subliminal call to his hate mongers to take action, and they did by setting up a crowd funding campaign which has raised near $2 million in 40 hours. Hate will make white folks gather together to destroy other humans. That's how it was in Germany. He made earlier call to them by stating that if the hate wall isn't built, there will be riots. That statement alone should throw his racist ass out of the "white man's house" and put him in prison.
Regardless of this funding effort though, the wall won't be built and the Trump family will simply run off with the money. The racist idiots have yet to realize they are supporting a gangster who really does not give a damn about them.


text: Home News Scientific Events Scientific Events Speaker: Prof. Anthony D. Rollett Room: Seminarraum 1 Location: Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Seminar Room 1 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec All All 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 Additive Manufacturing, 3D Printing, Porosity and Synchrotron Experiments Additive Manufacturing, 3D Printing, Porosity and Synchrotron Experiments Date: May 14, 2018 Time: 14:00 - 15:30 Speaker: Prof. Anthony D. Rollett Dept. Materials Sci. & Eng., Carnegie Mellon Univ., Pittsburgh PA Location: Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung GmbH, Seminar Room 1 Room: Seminarraum 1 Host: Prof. Dierk Raabe 3D printing of metals has advanced rapidly in the past decade and is used across a wide range of industry. Many aspects of the technology are considered to be well understood in the sense that validated computer simulations are available. At the microscopic scale, however, more work is required to quantify and understand defect structures, which affect fatigue resistance, for example. Synchrotron-based 3D X-ray computed microtomography (µXCT) was performed at the Advanced Photon Source on a variety of AM samples using both laser (SLM) and electron beam (EBM) powder bed; this showed systematic trends in porosity. Optical and SEM characterization of powders used in additively manufacturing (AM) reveals a variety of morphologies and size distributions. Computer vision (CV), as a subset of machine learning, has been successfully applied to classify different microstructures, including powders. The power of CV is further demonstrated by application to detecting and classifying defects in the spreading in powder bed machines, where the defects often correspond to deficiencies in the printed part. In addition to the printed material, a wide range of powders were measured and invariably exhibited porosity to varying degrees. Outside of incomplete melting and keyholing, porosity in printed parts is inherited from pores or bubbles in the powder. This explanation is reinforced by evidence from simulation and from dynamic x-ray radiography (DXR), also conducted at the APS. DXR has revealed a wide range of phenomena, including void entrapment (from powder particles), keyholes (i.e., vapor holes) and hot cracking. Keyhole depth is linearly related to the excess power over a vaporization threshold. Concurrent diffraction provides information on solidification and phase transformation in, e.g., Ti-6Al-4V and stainless steel. High Energy (x-ray) Diffraction Microscopy (HEDM) experiments are also described that provide data on 3D microstructure and local elastic strain in 3D printed materials, including Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-7Al. The reconstruction of 3D microstructure in Ti-6Al-4V is challenging because of the fine, two-phase lamellar microstructure and the residual stress in the as-built condition. Both the majority hexagonal phase and the minority bcc phase were reconstructed. [more]


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Construction of a new Judo Sports Palace, which will bear the name of Russian President Vladimir Putin, starts in Grozny, the capital city of Chechnya. The head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, took part in a groundbreaking ceremony, Interfax news agency reports.
Judo Sports Palace n.a. Vladimir Putin to be built in Chechnya
Author: Tatiana Kanunnikova
Photo: fotki.yandex.ru


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Microsoft has been having somewhat of an overhaul recently, not only in terms of their brand and identity in the world but in a new kind of attitude that I'm sure young executives would call Blue sky out-of-the-box thinking. Since Ballmer stepped down as CEO and was replaced by Satya Nadella we have seen a number of things that you simply wouldn't have seen before. Examples of this include them giving OneNote away for free and releasing Office for iPad.
Of course Satya can't be responsible for all these changes - he has only been in his new position for a few months and as such cannot have changed as much as we give him credit for. Never the less people have been quick to decide that Nadella is a new youthful face where Ballmer was somewhat of an 'old fart telling you not to do things'.
Office, one of Microsoft's crown jewels, coming to the iPad is something that should have happened a long time ago. However 'old Microsoft' would never have even considered releasing their crown jewels to other platforms. Reviews of the apps have been generally positive, despite some obvious flaws that Microsoft have said they're working on. Word, Excel and PowerPoint are represented - each in their own app. The apps themselves are free to download but require an Office 365 subscription to edit files. They're generally well designed, with an interface that will be familiar to users of Office 2013 on Windows 8.
Image credit: Microsoft
OneNote also has an iOS app, but that's not the latest news for it. The OneNote engineering team have been busy. While not making music videos (see below) they've been busy reducing the price of OneNote 2013 on Windows to, well, nothing. That's right, OneNote is now FREE to download everywhere, see below for more.
OneNote Mac (A Parody of One Day More from Les Misérables) by The OneNote Engineering Team
OneNote can now be downloaded for free from onenote.com, it's available on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and Windows Phone with links from the site.
Office for iPad can be downloaded from the iTunes App Store:
Word | PowerPoint | Excel
UPDATE: Office for iPad now supports printing via AirPrint from within the app. (April 30, 2014)
Image via WIRED.
Edward Callow, the author of this post, is a blogger, photographer and technology expert. When not writing for Hackerspace, he's designing websites and working with computer security. You can follow him on Twitter @MrEdwardCallow or email him.
To keep up to date with everything from Hackerspace, and more, follow Hackerspace on Twitter @HackerspaceBlog


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BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4)– Walker Ranch sits southwest of Boulder, about an hour from Denver. The property dates back to the 1880s when it was a homestead, so now it's starting to show its age.
Renee Gangwish has made restoring part of it the focus of her Girl Scout gold award project.
"It's always been a really special part of my childhood and growing up, so I wanted to do something that helped the community and kind of improve it in any way I could," said Gangwish.
Walker Ranch is one of Colorado's biggest sites listed on the National Historic Register.
"I thought it was really really special to help with something like this," said Gangwish.
She went through the county to get approval and collected volunteers and materials. Then she got to work.
"I'm the first Girl Scout they've worked with since they've mainly worked with Boy Scouts getting their Eagle Projects," said Gangwish. "I thought it was so cool and I could open the door for other Girl Scouts to do stuff like this."
Debra Gangwish is one proud mom and and troop leader, "Amazingly proud, I am so proud of these girls. I love them all to death, my whole troop wants to go for their Gold Award."
The teenager says for all girls out there, dream big, "Get out and see what they can do for their community and what they can do to improve the the sights around their homes."
Dominic Garcia anchors CBS4 News at 5 p.m. and reports for CBS4 News at 10 p.m. Connect with the Denver native on Twitter @cbs4dom & on Facebook.


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The competition aims to secure the best design in an annual contest for the reconstruction of Palestinian villages destroyed in 1948. The Israeli ethnic cleansing of Palestine in 1948 depopulated 675 towns and villages mostly destroyed. Documentation is provided herein for most of the destroyed villages with the purpose of redesigning these villages on the same village site but with updated conditions of population and services.
The documentation on each village includes 6 maps (Annotation in Arabic and English) and a report (In Arabic and in English loosely translated by Google-not accurate) for each village. There are other data provided for the participating students.
Option 1:
First, check if your university is participating. If yes, please use your given credentials to login in the section below.
Please note that no individual application for a student from a participating university will be accepted.
Option 2:
If you apply as an individual Palestinian student in the graduating class of an architectural institute anywhere in the world, click here to download the PDF form in your computer. Upon completion of this Form, please save it and send the filled PDF copy as attachment to the following email: email@example.com


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UK Weather forecast: A cold and frosty start for much of the Meridian region with an ice warning in the west
Weather for the west of the region.
Weather for the east of the region.
Tonight: Breezy during the evening, ahead of a band of rain and sleet moving southeast, perhaps with snow over the highest ground. Clearer and potentially icy from the northwest towards dawn. Minimum temperature -1 deg C (30 deg F).
Tuesday: Remaining rain and sleet soon clearing with icy stretches possible early on, but otherwise bright with plenty of sunny spells, joined by scattered wintry showers into the afternoon. Maximum temperature 6 deg C (43 deg F).
Outlook for Wednesday to Friday: Bright, cold and showery midweek, especially in the east, with fleeting snow, overnight frost and ice. Less cold but cloudier towards the weekend, with patchy rain perhaps preceded by snow.


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Just before this writing, I shampooed and conditioned with Jamaican Mango and Lime Tingle Shampoo and Protein Conditioner. Overall it was a pleasant experience.
My locs have grown quite a bit, so I used quite a bit of the Tingle Shampoo. It lathered pretty well at the roots and I worked it downwards towards the ends. True to its name, it did tingle, and it felt good. I lathered three times to really cleanse my hair of product buildup throughout the week.
I then used the Protein Conditioner. I followed their directions by applying it to my locs from root to ends and left it on for about 3-5 minutes. I put on a shower cap to allow my body heat to help the conditioner to penetrate. I rinsed out the conditioner and could feel softness return to my locs.
Will I use this shampoo and conditioner again? Yes. Jamaican Mango and Lime cleansed and softened my dry locs. That's the bottom line.
'Till next time,
Gail Mitchell
Loc'd Life Magazine
P.S. Don't forget to get vols. 1 and 2 of our printed edition at http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/399285


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Tutorial: Configure an application gateway with TLS termination using the Azure portal
You can use the Azure portal to configure an application gateway with a certificate for TLS termination that uses virtual machines for backend servers.
In this tutorial, you learn how to:
- Create a self-signed certificate
- Create an application gateway with the certificate
- Create the virtual machines used as backend servers
- Test the application gateway
If you don't have an Azure subscription, create a free account before you begin.
This article has been updated to use the new Azure PowerShell Az module. You can still use the AzureRM module, which will continue to receive bug fixes until at least December 2020. To learn more about the new Az module and AzureRM compatibility, see Introducing the new Azure PowerShell Az module. For Az module installation instructions, see Install Azure PowerShell.
Sign in to the Azure portal at https://portal.azure.com
Create a self-signed certificate
In this section, you use New-SelfSignedCertificate to create a self-signed certificate. You upload the certificate to the Azure portal when you create the listener for the application gateway.
On your local computer, open a Windows PowerShell window as an administrator. Run the following command to create the certificate:
New-SelfSignedCertificate `
-certstorelocation cert:\localmachine\my `
-dnsname www.contoso.com
You should see something like this response:
PSParentPath: Microsoft.PowerShell.Security\Certificate::LocalMachine\my
Thumbprint Subject
---------- -------
E1E81C23B3AD33F9B4D1717B20AB65DBB91AC630 CN=www.contoso.com
Use Export-PfxCertificate with the Thumbprint that was returned to export a pfx file from the certificate. Make sure your password is 4 - 12 characters long:
$pwd = ConvertTo-SecureString -String <your password> -Force -AsPlainText
Export-PfxCertificate `
-cert cert:\localMachine\my\E1E81C23B3AD33F9B4D1717B20AB65DBB91AC630 `
-FilePath c:\appgwcert.pfx `
-Password $pwd
Create an application gateway
Select Create a resource on the left menu of the Azure portal. The New window appears.
Select Networking and then select Application Gateway in the Featured list.
Basics tab
On the Basics tab, enter these values for the following application gateway settings:
Resource group: Select myResourceGroupAG for the resource group. If it doesn't exist, select Create new to create it.
Application gateway name: Enter myAppGateway for the name of the application gateway.
For Azure to communicate between the resources that you create, it needs a virtual network. You can either create a new virtual network or use an existing one. In this example, you'll create a new virtual network at the same time that you create the application gateway. Application Gateway instances are created in separate subnets. You create two subnets in this example: one for the application gateway, and another for the backend servers.
Under Configure virtual network, create a new virtual network by selecting Create new. In the Create virtual network window that opens, enter the following values to create the virtual network and two subnets:
Name: Enter myVNet for the name of the virtual network.
Subnet name (Application Gateway subnet): The Subnets grid will show a subnet named Default. Change the name of this subnet to myAGSubnet.
The application gateway subnet can contain only application gateways. No other resources are allowed.
Subnet name (backend server subnet): In the second row of the Subnets grid, enter myBackendSubnet in the Subnet name column.
Address range (backend server subnet): In the second row of the Subnets Grid, enter an address range that doesn't overlap with the address range of myAGSubnet. For example, if the address range of myAGSubnet is 10.0.0.0/24, enter 10.0.1.0/24 for the address range of myBackendSubnet.
Select OK to close the Create virtual network window and save the virtual network settings.
On the Basics tab, accept the default values for the other settings and then select Next: Frontends.
Frontends tab
On the Frontends tab, verify Frontend IP address type is set to Public.
You can configure the Frontend IP to be Public or Private as per your use case. In this example, you'll choose a Public Frontend IP.
For the Application Gateway v2 SKU, you can only choose Public frontend IP configuration. Private frontend IP configuration is currently not enabled for this v2 SKU.
Choose Create new for the Public IP address and enter myAGPublicIPAddress for the public IP address name, and then select OK.
Select Next: Backends.
Backends tab
The backend pool is used to route requests to the backend servers that serve the request. Backend pools can be composed of NICs, virtual machine scale sets, public IPs, internal IPs, fully qualified domain names (FQDN), and multi-tenant back-ends like Azure App Service. In this example, you'll create an empty backend pool with your application gateway and then add backend targets to the backend pool.
On the Backends tab, select +Add a backend pool.
In the Add a backend pool window that opens, enter the following values to create an empty backend pool:
- Name: Enter myBackendPool for the name of the backend pool.
- Add backend pool without targets: Select Yes to create a backend pool with no targets. You'll add backend targets after creating the application gateway.
In the Add a backend pool window, select Add to save the backend pool configuration and return to the Backends tab.
On the Backends tab, select Next: Configuration.
Configuration tab
On the Configuration tab, you'll connect the frontend and backend pool you created using a routing rule.
Select Add a rule in the Routing rules column.
In the Add a routing rule window that opens, enter myRoutingRule for the Rule name.
A routing rule requires a listener. On the Listener tab within the Add a routing rule window, enter the following values for the listener:
- Listener name: Enter myListener for the name of the listener.
- Frontend IP: Select Public to choose the public IP you created for the frontend.
- Protocol: Select HTTPS.
- Port: Verify 443 is entered for the port.
Under HTTPS Certificate:
PFX certificate file - Browse to and select the c:\appgwcert.pfx file that you create earlier.
Certificate name - Type mycert1 for the name of the certificate.
Password - Type your password.
Accept the default values for the other settings on the Listener tab, then select the Backend targets tab to configure the rest of the routing rule.
On the Backend targets tab, select myBackendPool for the Backend target.
For the HTTP setting, select Create new to create a new HTTP setting. The HTTP setting will determine the behavior of the routing rule. In the Add an HTTP setting window that opens, enter myHTTPSetting for the HTTP setting name. Accept the default values for the other settings in the Add an HTTP setting window, then select Add to return to the Add a routing rule window.
On the Add a routing rule window, select Add to save the routing rule and return to the Configuration tab.
Select Next: Tags and then Next: Review + create.
Review + create tab
Review the settings on the Review + create tab, and then select Create to create the virtual network, the public IP address, and the application gateway. It may take several minutes for Azure to create the application gateway. Wait until the deployment finishes successfully before moving on to the next section.
Add backend targets
In this example, you'll use virtual machines as the target backend. You can either use existing virtual machines or create new ones. You'll create two virtual machines that Azure uses as backend servers for the application gateway.
To do this, you'll:
- Create two new VMs, myVM and myVM2, to be used as backend servers.
- Install IIS on the virtual machines to verify that the application gateway was created successfully.
- Add the backend servers to the backend pool.
Create a virtual machine
On the Azure portal, select Create a resource. The New window appears.
Select Windows Server 2016 Datacenter in the Popular list. The Create a virtual machine page appears.
Application Gateway can route traffic to any type of virtual machine used in its backend pool. In this example, you use a Windows Server 2016 Datacenter.
Enter these values in the Basics tab for the following virtual machine settings:
- Resource group: Select myResourceGroupAG for the resource group name.
- Virtual machine name: Enter myVM for the name of the virtual machine.
- Username: Enter azureuser for the administrator user name.
- Password: Enter a password for the administrator account.
Accept the other defaults and then select Next: Disks.
Accept the Disks tab defaults and then select Next: Networking.
On the Networking tab, verify that myVNet is selected for the Virtual network and the Subnet is set to myBackendSubnet. Accept the other defaults and then select Next: Management.
Application Gateway can communicate with instances outside of the virtual network that it is in, but you need to ensure there's IP connectivity.
On the Management tab, set Boot diagnostics to Off. Accept the other defaults and then select Review + create.
On the Review + create tab, review the settings, correct any validation errors, and then select Create.
Wait for the deployment to complete before continuing.
Install IIS for testing
In this example, you install IIS on the virtual machines only to verify Azure created the application gateway successfully.
Open Azure PowerShell. To do so, select Cloud Shell from the top navigation bar of the Azure portal and then select PowerShell from the drop-down list.
Run the following command to install IIS on the virtual machine:
Set-AzVMExtension ` -ResourceGroupName myResourceGroupAG ` -ExtensionName IIS ` -VMName myVM ` -Publisher Microsoft.Compute ` -ExtensionType CustomScriptExtension ` -TypeHandlerVersion 1.4 ` -SettingString '{"commandToExecute":"powershell Add-WindowsFeature Web-Server; powershell Add-Content -Path \"C:\\inetpub\\wwwroot\\Default.htm\" -Value $($env:computername)"}' ` -Location EastUS
Create a second virtual machine and install IIS by using the steps that you previously completed. Use myVM2 for the virtual machine name and for the VMName setting of the Set-AzVMExtension cmdlet.
Add backend servers to backend pool
Select All resources, and then select myAppGateway.
Select Backend pools from the left menu.
Select myBackendPool.
Under Targets, select Virtual machine from the drop-down list.
Under VIRTUAL MACHINE and NETWORK INTERFACES, select the myVM and myVM2 virtual machines and their associated network interfaces from the drop-down lists.
Select Save.
Wait for the deployment to complete before proceeding to the next step.
Test the application gateway
Select All resources, and then select myAGPublicIPAddress.
In the address bar of your browser, type https://<your application gateway ip address>.
To accept the security warning if you used a self-signed certificate, select Details (or Advanced on Chrome) and then go on to the webpage:
Your secured IIS website is then displayed as in the following example:
Clean up resources
When no longer needed, delete the resource group and all related resources. To do so, select the resource group and select Delete resource group.


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We know that you love your Mom and that your Mom probably loves popcorn! Show her just how you feel by winning her some gourmet popcorn from Popcorn Palace. Just post a photo of you and your Mom (or of your kid and you, if you're a Mom) onto our Facebook page before Mother's Day (Sunday, May 8) and whichever photo gets the most "likes" wins!
Our grand prize winner will receive our special 6-way Iris Tin (pictured) and 5 runners up will win a popcorn flavor bag. Winners will be decided upon based on number of "Likes" so send all of your friends to our Facebook page to vote (Like) for your post.
Entries will be accepted until midnight on May 7, 2011 and the winners will be announced on the Monday following Mother's Day.
Rules and Regulations
- No purchase necessary to enter
- Entries must be submitted by midnight on Saturday, May 7 2011.
- Prizes will be awarded to ten entrants with the most "Likes" on Facebook
- Only residents of the U.S.A. are eligible.
- We will contact the winners via Facebook message or tweet.
- Winners are responsible for responding with their postal addresses, email addresses and phone numbers (for our shipper).
- Postal addresses must be submitted within two weeks (fourteen days) of notification.
- This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook or Twitter. You understand that you are providing your information to Popcorn Palace and not to Facebook or Twitter.
- Judges decision is final.


text:
About Kundalini Awakening: Proven Steps to Unlock Your Spiritual Power and to Heal Your Body Quickly by Ceceli Abernathy:
This book contains proven steps and strategies on how to tap into your spiritual being, which will lead to greater longevity as well as control unlike ever before through this form of yoga. No longer will your life be left to chance, and no longer will you be at the mercy of your health.
Yoga already has a plethora of positive effects on the body as well as the mind, so imagine the power of tapping into the spiritual place from which one of the most ancient forms of yoga derived!
Buy the book, and follow the author on social media:
Learn more about the writer. Visit the Author's Website.
Buy the Book On Amazon.
Visit the Facebook Fan Page.
Visit the Twitter page.
Author Bio:
Ceceli Abernathy is a single mother and a health enthusiast. After her daughter was born, she was diagnosed with Graves disease and fell very ill. After a complete thyroidectomy , her health was the worst it had ever been. She had symptoms of debilitating fatigue, depression, weight gain, mood swings and other unbearable problems. She decided enough was enough and she was going to take her health back. She began researching alternative medicines, foods, exercises, and holistic practices that allowed her to regain her health and ultimately improving her way of life. She would like to share the things that she has learned to improve her health with anyone that needs a change. She continues to write books that promote wellness of mind, body and soul.


text:
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,
as working for The Lord, not for men." Colossians 3:23
It's been a loooooooong few weeks in the 'hood around here.
Around the 'hood....each day seems to have brought some kind of new frustration, or conflict...
Around the 'hood....each day God offers us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Each day, we have free will to choose one path or the other path.
This is easier read, than done.
God, Please remind us that YOUR path is the only correct choice.
In His Dust,


text:
Orlando, Fla. – The Hon. Jose R. Rodriguez, a judge in the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, was the speaker at the 2012 commencement ceremony for the Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law on May 12 at 11 a.m. The commencement ceremony washeld for 202 graduates and their families at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.
Rodriguez has served on the bench since 1987, when he became the first Hispanic-American to serve as an Orange County judge. Among his professional activities, he is a member of the Florida Supreme Court Commission on Fairness and a bencher of the Inns of Court. He served on the Florida Supreme Court Task Force on Treatment-Based Drug Courts and presided over the first fully operational drug court in the Ninth Circuit. Rodriguez is also a member of the Barry Law School's Board of Advisors.
Rodriguez immigrated to Miami from Cuba at the age of nine and became a U.S. citizen on July 4, 1976. He earned a Juris Doctor from the Florida State University College of Law in 1977.
His daughter, Ani Rodriguez, was among the graduates crossing the stage at the commencement ceremony. She was the fourth generation to be an attorney in the Rodriguez family.
"Professionalism and ethics are critical components of a Barry Law education, and Judge Rodriguez is widely recognized for upholding these values in his courtroom," said Leticia M. Diaz, dean of the Barry Law School. "He was an inspiration for our graduates as they prepare to enter the legal profession."


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Despite opposition from conservatives and threats of an attack, Afghanistan's pop star Aryana Sayeed performed in the capital city of Kabul on Saturday (19 August).
The concert, which was initially scheduled to take place at Ghazi Stadium, held at Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul as the authorities said they could not guarantee security at that venue.
According to reports, hundreds of young men and women attended the Saturday show to mark the country's 98th Independence Day.
"Despite the threats, I didn't think such a big number of girls would attend here. Fortunately, the number of women is bigger than men," Bahar Sohaili, who attended the concert, said.
"We are here to defy those who were against the concert," some of the girls were quoted as saying by the BBC.
In the past few months, Afghanistan has witnessed a series of suicide attacks and explosions. The latest one was on the Mirza Olang village of Sar-e-Pul province in which 40 civilians lost their lives.
The victims mostly included Shia Muslims who were beheaded or shot dead by the assailants - believed to be Isis and Taliban fighters, according to local reports. Afghan military personnel were also killed but the casualty figure was not known.
Maryam Ataee, a participant of the show, said: "After the recent incident, this is to break the silence, to make the people laugh who witnessed and suffered deadly incidents in last two months."
"My message to our people is to accept each other," Halim, a resident of Kabul who attended the event, said while urging people to stay united.
Who is Aryana Sayeed and why is she seen as a threat to Afghan conservatism?
Sayeed, who is described by her fans as Afghanistan's Kim Kardashian, is known for her figure-hugging outfits and not a favourite of religious extremists.
The singer is based in the UK and is a controversial figure in Afghanistan because the lyrics of her songs highlight the rights of Afghan women and their plight. Sayeed also refuses to cover her hair, dances on stage and wears Western clothes, something termed as un-Islamic by a large part of Afghan society.
In the past also, she has received a number of death threats from those who think her clothes and public shows are disrespect to Afghan culture.
"There are certain people in Afghanistan who have been against music, against celebration, against even New Year, Eid and everything. I feel like today we need to stand together and fight against it," Sayeed said.
"At the end of the day, we are also human beings and these are basic human needs - music, celebration, Independence Day, New Year," the defiant singer said, adding that the profits of her show will go to the families of those killed by Islamist militants in the Mirza Olang village.


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Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope you've all been having a wonderful time, whatever you've been upto.
Christmas began in earnest for my family on Christmas Eve, with the opening of our Christmas Eve boxes. This is a tradition started by my wife, Elle. These boxes are basically a little something to enjoy on Christmas Eve.
I loved my box as it included some warm slipper socks to wear and a tiny bottle of Monkey Shouler whisky. There's just something I love about miniature bottles of spirits that somehow make them more appealing 😛 Our baby Zack also joined our tradition this year with his own box full of toys and clothing items.
Elle's box was designed to give her an evening of relaxing in a Lush bath with some Prosecco and a face mask.
Another tradition of ours is to get Chinese take-away on Christmas Eve. Elle and I have been doing this since we started living together.
And then of course came the big day! A day of family, food, and warm fuzzy feelings 🙂 Here are some photos of the day.
Rummaging through our Christmas stockings in bed.
Opening presents from under the tree 🙂
I received Japanese games and Japanese whisky (^_^)
Breakfast cooked by Elle is another tradition… pancakes and bacon 🙂
Christmas lunch. Yum!
Decorations at my parents place.
Even more food!
The only downside is that I couldn't enjoy a Christmas tipple as I was driving. So I'm having one while writing this post 🙂
It's approaching midnight and little Zack is fast asleep. I'm on the couch with a glass of Akashi whisky and the recorded Dr Who finale to enjoy with Elle.
I sincerely hope you have all had a lovely day. Thank you all for reading, folks.


text:
I have some news, two items actually.
First, today (it's still 18th June in California) is my blog's 8th anniversary!
I wrote my first blog post, about Advanced Oracle Troubleshooting, exactly 8 years ago, on 18th June 2007 and have written 229 blog posts since. I had started writing and accumulating my TPT script collection a couple of years earlier and now it has over 1000 files in it! And no, I don't remember what all of them do and even why I had written them. Also I haven't yet created an index/documentation for all of them (maybe on the 10th anniversary? ;)
Thanks everyone for your support, reading, commenting and the ideas we've exchanged over all these years, it's been awesome to learn something new every single day!
Here's where I'll hang out in the following months:
11-12 Feb 2015: IOUG Exadata SIG Virtual Conference (free online event)
18-19 Feb 2015: RMOUG Training Days (in Denver)
1-5 March 2015: Hotsos Symposium 2015
Here's where I will hang out (and in some cases speak) during the OOW:
Sunday, Sep 28 3:30pm – Moscone South – 310
Monday, Sep 29 8:30am – 4:00pm – Creativity Museum
Enkitec is the best consulting firm for hands on implementation, running and troubleshooting your Oracle based systems, especially the engineered systems like Exadata. We have a truly awesome group of people here; many are the best in their field (just look at the list!!!).
This is why I am here.
This is also why Accenture approached us some time ago – and you may already have seen today's announcement that Enkitec got bought!
After missing last year's Hotsos Symposium (trying to cut my travel as you know :), I will present at and deliver the full-day Training Day at this year's Hotsos Symposium! It will be my 10th time to attend (and speak at) this awesome conference. So I guess this means more beer than usual. Or maybe less, as I'm getting old. Let's make it as usual, then :0)
Yes, the title of this post is also a reference to the Machete Kills Again (…in Space) movie that I'm sure going to check out once it's out ;-)
I will be speaking at a few more conferences this year and thought to add some comments about my plans here too. Here's the list of my upcoming presentations:
In case you haven't noticed, I will be delivering my Advanced Oracle Troubleshooting and Advanced Oracle Exadata Performance: Troubleshooting and Optimization classes again in Oct/Nov 2013 (AOT) and December 2013 (Exadata).
I have streteched the Exadata class to 5-half days as 4 half-days wasn't nearly enough to deliver the amount of details in the material (and I think it's still going to be a pretty intensive pace).
And that's all for this year (I will write about conferences and other public appearances in a separate post).
Enkitec has made it to the shortlist of UKOUG Partner of the Year Awards, in the Engineered Systems category. So if you like what we have done in the Exadata and Engineered Systems space, please cast your vote! :-)
Note that you need to be an Oracle user – using your company email address in order to vote. (the rules are explained here).


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If you are completely new to the world of photography, you may be thinking that a few tips on photography can help you immensely. You are correct because you can start bettering your ability to take good, clear photos. Read this article for some great advice on how to capture great photographs.
Overcast skies can present problems when you are taking pictures, so exclude them from the image frame. Having too much gray sky can make your shots appear washed-out and muted. If you really want or need a shot in overcast conditions, try a black and white picture to maximize contrast and improve the overall picture. If the sky is blue and beautiful, include it as much as you want, but pay attention to the light.
You need not stand directly in front of an object to photograph it. Unique angles can add an artistic element to your pictures.
Strive to ensure your models, especially any you don't already know, feel relaxed in your presence. Many people are camera-shy and avoid pictures at all costs. Make sure to be congenial, talk to them and ask if it is okay to take the pictures. Make sure that they see that you're practicing art, not invading their privacy.
In life we are taught that even and centered is the way things should be. In a society that values perfection, it can seem logical to frame your photos with the subject perfectly framed in the center, but you should actually try placing the subject off-center for a more interesting shot. Auto-focus features center in, and lock on the subject automatically that is in the camera's view. Just focus manually and then lock the focus before clicking the photograph.
Confine yourself within certain limits, to breed creativity. For instance, make a goal to only photograph images that represent one concept, such as "red." Make an attempt to take 100 photos from a similar point of view or from the same small location. Limitations can often times allow us to see beautiful, or unique things, that would have otherwise gone undetected.
When shooting pictures of a landscape, ensure any shot you take has three focal points. A good landscape has interesting content in the foreground, in the background, and also in between the two, in the mid-ground. These are not only fundamentals basics of photography, but of a lot of other types of art as well.
Do you need pictures of subjects that are soaked or misted with rain? Just create a little rain yourself. Carry around a spray bottle, and mist the subjects up a little to get the right effect.
Take the time to read your camera manual. The size of a manual often makes them prohibitive to reading. Most people put them back in the box or toss them without ever looking at them. Rather than getting rid of it, actually read it. It can really help you take better pictures and prevent you from making stupid mistakes.
As you are now aware, based on the previous tips given, photography is a great way to capture a great moment and make it a memory that will last forever. By utilizing these tips you will be on your way to becoming a photographic expert.


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Following the hundreds of thousands of people who marched in cities around the world on Sunday, the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) commenced in Paris this week. As leaders from 147 nations gathered to address the conference, few can doubt the global significance of climate change and the importance the world is placing on tackling the challenges we face.
Whilst it is the politicians who will look to negotiate a deal aimed at reducing global carbon emissions in an attempt to limit global warming to 2oC, David Cameron himself stated that "the issue of climate change is too large for governments alone to deal with. That is why business and private donors must play an active role in shaping our response to climate change, and enabling trillions of dollars of investment in clean technology".
Few dispute this and the recent launch by Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerburg, Richard Branson and other high-profile entrepreneurs of an investment fund dedicated to finding clean energy demonstrates the commitment by business to play their part. For those of us with an interest in the electric vehicle world, Elon Musk can be added to this list with his backing of Tesla and SolarCity. But critically, these companies have been hugely successful on the capital markets as investors realise the demand from society for companies able to offer more sustainable products. More evidence can be seen in the rise of 'Green bonds' with HSBC, for example, recently injecting $1bn into a green bond portfolio.
Potentially therefore it will be the bottom up approach that has the biggest impact on our ability to tackle climate change rather than a top-down approach driven by legislation. Actions by individuals, their buying habits and desire to support companies with socially responsible principles will drive the profits of those businesses who respond to this demand. Business that can innovate and benefit from the disruption to traditional markets. Perhaps this is why China has invested $90bn on renewable power generation in 2014. Not only because it has to sort out its own air pollution issues but because it can see the development of renewable products and technology will support its exporting economy into the future.


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Solar Powered Gates Are a Practical Investment Opportunity
Gates have many different uses. They are a decorative item for neighbourhoods and houses. They are a status symbol. They are a safety measure. There are many great reasons to get a solar powered gate opener installed.
Gates are an easy way to ensure the security of a private home or business. A gate can be utilized for all different sized properties. Solar powered gates are not all that commonplace, but have a solid niche in the market. A gate shows status and wealth and is therefore desired by many different people and neighbourhoods.
Solar power is the conversion of sunlight into electricity. Concentrated solar power systems use lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus on a large area of sunlight into a small beam. The concentrated heat is used as a heat source for a conventional power plant. Choosing a solar powered gate opener means a huge savings … Read More