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- Phaselis
(theatrical masks at Myra)
You may wish to read an introduction to this section first.
Phaselis was situated on the western side of the Gulf of Antalya which is characterized by high mountains close to the coastline. In the late 1970s the first tourist facilities of this region were built at Kemer, a small town north of Phaselis. Today many very large sea resorts line up for miles and miles. They cater for all tastes, including those of Amsterdam's commuters who miss their Central Railway Station.
On a small peninsula, at the foot of Takhtalu, are the remains of the city of Phaselis, with its three ports and lake, as described by Strabo. (..) The principal port was formed by a stone pier, at the southern side of the isthmus; it projected about two hundred yards into the sea, by which it has been entirely overthrown, and can now only be traced underwater.
Francis Beaufort, Captain of HMS Frederikssteen, a frigate of 32 guns: Karamania; or a brief description of the South Coast of Asia Minor, and of the Remains of Antiquity collected during a survey of that coast, under the orders of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, in the years 1811 & 1812 - Published in 1817
In summer so many sunbathers come to Phaselis by boat from the nearby resorts, that authorities have opened a ticket office on the pebble beach of the ancient southern harbour. Sunbathers go snorkelling around its submerged wharf. In winter the harbour is a very quiet place and it shows all its natural beauty with the snow on the mountains adding to it.
Phaselis stood on a headland which created three natural harbours of different size. The northern harbour was most likely used for military purposes as it was less visible from the sea. Phaselis was founded in the VIIth century BC most likely by seamen from Rhodes. In the Ist century BC it became a base of the pirates who attacked ships on their way between Syria and Greece.
The two other ports were on the northern side; one of them is very small, with a narrow entrance in the pier, where it seems to have been closed by gates. F. Beaufort
This harbour was most likely used by small fishing boats because of its shallow waters. There is evidence that, similar to the northern harbour, its mouth was closed by a chain laid between towers standing on now sunken rocks. In 1972 Phaselis was included in a National Park which protects the coastline and its mountains from a point south of Kemer to Cape Gelidonya at the end of the Gulf of Antalya.
The distance between the middle harbour and the southern one is very short and a wide straight street linked the two harbours. A square at its middle was the centre of the town with tribunals, baths and shops. Along the street and in the square statues were erected to worthy citizens. By and large, the ruins of Phaselis are dated Ist and IInd century AD, a period of great wealth in most parts of the Roman Empire.
Emperor Hadrian, accompanied by his wife Vibia Sabina and a small retinue, landed at the southern harbour of Phaselis in the course of a long journey across many provinces of the Empire. The citizens of the town celebrated the event by erecting an arch at the beginning of the main street. The arch has fallen, but many sections of its dedicatory inscription and fragments of the decoration are scattered nearby. Other inscriptions dedicated to Hadrian have been found in the agora. In one of them the Emperor was celebrated as "Saviour of the World".
The headland ends with a rocky hill, which was fortified. There is limited evidence of its walls because the headland, upon which the town stood, consists of a soft rock which easily yields to the action of the sea. The cliffs fall in as they become unsupported (..). We may consequently presume, that the town and the peninsula must have once extended beyond their present limits. F. Beaufort
A small theatre was built into the slope of the hill near the main square and it was enlarged/rebuilt in the IInd century AD. It could seat an audience of 2,000.
A large bath complex with an adjoining gymnasium has been identified in a series of buildings along the main street near the middle harbour. A second smaller complex was situated between the main square and the theatre. The best preserved sections of the baths are their hypocausti (heat from below), low chambers under the caldaria where hot air flowed from a nearby furnace.
The baths (and some fountains) were supplied by an aqueduct which carried water from a spring to the north of the town. It was presumably built in the Ist century AD and its remaining arches are the first thing one sees of Phaselis when coming by land.
Tombs were built outside the town enclosure and fragments of sarcophagi can be seen here and there in the pinewood north of the town and along the seashore.
Phaselis is recorded as a bishopric see in the Vth century and again in the VIIIth century. It was most likely raided by the Arabs and after the Seljuk conquest of the region in the XIIth century it was abandoned.
The image used as background for this page shows a decorative motif on a broken lintel.
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Map of Turkey with all the locations covered in this website


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Move the bricks back and forth and notice the strange distortions in the rectangular brick pattern. If the bricks are aligned as they are in the beginning or if they are organized in a checkerboard pattern, the effect disappears.
Change the brightness of the mortar by clicking on the top or bottom of the brightness arrow (you can click and hold to change continuously). Notice when the effect goes away.
The Cafe Wall Illusion was first described by Dr. Richard Gregory. Dr. Gregory is a good friend of the Exploratorium and director of
The Exploratory Hands On Science Museum
in Bristol, England. Dr. Gregory observed this curious effect in a pattern of tiles on a cafe wall in Bristol and has kindly granted us permission to display his picture of this cafe below. Note that the effect is not visible in the picture due to the small scale of the tiles.
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Since I deliberately landed in Albania this past Sunday 30-August I have met about one hundred of the country's most relevant personalities, including Ministers, Deputy Ministers, members of parliament, Presidents and CEO's of the largest business conglomerates, University Rectors, Vice Rectors, Deans and Professors, NGO Leaders and Executive Secretaries, Ambassadors and Honorary Consuls, Foundation Directors, Writers, Painters, Museum Theater and Opera Directors, Mayors, Actors, Movie Directors, journalists, reporters, Presidents of Orders and Associations and Intellectuals. In fact I challenge anyone to find a foreign Author who in less than three months has recently met with more relevant authorities. Many are asking me what I think about the small and dynamic Balkan republic. My diagnosis must be brutal: the system has failed in Albania. My diagnosis is not personal but belongs to the one hundred of the country's most relevant personalities whom I have met thus far. World Bank and IMF missions last a few days. You can only grasp a country's reality under the appropriate circumstances and an accurate sampling strategy in three months.
Difficult it is for me to ascertain the convenience of being brutally honest. But I must. Otherwise I would be not abiding by a code of ethics which intends to make a contribution to the country's future prosperity. In order to improve we must first be brutally honest with our weaknesses and identify the reasons why institutions and policies are failing. We must then design solutions which with vision, courage, discipline, leadership and determination shall be implemented for the sake of Albanians. I will leave the specific drawbacks of the system in Albania for later analysis. I would like to focus on the fundamentals addressed by the Experts related to why the system failed in the small Balkan republic after only 25 years of improvised and somewhat chaotic reforms driven and oftentimes imposed by the international agents and donors.
In 1991 Albania left behind the world's most tight and closed communist regime dominated by Enver Hoxha until his death in 1985. Many areas in the previous regime worked better then than they do today. Market economy and democracy have brought chaos, corruption and improvisation to the young and dynamic republic. To be remembered institutions, public transportation, the educational system in the three levels primary, secondary and university all worked much better during the communist regime. Even culture was better funded and society was characterized by a total absence of corruption. Nobody questions the necessity and convenience of embracing a well-functioning market economy within a smoothly-ran democracy. This is not the case for today's Albania where the need to embrace radical policy making is manifest.
I talk to the Albanian elites who might read my analysis. Many will be surprised even astonished by the clarity and brutality of my words. Do not be surprised. Be warned. These are not my words. These words, these statements that I make explicit today belong in the mouths and the offices of the country's most relevant personalities. There is no room for optimism. The situation is dramatic. Albania must change the course of its path to change the course of history. The country can continue to move as fast as a steam wagon or become a maglev train. Be warned, in both scenarios we will be moving ahead with a perception of progress. The current elites lack the insight and the technology to accelerate changes so that relative improvement is feasible.
Albania is today a country ran by a myriad of political parties ran by a zillion of mediocre politicians. There are -as always- exceptions to the rule. Endogamy and nepotism feed the ranks of the public administration, where connections, money, or traffic of influence rules who is hired and who is turned down, within Ministries, the Central Bank, City Halls, Public Hospitals, Schools and Universities. A total absence of meritocracy encourages everyone to call a friend or acquaintance when trying to "place" sons and daughters in the public administration. Large corporate tycoons control a radically polarized and segmented media which according to the Western model purely broadcasts garbage entertainment full of irrelevant chartalan-based politics and violence which matters little next to the the country's and the World's real challenges. Undoubtedly and unwittingly, citizens become the miserable victims of a 1984-George Orwell's big brother which contaminates the gossip with biased priorities.
Albania is today a country where corruption is manifest in every single level of society, from the individual to the group, from the poorest to the richest. Everyone without exception tries to find the shortcut to obtain an unfair competitive advantage exploiting the system at its best and most. Pressure from parents in the schooling system forces teachers and professors to inflate the grades of the children of the better off and the powerful. Members of parliament run private universities of questionable quality selling diplomas the youth will never be able to exploit while using the proceeds to finance their children's education at top institutions abroad. Youth unemployment and a buoyant informal economy challenge the nation's ability to raise taxes. Unable to raise taxes properly the political establishment chooses to engage in a rising taxes policy. Those living in rural areas migrate to the city in search for a better living which they shall not find. Those in Tirana who realize the lack of opportunity is here to stay choose to migrate abroad where they will usually remain underemployed in the services sector. In the meantime politicians try to dictate how society should be without excelling by example. There are no role models to follow or be inspired with.
The baby boomers born in the aftermath of the communist regime fall encounter a terrible job market in which their best aspirations consist in finding a job in a call center serving the Italian market. The lucky ones who do get a job exploit whatever connections they may have. The total lack of competitiveness makes Albanian Universities the worst choice possible, even the private ones. Those who can send their kids to study abroad, and to remain living abroad to avoid the country's fallacy of apparent leadership and prosperity.
The international institutions are only worsening the scenario doing a disservice to the Albanian society by acknowledging the validity of accountability of the current elites. Everyone who has a vested interest in the system cannot speak up. I choose to speak up because I am a foreigner with nothing to lose and no conflicts of interest when it comes to being blunt and blatant with a reality which is impossible to digest any longer. A World citizen rather than a foreigner who by the way feels at home in Albania.
Yes there are many reasons to be optimistic when looking at the country's progress since 1991. But there is enough room to be seriously concerned. The macroeconomic indicators could and should be much better starting with per-capita incomes, GDP growth, unemployment rate, foreign direct investment or public debt-to-GDP ratio.
In the meantime Western countries continue to export an obsolete economic model based on the inundation of unnecessary and redundant multiple-choice and programmed obsolescence products and services which by the way Western countries manufacture and export for the sake of their developed economics and their highly-educated personnel. Albanians continue to love Mercedes Benz and I-Phones, surprisingly abundant for a country with a per capita income under the USD 10 000 mark. Politics-based governance articulated according to the fragmentation of the ideological spectre is ruining the possibility of uniting society along an axis different from nationalism and football, which may bring apparent and temporary joy and pride but never progress or prosperity. And by the way in spite of the appearance of the left-wing or right-wing dress, all political parties exert a same ideology in the very center of the vast range of possibilities.
Albania and Albanians may be making absolute progress. But what matters in today's world is relative progress compared to more developed nations. If relative progress is slow Albania will continue to fall and not climb in the international rankings. The drama, the orgy of bad governance, the pandemics of corruption, the evils of nepotism and connections will destroy a country and a society already confused, tired, lost in a transition to nowhere where the light is being shadowed by partisan and spurious domestic and international interests. Subsequent to Enver Hoxha's death, Albanians opened Pandora's box when they looked at the West as a benchmark to copy and follow. Western countries are the foremost example of what not to copy or embrace as standards for the developing World. Canada and The United States would not be what they are today in the absence of the massive diasporas of qualified personnel landing on their shores. Western Europe would not be what it is today in the absence of centuries of excessive and sometimes abusive colonization and annihilation of remote territories where societies were massacred and imposed upon systems and standards that simply did not fit.
Albania must change the course of its governance and leadership to change the course of history. The country must embrace extreme cooperation with its neighbors including Kosovo but also Macedonia and Serbia. A large market shall benefit everyone in the Balkans. The country's protagonists and intellectuals must hear my call and join our efforts to launch post-politics as an alternative governance paradigm. The mediocre and corrupt must either resign or embrace radical change. Aggregate interest must prioritize individual interest until Albania reaches a reasonable level of prosperity well beyond its current level.
My due diligence is accurate, exact and fair. It portrays in a straightforward and descriptive narrative the central part of the distribution of opinions I have incorporated from circa one hundred personalities. Whoever wishes to challenge me can confront the domestic protagonists who have welcomed me and my presence in Europe's friendliest republic. I feel confident and comfortable with my analysis. Statistically speaking I cannot be wrong or biased after speaking and spending hundreds of hours with the countries' real insiders and visionaries.
I speak onto you Albanians. There is still time to re-route our journey towards the best possible future. You must be bold and brave. Together we can do it with the help of the Expert Dreamers. Europe's most beautiful and friendliest republic can accomplish the dream, but not with the current players and stakeholders.


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It's December and in assessing the issues that faced the music business this year, I keep thinking about digital downloading and how our world might be dramatically changing with this new technology, moving forward.
It's quite simple to download a song on the Internet. Legally downloads usually require a credit card and a few clicks of the mouse. Within seconds, the songs come directly onto your computer. High speed phone lines enable you to make very reasonable copies and you can imagine what a few more years of technological advances will do.
So I decided to let my imagination run forward a bit, to see what the future record business might look like. It's easy to see that at some point in time, your entire record collection might live on something like a giant MP3 player, or a portable hard drive.
This hard drive would have tons of memory and, in my fantasy, it would synch up to your computer, your stereo, your home theater and your car system. Between your home and work experience, and your commuting time, you'd be able to program your favorite songs at every moment if you wanted.
And maybe instead of renting movies on a Friday night, you'll go to your local downloading station...my future name for video rental and record stores. Instead of renting a movie, you'd buy digital copies of them, which the clerks directly download into your portable hard drive at super fast speeds. The downloading station of the future would also carry music titles.
In fact, in my fantasy future, it's quite possible for bands to make a record and never produce or manufacture a CD for sale. Once their record is produced, mixed and mastered, the label would upload the new music for all online, broadcast, cable and satellite radio stations. They'd also upload the new music to key journalists, television and night club booking agents. And the label would make the music available to these new downloading centers.
With the push of one button, the taste-maker trade would get to hear the new sound first. If they like it, the gate-keepers would open their doors to the public. Once the record was on the radio and in downloading centers, the revenue stream would be completely e commerce driven. All this without a single disc ever being manufactured.
So how realistic is this? It's all actually possible now. The technology already exists for all of this and you can find a lot of it happening abroad.
The questions that face the music industry in the digital age, are mostly about how to collect money. Since the late 60's, the music business has enjoyed an economic boom never seen before, and the costs of bringing music to the public has became seriously over inflated. Today's music business has had to reassess every facet, and most of the music business is either getting out, or getting lean. There's just no room for fat anymore in here.
And how do the artists fair in my fantasy scenario? Well, one of the dirty little secret of the music business is that most artists in America have never lived on income derived from their record sales. In fact, it's not uncommon for artists at some major labels to have sold a quarter million albums, appeared on the covers of major magazines, performed live on national television and had their music videos played incessantly on MTV, but still they have not yielded a significant paycheck from their US record sales. The truth in the music business has and continues to be, that artists make their money through touring, merchandising, musical performances in films and in advertising and on publishing, not record sales.
So it's not surprising that musicians are jumping onto the virtual world to distribute their own music in record numbers. It gives them the possibility of economic control as bands now often begin their careers by negotiating their own deals online. And though downloaded music is not quite the norm yet, I imagine we're going to see a lot more digital downloading in the years to come.
This is Celia Hirschman for On the Beat, on KCRW.


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The Well being and Fitness Program at the School of Kinesiology is ideal for students concerned about wellness, private coaching, coaching, or being a well being and health educator. In addition to coursework, college students will engage in quite a lot of internships and experiential learning opportunities that can practice them tips on how to assess and promote well being and bodily exercise across the lifespan by way of preventative and therapeutic strategies.
The following time you feel down, open up Bernstein's latest ebook, The Universe Has Your Again: Remodel Concern to Religion The licensed yoga instructor, motivational speaker, and meditation teacher preaches tips on how to really stay life by attaining happiness, security, and clear course.
After all, the web page asks users to pick between programs that make people sizzling" and get people big." It also reminds you to decide on properly." But that's simply Romaniello's signature bluntness (in spite of everything, aren't these two pretty frequent causes folks want to work out?) Whenever you look beneath the floor, you rapidly understand Romaniello is without doubt one of the smartest fitness consultants of our time, and his model and intellect has struck a chord with thousands of devoted followers.
5 years after making a giant splash with Grain Brain , a e book that claims low-carb diets lower your threat for neurological situations like Alzheimer's, Perlmutter is again with The Grain Brain Entire Life Plan The ebook and television particular supply recipes and advice about easy methods to ease right into a gluten-free way of life.
Our large number of health and fitness actions embrace fitness classes and gyms with private trainers and instructors on hand that can assist you obtain your targets, swimming periods from lane swimming to our extra sociable public periods and our GP Referral Scheme the place our supportive and skilled well being professionals will allow you to develop a programme that's personal to you to fit your life-style and needs.


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Notice is hereby given that the Wheatland Union High School District (the "District") has elected to participate in the California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act (CUPCCAA), "the Act." Public projects, as defined by the Act and in accordance with the limits listed in Section 22032 of the Public Contract Code, will be let to contract by informal procedures as set forth in Sections 22032-22045 of the Public Contract Code. All licensed contractors are invited to submit the name of their firm to the District for inclusion in the District's list of qualified bidders for calendar year 2021.
Interested Contractors are required to complete and submit to the District the "Wheatland Union High School District (WUHSD) Bidders List Information Form" (click to access).
Contractors are to download this form, provide all required and requested information, and submit to the Facilities Department, 1010 Wheatland Road, Wheatland, California 95692 or via email to firstname.lastname@example.com, for receipt on behalf of the District, or via facsimile to: (530) 633-3109. All submittals must be clearly labeled "Wheatland Union High School District CUPCCAA Bidders List Information Form Submittal". Information required on the form will include, but not be limited to:
1. The name and complete address, including zip code.
2. The telephone and facsimile numbers and e-mail address.
3. The Class of the Contractor's License(s) held and Contractor License Number(s).
4. The type(s) of work in which the Contractor is interested and currently licensed to perform, such as, but not limited to, General Engineering, General Building, or Specialty Contracting such as, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Structural, Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC), Earthwork, Pipelines, Painting, Carpentry, Concrete, Demolition, Excavation, Landscaping, Masonry, Painting, Roofing, Etc.
This announcement is sent to various trades journals for publication as a requirement of the California Uniform Public Construction Cost Account Procedures to establish and maintain a list of qualified contractors per the applicable sections of the Public Contract Code.
This invitation shall also be subject to any and all applicable laws, regulations and standards.
Once registered on the District's list, you will be notified by email about any capital improvement projects.


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EU-Startups recently attended the Seedstars Summit 2016 in Lausanne, Switzerland. Over 50 startups from emerging tech hubs around the world competed there for an investment of up to $1 million. An exciting event filled with breakout sessions, panel discussions and specialized workshops and with some of the brightest minds from the fast growing startup scenes of Africa, Asia, LATAM, but also emerging countries of Europe.
This year, there was a special focus on travel startups, and lastminute.com group, a European leader in online travel and leisure made a $ 500'000 equity investment in the Ukrainian startup TRIPMYDREAM. We chatted with lastminute.com group CEO Fabio Cannavale.
What does lastminute.com group do?
We are a publicly traded multinational Group, among the worldwide leaders in the online travel industry, and we operate a portfolio of well-known brands such as lastminute.com, Bravofly, Rumbo, Volagratis and Jetcost. Every year, more than 10 million travellers book and manage their travel and leisure experiences through our websites and mobile apps in 17 languages and across 40 countries.
How do you travel, plan and book travels? As individual, and with family?
I like to organise the trips on my own and often give advise to all my friends. I am very curious, I like to study in advance the destinations and tailor all my trips. A few years ago, I launched a project to tour the world in a way that unspoiled and remote locations can be enjoyed aboard a state of the art sailing boat. I have brought on board friends, colleagues and family and together we visited places like Alaska, Greenland and the Galapagos Islands. These were inspiring and unique adventures, especially to experience the incredible nature in those parts of the world. I think my children will remember these trips all their life.
What are the latest trends in the travel industry? How do you see travel in several years?
Over the past years, the travel industry has changed a lot and this was mainly driven by innovation. In fact, travel is probably the industry that has been more deeply transformed by technology than any other industry. Just think of high-volume, speed, complexity, personalisation – these are all keywords representing the field where we operate every day.
And of course, mobile is changing how we discover, research, buy and experience. Travellers are continuously connected with the digital world and this again has completely changed consumer behaviour.
How does your company innovate? How do you work with startups?
lastminute.com group aims to be an inspiring travel company, committed to enrich the lives of travellers through smart technology and cutting-edge content. One passion of lastminute group is to stay lean and innovative. This is where the vision came from to launch a bold partnership with Seedstars World, and together, find the best travel startup from emerging markets.
Travel startups have become the drivers for industry-wide innovation. To be immersed in this flourishing environment and to nurture talents are two of the reasons why we became a partner of Seedstars over the last year . But we also have invested in 2015 in two small but promising start-ups: Map2App, an innovative platform providing dynamic maps, and Urbi, a mobile app which aggregates all sharing providers delivering services for urban transfer needs (cars, scooters, bicycles etc.).
Why did you partner with Seedstars World and sponsored the main travel part of the contest?
We know that meeting talents in the worldwide startup scene during our partnership with Seedstars would be very inspiring for us and our ambition to ensure we keep our entrepreneurial spirit. This is where the vision came from to launch this bold partnership with Seedstars World to find the best travel startups from emerging markets. We are genuinely interested in innovations in this exciting sector.
Anything you would add to tips on how to hack startup conferences we recently published?
On tips n. 3, I would add Top Secret Hotels of lastminute.com where customers can choose from a great range of hotels in key cities and save up to 35%. The hotel name stays a secret until after the booking – but before booking, to assist them in their choice, customers can find in the description a lot of information about the hotel as well as a 'pink area' on a map so they get an idea of where the hotel could be located.
On tips n. 9, I also recommend Urbi, the urban mobility app available for now only in Italy and Germany where you can find all the solutions of car, scooters and bike sharing.


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With all of the hullabaloo going on with wrecking ball, A.K,A Hammond, you may have missed some of the more minor things that Blizard has announced as changes that could be happening. As well as somg cross-platform hints, that may or may not be coming soon.
A couple things that were mentioned in the video (created by Your Overwatch) were regarding his "charge" ability and how it effects opponents in real time. The ability itself seems to be lacking due to latency issue. Long story short, its hard to affect another player when their latency is higher/lower then yours. another thing they said they were trying to his was his ultimate, "earthshatter". there wasn't much speculation on it, though. mostly saying that his ultimate itself, was buggy. and it takes a lot of behind the scenes work to fix what they want to fix. not in time for the next update, unfortunately.
And of course, what you all have been waiting for, Torbjorn.
In this video (also created by Your Overwatch) they stated that they would be giving him something like symmetra, where they made her ultimate a normal cool down ability, and gave her something else for her ultimate. In Torbs case, they would want to make his ultimate a cool down ability, that only affects him. They also spoke of his turret, and its auto leveling and auto aiming qualities. Maybe the turret will be controlled by the palyer in the future? Its all up in the air right now, and we may not see many changes for a while.


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As Iran prepares to inaugurate a new president, those suspicious of Iran's nuclear intentions have warned that Hassan Rouhani will be merely a smarter version of his predecessor and drag out negotiations while the country secretly builds a bomb.
However, Iran's ability to break out or sneak out of its non-proliferation obligations is hampered by an inspection regime that keeps extremely close track of Iranian uranium enrichment facilities.
Herman Nackaerts, the deputy director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and head of its Department of Safeguards, told Al-Monitor during a visit to Washington that "we would know within a week" whether Iran was diverting uranium from declared sites and seeking to enrich it to weapons' grade level.
There are two to six IAEA inspectors on the ground in Iran every day, Nackaerts said, covering 16 Iranian facilities. On average, he said, that means that an inspector visits Iran's enrichment plants at Natanz and Fordow once a week. If there are suspicions about any improper activities, they can go more often, he added.
It is always possible that Iran is secretly enriching uranium somewhere not known to the IAEA. But most experts believe that if Iran were to decide to make weapons, it would use its declared facilities and known stockpile of partly enriched uranium.
Slowly but steadily, Iran has amassed enough fissile material and centrifuges to make a nuclear breakout increasingly feasible. David Albright, a former IAEA inspector and president of the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) argues in a paper released last week that by mid-2014, Iran will achieve what is known as "critical capability," which he defines as "the technical capability to produce sufficient weapon-grade uranium from its safeguarded stocks of low-enriched uranium for a nuclear explosive, without being detected."
Albright and co-author Christina Walrond assess that Iran can reach this stage by carrying out its announced plans to install thousands more elementary-level centrifuges — known as IR-1's or P-1s — at Natanz and Fordow plus "perhaps a few thousand IR-2m centrifuges," a more advanced machine.
While acknowledging that Iran may lack the raw materials to build all these centrifuges, the study hypothesizes that Iran will be able to amass at least 240 kilograms [530 pounds] of 20% enriched uranium and then prevent IAEA inspectors from visiting an enrichment plant for the 10-15 days the authors assert would be required to enrich this much uranium to weapons-grade.
The analysis assumes that Iran has or will make the decision to make nuclear weapons — something Iran denies and US intelligence agencies have not detected — and would risk dire consequences to make just one weapon.
It also assumes that Iran will stop staying below the Israeli "red line" of 240 kilograms of 20% uranium. According to the IAEA's last report on the Iranian nuclear program, Iran has produced 324 kilograms [714 pounds] of 20% uranium but has only 182 kilograms [400 pounds] that could readily be enriched to higher grade. The remainder has been converted into powder to be used to make fuel for a reactor that produces medical isotopes.
Mark Fitzpatrick, a former non-proliferation expert at the US State Department who directs the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Program of the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, told Al-Monitor in an email, "We should be thankful to Albright and Walrond for dissecting the technology and doing the math to show how Iran's continued advancements in centrifuge numbers and capacity bring them closer to being able quickly to produce a nuclear weapon."
However, their analysis, Fitzpatrick said, assumes that "the inspection frequency will not be changed" if Iran gets closer to 240 kilograms of 20% enriched uranium.
"One other problem with the 'critical capacity' analysis is that it implicitly assumes that the ability to make just one bomb would be the game changer," Fitzpatrick continued. "But what country would risk massive war just to build one bomb? Surely they would want to be assured of being able to build at least a handful. Adding this factor to the calculation provides more time for detection."
One way to boost confidence that Iran will not try to break out is by increasing the frequency of routine inspections of its declared enrichment plants and/or installing video cameras to provide constant, real-time remote monitoring.
Noting that Rouhani promised during the campaign and after his election to increase the "transparency" of Iran's nuclear program, Ali Vaez, an Iran expert for the International Crisis Group, told Al-Monitor that allowing more intrusive monitoring was a possible Iranian concession when talks with the P5+1 resume after Rouhani's inauguration.
Vaez recalled that when Rouhani was Iran's chief nuclear negotiator from 2003-05, his team offered to allow the IAEA to have inspectors permanently on-site at enrichment plants.
"Rouhani will be uncomfortable putting caps" on the level of uranium enrichment, Vaez said, "But transparency is defendable. They will go the extra mile" in return for concessions on sanctions.
In its dealings with the IAEA, Iran has been scrupulous about permitting routine inspections of its declared facilities, but has not been forthcoming about allegations that it conducted nuclear weapons research at least until 2003. Many experts believe the nuclear dispute cannot be resolved without also clearing up what is known as "PMD" for possible military dimensions.
A likely first step is to allow the IAEA to visit a military site called Parchin, where Iran is believed to have tested high explosives in a specially constructed chamber. Iran dismantled buildings on the site after the IAEA first raised the issue in early 2012 and has removed several layers of earth and built new buildings on top, making it unlikely that any incriminating evidence can still be found there. Still, providing access to Parchin would be a conciliatory sign that could help stave off new referrals to the UN Security Council by the IAEA and new sanctions by the US Congress.
Rouhani campaigned on a pledge of "constructive engagement" with the outside world and has made reviving Iran's anemic economy his first priority. That makes it unlikely that he will escalate the nuclear crisis and gives him a potent argument for nuclear concessions that he can use with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Outgoing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was fond of saying that the Iranian nuclear program was "a train without brakes." Under Rouhani, the train is more likely to slow down especially if the engineer is presented with attractive incentives.
Barbara Slavin is Washington correspondent for Al-Monitor and a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, where she focuses on Iran. On Twitter: @BarbaraSlavin1.


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Secure Jobs, Better Pay: changes to Australian workplace laws
The Fair Work Act has been amended to include a range of new workplace laws. This may affect the information on this page.
Find out more at Secure Jobs, Better Pay: Changes to Australian workplace laws.
If you have employees, it's important to be sure you're paying them correctly.
Employees need to be paid money for their work – they can't be paid with goods.
An employee's minimum pay rate can come from an award, enterprise agreement or other registered agreement, or the national minimum wage (if no award or registered agreement applies). It may also include penalty rates (higher pay for working extended hours or on weekends for example) and allowances.
Use our Pay Calculator to check what the minimum pay rates for your employees are, including any penalty rates and allowances that apply.
What should employees be paid for?
Your employees have to be paid for all time worked, including:
- training
- attending team meetings
- opening and closing the business
- working trial shifts.
There are very limited circumstances, such as student placements, where work may be unpaid. For more information on these arrangements see our Unpaid work section.
How often should you pay employees?
Most awards will outline how often employees should be paid – generally it will be weekly or fortnightly, and must be at least monthly.
You also have to give your employees their pay slip within 1 working day of being paid (even if they're on leave). Find out more about Pay slips and record-keeping obligations.
Deductions and overpayments
As a general rule, you're not allowed to make deductions from an employee's pay. This applies even in situations such as where they've broken work equipment or if they have shortages in their till (in jobs where they handle money).
An employer can only deduct money if:
- the employee agrees in writing and it's principally for their benefit
- it's allowed by a law, a court order, or by the Fair Work Commission, or
- it's allowed under the employee's award, or
- it's allowed under the employee's registered agreement and the employee agrees to it.
An example of a legal deduction is a salary sacrifice arrangement.
If you've accidentally overpaid your employee, you shouldn't make a deduction from their next pay. Instead, you should discuss the overpayment with your employee and get an agreement in writing, which states the:
- reason for the overpayment
- amount to be paid back.
Learn more about Deductions and overpayments.


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Loan Modification: 10 Simple Tips for Success
If you're behind on your mortgage or if you're having trouble making payments, Bridge Street Development Corporation can help you find a solution to save your home through the Making Home Affordable Loan Modification program.
While this can be a complicated process, follow these 10 tips to help ensure a smooth and successful outcome:
- Explain your hardship. Why are you behind? Was it a result of unemployment, or excess medical bills, or family emergencies that are making it difficult to make your mortgage payments? You'll need to be able to explain your circumstances to your counselor and your mortgage company. Start by writing a hardship letter to illustrate to your lender exactly why you fell – or why you are falling – behind.
- Document your income. Now is the time to gather your paystubs, bank deposits etc. – whatever documentation you can provide that will make up your total income. If you're self employed, you'll need to provide a profit and loss statement for the last 3 months or more.
- Outline your expenses. In order to determine your mortgage payment's affordability, the lender will evaluate your income vs. your expenses. As accurately as possible, write a list of your 3 monthly payments for groceries, utilities, child care, medical expenses, loans and credit cards, car payments, insurance, student loans, etc. Note: Current affordability guidelines require that your mortgage payment be no more than 31% of your total gross monthly income.
- Gather your Federal Tax Returns. You'll need to provide federal tax returns for the past two years as part of your financial picture.
- Provide proof of insurance. You'll want to have proof of insurance on hand to provide to the lender/counselor, as well.
- Be prepared to interview with a counselor. As part of the process, you may need to meet with a counselor. At that meeting, the Counselor will explain how the program works, determine the best options for your situation and explain what happens next.
- Stay connected. Follow up with all appointments, meetings, phone calls etc. and stay in contact with your counselor. Provide current contact information so that you can be reached quickly during the process.
- Deliver documents as requested. Be sure to provide all documentation and information the lender and counselor requests as quickly as possible. Failure to follow up with any requests for information may delay the processing of your loan modification.
- Keep careful records. Be diligent and document your conversations, the names of the people and organizations you spoke with, their phone numbers, when you spoke with them and what was discussed. Keep copies of all communications – letters, faxes, emails etc. – exchanged throughout the process.
- Protect Yourself. Check out our pointers on Traps to Avoid When Modifying Your Mortgage and learn simple guidelines to avoid Foreclosure and Loan Modification Scams.


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Expert Analysis
Not sure where to start?
Here you have Tecignite experts to perform an assessment for you.
Data Migration
Considering switching to a new technology, but worried about preserving legacy data? Tecignite has expertise for you.
Want all your tools tightly integrated with other 3rd party systems? Tecignite provide seamless workflow ensuring all the tools work perfect together.
DevOps is not a Goal, But a never-ending process of continual improvement.
DevOps is the combination of cultural philosophies, practices, and tools that increases an organization's ability to deliver applications and services at high velocity: evolving and improving products at a faster pace than organizations using traditional software development and infrastructure management processes. This speed enables organizations to better serve their customers and compete more effectively in the market.
Tecignite utilizes the right products and implement DevOps best practices to streamline a process to make it seamless and efficient. Here are some of the list of our expertise:
- Continuous Integration with Jenkins, TeamCity, Bamboo.
- Migrations from centralized VCS to Git.
- Specialize in niche consulting within GitHub, Atlassian products.
- Custom Integrations with DevOps stack tools.
- Installation and Configuration.
Data is what we need to do Analytics. Information is what you need to do Business.
Analytics is simply the science of mining data to come to conclusions, but it's never as simple as it sounds. Today's market leaders are using advanced analytics as a core competitive advantage, allowing them to agilely respond to market changes and win their customer's choice.
Tecignite with its expertise team help to provide the right data at the right time to the right people so that they can take decisions. Below are the list of our expertise:
- Assistance for Product evaluation and selection of right Analytics platforms
- Process Consulting based on Best Practices
- Implementation & Customize integration Services
- Training Services.
Know More…!!!
Want to know more on our offerings for SERVICES and PRODUCTS we resell? Kindly use the Call to Action/Contact form. Raise your query and we will be on it to provide the best to bring the success.


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Posted by Fatima Hasan, Contributed by Freaky Deaky
Recently, Disco Donnie Presents announced the complete lineup for Freaky Deaky Texas 2019! On October 26 and 27, electronic music fans of all kinds will descend upon Houston Raceway in Baytown for the expanded 2nd celebration of Freaky Deaky TX. Now that the full lineup is out, we have plenty of time to prepare our costumes!
To enhance the spooky setting, this Halloween-themed festival will build upon the success of its inaugural celebration with a larger venue, an additional fourth stage, and more styles of electronic music than ever before to make fans' teeth chatter and bones tingle. If not more, this event boasts an eclectic mix of both veteran and rising electronic music producers.
Prepare to be cast under the spell, as an array of talent will deliver a variety of ghoulish styles, ranging from deep house to electronic rock, hardstyle, trance, and drum & bass in addition to the techno, house, dubstep, trap, and bass music. With an expanded venue, extra stage, and additional genres in play, Freaky Deaky Texas is sure to give music-loving ghouls and goblins plenty to dance about.
Tickets ranging from General Admission to VIP are available with payment plans and hotel deals. Click HERE for more information!
Connect with Freaky Deaky:
Some of our must-sees on the lineup:
Chris Lorenzo
Shiba San b2b Walker & Royce
Liquid Todd
Delta Heavy
Kill The Noise
The Crystal Method
Ganja White Night


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Salted Smart Insoles
The Salted Smart insoles are a personalized trainer that you slip into your shoes. Download the SALTED Golf app, decide what stance you want, set up for any recordings or video, and swing away. Instant feedback through the earbuds and soles lets you know of imbalance in your posture. The insoles detect your weight shift and help you find your optimal swing to improve your driving distance. The app allows you to review the videos, compare shots to a pro and draw and record audio to leave notes about the days practice.
Feature about SALTED Golf App.
- Feet pressure map - Track your swing balance, pressure distribution, and COP (Center Of Pressure) in real-time.
- Left & Right - Visualize weight transfer between your left and right foot during your swing.
- Heel & Toe - Visualize weight transfer between your heels and toes during your swing.
- Swing key position - Highlights key positions of your swing such as backswing top and impact through video and sound analysis
- Practice summary - Take multiple swings at a time with the phone in your pocket and receive analysis on your balance & consistency.
- Comparison summary - Compare your swing to a pro golfer and receive instant, actionable feedback on areas you can improve.
Specification of SALTED Smart Insole
- Model name : SI-GP200 (Series 2)
- Available sizes : from US 6 to 12
- Compatibility : iOS 10.2 / Android 5.0
- Rating : 3.8V / 370mA
- Battery life : up to 72 hours (depending upon use)
- Water resistant : IP68 certified
- Packaging : Pair of insoles / Magnetic USB cable / Manual
- Material : Light Cool Max 2 (Skins) / Shock Absorption+ (EVA)
As a completely assembled product, repair via replacement or patch is not possible, and any damage occurred due to excessive handling outside of its intended use (as listed below) are not subject to warranty or compensation.
- Avoid any oily substance from getting in contact with the shoes.
- The color of synthetic leather or fabric may change due to water or friction.
- Please be careful on wet or slippery surfaces.
- Salt (i.e. seawater) may cause product corrosion.
- Avoid leaving in places with high temperature and humidity for a long time
- Using shoe trees or papers to fix the shoe shape is recommended for storing.
- Avoid placing near heating equipment or fire.
- Do not put too much stress on the shoes and tighten their laces.
- Injury may arise when an adult or teenager attempts to wear the kids' shoes.
- Wearing with too long or short toenails may cause an injury.
- For golf shoes, please wear socks that are appropriate for the sport.
- Avoid excessive usage on worn-out surfaces to prevent slipping.
- Please avoid washing the shoes or using them for an extended period of time in severely wet conditions.
- In case the shoes get wet, wipe them with a dry fabric.
- Stuff dry paper or fabric inside the shoes and let them dry in a well-ventilated area.
- Avoid forcefully drying the shoes using a stove or hairdryer to prevent shape deformation.
- Repair is impossible for shoes that have been intentionally torn apart or reassembled.
- Using in extremely cold, hot, or temperature fluctuating environments may reduce the accuracy of data.
- Space underneath the insole may generate a sound when wearing.
- In a place with multiple Bluetooth transmission signals, paring may not work smoothly.
- Excessive distortion and shock may cause damage to and reduce the life of the sensors.
- Removing the battery is recommended when not in use.
- Avoid how air blow and exposure to electromagnetic waves.
Heavy weight lifting may reduce the life of the sensors.
Shipping Origin : South Korea
Shipping Location : Worldwide
Shipping Method
Outside of South Korea: Via EMS
Shipping Cost
South Korea: Free shipping
All other countries: $40 USD
Shipping Standards
South Korea: Within a week
All other countries: 1 ~ 2 Weeks
Tax & Tariffs :
We are not responsible for taxes and tariffs, buyers other than United States and Korea shall contact their country's DHL station for more information.
Delivery :
In case of delivery is delayed due to remote shipping location (i.e. mountains or islands) or any other issues., please contact the associated courier service company to track your package and estimated delivery.
Notice : For any return or exchange made from a change of mind, Salted Venture is not responsible for the shipping cost. (For details, please refer to the section below or user manual)
For refunding,
If you change your mind about the item, you will be responsible for the international shipping cost for refunding.
If it's international shipping, it will cost about $40 (From your country to Korea)
For exchanging,
If you change your mind about the item(including changing shoe size), you will be responsible for international shipping costs.
If it's international shipping, it will cost about $80 (From your country to Korea & From Korea to your country)
To qualify for an exchange or refund, the product must be returned within 7 days of purchase (or delivery) directly to the store where it was purchased or via post unused along with user manual and proof of purchase included in its original packaging (box) all without damage. Please keep in mind that this regulation does not apply to damages from mishandling or considered fault of consumers based on consumer dispute settlement reference.
We guarantee that this product is manufactured under strict quality control and inspection processes and in case of any manufacturing defects or product issues occurring under the normal use, we warrant our goods as follows:
This product shall be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal use for a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase, either refurbished or non-refurbished. However, additional cost for module replacement may arise in such cases.
Please include your proof of purchase or receipt for warranty validation. For pre-ordered product(s), the warranty period starts from the date of delivery.
Within 7 days from delivery, unused
(No manufacturing issues and not yet activated, in a brand new condition)
If you change your mind about the item(including changing shoe size), you will be responsible for international shipping costs.
If it's international shipping, it will cost about $80 (From your country to Korea and from Korea to your country)
Within 7 days from Delivery, unused
(No manufacturing issues and not yet activated, in a brand new condition)
If you change your mind about the item, you will be responsible for the international shipping cost for refunding.
If it's international shipping, it will cost about $40 (From your country to Korea)
For damage compensation or repair, please call our customer service (+82-2-552-0815, Available EST 8:00 PM to 5:30 AM) or email email@example.com for guidance on the process. Product(s) that has been used, damaged due to mishandling, or past its limited warranty period (1 year) is not subject to any warranty or compensation but can be repaired at the cost of an individual's own expense.


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HCA 812 Grand Canyon All Week Discussions
HCA 812 Grand Canyon Week 1 Discussions
Consider the six organizational cases described by Blass in the module readings. Extending these ideas, under what circumstances could an Individual forfeit the right to self-regulation? Why? At what point, if any, does self-regulation become unethical? Why?
HCA 812 Grand Canyon Week 1 Discussion 2
Modern health care is being significantly influenced by external regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Could more stringent self-regulation by health care professionals and related organizations have eliminated the perceived necessity for laws such as HIPAA? Why or why not?
HCA 812 Grand Canyon Week 2 Discussions
It may be asserted that state professional boards exist to protect the safety of the public rather than the interests of the health care professional. How can health care administrators reconcile this seeming paradox? Support your position.
HCA 812 Grand Canyon Week 2 Discussion 2
State professional boards are lobbying for freedoms for health care professionals. As a health care administrator, how do you ethically balance board-granted freedom with quality of care concerns to create a sustainable model for your organization? Support your position
HCA 812 Grand Canyon Week 3 Discussions
Professional standards are designed to protect patients as well as health care professionals by requiring continuing education of health care professionals and the institution of current safety measures. When might professional standards create hardship for a health care organization that diminishes the quality of care rather than protecting and improving it? Explain.
HCA 812 Grand Canyon Week 3 Discussion 2
Professional standard s and codes of practice change as technology and practice advance. Have these changing standards influenced health care segmentation such as the rise of magnet status or other specialization? Why or why not? Have changing professional standards and codes of practice had a positive or negative influence on quality of care and organizational sustainability? Why or why not?
HCA 812 Grand Canyon Week 4 Discussions
The health care industry is influenced by multiple accrediting bodies that are stakeholders in the operation of health care organizations.
Periodically, the missions and roles of these accrediting bodies may be in conflict with one another. How should health care administrators navigate among the conflicting missions and roles of accreditors in order to assure that the health care organization remains accredited and has an increased opportunity for sustainability?
HCA 812 Grand Canyon Week 4 Discussion 2
Alkhenizan and Shaw (2012) assert that health care professionals may be unconvinced of the merits of health care accreditation. In general, should health care professionals be skeptical of accreditation? Why or why not? What are 2 conditions that would need to exist for a health care organization to be sustainable without possessing accreditation? Explain.
HCA 812 Grand Canyon Week 5 Discussions
Public policy exerts significant influence on health care through regulations that address nearly every aspect of health care. These regulations are based on the health care needs of the community stakeholders. Could the quality of health care be sustained at current levels or improved in the absence of public policy and regulation of the health care industry? Why or why not?
HCA 812 Grand Canyon Week 5 Discussion 2
To what extent is the effectiveness of a health care organization determined by public policy? Explain.
HCA 812 Grand Canyon Week 6 Discussions
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) will certainly have an economic influence on American consumers and providers of health care insurance. To what extent might the ACA influence the fiscal stability of health care organizations? Why
HCA 812 Grand Canyon Week 6 Discussion 2
As the American federal government continues to enact legislation regulating the health care industry in general and health care finance in particular, how will health care organizations need to adapt to ensure continued delivery of quality patient care? Why?
HCA 812 Grand Canyon Week 7 Discussions
Professional health care providers in direct contact with patients have been required to be licensed and credentialed demonstrating current competencies of quality and safe healthcare practice. Should similar licensing and credentialing requirements be imposed on collaborative workers in the health care industry who may not be directly serving patients (e.g., business office personnel, CEOs, CFOs, or other administrators)? Why or why not?
HCA 812 Grand Canyon Week 7 Discussion 2
Credential requirements have gradually increased in all sectors of the health care arena over the past decades. If this trend continues, for how long will health care organizations remain sustainable? Why? What steps should health care administrators take to absorb or mitigate the rising credentialing requirements? Why?
HCA 812 Grand Canyon Week 8 Discussions
Which of the current trends in health care regulation reform will have the most positive influence on quality of care and organizational sustainability? Why? Which trends will have the most negative influence? Why?
HCA 812 Grand Canyon Week 8 Discussion 2
Given the trends in health care regulation, what fields of research are currently the most meaningful for health care administrators? Why? How might your dissertation research address one of these fields?
Find out more here: HCA 812 Grand Canyon Week 1 Discussions.


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Be safe, and enjoy the journey.
XO Karlene
I hate that this is the case, but in my relatively short career, I've seen my fair share of incompetent captains, people who I wondered how they got to where they were. And unfortunately a few of these people have made mistakes in the cockpit while flying with me. Thankfully they all turned out ok, but I wouldn't hesitate to deal with the situation as needed. I always attempt to be respectful towards a captain, but I would never let someone kill me, not to mention all of the people behind us...ReplyDelete
Daniel, I'm just now reading through the answers and... you've just hit it on the head. I would take whatever steps are necessary to not allow the captain to kill me, too. And that will determine how we react, depending upon the situation.Delete
Since they hired you, what do you think the correct answer was? Isn't there a "I take control" button on fly-by-wire airplanes like the airbus series? I think I would say (in a case of immediate threat) "my airplane" and take control. The Captain could take it back, but unless he or she is totally determined to do the bad thing anyway, I think resistance from the RHS would make them think twice. Plus it's clearly something that would get that person fired it if came to the attention of "Mother".ReplyDelete
This particular question came from Evergreen. I asked again... "So you are telling me that this Captain is violating minimums, to get on the ground for a date?" I hesitated and then said, "I would seriously question his judgment since going around would mean he could go to the alternate with me instead." Then they laughed. Then I told them what I would do. I'll write that down below.Delete
Stand up for what you think is right! I know it's easier said than done, especially since the F/O only has 3 bars, and the almighty Captain has 4. F/Os and Captains go through the same training from the start, the difference is the Captain check-out and often more experience. This brings us back to the recent FAA 1500-hour requirement. Does 1000 hrs flying a C172 equal 200 hours flying something more technically advanced? Of course not. But even with less experience, or even different type of experience, the F/O shouldn't hesitate voicing his/her opinion on what the appropriate action should be, to secure the safe outcome of the flight.ReplyDelete
Cecilie, the interesting thing is that all pilots, FOs and Captains get the exact same check-out. There is no difference. We are all type-rated. They just get more money and get to sit in the left seat for takeoff and landing.
Yes... stand up for what you think is right. Definitely. Now the question is this... What do you do? How do you stand up for what is right? That might be the ultimate question.
Communciation tool i learned.
PACE model
First we Probe..."hey how about those thunderstorms ahead eh?"
So we Alert,a little more direct..."perhaps we should deviate a little but or plan for our alternate"
Then we challenge..."lets deviate from these right now"
And then if that gets no response, we take emergency action
Now that seems to be the hardest...you dont always wanna just take control...sure we can apply the two challenge rule of two challenge no response we take control.
We can do it kinda trickery. I would go on the radio. "center company flight 7722 deviating 20 degrees to the right for thunderstorms...or initiating go around would like vectorsfor..."
Then you've done your part, if he doesn't do it then its in the record tapes. His ass is on the line without the physical struggle.
Ramiel, out of the mouth of a good first officer. I love that PACE model. That's a great communication tool. Did you take a communication course for aviation?
Also, the trickery. I've known pilots to do exactly as you stated here. You may have to pay the consequences later, but you will be alive to do it.
Consequences are fine. I'm alive! And not exactly but we did have about a total of 6 days on CRM, taught by an airline pilot. And in the other classes we had such as SMS, flight ops which had TEM...those were also taught by airline pilots.
:) Those are the kinds of things that I lucked out getting by going to a college I guess. I'm sure it's a lot harder to apply these with an arrogant captain in real life but at least I have some background knowledge of what I could do.
Ramiel, you've made another great point. These "are" the things we need to think about, and discuss, before they happen in real life. Sometimes we need to be prepared for the unexpected.
We used to teach this kind of stuff in the good old days. But now, pilots go to class in their living room on a disk. Somehow we lose something with that process. You're very fortunate for your great education.
For purposes of maintaining a good rapport with the captain, I would not argue with him or her because we are part of the same team known as the flight crew and he or she is the leader.
However, I would raise my concerns in an assertive manner.
Maintaining a good rapport is essential. But what if, he disregarded your concerns? Would you sacrifice safety to maintain that good rapport? And is it possible?Delete
Tough one! But if you don't know the captain by reputation/haven't flown with him enough to know his skill level, I'd say go with your gut if it's screaming at you, and challenge him.ReplyDelete
Absolutely. We all don't know everything, but if our gut screams... we should listen. Did you know that with every accident there was always at least one person who wasn't listening to their gut and the other signs they were in trouble?Delete
It isn't always easy to challenge authority but when lives are at stake, it's a must if you notice something that could alter things. Any good leader would recognize and respect input. Any bad one deserves to be challenged anyway. Love the flyer challenge by the way!ReplyDelete
Thank you Heather. The flyer challenge was due to a challenge. :) Challenging authority is a challenge for sure, especially if the culture of your company says otherwise. But we need to do what we think is right. When life and death is involved, we have to do what we were trained to do.Delete
Now this is a very interesting and important question.
An accident occurred back in the 90s when a flight inbound to one of the caribean islands was totally proceeded imprudently. It was a night of thunderstorms, when the captain insisted departing on time without hesitating. It was raining a lot, the F/O was looking at the captains eyes and asked why he didn't turned the anti-icing as if they were passing through this huge CB. Ice was accumulating in the windshield, the captain noticed, but he insisted on saying it wasn't necessary. The F/O was so worried, but he couldn't interfere on the captain's decision. The airplane entered in a irreversible stall, the yoke started shaking, the aircraft components were frozen. Furthermore, the plane belly-slammed right to the ground and everybody on board died.
An FAA consultant was interviewed after the accident saying that it doesn't matter if the captain has 4 stripes on each shoulder... If the First Officer thinks the Pilot is putting on board lives in grave danger, or if he notices something going strictly wrong, he has all the rights on interfering the Captain's act and take control of the airplane.
What I think about this:
The FAA consultant is 100% right. We are humans, not flying robots. Like Cecilie said, they all came from the same training procedures. Every Captain had already been a F/O. It is a matter of having moral rights and saving more than 100 lives. However, the system should, somehow, detect and pass the controls to the right side of the cockpit. If it was me, I would interfere and bring the plane to the ground safely.
Thank you Alex. I am glad you would interfere and bring the plane to a safe landing, because that interference could be just what was needed. We all need to have a voice and do what we think is right.
Unfortunately, I know of a first officer that lost his job because he didn't listen to the captain, and made a decision to land despite the captain telling him to go around. It was the "3rd" missed-approach. I don't believe that was right to fire him based on his not listening to the captain, but then I don't know "all" the details.
I wonder... if the first officer thought landing was safer than one more go-around... maybe fuel was low... then I'm not convinced the punishment fit the crime.
He could have got fired for a poor decision, poor execution of landing... anything. But if we start firing first officers because they make decisions, contrary to the guy in the left seat... what message is that sending? It's a fine line, I know.
What about Jet Blue? What if that First Officer had been wrong and the Captain began behaving normally after he was locked out? Would he have been fired for that decision? As it turned out, he's a hero.
Bottom line... it's better to be alive and do a rug dance than dead and have it been a "should have."
Thanks for your comment.
That's a pretty tough question. As we saw in the case of the Tenerife disaster, there's no simple answer. The relationship between captain and FO can degenerate and fall apart rapidly in a situation, and no amount of training can prepare you for something like that, especially as the conditions worsen and the likelihood of an accident rises.
It comes down to remembering that, despite all of the external pressures of passengers and the company, our number one concern is the safety of flight. Media scandals, overhead pressures, a broken relationship between the pilots flying - all of these are secondary to the safety of everyone on board the aircraft. It seems we can never have enough sobering reminders of this fact.
It's easy to say "if I were there, I would do this," but without having both that person's exact flying experience and personal history as well as having the exact same set of flight conditions, no one can ever really know what he would have done.
Christine, that's a good point... it's so easy to say, "I would..." Because until you're in that seat, you don't know. And you want to have faith and trust in your captain. We all want the guy in the left seat to know what he's doing, and make the right decision. But that might not always be the case.
Bottom line... passenger safety. Many captains I've flown with say, "They don't pay me to be a hero. They pay me to be safe."
There were two disasters in Tenerife. the other one was a Dan Air B727 that went astray during an instrument procedure turn, and flew into a mountain in IMC. THe Captain was flying, and the FO was concerned, but not assertive enough. They all died.
I was working in the ops room at LGW, and took the call to say the a/c was overdue. Since I was the most junior, I was given the job of saying "no comment" to every caller while we worked out what had happened - you'd be surprised at all the weirdness that goes on - people calling to say there was baggage in the ocean, the airplane had landed somewhere else, none of it true.
The FO's job is to assist, and if necessary to backup (or even confront) the Captain. Or he/she wouldn't be necessary. All the Captain would need is a good autopilot.
Thank you for the added input. That must have been a horrific day... and days following. You're right: They need to speak up. I had a challenge teaching the New Second Officers on the 747 to speak up. They were on probation and flying with the senior sky gods. One senior sky gods said, "I don't need a second officer, all I need is a stick with a piece of gum on it."Delete
What it takes for an effective crew:
Assertiveness with Respect
Authority with Participation
So true. We've heard that often. But with the respect given while being assertive, and participating, and the Captain is just making a really bad decision... at what point do you take it from him? How?Delete
What I told Evergreen after I made a little joke about the going to the alternate is....
That I would never allow another pilot to kill me. But fighting over a plane during approach, is probably more dangerous than the captain continuing the approach below minimums. I said that I would continue to monitor, and if at any time he was outside parameters, I would yell, "Go Around!"
Because honestly, most pilots will go around if they are given that command. Shout it out like you mean it. They should believe that you see something they don't.
If a pilot is continuing and not making decisions because he is unsure, then saying "Go-around" will give him guidance.
Do we need to hit our captain over the head with our flashlight because he's trying to stall the plane? Not normally.
Juju, when you see a captain making what you think as a bad decision, I would ask them about it in a non-threatening way, but more you want to learn. Then, he should tell you his thought process. That will open the door for you to add your reasons why you don't think it's a good idea.
Think about "why" the captain is making that decision. He doesn't know better? Probably not if it's an assertive decision that he argues his point.
If you can find out "why" he is doing what he's doing, through questions, that will help you decide how to deal with it. Is it ego? Do we not have enough fuel to do another missed? Has he already worked through all the options in his mind and found the best... he just hasn't communicated his thought process?
Once you've had this discussion, he may change his mind and not think it's a good idea either. But, if this decision was ego driven, he won't change his mind because of that ego and try to stand his ground.
In this case, you use these words, "I don't feel comfortable flying that close to the thunderstorms." Or whatever it is. Chances are, his ego will allow him to change course because of "YOU" not feeling comfortable. He can save face. "Okay, well if you're not comfortable I suppose we can go another way." Which is fine. You want results, not a pat on the back.
If it comes down to you think they are going to kill you. Do whatever it takes to not allow that to happen. If you need to lock him out of the flight deck, then do it.
Be alive to tell the world why you made the decision you did, instead of us listening to the voice recorder wondering why you didn't speak up.
Very true last sentence there. Also I was also taught and was thinking about the "i dont feel comfortable..." line.
I never thought about yelling go around though that probably works cuz like you said they may not have expected it and just respond reactivelu to it and initiate the go around.
Yes... I think a positive command can and will make a person go around. The "I don't feel comfortable" line also enables others to speak out too. Usually, we think we're alone...but we're not.Delete
Well said! I thank each and every one of you here for sharing your personal thoughts.
Thank you so much Capt Karlene for putting up this post for discussion,and you've open up my mind on how to deal with such challenge in near future =)Thank you for your good advice and guiding me all these while!
Hi Juju, you are welcome. I think these things are all something we need to think about before the time arrives. So thank you very much for giving us something important to discuss.Delete
Karlene san!!! I have no idea about the environment in the cockpit though let me guess.
In my opinion,it happens that human make a not good decision making,and that is why airline company assign 2 or 3 pilots in the cockpit,and captain and first officer should corporate each other during each flight to make the sky safe.I imagine each captain has different personality,but each pilot's has a same thought about safety.
So If I am 100% sure about something to discuss captains decision making in the future,I would say my idea,and if he ignore my idea or deny,I would ask the reason.
And let me read everyone's thought!!
Thank you so much for sharing,
Have a great day,
Jun, you are so right. It would be the very rare captain to not discuss and listen to his fellow crewmembers in today's world. We are all in this together. There are a few out there, but thankfully few and far between, and we don't see them often. Thank you so much for your comment. And, now that you are in America, call your father (on skype) and tell him, Happy Father's Day tomorrow.Delete
Thank you for your comment! If your comment doesn't appear immediately, it will after I land. Enjoy the journey!


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India is in election storm today. The election results of the five Indian States have been just announced. These results have been rather alarming to the ruling party National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Congress seems to be coming back.
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and the BJP President Amit Shah were not expecting such results. A meeting was convened on emergency basis to take a stock of the situation, identify the threats and refine the strategy for the national election of 2019. All key ministers, strategists and senior party workers were present. My Professor friend, who is the secret advisor to the PMO got me in as his assistant.
After the PM made opening remarks showing his surprise as well as concerns, Mr Amit Shah presented his analyses assuring all that the results of the State elections should interpreted carefully, and he does not see a swing to the Congress at the national level.
Mr. Amit Shah said that the trend observed in the five States indicates that the regional satraps might play key roles in 2019 general elections. He presented a State-wise statistic that was a complex mix of caste and class equations. He ended showing his concern about the attempts by non-BJP parties to put a united front against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bid for a second term.
A Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) was conceived. The driving force behind the Mahagathbandhan was Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who was making efforts to put together an anti-BJP front after walking out of the Modi government. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, former Union minister Sharad Yadav, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav, Janata Dal-Secular Chief H D Deve Gowda, Nationalist Congress Party's Sharad Pawar, DMK's M K Stalin, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati were to be part of the Mahagathbandhan. In this Mahagathbandhan, the position taken by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was going to be critical. The parties in Mahagathbandhan were planning to focus on issues related to farmers, demonetisation and the controversial Rafale deal.
PM asked the senior members of the party to react to Mr. Amit Shah's presentation and the Mahagathbandhan.
Mr. Suresh Prabhu who was earlier Union Minister of Environment & Forests spoke. He said that his informers have reported that there is a yet another Mahagathbandhan getting formed, something that has been quietly brewing over last five years with a potential to grow across the States, religions and casts, rich and poor. He said that this New Mahagathbandhan should not be neglected and more investigation is required to know who are involved and what will be this Mahagathbandhan's election manifesto. All he came to know that this New Mahagathbandhan (Green Alliance) is basically pro-environment or green and is led by illustrious people of India, leading the field of environment, pollution and social justice.
Mr. Arun Jaitley, the Finance Minister said "Suresh, you mean a party formed by the environmental activists? In that case simply don't worry. These activists will never come together, they will fight between themselves and unlike us they will never get united as they supposedly don't have any financial interest – that's the bond we all politicians have. This interest keeps us together as we share the common goal of making money"
I whispered to the Professor " I think Mr. Jaitley is right". "We" simply keep complaining while we watch our environment and natural resources getting butchered. Some of us try to speak out but we are immediately zipped up, Some protest, write letters and fast for the good cause and but are simply neglected with least sensitivity, some sacrifice their lives in protecting our resources and restoring the damage done, but then spokes are put to stall their efforts if their work affects the financial gains of someone higher up. Sadly, these environmental crusaders and change makers are not connected to form a national network. They often work individually. I am glad that there is now a move to form a Naya (New) Mahagathbandhan. Imagine if this succeeds and we have from April, 2019 a green party to lead India or at least get some seats on the cabinet to voice"
Perhaps, Mr. Jaitley's response to Mr. Suresh Prabhu was good enough and the members did not discuss further about the threat of the Naya Mahagathbandhan. The meeting focused more on the Naidu led Mahagathbandhan and discussed how to ensure that this Mahagathbandhan does not happen.
When we were returning, Professor asked me to come to his house for a chat. We sat in his library with a south Indian coffee. He lit his cigar.
"Dr Modak, Suresh Prabhu was right. I know that such a green Mahagathbandhan is indeed getting formed, albeit not with seriousness it deserves. You must know that earlier effort such as the Uttarakhand Parivartan Party (UKPP) formed in 2009 has failed. The party fielded two candidates in the 2009 parliamentary elections and 15 candidates in the 2012 state assembly elections. UKPP is raising awareness about Green politics among the masses, although yet to win representation in government. More recently, The India Greens – or The Green Party of India was created in 2018. They held their National Convention very recently on 17th November, 2018. The Party is still in the initial stages of creation and is seeking to register with the Election Commission of India"
Any party or politician is labeled "green" if it emphasizes environmental causes. The Global Greens Charter lists six guiding principles which are ecological wisdom, social justice, participatory democracy, nonviolence, sustainability and respect for diversity. Imagine if these principles are listed in the election manifestos of NDA or the Congress! But these principles are so hard to communicate and convince both the rich and poor of India. Of course we all are looking for roti, kapda aur makaan.
The first Green Party to achieve national prominence was the German Green Party, famous for their opposition to nuclear power, as well as an expression of anti-centralist and pacifist values traditional to greens. In Finland, in 1995, the Finnish Green Party was the first European Green party to be part of a national Cabinet. Other Green parties that have participated in government at national level include the Groen! (formerly Agalev) and Ecolo in Belgium, Les Verts in France and the Green Party in Ireland. In the Netherlands GroenLinks ("GreenLeft") was founded in 1990 from four small left-wing parties and is now a stable faction in the Dutch parliament. More details of green parties in various countries can be found on the web
Imagine, if the Naya Mahagathbandhan of greens gets formed and works in coalition with the ruling Government. Imagine if the greens were to manage few critical portfolios for protecting, preserving and enhancing India's assets of natural resources – apart from all the gold and cash reserves the RBI has! Will we see an emergence of greens on India's political canvas? But again, I was not sure whether the greens will function in a balanced manner considering both economic development of the country and balance with protection of the environment. The experience in India as well as in other countries has been rather uneven.
I stayed silent. I must be dreaming.
"This will never happen Dr Modak, let me be frank with you" Professor broke the silence while looking outside the window.
"Do you know that Vasundhara Raje ordered broadening of roads and beautification of the cities by removing the encroachments. In the process, several temples, many of them makeshift ones, were either demolished or removed. This angered the Hindus who thought the BJP was working against the interests of the majority community. And was one of the factors why BJP lost to congress apart from the promise of the loan waivers that Rahul Gandhi made".
"Dr Modak, this country does not have today any strong national association of professionals, environmental NGOs and academia on the subject of Environmental Management. There is no towering national body that can take on the Government if there is need to be – in the interest of environment. So, forget your hope for the Naya Mahagathbandhan" Professor gave me a kind smile and extinguished his cigar.
Professor was right. Good initiatives even in the interest of environment do not get recognized or supported as what is green for someone is perhaps brown for someone else!
Cover image taken from https://www.haribhoomi.com/news/lok-sabha-election-2019-congress-opposition-mahagathbandhan-pm-candidate-to-be-decided-after-2019-lok-sabha-election-results
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Environmental protection
To our company, our commitment to the protection of the environment and of resources represents an entrepreneurial challenge. Active environmental protection and products of highest quality form the basis of our daily work. We do not want to react when problems occur, we want to integrate environmental considerations into our corporate actions, right from the start.
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We want to remain true to our principle "Avoiding problems through action instead of finding problem solutions" in every aspect of our environmental protection agenda, therefore energy management is of great significance for the SCHLOTE GROUP in reaching our goals.
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A Manual For Composing A Cause And Effect Essay Topic Sentence
It is surprising that a number of students these days struggle to come up with a topic sentence, especially when it comes to writing a cause and effect paper. Over the years there are so many of this kind of paper that have been written and because of that reason it is really important for you to make sure that you at least get to know where to start. In this regard, what we mean is that you have so much to look into in as far as samples that you can use for this kind of work is concerned. There really is so much reference material for you to look into such that the last thing you will ever need to worry about is struggling to come up with a good topic sentence.
The first thing that you need to understand when you are writing such a paper is to make sure that you get to consider how one thing ties to the other. This is the kind of essay where everything is supposed to be connected in one way or the other, and if you ever take this for granted, you can be sure that you really are going to fail in the long run. It is the same concept that you are also supposed to use for your topic sentence.
Before you think about writing this sentence, take a moment and ask yourself how the sentence you are about to write is important to the overall theme of the paper, and most importantly how it will eventually affect other arguments that you may want to put forward. What this means therefore is that you must have already had a draft to work with, because without a draft you will end up doing a lot of going back and forth, something that is not really a brilliant idea, and will waste a lot of your time.
Once you have thought about the concept that you want to put down, next you need to consider how this concept ties into the nature of the paper that you are working on. Never lose sight of the fact that this is a cause and effect paper, meaning that one thing must always lead to another, a given concept has to tie to another from the beginning of the paper to the moment you put the final full stop on the conclusion.
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