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Marine Biodiversity
It is widely accepted that marine habitats and species are being destroyed, degraded and disturbed by human activity in the coastal zone.
The recently published Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (May 2019), a global level assessment of changes in Earth's biodiversity over the past 50 years, highlights the urgency of biodiversity and habitat protection.
The World Wildlife Fund Living Planet Report, 2018 reveals that humanity has wiped out 60% of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles since 1970, leading the world's foremost experts to warn that the annihilation of wildlife is now an emergency that threatens civilisation.
Large scale offshore wind farms represent unprecedented industrial development at sea. Many environmentalists are questioning whether such extensive industrialisation of the ocean can be justified at a time when we are becoming increasingly aware of the need to protect our natural resources and limit man's footprint on the planet. The cumulative impacts of large scale development on sensitive habitats in near shore zones, as permitted off Ireland's east coast, have not been studied because no other country in the world has constructed, or indeed permitted, such development.
Ireland's National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017-2021 states: 'The current state of Ireland's marine environment is highlighted in Ireland's reports on the Habitats Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) in 2013. Of the marine habitats assessed under the Habitats Directive, only sandbanks and sea caves were assessed as being in 'favourable' status. Estuaries, tidal mudflats, large shallow inlets and bays were assessed as being in 'inadequate' status. Reefs (in particular deep-water reefs) and lagoons were in 'bad' status'. The 2019 EU Conservation Assessment Report confirms the 'favourable' status of sandbanks, but confirms the threat to their integrity posed by offshore windfam development.
Objectives of the Biodiversity Action Plan include: development and implementation of a Marine Spatial Plan for Ireland, implementation of measures to achieve good ecological and environmental status of marine and coastal habitats as required by the Habitats, Directive, Water Framework Directive and Marine Strategy Framework Directive and in line with the OSPAR Convention, and implementation of OSPAR recommendations on Habitats and Species.
"Climate has grabbed the headlines but the loss of biodiversity is a global threat that is just as serious and needs to be faced with the same urgency. In one crucial way it is more worrying since there is no way to reverse extinction ... Our climate mitigation policies should not come at the expense of biodiversity. We have very important targets to achieve for renewable energies but we need to be careful about how and where they can be developed".
EU Environment Commissioner, Stavros Dimas (2008)
The UN Convention on Biological Diversity, to which Ireland is a party, aims to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2020, i.e. conservation of ecosystems, habitats and species, both inside and outside protected areas. Under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, environmental protection is an integral part of all EU policies. The European Commission estimated (2015) that the Natura 2000 network of protected habitats and species delivers benefits worth between €200 and €300 billion per year, set against annual management costs estimated at €5.8 billion.
A priority objective of the 2013 "General Union Environment Action Programme to 2020 'Living well, within the limits of our planet", is to 'protect, conserve and enhance the Union's natural capital'.
Habitats and Birds Directives
Europe's biodiversity is primarily protected by two key pieces of legislation, The Habitats Directive and Wild Birds Directive. The Habitats Directive 92/43/EC obliges member state to maintain a number of designated habitat types and species at favourable status at selected sites agreed with the Commission. Together with sites important for bird conservation under the Birds Directive, the combined network of sites become part of Natura 2000, the biggest ecological network in the world.
In Ireland, the protection of marine biodiversity lags behind many other EU countries due to delays in identifying and designating Natura 2000 sites for protection and even longer delays in assessing their status and putting in place enforceable management plans.
With large-scale offshore wind farm development proposed by developers on protected shallow sandbanks and adjoining SPAs and SACs off Ireland's east coast, these delays are a matter of serious concern. Reports (Dwyer, 2000 & Patrick Crushell, 2002) published following cooperation between a number of Irish environmental NGOs who form the NGO Special Area of Conservation Shadow List lobby group concluded that the number of sandbanks which had been designated was insufficient. They state: 'A further 10 sandbanks are proposed by the Irish NGOs to more adequately reflect the distribution and importance of this currently under represented habitat in Ireland. These were Arklow Bank, Blackwater Bank, Bray Bank, Broadhaven Bay, Glassgorman Banks, Kish Bank, Lough Swilly, Lucifer Bank, Moneyweights Banks, Mullet/Blacksod Bay.
The EU Guidance Document on Wind Energy Development and Natura 2000 (March 2010) provides guidance on how best to ensure that wind energy developments are compatible with the Habitats and Birds Directives.
On the subject of the wind energy expansion, necessary to meet the EU's target for renewable energy (20% of Europe's total energy production by 2020), the document states "it will be important to ensure that this expansion is sustainable in all respects and is achieved without unnecessary damage to the natural environment and Europe's natural heritage".
"Evidence to date shows that although wind farms are much less of a danger to biodiversity than conventional power generation installations, poorly sited or designed wind farms can pose a significant threat to some vulnerable species and habitats, such as certain types of birds, bats and marine mammals and fragile habitat types like blanket bogs, all of which are protected under the Habitats and Birds Directive in view of their poor conservation status".
Sea bird populations throughout the world are increasingly under threat from human activities. Industrial developments, large scale fisheries, shipping, pollution and the effects of climate change are damaging the marine ecosystem. There is growing international awareness of the urgent need to protect seabirds and the sites and habitats on which they depend.
Seabirds are the very essence of nature on the Island of Ireland – sociable, beautiful, resilient but increasingly vulnerable. Under The Foreshore Act 1933, foreshore leases have been granted for large scale offshore wind farm development in Irish coastal waters before the identification, assessment and designation of offshore marine areas for EU Natura 2000 sites has been completed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Such sites include Special Protection Areas for birds, (SPAs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for conservation of habitats and other species – such as cetaceans.
Most of the offshore wind farms proposed by developers are on shallow east coast sandbanks, a marine habitat listed for protection by the EU Habitats Directive, because of importance to birds and marine wildlife.
The Department of Environment Food & Rural Affairs, UK, produced a report "Nature Conservation Guidance on Offshore Wind Farm Development" - A guidance note on the implications of the EC Wild Birds and Habitats Directive for developers undertaking offshore wind farm development in March 2005.
This document stated that the potential impacts on birds can be divided into five categories:
- habitat loss
- loss of food resources
- displacement
- barrier effects
- collision mortality
"All of these potential impacts are likely to be more significant and to have a greater effect on populations where several wind farms are proposed in the same area."
"It is therefore important to undertake assessments of the potential cumulative effects of all proposed wind farms where they are likely to affect the same species or populations of birds."
Cumulative impact assessment is particularly important for Ireland given the inadequate regulatory regime and developer-led focus on Ireland's east coast shallow sandbanks.
BirdWatch Ireland has been at the forefront of protecting and monitoring our seabirds for the past 40 years. It has run specific campaign to "Save our Seabirds" in recognition of the growing threats confronting our seabird population. Dr Steve Newton, Senior Conservation Officer (Seabirds) stated "Ireland's location on the Atlantic edge of Europe ensures we have a much richer maritime biodiversity than most other European countries…with our long length of coastline, large number of islands and vast acreage of territorial waters, we are internationally important for a wide range of seabirds."
"Although the Irish Sea is regarded as a shallow-shelf sea, most seabirds generally forage in the shallower parts. This is why the 'banks' running down the east coast of Ireland (Kish, Codling, Arklow, Blackwater etc.) are so important."
"These shallow banks are currently the key target area for offshore wind farm development. In line with best international practice, no development should be permitted on these banks until a Strategic Environmental Assessment has been carried out and a well-planned management system for the ecosystem introduced."
"We need to proceed cautiously if we are to help protect the planet via harnessing renewable energy in our offshore environment."
In the 2019 Birdwatch Report Trialling a Seabird Sensitivity Mapping Tool for Marine Renewable Energy Developments in Ireland, the author states 'The main potential impacts of MRE devices on seabirds are mortality by collision, disturbance and displacement,barrier effects and habitat loss. Because they are long-lived and with a low annual reproductive output, impacts on seabirds may not become apparent for several years'.
BirdLife International, operating in over 100 countries worldwide, is the leading global authority on the status of birds, their habitats and the issues and problems affecting birdlife.
Three Birdlife Partners - DOF, NABU and Vogelbescherming Nederland - operating in Denmark, Germany and The Netherlands respectively, have recently issued a report The Wadden Sea – A Vision for the Conservation of a Natural Heritage calling for urgent action to protect the Wadden Sea one of N. Europe's key bird areas.
The report draws attention to industrial developments threatening sea birds and urges governments to "Make a Choice for Birds", stating:
"The deterioration of the Wadden Sea demands real choices. Not just on paper but also in daily practice and at local level, where the economy often wins out over the environment. Conservation needs clear and strict rules that are upheld in actual practice. Many recent decisions such as those in favour of wind farms, extension of harbours and oil and gas extraction – go against the interests of nature. Conservation also means good education of local people and tourists so that everyone realises how unique the wildlife of the Wadden Sea is. Politicians, local people and tourists should be made proud of its rich birdlife. It is important to show the benefits – including the economic benefits- of nature and birds".
Marine Mammals
The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) is the global voice for the protection of whales, dolphins and their environment.
Mark Simmonds, WDCS's Director of Science, has expressed concerns about plans for the expansion of marine wind farms in UK waters.
"The potential threats from wind farms in the marine environment include the loud noise associated with their construction (especially pile driving); the noise and disturbance associated with their operation (including boat trips for maintenance) and the ways in which their presence may change marine habitats".
"Whilst we are highly concerned about climate change and supportive of the development of renewable energy sources, we are also aware that wind farms may impact dolphins, porpoises and whales and that this needs to be very urgently addressed. The existing system of protection is poor and failing and to speed ahead with marine wind farms in this way shows a lack of appreciation for marine nature conservation and marine wildlife."
A WDCS paper, Marine Renewable Energy and Cetaceans, Dolmen et al , 2007 (based on Dolmen et al, 2003) lists the activities associated with wind farm development, which are of particular importance to cetaceans and identifies research and monitoring needs to address important knowledge gaps.
The impacts of offshore wind farms and other marine renewables on Irish coastal ecology are yet to be investigated, and there is still much to learn about the ways in which whales, dolphins and porpoises are using the waters around Ireland. The Irish Whale & Dolphin Group is dedicated to the conservation of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises). In 2009 its annual conference was devoted to the harbour porpoise, outlining the current state of knowledge on this small cetacean and addressing, inter alia, possible threats posed by offshore renewables. The harbour porpoise is probably the most abundant and widespread cetacean species in Irish waters. It is listed on Annex ll of the EU Habitats Directive and member states are thus required to designate Special Areas of Conservation to protect important populations and habitats. Identifying important sites with high concentrations is constrained by lack of information on their distribution and abundance.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Environment Heritage and Local Government has drafted an Action Plan for the Conservation of Irish Cetaceans. The plan has been prepared as part of the requirement under Article 12 of the 1992 EC Habitats Directive (92/43/EC) to establish a strict protection regime for all cetaceans in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone. Coastal Concern Alliance Submission to this consultation is available here. See also Proceedings of the 2nd IWDG International Whale Conference: Muc Mhara – Ireland's smallest Whale
"Sandbanks which are slightly covered by the sea water at all times" are an important marine habitat listed for protection in Annex l of the EU Habitats Directive. Such sandbanks are often important nursery areas for fish and consequently can provide key feeding and resting grounds for seabirds. In addition, it is thought that these sandbanks provide particularly rich feeding grounds for cetaceans such as harbour porpoises and dolphins which are relatively abundant in Irish waters. The near-shore banks situated off the east coast of Ireland are known to play an important role in coastal hydrodynamics. The 2007 EU Conservation Assessment Report stated 'This erosion of coastal sediments is partially arrested by a supply of sediments from offshore banks and underlies the importance of the banks in sediment transport to shores along the east coast of Ireland'. Ireland's east coast is one of those known to be most vulnerable to coastal erosion.
Unfortunately these wildlife-rich, functional sandbanks have also been a key target for offshore wind farm developers in Ireland because the relatively shallow waters cuts the cost of construction and maintenance.
Dundalk Bay SAC and SPA and almost all the sandbanks on Ireland's east coast have been claimed on "a first come first served basis" by developers seeking foreshore leases for extensive wind farm development. No Strategic Environmental Assessment was carried out by the Irish authorities to assess cumulative impact before developers were allowed to claim these extensive sites. In 2000 and 2002 reports prepared on behalf of Irish NGOs concerned with conservation, An Taisce, Birdwatch Ireland, Irish Wildlife Trust, Coastwatch and the Irish Peatlands Conservation Council, recommended the designation as Natura 2000 sites of 10 additional sandbank habitats including many of those targeted for wind farm development close to Ireland's east coast (Dwyer, 2000, SACs in Ireland. NGO Review, Crushell 2002).
The Conservation Status of EU Protected Habitats and Species is assessed every six years. In Conservation Status Assessment Report -Sandbanks Slightly Covered by Seawater at all Times (2008). National Parks & Wildlife Service gives an overview of the importance of sandbanks in Irish waters and the threats to their conservation.
The Report set out a number of important points:
"The range has been calculated to encompass 21 sites and cover an area of 211km². The greatest resource of sandbanks is found in the Irish Sea. These banks are, from north to south: Bennet, Burford, Kish, Frazer, Bray, Codling, India , Arklow, Seven Fathom Bank, Glassgorman, Rusk, Blackwater, Lucifer, Long Holdens banks".
"There is no evidence of a decline in the area of sandbanks since the Directive came into force. The current area is considered sufficient to ensure the long term survival of the habitat and is therefore assessed as Favourable in the absence of any significant habitat reduction events. (e.g. aggregate extraction, wind farm development)"
"Soft glacial coastal sediments have little resistance to wave and hydrodynamic action and on the Eastern seaboard of Ireland are slowly eroding on a geological time scale. …. The erosion of coastal sediments is partially arrested by a supply of sediments from offshore banks in deep water and underlies the importance of the banks in sediment transport to shores along the east coast of Ireland"
- "Shallow sandy sediments are often important nursery areas for fish and consequently can provide feeding grounds for seabirds (especially puffins, guillemots, and razorbills and sea duck"
- "An EIS over the Arklow Bank has shown that there is a far greater avian diversity (25 -30 species) over these shallow waters than surrounding areas (5-10 species) and has been shown to be important for feeding and resting (Fehily Timoney & Co 2001). Therefore these banks are also likely to represent an important feeding area for diving bird species".
- "A survey undertaken on the habitat of terns in the Irish Sea showed that the Kish Bank had significant numbers of auks (guillemots, razorbills etc) and terns in the area. Roseate, Common and Arctic Terns were recorded roosting on the Kish Lighthouse and peaked in numbers during late August and early September (Newton & Crowe 2000). The presence of these bird species is indicative of feeding resources in the area"
- "Cetaceans are relatively abundant in Irish coastal waters (IWDG 2004) and it is likely that there are greater feeding resources over sandbanks due to the hydrodynamic effects than in surrounding waters. The area where greatest cetacean recording effort has been concentrated on sandbanks within Irish waters has shown a significant and consistent concentration of bottlenose dolphins".
- "Aggregate Extraction": The impacts of aggregate extraction will be high should this take place on sandbanks in the future. Currently there is no aggregate extraction from Irish sandbanks.
- Oil and Coal Extraction: Interest has been expressed in this activity for one sandbank.
- Construction and Maintenance of Windfarms. The installation of turbines will result in some loss of habitat and the presence of hard structures is likely to change the biodiversity of the banks. To date only one wind farm has been constructed at the north end of the Ark low Bank. However interest has been expressed in developing wind farms on most of the east coast banks and licenses have been granted for exploration prior to development".
- "From the large number of sandbanks that have been investigated for their suitability for wind farms and their potential as sites for aggregate extraction, the future prospects are considered Unfavourable – Inadequate"
- Nationally the overall conservation status of the habitat "sandbanks covered by water at all times" is Unfavourable - Inadequate.
Conservation Status of Species and habitats was re-assessed in 2013.
As was the case in 2007, the Current Conservation Status of east coast sandbanks was assessed as Favourable. However, in contrast to 2007, the Future Prospects and Overall Conservation Status was also stated to be Favourable.
The change in status since 2007 was attributed to two factors: (1) the protection that would be afforded to sandbank habitats by implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and (2) the completion of SEA with mitigation for developments of offshore renewable energy sector. (1) Unfortunately Ireland has not completed the survey and designation process for Natura 2000 sites required to comply with the MSFD. Only two additional sandbanks, rather than the ten proposed, have been designated. (2) In 2010, Minister Eamon Ryan published a Draft Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan. In the Environmental Report he stated that the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the plan "should not influence or affect the processing of existing Foreshore Lease applications". This statement effectively removed from consideration in the SEA 263Km2 of sensitive habitat on which Foreshore Leases for wind farm development had been progressed on Ireland's east coast.
However, the Natura Impact Statement of the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (2011) did assess the potential impact of wind farm development on Annexe 1-listed Habitats, 'sandbanks slightly covered by seawater at all times' and concluded that 'even with the implementation of appropriate mitigation there is still a medium risk of Likely Significant Effect occurring as a result of damage to or loss of habitats from the installation of offshore renewable energy developments in areas where sensitive habitats are present'.
The 2013 conclusion that the Overall Conservation Status was Favourable is not supported by these facts.
In 2019, Conservation Status of EU protected habitats & species was re-assessed by National Parks and Wildlife. This assessment concluded that both the Current Conservation Status and Future Prospects of the sandbanks were Favourable. However, the information contained in the Report contradicts this conclusion.
Two threats are discussed. The Report states 'The development of windfarms on shallow sandbanks has the potential to lead to an indirect impact on the habitat.' It is difficult to understand the use of the word 'indirect' in this statement. Construction of currently proposed windfarms would require driving hundreds of steel monopiles into the sea floor along the sandbanks by means of specialist hydraulic rams, a process known to threaten marine wildlife and damage coastal habitats (Marine Conservation Society, 2013).
The Report also refers to the potential threat from dredging (fisheries). Dredging, which was required to clear accumulated sand from the bases of the seven small wind turbines on the Arklow Bank, was permitted in 2017. The Dumping at Sea permit for this activity was awarded by the EPA without any Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Given that dredging is known to be an activity that damages the seabed, the failure to carry out an EIA is clearly out of line with best environmental practice, as stated by the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group.


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The 2014 Hyundai i10 continues to be tested in India and many places abroad. The car is in it's final stages of testing, given that a global debut is being expected in September, at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
These spyshots were taken by Autocar Forum member 'Rssh' in the Mumbai-Pune expressway, where the car is said to be undergoing testing by ARAI.
Head to Page 2 to check out the interior spy shots.
Take a closer look at these images and you can see the Red-Black dual tone interiors. The red color extends to some parts of the seats, the plastics surrounding the gearlever and some plastics on the dashboard.
Another detail revealed through these images is the ignition Start/Stop button, on the right-hand side of the steering wheel. The 'Push-Button' starter is already seen on the i20 and Hyundai's bigger models. Being an advocate of the 'first-in-class features', Hyundai is likely to make the new i10 feature rich, by including these gadgets.
The overall interior design of the new i10 is more of an evolution of the current design, rather than a revolution. Certain elements that immediately distinguish the i10 (such as the dashboard mounted gearlever), will still be seen on the next generation model.
The Indian spec i10 is likely to have a different rear door and window design compared to the European i10.
After taking a look at these spyshots, I'm reminded a lot of the special edition iTech i10 that was launched earlier this year. It features a dual tone interior scheme (red-black with beige inserts) very much like the i10 caught on test. Was Hyundai India gauging the customer reaction and feedback for this sort of an interior scheme when they launched the special edition?
[Image courtesy - Autocar Forum]

subset: commoncrawl


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Hey my title rhymes! I love a good deal…. especially on shoes and running stuff. Being that I have had issues with feet and ankle I cannot skimp on shoes. Got an email from local ATL area running The Big Peach Running Store about Peachy-palooza. They had outgrown the Brookhaven location – so they moved […]
Archives for March 29, 2013
PARDON OUR DUST…..REFURB Going on here!
Please pardon any oddities in the blog appearance the next week or so..I am just working on tweaking some stuff to make it a better place. Thanks so much for your understanding during my Refurbishment, the blog will be open!


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Mobile cameras have moved incredibly in recent years and have completely pushed compact cameras out of the market. Huge progress in photography is attributed to Google, Huwaei, Samsung, but also Chinese Xiaomi. It only opened a new camera development division last year and paid off.
You can find extra content about Xiaomi on our social networks
Latest Xiaomi Mi 9 comes with so far the best camera among Xiaomi smartphonesi. However, it is also high in the global ranking of the prestigious DxOmark camera test.
Highest video score yet
Triple 48 + 16 + 12 MPx a camera with wide-angle photos, 4 cm macro photos, Super Moon Mode and other "goodies". All this contains the camera of the new Xiaomi Mi 9. The engineer in Xiaomi, however, somehow forgot about optical image stabilization. Xiaomi was criticized for the absence of this element, but only briefly.
The testers from DxOmark released the official result of the camera test in Mi 9. The total score of 107 points is not at the top of the rankings, which does not apply to the score from video quality. In the video test, Mi 9 gained up to 99 points, What is so far the highest rating between smartphones. And yes, even though it doesn't have optical image stabilization.
In its review, DxOMark praises the consistent focus of exposure. According to them, the video camera captures pleasant colors s precise white balance, without any color shades or other color problems.
Noise levels are during bright light and typical interior lighting under very good control. Noise naturally increases in poor lighting conditions. The autofocus system works quickly and accurately in almost all circumstances. Xiaomi Mi 9 produces stable and very detailed 4K video with low noise.
DxOMark also praises LED flashwhich does an excellent job and maintains a delicate balance between high exposure and color. They also mention an area where Mi 9 could improve. It is a dynamic range, in shadow detail and when highlighting contrast.
At the end of the test they mention that Xiaomi Mi 9 is the best smartphone in video shootingas tested so far. We also include their test videos, which are focused on stabilization. You can take a complete test of the DxOmark portal look here.


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By Carter Malkasian Joint Force Quarterly 88
For years, the British enjoyed a reputation of counterinsurgency excellence. Their campaigns—Malaya, Kenya, Oman, Northern Ireland—were hailed as successes in this difficult form of war. Afghanistan, however, turned out to be painful for the British. They committed a peak of over 9,500 troops, eventually drawing down to a few hundred by the end of 2014. They faced numerous battlefield reverses. Eventual successes were overshadowed by the arrival of 20,000 U.S. Marines. Britain's counterinsurgency reputation came out of the campaign tarnished.
Many books and articles have been written criticizing British government and military decisions. Mike Martin's An Intimate War (Oxford University Press, 2014), Frank Ledwidge's Losing Small Wars (Yale University Press, 2017), and Emile Simpson's War from the Ground Up (Oxford University Press, 2016) loom especially large. Still, there has been no comprehensive history, especially for Americans less interested in British political debates than an explanation of what happened and why. Theo Farrell's Unwinnable: Britain's War in Afghanistan, 2001–2014 is just that.
Farrell is the former head of the renowned Department of War Studies at King's College London, and is now an executive dean at the University of Wollongong in Australia. Farrell traveled to Afghanistan repeatedly throughout the course of the war. He was able to review military plans and post-operational reports and interview over 200 British officers and officials. He also collected a small sample of Taliban opinion. All serve as rich sources for the book.
Farrell shows that the British experience was not one of unremitting blunders. Certainly, the beginning was tough. After engaging in a variety of counterterrorism operations and development activities from 2001 to 2005, the largest British troop commitment started in 2006 in Helmand Province. The British went in overly optimistic and neglectful of Afghan memories of their empire. They compounded the problem by removing the drug lord provincial governor, Sher Mohammed Akhundzada, turning part of his tribe against them. Tactically, the British settled on an overly militarized approach and failed to focus on protecting the population. By the end of the year, the situation had gone so badly that the British withdrew from three districts—Musa Qala, Sangin, and Nowzad—in three controversial ceasefire agreements.
Over time, the British adapted. They introduced new equipment, deployed more helicopters, and developed new counter–improvised explosive device techniques. Counterinsurgency tactics improved. Battalions were assigned to districts for their entire tours in order to develop "an intimate knowledge of the ground, the local nationals, and the pattern of life" rather than rotated through positions throughout the province. Firepower was restrained in order to minimize counterproductive civilian casualties. A focus on protecting the population was asserted in late 2008. Farrell assesses, "By 2010, British forces had achieved significant results in Helmand, creating the security for governance and development to flourish in many parts of the province."
A great strength of Unwinnable is the author's detailed coverage of the British effort in Nad Ali, a critical district next to Helmand's provincial capital. This front has gone woefully understudied. It is perhaps Britain's greatest tactical success in Afghanistan. While the U.S. Marines cleared southern Helmand and Marjah, the British were clearing Nad Ali and the adjacent sector of Babaji. Americans cannot understand the outcome of its effort in Helmand without understanding Nad Ali. Indeed, U.S. Marines are helping Afghan soldiers and police fight there today. Farrell's is the first account to explain the full history of what happened in Nad Ali across 7 years and the deployment of multiple British battalions.
While fair to British tactical and operational successes, Farrell contends the overall strategy was misguided, as his title implies. The main reason is "political absenteeism and military hubris." His text makes clear that a large part of this was poor knowledge of Afghanistan and a resistance to learn. British policymakers and generals had the scantest of knowledge on Afghanistan yet insisted on moving forward without regard for facts that challenged their preconceptions. They disregarded reports of Taliban strength and studies that called for caution and taking time to deepen their knowledge and did not recognize the popular antipathy toward Britain. They even neglected future President Nad Ali's warning that if they "go in fighting . . . there will be a bloodbath."
Farrell describes how British officers made key tactical errors because they did not understand Helmand. In 2006, British commanders infamously diverted from a plan to defend the population in central Helmand that had been written by a team of officers and civilian officials who had studied the province. Instead, the commanders scattered British forces into rural districts to fight the Taliban. British forces became besieged in far-flung "platoon houses" and suffered heavy casualties. Farrell debunks a decades-old argument that pleas from President Hamid Karzai and Provincial Governor Mohammed Daoud had forced the British commanders to move off the original plan. He tells how the British commanders never even read the plan and decided on their own to get into a fight in the hinterlands. Brigadier Edward Butler, the British commander in Helmand at the time, dismissed the original plan as "pretty light on the military Line of Operation . . . drawn up by people who did not properly understand the Brigade's skill sets and capabilities." Years later, of course, Butler's successors fell back on defending central Helmand, just as the original plan had advised. Farrell's case will surely draw great controversy.
What should we take from this? The United Kingdom was caught in the same dilemma that the United States has faced again and again in Iraq and Afghanistan. For the outsider, intervening in an insurgency or a civil war is a learning experience. The imperative to work with the people demands knowledge of society, culture, politics, and history, in all their complexity. Yet learning takes time. Outsiders face an unavoidable dilemma of making decisions with incomplete knowledge or making no decisions at all. Every decision stands a reasonable chance of being a misstep. Friction is inevitable. What Farrell reminds us is that at any decision point we should listen to the knowledge that does exist and not dismiss it because it complicates what we want to do.
With its broad scope and detail, Unwinnable is akin to an official history in the finest of British historical tradition. In fact, whenever the official history does come out, it will find itself in stiff competition with Farrell's work. JFQ


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text: San Francisco: Meta-owned photo-sharing platform Instagram is trying to tackle the problem of unsavoury comments that pop up during Live streams with its latest feature. Now, Live users can assign someone to be a moderator for their broadcasts. Moderators can report comments, switch off comments from a particular user and boot troublesome viewers from the stream, reports Engadget. Creators can add a moderator by tapping the menu icon on the comment bar. They can search for a specific person or choose a user from a list suggested by Instagram. Instagram is rolling out the feature to help broadcasters focus on engaging in positive discussions instead of spending time addressing unwanted interactions, the report said. Meanwhile, shortly after dropping support for the IGTV application, Instagram has recently removed its standalone Boomerang as well as Hyperlapse apps from Apple's App Store and Google Play. Instagram launched Boomerang back in 2014 and allowed users to create mini videos from a burst of 10 shots.


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Recap the year with some of the most popular episodes of "Scheer Intelligence."
Top Scheer Intelligence Episodes of 2022: Michael Brenner, Ellen Brown, Gabor Maté, Daniel Ellsberg, and More
This year marked six years of "Scheer Intelligence" — done in cooperation with KCRW, NPR's station in Santa Monica — where each week host and ScheerPost publisher Robert Scheer welcomed guests who are experts on a diverse range of topics onto the show to discuss (and sometime debate) the critical issues of our time.
In 47 new episodes, with five additional rewinds of previous episodes in observance of a timely event, Scheer delved into issues such as the events and narratives regarding the war in Ukraine, US imperialism and militarism, the global economy and capitalism, incarceration and rehabilitation, gay rights, conflict in the Middle East, censorship and Big Tech, immigration and democracy.
Over the summer, the Los Angeles Press Club awarded Scheer in three categories at the Southern California Journalism Awards: "Audio Journalist of the Year" (third place) and—along with the show's executive producer, Joshua Scheer, for interviews with activist Prof. Melina Abdullah "Black Lives Matter: 'When We Fight, We Win," second place and scholar Tony Platt on how "California's Grim Genocidal Past Implicates the University of California," third place in the "Talk/Public Affairs" category. Also, last year his interview with Janet Yang won a 2021 National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Award and is listed in the Entertainment Reporting category. Along the way, Scheer Intelligence also saw the development and implementation of video interviews.
It was a turbulent year of nuclear brinkmanship, attacks on free speech, and continued global healthcare and economic crisis. Questions of democracy abounded. Scheer covered these topics every week to keep listeners informed on the most critical developments and narratives in the world.
Here are some of the most popular of those stories:
Michael Brenner: American Dissent on Ukraine Is Dying in Darkness
When it came to the Ukraine conflict, Professor Michael J. Brenner did what he's done his whole life: question American foreign policy. This time the backlash was vitriolic. In this episode of Scheer Intelligence, Robert Scheer speaks with Brenner about the vitriolic backlash he experienced when speaking out against the US's involvement in Ukraine.
Published by ScheerPost on 04/15/22
Gabor Maté: Who's Crazy, You or Your Nation?
Robert Scheer and author and renowned physician Dr. Gabor Maté to talk about Mate's recent New York Times best-selling book, "The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness and Healing in a Toxic Culture," written with his son, Daniel Maté. Through his new book he hopes to shed some light on the actual health impacts of this growing system through his own life's journey and those of others and believes "a system where people are so committed to power and profit, I don't know that they still have the capacity to reform the system in order to save itself."
Published by ScheerPost on 12/09/22
Nomi Prins: How the Federal Reserve and Allied Central Bankers Wrote the Obituary for Competitive Capitalism
From the housing crisis to the pandemic, all disasters are an opportunity for plunder of the vulnerable. In this episode of "Scheer Intelligence," Dr. Nomi Prins examines the games the wealthy elites play while the 99% suffer. Rising from a world of deep financial sin at Goldman Sachs, where she served as a managing director during the creation of the housing Ponzi scheme that wrecked much of the world's economy, Prins has written seven books detailing the corruptions of the financial elite that has only intensified its destructive assault on the livelihood of the world's struggling population.
Published by ScheerPost on 10/21/22
Oliver Stone: American Exceptionalism Is on Deadly Display in Ukraine
U.S. reports, according to "Scheer Intelligence" host Robert Scheer, have failed thus far to understand the perspective of Russia and its leader Vladimir Putin, and do so to the detriment of everything and everyone at stake. Film director Oliver Stone, however, offers a unique insight into the crisis given his experience interviewing the Russian leader a dozen times over two years for Stone's Showtime series "The Putin Diaries." The Oscar winner and Vietnam War veteran joins Scheer on this episode to discuss the critical nuances Americans are missing in Ukraine.
Published by ScheerPost on 02/11/22
Ellen Brown on Crisis in the World Economy
Economic expert and lawyer Ellen Brown joins Robert Scheer on this week's "Scheer Intelligence" to discuss how Russia's decision to undermine the dollar as the global reserve currency changes everything. Brown builds on thoroughly-researched piece for ScheerPost on the episode, and explains the history of the "PetroDollar" and outlines how Russia's response to Western sanctions—aimed at strengthening the ruble—could be the start of a "Petro Ruble" revolution, which threatens the dominance of the dollar.
Published by ScheerPost on 04/08/22
Nuclear War with Russia? 'A Wall of Fire that Encompasses Everything Around Us at the Temperature of the Center of the Sun.'
On this "Scheer Intelligence," nuclear weapons specialist Ted Postol joins Robert Scheer to discuss how the Ukraine crisis could lead the world past the point of no return. Listen to the full conversation between Scheer and Postol as they consider Vladimir Putin's motives for raising the possibility of using Russia's nuclear arsenal, and how the U.S. in many ways could be its own worst enemy in this terrifying climate.
Published by ScheerPost on 03/25/22
The US Spends Almost as Much on Healthcare as the Rest of the World Combined and Has One of the Worst Outcomes
Health can be a complicated matter within a society, which is why Robert Scheer welcomes Dr. Stephen Bezruchka, a former emergency physician, current scholar of the impact of economic inequity on health, and author of "Inequality Kills Us All: COVID-19's Health Lessons for the World." His new book explores just how deadly inequality can be to humanity and explores how even the smallest of policy changes, like parental leave, can make a huge impact on the long-term health of an individual's life.
Published by ScheerPost on 11/25/22
Jorja Leap on the American Women and Children We All Conveniently Forget
JOn this week's "Scheer Intelligence," Jorja Leap, an academic and professor at University of California, Los Angeles, joins fellow Angeleno Robert Scheer to discuss California's female prison population and the scholar's must-read new book. Focusing not just on what happens in jails and prisons but what occurs upon reentry, Leap reports with a keenly humanitarian perspective on how these women's trials and tribulations can often be as difficult if not more so once they're free. A shocking lack of reentry programs and immense legal obstacles to reuniting with their children are just some of the many problems the scholar and Scheer discuss on the show.
Published by ScheerPost on 04/29/22
Ray McGovern: What Role Has the U.S. Played in the Ukraine Crisis?
On this episode of "Scheer Intelligence," CIA veteran Ray McGovern spars with Robert Scheer about whether or not American politicians and pundits have Ukrainian blood on their hands. McGovern spent 27 years as a CIA analyst, during which time he led the Soviet Foreign Policy Branch and prepared The President's Daily Brief for three U.S. presidents. The two ultimately consider how NATO's expansion past eastern Germany may have baited Putin into his current position, indefensible as it may be.
Published by ScheerPost on 03/11/22
Mary Childs on the Man Who Turned America's Economy Into a Literal Casino
The co-host of NPR's "Planet Money" joins Robert Scheer to discuss her new book, "The Bond King," on this episode of "Scheer Intelligence." In a gripping conversation, Childs and Scheer approach the crisis that destroyed the lives of thousands—disproportionately Black and brown Americans—and had devastating ripple effects around the world from different vantage points. Childs' and Scheer's perspectives make for an unmissable meeting of minds that will lead listeners one step closer to understanding how the U.S. economy works against 99 percent of us.
Published by ScheerPost on 03/18/22
Ron Kovic: The Dark Irony of This Patriotic Orgy and the Celebration of War
Ron Kovic, literally "Born on the Fourth of July," author of his classic anti-war memoir and subject of the Oliver Stone film based on the book, marks the day of patriotic zealotry with dread. Kovic was inspired to enlist as a US marine and fight in Vietnam, answering President John F. Kennedy's call to serve country before self. The result failed both the country and the young marine, who was severely wounded in action in a war that he believes betrayed the nation's stated ideals and left him a paraplegic, bound for a half century to his wheelchair but freeing his voice to speak as clearly as anyone on the dark folly of war.
Published by ScheerPost on 07/03/22
Daniel Ellsberg: Putin Is Already Using His Nuclear Weapons
On this episode of "Scheer Intelligence," Ellsberg joins host Robert Scheer to discuss just how close the world is coming to annihilation in the context of the Ukraine conflict. While the two disagree on certain nuances relating to US officials' eagerness or "giddiness" to actually deploy nuclear weapons, throughout the lively discussion they arrive at stark warnings about what direct conflicts with Russia over Ukraine, and China over Taiwan, would mean to the future of the human race.
Published by ScheerPost on 04/22/22
Javier Zamora: Nine Hellish Weeks as a Nine-Year Old Crossing Borders from El Salvador to the US
In this episode of "Scheer Intelligence," as in his New York Times bestselling book, "Solito: A Memoir," celebrated poet Javier Zamora cuts through the nasty dehumanization about undocumented immigrants with the focused memory of his perilous journey as a child refugee attempting to join his family under the most vulnerable of circumstances. With their lives overturned by the U.S.-sponsored war in El Salvador, Zamora's parents had found refuge in California, but it took eight years and the risky efforts of a paid smuggler to open the possibility for their child to join them.
Published by ScheerPost on 11/11/22
CIA Vets McGovern & Kiriakou: It's Scoundrel Time Back in the USA
Critics of the West's role in the Ukraine war, such as CIA veterans Ray McGovern and John Kiriakou, are being ostracized from the American media landscape. On this installment of "Scheer Intelligence," the three spar about how the Ukrainian conflict is being covered in the U.S., where this war is heading, and what the conflict means for U.S.-China relations, as well as the potential for nuclear war. Listen to the full discussion between McGovern, Kiriakou and Scheer as they expertly pick apart many myths that are being dangerously propagated about Ukraine, Russia, and the West.
Published by ScheerPost on 05/20/22
Rev. Madison Shockley: Fact-Checking Jesus
The story of Jesus Christ is jumbled and twisted in a perennial game of telephone every December. The true meaning and interpretation of the Bible is convoluted with ideas heavily relating to whatever the dominant political system is, capitalism the most recent example. Rev. Madison Shockley joins host Robert Scheer on this episode of "Scheer Intelligence" to provide greater context into the world's dominant religious force and the stories that define it.
Published by ScheerPost on 12/23/22
Ralph Nader: Is There Any Hope Left for Democracy?
As many Americans increasingly despair at the Biden administration's policies—and lack thereof—and both Republicans' and Democrats' unwillingness to stand up to Big Money or the Military Industrial Complex, Nader joins "Scheer Intelligence" host Robert Scheer to talk about what's left of their country's democracy. Listen to the full conversation between Nader and Scheer as they grapple with the concept of Democrats as "the lesser evil" and explore whether Americans can find optimism in local politics.
Published by ScheerPost on 06/10/22


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2014 Porsche Cayenne Diesel Platinum Edition-Meteor Grey on Platinum, Pano Roof, Park &Lane Change Assist, tow package, 14-way seats, $76k MSRP, gorgeous inside and out!
Past Inventory
As a car nut we often daydream about what the perfect 10-car garage collection would look like…. Do we ever dream about what the perfect 1-car collection would look like? I sometimes do and for the record, if I could truly only have one car and it had to do everything I need to do in my life, it WOULD be a Cayenne Diesel. Crazy you say? Well, here are what an only car would have to do:
- First and foremost it would have to be fun to drive and the tactile inputs would have to satisfy the driver in me.
- It would have to be capable in all weather sun, rain or shine.
- I would have to be able to haul my wife and kids.
- It would have to have the cargo capacity to carry car parts, spare wheels and tires.
- It would have to be rugged enough to take me to my favorite ski hill, trailhead or off the grid camping spot.
- It would have to have enough cache that I could take a client to dinner or take my wife out for date night.
- It would have to be able to pull my 6,000lb car trailer.
- It would have to be nice enough to satisfy my OCD yet not so precious that I couldn't use it for the above tasks.
- It would have to be reliable and efficient.
Name one other car that could do all of these things? Hence there is a reason that this Cayenne is our former family car. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this thing, so much so that when I wanted to get my wife a new car, what did I get her? Just a newer Cayenne Diesel…. I could literally go on for DAYS about how much I love this thing, oddly enough I don't actually feel the same way about other Cayenne's, the only version that truly captures me is the Diesel. Somehow the combination of effortless torque and the efficiency just "fits" the Cayenne. You will have to drive it to understand.
This particular Cayenne is fairly well optioned; here is how it is equipped:
- Meteor Grey Metallic Exterior
- Platinum Grey Leather
- Platinum Edition
- Premium Package: Heated 14-way seats, BOSE Audio, Porsche Crests in the headrests, etc.
- Trailer Hitch
- Multifunction Steering Wheel
- Panoramic Roof
- Roof Rails
- Park Assist Front and Rear w/ rear camera
- Lane Change Assist
- Anthracite Birch interior trim
- High Gloss Exterior Package
- Sport Chrono
- Sirius XM and HD Radio
Total Original MSRP- $76,840
This Cayenne has been driven, having just over 127k miles but one would barely know it either by driving it or looking at it. I have to give my better half some credit here, it is pretty immaculate inside and out; other that some minor rock chips and a few signs of the miles. I don't think you would find a cleaner one anywhere.
Mechanically this thing is ready for a cross-country adventure, we have had zero issues with it and it needs nothing that I know of. It is current on all service, the tires are almost new and all it needs is a new driver. One of the best things about these is the fuel mileage, it is utterly ridiculous; for fun I posted a photo of a very typical drive I recently took to Eastern Washington, this will get a true hand calculated 35-37 mpg on the road and 27-30 mpg around town!
This Cayenne comes with a complete service history, all the original books and manuals, both original keys and two sets of OEM Mats (Black and Platinum). Please buy it as I am actually having issues letting it go, I picked up my wife's new one ~ 10 weeks ago and I just couldn't bring myself to part ways with it. I assume it will be like pulling a Band-Aid off, better to just do it quickly. Come experience the magic!


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The dress you'll always want to wear. The Crowley dress is your new daytime or even night dress. Clean, simple, and easy, it is great as a solo piece or layering up. The dress is 100% cotton embroidered voile with a babydoll fit. This dress has all the details to be a lasting wardrobe staple.
Relaxed Fit
4.15-oz. 100% cotton embroidered voile
3.85-oz. 100% cotton YD stripe seersucker
Babydoll fit
Henley button front
On seam pockets
Skirt lining on White colorway
Logo flag label at sideseam
Model is 5'9" and wears a size S


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Dogecoin price analysis confirms a bearish reading for today, continuing on a larger decline in the cryptocurrency market. Dogecoin shipped more than 5 percent over the last 24 hours, with price moving to a 13-month low of $0.70. DOGE trading volume rose more than 30 percent over the day's trade, confirming seller dominance in the market. Price did offer some respite during the end of day, moving back up above $0.81 resistance. If buyers continue to come into the market for DOGE, a daily close above $0.90 would be possible and instigate an uptrend.
The larger cryptocurrency market continued to show a widely bearish outlook across the board, as major cryptocurrencies led by Bitcoin extended the market crash. Bitcoin receded down to $26,500, it's lowest price in more than a year. Ethereum fell below the $2,000 mark with an 8 percent decline, while major Altcoins also showed significant dips. Ripple fell 6 percent to $0.38, Cardano 8 percent to $0.48 and Tron 6 percent to $0.069. Solana dropped 7 percent to move as low as $44.79, while Near Protocol posted the only positive reading with a minor uptrend to move to $6.62.
Dogecoin price analysis: Massive bearish divergence on daily chart suggests decline set to continue
On the 24-hour candlestick chart for Dogecoin price analysis, price can be seen continuing on a descending channel that extended deeper over the day's price action. DOGE has lost more than 46 percent over the past week and major technical indicators suggest that the bearish pattern is set to continue. Price currently sits well below the crucial 50-day exponential moving average (EMA) at $0.107, which constitutes the upper demand channel. Any potential uptrend for DOGE will have to dissect the 9 and 21-day moving averages.
The 24-hour relative strength index (RSI) shows a vastly deteriorating market valuation for DOGE, falling well into the oversold zone at 26.91. In addition, the moving average convergence divergence (MACD) curve continues along a bearish divergence, forming lower lows below the neutral zone. While Dogecoin price did offer some respite in moving back above $0.081 today, the current resistance is set not too distantly at $0.090. A daily close above this point could take price back above the $0.1 mark and cease the downward descent.
Disclaimer. The information provided is not trading advice. Cryptopolitan.com holds no liability for any investments made based on the information provided on this page. We strongly recommend independent research and/or consultation with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions.
Credit: Source link


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A vision traveling to a cyberpunk sci-fi future city, Alpha, full of action and industrial might.
About ArtStation Canvas Prints
We know how important quality is for artists who want gallery-ready canvas prints. That's why our canvases use premium materials and are professionally crafted to ensure we deliver beautiful, high quality artwork that is ready to hang.


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With the 2014 World Cup fast approaching and involving so many cities in Brazil, it is best to familiarize oneself with the types of cuisine that can be expected in each region. While certain Brazilian dishes are available throughout the vast country, each region has unique culinary creations that showcase its local flair. Learn what each region has to offer, so you can navigate Brazilian cuisine like a pro.
Northern Brazil
If you are operating to northern Brazil, you will notice that the local cuisine is heavily influenced by the indigenous people of the Amazon. For example, "pato no tucupi," a dish of wild duck with fermented cassava juice, is a common dish in this area. Cassava juice is sometimes substituted with vinegar since vinegar offers acidity similar to that of cassava but removes the risk of poisoning associated with improper cassava preparation.
Southern Brazil
Churrasco-style meats are extremely popular in this area of the country, so you will not want to miss the opportunity to try them. Due to strong European influence, you'll also find cabbage, potatoes, pasta, and European-style coffee in this area. "Arroz de Paretero" is a tasty risotto dish made with rice, fried meat, garlic, and onions sauteed with "charqui," a type of dried and salted beef reminiscent of jerky. For a more unique, local beverage, try "chimarrao" (similar to Argentina's "yerba mate" and recently in the global spotlight as a favorite of Pope Francis, who is from Argentina.) Keep in mind though, that specific vessels should be used when drinking chimarrao, and that water temperature and steeping time need to be exact to keep the beverage from becoming bitter. Sushi is also a favorite in southern Brazil, especially in Sao Paulo, where there is a large community of citizens who are of Asian descent.
Western Brazil
Vegetables are the centerpiece of cuisine in western Brazil. Here, you will find a wide selection of gourds, squash, and corn, as well as an assortment of legumes. Additionally, a variety of seafood is readily available and is a staple in the local diet. Another point of note is that many ingredients are stewed in "dende" (palm) oil. This oil has a signature reddish color and is often used in rice dishes. Health-conscious passengers should seek an alternative to dende oil since it is high in saturated fat. Likewise, anyone with a nut allergy should ask for another oil to be used in catering.
Eastern Brazil
Overall, this region of Brazil is marked by the popularity of fish and seafood, while the northeast has a strong African culinary influence. "Bobo de camarao" is a West African-influenced meal that consists of cassava, shrimp, coconut milk, and dende oil. Another unique local dish, BBQ "pacu" ribs, is made from the meat of the "pacu," a large freshwater fish related to the infamous "piranha." Interestingly, the texture of a pacu's meat is much more like that of veal than that of a typical fish.
National Brazilian Cuisine
Plantains, coconuts, Acai berries, and sugar cane are all used in a variety of Brazilian culinary creations. Tapioca and guarana seeds, which are high in caffeine, are used to make the national soda, "Guarana Antarctic." Black beans, black-eyed peas, and "jambu" (similar to collard greens) are all popular vegetables. Rice is used throughout the country but is typically replaced by pasta and potatoes the farther south you travel. Since winter hits in the middle of the year, "vaca atolada," a casserole-style dish featuring beef ribs and cassava root, will be popular if you are visiting during the colder months.
Brazil has a mouthwatering cheese bun called "pao de queijo," which is made with a specific type of Brazilian cream cheese. If you enjoy falafel, try "acaraje," a flavorful feast of ginger, black-eyed peas, and dried shrimp that is deep fried in dende oil. "Empanadas" are a more widely known South American specialty that can be sweet or savory, depending on the ingredients. Guava, cheese, and shrimp are all commonly used as empanada fillings.
After exploring the variety of flavors Brazil has to offer, make sure to save room for dessert. Yes, traditional Brazilian cuisine is known for its range of tempting desserts. If you are looking for indulgence, try "brigadeiro," a chocolate bonbon with powdered chocolate and condensed milk and rolled in chocolate sprinkles. Another uniquely Brazilian dessert is "Romeo e Julieta," a traditional mixture of guapa paste and minas cheese which is used in various treats such as "bolos" (cakes), empanadas, and even ice cream.
Brazilian flavors are quite remarkable and have been gaining popularity worldwide. No matter where you're traveling next, consider adding a Brazilian flair to your next in-flight dining experience. To make meals truly memorable while operating in Brazil, work with your in-flight caterer to source uniquely appealing cuisine choices from a variety of regions of the country.
If you have any questions about inflight catering in Brazil, contact firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Answers by Tommy Sunset
Tell about your new recording
We are recording a 3 track teaser for our full length album in mid July with Chris Themelco at Monolith Studios. Chris has worked with a lot of Melbourne based thrash/metal bands (Harlott, Envenomed, Orpheus Omega) and that is why we have chosen to work with him. We wanted to steer away from that half full, mid heavy sound that a lot of Australian rock bands are going for and go for a really huge, crisp full sound. Something different from what everyone else is doing here at the moment. We will be releasing a clip for each of the 3 tracks and doing some big single launches to push them. Head over to the Atomic Riot fb page to stay tuned on those dates.
Describe Atomic Riot's sound in food form:
A totally epic nacho pizza, full Michelangelo, Ninja Turtle, style. Because there are a whole bunch of really rad tasty influences in our tunes.
Which song resonates most strongly and why?
I'd say our song "Whiskey Business" because it totally sums up what we are about…channelling serious party vibes for everyone, drinking whiskey and rocking out with our proverbial c$&@ks out :P We like to get the crowd involved with this one live so we hand out shots of our favourite whiskey…fireball.
Any on the road anecdotes?
Being a relatively fresh band we haven't hit the road yet but there are plans in motion for an Australia wide tour by the end of the year. In saying that most of us have paid our dues on the road in previous bands and I have to say even though it's the most cliched thing ever and I'm sure the boys will agree "WHAT HAPPENS ON TOUR STAYS ON TOUR" hahaha
Oh, and it's not really an anecdote, more a tip: try and avoid truck stop food, 90% of the time, you're gonna have a bad time haha.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
Anything with steeze hahaha. Musically, there is a very apparent influence from late 70s and 80s glam and rock n roll. We all just love to party with all the radlordz that come down to our shows and we just supply the soundtrack for the party. We play the music we wanna hear if we where going out to cause mayhem :)
What's next for Atomic Riot?
Damn what isn't next, we are pretty much fully booked until mid September. We are playing the new venue in St Kilda, Cellar Bar, June 13th; it's a rock'n'roll night curated by Mark from The Mercy Kills. We're playing with The Lockhearts and Exile, so will be a killer night. We have our first headline show coming up at Cherry Bar on July 3rd, into the studio mid July, we are doing a residency at Woodys Fine Liquor from late July til mid August and have a whole heap of other shows in between. We are then looking to do a full national tour and then we are heading over to America for a few weeks at the end of the year. Full steeze ahead y'all.
What's your scene?
Our scene is wherever the good times and the beers are flowing. We don't wanna limit ourselves to one particular scene, we will bring the ruckus wherever we are welcome: retirement villages, sweet 16s, bar mitzvahs, over 40s nights. But if I'm taking that question a little more literally we are part of the thriving Melbourne rock scene haha… but seriously if anyone needs a good band for a bar mitzvah hahaha
Looking forward to catching you radlordz at the next show!!!
Atomic Riot Facebook link
Atomic Riot are a new Party Rock n Roll band from Melbourne feat. Ash Lightning(Vocals), Drew Suhr, Alex Richmond(Guitar), Tommy Sunset(Bass), Ben Ashwood(Drums).


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MSI implement special design in cooperation with Steelseries and keyboard maker, created a Rapid trigger switch with stronger feedback, higher durability, and solid platform for this new design of MSI top level laptops.
MSI is pleased to Introducing GT75VR Titan, GE63VR/73VR Raider to India! Gamers' top choice and the leading gaming brand MSI, will be offering two weapons of choice for India gamers. GT75VR and GE63VR/73VR Raider will be packing some serious tech-leading upgrades. Find out more information on Flipkart and prepare yourself for an unprecedented thrill ride.
MSI latest unique design of Rapid Mechanical Keyboard is a kind of evolution of the GT keyboards, surreal tactile feedback, and radiant RGB backlit under every key that creates infinite illumination possibilities.
Besides having a greater visual, the typing and force feedback are the signature traits of a "Mechanical Keyboard"; MSI implement special design in cooperation with Steelseries and keyboard maker, created a Rapid trigger switch with stronger feedback, higher durability, and solid platform for this new design of MSI top level laptops.
The GT75VR Titan comes with 3 GPU options: GeForce GTX1080, GTX1070 SLI, or GTX1070 and powerful Core i7 7820HK CPU with over 4GHz overclock capability. The cooling module is still regarded as industry's finest and biggest with the Cooler Boost Titan; and along with other gaming features such as the True Color Technology 2.0, NAHIMIC VR, MSI unique 120Hz Display of HDR color for gamers and HDR video editing experience, The Dragon Center, and much more have been carried over and improved in the GT75VR.
GE63VR/73VR Raider will be available in both 15'' and 17'' display design, with GEFORCE GTX1070 and boost OC ability. The latest Per-Key RGB Gaming Keyboard by SteelSeries is a brand new feature allowing users to customize RGB on every key. Cooler Boost 5 as the new addition in the family of Cooler Boost Technology, industry's finest and most advanced thermal module at this segment. Fastest 3ms 120Hz panel with 94% NTSC Color Gamut for much smoother and sharper HDR ready visuals.
For the first time ever, MSI is implementing latest Giant Speakers enhanced by Dynaudio inside a gaming laptop, a full-sized chamber that is 5x bigger than any regular design; speakers also 2~3x bigger than others at this level of laptops. Over 50% enhancements on audio quality, sound detail and volume, and is truly a breakthrough for gaming laptop speakers. It produces over 105dBA in a smaller chassis and slimmer body than previous GE platform, but still provides the new GE series with an unprecedented audio immersion unlike any we've experienced.
MSI GE63/73VR Raider is pushing the envelope with countless new features and gadgets, and a complete new look on the GE classic ranging from its brand new Si-Fi style ID, speakers, panels, cooling, and keyboards.


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The church life of the faithful in Dubrovsko has been disturbed by the dispute over the ownership of their church in Media.
March 7, 2019 – A group of people, who present themselves as inhabitants of a village Dubrovsko in Šavnik Municipality, have publicly disputed the ownership of the St. George's Church, situated in the above-mentioned village and has been a property of the Serbian Orthodox Church's Diocese of Budimlja and Nikšić ("the Diocese") for centuries; this incident disturbed the church life of the faithful in Dubrovsko, reports the Serbian Orthodox Church's news portal TV Hram.
On this occasion, the board of the St. George's Church ran by Mr Miljan Ćeranić, established with the blessing of the bishop of the Diocese for the purpose of implementation of the planned restoration of the critical church, issued its communique to the public. The church board condemned the act of the aforementioned group of people and stated that the church was a property of the Diocese.
Father Draženko Ristić, the rector of the St. George's Church, said, that the incident was in fact caused by one local family. Father Draženko repeated that the St. George's Church was a property of the Diocese. He added that no donation to the church could be a pledge for ownership over the church. Those who present themselves as inhabitants of Dubrovsko, in the media, can act only in their names, and not in the name of other large families and brotherhoods which have been inhabiting the region for centuries and preserving the tradition of Saint Sava (holy father of the Serbian Orthodox Church).
TV Hram (the Serbian Orthodox Church) – 7 March 2019, "Attacks on the Orthodox Church are not decreasing in Montenegro" (Serbian lang.)
Related Publications:
- Jan 22, 2019 – Discriminatory distribution of budgetary resources to religious communities in Montenegro in 2018
- Jan 18, 2019 – Minister for Human and Minority Rights of Montenegro publicly brought defamatory facts to cover discriminatory acts against the Serbian Orthodox Church.
- Jan 10, 2019 – A series of unfounded criminal complaints filed against the head of the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral (Serbian Orthodox Church) and the Mitropolinate itself.


text: New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday left for Andhra Pradesh's Bhimavaram to attend the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju. Prime Minister will also unveil a 30-feet tall bronze statue of Alluri Sitarama Raju on the occasion. "Leaving for Bhimavaram to attend a very special programme- the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of the great freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju. Will also unveil a bronze statue of Alluri Sitarama Raju. This will enhance the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations," PM Modi said in a tweet. According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), at around 11 am, Prime Minister will launch the year-long 125th birth anniversary celebration of legendary freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju in Bhimavaram. Born on July 4, 1897, Alluri Sitarama Raju is remembered for his fight against the British, in order to safeguard the interests of the tribal communities in the Eastern Ghats region. He had led the Rampa rebellion, which was launched in 1922. He is referred to as "Manyam Veerudu" (Hero of the Jungles) by the local people. The government has planned a series of initiatives as part of the year-long celebration. The birthplace of Alluri Sitarama Raju at Pandrangi in Vizianagaram district and Chintapalli Police Station (to mark 100 years of Rampa Rebellion - the attack on this police station marked the beginning of Rampa Rebellion) will be restored. The government has also approved the construction of Alluri Dhyana Mandir at Mogallu with a statue of Alluri Sitarama Raju in Dhyana Mudra, depicting the life story of the freedom fighter through mural paintings and AI-enabled interactive system. Later in the day, will also visit Gandhinagar in Gujarat where he will inaugurate the Digital India Week 2022 in Gandhinagar, whose theme is 'Catalyzing New India's Techade'.


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'Scary' U.N. Climate Report's Recommendations Align With Boston's
A new United Nations climate change report offers a pretty dismal outlook for the planet, including melted ice caps and dead coral reefs by 2100 if we humans don't significantly cut carbon emissions. For Boston, higher temperatures probably mean even more rain and higher seas than predicted — and sooner.
"We haven't mapped this new report onto the sea level rise predictions that we've been talking about for the last couple of years in Boston. But if my understanding of the report is correct, we're going to have to adjust these and show faster sea level rise, more increased storm inundation, and greater precipitation events," says David Cash, dean of the John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston. "This report is a huge wake-up call."
The report from the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) discusses the impact of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, compared with 2 C. For instance, by 2100, coral reefs could decline 70 to 90 percent worldwide with global warming of 1.5 C; but warming of 2 C would likely kill them all. To limit warming to 1.5 C, global emissions of carbon dioxide will need to reach "net zero" by 2050, the report finds.
President Trump barely acknowledged the report — according to E&E News he said, when asked by a reporter, that he'll be "looking at it." But Boston has emissions reductions goals already aligned with the IPCC.
"The headline for us is that the entire global economy needs to set a target of 45 percent reduction by 2030, and 100 percent reduction in emissions by 2050, which is exactly what the city of Boston is trying to do," says John Cleveland, executive director of the Boston Green Ribbon Commission, a group of business and civic leaders developing strategies to fight climate change.
Cleveland calls the IPPC report "one scary document to read."
He says that the goal is a challenging one, requiring changes in land use, transportation, energy generation, housing and other factors.
"We have to decarbonize the grid, we have to electrify almost everything, including our heating, cooling and transportation, and we have to dramatically reduce the demand for energy and individual cars," Cleveland says. "And we need to ratchet up the urgency."
While the IPCC report calls for sweeping, large-scale policy changes, UMass' Cash says that there's still a role for individual efforts, too.
"Certainly as individuals we can make choices that will have short- and long-term impacts on the environment," Cash says. "But one of the roles of government is to step in when there's a problem like this and provide the level playing field so that decisions by regular homeowners and regular car drivers can be made in a market in which not only do they make the right decision for themselves, economically, but they make the right decision for the environment."


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KAWARTHA LAKES: Kawartha Lakes Food Source encourages you to reserve your tickets now for 'Take A Bite Out Of Hunger', a private evening of live music and culinary treats. "The event will feature both great music and great food," said Heather Kirby, General Manager of Kawartha Lakes Food Source.
Take the Bite out of Hunger takes place this October 3rd at Hobart's Steakhouse in Lindsay. Reserve your tickets now, because the event promises to be an enjoyable outing. Musicians Bob May and Mike Arthurs will entertain event-goers with some classic "British Invasion" and contemporary "Americana" stylings that are likely to have you humming or tapping your toes to the beat.
Bob has been an active supporter of community causes in Kirkland Lake, where he was an educator, and in Lindsay since he relocated here 20 years ago. He once helped raise $7,500 for a Northern Ontario food bank. Bob stated, "It feels good to support local efforts to help feed people in need."
He has operated a digital recording studio in both communities. His studio in Kirkland Lake once recorded a young Eileen (Shania) Twain before she launched to international fame. An active songwriter too, Bob's compilations have earned him acknowledgments on a few fronts.
Fellow musician Mike Arthurs joked, "Bob will lend his vocal talents to the evening festivities, while I will keep him in check with some warbly harmony." He added, "I play bass, while Bob switches between acoustic and electric guitars. He may even play a little harmonica, but regardless of the instruments we're looking forward to having some fun that evening."
100% of all after cost proceeds will go to fund local food source programmings, such as donor education, community outreach, and partnering initiatives.
Kirby added, "We're pleased to have the support of talented musicians. Hobart's Steakhouse will supply the menu, venue, staff, and other support for the second year in a row." The restaurant will be closed to regular dining reservations or walk-ins that evening to ensure a great experience for everyone.
More information about Take the Bite out of Hunger and its programming is available at kawarthalakesfoodsource.com.
About the Kawartha Lakes Food Source
Kawartha Lakes Food Source is a distribution center that procures and distributes food to 35 agencies, advocates for food security and poverty-related issues, and collaborates with the community to support those who do not have enough. Located at 41 George St W, Lindsay.
About Hobart's Steakhouse
Hobart's Steakhouse was established in April 2000 in Lindsay, Ontario. Hobart's Steakhouse food and atmosphere is designed to provide an unforgettable experience serving premium quality steaks and dishes in a casual upscale environment. Hobart's guests are treated to exceptional food, atmosphere, and service whether for lunch or dinner.


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The centre of the universe, when it comes to bicycle geometry and the different aspects of a bike is the bottom bracket. This is the point at the bottom of the frame through which the crank passes. It is an important reference point in bike geometry; an absolute zero if you like. From this starting point we connect all of the other aspects to define the frame geometry including the head tube and seat tube angle, and the head tube, top tube, seat tube, and wheelbase length.
All of these ingredients are ready to mix together to create the perfect bike for the job at hand. Usually bicycle design is based around three triangles, a triangle being one of the strongest geometric shapes. The front triangle includes the top tube, down tube and seat tube. There are two rear triangles which both share the seat tube and have a seat stay and a chain stay.
By changing tube lengths and angles, not only is the size and fit of the bicycle affected, the handling characteristics also change. Let's run through all of the key parts of the bicycle to understand their effect. As a reference, I will provide comparisons between a road bike, a time trial (triathlon) bike, and a mountain bike.
The article will go into some detail, for a general overview of bike geometry, you can start with the following video introduction.
Fork Length and Rake
The forks connect the front wheel of the bicycle (via the headset) to the stem and handlebar. The variations can be in the length (height) of the forks and and the 'offset' (rake). The length determines how far up or down the front wheel is while the offset determines how far back or forward the wheel is in relation to the frame. Road bikes are generally very consistent in their fork measurements due to their steering and handling requirements. A Time Trial fork in comparison will generally be 'raked' out further forward to support the weight of the rider in their front-heavy aerodynamic position and this also allows the rider to steer more comfortably (as they are resting on their elbows). Suspension forks on the other hand vary a lot, the length depends on the wheel size and the type of bike. A downhill mountain bike, for example, can have 180mm of travel in the fork.
Seat Tube Angle
The seat tube angle is the acute angle between the seat tube and a horizontal line parallel to the frame's dropouts. The seat tube angle changes how far back or forward the rider's weight is and affects their balance over the bottom bracket. As a rider moves forward over the bottom bracket, the change in weight balance will tip towards the front and increase the pressure through the hands. Similarly as the rider moves back more weight will be borne through the saddle.
The goal is to find the fine balance for the rider between the weight on the hands and the saddle. This must also take into account the terrain; on MTB trails a rider will move around on a mountain bike far more than on a road bike and at times needs to get their entire torso behind the saddle, for example while descending.
The Downhill Mountainbiker moves behind the saddle during the jump
Steep seat angles are a feature of modern day time trial bikes and help to allow the rider to move further forward on the bike. Some TT seat posts have a clamp that can be moved fore and aft to give the bike an adjustable effective seat tube angle.
The Scott Plasma Time Trial bike features an adjustable rail
Head Tube Length & Angle
The length of the head tube affects the stack measurement of the bike. As the head tube is increased in length, the height of the stem and handlebar go up and back slightly.
The head tube angle is measured in the same way as a seat tube angle; it is measured against a horizontal line parallel to the dropouts. The angle of the head tube defines the reach of the bike, the distance from the bottom to the top center of the head tube measured parallel to the dropouts. As the angle increases the head tube/steerer tube and fork become steeper and the bike will turn into corners faster and with a tighter radius, but it will feel more twitchy and unstable at high speeds. As the head tube angle decreases or slackens the front wheel effectively moves forward and the bars move backwards making the bike more stable at high speeds but slower to steer into and out of tight turns.
Road bikes have very consistent angles. Even with the continued evolution of road bikes there is little room for large changes in handling and steering. Mountain bikes on the other hand have a huge amount of room for changes in head tube angles. While a cross country hardtail may have a similar angle to a road bike, a downhill bike will have a much slacker angle to help keep the wheel out front while descending steep terrain at high speeds.
I have observed that time trial bike head tube angles are changing from a traditional road angle to a slacker angle for the same frame size, which allows the rider to sit slightly further back from the front wheel. This lengthens the bike slightly without increasing the reach, giving it more stable handling characteristics and making it easier to steer while in the aerobars.
Top Tube Length
The top tube affects the frame's reach by changing how far the handle bars are from the saddle. While the angle of the top tube has little bearing on the frame's overall geometry, it has a significant impact on the rider and their ability to safely ride the bike. The standover height is measured from the ground to the top tube near its center. If the top tube is too high for you it can be hard to mount and dismount.
In the mid 1990's, bike designer Mike Burrows designed the first compact style frame for Giant. Rather than retaining the traditional horizontal top tube of steel road bikes, Mike saw advantages in sloping the top tube down toward the seat tube. Firstly, it moved the chain stay junction down the seat tube making the three triangles of the frame smaller, which in turn made them lighter and stiffer, and secondly it allowed the bike to fit more people as it had a lower standover height.
This required the creation of a new measurement: effective top tube length. This length is measured from the center of the top of the head tube to where it intersects the center of the seat post; this line is horizontal and parallel to the dropouts. The effective top tube measurement is a more accurate dimension to help understand the size of a frame considering the large variations in the top tube angle of modern bikes.
The optimal top tube length on a road, mountain, or time trial bike takes into consideration the rider's body proportions and required handling characteristics. Consider the distance between the rider's hip to their hand; it is affected by the type of bike riding as well as saddle setback and stem length and handlebars. Adjustments can be made to the bike, but in practice a properly fitted bike will provide allowances for movement of 20 mm fore and 20 mm aft.
Measuring effective top tube length
Seat Tube Length
The three main triangles of the frame all share the seat tube as one side. This holds the entire bike together and it also holds the rider up. The seat tube length is often affected by the standover height and varies from brand to brand. For carbon fiber bikes, the shorter the seat tube the stiffer the frame. While pedaling, the bicycle frame flexes from side to side and this movement is absorbed through the chain and seat stays. Modern race frames will try to minimise this flex to minimise any loss of energy from the rider.
A seat tube is not necessarily a straight tube; on a mountain bike for example, it can incorporate bends, kinks, and linkages for the rear suspension. On a time trial bike the seat tube design often features a cut-out so that the wheel can be 'tucked into' the frame for aerodynamic benefits. A cross section profile of aerodynamic road bikes and time trial bikes will often reveal a teardrop shape which also helps the aerodynamics.
Another feature of many aerodynamic bikes is the integrated seatpost (or mast). Rather than a removable and adjustable seatpost, the seat tube is cut by the bike shop to suit the exact height requirements of the rider and has a saddle clamping system on top. The manufacturers can reduce weight, increase stiffness, and promote increased performance for their riders.
Wheel Base
The wheelbase is measured from the center of the front axle to the center of the rear axle. However this is not simply a sum of the front to center and the chainstay length because the bottom bracket where the tubes join is most often lower than the axles making a triangle with the wheelbase; the hypotenuse is the wheel base.
As the wheelbase increases the bike will have better handling at high speeds and as the wheelbase gets shorter the bike will become less stable at high speeds. Likewise, cornering is affected by the wheelbase; a bike with a shorter wheelbase will be faster and more responsive through corners while a longer wheelbase will be slower.
Some riders who prefer certain characteristics may opt for a smaller frame or a larger frame and simply adjust the bicycle fit to suit their geometry.
Bottom Bracket Height
The bottom bracket height will depend on the bike design and the size. Road bikes are generally quite consistent to accommodate ergonomic requirements in crank length and handling. Consider cornering on a road bike, you don't want your pedals hitting the road with the different crank lengths available; these may vary around 15mm in length.
On mountain bikes the bottom bracket height (or drop) will be based on the travel of the front suspension forks and, when applicable, the travel of the rear suspension. Because of suspension, it becomes a dynamic dimension. With the introduction of 29ers, the bottom bracket height had to be set to keep the rider's center of gravity low and stable.
Time trial bike are currently moving towards lower bottom brackets to help keep the rider low and closer to the frame. Time trial races and triathlons generally have less cornering than a road ride or road race and so can afford less clearance. There is also a shift to even shorter cranks in triathlon which means that bottom brackets could move even further down.
Down Tube
The down tube is a product of other dimensions on the bike, so it's not an issue of length but rather shape. This is very important because the shape of the tube well affect aerodynamics and strength. For aerodynamics, a 4:1 ratio of length to width of the tube is effective and strong.
When I was a young man the Sling Shot frame was built. It replaced the down tube with a stainless steel cable and a spring. The frame needed reinforcement and was heavy. The idea failed because the strength in the tube only existed in one direction: tension. All the compression force from the fork being driven back had to be taken up through the top tube. This is a good example of the exception proving the rule.
Chain & Seat Stays
The chain stays are very important because they determine the rear axle position, which defines handling and aerodynamic properties. Keeping the wheel tight to the frame is a good thing as it keeps air flow smooth. If it's too short though, the rider may have trouble keeping the front wheel on the ground. This is especially evident in mountain biking when the chainstay has a huge amount of torque on it while climbing a steep pinch. Different tyre sizes will change the chainstay size too.
The seat stays are not only last on my list but also the least. They are there to support the seat tube and with clever shaping can provide some damping for rider comfort, but do we need them?
There is a surge of new age triathlon frames on the market (which the UCI will not allow to race in time trials) that remove the seat stays and the seat tube all together. This reduces drag – a lot of drag, and they look very cool. All the support is throughout the carbon in the rest of the frame and is finely tuned for rider feel and compliance.
I would like to see the tri guys get rid of a chainstay and a fork leg too as they were proven unnecessary in the 1990's by Mike Burrows. The savings in drag and weight would be enormous.
Having a solid understanding of geometry will help you see through a bike's stickers and colours and let you see how it's really built. How does it handle? How will fit your body? Will it soak up all the bumps while flying down a mountainside? Will it give you maximum traction and acceleration while sprinting to the line?
So what do you want from a bike and what would the perfect custom geometry be for you?


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Aira Inc., makers of FreePower™ free-position wireless charging technology, is excited to announce it has added Apple and Tesla veteran Jeff Risher to its executive team as Chief Strategy Officer and General Counsel.
In this role, Jeff will lead the company's business development and corporate strategy, as well as oversee Aira's legal matters, IP strategy and technology partnerships. The hire, Aira's most senior to date, adds important expertise as the company aims to transform wireless charging and expand its reach into key verticals including consumer electronics, automotive, furniture, and hospitality.
Jeff brings two decades of experience and leadership from technology and automotive brands including Apple, Tesla, and Faraday Future in technology, IP strategy, licensing, litigation, mergers & acquisitions, and strategic partnerships. He has been recognized as one of the "Top IP Strategists in the World" by Intellectual Asset Management Magazine (IAM) and has served as a key advisor for fast growth tech startups.
"We are excited to welcome Jeff to Aira as he brings a wealth of experience and proven judgment in areas that are critical to our growth and success," said Jake Slatnick, co-founder and CEO of Aira. "Jeff is a seasoned technology strategist, IP expert and deal maker, and has experience at some of the most innovative and well-known brands in the world. He will be instrumental towards our mission to evolve wireless charging forever."
"From the time I met Jake and Eric, and saw the technology working, I knew I had to be a part of this," said Risher. "It's rare to come across an opportunity like Aira where the present needs, future direction and its transformative technology are so well matched with my strengths and background. FreePower has the potential to re-energize the wireless charging industry and deliver on the promise of convenience. It can ignite entirely new ecosystems providing business opportunities and stronger charging experiences across so many different industries."
Through inventive hardware and software, Aira has transformed the wireless charging experience with FreePower™. Engineered from the ground up, FreePower™ achieves complete freedom of placement with its built-in-house chipset and foundationally new wireless power transmitting technology. Sophisticated algorithms enable multi-device charging with rapid device detection and precision power delivery. Aira's FreePower™ technology is an elegant solution that pushes boundaries making good on the fundamental promise of wireless charging – convenience.
Operating on top of the Qi Standard, FreePower™ is compatible with all major devices including those from Apple, Samsung, and Google.


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Alpiners Get Moving
Alpine is participating in a district initiative to get kids (and adults) moving. The district received a grant that provided training this summer for our teachers, along with classroom equipment to help us get moving.
Why move? Research has shown that taking a quick 2 minute movement break every 20 minutes wakes up the brain. It is MUCH easier to learn and retain information when your brain is awake. So ask your kids about all the ways they are moving in class!
In addition to classroom movement, we are able to offer the "100 Mile Running Club" this year to students, families and staff. We will be running Monday and Friday mornings before school. Children who are signed up receive a special t-shirt and are able to mark off when they have completed a total of 25, 50, 75 than 100 miles.
To sign up and pay the nominal $10 fee, click on "Online Payments" and under the "General Information" section, click on "Register for Selected Programs." The 100 Mile Club is the first one on the list! We have lots of parents already joining us – come be a part of getting Alpine moving!