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IAF strength no match to China's: Air chief
Gandhinagar, September 23
IAF chief Air Chief Marshal PV Naik today said the strength of the country's Air Force was inadequate and just one-third the size of China's and therefore the government was going in for more acquisitions to enhance its capability.
Naik also downplayed reports of Chinese air incursions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). "As far as Air Force is concerned, there are no incursions anywhere (across Indian border)," he said.
"Our present aircraft strength is inadequate. We have one-third of the Chinese numbers. And that is why we are going for more," Naik said, echoing the just retired naval chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta's concern that the country neither has the capability nor the intention to match China force for force.
"The government of India is doing a lot to augment the Air Force capability," Naik told reporters at the South Western Air Command (SWAC) headquarters here.
The Air chief's comments come against the backdrop of media reports about Chinese air "incursions" into India in the past several weeks.
"We are not downplaying the challenges before us. But there is a strategy to handle it. One can either deal with it sternly or play cool and continue to develop capabilities," Naik said.
Naik further said "the government is giving full support as far as the acquisition of these things are concerned in terms of finance or otherwise".
"But everything takes time. So, whatever contracts that have been signed or will be signed, we would get delivery after three years," he said, adding that they were aware of the situation and were keen on increasing aircraft numbers.
Fighter aircraft are required for national security, initially at the borders, and also to guard the entire nation, Naik said.
When asked about deployment or arrangement along the India-China border, he said: "We have increased our capabilities on land as well as in air." However, he declined to divulge more information.
On security arrangements at various borders, the Air Chief Marshal said, "We are using advance technology in border areas like cameras, motion detectors and maintaining air surveillance. We also use satellite surveillance." He also said the country was faced by many challenges which were increasing day by day.
"So far the effect of all these challenges on Indian Air Force is that we have to be prepared for all kind of conflicts, starting from the top that is nuclear to the terrorist which is a lower spectrum conflict," he said.
"We have to acquire capabilities in order to meet the nation's aspirations," he added.
Naik said that all the challenges be they geo-political or within the country were equally important. "Depending on the priority, all these challenges are being handled by developing capabilities not only of armed forces but also by looking into diplomatic and economic factors which form part of national security," he said.
Asked what kind of aircraft the Air Force would be purchasing to strengthen its capacity, Naik said Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft (MMCA) are in the offing, while the second phase of trial for the F-18s and F-16 aircraft have been completed.
"We will also have Rafael fighter plane and C-130 Hercules. We already have one AWACS and would get two more next year," Naik said, adding that global inquiries have also been floated for heavy transport aircraft.
Also in the offing are fifth generation fighter aircraft and medium transport aircraft for which there has been an agreement between the Indian and Russian government, he added. — PTI
'100 IAF pilots have opted for VRS'
Gandhinagar, September 23
Air Chief Marshal P V Naik today said over 100 pilots of the Indian Air Force had applied for the voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) as there were "fewer" promotional avenues for them. "We have a very steep pyramid structure (in the Air Force) where there are fewer avenues of promotions," Naik told reporters here in reply to a question on IAF pilots seeking the VRS.
"When one does not get promotions after 24-25 years of service, one wants to leave and try alternative avenues. Off hand I can tell that we have over 100 applications for the VRS from pilots," Air chief said.
Naik said the number of pilots opting for the VRS could increase after the improvement in market situation.
"Since there is a slump in the market outside, there are fewer applications. Once the slump is over, the (number of) applications might increase," he said.
Naik said the Air Force had set up an independent board of officers to assess the VRS applications of the pilots. — PTI
Pak violated ceasefire norms to push in terrorists: Army
Press Trust of India, Thursday September 24, 2009, Jaipur
Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor has said that Pakistan had violated ceasefire norms recently with an intention to push in more terrorists to Jammu and Kashmir before the onset of winter.
General Kapoor, however, said India's troops were quite alive to such tactics and giving befitting reply to contain intrusion into the Valley.
"There has been a violation by Pakistan in the last couple of days," he told media after reviewing the Mounted Parade of 61st Cavalry at polo ground in Jaipur.
"Those violations are being used as a means by Pakistan to push in additional terrorists before the winter sets in, so that there is a degree of instability in the valley and Jammu and Kashmir. Forces are quite well versed with these tactics. They are quite alive to these tactics," General Kapoor said when asked if Pakistan was violating ceasefire norms.
"We have appropriately deployed the forces and they would ensure to contain any infiltration bid further," the Chief of Army Staff said.
"Let me ensure, Indian borders are extremely safe. We are fully alive to any challenges to face... Nothing worrying on borders".
Asked if western borders are under scanner, the Army Chief said, "As the winter is approaching, there will be efforts from other side to push in infiltrators. As you would have noticed, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is peaceful for the last 7-8 months".
Speaking about recent encounters, General Kappor said, "There were two encounters in the Valley. Troops are ensuring to contain intrusions. The Army has to fight to ensure that peace is maintained in the Valley."
"Army has to protect and save every civilian. While taking all precautions for civilians and their property, Army's hands are tied. Without any loss to them, armymen has to tackle terrorists".
"For terrorists, no law is applicable (during encounter). We have to work in limits against militants," the Army Chief said.
Pakistani troops had fired nearly 135 rounds on Indian positions in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Sunday night. It was the second such incident this month.
India's aircraft strength inadequate: Air Chief Marshal
Press Trust of India / Gandhinagar September 23, 2009, 15:07 IST
Air Chief Marshal P V Naik today said the country's present fighter aircraft strength, which is one-third of China, was inadequate.
"Our present aircraft strength is inadequate. We have one third of the Chinese numbers. And that is why we are going for more," Naik told reporters at the South Western Air Command (SWAC) headquarters here.
He further said: "The government is giving full support as far as the acquisition of these things are concerned in terms of finance or otherwise."
"But everything takes time. So, whatever contracts that have been signed or will be signed, we would get delivery after three years," Naik added, saying they were aware of the situation and were keen on increasing aircraft numbers.
Fighter aircrafts are required for national security, initially at the borders and also to guard the entire nation, he said.
On a question if challenges faced by the country were being down played in view of recent reports of Chinese incursions, Naik replied: "As far as Air Force is concerned there are no incursions anywhere (across Indian border)."
"We are not downplaying the challenges before us. But there is a strategy to handle it. One can either deal with it sternly or play cool and continue to develop capabilities."
When asked about deployment or arrangement along the Indo-China border, he said, "We have increased our capabilities on land as well as in air." However, Naik declined to divulge more information.
On security arrangements at various borders, the Air Chief Marshal said, "We are using advance technology in border areas like cameras, motion detectors and maintaining air surveillance. We also use satellite surveillance."
Naik also said the country is faced by many challenges which are increasing day-by-day.
"So far the effect of all these challenges on Indian Air Force is that we have to be prepared for all kind of conflicts, starting from the top that is nuclear to the terrorist which is a lower spectrum conflict," he said.
"We have to acquire capabilities in order to meet the nations' aspirations," he added.
Naik said: "Depending on the priority, all these challenges are being handled by developing capabilities not only of armed forces but also by looking into diplomatic and economic factors which form part of national security."
India sponsoring terror in Pakistan: Rehman Malik
PAK FLIP-FLOP: Rehman Malik said terrorists held in Swat have confirmed Indian involvement in terrorism in Pak.
Islamabad: Pakistan on Wednesday again appeared to be speaking in twin voices. While on one hand, the Prime Minister and President of that country said that they want to resume dialogue with India and improve ties, on the other hand, Interior Minister Rehman Malik has accused New Delhi of promoting terrorism in his country.
"Yes, it is true. The terrorists arrested from Swat and tribal areas of the country have confirmed Indian involvement in terrorist activities in Pakistan," Online news agency quoted Malik as telling a private TV channel.
The remarks come on the heels of separate statements by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on the need for improved ties with India and for resuming the subcontinental dialogue process that New Delhi suspended in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks that have been blamed on elements operating from this country.
Those statements were seen to be setting the tone for the meetings in New York later this month of the foreign secretaries and later of the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session.
"Pakistan has retaliated with full force whenever India started the blame game against us," Malik said, adding: "Pakistan had offered unconditional support to India after the Mumbai attack but our sincere efforts to bring the culprits of this incident to justice are not being replied constructively."
At a meeting with former US president Bill Clinton in New York on Monday, Zardari said the resumption of the subcontinental composite dialogue was in the best interests of the region.
Zardari also reiterated that Pakistan was determined to prevent its territory from being used against any other country.
On his part, Gilani said on Tuesday that Pakistan wants good relations with all neighbouring countries, including India, on the basis of equality.
Addressing a large gathering at the Multan circuit house, Gilani said Pakistan wishes to resolve the water and Kashmir disputes with India through negotiations.
He also stressed that the two nuclear powers should decide to move forward and focus on the well-being of their poverty-ridden people, adding this will pave the way for a socio-economic revolution in the region.
Gilani comments come a day after it was announced Monday that with Pakistan arresting suspected Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed,
Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna will hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi in New York on September 27 to review Pakistan's action against the 26/11 terrorists.
The Foreign Ministers' meeting will be preceded by talks between India's Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir in New York on September 26.
Medical branch dodges MoD to deny facilities to SSC officers
Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 23
Apparently circumventing the Ministry of Defence and the Army headquarters, the Directorate-General of Medical Services (DGMS) has written to all Army commands asking them not to extend medical facilities to ex-short service commissioned (SSC) officers at military hospitals.
Medical facilities to ex-SSC officers at military hospitals were withdrawn by the DGMS some time ago, following which they had raised the issue with the Army authorities. The matter was referred to the MoD for clarification and earlier this year, the Army issued a circular that pending the MoD's final decision, military hospitals would continue catering to ex-SSC officers.
A letter issued a few week ago to the medical branches of all commands by the DGMS (Army) to the effect that the direction of the Central Government and the Army headquarters on the subject of providing medical facilities to non-pensioner ex-servicemen be ignored. Medical facilities in military hospitals were earlier available to only retired defence pensioners as per the Regulations for Medical Services of the Armed Forces (RMSAF). However, in 1996, a Presidential sanction amended the said regulations and extended the facilities to all personnel who had earned the status of ex-servicemen.
Despite the amendment, sporadic incidents were still reported wherein old non-pensioners such as world war veterans, Emergency Commission Officers and SSCs were refused treatment.
Interestingly, in response to queries under the Right to Information Act, the Directorate-General, Armed Forces Medical Services, which oversees the medical directorates of the three services, has stated that the provisions of the amended regulations are being followed. This is contrary to the stance of the DGMA (Army) which has asked the commands to restrict facilities to only those personnel who are mentioned in the original unamended RMSAF, thereby ignoring the amendment already issued by the Central Government and the consequent orders issued by the Army chief.
Incensed veterans have now written to the MoD against the "highhandedness" of the DGMS (Army) and the DG Armed Forces Medical Services. Veterans have also pointed out that the military medical establishment had earlier also requested for the withdrawal of these facilities from non-pensioner ex-servicemen, but the request was rejected by the government.
Army chief: Pak 'violates' ceasefire to help infiltration
Jaipur, September 23
Army Chief Gen Deepak Kapoor today said Pakistan has violated ceasefire norms recently with an intention to push in additional terrorists to Jammu and Kashmir before the onset of winter. The Chief of Army Staff, however, said India's troops were quite alive to such tactics and giving befitting reply to contain intrusion to the valley.
"There has been a violation by Pakistan in the past couple of days," he told media after reviewing the Mounted Parade of 61st Cavalry at polo ground here.
"Those violations are being used as a means by Pakistan to push in additional terrorists before the winter sets in, so that there is a degree of instability in the valley and Jammu and Kashmir. Forces are quite well versed with these tactics. They are quite alive to these tactics," Kapoor said when asked if Pakistan was violating ceasefire norms. "We have appropriately deployed the forces and they would ensure to contain any infiltration bid further," he said.
"Let me ensure, Indian borders are extremely safe. We are fully alive to any challenges to face... Nothing worrying on borders".
Asked if western borders are under scanner, the Army Chief said, "As the winter is approaching, there will be defence from other side to push in infiltrators. As you would have noticed, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is peaceful for the past 7-8 months".
About recent encounters, Gen Kappor said, "There were two encounters in the valley. Troops are ensuring to contain intrusions. The army has to fight to ensure that peace is maintained in the valley". "For terrorists, no law is applicable (during encounter). We have to work in limits against militants," Gen Kappor added.
Pakistani troops had fired nearly 135 rounds on Indian positions in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Sunday night. It was the second such incident this month. — PTI
Media under attack
No harm in playing up China threat
by T.P. Sreenivasan
From lowly politicians to high-level policymakers and strategists, all have begun to aim their guns at the Indian media, particularly the electronic media, for sensationalising events and not helping the government deal with sensitive matters in its own quiet way.
A writer, who has more than his share of space in the media, laments: "Chinese military unhappy with Indian media." Is it such a disaster that the Chinese military is unhappy with something in India, having made India unhappy for decades?
In Kerala, the ruling party is uncomfortable with the media, which is accused of parallel investigations, throwing the impartial police investigations, involving the Home Minister himself, out of gear.
It is alleged that young anchors and reporters know nothing about anything and they put out stories without checking sources and backgrounds and without hearing the other side of the story. The media is the villain, which is allegedly causing internal and external turmoil.
Blaming the media is an ancient pastime, but it was easier when reports in the print media could be denied, except when an odd reporter produced an audio tape. But today statements can be replayed at will, making denial a hard option.
The only escape clause is the attribution of motives. Since the ship of state leaks at the top in diverse directions, the media is advised to exercise restraint. If the top brass cannot keep its mouth shut, the media should be shut out.
The latest attack on the media began with the coverage of the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai. The virtual spectacle of evil was there for all to see, but the blame has been put on the media for giving clues to the terrorists and their minders in Pakistan by covering the developments live.
The charge is that the live telecast helped the terrorists to execute their plans. Kasab and company had no time to watch TV and their minders in Pakistan certainly had other sources to tell them what was happening. In such a masterly operation, care would have been taken to station agents to report events to them.
The answer was not to preach to the media, but to ensure that no one was given access to the sites of attack. Here was a situation where people were camping outside the Taj with food vendors having a field day. How would the media miss such an opportunity to bring the story live to the living rooms?
But the knee-jerk reaction was to criticise the media for being unpatriotic and irresponsible. Even a code of conduct was devised for the media. The code of conduct should have been prescribed for the security authorities to restrict access to the area.
Even more amazing is the lament that the media is exaggerating the Chinese threat to India. There are any number of instances of China encircling India with the specific purpose of countering our development and international profile. Pakistan and Myanmar are nothing but pawns in this Chinese strategy.
The Chinese moves to strengthen its claims in Arunachal and Ladakh militarily and politically are there for all to see. The effort to block ADB assistance to an irrigation project in Arunachal Pradesh marked a new beginning in terms of diplomatic pressure. Reports of Chinese incursions are not manufactured in press rooms, but officially given out by the defence authorities. The comments of the retiring Naval Chief about the Chinese threat were not made in jest. How could the media afford not to take note of these developments and reach the appropriate conclusions? It was the External Affairs Minister, who appeared unrealistic when he tried to play down the Chinese military and diplomatic actions against India.
China is fully aware of the nature of the Indian media and no harm was done by the media playing it up and the minister playing it down. The media has the right to inform the public and it is for the government to give the right assessment at the right time.
An incident involving a cargo plane from the UAE was reported by the media. The plane had landed in Kolkata en route to Beijing and the normal requirement of declaring the cargo was not met. A routine inspection revealed that the cargo was lethal weapons. The media is being faulted for reading too much into this incident, which embarrassed the UAE as well as China.
A friendly country sending arms and ammunition to an unfriendly neighbour through India was not without immense news value. There was nothing wrong in the UAE and China being asked to explain what was clearly a breach of international norms in air transport.
The government itself did not give a credible explanation about the incident except to indicate that the arms were being returned to Beijing after a show in the UAE. The information that the two countries have such cooperation is valuable for India. Blacking out such information from the public was not an option to be exercised by the media.
It is the duty of the media to bring to light aberrations in international relations to enable the government to deal with them appropriately. In fact, the media blitz gives the government a good reason to make our friends and foes answerable to their behaviour. As long as stories are not manufactured, these should be welcomed and investigated. To close the eyes of the media or to restrain it is to let a valuable asset to go unutilised.
How hyperactivity of the media helps in international negotiations was demonstrated during the three years of debate on the India-US nuclear deal. Critics of the government got as much media space as the supporters did and the charges made in the media must have helped our negotiators to secure better terms from their US counterparts.
Recently, one of the virulent critics of the nuclear deal confessed that many of his articles were written in the Atomic Energy Commission to keep the heat on. He had stopped writng about it once he was assured that we had got a good deal.
Our print and electronic media are doing a fabulous job in terms of reporting and analysing events. They make mistakes frequently and even mislead the public. But they are legitimate instruments of opinion making and they should not be restricted in any way.
The state should learn to keep its secrets and also step in if there is misinformation. Let us not lose the asset we have in a vibrant media network on the plea that only balanced and accurate stories should be put out.
The writer is a former Ambassador and a member of the National Security Advisory Board, New Delhi
Chinese Army to showcase transformation
Ananth Krishnan
Gone are the days when National Day parades in Beijing's Tiananmen Square meant a crowd of one million, clad in red, marching and swaying its arms in eerily perfect unison to Communist Party songs.
Next week, Tiananmen Square will host military drones, satellite launchers and new radar systems, reflecting the transition of China's armed forces from a lumbering, unwieldy military unit, one that was "lax and bloated" in former leader Deng Xiaoping's words, to a sleeker, more high-tech outfit.
The People's Liberation Army will hold its first military parade in a decade on October 1, the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The parade will showcase the PLA's transition "from manpower to science and technology," said Major General Gao Jianguo, a military spokesman, on Wednesday. To the interest of military-watchers in India and elsewhere, the rare parade will for the first time showcase 52 new indigenous weapons systems. On display will be new home-made Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), five new missiles including the intercontinental ballistic DF-31 and a nuclear missile, as well as new radar and satellite systems.
Defence analysts say China is using the parade to send a strong message, both home and abroad, about the army's new capabilities.
"This is kind of a display of conventional deterrence to tell adversaries 'We have these in our stock, so be careful'," said Srikanth Kondapalli, chairman of the Centre for East Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University and an expert on China's armed forces.
Following the Gulf War in 1991 and the war in Afghanistan in 2001, China's leaders stressed the need to improve its military's co-ordination and transition from mechanised warfare to Information Warfare (IW). "This means more IW platforms, space-based systems and UAVs," said Mr. Kondapalli. "Unlike mechanised warfare, IW provides for the seamless availability of information, better co-ordinates different sections and makes a military force more effective."
Liang Guanglie, China's Defence Minister, said this week the army hoped to complete this process by 2020. He also said he believed China's weapons-systems now "matched" the West's, and the country would launch a three-step plan to upgrade weapons systems next year.
Showcasing the new weapons systems would serve two purposes: displaying the military's prowess "to build national sentiment" at home and sending a message abroad of the army's capabilities, said Brigadier Arun Sahgal of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, New Delhi.
"To the U.S., the message is that we are fast bridging the technological gap," he said. "To major Asian powers, namely India and Japan, there is a coercive context in terms of conventional and strategic asymmetry." The Indian Army, Mr. Kondapalli added, will be keenly watching. "At a subterranean level, there is an arms race between the two countries," he said. "This is not said outwardly, but if China acquires something, India has to acquire a counterpart."
October 1 will also feature the more traditional elements of a National Day parade. Several thousand school children will perform with flowers, 60,000 doves will be released into Beijing's skies and 5,000 soldiers will conduct a march past, most likely to the tune of Communist Party revolutionary anthems from the 1950's. .
India Medium-Lift Helo Program Faces More Delays
By vivek raghuvanshi
Published: 23 Sep 2009 12:45
NEW DELHI - India's homegrown Medium Lift Helicopter project has been grounded as state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) has failed to find global partners to co-develop the helicopter.
HAL has broken off negotiations with Eurocopter of France and Mil Design Bureau of Russia. One of the companies was to have been awarded the contract for co-development of the program.
Sources in the Indian Defence Ministry said the Medium Lift Helicopter program is already delayed and cannot be delayed further. As such, they say, a procurement is to be made from the global market, though the HAL project also will stay.
HAL has been looking for global partners to co-develop the 10-metric-ton helicopter for use by the Indian Navy, Army and Air Force. The state-owned company has been negotiating with Eurocopter and Mil Design Bureau for two years, but no vendor has received a final selection.
An official from HAL, however, said the project is still on, adding that the technical and financial details offered by Eurocopter and Mil Design Bureau could not be synchronized with HAL requirements. The official gave no details.
Indian defense forces need to deploy a medium-lift, 10-ton helicopter to replace aging Russian-made Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters. There is a total demand of more than 350 Medium Lift Helicopters by the three wings of the Indian defense forces, with a major requirement from the Indian Navy.
The Navy asked the Defence Ministry in March to purchase medium-lift helicopters from the overseas market, citing delays in HAL's co-development project.
HAL took up the Medium Lift Helicopter program nearly five years ago, and the program is still in the drawing-room stage. Further delays in the procurement of the helicopter will affect the combat worthiness of the Indian Navy, said a senior Navy official.
The Navy wants the medium-lift chopper for combat and rescue missions, while the Army and Air Force want the helicopters mainly for logistics purposes.
Last year, HAL bagged an order for 187 Light Observation Helicopters, while the remaining order for 197 copters was floated globally. Sources in the Defence Ministry said HAL is on a global hunt to find partners to speed up that program, so that the Army can take delivery of the helicopters by 2014.
But the Light Observation Helicopter program also is delayed, as the Defence Ministry canceled the procurement process for 197 helicopters at the final stage, in which Eurocopter emerged as the front-runner against Bell Helicopter of the United States. However, following Bell's complaints on issues of transparency in the procurement process, the government decided to cancel the contest and seek fresh bids.
The Army and Air Force need new light helicopters to replace about 300 aging Cheetah and Chetak helicopters. HAL is developing the 3-metric-ton Light Observation Helicopter and the program is on track, said a HAL official.
Showacse of mighty machines
TNN 23 September 2009, 11:23pm IST
MYSORE: Dasara could be the best opportunity for the defence forces to showacse their mighty machines. If the Indian Air Force (IAF) is flying
over a dozen aircraft at the Dasara air show on Thursday, the Army is preparing to stage an impressive display of heavy artilleries and warfare machines.
There will be anti-aircraft gun, T-72 and BMP war tanks. More alluring could be prototype of Tejas, the light combat aircraft, pilot-less Nishanth, the surveillance aircraft, and Laksh, the pilotless target aircraft (PTA).
The anti-aircraft gun and T-72 tank will be taken in a Dasara procession on September 28 while others will be on display at Dasara exhibition grounds from Saturday. The exhibition is the second biggest draw after Jumboo Savari. Though the Dasara officials tried to get the armed forces contingent for the procession, it could not be accommodated since the caravan's movement is not timed.
"We are trying to introduce defence technologies, either indegeniously developed or available with us, to the people so that they understand the importance of service of the defence forces," former MLC G Madhusudana said on Wednesday.
The `Know your defence' exhibition will have the participation of ADE, DRDO and HAL. The ISRO and BEML, which provide useful technologies to man Indian borders, will also be there.
The DRDO is bringing in the missile technologies it has developed over the years, former MLC, who heads the armed forces committee, told reporters. "We tried to get the marching contingent but the Army conveyed to us that they should have their command at the Jumboo Savari," he stated.
Entry to the defence expo, held between 11 am and 4 pm, at the Dasara exhibition grounds is free. The Karnataka Exhibition Authority will not charge for the entry, Madhusudana explained. The expo is on till October 2.
* Nitish for military officers' training academy in Gaya
Patna, Sept 23 (PTI) Bihar government today assured all help for construction of India's third military officers' training academy in Gaya.
During a meeting with defence ministry officials here, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar urged them not to shift the existing Army Service Centre from Gaya to Bangalore.
The defence officials said there was a proposal to upgrade the facilities of the Army hospital in Gaya with increasing the number of beds from 92 to 150 and set up a modern operation theatre.
Defence officials were here to discuss the issue with the chief minister in the wake of his demand to Defence Minister A K Antony over opening an officers' training academy and cancelling the plan to shift the Army Service Centre from Gaya.
The country has two such academies in Chennai and Dehradun.
Name cleared, Army officer seeks promotion
Gautam Datt
First Published : 23 Sep 2009 12:30:00 AM IST
NEW DELHI: The commanding officer of a forward post on the Line of Control, which was attacked nine years ago by Pakistanis who killed seven Indian troops in the bloodiest raid after the Kargil war, is back in reckoning for promotion after winning a prolonged court battle over a tarnished confidential report holding him responsible for the incident.
Colonel Sandes was the commanding officer of 17 Maratha Light Infantry from July 1997 to March 2000 which was responsible for manning Ashok listening post in the Rajouri sector. He had recommended that the post should be withdrawn because of its "extreme vulnerability" to enemy attack.
The attack took place on February 27, 2000 in which seven Indian troops were killed and one Junior Commissioned Officer went missing.
After the major embarrassment, as the head of an Indian soldier was displayed as prized possession in Pakistan and its pictures were splashed all over the local press, the Army ordered a court of inquiry into the incident. The confidential report of Colonel Sandes blamed him for "command failure", a very serious offence in the Army.
The officer took the legal course and in 2008 got a reprieve from the Delhi High Court which quashed the confidential report.
The Army headquarters appealed against the order in the Supreme Court.
But on September 4, 2009, the apex court dismissed the Special Leave Petition of the Government. The officer is now in race for promotion to the rank of Brigadier.
Colonel Sandes was due for promotion three years ago but missed the bus because of the court proceedings, said his counsel T K Joseph. The Army's court of inquiry had not blamed him for the attack on the post. According to the court of inquiry, the isolated posts should have been backed by adequate protection in the form of surveillance devices and strengthened by deploying service weapons.
The guerilla attack on Ashok listening post was hailed as a victory in Pakistan. As it has now come out, one of the attackers was Ilyas Kashmiri, a Harkat-ul-Jihad al- Islami commander who was killed in Pakistan in a US drone attack. He became a local hero and was even rewarded by the former President Pervez Musharraf who was the Army Chief at that time.
Colonel Sandes is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, the Defence Services Staff College and the College of Defence Management.
Indian Army Chief reassures border with China is safe
September 23rd, 2009
JAIPUR - Chief of Army Staff General Deepak Kapoor reassured on Wednesday that the country's border with China is secure.
Recent reports in Indian media said the Chinese troops breached the international border earlier this year in northern Ladakh region and painted 'China' on some boulders and rocks.
Reports said the Chinese troops had entered nearly 1.5 kilometres into the Indian territory near Mount Gaya, which is recognised as an international border by both India and China.
The red markings were found around 1.5 to 1.7 kilometres inside the Indian territory.
"The Indian borders are extremely safe. There is nothing to worry that should concern any normal citizen of the country. We are fully alive to any challenges that we may face at any point and there is nothing to worry about," said General Kapoor on the sidelines of a function in Jaipur city.
China has also denied any border incursions by its troops, and blamed Indian media of trying to stoke tensions.
"The number of transgression is exactly at the same level in comparison to last year and media should not go on overdrive on this sensitive issue. We have a proper mechanism to resolve these incursion issues whenever a violation takes place," General Kapoor said.
China lays claim to 90,000 sq km of land on the eastern sector of the border in Arunachal Pradesh, earlier known as NEFA (North Eastern Frontier Agency). (ANI)


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Fake it till you make it with Abigail Ahern's top tips on faux flower styling.
I love flowers. And I've actually done pretty well on the bouquet front recently due to an ill-advised early hours wake-up call from hubby after a night out with the boys, followed swiftly by Mothers Day (they were late but they were also the most beautiful flowers I've ever seen so I forgave him, fickle as I am).
Fortunately hubby doesn't muck up that often, which means extravagant "apology" bouquets are not a regular occurrence in this household. And keeping your house brimming with beautiful fresh seasonal blooms all year round doesn't come cheap...especially if, like me, you like to have them scattered all over the house. I put them in the hallway, in various spots around the living room, the kitchen, landing and bedrooms. I'll often buy a big bunch of eucalyptus, cut it to different lengths and display it in lots of different vessels. It's wallet friendly and always looks stylish. But much as I love that fragrant foliage, it can't replace beautiful, bold, romantic flowers. Which is where Abigail Ahern's stunning faux flowers and botanicals come in.
Abigail has been kind enough to share with me her top five tips for styling faux flowers (see below) The interior designer, first made a name for herself as the queen of dark interiors (check out her darkly dramatic pad in Hackney via her Insta) and now she's blazing a trail with her faux flowers and botanicals. She has just upgraded her dedicated flower cabin in the entrance of Heals to a much bigger space within the shop itself and if you pop in the lovely ladies there will help you put together an arrangement to suit your taste.
These blooms are next level gorgeous. They had been on my radar for a while but I have to admit that while I was fully onboard with faux plants and cactuses (I'm not very green fingered and have lost two ferns in the last six months) I was yet to be totally sold on faux flowers. It wasn't until I actually saw these stunners with my own eyes that I was convinced. Forget those silky, shiny, synthetic looking creations of the past. These are uber natural-looking blooms from plump peonies to my new personal fave, trailing lilac.
I originally bought a peach peony, a white allium and a sprig of evergreen berries to start with and have since added to my collection with a mix of foliage and blooms. One of the best things about them is that you have the freedom to mix them up and move them around. The longer stemmed pieces can either be cut, or simply bent, to fit into different height vessels. So, sometimes I will bunch the peonies in a vase on their own, and other times I'll create a wilder looking bouquet with a mix of faux foliage and flowers.
I think we can all agree they are fab. But here are Abigail's five fail-safe tips on how to make them even more faux-bulous.
1) Go large or go home
Abi says: "I rarely have bouquets in my pad, I just cluster together the same bloom on masse for maximum impact."
2) Don't be transparent
"I think the really good faux flowers look as good as the real ones so you don't need to approach them any differently when it comes to how you arrange them. But one thing to think about is putting them in opaque or patterned glass vessels, so you don't see that there isn't any water in there."
"Tall cylinder vessels look super stylish for anything branchy like our foliages, and round vessels are perfect for all our garden flowers like hydrangeas, roses and peonies."
3) Change it up
"To keep my floral displays looking fresh, I just swap them in and out according to the seasons. So any of my wintery foliage or blooms have now been wrapped in tissue, put away in the cupboard and replaced with lots of summer blooms."
4) Go green
"The best way to create something show-stopping without breaking the bank is to incorporate faux foliage. You get more bang for your buck. Plus they add the wow factor. So I would usually combine foliages with some garden blooms. I'm currently obsessed with our trailing fronds, like Meadow Horsetail."
"I think foliage brings real impact, so add as much as you can. Plus a lot of ours aren't seasonal so you can have them out all year round, as I do at mine."
5) Use liberally
More is more according to Abigail: "I have flower arrangements everywhere and anywhere. I often have real flower posies on my desk and dining table but I never mix real and faux in the same vase. Pretty much any surface going in my house has foliages or flowers on it, they add such vitality to a room."
So there you have it from the high priestess of all things faux and fabulous. What do you think? Are you tempted to give faux a go?
Abigail's team will be hosting a late night botanical bar offering advice for all your faux flower needs as part of Heal's London's Craft Market. Check out the website for more info.
Jess x

subset: commoncrawl


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Why Emotional Development Is so Important for Kids: A Guide for Early Childcare Assistants
June 13, 2018
Learning about emotions and how to control them during our formative childhood years is critical to future success and development. By gaining a greater understanding of their emotions, children may learn to better contend with their fears, doubts, and more, which can give them a greater sense of control over their experiences and build up their confidence. Furthermore, learning how to be empathetic and compassionate helps children develop important interpersonal skills, as well as learn how their actions may have lasting consequences.
Here is a short guide on how proper emotional development can affect the lives of the kids under your care.
Emotional Development Leads to Emotional Intelligence
Cultivating emotional intelligence could arguably be one of the most important reasons for promoting emotional development in kids. Emotional intelligence can help a child to question their feelings and distinguish their emotions, so that they can address them in a healthy and constructive manner. According to experts, there are four "branches" of emotional intelligence: Perceiving, Reasoning, Understanding, and Managing. Each branch is like a step in the emotional development process, starting with a child's ability to pay attention to their emotions, and to label them accordingly (Perceiving). The next step (Reasoning) means that a child can think critically about what they are feeling, which is quickly followed by determining the root cause of their emotional response—why they feel the way they do (Understanding).
The Managing step is when a child can determine how to better regulate their emotional reactivity so that they can respond to situations in a constructive manner. Helping a child develop their emotional intelligence could be one of the most important things an early childcare assistant can do!
Good Emotional Intelligence Can Help Children Better Confront Stress and Other Emotions
Stress is a fact of life, and children will need to be able to confront stressors as they get older. Proper emotional development can help a child contend with this particularly intense emotion, as well as others that they experience.
Early childcare assistants can help children better connect with and understand powerful emotions by giving kids a vocabulary with which to describe their feelings. For instance, early childhood assistants can observe and comment on when a child seems stressed, happy, excited, or scared. Comments such as "You seem frustrated today" or "It looks like you're really enjoying playing with that toy" can help children identify the emotions they're experiencing. This in turn can give kids the ability to express and regulate their feelings in an appropriate manner. As a result, they develop a greater sense of self-awareness and self-confidence, helping them be better able to handle future challenges and stressors.
An Early Childcare Assistant Can Help Children Become Stronger Team Players
Generally speaking, children who can sympathize with others are often friendlier and more generous towards their peers at school, which can be very important when making friends and working in teams. In addition, a child who understands how to show empathy and sympathy might also be better equipped to recognize their own feelings, strength, and weaknesses.
After early childhood college, you can help kids develop empathy by encouraging them to reflect on the emotions of their peers. Questions like "How do you think Jenny feels when you don't share with her?" can help children consider the emotions of others, and how their actions can positively or negatively impact them. As a result, young kids can develop important interpersonal skills that pave the way for future cooperation and teamwork. These early stepping stones lead to greater emotional maturity and development, helping kids grow into happy and successful adults.
Are you ready to earn your early childcare assistant diploma?
Contact the National Academy of Health and Business to learn more!
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Local Anesthesia
Your mouth and teeth should be well cleansed immediately before your appointment.
General Anesthesia
- You must not have anything to eat or drink after midnight the day before your procedure. The evening before surgery, eat a light, easily digestible meal, consume no alcoholic beverages, and retire early.
- Disregarding the above eating instructions may necessitate cancellation and rescheduling of your surgery. This is for your safety.
- Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. Avoid heavy makeup and lipstick, and do not wear jewelry.
- You must have a designated driver present in the MSOFS waiting room during surgery and available to drive you home after the procedure. (Designated driver must be 18 years of age or older with a valid driver's license.)
- Please see our website at mtstateoms.com for directions or more information.


text:
Take quiet comfort in our Noise, Vibration and Harshness products and expertise – helping you solve complex problems simply and economically in order to build and protect brand integrity, prevent costly service repairs and, increasingly, enable semi- and even fully-autonomous vehicles.
With the reduction of NVH directly relating to perceived quality, the mission is to create vehicles that are quiet, smooth and lasting. And it's not just upscale sedan drivers who value these attributes. Potential buyers of almost every type of passenger and commercial vehicle are looking for less noise and a better ride. Reducing extraneous noise and vibration is also key to safely implementing semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles.
Our range of MOLYKOTE™ brand specialty lubricants can help you meet the expectations of discerning customers, without the need for changes in tooling, geometry or design.


text: Contents Customer Service Management Previous Topic Next Topic Manage work order tasks Subscribe Log in to subscribe to topics and get notified when content changes. ... SAVE AS PDF Selected Topic Topic & Subtopics All Topics in Contents Share Manage work order tasks Use work order tasks to define separate activities that must be done to complete a work order. A work order contains one or more work order tasks. These tasks allow qualifiers to define separate activities that must be done to complete a work order. When a user with the wm_qualifier role or a qualifier combination role moves a work order from Draft to Awaiting Qualification, a work order task is automatically created and populated with information from the work order. This user can edit existing tasks or create new tasks at any time. A key feature in Field Service Management is the ability to create multiple work order tasks under a single work order. Splitting a work order into separate tasks, when necessary, enables qualifiers to: Assign different aspects of a single work order to different agents. Assign work to agents with different skill sets. Assign work to agents in different locations. Schedule parts of the work at different times. Schedule tasks so they are done one after another. Schedule tasks so they are done at the same time by different agents. Schedule additional tasks, if necessary, to complete the work order. Coordinate the arrival and usage of the parts required to complete a work order. On this page Send Feedback Previous Topic Next Topic


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***Any day - Min 2 nights stay***
Sitting in a private segment of lush green fields and flourishing farmland, Buttercup Hut is wonderfully positioned to explore the Sussex Downs and South East Coastline. The super snug space has been lovingly designed and decorated with light furnishings, creating a sweet and cosy setting for a romantic couple or travelling pair.
The living quarters include everything you need for a comfortable glamping getaway including a fully functional micro kitchen, electricity and a luxury soft double bed. The wood burning stove keeps the cosy space lovely and toasty, while the barbecue and outdoor seating area are perfect for al fresco dining in the tranquil countryside setting.
The hut is delightfully positioned in the enchanting Sussex Downs, renowned for their rolling hills, and variety of meandering paths and trails. The site sits near the cobbled streets of Lewes with its historic buildings, independent shops and quaint country pubs, while the seaside resort of Brighton is only a short drive away. Visit this bustling hub for an eclectic mix of energizing nightlife, arts, crafts and plenty of alternative culture. Discover a variety of other attractions nearby including beaches, coastal walks and outdoor activities for a wonderful open-air escape.
Check-in - 2pm / Check -out - 11am
The tranquil countryside location is shared with a variety of charming animals, which can be discovered with a short wander around the farm. See flocks of Lleyn and Ryeland sheep, chickens, geese, ducks, 4 rare breed pigs, 2 pygmy goats, 2 donkeys and a pony.
Groceries and essentials, plus an excellent cafe can be found at the local village shop, a 10-minute walk away. There are also two excellent pubs in the village, The Six Bells and The Gun.
Sussex is a popular destination for self-catering holidays, and this bucolic corner of Sussex countryside is no exception. Beautifully located in South Downs National Park, and within easy reach of High Weald, another Designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the area is jam-packed with hiking and biking trails, fresh air and birdsong.
You're only a short drive from the seaside with beaches and coastal walks all along the South Coast. Head east towards Eastbourne to find the highest chalk sea cliff in the UK at Beachy Head.
Visit Brighton - walk the pier, a spot of shopping, eat and drink in the many good eateries - the Japanese at Oki Nami is one of our favourites. Or visit the Sea Life Centre.
The south coast is building a reputation for quality wines - sparkling white ones in particular - one of the few positive side effects of climate change. Why not visit a local vineyard, of course, tasting is a must!
After a day out, it's always good to find a nice country pub to relax in, with a variety to choose from. We recommend The Patch in Lewes for a bite to eat or a quality craft beer or visit The Geese in Brighton for a Sunday Lunch.
The hut is beautifully furnished with a comfy double bed, snuggly soft duvet and pillows for a warm and cosy night's sleep. The wood burning stove comes with a free basket of wood to keep you lovely and warm throughout the year, while a table and chairs both inside and out offer multiple places to dine.
The hut has full electricity and comes equipped with a micro kitchen which includes a small sink with running water. Full electricity fired Smev oven and gas hob, china crockery and cooking utensils.
Cupboards under the bed provide ample storage for any of your belongings. There are two fold-down chairs and a table for you to use.
There is no fridge but a cold bag with an ice block for anything you need to keep cool.
Outside the garden area includes a barbecue and a fire pit, plus a place to sit and relax in the grassy fields.
The hut is serviced by a compost toilet and hot shower facilities, 80 metres from the hut.
The Farm's free-range eggs and sausages are available to buy onsite.
To view more pictures of Buttercup Hut click the button below.


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This ink drawing is loosely based on this photo by bitterlemon, made on the Alternative Press Expo 2009.
The drawing is made to support the sale of the collected trade comic book of PC Weenies, a webcomic by Krishna Sadasivam, for Geeks and people who can tolerate them.
Challenged by his fellow comics creators and while he even doesn't like it, Krishna grows a beard. Read more about it, and how you can support the artist in this post on his blog. Basically, for each copy of the trade comic book "Rebootus Maximus" sold through the website Krishna won't shave for a day. Let him look like a hobo and freak out his wife, who is currently on family visit for a few months in India.
Process: The drawing was penciled with blue Pentel lead and inked with Faber-Castell brush pens (big the regular and big size). Once scanned, the blue lines were removed (CMYK separation) and the grays of the ink were converted into pure black and white, using Levels.
That is all.


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AFC Wimbledon boss Neal Ardley has revealed it was a "gamble" to play former Charlton striker Joe Pigott in their win over the Addicks last night.
The 24-year-old target man featured against the promotion-chasing side for 70 minutes before being replaced by Andy Barcham.
It was Lee Bowyer's first defeat since taking charge last month and his side remain in the play-off places on goal difference.
Pigott came through Charlton's renowned academy, but left the club in 2016.
Ardley said: "It was a gamble playing him, he's only trained for two days. We thought, with the intensity we needed to play at, he would struggle. But he did a great job for the team.
"He put himself about so that will do him well, but he was really, really tired which warranted me to make the change.
"He'll be tired tomorrow but we'll try and freshen him up and we'll have a look at how we go about it on Saturday."


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North Dakota woman dies from hantavirus after possible contact with rodent droppings
Hantavirus is a pulmonary syndrome spread by rodents, and can transmit to humans by breathing in air contaminated with the virus when fresh droppings, urine or nesting materials are disturbed. (iStock) A North Dakota woman has died from hantavirus after possibly coming into contact with rodent droppings or urine. The woman, who was not identified… Read More »


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By Wayne Schutsky GSN Managing Editor
The Gilbert Chamber of Commerce held its forum for state legislative candidates in Districts 12 and 17, hosting a diverse group of incumbents and political newcomers.
Nine of the 16 candidates running in the districts' primary elections attended the Chamber event.
The race for the two LD 12 house seats is particularly stacked, with Republican incumbent Travis Grantham and Warren Petersen – who currently serves in the Senate and is seeking to flip positions with Rep. Eddie Farnsworth – facing five challengers.
Two of those challengers participated in the forum: Democrat Joseph Bisaccia, a STEM educator at Cooley Middle School in the Higley Unified School District, and Republican Blake Sacha, a former longtime Intel employee who now teaches chemistry at Grand Canyon University.
District 12 Republican senate candidates Farnsworth and Jimmy Lindblom, a Gilbert businessman, participated as well – as did current House Speaker J.D. Mesnard, who is seeking to replace termed-out Sen. Steve Yarbrough in District 17.
Mesnard's mother, Chandler City Councilwoman Nora Ellen, also was at the event as she campaigns for her son's House seat in District 17. She was joined by fellow Republican state Rep. Jeff Weninger, who is seeking re-election.
Topics addressed at the forum ranged from the need to better manage Arizona's water resources and transportation system to cutting out member asks and pet projects at the state Legislature.
Predictably, though, the candidates spent much of the forum – which took place weeks after the RedforEd teacher walkouts – discussing public education funding and how to manage the state budget.
The incumbent panelists touted the most recent investment made in public education by the state. Arizona's new $10.4 billion budget – which was approved on a Republican party line vote in the House with limited Democrat support in the Senate.
It included a 9 percent pay increase on average for teachers.
"What we did this last budget was an unprecedented investment in K-12 education," Mesnard said. "It's $1 billion towards teacher salaries over the next three years."
Added Grantham: "We just put record amounts of additional revenue into our K-12 system, and every Republican except one voted to put additional revenue into our K-12 system."
The Republican panelists also stressed that the funding increases did not come with an associated tax increase.
"I think that is a responsible and significant investment in education and it has been done without a tax increase," Petersen said.
Lindblom and Sacha expressed support for the recent budget but also said the Legislature will need to continue to invest in public education in the future.
"K-12 education and higher education – those are still huge issues that we need to improve on," Lindblom said. "We've made huge strides and will continue to do that."
Sacha added, "I support finding sustainable long-term funding for education that will allow us to rise above last in the nation in per-student funding."
Still, not everyone speaking at the forum thought the Legislature went far enough. Bisaccia, who is part of a wave of teachers running for state office this year, expressed dissatisfaction with the level of funding.
He argued, "Unfortunately, we have not recouped the $1.2 billion that has been cut from our general fund for K-12 education since the recession. We have to find a way to at least get back there, if not build on that."
Petersen pushed back at critics by stating that per-pupil funding has risen steadily since his 2014 election. Total spending per pupil in Arizona increased from $9,184 in 2014 to $9,653 in 2017, according to the Arizona Auditor General's report.
However, the same report noted that in 2017, Arizona schools spent $3,300 less per pupil than the 2015 national average, which is the last year for which the data was available.
The 9 percent teacher raise included in this year's budget was the first step in Governor Doug Ducey's plan to increase teacher pay 19 percent by 2020.
The governor committed to including subsequent 5 percent teacher pay increases in the next two budgets — a promise the forum participants stated they plan to keep.
"I would also say (a priority is) making sure we keep the promises to our K-12 (teachers)," Weninger said. "We will."
Grantham said, "I do believe we need to keep the promises we just made over the next few years, specifically to K-12 education." He added that school boards ultimately are responsible for divvying up those funds.
Petersen said keeping promises regarding public education funding is one of the few areas in which he would support spending increases.
"The increased spending equation, in my mind, should only happen in the areas of debt service and obviously the (education) promises we've made in this budget moving forward," he said.
While all members of the forum agreed that the Legislature should keep its promises to teachers, several Republicans cautioned against investing too much money now based on optimistic revenue projections – a cornerstone of Ducey's plan.
Mesnard said he believes Arizona's economy will grow over the next several years.
But he added, "I just think that it is very important looking forward that we budget responsibly and as that additional revenue comes in, we don't succumb to that temptation to overspend and over-commit, only to set ourselves up for whenever the next recession occurs, and we have to then make cuts because no one wants to go through that nightmare again."
Farnsworth echoed that sentiment, stating "My solution is to do what we've been doing, which is to have revenue projections that are reasonable and to spend where we need to spend but not spending more than we have to just because we have the money.
"That is an important piece for me…we need to identify the things that government should be legitimately doing and then prioritizing them, including K-12 education, which we have done and we continue to do so."
Grantham expressed a similar desire, stating that "the government only has as much money as it brings in through taxation" so the state can either "efficiently run government and trim back in places government doesn't belong to begin with" or raise taxes.
"I like the first one as an option the most," he said.
Once again, Bisaccia offered a different perspective and argued that Arizona does not raise enough revenue to adequately fund education and services for a state of its size.
Arizona's per capita tax revenue of $2,117 ranked 40th nationwide in 2016, according to the Federation of Tax Administrators.
The state also had the second lowest state and local general expenditures per capita at $6,600 in 2015, the last year for which the data is available, according to the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution Tax Policy Center.
Bisaccia pointed to closing corporate tax loopholes as a way to bring in more revenue.
"We have too many teachers that are barely making enough to make ends meet," he said. "We have too many students who are slipping through the cracks (and) too many kids that are suffering. That to me is unacceptable."
Still, many Republicans at the forum expressed a desire to stay away from what they characterized as excessive spending by the state in the early 2000s.
"Digging out of a hole is so costly versus making sure we have a budget where our projections are realistic," Ellen said. "This way we can do things like build a world-class education system and other things we need for our state to succeed."


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One of our local councils- The Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) had launched a "brilliant" competition to catch stray dogs in its municipal. See Malay Mail today.
According to the MPS website, residents' associations would be awarded RM20 for each live stray surrendered to the council.
Winners will be picked every six months and to qualify for the three top prizes — RM15,000, RM13,000 and RM11,000 — more than 150 dogs must be caught within six months.The association that catches the most strays would also be rewarded with a RM2,000 consolation prize if the target of 150 dogs is not achieved.
It even stated that all dogs must be surrendered to the council "alive" and to be accompanied by photograph as prove for each catch!
I can't believe that such a cruel thought can be brought up for discussion in the first place. Scenes of harming and beating the animals with tools and all sorts of methods used by people who are eagerly going after the prize money is simply beyond one's imagination. Let alone the chain of effects kicked up by this competition where residents start to report lost of canines, people injured by the enraged dogs, fighting for the prize money...and so on.
Dogs are like human, they have life and senses too. They are not here to take our life and why should we attack them in such a brutal way? Can't the authority work with SPCA or any animal shelters to find out a long term solution in solving this issue?
You can help them before it's too late. Sign your support today and keep the good karma going.
Introducing Hannah, our little princess
And our ever cheerful and friendly buddy, Sookie
She is our dearest play mate she is one of us!


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Watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Real Madrid, Matchday 12 twelve, live streaming online free HD on Wednesday, 1 November at 3:45pm ET. Football matches on this day we will present to you. Because many football streaming sites broadcast online, for example at yalla shoot, which already provided some games.
Home » Match » Tottenham Hotspur vs Real Madrid


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I remember now why I wanted you guys to save after removing the old mod, and before adding the new one: it was to prevent the "_0" suffixes from being added. Which is not a big deal, and nowadays no one will even see it when they install the mod through the AEI. So your process should be fine, Samer. I'll just have to figure out why the software is not removing the files when we ask it to. Don't be surprised if the Depot goes down for maintenance in the next couple days, as I also have updates I should install.
byproducts are fine, but where's the beef?
I have some comments on new mods added to the depot.
I'm all for updating old mods and adding them to the depot, but please pay attention to the description. since every mod now reaches everyone once they open the installer, it's best to check and proofread the description and not just add it from the readme that came with the mod, especially when the mod is more than 10 years old.
example: http://mods.oni2.net/node/309 I edited this mod's description.
Installment: Open the folder Game Data Folder. Inside you will find the IMGD folder. Open it. There will be quite a few files. One of them is neuro. The contents is responsible for the scripts for level 12. Change the folder name from neuro to something else, like real_neuro. Copy my neuro folder (it is in the scripts folder) into the IMGD folder. Play on!
How to play: First of all, I suggest you backup your IMGD since this script uses savepoints, your savepoints will be screwed after play. Open the TCTF Science Prison (Level 12) - savepoint 0 to start with or you will be screwed. Start from a savepoint if and only if you have got to it otherwise your play will be screwed and my script will not work properly.
Wanna play original?: To play the original scripts again, change my neuro folder to om_neuro, om is for Oni Master and change real_neuro back to neuro.se
it's a package now, this should have been removed, it will be confusing to users and they'll mess the installation up, if they do follow these instructions.
It also said to backup the "IMGD" because the savepoints will be modified. It should have said persist.dat not the bsl folder.
Special Thanks:
Okay, special thanks to SHAQX for donating me some lines of his code (his fade-in/out let). You can find him at:
http://www.tanv.co.uk/shaqx/homepage/new_page1.htm <--- Oni Presence.
You can find a lot of his scripts their too.
dead links and spelling mistakes.
Disclaimer: If anything happens to your computer or you modem burns on fire, it is absolutely not my problem. Not my problem. ...
Scripting Sites: If you are looking for a bunch of scripts, you should check out Oni Res, which has not been updatd in ages...
http://oni.bungie.org/res/ <--- Oni Res.
dead links
Advertisement: To support the inventor of this script, please sign up on eHarlequin through the banner on the inventor's site.
removed this... obviously.
and i added a description of the content because all the previous description gave no idea what it actually does.
I edited this one too http://mods.oni2.net/node/308 see the revisions to see what was changed.
do we really need a long revision log of a mod from 2001 in the description ? personal info about the modder and warning that the computer may get damaged ?
Last edited by Samer (16/3/14 9:03)
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Samer you are right. I agree with all your points. I will be more careful with old mods descriptions next time. Thanks for the changes.
I'll just ask you too keep the original readmes and txt inside the packages and they serve as archive (and may provide additional info about the mod).
Last edited by s10k (16/3/14 17:50)
@Iritscen did you fix the issue you talked about a few posts above ? I'm worried I'll cause duplicates if I edit some nodes, which I'll be doing some time soon.
Last edited by Samer (1/5/14 17:04)
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Oh, I see I never explained in this thread what was happening. The duplicates were a feature, not a bug. I had installed the Revisions module in order to be able to track changes to nodes, and hadn't realized it would store the old versions of attachments. So don't worry about causing duplicates, but if you run into an error when uploading, you will need to add _0 to the name of the file, then if that doesn't work, increase the number to _01, _02, etc. Basically the old versions that were stored before I deleted them each had a suffix like that, which is still recorded in the database. So it thinks there is a name conflict until you hit a number that was never used in the past. If it's taking you too long to upload multiple times, send me the file instead and I will upload it. We're hoping to have a solution to this fairly soon.
byproducts are fine, but where's the beef?
Okay guys, so there's been a major security failure in the software that the Mod Depot runs on. Sites across the Internet have been compromised, and the Depot was one of them. Fortunately we don't have any personal information on the site besides email addresses, but if you have a Depot account, you might want to change your passwords on other sites if they are the same as the password you used for the Depot.
The site will be offline while I upgrade to the latest release of the site software and make sure it's secure again, and since the AE Installer is tied to the Depot's mod listing, it's not going to work until I bring the site back up again.
byproducts are fine, but where's the beef?
All right, I think everything is back to normal. Let me know if anyone sees anything weird on the Depot or in the AE Installer.
byproducts are fine, but where's the beef?
You might want to re-check the server. I was going through my own web server logs this morning and found a bunch of attempts to shellshock it and install what seems to be a perl-based DDOS bot. Might be unrelated but wouldn't hurt to double check to make sure nothing is running that shouldn't be.
Yes, I should be keeping more of an eye on the logs than I normally do. I do see someone is repeatedly trying to log in as the administrator; perhaps they think the backdoor they created is still there, but we rolled back everything to before it was hacked before installing the updates, so good luck with that.
byproducts are fine, but where's the beef?


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We're running
Windows Server 2003 R2 with
Active Directory and are having an issue with network shares whereby users, in an attempt to secure their documents, remove everybody (including the
Administrator account) from their files/folders permissions. Since the
Administrator no longer has
read permission to them, we can't even backup files manually as we get permission errors.
One solution that we've found is to change the
owner of the files and directories to the
Administrator account. We can then change the permissions as we wish. The problem is that this has to be done manually so can't really be applied to an entire share.
Another solution that we've tried is to use
cacls as follows:
cacls d:\path\to\share /C /T /E /G Administrator:F
The problem with this is that we're still getting an
ACCESS DENIED error on files/folders on which
Administrator was removed.
Q1: Is there a way to restore at least
read access to all files/folders to the
Administrator account in a recursive fashion?
That would be for the short term. For the long term we're looking for a solution to prevent users from removing
Administrator from files/folders permissions. Since we're going to migrate to
Windows Server 2008 R2 soon we could wait until we've migrated to implement such solution if need be.
Q2: Is there a way to prevent users from removing Administrator from files/folders permissions on Windows Server 2003/2008?


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- This event has passed.
Tower 45: God Colors
February 13 @ 6:45 PM - 8:30 PM
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every week that begins at 6:45 PM on Wednesday, repeating until April 3, 2019
Tower 45 meets Wednesday evenings at 6:45 PM.
Tower 45's God Colors program corresponds with our adult C-Groups. Ages 0-5th grade. There is a one-time fee of $10.00 per child. Email Shelley for more info or to sign up.


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Videos! Remember those? Well people still make them, so I still watch them. Here is a roundup of some of my favorite videos released in or around the month of June. Yes, I realize all these videos are made by and/or feature women. Men, step it up I guess?
So this one actually came out in May but we weren't doing these roundups yet, so it counts! Sheena She of Chainsaws and Jelly (Every other Tuesday at 10 on Newark.FM) put me on to the video for D.R.U.G.S. or Dreams Rarely Uplift a Grown Spirit where we see the talented singer/producer stylishly toil away at a dead end job while daydreaming about better days. Relatable!
This one was also released a couple of months ago but see the first sentence above. I think I saw a clip for this video on twitter and proceeded to click through to watch the hypnotic visuals (directed by Naja btw) another 56780309 times. I need this on Spotify like yesterday.
Directed by Syd, the visuals for "Come Over" show each member of the band spending some monochromatic time with their significant other. They are doing all the festivals if that's your thing:
7/13-14/18 – London, UK @ Lovebox
7/13-15/18 – Grafenhainichen, Germany @ Melt Festival
7/13/-15/18 – Dublin, Ireland @ Longitude
7/20/18 – Chicago, IL @ Pitchfork Festival (Syd Solo Set)
8/10-13/18 – San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands
8/25-25/18 – Brooklyn, NY @ Afropunk
10/8/18 – Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre (with Gorillaz)
10/9/18 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre (with Gorillaz)
10/11/18 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center (with Gorillaz)
10/13/18 – Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center (with Gorillaz)
10/14/18 – Atlanta, GA @ Afropunk
10/16/18 – Chicago, IL @ United Center (with Gorillaz)
10/20/18 – Pico Rivera, CA @ Demon Dayz
Are you one of a couple thousand people who was a Tierra Whack fan before last month? Congratulations, you are a visionary. For the rest of us, it took a 15 minute album comprised of 1 minute songs accompanied by 15 1 minute cinematic vignettes to see the light. No point in picking a favorite video, the whole thing is a masterpiece and easily the most interesting and innovative release of the year.
I have to be honest, I'm a card carrying irrational member of the Bey-Hive and Jay-Z is my favorite rapper but I usually HATE their collabs. I can't even really explain why, I just prefer them solo. "Apeshit"...really anything off of their surprise album Everything is Love, is a stronger collaboration than say...Deja Vu. Also, Beyoncé out rapping all of our favorite rappers in the middle of the Louvre is such a mood.
Jersey Club Kween? Check. Ase Manual? Check. Butts of all shapes and sizes covered in body glitter. Check. I personally identify as the gold ass both in shape and spirit. What about you?
Of all of the songs off Saweeties debut EP High Maintenance, I was hoping "Good Good" got the video treatment and the Icy Girl has come through and blessed me. "Good Good" sees the Cali rapper channeling New New from ATL at a house party where people are actually dancing. I stan a vintage queen.
The visuals for Sudan Archives "Nont for Sale" are like if someone aggregated all of the content from every woke, millennial Black girls Pinterest/Instagram and made a video out of it but in a good way! The slow motion is also very therapeutic if you are an anxious mami like myself.
I had to check the date on this video release because the first time I heard the song was at least 2 years ago and in fact it is an updated video to the one she released last year. Smith says she "wanted to capture men/boys of Walsall and Birmingham from all different walks of life doing everyday activities to show that the stereotypes we are bombarded with are misleading and, ultimately, harmful." So young, so wise.
NAO is back and here to prove that she is not capable of making bad songs or videos. Directed by duo Zhang + Knight, the haunting video shows Nao wandering the empty streets of Kiev and perfectly captures the finality that comes with the end of a relationship. Also, I would listen to the bridge on a loop.
That's all for now, see you in August!


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We have had the opportunity to work with some great people!
American Jewish World Service- Human Rights program funding
Bochica- Multiple grants for Jaden Tap Tap, computer learning center, and physical infrastructure; 501(c)(3) Fiscal Sponsor; CRS- Community service & peacebuilding program
Bon Batay (New Jersey)- General support
Catholic Relief Services- Facilities support
Chambre des Sports d'Haiti- Program training and support
Chapelwood United Methodist Church Foundation: community garden support
Cliff Avril Family Foundation- American Football camps
Digital Plantain- Computer literacy program
Eucalyptus Guest House- Lodging
Favela Street- Football workshops and tournaments
Future Generations- Program and facilities support
Generosity Water- general support
Global Fund for Children- Scholarships, and mini-grants for community Cholera and Disaster Education
Global Giving- SAKALA's Ekselans! educational program funding
GO Campaign- Compost and Entrepreneurial projects partner/funding
Growing Haiti- Urban agriculture and entrepreneurship class
Haiti Communitere- Volunteer and intern exchange program, facilities provider
Haiti Solidarity Network of the NorthEast- General support
Hendrickson Family Foundation- Education program funding
Kako's Kids- Facilities and supplies support
Kay Lasante- Medical support
Lamp for Haiti- Fiscal sponsorship
Logipam- Software support
Los Altos High School- Support trips
Mennonite Central Committee- Youth training and grants for building the facilities
Mercy Corps- Peace-building & anti-stress workshops
Moringa for Love- Agricultural support
National Black Law Student Association– Initial partner
Nimmonsburg Rotary- Vertical gardening program funding
Oasis Church (California)- Athletics/general support
Prohuerta- Agriculture workshops & seeds
Pax Christi USA- Organizational support, stipends for staff
Rising Stars- Award for funding
REMUSOV- Farmers market partner
Sai Foundation- Food for soup kitchen
Soccer1- Workshops & peace through sports tournaments, collect soccer equipment
SOIL- EcoSan Toilet & Composting Education
Soley Leve- Community association, working together to promote peace in Cite Soleil,
St Anastasia Church (New Jersey)- General support
St Lucy Church (New York)- General support
St Mary's College High School (California)- Multiple support trips
Total Gas and MSC Trading- Award for funding
United States Embassy (Haiti)- Funding
World Water Missions– Water filtration system
11th hour Adele Delavalle Rauth American Friends Service Committee
Ann Richter Barbara Swenson Bio Planet USA
Bishop Thomas Gumbleton Bob Hood Bochika Café Rebo
Chou Patrick Favaca
Food for the Poor Fortress
Gene Squeno Georgette Delinois
Global Fund for Children HELP
Jayne Fleming Johana Beniga
Laura Davis Laura McKennan
Laura Write Linda Haas
Joseph Palen Dave Moninger
Kako Bourjolly Los Altos High School
Mennonite Central Committee Miriam Ford MontClaire Soccer Club
National Black Law Student Association NCA Norwegian Church
Nick Patricia Smart Paul Burke Pax Christi Florida Peter Forest
Philip Wagner Phillip Rincon Project Hope Art Resurrection Church
Richard Evans Sherry St Lucy Church Tzu Chi Velto Celestin
Francis Schiller Visa Lodge Nancy Young


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EVERY YEAR I LOOK forward to shopping this art sale.
What others no longer want, and then donate to this fundraiser, may find a place on my walls, in my home.
Today marks day two of the three-day Faribault Mural Society's yearly Recycled Art Sale at the Paradise Center for the Arts in downtown Faribault. And the Carlander Family Gallery is overflowing with second-hand art from prints to originals.
Plus, you'll find pottery and glassware, garden art, frames, mirrors, art books and more.
I shopped for a half hour Thursday evening, but, much to my dismay, did not find a piece of art I simply had to have. Perhaps a second run-through is necessary.
In past years I've scored some really great finds, including an oil on burlap by noted Mexican artist Jose Maria de Servin; LathArt by Dutch artist Theodore de Groot; and two original floral paintings.
All were purchased at bargain prices ranging from $7 – $15. Other than a thrift store or an estate/garage/yard sale, I've not found fine original art this reasonably priced locally.
I've also bought art here for my daughter and son.
So if you're looking for a one-stop shopping place to possibly acquire recycled art, you've got time yet to browse this gallery from noon to 5 p.m. today (Friday) and Saturday at the Paradise, 321 Central Avenue North.
© Copyright 2014 Audrey Kletscher Helbling


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It's no wonder that people visiting our area are amazed at the number of good things that our citizens do on a regular basis. It's our best public relations and, on more occasions than you would believe, the gateway to them becoming residents.
It's no wonder that people visiting our area are amazed at the number of good things that our citizens do on a regular basis. It's our best public relations and, on more occasions than you would believe, the gateway to them becoming residents.
A recent "good deed" was conducted at the Shawangunk Correctional Facility where Joseph T. Smith is the third superintendent. He and the staff get involved in a Make a Difference Day, a national day that most of us have never heard of.
As part of the community, the staff sees and knows needs. It was no surprise that an overwhelming choice was to focus on collecting school supplies for students in the Wallkill School District. It's an expense often impossible for parents who are strapped and struggling in a stagnant economy. The response from the prison staff was very generous. Everyone felt good to see the collection that included notebooks, crayons, backpacks and more, piled on long tables. In a ceremony that would make you weep with pride, the supplies were turned over to William Hecht, superintendent of the Wallkill School District, and Kevin Castle and Jose Sanchez, assistant superintendents. The gifts were so generous that they were divided and distributed to all five schools in the district.
Other good deeds:
Students in the Sacred Heart School in Newburgh donated more than 18 boxes of nonperishable food items for Mary's Hope Food Pantry in Newburgh. The donations were coordinated by Stacie DeMaro to help families have all the fixings for their Thanksgiving dinners. For the students it was a valuable lesson in sharing and caring for others. Following a successful fundraiser at Uno's Chicago Grill in Central Valley, members of the Monroe-Woodbury Rotary presented certificates to Jan Laungberg, assistant manager, and Terita Redd, marketing coordinator. Through the years fundraisers with the eatery have helped purchase a wheelchair lift for a family's van to help a student get around faster. Also, money helped buy blankets for the needy in Mexico, shelter boxes for victims of the Haitian earthquake, and psycho-social counseling for refugee children in Cameroon who have fled violence in the Congo.
For information, call Gail Dejmal at 781-3563.
The holiday open house at the Catskill Artists Gallery at 38 S. Main St. in Liberty will be from 4-8 p.m. Saturday. The exhibit, running into mid-January, features many lovely gifts, all prices. They can be viewed from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and from noon-5 p.m. Sundays. For information, call 292-0310 or visit catskillartistsgallery.com. The Holiday Exhibit of the Crawford Historical Society will open Tuesday and be on view until Jan. 15 at the Town Government Center on Route 302 in Pine Bush. It features artistic representations of stained-glass windows from area churches and can be viewed weekdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
The Chester Historical Society is getting ready for its annual tree lighting and open house at 5 p.m. Dec. 05 at the Erie Depot Museum, 19 Winkler Place in Chester. It's one of the best events of its kind, with refreshments, caroling, good company and of course, one of Santa's helpers dressed in a borrowed red suit with a loud, "Ho. Ho. Ho."
Barbara Bedell's column appears daily. Call her at 346-3125 or send e-mails to firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Anyone who has personally been bullied, or has a child who has been bullied knows the emotional impact this sort of behavior can bring. Bullying has no place anywhere, and every school should do what it can to prevent any and all forms of bullying. There is no reason to tolerate bullying in the schools.
In the workplace, we are told that "harassment", a "hostile work environment", and "workplace violence" are completely unacceptable. Any actions even resembling these are grounds for dismissal and possible legal action. Bullying is just another term for this type of behavior. If we accept that these behaviors are unacceptable at work, why should they be acceptable at a school?
It is the school's responsibility to look after the welfare of students while they are attending classes. Parents trust that their children are being watched by the adults at the school, and trust that they are doing everything reasonable to guard the children from illness and injury. Parents should expect that their children are safe from bullying as well.
A student needs to feel safe at school. Bullying creates feelings of fear and intimidation. No one could feel like learning in a school where the possibility of abuse and humiliation is always around the corner. To provide the best educational experience, the school should provide an atmosphere that is safe and inviting.
Schools already have rules and regulations. They have dress codes, an attendance policy, and give out detentions for all kinds of misbehavior. If they do all of this, they can certainly curtail bullying. All they need to do is define bullying, create a sensible policy, and enforce it.
Many teachers see themselves as educators, not social workers or security officers. All teachers must realize that in order to educate, a school must be run in an orderly fashion without disruption. To achieve this, they must create and enforce a code of behavior. They may need to step out of their comfort zone and keep an eye out for any signs of bullying, and then take appropriate action.
There are parents that don't want to believe their kid is a bully. Schools may get some push back from these parents, but the schools must explain the policy to the parents and provide clear evidence of the bullying. Even if some parents resist, this issue is too important to be ignored.
Schools are responsible for the welfare of the students who come to get an education. They are also responsible for creating an appropriate environment for learning. To this end, the schools need to do everything possible to prevent bullying.