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Joint Forces Training Base home to energy-efficient headquarters

 

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. -- Soldiers, family members and civilians of the 79th Sustainment Support Command will soon have a new headquarters, organizational maintenance area and acres of parking at the Joint Forces Training Base here. The work is all part of a nearly $25 million project managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District.

 

Andy Stevens of Retrofit Services Company from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., was onsite Sept. 12 putting the finishing touches on the computerized building management system that will control the state-of-the-art energy efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning for the headquarters building. The system uses multiple condensers and is nearly 30 percent more efficient than systems of just five years ago.

 

"This one [building zone] is calling for one stage cool, fans on, temperature is 72 [degrees] in the zone and the set point is 72, so it's doing just fine," said Stevens. "You can change your occupancy status at any time, emergency override it, shut it down and we do have the chemical alert push-buttons that will close all dampers inside and out."

 

The alert buttons are located throughout the facility and once activated because of an attack or a release of hazardous chemicals, no air is allowed in or out of the building to protect the occupants, according to Maj. Phillip Oster, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District's Santa Ana Resident Office deputy who oversees the project.

 

To reduce construction costs and increase future savings, the project is using eco-friendly features, like re-cycled material, and in the case of the covered parking lots, they will generate energy with a photovoltaic system. The contract partner's quality assurance manager for the project explained the feature.

 

"At peak, they produce 375 KVA [kilovolt-amps]," said Edward Desmond, Cox Construction of Vista, Calif. "In theory, it's enough power to offset the footprint of the Army Reserve Center building."

 

While not designated a net-zero facility, the extensive use of energy efficient materials during construction will enable the photovoltaic system to actually return power to the Los Alamitos grid, off-setting the operating costs of other buildings on the base, according to Desmond.

 

The Energy Policy Act of 1992 mandated the use of "low flush" urinals in government facilities. This project takes it a step further with water-free urinals. The USACE Engineer Research and Development Center estimates that they pay for themselves in six-months to three years and the cost savings don't end there. All new Army construction is designed to satisfy the Silver-level standards of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system, in accordance with the U.S. Green Building Council guidance.

 

According Oster, the project is in the "punch list" stage with safety officials, contractors and District project delivery teams making final inspections before furniture is installed and the customer takes possession of the ARC in October.

 

I-5 Design and Manufacture created this conceptual design using 3D computerized technologies to model this frozen yogurt franchise. I-5 wanted to create a "natural" indoor atmosphere that drew from elements of the outdoors to complement the natural yogurt being served in a way that was exciting and energetic through design elements such as translucent wave form ceiling panels, custom wall coverings, specialty metal panels, multi-faceted suspended metal chain curtains, blended mosaic tiles and more. Click here to see more examples of conceptual design

Photo credit: Cindy Kurman, Kurman Communications, Inc. Freedom Golf Association’s First Annual “Honor Wounded Vets 5K Run/Walk” succeeds in showing how adaptive golf is aiding vets’ road to recovery

 

The enthusiasm and good will were palpable at McDonald’s corporate campus in Oak Brook, Illinois on Sunday, October 29 as the Freedom Golf Association’s (FGA) First Annual “Honor Wounded Vets 5K Run/Walk” succeeded in drawing attention to the fact that adaptive golf is clearly helping wounded vets return to normality after their military service. The more than 100 participants conquered the 5K course to show their support for the programs of the Freedom Golf Association, which is leading the way In Illinois in bringing the joy of golf to persons with physical, emotional and developmental needs.

 

“The 5K Run/Walk was a terrific way to honor Veterans who have been wounded in their service to the country and to acknowledge Illinois’ wounded vets, a growing number of whom have taken up golf to enjoy its many physical, emotional and social benefits,” said Sally Ruecking, FGA’s Vice President of Strategic Advancement. “Adaptive golf is bringing fun into the lives of people who are often left out due to their disabilities.”

 

Cheered on by the music of the Elmhurst College Jazz Band and with welcoming remarks from E.Q. Sylvester, Chairman of FGA; radio and TV personality Bob Sirott of event co-sponsor WLS-AM radio; and Ruecking, the runners and walkers took to the track with smiles and a sense of mission. Other event sponsors included Molex LLC, Rich Harvest Farms, KF Partners LLC, and Reebie Storage and Moving.

 

The overall men’s winner was 16-year old Matt Pierce of Alsip, Illinois, who ran the 5K course in 18:59. Second place went to Thomas Potaczek of Bensenville, IL, with a time of 19:23 and third place went to Andrew Pyle of Hinsdale, IL with a time of 22:14.

 

Among the women, the overall winner was Eileen Skisak of La Grange, IL with a time of 18:59. Eileen also ran in fifth place overall. The second-place women’s winner was 12-year old Alexandra Two, with a time of 25:36; third place went to 10-year old Kelly Fergus of Chicago, with a time of 27:27.

 

Winners by age group were:

•Male 10-14: James Mercurio, Hinsdale, IL

•Male 15-19: Thomas Mercurio, Hinsdale, IL

•Male 20-24: Ben Landress, Chicago, IL

•Male 30-34: (1st) Michael Bellino, Villa Park, IL; (2nd) Nick Bada, Villa Park, IL

•Male 45-49: (1st) Jim Mercurio, Hinsdale, IL; (2nd) Carmelo Aguinir, Joliet, IL

•Male 50-54: (1st) Bob Fergus, Chicago, IL; (2nd) Ross Hurst, Clarendon Hills, IL; (3rd) Randy Pyle, Hinsdale, IL; (4th) Roger Keys, Northbrook, IL

•Male 65-69: (1st) Jerome Getter, Oak Park, IL; (2nd) John Kosmatka, Valparaiso, IN; (3rd) Karl Johnson, Woodridge, IL

•Male 70-74: James Smith, Clarendon Hills, IL

•Female 15-19: Maria Meyer, Hinsdale, IL

•Female 40-44: Lori Kosmatka, Chicago, IL

•Female 45-49: (1st) Kimberly Mercurio, Hinsdale, IL; (2nd) Arlinda Nunez, Hinsdale, IL; (3rd) Christine Two, Wilmette, IL

•Female 50-54: (1st) Joy Hyzny, Burbank, IL; (2nd) Christie Bellino, Villa Park, IL

•Female 55-59: Jud Hrad, Chicago, IL

•Female 60-64: Sue Shepard, Elmhurst, IL

•Female 65-69: Carol Raska, Oak Park, IL

 

Freedom Golf Association leads the way in bringing adaptive golf to Illinois and is an integral part of the growing national movement, which has been embraced by major golf entities such as the PGA, LPGA and USGA.

 

“Freedom Golf Association encourages corporations with cause marketing programs that help the disabled to become FGA sponsors or corporate foundation grant providers and help us grow,” said Ruecking.

  

About Freedom Golf Association

Freedom Golf Association (FGA), a 501(C)3 non-profit charitable organization, is the leading adaptive golf organization in Illinois and is a charter member of the United States Adaptive Golf Alliance. FGA was founded in July 2012 by Edmund (E.Q.) Sylvester. E.Q. is a director of the Western Golf Association (WGA), member of the United States Senior Golf Association (USSGA), member of the United States Golf Association (USGA) and a triple amputee. FGA is dedicated to bringing joy and a sense of freedom to the special needs community through their inclusion in the game of golf.

 

FGA believes that all special needs individuals deserve a chance to accomplish the same things as any others do and work towards bringing a positive transformation to their lives. FGA contributes to the positive development of those with special needs through the magic of golf.

 

FGA works to assist individuals with disabilities in many ways:

•Provides professionally run adaptive golf instructional clinics and golf events

•Engages children, adults and veterans with special needs in FREE adaptive golf instruction with other classmates

•Conducts adaptive golf training workshops to increase the number of qualified adaptive golf coaches to instruct individuals with special needs

•Provides leadership and collaboration with nationally recognized organizations on how to expand/grow adaptive golf programs

 

Based on its growing understanding of the needs of disabled golfers, the FGA has developed a ground-breaking Adaptive Golf Enhancement Program™ that increases the golfing ability of special needs golfers. FGA’s golf coaches learn this six-step process, which helps them better understand and enhance the capabilities of special needs golfers.

 

To assist coaches and special needs golfers in determining what adaptive measures would be most beneficial, FGA recently invested in what they call a “personal swing sensors and computerized program” to 1) measure the disabled golfer’s initial swing path and limitations; 2) develop an appropriate exercise program to improve flexibility and range of motion; and 3) to chart the golfer’s progress, using the initial swing measurements as a baseline.

 

In 2016, FGA provided more than 1,300 adaptive golf lessons. In the same year, 110 special needs golfers went out and played on the course. Ten individuals became trained FGA Adaptive Golf Coaches, growing the total number to 42.

 

79 cents out of every dollar received goes to FGA’s special needs golf programs and events. FGA has led 40 Chicagoland courses in becoming accessible to the disabled community.

 

For more information about the Freedom Golf Association, please visit the official website at www.fgagolf.org and the online newsroom at www.newsline360.com/freedomgolfassociation. Contact FGA by phone at 855-342-4465 or 630-455-6018, or by email at playgolf@fgagolf.org. Donations to Freedom Golf Association can be made at www.fgagolf.org/donate.html.

 

Follow FGA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FGA4Golf. Follow FGA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/FGA4Golf.

  

Computerized bowling scoring is great, all you do is play. This is an AMF BOSS system.

 

I almost ended this game with a turkey.

Learn More

  

Humphreys hosts Army 10-miler shadow run

   

By W. Wayne Marlow, U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, Public Affairs

  

CAMP HUMPHREYS, SOUTH KOREA – Over 300 runners from across the Korean peninsula took part in the second annual Army 10-miler Shadow Run hosted here Oct. 2.

 

First Lieutenant Robert Anderson of the 532nd Military Intelligence Battalion won the nighttime race, designed to mirror the Army’s annual run in Washington, D.C., in 1 hour, 3 minutes and 51 seconds. First Lieutenant Sarah Rainville took the women’s crown, finishing in 1:16:44.

 

Anderson said he initially thought only about doing his best and having a good run. But when some entrants passed him early in the race, his focused changed.

 

“I was going to try and take it easy ... but then an adrenaline rush hit and I decided to pick it up,” he said.

 

Anderson maintained a steady pace, running the second half in just two more minutes than he did the first five miles. “I felt good the whole time,” he said. “I felt like I had some left in the tank. I started training for it last year, so I’ve been upping my mileage.”

 

The Camp Humphreys shadow run will be shown on a large screen during the Army 10-miler in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 9, and Anderson plans to be there to watch it and participate in his second 10-miler of the week. “This was prep for that one,” he said.

 

Former United States Army Garrison Humphreys Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Kim fired the opening gun at 9 p.m. locally to coincide with the actual time the run will start in Washington D.C. Led by Kim’s replacement, Command Sgt. Maj. Spencer Gray, the runners started under the Super Gym walkway, then snaked their way around the airfield twice, ending up back at Super Gym.

 

“It’s an absolutely great event,” Gray said. “Soldiers work hard, so when you can do something like this to build esprit de corps, it’s a positive thing. It’s an opportunity for everyone to have a good time.”

 

The crisp, cool October air helped keep the runners fresh, as did rehydration stations manned by volunteers along the route. The constant encouragement by fellow runners and cheering from the sidelines helped push the runners toward the finish.

 

“It’s not too cold. It’s nice running weather,” Gray said. “You can always wear something to keep you warm, and if it gets too hot, you can dress down.”

 

Anderson agreed that the race featured ideal conditions. “It’s great weather, no overheating,” he said. “It’s the best weather for running.”

 

Anderson said he has three brothers in the Army who are also all enthusiastic runners, and there was another family connection of note. Specialist Charles Rodgers IV flew from Hawaii to run the race with his father, Charles Rodgers III, who manages Splish and Splash Water Park on Humphreys. The two finished with identical times of 1:32:40.

 

Besides ideal weather and enthusiastic observers, the runners were treated to replicas of Washington, D.C., monuments built by Jeffrey Hubbard of the USAG Humphreys Family, Morale Welfare and Recreation office. The replicas, made of Styrofoam and braced by wood supports, included the Vietnam Memorial, the Pentagon, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, and the capitol. The project took about two weeks, according to Hubbard.

 

“It was to give everybody something extra to look at during the run and to do something different,” Hubbard said. “We figured looking at a poster would be kind of boring. We wanted to give them incentive to go and see the next one. They’ll be here next year. They’re built to last.”

 

Area III Sports Director Lonnie Herring credited volunteers with helping make the run a success.

 

“We had three drink tables on the trail and at the start and finish point,” he said. “We had BOSS bring in volunteers, folks standing on the road, and people handing out numbers and pace chips before the race.” The computerized chips, attached to the runners’ shoes, started and stopped when someone crossed the start and finish lines, giving everyone an accurate 10-mile time.

 

For all the logistics involved in having hundreds of people run 10 miles, Herring said most of the work was done beforehand.

 

“The pre-registration is the most time-consuming,” he said, also mentioning coordination with Military Police, road closures, medical considerations, and taxi and bus services being suspended. But all the work paid off in the end, Herring noted.

 

Prior to the run, entrants were addressed by USAG Humphreys Commander, Col. Joseph P. Moore.

 

“We’re here to have fun, and I hope your commanders told you that if you run this, there’s no P.T. tomorrow. Ten miles is no small task,” Moore said. “I’ve run this loop a lot at night. There’s plenty of light out there. The terrain is real friendly. There are no big hills, just a lot of open room to run.”

 

The top three finishers in the men’s 29 and under category were: Wbatt Reith (1:07:53); Samuel Smiths (1:09:09) and Daniel Bates (1:09:35). Following Anderson in the men’s 30-39 category were David Snow (1:12:41) and Nathan Stahl (1:18:02).

 

In the men’s 40-49 category, the top three finishers were Brett Bassett (1:14:49), Dan Burnett (1:17:06) and Felix Lassus (1:18:57). Leading the way in the men’s 50 and over category were Robert Nott (1:09:14), Mark Sullivan (1:09:57) and Kwon, Song-ki (1:19:23).

 

Following Rainville in the women’s 29 and under category were Kyle Wilson (1:22:20) and Liela Moser (1:26:01). In the women’s 30 and over category, top finishers were Sarah Stahl (1:20:45), Adam Leinen (1:27:52), and Jamila Moody (1:34:11). Taking the women’s over 40 crown was Kim, Hui-ok (1:37:06). In the women’s over 50 category, Barbara Garner (1:37:31) took first, followed by Susan Jentoft (1:43:23).

 

Photos courtesy U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, FMWR Marketing

  

Click here to view the garrison’s official Facebook fan page

Times Square NYC New Years Eve Midnight Ball Drop - New Years Day Celebration New York City USA 2020 - 2021

  

The Times Square Ball is a time ball located atop the One Times Square building in New York City, primarily utilized as part of New Year's Eve celebrations held in Times Square. Yearly at 11:59 p.m. EST on December 31, the ball is lowered 77 feet (23 m) down a specially designed flagpole, resting on the midnight to signal the start of the new year. The first ball drop in Times Square took place on December 31, 1907, and has been held annually since (except in 1942 and 1943 in observance of wartime blackouts). The ball's design has also been updated over the years to reflect new advances in technologies—its original design utilized 100 incandescent light bulbs, iron, and wood in its construction, while its current incarnation features a computerized LED lighting system and an outer surface consisting of triangle-shaped crystal panels. As of 2009, the ball is also displayed atop One Times Square year-round and is removed only for general maintenance.

 

The Ball is covered with a total of 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles

 

"Gift of Happiness" Revealed as the 2021 Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Theme

Embrace Happiness in 2021

 

The Times Square ball drop is one of the best-known New Year's celebrations internationally, attended by at least one million spectators yearly, with an estimated global audience of at least 1 billion. The prevalence of the Times Square ball drop has also inspired other similar ball drops held locally in other cities and towns around the world.

 

“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest,”

Performers 2020 - 2021

6:00 pm event starts

celebration

Billy Porter

Kelly Osbourne

Jonathan Bennett

The USO Show Troupe

Cristina Lucas

Andra Day

Jimmie Allen

Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive

Juanita Erb

Machine Gun Kelly

The Waffle Crew

Anitta - Paradinha - Brazil - Univision’s ¡Feliz 2021!

Cyndi Lauper - True Colors

Raúl de Molina

Pitbull - I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) - Cuba USA - Univision’s ¡Feliz 2021!

Jennifer Lopez JLo - Waiting for Tonight - The Bronx

Andra Day performs John Lennon’s Imagine

Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City

The Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball

12:15 a.m. — End of Show

  

At the base of the One Times Square Building is a Walgreens store with a monitor stating Happy New Year 2021 Walgreens facing the MTA Subway exit -

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc is listed on the NASDAQ as WBA - The NASDAQ is also located in Times Square NYC.

 

The closest Metropolitan Transportation Authority MTA Subway is Times Square – 42nd Street New York City Subway station - N R Q S 1 2 3 7 trains and A C E trains at 8th Avenue

 

The Chinese Lunar calendar follows a 12 year cycle and each of the 12 years is represented by 12 Animals which form the Chinese Zodiac. The 12 animals, are: Rat, Cow, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Chicken, Dog, and the Pig.

2019 Pig

2020 Rat

2021 Ox

2022 Tiger

2023 Rabbit

2024 Dragon

2025 Snake

2026 Horse

2027 Sheep

2028 Monkey

2029 Rooster

2030 Dog

  

Photo

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max smartphone photo

4x3

dimensions 4032 × 3024 resolution 72x72

JPEG image type

Rear lens

Phone held horizontal

Fourteenth generation of the iPhone

Released November 13, 2020

Phone sells for $1,099.00

 

Hashtag metadata:

#HappyNewYear #HappyNewYears #FelizAñoNuevo #FelizAnoNuevo #Feliz #AñoNuevo #AnoNuevo #TimesSquare #TimesSquareNYC #TimesSquareNYE #TimesSquareNY #TimesSquareNewYorkCity #TimesSquareNewYork #TSNYC #TSNYE #NY #NYC #NewYork #NewYorkCity #NewYearsEve #NYE #US #USA #Happy #NewYear #NewYears #December #Party #Celebration #Holiday #DickClark #RyanSeacrest #DickClarksNewYearsRockinEve #NewYearsRockinEve #FortySecondStreet #2020 #2021

 

Photos

Times Square, New York City, USA The United States of America, North America

12/31/2020 - 01/01/2021

Comcom: Haddon Crafstmen Computerized Typesetting

 

Herb Lubalin Study Center of Design & Typography at Cooper Union; East Village, Manhattan

Prod. 1981-1999/2001

Sn. 2475515

 

Top of the line 1981.

 

X-700 brochure:

"The X-700 is Minolta's fully-programmed, micro-computerized Automatic Exposure 35mm SLR. It's a simple-to-operate Automatic Exposure camera, selecting both aperture and shutter speed in Programmed Automatic Exposure mode (P mode). So all you have to do is focus-and-shoot. The X-700 also offers Aperture-Priority Automatic Exposure control (A mode) and a full-metered manual exposure control (M mode), in addition to many other features that make photography more fun and enjoyable than ever before."

 

wikipedia:

T"he Minolta X-700 is a 35 mm single-lens reflex film camera introduced by Minolta in 1981. It was the top model of their final manual-focus SLR series before the introduction of the auto-focus Minolta Maxxum 7000.

The X-700 was awarded the European "Camera of the Year" award in 1981, and its competitive pricing resulted in its becoming the most successful Minolta camera since the SRT line."

 

kenrockwell.com:

"A testament to its lasting and good design, it was introduced in the early 1980s and was in continuous production until the beginning of 2001. I had a very new one with a serial number above 3,000,000, and I also bought an X-570 (it's brother) back in 1982."

 

From x-700 owners manual:

Elecronically governed 35mm single-reflex AE camera.

Exposure-control modes:

Fully programmed (P), aperture-priority automatic (A), and metered manual (M).

Exposure control and functions:

Low-voltage, low current computer circuit incorporating quartz crystal for sequential control to 1/30,000-sec. accuracy, large-scale ICs, samarium-cobalt impulse-release magnets, and linear-resistance inputs) varies both aperture and shutter speed steplessly according to special "faster-speed" program in P mode, or varies shutter speed steplessly according to aperture set in A mode, to yield proper exposure for the film speed and exposure adjustment set; auto-exposure range: EV 1 to EV 18 (e.g., 1 sec. at f/1.4 to 1/1000 at f/16) at ISO 100/21° with f/1.4 lens; AE-lock device holds meter reading for exposure at that value regardless of subject-brightness changes.

Shutter:

Horizontal-traverse focal-plane type; electronically controlled stepless speeds 1/1000 to 4 sec. set automatically with endlessly rotatable selector dial locked at "P" or "A" setting or fixed speeds 1 to 1/1000 sec. or "B" (bulb) set manually at detented dial indications; electromagnetic shutter release locks when voltage too low for proper operation.

Metering:

TTL center-weighted averaging type, by silicon photocell mounted at rear of pentaprism for available light, measured full aperture for normal finder display, then at taking aperture for programmed/automatic-exposure setting/determination or stop-down display; by another SPC mounted with optic in side of mirror compartment for TTL off-film Direct Autoflash Metering at taking aperture during exposure to control burst duration of PX-series flash units.

Film-speed range:

ISO 25/150 to 1600/330 set by ASA dial that locks at 1/3-EV increments.

Exposure-adjustment control:

Up to ±2 EV continuous adjustment of P, A, or M exposure by dial that locks at zero position and each 1/2-EV setting.

Mirror:

Triple-coated oversize instant-return slide-up type.

Viewfinder:

Eye-Level fixed pentaprism type showing 95% of 24x36mm film-frame area; magnification: 02X with 50mm standard lens focused at infinity; power: -1D, adjustable with accessory Snap-On eyepiece lenses; Fresnel-field focusing screen having artificially regular-patterned matte field plus central split-image horizontally oriented focusing aid surrounded by microprism band, interchangeable with Type P1, P2, Pd, M, G, L, S, or H screens at authorized Minolta service stations; visible around frame: mode indication (P, A, or M), shutter-speed scale (1, 2, 4, 8, 15, 30, 60, 125, 250, 500, and 1000) with LED setting indication, triangular over-/under-range LED indicators blinking at 4Hz, flash-ready signal (LED next to "60" blinking at 2Hz), FDC signal ("60" LED blinking at 8Hz for 1 sec. after correct flash exposure), mis-set lens warning (mode indication blinking at 4Hz in P mode, battery check (by glowing of any LED when operating button touched or pressed slightly), f-number set with MD or MC lenses, and exposure-adjustment engaged indication (LED blinking at 4Hz); display and metering activated by normal finger contact or slight pressing of operating button and continue for 15 sec., except go out after shutter release.

Flash Sync and Control:

Hot shoe and PC terminal for X sync; camera-control contact on hot shoe for flash ready signaling and automatic setting of shutter at 1/60 sec. (except when mode/shutter-speed selector set for sync at "B") with PX and X flash units; other electronic units synchronize at 1/60 sec. and slower manual speeds or "B" setting; Class MF, M, and FP flashbulbs, at 1/15 sec. or slower settings; second contact on hot shoe for burst control by Direct Autoflash Metering with PX units.

Power:

Two 1.5v alkaline-manganese (LR44: Eveready A-76 or equiv.), two 1.55v silver-oxide (SR-44: Eveready S-76, EPX-76, or equiv.), or one 3v lithium (CR-1/3N) cell(s).

Triangulum Galaxy

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Triangulum Galaxy

VST snaps a very detailed view of the Triangulum Galaxy.jpg

Galaxy Messier 33 in Triangulum

Observation data (J2000 epoch)

Pronunciation/traɪˈæŋɡjʊləm/

ConstellationTriangulum

Right ascension01h 33m 50.02s[1]

Declination+30° 39′ 36.7″[1]

Redshift-0.000607 ± 0.000010[1]

Helio radial velocity-179 ± 3 km/s[2]

Galactocentric velocity-44 ± 6 km/s[2]

Distance (comoving)970 kpc (3.2 Mly)[3]

Apparent magnitude (V)5.72[1]

Characteristics

TypeSA(s)cd[2]

Mass5 × 1010[4] M☉

Number of stars40 billion (4×1010)[6]

Size18.74 kpc (61,120 ly)

(diameter; 25.0 mag/arcsec2 B-band isophote)[5][6]

Apparent size (V)70.8 × 41.7 moa[1]

Other designations

NGC 0598, MCG+05-04-069, UGC 1117, PGC 5818[2]

The Triangulum Galaxy is a spiral galaxy 2.73 million light-years (ly) from Earth in the constellation Triangulum. It is catalogued as Messier 33 or NGC (New General Catalogue) 598. With the D25 isophotal diameter of 18.74 kiloparsecs (61,100 light-years), the Triangulum Galaxy is the third-largest member of the Local Group of galaxies, behind the Andromeda Galaxy and the Milky Way. It is one of the most distant permanent objects that can be viewed with the naked eye.[7]

 

The galaxy is the smallest spiral galaxy in the Local Group (although the smaller Large and Small Magellanic Clouds may have been spirals before their encounters with the Milky Way), and is believed to be a satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy or on its rebound into the latter due to their interactions, velocities,[8] and proximity to one another in the night sky. It also has an H II nucleus.[9]

  

Contents

1Etymology

2Visibility

3Observation history

4Properties

4.1Location – distance – motion

4.2Structure

4.3Star formation

4.4Discrete features

4.5Relationship with the Andromeda Galaxy

4.6Planetary nebulae

5See also

6References

7Further reading

8External links

Etymology

The galaxy gets its name from the constellation Triangulum, where it can be spotted.

 

It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Pinwheel Galaxy" by some astronomy references,[10] in some computerized telescope software, and in some public outreach websites.[11] However, the SIMBAD Astronomical Database, a professional database, collates formal designations for astronomical objects and indicates that Pinwheel Galaxy refers to Messier 101,[12] which several amateur astronomy resources including public outreach websites identify by that name, and that is within the bounds of Ursa Major.[13][14]

 

Visibility

Under exceptionally good viewing conditions with no light pollution, the Triangulum Galaxy can be seen with the 20/20 vision naked eye;[15] to those viewers, it will sometimes be the farthest permanent entity visible without magnification.[16][17] Its light diffuses (spreads) across a little more than a pinprick of the unmagnified sky, the cause of which is its broadness – this astronomers term a diffuse, rather than compact, object.

 

Observers range from finding the galaxy easily visible by direct vision in a truly dark (and impliedly dry, cloud-free) sky to needing to use averted vision in rural or suburban skies with good viewing conditions.[15] It has been chosen as one of the critical sky marks of the Bortle Dark-Sky Scale,[18] supported by its relative invariability, reasonable northern declination, and brightness described.

 

Observation history

The Triangulum Galaxy was probably discovered by the Italian astronomer Giovanni Battista Hodierna before 1654. In his work De systemate orbis cometici; deque admirandis coeli caracteribus ("About the systematics of the cometary orbit, and about the admirable objects of the sky"), he listed it as a cloud-like nebulosity or obscuration and gave the cryptic description, "near the Triangle hinc inde". This is in reference to the constellation Triangulum as a pair of triangles. The magnitude of the object matches M33, so it is most likely a reference to the Triangulum Galaxy.[19]

 

The galaxy was independently discovered by Charles Messier on the night of August 25–26, 1764. It was published in his Catalog of Nebulae and Star Clusters (1771) as object number 33; hence the name M33.[20] William Herschel compiled his extensive catalog of nebulae, he was careful not to include most of the objects identified by Messier.[21] However, M33 was an exception, and he cataloged this object on September 11, 1784, as H V-17.[22]

 

Herschel also cataloged the Triangulum Galaxy's brightest and largest H II region (diffuse emission nebula containing ionized hydrogen) as H III.150 separately from the galaxy itself; the nebula eventually obtained NGC number 604. As seen from Earth, NGC 604 is located northeast of the galaxy's central core. It is one of the largest H II regions known, with a diameter of nearly 1500 light-years and a spectrum similar to that of the Orion Nebula. Herschel also noted three other smaller H II regions (NGC 588, 592, and 595).

 

It was among the first "spiral nebulae" identified as such by Lord Rosse in 1850. In 1922–23, John Charles Duncan and Max Wolf discovered variable stars in the nebulae. Edwin Hubble showed in 1926 that 35 of these stars were classical Cepheids, thereby allowing him to estimate their distances. The results were consistent with the concept of spiral nebulae being independent galactic systems of gas and dust, rather than just nebulae in the Milky Way.[23]

 

NGC 604 in the Triangulum Galaxy

NGC 604 in the Triangulum Galaxy

  

Composite of about 54 different pointings with Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys.[24]

Composite of about 54 different pointings with Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys.[24]

 

Properties

The Triangulum Galaxy is the third largest member of the Local Group of galaxies. It has a diameter measured through the D25 standard - the isophote where the surface brightness of the galaxy reaches 25 mag/arcsec2, to be about 18.74 kiloparsecs (61,100 light-years),[5] making it roughly 60% the size of the Milky Way. It may be a gravitationally bound companion of the Andromeda Galaxy. Triangulum may be home to 40 billion stars, compared to 400 billion for the Milky Way, and 1 trillion stars for Andromeda Galaxy.[6]

 

The disk of Triangulum has an estimated mass of (3–6) × 109 solar masses, while the gas component is about 3.2 × 109 solar masses. Thus, the combined mass of all baryonic matter in the galaxy may be 1010 solar masses. The contribution of the dark matter component out to a radius of 55×103 ly (17 kpc) is equivalent to about 5 × 1010 solar masses.[4]

 

Location – distance – motion

 

Triangulum (M33; lower left of center) and Andromeda Galaxy (M31; above center)

Estimates of the distance from the Milky Way to the Triangulum Galaxy range from 2,380×103 to 3,070×103 ly (730 to 940 kpc) (or 2.38 to 3.07 Mly), with most estimates since the year 2000 lying in the middle portion of this range,[25][26] making it slightly more distant than the Andromeda Galaxy (at 2,540,000 light-years). At least three techniques have been used to measure distances to M 33. Using the Cepheid variable method, an estimate of 2,770×103 ± 130×103 ly (849 ± 40 kpc) was achieved in 2004.[27][28] In the same year, the tip of the red-giant branch (TRGB) method was used to derive a distance estimate of 2,590×103 ± 80×103 ly (794 ± 25 kpc).[29] The Triangulum Galaxy is around 750,000 light years from the Andromeda Galaxy.[30]

 

In 2006, a group of astronomers announced the discovery of an eclipsing binary star in the Triangulum Galaxy. By studying the eclipses of the stars, astronomers were able to measure their sizes. Knowing the sizes and temperatures of the stars, they were able to measure the absolute magnitude of the stars. When the visual and absolute magnitudes are known, the distance to the star can be measured. The stars lie at the distance of 3,070×103 ± 240×103 ly (941 ± 74 kpc).[25] The average of 102 distance estimates published since 1987 gives a distance modulus of 24.69, or .883 Mpc (2,878,000 light-years).[31]

 

The Triangulum Galaxy is a source of H2O maser emission.[32] In 2005, using observations of two water masers on opposite sides of Triangulum via the VLBA, researchers were, for the first time, able to estimate the angular rotation and proper motion of Triangulum. A velocity of 190 ± 60 km/s relative to the Milky Way was computed, which means Triangulum is moving towards Andromeda Galaxy and suggesting it may be a satellite of the larger galaxy (depending on their relative distances and margins of error).[8]

 

In 2004, evidence was announced of a clumpy stream of hydrogen gas linking the Andromeda Galaxy with Triangulum, suggesting that the two may have tidally interacted in the past. This discovery was confirmed in 2011.[33] A distance of less than 300 kiloparsecs between the two supports this hypothesis.[34]

 

The Pisces Dwarf (LGS 3), one of the small Local Group member galaxies, is located 2,022×103 ly (620 kpc) from the Sun. It is 20° from the Andromeda Galaxy and 11° from Triangulum. As LGS 3 lies at a distance of 913×103 ly (280 kpc) from both galaxies, it could be a satellite galaxy of either Andromeda or Triangulum. LGS 3 has a core radius of 483 ly (148 pc) and 2.6 × 107 solar masses.[35]

 

Pisces VII/Triangulum (Tri) III may be another satellite of Triangulum.[36]

 

Structure

 

Infrared image of M33 taken with the Spitzer Space Telescope

 

Ultraviolet image of M33 by GALEX observatory

In the French astronomer Gérard de Vaucouleurs' revised Hubble Sandage (VRHS) system of galaxy morphological classification, the Triangulum Galaxy is classified as type SA(s)cd. The S prefix indicates that it is a disk-shaped galaxy with prominent arms of gas and dust that spiral out from the nucleus—what is commonly known as a spiral galaxy. The A is assigned when the galactic nucleus lacks a bar-shaped structure, in contrast to SB class barred spiral galaxies. American astronomer Allan Sandage's "(s)" notation is used when the spiral arms emerge directly from the nucleus or central bar, rather than from an inner ring as with an (r)-type galaxy. Finally, the cd suffix represents a stage along the spiral sequence that describes the openness of the arms. A rating of cd indicates relatively loosely wound arms.[37]

 

This galaxy has an inclination of 54° to the line of sight from Earth, allowing the structure to be examined without significant obstruction by gas and dust.[38][39] The disk of the Triangulum Galaxy appears warped out to a radius of about 8 kpc. There may be a halo surrounding the galaxy, but there is no bulge at the nucleus.[40] This is an isolated galaxy and there are no indications of recent mergers or interactions with other galaxies,[39] and it lacks the dwarf spheroidals or tidal tails associated with the Milky Way.[41]

 

Triangulum is classified as unbarred, but an analysis of the galaxy's shape shows what may be a weak bar-like structure about the galactic nucleus. The radial extent of this structure is about 0.8 kpc.[42]

 

The nucleus of this galaxy is an H II region,[32] and it contains an ultraluminous X-ray source with an emission of 1.2 × 1039 erg s−1, which is the most luminous source of X-rays in the Local Group of galaxies. This source is modulated by 20% over a 106-day cycle.[43] However, the nucleus does not appear to contain a supermassive black hole, as an upper limit of 3,000 solar masses is placed on the mass of a central black hole based upon the velocity of stars in the core region.[44]

 

The inner part of the galaxy has two luminous spiral arms, along with multiple spurs that connect the inner to the outer spiral features.[38][39] The main arms are designated IN (north) and IS (south).[45]

 

Star formation

 

NGC 604, a star-forming region in the Triangulum Galaxy, as imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope.

In the central 4′ region of this galaxy, atomic gas is being efficiently converted to molecular gas, resulting in a strong spectral emission of CO. This effect occurs as giant molecular clouds condense out of the surrounding interstellar medium. A similar process is taking place outside the central 4′, but at a less efficient pace. About 10% of the gas content in this galaxy is in the molecular form.[38][39]

 

Star formation is taking place at a rate that is strongly correlated with local gas density, and the rate per unit area is higher than in the neighboring Andromeda Galaxy. (The rate of star formation is about 3.4 Gyr−1 pc−2 in the Triangulum Galaxy, compared to 0.74 in Andromeda.[46]) The total integrated rate of star formation in the Triangulum Galaxy is about 0.45 ± 0.1 solar masses per year. It is uncertain whether this net rate is currently decreasing or remaining constant.[38][39]

 

Based on analysis of the chemical composition of this galaxy, it appears to be divided into two distinct components with differing histories. The inner disk within a radius of 30×103 ly (9 kpc) has a typical composition gradient that decreases linearly from the core. Beyond this radius, out to about 82×103 ly (25 kpc), the gradient is much flatter. This suggests a different star formation history between the inner disk and the outer disk and halo, and may be explained by a scenario of "inside-out" galaxy formation.[40] This occurs when gas is accumulated at large radii later in a galaxy's life space, while the gas at the core becomes exhausted. The result is a decrease in the average age of stars with increasing radius from the galaxy core.[47]

 

Discrete features

Using infrared observations from the Spitzer Space Telescope, a total of 515 discrete candidate sources of 24 μm emission within the Triangulum Galaxy have been catalogued as of 2007. The brightest sources lie within the central region of the galaxy and along the spiral arms.

 

Many of the emission sources are associated with H II regions of star formation.[48] The four brightest HII regions are designated NGC 588, NGC 592, NGC 595, and NGC 604. These regions are associated with molecular clouds containing (1.2–4) × 105 solar masses. The brightest of these regions, NGC 604, may have undergone a discrete outburst of star formation about three million years ago.[49] This nebula is the second most luminous HII region within the Local Group of galaxies, at (4.5 ± 1.5) × 107 times the luminosity of the Sun.[46] Other prominent HII regions in Triangulum include IC 132, IC 133, and IK 53.[45]

 

The northern main spiral arm contains four large HII regions, while the southern arm has greater concentrations of young, hot stars.[45] The estimated rate of supernova explosions in the Triangulum Galaxy is 0.06 Type Ia and 0.62 Type Ib/Type II per century. This is equivalent to a supernova explosion every 147 years, on average.[50] As of 2008, a total of 100 supernova remnants have been identified in the Triangulum Galaxy,[51] the majority of which lies in the southern half of the spiral galaxy. Similar asymmetries exist for H I and H II regions, plus highly luminous concentrations of massive, O type stars. The center of the distribution of these features is offset about two arc minutes to the southwest.[45] M33 being a local galaxy, the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams (CBAT) tracks novae in it along with M31 and M81.[52]

 

About 54 globular clusters have been identified in this galaxy, but the actual number may be 122 or more.[41] The confirmed clusters may be several billion years younger than globular clusters in the Milky Way, and cluster formation appears to have increased during the past 100 million years. This increase is correlated with an inflow of gas into the center of the galaxy. The ultraviolet emission of massive stars in this galaxy matches the level of similar stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud.[53]

 

In 2007, a black hole about 15.7 times the mass of the Sun was detected in this galaxy using data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The black hole, named M33 X-7, orbits a companion star which it eclipses every 3.5 days. It is the largest stellar mass black hole known.[54][55]

 

Unlike the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies, the Triangulum Galaxy does not appear to have a supermassive black hole at its center. This may be because the mass of a galaxy's central supermassive black hole correlates with the size of the galaxy's central bulge, and unlike the Milky Way and Andromeda, the Triangulum Galaxy is a pure disk galaxy with no bulge.[56]

 

Relationship with the Andromeda Galaxy

 

Triangulum on the collision paths of the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies.

As mentioned above, M33 is linked to M31 by several streams of neutral hydrogen[57] and stars,[57] which suggests that a past interaction between these two galaxies took place from 2 to 8 billion years ago,[58][59] and a more violent encounter will occur 2.5 billion years in the future.[57]

 

The fate of M33 was uncertain in 2009 beyond seeming to be linked to its larger neighbor M31. Suggested scenarios include being torn apart and absorbed by the greater companion, fueling the latter with hydrogen to form new stars; eventually exhausting all of its gas, and thus the ability to form new stars;[60] or participating in the collision between the Milky Way and M31, likely ending up orbiting the merger product and fusing with it much later. Two other possibilities are a collision with the Milky Way before the Andromeda Galaxy arrives or an ejection out of the Local Group.[61] Astrometric data from Gaia appears in 2019 to rule out the possibility that M33 and M31 are in orbit. If correct, M33 is on its first infall proper into the Andromeda Galaxy (M31).[62]

 

Planetary nebulae

Planetary nebulae are not only important contributors to the chemical enrichment of galaxies, but provide valuable information on single and binary stellar evolution. In addition, these objects seem to always produce very bright planetary nebulae with consistent luminosities, regardless of the galaxy's mass, age, or metallicity. This feature is very useful as a standard candle for distance measurements.

 

Large systematic research on this topic has been done by Rebeca Galera-Rosillo and co-authors in 2018.[63] This work benefited from the use of the INT and WHT telescopes located at La Palma island. As a result of this study, three new planetary nebulae were discovered.

 

Newly discovered PNe (2018), Rebeca named the PNe after her closest family members.

GCM 1 (Ovejisaurio),01:34:48.86+31:05:14.8

GCM 2, (Cuchilla Andante)01:33:45.20+30:21:22.0

GCM 3, (Sewi)01:33:52.30+30:21:12.0

 

A computerized tomography (CT) scan combines a series of X-ray images taken from different angles to create images (slices) of the bones and tissues inside your body. CT scan images provide more-detailed information than plain X-rays do.

 

Shot for The Flickr Lounge. “Round & Round”

 

Part of the new health care system to come will be to computerize all health care records. The "V-Chip" is a microChip which would be embedded in the arm of patients. Health care professionals would then scan the arm, and retrieve an ID number, allowing them to access personal information. 515 hospitals have agreed to take part in the VeriChip system. 100 hospitals are already trained and set up to use the VeriChip so far. This is just the first step. Combined with the National ID, (complete with rfid chips) Americans will be tracked, and controlled.

 

In Palm Beach, Florida 200 Alzheimer’s patients were already microchipped by the VeriChip company, for free.

 

The state of Oklahoma is debating a bill to microchip prisoners of violent crimes, to keep track of them after release. Chipping people is wrong. At the moment, it is a choice to be chipped; before too long it will be mandatory. This is a violation of privacy, as well as a threat to American freedom!

 

Do your research and say no to the VeriChip!

   

Joint Forces Training Base home to energy-efficient headquarters

 

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. -- Soldiers, family members and civilians of the 79th Sustainment Support Command will soon have a new headquarters, organizational maintenance area and acres of parking at the Joint Forces Training Base here. The work is all part of a nearly $25 million project managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District.

 

Andy Stevens of Retrofit Services Company from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., was onsite Sept. 12 putting the finishing touches on the computerized building management system that will control the state-of-the-art energy efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning for the headquarters building. The system uses multiple condensers and is nearly 30 percent more efficient than systems of just five years ago.

 

"This one [building zone] is calling for one stage cool, fans on, temperature is 72 [degrees] in the zone and the set point is 72, so it's doing just fine," said Stevens. "You can change your occupancy status at any time, emergency override it, shut it down and we do have the chemical alert push-buttons that will close all dampers inside and out."

 

The alert buttons are located throughout the facility and once activated because of an attack or a release of hazardous chemicals, no air is allowed in or out of the building to protect the occupants, according to Maj. Phillip Oster, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District's Santa Ana Resident Office deputy who oversees the project.

 

To reduce construction costs and increase future savings, the project is using eco-friendly features, like re-cycled material, and in the case of the covered parking lots, they will generate energy with a photovoltaic system. The contract partner's quality assurance manager for the project explained the feature.

 

"At peak, they produce 375 KVA [kilovolt-amps]," said Edward Desmond, Cox Construction of Vista, Calif. "In theory, it's enough power to offset the footprint of the Army Reserve Center building."

 

While not designated a net-zero facility, the extensive use of energy efficient materials during construction will enable the photovoltaic system to actually return power to the Los Alamitos grid, off-setting the operating costs of other buildings on the base, according to Desmond.

 

The Energy Policy Act of 1992 mandated the use of "low flush" urinals in government facilities. This project takes it a step further with water-free urinals. The USACE Engineer Research and Development Center estimates that they pay for themselves in six-months to three years and the cost savings don't end there. All new Army construction is designed to satisfy the Silver-level standards of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system, in accordance with the U.S. Green Building Council guidance.

 

According Oster, the project is in the "punch list" stage with safety officials, contractors and District project delivery teams making final inspections before furniture is installed and the customer takes possession of the ARC in October.

 

Photo credit: Cindy Kurman, Kurman Communications, Inc. Freedom Golf Association’s First Annual “Honor Wounded Vets 5K Run/Walk” succeeds in showing how adaptive golf is aiding vets’ road to recovery

 

The enthusiasm and good will were palpable at McDonald’s corporate campus in Oak Brook, Illinois on Sunday, October 29 as the Freedom Golf Association’s (FGA) First Annual “Honor Wounded Vets 5K Run/Walk” succeeded in drawing attention to the fact that adaptive golf is clearly helping wounded vets return to normality after their military service. The more than 100 participants conquered the 5K course to show their support for the programs of the Freedom Golf Association, which is leading the way In Illinois in bringing the joy of golf to persons with physical, emotional and developmental needs.

 

“The 5K Run/Walk was a terrific way to honor Veterans who have been wounded in their service to the country and to acknowledge Illinois’ wounded vets, a growing number of whom have taken up golf to enjoy its many physical, emotional and social benefits,” said Sally Ruecking, FGA’s Vice President of Strategic Advancement. “Adaptive golf is bringing fun into the lives of people who are often left out due to their disabilities.”

 

Cheered on by the music of the Elmhurst College Jazz Band and with welcoming remarks from E.Q. Sylvester, Chairman of FGA; radio and TV personality Bob Sirott of event co-sponsor WLS-AM radio; and Ruecking, the runners and walkers took to the track with smiles and a sense of mission. Other event sponsors included Molex LLC, Rich Harvest Farms, KF Partners LLC, and Reebie Storage and Moving.

 

The overall men’s winner was 16-year old Matt Pierce of Alsip, Illinois, who ran the 5K course in 18:59. Second place went to Thomas Potaczek of Bensenville, IL, with a time of 19:23 and third place went to Andrew Pyle of Hinsdale, IL with a time of 22:14.

 

Among the women, the overall winner was Eileen Skisak of La Grange, IL with a time of 18:59. Eileen also ran in fifth place overall. The second-place women’s winner was 12-year old Alexandra Two, with a time of 25:36; third place went to 10-year old Kelly Fergus of Chicago, with a time of 27:27.

 

Winners by age group were:

•Male 10-14: James Mercurio, Hinsdale, IL

•Male 15-19: Thomas Mercurio, Hinsdale, IL

•Male 20-24: Ben Landress, Chicago, IL

•Male 30-34: (1st) Michael Bellino, Villa Park, IL; (2nd) Nick Bada, Villa Park, IL

•Male 45-49: (1st) Jim Mercurio, Hinsdale, IL; (2nd) Carmelo Aguinir, Joliet, IL

•Male 50-54: (1st) Bob Fergus, Chicago, IL; (2nd) Ross Hurst, Clarendon Hills, IL; (3rd) Randy Pyle, Hinsdale, IL; (4th) Roger Keys, Northbrook, IL

•Male 65-69: (1st) Jerome Getter, Oak Park, IL; (2nd) John Kosmatka, Valparaiso, IN; (3rd) Karl Johnson, Woodridge, IL

•Male 70-74: James Smith, Clarendon Hills, IL

•Female 15-19: Maria Meyer, Hinsdale, IL

•Female 40-44: Lori Kosmatka, Chicago, IL

•Female 45-49: (1st) Kimberly Mercurio, Hinsdale, IL; (2nd) Arlinda Nunez, Hinsdale, IL; (3rd) Christine Two, Wilmette, IL

•Female 50-54: (1st) Joy Hyzny, Burbank, IL; (2nd) Christie Bellino, Villa Park, IL

•Female 55-59: Jud Hrad, Chicago, IL

•Female 60-64: Sue Shepard, Elmhurst, IL

•Female 65-69: Carol Raska, Oak Park, IL

 

Freedom Golf Association leads the way in bringing adaptive golf to Illinois and is an integral part of the growing national movement, which has been embraced by major golf entities such as the PGA, LPGA and USGA.

 

“Freedom Golf Association encourages corporations with cause marketing programs that help the disabled to become FGA sponsors or corporate foundation grant providers and help us grow,” said Ruecking.

  

About Freedom Golf Association

Freedom Golf Association (FGA), a 501(C)3 non-profit charitable organization, is the leading adaptive golf organization in Illinois and is a charter member of the United States Adaptive Golf Alliance. FGA was founded in July 2012 by Edmund (E.Q.) Sylvester. E.Q. is a director of the Western Golf Association (WGA), member of the United States Senior Golf Association (USSGA), member of the United States Golf Association (USGA) and a triple amputee. FGA is dedicated to bringing joy and a sense of freedom to the special needs community through their inclusion in the game of golf.

 

FGA believes that all special needs individuals deserve a chance to accomplish the same things as any others do and work towards bringing a positive transformation to their lives. FGA contributes to the positive development of those with special needs through the magic of golf.

 

FGA works to assist individuals with disabilities in many ways:

•Provides professionally run adaptive golf instructional clinics and golf events

•Engages children, adults and veterans with special needs in FREE adaptive golf instruction with other classmates

•Conducts adaptive golf training workshops to increase the number of qualified adaptive golf coaches to instruct individuals with special needs

•Provides leadership and collaboration with nationally recognized organizations on how to expand/grow adaptive golf programs

 

Based on its growing understanding of the needs of disabled golfers, the FGA has developed a ground-breaking Adaptive Golf Enhancement Program™ that increases the golfing ability of special needs golfers. FGA’s golf coaches learn this six-step process, which helps them better understand and enhance the capabilities of special needs golfers.

 

To assist coaches and special needs golfers in determining what adaptive measures would be most beneficial, FGA recently invested in what they call a “personal swing sensors and computerized program” to 1) measure the disabled golfer’s initial swing path and limitations; 2) develop an appropriate exercise program to improve flexibility and range of motion; and 3) to chart the golfer’s progress, using the initial swing measurements as a baseline.

 

In 2016, FGA provided more than 1,300 adaptive golf lessons. In the same year, 110 special needs golfers went out and played on the course. Ten individuals became trained FGA Adaptive Golf Coaches, growing the total number to 42.

 

79 cents out of every dollar received goes to FGA’s special needs golf programs and events. FGA has led 40 Chicagoland courses in becoming accessible to the disabled community.

 

For more information about the Freedom Golf Association, please visit the official website at www.fgagolf.org and the online newsroom at www.newsline360.com/freedomgolfassociation. Contact FGA by phone at 855-342-4465 or 630-455-6018, or by email at playgolf@fgagolf.org. Donations to Freedom Golf Association can be made at www.fgagolf.org/donate.html.

 

Follow FGA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FGA4Golf. Follow FGA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/FGA4Golf.

  

Landscape painter turned landscape artist...

 

Whether you know precisely how you want your yard to look or you would like for Angel to help clarify your vision, he will gently step in and create an environment far richer and more wonderful than you ever thought possible!

 

Angel's creativity is thrilling! He is passionate about what he is creating for you, and his sleepless nights generate even more interesting ideas and solutions!

 

And Angel listens. Whether your yard is overgrown with ground cover, as mine was, or lacks any cover at all like Reggie's, (stories below) Angel will walk around with you and chat, gathering your ideas and sharing his, discovering which flowers and plants thrill you... and which don't. The creation of your dream-yard will be a joint one, a co-dream.

 

Angel will also find out whether you want to do all the maintenance yourself. Or he and his team will provide the care that is needed. Either way, he is committed to delighting you long term.

 

Angel and his team can expertly install computerized pumps and sprinkler systems, build unusual gates, pergolas, trellises and arches. They can precisely lay elegant patios and charming winding paths. They can construct a Koi pond with fountains, lilies and papyrus, or a simple bamboo drip pot. They can build chiki huts to provide shade and ambiance. And design, install and fine tune lighting that will let your guests thoroughly enjoy your parties and celebrations. And, even more important, will let you and your family enjoy your home to the fullest.

 

Story One... Reggie's yard

Reggie freely admits that he bought his property for the yard, not the house! There were sweeping 100 year old avocado and mango trees creating shade and shadow, quiet and coolness. But when airline pilot Reggie returned home from a trip to China, he discovered that Hurricane Wilma had twisted and uprooted all but two of his beloved trees. Now instead of shade and shadow, his yard was filled with glaring sun and heat. And bare... thoroughly bare.

 

He and Angel created his yard newly. No, they couldn't bring the old trees back but, to complement the two that remained, they built a "village" of shade-producing chiki huts... one for sitting and meditating, one for enjoying a refreshing jacuzzi, one to shade the unique bar, and another for dining and entertaining.

 

The main chiki sits above a broad, raised platform that allows Reggie's guests to lounge on carved teak platforms covered in embroidered silk pillows that Reggie brought back from India. Statues and fountains give his new yard the shady, tranquil feeling he longed for. Bamboos and Heliconias create lushness and color. Angel Wing Begonias send out cascades of floating pink blossoms. A large, serene brass Buddha sits calmly along the path so others can join his energy. On the southwest side of the yard, Angel created a cactus garden with 15 foot tall cactus branches leaning in and out toward each other. Angel brought in huge Yucca trees with broad woody bases and dug in Australian tree ferns whose unfurling branches cast fascinating shadows. In front he built stucco columns on either side of the driveway and installed cut-metal lamps Reggie found in India that welcome guests and hint at the experience to come inside.

 

Reggie's old crumbling garage was renewed into a glass-enclosed room which opens to the yard on pleasant Miami nights or invites guests inside to gather in air-conditioned space when the humidity is high. Glass doors were installed across the back of the house to connect inner and outer, transforming a small house into a large and abundant environment.

 

We all need motivation to launch a big project. Reggie's son Alex was graduating top-of-his-class from high school and headed for medical school so the date for Alex's party was set in advance. Worked for. And met in joyous celebration!

 

Story Two, Susan's Jungle Home...

My yard was overgrown and under-enjoyed. Just something to be mowed.

 

It's nice to have a big property... if it's used and enjoyed. But mine wasn't.

 

Yes, I had a wonderful inner garden and Koi pond but the property beyond the gate was another story. When I was ready for expert help, Angel came to my rescue.

 

I adore tall yellow-and-green striped Bamboos and Asian-style gates. I love delicate shadows and winding paths. I wanted unique areas for thinking and meditating, eating and talking. Gouldian finches are my passion and I longed for an outside aviary to allow the sound of their songs to permeate my home and garden. And I had a huge collection of choice Bromeliads which had multiplied and crowded themselves dangerously. I wanted to separate them to show off their magnificent colors and textures.

 

Once Angel knew that I liked curving lines not straight ones, a natural feel not a manicured one, it was time to get started. First, his crew cut and pruned the overgrown ground cover. Using a shovel, Angel sketched the lines of the new planting areas. Soon, he and his team arrived with beautifully shaped branches covered in white lichens... the very ones I told Angel I adored.( I had forgotten that detail but Angel remembered.) Then he began thinning my overcrowded Bromeliads and wiring the best ones onto those branches in a way that left me gasping with delight! So creative. So exciting. My new Bromeliad sculpture gives height and color to what had been a flat and colorless space.

 

My China travels had shown me how delightful a gate is... how it announces a space and proclaims welcome. I wanted lots of gates and I got them! At the back entrance to the Koi pond, at the side yard to the stepping stones he built through the papyrus and lily pads. And most thrilling of all, Angel transformed my very-1950's-entrance, surrounding it with a tall gate with enclosed vertical bamboo at the top! The smoothly stuccoed wall on either side of my front door is glorious in the morning when the sun rises and casts black shadows of 12 foot cactus arms and yucca spikes. The first few mornings, I could hardly wait till sunrise to take pictures of the shadows. Two weeks later the cactus was blooming and everyone in the neighborhood was exclaiming over its beauty!

 

Story Three... Angel's own home

Many homes are like blank canvases... the right location, the right space or enough room to add to... but their potential is unrealized. Angel's home was one of those. But now, inside and out, it's a delight to the eye and the senses.

 

Pulling past the entrance columns into the driveway, you spontaneously draw a deep breath and relax. Green, lush, inviting. Shadows and textures. Sculpture and the curvaceous shapes of pink hanging Datura Lilies. Hedges define the space and plants carry your eye up, down and around. Color, texture and surprises keep you strolling and enjoying. Palms and Bromeliads, in ground and in pots.

 

Then there's the pool area which transitions you from the glass-sided living room and open kitchen to the outside. Vibrant turquoises... tile, water and large ceramic vases. The sound of water, bamboos and palms. Decks at many levels keep the stroll exciting. Comfortable lounges, bird cages, umbrellas and flowers.

 

Wafting fragrances add intrigue and atmosphere. Rosy Frangipani... the source of many of the world's best perfumes... blooms in arched sprays overhead. Corn plants add their warm aroma and merge into lush foliage that makes this home feel like an island refuge even though there's a close neighbor. Tall Traveler's Palms contribute to the exoticness of this unique place and link you to the sky. Their blue and white flag blossoms are an intriguing Springtime treat.

 

Angel's home is ideal for large gatherings, opening and expanding in all directions. There is music inside and out. His delicate lighting encourages you first to wander and explore, then to settle in a chosen comfortable spot to talk and enjoy food and drink. This is a family home and Angel's children enjoy growing up in this beautiful, lush, sunny world.

 

Vindel Artistic Landscaping, Miami FL

786-285-8080

   

 

•Year Built: 2004

•Last Refurbished: 2011

•Gross Tonnage: 113,000 tons

•Passenger Capacity: 3,100

•Crew Size: 1,142

 

•Amenities: Outdoor Movie Screen, Fitness Center, Spa, Casino, Pool (4) [

 

Caribbean Princess Destinations

 

Canada & New England

Europe

Eastern Caribbean & Bermuda

Southern Caribbean

 

Caribbean Princess Ship Review

 

The Caribbean Princess began sailing April 2004 in the Caribbean. Caribbean Princess will debut the latest onboard entertainment option, "Movies Under the Stars", which boasts a giant poolside Times Square-style video screen to feature the latest movies and special sporting events.

 

Caribbean passengers enjoy a variety of special features designed just for the Caribbean, plus the many services and features of Personal Choice Cruising -- enabling passengers to customize their cruise experience with a myriad of dining, entertainment and activity options. Below are some of the features Caribbean Princess has to offer:

 

•Grand Atrium

•3,100 passengers

•881 staterooms have private balconies (80 percent of all outside cabins)

•Full deck of mini-suites

 

•Three dining rooms:

- The Botticelli Dining Room takes on the beloved cruise tradition of formal dining. The elegant decor sets the perfect tone for enjoying a pleasant meal of gourmet fare, served by your own waiter throughout the duration of your cruise

•Movies Under the Stars - A 300 square foot Movies Under the Stars outdoor movie screen

•Wheelhouse Bar - Sports bar.

•Art gallery

•Wrap-around promenade deck

•Neptune Pool - Four pools - including one swim-against-the current pool

•Sports court and jogging track

•Asian-themed Lotus Spa with fitness center and outdoor sunken terraced pool

•Specialty restaurant: Sterling Steakhouse Restaurant

•Cafe Caribe - Themed Cafe Caribe featuring local specialties

•Specialty restaurant: The Trattoria Sabatini Italian Restaurant

•Outdoor hamburger grill, pizzeria and ice cream bar

•24-hour buffet/bistro, plus round-the-clock room service

•A wide variety of bars and lounges, including a wine and caviar bar

•Explorers Lounge - Three unique show lounges

•Grand Casino - One of the largest casinos afloat.

•Expansive child and teen centers

•24-hour Internet Cafe

•Skywalkers nightclub and observation lounge suspended 150 feet above the water

•Up to 8 whirlpools

•Cigar Bar

•Atrium with shops, two bars, art gallery, library and writing room

•Club Fusion features nightclub, bars, gambling and cabaret

•Dedicated teens' and children's area with a total of 9,686 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, plus a dedicated pool area for teens.

•Lotus Spa - Hair salon, health center and spa.

•Princess Golf: Nine-hole golf putting course and two computerized golf simulators that enable passengers to virtually play the finest courses in the world.

•Easy wheelchair access staterooms and most public areas.

•Hearts and Minds wedding chapel with cruise industry's only wedding-at-sea program where passengers can be married by the ship's captain.

 

•Traditional Dining: This ship offers several formal dining rooms in the cruise tradition, with Traditional Dining at the same times for each meal, with attentive service provided by your own waiter throughout the cruise. ◦Island Dining Room

 

•Anytime Dining: Anytime Dining means you aren't limited to eating at a fixed time or place on the ship. Instead, the choice of when and where you want to eat is flexible, based only on your stomach's whim. ◦Coral Dining Room

◦Da Vinci Dining Room: With flexible hours for all meals, the Da Vinci Dining Room offers you the choice of dining whenever you want to. With diverse menus of international fare for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and an extensive wine and beverage list, we offer you all the elements for a great meal.

 

•Specialty Restaurants: Our ships' restaurants are always in big demand and this ship's options are no exception, serving up exquisite local specialties and gourmet favorites. Reservations recommended. Cover charge applies. ◦Trattoria Sabatini Italian Restaurant

◦Sterling Steakhouse

◦Ultimate Balcony Dining

 

•Casual Dining: Want to maximize your pool time and minimize your mealtime? Get a quick and satisfying bite whenever you like at our Casual Dining eateries, or get take-out and dine by the pool. ◦24-hour dining in the Horizon Court

◦Cafe Caribe

◦Wine and caviar bar

◦Lobby bar & patisserie

◦Scoops ice cream bar

◦Prego Pizzeria

◦Trident Grill (burgers & hot dogs)

◦Afternoon tea

◦24-hour room service

Living Room on the 49th floor overlooking Pudong shore, Huangpu River and Puxi shore. Different lighting settings are provided by a computerized lighting control. Ceramic vase by Atilla Galatali. Coffee table by Natuzzi. Side bar on the left by Porro with with custom made marble top on the side. Side table next to sofa by Cantori. Curtain by Hunter Douglas.

 

www.genco-berk-design.com

Bangladesh Railway (BR) started its journey in this portion of the sub-continent 142 years ago. Historically Bangladesh owned the Railway network, which was a part of the sub-continent. BR has recently introduced train related information using IVR (Interactive Voice Response) system through Mobile Phone and has taken initiative for computerization of pay roll, asset management, accounting, inventory control etc. which are the steps towards the implementation of Digital Bangladesh.

 

In Bangladesh, due to the huge population in the country, an inadequate number of seats on the local trains, and punishing poverty, some people are forced to borrow a ride now and then. Some are so poor that they cant buy ticket even. They ride on the roof top as well as between the carriages of Train or seat in floor between two carriages, canteen, beside door area every where.

 

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Times Square NYC New Years Eve Midnight Ball Drop - New Years Day Celebration New York City USA 2020 - 2021

  

The Times Square Ball is a time ball located atop the One Times Square building in New York City, primarily utilized as part of New Year's Eve celebrations held in Times Square. Yearly at 11:59 p.m. EST on December 31, the ball is lowered 77 feet (23 m) down a specially designed flagpole, resting on the midnight to signal the start of the new year. The first ball drop in Times Square took place on December 31, 1907, and has been held annually since (except in 1942 and 1943 in observance of wartime blackouts). The ball's design has also been updated over the years to reflect new advances in technologies—its original design utilized 100 incandescent light bulbs, iron, and wood in its construction, while its current incarnation features a computerized LED lighting system and an outer surface consisting of triangle-shaped crystal panels. As of 2009, the ball is also displayed atop One Times Square year-round and is removed only for general maintenance.

 

The Ball is covered with a total of 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles

 

"Gift of Happiness" Revealed as the 2021 Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Theme

Embrace Happiness in 2021

 

The Times Square ball drop is one of the best-known New Year's celebrations internationally, attended by at least one million spectators yearly, with an estimated global audience of at least 1 billion. The prevalence of the Times Square ball drop has also inspired other similar ball drops held locally in other cities and towns around the world.

 

“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest,”

Performers 2020 - 2021

6:00 pm event starts

celebration

Billy Porter

Kelly Osbourne

Jonathan Bennett

The USO Show Troupe

Cristina Lucas

Andra Day

Jimmie Allen

Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive

Juanita Erb

Machine Gun Kelly

The Waffle Crew

Anitta - Paradinha - Brazil - Univision’s ¡Feliz 2021!

Cyndi Lauper - True Colors

Raúl de Molina

Pitbull - I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) - Cuba USA - Univision’s ¡Feliz 2021!

Jennifer Lopez JLo - Waiting for Tonight - The Bronx

Andra Day performs John Lennon’s Imagine

Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City

The Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball

12:15 a.m. — End of Show

  

At the base of the One Times Square Building is a Walgreens store with a monitor stating Happy New Year 2021 Walgreens facing the MTA Subway exit -

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc is listed on the NASDAQ as WBA - The NASDAQ is also located in Times Square NYC.

 

The closest Metropolitan Transportation Authority MTA Subway is Times Square – 42nd Street New York City Subway station - N R Q S 1 2 3 7 trains and A C E trains at 8th Avenue

 

The Chinese Lunar calendar follows a 12 year cycle and each of the 12 years is represented by 12 Animals which form the Chinese Zodiac. The 12 animals, are: Rat, Cow, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Chicken, Dog, and the Pig.

2019 Pig

2020 Rat

2021 Ox

2022 Tiger

2023 Rabbit

2024 Dragon

2025 Snake

2026 Horse

2027 Sheep

2028 Monkey

2029 Rooster

2030 Dog

  

Photo

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max smartphone photo

4x3

dimensions 4032 × 3024 resolution 72x72

JPEG image type

Rear lens

Phone held horizontal

Fourteenth generation of the iPhone

Released November 13, 2020

Phone sells for $1,099.00

 

Hashtag metadata:

#HappyNewYear #HappyNewYears #FelizAñoNuevo #FelizAnoNuevo #Feliz #AñoNuevo #AnoNuevo #TimesSquare #TimesSquareNYC #TimesSquareNYE #TimesSquareNY #TimesSquareNewYorkCity #TimesSquareNewYork #TSNYC #TSNYE #NY #NYC #NewYork #NewYorkCity #NewYearsEve #NYE #US #USA #Happy #NewYear #NewYears #December #Party #Celebration #Holiday #DickClark #RyanSeacrest #DickClarksNewYearsRockinEve #NewYearsRockinEve #FortySecondStreet #2020 #2021

 

Photos

Times Square, New York City, USA The United States of America, North America

12/31/2020 - 01/01/2021

NOTE: I'm providing updates below. When possible, subscription free URLs will be added so that anyone may read the full text of articles.

 

• Please note especially the update of June 2013, which reveals the ever expanding capacity, reach & secret house of mirrors that is now spying on everyone on earth whose communications, business transactions & travels are in any way visible in cyberspace •

 

For some time, we've known " the Pentagon" is spying on American citizens. "The Pentagon," of course, is George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleeza Rice, Dick Cheney [& relentlessly & disgracefully since his election, Obama] - ad infinitum, ad nauseum - and is indeed finally the whole American government. Don't tell me 'It can't happen here.' I lived through the era in which J. Edgar Hoover, Joseph McCarthy & the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) ruined the life of any citizen they damn well pleased. It not only can happen here. It has happened. What is perhaps most insidious, however, is that computerization & a steady loss of personal privacy have made the creation of 'enemies lists' infinitely easier & more complete. When the FBI's founder & great criminal Hoover died, he had paper files in his offices on about a half million Americans who either did not like him or were being blackmailed by him. His lifelong companion & the assistant director of the agency, Clyde Tolson, secretly disposed of the files, which were never seen again. Today things are very different. The files can & surely do involve almost all of us, & they exist not on space consuming & cumbersome paper but on little hard disks that are copied for every other governmental department, secret government agency or group that wants them in order to satisfy its perverted purposes & notions about Americanism, Christianity, political activism, terrorism or whatever (sometimes 'whatever' is exactly the right word). It is a serious business, because we are now led by fascists who seek to create a thousand year regime by doing things that in my lifetime & clear memory other men did which led us to put them in the dock at Nuremberg. And do not say, "Oh fascism is too strong a word." Fascism is the political strategy in which the distinction between government & big business is eliminated by a political leader & party in order to get big business to provide absolute & enduring support. That is exactly what Bush & company did & the Obama administration continues to do: Today, our government serves big business with tax relief & deregulation that is catastrophic for our society as a whole, big business supports the regime with wealth, media control & payola, & to hell with the rest of us & anything related to the national interest.

 

So yes. What is revealed in the article below is bad. Terrible. Monstrously criminal. And as ominous as a pack of hyenas in each of our living, bed & bath rooms. It has nothing to do with anyone's sexual orientation. Rather, it has everything to do with control by means of intimidation, smearing & fear. It is a prolegomenon to the practice of Hell for us all.

 

pageoneq.com/news/2006/sldn_041106.html

 

Pentagon admits to surveillance of gay groups, releases documents

 

by PageOneQ

 

The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network has released documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act from the Department of Defense, which confirm the military's surveillance of organizations working to repeal the Military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy, PageOneQ has learned.

 

"The very idea that the federal government believes freedom of speech is a threat to national security is unconscionable," Steve Ralls, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network’s Director of Communications told PageOneQ today. “The Pentagon has acknowledged that collection of the information was perhaps inappropriate,” Mr. Ralls said as he cited an earlier report by United Press International on the Pentagon’s admission.

 

Mr. Ralls also explained that Servicemembers Legal Defense Network fully expects the federal government to “discontinue surveillance because there was no legitimate reason to begin it in the first place."

 

The Department of Defense, according to the 16 pages of documents it released, monitored protests against the DADT policy at college campuses in New York City, Berkeley, and Santa Cruz. A counterintelligence agent reported on the protests against Military recruitment on campuses had "a strong potential for confrontation at this protest..." Discounting a theory that the protest was taking place in a separate location from Military recruiting, the agent wrote "tactics have included using mass text paging to inform others of the location of the recruiters."

 

The Department of Defense has indicated that it's search for documents relating to surveillance of groups opposed to Don't Ask, Don't tell continues.

 

The documents are available here.

 

The SLDN Press release is below

  

WASHINGTON, DC – The Department of Defense (DoD) has released documentation confirming government surveillance of groups opposed to the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law banning openly lesbian, gay and bisexual service members. The government’s TALON reports were released in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed by Servicemembers Legal Defense

 

Network (SLDN) in January. The release of the documents follows media reports indicating government surveillance of civilian groups at several universities across the country. The Department of Defense acknowledged that it had ‘inappropriately’ collected information on protestors in a letter to the Senate Armed Services Committee, according to a February report by United Press International.

 

“The Department of Defense has now confirmed the existence of a surveillance program monitoring LGBT groups,” said C. Dixon Osburn, executive director of SLDN. “Pentagon leaders have also acknowledged inappropriately collecting some of the information in the TALON database. That information should be destroyed and no similar surveillance should be authorized in the future. Free expression is not a threat to our national security.”

 

Although the recently released TALON reports may not be a complete list of groups monitored, it does confirm domestic surveillance of protests at New York University, the University of California at Berkeley, and the University of California at Santa Cruz. DoD has indicated that it continues to search for other documents related to SLDN’s FOIA request.

 

In February, SLDN filed a lawsuit as part of its efforts to obtain information related to the government’s domestic spy program. The TALON documents, complete information on the lawsuit and the domestic surveillance program are available online at www.Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.org.

  

Originally published on Tuesday April 11, 2006.

  

A quality early-80s receiver that combines analog tuning with PLL synthesis. It feels & sounds more like an 'old-fashioned radio' than it does a computerized tech gadget. I've modified mine to give strong MW reception, as Kenwood originally attenuated the low section, and is now my primary rig for MW Dx'ing. Although the R-1000 is outwardly simple it gives hours of enjoyment every time.

In the 19th arrondissement of Paris, line 7bis of the Métro runs from the junction with line 7 to Pré-Saint-Gervais. Isolated as a shuttle service in 1967, it's also the sole home of the nine MF88 trainsets. Built by a consortium of GEC-Alsthom, Faiveley, Renault, and ANF, these were the first on the Métro to feature AC traction, open gangways, and computerized controls. However, like many trains of the early digital era, they have proven increasingly difficult to maintain and are due to be replaced in the coming years. Here we see trainset 1 entering Jaurès station, bound for the connection with line 7 at Louis Blanc.

Times Square NYC New Years Eve Midnight Ball Drop - New Years Day Celebration New York City USA 2020 - 2021

  

The Times Square Ball is a time ball located atop the One Times Square building in New York City, primarily utilized as part of New Year's Eve celebrations held in Times Square. Yearly at 11:59 p.m. EST on December 31, the ball is lowered 77 feet (23 m) down a specially designed flagpole, resting on the midnight to signal the start of the new year. The first ball drop in Times Square took place on December 31, 1907, and has been held annually since (except in 1942 and 1943 in observance of wartime blackouts). The ball's design has also been updated over the years to reflect new advances in technologies—its original design utilized 100 incandescent light bulbs, iron, and wood in its construction, while its current incarnation features a computerized LED lighting system and an outer surface consisting of triangle-shaped crystal panels. As of 2009, the ball is also displayed atop One Times Square year-round and is removed only for general maintenance.

 

The Ball is covered with a total of 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles

 

"Gift of Happiness" Revealed as the 2021 Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Theme

Embrace Happiness in 2021

 

The Times Square ball drop is one of the best-known New Year's celebrations internationally, attended by at least one million spectators yearly, with an estimated global audience of at least 1 billion. The prevalence of the Times Square ball drop has also inspired other similar ball drops held locally in other cities and towns around the world.

 

“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest,”

Performers 2020 - 2021

6:00 pm event starts

celebration

Billy Porter

Kelly Osbourne

Jonathan Bennett

The USO Show Troupe

Cristina Lucas

Andra Day

Jimmie Allen

Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive

Juanita Erb

Machine Gun Kelly

The Waffle Crew

Anitta - Paradinha - Brazil - Univision’s ¡Feliz 2021!

Cyndi Lauper - True Colors

Raúl de Molina

Pitbull - I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) - Cuba USA - Univision’s ¡Feliz 2021!

Jennifer Lopez JLo - Waiting for Tonight - The Bronx

Andra Day performs John Lennon’s Imagine

Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City

The Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball

12:15 a.m. — End of Show

  

At the base of the One Times Square Building is a Walgreens store with a monitor stating Happy New Year 2021 Walgreens facing the MTA Subway exit -

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc is listed on the NASDAQ as WBA - The NASDAQ is also located in Times Square NYC.

 

The closest Metropolitan Transportation Authority MTA Subway is Times Square – 42nd Street New York City Subway station - N R Q S 1 2 3 7 trains and A C E trains at 8th Avenue

 

The Chinese Lunar calendar follows a 12 year cycle and each of the 12 years is represented by 12 Animals which form the Chinese Zodiac. The 12 animals, are: Rat, Cow, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Chicken, Dog, and the Pig.

2019 Pig

2020 Rat

2021 Ox

2022 Tiger

2023 Rabbit

2024 Dragon

2025 Snake

2026 Horse

2027 Sheep

2028 Monkey

2029 Rooster

2030 Dog

  

Photo

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max smartphone photo

4x3

dimensions 4032 × 3024 resolution 72x72

JPEG image type

Rear lens

Phone held horizontal

Fourteenth generation of the iPhone

Released November 13, 2020

Phone sells for $1,099.00

 

Hashtag metadata:

#HappyNewYear #HappyNewYears #FelizAñoNuevo #FelizAnoNuevo #Feliz #AñoNuevo #AnoNuevo #TimesSquare #TimesSquareNYC #TimesSquareNYE #TimesSquareNY #TimesSquareNewYorkCity #TimesSquareNewYork #TSNYC #TSNYE #NY #NYC #NewYork #NewYorkCity #NewYearsEve #NYE #US #USA #Happy #NewYear #NewYears #December #Party #Celebration #Holiday #DickClark #RyanSeacrest #DickClarksNewYearsRockinEve #NewYearsRockinEve #FortySecondStreet #2020 #2021

 

Photos

Times Square, New York City, USA The United States of America, North America

12/31/2020 - 01/01/2021

Learn More

  

Humphreys hosts Army 10-miler shadow run

   

By W. Wayne Marlow, U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, Public Affairs

  

CAMP HUMPHREYS, SOUTH KOREA – Over 300 runners from across the Korean peninsula took part in the second annual Army 10-miler Shadow Run hosted here Oct. 2.

 

First Lieutenant Robert Anderson of the 532nd Military Intelligence Battalion won the nighttime race, designed to mirror the Army’s annual run in Washington, D.C., in 1 hour, 3 minutes and 51 seconds. First Lieutenant Sarah Rainville took the women’s crown, finishing in 1:16:44.

 

Anderson said he initially thought only about doing his best and having a good run. But when some entrants passed him early in the race, his focused changed.

 

“I was going to try and take it easy ... but then an adrenaline rush hit and I decided to pick it up,” he said.

 

Anderson maintained a steady pace, running the second half in just two more minutes than he did the first five miles. “I felt good the whole time,” he said. “I felt like I had some left in the tank. I started training for it last year, so I’ve been upping my mileage.”

 

The Camp Humphreys shadow run will be shown on a large screen during the Army 10-miler in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 9, and Anderson plans to be there to watch it and participate in his second 10-miler of the week. “This was prep for that one,” he said.

 

Former United States Army Garrison Humphreys Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Kim fired the opening gun at 9 p.m. locally to coincide with the actual time the run will start in Washington D.C. Led by Kim’s replacement, Command Sgt. Maj. Spencer Gray, the runners started under the Super Gym walkway, then snaked their way around the airfield twice, ending up back at Super Gym.

 

“It’s an absolutely great event,” Gray said. “Soldiers work hard, so when you can do something like this to build esprit de corps, it’s a positive thing. It’s an opportunity for everyone to have a good time.”

 

The crisp, cool October air helped keep the runners fresh, as did rehydration stations manned by volunteers along the route. The constant encouragement by fellow runners and cheering from the sidelines helped push the runners toward the finish.

 

“It’s not too cold. It’s nice running weather,” Gray said. “You can always wear something to keep you warm, and if it gets too hot, you can dress down.”

 

Anderson agreed that the race featured ideal conditions. “It’s great weather, no overheating,” he said. “It’s the best weather for running.”

 

Anderson said he has three brothers in the Army who are also all enthusiastic runners, and there was another family connection of note. Specialist Charles Rodgers IV flew from Hawaii to run the race with his father, Charles Rodgers III, who manages Splish and Splash Water Park on Humphreys. The two finished with identical times of 1:32:40.

 

Besides ideal weather and enthusiastic observers, the runners were treated to replicas of Washington, D.C., monuments built by Jeffrey Hubbard of the USAG Humphreys Family, Morale Welfare and Recreation office. The replicas, made of Styrofoam and braced by wood supports, included the Vietnam Memorial, the Pentagon, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, and the capitol. The project took about two weeks, according to Hubbard.

 

“It was to give everybody something extra to look at during the run and to do something different,” Hubbard said. “We figured looking at a poster would be kind of boring. We wanted to give them incentive to go and see the next one. They’ll be here next year. They’re built to last.”

 

Area III Sports Director Lonnie Herring credited volunteers with helping make the run a success.

 

“We had three drink tables on the trail and at the start and finish point,” he said. “We had BOSS bring in volunteers, folks standing on the road, and people handing out numbers and pace chips before the race.” The computerized chips, attached to the runners’ shoes, started and stopped when someone crossed the start and finish lines, giving everyone an accurate 10-mile time.

 

For all the logistics involved in having hundreds of people run 10 miles, Herring said most of the work was done beforehand.

 

“The pre-registration is the most time-consuming,” he said, also mentioning coordination with Military Police, road closures, medical considerations, and taxi and bus services being suspended. But all the work paid off in the end, Herring noted.

 

Prior to the run, entrants were addressed by USAG Humphreys Commander, Col. Joseph P. Moore.

 

“We’re here to have fun, and I hope your commanders told you that if you run this, there’s no P.T. tomorrow. Ten miles is no small task,” Moore said. “I’ve run this loop a lot at night. There’s plenty of light out there. The terrain is real friendly. There are no big hills, just a lot of open room to run.”

 

The top three finishers in the men’s 29 and under category were: Wbatt Reith (1:07:53); Samuel Smiths (1:09:09) and Daniel Bates (1:09:35). Following Anderson in the men’s 30-39 category were David Snow (1:12:41) and Nathan Stahl (1:18:02).

 

In the men’s 40-49 category, the top three finishers were Brett Bassett (1:14:49), Dan Burnett (1:17:06) and Felix Lassus (1:18:57). Leading the way in the men’s 50 and over category were Robert Nott (1:09:14), Mark Sullivan (1:09:57) and Kwon, Song-ki (1:19:23).

 

Following Rainville in the women’s 29 and under category were Kyle Wilson (1:22:20) and Liela Moser (1:26:01). In the women’s 30 and over category, top finishers were Sarah Stahl (1:20:45), Adam Leinen (1:27:52), and Jamila Moody (1:34:11). Taking the women’s over 40 crown was Kim, Hui-ok (1:37:06). In the women’s over 50 category, Barbara Garner (1:37:31) took first, followed by Susan Jentoft (1:43:23).

 

Photos courtesy U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, FMWR Marketing

  

Click here to view the garrison’s official Facebook fan page

Sagrada Família or Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (Catalan) or Basílica de la Sagrada Familia (Spanish) or Basilica of the Holy Family, is a large still largely unfinished church building in the Eixample district of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Designed by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926), his work on Sagrada Família is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On 7 November 2010, Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the church and proclaimed it a minor basilica. On 19 March 1882, construction of the Sagrada Família began under architect Francisco de Paula del Villar. In 1883, when Villar resigned, Gaudí took over as chief architect, transforming the project with his architectural and engineering style, combining Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms. Gaudí devoted the remainder of his life to the project, and he is buried in the crypt. At the time of his death in 1926, less than a quarter of the project was complete. Relying solely on private donations, the Sagrada Família's construction progressed slowly and was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War. In July 1936, revolutionaries set fire to the crypt and broke their way into the workshop, partially destroying Gaudí's original plans, drawings and plaster models, which led to 16 years of work to piece together the fragments of the master model. Construction resumed to intermittent progress in the 1950s. Advancements in technologies such as computer aided design and computerized numerical control (CNC) have since enabled faster progress and construction passed the midpoint in 2010. However, some of the project's greatest challenges remain, including the construction of ten more spires, each symbolizing an important Biblical figure in the New Testament. It was anticipated that the building would be completed by 2026, the centenary of Gaudí's death, but this has now been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The basilica has a long history of splitting opinion among the residents of Barcelona: over the initial possibility it might compete with Barcelona's Cathedral, over Gaudí's design itself, over the possibility that work after Gaudí's death disregarded his design, and the 2007 proposal to build a tunnel nearby as part of Spain's high-speed rail link to France, possibly disturbing its stability. Describing the Sagrada Família, art critic Rainer Zerbst said "it is probably impossible to find a church building anything like it in the entire history of art", and Paul Goldberger describes it as "the most extraordinary personal interpretation of Gothic architecture since the Middle Ages". The basilica is not the cathedral church of the Archdiocese of Barcelona, as that title belongs to the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia (Barcelona Cathedral). The Basílica de la Sagrada Família was the inspiration of a bookseller, Josep Maria Bocabella, founder of Asociación Espiritual de Devotos de San José (Spiritual Association of Devotees of St. Joseph). After a visit to the Vatican in 1872, Bocabella returned from Italy with the intention of building a church inspired by the basilica at Loreto. The apse crypt of the church, funded by donations, was begun 19 March 1882, on the festival of St. Joseph, to the design of the architect Francisco de Paula del Villar, whose plan was for a Gothic revival church of a standard form. The apse crypt was completed before Villar's resignation on 18 March 1883, when Antoni Gaudí assumed responsibility for its design, which he changed radically. Gaudi began work on the church in 1883 but was not appointed Architect Director until 1884. On the subject of the extremely long construction period, Gaudí is said to have remarked: "My client is not in a hurry." When Gaudí died in 1926, the basilica was between 15 and 25 percent complete. After Gaudí's death, work continued under the direction of his main disciple Domènec Sugrañes i Gras until interrupted by the Spanish Civil War in 1936. Parts of the unfinished basilica and Gaudí's models and workshop were destroyed during the war by Catalan anarchists. The present design is based on reconstructed versions of the plans that were burned in a fire as well as on modern adaptations. Since 1940, the architects Francesc Quintana, Isidre Puig Boada, Lluís Bonet i Gari and Francesc Cardoner have carried on the work. The illumination was designed by Carles Buïgas. The director until 2012 was the son of Lluís Bonet, Jordi Bonet i Armengol. He has been introducing computers into the design and construction process since the 1980s. In 2012, Barcelona-born Jordi Faulí i Oller took over as architect of the project. Mark Burry of New Zealand serves as Executive Architect and Researcher. Sculptures by J. Busquets, Etsuro Sotoo and the controversial Josep Maria Subirachs decorate the fantastical façades. The central nave vaulting was completed in 2000 and the main tasks since then have been the construction of the transept vaults and apse. As of 2006, work concentrated on the crossing and supporting structure for the main steeple of Jesus Christ as well as the southern enclosure of the central nave, which will become the Glory façade. The church shares its site with the Sagrada Família Schools building, a school originally designed by Gaudí in 1909 for the children of the construction workers. Relocated in 2002 from the eastern corner of the site to the southern corner, the building now houses an exhibition. Chief architect Jordi Faulí announced in October 2015 that construction was 70 percent complete and had entered its final phase of raising six immense steeples. The steeples and most of the church's structure are to be completed by 2026, the centennial of Gaudí's death; as of a 2017 estimate, decorative elements should be complete by 2030 or 2032. Visitor entrance fees of €15 to €20 finance the annual construction budget of €25 million. Computer-aided design technology has been used to accelerate construction of the building. Current technology allows stone to be shaped off-site by a CNC milling machine, whereas in the 20th century the stone was carved by hand. In 2008, some renowned Catalan architects advocated halting construction to respect Gaudí's original designs, which, although they were not exhaustive and were partially destroyed, have been partially reconstructed in recent years. In 2018, the stone type needed for the construction was found in a quarry in Brinscall, near Chorley, England. The main nave was covered and an organ installed in mid-2010, allowing the still-unfinished building to be used for liturgies. The church was consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI on 7 November 2010 in front of a congregation of 6,500 people. A further 50,000 people followed the consecration Mass from outside the basilica, where more than 100 bishops and 300 priests were on hand to distribute Holy Communion. Gaudí's original design calls for a total of eighteen spires, representing in ascending order of height the Twelve Apostles, the Virgin Mary, the four Evangelists and, tallest of all, Jesus Christ. Nine spires have been built as of 2021, corresponding to four apostles at the Nativity façade and four apostles at the Passion façade and the Virgin Mary spire. According to the 2005 "Works Report" of the project's official website, drawings signed by Gaudí and recently found in the Municipal Archives, indicate that the spire of the Virgin was in fact intended by Gaudí to be shorter than those of the evangelists. The spire height will follow Gaudí's intention, which according to the report will work with the existing foundation. The Evangelists' spires will be surmounted by sculptures of their traditional symbols: a winged bull (Saint Luke), a winged man (Saint Matthew), an eagle (Saint John), and a winged lion (Saint Mark). The central spire of Jesus Christ is to be surmounted by a giant cross; its total height (172.5 meters (566 ft)) will be less than that of Montjuïc hill in Barcelona, as Gaudí believed that his creation should not surpass God's. The lower spires are surmounted by communion hosts with sheaves of wheat and chalices with bunches of grapes, representing the Eucharist. Plans call for tubular bells to be placed within the spires, driven by the force of the wind, and driving sound down into the interior of the church. Gaudí performed acoustic studies to achieve the appropriate acoustic results inside the temple. However, only one bell is currently in place.

The completion of the spires will make Sagrada Família the tallest church building in the world—11 meters taller than the current record-holder, Ulm Minster, which is 161.5 meters (530 ft) at its highest point. The Church will have three grand façades: the Nativity façade to the East, the Passion façade to the West, and the Glory façade to the South (yet to be completed). The Nativity Façade was built before work was interrupted in 1935 and bears the most direct Gaudí influence. In 2010 an organ was installed in the chancel by the Blancafort Orgueners de Montserrat organ builders. The instrument has 26 stops (1,492 pipes) on two manuals and a pedalboard. To overcome the unique acoustical challenges posed by the church's architecture and vast size, several additional organs will be installed at various points within the building. These instruments will be playable separately (from their own individual consoles) and simultaneously (from a single mobile console), yielding an organ of some 8,000 pipes when completed. Together with six other Gaudí buildings in Barcelona, part of la Sagrada Família is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as testifying "to Gaudí's exceptional creative contribution to the development of architecture and building technology", "having represented el Modernisme of Catalonia" and "anticipated and influenced many of the forms and techniques that were relevant to the development of modern construction in the 20th century". The inscription only includes the Crypt and the Nativity Façade.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) specialists demonstrate egg candling, with a simulated blood in the egg, as one of the many ways that food is graded, during 4th USA Science & Engineering Festival at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, in Washington D.C, on Saturday, April 16, 2016. Candling refers to the candle light that was once used to see the shadow of red blood in an egg. Hand candling—holding a shell egg directly in front of a light source—is done to spot check and determine accuracy in grading. Advanced technology, utilizing computerized integrated cameras and sound wave technology, is also being applied for the segregation of eggs. USDA is a sponsor of and exhibitor at USASEF. Multiple USDA agencies including National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Forest Service (FS), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) will be participating in this event. The USA Science & Engineering Festival is a national grassroots effort to advance STEM education and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. For more information, visit www.usasciencefestival.org, www.usda.gov, nifa.usda.gov/, www.fs.fed.us/, www.ars.usda.gov/, www.fsis.usda.gov/, www.nrcs.usda.gov/, www.fns.usda.gov/, www.aphis.usda.gov/, www.ams.usda.gov/, www.gipsa.usda.gov. #SciFest @USAScienceFest @USDA_NIFA @USDA_REE @scienceatusda @USDA_ ARS @USDA_FSIS @USDA_NRCS @USDA_FNS @USDA_APHIS @USDA_GIPSA @USDA_FS USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.

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Korea hosts nighttime Army 10-miler

   

By W. Wayne Marlow, U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, Public Affairs

  

CAMP HUMPHREYS, SOUTH KOREA – Over 300 runners from across the Korean peninsula took part in the second annual Army 10-miler Shadow Run hosted here Oct. 2.

 

First Lieutenant Robert Anderson of the 532nd Military Intelligence Battalion won the nighttime race, designed to mirror the Army’s annual run in Washington, D.C., in 1 hour, 3 minutes and 51 seconds. First Lieutenant Sarah Rainville took the women’s crown, finishing in 1:16:44.

 

Anderson said he initially thought only about doing his best and having a good run. But when some entrants passed him early in the race, his focused changed.

 

“I was going to try and take it easy ... but then an adrenaline rush hit and I decided to pick it up,” he said.

 

Anderson maintained a steady pace, running the second half in just two more minutes than he did the first five miles. “I felt good the whole time,” he said. “I felt like I had some left in the tank. I started training for it last year, so I’ve been upping my mileage.”

 

The Camp Humphreys shadow run will be shown on a large screen during the Army 10-miler in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 9, and Anderson plans to be there to watch it and participate in his second 10-miler of the week. “This was prep for that one,” he said.

 

Former United States Army Garrison Humphreys Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Kim fired the opening gun at 9 p.m. locally to coincide with the actual time the run will start in Washington D.C. Led by Kim’s replacement, Command Sgt. Maj. Spencer Gray, the runners started under the Super Gym walkway, then snaked their way around the airfield twice, ending up back at Super Gym.

 

“It’s an absolutely great event,” Gray said. “Soldiers work hard, so when you can do something like this to build esprit de corps, it’s a positive thing. It’s an opportunity for everyone to have a good time.”

 

The crisp, cool October air helped keep the runners fresh, as did rehydration stations manned by volunteers along the route. The constant encouragement by fellow runners and cheering from the sidelines helped push the runners toward the finish.

 

“It’s not too cold. It’s nice running weather,” Gray said. “You can always wear something to keep you warm, and if it gets too hot, you can dress down.”

 

Anderson agreed that the race featured ideal conditions. “It’s great weather, no overheating,” he said. “It’s the best weather for running.”

 

Anderson said he has three brothers in the Army who are also all enthusiastic runners, and there was another family connection of note. Specialist Charles Rodgers IV flew from Hawaii to run the race with his father, Charles Rodgers III, who manages Splish and Splash Water Park on Humphreys. The two finished with identical times of 1:32:40.

 

Besides ideal weather and enthusiastic observers, the runners were treated to replicas of Washington, D.C., monuments built by Jeffrey Hubbard of the USAG Humphreys Family, Morale Welfare and Recreation office. The replicas, made of Styrofoam and braced by wood supports, included the Vietnam Memorial, the Pentagon, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, and the capitol. The project took about two weeks, according to Hubbard.

 

“It was to give everybody something extra to look at during the run and to do something different,” Hubbard said. “We figured looking at a poster would be kind of boring. We wanted to give them incentive to go and see the next one. They’ll be here next year. They’re built to last.”

 

Area III Sports Director Lonnie Herring credited volunteers with helping make the run a success.

 

“We had three drink tables on the trail and at the start and finish point,” he said. “We had BOSS bring in volunteers, folks standing on the road, and people handing out numbers and pace chips before the race.” The computerized chips, attached to the runners’ shoes, started and stopped when someone crossed the start and finish lines, giving everyone an accurate 10-mile time.

 

For all the logistics involved in having hundreds of people run 10 miles, Herring said most of the work was done beforehand.

 

“The pre-registration is the most time-consuming,” he said, also mentioning coordination with Military Police, road closures, medical considerations, and taxi and bus services being suspended. But all the work paid off in the end, Herring noted.

 

Prior to the run, entrants were addressed by USAG Humphreys Commander, Col. Joseph P. Moore.

 

“We’re here to have fun, and I hope your commanders told you that if you run this, there’s no P.T. tomorrow. Ten miles is no small task,” Moore said. “I’ve run this loop a lot at night. There’s plenty of light out there. The terrain is real friendly. There are no big hills, just a lot of open room to run.”

 

The top three finishers in the men’s 29 and under category were: Wbatt Reith (1:07:53); Samuel Smiths (1:09:09) and Daniel Bates (1:09:35). Following Anderson in the men’s 30-39 category were David Snow (1:12:41) and Nathan Stahl (1:18:02).

 

In the men’s 40-49 category, the top three finishers were Brett Bassett (1:14:49), Dan Burnett (1:17:06) and Felix Lassus (1:18:57). Leading the way in the men’s 50 and over category were Robert Nott (1:09:14), Mark Sullivan (1:09:57) and Kwon, Song-ki (1:19:23).

 

Following Rainville in the women’s 29 and under category were Kyle Wilson (1:22:20) and Liela Moser (1:26:01). In the women’s 30 and over category, top finishers were Sarah Stahl (1:20:45), Adam Leinen (1:27:52), and Jamila Moody (1:34:11). Taking the women’s over 40 crown was Kim, Hui-ok (1:37:06). In the women’s over 50 category, Barbara Garner (1:37:31) took first, followed by Susan Jentoft (1:43:23).

 

Photos by Edward N. Johnson, U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, PAO

 

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Case History:

 

A 21 year old woman presented with a 3 x 2 cm swelling in the right forearm for one year.

 

The swelling was painful for two weeks. She gave a history of one episode of generalized tonic clonic seizure, six months ago with loss of consciousness in the post-ictal period.

 

Physical findings and complete hemogram were unremarkable. Biochemical parameters including blood sugar, serum urea and creatinine were normal. ESR was mildly elevated and was 32 mm/hour.

 

Excision of the forearm swelling was performed.

 

Discussion:

 

Histopathology revealed a parasite with irregularly-shaped membranous foldings and scolices representing Cysticercus larva in subcutaneous tissue.

 

Subsequently, Computerized Tomography (C.T.) imaging revealed a small hyperdense lesion in the right frontal lobe surrounded by perilesional edema. Post contrast image revealed irregular enhancement. C.T. features were suggestive of neurocysticercosis.

 

Cysticercosis (tapeworm infection) is the most common parasitic disease worldwide with an estimated prevalence of 50 million affected people (Surg Neurol 2005;63:123). It is endemic in Mexico, Asia, Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa and India (Infect Dis Clin North Am 2000;14:97).

 

The larval stage of Taenia solium (pig tapeworm) is Cysticercus cellulosae. It enters the human body by ingestion of food or water contaminated with eggs of Taenia solium, through endogenous autoinfection and also by reverse peristalsis. Del Brutto has proposed a diagnostic criteria for neurocysticercosis of which our case has one absolute criterion and one major criterion (J Neurol Sci 1996;142:1).

 

Cysticercosis affects subcutaneous tissue, muscles, eyes and the brain. Subcutaneous tissue and muscular involvement usually comes to focus when pain develops in the affected area. Cigar shaped calcification in soft tissue is seen in radiological studies. Ocular cysticercosis occurs in the conjunctiva, vitreous and in the subretinal space, the latter leading to retinal detachment. Fundoscopic examination may show freely floating cysticerci in the vitreous and anterior chamber. Ophthalmic examination in our patient was normal.

 

Neurocysticercosis is considered as one of the leading causes of adult onset seizures worldwide. Parenchymal neurocysticercosis affects the brain parenchyma while extraparenchymal neurocysticercosis has parasites in the ventricles, cisterns, subarachnoid space or in the spinal cord. Convulsions, meningitis and intracranial hypertension occur due to neurocysticercosis. Intracranial herniations, stroke and status epilepticus are complications due to neurocysticercosis.

 

Approximately half of the patients with cysticercosis present with subcutaneous nodules (Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine (2012), 8th ed). However, the

association of neural and subcutaneous cysticercosis is rare (Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2008;74:385).

 

The case is discussed to emphasize the importance of neurologic and ophthalmic examination in patients with subcutaneous cysticercosis. The patient recovered by treatment with Praziquantel and steroids in tapering doses.

 

Contributed by: Dr. Thiriveni Balajji and Dr. M. Kavitha, Coimbatore Medical College (India)

 

See topic here.

 

"The Grumman X-29 was an American experimental aircraft that tested a forward-swept wing, canard control surfaces, and other novel aircraft technologies. The aerodynamic instability of the airframe required the use of computerized fly-by-wire control. Composite materials were used to control the aeroelastic divergent twisting experienced by forward-swept wings, also reducing the weight. Developed by Grumman, the X-29 first flew in 1984; two X-29s were flight tested over the next decade."

 

© Ashley Wallace - All Rights Reserved

 

Times Square NYC New Years Eve Midnight Ball Drop - New Years Day Celebration New York City USA 2020 - 2021

  

The Times Square Ball is a time ball located atop the One Times Square building in New York City, primarily utilized as part of New Year's Eve celebrations held in Times Square. Yearly at 11:59 p.m. EST on December 31, the ball is lowered 77 feet (23 m) down a specially designed flagpole, resting on the midnight to signal the start of the new year. The first ball drop in Times Square took place on December 31, 1907, and has been held annually since (except in 1942 and 1943 in observance of wartime blackouts). The ball's design has also been updated over the years to reflect new advances in technologies—its original design utilized 100 incandescent light bulbs, iron, and wood in its construction, while its current incarnation features a computerized LED lighting system and an outer surface consisting of triangle-shaped crystal panels. As of 2009, the ball is also displayed atop One Times Square year-round and is removed only for general maintenance.

 

The Ball is covered with a total of 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles

 

"Gift of Happiness" Revealed as the 2021 Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Theme

Embrace Happiness in 2021

 

The Times Square ball drop is one of the best-known New Year's celebrations internationally, attended by at least one million spectators yearly, with an estimated global audience of at least 1 billion. The prevalence of the Times Square ball drop has also inspired other similar ball drops held locally in other cities and towns around the world.

 

“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest,”

Performers 2020 - 2021

6:00 pm event starts

celebration

Billy Porter

Kelly Osbourne

Jonathan Bennett

The USO Show Troupe

Cristina Lucas

Andra Day

Jimmie Allen

Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive

Juanita Erb

Machine Gun Kelly

The Waffle Crew

Anitta - Paradinha - Brazil - Univision’s ¡Feliz 2021!

Cyndi Lauper - True Colors

Raúl de Molina

Pitbull - I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) - Cuba USA - Univision’s ¡Feliz 2021!

Jennifer Lopez JLo - Waiting for Tonight - The Bronx

Andra Day performs John Lennon’s Imagine

Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City

The Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball

12:15 a.m. — End of Show

  

At the base of the One Times Square Building is a Walgreens store with a monitor stating Happy New Year 2021 Walgreens facing the MTA Subway exit -

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc is listed on the NASDAQ as WBA - The NASDAQ is also located in Times Square NYC.

 

The closest Metropolitan Transportation Authority MTA Subway is Times Square – 42nd Street New York City Subway station - N R Q S 1 2 3 7 trains and A C E trains at 8th Avenue

 

The Chinese Lunar calendar follows a 12 year cycle and each of the 12 years is represented by 12 Animals which form the Chinese Zodiac. The 12 animals, are: Rat, Cow, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Chicken, Dog, and the Pig.

2019 Pig

2020 Rat

2021 Ox

2022 Tiger

2023 Rabbit

2024 Dragon

2025 Snake

2026 Horse

2027 Sheep

2028 Monkey

2029 Rooster

2030 Dog

  

Photo

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max smartphone photo

4x3

dimensions 4032 × 3024 resolution 72x72

JPEG image type

Rear lens

Phone held horizontal

Fourteenth generation of the iPhone

Released November 13, 2020

Phone sells for $1,099.00

 

Hashtag metadata:

#HappyNewYear #HappyNewYears #FelizAñoNuevo #FelizAnoNuevo #Feliz #AñoNuevo #AnoNuevo #TimesSquare #TimesSquareNYC #TimesSquareNYE #TimesSquareNY #TimesSquareNewYorkCity #TimesSquareNewYork #TSNYC #TSNYE #NY #NYC #NewYork #NewYorkCity #NewYearsEve #NYE #US #USA #Happy #NewYear #NewYears #December #Party #Celebration #Holiday #DickClark #RyanSeacrest #DickClarksNewYearsRockinEve #NewYearsRockinEve #FortySecondStreet #2020 #2021

 

Photos

Times Square, New York City, USA The United States of America, North America

12/31/2020 - 01/01/2021

Learn More

  

Humphreys hosts Army 10-miler shadow run

   

By W. Wayne Marlow, U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, Public Affairs

  

CAMP HUMPHREYS, SOUTH KOREA – Over 300 runners from across the Korean peninsula took part in the second annual Army 10-miler Shadow Run hosted here Oct. 2.

 

First Lieutenant Robert Anderson of the 532nd Military Intelligence Battalion won the nighttime race, designed to mirror the Army’s annual run in Washington, D.C., in 1 hour, 3 minutes and 51 seconds. First Lieutenant Sarah Rainville took the women’s crown, finishing in 1:16:44.

 

Anderson said he initially thought only about doing his best and having a good run. But when some entrants passed him early in the race, his focused changed.

 

“I was going to try and take it easy ... but then an adrenaline rush hit and I decided to pick it up,” he said.

 

Anderson maintained a steady pace, running the second half in just two more minutes than he did the first five miles. “I felt good the whole time,” he said. “I felt like I had some left in the tank. I started training for it last year, so I’ve been upping my mileage.”

 

The Camp Humphreys shadow run will be shown on a large screen during the Army 10-miler in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 9, and Anderson plans to be there to watch it and participate in his second 10-miler of the week. “This was prep for that one,” he said.

 

Former United States Army Garrison Humphreys Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Kim fired the opening gun at 9 p.m. locally to coincide with the actual time the run will start in Washington D.C. Led by Kim’s replacement, Command Sgt. Maj. Spencer Gray, the runners started under the Super Gym walkway, then snaked their way around the airfield twice, ending up back at Super Gym.

 

“It’s an absolutely great event,” Gray said. “Soldiers work hard, so when you can do something like this to build esprit de corps, it’s a positive thing. It’s an opportunity for everyone to have a good time.”

 

The crisp, cool October air helped keep the runners fresh, as did rehydration stations manned by volunteers along the route. The constant encouragement by fellow runners and cheering from the sidelines helped push the runners toward the finish.

 

“It’s not too cold. It’s nice running weather,” Gray said. “You can always wear something to keep you warm, and if it gets too hot, you can dress down.”

 

Anderson agreed that the race featured ideal conditions. “It’s great weather, no overheating,” he said. “It’s the best weather for running.”

 

Anderson said he has three brothers in the Army who are also all enthusiastic runners, and there was another family connection of note. Specialist Charles Rodgers IV flew from Hawaii to run the race with his father, Charles Rodgers III, who manages Splish and Splash Water Park on Humphreys. The two finished with identical times of 1:32:40.

 

Besides ideal weather and enthusiastic observers, the runners were treated to replicas of Washington, D.C., monuments built by Jeffrey Hubbard of the USAG Humphreys Family, Morale Welfare and Recreation office. The replicas, made of Styrofoam and braced by wood supports, included the Vietnam Memorial, the Pentagon, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, and the capitol. The project took about two weeks, according to Hubbard.

 

“It was to give everybody something extra to look at during the run and to do something different,” Hubbard said. “We figured looking at a poster would be kind of boring. We wanted to give them incentive to go and see the next one. They’ll be here next year. They’re built to last.”

 

Area III Sports Director Lonnie Herring credited volunteers with helping make the run a success.

 

“We had three drink tables on the trail and at the start and finish point,” he said. “We had BOSS bring in volunteers, folks standing on the road, and people handing out numbers and pace chips before the race.” The computerized chips, attached to the runners’ shoes, started and stopped when someone crossed the start and finish lines, giving everyone an accurate 10-mile time.

 

For all the logistics involved in having hundreds of people run 10 miles, Herring said most of the work was done beforehand.

 

“The pre-registration is the most time-consuming,” he said, also mentioning coordination with Military Police, road closures, medical considerations, and taxi and bus services being suspended. But all the work paid off in the end, Herring noted.

 

Prior to the run, entrants were addressed by USAG Humphreys Commander, Col. Joseph P. Moore.

 

“We’re here to have fun, and I hope your commanders told you that if you run this, there’s no P.T. tomorrow. Ten miles is no small task,” Moore said. “I’ve run this loop a lot at night. There’s plenty of light out there. The terrain is real friendly. There are no big hills, just a lot of open room to run.”

 

The top three finishers in the men’s 29 and under category were: Wbatt Reith (1:07:53); Samuel Smiths (1:09:09) and Daniel Bates (1:09:35). Following Anderson in the men’s 30-39 category were David Snow (1:12:41) and Nathan Stahl (1:18:02).

 

In the men’s 40-49 category, the top three finishers were Brett Bassett (1:14:49), Dan Burnett (1:17:06) and Felix Lassus (1:18:57). Leading the way in the men’s 50 and over category were Robert Nott (1:09:14), Mark Sullivan (1:09:57) and Kwon, Song-ki (1:19:23).

 

Following Rainville in the women’s 29 and under category were Kyle Wilson (1:22:20) and Liela Moser (1:26:01). In the women’s 30 and over category, top finishers were Sarah Stahl (1:20:45), Adam Leinen (1:27:52), and Jamila Moody (1:34:11). Taking the women’s over 40 crown was Kim, Hui-ok (1:37:06). In the women’s over 50 category, Barbara Garner (1:37:31) took first, followed by Susan Jentoft (1:43:23).

 

Photos courtesy U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, FMWR Marketing

  

Click here to view the garrison’s official Facebook fan page

Times Square NYC New Years Eve Midnight Ball Drop New Years Day Celebration New York City USA 2020 - 2021 4K video

 

Times Square NYC New Years Eve Midnight Ball Drop - New Years Day Celebration New York City USA 2020 - 2021

  

The Times Square Ball is a time ball located atop the One Times Square building in New York City, primarily utilized as part of New Year's Eve celebrations held in Times Square. Yearly at 11:59 p.m. EST on December 31, the ball is lowered 77 feet (23 m) down a specially designed flagpole, resting on the midnight to signal the start of the new year. The first ball drop in Times Square took place on December 31, 1907, and has been held annually since (except in 1942 and 1943 in observance of wartime blackouts). The ball's design has also been updated over the years to reflect new advances in technologies—its original design utilized 100 incandescent light bulbs, iron, and wood in its construction, while its current incarnation features a computerized LED lighting system and an outer surface consisting of triangle-shaped crystal panels. As of 2009, the ball is also displayed atop One Times Square year-round and is removed only for general maintenance.

 

The Ball is covered with a total of 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles

 

"Gift of Happiness" Revealed as the 2021 Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Theme

Embrace Happiness in 2021

 

The Times Square ball drop is one of the best-known New Year's celebrations internationally, attended by at least one million spectators yearly, with an estimated global audience of at least 1 billion. The prevalence of the Times Square ball drop has also inspired other similar ball drops held locally in other cities and towns around the world.

 

“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest,”

Performers 2020 - 2021

6:00 pm event starts

celebration

Billy Porter

Kelly Osbourne

Jonathan Bennett

The USO Show Troupe

Cristina Lucas

Andra Day

Jimmie Allen

Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive

Juanita Erb

Machine Gun Kelly

The Waffle Crew

Anitta - Paradinha - Brazil - Univision’s ¡Feliz 2021!

Cyndi Lauper - True Colors

Raúl de Molina

Pitbull - I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) - Cuba USA - Univision’s ¡Feliz 2021!

Jennifer Lopez JLo - Waiting for Tonight - The Bronx

Andra Day performs John Lennon’s Imagine

Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City

The Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball

12:15 a.m. — End of Show

  

At the base of the One Times Square Building is a Walgreens store with a monitor stating Happy New Year 2021 Walgreens facing the MTA Subway exit -

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc is listed on the NASDAQ as WBA - The NASDAQ is also located in Times Square NYC.

 

The closest Metropolitan Transportation Authority MTA Subway is Times Square – 42nd Street New York City Subway station - N R Q S 1 2 3 7 trains and A C E trains at 8th Avenue

 

The Chinese Lunar calendar follows a 12 year cycle and each of the 12 years is represented by 12 Animals which form the Chinese Zodiac. The 12 animals, are: Rat, Cow, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Chicken, Dog, and the Pig.

2019 Pig

2020 Rat

2021 Ox

2022 Tiger

2023 Rabbit

2024 Dragon

2025 Snake

2026 Horse

2027 Sheep

2028 Monkey

2029 Rooster

2030 Dog

  

Photo

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max smartphone photo

4x3

dimensions 4032 × 3024 resolution 72x72

JPEG image type

Rear lens

Phone held horizontal

Fourteenth generation of the iPhone

Released November 13, 2020

Phone sells for $1,099.00

 

Hashtag metadata:

#HappyNewYear #HappyNewYears #FelizAñoNuevo #FelizAnoNuevo #Feliz #AñoNuevo #AnoNuevo #TimesSquare #TimesSquareNYC #TimesSquareNYE #TimesSquareNY #TimesSquareNewYorkCity #TimesSquareNewYork #TSNYC #TSNYE #NY #NYC #NewYork #NewYorkCity #NewYearsEve #NYE #US #USA #Happy #NewYear #NewYears #December #Party #Celebration #Holiday #DickClark #RyanSeacrest #DickClarksNewYearsRockinEve #NewYearsRockinEve #FortySecondStreet #2020 #2021

 

Video 4K

Times Square, New York City, USA The United States of America, North America

12/31/2020 - 01/01/2021

Freedom Golf Association’s First Annual “Honor Wounded Vets 5K Run/Walk” succeeds in showing how adaptive golf is aiding vets’ road to recovery

 

The enthusiasm and good will were palpable at McDonald’s corporate campus in Oak Brook, Illinois on Sunday, October 29 as the Freedom Golf Association’s (FGA) First Annual “Honor Wounded Vets 5K Run/Walk” succeeded in drawing attention to the fact that adaptive golf is clearly helping wounded vets return to normality after their military service. The more than 100 participants conquered the 5K course to show their support for the programs of the Freedom Golf Association, which is leading the way In Illinois in bringing the joy of golf to persons with physical, emotional and developmental needs.

 

“The 5K Run/Walk was a terrific way to honor Veterans who have been wounded in their service to the country and to acknowledge Illinois’ wounded vets, a growing number of whom have taken up golf to enjoy its many physical, emotional and social benefits,” said Sally Ruecking, FGA’s Vice President of Strategic Advancement. “Adaptive golf is bringing fun into the lives of people who are often left out due to their disabilities.”

 

Cheered on by the music of the Elmhurst College Jazz Band and with welcoming remarks from E.Q. Sylvester, Chairman of FGA; radio and TV personality Bob Sirott of event co-sponsor WLS-AM radio; and Ruecking, the runners and walkers took to the track with smiles and a sense of mission. Other event sponsors included Molex LLC, Rich Harvest Farms, KF Partners LLC, and Reebie Storage and Moving.

 

The overall men’s winner was 16-year old Matt Pierce of Alsip, Illinois, who ran the 5K course in 18:59. Second place went to Thomas Potaczek of Bensenville, IL, with a time of 19:23 and third place went to Andrew Pyle of Hinsdale, IL with a time of 22:14.

 

Among the women, the overall winner was Eileen Skisak of La Grange, IL with a time of 18:59. Eileen also ran in fifth place overall. The second-place women’s winner was 12-year old Alexandra Two, with a time of 25:36; third place went to 10-year old Kelly Fergus of Chicago, with a time of 27:27.

 

Winners by age group were:

•Male 10-14: James Mercurio, Hinsdale, IL

•Male 15-19: Thomas Mercurio, Hinsdale, IL

•Male 20-24: Ben Landress, Chicago, IL

•Male 30-34: (1st) Michael Bellino, Villa Park, IL; (2nd) Nick Bada, Villa Park, IL

•Male 45-49: (1st) Jim Mercurio, Hinsdale, IL; (2nd) Carmelo Aguinir, Joliet, IL

•Male 50-54: (1st) Bob Fergus, Chicago, IL; (2nd) Ross Hurst, Clarendon Hills, IL; (3rd) Randy Pyle, Hinsdale, IL; (4th) Roger Keys, Northbrook, IL

•Male 65-69: (1st) Jerome Getter, Oak Park, IL; (2nd) John Kosmatka, Valparaiso, IN; (3rd) Karl Johnson, Woodridge, IL

•Male 70-74: James Smith, Clarendon Hills, IL

•Female 15-19: Maria Meyer, Hinsdale, IL

•Female 40-44: Lori Kosmatka, Chicago, IL

•Female 45-49: (1st) Kimberly Mercurio, Hinsdale, IL; (2nd) Arlinda Nunez, Hinsdale, IL; (3rd) Christine Two, Wilmette, IL

•Female 50-54: (1st) Joy Hyzny, Burbank, IL; (2nd) Christie Bellino, Villa Park, IL

•Female 55-59: Jud Hrad, Chicago, IL

•Female 60-64: Sue Shepard, Elmhurst, IL

•Female 65-69: Carol Raska, Oak Park, IL

 

Freedom Golf Association leads the way in bringing adaptive golf to Illinois and is an integral part of the growing national movement, which has been embraced by major golf entities such as the PGA, LPGA and USGA.

 

“Freedom Golf Association encourages corporations with cause marketing programs that help the disabled to become FGA sponsors or corporate foundation grant providers and help us grow,” said Ruecking.

  

About Freedom Golf Association

Freedom Golf Association (FGA), a 501(C)3 non-profit charitable organization, is the leading adaptive golf organization in Illinois and is a charter member of the United States Adaptive Golf Alliance. FGA was founded in July 2012 by Edmund (E.Q.) Sylvester. E.Q. is a director of the Western Golf Association (WGA), member of the United States Senior Golf Association (USSGA), member of the United States Golf Association (USGA) and a triple amputee. FGA is dedicated to bringing joy and a sense of freedom to the special needs community through their inclusion in the game of golf.

 

FGA believes that all special needs individuals deserve a chance to accomplish the same things as any others do and work towards bringing a positive transformation to their lives. FGA contributes to the positive development of those with special needs through the magic of golf.

 

FGA works to assist individuals with disabilities in many ways:

•Provides professionally run adaptive golf instructional clinics and golf events

•Engages children, adults and veterans with special needs in FREE adaptive golf instruction with other classmates

•Conducts adaptive golf training workshops to increase the number of qualified adaptive golf coaches to instruct individuals with special needs

•Provides leadership and collaboration with nationally recognized organizations on how to expand/grow adaptive golf programs

 

Based on its growing understanding of the needs of disabled golfers, the FGA has developed a ground-breaking Adaptive Golf Enhancement Program™ that increases the golfing ability of special needs golfers. FGA’s golf coaches learn this six-step process, which helps them better understand and enhance the capabilities of special needs golfers.

 

To assist coaches and special needs golfers in determining what adaptive measures would be most beneficial, FGA recently invested in what they call a “personal swing sensors and computerized program” to 1) measure the disabled golfer’s initial swing path and limitations; 2) develop an appropriate exercise program to improve flexibility and range of motion; and 3) to chart the golfer’s progress, using the initial swing measurements as a baseline.

 

In 2016, FGA provided more than 1,300 adaptive golf lessons. In the same year, 110 special needs golfers went out and played on the course. Ten individuals became trained FGA Adaptive Golf Coaches, growing the total number to 42.

 

79 cents out of every dollar received goes to FGA’s special needs golf programs and events. FGA has led 40 Chicagoland courses in becoming accessible to the disabled community.

 

For more information about the Freedom Golf Association, please visit the official website at www.fgagolf.org and the online newsroom at www.newsline360.com/freedomgolfassociation. Contact FGA by phone at 855-342-4465 or 630-455-6018, or by email at playgolf@fgagolf.org. Donations to Freedom Golf Association can be made at www.fgagolf.org/donate.html.

 

Follow FGA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FGA4Golf. Follow FGA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/FGA4Golf.

 

Photo credit: Cindy Kurman, Kurman Communications

 

+++ DISCLAIMER +++

Nothing you see here is real, even though the conversion or the presented background story might be based on historical facts. BEWARE!

  

Some background:

The North American A-5 Vigilante (Prior to 1962 unification of Navy and Air Force designations, it was designated the A3J) was an American carrier-based supersonic bomber designed and built by North American Aviation for the United States Navy. In 1953, North American Aviation began a private study for a carrier-based, long-range, all-weather strike bomber, capable of delivering nuclear weapons at supersonic speeds. This proposal, the North American General Purpose Attack Weapon (NAGPAW) concept, was accepted by the United States Navy, with some revisions, in 1955. A contract was awarded on 29 August 1956. Its first flight occurred two years later, on 31 August 1958 in Columbus, Ohio.

 

At the time of its introduction, the Vigilante was one of the largest and by far the most complex aircraft to operate from a Navy aircraft carrier. It had a high-mounted swept wing with a boundary-layer control system (blown flaps) to improve low-speed lift. It had no ailerons; roll control was provided by spoilers in conjunction with differential deflection of the all-moving tail surfaces. The use of aluminum-lithium alloy for wing skins and titanium for critical structures was also unusual. The A-5 had two widely spaced General Electric J79 turbojet engines, fed by inlets with variable intake ramps, and a single large all-moving vertical stabilizer. Preliminary design studies employed twin vertical fin/rudders, but this was eventually changed to a single tall but foldable fin. The wings and the nose radome folded for carrier stowage, too. The Vigilante had a crew of two seated in tandem, a pilot and a bombardier-navigator (BN) (reconnaissance/attack navigator (RAN) on later reconnaissance versions).

 

The Vigilante had advanced and complex electronics when it first entered service. It had one of the first "fly-by-wire" systems on an operational aircraft (with mechanical/hydraulic backup) and a computerized AN/ASB-12 nav/attack system incorporating a head-up display ("Pilot's Projected Display Indicator" (PPDI), one of the first), multi-mode radar, radar-equipped inertial navigation system (REINS, based on technologies developed for North American's Navaho missile), closed-circuit television camera under the nose, and an early digital computer known as "Versatile Digital Analyzer" (VERDAN) to run it all.

 

The aircraft replaced the subsonic Douglas A-3 Skywarrior as the Navy's primary nuclear-strike aircraft, but only briefly. Given its original design as a carrier-based, supersonic, nuclear heavy attack aircraft, the Vigilante’s main armament was carried in an unusual internal "linear bomb bay" between the engines in the rear fuselage, which allowed the bomb to be dropped at supersonic speeds. The single nuclear weapon, commonly the Mk 28 bomb, was attached to two disposable fuel tanks in the cylindrical bay in an assembly known as the "stores train". A set of extendable fins was attached to the aft end of the most rearward fuel tank. These fuel tanks were to be emptied during the flight to the target and then jettisoned with the bomb by an explosive drogue gun. The stores train was propelled rearward at about 50 feet (15 m) per second (30 knots) relative to the aircraft. It then followed a ballistic path.

 

The Vigilante originally had two wing pylons, intended primarily for drop tanks. The second Vigilante variant, the A3J-2 (A-5B), incorporated internal tanks for an additional 460 gallons of fuel, which added a pronounced dorsal "hump", along with two additional wing hardpoints, for a total of four. Other improvements included blown flaps on the leading edge of the wing, changes to the air intakes and stronger landing gear.

 

The reconnaissance version of the Vigilante, the RA-5C, was based on the A-5B airframe and had slightly greater wing area and added a long canoe-shaped fairing under the fuselage for a multi-sensor reconnaissance pack. This added an APD-7 side-looking airborne radar (SLAR), AAS-21 infrared line scanner, and camera packs, as well as improved electronic countermeasures. An AN/ALQ-61 electronic intelligence system could also be carried. The RA-5C retained the AN/ASB-12 bombing system, and could, in theory, carry weapons, although it never did in service. Later-built RA-5Cs had more powerful J79-10 engines with afterburning thrust of 17,900 lbf (80 kN), the same engines as the Navy’s F-4J Phantom IIs. The reconnaissance Vigilante weighed almost five tons more than the strike version with almost the same thrust and an only modestly enlarged wing. These changes reduced its acceleration and climb rate, though it remained fast in level flight and was still fully carrier-capable.

 

The last Vigilante version to be developed from 1964 on and to enter service in 1966 was the EA-5D, a dedicated electronic reconnaissance and electronic warfare version, again replacing respective A-3 Skywarrior variants. With the initial experience from the Vietnam conflict, the EA-5D was primarily conceived as a fast escort for supersonic strike aircraft – namely the USN’s F-4 Phantom IIs which progressively took over more strike missions and direly needed protection from SAMs that could keep up with them during their dangerous missions over enemy territory.

 

The EA-5D, which was unofficially nicknamed “Electric Vigilante”, “Eva” or simply “E-V” by its crews, was based on the late RA-5C’s airframe and was easily distinguishable through its fairing at the top of the fin which contained the electronics for a Bunker-Ramo AN/ALQ-86 ECM suite. It carried ECM gear in the linear bomb bay and a 16 feet (4.9 m) long canoe-shaped ventral fairing (looking like a shortened but deeper version of the RA-5C’s camera and SLAR installation), plus a heat exchanger, a non-jettisonable auxiliary tank and AN/ALE-41 chaff dispensers in an extended tail cone. The complete installation weighed some 6,000 pounds (2,700 kg). Receivers were installed in a fin-tip pod, or "football", like that of the contemporary EA-6A. This fin array caused some lateral instability, though, which could be compensated with a pair of fins under the rear fuselage.

 

Like the RA-5C, the EA-5D retained the AN/ASB-12 bombing system and was – in theory – like its recce sibling capable to carry out strike missions, but this never happened either. The EA-5Ds were furthermore equipped with an AN/APQ-129 fire control radar, making the aircraft capable of SEAD missions and of firing the AGM-45 “Shrike” anti-radiation missile, although they were apparently never used in that offensive role. Up to four ram-air turbine powered ALQ-76 countermeasures pods could be carried on the underwing hardpoints, augmenting the internal AN/ALQ-86 system’s bandwidth and jamming power. To improve survivability the EA-5D was furthermore outfitted with a pair of launch rails, mounted as sub-pylons on the outsides of the outer underwing hardpoints. Each could carry a single IR-guided AIM-9 Sidewinder AAM.

 

Despite the Vigilante's useful service as reconnaissance and ECM platform, it was expensive and complex to operate and occupied significant amounts of precious flight and hangar deck space aboard both conventional and nuclear-powered aircraft carriers at a time when carrier air wings, with the introduction of the F-14 Tomcat and S-3 Viking, were averaging 90 aircraft, many of which were larger than their predecessors. Moreover, the Vigilante did not end the career of the A-3 Skywarrior, which would carry on as photo reconnaissance aircraft, electronic warfare platforms, aerial refueling tankers, and executive transport aircraft designated as RA-3A/B, EA-3A/B, ERA-3B, EKA-3B, KA-3B, and VA-3B, into the early 1990s.

 

Only 28 EA-5Ds were built (two prototypes, 15 new-build, and 11 conversions from existing A-5A and RA-5C airframes) and the United States remained the only operator of the type. The EA-5D saw extensive use in Vietnam and seven machines were lost (four to SAMs, one to a VPAF MiG-21 and two through accidents), but after the end of hostilities and massive reductions of military expenses the EA-5D was quickly phased out from frontline service in the late 1970s, after an active career of just twelve years. In service it was replaced by the subsonic but much more potent EA-6B “Prowler”, which was based on the carrier-capable A-6 “Intruder” bomber, primarily to reduce the number of types in the USN’s arsenal and therewith operating costs and complexity. Since the EA-6B offered much higher ECM capabilities, the small EA-5D fleet was never upgraded, e. g. with the 2nd generation AGM-78 “Standard” ARM or the AN/ALQ-99 ECM pods.

 

However, a handful of “Electric Vigilantes” remained active with VAQ-137 (“Rooks”) until the late Eighties – long enough to receive the USN’s new tactical low-visibility paint scheme. These EA-5Ds were operated from land-bases only, not assigned to a Carrier Air Group, with a dedicated tail code (“KW”) to reflect this special status. They acted primarily as electronic aggressor aircraft but were also used to simulate supersonic cruise missiles like the contemporary Soviet Kh-20 (AS-3 “Kangaroo”) or Kh-22 (AS-4 “Kennel”) against land and sea targets during training and naval NATO maneuvers. Thanks to their size, speed and flight characteristics the aircraft were also employed as supersonic bomber aggressors, mimicking Soviet Tu-22s or Su-24s. Most of the Evas therefore received more or less authentic temporary Red Star decorations on their fins, which were, however, rarely overpainted after training missions and became part of the “standard markings”.

In 1987 the machines were finally retired, their airframes had reached their structural limit and maintenance costs of the complex aircraft had become prohibitive. They were in the electronic aggressor role eventually replaced with subsonic and much more economical EA-7L Corsair IIs.

  

General characteristics:

Crew: 2

Length: 76 ft 6 in (23.32 m)

Wingspan: 53 ft 0 in (16.16 m)

Height: 19 ft 5 in (5.91 m)

Wing area: 701 sq ft (65.1 m)

Empty weight: 32,783 lb (14,870 kg)

Gross weight: 47,631 lb (21,605 kg)

Max takeoff weight: 63,085 lb (28,615 kg)

Fuel capacity: 2,805 US gal (10,618 L; 2,336 imp gal) internal

or 19,074 lb (8,652 kg) of JP-5,

or 24,514 lb (11,119 kg) with 2 × 400 US gal external tanks

 

Powerplant:

2× General Electric J79-GE-10 after-burning turbojet engines,

10,900 lbf (48 kN) thrust each dry, 17,900 lbf (80 kN) with afterburner

 

Performance:

Maximum speed: 1,322 mph (Mach 2, 1,149 kn, 2,128 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,000 m)

Combat range: 974 nmi (1,121 mi, 1,804 km)

Ferry range: 1,571 nmi (1,808 mi, 2,909 km)

Service ceiling: 52,100 ft (15,900 m)

g limits: +5

Rate of climb: 33,900 ft/min (172 m/s)

Wing loading: 80.4 lb/sq ft (393 kg/m2)

Thrust/weight: 0.72

 

Armament:

4x underwings pylons, each with a load capability of up to 2.000 lb (950 kg),

typically occupied with 400 US gal drop tanks or ALQ-76 Tactical Jamming System (TJS)

ECM pods. Other potential loads: AN/ALE-43(V)1&4 Bulk Chaff Dispensing System pod,

a single AN/AAQ-28(V) Litening targeting pod or AGM-45 Shrike anti-radar missiles

2x launch rails for defensive AIM-9 Sidewinder AAMs on the outer pylons

  

The kit and its assembly:

This what-if project had been lingering for a long time in the back of my mind, and I shoved it a side for years because of the model’s sheer size that eats up a lot of display space – even though I had the hardware already stashed away, collecting dust. While the build was rather inspired by its livery (see below) I wondered why the Vigilante, an elegant and impressive aircraft, had not been adapted to the ECM role? The concept of a supersonic penetrator/protector aircraft was realized by the USAF with the EF-111A Raven, but in the Vigilante’s time frame, the Vietnam War, esp. its end phase, an escort for fast USN attack aircraft might have made sense, so that I tried to mate the RA-5C with contemporary ECM technology and typical details – and the result became the fictional EA-5D.

 

With this idea the model became only a conversion of a basic airframe, not a spectacular kitbashing. Since I knew the Hasegawa RA-5C and its underwhelming quality/detail, I settled for the Trumpeter kit – a MUCH better but also a bit über-complicated offering. It is, however, better in any respect, even though you can ask why the cockpit has to consist of no less than thirty (!) parts (including seats and dashboard films), and the pylons as well as even the thin stabilizers and the fin have to consist of halves? One can also wonder why the kit comes with four(!) free-fall nukes but none of the RA-5C’s typical 400 gallon drop tanks? The kit features the type’s underwing flare dispensers, though. If there is something to criticize it’s the lack of air intake ducts – behind the wedge-shaped intakes and their ramps there is nothing inside the fuselage. Since I did not want to put too much effort into that flaw I simple blocked sight into the model’s body with a bulkhead made from black foamed styrene.

Everything goes together quite well, except for the fuselage halves which appear somewhat warped, and the rather massive plastic makes work easy. Despite this splendor of material, the sandwich leading and trailing edges are surprisingly thin and look pretty good.

 

While the RA-5C was at its core built OOB there were – naturally – some external mods to convey its ECM role. Most obvious detail is the fin top fairing, procured from a KiTech EA-6B, a shabby copy of the Hasegawa kit. This also provided the ECM pods and the pair of voluminous drop tanks.

The retrofitted Sidewinder launch rails on the outer pylons came from an Emhar FJ-4B, the then-state-of-the-art all-aspect AIM-9Ls came from a Hasegawa F-4 kit. To emphasize its electronic mission I added some antenna fairings around the hull. Beyond the fin pod, the EA-5D received sensor fairings along the flanks, inspired by the USAF F-105Gs’arrangement along the bomb bay, a shallow dorsal bulge behind the cockpits and some blister and blade antennae all around the hull.

 

The large ventral fairing that replaced the RA-5C’s “camera canoe” was scratched from a drop tank half, from a chunky Kangnam MiG-31, in an attempt to create something that the reminds of the EF-111’s arrangement. A ventral adapter for a display holder was integrated into the hull, too, for in-flight scenes.

A pair of long stabilizer fins was added under the rear fuselage, too, because I think that the large tail fin pod could somewhat hamper directional stability… The consist of rotor blades from a Matchbox SA.360 Dauphin helicopter.

The Vigilante’s tail cone, the former fairing for the linear bomb bay between the engines, was also heavily modified, with a thimble-shaped radome and a separate fairing for an internal chaff dispenser underneath, for a different look. To make the model look a bit more lively, esp. in its all-grey low-viz livery (see below) I mounted the flaps (all six are separate elements, and the inner pairs consist of lower and upper halves, too!) in lowered position.

  

Painting and markings:

The original reason to build this whiffy Vigilante was to see how the sleek and elegant aircraft would look in early USN low-viz colors! With this idea in mind the scheme was improvised and very simple: FS 36320 on the upper surfaces and FS 36375 underneath (Humbrol 128 and 127, respectively), on the flanks (with a relatively high waterline) and the fin. A slightly darker blue grey (FS 35237, Humbrol 145) was used for an anti-glare panel in front of the windshield. Most di-electric panels and the nose radome were painted in brownish light grey (RAL 7032, Revell 75), for low contrast but a significantly different color.

 

Inside, the landing gear as well as the air intakes were painted gloss white, the cockpit was painted in neutral grey (FS 36231) with dark grey ejection seats. The latter appears a bit tone-in-tone with the all-grey outside, but that was apparently the A-5’s interior design in real life.

 

To add some variety to the grey livery I painted the ordnance in “old” USN colors: the drop tanks became all-white and the ECM pods also received a white base. The AIM-9Ls on the extra launch rails (also painted white) received blue bodies as training missiles, with black seeker heads and white tail fins.

The wings’ leading edges (bare steel?) were masked and then painted with Revell 91 (iron metallic).

 

The whole model received a washing with thinned black ink to emphasize the many recessed rivets and panel lines, and then I added panel counter shading with lighter basic tones, also trying to create a slightly worn/weathered and not-so-uniform finish on the large grey surfaces, which underline the Vigilante’s elegant lines but also look quite boring, due to the sheer size/area, esp. from above.

 

The low-viz markings were improvised and puzzled together from various sources. The Red Stars on the fin were inspired by real-world aggressor markings, AFAIK some A-7Ls, EA-3Bs and A-4Fs carried such decorations, even paired with large bort numbers on the nose.

To improve the worn/grimy look I also treated the model’s surfaces with grinded graphite – only lightly, but I wanted to make the large grey areas to look even more diverse than just with the initial paint effects.

From article “Computerized Breaking and Entering” suggesting that the best path for computer security would be to remove computer security all together, OMNI ☯90SEP

Quite possibly the most famous airline in history, Pan American Airways—also known as Pan American World Airways, PAA or simply Pan Am—had its beginnings in geopolitics. A German owned airline in Colombia had expressed interest in flying to Panama in 1926, raising the specter of a German threat to the Panama Canal. At the time, German financed and owned airlines dominated South America’s airlines, and the United States wanted to change that. In June 1927, Juan Trippe, who already had built small airlines in the Northeast, formed the Aviation Corporation of the Americas, with significant backing from New York businessmen and the US government. ACA bought a small Key West, Florida-based airline that operated a Fairchild FC-2 floatplane, and this was reorganized as Pan American Airways—reflecting Trippe’s vision of a hemisphere-spanning airline. It flew its first air mail flight in October of that year to Havana, Cuba.

 

Trippe then set out to make his dream come true. Passenger service was added between Key West and Havana using land aircraft, and then Pan American began to steadily move south. Several South American airlines were bought out or set up by Pan American, Trippe taking advantage of Charles Lindbergh’s popularity by using the famous aviator to promote the airline. Worried that the US government’s enthusiastic backing of Trippe could lead to Pan American gaining a monopoly of domestic routes, the smaller domestic airlines of the United States secured an agreement that Pan American would limit itself only to international services—an agreement that would come back to haunt Pan American many decades later.

 

Trippe was not overly concerned, as his airline gained de facto control of international routes to the United States. Pan American did operate some land-based aircraft, but its most popular aircraft at the time were its huge seaplanes, aircraft like the Sikorsky S-38 series and eventually the mammoth Boeing 314. Trippe demanded and got highly trained and experienced crews from pilots to mechanics, further building Pan American’s reputation. Nor did he concentrate solely on Latin America: by 1939, Pan American had built an extensive Pacific route network with its flying boats, and was beginning transatlantic service.

 

World War II was a watershed for Pan American. The outbreak of war in the Pacific after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 caught several Clippers in the air; these then had to turn around and fly back to the United States via Africa, and several dozen Pan American employees at Guam and Wake Island were captured by the Japanese. Pan American’s seaplanes were nationalized, and its Boeing 314s were used as executive transports, including by President Franklin Roosevelt—the unofficial beginning of “Air Force One.” Pan American crews continued to fly these routes under military control, gaining extensive experience in long-distance travel that would serve it well once the war ended.

 

When the shooting finally ended in 1945, Trippe did not waste a moment. He retired the surviving seaplanes, guessing correctly that the day of the flying boat was over. The real money was to be made in flying land-based aircraft across the Atlantic to London, and the race was on between British airline companies, Pan American, and Trippe’s biggest rival, Trans-World Airlines, owned by the mercurial Howard Hughes. Though Hughes had a head start, having financed Lockheed to built the pressurized, long-range L-749 Constellation, Trippe undercut him by ordering the same aircraft and getting them into service faster. Trippe also cultivated links with Douglas aircraft, which provided DC-4s and DC-6s to Pan American for its South American routes, slicing travel times in half. To deal with a threat from Northwest Airlines, which had inaugurated an Alaska route to Asia, Trippe partnered with Boeing again to produce the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser. Though the 377 was slower than Northwest’s DC-6s and its transpacific route from Hawaii to the Philippines longer, the Stratocruiser was far more luxurious, with a lounge and sleeping compartments that were reminiscent of the Boeing 314 Clippers. Trippe topped out Pan American’s postwar expansion by inaugurating the first scheduled around-the-world flights for an American carrier in 1947. When the airline became officially known as Pan American World Airways in 1950, it was merely acknowledging a fact.

 

Trippe was not alone in reacting in alarm to BOAC’s launch of the first scheduled jet airliner service with deHavilland Comet 1s; once more, a partnership was reached with Boeing, making Pan American the launch customer for the Boeing 707. BOAC had beaten the Americans across the Atlantic with jets, but after the Comet was grounded due to two catastrophic crashes caused by design flaws, Pan American, for all intents and purposes, owned the transatlantic market with its combination of 707s and DC-8s. Before finally retiring from Pan American in 1968, Trippe made one last, huge contribution to air travel: he made his airline the launch customer for the first wide-body airliner, the Boeing 747. The 747 was Boeing’s failed contribution to a very heavy transport for the US Air Force, but Trippe saw potential in tripling the passenger payload of the 707. Moreover, the 747’s “hump”—built so the cockpit would sit above the passenger compartment to allow for more seating—allowed Pan American to reintroduce the lounge to its flights. The 747 joined Pan American in 1970.

 

Trippe’s retirement presaged the decline of Pan American. While the 747 was truly revolutionary, it would be some time before its potential was realized: in 1970, air travel was still seen as more of a luxurious adventure than a routine method of travel. Trippe invested a great deal into the 747, and Pan American would lose money on it until a decade after its first revenue flight. That aside, it certainly did not seem that Pan American was in any sort of trouble: besides the airline itself—the world’s largest by route network—the company owned interests in several dozen airlines around the world and a hotel chain; it pioneered computerized reservation services; it enjoyed a near-monopoly on flights between West Berlin and West Germany, thanks to postwar agreements that prevented West Germany’s flag carrier Lufthansa from flying to Berlin; and it was favored by the US government itself. In many ways, Pan American was the United States’ flag carrier airline, and was treated as such.

 

Nonetheless, by 1980 Pan American was starting to show cracks in its empire. Pan American’s biggest weakness was the fact that it lacked a domestic route network, and was barred from doing so by the agreements made in the 1930s. Pan American could not even fly dedicated transcontinental routes between New York and Los Angeles. The airline saw an opportunity in deregulation to change this, buying out National Airlines in 1980 and gaining control of its extensive routes across the United States; it would also subcontract with several small airlines on the East Coast to provide Pan Am Express services, and attempted to compete with Eastern on the very profitable New York-Washington shuttle service. This came at a price, however: Pan American was now operating nearly every American jet airliner design, with a corresponding increase in maintenance and fuel costs.

 

The airline’s new CEOs—which underwent heavy turnover in the 1980s—did recognize the problem and consolidated where it could, restructuring the airline; the 747s, which had nearly driven Pan American into bankruptcy in the mid-1970s, were now making the profits Trippe had dreamed of. To replace its older 707s and National’s DC-10s, Pan American turned to Airbus, ordering large numbers of A300s and A310s. Further cuts in the fleet and consolidation of aircraft occurred in 1984, when its entire Pacific route network was sold to United, and nearly every service not immediately associated with flying, such as hotels, were also sold off. Nonetheless, Pan American continued to lose money.

 

It was about to get worse. Pan American sold its bread-and-butter New York-Kennedy to London-Heathrow route to United. It had already lost its West Berlin monopoly when Germany reunified in the same year, as Lufthansa was now able to fly to Berlin. When a merger with Northwest failed, Pan American had no choice but to declare bankruptcy in January 1991.

 

It was hoped that the bankruptcy would only be temporary. Delta bought most of Pan American’s assets, though enough was left to keep the latter in business, including transatlantic routes and East Coast services. Pan American tried to go back to its routes, relaunching itself from Miami, but this failed as well—the airline was just too far in debt. Delta was losing money daily on its support of Pan American, and an attempted merger with TWA came to nothing. In December 1991, Pan American was grounded for good, ending the history of arguably the most famous and storied airline in aviation history.

 

This 747 shows Pan American's iconic 1970s-1980s era scheme, with smaller "Pan Am" titles on the forward fuselage, as well as the configuration of 747 Combis--note the large portside loading door and hinged nose. The N747PA designation on this model is likely inaccurate: the real N747PA (the second 747 built) was never given the extended upper deck shown here, or the hinged nose. Sadly, after a long career with Pan American and Aeroposta, N747PA was converted to a restaurant in Seoul, South Korea, but deteriorated and was scrapped in 2010.

Restaurants which steam dim sum to order usually have their menu as a booklet or in the form of a piece of paper ‘點心紙’ (literally dim sum paper) so customers can pick items and quantities as desired.

 

Unusual characteristics of this particular designs are:

+ Multiple choice quantities checkbox

+ Computerized check sheet that can be fed into some kind of scanner to read out the input

 

Joint Forces Training Base home to energy-efficient headquarters

 

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. -- Soldiers, family members and civilians of the 79th Sustainment Support Command will soon have a new headquarters, organizational maintenance area and acres of parking at the Joint Forces Training Base here. The work is all part of a nearly $25 million project managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District.

 

Andy Stevens of Retrofit Services Company from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., was onsite Sept. 12 putting the finishing touches on the computerized building management system that will control the state-of-the-art energy efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning for the headquarters building. The system uses multiple condensers and is nearly 30 percent more efficient than systems of just five years ago.

 

"This one [building zone] is calling for one stage cool, fans on, temperature is 72 [degrees] in the zone and the set point is 72, so it's doing just fine," said Stevens. "You can change your occupancy status at any time, emergency override it, shut it down and we do have the chemical alert push-buttons that will close all dampers inside and out."

 

The alert buttons are located throughout the facility and once activated because of an attack or a release of hazardous chemicals, no air is allowed in or out of the building to protect the occupants, according to Maj. Phillip Oster, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District's Santa Ana Resident Office deputy who oversees the project.

 

To reduce construction costs and increase future savings, the project is using eco-friendly features, like re-cycled material, and in the case of the covered parking lots, they will generate energy with a photovoltaic system. The contract partner's quality assurance manager for the project explained the feature.

 

"At peak, they produce 375 KVA [kilovolt-amps]," said Edward Desmond, Cox Construction of Vista, Calif. "In theory, it's enough power to offset the footprint of the Army Reserve Center building."

 

While not designated a net-zero facility, the extensive use of energy efficient materials during construction will enable the photovoltaic system to actually return power to the Los Alamitos grid, off-setting the operating costs of other buildings on the base, according to Desmond.

 

The Energy Policy Act of 1992 mandated the use of "low flush" urinals in government facilities. This project takes it a step further with water-free urinals. The USACE Engineer Research and Development Center estimates that they pay for themselves in six-months to three years and the cost savings don't end there. All new Army construction is designed to satisfy the Silver-level standards of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system, in accordance with the U.S. Green Building Council guidance.

 

According Oster, the project is in the "punch list" stage with safety officials, contractors and District project delivery teams making final inspections before furniture is installed and the customer takes possession of the ARC in October.

 

Freedom Golf Association’s First Annual “Honor Wounded Vets 5K Run/Walk” succeeds in showing how adaptive golf is aiding vets’ road to recovery

 

The enthusiasm and good will were palpable at McDonald’s corporate campus in Oak Brook, Illinois on Sunday, October 29 as the Freedom Golf Association’s (FGA) First Annual “Honor Wounded Vets 5K Run/Walk” succeeded in drawing attention to the fact that adaptive golf is clearly helping wounded vets return to normality after their military service. The more than 100 participants conquered the 5K course to show their support for the programs of the Freedom Golf Association, which is leading the way In Illinois in bringing the joy of golf to persons with physical, emotional and developmental needs.

 

“The 5K Run/Walk was a terrific way to honor Veterans who have been wounded in their service to the country and to acknowledge Illinois’ wounded vets, a growing number of whom have taken up golf to enjoy its many physical, emotional and social benefits,” said Sally Ruecking, FGA’s Vice President of Strategic Advancement. “Adaptive golf is bringing fun into the lives of people who are often left out due to their disabilities.”

 

Cheered on by the music of the Elmhurst College Jazz Band and with welcoming remarks from E.Q. Sylvester, Chairman of FGA; radio and TV personality Bob Sirott of event co-sponsor WLS-AM radio; and Ruecking, the runners and walkers took to the track with smiles and a sense of mission. Other event sponsors included Molex LLC, Rich Harvest Farms, KF Partners LLC, and Reebie Storage and Moving.

 

The overall men’s winner was 16-year old Matt Pierce of Alsip, Illinois, who ran the 5K course in 18:59. Second place went to Thomas Potaczek of Bensenville, IL, with a time of 19:23 and third place went to Andrew Pyle of Hinsdale, IL with a time of 22:14.

 

Among the women, the overall winner was Eileen Skisak of La Grange, IL with a time of 18:59. Eileen also ran in fifth place overall. The second-place women’s winner was 12-year old Alexandra Two, with a time of 25:36; third place went to 10-year old Kelly Fergus of Chicago, with a time of 27:27.

 

Winners by age group were:

•Male 10-14: James Mercurio, Hinsdale, IL

•Male 15-19: Thomas Mercurio, Hinsdale, IL

•Male 20-24: Ben Landress, Chicago, IL

•Male 30-34: (1st) Michael Bellino, Villa Park, IL; (2nd) Nick Bada, Villa Park, IL

•Male 45-49: (1st) Jim Mercurio, Hinsdale, IL; (2nd) Carmelo Aguinir, Joliet, IL

•Male 50-54: (1st) Bob Fergus, Chicago, IL; (2nd) Ross Hurst, Clarendon Hills, IL; (3rd) Randy Pyle, Hinsdale, IL; (4th) Roger Keys, Northbrook, IL

•Male 65-69: (1st) Jerome Getter, Oak Park, IL; (2nd) John Kosmatka, Valparaiso, IN; (3rd) Karl Johnson, Woodridge, IL

•Male 70-74: James Smith, Clarendon Hills, IL

•Female 15-19: Maria Meyer, Hinsdale, IL

•Female 40-44: Lori Kosmatka, Chicago, IL

•Female 45-49: (1st) Kimberly Mercurio, Hinsdale, IL; (2nd) Arlinda Nunez, Hinsdale, IL; (3rd) Christine Two, Wilmette, IL

•Female 50-54: (1st) Joy Hyzny, Burbank, IL; (2nd) Christie Bellino, Villa Park, IL

•Female 55-59: Jud Hrad, Chicago, IL

•Female 60-64: Sue Shepard, Elmhurst, IL

•Female 65-69: Carol Raska, Oak Park, IL

 

Freedom Golf Association leads the way in bringing adaptive golf to Illinois and is an integral part of the growing national movement, which has been embraced by major golf entities such as the PGA, LPGA and USGA.

 

“Freedom Golf Association encourages corporations with cause marketing programs that help the disabled to become FGA sponsors or corporate foundation grant providers and help us grow,” said Ruecking.

  

About Freedom Golf Association

Freedom Golf Association (FGA), a 501(C)3 non-profit charitable organization, is the leading adaptive golf organization in Illinois and is a charter member of the United States Adaptive Golf Alliance. FGA was founded in July 2012 by Edmund (E.Q.) Sylvester. E.Q. is a director of the Western Golf Association (WGA), member of the United States Senior Golf Association (USSGA), member of the United States Golf Association (USGA) and a triple amputee. FGA is dedicated to bringing joy and a sense of freedom to the special needs community through their inclusion in the game of golf.

 

FGA believes that all special needs individuals deserve a chance to accomplish the same things as any others do and work towards bringing a positive transformation to their lives. FGA contributes to the positive development of those with special needs through the magic of golf.

 

FGA works to assist individuals with disabilities in many ways:

•Provides professionally run adaptive golf instructional clinics and golf events

•Engages children, adults and veterans with special needs in FREE adaptive golf instruction with other classmates

•Conducts adaptive golf training workshops to increase the number of qualified adaptive golf coaches to instruct individuals with special needs

•Provides leadership and collaboration with nationally recognized organizations on how to expand/grow adaptive golf programs

 

Based on its growing understanding of the needs of disabled golfers, the FGA has developed a ground-breaking Adaptive Golf Enhancement Program™ that increases the golfing ability of special needs golfers. FGA’s golf coaches learn this six-step process, which helps them better understand and enhance the capabilities of special needs golfers.

 

To assist coaches and special needs golfers in determining what adaptive measures would be most beneficial, FGA recently invested in what they call a “personal swing sensors and computerized program” to 1) measure the disabled golfer’s initial swing path and limitations; 2) develop an appropriate exercise program to improve flexibility and range of motion; and 3) to chart the golfer’s progress, using the initial swing measurements as a baseline.

 

In 2016, FGA provided more than 1,300 adaptive golf lessons. In the same year, 110 special needs golfers went out and played on the course. Ten individuals became trained FGA Adaptive Golf Coaches, growing the total number to 42.

 

79 cents out of every dollar received goes to FGA’s special needs golf programs and events. FGA has led 40 Chicagoland courses in becoming accessible to the disabled community.

 

For more information about the Freedom Golf Association, please visit the official website at www.fgagolf.org and the online newsroom at www.newsline360.com/freedomgolfassociation. Contact FGA by phone at 855-342-4465 or 630-455-6018, or by email at playgolf@fgagolf.org. Donations to Freedom Golf Association can be made at www.fgagolf.org/donate.html.

 

Follow FGA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FGA4Golf. Follow FGA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/FGA4Golf.

 

Photo credit: Cindy Kurman, Kurman Communications

Times Square NYC New Years Eve Midnight Ball Drop - New Years Day Celebration New York City USA 2020 - 2021

  

The Times Square Ball is a time ball located atop the One Times Square building in New York City, primarily utilized as part of New Year's Eve celebrations held in Times Square. Yearly at 11:59 p.m. EST on December 31, the ball is lowered 77 feet (23 m) down a specially designed flagpole, resting on the midnight to signal the start of the new year. The first ball drop in Times Square took place on December 31, 1907, and has been held annually since (except in 1942 and 1943 in observance of wartime blackouts). The ball's design has also been updated over the years to reflect new advances in technologies—its original design utilized 100 incandescent light bulbs, iron, and wood in its construction, while its current incarnation features a computerized LED lighting system and an outer surface consisting of triangle-shaped crystal panels. As of 2009, the ball is also displayed atop One Times Square year-round and is removed only for general maintenance.

 

The Ball is covered with a total of 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles

 

"Gift of Happiness" Revealed as the 2021 Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Theme

Embrace Happiness in 2021

 

The Times Square ball drop is one of the best-known New Year's celebrations internationally, attended by at least one million spectators yearly, with an estimated global audience of at least 1 billion. The prevalence of the Times Square ball drop has also inspired other similar ball drops held locally in other cities and towns around the world.

 

“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest,”

Performers 2020 - 2021

6:00 pm event starts

celebration

Billy Porter

Kelly Osbourne

Jonathan Bennett

The USO Show Troupe

Cristina Lucas

Andra Day

Jimmie Allen

Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive

Juanita Erb

Machine Gun Kelly

The Waffle Crew

Anitta - Paradinha - Brazil - Univision’s ¡Feliz 2021!

Cyndi Lauper - True Colors

Raúl de Molina

Pitbull - I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) - Cuba USA - Univision’s ¡Feliz 2021!

Jennifer Lopez JLo - Waiting for Tonight - The Bronx

Andra Day performs John Lennon’s Imagine

Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City

The Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball

12:15 a.m. — End of Show

  

At the base of the One Times Square Building is a Walgreens store with a monitor stating Happy New Year 2021 Walgreens facing the MTA Subway exit -

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc is listed on the NASDAQ as WBA - The NASDAQ is also located in Times Square NYC.

 

The closest Metropolitan Transportation Authority MTA Subway is Times Square – 42nd Street New York City Subway station - N R Q S 1 2 3 7 trains and A C E trains at 8th Avenue

 

The Chinese Lunar calendar follows a 12 year cycle and each of the 12 years is represented by 12 Animals which form the Chinese Zodiac. The 12 animals, are: Rat, Cow, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Chicken, Dog, and the Pig.

2019 Pig

2020 Rat

2021 Ox

2022 Tiger

2023 Rabbit

2024 Dragon

2025 Snake

2026 Horse

2027 Sheep

2028 Monkey

2029 Rooster

2030 Dog

  

Photo

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max smartphone photo

4x3

dimensions 4032 × 3024 resolution 72x72

JPEG image type

Rear lens

Phone held horizontal

Fourteenth generation of the iPhone

Released November 13, 2020

Phone sells for $1,099.00

 

Hashtag metadata:

#HappyNewYear #HappyNewYears #FelizAñoNuevo #FelizAnoNuevo #Feliz #AñoNuevo #AnoNuevo #TimesSquare #TimesSquareNYC #TimesSquareNYE #TimesSquareNY #TimesSquareNewYorkCity #TimesSquareNewYork #TSNYC #TSNYE #NY #NYC #NewYork #NewYorkCity #NewYearsEve #NYE #US #USA #Happy #NewYear #NewYears #December #Party #Celebration #Holiday #DickClark #RyanSeacrest #DickClarksNewYearsRockinEve #NewYearsRockinEve #FortySecondStreet #2020 #2021

 

Photos

Times Square, New York City, USA The United States of America, North America

12/31/2020 - 01/01/2021

Photo credit: Cindy Kurman, Kurman Communications, Inc. Freedom Golf Association’s First Annual “Honor Wounded Vets 5K Run/Walk” succeeds in showing how adaptive golf is aiding vets’ road to recovery

 

The enthusiasm and good will were palpable at McDonald’s corporate campus in Oak Brook, Illinois on Sunday, October 29 as the Freedom Golf Association’s (FGA) First Annual “Honor Wounded Vets 5K Run/Walk” succeeded in drawing attention to the fact that adaptive golf is clearly helping wounded vets return to normality after their military service. The more than 100 participants conquered the 5K course to show their support for the programs of the Freedom Golf Association, which is leading the way In Illinois in bringing the joy of golf to persons with physical, emotional and developmental needs.

 

“The 5K Run/Walk was a terrific way to honor Veterans who have been wounded in their service to the country and to acknowledge Illinois’ wounded vets, a growing number of whom have taken up golf to enjoy its many physical, emotional and social benefits,” said Sally Ruecking, FGA’s Vice President of Strategic Advancement. “Adaptive golf is bringing fun into the lives of people who are often left out due to their disabilities.”

 

Cheered on by the music of the Elmhurst College Jazz Band and with welcoming remarks from E.Q. Sylvester, Chairman of FGA; radio and TV personality Bob Sirott of event co-sponsor WLS-AM radio; and Ruecking, the runners and walkers took to the track with smiles and a sense of mission. Other event sponsors included Molex LLC, Rich Harvest Farms, KF Partners LLC, and Reebie Storage and Moving.

 

The overall men’s winner was 16-year old Matt Pierce of Alsip, Illinois, who ran the 5K course in 18:59. Second place went to Thomas Potaczek of Bensenville, IL, with a time of 19:23 and third place went to Andrew Pyle of Hinsdale, IL with a time of 22:14.

 

Among the women, the overall winner was Eileen Skisak of La Grange, IL with a time of 18:59. Eileen also ran in fifth place overall. The second-place women’s winner was 12-year old Alexandra Two, with a time of 25:36; third place went to 10-year old Kelly Fergus of Chicago, with a time of 27:27.

 

Winners by age group were:

•Male 10-14: James Mercurio, Hinsdale, IL

•Male 15-19: Thomas Mercurio, Hinsdale, IL

•Male 20-24: Ben Landress, Chicago, IL

•Male 30-34: (1st) Michael Bellino, Villa Park, IL; (2nd) Nick Bada, Villa Park, IL

•Male 45-49: (1st) Jim Mercurio, Hinsdale, IL; (2nd) Carmelo Aguinir, Joliet, IL

•Male 50-54: (1st) Bob Fergus, Chicago, IL; (2nd) Ross Hurst, Clarendon Hills, IL; (3rd) Randy Pyle, Hinsdale, IL; (4th) Roger Keys, Northbrook, IL

•Male 65-69: (1st) Jerome Getter, Oak Park, IL; (2nd) John Kosmatka, Valparaiso, IN; (3rd) Karl Johnson, Woodridge, IL

•Male 70-74: James Smith, Clarendon Hills, IL

•Female 15-19: Maria Meyer, Hinsdale, IL

•Female 40-44: Lori Kosmatka, Chicago, IL

•Female 45-49: (1st) Kimberly Mercurio, Hinsdale, IL; (2nd) Arlinda Nunez, Hinsdale, IL; (3rd) Christine Two, Wilmette, IL

•Female 50-54: (1st) Joy Hyzny, Burbank, IL; (2nd) Christie Bellino, Villa Park, IL

•Female 55-59: Jud Hrad, Chicago, IL

•Female 60-64: Sue Shepard, Elmhurst, IL

•Female 65-69: Carol Raska, Oak Park, IL

 

Freedom Golf Association leads the way in bringing adaptive golf to Illinois and is an integral part of the growing national movement, which has been embraced by major golf entities such as the PGA, LPGA and USGA.

 

“Freedom Golf Association encourages corporations with cause marketing programs that help the disabled to become FGA sponsors or corporate foundation grant providers and help us grow,” said Ruecking.

  

About Freedom Golf Association

Freedom Golf Association (FGA), a 501(C)3 non-profit charitable organization, is the leading adaptive golf organization in Illinois and is a charter member of the United States Adaptive Golf Alliance. FGA was founded in July 2012 by Edmund (E.Q.) Sylvester. E.Q. is a director of the Western Golf Association (WGA), member of the United States Senior Golf Association (USSGA), member of the United States Golf Association (USGA) and a triple amputee. FGA is dedicated to bringing joy and a sense of freedom to the special needs community through their inclusion in the game of golf.

 

FGA believes that all special needs individuals deserve a chance to accomplish the same things as any others do and work towards bringing a positive transformation to their lives. FGA contributes to the positive development of those with special needs through the magic of golf.

 

FGA works to assist individuals with disabilities in many ways:

•Provides professionally run adaptive golf instructional clinics and golf events

•Engages children, adults and veterans with special needs in FREE adaptive golf instruction with other classmates

•Conducts adaptive golf training workshops to increase the number of qualified adaptive golf coaches to instruct individuals with special needs

•Provides leadership and collaboration with nationally recognized organizations on how to expand/grow adaptive golf programs

 

Based on its growing understanding of the needs of disabled golfers, the FGA has developed a ground-breaking Adaptive Golf Enhancement Program™ that increases the golfing ability of special needs golfers. FGA’s golf coaches learn this six-step process, which helps them better understand and enhance the capabilities of special needs golfers.

 

To assist coaches and special needs golfers in determining what adaptive measures would be most beneficial, FGA recently invested in what they call a “personal swing sensors and computerized program” to 1) measure the disabled golfer’s initial swing path and limitations; 2) develop an appropriate exercise program to improve flexibility and range of motion; and 3) to chart the golfer’s progress, using the initial swing measurements as a baseline.

 

In 2016, FGA provided more than 1,300 adaptive golf lessons. In the same year, 110 special needs golfers went out and played on the course. Ten individuals became trained FGA Adaptive Golf Coaches, growing the total number to 42.

 

79 cents out of every dollar received goes to FGA’s special needs golf programs and events. FGA has led 40 Chicagoland courses in becoming accessible to the disabled community.

 

For more information about the Freedom Golf Association, please visit the official website at www.fgagolf.org and the online newsroom at www.newsline360.com/freedomgolfassociation. Contact FGA by phone at 855-342-4465 or 630-455-6018, or by email at playgolf@fgagolf.org. Donations to Freedom Golf Association can be made at www.fgagolf.org/donate.html.

 

Follow FGA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FGA4Golf. Follow FGA on Twitter at www.twitter.com/FGA4Golf.

  

A computerized machine can re-create an exact replica of any statue out of marble. Here, a spare David is being created.

Joint Forces Training Base home to energy-efficient headquarters

 

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. -- Soldiers, family members and civilians of the 79th Sustainment Support Command will soon have a new headquarters, organizational maintenance area and acres of parking at the Joint Forces Training Base here. The work is all part of a nearly $25 million project managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District.

 

Andy Stevens of Retrofit Services Company from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., was onsite Sept. 12 putting the finishing touches on the computerized building management system that will control the state-of-the-art energy efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning for the headquarters building. The system uses multiple condensers and is nearly 30 percent more efficient than systems of just five years ago.

 

"This one [building zone] is calling for one stage cool, fans on, temperature is 72 [degrees] in the zone and the set point is 72, so it's doing just fine," said Stevens. "You can change your occupancy status at any time, emergency override it, shut it down and we do have the chemical alert push-buttons that will close all dampers inside and out."

 

The alert buttons are located throughout the facility and once activated because of an attack or a release of hazardous chemicals, no air is allowed in or out of the building to protect the occupants, according to Maj. Phillip Oster, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District's Santa Ana Resident Office deputy who oversees the project.

 

To reduce construction costs and increase future savings, the project is using eco-friendly features, like re-cycled material, and in the case of the covered parking lots, they will generate energy with a photovoltaic system. The contract partner's quality assurance manager for the project explained the feature.

 

"At peak, they produce 375 KVA [kilovolt-amps]," said Edward Desmond, Cox Construction of Vista, Calif. "In theory, it's enough power to offset the footprint of the Army Reserve Center building."

 

While not designated a net-zero facility, the extensive use of energy efficient materials during construction will enable the photovoltaic system to actually return power to the Los Alamitos grid, off-setting the operating costs of other buildings on the base, according to Desmond.

 

The Energy Policy Act of 1992 mandated the use of "low flush" urinals in government facilities. This project takes it a step further with water-free urinals. The USACE Engineer Research and Development Center estimates that they pay for themselves in six-months to three years and the cost savings don't end there. All new Army construction is designed to satisfy the Silver-level standards of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system, in accordance with the U.S. Green Building Council guidance.

 

According Oster, the project is in the "punch list" stage with safety officials, contractors and District project delivery teams making final inspections before furniture is installed and the customer takes possession of the ARC in October.

 

Joint Forces Training Base home to energy-efficient headquarters

 

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. -- Soldiers, family members and civilians of the 79th Sustainment Support Command will soon have a new headquarters, organizational maintenance area and acres of parking at the Joint Forces Training Base here. The work is all part of a nearly $25 million project managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District.

 

Andy Stevens of Retrofit Services Company from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., was onsite Sept. 12 putting the finishing touches on the computerized building management system that will control the state-of-the-art energy efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning for the headquarters building. The system uses multiple condensers and is nearly 30 percent more efficient than systems of just five years ago.

 

"This one [building zone] is calling for one stage cool, fans on, temperature is 72 [degrees] in the zone and the set point is 72, so it's doing just fine," said Stevens. "You can change your occupancy status at any time, emergency override it, shut it down and we do have the chemical alert push-buttons that will close all dampers inside and out."

 

The alert buttons are located throughout the facility and once activated because of an attack or a release of hazardous chemicals, no air is allowed in or out of the building to protect the occupants, according to Maj. Phillip Oster, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District's Santa Ana Resident Office deputy who oversees the project.

 

To reduce construction costs and increase future savings, the project is using eco-friendly features, like re-cycled material, and in the case of the covered parking lots, they will generate energy with a photovoltaic system. The contract partner's quality assurance manager for the project explained the feature.

 

"At peak, they produce 375 KVA [kilovolt-amps]," said Edward Desmond, Cox Construction of Vista, Calif. "In theory, it's enough power to offset the footprint of the Army Reserve Center building."

 

While not designated a net-zero facility, the extensive use of energy efficient materials during construction will enable the photovoltaic system to actually return power to the Los Alamitos grid, off-setting the operating costs of other buildings on the base, according to Desmond.

 

The Energy Policy Act of 1992 mandated the use of "low flush" urinals in government facilities. This project takes it a step further with water-free urinals. The USACE Engineer Research and Development Center estimates that they pay for themselves in six-months to three years and the cost savings don't end there. All new Army construction is designed to satisfy the Silver-level standards of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system, in accordance with the U.S. Green Building Council guidance.

 

According Oster, the project is in the "punch list" stage with safety officials, contractors and District project delivery teams making final inspections before furniture is installed and the customer takes possession of the ARC in October.

 

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Panama Canal Deputy Administrator Manuel Benítez examine the computerized controls at the Miraflores Locks in Panama City, Panama, on April 10, 2015, as the Secretary visited the historic transit way after joining President Obama in attending the Summit of the Americas. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]

Joint Forces Training Base home to energy-efficient headquarters

 

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. -- Soldiers, family members and civilians of the 79th Sustainment Support Command will soon have a new headquarters, organizational maintenance area and acres of parking at the Joint Forces Training Base here. The work is all part of a nearly $25 million project managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District.

 

Andy Stevens of Retrofit Services Company from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., was onsite Sept. 12 putting the finishing touches on the computerized building management system that will control the state-of-the-art energy efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning for the headquarters building. The system uses multiple condensers and is nearly 30 percent more efficient than systems of just five years ago.

 

"This one [building zone] is calling for one stage cool, fans on, temperature is 72 [degrees] in the zone and the set point is 72, so it's doing just fine," said Stevens. "You can change your occupancy status at any time, emergency override it, shut it down and we do have the chemical alert push-buttons that will close all dampers inside and out."

 

The alert buttons are located throughout the facility and once activated because of an attack or a release of hazardous chemicals, no air is allowed in or out of the building to protect the occupants, according to Maj. Phillip Oster, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District's Santa Ana Resident Office deputy who oversees the project.

 

To reduce construction costs and increase future savings, the project is using eco-friendly features, like re-cycled material, and in the case of the covered parking lots, they will generate energy with a photovoltaic system. The contract partner's quality assurance manager for the project explained the feature.

 

"At peak, they produce 375 KVA [kilovolt-amps]," said Edward Desmond, Cox Construction of Vista, Calif. "In theory, it's enough power to offset the footprint of the Army Reserve Center building."

 

While not designated a net-zero facility, the extensive use of energy efficient materials during construction will enable the photovoltaic system to actually return power to the Los Alamitos grid, off-setting the operating costs of other buildings on the base, according to Desmond.

 

The Energy Policy Act of 1992 mandated the use of "low flush" urinals in government facilities. This project takes it a step further with water-free urinals. The USACE Engineer Research and Development Center estimates that they pay for themselves in six-months to three years and the cost savings don't end there. All new Army construction is designed to satisfy the Silver-level standards of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system, in accordance with the U.S. Green Building Council guidance.

 

According Oster, the project is in the "punch list" stage with safety officials, contractors and District project delivery teams making final inspections before furniture is installed and the customer takes possession of the ARC in October.

 

Joint Forces Training Base home to energy-efficient headquarters

 

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. -- Soldiers, family members and civilians of the 79th Sustainment Support Command will soon have a new headquarters, organizational maintenance area and acres of parking at the Joint Forces Training Base here. The work is all part of a nearly $25 million project managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District.

 

Andy Stevens of Retrofit Services Company from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., was onsite Sept. 12 putting the finishing touches on the computerized building management system that will control the state-of-the-art energy efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning for the headquarters building. The system uses multiple condensers and is nearly 30 percent more efficient than systems of just five years ago.

 

"This one [building zone] is calling for one stage cool, fans on, temperature is 72 [degrees] in the zone and the set point is 72, so it's doing just fine," said Stevens. "You can change your occupancy status at any time, emergency override it, shut it down and we do have the chemical alert push-buttons that will close all dampers inside and out."

 

The alert buttons are located throughout the facility and once activated because of an attack or a release of hazardous chemicals, no air is allowed in or out of the building to protect the occupants, according to Maj. Phillip Oster, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District's Santa Ana Resident Office deputy who oversees the project.

 

To reduce construction costs and increase future savings, the project is using eco-friendly features, like re-cycled material, and in the case of the covered parking lots, they will generate energy with a photovoltaic system. The contract partner's quality assurance manager for the project explained the feature.

 

"At peak, they produce 375 KVA [kilovolt-amps]," said Edward Desmond, Cox Construction of Vista, Calif. "In theory, it's enough power to offset the footprint of the Army Reserve Center building."

 

While not designated a net-zero facility, the extensive use of energy efficient materials during construction will enable the photovoltaic system to actually return power to the Los Alamitos grid, off-setting the operating costs of other buildings on the base, according to Desmond.

 

The Energy Policy Act of 1992 mandated the use of "low flush" urinals in government facilities. This project takes it a step further with water-free urinals. The USACE Engineer Research and Development Center estimates that they pay for themselves in six-months to three years and the cost savings don't end there. All new Army construction is designed to satisfy the Silver-level standards of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system, in accordance with the U.S. Green Building Council guidance.

 

According Oster, the project is in the "punch list" stage with safety officials, contractors and District project delivery teams making final inspections before furniture is installed and the customer takes possession of the ARC in October.

 

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