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Thanks to advances by the Taliban in Faryab and Kunduz, influential politicians like Rashid Dostum (currently Ghani’s vice president) and Atta Noor (the powerful governor of Balkh province) have been pretty vocal in their thinking that Afghan forces alone can’t get the job done; that to tip the balance means more troops from somewhere—either the Americans (not out of the question completely, but unlikely), or some kind of militia. Since today’s anti-Taliban militia could be tomorrow’s coup attempt, it lays some troubling groundwork for widening existing divides in the country that the United States had hoped the Ghani/Abdullah deal would help bridge. Unless they can manage to bring the security situation that’s deteriorating faster than Iggy Azalea’s career back under control, Afghan troops could have some new bosses very soon. Their current performance doesn’t inspire much hope.
Actually, it’s pretty clear how those forces will perform. In a word? Badly.
Since the Afghans assumed control of the country’s security in 2014, more civilians have been killed, more soldiers have died, more Afghan troops have deserted than ever before, and security forces are still torturing one-third of their detainees. This is the force Watts and Mann describe as “passably capable” and “resilient.” If by “passably capable” they mean “doesn’t torture too many people,” then sure, I suppose they are “passably capable,” but I think we might want to aim just a bit higher.
According to the Americans, civilian casualties as a result of ground engagements between the Afghans and insurgents were up eight percent for the first three months of 2015 when compared to the same period in 2014. In June, Afghan Chief of Army Staff Gen. Qadam Shah Shaheem told his troops that using artillery and conducting night raids against the insurgents was just fine, and no one would be prosecuted as a result. Since most engagements occur among the population when one is countering an insurgency, this change in the rules of engagement means more innocent civilians are going to die as the result of actions by Afghan security forces. That’s borne out by the latest report on civilian casualties from UNAMA, which found that throughout the first half of 2015, Afghan forces caused more civilian casualties than the Taliban did.
And when they’re not busy leveling villages, Afghan forces are dying in record numbers. Throughout the first five months of 2015, security forces casualties were up 70 percent from the same period in 2014. Some of that’s attributable to increasing activity by the insurgents, but a “capable” force doesn’t see that kind of casualty increase unless its capabilities are less than optimal. Even so, the biggest cause of attrition for Afghan troops isn’t being killed in action (KIA). According to a June report by the Americans to Congress, the largest source for attrition is “dropped from rolls” (wherein a soldier stops showing up for work for more than a month so he’s no longer counted), and KIA is the smallest source for Afghan force attrition.
But when they do manage to not die and to show up for work, Afghan forces like to spend some quality time with their detainees. A February report by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) found that while torture is on the decrease, around 35 percent of all detainees surveyed reported being tortured in detention. Much of that alleged torture was at the hands of the National Directorate of Security (NDS), which is similar to the FBI, except that the FBI has better windbreakers and isn’t prone to hooking people up to car batteries unnecessarily. That probably explains why the Americans made it clear in June that no U.S. funds were going to the NDS, even though nearly every other aspect of Afghan defense operations comes directly from American coffers and internal defense is vital for the success of the counterinsurgency.
In an alternate-reality Afghanistan, civilians aren’t dying in greater numbers, the government isn’t on the verge of collapse, and the return on foreign investment is staggering. The Afghans would love it—because that’s the country the Americans promised them.
An American solution to Afghanistan’s problems faces the struggles of a dwindling security force to keep the Taliban at bay as they strike from sanctuaries in Pakistan, a government on the verge of collapse, and large numbers of civilians being victimized by their own government. And that’s without the growing threat of the Islamic State. In an alternate-reality Afghanistan, civilians aren’t dying in greater numbers, the government isn’t on the verge of collapse, and the return on foreign investment is staggering. The Afghans would love it—because that’s the country the Americans promised them.
The reality is that that Afghanistan’s future, while grim, is still better than it was. There is cause for cautious optimism. That does not mean that we shouldn’t be painfully honest about what’s happening in Afghanistan. Given the sacrifices made since 9/11, it’s tempting to do otherwise. But doing so means ignoring challenges the country faces, and the decisions about its future the Americans still need to make.
Boiler Treatment Chemicals - Detroit, Michigan; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Atlanta, Georgia.
What are boiler treatment chemicals?
ChemWorld 1287 is an "All-In-One" (without Amine) Boiler Treatment Chemicals in a one drum boiler water treatment chemical with a concentrated sulfite based formulation and carboxylated organic copolymer specifically designed for use in your boiler water and steam boiler. The product is formulated for use in Vapor Modulatic boilers but has also found considerable application in other systems having softened water makeup and low condensate returns. ChemWorld 1287 provides one of the most effective copolymers for higher heat transfer boilers. This makes this one of our most popular Boiler Treatment Chemicals. If you require an amine, please refer to the amine all in one.
How much chemical do I feed?
Approximate use is 1/4 to 1/2 gallon per week for each 25 boiler hp. If you do not have a good deaerator, you may choose to also use a supplemental sulfite feed to reduce the amount of chemical use.
This product ships from Detroit, Michigan; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Atlanta, Georgia.
How do you feed this chemical?
ChemWorld 1287 is normally fed continuously to the feedwater heater or deaerator and injected into the center of the water with an injectiuon quill. However, shot feeding may be satisfactory in some circumstances. The product may be fed neat but is most often mixed in a chemical feed tank with the other materials required to complete the program. Normal materials of construction are satisfactory for the feed system. However, copper, copper alloys and aluminum materials must be avoided on direct feed components.
ChemWorld 1287 is controlled by a sulfite test kit in the boiler water. The specific control ranges vary depending upon system operating conditions and will be specified by the technical representative servicing the facility. If you have any questions in regards to your Boiler Treatment Chemicals please contact us direct.
This refined home in desirable Cow Hollow has a stately façade and shingled roofline that belie the tasteful contemporary style of its spacious multilevel interiors, all recently updated. Spanning four levels and offering five bedrooms, three and a half baths, the home blends San Francisco classicism with modern fixtures and amenities, creating a uniquely appealing home.
Upon entering the main level, one immediately appreciates the delicate balance between preserving historical architectural details and creating a contemporary atmosphere. A highlight of the home is the chic living/dining room, which boasts a regal arched entryway, handsome hardwood floors, classical moldings, a wall of windows, and marble fireplace flanked by plentiful built-in bookshelves. Beyond the central gallery landing is the elegant family room, with its hardwood floors and French doors that lead to a private deck, allowing for a great flow between indoor and outdoor living. The adjoining kitchen has been expertly outfitted with white Carrera marble counters, white subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances including a 6-burner gas range, white shaker cabinetry, and great storage. The adjacent bay-windowed breakfast area features built-in seating and glorious natural light with direct access through a series of french doors to a private deck, perfect for enjoying meals, coffee, or cocktails alfresco. A powder room is conveniently tucked below the stairs.
The third level of the home hosts three bedrooms and two baths, including the spacious master suite. The sophisticated and serene master suite has incredible scale and enjoys a tranquil sitting area nestled in a sun-dappled bay window. En suite is a luxurious bath with a soaking tub, glass-enclosed shower, and dual sinks – all appointed with timeless finishes, including white Carrera marble and subway tiles. A thoughtfully appointed walk-in closet and a series of built-ins complete the master suite.
The guest and master bedrooms are separated for privacy by the grand stairway hall and a convenient laundry room. Two restful guest bedrooms share a bath with timeless fixtures. The south bedroom is a stylish space with hardwood floors and a light-filled bay window. The north bedroom enjoys access to the enviable roof terrace, perfect for relaxation with its whimsical astroturf and views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Completing the top floor of the residence is a built-in window bench with serene outlooks.
On the entry level of the home, beyond the formal main entry and past the stairway, rests the office. The home office, which could also serve as a family room, is a cool, quiet, stylish space with a bay window and a series of built-ins. A peaceful bedroom with plentiful windows and a nearby bath are secluded on the rear of the home. A discreet rear stairway affords access from the entry level to the breakfast nook above.
An additional bedroom, an office/lounge space, and extra storage are located on the home’s lowest level, accessible via the rear stairway. The incredibly private rear garden, accessed from the lower level, is surrounded by mature landscaping, including a wall of hydrangeas, and enjoys a built-in spa and seating bench, creating a serene garden oasis.
The garage accommodates two vehicles and includes built-in shelving for storage and direct access into the home.
3041 Divisadero St is located on the western side of Cow Hollow and is perfectly positioned near the restaurants and shops along Chestnut St and the Presidio National Park.
Last week my parents and I planned an impromptu trip to Kentucky, and it happened that the Ark Encounter opened in time for us to go. If you get a chance to see this magnificent reproduction of Noah’s ark, you should!
The ark is built according to the size specifications God gave Noah in the Bible. Once we were inside, we enjoyed many educational displays that anticipate logistical questions about animals and the actual building process that I’d never considered. There is also plenty of information that explains how scientific evidence supports a catastrophic, world-wide flood as described in the Bible.
One display that stood out to me contained a plethora of children’s books that depict Noah’s ark in a cartoon-like fashion. The idea is that such portrayals actually mislead people into believing that Noah’s story is simply a myth. I’d never considered that perspective and appreciated the challenge to my thinking.
My favorite part of the ark was the living quarters. The artists took some creative license when developing this area, but it was fun to see how Noah and his family might have lived.
During my visit, I ran into a fellow writer friend, Elizabeth Van Tassel, who was visiting with her husband and sons. Elizabeth created a YouTube video of her experience at the ark, and you can check it out here.
Emzara’s Kitchen is an affordable place for families to eat, so it’s worth including in your plans.
It was special seeing you there Marissa! I agree about the living quarters, which really brought Noah and his family to life.
It was fun to see you too!
Llandaff North Rugby Sports and Social Club Ltd.
The Directors would be interested hear from anyone interested in taking an active role on the Board.
This invitation is also extended to anyone with a desire to contribute towards club management, but perhaps without the responsibility of Board Membership.
Should you wish to do so, please forward your name and where you would like to be involved to Keith Davies at the email address below, by 10.00pm Wednesday 24th May 2017.
Have you hired Gardenway School Age Program? Write a review and earn our First to Review badge.
Gardenway School Age Program has not added any photos.
Important: This product does not include the techniques used in the performance video. Instead, it includes a similar looking, much more practical variation of the effect.
Copyright ©2012 Magicians: The Gathering (DarkSleightZ) - It's eS productions. All Rights Reserved.
I figured it out but still a awsome trick.
However, reversedmagic, if you think you figured it out, I would like to tell you that you are probably wrong. Even the product we sell is (as mentioned) not of what you see in the performance video. It does have the exact same possibilities though.
For instance, do you think that the performance involves palming? Yes? Well.. nope, sorry, it doesn't.
oh goodness, i really don't want to see those generic "i know how you did it" YouTube comments on here.. I thought you were safe from those on here Mark! :P Also... am I not considered an active member anymore? I only see the standard price or is there no member discount for this one?
Theheron, be sure you are logged in before entering the Store section. It still shows all discounts for you.
Why was another deck used to make a selection...?
Awesome trick! i think i'm going to buy it!
A little question : the price is 2$ and i live in France so i pay in € so what do i have to do to buy it with paypall?
If you already have a paypal account, then the currency conversion will automatically occur, so you don't have to worry about that.
If you don't and you want to register for one, you need at least have a debit or a credit card, unless someone else already put some money in your paypal account (which makes you not require the debit or credit card when paying).
Do you also have information about how and when do we have the video after paying please ?
After paying, you will receive an e-mail with all necessary information automatically. You then login and download your purchased files.
In case it doesn't tell you how much time there is left before the download is finished, you can check the product thread and see how big the file actually is.
Hope that answers it all.
How big of group are we talking about?
And if you have to, you can do it angle proof easily.
Got it! Amazing as always, Mark!
Delivering an effective presentation Study guide If possible, stand up in a room and deliver your presentation to the walls.
This document briefly describes how to write and deliver a formal oral presentation on an academic or professional Why are you delivering this oral presentation?
15 Strategies for Giving Oral Presentations Still, there’s no need to lose your breakfast (or lunch or dinner) over your upcoming presentation.
This past weekend, we took a trip with D's parents to a distillery. In fact, it is the only whiskey distillery in the state! Sons of Liberty opened in 2011, and originally released a whiskey and they called it Uprising. D's dad had picked some up last summer for D's bachelor party, and it was such a smooth whiskey, and they really enjoyed it.
So, when we first got to the distillery, we were greeted by Danny, who is the sales manager, but also does tours when he's not on the road. He showed us through the distillery, which actually isn't that big, but the key thing to it is that it is efficient. Danny explained that they make their whiskey from beer. He showed us the four types of hops that they use to brew the beer, and explained that the only difference between the four types is how long they are roasted, similar to coffee beans.
Next, he had us open up the lids to the holding containers, where the beer was fermenting. The first container had such a strong smell, almost like tequila, but that's because it hadn't been distilled a second time yet. The second container was really cool, because it smelled like beer, and you could actually see the active yeast on the top fermenting the beer.
Next on the tour was the roasting pot, where they roast the hops to get the flavors that they want, and then add in the water to start the distilling process.
Next, we were shown the actual still where the whiskey is made. The thing is huge, and was custom designed by the owner of Sons of Liberty, Michael, and the company that he designed the still with is now selling them on the floor. As you can tell from the picture below, the still is large enough to actually get into, which they do every so often for cleaning. The four windows that you see on the pipe allow you to see the level of which the liquid is at, and there are gauges all over the different pipes so that they can read the levels of alcohol.
Danny also talked with us about how they make their vodka, which is done using the same machines that they use to make the whiskey. For their flavored vodkas, they use all natural ingredients and actually do all of the work themselves. One of their flavored vodkas is Mint Cucumber, and they sat around together and zested over 500 cucumbers by hand and de-stemmed mint leaves just to create the flavor. They were actually asking if we knew of any different cucumber recipes that they could use because after their zesting parties, they have all these unused cucumber cores and don't know what to do with them!
After our tour was over, we went up to the bar to do the tasting. You may know that I'm not really a drinker, so I was unsure of how much I would enjoy the process. But, I really enjoyed it. The bartender, Brian, was great, and was so helpful in giving us information about the different spirits.
We tried the Uprising Whiskey, which we had all already had before, and while it was too strong for my liking, since I don't really do hard alcohols, especially whiskey, it was smoother than others I have had before.
We were also told about the different seasonal spirits that they make. Last year, they made a Single Malt Whiskey, and sold all 900 bottles that they made. Another seasonal flavor that they created was the Pumpkin Spice Whiskey which was apparently also a really big hit. Danny, the salesman, told us that as of three weeks ago, there were only 4 bottles left in the state! I was really looking forward to trying that one, since I love pumpkin, but they didn't even have a bottle for themselves!
After the whiskies, we moved onto the vodkas. I'm not a huge fan of vodka, but I must say that I did really enjoy these. The regular vodka was strong, but still was good. The seasonal vodkas, however, were my favorite. The first one was the Mint Cucumber Vodka, which I mentioned previously. You really get a strong cucumber flavor at the first taste, but the after taste is where the mint comes in. It's such a fresh taste, especially for me not liking cucumber! Brian told us that making a mojito with this vodka would be perfect because of the mint, but would also add a little surprise in there with the cucumber flavoring.
The second vodka was my absolute favorite! It's Dark Chocolate and Vanilla Bean Vodka. The smell of it is just so chocolatey, but the after taste is where you really get the vanilla flavor. Danny wanted us to taste it in a mixed drink, so he ended up taking some and mixing it up with Rum Chata, which is a Caribbean Rum with real Dairy Cream. When you originally smell it, it smells like carrot cake, which I just happen to love. The Rum Chata really brought out the vanilla flavor, and it was absolutely delicious! I loved it, and ended up taking D's too, since he's not a fan of carrot cake, and didn't really enjoy the combination.
That was the last drink that we sampled, and our experience at Sons of Liberty was awesome. We will definitely be going back, because the staff and experience were awesome! Part of the tasting was the Sons of Liberty glass, which has already gotten great use, because I went to the liquor store the next day and stocked up. I got a bottle of the Dark Chocolate and Vanilla Bean Vodka, and a small bottle of the Rum Chata, so I could make my own drinks.
While I was at the liquor store, I also walked over to the whiskey section and as I was browsing, I found the Pumpkin Spice whiskey sitting on the top shelf! We were told that this liquor store was one of the ones that still had it, but given that those numbers were accurate three weeks ago, I was skeptical that it would still be on the shelf. We really lucked out though! We ended up trying that one out too, and it was really good! I'm looking forward to Fall so I can enjoy some seasonal drinks with it.
So that was our trip to the distillery. If any of you are local or will be traveling through the area, I highly recommend that you check this place out. I doubt that you will be disappointed.
I have been excited to paint rooms since before the day we started looking at houses. Painting your house just helps so much to make it more personal and feel homey. I tend to do all of my house planning on my computer or iPad, but with paint colors, you really should do that with paint chips, as monitor lighting can change the look of a color drastically.
But, since I'm so technology obsessed, I did a little of both. Knowing what colors I wanted to use, I checked out the Sherwin-Williams website and started picking out colors that I knew I wanted to use. You have already seen the Family Room design plan, so you know that I picked those colors out a while back.
Already having this room set, I knew that choosing the other colors for the first floor had to be done carefully, since the purple and the yellow are so bold. To make the color choices really easy to see, I decided to insert them onto the floor plan of the house. This is really helpful when choosing paint colors for your house, because you don't want all of the colors that you choose to end up clashing or looking terrible.
There were some things that I already knew what color I wanted, so those were easy. I new that I wanted gray and orange in my craft room, which will be in the smaller bedroom. That was an easy choice. Next was the front door, and after seeing the picture below, I knew I had to have a deep purple door. And the plus side of having a purple door is that it will match with the new paint on the exterior of the house, the new roof, and the stone work that is currently on the outside of the house.
A common color that will be used throughout the house, in both furniture and paint, is white. Unfortunately, that doesn't help narrow down many color choices for us, so I thought about things that inspired me. I found a navy blue duvet cover at Target while I was picking up the side table for the Family Room, and since it was on clearance, I bought it. This ended up becoming the inspiration piece for the navy blue, green, and white color palette in the bigger bedroom in the corner, which will end up being a guest bedroom.
To match with the front door, I wanted a lighter contrasting color, so I decided to go with two different shades of green, and I have plans to do vertical stripes along both hallways above the chair molding and paneling. The full bathroom on this floor is almost entirely brown, which I think needs to change. So I chose a beautiful shade of teal that I think will complement the space and design perfectly.
The last room on this floor was the Living Room. Since this space is so huge, we plan to use it as both a living area and a more formal dining area. I had originally picked out a light blue and a dark coral for this room, but after lining everything up on the floor plan, I realized that the coral color really clashed with the orange. So, after pulling some colors that I have already used in other rooms, I finally found the color palette for the entire first floor.
I know there are a lot of colors there, but I'm not afraid of it being too much. I'm just so excited to start painting and decorating. I can't wait to actually be proud to show off our home!
A few months back, I got a call at work from my mom, who was at home, and she said that the fire alarms had gone off three times so far that morning. Apparently when they decide to go off, they not only make that annoying and loud beeping noise, but there's also a woman's voice that starts saying "fire" over and over again. Except she doesn't say it like you and I would normally. She really emphasizes the second syllable, so it's more like "fi-YER." Kind of funny, actually. But anyways, the fire department came and checked everything out, and cleared the house, saying that there were no fire or carbon monoxide issues.
The fire alarms didn't go off again... until my dad got home from work a few hours later. My dad did some investigating, and found that one of the smoke/carbon detectors seemed to be the one triggering the others, so he took it down, and that seemed to have stopped the problems.
I called our electrician and he came over and took a look at the system and realized that not all of the detectors were linked into the same electrical system, which is apparently required for insurance purposes. Also, there were no detectors in any of the bedrooms, and some of them were battery operated.
We ended up scheduling a time for him to rewire the fire alarms, and add in new ones where they were needed, and we hadn't had any issues since then.
I was at work once again, so my mom and my sister did some investigating, and there was one that was triggering the others again. They disconnected it from the ceiling and the others haven't triggered on again, so it looks like we have another culprit. I'm going to have to buy a replacement at the hardware store this weekend to see if that solves some problems.
Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Are we doing the right thing by unplugging the culprit? It just makes me nervous because it doesn't seem like those things should just go off without there being an issue, you know? Help!
You've heard me mention a few times before that we have a great desire to renovate our kitchen. But, that's at least two years down the line, as there are other things that we would like to get done first. In the meantime, however, we want to do something that makes it look a little better and to personalize it a bit. The thing that I hate the most about our kitchen is the backsplash. It's this really ugly peach colored ceramic tile that has a few printed tiles laid into the design. Some of them have wine bottles and grapes on them, and that is definitely not our style.
I started researching cheap and easy alternatives to change this out, as we don't want something that will be too involved or expensive, as it will likely be changed again in a few years when we completely renovate the kitchen. I looked at a few different materials.
The first one that I found was AirStone. AirStone is a product that is made from recycled materials, and is meant to look like actual stones. They come in a variety of sizes, and adhere to the surface that you want to place them on via an adhesive mortar. These look awesome, but for the amount that we would need, it would be just over $100, and while that is still really inexpensive, it was more than we wanted to spend.
The second material that I looked at was Tin Ceiling Tiles, which are also adhesive. These come in great textures, colors, and patterns, but the price for a single tile was way more expensive than we wanted. Plus, I wasn't so sure about how good a shiny metal backsplash would look against a matte finish Corian countertop.
The last material I found was vinyl floor tile. With the vinyl floor tile, you have the option of going with a solid color, or choosing one with dimension and different textures. Another benefit of the vinyl was that it was cheap, it was adhesive, like the other materials, and it didn't require additional caulking.
With this in mind, we went over to Lowes this weekend and picked out a few different colors and patterns and bought sample tiles to bring home and test against the cabinets and countertops. The samples are actually real tiles, which you can purchase from as little as $.88 or as much as $2.25. We ended up coming home with 7 different tiles, and chose which one we were going to go with less than two minutes after leaning them up over the existing backsplash.
The one that we ended up choosing was the most expensive one, of course. Everything that I like always ends up costing a million dollars, but in this case, we're still going to end up right where we wanted to be budget wise. Even though these tiles are $2.25 each, they are 18"x18", instead of 12"x12", Which means that we won't need to buy as many cases and there will be much less cutting involved since the height of our backsplash is 18".
So, you can see that the tile has a lot of gray, so it will go with the white cabinets and the stainless steel appliances, but it also has some tans and browns in it, so it will go with the countertops, too. We have plans to paint this room this summer, so the gray that we have chosen for that will match as well.
What do you think? Do you think this small change will make a drastic difference in our kitchen? I am so looking forward to doing this, and don't worry, I'll make you all a DIY!!
When D and I moved back to RI from Indiana, we sold our living room furniture, and trashed the 23+ year old couch and love seat that were gifted to us from D's parents. They had seen much better days! We were going to be living with them, and didn't need living room furniture, plus, most of the stuff was hand-me-down and mismatched anyways.

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