United States begins testing equipment for demolition of a major VX nerve gas stockpile

Saturday, May 7, 2005

Testing began on a chemical reactor at the Newport Chemical Depot near Terre Haute, Indiana on Friday morning. If successful, the reactor will be put to use destroying the large VX nerve gas stockpiles stored at the facility over the course of the next two years. After the disposal project experienced several delays, the facility announced it would begin pumping VX into a completed disposal unit for testing. The unit consists of a chemical reactor in which the VX will be mixed with water and sodium hydroxide, heated to 194°F while mixed with paddles. The resulting chemical, called hydrolysate, is chemically similar to commercial drain cleaners and has similar properties. If the test is successfully completed , the unit will continue processing the VX until the entire stockpile has been neutralized, a process projected to take two years. Administrators expect to complete testing on May 10, 2005.

According to the controversial plan, the finished waste product would be shipped to New Jersey for final reprocessing. The inert chemical would then be emptied into the Delaware River where natural attenuation would occur.

Residents near the proposed river disposal site in New Jersey oppose this idea. The contractor for the final component of this disposal would be the DuPont Corporation.

NCD is a bulk chemical storage and destruction facility in west central Indiana, thirty miles north of Terre Haute. Originally founded during World War II to produce RDX, a conventional explosive, it later became a site for chemical weapons manufacturing during the Cold War. It is now used to securely store and gradually neutralize part of the US stockpile of VX.

VX was manufactured by the U.S. in the 1950s and 60’s as a deterrent to possible Soviet Union use. It was never deployed, and the manufacture was halted in 1969 after an order signed by then-president Richard Nixon.

In 1999, the Army announced it awarded a disposal contract to Parsons Infrastructure & Technology, Inc., a business unit of Parsons Corporation. Some 220 civilian Parsons employees work at the facility, which is supervised by an Army officer reporting to the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency, and a board of civilian government overseers called the Indiana Citizens’ Advisory Commission, some of whose members are appointed by the state governor.

Security at the facility is controversial. A private security service, supplemented by a complement of Indiana National Guard soldiers, guarded the facility until April 14, 2005, when the soldiers were withdrawn. An Indianapolis television station has questioned security measures in some of its special reports.

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Mad Hatter Costume Ideas

Submitted by: Chrisqe Powers

Which Mad Hatter Halloween Costume to Choose

All of us love Alice in Wonderland. Don’t we? Different personalities and characters is what grab our attention. And when speaking about characters, there can be no other than the wacky and funny Mad Hatter. Yes, the Matter Hatter is one of the craziest characters portrayed in this classic tale. Given to the fact that Time Burton has developed this wonderful character, people just love to remember this weird fellow, and this is what makes Mad Hatter Halloween costume the best choice this October 31st.

Alice in Wonderland has been noted as the most treasured fantasy story. And the character of the Mad Hatter in this classic proves to be most clever one. His funny and wacky style is what entertains everyone. These are some reasons why they are the must have outfit this year. If you happen to be in love with fantasy stories, then its time to try out some of the most incredible outfits of this zany character.

According to sources, the Mad Hatter Halloween Costume types are the most sought-after outfits this year Halloween. It’s because of this crazy character that makes the Mad Hatter Halloween costume so special and incredible. There are wide varieties of outstanding costumes available on the Internet. And each one comes in a different style and color. Let’s find out what’s in stock for you.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEjXSNLzzWE[/youtube]

Mad Hatter Coats

You can easily distinguish a Mad Hatter Plush coat. These are generally long length coats which add a special look and stand unique to this character. A Plush coat can really be a wonderful addition to the Mad Hatter Halloween costume range. They are colorful, dashing and comes in various styles for a person to select from. Altogether, they are unique and special coats which offer a distinguished and dashing look. With the use of those over-sized bow ties they particularly look elegant and neat.

Bizarre Hats

There can be no other fascinating way to celebrate this Halloween. The unusual top that the real character always wears is few of the wonderful Mat Hatter Halloween Costume types put on sale this year. You can find each of these peculiar hats in various style and color. The hats range from blue to brown, emerald green and are especially of the top variety. These curious Mat Hatter Halloween hats can grab the crowd’s attention and can be the most significant aspect of the Hatter costume.

Be the best dressed character of the Alice in Wonderland. Whether it’s the fantastic velvet hat, including yellow or black tag or the emerald green hat with orange strip, make sure to add to the stylish yet crazy look.

Best Fit

Available in different sizes, you can be sure to get the great fit. Comfort is the key factor to consider when it’s about buying a great costume. Halloween is the right time for festivities and partying. Materials and fabrics used to create these costumes are of superior quality and can be cut to get the well-fitting look.

Make the best out of the Mad Hatter Halloween Costume ideas and be sure to buy the year’s most favorite outfit. Get a complete Alice in Wonderland look for your family, this Halloween, by selecting costumes with precision. For your kids, you can have Mad Hatter Child Costume, for ladies you have Women Adult Costume or Tea Party Costume and yes for men there are quite a few craziest costumes to check out. One of them can be the charming yellow jacket with matching tie, blue vest and a jabot. You even get green velvety pants included in this ensemble.

About the Author: Chris is a

squidoo.com/madhatter-halloween-costumeenthusiast

. He has been following the designs and the Mad Hatter Outfits since they burst on the scene with Alice in Wonderland.

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=624174&ca=Entertainment

Mumbai officials demolish 39K shanties; 200K homeless

December 25, 2004

Officials in Mumbai, India, demolished over 6,000 shanties today in a push to eradicate the capital city’s slums. In total, 39,000 shanties have been flattened, displacing over 200,000 people, in the city’s biggest-ever demolition drive, which began in early December.

When complete, over 2 million people are expected to be displaced. After wiping out the least desirable shanties, next in line for demolition are the illegal ‘well-off’ shanties and neighborhoods, according to the legal and bureaucratic motions that have been executed toward cleaning up Mumbai’s appearance by lowering the dominance of shanties, which make up 62 percent of Mumbai’s housing.

“As far as eye can see, there are mounds of wood, tin and tarpaulin, the remains of 6,200 illegal homes, flattened by a heavy excavator running on tank-like tracks and giant motorised claws,” the Indian Express reported about today’s destruction. [1]

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said that citizens would see a change within six months. “Every chief minister likes to be remembered, and I’m no exception,” said Deshmukh, who despite having an empty exchequer, also announced that Rs 31,000 crore will be spent on new roads, sea links and rail lines. [2]

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Iranian International Master Dorsa Derakhshani discusses her chess career with Wikinews

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

In February 2017, the Iranian Chess Federation announced two teenage chess players, Dorsa Derakhshani and her younger brother Borna Derakhshani, were banned from representing the national team. The federation announced their decision although Dorsa Derakhshani had previously decided and informed the chess federation she did not wish to play for Iran.

Dorsa Derakhshani is currently 21 years old and holds the International Master (IM) as well as Woman Grand Master (WGM) titles. Her brother, Borna, plays for the English Federation and holds the FIDE Master title.

Dorsa Derakhshani was banned since she did not wear a hijab, an Islamic headscarf, while competing at the Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival in January 2017. Under the laws of Islamic Republic of Iran, hijab is a mandatory dress code. Her brother Borna Deraskhsani was banned for playing against Israeli Grand Master (GM) Alexander Huzman at the same tournament. Iran does not recognise the existence of Israel, and previously, Irani athletes have avoided playing against Israeli athletes.

Mehrdad Pahlavanzadeh, the president of the country’s chess federation, explained the decision to ban the players saying, “As a first step, these two will be denied entry to all tournaments taking place in Iran and in the name of Iran, they will no longer be allowed the opportunity to be present on the national team.” ((fa))Farsi language: ?????? ????? ?? ??? ??? ?? ??? ????? ?? ?? ???? ???????? ?? ?? ????? ? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ??????? ????? ??????? ? ???? ???? ???? ?? ??? ??? ?? ??????? ????. He further stated, “Unfortunately, something that should not have happened has happened and our national interest is paramount and we have reported this position to the Ministry of Sports.” ((fa))Farsi language: ????????? ?????? ?? ????? ????????? ?????? ??? ? ????? ??? ?? ?? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ? ?? ??? ???? ?? ?? ????? ???? ?? ????? ?????.

IM Dorsa Derakhshani, who currently studies at Saint Louis University in the United States and plays for the United States Chess Federation, discussed her chess career, time in Iran and the 2017 controversy, and her life in Saint Louis with a Wikinews correspondent.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Iranian_International_Master_Dorsa_Derakhshani_discusses_her_chess_career_with_Wikinews&oldid=4573940”

Fur fans flock to Toronto’s Furnal Equinox 2019

Monday, March 25, 2019

From March 15 to 17, the Canadian city of Toronto played host to the tenth Furnal Equinox, an annual event dedicated to the “furry fandom.” Wikinews attended. Programming ranged from music to gender, science to art, covering dozens of aspects of the varied subculture. The event’s featured guests were visual artists Moth Monarch and Cat-Monk Shiro, as well as the co-owners of US fursuit costume builders Don’t Hug Cacti.

The event raised nearly CDN$11,000 for Pet Patrol, a non-profit rescue organization in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, run by volunteers. This exceeded their goal of $10,000, the funds needed to finish a rural sanctuary. The furry community is well-known for their charitable efforts. Along with direct donations, the funds were raised through a charity auction offering original artwork, and a fursuit design by guests of honour “Don’t Hug Cacti.” Last year, Furnal Equinox raised funds for a farm animal sanctuary.

While only 10–15% of people within the fandom own a fursuit according to a 2011 study, event organizers reported this year 908 of the 2240 attendees at Furnal Equinox brought at least one elaborate outfit to the event. The outfits are usually based on original characters, known as “fursonas”.

Guests of Honour Cherie and Sean O’Donnell, known within the community as “Lucky and Skuff Coyote”, held a session on fursuit construction on Saturday afternoon. The married couple are among the most prominent builders in the fandom, under the name Don’t Hug Cacti. The scale of their business was evident, as Sean had made over a thousand pairs of “handpaws”, costume gloves.

The couple encouraged attendees to continue developing their technique, sharing that all professional fursuit makers had developed different techniques. They felt that they learned more from failed projects than successful ones, citing the Chuck Jones quote that “every artist has thousands of bad drawings,” and that you have to work through them to achieve. Cherie, known as Lucky, recalled receiving a Sylvester the Cat plush toy from a Six Flags theme park at age 10. She promptly hollowed the toy out, turning it into a costume. Creating a costume isn’t without its hazards: the company uses 450°F (232°C) glue guns. They’re “like sticking your hand in an oven.”

Other programming included improv comedy, dances, life drawing of fursuiters, a review of scientific research by a research group at four universities called FurScience, a pin collector’s social, and workshops in writing.

The “Dealer’s Den” hall was expanded this year, with even more retailers and artists. While many offered “furry” versions of traditional products, at least one business focused on “pushing the boundaries of fursuit technology.” Along with 3D printing a bone-shaped name tag when Wikinews visited, Grivik was demonstrating miniature computer screens that could be used as “eyes” for a fursuit. The electronic displays projected an animation of eyes looking around, blinking occasionally. The maker has also developed “a way to install a camera inside suit heads, to improve fursuiter visibility.” He hopes the tech would reduce suiting risks and accidents. Without the need for eyeholes, fursuit makers would have “more options for building different eyestyles.”

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Fur_fans_flock_to_Toronto%27s_Furnal_Equinox_2019&oldid=4564835”

Improve The Value Of Your Home By Replacing The Garage Door

byadmin

If your current garage door has seen better days; perhaps the kids have thrown one too many baseballs at it or you have bumped it with the car one too many times, garage door replacement in Evanston is a relatively inexpensive and painless way to improve the value of your home.

Replacing your garage door for a reasonable price is an excellent way to boost the curb appeal for your home. Add this to the fact that the door on your garage takes up as much as 20 percent of the visible façade of your home and you can quickly see why a worn-out, beat up and damaged garage door is a serious liability.

Choosing the right door:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjSUxi7TkPQ[/youtube]

There are four basic types of garage doors; they swing up, swing out, roll up or slide to one side or the other. Although a swing out door is ideal if your garage has limited headroom, the most popular garage door replacement in Evanston is a roll-up sectional unit.

Choosing the right style:

With the wide variety of garage doors that are available it should not be a problem finding one which suits the style of your home to a “T.” If you live in an older home, a Craftsman bungalow for example you may like swing out doors that were popular at the time. Garage door manufacturers today have roll-up doors available that absolutely mimic the originals; they even have faux strap iron hinges and handles.

Most replacement garage doors, regardless of whether they are contemporary or traditional feature detailing such as panels and trim. Many have glass panels across the top; this provides natural light into the garage and adds considerably to the looks.

Choosing the right material:

Wood has charm and authenticity that is hard to beat. Wood doors can be made to suit any size opening, bear in mind that many years ago garage doors were not as standardized as they are today. The only downside to wood is maintenance; they have to be panted or finished frequently.

If you do not want to deal with maintenance, then steel is the better choice. Steel doors are reasonably priced and tough.

If you are looking for a company that focuses on garage door replacement in Evanston then you are welcome to contact the garage door pros at Roberts Garage Door Professionals of Chicago.

Website of Bill O’Reilly, FOX News commentator, hacked in retribution

Saturday, September 20, 2008

According to document-leaking website Wikileaks.org hackers bypassed security at BillOreilly.com, the official website of Fox News Channel commentator Bill O’Reilly, exposing personal information of the site’s users in a document posted on the Internet.

The one page document, which Wikileaks confirms to be authentic, shows a list of individuals and passwords of those who have accounts on O’Reilly’s website, BillOReilly.com. The list, according to the document, contains at least 205 names, e-mail addresses, billing addresses and passwords of subscribers.

“The hack was a response to the pundit’s recent scurrilous attacks over the Sarah Palin‘s email story–including on Wikileaks and other members of the press,” said Wikileaks in a statement on their website. According to the report, the security on O’Reilly’s website was “non-existent”.

“I’m not going to mention the website that posted this, but it’s one of those despicable, slimy, scummy websites. Everybody knows where this stuff is, OK, and they know the people who run the website, so why can’t they go there tonight to the guy’s house who runs it, put him in cuffs and take him down and book him?,” said O’Reilly on his show, The O’Reilly Factor, on September 18.

Wikileaks recently published documents from Palin’s hacked Yahoo.com e-mail account. The documents had shown that Palin had been conducting matters pertaining to the public or government of Alaska over her private e-mail account.

In an exclusive statement to Wikinews, Wikileaks stated that they will only publish the single page, but also claim to have several more. Wikileaks also states that they have already received “three letters” from staff members employed by O’Reilly “requesting” Wikileaks remove the document, which Wikileaks refuses to do.

“We simply cannot [remove the information]. The system, as per policy, is designed so that files can not be taken down, once up,” said Wikileaks to Wikinews.

O’Reilly and Fox News have not yet responded to inquiries.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Website_of_Bill_O%27Reilly,_FOX_News_commentator,_hacked_in_retribution&oldid=4519883”

Jamaica: Violence kills at least 30

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Authorities in Jamaica say that gunfights in the capital Kingston have left at least 30 people dead, as hundreds of troops and police search for an alleged drug kingpin wanted by the US. At least 25 people were injured as well.

The violence has been triggered by the Jamaican government’s efforts to extradite Christopher “Dudus” Coke, the alleged leader of the “Shower Posse” group. Armed security forces stormed the Tivoli Gardens slum of western Kingston on Monday in an effort to locate Coke, who has not been found. Last week, Coke’s supporters barricaded the area in an attempt to thwart his arrest.

The trouble has forced the closure of schools and businesses across the capital, and the government has appealed for blood donations for the wounded. A state of emergency is in effect for parts of Kingston.

The US has issued a travel alert to warn citizens against visiting the island nation. Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding has promised “strong and decisive” action to restore order.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Jamaica:_Violence_kills_at_least_30&oldid=4503873”

‘Top Model’ winner Jaslene Gonzalez on her career and being a Latina role model

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Jaslene Gonzalez is not your typical model. She rose to fame after winning Cycle 8 of America’s Next Top Model, and since then, has been aggressively tapping into the fashion industry. As a result of her Latin background, Gonzalez has been successful at marketing herself both in the English-speaking and Spanish-speaking worlds. However, Gonzalez is much much more – a fighter, a humanitarian, and a good Latin granddaughter.

Born in Chicago to a Latina mother, and a Puerto Rican-born father, Gonzalez had, in many ways, a typical U.S. Latino experience – her tight knit family, grandparents, and spirituality played an intrinsic part in her upbringing.

“I went to an all-girl Catholic school and grew up with tons of family…..My family was very close knit and supportive. They were involved in my life everyday. So there was so much joy in every little occasion…..Every Sunday we would go to my grandmother’s house where we [the family] would hang out together….We enjoyed being around each other and being together,” states Gonzalez.

Her grandfather was the director of a local dance group, Viva La Gente, which Gonzalez credits with impacting her life positively.

“I was a dancer for 12 years and life revolved around dancing. I was a very active girl, and was always involved with my grandfather’s dance studio. The whole family was. My aunts, my cousins – everyone took part in performances and were involved in the group…That’s how we spent our summers, and we looked forward to being outside, dancing salsa, hip hop, merengue,” states Gonzalez. Through her involvement in the dance studio, Gonzalez’s horizon was broadened significantly, and her humanitarian streak began to deepen.

“We were always constantly traveling. We traveled to Mexico to poor villages where we gave performances to give back to the community,” said Gonzalez.

Ironically, ANTM gave her the opportunity to overcome her own difficulties and to further help those in need. “I went in there, without knowing that I was in an abusive relationship. They were the ones that brought that up to me…they felt I was emotionally destroyed, they wanted me to get support,” commented Gonzalez. While the ANTM staff was supportive, she also credits her life long dream for helping her get out of the abusive relationship.

“Having a dream and having a goal in life, is the most important thing I did in my life. Because of that I maneuvered my way to that dream. I knew I was better than that, I wanted to be happier,” stated Gonzalez.

Soon after winning ANTM, Gonzalez became a spokesperson for Liz Claiborne and the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and began traveling the country reaching out to women.

“We had several meetings, and they asked me to be a spokesperson. I was so happy and blessed to help women, to have that title. It’s something I want to do, besides modelling….I enjoy sharing my personal experiences because I can educate them, but I can also save someone’s life. It’s something precious, it’s a gift,” stated Gonzalez.

Abuse is not the only obstacle Jaslene has had to face. Growing up Latina had its own set of difficulties. “Being a minority is a challenge no matter what,” states Gonzalez.

However, Gonzalez also states that being a Latina has many positive aspects in regards to her profession. “As a Latina, you have the advantage of being a Latina. Not only do you have this corporate job, but you can relate to many groups as a person.”

When asked if the fashion industry forces Latina models to change certain aspects about themselves, she remarks that she focuses on always staying true to herself. “Modeling is a difficult job because of what you go through. 80% of the time it’s a no…When I go in, I go in like me, I don’t have to change anything. Any time I get a chance to show who I am, I do. I am a Spanish girl, trying to pursue my dreams. I try to be the best I can be,” remarked Gonzalez.

It is that same confidence and will to succeed that she seems to appreciate in other woman. “I find women beautiful. I find a girl with no makeup, not worrying about her style and appearance, I find that sexy. I find confidence beautiful…Its so simple. It’s being natural and confident,” said Gonzalez.

As a role model, she has two key pieces advice that she offers women: nurture your mind with positive thoughts, and identify and foster the principles in life you value.

It is not surprising to see why Gonzalez’s family is proud of her. “My family is so funny. They are so happy. I’ve never seen them so full of life. My mom acts like she won. My grandmother screams ‘mi flaca‘ every time she sees me. They are so proud. Especially my grandparents. I was practically raised by them. To see them see you so happy and successful, there couldn’t be a better feeling,” said Gonzalez.

She adds that her grandparents would be extremely happy if she appeared on Cristina, the Spanish-language talk show whose host is referred to as “the Spanish Oprah Winfrey.”

In the coming years, Gonzalez plans to continue on the path she is on. She wants to continue gracing magazine covers, as well as dedicating herself to helping young teens develop self growth and esteem. “Every time I wake up, God gives me the opportunity to be a better me…Life gets better as it goes by.”

This is the third in a series of articles with America’s Next Top Model contestants.

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Three Tips For Successful First Dates In Houston

byAlma Abell

You’re going on your first date and just as you did when you were a teenager, you feel the butterflies filling up in your stomach. It’s natural to be nervous when going out on Dates In Houston, but if you just remember not to sweat the small stuff, you’ll be just fine. Keep in mind realize that it’s going to take time to get to know the person, and dates are just one way of doing that. So inhale, exhale, and consider these tips for dating succes.

Learn Safe Dating Practices

At the top of the list is safety. Whether you met the person through a matchmaker, online dating site, or just passing by, they are essentially a stranger. With that being said, you want to make sure that you’re smart while Dates In Houston until you get to know them a bit better. Some safety tips might include finding a local place to meet, driving your own car to the meeting place, and not going anywhere unfamiliar with the person on the first date.

Don’t Try to Over Impress

When going on Dates In Houston, remember to be yourself. Sure it is normal to not want to eat as much as you would by yourself, or to be worried about saying the wrong things, but trying to be someone that you’re not simply to impress your date is not ideal. Being true to who you are allows them to get to know you and determine whether you’re a good fit for their love.

Balance Talking and Listening

It is important to find a good balance between talking and listening. A lot of people who go out on Dates In Houston find that this is a hard balance to find. You don’t want to talk too much about yourself or you seem self absorbed but you don’t want to be so silent that you appear boring or uninterested. It’s good to talk about yourself, your likes, your dislikes, and even a bit about your family, but make sure you’re giving the other person a chance to talk.

Remembering these three dating tips will certainly help to improve your chances of getting a second date. Remember, this is supposed to be an exciting time. Worrying too much could throw out the wrong vibes can cause you to miss out on a great person. Be safe, be yourself, and be open to what lies ahead.