Monthly Archives: September 2021

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New Delhi: The 70-year-old Naval aviation, which started as a fledgling Fleet Requirement Unit with ten amphibian Sealand aircraft in 1953, is set to be awarded the Presidents Colour, the highest honour bestowed on a military unit in recognition of its exceptional service to the nation.

Incidentally, the Indian Navy was the first amongst the three Services to be awarded the Presidents Colour on 27 May 1951 by the then President of India Dr Rajendra Prasad.

While the Navy is often associated with the ships, the aviation wing has emerged as an integral part of the naval operations, both defensive and offensive in nature.

For supremacy or control of the Indian Ocean, naval aviation is very important, former Navy chief Admiral Prakash (retd)told ThePrint.

The retired officer, who is one of the four Navy chiefs to come from the flying branch, a list that also includes current chief Admiral Karambir Singh, says that while post World War II, many countries could not afford naval aviation, India along with the major powers focussed on it.

There is no doubt that the Navy is all about the ships. However, helicopters have merged as an integral part of a surface vessel in the last 30 years or so, Admiral Prakash said. The first defence of a surface ship is its on board helicopter. The helicopters these days are equipped with missiles, depth chargers and torpedoes which counter the threat.

He further explained that while a ship can detect a submarine at a range of 3-4 miles, a submarine can detect a surface vessel from about 20-30 miles. However, a naval aviation aircraft can detect both from much further distances.

The former chief explained that air power is very important and hence an aircraft carrier is able to dominate 300-350 miles around it because it is equipped with fighter aircraft.

There is the sea-borne aviation that includes the fighters and the helicopters. Then there is the land -borne naval aviation that includes the P8I aircraft which has huge reach and is used for both surveillance and anti-submarine operations, he added.

The Indian Naval Aviation came into being with acquisition of the first Sealand aircraft, an amphibious plane, on 13 January 1951. The formal birth of Naval Aviation was the Commissioning of the INS Garuda, a Naval Air Station at Kochi, on 11 May 1953.

The first Sealand (IN101) joined the Fleet Requirement Unit, which later became the first Indian Naval Air Squadron, INAS 550, on 17 June 1959 with 10 Sealand, 10 Firefly and three HT-2 aircraft.

Indias first aircraft carrier INS Vikrant was commissioned in 1961, with her integral squadrons of British Sea Hawk Jets, French Alize ASW aircraft and French Alouette III helicopters.

Induction of INS Viraat along with legendary Sea Harriers in the mid-1980s brought new strength to the carrier operations of the Navy. Now the MiG 29Ks on the INS Vikramaditya lead the way for Indias carrier operations.

The Indian Naval Aviation at present has nine air stations and three naval air enclaves along the Indian coastline and in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

It now is a force with more than 250 aircraft comprising carrier-borne fighters like the MiG 29K, maritime reconnaissance aircraft, helicopters and remotely piloted aircraft (RPA).

Over the years, different kinds of rotary wing platforms, including the Alouette, the S-55, Seaking 42A and 42B, the Kamovs, indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter and the latest in the line, the MH60R have been inducted.

Maritime reconnaissance (MR) operations of the navy also grew from the 1970s with the induction of the Super-Constellation from the Indian Air Force in 1976, the IL-38 in 1977 and the TU 142 M in 1989. The Dornier 228 was inducted in 1991 and Boeing P 8I aircraft in 2013.

Incidentally, Naval Aviators have been decorated with one Mahavir Chakra, six Vir Chakras, one Kirti Chakra, seven Shaurya Chakras, one YudhSeva Medal and a large number of Nao Sena Medals (gallantry) over the years.

(Edited by Arun Prashanth)

Also read:Army, Navy, IAF sign deals for swarm, kamikaze drones amid govt push for new tech warfare

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Naval aviation gets Presidents Colour. Heres all you need to know of the honour - ThePrint

In some cases, Port Authority workers were able to replace destroyed records with copies from outside contractors who had worked on projects as well as from the personal files of retirees and through online searches of used books.

But many items were one of a kind, like the original 1921 charter for the Port Authority and thousands of glass slides of the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad, which was later taken over by the Port Authority in a deal to get New Jerseys approval for the World Trade Center. Then known as the Hudson Tubes, it became the PATH.

Mr. Rinaldi, 72, recalled one afternoon about a month after the attacks when he was part of an emergency response and recovery team that unearthed several cardboard boxes full of archival Port Authority photos. We started grabbing them and putting them aside, he said. We were able to save many of them.

Many former Port Authority employees have also sent in photos, books, reports and letters that they had saved from their time at the agency to help recover some of the historical record. The Port Authority is a pretty tight-knit family, said Mr. Doblin. Theres a very special bond that exists.

Mr. Kelly, who retired as the agencys director of aviation in 1999, shipped a three-foot-wide bronze plaque of the Port Authority seal that was once on the lobby floor of an earlier agency headquarters, a massive terminal in Chelsea, which today houses Google. The seal was removed when the Port Authority moved to the World Trade Center.

Mr. Kelly, whose father worked as a mechanic for the Port Authority, was presented with the seal at a farewell party thrown by co-workers in the late 1970s when he changed jobs at the agency. I guess they knew I was a true-blue Port Authority person, he said.

Mr. Kelly hung the 75-pound plaque on the wall of his home den, first in New Jersey and later in Georgia. As the agency approached its centennial, Mr. Kelly decided to send the seal back. It is now displayed outside the agencys boardroom at 4 World Trade Center.

I know they lost a lot of treasured goods in that building along with a lot of treasured people, he said. I thought they should have this.

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An Urban Archive Was Lost on 9/11. This Agency Is Trying to Rebuild It. - The New York Times

A Bucks County man was sentenced to three years and four months in prison for falsely identifying as a military heroin order to receive federal government benefits, authorities said.

In July 2020, Richard Meleski, 58, pleaded guilty to one count of healthcare fraud, two counts of mail fraud, one count of stolen valor, and related charges, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The Chalfont resident was accused of fraudulently claiming to have served as an elite Navy SEAL and falsely saying that he had been captured by the enemy in order to secure healthcare benefits from the Veterans Administration worth over $300,000,Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams said.

He filed for benefits from the VA for PTSD suffered during an armed conflict in Beirut in which he rescued injured teammates.In the application, he said he had been awarded the Silver Star for his heroic actions during his time as a Navy SEAL, authorities said.

"Meleski never served a single day in the United States military and was never awarded such commendation," Williams said.

Meleski also submitted another application to the VA for benefits in which he included obituaries of actual Navy SEALs alongside whom he falsely said he had served.

Additionally, he filed for disability benefits from Social Security Administration (SSA) for injuries he claimed to have received during his time in the military, Williams said.

In addition to the prison time, he was sentenced to three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $302,121 in restitution.

"The defendant faked a record as a decorated U.S. Navy SEAL in order to collect numerous forms of taxpayer-funded compensation, Williams said.

The fact that Meleski chose to put himself ahead of true war heroes in order to take advantage of benefits designed specifically for those serving in the U.S. military is profoundly offensive. Our veterans fought for the freedoms we hold dear, and as we approach the twentieth anniversary of the attacks of 9/11 this Saturday, their sacrifices are even more meaningful. The defendants actions dishonor all of their legacies.

The case was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General, Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and it is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Megan Curran.

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Bucks Man Gets 3 Years In Prison For Pretending To Be Military Hero To Recieve Federal Benefits - Daily Voice

Nearly a year has passed since the Williamson County Board of Commissioners last voted to move forward in the process to alter the Williamson County seal, which contains a Confederate flag, but the community will have to wait until next year to know whether or not the flag could be removed, as the final hearing at the Tennessee Historical Commission has been delayed a second time to the state commissions February meeting.

This delay comes at the request of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Major Nathaniel Cheairs Camp 2138, which has petitioned to intervene in the matter before the commission. The group claimed that it needed more time for discovery before the commissions October meeting due to a planned medical procedure for its attorney.

Originally, the final hearing was scheduled for June but was delayed the first time on the request of Williamson Countys attorney due to a medical procedure.

Now, Tennessee Historical Commission will determine in February whether or not the county can alter its seal. While the commission typically would not have jurisdiction over a county seal, according to the county attorney, the Confederate flag in the upper-left quadrant of the seal is considered a public memorial that requires state approval for alteration. And that flag is at the center of this request for alteration.

In the summer of 2020, an online petition to remove the Confederate flag from the county seal, which now has over 11,500 signatures, along with a flood of emails from county residents directed the county commissions attention to the matter. After establishing a nine-member task force to determine whether or not there was substantial need to alter the seal, which unanimously recommended the removal of the flag, the county commission voted 16-7 to request of the Tennessee Historical Commission the seals alteration.

If approved by the state, the county would then have to vote on a final design for the seal.

However, the county and state commissions are not the only groups involved in the upcoming hearing. The Sons of Confederate Veterans camp has filed a petition to intervene, challenging the county task forces argument that leaving the seal unchanged could have negative economic impacts.

In its report, the task force shared that Mississippi faced negative economic impacts due to its refusal to alter its state flag, which formerly contained the Confederate flag, for so many years, noting that Williamson County could face similar consequences.

In working to create the kind of community where a talented workforce wants to live and work, it is important to ensure that anything that suggests that a community is not welcoming or inclusive is addressed, the report reads.

The Sons of Confederate Veterans camp contends that, despite the Confederate flags presence in the county seal, Williamson County is a leader in the state for economic growth.

This economic growth all occurred while the Williamson County Seal was bearing the Confederate Battle Flag, reads the camps petition to intervene. Many industries and employers have moved into Williamson County and the Seal has not prevented this record economic growth.

While the county seal certainly did not deter major companies like Nissan, Mitsubishi Motors USA and Mars Petcare from setting up camp in Williamson County, all three companies along with 13 others with local ties signed a letter to the county in support of the flags removal.

We do not believe this seal, created in 1968, represents who we are as a county today, the letter reads. This is a significant issue for our companies and employees who call Williamson County home. We believe the seal is long overdue for an update, and now is the time to take swift action to redesign the seal and remove the flag.

The Tennessee Historical Commission will vote on the matter during its next meeting on Feb. 18 at 9 a.m. For more information, visit http://www.TN.gov/historicalcommission.html.

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Hearing for county seal alteration bumped to February - williamsonherald.com

NEWBURGH Mount Saint Mary College honored the August 2021 graduates of its non-traditional Nursing program at a pinning ceremony on Wednesday, September 1.

The ceremony was presided over by Vidia Saleem, instructor of Nursing.

Dr. Jason N. Adsit, president of the college, congratulated the students on a job well done. Christine Bert, dean of the School of Nursing, and Kimberly Poje, instructor of Nursing, echoed Dr. Adsits praise for the dedicated graduates.

Fr. Gregoire Fluet, chaplain and director of Campus Ministry, blessed the pins, which were presented to the graduates by chosen family members and friends. The Mount Saint Mary College nursing pin displays the college seal and motto, doce me veritatem, which translates as teach me the truth.

Graduates Lanisha Outlaw of Middletown, N.Y. and Brianna Keller of Newburgh, N.Y. offered their reflections on the groups academic journey. Both Outlaw and Keller expressed gratitude for the aid of their families.

Id like to dedicate my pin to my family. Through the ups and downs, they have loved me unconditionally, Outlaw said. My thankfulness to them for surviving every storm, celebrating victories, listening to my complaints, providing encouragement, and supporting me in pursuing my goal of obtaining my BSN.

Keller said, Thank you [to my family] for supporting me as I found my pathAnd all glory to God, who opened many doors for me to be here today.

Graduates also credited their professors with molding them into the knowledgeable and confident professionals they are today. For example, Jackeline Concepcion of Hopewell Junction, N.Y. said, Thank you to all of the MSMC professors for challenging me and encouraging me though the program.

After the presentation of the nursing pins, Bert recognized several students for excellence in their studies and dedication to the field. Lynette DeBellis, instructor of Nursing, also presented the Sigma Award.

The recipients were:School of Nursing Leadership Award: Lanisha Outlaw of Middletown, N.Y.* School of Nursing Clinical Excellence Award: Michael Scarano of Wappingers Falls, N.Y.* Perseverance Award: Leanne Pisciotta of Rock Tavern, N.Y.* General Excellence Award: Brianna Keller of Newburgh, N.Y.* Spirit of Nursing Award: Ilona Roy of Hopewell Junction, N.Y.* Sigma Award: Elisavet Boubaris of Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

To close out the ceremony, the proud graduates recited A Nurses Prayer, which speaks of dedicating ones life to helping others.

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Nearly 40 Students Are Awarded Nursing Pins - Hudson Valley Press

Osaka aquarium Kaiykan is one of the citys premier attractions, recreating habitats of the Pacific Ocean in giant tanks. Best-known for its whale sharks, it is also home to other fascinating sea animals, including gorgeous ringed seals and jellyfish. After 30 years, the aquariums popularity shows no sign of waning.

Osaka aquarium Kaiykan rivals Universal Studios Japan as a star attraction in the citys bay area. Famous for its huge tanks featuring whale sharks, Kaiykan is the centerpiece of the Tempzan Harbor Village entertainment and shopping complex.

Just a five minute walk from Osakak Station on the Osaka Metro Ch Line, the distinctive blue- and red-banded building soars high on the ocean side of Harbor Village. The aquarium exhibits myriad aquatic creatures, focusing on the Pacific Rim. The buildings blue band represents the ocean, the ring of life, and the red band symbolizes the Pacifics Ring of Fire, which skirts the edges of the encircling continents.

The aquarium viewed from the plaza in front of Tempzan Marketplace. The orange structure on the right is the entrance building, containing the ticket counter and official shop.

Since opening in 1990, the aquariums unique structure has made it a landmark of the Osaka bay area. (Courtesy of Kaiykan)

A full-scale model of a whale shark displayed on a landing near the entrance.

Navigating the immense facility may seem daunting, but visitors need only follow clearly marked routes to find their way around. Elevators on the third-floor entrance whisk patrons to the eighth floor to start their tour. From there, a circular slope descends the building, passing between the aquariums giant tanks.

The eighth floor exhibit is dedicated to aquatic and other life found in Japanese forests. The area, bathed in natural light, features Asian small clawed otters. Continuing down the slope, the path darkens, and the tanks to the left display creatures from regions including the northern Pacific Aleutian Islands, Californias Monterey Bay, and continuing to Antarctica, with unique sea creatures and birds of each ecosystem.

The seventh floor tank recreates the environment close to the ocean surface, with sea lions frolicking on land and diving penguins. As visitors gradually descend to the sixth floor, they can enjoy the sensation of diving deeper into the ocean as they catch underwater glimpses of seals and penguins swimming about.

A model showing the structure of the aquarium. The blue light shows the visitor route.

The Japanese Forest exhibit on the eighth floor.

The Antarctica tank and its resident penguins.

From above, California sea lions play on the water surface, while one floor below, they can be seen swimming underwater.

The central Pacific tank is enormous, measuring 34 meters across and 9 meters deep, and houses whale sharks, the worlds largest fish species. Whale sharks grow to over 12 meters in length, and different floors offer a view of their graceful movements of the creatures from various angles. Twice a day, at feeding time, they swim vertically to retrieve food from the waters surface.

The whale sharks share their environment with other species, including scalloped hammerhead sharks, spinetail devil rays, and giant trevally. Each species has its own unique appeal, with some swimming in schools and others lurking in the lower depths. However, the imaginative design of Kaiykan lets visitors observe them all at eye-level.

A whale shark gulps at the surface in search of food.

The Pacific tank, extends from the sixth to fourth floors and offers different angles in which to view tank inhabitants.

A whale shark and other fish drift near the floor of the exhibit.

The third-floor jellyfish tank and the aquariums new ringed seal attraction are popular draws. The jellyfish swim against a pitch-black backdrop and are illuminated by 700 ceiling lights that flicker dimly so that only the creatures are visible. Visitors are spellbound by the otherworldly sight of the jellyfish, which appear to be floating in outer space.

Ringed seals, from the Arctic region, are the smallest variety of seal. Kaiykans chubby ringed seals, Yuki and Arare, are star attractions. They frequently peek through the third floor ceiling-dome, to the delight of onlookers.

Jellyfish appear to be floating in outer space.

Ringed seals peer down at visitors through a dome-shaped window.

Nap time at the fourth-floor ocean surface area.

The Kaiykan official shop sells a range of unique souvenirs, including ever-popular ringed seal and whale shark cuddly toys. The cafe serves refreshments, such as whale shark-themed soft-serve ice cream and other treats.

Within neighboring Tempzan Marketplace is a back alley-style food court featuring renowned Osaka eateries and local fare like okonomiyaki, takoyaki, and curry rice with Worcester sauce topping. The Harbor Village is home to a giant Ferris wheel, a cruise ship, the Legoland Discovery Center, and many other attractions.

The official shop on the third floor sells exclusive Kaiykan souvenirs, including soft toys and stationery.

Legoland Discovery Center is a popular attraction within Tempzan Marketplace.

Naniwa Kuishinb Yokoch recreates the atmosphere of old Osaka eateries, to the delight of hungry visitors.

(Originally published in Japanese. All photos by Nippon.com, unless otherwise noted.)

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A Deep Dive into Osaka Aquarium Kaiykan: Home to Whale Sharks and Ringed Seals - Nippon.com

ST. LOUIS

1 large clove garlic, peeled and minced

1 teaspoon smoked sea salt flakes

teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

- teaspoon Melissas Hatch Chile powder

1 pounds flat iron beef steak

In a small bowl, stir together garlic, smoked sea salt, cumin, black pepper, and Hatch chile powder. Rub the spice mixture into the meat until both sides are well coated. Preheat the grill.

2 large green bell peppers, rinsed, seeded, and sliced into strips

1 large red bell pepper, rinsed, seeded, and sliced into strips

1 large sweet onion, peeled, halved, and sliced

2 Hatch green chiles, rinsed

1 package corn or flour tortillas

Place the Hatch chiles on the grill over medium heat. Roast 10 to 12 minutes, turning the peppers over with tongs as the skin blisters and blackens. Once the chiles are roasted, transfer them to a plastic zipper bag, seal, and set them aside to steam. When the chiles have cooled, remove the blistered skin with a paper towel. Cut off the stem and discard, split the chiles in half lengthwise, remove the seeds, and cut into thin strips.

Place bell pepper strips and onion slices in a grill basket and roast on the grill over medium heat until they have softened and are lightly charred, stirring occasionally. While the peppers and onions are cooking, place the meat on the grill. Cook 4 to 5 minutes, turn it over, and cook 3 to 4 minutes more, or until a meat thermometer registers 125 degrees for medium rare. Remove it from the heat and set it aside 5 minutes to rest. Slice into thin strips.

To assemble, tuck meat, grilled peppers and onions, and strips of Hatch chile into warm tortillas. Garnish with sour cream, if desired.

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Recipe of the Day: Grilled Flat Iron Steak Fajitas with Roasted Hatch Chiles - KSDK.com

If my office fridge, microwave and kettle are out of bounds thanks to Covid, what can I look to for a tasty packed lunch? Im already lugging a Thermos of tea, so nothing that needs to live in another weighty flask.Fred, London

Its hard enough navigating the many pitfalls of the packed lunch, but remove the ability to heat or chill it, and no one would blame Fred for hotfooting it to his nearest Pret. Meat and fish, say, dont take kindly to sitting in a sweaty sandwich bag for hours on end, so its wise to keep things veggie.

For this culinary challenge, use your noodle. Chef Tim Anderson, whose new book, Your Home Izakaya, is published in October, takes soba or udon as the base of his bento. Cook the noodles, then run them under cold water and dress in a little neutral oil. The key is to keep the dressing (for Anderson, that means equal parts soy sauce, mirin and rice vinegar, with onion and ginger blended in to thicken) on the side.

Anna Tobias, of Caf Deco in London, puts cucumber, carrots, boiled peas or whatever veg you want in a container with the cold noodles, then, just before you eat, pour over the dressing and toss. Anderson says other good additions include spinach and crushed sesame, green beans with ponzu, pickles, or a rolled omelette.

Speaking of eggs, tortillas are another Tobias go-to. Im a purist, so I usually go for onion, potato and egg, but you could add any number of other things from peppers to peas. Eat as is, with salad or sandwiched. And if sarnies are more your bag, its worth thinking outside the box. At this time of year, I like tomato sandwiches, sometimes with ricotta, says Missy Flynn, co-founder alongside Gabriel Pryce of Bodega Ritas in London. Remember, a sandwich doesnt have to start off as a sandwich. Put chopped fresh tomatoes, fresh herbs, olive oil and salt in a container and grab a fresh roll on your way to work. By lunchtime, the tomatoes will be soft and seasoned, so tear the roll in half, pile them in and use the oil and tomato water as a dipping sauce.

Leftovers are another of lifes great pleasures and, happily, Tobias says, filo pies are really good cold, so stash slices of spanakopita in your bag. If leftover curry is up for grabs, Anderson makes curry pan a savoury doughnut. Yes, its a bit of a faff (hello, Sunday baking project), but its delicious eaten at room temperature, so negates the fridge/microwave problem. Make a basic doughnut dough, roll into baseball-sized balls, flatten, then put a good spoonful of Japanese curry in the middle. Fold over the dough, seal and chill, brush with egg wash, roll in panko and prove until nearly doubled in size, then fry or bake.

Perhaps the simplest solution, however, is to look to vegetable dishes that are traditionally eaten at room temperature (think ratatouille or Italian roast veg), though they wont quite cut it come autumn, so Fred may then have to bite the bullet and invest in a second flask (sorry). As Guardian columnist Ravinder Bhogal says: Theyre excellent at keeping soups, dals, pasta, leftover curries and stews hot, and at providing a warm, comforting hug when the back-to-office blues hit.

Got a culinary dilemma? Email feast@theguardian.com

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Beyond the sarnie: no-cook packed lunches to beat back-to-work blues - The Guardian