Own the B-1 Lancer strategic bomber  "Star of Abilene" as a poster or framed print. Visit The PatriArt Gallery.

The MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft system surpassed 400,000 flight hours during a mission in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility Aug. 18. 

The 15th Reconnaissance Squadron, part of the 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., flew the milestone mission in support of continuing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

"15th Reconnaissance Squadron personnel have been involved with every major operation in OIF and OEF since the inception of combat operations," said Lt. Col. Robert E. Kiebler, 15th RS commander. 

"Every day our people have a direct and lasting impact on combat operations in the AOR," said Colonel Kiebler. "They provide critical ISR [Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance] to ground commanders, enable the tracking, capture and death of enemy insurgents and provide life-saving overwatch to Coalition Forces." 

Declared operational in 1995, the MQ-1's primary mission is to provide armed reconnaissance, airborne surveillance and target acquisition to commanders in the field. The Predator can be armed with two laser-guided AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and carries the Multi-spectral Targeting System, which integrates electro-optical, infrared, laser designator and laser illuminator into a single sensor package. 

This combination of capabilities has made the Predator a lethal and nimble platform, said Col. Chris Chambliss, 432nd AEW commander. 

"Technology today is allowing us to take aviation capabilities to new levels, and the Predator is a perfect example of how UAS support is making a difference in the fight," Col. Chambliss said. "The aircraft's armed reconnaissance capabilities provide our ground forces the unblinking eye that can also engage hostile targets either on its own or in combination with manned aircraft like the F-16. If that's not an awesome weapons system, I don't know what one is." 

The MQ-1 fleet passed 250,000 hours in June 2007 after 12 years of flying, but took only 14 months to fly the additional 150,000 hours after continuous demand for the aircraft by combatant commanders. 

The high demand has led to a "surge of production" at the 703rd Aeronautical Systems Group at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, in order to meet a requirement for 31 Combat Air Patrols by April 2009, said Col. Christopher Coombs, 703rd AESG commander. 

"The warfighter can't get enough Predator time," said Colonel Coombs. "The 703rd has been performing heroics fielding more than 165 MQ-1s since 1998, multiplying MQ-1's global reach through remote split operations, expanding its role to 'killer' by incorporating Hellfire missiles, surging production to meet an 2009 31-CAP requirement and accelerating the original plan of 21 CAPs by 2010. We broke through 200,000 hours in 2006, 300,000 in 2007, and now cruising past 400,000 hours at a clip of about 14,000 hours a month." 

Colonel Chambliss said the flight hours are high for a simple reason - ground forces need Predator support. 

"This milestone only serves to illustrate the 432nd Wing's absolute obligation to our ground forces," he said. "400,000 flight hours is a huge number, and it takes thousands of men and women here at Creech and our Air National Guard partners at their bases grinding it out to continue to fight over Iraq and Afghanistan every hour of every day." 

Lt. Gen. Norman Seip, 12th Air Force commander, said the success of the MQ-1 in combat is a credit to the Airmen who fly, operate and maintain it. 

"It takes great skill to operate the most persistent strike, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform in the world," said General Seip. "The men and women of the 432nd Wing have proved time and again that they are the most qualified for the job, which is why the Predator remains one of the most sought-after assets in the war on terrorism."

According to Colonel Chambliss, 400,000 hours is just another stepping stone in what will be a long and distinguished career for the aircraft. 

"While it's an honor to be a part of such a historic event, this is only one of many more UAS milestones to come," he said. 

At their current rate, the MQ-1 will pass 500,000 flight hours in early 2009. 

The speed in which the MQ-1 passed 400,000 hours coupled with its high demand and success rate, is indicative of the contributions Airmen are making for USCENTCOM every day, said Gen. John D.W. Corley, Air Combat Command commander. 

"Our Airmen are flying missions 24 hours a day, seven days a week and doing it so well that our combatant commanders are constantly asking for more. And they're getting it," said General Corley. "Thanks to our UAS Airmen, there is no telling, in the space of 400,000 hours, how many servicemembers' lives have been saved, how many insurgents have been taken out and how many attacks against Coalition forces have been stopped before they began."

This September I'll be starting a degree course in Multimedia Computing.

Other Stuff:

• Note to Phil: Quit changing your blog's title. "Go Go Gadget Blog" and "Blogarnabo" can't ever compete with the Sak.

23:21 Well it is all out of my hands, results were sent to universities on Sunday, to my school about fourteen hours ago and me in well a few more. At least I have not received a clearing passport yet, so can have a little longer in fantasy land.

00:17 Just checked clearing there are no places advertised at Manchester for any history course so if I drop a grade or few its unlikely that they will accept me. Success! Just checked my insurance Leicester and they have the course through clearing at two grades below my offer so if things don't go as hoped I might get in there.

00:32 God I want it so much (much like every other student out there). During my short dash to Florence and back I actually enjoyed myself, and felt normal. That break from home was so good. Just to leave all of the mentalism at home and to move away. Arrggghh. I don't like this wait, to much time to think. My back up plans so far includes a social care apprenticeship for a year and apply again. Become a Patrick Wolf groupie, and the one that shall not be uttered. I just want to leave the town I am in, but if I don't its all my fault, leaving coursework until the last minute and then doing it in hospital, not going to lessons because I though I would be dead before exams came, my coursework being of such poor quality that it was not entered, missing exams due to hospital again, being manic while doing ucas forms, spending so much time thinking about doing badly in exams that I did little revision, and missing more exams due to the dreaded "mood disorder". Think I may try to sleep again now.

01:45 Still cannot sleep, there is nothing to do so I am trying to work out what to wear tomorrow, sad I know.

06:00 So far so good. Results are up for politics and economics and I have B's in both which if I get a B in history I will get in to Manchester otherwise it will be my insurance Leicester who has the pleasure of having me. I am a little dissapointed that its a B not an A in economics but considering the circumstances

NEWSFLASH 06:32 I am in to MANCHESTER.

So I stopped updating my live blog. Its became very unlive but I am back, very hangover and very happy. This is what else happened;

06:35 Phoned friend to say results were out and listened to squeals of joy as she found out that she had got into Cardiff. Then jumped around the house like a kangaroo singing "I am gooooing to Manchh-est-errr." Then went back to bed to wait for school results.

10:30 Went to school and tried desperately to avoid the local press trying to take pictures of people jumping up and down with results in hand. Got history result, was too excited to add up my marks so went out with my friends for breakfast.

12:00 Popped home to find a letter from Manchester confirming my place and another letter from the student loan people telling me I would pay back 4.8% interest. Calculated my history result, B grade. Back out for a more liquid form of lunch with friends.

15:22 Home again to get changed into something nicer and to flick through an Ikea catalogue (aren't I cool) and confirmed my place online. And then went out to the pub with everyone.

04:00 Pubs all closed so went back home, to find out that my Ex has had to go through clearing, tried to phone him but I was too drunk to make much sence. So went to bed.

12:30 Woke up, realised I had missed my CAMHS appointment. Contemplated phoning and apologising about the missed session but couldn't be bothered to het out of bed to find my phone.

The universities that I would really like to go to are Kingston, Greenwich, or City. To do what course? I have no idea. I don't really know what I want to do with my life. I feel extremely lost.

Freedom Fighter

Proudly wear the Freedom Fighter on your tee-shirt or other casual clothing. Visit The Military Chest today.

The Air Force's MQ-9 Reaper flew its first operational mission in Iraq July 18, providing joint force commanders with an added weapon system against emerging targets.

The MQ-9 Reaper is a medium-to-high altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft system. In addition to its primary role as a persistent hunter-killer of targets, the Reaper also acts as an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance asset, employing sensors to provide real-time data to commanders and intelligence specialists at all levels.

To get the Reaper to the warfighter, the 703rd Aeronautical Systems Group executes rapid acquisition, development, testing and sustainment of the Reaper weapons system to support current and future warfighter needs from cradle to grave. The 703rd AESG is part of the Aeronautical Systems Center. Both organizations are located at Wright-Patterson AFB.

"Several years ago, the Secretary of Defense directed the 703rd to deliver MQ-9 hunter-killer capabilities 18 months early, resulting in the first combat employment in Afghanistan in September 2007," said Col. Christopher Coombs, commander of the 703rd AESG. "Working together with Air Combat Command and the prime contractor, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., all the stops were pulled out to surge the capability to the field.

"The MQ-9, without a doubt, is a force multiplier, and its suite of sensors and communications links provide airmen on the battlefield persistent awareness of their surroundings and a robust target prosecution capability," Colonel Coombs continued.

"The Reaper has an electro-optical sensor and high resolution radar that can see targets through the clouds, and it can also carry a mix of 500-pound bombs and Hellfire missiles," he said.

When asked how it feels to be involved with the Reaper program, Colonel Coombs said, "I think the Air Force Chief of Staff stated it best, 'The Reaper is a significant evolution in capability for the Air Force. These aircraft have evolved from performing mainly intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms to carrying out true hunter-killer missions.'" He said, "It is an honor to command the Air Force and contractor teams, providing this evolution in capability of Reapers to successfully execute GWOT missions, and without a doubt, this system adds to our arsenal and saves lives."

Lt. Col. Micah Morgan is the commander of the 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance and Attack Squadron, Balad Air Base, Iraq. He is dual-qualified in the Reaper and the Predator in all phases of flight. Colonel Morgan was involved with the Reaper's first operational mission in Iraq. He commands the deployed Airmen who operate and maintain all the Predators and Reapers supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"The Air Force has an extremely disciplined targeting process and strict rules of engagement," Colonel Morgan said. "These strict rules reduce collateral damage tremendously, and with our accurate on-board sensors, we ensure the target is destroyed and nothing else."

"We are part of a complex kill chain, which involves real-time command and control of the lethal assets," he said. "The Reaper has a great advantage over other aircraft. We have small, low yield weapons as well as 500-pound bombs."

To choreograph a successful Reaper mission involves teamwork between pilot and sensor operator. Maj. Jon Chesser, an MQ-9 instructor pilot, describes the feeling he gets from "flying" the Reaper as much like the one he got flying an F-15E.

"Sounds funny, but [it's] very true," the major said. "I used to fly in the back seat of the F-15E as a weapons system operator, and [the feeling] is very similar. [With the Reaper], you get the same feeling of accomplishment after helping the guys out on the ground as you do in an airplane that you 'fly in,' and the fact that you're not risking a pilot's life in the process is an added bonus."

According to Senior Master Sgt. Ralph Goodwater, superintendent of Reaper operations in Iraq, the sensor operator role is similar to a co-pilot/weapon systems officer.

"The sensor operator has the responsibility of assisting the pilot with take-offs, landings, air speeds, altitude, approach speeds, weapons employment and airspace deconfliction," Sergeant Goodwater said. "The sensor operator must have a skilled level of airmanship to cross check all the functions that are required to fly safely in any airspace."

When asked what the Reaper brings to the fight, Sergeant Goodwater said, "Fire power and persistence. The Reaper, because it's unmanned, has the ability to loiter for extended periods of time and can deliver a combination of weapons if the target situation changes."

As for the Reaper's lethality, Colonel Morgan added, "If I were an insurgent fighting against the coalition, I'd quit."

Laura McGowan

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/jul/16/highereducation.uk

După un bacalaureat de succes, copiii trebuiau să îşi continue studiile în străinătate, nu-i aşa? :)

Considerând totuşi că anul acesta s-au înscris la bacalaureat 230,000 de elevi, procentul de 0,33% de aspiranţi la o universitate englezească e chiar mic.

At some points during this year it was impossible for me to go to school because of extended time in hospital, but nothing stopped me from doing coursework and I did do some on the ward. It was just so bad that I didn't enter any. When I was on leave from the ward I could have gone to school but instead I chose to lie in bed. I could have sat all my exams, there was nothing to stop me, just my inability to stop crying, pull myself together and get out of bed. I cant blame poor results on a bad school and crap teaching, I cant blame it on a lack of intelligence, I cant really even blame it on mood because there are other people who have been through similar things and sat exams and done coursework. It is my fault that while manic I applied to stupid universities that I really didn't want to go to. It is my fault I didn't think through my ucas form well so now my insurance and firm offers have offered me the same grades.

According to my CPN I did well because the two other people like me who were in hospital for the same amount of time at a similar time of the year have not sat any exams, I almost wish I had done this so then I wouldn't have been in this limbo of desperately wanting to get into university but knowing I don't deserve to because I put in such little work. At the moment there are four options for next year; get the grades and go to Manchester, go to Leicester or through clearing, social work apprenticeship, death. Compared to a few months ago this is a massive change because it used to be Manchester or death. Now I feel torn, different routes going in such different directions. I cant make any plans because I am just in this limbo.

Last line...

Thank you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday yesterday (and the facebook cake, Alison) it was a really great day. However I swear I am not going to drink that much again (well not until Thursday) I am rubbish with a hangover and it really does nothing for the medication regime.

Today was definitely a waste. I got up at six thirty and I'm still on the laptop, basically procrastinating and downloading manga and music. It's going to cost, using all this electricity. After dinner, I'll probably need to force myself into "work" mode because I would never get into university like this. So, my list of possible choices.

• London School of Economics and Political Science
• King's College London
• University of York
• University of Exeter
• Cambridge University
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Leicester

And all that needs to be accomplished in terms of drive is to remember that sitting around procrastinating puts of you of shape and you lose discipline. Sometimes I wish that I had very limited internet access so I could stay away from this shit. Ugh.

Durham and Warwick and several others are stipulate AAA, with many candidates achieving far more in other aspects. Offers for LSE, York, KCL and Cambridge may allow AAB when lenient but that does not mean that other applicants are of a lower calibre - they usually aren't. I would put more hope into Cambridge (surprisingly), simply because they are by far the most thorough out of all the universities when it comes with applications (including Oxford though the procedure has variations). Apart from your school reference (which typically sings praise or in my math teacher's case, is a "copy and past" example), personal statement, academic record, Oxbridge will usually interview the applicant so simulate their one-on-one tutorials/supervisions. They stress the interview as "part" of the four month long shebang but personally, I feel this component is the ending and sometimes deciding factor because an interview allows the dons to see you for what you are and to see you "in action" so to speak. Then again, written work is sometimes requested alongside the interview.

Perhaps I place too much faith in the Cambridge procedure; for all I know, anything that is lower than AAAB this August will rupture my already tenuous mental hold. My dad has flamed me for even thinking about getting into such "top institutions" as he goes and to make matters worse, I have a sneaking feeling that I'll end up in UEL or Middlesex University. I would be the joke of the family and also I would prove my parents correct that I'm totally unfit for academia and should be locked away in a closet.

God, the more I type, the further I sink into depression and self pity. I'm such a wasted person.

.

Ihr ahnt schon, hier kommt das Problem. Die Login Daten, mehrere lange Nummern, waren auf meinem anderen Rechner. Der hatte allerdings das Problem, dass der Bildschirm nicht mehr tat. Ich - ganz aufgeregt natürlich - renn also rauf zum PC. Ich schraub ihn auf, zieh und schieb an allen Kabeln die ich finde, und ENDLICH tut der Bildschirm wieder.

.

Naja. Dannach wars simple. Einloggen, anschauen, jubeln. Ich geh nach Manchester.

.

.

Ansonsten ist nicht viel los.

Stay tuned. Adieu, graynut signing off.

I haven't really thought about the rest of my four choices. Granted, I get straight As: UCL, Durham, Warwick, LSE, Edinburgh, York, KCL or even SOAS. But I hope to get into Cambridge - their style of teaching with supervisions or tutorials or whatnot and weekly essays I think appeal to me far more than several lectures and large classes.

It's still months away but I can feel the stress already. Worse still, it's nearly the end of the year - it's exactly a month to the end of academic term 2008 and I'm slacking. Maths is as drear as ever with Ms D rambling on and on in her strong Polish accented-english which literally passes my ears like background noise. English Lit is mainly mixed feelings. On one hand, we all know that Shakespeare is wicked evil, especially when it's Othello and where we have license to expunge all those nasty remarks about Iago and admire him for his audacity. On the other, coursework on Howard's End with Ms F is hellishness and boredom. I'm repeatedly taken aback by her attire and extroverted enthusiasm that is far from infectious. Physics is great as usual and I'm sufficiently motivated and interested in my lessons on the German Nationalism module. Nationalism is fascinating! (sweatdrop, laughs nervously)

The biggest dilemma is weighing up my effort levels in the Physics-or-Eng Lit question. At GCE A2, we can drop a subject, or two if we sat 5 AS subjects. Of course, you could carry on with four but universities only ask for three As as their standard offer. So which do I drop? Obviously, I have to keep History...English is meant to "aid in your essay writing and analytical skills". But in all honesty, writing an argument on Mr Knightley's role in "educating" Emma Woodhouse is completely arbitrary and essentially just picking out the quotes and "literary criticisms" that mold into your views better. Because of that, no real effort was required from me for Eng lit. Simply understand the context of the writer and the plot of the story to create your view of author intentions from there interpret (make up) the literary devices in the text to fit the essay title. Peanuts.

The subjective elements of of History has also been acknowledged and E.H Carr (and conglomerate of other Historians) no doubt agreed since evidence in History is recorded by other people, photographed, witnessed by individuals, all influenced by their personal circumstances. Marxist historians, Whig historians etc etc, all read the events of History differently. And then there are people who believe that "History was shaped by great men" and vice versa that it was great events that shaped great men. And of course, simply debating over that gets us nowhere. Class revolution or natural progression? Is History pessimistic and the study of society's decline? (from my point of view...yes...I suppose). Can true objectivity be achieved? If history is the study of the truth of what happened, what is the point of this study if the established nature of our primary and secondary sources and always in some ways biased?

And so on. It still fascinates me a great deal more than the idea of reading into universal truths. It's not like all the great authors out there had some colossal philosophical message hidden within their metaphors and imagery. And too often, English teachers are so embroiled in their own set opinions of the text they ignore the possibility of other interpretations. It pisses me off to no end.

Somebody at Reading obviously decided that this was enough to qualify as enthusiasm for science and signed her on. She's being sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline (whoever they are - J is sure they make Aquafresh) and she leaves on 22nd June. It will be her first overnight stay at a university - some twisted turn of fate had decided that the privilige would not belong to Cambridge - J is sentimental like that, but nevertheless she is looking forward to it. J could use the experience and would like to have another thing to add to her ucas application.

Besides, J is going with four other lucky classmates and wouldn't mind learning something new and the prospect of an overnight sleepover sounds fun. J can feel that it will be a good trip. More to come.

"Psychology at NTU has a number of psychologists who have expertise in cyberpsychology (e.g., in the areas of online gaming and gambling, online education, health and clinical online issues, online counselling, identity and self-presentation, social-networking, online relationships and sexuality, cyber-crimes, online methodologies, artificial intelligence)."

Obviously the first but this sounds like it could be interesting, except it costs an extra £4,585. I can see experts in Cyberpsychology in a few years now, curing people of their online addiction, the Everquest widows and women against world of warcraft, stories of how people lost their husbands to gambling and how kids aren't going out anymore so they should see a cyberpsychologist. Doesn't it sound a bit creepy? Problems of modern day-to-day life as a friend of mine would argue that it's necessary to reduce the existing burden on psychologists who can't know about all this. But everyone knows less and less nowadays and they need experts for things that are quite obvious. Or is it just me..

E' un po' il sogno di tutti gli ingegneri. Nel caso odierno mi sono collegato al sito della pubblica (d)istruzione per completare la prima parte della procedura di scioglimento della riserva.

"... il candidato inserisca le proprie credenziali nella sezione istanze on line ..."

Il tutto per attivare una procedura decisamente macchinosa in tre fasi.

Bene. Andate nella home page e cominciate a fognare. Non disperate però. Inutile resistere. Non esiste da nessuna parte una voce sezioni con un linlk diretto a 'sta benedetta sezione. Solo sfognazzando in giro si trova, fra le parole boriose e saccenti e piene di sé del ministro, il giusto link da cliccare.

Davvero una trovata geniale, fatta per far perdere meno tempo ai poveri mortali... Ma da coloro che hanno messo in piedi italia.it che cosa prentedevamo?

GROAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!!!

1 εβδομάδα και 2 μέρες. Τόσο χρειάστηκε για να παρθεί η απόφαση, να περαστεί στον ucas και απο εκεί να καταλήξει σήμερα το πρωί στο inbox μου.

Dear Mr,  έλεγε.
The status of your UCAS application has changed and you can view what has changed on the UCAS
website www.ucas.ac.uk. If you have received a decision for all of your choices then you must
reply to your offers

Πέρασαν 2-3 λεπτά μέχρι να σταματήσω να παίζω διάφορα σενάρια στο μυαλό μου και να αποφασίσω επιτέλους να ανοίξω το account μου για να δω τι... ήταν γραμμένο.

Χωρίς πολλά - πολλά, κάνοντας κλικ στο decisions είδα μια μικρούλα λέξη δίπλα στο όνομα της σχολής: conditional. Για να πω την αλήθεια ήταν ή μόνη που δεν περίμενα να δω, ίσως γιατί ήμουν σχεδόν σίγουρος ότι δεν θα τα κατάφερνα στην συγκεκριμένη σχολή. Ευτυχώς διαψεύστηκα! Ο όρος που τίθεται είναι να περάσω το IELTS με score  τουλάχιστον 6, μιας και το lower που έχω δεν τους κάνει, είναι βλέπεις προ δεκαετίας.

Δεν μπορώ να πω ότι ενθουσιάστηκα ιδιαίτερα. Χάρηκα, εννοείται, απλά δεν ενθουσιάστηκα γιατί ξέρω ότι το να σε δεχτεί κάποια σχολή είναι - έτσι όπως έχουν γίνει τα πράγματα - το λιγότερο. Δεν λύνονται όλα τα προβλήματα δια μαγείας, δυστυχώς, και είναι τόσα πολλά αυτά που πρέπει να γίνουν. Είναι κι αυτο το αναθεματισμένο lower or equivalent qualification policy που έχει φέρει τα πάνω κάτω, είναι οι αιτήσεις για δάνειο, είναι χίλια δυο. Το να φαντάζεσαι τον εαυτό σου φοιτητή στην Αγγλία μπορεί να είναι πολύ γαμάτο και wow, αλλά η φαντασία από την πραγματικότητα απέχει αρκετά. Έχω σκεφτεί αρκετές φορές ότι δεν είμαι ούτε ο πρώτος, ούτε ο τελευταίος που επιχειρεί κάτι τέτοιο. Και σίγουρα δεν ειμαι ο πρώτος που το επιχειρεί χωρίς να έχει εξασφαλίσει πρώτα το οικονομικό θέμα. Διαβάζω συχνά για ανθρώπους που κυνήγησαν την τύχη τους, "έχοντας μια βαλίτσα ρούχα όλα κι όλα και 500 δραχμές στην τσέπη μου". Προσπαθώ να φέρω τον εαυτό μου στην ίδια θέση, αλλά κάτι τέτοιο είναι πρακτικά αδύνατο, αφενός γιατί όλα μου τα ρούχα δεν χωράνε σε μια βαλίτσα και αφετέρου γιατί όσο κι αν έχουν οι συναλλαγματικές ισοτιμίες, με 500 ευρώ δεν κάνεις τίποτα. Ούτε με 500 λίρες. Και ναι, ούτε με 5000 !

Μέχρι πότε μπορείς να κυνηγάς ένα όνειρο;
Σε ποιο σημείο σταματάς και λες, οκ αρκετά, μέχρι εδώ. Ότι γίνει απο'δω και πέρα με ξεπερνάει και δεν μπορώ να το αντιμετωπίσω.
Τι είσαι διατεθειμένος να δώσεις - ή να χάσεις - για να κάνεις αυτό που θέλεις;

Λίγα άτομα έχουν μάθει την εξέλιξη των πραγμάτων. Και δεν σκοπεύω να το πω σε περισσότερα, γιατί η αναπόφευκτη ερώτηση είναι, "και;.. θα πας;". Μου τη δίνει που το κάνουν να ακούγεται τόσο απλό. Αλλά πιο πολύ μου τη δίνει το ότι δεν έχω απάντηση γι' αυτή την ερώτηση. Τουλάχιστον όχι ακόμα.