Spaceplane Buddy

After launching into orbit roughly three months ago, China's top-secret spaceplane has released a mysterious object, which is now circling the Earth behind it, SpaceNews reports.

There's very little we know about China's "reusable experimental spacecraft," except that it launched atop a Long March 2F rocket back in August. We don't know its purpose, what it looks like, or what cargo it was carrying during launch — but it's an intriguing development, nonetheless, for China's reusable launch platform.

Mysterious Object

The object was released between October 24 and October 31, according to tracking data being analyzed by the US Space Force's 18th pace Defense Squadron.

We can only hazard a guess as to what the mysterious object's purpose is. According to Harvard astronomer and space tracker Jonathan McDowell, it "may be a service module, possibly indicating an upcoming deorbit burn."

Based on the size and weight of payloads Long March rockets usually carry, China's mysterious spaceplane is likely similar to the Air Force's X-37B spaceplane, which is similarly shrouded in mystery and currently on its sixth mission.

We also don't know when the Chinese model will make its return back to Earth, but given recent activity at the Lop Nur base in Xinjiang suggests, it may land there in the near future, according to the report.

It's a puzzling new development for China's secretive spacecraft — but it does raise the possibility of a renewed interest in spaceplanes, a potentially affordable and reusable way to launch payloads into orbit.

More on the spaceplane: China Launches Mysterious "Reusable Test" Spacecraft

The post Chinese Spaceplane Releases Mystery Object Into Orbit appeared first on Futurism.

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Chinese Spaceplane Releases Mystery Object Into Orbit

Locatedin international waters, on themilitary fortress ofRoughsTower, Sealand is the smallest country in the world.

The countrys national motto is E Mare, Libertas (From the Sea, Freedom), reflecting itsenduringstruggle for liberty through the years. Sealand has been an independent sovereignStatesince 1967. The Bates family governs the small stateas hereditary royal rulers, each member with his, or her,own royal title. Sealandupholdsits own constitution, composed of a preamble and seven articles. Upon thedeclarationofindependence, the founding Bates family raised the Sealand flag,pledgingfreedom and justiceto all that lived under it.

Following this, Sealand issued passports to its nationals, minted official currency and commissioned its own stamps.

Show your support for Sealand independence for the years to come, by registering for a Noble Title and becoming a Lord or a Lady. Sealand also offers ID cards, and the chance to own a piece of our territory. Other official Sealand products are also available for sale on this website. See shop

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Principality of Sealand - Become a lord or lady with Sealand

Football team representing Sealand

The Sealand national football team represents the Principality of Sealand. It is not a member of FIFA or UEFA, but was an associate member of the N.F.-Board, an organisation for teams who are not members of FIFA. They were admitted to the N.F.-Board as a provisional member in 2005 and as an associate member in 2006, before the organisation became defunct in 2013.

The Sealand National Football Association (SNFA) was founded in 2003. In 2004, they played their first game against land drawing 22.[1] All the players on the Sealand team were members of Vestbjerg Vintage Idrtsforening, a veterans side from Aalborg. However, the Danish-based SNFA ended their activities in 2006 and Sealand football took a break.

On 23 December 2009, Scottish author Neil Forsyth was appointed head of the revived SNFA.[2] He stated a goal of participation in the 2010 VIVA World Cup, a dream ultimately ended by a lack of finance.On 5 May 2012, Sealand took to the field against fellow N.F.-Board members the Chagos Islands at Weycourt in Godalming, Surrey. The Chagossians won 31, with Ryan Moore scoring for Sealand. The team was captained by former Bolton Wanderers defender Simon Charlton and actor Ralf Little.[2][3][4]

Sealand played an away game against Alderney on 25 August 2012.[5] After drawing the match by a scoreline of 11, Sealand won 54 on penalties. On 9 March 2013 Sealand won their first ever international when they beat Alderney 21 in Godalming.

Sealand competed in the Tynwald Hill Tournament on the Isle of Man in July 2013. The tournament was held at Mullen-e-Cloie, St John's. Following a late 53 defeat to Tamil Eelam and an 80 demolition at the hands of eventual winners Occitania, Sealand finished bottom of their group and went on to the 5th place playoff where they beat Alderney 21.

In February 2014 Sealand recorded their record win as they beat the Chagos Islands 42 in Godalming.[6]

In May 2014 Sealand drew 11 with the Chagos Islands at Crawley Town a fortnight before another draw, 22 with Somaliland (who were making their non-FIFA debut) in London.

Sealand underwent a European tour for the first time in August 2014 which proved to be hugely successful. In Chur a record 61 win over Raetia saw Dan Hughes become the record-scorer with 4 goals, before a 32 win over Seborga in Ospedaletti, Italy. Hughes added to his tally in that game and the Seals extended their unbeaten international run to 6 games.[7]

Sealand has not been a member of a confederation since the N.F.-Board became defunct. An application to join CONIFA was rejected.[8]

Sealand's kit has the same colors as the flag of Sealand. Their original kit consisted of a red shirt with white trim, black shorts and white socks, and was provided by JJB with sponsorship from UK investment firm Property Secrets.[9]

For the Tynwald Tournament, Sealand introduced a new Nike home kit, in red, with a white stripe down the right-hand side. In the 80 defeat to Occitania, Sealand debuted their Stanno away kit of a white shirt with pale red shorts.

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Sealand national football team - Wikipedia

Children threw stones at a seal and a woman grabbed it by its tail on a beach in the north east of England. The seal had to be moved to allow it to rest, a swimmer who witnessed the incidents said.

Donna had just been for a swim at Hornsea, close to Hull, on Monday and saw the seal in the water. She said it then went on to the shore for a rest but then a group of children began harassing it, reports HullLive.

She said: I was absolutely shocked to see that as it came to shore some children around 12 years old started throwing stones at it. They were told off but then a woman came marching up and grabbed the seal by its tail with the aim of flinging it back in the sea.

The seal went for this lady. All it wanted to do was rest, but everyone wanted a close-up picture and were surrounding it and it wasn't able to rest and it was getting very distressed.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue were called so they could take it away to allow it to rest properly and when it was ready it would re-enter the sea. What is wrong with people?

"If you see a seal leave it alone, don't touch it, don't let your dogs go near and most definitely do not throw stones at it. It should have been able to rest there on its own accord but unfortunately it was at risk of idiots.

There have been concerns raised regularly about the welfare of seals in the area. The Yorkshire Seal Group has raised the issue on its media channels frequently.

Coastguard teams have also urged people not to distress seals resting on the East Yorkshire coastline. Hull Coastguard Team has posted a warning on Facebook.

It says there has been an increase in the number of seals on beaches along the east coast which has led to a huge volume of calls to HM Coastguard. People have been mistakenly thinking the animals might be injured or they've 'stranded' when in fact they are simply resting.

Steve Cox, from HM Coastguard, said: "If someone sees an injured seal they can call us and we will call BDMLR (British Divers Marine Life Rescue), although of course, people can call BDMLR directly if they think an animal is hurt. However, weve been receiving a huge volume of calls over the past few days about seals on beaches which have turned out not to be injured.

"Seals often haul out onto land to rest and recharge and aren't necessarily there because they are hurt and if you approach them they can respond aggressively.

Please think before calling 999 and asking for the Coastguard about a seal that just happens to be on a beach, unless you really think its hurt as it could take up time that we need to deal with real emergencies.

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Anger as children throw stones at seal and woman grabs it by its tail - Wales Online

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, NPR and 42 news media organizations are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to make improvements to a recently proposed rule that would govern the Courts practices for sealing judicial records.

The Supreme Court proposed a rule addressing the sealing of court documents last month, more than two years after a news media coalition led by the Reporters Committee and NPR highlighted concerns about the sharp increase in sealed filings since the 1990s and asked the Court to adopt a rule that would state a clear standard for when judicial filings may be sealed.

In a letter sent to Clerk of the Court Scott Harris on April 27, the news media coalition called the the Supreme Courts Proposed Rule 34.7 a positive step toward increased transparency and access to judicial records filed with the Court. To strengthen the proposed rule, the coalition recommended three changes:

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RCFP, NPR suggest improvements to SCOTUS record-sealing rule - Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

Deeside.com > News

Posted: Thu 28th Apr 2022

Updated: Thu 28th Apr

Jobseekers from across Flintshire have the chance to speak directly to some of the countys biggest and most innovative employers today.

Around 60 organisations are taking part in the Flintshire Jobs and Careers Fair taking place today, April 28 at Deeside Leisure Centre.

The jobs fair is organised by Communities For Work Flintshire, Jobcentre Plus and Careers Wales following a three-year absence is a free event taking place between 10am to 2pm.

Aimed at all ages and career stages, the event will feature both current job vacancies and opportunities to develop longer-term careers in key industries including hospitality to professional services, healthcare and public sector roles.

Paul Murphy from Jobcentre Plus said: In previous years over 800 people have attended and the event was supported by numerous employers with over 500 vacancies available in a variety of sectors.

There will also be practical advice on hand including a CV checkpoint area and help to write application forms from Careers Wales.

Companies and organisations taking part:

Tata Steel

KK Fine Foods

Ralawise

2 Sisters Food Group

Morrisons Manufacturing

Moneypenny

Newydd Catering & Cleaning

Aura Leisure

New Directions

McDonaldsBroughton

Flintshire County Council Childrens Residential Services

Flintshire County Council Adult Social Services

Oscar Meyer

The Armed Forces

Gap Personnel

Enbarr Enterprises

Great Bear Logistics/Logistics People

Clwyd Alyn

Parallel Security

Flintshire County Council HR

Acorn Recruitment

Flintshire County Council Direct Payments

CER Education

Networld Sports

Group 4 Security

Arriva Buses

Tents & Events

Recruit 4 Staff

Rhino Products

Smart Solutions

Mencap

Action For Children

The Wallich

Adecco

Marie Curie

Compass Group

PSS Shared Lives

Pacey Cymru

Educate Group

North WalesPolice

Carden Park

Castell Ventures

Clear Data

Mecure Chester Abbots Well Hotel

Careers Wales

Stamford Gate Hotel

Sealand Windows

Swift Temps

Communities For Work Plus

Randstad Recruitment

Home Instead

Stagecoach Bus

GXO

DECA

Steel 4 Structures

Thorncliffe

Excell Supply

P&A Group

Fibrax

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Deeside jobs fair brings together over 60 local companies and organisations - Deeside.com

Councillor Suzie Morley of the Mid Suffolk District Council breaks ground for the new freeport zone (Mid Suffolk District Council)

PublishedApr 25, 2022 3:02 PM by The Maritime Executive

The port of Felixstowe is set to get a new 150-acre freeport industrial zone, which will provide millions of square feet of floorspace for warehousing, distribution and manufacturing within easy reach of the port. It will be the largest business park in East Anglia, according to its developer, the government-owned corporation Gateway 14.

The groundbreaking for Gateway 14 was held on Monday. Some of the space is reserved for build-to-suit applications, and some will be pre-built by the development partners on a speculative basis. As it is classified as a freeport zone, it comes with a range of tax and customs duty advantages for commerce.

The new site is adjacent to the community of Stowmarket on the A14 highway, just 26 road miles fromt Felixstowe, the largest container port in the UK. The developer plans to construct it with sustainability in mind, and will incorporate EV charging, LED lighting, solar panels, smart energy systems and rainwater harvesting. Its buildings will be certified to high environmental standards, and extra attention will be paid to landscaping in order to support the local ecology and make the site more enjoyable for employees. The initial investment in basic site infrastructure comes to about $8 million.

Gateway 14 is one component of the larger Harwich/Felixstowe Freeport East expansion project. The initiative includes two more designated tax sites at Felixstowe and Harwich, plus another four special customs sites.

Freeport East is a transformational initiative providing a total of 275 hectares of development opportunities in an area around the ports of Felixstowe and Harwich. Freeport status will attract new and additional investment in world-leading infrastructure and innovation, driving the Green Industrial Revolution and providing extensive re-skilling and up-skilling opportunities," said George Kieffer, the acting chairman of the Freeport East project.

Felixstowe is the largest container port in the UK, and it has handled more than 100 million TEU since it transferred its first Sealand container over the quay in 1966. Today, it handles over four million TEU and 2,000 boxships per year.

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Port of Felixstowe Expands its Potential With New Freeport Zone - The Maritime Executive

The Chancellor is going to consider proposals to create a new bank holiday in honour of the Queen. Britons are already set for an extra day off on June 3, 2022 to mark the monarchs Platinum Jubilee.

But campaigners have been calling to make the holiday permanent from 2023 with the move backed by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Hospitality UK, the Archbishop of Canterbury and others. The Telegraph and The Express said the idea had now won the support of Rishi Sunak, as well as Prime Minister Boris Johnson, but it is understood that Mr Sunak is yet to consider the proposals although he intends to.

The new "thank holiday" would recognise the Queens extraordinary service, as well as peoples efforts to support their communities, especially over the last two years. The Telegraph reported that Mr Sunak had asked the Treasury for formal advice on the suggestion.

The newspaper also said Downing Street had asked the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) to carry out a review of the matter. It cited a source as saying: The Treasury is not saying no off the bat despite previously being institutionally allergic to the idea of a new bank holiday.

Rishi is supportive of the campaign and the thought behind it. He has asked for all the projected costs.

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Permanent 'thank holiday' could be added to the calendar - Derbyshire Live

Hallmark movie fans may wonder why director Ron Oliver calls himself Sir Ron Oliver, and Ryan Paevey, Sir Ryan Paevey. Is this an inside joke?

No.

The smallest country in the world knighted both the actor and director. Moreover, are you ready to learn more?

Back on September 6, 2021, Ryan Paevey and Ron Oliver were photographed outside Hollywoods iconic Magic Castle. The director and actor were dressed to the nines. Normally, Oliver likes to wear tropical shirts but instead was sporting a suit and tie in mostly creams and whites. Meanwhile, Paevey was dressed in all black, including his suit, shirt, and tie. Although he sported a huge smile, his look was dark and provocative.

Ron Oliver wrote on Instagram, Sir Ronald OMS and Sir Ryan OMS celebrate their respective Knighthoods at The Magic Castle. (No dragons were harmed in the taking of this photograph.) #sirronaldandsirryan #sirronaldoliver #sirryanpaevey #magiccastle #hollywoodknights #hollywood #christmasattheplaza #atimelesschristmas #hallmarkchristmasmovies #knightsofsealand #sealand

What is the Christmas At The Plaza director referring to? Moreover, where is Sealand?

Turns out, the pair have been knighted by the tiny island of Sealand.

The tiny country of Sealand gave knighthood to Ryan Paevey and Ron Oliver. According to Olivers IMDb, the Picture Perfect Mysteries director was knighted in 2019 by the sovereign nation of Sealand, and is now referred to as Sir Ronald Robert Oliver OMS.

There is no date or other information on Ryan Paeveys knighthood.

According to the Sealand official website, the tiny nation started as an offshore platform built during World War II. It was an anti-aircraft, gun platform. The structure is only 120 feet by 50 feet. Two hollow concrete legs hold up the structure. Lastly, the platform resembles a giant PI () symbol.

Sealand is located just seven nautical miles from the British coast. The closest town is Suffolk. Sealand is located on international waters. Moreover, Sealand had a purpose. The British built this platform as protection. They were looking for German mine-laying aircraft. Many years went by without any sort of change.

However, in the 1960s, the micro-country was occupied by Army Major Paddy Roy Bates. In addition, he called himself His Royal Highness Prince Roy Of Sealand. Although Bates did die in 2012, there have been up to five inhabitants at one time. The Principality of Sealand includes HRH Roys family and his friends. Sealand even has its own flag.

However, Roy fought an unsuccessful battle against the British government to make Sealand its own country.However, no country has ever recognized Sealand.

You could have a noble title like Sir Ryan Paevey and Sir Ron Oliver. Sealands website offers an array of noble titles from Lord, Lady, Baron, Baroness, Duke or, even Duchess! They even can make you an official Coat of Arms.

Georgia Makitalo has been a freelance writer for 14 years. She enjoys writing about Hallmark, Lifetime, GAC, British Series, as well as Netflix series like Emily In Paris, The Witcher, Lucifer, and anything Austen. In her free time she enjoys traveling, hiking and learning about Pre-Raphaelite art.

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'GH' Alum Ryan Paevey, Director Ron Oliver Knighted By Tiny Country - TV Shows Ace

Dedicated to the Year of the Horse, the PAM 00847 Luminor Sealand has a 3-dimensional black and gold engraving of a gambolling horse on its hinged cover protector, hand engraved by Italian master craftsmen.

There are only 100 Panerai Luminor Sealand Special Edition watches in the world. Of which, one has come to India.

Dedicated to the Year of the Horse, the PAM 00847 Luminor Sealand is part of the Chinese Zodiac sign series by Officine Panerai. In what can be considered a grandstand play by the brand, it has a three-dimensional black and gold engraving of a gambolling horse on the Luminors hinged cover protector, hand engraved by Italian master craftsmen.

Historically, hand engraving was used in printmaking, for book illustrations, newspaper prints, banknotes, and map-making. But the advent of modern technology has transformed it into an incredible art that can be done even on metal objects.

A painstaking technique of engraving has been used by Panerais master craftsmenthe grooves are made in steel by a tool called a Sparsello, before being inlaid with threads of gold inserted in repeated parallel layers and hammered until they fill the engraved outlines.

The process of inlaying the gold is done only after the cover has been engraved and polished, leaving it open to damage by even the smallest of errors, necessitating remarkable skills from craftsmen.

The art of hand graving is emblematic of the Italian Renaissance era and a generation of artisans from Florence. Panerai Bottega in Florence, the first watch shop in the city, has nourished this artisanal culture.

The protective layer conceals a minimalist grey dial which, in classic Panerai style, features only a small seconds dial and date.

The case and the winding crown are made entirely of brushed AISI 316L stainless steel. The movement is the OP III calibre, hand-wound with a power reserve of 42 hours.

The Luminor SealandPAM00847is water-resistant to a depth of 50 meters.

Rounding off this incredible watch is a soft brown leather strap.

The movement is the OP III calibre, hand-wound with a power reserve of 42 hours.

This isnt the only watch brought to India by Officine Panerai, which has upped its 2022 game in the countrys US$633m luxury watch market.Among the launches are three new Luminor watches.

Play in contrast: The first Panerai model for women

Luminor Due is the Italian-meets-Swiss brands (it was established in Italy, and now has a manufacturing base in Switzerland) first model created for women. The newest renditions of the Luminor Due, PAM01247 and PAM01248, have starkly opposing colour palettes, a play of dark and light.

The watch nestles in the signature 38mm Luminor Due case, including the patented crown safety lock device. A monochromatic, rich, lush anthracite colour tinges the sandwich dial (sun-brushed finishing reveals unexpected gradations as light moves across its surface) and the date window at 3 oclock of the PAM01247. The numerals, indices and hands are in white Super-LumiNova (non-radioactive and non-toxic photoluminescent or afterglow pigments illuminate markings on watch dials, hands, and bezels). Interestingly, it glows green in darkness in sharp contrast to the warm golden finish of the hands.

PAM01248 has a lovely ivory sun-brushed dial, in complete contrast. The sumptuous timepiece sports beige Super-LumiNova, gold hands, and a polished red strap.

The tech specs:Both models have a P.900 calibre, an in-house automatic movement with a three-day power reserve conceived by the Panerai manufacture in Neuchtel. They are water-resistant to 300 metres.

One of two new renditions of the Luminor Due, the PAM01247 has lush anthracite tinges on the sandwich dial and date window at 3 o'clock.

Circular watchmaking: Luminor Panerai

Sustainability has been the cornerstone of Panerais watchmaking for a few years now and the brand has innovated with the concept of circular economy and fashion, with its Luminor Marina.

It features a patented crown-protecting device, eSteelTM, a sustainably manufactured steel composed of recycled-based material alloy. Almost 89 g of the watch and its components, such as the crown-locking mechanism, has been fabricated using recycled steel. It meets the rigorous standards of the steel cases that preceded it; eSteelTM exhibits identical chemical behaviour, physical structure, and resistance to corrosion as a non-recycled alloy.

Luminor Marina eSteelTM features a brushed case with a polished bezel and rubberised crown. There are three iterations with different polished dials in gradient colour, from dark to light: Blu Profondo (deep blue), Grigio Roccia (black) and Verde Smeraldo (green).

The tech specs:The movement isan automaticCalibre P.9010 with a three-day power reserve. It is marked by a rapid adjustment system that can move the hour-hand forward or backwards in increments of one hour, independent of the minute hand. The watch is water-resistant to more than 300 meters deep. Taking the recycled theme forward is a textile strap that complements with its dial colour, an eSteelTM trapezoidal pin buckle and a storage box composed of recycled material.

The Panerai Luminor Marina. Almost 89 g of the watch and its components, such as the crown-locking mechanism, has been fabricated using recycled steel.

Disrupting the model: Panerai Piccolo Due Madreperla

Panerai Piccolo Due MadreperlaPAM01280is characterised by an overt departure in its aesthetic dimension. The watch dial is crafted from lustrous mother-of-pearl that enhances the pink gold colour hands, applied numerals and date window. The numerals and indices are filled by white SuperLumiNovaTM with green luminescence.

Panerai Piccolo Due Madreperla has the smallest case, at 38mm diameter, made from GoldtechTM, an 18-carat gold alloywith a significant percentage of copper (24%) and platinum (4%).

The tech specs:The watch is water-resistant up to about 30 meters, features an interchangeable strap fitted with the Quick Release system in shiny red with tone-on-tone stitching, and a trapezoidal pin buckle in polished GoldtechTM. The timepiece comes packed in an intricate pearwood box.

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Review: A Panerai limited-edition luxury watch, of which there is only one in India - Moneycontrol.com

Pennsylvanias Department of State said the rules for counting votes are designed to ensure nobody can tamper with the process and the procedures are clear: vote counters arent allowed to be alone with ballots.

That reminder comes as former President Donald Trump suggested Republican vote counters can interfere in the ballot counting process in the next election.

Trump sent a video message to Lawrence County Republicans and suggested that the workers who count the votes could influence who wins.

Were gonna have to be a lot sharper the next time when it comes to counting the vote, Trump said. Theres a famous statement: sometimes the vote counter is more important than the candidate.

Trump falsely claims that he won Pennsylvania when in fact he lost by more than 80,000 votes.

A judge and two inspectors, who are all elected, oversee vote casting on election day.

Judges dont have discretion to change the law and to make decisions about who gets to vote or about counting votes or not counting votes, said Susan Gobreski of the League of Women Voters.

The Department of State said in an email election workers of both parties then seal and transport ballot materials from voting precincts to a county election office on Election Night.

Extensive poll worker training and guidance shows once a polling place sends in its ballots, they have to be double checked by county election officials.

The ballots are counted and re-counted, a process thats open to a representative for each candidate and party.

The idea behind all those layers is to make election cheating difficult, if not impossible.

The Department of State added security measures like data encryption and network monitoring help prevent tampering with Pennsylvanias voting systems.

County, state and federal judges and public officials of both political parties, and election experts, have concluded the 2020 election was free and fair. Pennsylvania legally certified its electoral votes Dec. 14, and multiple courts dismissed election-challenge cases for reasons including lack of evidence and lack of standing to sue.

Pennsylvanias Department of State said the rules for counting votes are designed to ensure nobody can tamper with the process and the procedures are clear: vote counters arent allowed to be alone with ballots.

That reminder comes as former President Donald Trump suggested Republican vote counters can interfere in the ballot counting process in the next election.

Trump sent a video message to Lawrence County Republicans and suggested that the workers who count the votes could influence who wins.

Were gonna have to be a lot sharper the next time when it comes to counting the vote, Trump said. Theres a famous statement: sometimes the vote counter is more important than the candidate.

Trump falsely claims that he won Pennsylvania when in fact he lost by more than 80,000 votes.

A judge and two inspectors, who are all elected, oversee vote casting on election day.

Judges dont have discretion to change the law and to make decisions about who gets to vote or about counting votes or not counting votes, said Susan Gobreski of the League of Women Voters.

The Department of State said in an email election workers of both parties then seal and transport ballot materials from voting precincts to a county election office on Election Night.

Extensive poll worker training and guidance shows once a polling place sends in its ballots, they have to be double checked by county election officials.

The ballots are counted and re-counted, a process thats open to a representative for each candidate and party.

The idea behind all those layers is to make election cheating difficult, if not impossible.

The Department of State added security measures like data encryption and network monitoring help prevent tampering with Pennsylvanias voting systems.

County, state and federal judges and public officials of both political parties, and election experts, have concluded the 2020 election was free and fair. Pennsylvania legally certified its electoral votes Dec. 14, and multiple courts dismissed election-challenge cases for reasons including lack of evidence and lack of standing to sue.

See more here:

Election experts say Pennsylvania's voting process is well-protected from ballot tampering - 90.5 WESA

While players scoring 1,000 career points seems to happen a few times each year, scoring 2,000 career points is a rare accomplishment. Belgreens Will Bonner reached that rarified milestone over the weekend in Mississippi, where the Bulldogs hammered Ingomar 70-37.

While the game was never in doubt, it seemed as if Will and Collin Bonner got together and decided one would shoulder the scoring in the first half of the game, and the other would take the second half.

Belgreen (21-3) jumped out to a 38-11 first lead. Collin Bonner scored 22 of his game-high 30 points in the first half.

Belgreen outscored Ingomar 32-26 in the second half, with Will Bonner scoring 24 of his 29 points.

Adrian Reeves added six points for Belgreen. Cole King finished with three points, and Canaan Stough tacked on two points.

Belgreen 53, Tharptown 27

The Bulldogs beat the Tharptown Wildcats 53-27 this past week.

Belgreen led Tharptown 13-10 at the end of the first quarter and extended that lead to 32-16 by halftime.

Tharptown outscored the Bulldogs 5-4 in the third quarter to cut Belgreens lead to 36-21. The Wildcats cut the Bulldog lead to 11 points early in the fourth quarter, but Will Bonner took over in the post, scoring 14 points in the final period of play. He led Belgreen with 20 points.

Austin James added 13 points, and Collin Bonner scored 12. Alex Jarnigan finished with three points, Cole King two points and Ely Mitchell two points.

Dylan Valdez scored nine points for Tharptown. He was followed by Malachi Minor with six points. Alexis Quezada and Jackson Clement scored five points each. Luis Valdez and Tyler Amos added two points each.

Belgreen 92, Vina 20

All 14 players for Belgreen got in on the scoring action in a 92-20 win over the Vina Red Devils this past week. Belgreen led Vina 51-2 at halftime.

Will Bonner led Belgreen with 25 points. Collin Bonner followed with 14 points.

Reeves, James, Braycen Johnson and Carson Cox scored six points each. Stough and Jordan Wright scored five points each. King and Alex Guidry added four points each. Will King and Hadden Taylor contributed two points each, and Brent Sykes scored one point.

GIRLS

Noelle Willingham had a big game to lead the Belgreen Lady Bulldogs to a win over Vina as well, 58-32. Willingham led Belgreen with 23 points, going 10-for-11 from the free-throw line, including sinking a perfect six of six in the fourth quarter.

Belgreen jumped out to 16-8 first quarter lead and extended that lead to 28-13 at halftime. Belgreen led Vina 41-20 at the end of the third quarter and outscored the Red Devils 17-12 in the fourth period.

Dakota Green followed Willingham, scoring 12 points, and B.B. Scott added 11. Makenna Fisher finished with four points. Isabella Tate, Alayna Tate, Laura Seal and Carson Hovater scored two points each.

Sara Scott scored 10 points for Vina. Sara Harper added seven points, Kaitlyn Athey five points, Kaley Attaway four points, Jaylen Shotts three points, Autumn Chandler two points and K.K. Mitchell one point.

The rest is here:

Belgreen's Will Bonner scores 2000 career points - Franklin County Times - Franklin County Times

With the Omicron variant continuing tosurge into January, you may have noticed more people opting to wear an N95 maskbut those highly protective masks, usually reserved for medical settings, can be expensive and hard to come by.

Also, some experts say while N95s are highly effective when health-care workers are treating people infected with COVID-19, they aren't always recommendedfor the general publicbecause their effectiveness is highly dependent on being able to create a perfect seal and wearing them consistently.

Gerald Evans, an infectious disease physician and and medical director of Infection Prevention andControl at Kingston Health Sciences Centre, explains thatN95s are effective because they create a seal that reduces the respiration of 95 per cent of respiratory particles of a certain size.

But he said it's still not knownwhether a person in a setting like a grocery store would be likely to encounter particles with sufficient virus in them to make an N95 necessary.

"The benefit of them in general day-to-day use in most people is certainly more tenuous. It may worry people that if they're not wearing an N95, they're going to get infected"said Evans.

"My recommendation is that a medical mask is preferable to a cloth mask, but any sort of mask right now has good evidence that it reduces the transmission of COVID-19 by at least 50 per cent."

Marianne Levitsky, an industrial hygienist and adjunct professor at the University of Toronto's school of Public Health, said she recommends that people wear the best mask available to them, and thatN95s are critical when going into situations where ventilation is poor and there are people they don't know.

"If I were to going to spend an hour doing a big shopping trip, I would probably wear a pretty good mask like an N95.If I were going in for fiveminutes maybe I would wear a less protective mask," she said.

"It is super important to find one that fits well and is comfortable so that you will wear it. It's actually not a good quality mask if you can't wear it."

B.C.'s Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has also said she chooses her mask based on the setting opting for medical masks in health-care settingsand cloth masks in lower risk settings.

In November, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)updated its website to read, "in general, while non-medical masks can help prevent the spread of COVID-19, medical masks and respirators provide better protection. No matter which type of mask you choose, proper fit is a key factor in its effectiveness."

Levitsky said that in medical settings where N95s and other medical grade respirators are worn, they'refitted to a person's face using fit-testing a process done either with a machine or manually by another professional.

The average person won't have access to this technology, but the PHACsays professional fit testing isn't necessary to use an N95 for day-to-day use.

You can ensureyourmaskfits as well as possible bymolding it around the shape of their face and nose and pressing down around the mask'smetal nose strip.

Levitsky recommends doing anat-home fit-testby blowing air into your mask.If you can feel the air you're blowing coming out of the mask, or if your glasses are fogging up, it's a sign that your mask is not creating a proper seal. Facial hair can also prevent a proper seal from being formed.

"You might find a mask uncomfortable at first but you can get used to it. If you can get it to fit well, then give it a try and see if that is something that can work for you."

WATCH | How to double-mask properly:

Evans said if an N95 isn't properly fit-tested, it won't live up to its promise of filtering out 95 per cent of particles but even regular medical masks can provide a good degree of protection.

"A regular surgical mask has a filtration capacity of about 80 per cent, so there's only a marginal improvement of efficacy if they're not fit-tested," he said.

Levitskysaid the downside of medical masks is that while they filter well, they create a poor seal, and tendto gape at the sides a problem that can be helped by layering a well-fitting cloth mask on top. And if you choose to only wear a cloth mask, some are better than others.

"If you are wearing cloth masks, the ones that have three layers are better as long as you're given a good seal on the face," she said.

Levitsky says N95s are not generally meant to be worn multiple times but that advice has changed given how many people now need to wear them. She recommends that N95sbe left todry out for a week after a wear, either hung up in a safe, dry place, or stored in a paper (but not a plastic) bag.

Unlike cloth masks, N95s cannot be washed. If they get wet or dirty, they should be thrown away. And no single N95 mask should be used upwards of ten times.

Evans said it's important to remind people that wearing a high quality mask like an N95 won't single-handedly protect you from COVID-19, especially if you choose to remove it at any time.

"If you take the mask off to eat and drink with a group at a table at a restaurant if that's the case then the N95 is doing nothing for you, but people believe it is," he said.

"That's where there starts to be a disconnect, because people want it to be a simple solution to a complex issue."

Excerpt from:

Do you need an N95 mask to protect yourself from Omicron? (And what you need to know if you have one) - CBC.ca

Bonus amounts differ depending on program and eligibility, but max out at $50,000, and are effective for any future Sailor initially classified or reclassified on or after of January 21, 2022.

We recognize that young Americans today have more employment options and opportunities than ever before, so we are offering these enlistment bonuses to be competitive with the strong civilian labor market, recognizing that we are in competition for the best and the brightest young Americans from all walks of life, said Rear Admiral Dennis Velez, Commander, Navy Recruiting Command. While military service is not just about the money, we feel the added economic incentive, on top of the existing military benefits package and the inherent excitement tied to service in the worlds premiere Navy, will help us attract and retain the kind of talented young people our Navy needs to maintain our competitive advantage into the future.

The enlistment incentives offered include Enlistment Bonus Source Rate (EBSR) and EB for Shipping (EBSHP). EBSR bonuses are tied to in demand ratings that support our nuclear Navy, submarines, information warfare and Navys warrior challenge ratings such as SEAL and EOD. EBSHP by contrast is available to all active component ratings for future Sailors who will ship before June.

Sailors can be paid in one or multiple installments based on specific accomplishments of the bonus criteria. EBPST, EBPFA, EBCC, EBSHP and EBHS are paid upon graduation from Recruit Training Command (RTC).

Active component recruits listed below are eligible for early shipping bonuses in the following months during FY22.

A $4,000 early shipping bonus (EBSHP) is awarded to any newly classified applicant scheduled to ship from January 21 - May 31, 2022 or any Future Sailor (FS) currently in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP) with a scheduled shipping date of June 1, 2022 or later that rolls in or reclassifies into January 21 May 31, 2022.

Of note, the EBSHP bonus allots $14,000 to those eligible with an EB maximum limit of $50,000. While the additional shipping bonus can be added to bonuses for specified jobs, the bonuses arent limited to future Sailors in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP), but are also available to applicants who contract in the specified ratings and ship within 30 days.

All bonuses are subject to Congressional Appropriations and funding availability, so interested Future Sailors should respond as soon as possible, said Lt. Nickos Leondaridis-Mena, Operations Research Analyst for Commander, Navy Recruiting Command.

For more information on enlistment incentives or specific Navy programs, talk to a local recruiter or go to https://www.cnrc.navy.mil/pages-nrc-links/nrc-bonus-loans-messages.htm, and https://www.navy.com/bonus.

For EI policy questions, reference (c) is located at https://www.secnav.navy.mil/doni/Directives.

Navy Recruiting Command consists of a command headquarters, three Navy Recruiting Regions, 26 Navy Talent Acquisition Groups (NTAGs) that serve more than 1,000 recruiting stations around the world. Their mission is to attract the highest quality candidates to assure the ongoing success of Americas Navy.

For more news from Commander, Navy Recruiting Command, go to http://www.cnrc.navy.mil. Follow Navy Recruiting on Facebook (www.facebook.com/NavyRecruiting), Twitter (@USNRecruiter) and Instagram (@USNRecruiter).

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Navy Recruiting Gives Up To $50000 In Shipping Bonuses - navy.mil

When fin whales capture their food, they end up scooping a lot of water into their mouths. Scientists in Canada have discovered a small, fatty structure in these marine mammals that may explain how they are able to engulf such vast amounts of prey-filled water without choking.

When the researchers examined deceased whales, they identified a section of the soft palate that could shift to seal the upper airway while the whale feeds. The researchers, who dubbed the structure the oral plug in the journal Current Biology on January 20, suspect that the plug also exists in other large baleen whales.

Fin whales are found in oceans worldwide and can grow to 85 feet long. They belong to a group of large baleen whales called the rorqual family, along with several other sea giants including the blue whale and humpback whale. Rorquals use a highly unusual strategy known as lunge feeding to capture krill, fish, and squid. During lunge feeding, the whale opens its mouth while shooting towards its prey at speeds of up to about 10 feet per second, allowing it to gulp a volume of water as large as its own body. Finally, the whale closes its mouth, pushing water out through its baleen plates, and swallows the remaining prey.

How the whales protect their airways as water floods the mouth has been a mystery, however.

We have a lot of knowledge about that whole process of the mechanics of lunging and engulfing all that food, and thats pretty much where the knowledge stops, says Kelsey Gil, a marine biologist at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and coauthor of the findings. We dont know whats going on in the throat.

To find out, she and her colleagues examined the bodies of 19 fin whales.

When we had the mouth open in this fin whale, we saw there was this massive chunk of tissue at the back of the mouth completely plugging the pathway that the food has to take to get to the esophagus and the stomach, Gil says.

The almost 8 inch-wide bulbous structure was composed of fat and muscle. The researchers determined that it was part of the soft palatethe little sheet of muscle along the roof of the mouth from which the uvula hangs in humans.

The oral plug was tightly wedged in place and could not be easily pushed free. When the researchers examined the muscle fibers of the soft palate, they concluded that the only way the oral plug could move for food to pass through during swallowing would be to shift backwards and upwards, and in doing so block the entry to the nasal cavities.

For these whales its a way to save energy, Gil says. Its in its relaxed position and its going to be in that position most of the time and it only needs to be moved for a brief amount of time to push food through.

The process is similar to what happens when humans swallow: The uvula is pushed back and throat muscles contract so food doesnt go up the nose.

Once the nasal cavities and the upper airways are protected, you have this question of how the lower airways would be protected, [such as] the lungs, Gil says. She and her collaborators manipulated the cartilage of the larynx, or voicebox, to see how it might move during swallowing. They found that the cartilage at the top of the larynx can come together to create a seal that prevents food or water from accidentally getting into the respiratory tract.

Additionally, Gil says, a muscular sac at the bottom of the larynx known as the laryngeal sac can create another protective barrier to block off the entry to the lungs. When the whales dive down to feed at greater depths, the pressure would push the sac upwards to plug the larynx.

Being able to engulf massive amounts of prey is one reason that rorquals have managed to grow to such epic sizes. The oral plug is really important for lunge feeding, and thus for allowing them to get as large as they have, Gil says.

However, not everyone is convinced by the structure. Joy Reidenberg, a comparative anatomist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York who was not involved with the research, says she has serious reservations about some of the evidence presented in the study. Based on what she has observed in dissections of rorquals, Reidenberg says, the rigid and floppy cartilage flaps at the top of the larynx wouldnt fit together to make a particularly good seal in whales.

Additionally, the motions of the larynx and mouth that make the protective seal and swallow food cannot both happen at the same time, she says. This is because both actions depend on moving the U-shaped hyoid bone, but in opposite directions.

Reidenberg also isnt sold on the oral plug, which she doubts could move out of the way enough to allow food to pass by during swallowing. As is commonly observed in other animals, Reidenberg explains that it makes more sense for air to flow over the larynx and soft palate while food flows around the sides, like water parting around the bow of a boat. This would allow the whales to breathe and eat at the same time, she explains. Its possible that the fatty bulge the team observed in the fin whale carcasses was actually caused by the weight of the larynx pushing down because the tongue was no longer there to hold it in place, Reidenberg says, although researchers would have to peek into a live whales mouth to find out for sure.

Im not convinced entirely that there is an oral plug, but if there is, I find that to be very interesting, she says. Id love to see more evidence of that.

The rest is here:

Baleen whales have an oral plug to help them guzzle down food without choking - Popular Science

The number of unprovoked shark attacks worldwide rose sharply in 2021 according to a report published by the University of Florida's International Shark Attack File (ISAF.)

The ISAF 2021 report, published January 24, showed there were 73 unprovoked shark bites on humans last year, an increase of 28 per cent on the 2020 figure of 57.

The number of fatalities remained relatively stable, with 11 recorded in 2021 compared to 13 in 2020.

Scientists behind the report speculate that changing rules and attitudes to the COVID-19 pandemic could be behind the figures.

"Last year, we speculatedand we don't know this for surethat the reason why there was a lower number was because there were fewer people in the water because of the lockdowns," Gavin Naylor, the director of the Florida Program for Shark Research who co-authored the report, told Newsweek. "Now the number is back up again because people got fed up and returned to the water.

"We had a little bit of a dip last year and we seem to be moving up to normal numbers this year," he said regarding the number of unprovoked shark bites on humans.

The ISAF report showed where on Earth most attacks were taking place. The relatively small archipelago of New Caledonia in the South Pacific reported two fatal shark attacks. This is just one less than Australiathe country that often tops shark fatality figures due to the prevalence of larger species such as great whites and tiger sharks.

In both cases, the prevalence of these larger, more dangerous sharks and the popularity of tourism and water sports like surfing can make for a rare but sometimes fatal combination.

"There is a lot of tourism in New Caledonia, a destination for a lot of French tourists that encourages a lot of the sportier people to do things like kite surfing," Naylor said. "And they have quite a few tiger sharks there and that's punching above it's weight in terms of the number of fatalities.

"We do see that in places that are sea mountslike Reunion, or Hawaii, or New Caledoniain these islands in a pelagic system, there are some fairly large sharks. Tiger sharks and bull sharks for example. They often have beautiful coral reefs that attract a lot of tourists and you've got these large animals in the water doing recreational sports and the probability of an interaction between the two goes up.

"Australia for example has more fatalities because there are a lot of white sharks down there, near the surface, feeding on seals. And people there are all out surfing ... and when a large white shark bites you on the leg in can sever your femoral artery and often can be fatal unless you get attention really quickly."

Attacks in these areas differ to those on the Atlantic Coast of the U.S., where there are still many surfers and people going into the water, but fewer of the larger or more dangerous sharks like tigers and white sharks.

However, there were more bites in the U.S. last year (47) than any other country. That was 42 per cent higher than the 33 shark attacks recorded in U.S. in 2020, and represented 64 per cent of the worldwide total.

Most U.S. shark attacks occurred in Florida, with 28 bites recorded. In the U.S. as a whole there was only one fatal shark attack.

"Fatalities are absolutely, very strongly correlated with the size of the shark, and that depends on where you're surfing," Naylor said. "We don't have too many white sharks close to shore in Florida, so we don't have many fatalities at all in Florida, and yet we lead the world with bites because there are lots and lots of smaller blacktip sharks close to shore and there are a lot of people who surf."

In terms of the future of shark attacks, one place that could see an uptick in attacks is at the other end of America's Atlantic Coast in New England.

After the passing of the Marine Mammal Act in 1972, seal numbers off the North Atlantic Coast have responded and steadily increased, and so too have white shark sightings.Naylor said that he expects shark attack incidents in the area to increase, despite the number of sharks worldwide declining precipitously amid industrial fishing.

"We see more white sharks in New England," he said. "We see that a lot of the bites by white sharks on people are not being done by these 17 foot females but by 13 foot teenagers. Most bites are by naive animals that are more likely to make mistakes. If you are a 40-year-old white shark who has been around the block a bit, you know the difference between a seal and a surfer. But if you are only a four-year-old white shark and excited by seals in the area, and pushed by a wave towards where humans are in the water, you're more likely to make a mistake.

"We think that it is very likely that, over the long term, the incidence of bites in New England will go up at the hands or teeth of white sharks. These are large animals and there will be a higher proportion of them that will be fatal compared to say blacktip sharks.

"So I can imagine in the future that there will unfortunately be more fatalities."

This article has been updated to include more information on future shark attacks.

Go here to read the rest:

Shark Attacks Increased by Almost 30 Percent in 2021 - Newsweek

In its comprehensive report Global Agriculture Equipment Assembly Market from 2021 to 2027, MarketQuest.biz provides an in-depth assessment of the given sectors current position and central factors. It accurately delivers the relevant information to assist in developing the best corporate plan and choosing the right path for optimum health for global Agriculture Equipment Assembly market participants, accomplished by staying on the side of the highest drivers, current trends, undiscovered opportunities, restraints, challenges, and critical growth areas.

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The following regions and countries are discussed in the global Agriculture Equipment Assembly market report:

North America (United States, Canada and Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Russia, Italy, and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia, and Australia), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Rest of South America), Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, South Africa, and Rest of Middle East & Africa)

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Full Automatic, Semi Automatic

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Global Agriculture Equipment Assembly Market Focusing on Trends and Innovations during the Period Until 2021-2027 Discovery Sports Media - Discovery...

In the early 60s, Roy Bates, a Major in the British army, established a radio station, situated offshore on an abandoned ex naval fort named Knock John. The theory behind this location was an attempt to bypass the draconian broadcasting restrictions of the time, which permitted little more than formal broadcasting by the BBC. Roys station, Radio Essex, and others like it, were known affectionately by the media as Pirate radio stations, and were much loved by the British public, as they supplied everything that the BBC did not at the time, Pop music and amusing presenters.

In the years than ensued, Roy fought an unsuccessful legal battle with the UK government, which questioned the legality of his occupation of said fort. It was ruled that Knock John fell under UK jurisdiction. Smarting from his setback, Roy weighed his options. Another abandoned fortress, Roughs Tower, identical in construction to the Knock John existed further offshore, and crucially, outside of the three mile limit to which the UK jurisdiction extended. Roy proceeded to occupy Roughs Tower, on Christmas eve 1966, with the intention of revitalising his dormant radio station. This was until he conjured a different plan entirely. After consulting his lawyers, Roy decided to declare this fortress island the independent state of Sealand, Claiming Jus Gentium (Law of Nations) over a part of the globe that was Terra Nullius (Nobodys Land).

On the 2nd of September 1967, accompanied by his wife Joan on her birthday, his son Michael (14), daughter Penelope (16) and several friends and followers, Roy declared the Principality of Sealand. The founding of this country was marked by the raising of a newly designed flag, and in an extremely romantic birthday gesture, the bestowing of a new title on his beloved wife, to be know from that moment on as Princess Joan.

Read more here:

About Sealand | The Principality Of Sealand | Sealand History

Sealand Aviation Ltd. - Campbell River (CYBL)Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.Aircraft Maintenance, Repairs and Modifications

Sealand Aviation overhauls, rebuilds, salvages and repairs aircraft. Sealand Aviation also manufactures aircraft modification kits and components. The company is Transport Canada approved for structures, maintenance, welding and manufacturing.

The experienced aviation mechanics at Sealand Aviation provide excellent maintenance and services on both floatplanes and wheel equipped light aircraft.

Our aircraft modifications services include TIP TANKS, PUSH RODS, STRUTS, JUMP SEATS, CABIN EXTENSIONS, ALASKA DOORS, FLOAT MODS, JUMP DOORS, WESTCOAST WINDOWS.

Sealand Aviation was originally started by Bill Alder in Campbell River, BC to provide aircraft maintenance services for the commercial floatplanes servicing the forestry and fishing industries on the West Coast of British Columbia, Canada. Sealand Aviation quickly established a reputation in the aircraft maintenance field for its large inventory of aircraft parts and reliable, efficient customer service.

Aircraft maintenance and aircraft repairs are still the mainstay of the company but Sealand Aviation now also designs, certifies and manufactures modifications, primarily for the de Havilland Beaver. These aircraft modification kits include the Cabin Extension Kit and the Alaska Door, Jump Door, Westcoast Windows, among others.

Change is good and Sealand Aviation is not a company that rests on its laurels. New and innovative aviation products are developed and manufactured onsite in response to ever changing customers' needs. Sealand maintains a large inventory of all aircraft parts and products and can ship aircraft modification kits all over the globe.

Sealand Aviation works with some of North America's best aviation engineers for certification and the existing customer base is worldwide.

We welcome your comments and inquiries. Please complete our survey or contact us, your feedback is extremely valuable to us.

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Home | Sealand Aviation Ltd., Campbell River aircraft ...

A VETERAN aircraft engineer who lost his hearing is calling for others to access new support.

Tom Kane, from Deeside, always had aspirations to join the Armed Forces.

From as young as he can remember he looked up to his father who was in the Fleet Air Arm, and at 14 he joined the Marine Cadets in Penzance in the South West of England.

I was still at school when I applied to join the Royal Air Force and was working as a part time butcher, said Tom.

After a setback, being told he wasnt initially going to be accepted into the RAF, he reapplied in January 1975 and in April that year he finally swore allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II and said: "I didnt look back.

Veteran aircraft engineer Tom Kane, from Deeside.

Despite being fully hearing when he arrived at his first posting at RAF Binbrook, in Lincolnshire, Tom was tasked to work as a mechanic on The Lightning, at the time the loudest aircraft in the RAF.

Tom was at RAF Binbrook and issued with Amplivox ear defenders made out of ceramic cup with padding inside the cup and a seal with glycerine, which in his case were not adequate in the noisy environment of a Flight Line full of Lightnings.

Veteran aircraft engineer Tom Kane, from Deeside. "The office."

Despite improvements being made to ear defender technology over the years, his hearing was already damaged due to noise.

I loved the RAF life, said Tom. So much so that from 1988 onwards I was always involved with the entertainment committees of various Sergeants Messes, but that is when I noticed my hearing wasnt what it used to be.

It was the weekly quiz nights Tom hosted at RAF Sealand, in Deeside when he realised that when people were asking him to repeat questions from across the noisy room, that he couldnt hear his fellow colleagues.

In 2000 Tom lost a good part of his hearing and also developed tinnitus and went for several audiology exams but was told that it would be something you have to live with and so he carried on, even serving in the Falklands.

After many failed attempts Tom was finally given a lifeline by the NHS and was seen by an audiologist in the hospital.

After a full hearing test which showed he had experienced noise induced hearing loss, and was given hearing aids.

Tom added: It was pretty life changing, but I also made sure I went onto lip reading courses to do what I could to help myself.

When there was a possibility of a fireman strike after the last foot and mouth epidemic, I was told I would be expected to be chosen to lead teams of service personnel in an emergency setting and it clearly just wasnt safe," said Tom.

"At that time I really knew I had to push to get help and after some persuading, I was given a medical downgrading, which meant I wasnt going to be expected to work in a hazardous area because of my hearing loss."

Veteran aircraft engineer Tom Kane, from Deeside. First day and last day.

Father of two Tom, was given a Hearing Dog for the Deaf Nevis who he said, 'changed his life completely'.

Now Tom is fully qualified as a lip reading teacher and works to help other Veterans who have lost their hearing through active service.

It can take 10 years for someone to realise they have a hearing loss, said Tom. Luckily now there are Facebook groups you can join and get support but when mine happened it was very isolating - and tiring!

DSN, previously known as Deafness Support Network, has been awarded a grant from the Armed Forces Covenant Trust Fund to enable veterans to get better access to support and services. The project is being headed by Pam Craige.

Pam said: Toms story is so inspiring and its fantastic to see how he has turned his hearing loss into something that he can now help people with. We really hope that other Veterans are encouraged to be open about their hearing loss and come and find a support network with us here at DSN.

DSN will be hosting its first ever workshop for veterans, where Tom will be the guest speaker, at The Armed Forces Community Services Hub, Warrington on November 26th from 1pm-3.30pm. The workshop is free with lunch and refreshments provided.

Anyone interested in going along can email pcraige@dsnonline.co.uk

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Former RAF Sealand engineer urges other veterans to recognise their hearing loss - LeaderLive