According to half a dozen current and former colleagues of the man now tasked with steering Britain's coronavirus strategy, the 46-year-old former lawyer will be a forensic stand-in for the prime minister, albeit one who sometimes lacks charm.

Raab, who backed Johnson for prime minister after a short-lived bid for the top job himself, is loved by Brexiteers, though has relatively limited experience at the top of government.

"He made the most cogent case for Brexit of those currently in Cabinet, that is what annoys his enemies," according to a former Cabinet minister who has worked with Raab, who, like most of those interviewed for this piece spoke on condition of anonymity.

Both current and former colleagues point to Raab's attention to detail.

"The one thing he is very good at is detail and [the coronavirus] sort of operation requires the detail to be right. So he is the ideal person to grab hold of it now that the direction has been set by the prime minister and deliver," according to another senior government figure.

A wooden media performer, Raab also causes some to worry that what they see as his political naivet might mean he struggles to sell the government's plan to the public.

"He is unflinching in his arguments," the former Cabinet minister said. "Interestingly for a foreign secretary, he is sometimes quite undiplomatic."

Most pressing in Raab's in-tray is the question of how to end the national lockdown crippling the U.K.'s economy.

As foreign secretary, Raab will be familiar with the discussions. He has been part of the 9:15 a.m. daily "war cabinet" meetings throughout the crisis, which he began chairing on Monday after the prime minister was first taken to hospital on Sunday night.

"He is not someone who will have been sitting at the back of the room. He will have been taking notes, listening intently and wanting to play his part," according to one of those familiar with the war cabinet's operation.

"He is very forensic, very clever, he has a lawyer's mind and will take every argument apart piece by piece," said the former Cabinet minister who has worked closely with Raab.

The former minister believes the foreign secretary's more prominent role could lead to a more skeptical approach to the scientific research and decision-making as ministers mull how to get people back to work, although the ex-minister acknowledged a final decision was unlikely to be imminent and would ultimately be taken by the prime minister.

"If you want someone to grind the truth out of conflicting data, Dominic is your man," they said.

But while Raab will take a microscope to the evidence, few believe that he will want to make any major decisions if the prime minister continues to recover.

"It will be a big call for someone to pull us out of lockdown without the PM making that decision, the senior government figure said.

While Raab has "a lot of self-confidence," he will be very aware that it is "uncharted territory in terms of proper Cabinet decisions," according to one former departmental colleague.

"He will be looking to [Cabinet Secretary Mark] Sedwill for the constitutional appropriateness of this. He will play by the rules and be sensitive," the former departmental aide added.

"Dom doesnt care about headlines, his focus will be on doing the right thing for the country," saidJames Starkie, another former colleague who ran communications for Raab's leadership bid last year. "He had a tremendous work ethic and hell instill that drive in those around him, the country is in safe hands with him."

While Raab is well-known in Conservative ranks having worked as Brexiteer David Davis' chief of staff before becoming an MP in 2010, he is little-known beyond the Westminster bubble.

A favorability poll conducted by YouGov last week put him among the least known of those in top Cabinet posts. More thanhalf of those asked about his performance suggested they did not know who he is, and among the half of those who did, more had an unfavorable than a favorable view.

He also has relatively little experience.He only became a junior minister in May 2015, and was in Theresa May's Cabinet as Brexit secretary for just four months in 2018 before he resigned over her approach to negotiations with the European Union.

"What he isn'tis an optimistic booster in the way that Boris is," the former Cabinet minister said. "He doesn't compete with Boris at all on those terms. If that is what you want, then Raab is not your man."

But in the midst of the crisis, allies say "delivering a good story, rather than talking a good story" is more important.

"He is like the [footballer] James Milner of politics. He plays in midfield for Liverpool, worked his arse off, perhaps there are people around him who like to do a few more flicks and kicks, but you don't win titles unless you have people like James Milner, and you can't run government unless you have people like Dominic Raab," said the former colleague.

Raab also did not havethe privileged upbringing of the prime minister. He was educated at a state-run grammar school, and his Czech-born, Jewish refugee father fled the Nazis in 1938, then died when Raab was just 12 years old.Raab worked as a lawyer in the Foreign Office before entering politics in 2006.

In 2017, Raab revealed he was named on a list of Tory MPs accused of inappropriate behavior but branded the allegations false.

Raab's main support base in the Conservative Party comes from the most hardline ofBrexiteers in the party.

Since December's election, however, many of his political opponents have either left parliament or been voted out, making Brexit a less contentious issue than in previous eras.

Raab is unlikely to have to make any major Brexit decisions while deputizing for Johnson, with the next significant decision over whether to extend the transition period due in June. "The signs are hopefully the PM will be back soon, there are no big Brexit decisions to take, Frosty [chief U.K. negotiator David Frost] knows what he has to do," said a former colleague.

Beyond Brexit, Raab is no stranger to controversy. In 2012, he was a contributor to Britannia Unchained, a book that made the case for free markets and deregulation, which attracted headlines for suggestingBritish workers are "among the worst idlers in the world."

He also courted controversy for suggesting people who use food banks typically do so not because of poverty but because they have an occasional cashflow problem.

A second former colleague said the examples suggested a "political naivet," and a lack of understanding of the "politician's way of saying something."

Were Raab to be in charge of the coronavirus response in the longer term, the same former colleague does have concerns.

"The criticism that I have of him is that he is very black and white. It can be quite hard to nudge him in certain areas," the former official said. "He always did his own thing [as a minister]. You have to be flexible, you have to remain dynamic, you have to remain open, and I think he might struggle with that."

Emilio Casalicchio contributed reporting.

Are you a professional following the impact of Brexit on your industry? Brexit Transition Pro, our premium service for professionals, helps you navigate the policy, and regulatory changes to come. Email [emailprotected] to request a trial.

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Who is Boris Johnson's stand-in, Dominic Raab? - Politico

Mr Osborne praised new Labour leader Sir Keir Starmers shadow cabinet. Taking to Twitter, the former chancellor said: Keir Starmers reshuffle is impressive - the Marxist nutters are out; moderate left are in.

When this crisis is eventually over, and politics is resumed, the Tories are going to find that the five years when there was no opposition and no alternative has come to an abrupt end.

It comes as Sir Keir unveiled his shadow cabinet after he was announced as Jeremy Corbyns replacement earlier this month.

Many MPs from Mr Corbyn's team have been kept on, but those from the centre and right of the party have also been given promotions.

Sir Keir said: "This is a new team that will take the Labour Party forward in a new era.

"Under my leadership, the Labour Party will be utterly focused on working in the national interest, rebuilding people's trust in our party and winning the next election."

Sir Keir included his former leadership rivals in the shadow cabinet.

Rebecca Long-Bailey has been made shadow education secretary and Lisa Nandy is shadow foreign secretary.

READ MORE:Supporters blast Momentum after leadership election fiasco

He added: "The Labour Party is an incredible and powerful force for good.

"Together with those that went before us we've changed the lives of millions of people for the better.

We created the NHS. We created the welfare state. We passed equalities legislation, the Race Relations Act, we set up the Open University. We built hospitals and schools, established Sure Start and played our part in bringing about peace in Northern Ireland.

"But we've just lost four elections in a row. We're failing in our historic purpose.

"Be in no doubt I understand the scale of the task, the gravity of the position that we're in.

"We've got a mountain to climb. But we will climb it, and I will do my utmost to reconnect us across the country, to re-engage with our communities and voters, to establish a coalition across our towns and our cities and our regions with all creeds and communities to speak for the whole of the country.

"Where that requires change, we will change. Where that requires us to rethink, we will rethink.

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Boris warning: Conservatives will find strong opposition now Marxist nutters are out - Express.co.uk

An expert panel set up by the Okinawa prefectural government has called for scrapping what it calls an almost impractical plan to relocate a U.S. Marine Corps air base in the city of Ginowan some 40 kilometers northeast to a coastal area in Henoko next to the U.S. Camp Schwab.

The panel, consisting of university professors and former bureaucrats, urged the Japanese and U.S. governments to hold talks with the prefectural administration to find an alternative plan to achieve the original goal of eliminating the danger posed to local communities by the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.

The panel, tasked with proposing ideas to reduce the U.S. military presence in the southernmost island prefecture, presented its proposals to Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki on March 26.

The seven-member panel, headed by former senior defense bureaucrat Kyoji Yanagisawa, has been discussing possible options since May 2019. Yanagisawa served in various senior posts at the Defense Agency (now the Defense Ministry) before being appointed as assistant chief Cabinet secretary in charge of security and crisis management.

In addition to pointing out that the government's contentious plan to build a new Futenma replacement facility in Henoko in Okinawa's northern city of Nago is no longer workable, the panel said the U.S. Marine Corps based in the prefecture should be decentralized and deployed in smaller units to the Japanese mainland and overseas locations in response to changes in the regional security environment and the U.S. military's strategy review.

It also proposed a vision for the future of Okinawa as "the hub of a network of regional cooperation."

Despite a series of elections in which local voters made their opposition to the base relocation plan patently clear,the Abe administration has continued to forge ahead with land reclamation work to build the new base.

As the panel rightly argued, the discovery of extremely soft ground under the seabed in parts of the reclamation area has made the relocation plan "technically and financially difficult to complete."

The central government should sincerely recognize this grim reality and give serious consideration to the panel's proposal to set up a new expert council to discuss the issue involving representatives of the Japanese and U.S. governments, as well as Okinawa Prefecture.

With regard to the regional security landscape, the panel pays special attention to China's significantly enhanced missile capabilities.

That means the concentration of U.S. forces in Okinawa, which is geographically close to China, creates a major vulnerability in the defense of Japan, according to the panel.

The experts contend that it would make more strategic sense to redeploy the U.S. Marine Corps based in the prefecture in smaller units to Self-Defense Forces bases in the mainland of Japan, along with wide areas in the Asia-Pacific region.

This idea, of course, entails the colossal political challenge of winning the understanding and support of the local communities around the bases to which U.S. troops would be transferred.

The panel stressed the need to promote a fresh national debate on how the burden of hosting U.S. forces should be shared.

Even if the U.S. military presence is crucial for Japan's national security, it is debatable whether the nation should be allowed to maintain the status quo--where Okinawa is forced to shoulder an unfairly large portion of the burden.

The central government is not the only actor which should make a serious response to the panel's proposal. Local governments and residents in the mainland should not remain uninterested in the issue, either.

There is no doubt that China's military buildup and naval expansion has undermined stability in the region. It is clear, however, that this security challenge cannot be effectively met only through bolstering Japan's military capabilities and deterrence.

A national security strategy can only be dependable when it is underpinned by an effective system to ease tensions and build mutual trust.

Okinawa, which once thrived as an intermediate base of trade with China and Southeast Asia, should serve as the hub of regional cooperation that supports the system, the panel argues. As specific measures to realize this vision, the experts proposed regular meetings among researchers in the region. It also called forestablishing a new research institute that would serve as the center of such efforts.

In a nutshell, the panel has proposed to redefine the strategic position of Okinawa to transform it from the front line of confrontation between the United States and China and between Japan and China into a bridge between Japan and the rest of Asia.

This vision should lead to a serious national debate over the future of Okinawa.

--The Asahi Shimbun, April 11

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EDITORIAL: Bold proposals made by panel trying to resolve the bases issue : The Asahi Shimbun - Asahi Shimbun

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Ministry of Economy announces reduction in fees for 94 of its... - Construction Business News

THIS is traditionally the biggest DIY weekend of the year as people take advantage of the Easter bank holidays.

As we will be spending it in lockdown, there has rarely been a better time to tackle those household jobs that have been niggling at us.

Charlie White bought a dilapidated Victorian cottage in 2010 and set up his YouTube channel to film his projects.

His easy-to-follow videos showing simple home fixes have had 19million views.

Charlie says: Ive always found DIY empowering, but right now it has the added dimension of keeping us occupied, fit and healthy.

But he advises readers to be careful the last thing the NHS needs is a rush of DIY injuries.

Here, Charlie reveals some of the easiest jobs to be tackled and gives each a rating out of four, with four being the most difficult.

In addition to a large bucket, washing up liquid and rags, invest in a squeegee.

An easy solution is to add a squirt of washing up liquid to the bucket of water.

Use a large sponge for scrubbing and finish with a squeegee.

For the inside windows and shower screens, a Karcher window vac is fabulous for sucking up soap residue.

RATING: 1/4

Magic sponges are made from melamine foam, and when slightly moistened they work like really fine sandpaper and are much more effective at getting rid of marks such as crayon, felt tips, pencils, scratches and grease than your typical household wipes or cloths soaked in detergent.

But dont use them on high gloss or varnished surfaces.

Remember, non-vinyl based contract matt emulsions are not hard-wearing and will quickly wipe away so approach these with caution.

To use, wet the sponge and gently squeeze it so that it retains water without dripping.

Rub the mark and watch it disappear.

As soon as the stain has gone, stop rubbing, otherwise youll take the paint off.

RATING: 1/4

One of the biggest causes of damp on external walls is gutter problems.

Use a ladder and make sure its secured before climbing up.

Consider getting a ladder stand off (available with click-and-collect from Screwfix) as this stops you leaning the ladder directly against the gutters and provides increased stability.

Balloon leaf guards are a sensible investment as they stop leaves, moss and other large objects going down the drainpipes.

You will need rubber gloves, a garden trowel, a bucket and a small brush. Get stuck in to clear obstructions.

RATING: 3/4

Buy a small bottle of 3-in-1 oil or alternatively spray the door hinges with furniture polish.

Once youve sprayed, open and shut the door a few times and the squeak will be gone.

RATING: 1/4

Clean the furniture with white or methylated spirit. Sand the old surface with sandpaper (120150 grit) and wipe down with a damp cloth.

If your furniture is ornate, you may want to use steel wool to get into the awkward areas.

Put on some rubber gloves and stir the wood stain. Follow the manufacturers instructions on the tin, applying the stain with a sponge, brush or lint-free cloth.

Use smooth movements, following the grain and apply the wood colour evenly.

Leave to dry according to the manufacturers instructions.

RATING: 2/4

You can buy pressure washers online from 50 from a number of retailers including Homebase, Screwfix, Amazon and Argos.

Before you start, clear any debris from the filter and connect any accessories.

Run water through the washer for one minute to prime the system and remove any air.

Squeeze the spray wand trigger to bleed water pressure., then fire away.

Keep an eye on where the waste water sprays on to, though. It can travel even over fences.

RATING: 1/4

Sourcing safely during lockdown

YOU can still order most DIY essentials online, although delivery might be slower. Some retailers offer a click and collect service.

B&Q and WICKES: These have a limited range of stock for click and collect and home delivery.

SCREWFIX: Click and collect for essential orders and home delivery.

HOMEBASE: Limited range of stock for home delivery.

IRONMONGERY DIRECT: Full home delivery service.

LED lights offer an energy-efficient solution for your home.

Bayonet (push and twist) and Edison (screw in) are the two most common types, but if you are in any doubt as to what you need, look for information on the bulb.

Most online retailers offer assistance to help you make the right choice.

RATING: 1/4

Degrease joints with methylated spirit, acetone or CT1 Multisolve spray.

Choose an appropriate silicone (eg. in the bathroom use mould-resistant).

Use a Cramer Fugi 5 silicone profiling tool. Look for the greatest gap and select the smallest profile shape to cover the gap with a 2/3mm overlap each side of the joint.

Cut the silicone nozzle at 90 degrees and push the silicone into the joint. Use the adapter for smooth lines over transverse joints. Work in short sections.

Do the vertical corner joint first. Wait for this to set then do the horizontal joints, working from right to left (or left to right if youre left-handed).

Clean the profiling tool with a paper towel after each short run, and more thoroughly with a wet wipe or cloth when you are finished.

RATING: 4/4

WHAT NOT TO DO WITH SHOWER

PAINTING BOARDS: For most skirting boards, a two-inch (5cm) brush is ideal, or use a mini roller with a simulated mohair roller sleeve for the flat sections.

Degrease the skirting board with sugar soap. Make sure you rinse thoroughly and leave it to dry. Lightly sand the surface using a 120-180 grit sandpaper.

Tape up the edges with masking tape round the edge of the floor. If the floor is carpeted, press the edge of the tape down, ensuring paint doesnt get under the tape.

Start painting, using a durable paint, such as satin or gloss. Cut into the top of the skirting first, applying the paint evenly and working in manageable sections. Leave to dry. Apply a second coat.

Once the second coat is fully dry (about 24 hours) remove the tape.

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FILLING DENTS AND CRACKS IN WALLS: Trim loose paintwork using a Stanley knife. Apply a diluted layer of PVA using a small paint brush.

This gives the section to be repaired the best chance of adhering to the filler.

Fillers such as Gyproc EasiFill are my choice for a repair like this. Youll need to mix with water into a smooth paste and apply with a continental filling knife or similar.

Go over the area several times. For hairline cracks in the paintwork simply make several passes over the crack with the filler knife, removing all residue.

Scrape away any excess filler to minimise sanding but leave the filler a little proud of the repair if you can (if not, dont worry, you can apply a second coat later).

Leave to set for at least 40 minutes or until the filler has dried, showing no damp patches. Sand the filled area gently in a circular motion with 180-grade sandpaper wrapped around a small block of wood.

Ensure that the surface is perfectly smooth before the next step. Check the paint tin to ensure it can be watered down first.

Then apply a watered down coat of emulsion (this is not necessary for filled hairline cracks) using a small roller. Leave to dry.

If you have the original top coat paint for the wall, paint over the repaired paintwork with this, using a small roller. If youre lucky you will be able to spot-paint just the repaired area.

However if the newly painted area is obvious (or if you no longer have the original paint) then you will have to paint the whole wall with a 9inch roller or similar.

RATING: 3/4

Plumber James Lawrence shares tips and advice on his highly entertaining YouTube channel youtube.com/user/plumberparts

RATING: 1/4

Charlie recently revamped his kitchen cabinets at home.

Here is his eight-step guide:

RATING: 3/4

Originally posted here:
Tackle household jobs while in lockdown with 17 simple (and not so simple) home improvement tasks - The Sun

The coronavirus lockdown will enable the revamp of a sports complex to go ahead without disruptingcustomers.

Phase two of the urgent repair and improvement works could mean the Waterfront Leisure Centre, in Woolwich High Street,is fully operational again by the summer and can reopen to the public when families can stop isolating.

The second phase of works forms part of a joint 1.4m investment from GLL and Greenwich council, and will enable the centre to remain open until a new towncentre replacement is completed in five years time.

Phase two will include works to boilers, air handling units and roof repairs, as well as improvements to the changing facilities.

Richard Gallagher, Partnership Manager at GLL, which runs the Better Waterfront Leisure Centre, said: Following an initial period of urgent repairs, we are pleased to be moving into the next phase of improvement works.

These works are critical to ensure that we are able to offer a full pool programme again at Waterfront Leisure Centre as soon as we are permitted to re-open.

Contractors will ensure they strictly follow Public Health Englands social distancing guidelines at all times.

We look forward to welcoming customers back to the pool as soon as we are able to.

Cllr Miranda Williams, Greenwich councils cabinet member for culture, leisureand the third sector, said: This is a difficult time for all of us with Covid-19 affecting all council services, but we are continuing to invest and improve the Waterfront Leisure Centre to make sure we have an up-to-date, safe and fully operational leisure centre while we build the new Woolwich Leisure Centre.

Pictured top: The Waterfront Leisure Centre

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Bosses hope Waterfront Leisure Centre in Woolwich will be open by summer as lockdown allows more works - London News Online

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The KEMPER Kone is a 12 full-range speaker which is exclusively designed in cooperation with Celestion for KEMPER.The Kone is controlled and driven by the KEMPER PROFILERs DSP to an ultra-linear (full range) frequency response,using a dedicated DSP algorithm. In contrast to the conventional idea of a full-range system, the radiation patternof the KEMPER Kone has been narrowed towards the physics of a classic guitar speaker chassis, so that even the fullrange sound carries a distinct guitar speaker character, unlike regular PA speakers or monitor speakers. To seasonthe speaker behavior to the players individual taste KEMPER offer the unique "sweetening and "directivityparameters for detailed adjustment.

The 19 included speaker imprints offer the finest choice of well-known guitar speakers from Celestion, and manyrenowned other classic brands, and even rare and particular speakers. More speaker imprints may be added via futuresoftware updates.

The KEMPER Kabinet can be driven by the power amp of a PROFILER PowerHead or PowerRack, as well as by utilizing anyexternal power amp. When using external stereo amplifiers, driving two Kabinets in stereo is possible. The unpoweredPROFILER models like Rack, Head, and Stage require also external power amps for dring the Kabinet.

The KEMPER Kone speaker is also available as a replacement speaker for existing guitar cabinets. The KEMPER Kone isavailable as a single unit and 2 and 4 speaker sets for 2 x 12 and even 4 x 12 guitar cabinets. Request from 3rdparty cabinet manufacturers are welcome.

Pricing and availability

The KEMPER Kabinet is available from the Kemper Online Store and at dealers for Euro 400,- USD 480,- and GBP 443,90.

The KEMPER Kone replacement speaker is available exclusively from the Kemper Online Store for Euro 150,- USD 180,-and GBP 136,60,- (also available as 2, and 4 packs)!

SPECIFICATIONS

KEMPER Kabinet

KEMPER Kone

About SPEAKER IMPRINTS

By simply activating the PROFILERs well-known Monitor CabOff function the KEMPER Kone is switched from full-rangemode to the Speaker Imprint Mode, which then exactly mimics one of 19 classic guitar speakers. The sound of theseimprints should not be mistaken with the miced cabinet simulations of a Profile. They rather bring back the goodold "amp-in-the-room" sound. Since the intelligence of the speaker lies in the DSP of the PROFILER, you will be ableto switch individual speaker imprints along with your favorite rigs, without needing to do extensive editing.Whenever you switch to a full-range sound, for an acoustic guitar, for example, the KEMPER Kone will switch tofull-range mode automatically.

Music that is fed into the PROFILER through the Aux Input will be played back in full-range mode, even when you playyour amp with a Speaker Imprint, both at the same time.

Due to the digital features, the KEMPER Kone and KEMPER Kabinet work exclusively with a PROFILER.

About the KEMPER PROFILER

The Kemper Profiling Amplifier represents a radical new approach to the guitar sound. For decades, the electricguitarist has effectively been shackled to the tube amplifier as the only solution for getting that sound. Thiscombination may indeed be glorious, but it is far from ideal; achieving consistent results between practice, studio,and touring situations continues to challenge the guitarist, just as it has since the early 1930's. With the adventof the Kemper Profiling Amplifier, everything has changed. For the first time in history, guitar players are free tocreate the most unique and individual tones that reflect the very essence of the individual player, and then capturethese exact sounds into the digital domain with Kemper's unique technology.

For more information:Kemper Amps

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Kemper Releases the Kabinet and Kone Replacement Speaker - Premier Guitar

The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in a home, and the design of your cabinetry can really set the mood of the space. If youve lived in your home for many years, and your taste in design has changed, consider replacing or updating the cabinets to meet your new vision for your kitchen. Here are 3 things you should know about making changes to your kitchen cabinetry:

1. Remember that simply repainting your cabinets is an option. If the cabinets are a dark cherry, consider painting them white to give the room a larger feel. If the cabinets are a light oak, painting them black or gray will give the space a more trendy look. Repainting cabinets is a much less ambitious project than a full replacement, and will be easier on your budget. If you like the style of your cabinets but just dont care for the color anymore, painting them is a great option.

2. If you decide that you want a different cabinet style, or want to add glass doors or other interesting visual effects, another option is to keep the overall cabinet structure and just replace the doors. You can update the hinges so they disappear when the doors are closed, and you can also add the soft-close option if you prefer those conveniences.

3. If a total kitchen cabinet replacement is necessary because youre doing a full scale remodel, remember that a big project takes proper planning and budgeting. Its crucial that you hire a professional for the job to ensure you get a lasting and satisfying result. Talking to your local Mr. Handyman representative about your cabinet replacement needs is the best way to kickstart your investment in new kitchen cabinetry.

For more information about replacing or updating kitchen cabinets, or about other kitchen renovation ideas, please contact:

Mr. Handyman of Wheaton-Hinsdale

245 W. Roosevelt Road #69

West Chicago, IL

630-318-6882

http://www.mrhandyman.com

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3 Things to Know About Replacing or Updating Kitchen Cabinets - Suburban Life Publications

The day is coming when Offutt Air Force Bases giant Doomsday planes will fly off into the sunset.

The Air Force has started a program to replace the four E-4B Nightwatch jets also known as the National Airborne Operations Center within 10 years. The Doomsday moniker is because their primary mission is to take off and maintain control of nuclear weapons in the event of nuclear war. They also frequently are used as a transport plane for the secretary of defense.

In December, the Air Force posted a notice about the proposed replacement aircraft, which will be called the Survivable Airborne Operations Center, or SAOC. An industry day informational session for potential contractors was held in February.

In case of national emergency or destruction of ground command control centers, the SAOC will provide a highly survivable command, control and communications (C3) platform to direct U.S. forces, execute emergency war orders, and coordinate actions by civil authorities, said the Air Forces notice.

Congress budgeted $20 million in 2019 and 2020 to begin looking for a replacement for the E-4B and two other types of military aircraft, the E-6B Mercury and the C-32A. The Trump administration is seeking $76.4 million in its 2021 budget, and is looking to spend more than half a billion dollars over the next five years developing the new plane.

The new planes would start joining the fleet in the late 2020s.

The big, white E-4s have been a familiar sight in Nebraska skies since they were introduced at Offutt in the mid-1970s. They are a military version of the civilian Boeing 747-200, which first flew in 1968. Production ended in 1991, and the last passenger airline retired the model in 2017 (though later versions are still in use).

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Theyre the oldest 747s in the fleet, said Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., who oversaw their operation when he commanded the Offutt-based 55th Wing in 2011-12. Logistically, its a real challenge to find spare parts and maintain them.

Theyre also the Air Forces most expensive planes to operate. The magazine Business Insider calculated in 2016 that the E-4Bs cost just less than $160,000 an hour to fly. Thats almost $30,000 an hour more than the next-highest, the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, which is equipped to carry StratComs nuclear gravity bombs into battle.

In 2017, two E-4Bs were damaged when a tornado struck the Offutt flight line. Both were stored in a hangar at the time, but with their tails exposed. The tails, which stand six stories high, acted like giant sails and moved the planes inside the building. The planes sustained a combined $8.3 million worth of damage and were out of service, one for four weeks and the other for eight.

An E-4B in its hangar at Offutt Air Force Base. The planes cost almost $160,000 an hour to fly.

The Navy E-6Bs, although based in Oklahoma City, are also frequently on call at Offutt. Their primary job is to communicate with Trident ballistic-missile submarines through VLF (very low frequency) communications systems, which involve flying in tight circles above the ocean while trailing a 5-mile-long antenna.

The 22 E-6Bs are military versions of the civilian Boeing 707-320. They were the very last of that type built, in the late 1980s.

The six C-32As are Boeing 757-200 narrow-body jetliners configured for use as executive transports for the vice president, first lady and members of the Cabinet. They were built in the late 1990s and are based at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.

When they are carrying the vice president, they are called Air Force Two.

Despite their age, the E-4Bs are newer and have a better service record than the C-135-variant reconnaissance jets flown by the Offutt-based 55th Wing on critical missions around the world.

Those planes were built in the early 1960s. A 2018 World-Herald investigation showed the C-135-variants had break rates far higher than the E-4Bs.

Only a handful of those aircraft are scheduled to be replaced before the 2040s.

The area now known as Offutt Air Force Base was first commissioned as Fort Crook, an Army post to house cavalry soldiers and their horses. This photo, circa 1905, shows mounted officers and infantry troops assembling on the parade ground. The officers' quarters in the background still stand today, but the closing of Offutt's stables in 2010 ended the base's equine tradition.

The World's Fair of Aviation was held at Offutt Air Force Base, including a race between a 1912 airplane and 1912 automobile. The 1912 airplane easily won, but provided sharp contrast to the sleek, modern "600-mile-per-hour aircraft" on display at the fair.

Painter Frank Anania places the final bolt in the SAC emblem, newly placedon the command building at Strategic Air Command headquarters. After the command was created in 1946, SAC headquarters were moved from Andrews Field, Maryland, to Offutt Air Force Base. SAC's high-flying reconnaissance planes and bombers would go on to play a global role from the onset of the Cold War through the last bomb of the Persian Gulf War.

The Strategic Air Command "nerve center" gets a new headquarters building at Offutt Air Force Base.

Even since the late 1950s, Strategic Air Command has been holding open house events at Offutt Air Force Base to display and demonstrate aircraft for civilian visitors.Each year, the open house and air show at Offutt features aerial acts or reenactments, static displays, and booths showcasing military history and capabilities.

The first SAC museum consisted of a section of abandoned runway near the north edge of Offutt Air Force Base outside of Bellevue. However, the outdoor display left the aircraft vulnerable to the elements.

A Royal Air Force bomber crashes at Offutt Air Force Base. Beginning in the late 1950s, the RAF maintained small detachment and service facility for Vulcan bomber planes at Offutt, often participating in defense exercises and demonstrations at the base until their retirement and deactivation in 1982. Thisplane crashed at take-off at the northwest end of the main runway and then slid across Highway 73-75. All seven passengers survived.

Just weeks after the Cuban missile crisis, President John F. Kennedy visits Offutt Air Force Base, accompanied by Gen. Thomas Power of Strategic Air Command, right.

Actor Rock Hudson receives a B-52 bomber briefing during a visit to Omaha and Offutt Air Force Base. He began filming "A Gathering of Eagles" in May of that year.

An early photograph of the Ehrling Bergquist military medical clinic in Bellevue. The clinic has served Offutt Air Force Base since 1966 and was remodeled in 2013, including a grand staircase, largerphysical therapy and mental health areas, and a more private mammography waiting area.

The world's largest aircraft at that time, the C5 Galaxy was displayed as part of the open house for civilian visitors at Offutt Air Force Base.

A conference room in the SAC underground command post at Offutt Air Force Base. Strategic Air Command would be formally disestablished in 1992, but Offutt would remain the headquarters for the new United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM).

The Strategic Air Command Memorial Chapel holds a Sunday morning service as a reminder of those who have given their service and those who have died during the Command's 46-year history. Founded in in 1946, the command was dissolved in a ceremony at Offutt Air Force Base.

OPPD worker Craig Azure of Ashland holds a power line up across Platteview Road near Highway 50 so that an Albatross airplane can fit under it. After SAC was dissolved, the museum moved into a new indoor facility in 1998. Airplanes were moved from their old location at Offutt Air Force Base to their new and current home near Mahoney State Park off I-80.

The parade grounds gazebo at Offutt is dedicated in honor of Airman 1st Class Warren T. Willis, who was killed in an aircraft accidentthe previous December.

President Bill Clinton speaks at a rally at Offutt Air Force Base.

More than 300 anti-nuclear protesters gather outside Kinney Gate at Offutt Air Force Base. The rally was part of a weekend of protest against nuclear weapons, and was organized in response to an extensive nuclear arsenal review being held at the base.

Vice President Dick Cheney greets service men and women following a speech at Offutt Air Force Base's Minuteman missile in Bellevue.

Dignitaries clap along to an armed forces medley as ground is broken for the new U. S. Strategic Command Headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base. From left: Neb. Rep. Adrian Smith, Rep. Lee Terry, Neb. Governor Dave Heineman, General C. Robert Kehler, Commander USStratcom, Sen. Ben Nelson, Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, and Mayor of Bellevue, Rita Sanders.

Chris Shotton created this thank you message to the airmen and troops flying in and out of Offutt Air Force Base. Employees of area Walmart stores have been writing giant messages in fields near Highway 370 for years.

Senior Airman Kevin Chapman works the desk at the new Public Health Clinic located in the Ehrling Bergquist military medical clinic.

The new MERLIN SS200m Aircraft Birdstrike Avoidance Radar System, with the control tower in the background, photographed at Offutt Air Force Base. The system was moved here from Afghanistan in order to help detect large flocks and prevent damages to aircraft from bids, which cost the Air Force millions of dollars each year.

An aerial photo from late February of the construction site for StratCom's new $1.2 billion headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base. Despite numerous delays and setbacks, the building would be completed in 2018, six years after construction began. StratCom would then spend the next year outfitting the structure with more than $600 million worth of high-tech communications and security gear.

President Barack Obama arrives in Omaha after landing at Offutt Air Force Base. While in Omaha, Obama met with the family of Kerrie Orozco, visited a local teacher, and addressed a crowd of about 8,000 at Baxter Arena.

This year, U.S. Strategic Command unveiled a new Command and Control Facility located at Offutt Air Force Base. The "battle deck," shown here, features computer workstations, soundproofing, and the ability to connect instantly to the White House and Pentagon.

Luke Thomas and Air Force Tech Sgt. Vanessa Vidaurre at a flooded portion of Offutt Air Force Base. In March, historic flooding included breaches of two levees protecting the base from the Missouri River.

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Pentagon seeks $76 million next year to start replacing Offutt-based 'Doomsday' jets - Omaha World-Herald

Mehmet Barlas, the lead writer for the daily Sabah, on his weekend column, suggested that President Recep Tayyip Erdoan has been troubled with two recent developments at a moment when his government has been intensely trying to tackle the spread of the coronavirus.

One of them, Barlas argued, was an initiative by the head of the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), Ali Erba. Although the mosques were shut down and Friday prayers were all suspended as part of massive measures to curb the spread of the virus, Erba held a special Friday prayer on March 27 for a handful of selected people in Ankara.

Veteran journalist Barlas said Erdoan knew about Erbas move late Friday only after the prayer occurred and felt very uncomfortable. The second, and perhaps more important, development that has drawn Erdoans reaction was the holding of the first tender of the Kanal Istanbul project, according to Barlas, who claimed that this untimely move would be the main reason behind the sudden dismissal of Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Cahit Turhan via a midnight presidential decree.

The journalist gives the impression that Erdoan was unaware of both interventions beforehand. Many others, however, object to this characterization on the grounds that the governance system has been very much centralized and under full control of the president since the executive-presidential system entered into force in July 2018.

As highlighted by Barlas, those who follow Turkish politics closely in Ankara link the removal of the Transportation Minister with the untimely Kanal Istanbul tender. But not only that; Turhans dismissal has a deeper background.

Transportation and infrastructure have always been very important for Erdoans Justice and Development Party (AKP) governments since it came to power late 2002. It has placed multibillion-dollar projects for the improvement of land, air and sea routes through the construction of airports across the country, including gigantic Istanbul Airport; the bridges linking Asia to Europe through the 3rd Bosporus Bridge and the Dardanelles Bridge as well as the high-speed trains at the core of its economic activities in the last two decades.

The Transportation Ministry is, therefore, a ministry Erdoan attaches great importance to and it was well-known that he was not happy with the performance of outgoing Minister Turhan, specifically due to his slowness and lack of enthusiasm over the Kanal Istanbul. Dubbed the crazy project by many as it aims to create an artificial seaway linking the Black Sea with the Marmara Sea, as well as a new residential settlement on the two banks of the channel, Kanal Istanbul is recognized as Erdoans major objective to reach in the next period.

Its believed that Turhan was late in accomplishing the preparations for opening the first tenders of the project and in coordinating related works with other ministries. He, however, held the tender at the worst timing possible. Additionally, Turhan has also been criticized for not sufficiently contributing to the governments efforts to stem the spread of the virus. He wanted to indirectly respond to this criticism at the handover ceremony where he was replaced by his deputy, Adil Karaismailolu, over the weekend.

Underlining that his ministry has acted early in the fight against the coronavirus, he said, During this period, it has operated and continued its activities domestically and internationally in line with the decisions of our Health Ministry and team of experts. Thankfully, by implementing these measures we have not had major issues in our social or economic lives. As a ministry, we must implement our governments decisions together and attempt to overcome this disaster with as little damage as possible. I felt the need for these words as I am leaving my position.

Another reason for this replacement is the visible impact of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem mamolu of the main opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP), who was elected to lead Turkeys largest metropole in a re-run election in June 2019. As a young and very active mayor, mamolu continues to play a central role in delivering services in Istanbul and humanitarian aid to the poor amid economic difficulties and ongoing outbreak.

By the appointment of Karaismailolu, a younger politician known for his loyalty to Erdoan since the mid-1990s at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the AKP government hopes to observe a more tough opposition against mamolu in Istanbul. Karaismailolu had to leave his position as the deputy secretary-general at the Istanbul Municipality after mamolu won the elections. He was then appointed as the deputy transportation minister.

The dismissal of Turhan marks an important development as its the first replacement in the cabinet since July 2018, revisiting the questions on whether Erdoan will resort to a more substantial reshuffle amid the continued fight against the coronavirus.

Read more from the original source:
Was the minister replaced because of Kanal Istanbul? - Hurriyet Daily News