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Forward Observer ( FO )

Forward Observer ( FO ) – A military observer who directs artillery and mortars onto targets. The FO stays close to either the Platoon Leader or the Weapons Squad Leader , to coordinate between the patrol and the fires .

Tools and Technology Used by Forward Observers

Forward Observers rely on a variety of tools and technologies to accurately identify and target enemy positions:

  • Laser Rangefinders:
    • These devices help FOs calculate the precise distance to a target, improving the accuracy of fire support.
  • Global Positioning System (GPS):
    • GPS technology helps FOs to pinpoint their own location and the target’s location with a high degree of accuracy, which is crucial for targeting artillery and airstrikes.
  • Binoculars/Spotters:
    • Observing targets from a distance requires high-powered binoculars or spotter scopes to identify potential targets. In modern warfare, this often includes thermal and night vision optics for operations in low-visibility conditions.
  • Radio Communication Systems:
    • FOs use secure radios to communicate with artillery units, air support teams, and command headquarters. These radios allow the FO to adjust fire based on observations and coordinate fire support in real-time.
  • Drones:
    • In some cases, FOs may utilize drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to gain an aerial perspective of the battlefield. Drones provide an excellent tool for observing targets over larger areas and for ensuring that fire support is accurately delivered.
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HttpUtility.HtmlEncode Method & HttpUtility.HtmlDecode Method (System.Web)

I recently got a chance to resolve one of the QA feedback regarding encryption/decryption with special characters where QA reported an exception when data entered with special characters.

Since the encryption/decryption is happening at the server side and is communicating the data back to the client via xml so some special characters have a special meaning in xml e.g < > ” ‘ . They could mess up the xml format if not properly escaped so when data is decrypted and sent to the client within an xml it needs to be escaped (encode) before appending it within the xml data sent back to the client

e.g:
< should be escaped (encoded) as &lt; 
> should be escaped as &gt;
' should be escaped as &#39;
" should be escaped as &quot;

And fortunately, we have a builtin function in .net 4 to help use with that -HttpUtility.HtmlEncode.

Once the client got the xml, we want to unescaped (decode) the string back to human readable string and fortunuately we have the builtin function within .net 4 to help us with that HttpUtility.HtmlDecode

Sample console app to demonstrate:

using System;
using System.Web;
using System.IO;

class MyNewClass
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Enter a string having '&', '<', '>' or '\"' in it: ");
        string myString = Console.ReadLine();

        // Encode the string.
        string myEncodedString = HttpUtility.HtmlEncode(myString);

        Console.WriteLine($"HTML Encoded string is: {myEncodedString}");
        StringWriter myWriter = new StringWriter();

        // Decode the encoded string.
        HttpUtility.HtmlDecode(myEncodedString, myWriter);

        string myDecodedString = myWriter.ToString();
        Console.Write($"Decoded string of the above encoded string is: {myDecodedString}");
    }
}

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Did you know “ weasel ” means WSL and What it stands for and what is meant?

It stands for Weapon Squad Leader (WSL) pronouned as weasel.

WSL is the squad leader of the gun team within weapon squad so usually weapon squad consiste of its squad leader (WSL) and his gun team. They usually provide fire support to A and B team of another infantry squad.

Weapon Squad usually consist of:

WSL is usually advised the Patrol Leader or Platoon Leader in a platoon-size element (PL). PL is usually a Second Lieutenant or Lieutenant (a lieutenan, junior commissioned officer rank)

Platoon Leader’s Typical Chain of Command:

  • Platoon Leader (Officer – usually 2nd Lieutenant – O1 or 1st Lieutenant – O2)
    • Platoon Sergeant (Enlisted Non-Commissioned Officer – NCO, often a Sergeant First Class, SFC – E7)
      • Squad Leaders (Typically Sergeants or Staff Sergeants, SSG – E6)
        • Team Leaders (Typically Seargeants, SGT – E5)
          • Soldiers (Ranging from Privates to Specialists, SPC)
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“Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen”

“Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen” is a short story written by O. Henry, first published in 1907. It is a heartwarming and humorous tale set around Thanksgiving, revolving around two characters: a wealthy man and a poor man. The story highlights the themes of kindness, generosity, and the spirit of Thanksgiving.

Plot Summary:

The story centers on a tradition between two men who meet every year on Thanksgiving Day. One of them, who is very rich, always looks forward to this day to share a meal with a beggar (the second man), who is poor and homeless. Each year, the wealthy man invites the beggar to have a Thanksgiving meal with him at a fancy restaurant, offering him an extravagant feast.

However, the twist in the story comes when, on one particular Thanksgiving, the beggar is determined not to take advantage of the situation. Instead of accepting the free meal, he insists on paying for his own food. Throughout their meeting, they share stories and enjoy each other’s company, but it is clear that both men are equally kindhearted.

Themes:

  1. Generosity and Kindness: The story emphasizes the importance of giving, not just in material terms but also through human connection and respect.
  2. The Spirit of Thanksgiving: It highlights the idea that Thanksgiving is not just about the food but about the bonds between people and sharing moments of goodwill.
  3. Irony: O. Henry is known for his ironic endings, and this story has a twist that might make the reader reflect on the true meaning of giving and receiving.

“Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen” is a touching story about human compassion and the unexpected ways generosity can be expressed.

ironic (adj) sacastic

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Eye colour change is riskiest cosmetic surgery

Increasing numbers of people worldwide are opting for cosmetic surgery to enhance their looks. What prospective patients may not know is that procedures to change the colour of one’s eyes are the riskiest. Research conducted by the online  eyewear store Overnight  Glasses asserts that eye colour surgery comes with a 92 per cent likelihood of complications. Eye colour change tops the researchers’ list of riskiest cosmetic procedures. Such operations include iris implants and laser pigment removal. There is also a procedure called keratopigmentation. This is a permanent eye colour change in which a special colourant is inserted into the eyes using precision laser technology.

Earlier this year, the American Academy of Ophthalmology released a warning against eye colour change procedures. Dr Ashley Brissette highlighted things that could go wrong. These include dye leakage, allergic reactions, infections, sensitivity to light, damage to the cornea that can lead to cloudiness or vision loss, and ultimately blindness. She said: “Anything that we do with the eyes, we have to be very, very cautious.” The researchers said recovery time can be up to two months, and the average cost of surgery is $12,000. Ophthalmologist Nicole Bajic advised getting coloured contact lenses instead of going under the knife. She said this, “can give you the look you want without putting your eye health at risk”.

iris (n) A flat, colored, ring-shaped membrane behind the cornea of the eye, with an adjustable circular opening (pupil) in the center.

pigment (n) color, dye

Ophthalmology (n) The branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the eye.

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Chicken or egg came first? We now got the answer!

One of life’s greatest mysteries may finally have been solved. Scientists believe they have unlocked the conundrum of the age-old question of whether the chicken or the egg came first. This problem has baffled great minds for centuries. However, researchers from the University of Geneva believe they have cracked this philosophical mystery. They suggest the egg came first. The scientists studied a tiny marine organism called Chromosphaera perkinsii. This single-celled species dates back over a billion years. The researchers found it can form multicellular structures which are similar to animal embryos. This means there was no need for a prehistoric chicken to lay an egg.

Researcher Marine Olivetta told “Nature Journal” that Chromosphaera perkinskii was first discovered in 2017 off the coast of Hawaii. She said it has offered many insights into ancient life forms. She said: “It’s fascinating that a species discovered so recently allows us to go back in time a billion years.” The researcher suggested that the genetics behind egg fertilization and embryonic development were present before animal life existed. This means nature could have created eggs long before evolution “invented chickens”. A more straightforward answer to the chicken and egg problem is that chickens came into existence 10,000 years ago, whereas eggs have existed for millions of years.

conundrum (n): puzzle, mystery

baffled (v): puzzled, confused

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Making C# Winform Textbox control Alphanumeric

First add a KeyPress event handler to the textbox object

this.textBoxMine.KeyPress += new 
   System.Windows.Forms.KeyPressEventHandler(textBoxMine_KeyPress);

Then implemented the event handler textBoxMine_KeyPress

private void textBoxMine_KeyPress(object sender, KeyPressEventArgs e)
  {
     if (char.IsControl(e.KeyChar) || char.IsNumber(e.KeyChar) ||   
         char.IsLetter(e.KeyChar))
     {
        return;
     }
     e.Handled = true;
  }

char.IsControl is so backspace and space or delete will be returned true.

char.IsNumber is so if number is typed it will be returned true.

char.IsLetter is so if letter is typed it will return true.

And if it is returned true we do nothing so the typed char will be displayed in the textbox

else we will cancel the event (e.handled = true) so any other characters that would be typed in the textbox would be cancel and should not shown in the textbox e.g special characters.