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Premier Barzani Exclusive: Oil Sales Begin in May
The beginning of May, Erbil will start selling its stored oil in the Turkish point of Ceyhan – with or without Baghdad's consent, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani declared in an important and wide-ranging exclusive with Rudaw. "We will sell it. That is our decision."
Asked if Erbil could afford to go it alone, even if Baghdad cut off budget payments that pay the salaries of civil servants in Kurdistan, the premier added: "I assure everyone that we can pay out the salaries without Baghdad." He said that, after recent actions Baghdad has taken against Erbil over the oil issue, there is little trust left between the two. "Baghdad would cut our oxygen if they could."
Kurdistan's importance, the premier explained, is growing internationally. "The Kurdistan Region is about to become a place that provides energy for the world," he said. About the US role as a mediator between Erbil and Baghdad over the oil row, Barzani said: "America is encouraging both sides to reach an understanding. This is America's true policy. It doesn't force one side upon the other."
The prime minister, who in his leadership capacity in the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) is also in final negotiations for a new Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), confirmed that the continued delay in announcing a new cabinet is over insistence by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) that it must have the Interior Ministry. "We do not want the PUK to stay outside the government, and we will do our best to have them in the new cabinet," he said. "We haven't reached an agreement. They insist on that ministry and we insist that they join the cabinet, which shows a great deal of patience on our part."
The best means to carry us through is the unity of all groups in Kurdistan.
Regarding relations with Turkey, Barzani said that Erbil recognizes its important neighbor's importance. "Turkey for us is the gateway to the West," he said.
Returning to the issue of Kurdish oil exports, and whether selling oil independently was a step toward Kurdish independence, Barzani said: "This requires the patience and endurance of the people and political parties of Kurdistan." He warned: "If in Kurdistan, as political parties and people, we are not united and do not have one voice on this issue, we won't be able to succeed. The future of the Kurdistan Region is tied to this subject." He added that, "Up to now, we haven't talked of separation. We only intend to use these resources for the well-being of the people of the Kurdistan Region who deserve it."
Here is an edited transcript of Rudaw's exclusive interview with the Kurdish prime minister:
Rudaw: What kind of government are you hoping to form?
Nechirvan Barzani: Taking into account the current circumstances in Kurdistan and Iraq today, we aim to form an inclusive government that would help us work in the next four years on improving our institutions. Since 1991, we have gone through different phases and now by all accounts we want the new cabinet to be in a shape that would allow us all to work together to preserve and advance our achievements and draw a common agenda.
Rudaw: Was it this same understanding that made other parties, particularly the opposition, join the government?
Nechirvan Barzani: Yes, that was the case. However, opposition means someone who opposes you; it doesn't mean an enemy. Some of them have decided to stay as opposition, but we believe that Kurdistan at this stage and the next four years requires us all — the opposition and ruling parties — to work together to fulfill the big tasks that lie ahead of us, such as the issue of oil and the changes sweeping the region. The best means to carry us through is the unity of all groups in Kurdistan.
We hope the PUK participates in the government, and that is our intention.
Rudaw: The leader of the Change Movement (Gorran), Nawshirwan Mustafa, said that they want to pass four calm and stable years. Was there a message in this for you?
Nechirvan Barzani: When we visited Mr. Mustafa he confirmed that his movement would want to be in the government. But four calm years doesn't mean there will be no issue in Kurdistan. It rather means all sides agree on one agenda and work together to implement it in the next four years. That is why members of the KDP negotiation team, who were with me during the visit, also read Mr. Mustafa's words positively. We concluded that it was a new beginning and that we can work together.
Rudaw: If the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan doesn't join the government, do you think you can pass four calm years together with Gorran?
Nechirvan Barzani: We hope the PUK participates in the government, and that is our intention. The PUK is an important element in this country and has its own weight. We do not want the PUK to stay outside the government, and we will do our best to have them in the new cabinet.
Rudaw: Why does the PUK think they have been cheated out of the government posts?
Nechirvan Barzani: I believe the PUK raised the expectations of its people in the very beginning. But we have talked about it — the 18 parliamentary seats they won. And I think they had better accept our offer. We (the KDP) have five ministries, and we have offered them five.
Rudaw: You have a Strategic Agreement with the PUK, but they feel that the KDP is not treating them based on that agreement.
Nechirvan Barzani: When it was signed, the Strategic Agreement was a great achievement for the people of Kurdistan. That agreement spared us countless troubles, and we could work together and win great things in Baghdad. Our achievements didn't certainly match up to our ambitions, but with the PUK we managed to achieve a great deal.
Rudaw: But has the agreement come to an end now?
Our achievements didn't certainly match up to our ambitions, but with the PUK we managed to achieve a great deal.
Nechirvan Barzani: We haven't sat down to say it is over. But we can say a new phase has begun that needs a different reading. We have been working with the PUK thus far, but perhaps it might be necessary to also reach some similar deals with other groups that would gather us all under one umbrella.
Rudaw: Where do negotiations with the PUK stand now?
Nechirvan Barzani: They insist on getting the Interior Ministry. That is the issue. We understand their position well, but they do not compromise on that demand. The Interior Ministry is the reason we haven't reached an agreement. They insist on that ministry and we insist that they join the cabinet, which shows a great deal of patience on our part.
Rudaw: You said earlier that no ministry is less important than another. So why don't you give the Interior Ministry to the PUK?
Nechirvan Barzani: The posts have been decided already, but it has not been finalized yet that the PUK will or will not get the Interior Ministry. We have different views on that issue. The KDP wants to keep the Interior Ministry because the PUK has the security department. And the Peshmarga Ministry has gone to Gorran. However, the discussions between us and the PUK are still going on.
Rudaw: Are you willing to give the PUK the Ministry of Natural Resources instead?
Nechirvan Barzani: We do not have red lines with the PUK over any ministry. We can talk on everything, but it all has to be based on understanding.
Rudaw: Let us talk about the issue of oil and gas with Baghdad. Why is it so complicated?
Nechirvan Barzani: There are two sides to this issue. The first one is about the oil that was extracted in Kirkuk and other parts of Kurdistan and sold for purchasing bombs and weapons to use against the Kurdish people. And we believe that after 2004 a new era has begun in Iraq. We had a new constitution which around 80 percent of Iraqis voted for. The rights of the Kurdistan Region were established in that constitution, which President Barzani and other Kurdish parties worked for tirelessly. Then, after 2004 and the approval of the constitution in a referendum, we tried to practice our constitutional rights. When the constitution was being drafted President Barzani, Mr. Nawshirwan Mustafa, Mr. Jalal Talabani and the Kurdish parties went over every word of it to make sure that we can say we have — and we are practicing — those rights today and we will not compromise.
I also understand that when a people demand their constitutional rights they will face problems. This is where the complications start. We have constitutional rights which we want to practice, but in order to do that properly we have taken it to the Kurdistan parliament and approved it there, too. Based on that we have negotiated with foreign companies to come and invest in Kurdistan. We carried out that stage and the companies came.
We have constitutional rights which we want to practice, but in order to do that properly we have taken it to the Kurdistan parliament and approved it there, too.
They say that we had started with small companies. That is true. But in the end some of the biggest international oil and gas companies arrived and are now working in Kurdistan. But Iraq's policies have undergone three stages: First they said that we were exaggerating; second, they blacklisted companies that worked in Iraq and Kurdistan; third, they said "it is alright that you have extracted oil, but you cannot export it." In short, Baghdad always means to use the oil and gas as a trump card against the Kurdistan Region.
Rudaw: Which policy was wrong regarding oil and gas: That of the Kurdistan Region or Iraq's?
Nechirvan Barzani: I believe we have followed a right policy, practicing our constitutional rights. In 2005-2006, and after I returned from Baghdad, I knew that Baghdad means to use this issue as a card against the Kurdistan Region. They didn't want us to have our independent electricity system so that they could cut it off whenever they wish. But in 2006-7 we drew an independent strategy for power and fuel. Back then I told Mr. Ashti Hawrami, who was assuming the post of minister of natural resources, to do something that would make the Kurdistan Region — in terms of electricity, power and fuel — independent. We did everything based on that plan.
Rudaw: Is it unconstitutional to sell oil other than through the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO)?
Nechirvan Barzani: No, it is not unconstitutional. It is quite constitutional. No part of the constitution says that only SOMO has the right to sell oil. There is no such thing.
Rudaw: Then that means the issue is transparency and how it is sold.
Nechirvan Barzani: No, on the contrary. Baghdad isn't saying anything about transparency.
Rudaw: Baghdad says that you have turned off the measuring gauges.
Nechirvan Barzani: This has to be explained to everyone: We haven't turned off the gauges. You cannot hide how much oil goes through. There is no such thing. The Ministry of Natural Resources has published in great detail — and in three languages, Kurdish, Arabic and English — the data of its oil sales. All these doubts are meaningless. How transparent do they want the KRG to be when it publishes on its official websites all its oil deals from the time of Dr. Barham Salih's government?
How transparent do they want the KRG to be when it publishes on its official websites all its oil deals from the time of Dr. Barham Salih's government?
Rudaw: If you have control over export and sales, are you willing to send the revenues to Baghdad?
Nechirvan Barzani: We have told Baghdad that we keep control, but in a transparent process. What is transparency? It is how oil is produced, and how and at which price it is sold in the world market. We said that we will be with them in the whole process. In the end we keep the Kurdistan Region's share, let's say 17 percent, and then remit the rest to Baghdad.
Rudaw: Experts and research centers say that, at the speed and amount that oil is produced today, it will one day run dry. Have you thought of the future generations and what they might do when there is no more oil?
Nechirvan Barzani: It is all hypotheses. The Kurdistan Region is about to become a place that provides energy for the world. Oil is not only about marketing, its political side is important, too. In that regard, we have elevated Kurdistan's political position. Today, the Kurdistan Region needs to strengthen its political stature. If we look at things from another angle, had we not done all this, we would have had to sit and wait for Baghdad's mercy — for Baghdad to say you are doing this wrong and doing that right, we will send you this and not send you that. We would be constantly in trouble with Baghdad, which would oblige us to compromise. In my view it is better if we maintain economic independence, even with an amount smaller than what is there today.
Rudaw: It is often said that Kurdish leaders want to use oil as a means to gain independence. Is something to this effect on the agenda?
Nechirvan Barzani: We haven't walked in that direction yet, but oil isn't a business item only. It certainly is political, too. Since we started in 2005-6 the Kurdistan Region has become a supplier of energy, and major companies such as ExxonMobil, Gazprom, Total and Chevron are in Kurdistan. If they aren't sure that Kurdistan has political and constitutional grounds, there is no way they would take the risk of coming to Kurdistan to invest.
Rudaw: Oil is now being exported to Turkey daily. What is the amount?
Nechirvan Barzani: We have so far exported 1.5 million barrels. This oil goes to the Ceyhan Port, where it is stored in some tanks set aside for Kurdistan's oil, but still part of Iraqi storage. There, computers show how much oil has entered and been stored. It is not that you can turn off the measuring gauges. We have stored the oil there and haven't sold it yet.
The Kurdistan Region is about to become a place that provides energy for the world.
Rudaw: The Turkish energy minister says that they can only store 2 million barrels before it has to be sold. What is your plan?
Nechirvan Barzani: We will sell it. That is our decision.
Rudaw: Without Iraq's consent?
Nechirvan Barzani: Yes,
Rudaw: Have you braced yourselves for selling oil without Iraq's consent?
Nechirvan Barzani: Yes, and we already have paid the price for it. Kurdistan Region's monthly budget hasn't come from Baghdad since January. Usually, when the annual budget is approved, all government institutions and ministries receive their share, but the only part of the country that has received only a tiny portion of its share is Kurdistan. Our monthly salaries are 850 billion dinars, but we have only received 500 billion. We received the same amount in February. In March and April we got none. That is the price.
Rudaw: So can you run a government without getting the salaries?
Nechirvan Barzani: Yes, we can. We will pay the salaries. We went to Baghdad for talks, but they shocked us by cutting Kurdistan's salaries. This would naturally cause delays in subsequent talks and how you best deal with it in the future. But I assure everyone that we can pay out the salaries without Baghdad, and we have done it so far. There was a little delay which emanated from the shock from Baghdad.
Rudaw: Let us talk about the Peshmarga forces. What are the disagreements with Baghdad over?
Nechirvan Barzani: Our issue with Baghdad is mainly over the budget. In 2007, when the Americans were still in Iraq, we had one whole year of negotiations with the Iraqis to recognize Peshmargas as part of Iraq's defence forces. We reached an agreement, and all the documents are there as proof. All Iraqi groups accepted the protocol. The last thing left to be done was for the prime minister to put his signature to it. But I remember that, after one year of talks, the Iraqi defence minister said in a meeting that he was unaware of such an agreement. We said "no problem, let's try again." We tried one more year and reached another agreement. The issue is that they say providing the Peshmarga budget isn't constitutional, and we say it is. Peshmargas are part of Iraq's defence forces. If Peshmargas aren't here today to defend Kurdistan as part of Iraq, Iraq will face serious security problems. That is where the dispute lies.
If Peshmargas aren't here today to defend Kurdistan as part of Iraq, Iraq will face serious security problems.
Rudaw: But based on some communiqués I have seen, it appears that Baghdad has issues with numbers. They find the number of Peshmargas unreasonable.
Nechirvan Barzani: We told them that we are ready to agree on the figures, too. We have agreed on 70,000 Peshmargas. But the issue isn't numbers at all. Otherwise we are ready to talk about it.
Rudaw: How about the relations between the Kurdistan Region and Turkey, which you visit regularly and see Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan?
Nechirvan Barzani: Turkey is an important neighbor of ours. We have hundreds of kilometers of border together. Our relations with Turkey have gone through many phases. Just a number of years ago, Turkey had stationed 200,000 troops on the border and was threatening to intervene in the Kurdistan Region. But today, we enjoy great relations in many fields. KRG's policy is that we must have good relations with all our neighbors. In the past years we have proven that the Kurdistan Region is a factor of stability, and it is important to us that our neighbors see us that way. With Turkey, we have reached a common understanding. Turkey for us is the gateway to the West. Our trade with that country has witnessed great leaps. It is within this policy that we try to maintain good relations with Turkey and Iran.
Rudaw: Is that why you have allowed Turkey to occupy the Kurdistan Region economically?
Nechirvan Barzani: It is not something we have allowed; it is the reality. In Iraq, and in the Kurdistan Region in particular, no major strategic projects were ever carried out during Saddam Hussein. There were no major factories in this country, no infrastructure and no good roads. Our market is an open and competitive market. And there is Iran, Turkey and other countries. Iraq is a wealthy country that needs to be rebuilt. But after 2003 the Turks took the initiative in this regard and entered Kurdistan's market. So did Iran. Meanwhile, we have to encourage our own private sector to the level of producing and exporting instead of importing everything from the outside.
Rudaw: What kind of oil agreement is there between the KRG and Turkey?
Nechirvan Barzani: For the first time Prime Minister Erdogan raised this subject and said, "We are ready to help you in the field of energy." Back then, Turkey wasn't quite ready to digest this issue. But they gradually understood that it is in our mutual interest. We negotiated for nearly two years until we reached an agreement and signed a protocol on energy cooperation between Turkey and the Kurdistan Region. This protocol allows the Kurdistan Region to export its oil to Turkey and the outside world.
In the past years we have proven that the Kurdistan Region is a factor of stability, and it is important to us that our neighbors see us that way.
Rudaw: Will the oil only be exported to the world market or to Turkey as well?
Nechirvan Barzani: The oil we export we will sell at an international price. If Turkey wants to buy it we will sell it to Turkey, or else we will sell it to other countries. Now, we have stored oil there and on May 2nd we will start selling it.
Rudaw: Is any special discount made to Turkey on the price of oil?
Nechirvan Barzani: Not at all. Unfortunately, some of our politicians speak of this matter in a way as if Turkey is playing a seditious game. But there is no basis for that. On the contrary, Turkey has always encouraged us to reach some sort of understanding with Baghdad, and we have done our best. But Baghdad would cut our oxygen if they could. They tie everything to Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Yet in many countries oil is sold without the government's knowledge, it is done by the companies. We have said to Baghdad that we abide by international standards and sell our oil at an international price through a transparent system, every step of which Baghdad will be with us.
The only thing we haven't agreed upon is control over oil sales, which Baghdad insists should be only done by SOMO. And we say the Kurdistan Region wouldn't accept that. And after they cut the salaries of the people of Kurdistan, we stress more than ever before that their suggestion isn't acceptable, because what they are doing now could be repeated any time.
Rudaw: Exactly how much oil reaches Turkey through the pipeline everyday?
Nechirvan Barzani: Right now, very little. We have stored 1.5 million barrels, but if the barrels are fixed we expect to be able to send out around 200,000 barrels.
Rudaw: A study says that the Kurdistan Region could build the infrastructure in the next two years that would make it ready to declare independence.
Nechirvan Barzani: Yes, we certainly could. But this requires the patience and endurance of the people and political parties of Kurdistan. I hope this issue isn't interpreted as a political party or personal interest. It is about the interest of every Kurdish person. If in Kurdistan, as political parties and people, we are not united and do not have one voice on this issue, we won't be able to succeed. The future of the Kurdistan Region is tied to this subject.
We only intend to use these resources for the well-being of the people of the Kurdistan Region who deserve it.
Now, whenever we talk to the world of oil and gas, they listen keenly and want to know what the Kurdistan Region has to offer. The Kurdistan Region can by the end of this year — relying on the infrastructure it has built — bring up its oil production to 500,000 barrels a day. Within two years we can reach 1 million barrels. That is just oil. By then we will also have natural gas ready for export. Kurdistan has enormous gas reserves. What we say isn't a fantasy. It is a reality, and we have it in Kurdistan. Up to now, we haven't talked of separation. We only intend to use these resources for the well-being of the people of the Kurdistan Region who deserve it. This country has only seen destruction throughout history. We want to start a new beginning.
Rudaw: Can you also use the resources to gain independence?
Nechirvan Barzani: You cannot say "I will use this for independence." But my opinion is that, if the people of Kurdistan decided one day to declare independence, they will have to talk it over with Baghdad first. They will have to persuade Baghdad that we, as two people, cannot live together in this country, that we see it as in our interest to be independent. So I think this issue has to be discussed with Baghdad and solved through dialogue.
Rudaw: What is America's position on Kurdistan's oil exports?
Nechirvan Barzani: America is encouraging both sides to reach an understanding. This is America's true policy. They are not forcing one side upon the other.


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The American Civil Liberties Union filed a complaint today with the U.S. Department of Education against a Florida technical school, saying the school acted in violation of Title IX of the Civil Rights Act when it forbade a transgender nursing student to use the gender-specific bathrooms used by all other female students.
The ACLU had previously warned the Pinellas Tehnical Education Center in Clearwater, Fla., of the violation in a letter sent to its superintendent August 22, urging the school to grant the student, Alex Wilson, "immediate access to all sex-specific programs, activities, and facilities at PTEC consistent with her gender identity." After a month without response, the organization has filed a formal complaint with the Department of Education.
"It's unfortunate that school administrators have not yet taken action to stop this violation of Alex's rights," Daniel Tilley, the LGBT rights staff attorney of ACLU of Florida, said in a statement. "Alex was treated the same as any other student until administrators found out she is transgender. Now they are stigmatizing her and humiliating her because of her gender identity."
Wilson is a certified nursing assistant taking classes at the center to become a licensed practical nurse, according to WFLA TV. She also happens to be a transgender woman who began hormone therapy more than four years ago, who presents as female, and whose driver's license and Social Security card list her as female, the ACLU confirmed.
Until July, Wilson used the women's restrooms in various campus buildings between and during classes without incident. But when administrators learned that the 25-year-old student is transgender, they pulled her out of class and informed her she would no longer be allowed to use any of the public women's restrooms. Instead, she would be required to use a single-stall bathroom in what an administrator termed a "storage facility" in the administration building, or the men's faculty restroom, which requires a separate key. The ACLU notes that until recently, neither of these facilities locked from the inside. Wilson was reportedly offered use of a "family restroom" in another building as well but was told by school officials that if she used any of the women's restrooms, the school would file criminal charges against her, which would make her ineligible to graduate.
The ACLU complaint notes that the school's treatment of Wilson amounts to sex discrimination, prohibited under Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Citing a 2012 case that determined Title IX's prohibition of discrimination on sex extends to gender identity, the ACLU notes two additional federal cases that determine differential treatment based on gender nonconformity is, in fact, sex discrimination.
The complaint calls for the Department of Education to investigate Pinellas County Schools on this matter. It also asks that the department compel the school district to allow Wilson to use the women's restrooms, to train officials on the rights of transgender students, and to adjust current policies to conform with Title IX. If these demands are not met, the ACLU is asking that federal funds to the district be denied.


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Dear Nightingales and Friends,
So, funny story…A doctor and a nurse walk into a patient's room.
The doctor says to the patient, "Can you tell me who the president is?" The patient does.
The doctor then says to the patient, "Can you tell me today's date?" The patient says the correct date.
The doctor then says to the patient, "Can you tell me where you are?" The patient says the correct name of the hospital and the name of the unit he is in.
The patient then looks at the nurse, who steps forward to the bedside and says to the physician, "You don't need to ask him all those questions. Just ask him what Rule Number One is."
The physician looks puzzled, then looks at the patient and asks, "What is Rule Number One?"
The patient looks at the doctor and then looks at the nurse and says, … "Always keep the nurse happy!"
The patient and the nurse smile and look at each other and the nurse says to the doctor, "He's fine. We're going to have a great day."
True story… he was one of my patients.
From the beginning of nursing, nurses have had a VIP seat in the inner circle to a patient's experience in healthcare. Whether it is in a hospital, a procedure, a clinic, a telephone triage call or in a home health visit. We are the ones who see the big picture.
Nurses are the ones who know what it is going to take to get an IV line in a patient who is 90 years old, has kidney disease, takes Prednisone and is dehydrated… and why there are so many bruises.
Nurses are the ones who know that there are at least 4 ways to give medications to an elderly person who has trouble swallowing. (1)
Nurses know even though a physician orders a regular diet for a patient with strep, mononucleosis and swelling in his throat so badly he can barely talk… that there are 2 good reasons, I will only give him clear liquids. (2)
Nurses know that when a trauma anesthesiologist asks for Vecuronium (a paralyzing medication) so he can put an arterial line in a patient who has tremors after a head injury, but who is not on a ventilator… it is necessary to refuse that order, dismiss that physician and ask for another.
Nurses know how to explain to a patient what it feels like to have a foley catheter placed.
Nurses know to explain to a patient with end-stage COPD who is frantic, sweating, short of breath and scared… what the Bipap is going to feel like, why I will give them Ativan, and why I will NEVER say – or allow my students to say, "Just relax". And instead, will hold their hand, talk to them, or sit next to them and hold them while the medicine takes effect and their breathing relaxes.
And, why, I ask my nurse orientees or students or even the patient's family, to try the Bipap mask on and see what it feels like… so they don't say, "Hey Mom, just relax!!"
Nurses know that when a patient wakes from being on a ventilator, even though their eyes are open and they are looking at you, class is not in session. It is not a good time to review the whole case, or get consents for procedures. (Maybe a good time to ask them to promise something… because they won't remember that they did.)
Nurses know that even though a physician has discharged a patient home because physical therapy said they were safe to go home without rehab, if I have to yell for help to get a chair when I am getting the patient to the bathroom… I am not discharging that patient, and that physician is getting a phone call… because I was the only one who asked how many stairs there were to get into his house, and up to the bedroom and he can't even walk 20 steps into the bathroom without almost falling over and I have to catch him.
Nurses know that sometimes keeping a patient alive with extraordinary measures including a ventilator and emergency blood pressure medications despite knowing the patient is going to die anyway, is to wait for a loved one to arrive so they can kiss their face, touch their hand and say goodbye.
Nurses know the story behind the curtain… when the physician leaves and the care begins.
If you would like to know what happens when the doctor walks out of the room, finishes a procedure or writes an order…
Call me today… I can help you understand what happens next… and how using the Federal Rule of Evidence 1006 Summary can help you tell what the patient went through.
Helping You Find The Answers
Audrey Friedman RN
(And here are answers to #1 and 2…
1. Crushed in jelly, pudding, ice cream or applesauce.
2. Any food other than clear liquids has a high risk for obstruction which would block his airway, or, perforation of his esophagus.)
[Original Post 06/22/2015]


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Schedule and Presentations
17th ISF WEEK AT A GLANCE
May 5 – 10, 2019
The following information will be included in the Symposium Program that registered participants will receive on arrival. Download the information on this page as a printable PDF.
Special Mexico Host Committee (MHC) Events
Monday 6
- 19:00 Meet and depart from the Sheraton Buganvilias
- 20:00 "Sender of Light" procession
- 20:30 Opening Ceremony by MHC
- 21:30 Fireworks-– Pirotecnia Santiago / Oaxaca
- 22:00 Fireworks – Unión de Pirotécnicos del Estado de Jalisco
Tuesday 7
- 20:00 Meet and depart from the Sheraton Buganvilias
- 21:00 Fireworks – Piroshow / Puebla
- 21: 30 Fireworks – Fireworks Martarello Ramos, Zumpango, Estado de México
Wednesday 8
- 13:00 Daytime Fireworks – Pirotecnia El Caperuzo, Tultepec, Estado de México
Thursday 9
- 20:30 Meet and depart from the Sheraton Buganvilias
- 21:00 Fireworks – Unión de Pirotécnicos de San Mateo, Tlalchichilpan, A. C.
- 22:00 Fireworks – México Bailando, Tultepec
Friday 10
- 17:30 Meet and depart from the Sheraton Buganvilias
- 18:00 GALA DINNER (17th ISF Event, Optional)
- 22:30 Fireworks – Grupo de Pirotécnicos de San Pedro Zumpango, Zumpango, Estado de México
Registration for the 17th International Symposium on Fireworks includes entry to receptions, meals and refreshment breaks, all technical sessions (paper presentations), workshops, full access to the Trade Show, and all events and activities organized by the Mexico Host Committee (MHC).
Registrants will receive a distinctive attendee bag, both a printed and digital copy of the 17th ISF Proceedings, which is a compilation of the scientific and technical papers presented at the symposium, a printed Program, and other promotional materials supplied by sponsors and advertisers.
Trade Show
Exhibits will open each day at 9:00 Monday to Friday, and will close at the same time as the technical sessions. Attendees are strongly encouraged to visit our outstanding exhibitors and discuss their products and services. The exhibitors' participation is a highly welcome and necessary part of the Symposium.
17th ISF PRESENTATIONS SCHEDULE
SUNDAY: May 5, 2019
13:00 to 17:00 – Registration
19:00 – Welcome Reception (Sponsored by FireOne – Pyrotechnics Management, Inc)
MONDAY: May 6
- Opening by the ISFS Ltd – Dr. Roger L. Schneider, Vice President and Secretary of the International Symposium on Fireworks Society, Ltd.
- Welcome by the ISFS Ltd – Ettore Contestabile, President of the International Symposium on Fireworks Society, Ltd.
- Welcome, Local – Ing. Arturo Dávalos Peña, Presidente Municipal de Puerto Vallarta, Mayor of the City of Puerto Vallarta
- Welcome, Local -Enrique Alfaro Ramírez, Gobernador Constitucional del Estado de Jalisco, Governor of the State of Jalisco
- Presentations – mementos, gifts and certificates of appreciation
- Introduction of Honorary Chairman – Maestro Gerónimo Miguel Zamora Nuño
Ceremonial transfer of the Honorary Chairman Name Tag from Mr. Yoshihiko Satoh (Vice Mayor, Daisen City, Japan, representing the 16th ISF Honorary Chairman, Professor Masamitsu Tamura) to the 17th ISF Honorary Chairman, Maestro Gerónimo Miguel Zamora Nuño.
Guest Speakers
- 9:00 – Observations on the Mexican Fireworks Industry (10 Year Challenge)
Jorge Mauro Márquez Márquez, Lux Pirotecnia, S.A. de C.V., México
- 9:30 – The Psychology of Safety in the Fireworks Industry – Creating a safer environment by nurturing the conscience and culture of safety in the fireworks industry
Alberto Navarro and Susan Hunt, Infinity Visions Inc., Bellevue, WA, USA
Session Chairperson: Alejandro Mantecón González – Pyrosmart Mexico
- 10:30 – Creation of Pyrotechnic Standards in Mexico – Colleen S. Patton, Promedsa, Naucalpan de Juárez, Mexico
- 11:00 – Mestre Coheter – History, Relationships and Rituals in the Pyrotechnic Communities in Puebla, Luis Manuel Mora del Carmen, Puebla, Mexico
- 11:30 – 16th International Symposium on Fireworks – Omagari Report – Shinetsu Sakaki, Omagari Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Daisen, Akita, Japan
Session Chairperson: Lino Flores, Piroflores, Mexico
- 13:30 – Comprehensive Safety Considerations for Businesses Handling Explosives – Björn Eckhardt and Dietrich Eckhardt, PyroKnowHow/Modicolitor, Germany
- 14:00 – Fireworks Disaster – A Preventable Tragedy – Nir Haimov, The National Fireworks Laboratory, and Aharon Goren, The Israeli Explosives Safety Center, Caesarea, Israel
- 14:30 – Ballistic and Safety Advantages of Modern Propellants in Fireworks – Gabor Tasnadi, TÜV InterCert, Budapest, Hungary, Dietrich Eckhardt, PyroKnowHow/ Modicolitor, Berlin, Germany, and Marc Speer, Speer Pyrotechnik, Bremen, Germany
Session Chairperson: Dietrich Eckhardt, PyroKnowHow/Modicolitor, Germany
- 15:30 – Fragile Coloration Mechanism of Traditional Japanese Sparkler, Senko-Hanabi – Chihiro Inoue, Taiki Watanabe, and Yuzo Inokuchi, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Kyushu University, Japan
- 16:00 – Fireworks Accidents in Japan During 2016-2017 – Yuji Wada, Research Institute of Science for Safety and Sustainability (RISS), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), and Institute of Advanced Sciences, Yokohama National University, Ryoji Makino, Shoko Abe, Takako Itou, Maki Suzui, Nobuo Nakajima, and Masahide Wakakura, Research Institute of Science for Safety and Sustainability (RISS), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Akiko Matsuo, Dept. Mechanical Engineering, Keio University, and Atsumi Miyake, Institute of Advanced Sciences, Yokohama National University, Japan
- 16:30 – Study of the Influence of PM2.5 Concentration in Ambient Air Quality in China – JiangYou Huang, Liuyang Fireworks Administration Bureau, BenHua Tao, Liuyang Zhitong Fireworks Industry Development Strategy Research Center, Liuyang Fireworks and Firecrackers General Association, Hunan, China
TUESDAY: May 7
Session Chairperson: Martyne Gagnon, Entertainment Manager and Director of L'International des Feux Loto-Québec, Canada
- 8:30 – Challenges Facing the China Fireworks Industry – Carson Lee, Up Pyro & Boomwow Fireworks, Liuyang, Hunan, China
- 9:00 – Sync or Swim – Achieving Reliable Time Code – Dan Barker, FireOne – Pyrotechnics Management, Inc, USA
- 9:30 – External and Internal Ballistics Study and Pressure Evaluation for the Safe Design of a 1,575 mm (62 Inch) Mortar – Eric M. Krug, Krug Consulting LLC, Loveland, CO, USA
Session Chairperson: Kevin Li, General Manager of Chili Fireworks, President of Chamber of Liling Fireworks Commerce, China
- 10:30 – Chemical Products Storage and Handling in the Pyrotechnics Industry – Francesc Lleches Barber, Pyrolab, S.L., Valencia, Spain
- 11:00 – Transport, Storage, Standards and Brexit – Andy Hubble, Star Fireworks Ltd, Berkshire, United Kingdom
- 11:30 – Safe Use and Storage of Fireworks in The Netherlands – Piet Timmers and Soedesh Mahesh, RIVM, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment Centre for Environmental Safety and Security, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
Presentation by a representative of Chamber of Liling Fireworks Commerce, China, Sponsor of Today's Lunch
Session Chairperson: César Cantú, Pyrotech, Mexico
- 13:30 – Basic Methods for Assigning Firing System Addresses – Will Harvey, Finale Fireworks, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- 14:00 – Automatic Translation of Effect Names from Spanish and other Languages to VDL – Will Harvey, Finale Fireworks, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- 14:30 – "Secured E-Match" – Revolution: How to Set a Display Safely and Fast! – Luigi L. P. Monetti, Monetti Srl, Italy
Session Chairperson and Workshop Moderator: William Adan Palma, Pirotecnia Espectacular ADAN, Mexico
- 15:30 Workshop: Fireworks Regulations – Presentation by representatives from various countries, followed by a Question and Answer Period
All are welcome, including non-registered guests.
"Normas Oficiales Mexicanas para Pirotecnia NOMs" – A discussion topic led by Jorge Márquez and Francisco Lleches from Pyrolab
All are welcome, including non-registered guests.
WEDNESDAY: May 8
Session Chairperson: Sara Vergara, Promedsa, Mexico
- 8:30 – The Pyrotechnics Guild International – Celebrating 50 Years of Collaboration between Professional and Amateur Pyrotechnists and Pyrotechnicians – Bruce Blom, Vice President, PGI Publications, Michael Scott Swisher, FSA Scot, John Steinberg, 1st Vice-President, PGI, USA
- 9:00 – Testing for Fireworks Safety in a Global Market – John D. Rogers, American Fireworks Standards Laboratory (AFSL) Bethesda, MD, USA
- 9:30 – Products and Processes Certification Procedure in Pyrotechnics – Ángel Santamaría Martín, Juan Casín Loya, Natalia Vázquez Viñuela, Isabel Amez Arenillas, and Blanca Castells Somoza, Laboratorio Oficial José María Madariaga (L.O.M.), Madrid, Spain
Session Chairpersons: Mitsuru Arai, University of Tokyo, Japan, and Jorge M. Márquez M., Lux Pirotecnia, S.A. de C.V., Mexico
Moderated Sessions
10:30 – 12:30
Each of the moderated session topics listed below will be assigned to a designated table. The number of participants at each table will be limited. Symposium attendees wishing to take part in the discussion of a particular topic will be required to place their name on the appropriate Moderated Session Form. This should be done prior to 9:00 on Wednesday.
Each topic will be presented for discussion in two separate, 45 minute sessions, with a short break between the two presentations. This will provide participants with the opportunity to attend two different topics, if they wish. Note that translation services will not be available for the moderated sessions; however, some moderators can converse in more than one language.
Tentative Topics and Moderators
- Large-Diameter Mortar Design and Shell Launch – Eric Krug
- Safe Handling of Explosives – Dietrich Eckhardt
- Japan 16th ISF preparation and Japan society's fireworks support structure – Sakaki Shinetsu
- Music for Fireworks – Martin Hildeberg and Dominykas Juknelevicius
- Consumer Fireworks Retail Sales Facilities – Reference to Tultepec Fireworks Market (Before and now rebuilt) – Shulin Nie, Jorge Marquez, Ettore Contestabile
- Opportunity to help improve VDL for understanding effect names in your native language – Will Harvey
- Resisting the Impact of an Exploding 6" (150 mm) Dud Aerial Display Shell: Design and Testing of a Protective Roof Pergola – Roger L. Schneider
- Modern Propellants – Marc Speer
- The Positive side of Fireworks as it relates to Tourism in Malta – Roderick Zammit and Lionel Gerada
- Developing Workplace Strategies for a Safety Mindset (English and Spanish) – Alberto Navarro
- Normas Oficiales Mexicanas para Pirotecnia (NOMs) – Francesc "Paco" Lleches
- The Impact of Safety Regulations on Market Growth – John Rogers
12:00 CLOSE – Free Afternoon
THURSDAY: May 9
Session Chairperson: Roderick Zammit, Executive Events, Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), Malta
- 8:30 – Using Calculations to Determine and Control Electrostatic Hazards in Fireworks Manufacturing and Use (Part 1) – Roger L. Schneider, Rho Sigma Associates, Inc., USA
- 9:00 – Using Calculations to Determine and Control Electrostatic Hazards in Fireworks Manufacturing and Use (Part 2) – Roger L. Schneider, Rho Sigma Associates, Inc., USA
- 9:30 – Comparative Analysis of Fireworks Transport Dangerous Classification Test Results and Default List – Zhang Guanghui, Xiao Jiayong, Tan Aixi, Jiang Zicheng, Qiu Lina, Tan Jingru, Fireworks & Firecracker Inspection Centre of Hunan Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, China, and Y. S. Chua, International Quality Assurance B.V., China
Session Chairperson: Dan Barker, FireOne – Pyrotechnics Management, Inc, USA
- 10:30 – Determination of Measures for Safe Production Depending on the Hazardous Properties of Explosive Substances (Pyrotechnic Compositions) – Lutz Kurth, Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
- 11:00 – The Assessment of the Dangerous Characteristics of Pyrotechnic Composition and Articles (For Safe Production) – Lutz Kurth, Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
- 11:30 – Overview of ISO Standards of Fireworks – Andrew Tang, General Manager, TCPL, Deputy Secretary General, IFA, and Asian Section-China Director, Treasurer, ISFS, China
11:50 18th ISF Location Proposal Presentation
Session Chairperson: Gilberto Caballero, Pyrotech, Mexico
- 13:30 – Study on the General Safety Standard of Firework Machinery Touching Gunpowder – Shixing Ouyang, Liuyang Ouyang Technology Trade Co., Ltd., Liuyang, China
- 14:00 – Effect of Carboxylate Coating on Degradation of Magnesium Based Fireworks – Yosuke Nishiwaki, Graduate School of Yokohama National University, Mitsuru Arai, The University of Tokyo, Takehiro Matsunaga, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Mieko Kumasaki, Graduate School of Yokohama National University, Japan
- 14:30 – Blue Strobe Pyrotechnic Compositions with Different Additives – Dominykas Juknelevicius, Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences, Vilnius University, Lithuania, Thomas M. Klapötke, Department of Chemistry, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany, and Arunas Ramanavicius, Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences, Vilnius University, Lithuania
Session Chairperson: Osvaldo Avalos, Atomic Professional Fireworks, Mexico
Workshop: Siempre Seguro (Always Safe) – Presentation by representatives from various countries, followed by a Question and Answer Period
All are welcome, including non-registered guests.
FRIDAY: May 10
Session Chairperson: Jorge Márquez , Lux Pirotecnia, S.A. de C.V., Mexico
- 9:00 – Historical Aspects of Firework Safety: The Introduction of Potassium Chlorate and Potassium Perchlorate into Pyrotechny, Barry T. Sturman, Australia
- 9:30 – The Cause of Muzzle Breaks – Ken G. Nixon, Pyrolock LLC, Pebble Beach, CA, USA
Session Chairperson: Colleen Sharon Patton, Promedsa, Mexico
- 10:30 Pyro Safety: Is it Enough, … Or Until Someone Gets Hurt? – Maque daVis, Fremonstor Theatrical, Retired USA State Safety Inspector, Seattle, WA, USA
- 11:00 The Fireworks as a Symbol of Culture and Crafts in Tultepec – Mayra Denise Torres Hernández, Tultepec, State of México, México
- 11:30 Tultepec Magic and Color – Claudia Hernández Sánchez, H. Town Hall of Tultepec State of México, México
Closing Remarks and Ceremony


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It's a big contributor to global warming with every tonne of Ordinary Portland Cement releasing 1 tonne of CO2 into the atmosphere.
Breakthroughs in the Last 20 Years Have Seen Dust Emissions Reduced by 70%, Oxides of Nitrogen Reduced by 50% and Sulphur Dioxide Emissions a Massive 75% Down
The material that builds our buildings, paves our roads and spans our bridges is the most widely produced and consumed material on earth apart from water. By 2030, urban growth in China and India will place global cement output at 5bn metric tons per year, with current output already responsible for 8% of the global emissions total, according to a WWF report.
There are many different types of concrete: compact, strong, skinny, cement free and one you probably didn't know about self-healing and its UK born and still in its infancy and could revolutionize the construction industry.
1. Smog Cleaning Buildings
But first, smog cleaning buildings: The Manuel Gea González a newly constructed hospital in Mexico city, has a 2,500-square-meter facade constructed from 'Prosolve' modules. These are coated with a special pigment which, when hit by ambient ultraviolet light, reacts with urban air pollutants, breaking them down into less noxious compounds like carbon dioxide and water. The pigment itself remains unchanged, which means the modules can keep purifying the air for up to a decade, or until their coating wears off.
2. Strong Concrete
Strong concrete (one world trade centre New York): the perimeter frame is built of steel, creating column free large floor plates that can be more easily subdivided for letting purposes. The major concrete innovation at the new One World Trade Centre also known as the 'Freedom Tower' was the strength of the actual material specially developed to build the tower. The supporting columns on the first 40 floors of the 110 storey building are made from concrete that can withstand loads of 12,000 – 14,000 pounds per square inch (psi) – the strongest ever used.
3. Compact Concrete
Compact concrete (240 Blackfriars London): concrete's inherent strength can win developers extra floor space. The extra space at Blackfriars was created using concrete floor-plates that still permitted spacious floor to ceiling heights but was much more compact than steel beams.
4. Slip Form
Slip form (the Shard London): the method is used to build tall structures by continuously pouring concrete from a moving crane. Below the surface of the Shard was the biggest job, constructing the raft, which forms the towers foundations. The 3 metre deep slab was created in a single pour and set a record for the biggest concrete pour in UK construction history.
5. Skinny Concrete
Skinny concrete (Park Avenue, New York): the skyscraper is regarded as the tallest residential building in the western hemisphere and has an exposed concrete structural frame, which enables column-free interiors. 432 Park Avenue is one of several skinny skyscrapers now rising in central Manhattan and casting shadows over New York's beloved Central Park.
Skinny concrete is also popular in furniture design. You can now get a 3mm concrete panel for interior design. Concrete furniture has been around for as long as concrete countertops have. In the early days the furniture was primarily made out of precast concrete.
Since it needed to be reinforced with steel, the concrete tended to be thick, massive and heavy. This made large, thin and delicate pieces impractical or impossible. The current trend towards using glass-fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) has changed that. GFRC is a form of concrete that has inherently high flex strength. It can be easily shaped into complex, three-dimensional shapes that do not need to be thick to be strong.
6. Cement Free Concrete
Cement free concrete (Global Change Institute Brisbane): the Australian building opted for an earth friendly concrete. The project contains no Portland cement – the traditional binding agent in concrete. Instead, it is bound together with a geopolymer created by the chemical reaction that takes place when blast furnace slag from iron production is mixed with ash fly ash, itself a byproduct of coal fired power stations. The use of the material has, the institute says, cut carbon emissions by 80% – 90% and created what is believed to be the world's first cement free concrete building. It is a very exciting product, not only because of its extremely low carbon emission, but also because of the improved structural and durability properties compared to conventional concrete.
7. Geopolymer Cement
Geopolymer cement: is being developed and utilised as an alternative to conventional Portland cement for use in transportation, infrastructure, construction and offshore applications. Geopolymer relies on minimally processed natural materials or industrial byproducts to significantly reduce its carbon footprint, while also being resistant to many common concrete durability issues.
Such cements can be formulated to cure more rapidly than Portland-based cements with some mixes gaining most of their ultimate strength within 24 hours. Although geopolymerization does not rely on toxic organic solvents, but on water, it needs chemical ingredients that may be dangerous and therefore requires some safety procedures.


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Oh. Ooooooh. Oooooh nooooooooo
Yeah. Here we are. The ultimate article. There is no physical way I will ever top this. I am at the peak of my creative potential. Get ready for
Are you ready? Wrong. You're not ready. You have no idea how not ready you are. Forget everything you ever learned about being ready, as well as superheroes, sports, and the medium of comic books as we know it. You know what? Screw it. Forget everything. Just clear out your head, because you're about to replace everything you know with the god like levels of hype that occur when NFL Superpro does anything, such as exist. Do you know how batshit crazy this character is? His Marvel wiki barely even exists. It's just a bunch of links to sources for an article that doesn't even exist, which means that I had to not only scour the internet for more research sources, but I had to go back and read every single one of his comic book appearances, and I'm not even upset about that. Do you suffer from erectile dysfunction? Not anymore, because you just thought of NFL Superpro, and now your junk has mystical qualities. Seriously, don't have sex, you'll kill your partner unless they have also thought of NFL Superpro beforehand. Your genitals are the harbinger of the apocalypse, and un-Superpro-ed crotches stand to be obliterated by yours.
Fact: NFL Superpro is the single greatest thing to have ever happened, ever.
Get set. Sit down, make sure you have 911 on speed dial in case your head explodes, because that is highly likely when you talk, read, or even consider thinking about NFL Superpro. If you are pregnant, have back pain, or any form of epilepsy, don't read this article unless you want to, respectively: give birth to the future messiah, have vertebrae that are quite literally do strong for the rest of your body, or want the surges of electricity in your brain that cause epilepsy fits to manifest as lightning powers.
Without further ado… Let's fake an education in comics.
I Have Literally Never Been This Hyped in my Life
SCENARIO: There is no possible scenario that could not be overcome by a several hour long rant about NFL Superpro. I don't care who you are or what you're talking to someone about, it will get better. Let's go.
Step One: Get Set to Get Decked
I have no idea what's happening on this cover. But you know what? It's awesome.
Do you see that champion of men up there? That perfect, impossible adonis? That's NFL Superpro. But he wasn't always that God, that Cadillac of men. He used to a football player like any other by the name of Phil Grayfield, a man who was damn good at the game. And I don't just mean the game of football. I mean the game… of life. He was critically injured saving a small child from a car or something, but who cares about that, because in no part of that story is he being NFL Superpro. After retiring from football due to his hero injury, he became a sports reporter, because apart from professional domestic abuser or dog fight champion, that's the only career possible for a former pro football player. One day, while interviewing a fan of his, he is shown a bizarre collector's item: a weird-ass football uniform. Also, the fan is a chemist of some kind? Look, comics are weird, especially when they're blatant merchandising tie ins. Anyways, someone immediately bursts in to rob the fan (the superfan, if you will), causing a… fire? It's unclear. I think the fire may have also been one of the robbers, honestly.
Phil was incapacitated due to not yet being the savior of all mankind, and whilst stumbling around in the blaze, he knocked over some chemicals and got soaked. Now any other man would be immediately consumed in a no doubt spectacular multi-colored blaze of light, but Phil Grayfield is no ordinary man. No, destiny had a special plan for him. The chemicals gave him invulnerability, super strength, and super speed. I don't remember anything being said about his injury being cured though, which implies that he managed to be a superhero based around football and football skills all while having a detrimental sports-related injury. I don't know if I'm impressed by his ability to push through the pain and save lives, or insulted by the fact that he probably could have made it through pro football with his injury anyways.
After getting super powers in what is probably the sixth dumbest way possible (Bouncing Boy still holds the title), Phil decides to… for some reason, to… put… on… the suit?
Yes, he puts on the goofy-ass football uniform, which also has powers, I guess? It's unclear. What follows this series of bafflingly retarded events is without a doubt the pinnacle of human culture: Phil decides to become NFL Superpro. Yeah, that's… that's literally it. Because when the entire universe has pulled you into the orbit of the NFL Superpro uniform, you don't question your imminent transformation into NFL Superpro. So, logically, Phil becomes the greatest hero of all time.
Step Two: NFL Superpro Movie WHEN
Notice how there are 3 recognizable Marvel hero faces on that cover. Notice how only two of them have had film adaptations. Notice how I am filled with barely contained fury.
Now I hear you. You're saying that a movie about this character is perfect, right? Absolutely. But to silence the, what, two naysayers (?), I'll give a bit more background on the greatest hero of all time. Just in case you need even more ridiculous one-off gimmick characters, NFL Superpro was actually part of a super team, somehow. They were called the Happy Campers. No, seriously. And that's not even the wackiest thing about them. No, that honor goes to their members, who, no joke, included Almighty Dollar (a man who shot pennies out of his hands, and whose name was J. Pennington Pennypacker), Calculator (an Asian man whose superpower was, I shit you not, fucking math), Girth (a guy named Tubby who was basically just Fat Albert), and Streak (who somehow got super speed out of being a mortician/jogger). Yeah. Take a minute. Soak all that in. Really get it into your headspace. Get it into your head that an actual team of writers all got together, sat around a table, tried to come up with a team of original heroes, and their most unique character was named god damn J. Pennington Pennypacker. J. FUCKING PENNINGTON GOD DAMN PENNYPACKER. How can you not hate that so much that you immediately circle back around to loving it?! It's literally too crazy to hate!
In all honesty, if you can tell me that you wouldn't go see a movie about NFL Superpro and the Happy Campers, then you're probably not someone worth talking to. Come on Marvel, we all know you have plans for movies up until 2028, but those plans can be flexible! You already have a Spidey movie coming up that wasn't scheduled earlier, you can fit Superpro in there somewhere.
Besides, it'd be a good opportunity for some levity that doesn't feel awkwardly shoehorned into one of your movies. Because let's face it, there is absolutely no friggin' way someone could take this guy seriously.
Step Three: Super Secret Origins of the Greatest Hero
Now,I'm sure you're thinking that this guy was probably dreamed up on a drunken weekend after Stan Lee got together with some NFL bigwigs, and you're probably right on that count. After all, that's pretty much how we got that one issue of Daredevil where Uri Geller showed up and fought crime with the amazing ability to kind of bend metal slightly with his psychic abilities. But right after that stage is where it gets interesting. See, it turns out that Marvel's writers were having issues coming up with something that satisfied the NFL. I refuse to believe any other explanation other than the NFL execs had seen a vision of the greatness of Superpro, and knew that they had to force the hand of fate in order to bring about mankind's new god. So, after rejected scripts aplenty, the editor attached to the project, a mister Bob Budiansky, reached out to someone a bit more talented. That person? Fabian god damn Nicieza. Now, if you read comics "on the reg", as the cool kids say, you know him as the man behind (at least, partly so) Shatterstar, a TON of important 90s X-books, and most recognizably, GOD DAMN DEADPOOL. That's right. The guy who helped create arguably the most popular superhero in recent memory also sharted out a superhero designed to sell official NFL merch. Hell, he didn't just create the character, but he actually wrote the entirety of the first issue, meaning that he essentially birthed Superpro.
Incidentally, if you don't read comics that often and have no idea who Nicieza is, you might recognize him as one of the freeway exit names in the opening action sequence of the Deadpool movie. Neat little touch there. You can see him right next to Liefeld.
At last, after Nicieza (presumably) labored tirelessly in a pitch black cave, bringing about our savior by way of arcane magicks, he finally brought what will almost certainly be known as The New Gospel before the NFL, and lo, they were at last appeased. In fact, they were so impressed by the first issue that they asked for Nicieza to write the entire series, and he agreed, so long as he got Jets tickets. And lo, through this dark bargain, our hero was born.
But seriously, every single aspect of his creation reeks of corporate product placement and exposure deals. I wish I could say that the comic was any better than the story behind it, but then again, it was about a football player with bland superpowers who hung out with a group of racial stereotypes. Also, they seriously, actually for real named a guy J. Pennington Pennypacker. That's a name that would only work in the original Sonic the Hedgehog comics without feeling insanely hokey and out of place. Shit, it would probably still feel weird there, because it's completely ludicrous. But that's kind of the hidden brilliance of NFL Superpro. See, even the most putrid shit can have a gold nugget of corn hidden in there somewhere, and that's the best way to approach Superpro. You wade through awful, horrible shit, football puns and poor plotting aplenty, but every now and then, you find something as ludicrously amazing as Instant Replay, a villain with time control powers, or a guy whose name I can't remember who was a football kicker with ninja training. It's all dumb, sure, but it's dumb in the best way, like Sharknado, or a pug.
Step Four: But for Real Though
Just imagine Cap calling out Superpro after Tony called out Spider-man in that trailer. Holy shit.
But in all seriousness folks, now is pretty much the perfect time for an NFL Superpro comeback. Hell, if D-Man of all people can be cool, then we can bring back NFL Superpro. Even if you have to drop the NFL licensing to do it effectively (which you definitely should), he could be a great character. In fact, to totally retread some ground that I tread on reddit a while back, I think that Marvel should bring back all of its dumb gimmicky characters and put them on a team. I'm talking Superpro, the Happy Campers, Combo Man, Adam X the X-Treme, US-1, hell, even Obnoxio the Clown. Shit, ESPECIALLY Obnoxio the Clown. Dude took down the entirety of the X-Men on accident, he's got potential. Maybe have D-Man lead the team as their role model, a former washed up super-loser who made something of himself. He could be their handler, maybe their government liaison, trying to forge them into real heroes. Now obviously this hypothetical series would have a strong comedic bent (like JLI back in the day, probably), but to be at its best, it would have a strong emotional core, focusing on the insecurities and psychological problems of the "heroes". Combo Man, for example, would sit most of the original fights out due to being to caught up in a never ending identity crisis from being a composite of a shitload of massively different people. Eventually, he would form a bond with Adam X, who would admit that his "X-treme" (it hurts to type that, guys) persona was just him hiding his true self from the world due to insecurity, and together, they would discover themselves. Also, maybe Adam X would come out as gay and start dating Combo Man, because this will never actually happen and I can dream about this if I want to, so shut up. It's not like either of them have had a crazy strong established personality anyways, so it would be better than the whole Iceman debacle. You know the one. And if you don't, hey, future article!
Almighty Dollar could fund the group, and maybe learn that his ability to shoot pennies out of seemingly nowhere is actually a budding form of reality manipulation, leading into him discovering an untapped wealth of hidden power within himself. Similarly, the other Happy Campers could find more stuff to do with their powers other than weird racist stuff. US-1 would provide transport, and maybe get an upgrade to his lame ability to hear CB radio signals that would allow him to communicate with machinery. Superpro would be a recovering alcoholic, struggling with the thought of his own irrelevance, eventually learning to accept himself as a hero rather than a celebrity and transcend his own short comings. Also, a ton of these characters would die in a crazy suicide mission at the end of the series, but they would save humanity in doing so and finally earn respect the world over. Like Suicide Squad crossed with the beginning of the New 52 Aquaman comic.
Their name? The Last Resort. Avengers in space? Fantastic Four in the Negative Zone? X-Men in Mojoworld? You only have one team left to call. You'd better hope they pull it off.
In Closing
I have nothing more to say to you. The Church of Superpro commands that you worship him above all others. So, in order to push that agenda, share this article where you can, tagged with #BRINGBACKSUPERPRO, and maybe one low level Marvel PR employee will be ticked off a little.
But seriously, thank you reddit user u/apocoluster for suggesting NFL Superpro! I hope you're happy with this weird-ass, rambling article about how much I love a completely retarded concept. If you have any suggestions of your own, as always, feel free to leave them in the comments here.
No recommended reading for Superpro really, seeing as he only has one 12 issue arc. If you want to read it, go ahead. Or you can just look through his results on google images. It's basically the same experience.
As always, suggested characters are tackled every other week. Otherwise, it's my pick. Until next time!


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Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
Bloom Township Center will be giving away 500 gallons of milk each week to those in need.
The distribution will be every Thursday from 12 PM to 3 PM at the Township Food Pantry entrance on the North side of Bloom Township Center located at 425 S. Halsted Street, Chicago Heights (directly across from Prairie State College).
Each family who attends will receive one, free gallon of milk. The milk program occurs every Thursday as long as product availability continues.
Visit Bloom Township's Website Here.


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Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Good Educational Sites In SL, 2011 Roundup
Location: VWER meeting
image at Flickr by Grizzla
Readers new to virtual worlds for education, or perhaps looking for new places to go alone or with students, should have a look at the transcript posted from a large group of educators at the VWER meeting of August 25.
It's doubly useful in how I aggregated recommended sites, by academic field, at the start of the transcript.
My sense is that while schools are generally downsizing their SL presence and educators are moving some work to OpenSim, much great SL content remains. In fact, I'd hazard a guess about why the Reaction Grid region for the 1939 World's Fair appeared. It's one of the few well known quality builds outside SL for educators.
I'm hoping that in comments to this post (and the post at VWER) readers can suggest other sites, particularly those outside SL. Ener Hax will, I hope, discuss what is going on at I Live in Science Land, and we'll get other non-SL updates useful for "back to school" planning for sites such as Heritage Key, where I've not been in some time.
3 comments:
- Paul M. Van Dort said...
Thanks for the kind words about the '39 Fair on ReactionGrid.
While I am not an "educator", I really enjoy sharing information about the Fair both on ReactionGrid and on www.1939NYWorldsFair.com.
I hope that a few of your readers may become interested in working on ReactionGrid and help build the Fair Project so that students of all ages can learn more about the vision of the Fair and how it has affected us today.
While visiting the Fair on ReactionGrid, people can contact me by dropping a note into one of the in-world mail boxes, or visit the web site and contact me via the contact page.
Again, thank you.
- September 7, 2011 at 12:17 PM
Sounds interesting.
In our 1920s Berlin sim we have a school for language lessons and the entire sim is used for history education.
1939 world fair sounds interesting, a shame it is not in Second Life
- September 19, 2011 at 7:48 AM
- Iggy O said...
Also a shame that we cannot grid-hop to it from SL. But LL won't let us.
I encourage you to create a Reaction Grid avatar and visit. Now that the grid will be updating its version of OpenSim, you will be able to hygrid-hop over...just not from SL :(
- September 19, 2011 at 1:37 PM


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Ask the experts: Our expert panel answer questions on DIY, eco design, mortgages, cleaning, architecture, consumer issues and more.
Question: There's a small area in our garden that gets the sun all afternoon and I'd love to make the most it by laying a patio. Can I do it myself, and if so how?
DIY guru, Jo Behari, says: A patio is relatively simple to lay and the materials are available at hardware stores. First, dig out any turf or plants down to about 10-15cm to form the foundations. Then put down a layer of 'hardcore', which is broken bits of rubble and brick. Spread it out with a rake and use a long piece of 2x4 timber to flatten it down.
Now you'll need to pour a layer of bedding mortar, which you can buy ready mixed, or make up yourself using six parts sharp sand with one part cement and mixing it with just enough water so it's damp and workable, not wet and runny. Lay each slab with a slight slope of about 25mm so water can drain off. The most accurate way to do this is to put a block that measures 25mm thick under the back end of the slab.
Once in position, place a block of wood on top of the slab to protect it and knock it down with a club hammer to secure it within the bedding mortar. Repeat with each slab and then leave to dry for 24 hours.
The next step is putting mortar between the slabs, otherwise known as pointing. Using a trowel, press the mortar between the gaps and brush off any excess with a stiff brush.
Finally, clean the slabs with a damp sponge and you're finished!
* Find more tips in Jo's book, The Girl's Guide to DIY (£12.99, New Holland Publishers)


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|Presenter: Dr. John Comisi and Larry Clark
|Credits: 1 CEU
|Release Date: 9/27/17
|CE Supporter: Pulpdent
|Reviewed: 2022 Expiration Date: 9/27/25
Join us for the opportunity to learn about bioactivity and biomimetics, and new dental materials that incorporate bioactivity. Discussions will include the background of bioactivity, where it comes from and how the science has progressed. In this CE webinar, we will learn about bioactive dental materials and how to incorporate them in patient treatment. Preventive and restorative bioactive materials will be discussed in the program, with an emphasis on prevention and preventative techniques.
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This course investigates how extreme amounts of invested time and manual labor are capable of transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. Fall 2016 will focus on the structural and aesthetic potential of ash wood, a material that is currently being made alarmingly abundant by an invasive beetle that has killed millions of ash trees across the Midwest that has just arrived in New Jersey. Students will research new and replacement applications for the material based on its sculptural properties, its resiliency, and its high strength to weight ratio. Readings and visiting experts will support in-class research and studio work.
Sample reading list:
Sol Lewitt, Paragraphs on Conceptual Art
Andres Lepik, Small Scale, Big Change
Emily Pilloton, Design Revolution
Reading/Writing assignments:
Bi-weekly readings and/or visiting experts to be discussed. Four studio assignments, three short (two weeks) and one long (six to twelve weeks) in duration, chosen by each student or team of students.
Prerequisites and Restrictions:
Any 200-level VIS studio course OR any 200-level CEE course, PLUS any 200-level ARC, EGR, or MAE course OR 300-level VIS studio course.


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About the document
An Ecological Character Description describes the ecological character of a wetland at the time of its listing as a Wetland of International Importance. Ecological Character Descriptions are a fundamental management tool for site managers, providing the basis for management planning and action as well as including guidance on site monitoring requirements to detect changes in the ecological character of a site.
Interlaken Lakeside Reserve is a 517 hectare Ramsar wetland site located in the north-western corner of Lake Crescent in Tasmania's Central Highlands. It is approximately 20 kilometres west of the township of Tunbridge, at an altitude of about 800 metres. The site consists of approximately 180 hectares of open water, 166 hectares of dry land and 174 hectares of shallow, intermittent marsh. The northern edge of the dry land component of Interlaken Lakeside Reserve forms part of the shoreline of another freshwater lake, Lake Sorell, to the north. Both lakes are permanent shallow freshwater lakes connected by the Interlaken Canal and Kermodes Drain, and surrounded by eucalypt forest and open paddocks cleared for rough grazing. The intermittent marshes of the Ramsar site may be dried out or partially inundated depending on the season and water level in the lake.
The two lakes have a history of use as water supply for downstream settlements along the Clyde River, which exits from Lake Crescent, and for irrigation since the 1830s. The water levels in Lake Crescent and Lake Sorell and therefore of Interlaken Lakeside Reserve have a history of variability, the sources of which are both natural and man-made. This water level variability affects the inundation regime of the Ramsar wetlands in the Interlaken Lakeside Reserve and is crucial to the health and long-term integrity of the wetlands. The biota of the wetlands are adapted to intermittent inundation and can withstand periods of drying out, both seasonal and longer term.
The range of water level variability and resultant wetland drying phases is a key attribute of the limits of acceptable change for Interlaken Lakeside Reserve identified in the Ecological Character Description. There is limited baseline information for determining the range of natural variation in species diversity and composition of wetland flora species over time. This issue is addressed in the Ecological Character Description, which proposes that reference sites be monitored regularly to capture changes in components, processes, services or threats at the site, in order to evaluate any changes in its ecological character.
This information will help guide future management planning, particularly in relation to the water level inundation regime necessary to maintain the wetland ecosystems of the Interlaken Lakeside Reserve, in order to promote conservation and wise use of the wetland resources of the site.
Further information on what Ecological Character Descriptions are and how critical components, processes and services are identified is available in the National Framework and Guidance for Describing the Ecological Character of Australian Ramsar Wetlands – Module 2 of the National Guidelines for Ramsar Wetlands – Implementing the Ramsar Convention in Australia.


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Los Angeles Chargers vs. Baltimore Ravens: Odds and Predictions (NFL Wild Card Weekend)
The 12-4 Los Angeles Chargers:
After clinching a playoff berth in Week 15 by defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 29-28, the Los Angeles Chargers went on to beat the Denver Broncos 23-9 in Week 17, but, due to a tiebreaker, they placed second in the AFC West and became the 5th seed in the playoffs.
The Chargers have a top-ten quarterback, Philip Rivers, who once again quietly had a solid season, throwing for 4,308 yards and 32 touchdowns with 12 interceptions.
This Los Angeles team is 7-1 on the road and 9-3 against AFC opponents, but in this matchup, theyll have to figure out how to find the end zone against the leagues number one defense better than they did in Week 16 when they lost to the Ravens, 10-22.
The 10-6 Baltimore Ravens:
The Baltimore Rhhavens clinched the AFC North division title and the AFC sixth playoff seed in Week 17 after barely defeating the resurging Cleveland Browns 26-24 in a game that, had they lost, would have sent the Pittsburgh Steelers into the post season instead.
After their Week 10 bye, the 4-5 Ravens benched their veteran quarterback Joe Flacco and began starting their rookie first-round draft pick Lamar Jackson, and since then have gone 6-1, their only loss against the mighty Kansas City Chiefs.
Baltimore defends M&T Bank Stadium well, their home record 6-2, and theyre 8-4 against AFC opponents, but its most likely their number one ranked defense that has them slightly favored in this one as well as the fact that they just won this same matchup two weeks ago.
Whats at stake:
These two teams have met 12 times, with Baltimore winning 7 games and Los Angeles winning 5 games. The Ravens have won 3 of the last 5 meetings, their last one this season in Week 16, the score was Ravens 22, Chargers 10.
Whoever wins this matchup will go on to the Divisional Round of the playoffs next.
Theyll either play the number one seeded AFC team, the 12-4 Kansas City Chiefs, or the number two seed, the 11-5 New England Patriots, but right now those games are listed as TBD (to be determined).
And of course, whichever team loses this one goes home, their 2018 season finally over.
Questions to answer
Whos favored to win this Wild Card Weekend Chargers-Ravens matchup?
Which team has a better offense? Defense? Special teams?
Which teams quarterback is more likely to lead his team to victory?
Were going to compare the Chargers and the Ravens and attempt to answer those questions and more.
The 2018 Chargers offense ranked 11th in the NFL
The Chargers are a top-ten scoring franchise, averaging 26.8 points per game and moving the ball a total of 372.6 yards per outing.
They also have a top-ten passing attack, with Rivers and company throwing for an average of 255.6 yards per game and scoring 32 of the teams 48 total touchdowns.
Wide receiver Keenan Allens sixth NFL season has been the second best of his career, with 97 catches for 1,196 yards and 6 touchdowns in the regular season.
Chargers rushing attack ranked 15th overall
Melvin Gordon is one of those new-fangled NFL dual threat running backs, effective on the ground and through the air.
Gordon ran 175 times for 885 yards and 10 touchdowns while catching 50 balls for 490 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Los Angeles offensive Injuries
Listed as questionable for Wild Card Weekend: running back Austin Ekeler (groin).
Tight end Hunter Henry, who was placed on the PUP list in Week 1, could suit up for this game but head coach Anthony Lynn hasnt made a decision yet and says if Henry did play hed be on a pitch count.
The 2018 Ravens offense ranked 9th overall
Baltimore scores almost as much per game as the Chargers do, putting up 24.3 points a game and moving the ball a total of 374.9 yards every outing.
Rookie Jackson has used his ability and willingness to run to keep defenses off guard, and in the seven games hes started hes thrown for 1,201 yards and 6 touchdowns with 3 interceptions while running for 695 yards and 5 more touchdowns.
Baltimores best receiver in the regular season was John Brown, who only caught 42 passes for 715 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Baltimores run game 2nd in the league
Credit Jackson and his constant threat to run with the teams newfound ability to move the ball on the ground, which they do for 152.6 yards every game on average.
Also credit undrafted free agent running back Gus Edwards, a rookie who has stepped up for 718 yards on the ground off of 137 carries with two touchdowns.
Baltimore offensive Injuries
There are currently no offensive Ravens players listed as injured.
Chargers Defense ranks 9th in the league
The Chargers allow their opponents to score an average of 20.6 points and move the ball a total of 333.7 yards per game, their rush defense and their passing defense both ranked 9th.
Los Angeles 13 interceptions is middle of the road, tied for 15th most, and their 38 sacks puts them in the bottom half of the league, T-19th.
Chargers Defensive Players to watch:
Tied for the 29th most tackles in the NFL is Chargers free safety Derwin James, who has 105 combined tackles as well as 3.5 sacks and 16 passes defended.
James is also tied for 17th most regular season interceptions with 3, the same number of picks as defensive back Desmond King has.
The Chargers big sack man is defensive end Melvin Ingram, who has 7.0 sacks and 43 tackles with an interception, 4 passes defended, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Chargers defensive injuries
Listed as Out for Wild Card Weekend: linebacker Jatavis Brown (ankle), who will be out for the remainder of the season.
Ravens Defense is first overall
The Ravens defense shuts opponents down, allowing them to score just 17.9 points per game (2nd least) and moving the ball a total of 292.9 yards (best in the league), their rush defense ranked 4th and their passing defense ranked 5th.
For such a solid defense, their interception total (12) is low, tied for 18th in the league, and their sack total (43) is barely better than average, tied for 11th most.
Ravens Defensive Players to watch:
Check out inside linebacker C.J. Mosley, the guy is a monster with 105 tackles and half a sack.
Speaking of sacks, outside linebacker ZaDarius Smith has 8.5 of them along with 45 tackles and a forced fumble.
Cornerback Brandon Carr has the most Raven interceptions with 2 of them, plus hes defended 13 passes and made 45 tackles.
Ravens Defensive Injuries
Listed as questionable for Wild Card Weekend: cornerback Tavon Young (groin).
Special Teams Stats Comparison
Los Angeless punter, Donnie Jones, a free agent pickup acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles in October, has punted 47 times for a net average of 38.0 yards per punt, ranked 32nd in the NFL.
Baltimores punter, Sam Koch, is a 12-year veteran who has punted 60 times for a net average of 39.8 yards per punt, ranked 16th in the NFL.
Los Angeless placekicker, Michael Badgley, a free agent pickup from the Indianapolis Colts in October, is 15-for-16, his longest has been the 59-yarder he kicked while going 4-for-4 against the Bengals in Week 14.
Badgley hast missed one extra point attempt (27/28).
Baltimores veteran All-Pro placekicker, Justin Tucker, has gone 35-for-39, his longest was a 56-yarder.
Tucker has missed one extra point attempt (36/37).
Punt Returners:
Los Angeless punt returner, cornerback Desmond King, is ranked 9th in the league in return average.
King has returned 23 punts for 318 yards, averaging 13.8 yards per return, his longest was a 73-yard return for a touchdown in Week 13 against the Steelers.
Baltimores punt returner, Cyrus Jones, is ranked 5th in the league.
Jones has returned 18 kicks for 259 yards, averaging 14.4 yards per return, his longest being a 70-yard return for a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders in Week 12.
ChargersRavens prediction and odds
The odds makers have the Ravens favored over the Chargers by 2.5 with an over/under of 41.5.
CBSSports.com has two final score predictions:
Ryan Wilson goes with the under and has it Ravens 20, Chargers 17
John Breech takes the under and predicts it Ravens 19, Chargers 16


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July 2012
"That was a narrow escape! Those horrible people were chasing me, and I only just got back to the safety of my mummy. Baaaa!" He shot a murderous look at Rachel and me, which clearly conveyed the sentiment. Neither mother nor child thanked us in the slightest, and if ever I saw the bible phrase 'the wrath of the lamb' acted out, it was then. You have realised, of course, that we are talking about a lamb. We were on holiday, and as we drove towards Port Patrick, we came across a small lamb which had squeezed under the fence and was running up and down the road in a state of distress, calling to its mother with a pitiful bleating; she stood with her other lamb, calling back. Clearly, what had been achieved in one direction was proving impossible in reverse, and the agitated lamb posed a threat to passing traffic on a deregulated stretch of road.
Rachel was game for a bit of shepherding, so I went to the gate; the lamb immediately cantered up the road away from the gate, but Rachel was walking up the road on the opposite side until she could get beyond the lamb, who was watching her warily. Rachel started clapping her hands, walking towards the lamb, who darted towards me, then back, then closer, caught between two 'monsters' intent on harming it. By now I had the gate open, and the lamb's oscillations had brought it to within eyesight of gate and mother. With a sudden last dart, it skidded around the gate to its mother and stood there defiantly bleating at the defeated 'monsters'.
Rachel and I 'high fived' in success, and got back into the car; Diane had been looking after grandson Ben, who had slept through the whole episode. We drove around the corner, and there was another, bigger, lamb quietly grazing at the side of the road; I looked at Rachel the shepherdess, and we both went, "Nah!" and drove on. The lamb was content and no threat, and there are only so many murderous looks you can take in a day.
Sheep are peculiarly stupid animals, and despite our considerable efforts, we knew there would be no understanding of our efforts to save the infant, only a perceived threat. Our every action was interpreted in a malignant manner. Many other species can begin to understand that you are trying to help and even begin to co-operate, but not sheep. So why does Jesus – and the bible as a whole – use sheep and shepherd so frequently as a metaphor for our relationship with our heavenly Father?
From Psalm 23 "The Lord is my shepherd…" (The Bible, Ps 23.1) through to Jesus "I am the good shepherd…" (John 10.11), via Old Testament prophets to the parable of Jesus about the lost sheep "And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home…" (Luke 15.5), we are the sheep and he is the shepherd. Isaiah declares "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way." (Isa 53.6), showing that the view of sheep – and us – has not changed, whilst giving us one of the most evocative lines from our confession. Psalm 23 offers encouragement – the shepherd guides us, (verse 1), finds us the best pastures (verse 2), keeps us on the right path (verse 3), and even walks us through the valley of the shadow of death (verse 4a), but in the second half of the verse "I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23.4b) is a mediation no mere sheep could ever contemplate. The rod is a club for beating off predators like wolves, so perhaps even sheep would recognise its protection, but the staff is the shepherd's crook.
The crook is used to drag the errant sheep back to the path from whichever crevice it has stupidly entered; it is applied to a leg or the neck, and force is applied, dragging the struggling sheep back to safety. It cannot be a pleasant process for the sheep, who is stupid enough to have got itself into the predicament in the first place, and doubly stupid in not being able to recognise that the shepherd has been working energetically to rescue it. So the big question is 'Just how sheep-like are we?' All we like sheep have gone astray; the shepherd has put his life on the line to pull us back. Do we stand and glower at him? Ignore him? Or do we see what he has done, and give him thanks, resolving to let him guide us to the best pastures by following his way of righteousness?
Praying that you may see the love of the Good Shepherd Jesus, rejoice in his saving acts, and know peace and direction in your daily life.
Your servant in the Lord Jesus Christ,
Simon Cox.


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Photo: Courtesy of Rebecca Minkoff.
Every once in a while, a new product comes up that just makes so much sense. And, this one, we really should have seen coming. Rebecca Minkoff has teamed up with Bloomingdale's to craft an easy-on-the-eyes backpack especially for bike riders.
What exactly does that mean? Well, it's outfitted with all the features you'd want to see on your bike itself. There's a
water Juice Press bottle holder, key clip, and built-in card holder. Still, the bag is nylon and leather and sleek enough to be aerodynamic on your downhills — as well as just pretty damn cute.
The knapsacks ride into Bloomingdale's on June 15, and New York's 59th Street location will be hosting Ms. Minkoff herself for an in-store celebration on the 19th. Best of all, though, a portion of the proceeds from the bags will go to biking-related charities, to help make NYC, Chicago, D.C, and San Fran safer places to ride. Because, it's not all about the way you look on your two-wheeler.


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Mistress Kennya is a real life dominatrix from Bucuresti, Romania and you will immediately understand without a doubt, that She is a strong Female force and presence to be reckoned with. Male submissives Instinctively learn to give themselves up to Her and find themselves desperate to follow Her orders. They submit their complete devotion as She verbally humiliates them,crushes their balls, and rules their mind.
Her favourite activities are: financial domination, human ashtray, tease and denial, ignoring looser slave bitches.
Featured clips with Mistress Kennya


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On this anniversary of the terroist attacks on September 11, 2001, may we join with people of faith and hope from around the world and from all faiths in praying for peace and understanding. This prayer is from a website that offers prayers for peace from many world traditions.
Find it here.


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Whenever you consider women's clothes for the fall and winter months, do you think of the warm palette of gold, orange, and brown and funky white, basic black, and impartial greys? You'll be able to select which category to focus on based on what occasion you are attempting to decorate for and what layer you need to deal with. For those who're searching for base layers to wear underneath a classy jacket, sweater or cardigan, you can begin in the Tops & T-shirts section, where you'll find a variety of different trendy tops for on a regular basis wear or for going out on dates or girl's nights out.
We will purchase lehengas, Sarees and salwar fits on-line to put on for weddings and conventional events and they will proceed to be an integral part of our ethnic wardrobe assortment. It is okay to decorate candy and funky as long as you already know where to put on it and the best accessories to go along with it.
We have dropped at you an exhaustive collection of several types of ladies's clothes from a variety of manufacturers that are standard in India like Globus, AND clothes , Amante , Solely , Global Desi , Clovia , Nuon Women, PrettySecrets , Soch, W, Vero Moda , and plenty of others.
Whereas you can find sharp-wanting blazers with coordinating pants and button-down blouses in this section, you'll additionally find more casual appears to be like for laid-again places of work so you can really feel comfy and appropriately dressed no matter what you do. Lecturers, warehouse employees, company executives and entrepreneurs alike can select skilled clothes types that go well with their wants in our Work Garments part.
Presentation is at all times paramount for the style-savvy, and for a lot of girls style can enhance their natural magnificence while putting their taste and creativity on full display. Shop the new women's clothes collection from Banana Republic and discover the newest in trend and elegance.