CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO — Abdominal trauma during pregnancy endangers the woman and her fetus, but avoiding some common clinical errors in managing such patients can reduce these risks, according to John A. Marx, M.D.
Abdominal trauma during pregnancy is "a huge concern and underrated," said Dr. Marx, chairman of emergency medicine at Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, N.C.
Abdominal trauma occurs in 1%–12% of all pregnancies and leads to hospitalization in 0.4% of such cases, he said at a conference on obstetrics, gynecology, perinatal medicine, neonatology, and the law.
Trauma that causes a pelvic fracture leads to maternal death in 9% of cases and fetal death in 38% of cases. Placental abruption—seen in 2%–4% of women who suffer minor abdominal trauma and half of women with life-threatening abdominal trauma—results in fetal death 50%–70% of the time.
Be prepared to recognize shock early and treat it aggressively in pregnant women with abdominal trauma.
Don't rely too much on a nontender abdomen as a sign that everything is okay after abdominal trauma during pregnancy.
▸ Failure to teach proper seat belt use. Motor vehicle accidents cause 70% of all cases of abdominal trauma in pregnancy. Compared with a belted passenger, an unbelted pregnant woman in a car crash has double the risk of vaginal bleeding and quadruple the risk of fetal death.
Advise women to place their lap belt below the uterus and across the hips and place the shoulder belt between the breasts and to the side of the abdomen. Placing the seatbelt improperly across the abdomen increases force on the uterus three- to fourfold, compared with proper seat belt use.
Air bags do protect pregnant passengers, he added. "There's a great deal of misunderstanding about this," Dr. Marx said.
▸ Failure to order needed radiologic studies. This failure is frequently due to concern about radiating the fetus and represents "a huge error in trauma management," he said. A dose of 5 rad or less is considered an acceptable cumulative fetal exposure. X-rays that deliver less than half a rad each include films of the anterior-posterior pelvis, lumbosacral spine, thoracic spine, and periapical or lateral views. A CT scan of the abdomen delivers 2.6 rads to the fetus, and a CT of the abdomen and pelvis delivers 3–9 rads, although helical CT decreases radiation exposure by 14%–30%. "You can still do these studies, but you can't do a bunch of them," he said.
▸ Failure to obtain coagulation studies. The risk of disseminated intravascular coagulation increases during pregnancy.
▸ Overreliance on ultrasound to detect placental abruption. Cardiotocographic monitoring is much more sensitive, though less specific, than ultrasound in diagnosing placental abruption. All women with pregnancies of 24 weeks or greater who sustain blunt trauma to the abdomen should undergo cardiotocographic monitoring, which consists of continuous Doppler monitoring of fetal cardiac activity and electronic recording of uterine activity.
Placental abruption with a 50% tear can quadruple the risk of stillbirth, and a 75% tear increases the risk of stillbirth 39-fold.
▸ Failure to monitor the fetus for 4–24 hours. Four hours is sufficient if the trauma carries low risk, the mother is asymptomatic for placental abruption, and cardiotocographic monitoring results are normal. If the trauma affected a major bodily mechanism, the mother is symptomatic, or monitoring results are abnormal within the first 4 hours, monitor for at least 24 hours.
▸ Failure to avoid supine hypotensive syndrome. "This is another oft-missed and easy-to-treat condition," he said. Tilting the woman's prone body up and to the left by 15–30 degrees frees the inferior vena cava from pressure from the uterus, which could otherwise cause a significant drop in systolic blood pressure.
▸ Failure to consider domestic violence. The woman's abdomen is the prime site of injury arising from domestic violence during pregnancy. If domestic violence happens once during pregnancy, there's a 60% chance it will happen again. Only 3% of pregnant women who seek care for domestic violence injuries reveal the true cause to physicians.
▸ Failure to perform a perimortem cesarean section promptly. When the woman is dead or moribund but the fetus is viable, performing a C-section within 5 minutes leads to excellent fetal outcomes. Only about 5% of fetuses survive if delivery is delayed at least 15 minutes, and most will have poor neurologic outcomes, Dr. Marx said.


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Welcome to Episode 18 of the Extraordinary Moms Podcast! I'm so excited to share with you my conversation with Janssen Bradshaw. Janssen is the creator of the blog Everyday Reading, where she shares books reviews, top book lists she's curated, as well as other fun content like fashion finds, recipes, and thoughts on motherhood. Janssen worked for several years as an elementary school librarian and has passed along her love of reading to her three young girls. In today's interview, Janssen will share how she fits reading into her busy life, tips for making the most out of library visits, and what she advises for parents of struggling readers. And in case you are looking for some book recommendations, she gives her favorites for every demographic. You'll love Janssen and she will get you excited to start reading!
Alexander's Amazing Adventures– we talked about this audio series which teaches children values.


Available by the Box (16 cards and 16 gold foil lined ivory envelopes per box), our Manger Blessings Religious Christmas Cards are printed on 12pt. stock, measure 7.875 x 5.625 inches and are folded Horizontal. Each card is embellished with Gold Foil and Embossed to create a festive look.
"May the blessings from above shine on you with peace and love."


We're in Rome now because of this field trip Owen has, and because of Fred's desire to sketch the Colosseum. Owen took the train with the group from Viterbo. Twenty-three stops, about two hours. Fred and I drove the half hour to Orte and took the express train to Rome and got there in 35 minutes.
The B&B is on the fifth floor overlooking Piazza Cavour just across the river from TONS of oppressive tourist action. I like it here. Our innkeeper in an Italian American with dual citizenship. She grew up on Long Island and moved here 16 years ago. Two years later she met her husband, an Italian American from NY who moved here 14 years ago. He went to RISD (!) and is a graphic designer with a firm in NY. But he lives here in Rome.
This is one of the best places we've stayed. The windows open onto Piazza Cavour, a huge one with a big green with palm trees in the center, and the back of the court house flanking one side. Guards with machine guns protect the court house 24/7. They're friendly, but it's still nervous making to talk to someone holding such a weapon.
Finally, a room with a view for the Lynches.
and flew away too fast for me to grab a shot.
A man just walked by holding a potted basil plant.
saw my post about this and immediately drew it!
After Owen's time at the museum we decided to meet halfway, which was conveniently the Pantheon. We got there at exactly the same time. Funny to see your boy walking toward you in the middle of Rome.
The rest of my time was spent doing what I like to do best—not seeing the traditional sights, since this is our eighth trip to Rome and we've covered quite a few—but people watching, and walking up and down side streets, far from the madding crowd.
And here are some awesome bookstore displays.
Gotta have the 3D glasses!
The Tevere is olive drab, naturally.
And a human glass of limoncello selling it!
step into an Irish pub and hear the brogues. So fun.
Omg, selfie self control, people!
The term is French, literally translated as "mouth amuser." The plural form is amuse-bouche or amuse-bouches. In France, amuse-gueule is the proper term normally employed in conversation and literary writing, while amuse-bouche is a euphemistic hypercorrection that appeared in the 1980s on restaurant menus and is used almost only there. In French, bouche refers to the human mouth, while gueule refers to the mouth or snout of an animal, and is used as a derogatory term for mouth or face.
to the number of seats at the table. They belong to the owner's son.
atop a purée of some sort. Foggy now on the details, but it was great.
somehow came at the same time (in the background).
Our 24 hours in Rome was short, but sweet. Owen will return next week with his visiting friend. They hope to rent segways, but Owen will be one day short of his 18th birthday and might not be allowed to rent, not to mention be the guardian for his 17 1/2-year-old friend! We trained back to Orte, and drove home from there. Dinner in our little Viterbo.


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Poets: That's The Way It's Got To Be | Song-Factsheet
Song «That's The Way It's Got To Be» von Poets.
Label: Decca F.12074
Songwriter George Gallacher & Tony Myles & Hume Paton
Produktion: Andrew Loog Oldham
Genre: Pop - Psychedelicpop, Rock - Poprock
George Gallacher
Tony Myles
Hume Paton
Andrew Loog Oldham
[Verse 1] You may live for me today Then tomorrow go away There will be no tears from me That's the way it's got to be That's the way it's got to be [Verse 2] You say you'll stay by my side That's something we can't decide We can only wait and see That's the way it's got to be That's the way it's got to be [Bridge] But for now, let's live And we might find That our love will be The lasting kind [Verse 3] Love may be like summer's rain Quickly come, then gone again It may last eternally That's the way it's got to be That's the way it's got to be [Outro] That's the way it's got to be That's the way it's got to be That's the way it's got to be That's the way it's got to be It's got to be that way It's got to be that way That's the way it's got to be It's got to be that way That's the way it's got to be It's got to be, it's got to be that way Well, that's the way it's got to be It's got to be that way...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Faculty Breast Radiologist
Brief Description:
Faculty Breast Radiologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
The Department of Radiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is seeking a radiologist to join our Breast Imaging section.
UAB is a state-of-the-art quaternary academic medical center with a busy multidisciplinary breast health clinic and breast imaging service consisting of seven dedicated breast imagers who are responsible for interpreting, over 40,000 exams annually including 2D and 3D mammography, ultrasound, breast procedures, breast MRI, and CESM. The Department of Radiology consists of 115 faculty members, including 16 physicists and PhD researchers. There is a collaborative environment with our breast health center, where we are co-located, with interdisciplinary conferences, research collaborations, and teaching opportunities.
Applicants should be ABR-Certified or have passed the core examinations and be on track to take the certifying examination. Fellowship trained or established strong competency in breast imaging or be proficient in breast imaging and diagnostic Radiology, and CAQ or CAQ-eligible in breast imaging is required, and must be eligible to practice medicine in Alabama. Candidate must be willing to collaborate and should have a strong affinity for teaching. An established record of scholarly work is valued. There is opportunity for departmental leadership for those interested and with proven leadership skills.
Known for its innovative and interdisciplinary approach to education at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, the University of Alabama at Birmingham is an internationally renowned research university and academic medical center and the state of Alabama's largest single employer, with an economic impact exceeding $7 billion annually on the state.
Click here to see why Birmingham is "a place for everyone".
In tandem with our institutions strong diversity efforts, UAB highly encourages candidates from underrepresented minorities to apply.
Academic rank, compensation, and tenure will depend on qualifications and experience.
Interested candidates should apply here: https://uab.peopleadmin.com/postings/9684. For additional information about our department, please visit our website at www.uab.edu/medicine/radiology/
In alignment with UAB School of Medicine's mission to reflect the diversity of our community and meet the needs of our diverse population, candidates are required as part of the application process to provide a statement that is up to one page single-spaced describing their contributions to promote diversity and inclusion.
UAB is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and family-friendly environment in which all faculty and staff can excel and achieve work/life balance irrespective of, race, national origin, age, genetic or family medical history, gender, faith, gender identity and expression as well as sexual orientation. UAB also encourages applications from individuals with disabilities and veterans. A pre-employment background check investigation is performed on candidates selected for employment. In addition, physicians and other clinical faculty candidates who will be employed by the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation (UAHSF) or other UAB Medicine entities, must successfully complete a pre-employment drug screen to be hired.
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Reply to this posting
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SubSpecialties:
Womens Imaging
Technologies:
Mammography,MRI,Ultrasound
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Home » Topics » Competitions » Fresh from university - emerging artists on show
Fresh from university - emerging artists on show
Every two years, the national competition "Bundespreis für Kunststudierende" (Federal Award for Art Students) showcases the best art students in a group exhibition at the Bundeskunsthalle in Bonn. Discover emerging artists you are likely to hear more about in the future.
The competition takes place every two years and is open to all 24 art academies, colleges and universities organised by the Rectors' Conference for German Art Universities/Colleges of Art. Each institution is invited to nominate two students (or teams). The institutions determine the selection procedure themselves. Out of a pool of 48 nominations, an independent panel of judges from the art sector selects then up to eight artists on the basis of portfolios submitted. The award-winning artists will participate in a group show at the Bundeskunsthalle in Bonn.
The aim of the competition is to promote emerging artists and further their career. They gain experience with professional exhibition procedures of a renowned institution and make contacts with galleries, art associations, collectors and curators.
For the public, the exhibition provides a unique insight into the quality and variety of art education in Germany and offers an excellent opportunity to discover emerging artists and their artistic positions.
The competition is endowed with prize money of 30,000 euros. In addition, a production grant totalling 18,000 euros supports the artists in creating works specifically for the exhibition.
The competition is made possible by three institutions:
The Federal Ministry for Education and Research funds the competition
The Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bonn houses the exhibition
Deutsches Studentenwerk organises and co-ordinates the project
The competition has existed since 1984 and was previously known under the title "Kunststudentinnen und Kunststudenten stellen aus" (Art Students on Show). The 25th competition opened in May 2020. The award ceremony and exhibition opening is scheduled for 28 October 2021. The exhibition will then run until 16 January 2022.
Website of the 24th competition including participating art colleges and nominated artists
Kontakt Bundespreis für Kunststudierende
Anette Schäfer
Referat Kultur


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PS 120 in Flushing held a carnival for its students on Thursday, but kids whose parents did not pay $10 were forced to sit in the auditorium while their classmates had a blast.
Close to 900 kids went to the Queens schoolyard affair, with pre-K-to-fifth-grade classes taking turns, each spending 45 minutes outside. The kids enjoyed inflatable slides, a bouncing room and a twirly teacup ride. They devoured popcorn and flavored ices. DJs blasted party tunes.
So much for the Gooferment Skrules as the great equalizer.
I can't imagine them doing worse.
And, for those of you who thought "free Gooferment education" was a great idea, this should come as big wake up call.
Can you imagine a parent funded student focused achievement oriented school doing such? I can't.
The Gooferment is immoral, ineffective, and inefficient and here's another example.
How do you think those children felt?
POLITICAL: Switch all pension plans to defined-contribution!
For decades, public pension systems have been doling out more than they take in. Labor unions have stymied reform efforts, but the latest estimates of the public pension gap may finally serve as a wake-up call.
A new study from Moody's Investors Service, the bond credit rating business, reports that the level of unfunded liabilities for the 25 largest state and local U.S. public pensions is now more than $2 trillion. The gap is more than three times higher than it was just a decade ago.
No one wants to see pensioners live poorer lives, caused by broken promises and bankrupt pensions. The public pension system's integrity must be protected with common-sense reforms that acknowledge the reality of the constantly growing pension gap. The ideal reform for struggling pension systems would be a switch from defined-benefit to defined-contribution pension plans.
For the various Pepuls Republiks of Nu Jerzee, Nu Jerk, Taxachusetts, Kalifornication, and Flori-Duh, it's too late.
The Teachers Unions, the politicians, the bureaucrats, and Crony Capitalists control the Gooferment.
Best possible outcome for the poor and the taxpayers is that these "disaster zones" go broke. Like Detroit.
Withdraw your consent by leaving these "theft zones".
Buy a mini bond, you must be out of your mind.
Even a silver coin will preserve your wealth better!
How about we get the Gooferment out of farming?
Why do we have a "Department of Agriculture" any way?
Oh yeah, that's right we need to reward "crony farmers" who make contributions to politicians.
Why can't we feed the world with our exports?
We've been reporting very regularly on ridiculous cases involving over-zealous school officials misinterpreting and wrongly enforcing "zero-tolerance" rules.
According to the young student, he was eating the strawberry pastry during snack time and was biting off pieces in an attempt to shape it into a mountain. Apparently, the teacher thought the student's handiwork instead looked like a gun, and escorted him to the principal's office for prompt disciplinary action.
The Sheeple and Clovers don't get it.
And, the Gooferment Skrules are mindless idiots as well.
There's a reason that teachers are the lowest rung on the academic ladder.
Those who can do; those who can't teach; those who can't teach, teach teaching. Obviously there's another tier: those who can teach teaching and have no common sense become school bureaucrats!
Why torture children with this type of a system. Remember the Jack in the box model comes from Prussia. The objective was to make cannon fodder for the Army, good factory workers, and a pliable underclass that could be led easily by the elite!
Remind me again where the rich and politicians send their children?
Recent controversies surrounding the Internal Revenue Service and other government agencies have sown doubts about the honesty of the Obama administration, but most people don't hold the president personally responsible for the agency actions, a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll finds.
I'd have bet it would have been in the high 70's.
Oh yeah, "low information voters".


Doing your 1st 5k or your 50th Marathon? Run with other new and experienced runners from 2XU at the Outlets to the end of the Pier and back (about 4 miles) every Thursday @ 6PM. This is a FREE Run Club with post-run goodies provided by your friends at 2XU!


Over 91,000 flower lovers and eager green thumbs flocked to the 2018 Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show last week to admire an array of award-winning gardens and seek out new and rare blooms, striking floral installations and engaging presentations.
We are so lucky to have a show of such high standard and size here in Melbourne. It's rated among the top five flower and garden shows in the world and is the largest horticultural event in the southern hemisphere.
If you missed it here's the image gallery from the Great Hall of flowers thanks to the Melbourne Flower Show.


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Q: Jenkins - start a job from Build Flow Job with the same build number as the running job With DSL I can do something like:
bnumber = build.environment.get("BUILD_NUMBER")
build("Compile.Net", BUILD_NUMBER: bnumber)

which is great. It seems to set the BUILD_NUMBER var of the downstream job. However the display name is still with the incremented automatically number and also if I manually start the job after, it will have incremented build number from the wrong one (not the one that has been passed as a parameter). I guess there is another action needed as a shell script or something to set the BUILD_NUMBER and Displayname and save it incremented in the configuration as nextBuildNumber file. Perhaps this PlugIn could help:
https://wiki.jenkins-ci.org/display/JENKINS/Next+Build+Number+Plugin
The question is if there is a better way of doing it or I should continue to work in the same direction? Is there a better way of setting the build number of a downstream job to be the same as the build flow job?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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What Song Do You Want BLACKPINK to Perform During 'The Show' Livestream Concert? Vote!
Courtesy of YG Entertainment
BLACKPINK in your (virtual) area! Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa are partnering with YouTube Music for their first-ever livestream concert, and Billboard wants to know which song the Blinks can't wait to hear.
Their livestream, aptly titled "The Show," comes two months after their highly anticipated debut The Album, so how would you like it if they served up "Ice Cream," their highest-charting Hot 100 collaboration with Selena Gomez?
But another high-octane performance of "How You Like That" would surely rack up more accolades considering the music video collected multiple Guinness World Records for most-viewed YouTube video in 24 hours, most-viewed music video on YouTube in 24 hours, and most-viewed YouTube music video in 24 hours by a K-pop group.
Blackpink Announces 'The Show' Global Livestream Concert Experience
"The Show" will take place Dec. 26 at 9 p.m. PT via the group's YouTube channel. Fans can purchase access here or by clicking "Join" on their YouTube page. The $29.99 standard package includes access to the livestream show, rebroadcast and custom emojis, while the $39.99 plus package also comes with behind-the-scenes content.
So which hit are you hyped to hear BLACKPINK perform during "The Show"? Vote below!


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Rüdiger Vischer (* 3. Januar 1936 in Stuttgart; † 24. Februar 2017 ebenda) war ein deutscher Altphilologe.

Leben
Vischer studierte Philosophie, Klassische Philologie und Geschichte an der Universität Tübingen, wo er 1960 das Erste Staatsexamen ablegte und 1962 mit der Dissertation Das einfache Leben: Wort- und motivgeschichtliche Untersuchungen zu einem Wertbegriff der antiken Literatur promoviert wurde. Anschließend absolvierte er das Referendariat und 1963 das Zweite Staatsexamen. Von 1963 bis 1998 arbeitete er als Akademischer Rat an Seminar für Klassische Philologie der Universität Tübingen sowie als Gymnasiallehrer.

Neben seiner Dissertation, die 1965 als 11. Heft der Reihe Studienhefte zur Altertumswissenschaft (Göttingen, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht) erschien, ist Vischer besonders durch sein Buch Lateinische Wortkunde für Anfänger und Fortgeschrittene hervorgetreten. Das Buch enthält einen Auswahlwortschatz, mit dem 95 % der Wörter verschiedener lateinischer Autoren übersetzt werden können. Der Wortschatz unterscheidet verschiedene Autoren und Werke. Die ersten drei Auflagen erschienen 1977, 1989 und 1996 im Stuttgarter Verlag Teubner. Seit 2000 erscheint der Vischer, wie er landläufig bezeichnet wird, im Münchner Saur Verlag. 2007 erschien die 4. unveränderte Auflage im Verlag Walter de Gruyter (Berlin/New York).

Weblinks

Einzelnachweise

Altphilologe (20. Jahrhundert)
Hochschullehrer (Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen)
Deutscher
Geboren 1936
Gestorben 2017
Mann

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Apparel & Fashion »
Mumbai Indians to ink deal with Jack & Jones; Etihad, Videocon and DHFL renew contract: Sources
Mumbai Indians will get close to Rs 5 crore for putting Jack & Jones logo on its shirt sleeve, while Videocon will pay close to Rs 15 crore. Pritha Mitra Dasgupta&Ravi Teja Sharma | ET Bureau | March 13, 2015, 07:51 IST
Mumbai Indians will get close to Rs 5 crore for putting Jack & Jones logo on its shirt sleeve, while Videocon will pay close to Rs 15 crore.
KOLKATA/NEW DELHI: Indian Premier League (IPL) team Mumbai Indians have signed up three sponsors and is close to a deal with international apparel brand Jack & Jones as IPL teams are busy closing sponsorship deals for the next edition of the tournament starting next month.
Mumbai Indians will get close to Rs 5 crore for putting Jack & Jones logo on its shirt sleeve, while Videocon will pay close to Rs 15 crore for the coveted front of the shirt, said two people with knowledge of the development.
The Mukesh Ambani-owned team has also signed up Middle-East airline Etihad for the back of the jersey for around Rs 10 crore and housing finance company DHFL will pay around Rs 6 crore for its logo to be displayed on the right upper chest slot. Jack & Jones is testing the IPL pitch for the first time. "Talks with Mumbai Indians have reached an advanced stage and the deal will be inked soon," said one of the persons quoted above. Vineet Gautam, CEO, Jack & Jones India declined to comment. Videocon, Etihad and DHFL have renewed their contracts this year. Venugopal Dhoot, chairman at Videocon, confirmed the deal, but declined to comment on the transaction size. In response to an e-mail questionnaire, a spokesman for Etihad declined to comment saying, "We have nothing to announce".
E-mails sent to Mumbai Indians and DHFL did not elicit any response as of press time.
Since the IPL and the World Cup are only about a week apart, sector watchers have been fearing a cricket fatigue factor, but sports marketing companies and media planners who are negotiating deals between brands and IPL organisers say there is nothing to worry.
"IPL is a set event and therefore, brands also pre-plan their launches and campaigns around it and block money. They know that irrespective of what happens, IPL will get a certain amount of rating," said Melroy D'Souza, CEO at Professional Management Group (PMG). The agency recently inked the deal between IPL and CEAT Tyres as the strategic timeout sponsor.
While many Indian companies were initially a little apprehensive about investing in the World Cup because of the Indian team's poor run before the tournament, with the team doing well, many brands have come on board, D'Souza said. "This will have a positive impact on the IPL as well," he said.
A few other teams have also closed sponsorship deals. Kings XI Punjab, for instance, have signed up Tata Motors Prima as the title sponsor and HTC as the associate sponsor. IPL has been engulfed in controversies because of the spot-fixing and betting scandal that emerged in 2013. While the brand equity of the tournament has certainly been hit, companies and brands have still chosen to continue with the league.
Dhoot of Videocon said Mumbai Indians have had no controversy at all. "Also, people will forget about these controversies if India does well in the World Cup. It will help get more eyeballs for the IPL," he said.
Tags : Apparel & Fashion, Apparel, Sponsorship, Mumbai Indians, J&J, IPL, Etihad
Most Read in Apparel & Fashion
European garment brands to end Bangladesh factory inspections
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This footwear maker's stock surged over 1,600% in a decade
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CF industries has released our sixth annual Sustainability Report, Common Ground. You can access it here .
This year's report highlights the substantial contributions that CF makes to a more sustainable world: our efforts to work with farmers and communities to optimize nutrient use and improve crop yields; how we boost the economies of the areas in which we operate; and the positive impact we have on improving air and water quality.
New water usage data and additional disclosures included in our Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Index.


Jason Storbakken is cofounder, with his wife, Vonetta, of the Radical Living Christian community in Brooklyn, New York, and chapel director of the Bowery Mission.
Following a musician's journey through the rough and the redeemed.
Activist pastor Gardener C. Taylor on lessons learned in a long life of faithfully taking the side of the oppressed.


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HarborCenter celebrates its grand opening
Published November 7, 2014 at 4:44 AM EST
Mike Desmond/wbfo news
Kim and Terry Pegula, the owners of the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres, welcomed thousands Thursday night to the official opening of the HarborCenter.
Thursday night offered Terry Pegula a chance to show the facility off and receive the key to the city from Mayor Brown. The event brought to a close the quick transition of what was a dingy parking lot into a $200 million complex.
The formal opening took place on the facility's Rink One, which will be the home for Canisius College Golden Griffins, ECC Kats, and the Junior Sabres. Thousands were there for games last weekend and there will be more this weekend
Terry Pegula wondered aloud the potential impact of his new HarborCenter and how it could bring together different parts of the world.
"Some kid in Stockholm, Sweden who says, 'Yes, I've been to Buffalo,'" he said.
Kim Pegula says she learned a lot from her key role in getting the complex built and in making some fundamental changes from hockey and parking and maybe a hotel to what's opening.
"To be standing here on center ice today is just a testament to the thousands of workers, the passion, the hard work that so many people put together so that our vision and the vision that we shared with everyone else would come to fruition," Kim Pegula said.
The next celebration occurs Friday with the opening of the (7-1-6) Food and Sports restaurant, just around the building's corner from the new Tim Horton's coffee shop. The next major phase continues this winter with continuing construction of a Marriott Hotel.
HarborCenter President John Koelmel says he is negotiating with some retail owners about locating in HarborCenter. The hotel, he says, will be open in the middle of next year to serve the hockey schools and Canalside.
Local Terry Pegulajohn koelmelharborcenterKim Pegula


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15 business days before we ship this out to you.


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Xuyuan Garden, Famous for its Unique Southern China Gardening Style
By Cassidy Tse inPopular Spots
Xuyuan Garden was built in the Ming Dynasty. It was named after the prince Zhu gaoxu who lived here. Xuyuan Garden later became the residence of the governors of Zhejiang and Jiangsu. Xuyuan, also known as Xiyuan, is located on the west side of the palace of Taiping Heavenly Kingdom (1851-1864). The kingdom was founded by a peasant leader, Hong Xiuquan, who declared himself king. Xuyuan Garden later became the presidential palace of Sun Yat Sen (1912-1949), the interim president of the Republic of China. Visitors will find that Xuyuan Garden is the epitome of modern Chinese.
While Xuyuan Garden in Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province covers an area only a little more than four acres (1.6 hectares), it occupies an important place in Chinese history. Despite its relatively small size, it is also renowned for its unique southern China gardening style. It is located in the Presidential Palace, at No. 292 on Changjiang Road.
Xuyuan Garden's scenery is definitely worth viewing especially because of its historical significance. It is one of the two most famous gardens in Nanjing City, the other being Zhanyuan Garden. With water covering about half an acre of its total area, Xuyuan Garden is small, but exquisite. Its architecture is rather ingenious, exhibiting the unique beauty and charm of southern gardening. One of the most popular spots here is Buji Zhou, a handcrafted stone boat. Other attractions include Tongyin Guan; Xijia Lou; Wangfei Pavilion and Yuanyang Pavilion.
Buji Zhou was built in 1746 by Yin Jishan, governor of Zhejiang Province and Jiangsu Province. The stone boat has become a symbol of Xu Yuan. It's made of marble, 14.5 meters long (about 47 feet), 4.6 meters wide (about 15 feet), and 2.7 meters high (about 9 feet). Its roof is covered with yellow glazed tiles. Its brick railings are carved with many fine colored paintings on both sides of the boat. The ship is divided into fore and aft compartments. There is a stone walkway leading to the ship. The ship was named and inscribed by Emperor Qianlong of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) during his tour in southern China. Buji state has two meanings: one is about its lakeside; the other is about the belief that the country can enjoy permanent stability only with the support of the masses. Xu Yuan's breeze blowing, the lake ripples, giving people a feeling of boat floating on the waves.
Discoveryland Theme Park, the Second Largest Theme Park in Northeast China
Xi'an Ancient City Wall
Lijiang, A Well-preserved Old City of Ethnic Minorities
Why Do Chinese People Like Hairy Crabs So Much


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TOPIC: Bangor City Vs Prestatyn Town 12/28 10:35PM GMT+8
Bangor City Vs Prestatyn Town 12/28 10:35PM GMT+8	27 Dec 2011 04:54	#1
theothers
WALES PREMIER LEAGUE:12 BET Bangor City Vs Prestatyn Town 12/28 10:35PM GMT+8
Prestatyn Town that is currently placed in the top 6 of the Welsh Premier League Bangor City has managed to collect an average of 1.88 points in 8 matches this season. Concerning matches played at home against the top 6 this season Bangor City has collected 2.25 points on average in 4 matches.
Bangor City who is currently placed in the top 6 of the Welsh Premier League Prestatyn Town has managed to collect an average of 0.14 points in 7 matches this season. When looking at matches played away against the top 6 this season Prestatyn Town has collected 0.25 points on average in 4 matches. -wosb.com
englishmatches.com/wp-login.php


Scott Lake Golf & Practice Center, a 27-hole facility just north of Grand Rapids, has begun construction on an innovative six-hole short course aimed at attracting new golfers by providing a quicker and less expensive option to enjoying the game. The idea is to build upon three existing holes that were underutilized at the facility's expansive seven-year-old practice center and add three more holes to provide an option for golfers who don't want to spend all day or even a half day on the course.
"We talked with staff and wanted to come up with an answer for golfers who enjoyed the social aspect of golf, but didn't necessarily always want to play nine holes in a league, so we came up with what we called the Sangria League," said Jeff Hoag, who co-owns the course with his brother Paul. "They would play four holes and come in for a pitcher of Sangria. It evolved from there to five holes and stayed a very social, fun league."
With three holes already in place, Hoag said the construction can be completed at a modest cost and then provided to the customer at a great rate. It also keeps in theme with the facility's logo and slogan, "Scott Lake -- Where Golf is Fun." Already in place at Scott Lake are family programs, very affordable lesson rates and attractive membership rates.
"The infrastructure, the irrigation, the room for the holes is there," Hoag said, "and we will do most of the work ourselves as we always have."
The brothers, who purchased the 52-year-old course from their parents Oliver and Annette Hoag in 1975, have consulted with golf course architect Jeff Gorney, who previously designed the third set of nine holes and the practice center to the original 18 by Bruce Matthews. The new holes will be designed in the style of the existing golf courses at the facility. All six will be par-3 holes that range from 120 to 220 yards with multiple tee options.
The Hoags are hoping to open the new course by late summer 2016.
All golf courses should be 3 loops of 6 holes.


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%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% %% %% %% %% %% %% %% %% %% %% %% %% %% %% %% %% %% %% %% %% %% %% %%%%% **************************************************************************** \\\ ROH Wrestling 12th April 2019 /////// \\\ /////// @@@@@@@ GENRE: Wrestling @@@@@@@ @@@@@@@ @@@@@@@ $$$$$$$ SIZE: 600 MB $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% TECH INFO: %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% # ========== # # # # Video: # ## Duration: 00:51:01 ## ### Container: MP4 ### #### Format: AVC #### ##### Format Profile: Baseline@L3.1 ##### ###### Resolution: 854x480 (16:9) ###### ####### Frame Rate: 29.97 fps ####### ######## Bit Rate: 1536 Kbps ######## ######### ######### ########## Audio: ########## ########### Format: AAC ########### ############ Sample Rate: 44.1 KHz ############ ############# Bit Rate: 128 Kbps ############# ############## Channels: 2 (Front: L R) ############## ############### ############### ################ ################ #################%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%################# Title: ROH.Wrestling.Ep.395.12th.April.2019.WEBRip.h264-TJ Source: ROH site ROH Wrestling Episode 395, 12th April, 2019 It'S A Tag Team Special Attraction Main Event! The Briscoes Take On The Team Of Jeff Cobb And Willie Mack! Don'T Miss Ring Of Honor Wrestling This Week!


The manager and an worker were opening McDonald's restaurant near Downtown Jackson Wednesday morning to discover a man running out of the office.
The manager and an employee were opening McDonald's restaurant near Downtown Jackson early Wednesday morning to discover a man running out of the office.
Jackson Police Department spokeswoman Cpl. Colendula Green said the burglary happened around 3:56 a.m. at the McDonald's at the corner of North State and Fortification streets.
The employee told WLBT that she and her boss saw a man run out of the office and then out of the back door. She said the man was pushing a dolly with boxes of food from the freezer. The man ran down the street, but left the boxes of food on the dolly and got into a vehicle and fled, according to the employee.
JPD spokesman Sgt. Roderick Holmes said that the suspect got away with a cash register. No description of the suspect was given.


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THE GLOBAL IMPACT OF COVID-19
FRIDAY READING LIST
NATION WITHIN A NATION: KURDISTAN IN IRAQ
Published on November 27, 2010 by prospectjournalucsd
By Satenik Harutyunyan
In 1920, the Treaty of Sevres created national boundaries carved out by European superpowers for Iraq, Syria, and Kuwait. The Kurds, however—an ethnic people with their own national identity consisting of language, culture, religious specifications and traditions—were excluded from this and other important treaties. Since then, the ethnic Kurds have faced heavy repression and harsh treatment under the governments where they form a significant ethnic minority. For the purposes of the following research, I will focus primarily on the ethnic Kurds of Iraq. For the unstable and struggling Iraqi government, I propose a solution regarding the Iraqi Kurds in order to achieve lasting and unwavering accords with the Kurds. In order to achieve this goal, I elaborate on the historical and current day circumstances of the Iraq's largest ethnic minority as well as the current Kurdish struggle to achieve what they believe is justified autonomy. I explore the Kurdish use of insurgency, rebel organizations, and attempted secessions in order to formulate a proposition where stability can finally become a prolonged option in Iraqi-Kurdish relations. By shining light on the hypothetical situations of an independent Kurdistan and the existing suppressed Kurdistan, I display why neither of these options are viable solutions. Instead, I ultimately argue for the creation of an autonomous and separate, though not completely independent Kurdish state within Iraq, which must be granted respect by not only the Iraqi government, but the foreign powers which can and will potentially benefit from peaceful circumstances for the Iraqi Kurds.
Analytical Overview of Conflict and Tension:
Since the foundations of the Iraqi state, the Kurds have been a key minority in the country. In addition to making up 20 percent of the current Iraqi population, Kurds are also politically significant with regard to their political activism and reluctance to comply with state repression. The historical persistence of the Kurdish people to remove themselves from Iraqi state repression in the twentieth century is exactly what constitutes the root cause of the Iraqi- Kurdish conflict which continues today. The existing problem is further accentuated by the fact that numerous agreements have been reached between the ever-changing Iraqi state system and the Kurdish people, only to be broken and completely dismembered. The problem has even escalated to the extreme measure of ethnic cleansing and atrocious mass murder at the hands of Saddam Hussein's Ba'athist regime, which was in power from 1968-2003.
In addition, fundamental ethnic differences between Kurdish and Iraqi peoples can partly explain the ongoing conflict in Iraq. The Kurds, a non-Arab and non-Arabic speaking minority, have historically refused to surrender their ethnic identity to the government under which they reside. In his book titled The Kurdish Nationalist Movement, David Romano quotes the Kurdistan Workers Party, a nationalist organization, in a 1993 statement: "The Kurdish people do no longer accept to be the last colonized the most oppressed people on the Earth. Whatever the price may be, they have decided to pursue their patriotic struggle… to have a place of their own in the sun…Theirs is a desire to live better, in a free and democratic Kurdistan" (Romano 132). The most fundamental and major contributor to Iraqi state oppression of the Kurds is the ardent connection to the Kurdish identity, particularly the connection to the Indo-European Kurdish language (Pike). The primary cause of the conflict can essentially be synthesized into the fundamental differences between Kurdish interests and Iraqi state interests—the Iraqi Kurds have fought for independent recognition and equality under the law whereas the Iraqi state system has done its best to hinder and disallow any such efforts.
The current state of the problem regarding Iraqi Kurds can be clarified by understanding the historical context of the situation. Amongst the international community, no dispute exists regarding Kurdish identity due to common knowledge that the Kurds are in fact an ethnic group of their own. The Kurds are a non-Arab, mostly Sunni Muslim ethnic group who have lived throughout the Middle East for centuries. The Kurds also speak numerous different dialects of Kurdish rather than Arabic (Manafy 2). What has led to the ongoing controversy about the said ethnic group, however, is the perpetual and historical Kurdish struggle for social and political freedom. During the early 20th century, following the dissimilation of the Ottoman Empire, much of the modern day Middle East was determined by European superpowers. For example, in 1920, the Treaty of Sevres formed the modern states of Iraq, Syria and Kuwait. The treaty also included the potential implementation of a Kurdish state in the region (McDowall 464). However, the state was never implemented. These circumstances created a growing sense of nationalism within the Kurdish population. The lack of recognition by the international community and the Iraqi and Iranian governments, where large populations of Kurds resided, set the fundamental building blocks of a Kurdish society based on grievance and discontent.
Furthermore, the recent history of Iraqi Kurdistan holds tremendous social context in terms embedded and present day grievances. Most notable in the recent history of Kurdistan is the infamous Anfal campaign, directed by Ali Hasan al-Majid, a cousin of Saddam Hussein. The purpose of the campaign was essentially to eradicate Kurdish resistance by any means necessary, particularly by focusing on males between the ages of fifteen and seventy (O'Leary). The majority of the campaign targeted Kurdish areas controlled by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, which was working actively toward autonomy. As a result of the campaign, 1,200 villages were destroyed and more than 180,000 persons went missing and were presumed dead. In addition to the sheer manslaughter, the campaign created economic destitution via blockades that stopped any support from coming into Kurdish villages (O'Leary). The killings were carried out through mass execution as well as chemical warfare. The most infamous incident of such a chemical-weapons attack occurred in March 1988 in the town of Halabja. In the immediate aftermath of the Iran- Iraq war, during which Kurds were sympathetic toward Iran, the civilian population of Halabja was attacked by Iraqi aircrafts dropping chemical gas bombs throughout the entire city. It is estimated that in the three days following the brutal attack, 12,000 Kurds perished (McDowall 343). The atrocities in Halabja are only one isolated historical incident of Iraqi state violence toward the Kurdish minority.
The effects of the Anfal campaign and its massacres surely constitute the theory of relative deprivation and justify the Kurdish grievances. Because the term relative deprivation is rather vague and difficult to contextualize, it is important to focus on the historical failure of the Iraqi government to respect Kurdish demands for autonomy or social equality, which underline the legitimacy of Kurdish discontent. With broken past agreements and memories of mass murders, the Kurds have ample reason to question the credibility of Iraqi state promises.
Looking at empirical data alone is evidence enough to support this claim. In 1970, the Iraqi government and Kurdish parties agreed to a peace accord which granted the Kurds autonomy and recognized Kurdish as an official language in Iraq. The constitution at the time was amended to state that "the Iraqi people are made up of two nationalities, the Arab nationality and the Kurdish nationality" (Iraqi Kurds: a Timeline). By the next year, however, relations between Kurdish leaders and the Iraqi government had completely deteriorated because the terms of the peace accords were not being kept up and Kurdish autonomy was not granted. As a result, in 1974, the Iraqi government drafted yet another version of the autonomy agreement, which the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) rejected under the leadership of Mustafa Barzani. Not only were the promises of the 1970 agreement not kept by the Ba'athist Iraqi government, but the new agreement determined borders of the Kurdish area which excluded the Kurd inhabited and oil-rich Kirkuk province. Under these circumstances, the Kurds were not receiving what they believed they rightfully deserved and as Ted Gurr explains in his piece called Why Men Rebel, "discontent arising from the perception of relative deprivation is the basic, instigating, condition for participants in collective violence" (Gurr 7).
Key Actors and Respective Interests
With a contextualization of the Kurdish issue, it is essential to delve into the profiles of the main actors involved and their roles in the conflict. First and foremost, the Iraqi state system naturally represents a key player in the Iraqi-Kurdish conflict. Although the Iraqi state system was unstable and regimes were perpetually changing throughout the twentieth century, the Iraqi Ba'athist regime was in power for the significant period of time, both in terms of length and in terms of activity regarding the Kurds. It was under the Saddam Hussein's Ba'athist regime that the Kurds faced notorious forms of repression such as the Anfal campaign. One would assume that after the United States takeover of Iraq and the disintegration of the Ba'athist regime, circumstances for the Kurds would improve. The reality of the situation, however, is that the current Iraqi government continues to play a profound role in the Kurdish conflict. In that sense, the Iraqi government holds the bulk of the responsibility in terms of determining how to properly address the Kurdish issue. As a new democracy encountering numerous trials and errors, the central government in Baghdad must find innovative ways to ensure the interests of its Kurdish minority to prevent future violent outbreak within its borders.
Equally critical in the conflict between the Iraqi state and the Kurdish people is the present day Kurdistan Regional Government, the governing body responsible for the autonomous provinces in northern Iraq known as Kurdistan. In post-Saddam Hussein Iraq, with the help of third party intervention on behalf of the United States, the Kurds entered the field of Iraqi politics with substantial say for the first time in history. In this case, third party intervention was a substantial benefit to the Iraqi Kurds and their new Regional Government. According Barbara Walter "third parties can guarantee that groups will be protected, terms will be fulfilled, and promises will be kept… Once cheating becomes difficult and costly, promises to cooperate gain credibility" (340). Middle East affairs specialist Kenneth Katzman describes the following: In 2004, a provisional constitution "laid out a political transition process and preserved the Kurds' autonomous "Kurdistan Regional Government" (KRG) and its power to alter the application of some national laws. Another TAL provision allowed the Kurds to continue to field their militia, the peshmerga ("those who face death"), now numbering 75,000-100,000" (Katzman 2). The constitution was supposed to maintain Kurdish autonomy and motivate Kurdish political participation. In fact, the Kurdish region took part in the Iraqi elections in 2005. In this case, KRG participation was directly linked to third party intervention. If the new Iraqi government hopes to have successful long term relations with the Kurds, however, it must begin depending on itself more heavily than on the third party forces inside Iraq.
Considering the help third party intervention provided the KRG in recent years, it becomes important to assess why tensions and conflict continue to exist between the central Iraqi government and the Kurds. Parties and organizations also play a key role in solving the puzzle of Iraqi-Kurdish relations. The Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) was started in the 1940's in Iraq under the leadership of Mustafa Barzani, the preeminent symbol of Kurdish nationalism (Romano 192). The party was assembled to protect the specific interest of Kurds within Iraq. The current president of the Kurdistan region, Massoud Barzani, who is a family member of Mustafa Barzani, is also the head of the KDP. This indicates the lasting dominance of the KDP as the primary national organization in Iraqi Kurdistan. Another critical Kurdish organization is the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), which has vast popular support, competes closely with the KDP, and is ideologically more extreme. The PUK was formed in the 1960's by individuals expelled from the KDP by the party leaders (Romano 197). The PUK, very similarly to the KDP, was formed under the slogan of autonomy for Kurdistan and democracy for Iraq. Unlike the KDP, however, it also advocated Marxist principles at its core (Gunter 230). David Romano describes the foundations of the PUK as follows: "Although the founders of the PUK came from more urban, intellectual, socialist, and political politburo of the old KDP, the PUK…resembled the KDP so much that average Kurds were often unable to specify…ideological differences between the two" (Romano 197).
The two parties have long experienced substantial disagreement regarding how to handle relations with the Iraqi state. Their differences, however, center around which means and methods to implement, rather than the nature of the problem. The alliance between the PUK and the KDP, known as the Iraqi Kurdistan Front (IKF), is primarily concerned with overthrowing Saddam Hussein's Ba'thist regime in hopes of establishing a genuinely democratic government in Iraq and developing a federal status for the Kurds (Gunter 231.)
The Conflict Today
The current state of the conflict, although not nearly as volatile as it has been in the past, is far from resolved. Control over territory and resources as well as measures of autonomy hold major significance in Kurdish-Iraqi relations. In their recent history, as mentioned before, the Kurds have adamantly pushed for control over oil-rich provinces such as Kirkuk and have been consistently denied by the central government. The current government of Iraq is no exception. Earlier in my research, I described the Transitional Law Agreement, the interim constitution put in place with the help of the United States. The 2004 document specifically forbids Kurdish say in matters of foreign policy, national security, national budgetary matters, and control of Iraq's natural resources (Katzman and Prados 4). The Kurds, however, continue to push for control over Kirkuk and are actively showing strength in the Kirkuk province because the KDP and PUK, who settled their differences in the name of common Kurdish grievances, came together to offer a joint proposition called the "Kirkuk Brotherhood" slate in 2005. The proposition won 26 out of the 41 seats on that provincial council during the provincial election. Additionally, United States officials estimate that over 350,000 Kurds relocated to the Kirkuk province in order to strengthen the Kurdish base in the area (Katzman and Prados 6).
As long as the problem of economic autonomy and control over critical provinces remains, Kurdish-Iraqi tension will continue. As a matter of fact, mutual distrust between Iraqi state government and the Kurdish officials has created a profound security dilemma. As described earlier, history has embedded fear in both parties. The Kurdish populations as well as Kurdish party leaders naturally fear a return to the horribly repressive societies of their past. History has not been kind to the Kurd, so they are skeptical of the state systems under which they reside. On the other hand, the central government of Baghdad currently fears the repercussions that will come with the possibility a Kurdish push for independence, which I will discuss in the following section. In this way, the Iraqi government is insecure in lending too much autonomy to the KDP for fear of secessionist outcomes. Therefore, since the security gridlock exists, the conflict between Baghdad and Kurds cannot be fully resolved.
Options for managing the conflict:
Creating an independent state for the Kurdish people seems logical in theory. The Kurds have an internal governing system, reside on territory rich with natural resources upon which to build a profitable economy, and they are an ethnic minority with an extremely large population. In practice, however, partition and independence would be impossible for the Kurds in present-day circumstances. Alexander Downes argues, "Partition should provide independence for relatively homogeneous states and attempt to draw defensible borders and establish a balance of power between them. Independence eliminates the military and political uncertainties that plague solutions to ethnic war short of partition, does not require the parties to trust each other, and satisfies nationalist desires and desires for security induced by war" (Downes 248). In the case of the Kurds and the Iraqi state, however, this theory is not applicable due to a number of reasons discussed below.
The first dilemma in this alternative would be the drawing of boundaries. In 1991, the Kurds made up 23 percent, 19 percent, and 10 percent of the populations of Iraq, Turkey, and Iran, respectively (Manafy 4). Because of this, the problem of an independent Kurdistan transcends the borders of Iraq and the Kurds within the northern region discussed previously. If the independent Kurdistan is limited to the Kurds in Iraq, the question of what to do with the millions of Kurds in Turkey, Iran, and elsewhere would surely cause immediate concern and eventual chaos for the central Iraqi government. The problems for Baghdad would stem most profoundly from the Turkish central government.Turkey, which has a past and recent history of violence against the Kurds, is adamantly opposed to the notion of giving the Kurdish population an independent state. In his report to the United States Congress, Kenneth Katzman, a Middle East analyst writes that "Although Turkey has become substantially less concerned about Iraqi Kurdish autonomy over the past few years, Turkey closely watches and acts against the presence of the Turkish Kurdish opposition Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in KRG-controlled territory. The accusation is leveled particularly at the KDP, whose strongholds border Turkey" (Katzman 9). Because of this, the Turkish government would react against the Iraqi state for promoting Kurdish independence. The Iraqi government today cannot possibly risk violent or volatile relations with the neighboring Turkish state. Furthermore, the Turkish government and the United States remain on incredibly friendly terms. Shaky relations with such a close ally of the United States would also not be favorable for the Iraqi government, considering the influence the United States has had in Iraq over the last decade. This is especially relevant in the case of the Kurds because, as discussed earlier, the United States played a key third party role in forming the current conditions of Kurdish autonomy.
Additionally, Kurdish independence would ultimately fail because of the unsteady relations within the Kurdistan Regional Government. While it is true that the KDP and the PUK successfully set aside their differences in speaking unanimously for Kurdish grievances, they would undoubtedly clash without a common state aggressor to unite against. Even in their recent history without an established state, the Kurdish parties have clashed tremendously. In the 1990's, disagreement between the two parties were so severe that in some cases there were more than 600 civilian and military casualties due to fighting (Gunter). In instances like this, each side accused the other of negotiating with external forces such as Iran, Turkey, and Iraq, thus hindering the Kurdish cause. Even though numerous peace agreements have been reached between the parties, it is important to recall that the present day KRG has only been in existence for less than a decade. This government is still very much in development and lacks the political experience or stability necessary to govern an independent state. To go from unstable partial autonomy to unstable independence would be of no benefit to the Kurdistan, or to its neighboring states.
If the central Iraqi government were to give the Kurdistan Regional Government an independent state of its own, it would bear part of the burden of being the third-party peacekeeper in the newly established state. Because both the KDP and the PUK have both allied with the central government for help against the opposing group in recent history, this would inevitably occur in the case of Kurdish independence. Under these circumstances, the Iraqi government would potentially have to side with one group against the other in civil conflict or war, starting a new cycle of conflict and rendering the Kurdish independent state essentially pointless. Whereas Kurdish independence would surely be beneficial in terms of alleviating the Kurdish grievance against an exterior state government, it would ultimately not be a good decision due to the consequences explored above.
Military Overthrow and Suppression
A full-force military operation to suppress the interests of the Kurdish minority on behalf of the central Iraqi government would be amongst the least practical or profitable policy decisions. Firstly, as I underlined earlier, the Kurdish minority comprises 23 percent of the entire Iraqi population. Recent Iraqi history, partially exemplified by the instances I previously discussed, proves that attempts to silence Kurdish grievances via military overthrow would inevitably fail because the Kurds are too numerous to ignore, would not succumb, and would surely retaliate. Additionally, the current Iraqi military already faces intense difficulty combating insurgencies and non-state organizations. Challenging an entity such as the Kurds would damage the Iraqi government far more than it would benefit it. The damage to the Iraqi military would partially be due to the fact that the current Iraqi government, as discussed earlier, allows the KRG to sustain a functioning militia, now numbering 100,000 troops, in the Kurdish region (Katzman 2). Iraqi forces going in to Kurdistan for the purposes of overthrowing the government and taking control of the region would be faced with strong opposition.
Additionally, the international community would not allow for such a large-scale overthrow. The Iraqi government already has a record of mistreating its Kurdish minority, as discussed earlier in the context of the Anfal campaign and numerous other instances of violent oppression. In March 2009, a commemoration was held at the United Nations in memory of the atrocities in Halajba in 1988. In describing the commemoration, the KRG online writes: "The commemoration, co hosted by the Iraqi mission to the UN and the Kurdistan Regional Government, saw ambassadors, member of the Iraqi government, the human rights community, and survivors…urged steps to ensure no similar genocide occurs again" (KDP.org) Adding another series of violence against the Kurds would undoubtedly draw negative attention to the Iraqi state system from the international community, which would hinder the newly established state's credibility and assent to a respectable governmental entity in the world of international politics.
Consociational Democracy for the Iraqi state
Lijphart's model of consociational democracy displays four characteristics: grand coalition, proportional representation, a mutual veto, and segmented autonomy (Andeweg 512). Theoretically, these specifications lead to a broad consensual democracy in which a segmented society can exist peacefully and democratically with a just representation of all groups. Although the model has been implemented in countries such as Denmark, Lebanon, and Ireland, in the case of Iraq and the Kurds, however, this is not a viable option for a number of reasons. For the purposes of this paper, however, I will focus on one principle reason why the model is not applicable: disproportional minorities. The demographic breakup of Iraq, especially as it pertains to the Kurds, is not comprised of enough ethnic minorities to allow for a functioning consociational democracy. In the case of Lebanon, for example, the religious groups represented are Maronite Christian, Armenian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Protestant, Sunni Arab, Shia Arab, Druze and Alawite (U.S. Department of State). In order to make this model work in the case of Iraqi Kurds, the Kurds would need to be separated into Sunni Kurds, Shia Kurds, and Yezidis, for the sake of creating an accurate proportional representation. Instead of simplifying the issue the Iraqi state system faces, this alternative creates more complications. As of now, Kurdistan has no serious divide among its population, besides conflicts between the political parties discussed earlier. To enforce social cleavages in Kurdistan not only goes against the principles of consociational democracy which advocates the theory in societies that are already deeply segmented, but it would be counterproductive for the Iraqi state. In the case of Iraqi Kurdistan, consiontinalism and power sharing would simply result in the difficult regulations of Kurdish relations with non Kurdish actors as well as the new need to regulate internal relations amongst the separated Kurds.
Kurdish Autonomy and Ethnic Separation
Unlike the alternatives discussed above, granting the Kurds autonomy within the Iraqi state is a viable solution. Autonomy allows the Kurdish people to govern themselves without the complications of an independent Kurdish state described previously. Kauffman states that "…lasting peace requires removal of the security dilemma. The most effective and in many cases the only way to do this is to separate the ethnic groups. The more intense the violence, the more likely it is that separation will be the only option" (Kaufmann 157). Violence and security have in fact been a common problem in the past for Iraqi Kurds, who reside mainly in the northern region of Kurdistan, making ethnic separation a viable and realistic option. Also relevant in the case of the Iraqi Kurds is Kaufmann's argument that "there must be enough regional self-defense capability that abrogating the autonomy of any region would be more costly than any possible motive for doing so" (162). A Kurdish militia could potentially be a credible obstacle in the way of would-be aggressors, making an attack on autonomous Kurdistan too costly to go through with.
Furthermore, Kaufmann says that "local autonomy must be so complete that minority groups can protect their key interests even lacking any influence at the national level" (162). This part of Kaufmann's description, however, does not fully exist in the current Iraqi state structure in terms of the Kurds, who only have partial political autonomy. Examples of this are control over certain regions with substantial Kurdish populations such as the Kirkuk province as well as control over natural resources. Without control over natural resources, the autonomous regional government of Kurdistan will ultimately be unable to sustain itself economically, creating tension and dissatisfaction amongst the population. Approximately 60% of Iraqi Kurdistan was unemployed in 2007 (Iraqi News Monitor).
Concluding Policy Proposal
Given the alternatives discussed above, I conclude that granting full Kurdish autonomy is the best course of action for the Iraqi state government. Because Kurdish autonomy serves as a middle ground protecting the interests of the Kurdish parties, the central government in Baghdad, as well as Iraq's neighboring countries, it is the most viable policy for Iraqi Kurdistan today. As Kurdish autonomy increases in the 21st-century in Iraq, violent Kurdish action against the state continues to decrease. The Kurdish struggle, however, is not completely alleviated. The Iraqi state must allow autonomous Kurdistan to grow in strength on both the economic and military fronts. The Kurdish military must be substantial and sufficient enough to protect itself from forces outside of Iraq without needing to turn to the central Iraqi military for support. As explained earlier, if the Kurdish military is substantially defensive, external forces will see more cost than benefit in invading Kurdistan.
More importantly, if the Kurdistan Regional Government can support the economy to reverse unemployment and increase development, discontent against the Iraqi government would substantially decrease. In order to do this, the Iraqi government must be willing to yield the province of Kirkuk, which Kurdistan has adamantly been fighting for control over for its entire recent history. The Iraqi government must also amend its constitution to allow at least partial profit from the economic resources in Kirkuk as well the rest of autonomous Kurdistan. Doing this would give Kurdistan the ability to comply with Iraqi regulations while sustaining a relatively self-sufficient economy within its regional borders. Without a profitable economy from which the population can benefit, the Kurdish government and its people will continue to feel the historical sentiment that they are being mistreated and abused by the Iraqi state. Partial progress towards peaceful terms between the Iraqi government and Kurdistan has undoubtedly been made in recent years. The extension and completion of this progress toward full autonomy, however, is what I ultimately suggest as the final step in the journey to peaceful Iraqi-Kurdish relations.
Acknowledgements and Works Cited:
1. Romano, David. The Kurdish Nationalist Movement. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Print.
2. Manafy, A. United Press of America. Lanham, MD: United Press of America, 2005. Print.
3. McDowall, David. Modern History of the Kurds. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Saint Martin's Press, 2004. Print.
4. O'Leary, Carole. "The Kurds of Iraq: Recent History, Future Prospects." Middle East Review of International Affairs 6.4 (2002): n. pag. Web. 4 Dec 2009.
5. Katzman, Kenneth. "The Kurds in Post Saddam Iraq." Congress Research Service 01 Sep 2009: 1-11. Web. 4 Dec 2009.
6. Gunter, Michael. "The KDP-PUK Conflict in Northern Iraq." Middle East Journal 50.2 (1996): 224-241. Web. 4 Dec 2009. .
7. Katzman, Kenneth, and Alred Prados. "CRS Report for Congress."Global Security. 14 Mar 2005. Web. 4 Dec 2009. .
8. "First United Nations Commemoration of Halajba Genocide."Kurdistan Regional Government. 18 Mar 2009. KRG, Web. 4 Dec 2009. .
9. "Lebanon." U.S. Department of State. 08 Mar 2006. Web. 4 Dec 2009. .
10. "Who are the Kurds?" Washington Post. 1999. Washington Post Company, Web. 4 Dec 2009. .
11. Pike, John. "Kurdistan-Iraq." Global Security. 25 Jun 2008. GlobalSecurity.ort, Web. 4 Dec 2009. .
12. "Timeline: Iraqi Kurds." BBC News. 1 Aug 2009. British Broadcasting Company, Web. 4 Dec 2009. .
Photo of Kurdish women in Silopi, a border town of Turkey 15 kilometers away from Northern Iraq, watching the opening of the local branch of the pro-Kurdish political party in town. Courtesy of petit1ze.
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One thought on "NATION WITHIN A NATION: KURDISTAN IN IRAQ"
Kyle Griswold says:
"In 1920, the Treaty of Sevres created national boundaries carved out by European superpowers for Iraq, Syria, and Kuwait. The Kurds, however—an ethnic people with their own national identity consisting of language, culture, religious specifications and traditions—were excluded from this and other important treaties."
Articles 62-64 of Sevres called for the creation of a Kurdish state. Sevres was never ratified by the Turkish nationalists and scraped. It was replaced by the Treaty of Lausanne which denied the Kurds their state.
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Asphalt shingles are one of the least expensive and most dependable types of roofing available in the market today. With such qualities, it's no wonder they are a popular choice among homeowners across the country.
There are, however, other attributes for which you should also look. Being the most trusted of all local roofing companies in our area, we've highlighted the best qualities of asphalt shingles to help you get the best roofing system for your home.
Asphalt shingles are as tough as they come. They can have the highest wind resistance ratings, ranging from class D (lowest) to Class H (highest). In fact, asphalt shingles can withstand strong winds of up to 150 mph. It's worth noting, however, that proper installation and careful use of sealant contributes to this toughness.
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All Rights Reserved. © 2019. Ritco Group, Inc.


5 "Bellevue" Cottages – two bedrooms – 4/6 people – 33m² – year built: 2013.
On the banks of the Vézère River, in a lush, tree-lined campsite, the Bellevue mobile home is the perfect accommodation for natural holidays on the riverside.
Among our full range of accommodations, the Cottage Bellevue guarantees you a getaway from the everyday. The Bellevue Cottages are arranged along the riverside in a thickly wooded setting.
The Bellevue Cottage includes two bedrooms, a shower room, a separate toilet, an open-plan kitchen, a dining area and a number of storage spaces.
The Bellevue mobile home is not equipped with a television or air conditioning.
The Bellevue Cottage is organised around a convivial living area. The large picture window opens onto a sheltered wood terrace which overlooks the river so that you may make the most of time with your family and enjoy warm evenings to the sound of birdsong.
No need to worry about your bed linens, since both bed linens and bath linens are provided. Access to high-speed Wi-Fi is included in your stay, accessible with a personal code.
From the Cottage, you may easily access the river to enjoy fishing or swimming. The terrace is shaded by dense vegetation, offering you maximum seclusion. Enjoy the fruits, vegetables and herbs of the campsite gardens located nearby.
For your safety, the area is demarcated by fencing.


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Essex County Council appoints Advanced to support its finance management system
Essex County Council (ECC) has appointed leading software and IT services supplier, Advanced Computer Software Group plc (Advanced), to host its financial management system, e5.
Advanced has signed a two year contract to host the Council's financial data – which currently runs in e5 - in the 'cloud'. This will enable information to be securely accessed from any connected computers at the same time.
The contract extends across the council and partner organisations, including Essex Cares and the Essex Pension Fund.
Under the contract, Advanced will provide BACS processing and manage more than 1000 payment and collection files each year on behalf of the Council.
It will also provide other managed services including printing and mailing more than 340,000 documents per year including invoices, credit notes, dunning letters, cheque and BACS remittance documents.
As well as receiving a secure service, the Council will also benefit from the preferential postal rates Advanced has agreed with third party postal carriers which will help the Council to save money.
David Wilde, Director for Information Services, Essex County Council, comments: "Having all these services provided by one company makes perfect sense. As well as ensuring we can securely access our financial data across our networks, this contract will help us save money that we can invest in other services.
"We are anticipating significant savings as a result of choosing to work with a single supplier. As a public sector organisation it is essential to contain cost in order to provide local residents and businesses with the best possible value for money."
ECC was recently announced as a finalist in the 2014 Real IT Awards. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony taking place in London on Thursday 15th May 2014. The council was shortlisted in recognition of its work to form a partnership of public sector organisations impacted by the insolvency of their former managed services provider.
The partnership was formed to prevent the disablement of financial management systems used by multiple public sector organisations and hosted in the bankrupt company's datacentre. Led by members of ECC's IT Team, the partnership has successfully negotiated with company administrators to ensure the continuation of essential datacentre services.
Dean Dickinson, Managing Director, Advanced Business Solutions (an Advanced Computer Software Group company) comments: "The team at ECC are to be congratulated for forming a partnership that was pivotal in managing a particularly delicate solution that had the potential to disrupt many major public sector organisations. Their organisation and management of the situation was very impressive and they are fully deserving of their place on this year's Real IT Awards shortlist."
e5 allows organisations to track projects, create and monitor budgets and forecasts and manage procurement and credit control processes. The latest version includes significant enhancements, and offers a completely transformed user experience. The new HTML5 user interface means that employees can manage and report their financial activity from mobile devices such as smartphones and iPads. The system is also available in the public or private cloud, which can offer a more cost effective and flexible option depending on customer requirements.
e5 can be deployed quickly using the fast track implementation approach and is easily tailored to an organisation's needs. The system has become the de facto standard for enterprise-scale accounting software in the UK's retail, local government, higher education, financial services and airline sectors.
Advanced Computer Software Group plc
advancedcomputersoftware.com
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Prudential Center, Newark, NJ is going to be hosting Pink concert on April 14. This event is a part of the popular and rock/punk singer and songwriter massive 2018 tour across the United States and Canada.
Pink concert tickets for Prudential Center, Newark, NJ are here already. Popular musician is likely to perform her best hits along with some newest singles from his latest to date album.


This website was designed completely in Flash. ptrick Widner is the Executive Director and co-owner of Marketing Provisions and started Web Designing with Flash animation back in 2001. Even though it's not ideally suited for complete web design it is still a very attractive media for banners, headers, movies and other video elements which we still integrate today if desired. Patrick Widner contracted for many other design firms to develop their designs into flash animation. The portolio login is "123" and "go".


Calculate the cost of housing and meals and choose from different housing and meal plans. Both residence halls and apartments are available to GCU student as well as a variety of Canyon dining dollar meal plans.
All residents commit to housing reservations as an academic year-long lease (both fall and spring semesters) and are charged for housing by the academic year (both fall and spring semesters).
All housing charges are billed to the student's account.
For payment methods and deadlines contact your university counselor or student services counselor.
All rates include parking (summer only), rent, water, electricity, basic cable and Internet. Rates above DO NOT include tax.
Meal plans for 2019-20 are Dining Dollars only; Meal Plan names describe Dining Dollar amount per semester.
Meal plans for 2018-19 are Dining Dollars only; Meal Plan names describe Dining Dollar amount per semester.


text:
Tales of My Green Lantern: The Back of The Flash Years (1972-76), Part 4
Columns, Comic Effect
Planetary #14: And Here's How It Really Happened
Big Two, Columns, DC Comics, The Full Run
Leading Questions: The Image Revolution Has Been Televised
Columns, Image, Indie, Leading Question
Dexter 7.09 "Helter Skelter" & 7.10 "The Dark... Whatever"
Audio Interview: Mike Tyson on Donald Trump, Emotional Growth and Mysteries
Audio Interview, Interviews
Blood-Sucking in the '70s: Morbius the Living Vampire, Steve Gerber and Existential Confusion
First Look at Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance #1
Boom! Studios, News, Press Release, Previews
Pénélope Bagieu is California Dreamin'
James Asmus Teaches You How To Rob Banks And Charm Strange Women
James Asmus has written some of the very most fun X-Men stories of the past few years, whether he's interrogating Wolverine in a urinal or exploring Beast's MySpace page. The positive fan reaction has led him to writing the much-missed Generation Hope series for Marvel, and his newest X-Project — Gambit. Not only will he be writing about the Cajun thief for Marvel however, because he was also recently announced to be the next writer to step into Robert Kirkman's Thief of Thieves universe, and will handle the heist series' second arc.
If you want to know how to crack open a safe or rob a bank, he's the first man you should turn to. The very first! I spoke to him about both of his new titles and later realised he'd stolen my watch.
Steve Morris for Comics Bulletin: So, hey… why GAMBIT? Of all the Marvel heroes and antiheroes, why do you think Gambit is the one who captured the attention of fans?
James Asmus: I honestly think he's one of the few truly distinct, original characters to come out of mainstream comics in the last 30-odd years. Chris Claremont really threw in everything for the guy – charm, mystery, criminal tendencies, a unique power, and hallmark accessories like his bo staff, cards, and trench coat. There really is a ton of stuff in his character to draw from (which is a relief as a writer). But my favorite thing about him is that he's the rare antihero with a sense of humor. So you have all the fun of a morally unpredictable guy without all the 'grim and gritty' that so usually and predictably comes with antiheroes.
CB: Gambit is going back to his time as a thief for this series. What does he bring to the table, as a thief, which nobody else can match?
Asmus: Plenty. He was raised as a thief since his infancy – by thieves. His mutations also make him superhumanly agile. But the real ace up his sleeve (pun INTENDED) is that he's frankly so charming that he can almost get away with whatever he wants.
CB: Will he wear disguises? Adopt accents? How good is he at sneaking?
Asmus: Actually, these questions speak to something that's really in the forefront of my mind in planning this first year of the series. I believe Gambit is incredibly aware of his personas and is constantly trying to shift these things to his benefit. That's my take on his accent in general – he dials it up and down to charm people, lower their expectations of his intelligence, etc. And I'll also be having him use his public identity as "a superhero" as both cover and leverage as he goes about these more personal, and questionable adventures.
CB: Is the book going to be a straight-up caper series, or are you looking to move into different genres as the story progresses? Where do you see the long-term story taking the character?
Asmus: It's a caper / heist / crime series – as filtered through the Marvel Universe. That last bit is what excites me so much about the possibilities, and I try to declare the scope of what we hope to do in the first arc. By issue 4, we will have introduced pulp adventure, sci-fi, and superhero elements and flavors. This first year is meant to run throughout the Marvel U and mash-up the heist genre with all the crazy elements of these comics to hopefully make each feel fresh and exciting. My hope, in this first year, is to really play with how Gambit is perceived in the larger Marvel Universe given his widespread criminal and superhero connections. Those two personas are going to come into serious conflict.
CB: Gambit never really made any friends in the X-Men. Are they going to keep away, or will they crop up from time to time? Rogue and Storm and Sage are the only three Gambit-fans amongst their number, I'd suggest.
Asmus: You are far from the first to suggest Rogue. I've heard a few requests for Storm (and she's honestly the relationship I think has the more untapped potential). But for this first few arcs, my goal is build out his world and his experience – not simply revisit and rehash old stories. I want to make this book something exciting and fresh for the character in the way that I love Mark Waid's Daredevil or Jeff Lemire's Animal Man. (But sexier.)
The plan right now is to build out a new arc in Gambit's life before bringing in someone like Rogue. Any story I can tell will be much more meaningful for both characters and their relationship if you've actually changed something about his status quo. When you revisit someone important from your past – and you find they've changed from who you knew (and maybe want) them to be – that's the much more meaningful and provocative story to tell. Certainly better than – "oh, hey! Just saw you last week. Things still good?"
CB: Are you setting up a supporting cast? There are a few other known super-thieves in the Marvel universe…
Asmus: To start with, I created a new adversary and a new… complicated woman to introduce into Gambit's life. I know there are infinite number of characters being under-used in the Marvel Universe at any point in time – but we really wanted this book to be a fresh, surprising, and accessable. But after the first arc, we'll start mixing in established Marvel characters with our new ones. And I'm always open to suggestions – as long as you know the odds are low I'll get around to it.
CB: How much nudity can we expect in each issue?
Asmus: My editor Daniel [Ketchum] just told me that Gambit is apparently shirtless for exactly 20% of both issues 1 and 2! (Though butt shots are only in #1 so far.) So I have a good sense of what to shoot for in the future. I promise to balance that out with some lady eye candy, too. But for now, we're doing our part to balance out the other 99% of comics.
CB: You're also writing a rather different heist series, in the form of Thief of Thieves. What about the form of a heist most appeals to you?
Asmus: My question is – why does everyone think of me as a thief?? (Don't answer that.)
I can tell you that – while planning and researching the real-world stuff has been really cool reading – what I love about Thief of Thieves is actually the awesomely rich characters and dynamics that Robert Kirkman set up for this series. This book is to crime and heist genres what Walking Dead is to zombie horror. It's a surprisingly character-driven and infinitely rich approach to a genre that is often formulaic under other people's approach. Instead, Thieves has been continually exciting and inspiring to write. It's got probably the best cliffhangers I've ever written – every issue – and they're entirely earned and genuine game-changers. I can't recommend the book enough – even the bits I don't write!
CB: ng>Have you ever robbed an art gallery?
Asmus: …No? But I do end up plotting how I'd commit a "perfect robbery" at almost any place I have to wait in line for more than 2 minutes.
CB: How do you structure a heist, both in the unreal Marvel universe and the realistic Thief of Thieves world? Start at the end and work backwards?
Asmus: Much like the real world – it all depends on the job. But you definitely need to plan your exit strategy. I've been playing around with my approach. It is starting to seem like the best approach is to treat it like a mystery. I need to know the big payoff, and work backward to build all the clues, steps, and complications that best set that up.
I also believe strongly that almost no heist should go according to plan. Because the magic is in the character's improvisation.
CB: Thief of Thieves is a little bit like a thief version of Burn Notice, with the little tips it offers about how the trade works and what is required. Did you have to do a lot of research? Were there any tricks you found particularly interesting?
Asmus: I have been doing more research for this series than anything I've ever written! And honestly – tons of it is fascinating, but it's harder than I expected to find the information I'm looking for at any given point. I suppose I should be happy that there isn't more readily available information on how to disable high-end security systems. (There's no shortage of videos on how to break open cheap home safes – but that's not enough of a challenge for our heroes.)
The thing that's been really illuminating in all the information I've gotten is just how often successful thefts are based on people not activating their security measures. It's something Nick Spencer mentions in the first issue about cars – but it's true everywhere from home break-ins to jewellery stores. Career crooks (as opposed to desperate robberies) almost always wait around to find the place with little to no security – or just the bad habit of not arming the security / locks / etc. that are in place.
Asmus: NOT ENOUGH! There really wasn't any in Nick Spencer's first arc – so I wasn't sure what I could get away with.
CB: Is working with Robert Kirkman on this creator-run series piquing any interest in creating a series of your own?
Asmus: YES! I have been wanting do one (or 'several', actually) – but I've been held back thus far by how many other projects I have going and the up-front cost of paying a professional artist. I do finally have a very different miniseries written and half-drawn that I hope to announce in the next few months. Suffice it to say, it's a significant departure from what I've done in comics before. (And it might end up being a real niche audience thing.)*
CB: What was it like creating Psychonaut Librarians [a play! That's a thing you go to see in a theatre, fact-fans] with Crystal Skillman? She is completely nuts and amazing, was it basically impossible to keep up with her?
Asmus: Crystal is the best kind of crazy! She's got a wonderfully wild mind that out races me in a way that was really exciting and inspiring. We'd been talking for a while about the theater company I helped start in Chicago called The New Colony. They do a lot of kinetic, audience-engaging, "pop theatre" that serves as a really good fit with Crystal's totally modern style of writing. I wholly recommend knowing her – or at least, seeing her plays any chance you get!
And for those of you who never go see theater – you should know that there really are young people creating modern, exciting, and surprising plays in almost every major city. You should try and find out who they are in your town and SIGN UP FOR THEIR EMAIL LIST. The gods of culture and joy will be pleased. Your friends will think you're impossibly classy and in-the-know.
Oh yeah… but first, please contact your local comic shop about your desire to buy Gambit and Thief of Thieves.
*And no, it's not porn comix. 😛
You can find James at his blog, or on the Twitters. He recently met David Hasslehoff. Go have a look!
James AsmusSteve Morris
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Interview: Andy Nakatani and the Future of Weekly Shonen Jump
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