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Research Handbook on International Law and Social Rights
Convention of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference on Combating International Terrorism
dipublico 08/10/2010 Treaties 400 Vistas
The Member States of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference,
Pursuant to the tenets of the tolerant Islamic Sharia which reject all forms of violence and terrorism, and in particular specially those based on extremism and call for protection of human rights, which provisions are parallelled by the principles and rules of international law founded on cooperation between peoples for the establishment of peace;
Abiding by the lofty, moral and religious principles particularly the provisions of the Islamic Sharia as well as the human heritage of the Islamic Ummah.
Adhering to the Charter of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, its objectives and principles aimed at creating an appropriate atmosphere to strengthen cooperation and understanding among Islamic States as well as relevant OIC resolutions;
Adhering to the principles of International Law and the United Nations Charter as well as all relevant UN resolutions on procedures aimed at eliminating international terrorism, and all other conventions and international instruments to which states acceding to this Convention are parties and which call, inter alia, for the observance of the sovereignty, stability, territorial integrity, political independence and security of states, and non-intervention in their international affairs;
Proceeding from the rules of the Code of Conduct of the Organization of Islamic Conference for Combating International Terrorism;
Desiring to promote cooperation among them for combating terrorist crimes that threaten the security and stability of the Islamic States and endanger their vital interests;
Being committed to combating all forms and manifestations of terrorism and eliminating its objectives and causes which target the lives and properties of people;
Confirming the legitimacy of the right of peoples to struggle against foreign occupation and colonialist and racist regimes by all means, including armed struggle to liberate their territories and attain their rights to self-determination and independence in compliance with the purposes and principles of the Charter and resolutions of the United Nations;
Believing that terrorism constitutes a gross violation of human rights, in particular the right to freedom and security, as well as an obstacle to the free functioning of institutions and socio-economic development, as it aims at destabilizing States;
Convinced that terrorism cannot be justified in any way, and that it should therefore be unambiguously condemned in all its forms and manifestations, and all its actions, means and practices, whatever its origin, causes or purposes, including direct or indirect actions of States;
Recognizing the growing links between terrorism and organized crime, including illicit trafficking in arms, narcotics, human beings and money laundering;
Have agreed to conclude this Convention, calling on all Member States of the Organization of the Islamic Conference to accede to it.
Part I: Definition and General Provisions
"Contracting State" or "Contracting Party" means every Member State in the Organisation of the Islamic Conference that has ratified or adhered to this Convention and deposited its instruments of ratification or adherence with the General Secretariat of the Organisation.
"Terrorism" means any act of violence or threat thereof notwithstanding its motives or intentions perpetrated to carry out an individual or collective criminal plan with the aim of terrorizing people or threatening to harm them or imperiling their lives, honour, freedoms, security or rights or exposing the environment or any facility or public or private property to hazards or occupying or seizing them, or endangering a national resource, or international facilities, or threatening the stability, territorial integrity, political unity or sovereignty of independent States.
"Terrorist Crime" means any crime executed, started or participated in to realize a terrorist objective in any of the Contracting States or against its nationals, assets or interests or foreign facilities and nationals residing in its territory punishable by its internal law.
Crimes stipulated in the following conventions are also considered terrorist crimes with the exception of those excluded by the legislations of Contracting States or those who have not ratified them:
Convention on "Offences and Other Acts Committed on Board of Aircrafts" (Tokyo, 14.9.1963).
Convention on "Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft" (The Hague, 16.12.1970).
Convention on "Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation" signed at Montreal on 23.9.1971 and its Protocol (Montreal, 10.12.1984).
Convention on the "Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Persons Enjoying International Immunity, Including Diplomatic Agents" (New York, 14.12.1973).
International Convention Against the Taking of Hostages (New York, 1979).
The United Nations Law of the Sea Convention of 1988 and its related provisions on piracy at sea.
Convention on the "Physical Protection of Nuclear Material" (Vienna, 1979).
Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts of Violence at Airports Serving International Civil Aviation-Supplementary to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation (Montreal, 1988).
Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Fixed Platforms on the Continental Shelf (Rome, 1988).
Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (Rome, 1988).
International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings (New York, 1997).
Convention on the Marking of Plastic Explosives for the purposes of Detection (Montreal, 1991)
a. Peoples' struggle including armed struggle against foreign occupation, aggression, colonialism, and hegemony, aimed at liberation and self-determination in accordance with the principles of international law shall not be considered a terrorist crime.
b. None of the terrorist crimes mentioned in the previous article shall be considered political crimes.
c. In the implementation of the provisions of this Convention the following crimes shall not be considered political crimes even when politically motivated:
Aggression against kings and heads of state of Contracting States or against their spouses, their ascendants or descendants.
Aggression against crown princes or vice-presidents or deputy heads of government or ministers in any of the Contracting States.
Aggression against persons enjoying international immunity including Ambassadors and diplomats in Contracting States or in countries of accreditation.
Murder or robbery by force against individuals or authorities or means of transport and communications.
Acts of sabotage and destruction of public properties and properties geared for public services, even if belonging to another Contracting State.
Crimes of manufacturing, smuggling or possessing arms and ammunition or explosives or other materials prepared for committing terrorist crimes.
d. All forms of international crimes, including illegal trafficking in narcotics and human beings money laundering aimed at financing terrorist objectives shall be considered terrorist crimes.
Part II: Foundations of Islamic Cooperation for Combating Terrorism
Chapter I: In the Field of Security
Division I: Measures to Prevent and Combat Terrorist Crimes.
I. The Contracting States are committed not to execute, initiate or participate in any form in organizing or financing or committing or instigating or supporting terrorist acts whether directly or indirectly.
II. Committed to prevent and combat terrorist crimes in conformity with the provisions of this Convention and their respective domestic rules and regulations the contracting States shall see to:
(A) Preventive Measures:
Barring their territories from being used as an arena for planning, organizing, executing terrorist crimes or initiating or participating in these crimes in any form; including preventing the infiltration of terrorist elements or their gaining refuge or residence therein individually or collectively, or receiving hosting, training, arming, financing or extending any facilities to them.
Cooperating and coordinating with the rest of the Contracting States, particularly neighbouring countries which suffer from similar or common terrorist crimes.
Developing and strengthening systems relating to detecting transportation, importing, exporting stockpiling, and using of weapons, ammunition and explosives as well as other means of aggression, killing and destruction in addition to strengthening trans-border and custom controls in order to intercept their transfer from one Contracting State to another or to other States unless they are intended for specific legitimate purposes.
Developing and strengthening systems related to surveillance procedures, securing borders, and land, sea and air passages in order to prevent infiltration through them.
Strengthening systems for ensuring the safety and protection of personalities, vital installations and means of public transport
Re-enforcing protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular persons and missions; and regional and international organizations accredited in the Contracting State in accordance with the conventions and rules of international law which govern this subject.
Promoting security intelligence activities and coordinating them with the intelligence activities of each Contracting State pursuant to their respective intelligence policies, aimed at exposing the objectives of terrorist groups and organisations, thwarting their designs and revealing the extent of their danger to security and stability.
Establishing a data base by each Contracting State to collect and analyze data on terrorist elements, groups, movements and organizations and monitor developments of the phenomenon of terrorism and successful experiences in combating it. Moreover, the Contracting State shall update this information and exchange them with competent authorities in
other Contracting States within the limits of the laws and regulations in every State.
(B) Combating Measures:
Arresting perpetrators of terrorists crimes and prosecuting them according to the national law or extraditing them in accordance with the provisions of this Convention or existing Conventions between the requesting and requested States.
Ensuring effective protection of persons working in the field of criminal justice as well as to witnesses and investigators.
Ensuring effective protection of information sources and witnesses on terrorist crimes.
Extending necessary assistance to victims of terrorism.
Establishing effective cooperation between the concerned organs in the contracting States and the citizens for combating terrorism including extending appropriate guarantees and appropriate incentives to encourage informing on terrorist acts and submitting information to help uncover them and cooperating in arresting the perpetrators.
Division II: Areas of Islamic cooperation for preventing and combating terrorist crimes.
Contracting States shall cooperate among themselves to prevent and combat terrorist crimes in accordance with the respective laws and regulations of each State in the following areas:
First: Exchange of Information
Contracting States shall undertake to promote exchange of information among them as such regarding:
Activities and crimes committed by terrorist groups, their leaders, their elements, their headquarters, training, means and sources that provide finance and weapons, types of arms, ammunition and explosives utilized as well as other ways and means to attack, kill and destroy.
Means of communications and propaganda utilized by terrorist groups, how they act, movement of their leaders, their elements and their travel documents.
Contracting States shall expeditiously inform any other Contracting State regarding available information about any terrorist crime perpetrated in its territory aimed at undermining the interests of that State or its nationals and to state the facts surrounding the crime in terms of its circumstances, criminals involved, victims, losses, devices and methods utilized to carry out the crime, without prejudicing investigation and inquiry requisites.
Contracting States shall exchange information with the other Parties to combat terrorist crimes and to inform the Contracting State or other States of all available information or data that could prevent terrorist crimes within its territory or against its nationals or residents or interests.
The Contracting States shall provide any other Contracting State with available information or data that will
Assist in arresting those accused of committing a terrorist crime against the interests of that country or being implicated in such acts either by assistance, collusion, instigation, or financing.
Contribute to confiscating any arms, weapons, explosives, devices or funds spent or meant to be spent to commit a terrorist crime.
The Contracting States undertake to respect the confidentiality of information exchanged between them and shall refrain from passing it to any non-Contracting States or other parties without prior consent of the source country.
Second: Investigation
Each Contracting State pledges to promote cooperation with other contracting states and to extend assistance in the field of investigation procedures in terms of arresting escaped suspects or those convicted for terrorist crimes in accordance with the laws and regulations of each country.
Third: Exchange of Expertise
Contracting States shall cooperate with each other to undertake and exchange studies and researches on combating terrorist crimes as well as exchange of expertise in this field.
Contracting States shall cooperate within the scope of their capabilities to provide available technical assistance for preparing programmes or holding joint training sessions with one or more Contracting State if the need arises for personnel required in the field of combating terrorism in order to improve their scientific and practical potential and upgrade their performance standards.
Fourth: Education and Information Field
The Contracting States shall cooperate in:
Promoting information activities and supporting the mass media in order to confront the vicious campaign against Islam, by projecting the true image of tolerance of Islam, and exposing the designs and danger of terrorist groups against the stability and security of Islamic States.
Including the noble human values, which proscribe the practice of terrorism in the educational curricula of Contracting States.
Supporting efforts aimed at keeping abreast of the age by introducing an advanced Islamic thought based on ijtihad by which Islam is distinguished.
Chapter II: In the Judicial Field
Section I: Extraditing Criminals.
Contracting States shall undertake to extradite those indicted or convicted of terrorist crimes, requested for extradition by any of these countries in compliance with the rules and conditions stipulated in this Convention.
Extradition shall not be permissible in the following cases:
If the Crime for which extradition is requested is deemed by the laws enforced in the requested Contracting State as one of a political nature and without prejudice to the provisions of Article 2, paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Convention for which extradition is requested.
If the Crime for which extradition is sought relates solely to a dereliction of military obligations.
If the Crime for which extradition is requested, was committed in the territory of the requested Contracting State, unless this crime has undermined the interests of the requesting Contracting State and its laws stipulate that the perpetrators of those crimes shall be prosecuted and punished providing that the requested country has not commenced investigation or trial.
If the Crime has been the subject of a final sentence which has the force of law in the requested Contracting State.
If the action at the time of the extradition request elapsed or the penalty prescribed in accordance with the law in the Contacting State requesting extradition.
Crimes committed outside the territory of the requesting Contracting State by a person who was not its national and the law of the requested Contracting State does not prosecute such a crime if perpetrated outside its territory by such a person.
If pardon was granted and included the perpetrators of these crimes in the requesting Contracting State.
If the legal system of the requested State does not permit extradition of its national, then it shall be obliged to prosecute whosoever commits a terrorist crime if the act is punishable in both States by a freedom restraining sentence for a minimum period of one year or more. The nationality of the person requested for extradition shall be determined according to the date of the crime taking into account the investigation undertaken in this respect by the requesting State.
If the person requested for extradition is under investigation or trial for another crime in the requested State, his extradition shall be postponed until the investigation is disposed of or the trial is over and the punishment implemented. In this case, the requested State shall extradite him provisionally for investigation or trial on condition that he shall be returned to it before execution of the sentence issued in the requested State.
For the purpose of extraditing crime perpetrators according to this Convention, the domestic legislations of Contracting States shall not have any bearing as to their differences with respect to the crime being classified as a felony or misdemeanor, nor as to the penalty prescribed for it.
Section II: Rogatory Commission.
Each Contracting State shall request from any other Contracting State to undertake in its territory rogatory action with respect to any judicial procedures concerning an action involving a terrorist crime and in particular:
To hear witnesses and testimonies taken as evidence.
To communicate legal documents.
To implement inquiry and detention procedures.
To undertake on the scene inspection and analyse evidence.
To obtain necessary evidence or documents or records or their certified copies.
Each Contracting State shall implement rogatory commissions related to terrorist crimes and may reject the request for implementation with respect to the following cases.
If the crime for which the request is made, is the subject of a charge, investigation or trial in the country requested to implement rogatory commission.
If the implementation of the request prejudices the sovereignty or the security or public order of the country charged with this mission.
The request for rogatory mission shall be implemented promptly in accordance with the provisions of the domestic laws of the requested State and which may postpone its implementation until its investigation and prosecution procedures are completed on the same subject or until the compelling reasons that called for postponement are removed. In this case the requesting State shall be informed of this postponement.
The request for a rogatory commission related to a terrorist crime shall not be refused on the grounds of the rule of transaction confidentiality for banks and financial institutions. And in the implementation of the request the rules of the enforcing State are to be followed.
The procedure, undertaken through rogatory commission in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, shall have the same legal effect as if it was brought before the competent authority in the State requesting rogatory commission. The results of its implementation shall only be utilized within the scope of the rogatory commission.
Section 3: Judicial Cooperation.
Each Contracting State shall extend to the other contracting parties every possible assistance as may be necessary for investigation or trial proceedings related to terrorist crimes.
If judicial competence accrues to one of the Contracting States for the prosecution of a subject accused of a terrorist crime, this State may request the country which hosts the suspect to prosecute him for this crime subject to the host country's consent and providing the crime is punishable in that country by a freedom restraining sentence for at least one year or by a more severe sanction. In such a case the requesting State shall pass all investigation documents and evidence related to the crime to the requested State.
Investigation or trial shall be conducted on the grounds of the case or cases brought by the requesting State against the accused in accordance with the legal provisions and procedures of the country holding the trial.
The request for trial on the basis of para (1) of the previous article, entails the suspension of procedures of prosecution, investigation and trial in the territory of the requesting State except those relating to the requisites of cooperation, assistance or rogatory commission sought by the State requested to hold the trial procedures.
Procedures undertaken in either of the two States – the requesting State or the one where the trial is held – shall be subject to the law of the country where the procedure is executed and which shall have legal preeminence as may be stipulated in its legislation.
The requesting State shall not bring to trial or retrial the accused subject unless the requested State refuses to prosecute him.
In all cases the State requested to hold trial shall inform the requesting country of its action with respect to the request for trial and shall communicate to it the results of its investigations or trial proceedings.
The State requested to hold trial may undertake all measures and procedures stipulated by its legislation regarding the accused both before and after the request for trial is received.
Section 4: Seized Assets and Proceeds of the Crime.
If the extradition of a subject is decided, the Contracting State shall hand over to the requesting State the assets and proceeds seized, used or related to the terrorist crime, found in the possession of the wanted subject or with a third party.
The State requested to hand over the assets and proceeds may undertake all necessary custodial measures and procedures for the implementation of its obligation. It may also retain them provisionally if required for penal action implemented therein or hand them to the requesting State on condition that they shall be returned for the same purpose.
Section 5: Exchange of Evidence.
A Contracting State shall see to it that the evidence and effects of any terrorist crime committed on its territory against another Contracting State are examined by its competent organs and may seek assistance to that end from any other Contracting State. Moreover, it shall take every necessary step to safeguard the evidence and proof of their legal relevance. It may communicate, if requested, the result to the country whose interest were targeted by the crime. The State or States which have assisted in this case shall not pass this information to others.
PART III: Mechanism for Implementing Cooperation
Chapter I: Extradition Procedures
The exchange of extradition requests between Contracting States shall be undertaken directly through diplomatic channels or through their Ministries of Justice or their substitute.
A request for extradition shall be submitted in writing and shall include:
The original or an authenticated copy of the indictment, arrest order or any other instruments of identical weight issued in line with the conditions stipulated in the requesting State's legislation.
A statement of the acts for which extradition is sought specifying the dates and places, where these acts were committed and their legal implications along with reference to the legal articles under which they fall as well as a copy of these articles.
Description, in as much detail as possible, of the subject wanted for extradition and any other information such as to determine his identity and nationality.
The judicial authorities in the requesting State may approach the requested State by any channel of written communication and seek the preventive arrest of the wanted subject pending the arrival of the extradition request.
In this case the requested State may effect the preventive arrest of the wanted subject. However, if the request for extradition is not submitted together with the necessary documents listed in the above article, the subject whose extradition is sought may not be detained for more than thirty days as of the day of his arrest.
The requesting State shall send a request together with the documents listed in Article 24 of this Convention. If the requested State accepts the request as valid, its competent authorities shall implement it in accordance with its legislation and shall promptly notify the requesting State of the action undertaken.
In all cases stipulated in the two articles above, preventive detention shall not exceed sixty days after the date of arrest.
Temporary release may be effected during the period stipulated in the previous article and the requested State shall take appropriate measures to ensure that the wanted subject does not escape.
Release shall not prevent the re-arrest of the subject and his extradition if it was requested after his release.
If the requested State requires additional clarification to ascertain the conditions stipulated in this chapter, it shall notify the requesting State thereof and fix a date for provision of such clarifications.
If the requested State received a number of extradition requests from various countries related to the same or diverse acts, this State shall decide upon these requests bearing in mind the circumstances and in particular the possibility of subsequent extradition, date of receiving the requests, degree of the danger of the crime and where it was committed.
Chapter II: Measures for Rogatory Commissions
Rogatory Commission requests must specify the following:
The competent authority that issued the request.
Subject of the request and its reason.
The identity and nationality of the person being the subject of the rogatory commission (as may be possible).
Information on the crime requiring rogatory commission, its legal definition and penalty inflicted on its perpetrators along with maximum available information on its circumstances in order to ensure the efficient implementation of the rogatory commission.
The request for rogatory commission shall be forwarded by the Ministry of Justice in the requesting State to the Ministry of Justice in the requested State and returned in the same way.
In case of expediency, the request for rogatory commission shall be directly forwarded by the judicial authorities in the requesting State to the judicial authorities in the requested State. A copy of this rogatory commission shall also be sent at the same time to the Ministry of Justice in the requested State. The rogatory commission shall be returned together with the papers concerning its implementation in the way stipulated in the previous item.
The request for rogatory commission may be forwarded directly from the judicial authorities to the competent authority in the requested country. Answers may be sent directly through the said authority.
Requests for rogatory commission and accompanying documents shall be signed or stamped with the seal of a competent authority or that authorized by it. These documents shall be exempted from all formal procedures that could be required by the legislation of the requested State.
If the authority that received the request for rogatory commission was not competent enough to deal with it, it shall automatically transfer it to the competent authority in its country. If the request is forwarded directly the answer shall reach the requesting State in the same manner.
Any refusal for rogatory commission shall be explained.
Chapter III: Measures for Protecting Witnesses and Experts
If the requesting State deems that the appearance of the witness or expert before its judicial authorities is of special importance, reference thereto shall be made in its request. The request or summons shall include an approximate statement in terms of compensation, travel expenses, accommodation and commitment to make these payments. The requested State shall invite the witness or expert and inform the requesting State about his/her reply.
No penalty nor coercive measure may be inflicted upon the witness or expert who does not comply with the summons even if the writ provides for such a penalty.
If the witness or expert arrives voluntarily to the territory of the requesting State, he shall be summoned according to the provisions of the internal legislation of this State.
A witness or expert may not be subjected to trial, detained or have his freedom restricted in the territory of the requesting State, for acts or court rulings that preceded his departure for the requesting State, irrespective of his nationality, as long as his appearance before the judicial authorities of the said State is based on a summons.
No witness or expert, whatever his nationality, appearing before the judiciary of the State in question on the basis of a summons, may be prosecuted or detained or have his freedom restricted in any way on the requesting State's territory for other acts or court decisions not mentioned in the summons and predating his departure from the State from which he is requested.
The immunity privileges stated in this Article shall become invalid if a witness or expert remains on the requesting State's territories for over thirty consecutive days despite his ability to return once his presence was no longer requested by the judiciary, or if he returns to the requesting State's territories after his departure.
To ensure confidentiality of the date and place of his arrival as well as the means involved.
To ensure confidentiality of his accommodation, movements and locations where he may be found.
To ensure confidentiality of the testimony and information given to the competent judicial authorities.
The requesting State shall undertake all necessary measures to ensure the protection of a witness or expert from publicity that could endanger him, his family or his property as a result of his testimony and in particular:
The requesting State shall provide necessary security required by the condition of the witness or expert and of his family, and circumstances of the case and types of expected risks.
If the witness or expert refuses.
If his presence is necessary for undertaking criminal procedures in the territory of the requested State.
If his transfer would prolong his imprisonment.
If there are considerations militating against his transfer.
If the witness or expert who is summoned to the requesting State is imprisoned in the requested State, he shall be provisionally transferred to the location of the hearing at which he is to testify according to conditions and times determined by the requested StateTransfer may be denied:
The transferred witness or expert shall remain in detention in the territory of the requesting State until he is repatriated to the requested Tate unless the latter requests his release.
PART IV: Final Provisions
This Convention shall be ratified, or adhered to, by the Signatory States and the instruments of ratification or accession shall be deposited with the General Secretariat of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference not exceeding a period of thirty days as of the date of ratification or accession. The General Secretariat shall inform all Member States about any deposition and date of such instruments.
This Convention shall enter into force thirty days after the deposit of the seventh instrument of ratification or accession at the OIC General Secretariat.
This Convention shall not be applicable to any other Islamic State until it deposits its instruments of ratification or accession with the General Secretariat of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and after a period of thirty days of the date of deposition.
It is not permissible for any Contracting State to make any reservation, explicitly or implicitly in conflict with the provisions of this Convention or deviating from its objectives.
A Contracting State shall not withdraw from this Convention except by a written request to the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
Withdrawal shall be affective six months after the date of sending the request to the Secretary General.
This Convention has been written in English, Arabic and French of equal authenticity, of one original deposited with the General Secretariat of the Organization of the Islamic Conference which shall have it registered at the United Nations Organization, in accordance with the provisions of Article 102 of its Charter. The General Secretariat shall communicate approved copies thereof to the Member States of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
TagsContracting State Contracting States General Secretariat Member States
Anterior Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism
Siguiente Agreement on the Implementation of the Seabed Provisions of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea
The Dickenson Bay Agreement (Agreement Establishing The Caribbean Free Trade Association)
The Jay Treaty – November 19, 1794
Declaration regarding the defeat of Germany and the assumption of supreme authority with respect to Germany by the Governments of the United States of America, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom and the Provisional Government of the French Republic. June 5, 1945
European Journal of International Law – Volume 30, Issue 3, August 2019
European Journal of International Law Volume 30, Issue 3, August 2019 ISSN: 0938-5428, EISSN: 1464-3596 …


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Everyone wants to exceed customer expectations, maybe it's time to modernize your methods.
A few years back I was part a global account team and we were failing with a Fortune 100 client. We tried everything: we looked at all of their business requirements and then went above and beyond. We proved ROI. We answered all the questions, we even flew out multiple times for extra meetings. And still, the customer left and switched service providers. They were not committed to us. We later learned, that while we did satisfy their needs, we didn't make it easy.
Losing partnerships and business relationships is expensive and hurts all sides. Finding a new vendor or supplier is hard work while gaining new clients takes time, and both sides must use tremendous amounts of resources.
The best way to prevent churn is to create loyalty. Obviously. But how do you create ultimate loyalty? That is the million dollar question.
There are many ways to look at loyalty, and every industry will have different metrics and values, yet there is one way that is very wrong.
It is counterintuitive for most business leaders — you do not want to exceed your customer's expectations.
According to research performed by Matthew Dixon, Karen Freeman, and Nick Toman, from CEB/Gartner, they found that when trying to please a customer companies often focus on exceeding customer expectations by giving away free services, extending payment terms, offering free products, or refunding a customer – and the results are not what you would expect. The customers reported that their loyalty is only slightly higher than if the vendor would just meet or satisfy their needs, rather than trying to exceed them.
The extra effort is usually wasted.
Most sales and customer success leaders try so hard to keep customers satisfied, often by using the vague term: "exceeding expectations," but meeting expectations does not equal customer loyalty.
The experts from Gartner also found that when sales and customer success representatives focus on exceeding customer expectations they end up creating confusion and unnecessary expenses for both parties along with wasted effort and time.
Easy should mean different things in different industries. Yet, if you can answer these questions positively, you know you are on the right track.
Is it easy to buy from you?
Is it easy to solve problems with your team?
Is it is easy to share information?
Is it is easy to manage projects together?
Basically, does every interaction feel easy?
To truly make it easy, you need to be customer focused, you need to understand them, their needs, and their business environment. And more than just the knowledge, you have to care enough to change how you run your business so that the life of your customer is easier.
Making it easy is tangible. If your team is focusing every action they take on "making it easy", then the results will be a better experience for the client.
If you are reducing the effort your clients need to put forth to work with you, you will create true loyalty.
No one ever lost a loyal client. People want to do business with those who make their life easy. If you can make it easy for all users, especially decision makers to work with you, then you will be able to create stronger loyalty and reduce churn.
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Stuart, Jill & Pete Briscoe
The Lambs Versus The Wolves - One Year Devotions for Men - August 30
"Go now, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves." - Luke 10:3
In the professional sports world we have the Bears, the Lions, the Jaguars, the Rams—but never the Squirrels or the Lambs. There is something muscular, aggressive, and intimidating about the former—those names command respect. But a sports team named the Squirrels or the Lambs would generate pity and concern and laughter.
The people of Jesus' time weren't into professional sports, but they still had an aggressive side and did not hesitate to impose their wills, like bears and lions, on others. This, however, did not concern Jesus. He frankly said that, as far as his men were concerned, they were about to be commissioned "as lambs among wolves" (Luke 10:3). His team of witnesses was not called the Capernaum Cheetahs or the Jerusalem Jaguars. They were the Lambs, and their opponents in the first round were the Wolves. "No contest," you say. "If it was a prize fight, the referees would stop it in the first round!"
But Jesus knew better. Lambs they were to be, and wolves their opponents certainly were. But the difference was found in the statement, "I am sending you" (10:3). The secret of effective Christian ministry is not found in the extraordinary abilities of those who are sent, but rather in the sovereign authority of the one who sends. Without his sending, the seventy-two would never have ventured forth. And without the assurance, "I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy" (10:19), the Lambs would never have taken the field. But they did! And what was the final score? Lambs 72, Wolves 0.
Jesus was the one who "chose" the seventy-two (10:1). He himself is the "Lord who is in charge of the harvest" (10:2). He is the one to whom the disciples should "pray" (10:2). He, and he alone, can adequately "send" people where they need to go to do what they must do. He is the one who gives instructions on the behavior of disciples, on ministry techniques, on the solemnity of the occasion, and on the urgency of the hour. It is to him that tired but excited disciples return, and it is from him that they hear the words, "Don't rejoice just because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered as citizens of heaven" (10:20).
What, then, is the role of those who are sent out by Jesus? It is to be willing to be propelled into the action—against all odds, sometimes against better judgment, and occasionally against concerted advice. Then their job is to proclaim—to let people know about Jesus and his kingdom. Their role is also to pray for reinforcements! Finally, they are to persevere. This way, the Lambs will rout the Wolves every time!
For Further Study: Luke 10:1-20
Excerpted from The One Year Devotions for Men, Copyright ©2000 by Stuart Briscoe. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
For more from Stuart Briscoe, please visit tellingthetruth.org.
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About Telling the Truth
Telling the Truth exists to make available sound biblical teaching, practically applied, with a view to producing lives that glorify God and draw people to Christ. The whole of our ministry is to encourage, console, strengthen, teach, and train.
About Stuart, Jill & Pete Briscoe
Stuart Briscoe uses wit and intellect to target your heart, capture your attention and challenge you to grow! You will find his logic compelling as he brings a fresh, practical perspective to the Scriptures. Born in England, Stuart left a career in banking to enter the ministry full time. He has written more than 50 books, received three honorary doctorates and preached in more than one hundred countries. He was senior pastor of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for thirty years, and currently serves as minister-at-large.
Jill Briscoe was born in England and found Christ when she was 18 years old. She never looked back. Upon graduating from Cambridge University, she began working as a teacher by day and had a vigorous street ministry to the youths of Liverpool by night.
She met Stuart at a youth conference and they married in 1958. In the 50 years since, Jill has become a highly sought-after Bible teacher and author who travels around the world ministering to under-resourced churches and speaking at international seminars and conferences. Since 2000, she and Stuart, who was formerly senior pastor of Elmbrook Church for 30 years, have had the joy of equipping and encouraging believers across the globe in their roles as ministers-at-large for Elmbrook.
Jill has authored more than 40 books including devotionals, study guides, poetry and children's books. Her vivid, relational teaching style touches the emotions and stirs the heart. She serves as Executive Editor of Just Between Us, a magazine of encouragement for ministry wives and women in leadership, and served on the board of World Relief and Christianity Today, Inc., for over 20 years.
Jill and Stuart call suburban Milwaukee, Wisconsin their home. When they are not traveling, they spend time with their three children, David, Judy and Peter, and thirteen grandchildren.
Pete Briscoe leads Telling the Truth, a multi-faceted media ministry he shares with his parents Stuart and Jill Briscoe, broadcasting Bible teaching across the United States on more than 500 radio stations and across the world on the internet and Sirius XM Satellite Radio, to help more people come to know Christ and experience fullness of life in Him. Pete also served as senior pastor of Bent Tree Bible Fellowship in Carrollton, Texas for nearly 30 years after completing his seminary training at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Pete and his wife, Libby, have three adult children and find great joy in experiencing the Life of Christ each day
Contact Telling the Truth with Stuart, Jill & Pete Briscoe
E-mail: info@tellingthetruth.org
Website: https://www.tellingthetruth.org
450 N Sunny Slope Rd Ste 275
KT9 9DA

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Add onion, ginger, cumin, turmeric, red peppers, and garlic.
Add cauliflower and tomatoes; saute 1 minute.
Stir in water and lentils; bring to a boil.
Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 35 minutes or until lentils are tender.
Stir in lime juice, cilantro, and salt.
Serve 1 cup lentil mixture with 1 cup rice.


Oct. 5, 2016 3:34 p.m.
A concert presented by the Central Alberta Prostate Awareness & Support Group is slated for Oct. 14th at Festival Hall.
Awareness Musicale begins at 7 p.m. and will feature performances by Lloyd Griffiths, Ray Baird, Maurice Paul, Gordon Ross and Visions Country Gospel. There will also be a silent auction.
Tickets ($20 each) are available by calling 403-391-9022, or they can be purchased at 53rd Street Music.
"We have some really talented people in our group who have survived prostate cancer," said Bert Lougheed, one of the event's organizers, of several of the guys slated to perform. "We also have Visions Country Gospel which is wonderful – Visions supports us and they have for years.
The Red Deer Prostate Cancer Support Group (Prostate Cancer Canada Network – local chapter) has been lending a supportive hand for many years now.
"We have two goals with our group – the number one goal is to raise awareness," he said, adding they also aim to raise funds for prostate cancer research and support for those fighting it via the Awareness Musicale.
"An awful lot of guys still don't understand much about prostate cancer," he said, adding that over the years, however, awareness has increased through initiatives like the global fundraising event dubbed 'Movember'.
"Our goal is also to support guys who have been diagnosed – to help them out," he said. "It's a pretty tough thing when you go in and see the doctor and he says, 'Well, your tests are positive – you have prostate cancer,'" he said.
Back in the late 1990s, Lougheed was himself diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Low-dose seed implant brachytherapy is usually recommended to men with lower grade cancers that are contained within the prostate gland. Between 80 and 100 radioactive seeds are implanted into the prostate.
Each seed releases low-energy level radiation steadily over several months.
As for the support group, it was first launched by Bill Martynes and Mike Eckenswiller about 19 years ago, with help from Marg Scheyen of the Canadian Cancer Society.
The group is an informal get-together, where men share stories about their experiences with prostate cancer. The meetings are open to anyone who is interested, and there is no expectation of commitment.
"We say to the new guys, you are welcome to just listen. You can ask anybody any questions that you like or you can just listen – you don't have to tell us a thing," he said, adding most men opt to share their stories right off the bat. "It's totally open." Wives and partners of the men are also welcome at the meetings. About every third meeting, the women meet in a separate room to discuss things that might not otherwise come up in the regular meetings.
The men also have a coffee group that meets every Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the restaurant at the Black Knight Inn.
Anyone interested in more information about the group can contact Bert at 403-343-3808 or Bill at 403-342-0694.


ART IS BEAUTY: Antique Round Pedestal Table and Mismatched Chair Makeover.
Antique Round Pedestal Table and Mismatched Chair Makeover.
I have a quick little makeover for you today.
but I managed to quick work a small project in.
I am going to show you how I made over this Antique Round Pedestal Table and Mismatched Chair.
I picked up this table at goodwill for about 40 bucks.
It was in pretty good shape but the legs that aren't showing had some significant damage.
I knew I wanted to keep the top just because I love the old wood and it was in great shape so I decided to pick a color that would compliment the wood color.
I chose General Finishes Charleton Blue for the base of the table and the chairs.
I had picked up this pretty fabric for another project and I just loved it and the color went with it perfectly.
I painted the base of the table and the chairs and recovered the seats.
I can't believe what a difference painting those old beat up ugly chairs made.
After painting the base and the chairs it brought this miss matched set all together.
The table got to keep a bit of its character and age with the original top and the base got a nice clean coat of paint. I love how it all came together.
I still can't believe this is the same set.
Now I have to get back to running around like a chicken with its head cut off as I get ready for my daughters graduation..Oh and did I mention all 4 of my kids have had STREP within the last week..???
Its been fun times here at the Art is Beauty house!


If there's one accessory that is very important with the kind of temperature we have in Manila; that is wearing sunglasses. Nowadays, sunglasses come in accessible and affordable depending on your budget, preference and face shape. Yes, major consideration when buying a new pair of eyewear is the shape of your face.
So, what are the different types of faces?
To better give you a reference on what I am talking about, here's a diagram and visual aid.


text:
Many Former Bernie Staffers Eager for 2020
Heather Gautney, Executive Director at Our Revolution and author of Crashing the Party: From the Bernie Sanders Campaign to a Progressive Movement, refutes the largely baseless assertions in Politico that Sanders 2016 backers are unenthusiastic about a potential 2020 run.
Source: Gage Skidmore
Politico's Alex Thompson published an essay this week based on interviews with a handful of the Senator's former staffers. In it, he argues that "many Bernie backers aren't feeling" a Bernie 2020 presidential run.
This Bernie backer IS feeling it. And the tens of millions of Americans interested in getting big money out of politics and making sure that every person in this country has quality health care and education, a dignified retirement, and a planet that's habitable for future generations, are feeling it too.
As a sociologist, I'm disturbed that a professional journalist like Thompson would draw such a dramatic conclusion based on a few interviews. In my trade, scientific methods like random samples are used to ensure that conclusions have validity. This article lacks that rigor.
Politics is full of people who jump from campaign to campaign, trying to bet on a winning horse. Unlike any other politician today, Sanders has amassed an expansive base that is loyal to him, and more importantly, his agenda. He is not a typical politician — he the catalyst of a social movement.
Had Thompson cast a wider net, he may have found hundreds of thousands of members of Our Revolution — the political organization that Sanders himself inspired — already activated for a possible run. He might have interviewed the hundreds of candidates — like Ben Jealous, Christine Pellegrino, and Jovanka Beckles — who Sanders has helped to cultivate and inspire to run, many for the first time.
He might have tallied the tens of millions of Sanders' engaged social media followers, the hundreds of thousands who attend his rallies, and the lion's share of people living in my home state of Vermont — not to mention the tens of millions who voted for him in 2016 and who volunteered for his campaign.
Bernie Sanders is the most popular politician in the country. His premier policies, like tuition-free college and Medicare for All, are increasingly popular among a majority of Americans, including Republicans. Why should we take the opinions of a handful of former staffers and consultants as an indication of the views of the many? We shouldn't.
Worse than Thompson's methodological weakness is the blatant prejudice against Sanders on the basis of age, gender and race — a favorite tactic of establishment Democrats.
Our Revolution's President, Senator Nina Turner, will be appearing with Senator Sanders on the upcoming tour mentioned in Thompson's article. When preparing for the trip, she joked, "I stopped wearing heels just to keep up with him." I had the same problem when he'd invite me for a walk in Burlington or around the Capitol. Talk to anyone who actually knows him and the response is unequivocal: Bernie Sanders is more than physically, mentally, and emotionally fit to be President of the United States.
In addition to ageism, Thompson falls into the same pit of crass identity politics that, in my view, helped fan the flames of Trumpism. Just because a person is a woman or a person of color does not mean that they represent the interests of all women or all people of color. Democrats would do well to remember that when considering the candidates in 2020.
Over the last three to four decades, neoliberal Democrats' willful failure to address the needs of poor and working-class Americans, as well as their tawdry use of gender and race politics to undermine progressive alternatives, provided easy fodder for Trump and his appeals to "the silent majority" — those talked down to by the "lying liberal media" and left out of the Clinton Democrats' so-called New Economy.
Sanders has been an unwavering champion of poor and working class people of all backgrounds. Some 2020 presidential hopefuls may be women and/or persons of color, but will gladly open their campaign coffers to pharmaceutical giants and other special interests or support hawkish policy abroad. Some of them are not progressive at all, but now that Medicare for All and College for All are popular, they're smartly going with the grain.
Bernie Sanders has fought for single-payer health care for decades. He's worked tirelessly to reduce drug prices and protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. He's taken on Wall Street, opposed job-killing trade deals, promoted a living wage, opposed the war in Iraq and the U.S. Patriot Act, and has been out front on gay marriage and fighting climate change.
As a staffer in his Senate office, I witnessed firsthand his ingenuity and care in developing such complex legislation, working against the corporate agenda of establishment politicians, consulting with grassroots groups, medical professionals, small business owners, teachers, seniors, veterans and many others. Corporate lobbyists don't bother to stop by.
This is why so many people across the country and the world want Bernie Sanders to be President — because he's consistently stood up for the little guy and not blown with the political winds. Working people support him because we want a future we can believe in.
BernieSanders
Crashing the Party
by Heather Gautney
May 2018 / 9781786634337


I am looking to obtain a position in an organization where my skills will be utilized, and I can be part of a team. I am a results-oriented, Customer Service and Administrative Professional with over 10 years in the Service Industry. Responsibility, self-direction and customer focus are important to me. I am a dedicated, personable, and organized person and believe in high quality service and ethics.
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We are looking for leaders who can inspire those around them to deliver an outstanding service to the people of Northumbria.
If your Friday night looks like Netflix and takeaway, here's your chance to shake it up!
Offering a variety of career pathways to those who work hard and enjoy a challenge.
A progressive leader who can shape the future of a top performing Force.
Northumbria Police is one of the largest forces in the country and serves a population of 1.5 million people.
We are recognised for our high standards and our desire to be outstanding in everything we do.
As a Force we are committed to reducing crime, vigorously pursuing offenders and building trust and confidence in local communities.
The Northumbria Police vision sets out our commitment to be outstanding in the service we provide.
We want police officers, staff and volunteers to serve the communities with pride – to be proud of what we do and proud of who we are.
Achieving this depends on motivated, informed, equipped and professional people working together to deliver an excellent service.
Our vision and mission are underpinned by a set of core values which define the standards we have set.
These core values create an environment where all officers, staff and volunteers are proud to come to work, proud to represent Northumbria Police, and proud to deliver an outstanding service.
If you have a genuine passion to make a real difference within your community then Northumbria Police is the place for you. We have a whole range of career and volunteer opportunities that will recognise, develop and reward your unique talents.
Northumbria Police employs and provides services to people who have a variety of different needs. We recognise the benefits of having a diverse and representative workforce and the need to promote and ensure equality in the workplace. Northumbria Police is committed to developing and retaining a workforce that is more diverse and representative of the communities it serves.
Visit the sections below to find out more about the various roles within Northumbria Police.
There are all sorts of reasons why people join Northumbria Police as an officer. Whatever your own reason to join us, you will make a big difference to many people.
Police Cadets is a four year scheme for young people across the force area. Anyone aged 14 or 15 can apply. It provides an opportunity to take part in a wide range of activities.
Northumbria Police is not just about Police Officers serving on the front line within the community, just as important is the team of professional and support staff working behind the scenes.


Pork chops are the champs of weeknight cooking. They don't require much prep work, they cook fast, and they offer a ton of tasty variety. The key to cooking pork chops is making sure they don't dry out when you fry, bake, or grill them. We've gathered the best ways to cook pork chops so they stay tender, moist, and delicious.
For most pork chop preparations, look for bone-in pork chops about 1.5-inches thick. Why go with bone-in? Well, the bone actually slows the cooking time. We're not talking long, just a few minutes. But even a few minutes can spell the difference between moist, tender pork chops with tasty sear marks and dry, tight-textured chops.
Of course, thinner, boneless pork chops are still a great option, just keep an eye on them; they'll cook fast. In fact, for stuffed pork chops and quick-cooking breaded pork chops, you might prefer boneless. Look for thicker (1.5 to 2 inches) boneless chops for stuffed chops and thinner boneless loin chops (about 1/2 inch thick) for breaded recipes.
Rib Chops: Tender, center-cut chops with a curved bone on one side.
Great for quick-cooking methods like pan frying, grilling, broiling.
Loin Chops or Porterhouse Chops: Center-cut loin chops with a T-shaped bone; the loin is on one side of the bone, the tenderloin on the other.
Great for grilling, baking, or broiling.
New York or Center-Cut Pork Chops: Boneless, top loin chops.
Try frying, stuffing, or baking your New York chops.
Sirloin Chop: A less expensive cut from the back end of the loin.
By comparison, a tougher cut; it's a great choice for slow braising.
For juicy, flavorful pork chops, try brining the chops before grilling or broiling -- two high-heat cooking methods that can quickly dry out lean pork chops.
Brines are essentially salty, sugary water solutions; they'll keep the meat moist, while adding flavor. To make a basic brine, you'll need salt and a few flavor-making ingredients. Chef John combines kosher salt with cloves, molasses (the sugar element), and enough hot water to dissolve the salt and molasses. Then he adds enough cool water to make 2 quarts. Refrigerate your chops in the brine from anywhere between 30 minutes to 12 hours -- you can get away with less time in a pinch. Be sure to dry off the chops thoroughly before taking them to the grill or oven. Other seasonings to try: peppercorns, fresh herbs, garlic, cut lemons.
In this video, Chef John explains why brining isn't just a gimmick but a critical step, necessary for getting moist grilled pork chops.
Get the recipe for Molasses-Brined Pork Chops.
OK, yes, something that's dry can't simultaneously be a brine. But let's not get tripped up by "words" and their "meanings." Not when the result is something this delicious. Dry brine is essentially a salty dry rub preparation that requires about 24 hours in the fridge. Oxymoronic or not, the technique produces brine-like results: super-tender, juicy, grilled chops. And now, let's get on with how to make pork chops, starting with the grill.
Start with high-heat, direct cooking just to sear the meat and create those gorgeous grill marks. Then switch to indirect grilling, pushing the coals to the side. There will still be plenty heat to cook the pork, but you won't run the risk of having marinade or fat drip onto the coals, creating an inferno that turns your chops into torches.
Choose thick, bone-in chops, and finish with indirect medium heat, and your chops will take about 25 minutes to grill. Grill them until an instant-read thermometer hits 140 degrees F; they'll keep cooking as they rest on a plate for 5 minutes or longer. They're done when the internal temperature is 145 degrees F.
If you don't have time for brining or dry brining, consider a quick marinade. Here's a terrific marinade for thick pork chops: a tasty combo of sweet, spicy, and sour ingredients, including three vinegars, hot sauce, and sugar. Get the recipe for Grilled Mongolian Pork Chops.
Related: For tips on grilling pork ribs, ground pork, and other cuts of pork, check out How to Grill Pork to Perfection.
Here's how to cook pork chops on the stove. Before frying pork chops, first salt and pepper them on both sides. You can be very generous with the seasonings.
Meanwhile, heat a little vegetable oil, maybe 2 tablespoons, or a little butter (or both!) in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. The fat should be sizzling hot when you add the chops to the pan. Avoid crowding. Giving the chops some room means they'll brown before they overcook. When one side is beautifully golden brown (about 3 or 4 minutes), turn, and then knock the flames down to medium so the middle can completely cook before the outside is overdone. As with grilled chops, when the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees F, transfer the pork chops from the pan to a plate; they'll continue to cook -- just make sure they reach 145 degrees F.
And don't forget, when you brown meats, you've entered into bonus territory -- you'll have some caramelized browned bits (the famous fond) stuck to the bottom of the skillet. That's flavorful gravy in waiting!
Here's a tasty way to fry chops. But caution is in order; one false move, and it's like tossing a burning tire into your kitchen.
To begin, season your pork chops with salt and pepper and Cajun spices. Then, in a hot skillet over high heat with a little vegetable oil, sear the chops. Chef John has a great method for "sorta blackened" chops. He starts with high heat, but as soon as he adds the chops to the super-hot skillet, he turns the heat down to medium...and sears them until almost done -- about 5 or 6 minutes per side. That's trick #1. The key is to get a serious sear without burning away all the flavor. Trick #2 is that after 5 or 6 minutes per side, he takes the chops from the skillet and wraps them up in aluminum foil. They'll complete cooking in the foil and produce a lovely natural sauce. Be sure to check the doneness with a meat thermometer -- 145 degrees F.
Watch this video and try the recipe for Sorta Blackened Chili Rubbed Pork Chops.
Braising takes pan-fried pork chops one delicious step further. Braising is also a forgiving cooking method. Because the chops finish by simmering in liquids, they won't dry out as easily. Just give them a quick high-heat sear in the skillet first.
Cooking pork chops in the oven often starts on the stovetop. Because one of the best ways to bake pork chops is to start in an oven-safe skillet on the stove and then transfer them into a hot oven. High-heat frying sears them to a golden brown; and a moderately hot oven (400 degrees F) bakes the pork chops gently enough to keep them from drying out.
This "sear-roasting" method is a great way to cook pork chops in the oven: Fry one side to golden brown, then flip, and place the chops directly in the oven. The second side will brown beautifully as the heat from the oven cooks the middle to a tender finish.
Wondering how to cook boneless pork chops? Stuff 'em! Of course, stuffing is also a great method for thick bone-in chops. Lay a thick chop flat on a cutting board, and with a sharp knife held parallel to the board, cut a pocket into the pork, going all the way to the bone (if there is one), but leaving the sides intact. Then stuff the pocket with yumminess.
Chops are tops in versatility. And once you know how to cook them to a tender, juicy finish, you won't even need a recipe. A perfectly cooked pork chops pairs wonderfully with condiments like pickled fruits, chutneys, mustards, kimchi, or sauerkraut. Or fry up some sliced apples, peaches, or pears -- the caramelized sweet fruit is a delicious companion for pork chops. So keep a few chops on hand for quick weeknight dinners.
Or start with a simple dry rub. Here are a few recipes that tell you how to season pork chops for an exciting flavor boost that takes almost no time.
Find even more top-rated Pork Chop Recipes.


text:
Can Black Hair Ever Just Be Hair?
By Antonia Opiah
My hair is an event. When I worked at an ad agency, each change, from Fulani braids to bantu knots to weaves, would come with an onslaught of very big reactions and questions, which I usually welcomed. Outside of the workplace, my hair texture makes national news. And within the Black community, the way I style my hair and my texture du jour are sometimes used as a way to categorize me or size me up. As the co-founder of Un-ruly, a site dedicated to Black hair and women, the conversations around these various responses are frequent. In fact, I recently hosted a discussion (with the support of Smooth 'N Shine) for Un-ruly where I asked 12 Black women — six with natural hair and six with chemically straightened hair — if Black hair could ever just be hair.
I wasn't surprised by the answers. Some were optimistic: Yes, it could just be hair over time, but not yet. Most were pessimistic. I, meanwhile, fell among the "not yet" school of thought.
I came to this conclusion following the 2016 Superbowl, during which Beyoncé led a troop of Black women in a parade of Black American culture and resistance. The squad was dressed in black leather and black berets. Most importantly, they had kinky hair. Front and center of the troops was their leader: a Black woman with long, blond, wavy hair.
I wrote about Beyoncé's performance and what the choice of hairstyles meant. The Civil Rights Movement made the afro a political symbol. Members of the Black Panther Party sported afros as an overt way of rejecting European standards of beauty. So in 2016, while channeling the Black Panthers, Beyoncé's conspicuous lack of an afro made a big statement, which led me to conclude that because of the history of Black hair in America, there is no hairstyle a Black woman can wear without sending a message. And because of the ties between hair and race, we're stuck in this limbo of being both advocates for and traitors to Black culture when it comes to our hair. It's why, even in 2018, I sometimes feel a little guilty when I choose to wear my hair straight or conspicuous when I wear it natural.
Black hair comes in a cornucopia of textures and styles, but over time people within and outside of our community have come to associate certain values with certain styles and textures. Stereotypes associated with natural hair include being earthy and bohemian, unprofessional, woke, pro-Black and/or militant. Relaxed hair or weaves are associated with being superficial, bougie and everyone's favorite: self-hating. For Black hair to be a non-event, we'd have to rid it of its associations — within the community and outside of it — but doing so would also mean erasing critical parts of our history.
The stereotypes around natural and relaxed hair are gross generalizations, but they are reflective of historical and present-day power structures in the U.S.
The stereotypes around natural and relaxed hair are gross generalizations, but they are reflective of historical and present-day power structures in the U.S. as well as deviations from those structures over time. They're also, like many stereotypes, a result of who has had the ability to tell certain stories. When it comes to power structures, natural hair's association with unprofessionalism is rooted in a long history of Black hair being considered unacceptable in America by those who held power — from slaves having to shave, braid or cover their hair, to news anchor Melba Tolliver being told she couldn't appear in a live broadcast while wearing her hair in an afro. Meanwhile, relaxed hair's association with being "bougie" may come from the images and people we associate with wealth (typically white people), as well as the cost that goes into getting one's hair straightened and maintaining it, not to mention adding extensions to it. The self-hate stereotype stems from the notion, likely popularized by Malcolm X, that Black people who straighten their hair have internalized beauty standards that are intrinsically biased towards Eurocentric physical attributes.
Then we have the deviations. As mentioned, the Civil Rights Movement (a call for equality and thus a call for a power shift) is largely responsible for "militarizing" the afro, hence today's associations with natural hair as militant.
On top of that, there are relatively new stereotypes, like how women with natural hair are boho/earthy or "natural hair nazis" (a term often used within the online Black hair community) who use a lot of hair product. These new stereotypes likely come from the hundreds of videos on YouTube created by self-proclaimed "product junkies." Natural haircare routines can be simple, but the extensive ones have become something we joke about within the Black hair community. (When perusing the web, more often than not you'll find day-long washing routines or routines that require some sort of week-long maintenance.)
I say all of this not to suggest that these stereotypes and associations are grounded in truth, but to show that when we're talking about Black hair, we're rarely ever just talking about hair. On some level, we're really talking about power. As long as power and the social construct of race remain tightly intertwined, what we've accepted to be indicators of race — e.g., skin color and hair texture — will be used to exert power or to take it back.
Even within the Black community, when we judge each other for our textures or hairstyles, it's a way of propping ourselves up through a group we identify with (our in-group) versus one we're not a part of (an out-group). And doing so is part of being human. A Psychology Today article about the origin of stereotypes cited in-group/out-group dynamics as one possible source of stereotypes: "[H]umans, like other species, need to feel that they are part of a group … We want to feel good about the group we belong to — and one way of doing so is to denigrate all those who aren't in it."
Meanwhile, America has a long history of denigrating various aspects of Blackness, our hair included. But now we're in a moment where power is shifting, and in many ways, hair is one of the tools being used to instigate that shift — in the workplace, in schools, on the runway, in media. Even though — from what I've seen through writing about Black hair for half a decade now — many of today's naturals didn't go natural for political reasons, their choices have political impact because they're helping to normalize natural hair in spaces in which it previously wasn't seen.
Black women who wear their hair straight or altered despite being judged are engaging in yet another form of resistance
The same goes for Black women with straight hair or blond, wavy hair (grown, dyed or bought). The context of their choice has changed. Straight hair is no longer something that's required in order to assimilate, and with the continued growth of the natural hair movement, it's not necessarily a choice that certain groups within our community positively sanction. The Internet (especially YouTube) is riddled with commenters who criticize Black women for straightening their hair or wearing extensions. So Black women who wear their hair straight or altered despite being judged are engaging in yet another form of resistance — one that shows that, given our history, altered Black hair is part of the fabric of Black hair, too. It's one of the many choices we're free to make about our hair, and like other hair choices, it sends a message.
So to answer my own question once again: No, Black hair can't "just" be hair…yet. History, racial power dynamics and politics won't currently allow it. And to me, that's okay. It's okay because I see the cultural weight Black hair carries as a feature and not a flaw, a superpower that we can unleash at will. I like that we can use our hair to instigate change and challenge previously accepted notions of beauty and race. I like that we can use it to send a message or to connect with each other through shared hair trials and tribulations. Given that it's so easy to be "normal," to be unremarkable and blend in, I like that when I do feel like being noticed, I can make my hair do remarkable things. Our hair defies gravity after all; why wouldn't people be awed? Of course, there are downsides to all of this. Heavy is the head, right? But until we're able to strip the idea of race of its power, I like being naturally equipped with a feature that lets me exert mine.
Photos courtesy of Antonia Opiah.
Antonia Opiah
3 Swimsuit Personalities I'm Considering for Summer
By Imani Randolph


The LumenVox technical support team is made up of knowledgeable professionals with extensive LumenVox development and support experience.
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Questions related to the normal functioning, installation, and configuration of LumenVox software and license deployment.
Issues related to bugs or defects in the normal functioning of LumenVox software (includes supported versions only, which is generally two years from the date of GA).
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LumenVox software is sold without maintenance or technical support. Both Maintenance and Support Agreements are strongly encouraged. Technical Support services are available for purchase separately and are provided as a pre-paid service by the hour.
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Saskatoon Police arrested a male youth after a disturbance this morning.
At approximately 7:30 a.m., October 17, 2017, officers responded to a call of a domestic dispute in progress in the 200 block of Avenue L South.
Officers were initially refused entry into the home but after speaking with the main resident, entry was gained. Police arrested a male youth without incident, that they found attempting to hide in a crawlspace in the home. An axe was also removed from the home. No one was injured.
A 16 year old male was charged with Breach of Probation.


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In Italy, the government has created a 0.6% advanced biofuels blending mandate by 2018, the first in Europe to set up such a policy to boost demand for next generation fuels. That figure will increase to 1% by 2022. Beta Renewables produces 75 million liters per year at its facility in Crescentino and the country expects three more cellulosic ethanol plants to come online in southern Italy during the next year.


APS Home Cleaning's humble beginnings originated from San Pedro Sula, Honduras before expanding the company to Virginia in the early 2000's. As a local woman minority-owned small family business they strive for excellence with every cleaning.
With over 20 years of experience in the cleaning industry, there isn't much we haven't seen. The company was built on one simple phrase "Quality Cleaning You Can Always Trust". It is that simple philosophy that has enabled them to become one of Loudoun County's premier cleaning company's specializing in residential, commercial, and post-construction cleaning in Northern Virginia.


Because so many people participate or are now aware of it, I probably don't have to explain that November is National Novel Writing Month, better known as NaNoWriMo. But the first year I participated, back when Stegosaurus still roamed the plains, I had the same conversation a lot.
ME: I'm going to try to write a novel in a month.
OTHER PERSON: Why would you do that?
There's really only one requirement. You write 50,000 words of a novel in a month. It's a word count goal that is challenging but definitely doable if you apply yourself. And I still enjoy doing it every year, because it's a time to focus on one project and engage with a bunch of other writers, and it's a tremendous amount of fun.
I've participated in every NaNoWriMo since 2002. Not all of those novels were good, or even complete. (In the early years, I had no idea what I was doing). But my published books that started out as NaNoWriMo novels include The Windup, Show and Tell, Such a Dance, and Ten Days in August. From 2003 until 2013, I also acted as municipal liaison for New York City, meaning that on top of writing, I also planned events for the region and wrote weekly pep talks.
Basically, I have some experience with all this. And although there's still a rational part of my brain that's like, "A novel in a month? Why would you do that?" I've figured out how to do it. So I thought I'd offer some tips.
1. Plan WHAT you will write. "But I'm a pantser!" Yes. I get that. I'm not saying you need a detailed outline. But consider jotting down a few words about who your characters are. Write a paragraph describing the basics of the plot. Think about why you are writing this story—what's at the center of what you want to say. Because I'll tell you a secret: When I sit down to write knowing what I'm going to write and where the story is going, the writing goes much faster. I don't stare at the blinky cursor or try to reason out what's going to happen. I just sit down and write.
I'll tell you another secret: a lot of advanced planning makes my first drafts really solid. One of the prevailing ideas about NaNoWriMo is that, if you're writing that fast, it all must be complete crap. But I'm here to tell you, I had the whole Rainbow League series plotted out in detail before I sat down to write The Windup one November. And while I did have to make some changes and revisions, the final version of The Windup is not substantially different from the first draft I wrote during NaNoWriMo.
2. Plan WHEN you will write Think ahead about when you can make time for writing, because you'll need a lot of it to write 50,000 words in a month. Think about when you are at your best and most focused. I, for example, am better in the morning. So if I push writing to the end of the day, it kind of feels like pulling teeth. But if I write first thing in the morning, it flows. Figure out when your ideal writing time is, and stick to the plan to write at that time.
3. Try Word Sprints and Pomodoros. The basic idea of the Pomodoro Method is that you work in 25 minute bursts. I do this all the time with my freelance work. I've got an app on my phone that tracks the timed bursts of productivity. So a day goes like this: 25 minutes of work with no distractions, then a five minute break where I can check my email or Twitter or whatever, then repeat a few times, then a twenty-minute break, then repeat some more. It sounds silly, but I swear it works. If I just do pomodoros (the 25-minutes of work + 5-minute break unit) all day, I can get a ton done.
Word sprints work similarly. Set a timer (10 or 15 minutes is ideal; anything more than about 20 minutes starts to feel like a slog). Then cut out all distractions and just try to write as much as you can. I do word sprints when I have writer's block, because forcing myself to write usually gets me through the block. Similarly, you can try a 1k1hr (trying to write 1,000 words in an hour). You can bang out the words for the day in a series of sprints, is my point, and I bet you could do it in less time than you think.
4. Participate in the Community… But Don't Let It Distract You! There's a fine line, maybe. I know anecdotally from all my years as a municipal liaison that people who come to write-ins are more likely to make it to 50K than people who don't. I think we all need that support, or need people to prod us on. Most regions have write-ins (which is what it sounds like; basically everyone shows up at a location, usually a cafe or library, and types away in the company of others), as well as an online forum, a chat room, public social events, etc. This also means it's possible to be chatty and not write anything, so keep an eye on how you're using your community time.
5. Try Something New. NaNoWriMo is only a month, so you could view it as a time to experiment. Try a genre you've never written before, play around with new tropes, try a different approach. (Try planning, for example, if your usual instinct is to be a pantser.) If it doesn't work, it's only a month. But if it DOES work, you could learn something useful about how to write a book.
6. Don't Look Back! NaNoWriMo doesn't work for every writer because it requires an approach in which the writer plows forward without revising. I personally have adopted this approach for my writing year-round; I like to churn out a first draft quickly and then take my time revising and polishing it. But I also learned during my very first NaNoWriMo that if I stop to edit, I will definitely not finish.
For me, it's better to have the raw material I can revise and shape rather than nothing. I can slay the internal editor and focus on story.
7. A First Draft Is Not a Final Draft. One would think this goes without saying, but I've heard from a lot of editors and agents over the years who dread December because they are inundated with half-baked NaNoWriMo novels.
Here's the deal: 50,000 words is a very short novel. (It's The Great Gatsby or a Harlequin Presents.) Most novels these days run in the 75–100K range (with some variation, depending on genre). So that 50K you wrote in November is really a jumping off point. Not to mention, if you haven't read any of what you've written, how do you know if it's good?
Revision is part of the process. In my Other Life, I work on writing and reading books for school-aged kids, and one of the things we always teach are the 5 stages of the writing process: pre-writing, drafting, revision, editing, and publishing. Maybe you want to send your first draft to a beta reader or critique partner, but if you want a book deal, polish that thing before you submit it to the pros!
My advice would be to let it sit in December. After all that noveling time, take a break, reconnect with your family, celebrate your winter holidays. Then read the whole thing after the New Year. The time spent away from it will give you a new perspective. Because NaNo is for first drafts, not final drafts. The purpose is for you to stop saying, "I want to write a novel" and to write it. But November isn't the end of the story.
I would say also, after all the years of both NaNoWriMo and professional authoring, my approach during NaNoWriMo is not radically different from my approach the rest of the year, but NaNoWriMo gives me an excuse to prioritize writing over some other things in my life—gotta make that daily word count. And if you're a NaNo veteran, consider changing the challenge: up your monthly word count goal (instead of 50K, aim for 60K or 75K).


text:
Silver Spring Foundation
Ambassador Stories from the Field
Lighting up students' lives at Miguel S. Mondia Elementary School
Photo By: Chris Yuhico
I was exhausted right after the long trek and delivery of solar lamps this past August, when a woman tentatively approached me, and declared: "Salamat gid, Toto, sa bulig."Not sure what to say, I smiled, nodded and moved on. But those words, which roughly meant, "Thank you, sir, for your help," just capped the most meaningful experience of my life. The unpaved, muddy trail, which our group trekked for almost two hours, ended in a mountain slope community in the island of Negros in the Philippines. The monsoon rains did not diminish the breathtaking views, and we found ourselves warmly welcomed by what was probably a whole population whose children attend the Miguel S. Mondia elementary school.
For me, it all started more than a year, maybe almost two years ago. It was when I looked outside the window of the van I was riding that I began to see the poverty in my parents' home country of the Philippines. There were at least five children who were pressing their faces against the vehicle's window, begging for some spare change. I felt terrible when the driver shooed them away. Finally, my mom suggested maybe I could think of something that could benefit some Filipino children more permanently. But what, exactly, could I do?
Back home in California, I'd spent some time using Google and watching YouTube videos in an effort to do a bit of research when I discovered the website of One Million Lights. By distributing solar lamps to communities around the world, volunteers can make a difference in the recipients' lives. These lamps were the perfect alternative to the relatively expensive, dangerous and unhealthy kerosene lamps families depended on. By becoming a Global Ambassador, one can actually distribute solar lamps while on vacation. It fit my plans perfectly, because my family planned to visit our relatives, especially my grandfather, in the Philippines soon. With help from Negrense Volunteers for Change Foundation (NVC), a local nonprofit I trusted, all students of Miguel Mondia elementary school in Sitio Bais, Barangay Yubo, La Carlota City, were chosen to be beneficiaries of 82 solar lamps. This school and all the homes surrounding had no access to electricity.
A couple of things happened, which made me doubt that the distribution was going to push through. I'd chosen to deliver the Great White Light, which costs double the regular solar lamp. I was too sure I could raise money. I thought how difficult could that be, right? But my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 renal cell carcinoma early this year, and my own and my family's focus was understandably on my dad. However, everything, at the last minute, was almost miraculously put into place. In fact, at the last minute, we procured 68 additional lights to deliver to another barangay. My family was very happy for us to be able to make this trip. We could have a vacation, visit relatives, especially my grandfather, and I could do the solar distributions.
The first delivery happened on my fourth day in the Philippine island of Negros, and I felt that the rains would never, ever, stop. Our group, composed of Mark Lozano's OML Philippines team, NVC Foundation's Carmela Regalado, local volunteers, and myself, met very early that morning to convoy to Escalante, the city from where we would hike to the distribution site. As much as I wanted to bring up the topic of the heavy downpour to the others, I did not, for I knew it was monsoon season, and this day was probably like any other!
Our two days felt so out of the ordinary. The Miguel Mondia recipients made a huge "Welcome" sign for us, and served us native rice snacks to give us energy on our 1.5 hour trek back to our vehicles. Barangay Santol, the 2nd distribution site, was so high up in the mountains, that we had to accept the Binalbagan congressman's offer to take a ride in his Hummer in order to reach the location. On both days, we were introduced to the crowd before we were expected to make speeches.
Whoever said "it feels good to give" was absolutely right. Donating is only half of the equation. It is the other half – the giving, the connection with another person, that makes us feel more human. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with One Million Lights. I hope to make another distribution with Mark, Mike, Chris and Raffy of OML Philippines soon.
Global Ambassador Program
Ambassador Story Archive
Program Info & Application
Sierra's Reflections - Philippines
After a week-long distribution of 180 solar lights, Light Ambassador Sierra Fan reflects on her experience in the Philippines.
Distributing solar lights in rural India
The absolute joy in the face of a child who has just received his very own solar light… so that he can read at night… is 100% worth every penny.
Jessica's story - Olmoti Clinic, Tanzania
Ambassador Jessica Matthys: The solar lanterns will make a significant impact on these women's lives.
Donate to One Million Lights Philippines.
$15 will provide one solar-powered lantern for a family.


Good cam and carb choice?
Discussion in 'The Garage' started by jess, Mar 18, 2004.
If you're wanting to do it right, avoid the Edelbrock cam like the plague.
Since the engine is going to be mild, I would definitely suggest something EFI friendly, and that you not waste $400 on a Qjet when you can get a TBI arrangement and go EFI for about that price or not much more.
I wouldn't use the edel. cam. It is very small compared to some of the smog legal cams that comp makes.
That grind is a stock replacement cam and if you are gonna be going through the trouble of a cam swap you may as well upgrade.
What heads are you using?
The performer intake is a good stock replacement that can handle a mild cam. Comp Cams 4x4 line has a few good choices.
It kinda all depends on what you want the engine to do.
I just bought a Rhoads Hydra-solid cam. With the heads, intake and carb I have it ought to be one nasty sucker.
Good choice, sorta the same one I was debating.
With the exception of a Q-jet.
The only reason I am using a 750 Ebrock carb is that is what I have to work with at this time.
I'll run that set up till I can get ahold of an Ebrock RPM intake and rebuild one of the 454 Q-jets I have.