text:
the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
"The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself."
— Karl Marx
Jun 20, 2018
This article is a translation of an article from the magazine Lutte de Classe, issue no. 193, July-August 2018, published by Lutte Ouvrière, a Trotskyist organization in France.
After three months of strike, the united front that had so far existed between the different trade-unions is now cracking: UNSA is dropping out and the CFDT is on the verge of doing the same, while the CGT and Sud are calling to continue the movement in July.1 And what happens next, obviously, depends on the determination of the railroad workers.
The strike movement started on April 3, 2018 and has lasted for nearly three months. Because of its duration and the number of workers involved, the strike movement is one of the most important disputes to have affected SNCF (the state-owned railroad company) since the big strike of 1995. With its strengths and weaknesses, here is a movement that has mobilized a whole section of the working class against the government, under the eyes of the working population at large. Though the strike movement is not over yet, lessons can already be learned from it, at SNCF and elsewhere.
The so-called "railroad pact," which was adopted by the Senate on June 13 and the National Assembly on June 14, contains three key measures: the opening up to competition of passenger rail transport with the compulsory transfer of railroad workers to the private sector (a refusal will lead to automatic dismissal); the transformation of the three SNCF entities into limited public companies; and the end of the existing SNCF status for all new recruits. In addition, the outsourcing of freight has been announced. This is clearly an attack against the railroad workers.
The pact, however, is still far from being implemented. We all know how, in the past, a number of reforms, though they had been voted and promulgated, ended up in the trash bin—for example, the "first-job contract" law in 2006. Yet many politicians and journalists are already celebrating the end of what they call a blitzkrieg and the government's swift victory. Indeed, less than four months elapsed between the presentation of the bill on February 27 and its adoption by Parliament. Those in favor of the pact were of course not afraid of the voting results in the Senate and the National Assembly because they knew that both chambers were bound to adopt this attack on workers. What they were really afraid of was the specter of 1995, when the transport strike paralyzed the country and forced Juppé and his government to back down and withdraw his pension reform.
Despite its tenacity, this year's movement did not have the same energy and magnitude; it was not powerful enough to defeat the government. Yet, even among bourgeois observers, many see the blitzkrieg's victory as being relative and they express some concern.
The initial goal was to knock out the railroad workers, as illustrated both by the end goal of the reform and the means chosen by Macron to implement it. Indeed, by simultaneously attacking SNCF's monopoly on rail transport, transforming it into a public limited company (which could later be privatized) and removing the status of railroad workers (which guaranteed a degree of job security), the government wanted to show that it was ready to demolish what had been the daily life of generations of railroad workers. Macron wanted to show the bourgeoisie and also the right-wing voters that he was able, unlike his predecessors, to confront combative and unionized workers, with no fear of their reaction.
In an attempt to draw public opinion against the railroad workers, the government also orchestrated, from day one, a campaign of slander against them, in particular against their status, presented as an incredible privilege and as the cause of all SNCF failures, notably of the repeated delays.
The railroad workers are well placed to know the real causes of the malfunctions: lack of staff and the derelict state of large parts of the network. The recent paralysis, on June 13, of the entire network at Saint-Lazare (A Parisian main line station) is a vivid illustration: it was due to a defective signaling part dating from 1966, worth 150 euros, and which railroad workers had in vain called to be replaced.
The smear campaign may have paid off in the anti-worker or least class-conscious electorate but it also ulcerated railroad workers, even senior executives, and set them up against the government. In April, SNCS, the union of SNCF senior executives, wrote a letter to the transport minister: "For reasons of political strategy, you, the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister have chosen to use railroad workers as scapegoats in the eyes of the general public." Though SNCS did not take part in the strike, the letter went on: "We must defend our honor because the government has hurt our professional conscience."
So the strike was remarkable in that it was morally and sometimes actively supported not only by supervisors and foremen but also by executives opposed to the reform. The result of the "Vot'Action," a consultation in which 61% of railroad workers participated and 95% expressed their refusal of the pact, confirmed the rejection that had already been shown by the participation in the strike.
Far from dividing the railroad workers, the government managed to unite them against its project and against the SNCF top managers, who provoked the strikers time and again with shameless lies. Far from succeeding in rallying railroad workers behind SNCF's CEO, Pepy, and his "let's fight against competitors, let's be the best" motto, the government instead led many managers ... to side with the strikers in self defense.
The more conscious bourgeois commentators understand the problem. Raymond Soubie, a former counselor in social relations for President Sarkozy, makes the point: "It's a good way to work out a law but not necessarily a good way to get everyone on board and have it applied" (Les Échos, June 12, 2018). And Le Monde in its June 18 editorial states, "The railroad battle isn't over and it's going to have consequences on SNCF [...]. The company is scarred and social relations have seriously deteriorated."
Stéphane Laurier, a journalist from Le Monde, is not convinced that the reform is efficient. On June 18 he wrote, "For a reform to be successful, it needs to gain a minimum of consent from the main parties concerned. And this base isn't covered. There's currently a poisonous climate in the company so we wish Guillaume Pepy (the CEO of SNCF) lots of luck in re-establishing the social relations that have been a little battered during the three-month strike."
Commentators may be worried but the strikers should be proud: They have raised their heads up collectively. The tactics used by the government and by management (counting days off as strike days, hiring temporary workers and retirees to replace strikers, defamation, etc.) not only didn't stop the strikers but in fact strengthened their determination and their cohesion. Most railroad workers went on strike at some point: some for a few days, some for more than thirty days if they stuck to the schedule decided by the inter-union group, and some for even longer. There was no division between them. And it's well-nigh impossible to find a railroad worker who defends the reform.
The bourgeois commentators use the expression "poisonous climate" but it isn't appropriate. For the last four months, the climate in SNCF has been one of struggle, of pride, of solidarity, not of individualism or resignation. This shows the way for the future and all members of the bourgeoisie are right to be concerned.
The other remarkable and out-of-the-ordinary aspect of the government's tactics was its open contempt for the union organizations, at least up until the beginning of May.
When the government announced its bill, it had programmed discussions between Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne and each of the unions. But, from the outset, Prime Minister Édouard Philippe warned everyone that all three parts of his reform were non-negotiable. He also stated his intention to use executive orders and push the reform through as fast as possible. This was directly provoking the unions, who are used to being involved, even if only formally, in certain discussions.
On April 3, in Le Figaro (France's best-selling right-wing daily), Laurent Berger, general secretary of the CFDT, whose stock-in-trade is to appear as a good negotiator, was outraged that the government had expressed "disdain for the social partners and collective bargaining." And in Le Monde, on April 9, Jean-Claude Mailly, who at the time was the leader of FO and who had collaborated with the government over the executive orders on the Labor Law last fall, didn't think that he could put out the fire: "When the grass is really dry, it just takes one spark." As a matter of fact, all the unions wanted only proper negotiations.
They may have already had doubts but the start of discussions with the minister made it perfectly clear that their being consulted was purely a formality. They were stunned by the composure of a minister who explained nothing and didn't even reply to their questions. On April 18, Rémi Aufrère for the CFDT railroad workers said, "We're upset by this because we feel literally humiliated. [...] The government is openly trying to make us capitulate. In the long-term, that's counter-productive." Roger Dillenseger for UNSA, another union that had supported the previous reforms, said despairingly, "This is the first time I've ever seen this kind of negotiation, if you can call it that."
The government's contempt was obvious when the unions learned through the press that recruitment under the special status of railroad worker would end on January 1, 2020. It would have been a meager consolation but the date was supposed to be negotiated. At the inter-union press conference, Erik Meyer, leader of SUD-Rail, sounded off with the others on how the minister hadn't even bothered to inform them. It was the same thing when the decision was made to transfer rail freight to subsidiaries.
The government deliberately chose to turn its nose up at any offer of help from the unions, even those who usually collaborate with them. So as not to lose face with the railroad workers, the unions were obliged to form a united front for three months, something pretty unusual!
The downside for the government is that, instead of discouraging the strikers, its insulting attitude was one of the factors that contributed to railroad workers being mobilized for so long. Édouard Philippe didn't even acknowledge the unions until May 7, one month into the strike, when he finally decided that he was willing to receive them.
Even if he toned it down a bit, Édouard Philippe had absolutely no intention of giving in to any aspect of railroad workers' demands. The long-prepared bailout plan concerning SNCF's 35-billion-euro debt was a diversionary tactic. It was, in fact, a demand brought to the forefront by the unions, not by railroad workers.
The CFDT also made an attempt to get first the National Assembly and then the Senate to adopt their amendments to the railroad pact. However, their so-called amendments were so ridiculous and insignificant that they couldn't even defend them among railroad workers.
Under the circumstances, the unions, especially UNSA and the CFDT, could hardly withdraw from the movement. In an article published in Les Échos on June 12, a UNSA union official declared, "Things are complicated because we're negotiating a social setback," to which he added, "If I leave the movement, I might as well commit suicide." It's no wonder union leaders felt they couldn't drop out when you consider that union representative elections are set to begin in the fall. CFDT leaders called for "maintaining daily trains" during the week of high school final exams (French baccalauréat) despite the strike calendar, thus heading towards a break in the movement, but many CFDT militants plainly refused to defend such a position in general assemblies.
The CGT is by far the leading union both in terms of union membership and in terms of their influence within the railroad workforce. And the CGT did, in fact, lead the movement. Their leadership became quite clear early on in the movement. The nationwide demonstration they organized on March 22, for example, drew 25,000 railroad workers and retired railroad workers. Other unions also participated in the demonstration, but the CGT made up 80% of the protest march.
The establishment of a strike calendar where railroad workers strike two days out of five over several weeks started April 3 and 4 and was also a CGT initiative. And the CGT was able to gain support for the strike calendar—which was to become a defining character of the movement—among other unions at the inter-union meeting on March 15, just a few days before the nationwide demonstration.
Many trade unionists, including CGT unionists, were surprised at this form of "start and stop" strike action. However, it soon became clear that railroad workers weren't willing to go beyond the CGT's calendar. On March 22, the general assembly of railroad workers at the Gare du Nord, a mainline station in Paris, voted in favor of indefinite strike action as of April 3, but in reality only a few dozen striking workers actually followed up on the vote and went on strike outside the set calendar. In some sectors, railroad workers chose to remain on strike between two calendar periods, but again only a minority of striking workers continued the strike outside the calendar. Some railroad workers, particularly train drivers and ticket inspectors, struck every day of the union-set calendar, but this wasn't the case in all sectors. Most the time railroad workers chose to strike certain days within the calendar and not others, setting up their own strike calendar within the union-based calendar.
It's not a question of opposing one strike tactic to another, of opposing indefinite strike action, for example, to the "two days out of five" tactic, as if there were some magic solution that could be applied in any place and at any time regardless of workers' mindset and of how far they are willing to go. A single day of protest can lead to a general strike and start a movement even without an official call to strike by trade unions, as was the case on May 13, 1968 which led to the May 1968 uprising. And even a rapid succession of protest days could allow union activists to rely on mobilized sectors of the working class to rally others, like they did in 1995 against Juppé's reforms.
Building Momentum or Blocking It?
Far from wanting to build a genuine dynamic, the railroad federation of the CGT clearly stated its purpose in an internal memo published on March 16, just one day after the strike calendar was released. The memo, destined for union representatives, outlines the CGT's main objectives: "To build a stable, long-lasting mobilization in order to successfully pass through the stages of the government's strategy and to send the message that they won't win by simply waiting for the strike to weaken."
So, from the start, the aim was to reach a stable mobilization and in reality to follow the legislative and negotiating calendars. It was never a question of letting workers take initiatives but rather a way of confining their struggle to merely supporting union negotiators at the bargaining table.
Rather than attempting to convince workers that at some point they wouldn't have any other choice but to put all their force into the fight, the CGT encouraged workers to embrace a strike-action plan which would save them energy. The same internal note states, "All railroad workers, whether they want to take it easy or disrupt production, will find something to their fancy and be happy."
The CGT wanted to prevent any initiative from rank and file workers, including from their own union members, from branching out. According to the same internal memo, the CGT states, "We'll have to be clear and there must be as few dissenting voices as possible. We can't afford to readjust our strategy according to the whims and hesitations expressed in different locations. There is only one strategy."
What trade union bureaucrats disdainfully call "whims and hesitations" actually refers to workers' opinions. In their eyes, workers should accept more than thirty days' worth of wage deductions but not be able to make their own decisions concerning their strike!
In fact, even unionized workers were influenced by their leaders' cautious attitude towards workers. Recommendations from federation-level leaders of the CGT suggested members "hold regular general assembly meetings first for union members only, then for rail workers in general" so that union members would speak in unison.
And the day after the successful March 22 protest, the federation sent out an internal memo forbidding union activists and members from "taking part in any type of vote to continue the strike on April 5."
The CGT was afraid it might lost control of the movement. But such a movement can only become "uncontrollable" when workers build momentum themselves, as they build on striking workers' enthusiasm and energy to increase their strength and to get more workers not only to join the struggle but to actively contribute to the strike as well. But an "uncontrollable" strike is exactly what union leaders fear the most and the current railroad strike has proved it yet again.
Once CGT leaders realized there was little chance that the strike would go beyond their control, they loosened the reins a little, allowing cross-service meetings between different sectors in places where they had previously opposed any joint discussions.
There's no use speculating on whether or not indefinite strike action could have created a better dynamic or not. First of all, history can't be rewritten. But more importantly, the role of militant workers devoted to the working class is not to make an initial diagnosis beforehand and then impose a strategy from the outset. Their role, rather, is to rely on and nourish the will, determination, fighting spirit and consciousness of striking workers at every stage of their struggle.
The International Workingmen's Association was founded in 1867 on the basic principle that "The emancipation of the working classes must be conquered by the working classes themselves." Their emancipation can truly begin only when workers take into consideration and build on the degree of consciousness and determination of striking workers each step of the way.
SUD-Rail's position had absolutely nothing to do with worker emancipation. The only thing SUD-Rail did was to submit a provisional notice of indefinite strike action without ever actually calling for such action or even trying to find a way to make it possible. SUD-Rail stuck to the strategy adopted by the union coalition. It wanted to remain part of the large union coalition while criticizing its methods locally, according to particular circumstances and opportunities.
Essentially, SUD-Rail, just like the other trade unions, sought to defend the interests of the union apparatus—the right to be considered a valued representative and negotiator at the bargaining table by the government on the one hand, while keeping an eye on the upcoming union representative elections on the other.
The railroad strike wasn't powerful enough to go further or burst through the boundaries set up by the trade unions. And that was the movement's main limit.
However, even within the boundaries set up by the unions, railroad workers have gained valuable experience over the three months of the movement. Tens of thousands of workers participated in meetings, demonstrations and rallies. They met workers from other rail sectors as well as other sectors of the general workforce.
The movement was a non-corporatist movement, so railroad workers distributed leaflets on a wide scale and established relationships with workers from all different types of work. Railroad workers came to help out and support striking workers at Carrefour supermarkets. At the Gare de l'Est train station in Paris, on June 19, they offered their support to Ford workers from Blanquefort (in southern France) who were traveling to Germany by train to defend their jobs. In many places, workers and working-class militants made connections and built contacts in different companies and their connections will count in the future.
Many workers were also witness to the fact that the government and the top SNCF bosses and managers couldn't put an end to the movement despite their political maneuvers and requests to stop the strike. And people are following and discussing the strike as it continues, if only through the daily train traffic updates that have become just as important as the daily weather forecast. Railroad workers, like many other workers, were able to see that the working class plays an essential role in society, be it simply because of the lack of transportation. They were able to see just how irreplaceable workers are because, when they go on strike and stop working, even if only a fraction of the working class gets involved, it has a major effect on our lives.
The railroad struggle isn't over yet and whatever the outcome, other struggles will emerge in the future, in different circumstances, and striking workers will again take center stage. They will be faced with the same opponents, whether they be on the side of the government and bosses or behind the masks of trade union bureaucrats. Workers and working-class militants must unmask their opponents, analyze the interests they serve and their attitudes, and evaluate their own strengths and weaknesses in each new struggle, in order to prepare for the next, so that they can go as far as they possibly can in the working-class struggle.
1 Those unions all exist on a national basis, as "confederations," outside of SNCF. Each railroad federation broadly follows the line of the national confederation it belongs to, with some specificities. The CGT is the largest union in France and the largest at SNCF too. It used to be closely linked to the Communist Party of France (PCF) and its SNCF federation and branches have retained connections with the PCF. SUD (at SNCF: SUD-Rail) is the other union that the media call "radical." It is much smaller than the CGT, and was formed in the late 1980s/early 1990s as a breakaway union from the CFDT. The two other unions are called "reformist" by the media, because they tend to be less strike-prone. UNSA is a smallish union, one that is proudly sectional (at SNCF, in education, etc.) in spite of its "inter-professional" character. As for the CFDT, it claims to have more members than the CGT. At SNCF, the CFDT recently absorbed the train-drivers union (the FGAC), a sectional but combative union—a late compensation for the SUD-Rail breakaway.


text:
I cannot parse the function of dass in the sentence below.
A note on context: A wounded knight makes a request of a stranger. He was abandoned by his squire in a fight.
Würd ihm gern das Fell gerben dafür, dass er vor den Leichenfressern weggelaufen ist?
Would you like (would it please him) to tan his hide for running away from the corpse eaters?
Why is the dass necessary here? What is it accomplishing? Is my translation off? I get the basic meaning, but can't seem to figure out what this conjunction is doing.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
1 Town Center Blvd Mont Belvieu, TX 77523
View all calendars is the default. Choose Select a Calendar to view a specific calendar.
The Hilltop at Eagle Pointe
A variety of cardiovascular, balance, stretching, and strength-training techniques appropriate for active adults.


text:
This horrendous pandemic has to be a tipping point.
The environmental journalist and campaigner George Monbiot has called for a complete transformation of the global economy away from capitalism towards a new system where we enjoy "private sufficiency and public luxury."
In the latest Double Down News production he argued that the public response to the novel coronavirus crisis - respecting the lockdown - had demonstrated that radical social change was possible.
Donate to Double Down News.
He began by citing homelessness as an example. During the last 10 years of Conservative government the number of people living - and dying - on the streets has increased. But when the rich perceived homeless people as potential carriers of Covid-19 the resources were found to end the crisis.
Life support
"Suddenly, as soon as the pandemic hits, the money can be found. It was a question of the lack of political will," the writer and activist explained.
Monbiot pointed to the fact that the government and industry had claimed for decades that people would never give up luxuries such as international holidays and business flights. But in the last few weeks very few people in the UK have even considered flying.
He said: "People are prepared to make big changes when they know it's for the good of humanity. But yet the changes we need to make to preserve our lives and all life on earth are far smaller than we have have been asked to make to protect ourselves from the coronavirus."
The Second World War provided the perfect proof that the government too could be interventionist if there was the political will. The Conservative led national government forced factories to turn from the production for the market to production for the national war effort.
Monbiot argued the same could happen now. "Laying the foundations of a completely new economy, an economy that lives within the planet's natural limits but that actually emphasises human wellbeing and the wellbeing of our life support systems."
Echoing popular memes such as "capitalism: do not resuscitate" and "there was no normal to return to" he argued that the coronavirus while being a global catastrophe could be an opportunity for real, global change.
"This horrendous pandemic has to be a tipping point," he said. "This has to be a point of transform where we move from one system, an exploitative political and economic system to a completely different one: private sufficiency and public luxury."
He explained that there are only enough basic natural resources - gold, steel, and sinks for carbon emissions - for very few people to use wasteful luxuries such as yachts, sports cars and private jets. And - to put it bluntly - you are never going to be one of those few.
This horrendous pandemic has to be a tipping point.
And by squandering these natural resources, the super rich are denying the rest of humanity the very basics to meet human needs. "They are taking resources away from the rest of us," he pointed out.
He added: "The promise of capitalism is that can achieve that private luxury. We are all temporarily embarrassed millionaires. That is the con of it all, that it the trick. We cannot sit on that golden throne. There is not enough resources for us to do so. They sit on the golden throne because other people's labour is exploited."
He imagined a new future, where everyone has some access to enormous wealth. This might be an occasional stay in a grand hotel, or a visit to a spectacular museum. Public transport and other amenities could also be grand in scale and design. He envisaged "great public everything."
Monbiot concluded by lamenting the fact that he had people asking whether we would in fact descend into a new form of hell, or barbarism, or whether we might emerge into a new way of being.
"People make it sound like it's a spectator sport." He explained. "We are the ones that determine whether we emerge from this pandemic with things worse than it was before, or better than it was before."
He called for mass participation to end the corporate control of government and replace it with real democracy, where decisions are made and influenced by the citizenry. "Break the link between the power of government and the power of money," he dared the viewer.
The video - as always - explained the need for independent journalism and asked for donations to Double Down News.
This Author
Brendan Montague is the editor of The Ecologist and a £5 a month patron of Double Down News.


text:
When doing an aspiration meditation practice, center yourself into a relaxed yet alert posture that embodies a state of openness, like a lotus floating on the surface of a pond. As you silently repeat each word or phrase, breathe into and out from your heart, so the words come directly from your solar plexus. Repeat the phrases, penetrating the heart center ever more deeply. When doing an aspiration informal mindfulness practice, sprinkle the intentions of wisdom and compassion throughout the day. This may be when confronting a distressing inner state or outer experience or whenever inspired to invite messages of healing and renewal.
This post is part of a series. If you haven't already, please read my introduction to the "Fertility Aspiration Practices".
Fertile Aspiration Practice
Silently repeat each phrase, inviting the intentions of well-wishing to enter the heart ever more deeply:
May I meet fertility as the journey.
May I meet my child along the path.
"It's not in spite of infertility but because of infertility that your child will come to you!"
-Janetti Marotta


text:
The EHPM Team gave two presentations on Day 1 of the HiEurope Conference in Frankfurt during the Supplements Spotlight free event. The first presentation, given by Director General, Patrick Ahern focused on "The EU and your Product: Decoding Market Access". The second presentation, given by EHPM Communications Advisor focused on" New Product Development: Increasing the liklihood of Consumer Acceptance. Both presentations are available below in addition to our most recent blog.
Check out our most recent Blog for the event here (Health Claims Legislation in Need of Reform)


text:
By Castelli Plona Folding Chair
Available for local pickup in Los Angeles, CA.
Creator: Giancarlo Piretti
Manufacturer: Castelli / Anonima Castelli
Design Period: 1970 to 1979
Production Period: 1970 to 1979
Country of Manufacture: Italy
Style: Italian Modern, Modernist
Materials: Aluminum, Leather
Width 26.8 inch
Depth 23.6 inch
Height 29.5 inch
Seat Height 18.1 inch
Fair — This vintage item remains fully functional, but it shows signs of age through scuffs, dings, faded finishes, minimal upholstery defects, or visible repairs. Contains original leather.


text:
Outside shocks supercharge the EU Green Deal — for now
European speeches rarely excite. The EU's lawmaking process is incremental and disjointed, and the stakes are often obfuscated by detail and too many acronyms.
But when European Commission vice-president Frans Timmermans, on December 13 2019, had to convince the European Parliament to approve the landmark Green Deal, Europe's overarching policy to become the world's first "climate-neutral bloc" by 2050, he brought out the big guns.
Join EUobserver today
Get the EU news that really matters
Instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.
Choose your plan
... or subscribe as a group
Already a member?
"We choose to go for climate neutrality in 2050 and do the other things. Not because they are easy, but because they are hard," he said, adapting the 'Man on the Moon' speech by John F. Kennedy.
Wrapped in the pathos of past scientific, industrial and civic success, Timmermans presented the Green Deal as a do or die moment in European history. It would "organise and measure the best of our energies and skills," he said. "Because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept. One we are unwilling to postpone. And one which we intend to win."
It was meant to solve the problem of political disagreement and paralysis among EU member countries while also serving the external goal of projecting a unified image. By attaching it to the Cold War narrative of the space race — a symbol of the struggle between liberal democracy and authoritarianism — it presented Europe as a green soft power alternative to China, Russia and the United States.
As we now know, parliament approved the proposal — and even asked the commission to increase its climate ambitions further.
Climate change as national security issue
Fast forward to the first quarter of 2022 and with the onset of Russian president Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, gas prices are surging and calls to wean Europe off Russian gas have become louder and more persistent.
"Climate policy is now a matter of national security," an EU official told EUobserver.
At the time of writing, it is still unclear whether Europe will ultimately sanction Russian oil- and gas imports, given that Germany is especially reliant on Russian gas imports. But the new German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has already halted the controversial Nord Stream 2 project and the EU appears ready to double down on the Green Deal.
"The Green Deal is also the answer to the security challenge in the energy field," Timmermans said in the wake of the invasion. On March 8, two weeks after the Russian military offensive, the Commission presented plans to decrease Russian gas imports by two-thirds before the end of the year.
RepowerEU introduces some new measures. It will require gas storage across the EU to be filled up to at least 90 percent of its capacity by October 1 each year.
In addittion, it projects increased Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) imports from other countries, mainly the United States. It even encourages EU members to burn more coal temporarily.
And crucially, it requires member states to speed up the Green Deal, especially its emission reduction policies (dubbed "fit for 55").
Current policies would already decrease gas consumption by 30 percent by 2030.
By speeding up measures, to be paid for with existing pandemic funds, the commission estimates it can reduce Russian natural gas imports to 55 billion cubic meters before the end of the year, down from 155mcm last year.
Before the Ukraine war, there was the pandemic
Before the war, it was the Covid-19 virus which almost scuppered the Green Deal. Even as Timmermans was presenting his bid idea to the European Parliament in December 2019, almost 9000 kilometres away, a Wuhan resident surnamed Chen was the first human on earth to fall sick to the Covid-19 virus.
"Everything changed overnight," an EU official reflecting back on the first pandemic months told EUobserver. Unwittingly, "patient zero" launched a post-pandemic new normal, changing EU politics, and the Green Deal, along with it.
By setting the Green Deal up as a geopolitical tool, encompassing both domestic politics and foreign relations, a dynamic emerged in which uncertainty and the pandemic began feeding into and driving the Green Deal.
"There was a fear the pandemic would derail the Green Deal," an EU official said, with some EU leaders openly calling to "shut down" the Green Deal and focus on battling the virus.
But instead, the pandemic super-charged it.
Threatened by a total economic shutdown and by a lack of medical supplies, which it turned out were primarily produced in China, member states in rapid-fire mode agreed on a slew of policies that built on EU climate policies.
The most consequential was NextgenerationEU, a €750bn pandemic fund that would support governments by issuing joint European debt.
Much of these investments were meant to support citizens and boost the pandemic response. But one-third of this was earmarked for Green Deal investments, which together with the regulate seven-year budget added up to €600bn — more money the continent has ever spent on climate policy.
This collective action was coordinated by the commission, who pushed the Green Deal as the bloc's main growth strategy throughout the year.
EU banks joined in
This was supported by an unprecedented response from the European Central Bank, which promised to buy up all government debt (1850bn eventually) under its so-called pandemic emergency purchase programme (PEPP).
Financial institutions like the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) pooled their resources to help support pandemic stricken economies by spending a large part of their funds on climate action.
This set up a system of collective action between institutions and member states, now described by the EU as "Team Europe."
From a climate policy perspective, there is no question this approach has been successful.
By the end of 2020, even coal-reliant states like Poland recognised the need (and benefit) to decarbonise their economies with EU money, and agreed to increase the bloc's legally binding emissions reduction goal from 40 percent to a net 55 percent cut by 2030 — now enshrined in the European Climate Law.
Governments were seen propping up entire economic sectors, changing ideas of what governments and institutions should and could do — tied together into its central climate policy.
Reflecting on this moment in May 2021, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borell later said that Europeans are "masters of disjointed efforts." He added: "Each policy tends to develop according to its own logic and rhythm. The way to go is to use these instruments as part of one political strategy."
Uncertainy looms
Since its launch in 2019, the Green deal has become the EU's linchpin policy, tying together questions of stimulating and investing in the economy, responding to the climate crisis, and foreign policy threats. Questions like joint debt, huge fiscal and monetary crisis support and massive public investments in green infrastructure are now part and parcel of the EU's policy toolkit.
But even as some of its efforts have proven successful under pressure crises and conflict, it is unclear where it will lead.
For one, the future success of the Green Deal is almost wholly dependent on the availability of money. And there are signs that in addition to the impact of the Russian war, the period of massive monetary interventions and government generosity may be drawing to a close.
The ECB has already decreased its pandemic asset purchases. Although the bank has not yet signalled that it will increase interest rates, worries over inflation will pressure the bank's management to do so.
This will lead to an increase in borrowing costs for governments, while energy prices will by all expectations remain high. As a result, increasing investments in renewables is likely to become more difficult.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, who previously served as ECB president, has already called for a new version of the NextgenerationEU fund to pay for green investments and weather the financial fallout from the war by issuing mutual debt.
But opposition to joint European debt remains potent among "frugal" northern EU member states. Magdalena Andersson, the Swedish prime minister, recently warned that "some countries always find new arguments why they shouldn't pay their expenses." Such intransigence will complicate debates over revamping EU fiscal rules to be held this year.
Even if crises and conflict have driven the Green Deal forward in recent years, this may not continue to be the case in the future. Political will and determination can go just so far. The Green Deal has survived two major external challenges. But without sustainable long-term financial resources — either through governments' monetary financing or joint European debt — the EU's flagship initiative is at risk of impasse.


text:
Gregory Alan Isakov @ Thalia Hall
Tonight, Liz and I went to go see Gregory Alan Isakov perform at Thalia Hall.
We arrived early, and though I usually am the one to over-plan things… I didn't make reservations at Dusek's. For some reason, I figured we could just waltz in and get a table before the show. Apparently, everyone else thought the same thing. And also made reservations.
With a 45 minute wait, we ended up going downstairs to Punch House (which I thought was across the street). We grabbed some seats at the bar, had a drink, and ordered some food.
I had "A Love Supreme," which has: Cutty Sark Prohibition, Sparkling Wine, Dark Matter Coffee Syrup, Lime, Chocolate Bitters. There was this chocolate note that kicked in about 5 seconds after you took a drink. It was really wonderful!
Inside Thalia Hall, milling about.
A view of the entrance. There are raised platforms on either side (a nice touch), as well as a row of chairs. Liz and I snagged two seats for the opening act, and ended up moving closer to the edge of the platform for the main performance.
The venue is quite great. Very open, and it never felt crowded. There's also a nice balcony area (which I wasn't able to find tickets for), along with some opera seats that look pretty snazzy.
Here's a short intro to "Amsterdam," which is a lovely song. The moment it began, I knew what it was… and just wanted to capture a bit of it to share.
It really is a great song. If you're curious to hear the full song, check out the official music video. I've also got links to all the other posts I've made about Isakov's music in the links, below.
Most of the concert images I took are all the same, so this is about all I have.
Liz and I were thinking back to the last time we actually went to a show (it's been a really, really [really]) long time.
She thinks the last show we attended may have been when Dave performed with Jens Lekman at Logan Square Auditorium.
Which was… back in 2007. Yeouch.
I guess there technically was that concert at Sainte Chapelle last year. But beyond that, it may have been the Logan Square concert.
Outside, after the concert.
Two jokers, hamming it up for the camera. Wokka wokka.
Paris, Day 5: Les Puces de Vanves Flea Market, Evening Concert at Sainte Chapelle
Dave Fischoff, Jens Lekman: Logan Square Auditorium, Chicago
Gregory Alan Isakov: Amsterdam Music Video
Gregory Alan Isakov: Saint Valentine
Gregory Alan Isakov: Suitcase Full of Sparks
Gregory Alan Isakov: Amsterdam


text:
The Process of Completing Smash Repairs
If you've been involved in an auto accident, you may be wondering about how a smash repair centre can help you to get your vehicle fixed. This article is here to explain the process of repairing a damaged vehicle. Read on to find out more.
Checking the chassis
The first thing the mechanic at the smash repair centre will do is complete an assessment of the level of damage to the vehicle. The first thing they will be interested in is if the chassis of the vehicle is sound. The chassis is the load-bearing frame around which the vehicle is constructed. In severe auto collisions, the chassis can become twisted out of shape. If this occurs, it is unlikely that the vehicle will be able to be repaired. If the chassis is in good shape, the mechanic will move on to assess other areas.
Checking the mechanical systems
Next, the mechanic will take a look at the mechanical systems within the vehicle. This includes the steering wheel, driveshaft, gearbox, and the brakes. By operating each of these systems, the mechanic will be able to determine if any of them have been damaged in the smash. This is important because each one of these systems is critical to the safe operation of the vehicle.
Checking the electrical systems
The mechanic will then move on to checking the electrical system. Fuses may have been dislodged, wires severed or headlights and indicators may have been damaged or destroyed. Repairing the electrical system is a vital part of making sure that your car is roadworthy again.
Checking the bodywork
Finally, the mechanic will inspect the bodywork. Here you can make a choice about the extent and type of repairs. Provided the damage to the bodywork does not interfere with the safe operation of the vehicle, it is safe to drive with dented and scratched panels. If you don't like the idea of driving around in a car that is clearly damaged, you can request that any holes be filled in with resin and for dents to be beaten out of the panels. Finally, you will have the option of having some of the panels resprayed so there is no sign that repairs have been carried out.
If you are interested in finding out more, you should make contact with a local auto body repair shop today, such as one that offers Shannons approved smash repairs. A mechanic will be happy to discuss how they can help you.


text:
Double breasted blazer by Smythe in their most oversized silhouette with a center back vent, this blazer features a dropped notched collar/lapel and pocket placement to emphasize its menswear fit.
- 66% Viscose, 34% Linen | Lining: 100% Cupro
- Dry Clean
- Made in Canada
Model is 5'8" and wearing a size S. Runs true to size, we recommend taking your usual size.
Model's Measurements:
- 26" waist
- 34" hips
- 34" bust


text:
The Biden Administration selected, Rahul Gupta, as its Top Drug Policy Official, charging the former West Virginia Public Health Commissioner with Leading Federal Efforts to Combat a spiraling Addiction Crisis.
Gupta, if confirmed by the Senate, will take on the Drug Czar post amid Record Levels of Deadly Drug Overdoses, spurred by surging use of the powerful Synthetic Opioid Fentanyl and Methamphetamine. The Social Isolation and Economic Hardships brought on by the Coronavirus Pandemic have exacerbated the Problem, Public Health Officials say.
Gupta, who was most recently the Chief Medical Officer at the March of Dimes, gained National Recognition for his Data-Driven Drug Treatment work in West Virginia, a State ravaged by the Opioid Epidemic. His approach to identifying Populations at High Risk for Overdose has served as a national Model and made him an Early Frontrunner to Lead the White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy.
A White House Spokesperson noted that Gupta is slated to become the First Physician to Lead the Office, which was created over 30 years ago.
"President Biden's nomination of Dr. Rahul Gupta to be the first physician ever to lead the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy is another historic step in the Administration's efforts to turn the tide of our nation's addiction and overdose epidemic," the Spokesperson said.
In selecting Gupta, Biden is making Progress on his Pledge to appoint more Asian Americans to Prominent Roles in his Administration, following Pressure from Democratic Lawmakers, early this year. Gupta is also an Ally of Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), a Crucial Swing Vote in the Democrats' thin Senate Majority.
"Dr. Rahul Gupta's nomination to serve as the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy means someone with firsthand knowledge of the opioid crisis, especially in West Virginia, will be coordinating the national fight against the drug epidemic that continues to ravage our nation," Manchin said in a Statement.
The Biden Administration announced Gupta's Nomination One day before the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to Release Data likely showing that 2020 was the Worst year for Drug Overdose Deaths on Record. According to the most recent Preliminary CDC Data, nearly 91,000 People died from a Drug Overdose in the 12 months Leading up to November, a nearly 30% increase from the previous year.
Gupta's Selection is likely to Disappoint some Critics on the Left, who say as West Virginia's Top Public Health Official, he could have done more to Prevent the City of Charleston from Closing a Syringe Exchange Program in 2018.
Gupta's Supporters argue he had to Choose his Battles carefully in One of the Nation's most Conservative States, and they noted he pushed for New Syringe Exchange Programs elsewhere amid Resistance from Local Officials. He Resigned from the Post in 2018.
The lengthy wait for Biden to Nominate a Drug Czar worried many Advocates. Former Drug Czars and nearly 40 Prominent Anti-Addiction Groups, in a May 26th Letter, complained that the Delay was ill-advised given the Severity of the Nation's Drug Crisis. Roughly 250 People Die every day from an Overdose.
"You'd think there would be a huge sense of urgency and it would be one of the most important pillars of his presidency," said former California Republican Rep. Mary Bono, CEO of Mothers Against Prescription Drug Abuse, who signed the Letter.
It's unlikely that the Senate will Review Gupta's Nomination before the Fall.
Biden's Refusal to Restore the Drug Czar to a Cabinet-level Post will also Disappoint some Public Health Advocates, who say the Addiction Crisis warrants a more Robust Federal Response. Advocates have noted that Biden himself coined the term Drug Czar almost 40 years ago, when as a Senator he supported the Office's Creation and pushed for it be included in the Cabinet. The Post was added to the Cabinet by President George W. Bush, but President Barack Obama Downgraded it shortly after taking Office.
The Drug Policy Office was Diminished further during Trump's Presidency, when it was often Sidelined by Political Staff who Oversaw the Previous Administration's Opioid work. The previous Administration also Repeatedly called for Deep Cuts to the Office's Funding, though Congress ignored the Requests.
Drug Treatment Advocates are calling for a Sharp Break from the previous Administration, which often emphasized a Law Enforcement response over Treatment Initiatives. They said Priorities outlined by the Drug Office's Acting Director, Regina LaBelle, this Spring, were a Positive sign. LaBelle was also Considered for the Permanent Role.
To Reduce Overdoses, the New Biden Strategy embraced Test Strips that could Detect the presence of Fentanyl, an approach that Trump's Top Substance Abuse Official Opposed because she feared People would use it to seek out the more Dangerous Substance.
"Rahul has a strong public health background, but he also knows how to work with law enforcement and other stakeholders," said Kevin Sabet, who previously worked at the White House Drug Office and founded Smart Approaches to Marijuana. "I hope drug policy gets back on the front burner with this selection."
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker


text:
With wafer costs of approx. 30-40% of the module costs, the Si wafer as the starting product for a solar module represents an important cost factor. Currently, more than 90% of all photovoltaic modules are manufactured on the basis of crystalline Si wafers, whereby different manufacturing techniques are used for these wafers. The resulting different defect distribution has a decisive effect on the subsequent solar cell efficiency. A good physical knowledge of the existing defects and their distribution, as well as a comprehensive understanding of their changes in the solar cell process can significantly improve the efficiency of solar cells for different Si material classes. Furthermore, it must be ensured that the remaining defects in the finished solar cell are in stable configurations in order to ensure stable operation of the solar module.
Si Wafer Materials
The quality of Si wafers has a wide range, with the quality of the Si feedstock used for crystallization already varying. Another factor is the type of crystallization: In the case of ribbon Si materials, the wafer is obtained directly from the Si melt, which makes complex sawing processes with the associated high material losses unnecessary and thus brings with it a decisive potential cost and energy advantage. However, these ribbon Si materials are subject to a high defect density due to the relatively rapid crystallization, which limits the potential of the solar cells produced from them.
In the class of block-cast multicrystalline (mc) Si materials, on which this group is currently having one of its foci, decisive improvements in crystallization have been achieved in recent years. Improved crucibles and crucible coatings reduce the diffusion of contamination into the Si ingot, which increases the usable material yield of a mc-Si block. The use of seed materials on the crucible base enables the crystallization of so-called quasi-mono Si, i.e. an almost monocrystalline Si material. In the case of the so-called high performance mc-Si, however, grain boundaries are still present, although the crystallization conditions have been optimized to the effect that this material for mc-Si has very long lifetime of the minority charge carriers of more than 1 ms in some cases. Nevertheless, block-cast Si wafers are subject to quality fluctuations due to their position in the mc-Si block, such as the dependence of the metallic impurity distribution over the block height or the density of dislocations.
In addition to the block-cast Si materials, various single-crystalline Si materials such as Cz- or FZ-Si with a significantly lower defect concentration are also used in this group. Some of these materials are considerably more complex to produce than mc-Si, but have a higher efficiency potential for solar cells. It is still unclear why mc-Si materials in locally monocrystalline areas usually do not reach the quality of single-crystalline Si materials, so that the continuous comparison of both material classes is carried out as standard in almost all experiments.
Si materials, which are too expensive for commercial PV applications due to their complex manufacturing process and high material purity, are used to investigate defect influences that are currently still covered by prevailing crystallographic or contamination-related effects in the materials used in the photovoltaic industry. These materials are of crucial scientific importance for understanding defects and the ultimate limitations of materials.
In addition to such high-quality materials, materials are used in this working group, particularly in the area of mc-Si materials, in which a type of defect, such as the concentration of one or more metallic impurities, is specifically increased and manipulated during crystallization. Such changes in material quality and properties simplify the investigation of the effects of individual defect types on the Si material quality and their changes during the solar cell manufacturing process.
A precise knowledge of the material properties of these different Si material classes is of decisive importance if the behaviour of defects in the solar cell is to be understood and the potential of these Si materials for photovoltaic applications is to be determined.
Defect Characterization
For the evaluation of the material quality a comprehensive characterization of the defects in the available Si materials is very important. Of particular importance here is the determination of the minority carrier lifetime, which is a measure of material quality and initially provides indirect indications of the underlying defects. Injection- and temperature-dependent lifetime measurements allow conclusions to be drawn about further defect properties. Spatially resolved lifetime measurements and their comparison with other measurement methods allow conclusions to be drawn about the underlying defect structure. The determination of the interstitial Fe concentration is also based on specific lifetime measurements.
The separation of volume and surface effects is decisive for lifetime measurements. A sufficiently good surface passivation is necessary in order to be able to make statements about the actual bulk lifetime of interest. However, a disadvantage of established processes for surface passivation is that the deposition of the passivation layers is usually associated with temperature steps or an entry of H into the volume, which can have effects on the electrical activity of the defects. For this purpose, these surface passivations are optimized for lifetime measurements and new wet-chemical processes are investigated that minimize or ideally do not exhibit these volume changes at all.
To correlate the lifetime with the underlying defect structure, further methods are used to determine crystallographic properties, such as the localization of grain boundaries, the determination of crystal orientation and dislocation density. Furthermore, microscopic methods are used to determine the local recombination activity of defects or to directly detect impurities, such as the analysis of TEM lamellae or the 3D FIB method developed in this working group for the detection of metallic precipitates.
Defect Evolution during Solar Cell Production
The defect structure in Si materials changes during the solar cell process. High-temperature processes, such as the gettering of impurities during emitter formation or the final firing for contacting and for driving in hydrogen, are usually decisive here. The effectiveness of such process steps depends very much on the type and distribution of defects. The exact interaction of the existing defect structure with applied process steps is the subject of current research. For this purpose, the samples are subjected to a detailed defect characterization after each individual (partial) process step or after application of only individual process parameters such as temperature.
The current focus of this working group is on the process steps of gettering, the influence of H-passivation and firing. With regard to the getter process, established methods such as POCl3 diffusion are compared with novel approaches of a doping glass deposited by APCVD and subsequent diffusion. In addition to understanding the interaction of these process steps with the defect structure, it is just as important to maintain or even improve the properties of these process steps, such as emitter formation, which are important for the electrical function of a solar cell.
The H-passivation of defects by firing a H-rich dielectric layer represents a further process step that has a strong effect especially on the electrical properties of defects. The firing step, which normally concludes the solar cell process, changes the defect properties once again due to the high temperature input and can also lead, for example, to already gettered impurities redistributing in the material. In addition to understanding the interaction of defects with individual process steps, it is therefore extremely important to always keep an eye on the entire solar cell process.
Long-term Stability
Various degradation mechanisms and the long-term stability of solar cells have developed into a hot research topic in recent years. Recombination-active boron-oxygen (BO) correlated defects form under charge carrier injection (e.g. under illumination) especially in monocrystalline Czochralski-Si and reduce the efficiency of the solar cell under working conditions. A very elegant way of reversing the harmful effects of this phenomenon, also known as light-induced degradation (LID), was discovered at the University of Konstanz in 2006. This process, known as regeneration, allows the harmful effect of BO-correlated defects to be completely eliminated after solar cell production. To this end, intensive research and development work has been and continues to be carried out.
The research group also deals with LeTID (Light and elevated Temperature Induced Degradation) in mc-Si and the subsequent regeneration under the same conditions. In addition to effective external gettering steps, the influence of the firing step is of central importance. To limit the underlying defect, the measuring conditions, such as temperature, are also varied. Based on these investigations, first model ideas of the underlying defect or the factors influencing this defect (hydrogen and metallic contaminations) could be found. However, the cause of LeTID and the exact defect evolution during degradation and subsequent regeneration is still far from conclusive.
LeTID occurs in all classes of mc-Si materials. The lifetime level at maximum degradation hardly differs between cost-efficiently manufactured or even deliberately contaminated materials compared to high-quality mc-Si materials with initial service lives of up to 1 ms. In the meantime, there are also indications that LeTID is not limited to mc-Si, but also occurs in monocrystalline materials.
Characterization of new Silicon Materials
Within the scope of the available resources, fundamental research and investigations are carried out, such as studies of the crystal structure of the Si materials and the recombination properties of the crystal defects. Together with the Characterization group, measurement techniques are also being developed and used that are not yet available within the framework of existing projects and collaborations. For this purpose, e.g. measuring stations are set up, which can display the characteristics of the Si materials in a spatially resolved way. Examples of this are lock-in thermography, with which the smallest temperature changes down to the µK range can be detected on a solar cell and thus provide information about sources of loss within the solar cell, as well as time-resolved photoluminescence.
The picture shows a 5x5 cm2 solar cell held in the hand. It was recorded with an IR camera that is sensitive in the wavelength range 3-5 µm. Si is transparent in this wavelength range, since the photon energy there is smaller than the band gap energy of Si. Therefore, besides the front metallization, the backside metallization (grid structure with two busbars) can also be seen through the cell. In the color coded display, red areas are warmer and blue areas are colder.


text:
In October I wrote two separate blog articles reflecting on The Serenity Prayer and the Prayer of St. Francis. Two years ago, I shared a homily from a holy hour reflecting on the Lord's Prayer. Today I would like to reflect on the Prayer to St. Michael but I would like to take a little different approach than in my previous reflections on the prayers already mentioned.
I would like to begin by reflecting on the origin of the Prayer to St. Michael and why the prayer is becoming more popular today.
The origin of the prayer goes back to 1884. After Pope Leo XIII finished saying Mass, he experienced a vision of spiritual warfare between Jesus and Satan. From the vision, Pope Leo XIII was led to compose the Prayer to St. Michael. He ordered that it be said after the conclusion of every Mass. This practice continued until the 1950's.
I specifically mention that it is after Mass that the prayer is said. The Mass is the greatest prayer we can offer. We do not need to add to the Mass. Thus, the Prayer to St. Michael is said after Mass, not to add to the Mass but to remind us as we go out into the world that we need help in the battle against Satan. We can say the prayer anytime on our own. We say it together after we conclude Mass to remind us that we are united together in the battle against sin. We rely on St. Michael who helps us through the "power of God."
So, why is it making a comeback? For myself, I had seen the prayer in the past but, honestly, I didn't pay much attention to it until I was assigned as pastor to St. Michael's Church in Newark, NY. Upon my arrival I read some short books to learn more about St. Michael (that reading is incorporated into homilies I gave on St. Michael in 2016 and 2017 on the Feast of the Archangels, September 29th). The material that I read included the origin of the Prayer to St. Michael I already mentioned above.
I was led to consider resuming the custom of saying the Prayer to St. Michael Prayer at the conclusion of Mass. As I was praying over this, other parishes and even whole dioceses were resuming this practice. Why? Because of a growing sense that we are indeed in a "battle" against Satan. We need help. Ultimately, of course the help comes from God.
God works through others. In the battle against evil, St. Michael plays a vital role. In chapter 12 of the Book of Revelation, we learn of the battle against Satan in Heaven. In verse 7 we are told it is St. Michael the Archangel who leads this battle. So, we seek his help as we fight against evil.
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Satan is real. Satan, named as the serpent, led Adam and Eve to commit the first sin (cf. "Original Sin and the Question of Limbo") in the Garden of Eden in chapter 3 of the Book of Genesis. It is Satan who tries to get Job to reject God in the Book of Job. It is Satan who tempts Jesus in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13). It is Satan who "entered into Judas," leading him to betray Jesus (Luke 22:3).
Yes, Satan is real. So, we ask St. Michael to "defend us in battle," to "be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil." Of course, we know God is the one brings victory over sin. Thus, we pray, "may God rebuke him."
Even as we pray that St. Michael, as the "Prince of the heavenly hosts…thrust into hell Satan, all the evil spirits" we know it is "by the power of God" that he does this.
Satan and the evil spirits "prowl around the world seeking the ruin of souls." Why? One common answer is that Satan is looking to increase the numbers under him. He builds his pride by ruining our souls. Another is that Satan is envious of us. If he can't get into Heaven, he does not want us to be get into Heaven either.
Satan is cunning as he seeks the ruin of souls. We struggle against temptation. The good news is that we do not need to fight the battle alone. God is with us and He gives us St. Michael to help us.
Fr. Jeff


text:
Need propane? We have it! Bring your propane tank down for us to fill for you. We also offer delivery of propane tanks and propane tank rentals. Just call us for a quote. We fill just about all tanks and all sizes.
Moving Supplies
We have a variety of moving supplies to help you with your move. From boxes and bubble wrap to packing paper and tape, we've got you under wraps!
Get in Touch
Best Rental Center in Taunton, MA
Whether you need to rent construction equipment, party features, or something else, turn to the experts at Taunton Rental Center.
(508) 823-0130
Business Hours
Mon - Sat: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Sunday: Closed


text:
Charlie Rose, the storied TV host whose PBS show was canceled because of sexual harassment allegations, is said to be starring in a new show where he interviews other men who have been accused of sexual harassment, according to reports.
Guests would include people like Matt Lauer and Louis C.K. It would be like a gateway to a comeback for some of the men accused of all manners of sexual assault and harassment during the #MeToo movement.
According to Page Six, Tina Brown, a writer and women's rights advocate, pitched it to Netflix, but a source at Netflix said they'd never heard of the show.
If this sounds like a terrible idea, it's because it is.


text:
The Lyric Theatre opens its doors to the show that likes to keep a low profile. Tonight (June 11) The Super Secret Show welcomes these fine comedians:
Natasha Leggero
Joe Derosa
Barry Rothbart
Johnny Pemberton
Jodi Miller
Rob O'Reilly
Zach Noe Towers
Josh Waldron
hosted by Internet Sensation Flula Borg!
Be there or be just plain uncool.
Mentions: But tix NOW! Show 8pm. There will be an open reception next door at voila gallery from 6-8p. The Lyric Theatre is located at 520 N. La Brea Ave, Los Angeles.


text:
Free Shipping on all orders!
Palm Tree Prints are so hip and fun! Love the new mist color. The slub sweater knit is so soft and cozy, with an elastic drawstring waistband and paired it with the Long Sleeve for an amazing set!
Machine wash cold, turn inside out, gentle cycle, wash dark colors separately, do not bleach, hang to dry, warm iron if needed, turn inside out to iron.
Slub Knit: 52% Rayon 44% Polyester 4% Spandex


text:
With so many streaming platforms that now allow us to endlessly binge on TV shows, we truly are living in the golden era of television. For proof, just take a look at all the new TV shows that Netflix has been churning out lately. But besides all the compelling series that we get to view these days, we also get to see several groundbreaking sex scenes that range from being sexy to scandalous, to also being heteronormative. Some might argue that this progression that television has made towards being more open-minded is a mistake. But if you think about it, sex is a normal part of our lives, pretty much like everything else, and there's no reason why even cinema should shy away from it. In fact, a lot of times, sex can also be used for exploring darker themes; example: 'House of Cards'.
With so many of these shows coming out every single week, you may not be able to keep up with all of them. So we have decided to make sure that you do not miss out on some of the most provocative, erotic sex scenes that these shows offer. We have already covered the best TV sex scenes all of all time, so this article will only be confined to the ones that were featured in shows released this year. Here's the list of the best TV sex scenes of 2019:
8. Dark (Incestuous Time Travel)
Since its release in 2017, 'Dark' has gained a lot of popularity because of its intricate plot, brilliant cinematography and evocative background scores. 'Dark' is often compared with 'Stranger Things' because both of them belong to the sci-fi genre. But while 'Stranger Things' is a show that is more suitable for kids or younger teens, 'Dark' has a story with a lot more maturity in it. Speaking of maturity, right from the very beginning, 'Dark' has been bold with its depiction of sex and nudity.
When I say incestuous sex and relationships, you probably start thinking about Dany and Jon Snow from 'Game of Thrones'. Only a few would actually think about the creepier relationship between Jonas (Louis Hofmann) and Martha (Lisa Vicari). Their relationship is one complicated mess that involves confusing wonders of time travel. So their brief moment of lovemaking not only turns you on but also leaves you completely baffled.
7. Good Omens (Prophesied Sex)
If you're a big fan of 'Doctor Who' or Neil Gaiman's stories, 'Good Omens' is the perfect fantasy mini-series for you. Overall, unlike most other extreme TV shows on this list, 'Good Omen' is fairly less graphic and profane. In fact, with parental guidance, this show can also be enjoyed by the ones who are even below the age of 13. Now you must be wondering how this series still made it to this list. I'll tell you why. In the show, the world is on the brink of absolute destruction and that's when two main protagonists, Newton (Jack Whitehall) and Anathema (Adria Arjona), end up having sex for the first time. While this might still seem normal, the fact that their first time had been prophesied hundreds of years ago makes it really unusual. And this bizarre nature of their sex is the reason why it is featured on the list.
6. Bonding (Pretty Much Everything)
With a short span of just 7 episodes that have an average runtime of 15 minutes, 'Bonding' is one show you can easily binge on. Despite its extremely over-the-top nature, it still manages to stick to its dark comedy and even presents a fairly decent story. Graphic nudity and explicit profanity are common occurrences in this show, which makes it obvious that it may not be suitable for a lot of people. While the satirical side of it is quite enjoyable, it has some of the weirdest WTF-moments that will shock you to the core.
From the premise itself, which revolves around a gay man who decides to work with his dominatrix bestie, one can tell that this TV series is not for the faint-hearted. But out of all the disturbing scenes that sporadically occur throughout its runtime, there is one where the male lead casually pees on a stranger in a bizarre pink room while his best friend just stands there and stares. This may not exactly be seen as a sex scene but it qualifies to be on this list purely because of its weirdness.
5. Claws (Furry Sex)
On the surface, this TNT show is about the lives of a few women who run a nail salon in Florida. But it actually delves deeper into the struggles that these women face and explores several issues concerning women empowerment. With its season 3, that recently premiered in 2019, 'Claws' has seriously gone bonkers. The show literally has no chill and from the first episode itself, it brings in four graphic sex scenes. Though they are all quite graphic, almost all of these sex scenes have some very normal setups. Just when you start getting used to the boldness of 'Claws', you get to witness a kind of sex scene that has never been portrayed in any American series before. Dr. Ken, played by Jason Antoon, ends up saving someone's life and that's when his girlfriend decides to reward him with some weird furry fetish. Both of them wear fluffy animal suits and have sex somewhere deep inside the forest. If we could describe this scene with just one word, it would definitely be "kinky".
4. Black Mirror (XXX Gaming)
Episode 1 of Black Mirror's Season 5 explores the world of surreal virtual combat gaming. It revolves around two long-time friends who spend a lot of time gaming together. Danny (Anthony Mackie) is more of a family man who is about to have a child and Karl (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) seems to be more into the casual dating scene. One night, in their respective homes, the two get together to play a newly released insanely realistic combat game known as 'Striking Vipers'. While Karl chooses to be a female character, Danny goes for a male fighter named Lance.
The boys have fun testing all kinds of power moves on each other and that's when things suddenly take an awkward turn. Through their characters in the gaming world, they start making out and even have sex for the first time. And as weird as all of it feels, it actually gives them sensations very similar to that of real-life sex. What makes this scene so significant is how it initially confuses the two friends into believing that they could possibly be gay. They even go as far as kissing each other in real life just to make sure that they're not homosexual. Also, this pokes fun at the present online gaming scenario where many gamers choose characters that are opposite to their real-life gender. While all this may still be okay during the present times, 'Striking Vipers' portrays how virtual gaming might have a very dark future.
Read More: Best TV Shows About Lesbians
3. Euphoria (One Direction Fan Fiction)
HBO's 'Euphoria' is one show that has been trending lately because of its provocative depictions of teenage sexuality. The show is adapted from an Israeli series that goes by the same name and follows the life of a 17-year-old teen named Rue (Zendaya) who plans to revive her drug addiction right after she walks out of rehab. The plot also shifts its focus on to other teenage lives who orbit Rue in one way or the other.
'Euphoria' clearly does not hold itself back when it comes to depicting bold NSFW content. But one scene that took the whole internet by storm is its portrayal of a fanfiction dream sequence written by one of the characters. In this dream sequence, Harry Styles from One Direction gently massages the back of his fellow bandmate Louis Tomlinson. This seductive massage further leads to a very intimate moment between the two teenage sensations. While many One Direction fans have always seemed to ship this fictitious relationship, the band members were not really happy about it.
Read More: Sexiest TV Shows of All Time
2. Sex Education (Ncuti Gatwa and Connor Swindells)
'Sex Education', as the name suggests, is about all the uncomfortable realities that hit a bunch of teens after they experience having sex for the first time. Each episode features a new awkward sexual experience that a teen couple is going through. The main protagonist, Otis (Asa Butterfield), does not have much experience when it comes to lovemaking. But surprisingly, he is able to give some good advice to those who have been facing some issues of their own. Soon, with the help of a street smart "bad" girl and his gay best friend, he sets an underground sex clinic where he counsels his troubled school mates. But from what it looks like, he might also have some serious unaddressed sexual problems of his own.
Each episode starts off with a sex scene which then becomes the main storyline for that episode and while this unfolds, there are other mini-plots thrown around, here and there, that further add to the overarching story. Almost every sex scene in the show holds a deeper value, so each one of them could easily be a worthy mention on this list. But this one scene between Eric and Adam comes off as a major shocker. From the beginning of the show, it was pretty evident that Eric is gay but as viewers, we are forced to believe that Adam only bullies him because he is the school jock. When Eric and Adam get carried away during a fight and end up having sex for the first time, that's when it hits you that all the bullying was nothing but a manifestation of Adam's internalized homophobia.
Read More: Best Teen TV Shows of All Time
1. Special (Ryan O'Connell and a Sex Worker)
'Special' is a comedy series that is more of semi-autobiographical film, that stars and revolves around the life of actor-write Ryan O'Connell. He plays the role of a man who suffers from cerebral palsy and decides to let go of his real identity. Setting out on an adventure to live the life he has always dreamt of, he gives up on his old sullen lifestyle of blogging and starts heading towards adulthood by taking one step at a time. Apart from all the great humor that this show packs, it has some extremely moving heart touching moments that might make you rethink about certain aspects of your own life.
Unlike other shows on this list, this one does not have too many sex scenes. But there is this one incredible scene that is enough to make it a worthy mention on this list. It all starts off when Ryan decides to have sex for the first time. To make this happen, his friends get him in touch with a sex worker named Shae. What makes this sex scene stand out from all the others out there is how it normalizes gay sex by portraying it in a way we're used to seeing heterosexual lovemaking. Apart from that, it also opens up the idea of a person with disabilities getting involved in sexual activities, which is something you will rarely find in any other TV series.
Read More: Best Gay TV Shows of All Time


text:
Mu Labs | Advanced Imaging Solutions |
Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) AnalyserOptical coherence tomography (OCT) is an interferometric, non-invasive optical tomographic imaging technique offering millimeter penetration (approximately 2-3 mm in tissue) with micrometer-scale axial and lateral resolution. The technique was first demonstrated in 1991 with ~30µm axial resolution. Since then, OCT has achieved sub-micrometre resolution in 2001 due to introduction of wide bandwidth light sources (sources emitting wavelengths over a ~100 nm range). By now OCT has found its place as a widely accepted imaging technique, especially in ophthalmology, other biomedical applications and art conservation. Mu Labs has developed automatic image analysis tool for ophthalmologic OCT images. See screenshots below, contact us for more information. Analysed OCT imageResults of analysis Thickness chart of cornea |
Copyright © 1999-2007 mulabs.com. All rights reserved |


text:
GamingBolt recently held an interview with Redout developer 34BigThings, and we spoke about the optimizations being made to the upcoming Lightspeed Edition. For those who own a PS4 Pro, the game will include several significant enhancements. We asked if the game would be running at native 4K and 60 frames per second on the PS4 Pro, to which the devs replied that optimization for the same is currently ongoing.
"Optimization is an art that takes patience and time," they said. "We are trying to make it in time for launch, but we can't be sure at the moment." When we asked what improvements were being implemented to the PS4 Pro version specifically, the devs said, "HDR is there, if your TV supports it. But honestly I would say the huge performance boost is the main reason to play Redout on a Pro."
We also posed the question of how much effort it takes to port a game over to the PS4 Pro, and brought up assertions by Mark Cerny, the lead engineer of the PlayStation 4 Pro, who claimed that converting a base PS4 game to PS4 Pro version is just 0.2 or 0.3% of the overall effort. "Definitely not, I can agree with him," was the answer we got. "For us the process has been straightforward and didn't bring up anything we weren't expecting already. And [we] loved the performances."
Redout Lightspeed Edition launches on August 29 for the Xbox One and PS4. Stay tuned for continued coverage.


text:
Hot High School Boys of Never Have I Ever on Netflix. Some of the reviews are in for the Netflix series Never Have I Ever and it looks like the streaming giant and Mindy Kaling are going to have a hit in their hands. Currently, the show's got a 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes although this score is likely to drop as more reviewers come in.
Now, if reviews are not what makes you interested in watching a TV show, maybe these hot high school boys on the show will make you tune in.
Paxton Hall-Yoshida (played by Darren Barnet). We already blogged about him and we predicted that he'll be one of the breakout stars mainly because of how fast he chucks off his shirt in the scene below.
Swimming hunk Paxton can't get out of the pool without a group of fangirls taking photos of his well-defined abs.
And here's the GIF version for the THOTs among us.
Ben Gross (played by Jaren Lewison). We speculated that he could be one of Devi's love interests but he's been described in reviews as her "brown-nosing academic rival". Maybe we were wrong about the character? Anyhoo, since we are talking about high school hunks, it might interest you to know that the actor who plays Ben is a real deal high school jock having played as the captain of the Pearce High football team.
Ben confronting his academic rival in the hallway.
Trent Harrison (played by Benjamin Norris). We have no information on what the Trent character is about on the show but the actor who plays him is a fun-loving guy on Instagram who ain't above photoshopping his head to the body of a bulked up muscle machine. Follow him on Instagram @benanorris if you want to watch his fun adventures and shenanigans.
Jonah Sharpe (played by Dino Petrera). We are gonna bet a hundred bucks that Jonah, who loves him his Mariah Carey, is going to be the gay best friend on Never Have I Ever.
Fruit-Eating Gorgeous Guy. Who is this guy? We love him already. What is that fruit he's eating? Is that an apple? Anyhoo, we hope to update this post in the future once we ID him.
We love, love, love the way he's biting that fruit we are compelled to make a GIF of the action.
We still have to watch Never Have I Ever but we plan to update this post if we see more hot high school boys on the show who should be included in this post. That's it for the time being.
Hot High School Boys of Never Have I Ever on Netflix. Last updated: April 22, 2020 at 4:57 am.


text:
UFC on Fox 9: Johnson vs. Benavidez 2 is set to grace the airwaves of broadcast television this weekend as UFC once again puts their lightest foot forward on national television with an event featuring lighter weight fighters. As with every other card of this nature, there has been a constant stream of musical chairs, but the end result is still a damned fine card, albeit one with questionable appeal to fans outside of the MMA bubble. I guess that is okay, though, right?
At least that seems to be what UFC thinks. Anyway, UFC on Fox 9 is this weekend which means that today is Thursday and that means a press conference. So yes, watch this UFC on Fox 9 press conference and enjoy the staredowns.


text:
Statement on behalf of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
This statement is in reference to the press release/ rumoured attachment of Ms. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to Mr. P. Vasu's film which has been doing the rounds very strongly today in the media and the industry. With due respect to all the professionals concerned , I would like to state that this was one among the several scripts/ ideas she has been approached for but there have been no confirmations at all. This " press release" came as a huge surprise to all of us…… An email clarifying this erroneous 'press release' has already been received by our office from the concerned parties.


text:
US paradox: Wasting food while going hungry
America's expanding waistline proves the country's love affair with food. But almost as much as is consumed is being dumped in the trash every day. And that is despite the fact that millions in the US are now struggling to put food on the table.
RT has met the so called "dumpster divers" who say a few minutes of raking through garbage bags can deliver a banquet.And all this food is being wasted at a time when US news reports are full of stories of extreme hardship.CNN: "The number of people living on food stamps has reached an all-time high."FOX: "More and more people are going hungry."MSNBC: "One in three Americans lives in or near poverty."ABC: "…and suffering hunger in this land of plenty."In this land of plenty, roughly 2.7 million tons of food are reportedly raised and grown each year. The same country that has such a love of consuming calories also loves to waste them.Gio Andollo is a dumpster diver. Instead of paying for food, he rummages through garbage bags on the streets of New York City, where tons of edible food are thrown out each night.The 27-year-old musician makes his way from the bakery to the deli, relying on supermarket trash for his essential vitamins."There's hot food here…which probably comes from a hot food bar," he comments while going through the bags. "Even without opening the bag, I can see an orange, apple, parsnip, some greens."What we and others crowding around Gio see, is that in a country where more than 40 million people struggle daily to get enough to eat, millions of meals are literally being thrown away."This food, as you can see, is perfectly edible," Gio explains. "There's no sense it should be wasted and thrown away. Otherwise it would end up on top of a landfill somewhere."An estimated 30 to 50 per cent of US food produced for consumption ends up in landfills each year. This comes at an annual cost of more than US $1 billion. Simultaneously, food prices continue to rise, leaving millions more in line at soup kitchens, and ultimately searching though trash.The documentary "Dive" follows filmmaker Jeremy Seifert and his friends in the back alleys and rubbish piles of Los Angeles, as thousands of dollars' worth of edible food is salvaged."It's a result of our excess. We are a wealthy country and we have excess and so waste is really, necessarily, a by-product of excess, and it's a bad habit of the sort of spoiled rich kid, as it were," he told RT.A paradoxal society – as America's has turned out to be – is defined by wasteful consumption and an ongoing struggle to make ends meet. A paradox highlighted by Gio Andollo's view of food as a non-essential, luxury item."If I need to cut my expenses, the first thing that will go is food," Andollo declares.Amid America's expanding climate of food waste, critics say the country's overall carelessness is causing a ripple effect around the world."It is a global market now, and our overconsumption directly impacts the hungry and the poor in other countries," Jeremy Seifert continued. "Us taking more than we need affects the prices of food, affects the availability of food. Why did I make the film? It was a sense of outrage at the injustice of food waste."


text:
Security+ Domain #4: Identity and Access Management
Put simply, Identity and access management (IAM) can be defined as the security discipline that makes sure the right individuals can access the right resources, at the right times, exclusively for the right reasons. In essence, this is one of the most basic security controls every organization should be using, but in truth, it is far more complex than simply assigning a username and password to the new employee that has just arrived at the company.
Of course, IAM is an essential part of CompTIA's Security+, with the 4th domain (Identity and Access Management) taking 16% of the exam, and there is good reason for that: This certification focuses on validating the foundation-level skills and knowledge that are needed to perform core security functions and pursue an IT security career. In the real world, IAM is a critical consideration for every company that wishes to protect its data. A simple mistake, such as accidentally granting a user access to a critical resource, could lead to a major incident such as unauthorized access to personally identifiable information or data loss/leakage.
So, if you are going for the Security+ certification, here is a list of IAM topics you must be familiar with:
- Compare and contrast identity and access management concepts: As with any important topic, learning should start with the basic concepts. As for Identity and Access Management, a sensible starting point is understanding what Identification, authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) is. Identification happens when a user claims their identity with identifiers such as a username, email address, or even a physical badge. After that, users must prove their identity with authentication, most commonly done with a password. Once identified and authenticated, a user can be authorized to access an object.Accountability is necessary to track whatever the user does (Read more...)
*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from InfoSec Resources authored by Claudio Dodt. Read the original post at: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/infosecResources/~3/CJPH3F87154/


text:
German aviation-services provider FAI's air ambulance division has been operating at maximum capacity to meet the high number of requests for repatriation and medevac flights.
Since March the company has performed almost 70 flights of Covid-19 patients in 47 countries with the single patient isolation and transport system EpiShuttle.
FAI has logged more than 10,000 hours this year flying air ambulance missions. In the month of April FAI did nearly 800 hours of flying on mostly medevac missions. The company's air ambulance division has transported patients using the EpiShuttle in 47 countries, including difficult destinations in Iraq, China and South Sudan.
So far this year medical flights have been to 69 airports all over the world with the EpiShuttle. The EpiShuttle enables the easier transport of Covid-19 patients by air. The EpiShuttle is especially useful when transporting contagious patients by air and the crew is unable to wear personal protection equipment.
Volker Lemke, head of FAI´s Air Ambulance Division said, "I am immensely proud of the way FAI Air Ambulance and our talented team of professionals responded to the immense challenges of the pandemic.
"We have collaborated with EpiGuard in on further development in safe isolation and transport. Our investments in the EpiShuttle has increased our efficiency in Covid-19 transport and we have had flights with CBRN patients with the EpiShuttle as well."
Norwegian company EpiGuard developed the EpiShuttle based on experiences from previous pandemics to protect staff and care for patients, while reducing costs and increasing operational efficiency.
"Collaborating with a professional partner as FAI gives us firsthand information on the use of the EpiShuttle as well as insight to practicalities you only experience in the field of duty," said Ellen Cathrine Andersen, CEO in EpiGuard.
The impact of the covid-19 pandemic on the aviation sector is enormous and the industry has been to massive changes the last few months. FAI is now nominated as the Air Ambulance Company of the Year category in this year's International Travel & Health Insurance Journal´s (ITIJ) Industry Awards.
Read more about how business aviation has acted to fill the need for medical flights during the pandemic in this month's issue of Business Airport International magazine.


text:
Christie Brinkley open to love - but can't find a man
Christie Brinkley "remains open" to dating but can't find a man.
The 69-year-old supermodel - who has three children, Alexa, 38, Jack, 28, and 25-year-old Sailor from her previous marriages - has been single for several years following brief relationships with John Mellencamp and David Foster and while she welcomes the idea of finding love again, she's found a challenge.
She told People magazine: "There just doesn't seem to be anybody out there."
But Christie isn't too upset as she's comfortable with her life alone and isn't going to settle down with the first guy that comes along.
She added: "At the same time. I am pretty comfortable with my life the way it is, so, que será, será!
"I always said my whole life that I think that you have to be happy alone so that you get with a man for the right reasons and you're not clinging to him because you need to, you know?"
Although finding romantic love would be nice, Christie couldn't be happier than spending time with her family and friends.
She said: "I think that's kind of just the height of happiness."
Christie keeps busy with various ventures, including her wine brand Bellissima, the upcoming launch of TWRHLL - a lifestyle and apparel brand in collaboration with Xcel Brands Inc - and a partnership with RYZA adaptogenic mushrooms, but she still wants to find the time to travel.
She said: "I still have to see India. I've never been to Tahiti or Thailand. I want to go to Bali also. I've got to do an eat, pray, love."
And of her ambition to take Italian lessons, she added: "I love Italy, and I want to be able to converse better."
Through her business ventures, Christie hopes she can give back to those who are less fortunate.
She said: "If TWRHLL becomes very successful, I'd love to be able to do things that very successful people do with their money in terms of giving back. At 70, you kind of say, 'What can I do to help others?'"


text:
USB to RS422
from $48.50
USB to RS422 adapters (HIGH SPEED)
Description Note : USB2-H-6008-M <LOW STOCK>. Our Hi-Speed USB to RS422 adapters make it quick and simple to connect one or more RS422 device...
View full detailsfrom $48.50Sale -
from $40.15
USB to RS422 cable with FT232R Chipset
Description USB Speed v1.1 The USB to RS422 converter cable family provides a simple way to connect devices with an RS422 interface to USB. The cab...
View full detailsfrom $40.15Sale
Sort by


text:
With just a few days to the end of the 7th Assembly, members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday suspended further consideration of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) due to the sectional line the consideration of the report appeared to take.
The Chairman Committee of the Whole House, Emeka Ihedioha, halted further consideration of the report when he discovered that argument over some contentious clauses has taken on regional dimension.
Ihedioha, who is also the Deputy Speaker of the House, mandated the ad hoc Committee to do further work on the contentious clauses to enable the House make informed decision when consecration resumes.
Before then, members from the South and North were at variance over what percentage of national fund should go to certain projects in their areas.
He said: "What we have seen on the floor is a political and emotional solution being put forward by members, but what we need is a technical solution.
"What we must realize is that the import of the PIB is very critical to Nigerians because the National Assembly has been accused at various times for not passing the Bill.
"So, we have to take our time to pass it and pass a bill that can stand the test of time. The committee should go back and involved technical people so that whatever we support at the end of the day will be in favour of Nigeria.
"You have to come up with figures that can be defended by the House. If we go into voting now, it will only be political voting, but we have to be technically guided to be able to do the best for Nigeria."
Also on Tuesday, members of the House kicked against the consideration of a report clearing the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison Madueke, of any wrong doing in an alleged shady sale of seven oil blocs.
The report which was put together by an ad hoc committee headed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum, Upstream, Muraino Ajibola cleared Alison- Madueke of any misdeed in the transaction.


text:
Adventure Planner
Himalayan Ibex
Himalayan Ibex differ from the Alpine Ibex of Europe by a horn shape that grows much longer and curves round to form a three quarter arc. Horn lengths of 36 to 37 inches are considered average. With a widespread and dense population across the higher mountain ranges of northern Pakistan, the Himalayan Ibex is a dweller of high alpine zone and can be found at altitudes of 10,000 to 16,000 feet
The accommodations mostly consist of village houses with basic facilities and clean rooms. In some cases shepherd huts can be used as fly camps, if necessary.