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Chapter 3: THE EARTH
this chapter, you will come to know the planet Earth better.
You will understand the importance for our lives of Earth's
shape and of the blue sky. You will also have a chance to
recognise that the perfect systems you observe are created
by Allah only to make our lives liveable.
the sixteenth century, that is 500 years ago, although some
of the Greeks did have an idea about it, people did not generally
know that Earth was a planet. Observations made at that time
helped people to recognise this. In the 20th century, mankind
was sure about the location of Earth in the Solar System.
Earth is the third farthest planet from the Sun and the fifth
biggest planet.
Scientists believe that Earth has an iron
core which has a temperature of 7,500°C (13,500°F). This is
even hotter than the surface of the sun. However, because
you never feel a bit of this terrible warmth, you can sit
in your classroom listening to your teacher or sleep soundly
in your bed. Earth's crust insulates us from this heat. Allah
is very merciful to us because He has created the Earth's
crust on which we live thick enough to prevent the heat getting
through it. Moreover, Allah has created a human-friendly atmosphere
for us. He has also given plants some features so that they
can maintain the oxygen-carbon dioxide balance.
This structure of Earth and other fine
balances reveal that Earth is specially designed for mankind
to live on.
From its atmosphere to its geography,
from its distance from the Sun to all forms of balances, Earth
is a special planet created to support life. For example,
we may compare our Earth to an aquarium. An aquarium provides
the most appropriate conditions for fish. A thermostat maintains
the proper temperature of the water, there is a motor for
ventilation and sand placed on the bottom. There are special
pills to be placed in the water, there is the protective cover
of the aquarium, a filter system continually filtering the
water, and a continuous food supply
All these support the
life of the fish in the aquarium.
However, the fish within the aquarium
are unaware of this artificial environment. They assume they
live in a "natural" setting or an environment that came into
existence spontaneously. They are unaware that someone has
supplied the thermostat and adjusted the levels of the water
or the functioning of the ventilating motor. They also do
not know who provides the food that suddenly appears on the
surface of the water. Nevertheless, the source is obvious;
the owners of the aquarium provide everything the fish need.
Obviously, life on Earth requires more
delicate systems than life in an aquarium.
person of wisdom does not spend his life in ignorance like
fish in an aquarium. He understands that Earth is "ready-made"
for him and it has a Creator and a Governor. Without doubt,
Allah established these delicate balances and this order that
make life possible on Earth. An intelligent person wants to
know the Lord Who gives all these blessings to him and to
learn what He expects from him. In the Book He has sent us,
Allah lets us know Him and informs us about His expectations
of us.
No doubt, Allah set up the fine balances
and the order making life on Earth possible. Allah tells us
about this in the Qur'an:
We placed firmly embedded mountains on the earth, so it would
not move under them, and We put broad valleys as roadways in it, so that perhaps
they might be guided. We made the sky a preserved and protected roof
al-Anbiya': 31-32)
Allah designed, balanced, and harmonised
every detail on Earth to make it a liveable place for us.
Anyone who realises this fact should believe in Allah, see
His infinite power and be grateful for everything He has given
Now, let's examine some of the balances
Allah, our Creator, has created on our planet and witness
His infinite Might.
Location of Earth in the Universe
What would happen if our Earth were a
little closer to the sun? The answer is obvious because everybody
knows that the heat of the Sun is scorching. Indeed, because
of this enormous heat, we would neither have the current atmosphere
nor the oceans and the seas
The temperature would be so high
that the majority of the water on Earth would evaporate. In
that case, no water would remain on Earth. Earth would be
as dry as a desert.
For example, in an earlier chapter we
mentioned that the planet Venus is closer to the Sun than
our planet. Therefore, the temperature of Venus is higher
than that of Earth. At times, this temperature may rise up
to 475°C (885°F). In order to visualise how high this temperature
is, just think that when you put some water on the hot-plate,
it starts boiling at 100°C (212°F).
Now, let's think of the opposite. What
if Earth were farther from the sun? In this case, our Earth
would receive less heat. You can imagine that if this were
the case, a great part of Earth would freeze and turn to ice.
Earth's surface would resemble the dry, icy surface of Mars,
which is the planet a little bit farther from the sun than
the earth. We can draw a conclusion from these cases: Our
Earth is located just at the right place! How do you think
this has happened? Could it be a coincidence that our Earth
is in exactly the right place? Surely, that cannot be. The
Earth is a non-living and unconscious planet. It is unlikely
that it could work out the most appropriate place on its own,
or settle itself there by coincidence. The fact that Earth
is in the most suitable location is a sign of Allah's perfect
The latest astronomical findings have
shown the importance of the other planets' existence for Earth.
For example, Jupiter's size and position turn out to be critical.
As the biggest planet in the system, Jupiter makes the Earth's
orbit more stable.
If a planet of such size did not exist
where Jupiter is, Earth would be the target of meteors and
comets wandering about in space. In short, Jupiter is like
a shield protecting Earth. If Jupiter were in some other orbit,
our earth, and therefore we would not be around.
A wise person who knows all these things,
understands that nothing in this universe is created without
purpose. This understanding is described in the Qur'an as
In the creation of the heavens and
the earth, and the alternation of night and day, there are
Signs for people with intelligence. (Surah Al 'Imran: 190)
As the verse suggests, we should think
over the creation of the heavens and the earth. What you have
learned from this book illustrates Allah's creation of the
universe. When you reflect on this knowledge, you will have
a better comprehension of Allah's power.
Dear Children, you know that our Earth
is round. Thanks to technological breakthroughs, this fact
is also observed in the photographs of Earth taken from space.
The Qur'an that Allah sent us 1,400 years ago makes certain
statements that led Muslim scientists to understand that the
Earth is round.
He created the heavens and the earth with truth. He wraps
the night around the day and wraps the day around the night
(Surat az-Zumar:
"Takwir," the word used for "wrapping
around" in Arabic, means "to fold something round about as
cover". The information provided in the verse about night's
wrapping around day and vice versa, (takwir) also stimulates
one to think of the world as a globe.
During that period, however, it was extensively
believed that the Earth was not round but flat. All scientific
computations and explanations were based on this flawed approach.
At the period, people were so ignorant about space that some
people held the weird belief that the Earth was placed between
the horns of an ox.
Dear Children, you have recognized that
the information scientists could only attain centuries after
the revelation of the Qur'an were hinted at by Allah in the
Qur'an a long time ago. This is one of the obvious proofs
that the Qur'an is the Word of Allah, the One Who has created
the entire universe and Who has knowledge of all things.
The Temperature of Earth
Dear Children, do you know what the average
temperature in space is? -270°C (-455°F)! Such a low temperature
makes life impossible. The average temperature of our Earth
is between 15°C and 20°C (60-70°F). This temperature varies
considerably as one rises to the upper layers of the atmosphere.
For instance, the African continent is
a hot region. What would you say if we asked you, "Can you
make a snowman in Africa?" We already know your answer. Probably
most of you will answer: "In order to make a snowman you need
some snow. Since it is unlikely to find snow in such a warm
region, there is no chance of making a snowman." However,
you are wrong, because you can make a snowman in the African
continent at any time you like, even though it is known to
be extremely warm. To do so, you must climb mount Kilimanjaro,
whose peak is the highest point on the continent. The upper
parts of this mountain, which are quite high above sea level,
are always covered with snow. That is because, moving uphill
from the ground, the temperature decreases. The temperature
falls to nearly -50°C (-58°F) in the atmospheric layer called
the "Stratosphere". Rising further, the weather warms up again.
Owing to the protection Allah provides for us, no huge temperature
differences exist on Earth.
The maintenance of this temperature range
is both related to the amount of heat that the Sun radiates
as well as the distance between Earth and the Sun. In the
previous chapters, we touched on this topic. We will tackle
this issue in detail here. According to calculations, a reduction
of just 10 percent in the energy given off by the Sun would
result in the Earth's surface being covered by layers of ice
many metres thick. Yet if the Sun's energy were to increase
a little, all living things would be scorched and die.
The speed the Earth spins at also helps
keep the temperature distribution in balance. The Earth makes
a complete rotation once every 24 hours. For this reason,
the alternating periods of daylight and darkness are short.
Because they are short, the temperature differences between
night and day are quite small.
The importance of this can be seen in
the extreme example of Mercury, where a day lasts longer than
a year and where the difference between day-time and night-time
temperatures is almost 1,000°C (1,800°F).
Geography also helps distribute heat equally
over the Earth. There is a difference of about 100°C (212°F)
between polar and equatorial regions of Earth. If such a temperature
difference were to exist over a completely level area, the
result would be wild winds sweeping away everything in their
Instead, Earth is full of geographical
barriers that block the huge movements of air that such temperature
differences would otherwise cause. Those barriers are chains
of mountains like the one that stretches from east to west,
beginning with the Himalayas in China and continuing with
the Taurus mountains in Anatolia and the Alps in Europe.
We have learned how our Earth maintains
its temperate, although the temperature in outer space is
around -270°C (-455°F). If the temperature of Earth were too
cold or too hot, to the extent of becoming a threat to human
life, we would simply not be able to survive. Therefore, the
moderate temperate level on Earth is Allah's blessing. In
return for this blessing, we ought to show gratitude to Allah,
Who provides the most beautiful conditions of life for us.
This is one of the most important things we need to keep in
How big is Earth and how does Allah protect
our Earth against other bodies in space?
In the next section, we will answer these
The Size of Earth And
Its Protection from Other Celestial Bodies
As you will remember in earlier sections,
we mentioned the varying sizes of planets.
Now let's compare our Earth with other
planets with respect to their sizes. Lets start by making
the following comparison: Let's imagine that our Earth is
a pea. In this case, Mercury could be considered a sesame
seed, Venus a pea like our Earth, Mars a watermelon seed,
Jupiter an orange, Saturn a tangerine, Uranus and Neptune
cherries, and Pluto a sesame seed. These apart, the Sun would
be a huge ball bigger than a basketball in comparison to our
Is the size of Earth as compared to other
planets "coincidental"? Or, on the other hand, is it deliberate?
When we examine the size of Earth, we
can easily see that our planet was designed to be exactly
as large as it is.
If Earth were a little smaller, gravitation
would weaken and prove too feeble to hold the atmosphere around
it. Without the atmosphere, our world would be vulnerable
to meteors and harmful radiation from space. In addition,
loss of oxygen would mean the end of life. If the Earth were
larger, the gravitational pull would increase tremendously,
turning the atmosphere into a deadly mixture since it would
preserve some poisonous gases.
In addition to its mass, the interior
of Earth is also specially designed. The layers of the core
move around each other, and this movement is what creates
Earth's magnetic field. This magnetic field has a vital role
in the preservation of life. Extending far beyond the surface,
this field protects Earth from the effects of harmful radiation
from outer space.
Other scientific findings show us that
the universe has not been left abandoned. Certainly, Allah;
the Lord of the universe, the Creator, holds control over
the entire universe, and creates and sustains the galaxies,
stars and planets under His power.
The blue planet on which we live is a
special creation of Allah. In the Qur'an, Allah describes
this amazing creation in the 2nd verse of Surat al-Furqan
with the words "He created everything and determined it most
exactly." It may be that this statement makes it plain, as
do many other verses of the Qur'an, that on this planet, Allah
provides everything man needs.
Dear Children, from now on we will start
exploring Earth. First, let's examine the reason why our Lord
created blue oceans and seas and learn the blessings they
offer us.
Oceans - Seas
71 percent of Earth's surface is covered
with water. Earth is the only planet where water is in its
liquid form. Water gathering in giant holes forms the oceans,
which are essential for life to exist.
For example, they prevent sudden variations
in atmospheric temperature and thus help living things to
exist within a stable range of temperatures. They also soften
the climates. In addition, oceans shape seashores through
erosion and corrosion. On no other planet does there exist
such a system.
Moreover, oceans offer a variety of fish
and seafood to us. Eating this delicious seafood, swimming
in the sea and travelling by boat are all blessings that Allah
has given us.
Dear Children, Allah has created everything
we need perfectly. Of course, apart from these beautiful things,
there are also dangerous things such as the volcanoes that
sometimes erupt, although they usually remain silent. Now,
we will turn our attention to these volcanoes.
Mountains That Spray Magma
Because the magma, or melted rock, under
Earth's crust is in liquid form, it occasionally finds a way
out through the cracks on Earth's crust and violently erupts.
This scary event is called a volcanic eruption.
Often with a great explosion, the volcano
erupts spewing tons of dust and ash into the atmosphere. This
eruption forms a giant, dark cloud in the sky. Then magma
starts moving over Earth's surface, wiping out the forests
and cities it encounters.
The magma flowing from the volcano over
the Earth is called "lava". In time, lava cools on the Earth's
surface and solidifies, forming rocks. Throughout history,
many cities were destroyed because of such disasters. For
instance, in the first century CE, sudden volcanic eruptions
obliterated the town of Pompeii, then a very prosperous Roman
town, from the face of the earth. It was so sudden that people
in the town died before they had a chance to escape. The lava
rapidly reached the town of Pompeii and covered the whole
town, leaving all its residents for dead.
No soul remained alive; the people of
Pompeii, who were known for their disobedience to Allah's
commands and their immorality, died at once. The inevitable
end awaiting these and similar people is described in the
Qur'an as follows:
Against some We sent a sudden squall of
stones; some of them were seized by the Great Blast; some
We caused the earth to swallow up; and some We drowned
al-'Ankabut: 40)
Dear Children, these verses indicate that Allah
has power over all things and He can destroy everything on
Earth whenever He wills. Nobody is safe from His punishment.
However, Allah is also very compassionate and merciful to
His servants. Throughout this book, we have seen much evidence
of Allah's endless compassion. That these volcanic eruptions
only occasionally take place is another blessing of Allah
if we would only reflect upon it.
Children, do you ever wonder what is happening in the sky
when you look up? We believe you are all curious about it.
Let us now turn our minds towards the skies!
The layer of air around Earth is called
the "atmosphere". The atmosphere is made up of seven layers.
Each layer is composed of different gases, all in perfect
harmony with one another.
In the Qur'an, Allah mentions that He
arranged the heaven into seven heavens:
In two days He determined them as seven heavens
(Surah Fussilat:
The word "heaven" used in many verses
in the Qur'an also means "sky". It is also thought to refer
to the different depths of space as well as the Earth's sky.
If this second meaning of the word is considered, it is stated
in the verse that Earth's sky, that is, the atmosphere is
made up of 7 layers. Of course, there can be other meanings
of the verse, but it is very interesting that when we study
the sky, we find that it is composed of seven layers:
- Troposphere:
This is the part closest to Earth's surface. The thickness
of this layer varies according to the climates. The temperature
drops as the altitude increases, and the temperature at the
highest altitude is between -51°C (-60°F) and -79°C (-110°F).
- Stratosphere:
The layer above the troposphere. The temperature rises
as one moves upwards.
- Mesosphere: The
layer above the stratosphere. Here, the temperature drops
to -73°C (-100°F).
- Thermosphere:
This is the layer above the Mesosphere. The temperature rises
at a slower rate. The temperature difference between night
and day is more than 100°C (212°F).
- Exosphere: The
layer that begins at an altitude of 500 kilometres (310 miles)
above Earth's surface.
- Ionosphere:
Gases in this region are found in ionic form. These ionised
gases are what give the layer its name.
- Magnetosphere:
Due to the Earth's magnetic field lying in this layer, it
is called the Magnetosphere. This layer, which functions like
a protective shield, is located between 3,000 and 30,000 kilometres
(1,850 and 18,500 miles) above the surface. As we explained
before, this region, which protects the Earth against harmful
radiation coming from space, is called the Van Allen belt.
To have a better grasp of how important
the atmosphere is for us, let's also look at the other planets.
For example, let's assume we are on the planet Mercury. There
is no atmosphere on this planet. However, an atmosphere is
essential for life. So far, we have mentioned the importance
of the gases in the atmosphere, such as oxygen, or the protective
features of the atmosphere. There is, however, also the weight
of the atmosphere, which is fundamental to human life.
The atmosphere is made of light air.
This does not mean that the atmosphere
has no weight. Actually, these layers of air kilometres-thick
rising above us are very heavy.
According to research, the atmosphere
applies tons of weight in pressure on every one of us. This
is called "air pressure". Now you may raise the question,
"So, why aren't we crushed?" We aren't crushed because our
bodies are created with the strength to withstand the weight
of the atmosphere. We would no longer function or even exist
in an environment with a lower air pressure. That is because,
without this pressure, the blood circulating rapidly in our
body would exert tremendous pressure on our veins. Unless
balanced by atmospheric pressure, our veins would burst due
to the high pressure.
Therefore, it is not possible for human
beings to live in an environment, such as Mercury's, lacking
an atmosphere.
There is an atmosphere on the planet Venus.
Because the pressure on Venus is ninety times greater than
the pressure of Earth's atmosphere, it does not provide suitable
conditions for human life. From this information, we understand
that no life can exist on the planet Venus since under its
great pressure all living things would be crushed.
Let us go over the points we made earlier:
The atmosphere is one of the essentials for life on Earth.
The atmosphere has many functions, some of which have been
briefly explained above. As you will remember, one of these
is the importance of the gases that make up the atmosphere
for human life. If the atmosphere did not exist, living things
could not breathe, and thus there would be no life on Earth.
Another function of the atmosphere is
to protect our Earth against threats from outer space, such
as meteors. The atmosphere prevents meteors from falling on
Earth and causing harm.
The atmosphere also blocks harmful radiation
coming from space. Thanks to the atmosphere, only 7 percent
of this harmful radiation reaches Earth. Here is another topic
to think over: The radiation that is capable of supporting
life on Earth is just the kind of radiation that Earth receives.
As you will remember too, the distance of our Earth from the
Sun is just right, neither too far away nor too close.
Dear Children, could the atmosphere, which
is so critical for our lives, have originated by itself, by
A good analogy showing that this is certainly
not a possibility is the following: Think about delicious
sweet cakes. What gives these cakes their delicious taste?
No doubt, they are so delicious because your mother adds just
the right amount of ingredients to the flour, kneads the dough
properly and finally bakes it at the right temperature. Would
you believe someone who says, "You actually don't need your
mother for these delicious cakes; they can cook themselves
spontaneously"? Of course, you would find these words nonsense.
In this case, could the atmosphere surrounding our Earth have
come into existence spontaneously? We already know that this
is improbable.
Someone who knows all this would probably
say the following when he looks at the sky, "If Allah had
not created the atmosphere, it would be impossible to live
on Earth." Or, he would think to himself, "Allah is Exalted
in power. If our Lord did not protect our Earth, giant meteors
would strike Earth and destroy it completely." You can reflect
on all the information you learn in a similar way. This is
also a way to show your gratitude to Allah.
The Atmosphere's Suitability for Life
Earth's atmosphere is equipped with all
kinds of features essential for life. Now, let's describe
the special structure of our atmosphere.
atmosphere consists of 77 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen
and 1 percent carbon dioxide, argon and other gases. Let us
first examine oxygen.
Oxygen is essential for life, since the
energy needed for living beings is obtained through chemical
processes most of which take place through oxygen. That is
why we always need oxygen, and breathe to meet our need for
The level of oxygen in the atmosphere
is just right for life. If this ratio were 22 percent instead
of 21 percent, just one flash of lightning would be enough
to burn a whole forest. If this ratio were 25 percent, huge
fires would burn the Earth, since oxygen is a flammable gas.
The following question might occur to
you: What would happen if all oxygen in the atmosphere were
used up? Despite the heavy air pollution of the last century,
this hasn't yet become a threat, since more than 80 percent
of the oxygen produced on our Earth is generated by microscopic
organisms in the oceans. That is, even if all the forests
disappeared, there would still be oxygen in the atmosphere.
A perfect system maintains the oxygen
content in the atmosphere. This is called the recycling system.
Animals and human beings use up oxygen and produce carbon
dioxide. Plants, on the other hand, consume carbon dioxide
and produce oxygen. They maintain the continuity of life by
turning carbon dioxide into oxygen. Every day, billions of
tons of oxygen are produced by plants and released into the
One point deserves special mention here.
Why do only plants produce oxygen? Would not life be easier
if all living beings produced oxygen?
No, absolutely not! Life would not be
easier. On the contrary, if animals and human beings also
produced oxygen, the oxygen ratio in the atmosphere would
increase so much that the atmosphere would become "flammable"
in a short while. Consequently, a tiny spark would cause enormous
On the other hand, if all living beings,
including plants, produced carbon dioxide, then the oxygen
in the atmosphere would be quickly consumed and living things
would start dying of "suffocation" in great numbers, since
there would no longer be any oxygen to breathe.
Dear Children, as you see, apart from
protecting us, the atmosphere preserves the oxygen we need
to breathe. Allah has created many interrelated systems to
keep the oxygen level stable. That is, Allah has created many
delicate balances. This is very easy for Allah.
Always keep in mind that every breath
you take without difficulty is a reason to be grateful to
Allah. That is because, if Allah did not so will it, there
would be neither atmosphere nor oxygen.
When we look at the sky, we see white
or grey clouds that look like lumps of cotton-wool. Sometimes
we think they resemble some other objects, don't we? Have
you ever thought how clouds come into existence? Now, let's
see how.
Every day, the Sun's heat causes water
on the Earth's surface to evaporate. This form of water existing
in the air is called "water vapour". Air coming closer to
the ground grows warm. Warm air rises, and on its way it carries
the water vapour to higher altitudes. At high altitudes, the
water vapour inside the warm air encounters cool air and thus
turns into tiny water droplets and forms clouds.
Water evaporating from oceans rich in
salt and lakes with a high mineral content carries these salt
particles upward to higher altitudes. These particles of salt
are so tiny that they are invisible to the naked eye. Winds
that carry these droplets collect 27 million tons of salt
in a day in the atmosphere. These salts form the centres of
the raindrops-to-be.
Clouds look like cotton-wool from Earth.
You may therefore assume that they do not weigh very much.
However, when these water crystals turn into rain, you see
tons of water falling to the ground. An average rain cloud
consists of 300,000 tons of water. (One ton is equal to 1,000
kilograms (2,200 pounds). 300,000 tons is 300 million kilograms
(660 million pounds). If you consider that the weight of an
average adult is about 60-70 kilograms (130-150 pounds), you
can see how enormous this figure is.) 300,000 tons hangs in
the air.
Allah brings down the rain from these
giant clouds to revive the Earth. In this way, every corner
of Earth receives enough water. In the Qur'an, our Lord informs
us how clouds cause rain:
Do you not see that Allah propels the clouds then makes them
coalesce then heaps them up, and then you see the rain come pouring out of the
middle of them
(Surat an-Nur: 43)
Besides that, Allah draws our attention
to the purity of the water He sends down from the sky:
And We send down from heaven pure water.
(Surat al-Furqan: 48)
As the verse above suggests, rain falls on the
ground pure and clean. It includes a very small amount of
salt and minerals. This is surely a blessing of Allah, since
soil receives the salt and minerals it needs from rainwater.
If the water evaporating from the oceans contained a high
ratio of salt, when it fell on land in the form of rain this
would be very harmful to life on our planet. If rainwater
were very salty, it would wither the soil and plants away,
which would result in the death of all living things. In brief,
life on Earth would soon come to an end. However, this never
happens, because Allah has great compassion for people. This
we are informed in the Qur'an:
Have you thought about the water that you
drink? Is it you who sent it down from the clouds or are We
the Sender? If We wished We could have made it salty, so will
you not give thanks? (Surat al-Waqi'a: 68-70)
The explanation in the verse above makes
it clear that Allah specially created everything on Earth
suitable for human life.
Dear Children, as you have seen, we have
no power over anything we need for our lives. Unless Allah
willed it, we could not live on Earth. For this reason, at
every moment we should remember that Allah is the Creator
of everything and we should always thank Him.
We have learned how water on Earth evaporates,
how clouds form and turn into rain. Now, how about learning
how rain falls on Earth in due measure?
Rain falls down to Earth in a certain measure.
This measure has only been worked out by contemporary research.
Computations reveal that 16 million tons of water evaporate
every second. In a year, this amounts to 505 trillion tons.
Again, each year, 505 trillion tons of rain fall on Earth's
surface. As it turns out, this amount is the same from one
year to another. This fact, which has recently been discovered
by scientists, is reflected in the Qur'an, which was revealed
1,400 years ago:
It is He Who sends down water in due measure
from the sky
(Surat az-Zukhruf: 11)
Dear Children! It is very fascinating
that Allah refers to an exact measure, or amount, in which
He sends down water from the sky, as is the discovery that
the amount falling every year is constant. Here, the parallel
is very striking.
The evaporation and condensation of equal
amounts of water mentioned above, that is the "water cycle,"
maintains the continuity of life on Earth. Maintaining this
measure artificially would be impossible, even if all contemporary
technological means were put to use.
A minor change in the water cycle would
cause great instability in nature in a very short time, which
would ultimately mean the end of life. However, that never
happens; Earth's surface always receives the same amount of
rainfall. Allah "sends down water in due measure
You must by now have understood that Allah
holds the measure of rainfall under His control. Otherwise,
how could it be possible that the same amount of rain falls
on Earth each year? This is improbable. Allah is the Lord
of the entire universe, and everything happens by His will.
Now we will turn our attention to a very
interesting topic, the rainbow.
You must have seen a rainbow at least
once in your life. If not, you have probably seen a picture
of one in a book or on television. The sight of a rainbow
is quite astonishing, since its colours and shape are enchanting.
Have you ever wondered how this colourful arc comes into existence?
If you haven't, let us tell you.
A rainbow sometimes appears when the Sun
comes out after rain. It is an arc of seven colours lined
up one after another. The rainbow looks like a crown and has
a very impressive appearance.
A rainbow is actually a trick of the light.
It consists of the basic colours of sunlight. Indeed, the
white rays of the Sun are actually multi-coloured. These colours
coming from the Sun are called the spectrum. The basic colours
of the spectrum are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo
and violet. The white of sunlight is formed when these colours
are combined. Once sunlight passes through a drop of rain,
the colours that make it up appear. That is because water
refracts, or separates the colours of, light. These separate
colours pass through the raindrop and refract out at different
Does this seem complicated? If you think
it is, find a crystal glass and flash a strong light through
it. Here, the glass assumes the role of the raindrop. You
will see that when the glass is exposed to a strong light,
a small rainbow appears on the wall.
While talking about rainbows, we always
see them as semicircular. However, this is not true, since
the rainbow is actually a circle. However, it is not possible
to observe all of this circle from the ground. Therefore,
we always see the rainbow as semicircular. Only from an aeroplane
could we see the rainbow as a circle.
centre of the rainbow's circle is always a point exactly opposite
the Sun. When the Sun rises higher, the rainbow also moves
higher to remain at the level of the Sun.
Our Lord creates this colourful and enchanting
sight of a rainbow especially so that we can take pleasure
from the beauties of Earth, and reflect on His power and attributes.
Allah has the power to create an infinite number of beautiful
things. Therefore, this does not surprise us but makes us
appreciate Allah better and be more grateful to Him.
Now we will focus our attention on another
astonishing splendour. This time, we will examine a small
celestial object, the moon that astonishes us with its beauty
at night.
The moon resembles an enormous stone ball
that spins around our Earth. At night, in a cloudless sky,
the moon shines brilliantly in the pitch-black. However, the
Moon is not a real source of light. Just like a mirror, it
reflects the light of the Sun. This feature of the moon is
referred to in the Qur'an:
be He who placed constellations in the sky and put a blazing lamp and shining
moon among them. (Surat al-Furqan: 61)
We always see the same side of the Moon
since it rotates both around itself and around the Earth every
twenty-nine days. Since the period of rotation in both cases
is the same, we always see the same face of the Moon.
When we look at the sky at night, the
moon sometimes appears as a circle and sometimes as a semicircle.
As the Moon rotates around Earth, its illuminated face takes
different shapes.
and the Moon attract one another, but the gravitational force
of Earth is six times greater than that of the Moon. Despite
this, the gravitation of the Moon influences Earth and causes
"lunar tides" in the oceans and seas. A regular variation
occurs in the surface level of the oceans. If the gravitational
attraction of the Moon were stronger, the tides would cause
water levels to rise and fall considerably. Under such circumstances,
regions near the oceans and seas would be flooded regularly.
However, during tides, water usually rises
to a moderate level because our Lord has "fine-tuned" the
gravitational forces of the Moon and Earth so as to protect
us from disaster.
During its rotation on its axis, our Earth
is slightly inclined from its orbit. This is what causes the
formation of the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and
If Allah willed, however, our Earth would
stand straight upright to its orbit. Then there would be no
seasons. The temperature would be the same all over Earth.
From the food we eat to the air we breathe, our lifestyles
and environment would be completely different.
Dear Children, have you ever wondered
how night and day come into existence? Space is completely
dark. However, on our Earth, which is also in space, there
is an alteration between night and day. In the morning, we
wake up to sunshine but when night falls, it becomes dark.
Well, how do you think our Earth becomes bright in the morning?
As our Earth moves along its orbit, it
also turns around itself like a spinning top. As Earth revolves
around itself, the side facing the Sun becomes light.
Unlike our planet, Uranus rotates on its
side, as if the planet has fallen over. This causes the planet
to roll around the Sun in its orbit like a barrel. The equator
of Uranus is tilted at 98° with respect to its orbit, so that
each pole is almost facing the Sun during part of each orbit.
It takes Uranus 84 earth years to orbit the sun! Therefore,
for years at a time, each of the poles receives either continuous
sunlight or is continuously in shadow.
What would happen if it were always daytime
on one side of Earth and night on the other? If this were
the case, people would not have specific times for sleep.
Everyone would sleep or be awake at different times. There
would be much confusion in relationships between people.
Let's first imagine that we only had daytime:
Would we be able to sleep soundly? Besides, we would never
be able to see the moon and stars that are visible only in
the darkness of the night.
Alternatively, what if we were always
in darkness? First, we would never be able to see the Sun,
blue skies or other beauties we can only see during the day.
No one knows how our sleeping hours or schedule at school
would be. We would go to school in the darkness of the night
and have our breaks in darkness.
What is more important is that plants
that need both night and day to live would quickly disappear.
Eventually this would mean the end of life.
However, Our Lord has created night and
day to make our lives easy. By creating night and day, He
has put our lives into order. The reasons for the creation
of night and day are stated in the Qur'an as follows:
is He who made the night a cloak for you and sleep a rest,
and He made the day a time for rising. (Surat al-Furqan: 47)
Consider that every day new discoveries
and inventions are being made. However, none of these are
unprecedented; that is, they are all inspired by things and
beings already existing in nature. Which one of these inventions
could make Earth rotate around itself and thus cause night
and day? None of them, right? Only Our Lord, the Creator of
the heavens, the earth and everything in between could accomplish
Always keep in mind that just as Allah
has created the night and day, He could well remove them.
Then our lives would be in turmoil. Furthermore, we would
not be around to read these lines. In the Qur'an, Allah informs
us that if He wills He could well lengthen the night or day:
If Allah made it permanent night for you till the Day of Rising, what god is there
other than Allah to bring you light?
(Surat al-Qasas: 71)
If Allah made it permanent day for you till the Day of Rising,
what god is there other than Allah to bring you night to rest in? (Surat al-Qasas:
These verses make it clear that neither
night nor day could have come into existence without Allah's
will. This universe and everything in it belongs to Allah,
the Creator.
Dear Children; never forget that Allah
the All-Mighty has perfectly created you and everything you
know and can imagine.


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On endless ice, searching for clues to our future
Associated Press
August 15, 2011
ON JAKOBSHAVN GLACIER, Greenland (AP) -- The pilot eased his five-ton helicopter toward the glacier's rumpled surface, aiming for the lightest of setdowns atop one of the fastest-flowing ice streams on Earth.
David Holland's voice suddenly broke in on the intercom.
"Carl doesn't like this!" the scientist shouted. "Carl says it's snow bridges!" - drifts that can hide a deep crevasse.
The chopper pulled up sharply and veered off over the chaotic icescape of white knobs and pinnacles and bluish glints of meltwater, on to another, safer landing spot where Carl Gladish, Holland's lanky, ponytailed assistant, stepped cautiously off the skid and onto the ice, under the thudding rotor blades, to swiftly carry out his assigned task.
It was one of eight 2-minute touchdowns on which the New York University research team positioned instruments to measure the movement and internal cracking of Jakobshavn Glacier, a risky operation meant to shed light on one more tiny piece of the giant puzzle called Greenland. ...
Back up at Summit, two young Dartmouth College engineering graduates put one potential answer on display, testing the tiny, tractor-like "Yeti" autonomous robot over the ice. Like humans, Yeti could deploy ground-penetrating radar, meteorological gear and other research tools, say its designers, who envision hundreds crisscrossing Greenland offering up-to-the-minute data.

subset: commoncrawl


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- AMP Research 74601-01A L Bracket Kit for 1998-2017 Nissan Frontier, 1984-2004 Toyota All Models, 1993-1998 Toyota T-100Compact L Bracket Kit for BedXtender HD™$11.00
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Diné musicians from Chinle High School in Arizona are spending the weekend on a mini concert tour through the Four Corners.
The Chinle High Advanced Guitar Class and Jazz Band will play Red Mesa, Ariz.; Aneth, Utah; Durango; Ignacio; and possibly Bayfield between today and Monday.
Chinle High music teacher Eric Swanson said it was the quality of the students he has this year that inspired the tour.
Ive got some seniors who have taken music all four years, and some really talented freshmen, sophomores and juniors, as well, Swanson said. I felt like they deserved a special experience that was also educational.
Much of the funding for the excursion came from the Durango-based Stillwater Foundation, which specializes in bringing arts and sports opportunities to disabled and disadvantaged youths. Stephen Djeka, one of Stillwaters music directors, helped Swanson plan the tour.
The Stillwater Foundation will hold a six-hour workshop for Chinle and Stillwater students on Saturday with a joint concert later at Roshong Recital Hall at Fort Lewis College. The $5 admission charge will go toward the Foundation and Chinle Highs music program.
Its really the Stillwater Foundation that made this whole trip possible, Swanson said. Im very grateful to them.
The Arts Center will be the students splashiest venue. The other concerts will be in homes, schools and a church.
I wanted this to be an experience thats more like a professional tour than a school tour, Swanson said. As a professional musician, you would play in a variety of venues for a variety of people. The only place were not playing in is a nightclub, for obvious reasons.
Senior Tyler Benally, who is in both the guitar program and the jazz band, said hes excited about the trip.
After playing my guitar for four years, this will be a way to go out with a bang, he said.


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News from the world of Maths
The Isaac Newton Institute celebrates its 20th birthday this year, having opened in July 1992. To celebrate we had a rare glimpse behind its venerable doors to explore some of the research programmes that have been held there. As you'll see, what started out as abstract mathematics scribbled on the back of a napkin can have major impact in the real world.
Looking for some Christmas reading? Good news! Eureka have published their first ever digital issue featuring authors such as Stephen Hawking, Roger Penrose, John Conway and more.
This summer, while at a conference in Poland, we were lucky enough to watch Sara Santos and her maths buskers perform on the streets of Krakow. Find out what maths busking is all about!
Don your lycra and lace your trainers... It's time to look back on a summer of sport and, of course, maths!
2013 has been declared as the year for the Mathematics of Planet Earth!
There are prizes behind today's door, from maths to physics, economics to art!
Maths, puzzles, post-it notes and the pub are waiting for you behind today's door!
What do card games, crochet, puzzles, post-it notes and beer have in common? They are all vital ingredients to the phenomenon sweeping the UK... MathsJam!


text: Simplify Everything The 2nd Gen Intel® Core™ ProcessorsHDMI for Hi-def EnjoymentEPU - Up to 40% Energy Savingasus@vibe - an online Entertainment Content Store Shop Modal header The 2nd Gen Intel® Core™ Processors The CM6830 now comes with the all-new 2nd generation Intel® Core™ Processors and ultra-fast DDR3 memory for rapid multitasking. The smart processor automatically delivers extra performance on-tap with Intel's Turbo Boost technology 2.0*, while intelligent multitasking via Intel hyper-threading technology* lets you do more at once. Whether it's HD or 3D, gaming or multimedia, this desktop can handle it all. *Function may vary by selected CPU. HDMI for Hi-def Enjoyment Immerse yourself in a cinematic experience by connecting to a HD monitor or TV with the HDMI™ port. Enjoy 7.1 surround sound with high-quality integrated Realtek High Definition Audio. Store your favorite music, photos and video in a single hard drive with up to 4TB of storage. Maximize your entertainment experience. Ultra-fast USB 3.0 and SATA 6Gb/s Experience lightning speed data transfers at 4.8Gbps with USB 3.0 - the latest standard. Built to connect easily with next-generation components and peripherals, USB 3.0 transfers data up to 10X faster than USB 2.0 while remaining fully backward-compatible. It also has native SATA 6Gb/s for up to twice the delivery throughput of regular SATA and improved scalability, so your data moves faster and more reliably. EPU- Up to 40% Energy Saving The exclusive ASUS EPU chip is the world's first PC energy saving controller, optimizing efficiency by detecting real time CPU loads and saving up to 40% on overall power consumption. asus@vibe - an online Entertainment Content Store asus@vibe is a one-stop entertainment platform that serves as a value-added service. With the asus@vibe platform, users can access or download a wealth of exciting and engaging digital content such as music, videos, games, magazines, e-books, as well as tune into their favorite radio stations and stream live TV anytime and anywhere!


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Detailed 2011 casualty figures reveal areas for concern
Detailed 2011 casualty figures reveal areas for concern
Earlier in the year headline figures showed that cycling serious injuries were up by 16% in one year, yet cycling levels remained broadly similar to the year before.
At the time CTC's analysis suggested that some of the cycle use that had been suppressed the previous year (by cold weather) may lie behind the huge increase in cycle casualties.
Now the more detailed data on where, when, to whom and with whom crashes occurred, has been published.
So what else do these new figures tell us?
The MAMIL effect...
The 'Middle Aged Man in Lycra' has appeared in vast numbers on our country lanes, and the rise in 'solo' cycle crashes (ie, not hit by a vehicle) may in part be due to this.
The number of serious injuries reported to police involving no other vehicle has doubled in the last 6 years while over the same time the proportion of cycle fatalities where no other vehicle was involved has risen from 8% to 13% - they still mainly involve, and are the fault of, drivers.
By contrast, there has been little overall change in the proportion of fatalities - or serious injuries - that involve cars (half of deaths, 75% of serious injuries) or lorries (20% of deaths, 3% of serious injuries).
But not just MAMIlLs
According to these new data, however, the big increase in cycle casualties occurred amongst younger people as well, whereas child cycle casualties continued to fall.
The differences is most likely accounted for by the fact that the biggest increases in cycling have been amongst adults, whereas the decline in child cycling is continuing. In November the National Travel Survey will be published which may give a better indication on whether this is true or not.
There is no difference between men and women - against the 2005-09 baseline KSIs for 25-59 year-olds increased by approximately the same amount (42% men, 43% women), and this was similar for other age groups.
As for where the risk of cycling is greatest - this has changed little since 2010. The risk of cycling on rural A roads remains astonishingly high - over 20 times riskier than on urban minor roads, which - at 8 deaths per billion kms - is lower than the overall risk of cycling in the Netherlands or Denmark, where it is around 12 deaths per billion kms cycled.
As CTC said when the figures first appeared in July, this worrying increase should give a spur to the Department for Transport to start taking cycling a lot more seriously. If we are to capitalise on the huge, positive impact of the Tour de France and the Olympics, the major road network needs to be - and crucially feel - a lot safer than it is at the moment.


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Peru declares emergency over cold weather
The Peruvian government has declared a state of emergency in more than half the country due to cold weather.
Most of the areas affected are in the south, where temperatures regularly drop below zero centigrade at this time of year.
However, this time temperatures have dropped to as low as -24C.
The state of emergency means regional authorities can dip into emergency funds to provide medicine, blankets and shelter to those most affected.
Seasonal deaths
The state of emergency was declared in 16 of Peru's 24 regions.
This week Peru's capital, Lima, recorded its lowest temperatures in 46 years at 8C, and the emergency measures apply to several of its outlying districts.
In Peru's hot and humid Amazon region, temperatures dropped as low as 9C. The jungle region has recorded five cold spells this year.
Hundreds of people - nearly half of them very young children - have died of cold-related diseases, such as pneumonia, in Peru's mountainous south where temperatures can plummet at night to -20C.
Poor rural populations living at more than 3,000m above sea level are the most affected.
Doctors say malnutrition, extreme poverty and poor living conditions are major contributing factors to the seasonal deaths.


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Well, whaddya know? Chris Brown decided to unleash another Twitter attack before completely deleting his whole profile (again).
The singer, who was recently spotted hanging out with Rihanna for the Thanksgiving holiday, can no longer be found on the social media network--shortly after a vulgar tweet exchange between Brown and comedy writer Jenny Johnson, Breezy's official Twitter page disappeared.
Beware, the following tweets include strong language.
U.S. & World
Chris Brown rep denies protestors scared him away from Guyana concert
The Twitter exchange began when Johnson responded to one of Brown's tweets saying, "I know! Being a worthless piece of s--t can really age a person. RT @chrisbrown: I look old as f--k! I'm only 23..."
Brown then wrote back with, "I know! Being a worthless piece of s--t can really age a person. : take them teeth out when u Sucking my d--k H-E."
The downward spiral continued, with Johnson correcting the singer's spelling, linking to a news story on his 2009 assault and Brown repeatedly insulting the writer.
According to Celebrity Tweet, the last few tweets Brown sent out before deactivating his account were, "To teambreezy... Know that I'm not upset. Just felt like entertaining the ignorance. These bitches crazy..Further proved my point of how immature society is. #CarpeDiem...Catch me in traffic..."
Do you think it's only a matter of time before Breezy gets back on Twitter?


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KOMP Knock Out Knockout Mouse Mice
KOMP Repository Product Detail Sheet
Target Gene Details
Project Details
Applicable Protocols
Applicable Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs)
The KOMP Repository Collection is located at the MMRRC at the University of California, Davis and Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute. Question? Comments? For Mice, Cells, and germplasm please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com, US 1-888-KOMP-MICE or International +1-530-752-KOMP, or for vectors email@example.com or +1-510-450-7917.


text:
Product & Technical Resources
Dura-Line has a full library of installation and "How –To" guides we call Technical Bulletins. We will be adding many of these informative Bulletins to this download section, so check back often! If there is something specific that you are looking for, please contact your Regional Sales Manager, or Customer Service or even our Technical Support Team and they will be happy to e-mail you the Technical Bulletin that addresses your specific product installation question. Give us a call (1-800-847-7661), chances are we have a Technical Bulletin prepared and ready to send your way!


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If you want to make a bricks quilt like this I found out there's a great tutorial at Randi's Road to Spring quilt-a-long.
The Shop Hop last week was fun. Each of the store's picked a holiday/celebration as their theme. Our store's was Father's Day so I wore a white shirt with my 6-year-old's clip on tie. I felt more like an Olive Garden waiter though.
The funniest part of the day: a gal (Hi Kim!!) comes in and says, "I'm here to meet Amy." So I totally assume she's there to meet Amy McClellan, the store owner, and send her in that direction. (I'm the employee that makes everything confusing at AQ – anytime anyone asks for "Amy" on the phone or in person, it's pretty much always her they want, so I always defer.) Thirty seconds later, Kim comes back to me and says, "No! I'm here to meet YOU. I read your blog!" I felt like such a dork (this is not an abnormal feeling for me, so I wasn't distressed) and after she gave me a noogie, we had a great chat. Kim, you are a hoot! And get this! Kim's nice husband went WITH HER to a dozen or so quilt stores! What a man.
PS I'm linking up to last weeks Sew and Tell here! 🙂


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Fennel & lemon risotto
This new way with risotto makes an easy supper for two. For a non-veggie option, just add a few cooked, peeled prawns
Nutrition and extra info
- Vegetarian
Nutrition: per serving
- kcal477
- fat16g
- saturates9g
- carbs69g
- sugars12g
- fibre7g
- protein13g
- salt1.12g
- 1 large fennel bulb, base trimmed
Fennel bulb
Like Marmite, fennel is something that you either love or hate – its strong aniseed…
- 1 tbsp butter, plus a knob
Butter is a dairy product made from separating whole milk or cream into fat and…
- 1 onion, finely chopped
Onions are endlessly versatile and an essential ingredient in countless recipes. Native to Asia…
- 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
- 140g risotto rice
Risotto rice
To create an authentic creamy Italian risotto, the use of specialist rice is imperative. It…
- 175ml white wine
- 550ml hot vegetable stock
- zest 1 lemon
Oval in shape with a pronouced bulge on one end, lemons are one of the most versatile…
- 25g parmesan or vegetarian alternative, grated
Parmesan is a straw-coloured hard cheese with a natural yellow rind and rich, fruity flavour. It…
Make it non-veggie
Chop any green leafy fennel fronds and set aside. Cut off the stalk-like fennel top, remove the outer layers and finely chop both. Heat 1 tbsp butter in a frying pan and cook the onion, garlic and chopped fennel until soft but not coloured.
Add the rice and stir for 1 min. Pour over most of the wine and simmer until evaporated. Add 500ml of the hot stock, a ladleful at a time, stirring between each addition until it is absorbed.
Meanwhile, slice remaining fennel and fry in knob of butter until browned. Add remaining stock and wine and cook until tender.
When the rice is cooked, stir in the zest, Parmesan and some seasoning. Take off the heat and set aside, covered, for 2 mins. Serve in bowls, topped with the fennel fronds and cooked fennel, stirring the prawns through if using.


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City of TorranceHome Menu
Calendar Month View
Bona-fide Torrance-based, non-profit groups may submit events to be included in the Torrance citywide calendar pending approval. The City of Torrance Citywide Calendar System Administrator (Office of Cable and Community Relations) is responsible for determining which events are appropriate for posting and then approving a calendar entry. The administrator also has the capability to submit the event to other calendars so that your event may be posted on more than one calendar if appropriate. Events must occur within Torrance city limits to be considered for inclusion and submitted within the categories already identified within the calendar. Upon submission, the following information should be included: How To Submit
Aqua Zumba
- Date: -
- Location: Victor E. Benstead Plunge
3331 Torrance Blvd
Torrance , California 90503
Return to full list >>


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Abolish the Death Penalty is a blog dedicated to...well, you know.
The purpose of Abolish is to tell the personal stories of crime victims and their loved ones, people on death row and their loved ones and those activists who are working toward abolition. You may, from time to time, see news articles or press releases here, but that is not the primary mission of Abolish the Death Penalty. Our mission is to put a human face on the debate over capital punishment.
Post a Comment


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Skip To Main Content
As with any big purchase, you want to feel good about the health coverage you choose. Here are some things to think about as you set out to find a health plan that's right for you.
The amount you pay monthly is called your premium. Then, when you get care throughout the year, most health plans work in three ways:
[ Back to the top of the page ]
Shopping Guide
Watch a video created as a guide to shopping for health insurance. It's short, interactive and could be that extra help you need to find a health plan that's right for you.
Different types of health insurance plans meet different needs. When you compare options, it's important to understand some of the ways plans are structured.
When you're shopping for a health plan, consider adding Dental & Vision coverage. Besides helping you keep a great smile, regular dental check-ups can help find early warning signs of health issues. That's one really good reason to take excellent care of your teeth and gums. And dental coverage from Anthem can help make it easy and affordable.
Most of our health plans have pharmacy coverage as well. That's because prescription drugs can be an important part of the care your doctors give you. When you're comparing plans using our online shopping tool, you'll be able to look at some background information on the types of drugs these plans cover.
Log in or use your Anthem ID card to make sure you find a doctor or hospital in your network, which will help keep your costs down.
Note: If you are a member with Medicaid or other state-sponsored programs, search with the prefix (first three values) of your identification number or search by selecting a plan/network.
If it's not an emergency (and you can't get to your regular doctor) - there are other options for fast, more affordable care.


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President Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration was, from a security standpoint, about as hairy as it gets: the most important people in American government, from the commander-in-chief to the Supreme Court, assembled outside the Capitol, surrounded by nearly two million people at a time of heightened terror risk.
The circumstances make Obama's second inauguration, to take place Jan. 21 with about half the attendance and fewer parties, seem sort of quaint in comparison.
But authorities aren't any less tense. The Secret Service, FBI, armed forces, Metropolitan Police Department, Capitol Police, U.S. Park Police and an array of local law enforcement agencies began planning for the event long before Obama's re-election. They're being just as meticulous as they were four years ago -- perhaps even more so.
U.S. & World
"You don't want to be the person who makes a decision…to cut back and something happens. That's a legacy you don't want," said Joseph Funk, a retired Secret Service agent who protected two presidents and ran the agency's Washington D.C. office. "So you will not see anything different this year."
Thousands of troops, agents and cops will be in the streets, trying to manage crowds and eying potential threats. There will be sharpshooters on rooftops, undercover investigators among the spectators and analysts poring over surveillance images. There will be airport-style magnetometers, high-tech bomb-detecting equipment and armored "tactical vehicles." There will be roadside checkpoints and dozens of closed streets and tunnels. Parking will be a nightmare.
Washington D.C. estimates that between 600,000 and 800,000 will gather on the National Mall and along the inauguration parade route. That's a considerably smaller number than in 2009, but "still a big crowd," said Christopher Geldart, director of the city's Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency.
The city, which has been planning since June, is borrowing 3,200 National Guard troops, and another 500 or so police officers from other local departments, for help with traffic control and other logistical duties, Geldart said.
While the crowd-management concerns won't be quite as acute as four years ago, Geldart pointed out that there are other areas that have drawn more attention, in part because of breakdowns at the 2009 inauguration. Although the celebration ended with no arrests, there were some relatively minor snafus: hundreds of ticket holders were misdirected into the Third Street Tunnel and remained stuck there for hours, and poorly designed signs and understaffed entrances led to interminable lines.
This time, authorities are bringing in temporary cell phone towers to make sure they can better communicate with each other. Officials will be monitoring Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites to get a better idea of where people are massing and if there are problems. There will be clearer directions for visitors; Geldart encouraged out-of-towners to check out the city's inauguration website.
Organizers say that people who enter secured areas should expect the same level of security that they see from the TSA at the airport.
Washington D.C. police chief Cathy Lanier said her entire 3,900-member force will be working the inauguration. They've gone over the security plan to the point of obsessiveness, and technology has been a huge help. Instead of lugging around 200-page manuals as in prior years, each of her commanders now carries it in a digital tablet, with the ability to make last-minute changes, share observations and monitor surveillance video and social media sites.
"This is the third inauguration I've had direct planning over, and this is one of the best plans I've seen," Lanier said. "I feel real comfortable with it."
In 2009, intelligence officials heard reports that Somalia-based Islamic militants were planning some type of attack on Obama's inauguration, and Osama bin Laden warned that the new president would inherit a fight against guerrilla warfare. There were also lingering concerns from the November 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, India. And there were some threats posted on white supremacist message boards that appeared credible.
There has been no credible threat so far this year, said Debra Smith, acting assistant director in charge of the Washington field office of the FBI.
As was the case in 2009, the Department of Homeland Security has declared the inauguration a National Special Security Event, meaning that the lead agency is the Secret Service, with the FBI taking over investigative duties in case of an attack or other disaster.
The Secret Service declined to answer questions about its preparations.
"Although we cannot discuss our means, methods, specific resources or numbers we utilize to carry out our protective responsibilities, we can say there is a tremendous amount of advance planning and coordination," spokesman Brian Leary said in a statement.
No matter how good the intelligence, and how extensive the planning, there's always a bit of anxiety gnawing at you, former security officials said.
Retired Army Major Gen. Richard Rowe, who headed a military task force in charge of the capital region during the 2009 inauguration, said he didn't think the risk of an attack had diminished.
"I have trouble imagining that anyone thinks the threat here is any less, because of the types of things that could happen," Rowe said. "If anything, there probably more technological capabilities out there that could be applied."
But the inauguration is the Secret Service' equivalent of the Super Bowl, and the agency never really stops thinking about it.
"I don't think people have a true understanding of the enormity of it," Funk said. "It's hard to equate it with anything else. It would be New Year's Eve in Times Square times ten in terms of the security that goes into it."
He added: "This is the pinnacle of what we do."
Chris Gordon contributed reporting.


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During the ride to today's breakfast event in West Palm Beach, Ellen noted the West campaign had promised a special surprise guest, though they'd been reluctant to share any more details. Upon arriving at the Gun Club with my trustee Flip corder in-hand, I was pleasantly taken aback to discover US Rep. John Boehner standing side-by-side with Lt. Col. Allen West, addressing the crowd at the front of the room. So like a good citizen journalist, I immediately began filming.
Lt. Colonel Allen West, joined by US Rep. John Boehner, discusses his run for congress and the current issues facing the USA.
Ellen tells us why she really, really likes John Boehner. 😉
Among my first thoughts as I took in the scene was that this hotly contested race in FL CD-22 must indeed be extremely competitive and winnable to merit Boehner's presence in West Palm Beach. The last polls I remember seeing showed Allen ahead by 6 points. In the wake of righteous outrage following the VFW's deplorable endorsement of West's opponent Ron Klein (in addition to "Senator Ma'am" Boxer in California), I can only imagine that number will increase dramatically as word continues to spread among veteran and non-veteran voters alike. As Ellen and Kathy note in the interview below, the VFW is already paying a dear price for their misguided decision.
Another observation I couldn't help but make — given the left's penchant for painting Tea Partiers as racists — was that the "predominantly white crowd" (which had a few non-white patriots interspersed within) greeted Allen and his remarks with the typical exuberance and enthusiasm I've come to expect at all West campaign events. Clearly, South Floridians are taken with the content of Allen's character, the depth of his knowledge of the United States Constitution and his clear, bold articulation of limited government, strong national defense, individual liberty and personal responsibility. And his distinguished US Army career supports his rhetoric and demonstrates his proven leadership abilities and courage in the face of adversity. As I noted, it is such a thrill for me to be able to vote for this great American as a resident of his district:
Looking forward to a November to remember!
Update: Sore Loser Syndrome strikes again. Via Jennifer at Liberty Pundits comes word that Allen West's primary challenger David Brady joined the VFW in endorsing Ron Klein. RINOs will apparently not go gently into that good night even when voters tell them thanks, but no thanks we'd rather have the other guy at the ballot box. Despicable.


text:
Gary A. Gaulding spent the money he stole on keeping up appearances. And he has little hope of ever paying back the $140,004.59 he took from the Springfield Southwest Baseball Association, said U.S. District Judge Jeanne Scott Monday as she sentenced him to 21 months in prison. Gaulding, who pleaded guilty to one count of fraud in June, must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence.
It didn't go for cocaine or to a mistress in Brazil.
"I wish it were that exciting," said assistant U.S. attorney Patrick Hansen.
Gary A. Gaulding spent the money he stole on keeping up appearances. And he has little hope of ever paying back the $140,004.59 he took from the Springfield Southwest Baseball Association, said U.S. District Judge Jeanne Scott Monday as she sentenced him to 21 months in prison. Gaulding, who pleaded guilty to one count of fraud in June, must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence.
"Frankly, sir, you are living beyond your means and you're in debt up to your eyebrows," the judge said.
Scott said Gaulding owes more than $200,000 to the Internal Revenue Service, which would get paid before the baseball association if Gaulding ever has any money beyond his living expenses. As part of his sentence, Scott ordered that Gaulding, once released, receive permission from his probation officer before getting any line of credit worth more than $200.
Gaulding once owned a home alongside The Rail golf course, but he sold it in 2003 after the bank foreclosed. He favored expensive cars and fine cigars. He has been living in a rented home near Illini Country Club valued at nearly $500,000 by the Sangamon County supervisor of assessments.
Gaulding's lawyer noted that his client had always worked, but Scott wasn't impressed. There are gaps in his employment history, the judge said, and he started stealing from the youth baseball league after losing his job at company owned by his father-in-law.
"You've had jobs, but you've not done well at a number of them," Scott told him.
It could have been worse for the baseball association.
Gaulding took more than $160,000, prosecutors said, but he came up with $23,000 to pay part of the money back. Peter Wise, Gaulding's lawyer, said he did not know where the money came from.
Gaulding, who has worked in the insurance industry, appeared on the verge of tears as he apologized to Scott before sentence was pronounced. Reading from a prepared statement, Gaulding, 50, told the judge he spent so much time on league matters that his career suffered.
"I made a mistake in allowing my involvement in the league to increase over time and to completely consume me," Gaulding said.
Hansen told Scott the case speaks for itself.
"The defendant positioned himself, essentially, on a house of cards balanced on other people's money," the prosecutor said. "When you get right down to it, stealing is stealing. His status in life is gone. His reputation is history."
Wise, however, argued that Gaulding's case is not as simple as it might appear. Players would call him by name even away from baseball fields.
"If ever there was a case where the charge doesn't speak for itself, it's this one," Wise said. "He was so noticeable that kids who played knew who he was when he walked down the halls of a middle school."
Gaulding loved the league that he stole from, Wise said. He spent countless hours prepping fields and making sure the league ran smoothly. He should be working so that he can support his family and make restitution, Wise said.
"Absent this offense, he's exactly the person we want in our community and our neighborhood," Wise said. "I understand that 'this' is a big this."
The theft came to light in the spring of 2006 when the baseball association's board of directors discovered the league didn't have enough money to pay for improvements to fields and dugouts. In a brief filed Monday, Hansen said players and their parents are victims.
"The defendant, as president of the league, and as its most visible presence, was entrusted by these kids and parents to make sure the money was used as intended," Hansen wrote. "Instead, the defendant abused the trust that was given, and enriched himself at the expense of the players and parents."
Bruce Rushton can be reached at (217) 788-1542 or email@example.com.


text:
Lucy hong via Crowdrise
May 23, 2011
BENEFITING: Robin Hood
ORGANIZER: Robin Hood
Robin Hood wrote -
This June 9th, The Black Eyed Peas and some special friends are throwing a little picnic on the Great Lawn of Central Park to benefit Robin Hood, the largest and most innovative independent poverty-fighter in NYC. It's called the Concert 4 NYC.
60,000 people will gather to help the 1.8 million New Yorkers living in poverty. We're going to raise funds, raise awareness and raise the roof at the same time.
Donate $25 for a chance to win 2 VIP tickets and access to an exclusive VIP party in Central Park!
Did you know that in 2010, Robin Hood touched the lives of over 650,000 New Yorkers? Last year we provided over 5 million meals to hungry New Yorkers, helped educate 45,000 students, and helped heal over 35,000 low-income patients. Join us on June 9 and help us do even more in 2011!
Visit our website HERE


text:
"The Terminator" is back in his native Austria to inaugurate a museum devoted to him.
Arnold Schwarzenegger's private jet landed at Graz airport Thursday.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: From 'Terminator' To 'Governator:' Arnold Schwarzenegger
U.S. & World
The museum is located in the renovated house of his birth in the village of Thal. It chronicles his rise from humble beginnings as a muscular young immigrant to the U.S. to Hollywood action hero to, most recently, California's governor.
The museum has been open since July, but Friday's ceremonies will mark the formal inauguration. Schwarzenegger is expected to unveil a bronze statue of himself.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Hollywood's Top 10 Killers To Die For!
While also known by his more common nicknames, fans in Schwarzenegger's home province of Styria often call him "The Styrian Oak," in an allusion to that tree's toughness.
Copyright 2011 by Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Kristen Stewart Films Scenes From 'Snow White And The Huntsman'
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Rising Star: Joel Edgerton
PLAY IT NOW: Access Hollywood Live: 'Conan's' Jason Momoa On His 'Baywatch Hawaii' Breakout Role & Missing His Family
PLAY IT NOW: Comic-Con 2011: John Cho Talks 'Total Recall' Remake: How Is It Different?
More from Access: [ Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies ]


text:
Artifact f854a3488de0b6a3a22da59fa86bf6d6ec41e0ce:
- File README.md — part of check-in [aab6f9cff9] at 2014-06-13 18:32:49 on branch trunk — Add a short mention of the FuseFS adaptor to the documentation and homepage. (user: drh size: 3049)
SQLAR - SQLite Archiver
This repository contains sources for a proof-of-concept "SQLite Archiver" program. This program (named "sqlar") operates much like "zip", except that the compressed archive it builds is stored in an SQLite database instead of a ZIP archive.
The motivation for this is to see how much larger an SQLite database file is compared to a ZIP archive containing the same content. The answer depends on the filenames, but 2% seems to be a reasonable guess. In other words, storing files as compressed blobs in an SQLite database file results in a file that is only about 2% larger than storing those same files in a ZIP archive using the same compression.
On unix, just type "make". The SQLite sources are included. The zlib compression library is needed to build.
To create an archive:
sqlar ARCHIVE FILES...
All files named in FILES... will be added to the archive. If another file with the same name already exists in the archive, it is replaced. If any of the named FILES is a directory, that directory is scanned recursively.
To see the contents of an archive:
sqlar -l ARCHIVE
To extract the contents of an archive:
sqlar -x ARCHIVE [FILES...]
If a FILES argument is provided, then only the named files are extracted. Without a FILES argument, all files are extracted.
All commands can be supplemented with -v for verbose output. For example:
sqlar -v ARCHIVE FILES..
sqlar -lv ARCHIVE
sqlar -xv ARCHIVE
File are normally compressed using zlib prior to being stored as BLOBs in the database. However, if the file is incompressible or if the -n option is used on the command-line, then the file is stored in the database exactly as it appears on disk, without compression.
The database schema looks like this:
CREATE TABLE sqlar(
name TEXT PRIMARY KEY, -- name of the file
mode INT, -- access permissions
mtime INT, -- last modification time
sz INT, -- original file size
data BLOB -- compressed content
Both directories and empty files have sqlar.sz==0. Directories can be distinguished from empty files because directories have sqlar.data IS NULL. The file is compressed if length(sqlar.blob)<sqlar.sz and is stored as plaintext if length(sqlar.blob)==sqlar.sz.
Fuse Filesystem
An SQLite Archive file can be mounted as a Fuse Filesystem using the "sqlarfs" utility, including with this project.
To build the "sqlarfs" utility, run:
make sqlarfs
Then to mount an SQLite archive as a filesystem, run:
mkdir ~/fuse
./sqlarfs ARCHIVE_NAME -f ~/fuse
Replace ARCHIVE_NAME with the filename of the SQLite archive file to be mounted, of course. The -f option keeps sqlarfs running in the foreground, so that you can unmount the filesystem by simply pressing the interrupt key (usually Ctrl-C).


text:
FRISCO, Texas – Another game, another position for FC Dallas' young Brazilian.
Jackson Gonçalves started in place of Atiba Harris on the right wing at Real Salt Lake on Saturday (the St. Kitts native had been bothered by a foot cyst). It was the third different position in which Jackson has started since joining FCD in August, but he was equal to the challenge.
"I thought he was really good," Hyndman said of Jackson after his side fell 2-0 to Real Salt Lake. "I thought he was a player that put a lot of pressure on them. He was beating [Tony] Beltran to the baseline, getting services off. He was winning balls. He was flicking them on."
Harris did come on in the 71st minute for Dax McCarty, but his place in the side against the LA Galaxy in Sunday's match at the Home Depot Center is far from secure.
"We'll have to wait and see how things develop," Hyndman said of the battle for right midfield.
On the opposite wing from Harris and Jackson, Marvin Chavez held down the left. It was the Honduran's fifth straight start for FC Dallas.
"I thought Chávez was very good in the second half," Hyndman said. "In the first half, we didn't get him enough balls. Marvin probably won 25 balls he shouldn't have."
Lingering Effects from RSL
FCD lost more than a match at Rio Tinto this Saturday.
"We're still picking up injuries here and there," Hyndman said. "We've got a couple of hamstrings that got tight on us – [Daniel] Hernandez and then we brought Ugo [Ihemelu] out with a hamstring. Hopefully they'll be alright this weekend."
Hernandez had been out since Sept. 16 with a pulled right hamstring and had missed four games. Ihemelu had missed a total of 10 games after suffering a concussion in a 3-1 win over Philadelphia back on Aug. 8.
Options at Right Back
Hyndman's last opportunity to set his starting XI before the playoffs begin will be thwarted. Right back Heath Pearce will not be available for FCD against LA.
"We lost Heath on a silly fifth yellow," Hyndman said of Pearce's caution against RSL, which automatically earned the defender a one-match suspension. "One of the key things we talked about in the game was be smart, and then he did that."
Rookie Zach Loyd could get the start at right back in replacement of Pearce. Loyd has recently filled in for Ihemelu in the center, but has also played at right back for FCD this year. Jackson could also get the call if Hyndman decides that he wants Harris at right mid.
Why Not Ángel?
Word came out last week that as many as four teams were interested in trading this season for Red Bulls all-time leading scorer Juan Pablo Ángel, who is apparently on the outs in New York.
Hyndman wouldn't mind seeing the Colombian land in Frisco. Ángel has routinely punished FCD – he's scored five goals in his last four games against Hyndman's club – and the Dallas manager would definitely be interested in adding him if an opportunity presented itself.
"Why would you not have interest in one of the best scorers in the league?" the FCD gaffer said. "Every time he's played us, he's found a way to beat us, so why not join us? He would be I think an outstanding addition for us."
Getting consistent production from the forward spot has been an issue at times in 2010 for Hyndman. Jeff Cunningham leads the team with 11 goals but most of those have come off the bench. Newcomer Milton Rodríguez has scored five times since debuting in July but has also gone long stretches without scoring.
Let your voice be heard:


text:
I-64 shooter gets 2 years in Waynesboro
Slade Woodson, the Gremlin-driving teen who took potshots at cars on Interstate 64 March 27, is sentenced to two years in jail for charges he accumulated in Waynesboro, including firing into an occupied building, NBC29 reports. Woodson blamed alcohol for the spree, and still faces 15 counts in Albemarle County December 3.
14 comments
cut the boy some slack. I mean it wasn't like he was walking on the railroad tracks or anything. c'mon
I agree with you, I mean a fine boy like that belongs on the Charlottesville PD as far as I'm concerned. Fine street-patrolin' material right there. He can ride around with Mike Flaherty and shoot the people he fails to run over.
If we are going to go down this road.. I'll play along. There's more than just a few cops who SHOULD be in jail sharing a cell with Woodson. I draw your attention to what former Albemarle County police officer Karl Mansoor said here on The Hook back on April 4, 2008 at 4:03:23 p.m.
quote, Karl Mansoor: "....many of my fellow Albemarle County police officers were competent and honorable and some were not. The surprise was the amount of misconduct and the extent to which it was accepted at ACPD. Alarmingly, not only was the misconduct frequently overlooked, sometimes those involved were rewarded....
...If I hadn't seen for myself significant amounts of police misconduct over the years including multiple examples of brutality and outright lying by police officers, even while under oath, including the lies of omission, I still might have considerable faith in our criminal justice system....
Karl is 100% correct. When Karl Mansoor mentions crooked corrupt lying police officers being rewarded, I feel quite sure he is speaking of promotions.
Another interesting tidbit of information - the fired Albemarle Couny police officer who went on to become the current chief of police in Louisa Township hired one of his fellow former Albemarle police officers a couple of years ago, a police officer who had left the Albemarle County Police Department over a videotape of his physically beating a suspect in custody. This of course didn't last long once Louisa Township found out aout the cop's past record. And the Louisa Township police chief was demoted to acting police chief by Town Council while they decided whether they would seek to replace him or not.
And does anybody recall our own little "O J Simpson" fasimile? While no offier was ever convicted of any wrongdoing in the killing of a young black man named Frederick Gray in Albelarle County back in 1997, a civil jury later rewarded the young man's family a $4.5 million judgement in their son's wrongful killing. Sound familiar? The civil jury felt a police officer was guilty of committing assault and battery and grossly negligent in Gray's death.
See... http://www.c-ville.com/index.php?cat=121304064644348&z_Issue_ID=11042111...
At least Woodson, in all of his actions, didn't kill anybody.
I just noticed I didn't finish one of my statements above. Louisa Township decided to keep the chief on and give him a second chance, even though the chief knew the cop's past history of police brutality when he hired him.
And forgive me for the typos above too please.
aout = about
Albelarle = Albemarle
this man is going to jail....
He's already in jail.
2 years is nothing for a young man and when he comes out it will not be long before he unleashes his anger and psychopathic behavior on some other animate being (not just mailboxes, houses and parked cars, sadly).
I hope his being white has nothing to do with this leniency. This brief sentence (so far) sickens me, but you're right, no one dies, just 100,000s terrorized and afraid to drive on the sole Interstate east/west artery through Virginia.
Mr. or Mrs. Yikes, he still has numerous charges in another jurisdiction that will attempt to put him away for a very long time.
Sick, what's your take on police Chief Tim Longo? I personally think he does a great job, but then again I'm not as informed or seasoned (no offense!) as you.
I agree with the amount of time given to this young man. Sick Of the Local Rambos got it right, he will end up serving multiple sentences in multiple jurisdictions all amounting to good bit of time.
What I don't agree with is the, to me, extreme leniency shown to the accomplice. Thier intent was obvious, so why not charge them as one single entity?
I have mixed feelings once in a while, but I think Longo is OK and does a good job. And of course, since you're asking for an opinion, IMHO he wouldn't have to do a whole lot anyway to be a better chief than the one he replaced.
The only major problem I really have with him is the fact that he still has a seriously corrupt lying officer in his troops. I firmly believe he knows this officer is a corrupt lying individual. And I can tell you other veteran officers feel the same exact way I do. To me, it appears Longo is simply letting the person stay on because the person is so close to retirement. Notwithstanding the other questionable events this officer has been involved in, he should have become past history for his recent sexual harrassment of a female detective.
I also discussed a pretty serious issue with Longo not long ago that involved both officer safety and civilian safety at the same time. I was not satisfied with the outcome of this discussion, because there no outcome as far as I am concerned. He passed it down the chain of command, and I feel this chain of command dropped the ball. Longo accepts comments and complaints - but he leaves them hanging out there with no further discussion, agreement, disagreement or whatever. I think he needs to make a few improvements in this category of job performance.
Crozet, I understand and share your frustration. But there is only so much the law can do to a juvenile in cases like these. The outcome would have been much different had anybody been seriously injured.
yeah.... that's what i meant...
yeah... that's what i meant...


text:
Faculty Orientation
Faculty members will attend New Employee Orientation sponsored by Human Resources, which includes a detailed benefits briefing. For information call:
UAF 474-7700 www.uaf.edu/uafhr/
UAA 786-4608 www.uaa.alaska.edu/humanresources
UAS 796-6473 www.uas.alaska.edu/
Statewide 450-8200 www.alaska.edu/benefits/
This summary provides only an overview of employee benefits. Employees should consult The Handbook (pdf) for complete details. Other benefit information is also available at each regional Human Resources Office.


text:
|Version 14 (modified by 12 years ago) (diff),
MapGuide Maestro downloads
From this page you may download MapGuide Maestro.
Windows (Current release)
On windows you can download MapGuide Maestro as an MSI installable package, or as a zipped file of executeables. You must have the .Net framework 2.0 installed. The installer will automatically ask you to install it, if you don't have it.
The installer will create a shorcut in your start menu. If you choose the binaries, simply double click on Maestro.exe. If you get errors after upgrading, try uninstalling and deleting the folder "C:\Program files\HexaD\MapGuide Maestro". Then re-install.
Linux / Mac OS (Current release)
For linux or Mac OS, you must first install Mono and the winforms packages. Once Mono is installed, please download the binaries:
The installation is simply unzipping the file:
unzip "MapGuide Maestro 1.0.8.zip" mv Release Maestro
Then run the application:
cd Maestro mono Maestro.exe
If you are missing either Mono or the winforms package, the following command installs it for Ubuntu:
sudo apt-get install mono libmono-winforms2.0-cil
For other distros, please consult you system documentation.
Please note that Mono support for WinForms is not 100% stable. Even though WinForms is feature complete, some features do not work flawlessly. This means that there are occasional drawing problems. Flipping a tab page back and forth usually solves the problem. Some buttons are missing, because Mono renders them outside the visible area.
Preview releases
This releases may not be functional. It might not be translated completely. It is here to showcase new features or to get feedback on particular issues. Most users do not want to download these files. If you use the installer, you must uninstall a previous version first. If you use the binaries, DO NOT overwrite your current installation, as the next release will not replace your files, and thus not work. Uninstall will even leave the files there.
The number indicates what revision of the source code the items were built with. The Revision log explains what changes are contained in the code.
Previous releases
Previous releases can be found here: MapStudio Open Source (select "All downloads" and click "Search").


text:
In Lidsville's (1971 - 1973) second episode, "Show Me The Way to Go Home," the Colonel approaches Mark (Butch Patrick) with an old map that may show a way home to his world.
Specifically, the map reveals a giant golden ladder stretching to the sky, a possible escape from Lidsville.
Mark, Weenie (Billie Hays) and the Colonel begin a safari through Sideburn Meadows to locate the giant golden ladder, but they encounter resistance in the Hair Forest.
Meanwhile, Hoo Doo wants to prevent Mark's escape with his genie, and uses a new weapon -- Big Daddy -- to attack the innocent Hat People of Lidsville. Big Daddy is a giant, inflatable version of Hoo Doo, one bent on crushing all hats!
Mark and the others see Big Daddy from a mountaintop on their journey, and realize they must abandon their search for the Golden Ladder and return home to save their friends.
"Show Me The Way to Go Home" is pretty much the same story as Lidsville's first episode. An attempt is made to return Mark home, but the attempt is interrupted by Hoo-Doo, and abandoned (until next week!)
I certainly hope that the map with the Golden Ladder will be remembered at some point, and Mark will attempt the trek again.
I certainly hope that the map with the Golden Ladder will be remembered at some point, and Mark will attempt the trek again.
This doesn't seem like something the character should forget exists, or is a possibility.
This episode also exposes, in some way, the thinness of the series premise. Why does Hoo Doo want to prevent Mark from returning home?
One, Mark universally seems to foil his plans, and help the people of Lidsville. So it seems it would be beneficial to send Mark packing, and return him home (or help him return home, as the case may be.)
Secondly, I understand why Hoo Doo wants his genie returned, but what does he care about keeping Mark, since Mark seems to possess no special powers?
This episode of Lidsville ends with a song and musical number about "ladders," and how they exist everywhere, all over the world, and we must climb them. Perhaps not the best subject for someone seeking a ladder, and failing to find it.
Finally, this episode reveals some new regions of the land of hats, including the Sideburn Meadows, and the Hair Forest. The Hair Forest has mobile trees with hair on branches, instead of leaves. The trees look look like leftover costumes from H.R. Pufnstuf.


text:
Phoenix Auto Glass – What Should I know?
Simply put, this is glass that you would find in an automobile. Not too many know that in Phoenix there are two major forms of auto glass. Each one is used on certain windows in the automobile. Both types of auto glass are more impact resistant and stronger than regular glass.
What Are the Different Kinds Of Windshield Replacement Phoenix Services that are Available?
Laminated safety glass-this glass is generally used on a car's windshield. It is comprised of a couple of pieces of glass that has a slim layer of vinyl. The glass is then heated and pressed together in an autoclave, which is a type of oven. When this glass receives a tough impact it will shatter also but usually the shattered pieces will stick to the vinyl and not fall on the ground.
If the windshield just has a tiny vein or nick, the auto glass professional may be able to repair the tiny vein or nick to keep it from spreading further. The repair will generally take fewer than thirty minutes in Phoenix. The vein or nick is cleaned thoroughly and dried. Resin is injected and a material like Mylar is used to hold it in place. The professional cures the resin by using an ultraviolet light.
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Versus Original Equipment Equivalent (OEE) - Auto Glass
But I Thought You Said This Windshield Was Original Equipment?
Here is a common story for a consumer. A person has a brand new or leased vehicle and a piece of glass becomes damaged. They call an auto glass company and the consumer is told OEE is an original equipment equivalent replacement piece for their vehicle. But when the auto glass technician shows up to complete the replacement, the piece of glass does not actually have the vehicle makers OEM manufacturer logo.
OEE - Parts produced for installation in the "aftermarket" by third party companies.
What Is OEM Auto Glass? (Original Equipment Manufacturer)
When a new vehicle is designed the vehicle maker can use an existing windshield part from an older model vehicle, or they can create a whole new windshield and part number. If the decision is made to create a whole new windshield the vehicle maker contracts a glass manufacturer to create the part. The glass manufacturer and vehicle maker create a unique mold and a unique molding/firing process to produce the OEM windshield (Original Equipment Manufacturer). The parts are installed when the vehicle is assembled at the vehicle makers factory.
6. Rear View Mirror Brackets And Sensors - Aftermarket windshields (OEE) use a different process to adhere the mirror brackets to the glass. I find that their quality of adhesion and location is not as accurate as OEM parts. In fact, aftermarket distributors repeatedly drip glue on the glass below the bracket which may stain the black ceramic band on the interior side of the glass. When it comes to sensor components such as a rain sensors, the problem it not as rampant. But on a BMW windshield, a mirror bracket not correctly aligned may hinder the re-installation of the mirror's plastic cover assembly which hides the sensor and bracket.
So Which Windshield Should I Choose, OEM or OEE?
The biggest impact on your decision will be budget. OEM parts are almost always higher priced. Most consumers simply choose OEE because they have no choice, everyone needs to save a few bucks. Don't be scared of choosing aftermarket glass though because safety is mostly impacted by the technician installing the windshield correctly, not the glass itself. But if you really love your vehicle and expect the best quality, you should choose OEM. And if you are leasing your vehicle, your dealer may have restrictions on what type of glass is acceptable upon returning the vehicle. You may get a fee added if you have an aftermarket glass installed. Call your dealer for more information.
Windshield Replacement: What Everyone Needs To Know
Windshield replacement can be expensive, especially if your insurance company will not pay for it. Replacing your windshield is usually covered if you have comprehensive coverage, which is other than collision, on your policy. It is best to check with your insurance company first before setting up an appointment to have it replaced. If you do have to pay for the cost of windshield replacement there are several factors involved in the final cost, which could cost over two hundred dollars. When you take your car in to have the windshield replaced, the company will first decide if it can be repaired instead of replaced. Not every cracked or chipped windshield will require replacement.
There is another choice for windshield replacement glass that does not meet the same standards as OEM windshield glass but it is cheaper. This glass is called aftermarket glass. Other than the more expensive dealer glass, OEM tends to be most popular choice.
In today's world, you may be able to save the cost of having your car towed to the auto glass repair shop by having a mobile unit come to your home to replace your windshield. The replacement does not take long but it needs a couple of hours to set up before you can drive the vehicle.