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When I was in Israel this past spring one of the places we visited was the deserted area of Timna, Park. Timna is located almost at the very southernmost edge of Israel. Traveling there gives you quite a feel for what the wilderness was like for the Israelites. There is nothing but rocks and sandy dirt for miles on end. The only thing that breaks up the landscape are the mountains that jet up all around you. But even they are nothing but piles of rock and dirt themselves. There's not a tree or anything green to behold.
The story is told of John Newton, the 19th century Anglican minister who is famous for having written they hymn Amazing Grace, that when he was nearly eighty his sight began to decline significantly. Even though he got to the point where he was almost blind and could scarcely see to read his sermon manuscripts, he did not let this deter him from the ministry of the pulpit each Sunday.
Aug. 12. (Near Kent.) - "This morning and last night I was exercised with sore inward trials: I had no power to pray: but seemed shut out from God. I had in a great measure lost my hopes of God's sending me among the heathen afar off, and of seeing them flock home to Christ.
"I saw so much of my vileness, that I wondered that God would let me live and that people did not stone me; much more that they would ever hear me preach!"
Love Hurts
"Love Hurts." You've probably heard that expression before. But what exactly does it mean? What does it mean when we say, "Love Hurts."
Perhaps you think of a romantic, Romeo & Juliet type love. They are so infatuated with that other person that their heart aches or they are "aching with love."
When you hear that phrase you probably don't think of a love that actually causes harm. When we say "love hurts," you don't think of someone cutting somebody with a knife or hitting them with a baseball bat. We don't usually think of that when we think of love.
We've been studying these proverbs on and off for quite some time now. And perhaps you have come to see that these proverbs are oftentimes more descriptive than demonstrative. That is to say, most proverbs we study are not commands. They usually do not tell to go out and do something. Rather, most proverbs are descriptive. They talk about reality. They describe the way things are.
That is the case with our proverb this morning. This proverb describes two different kinds of love. There is a love that promotes life and there is a love that takes it away.
On the one hand you have a love that is oozing with affection. It is warm, it is kind. But there is another love. There is a love that is not affectionate. It's a love that hurts. As a matter of fact, it's a love that is downright malicious and cruel
We live in a world that is big on love. Ask anyone and they will tell you that we should love one another. That's obvious. But what exactly do they mean by that? What does that love look like? Well, our proverb shows us. And it shows us that not all love is all that loving.
Our proverb begins by telling us about the love of the righteous man. Being that it is the love of the righteous man, it is a love that is built on God's law. And because it is built on God's law, this love is affectionate and life promoting.
I. Righteous Love: affectionate and life promoting
Look at what it says about the righteous man. It says, "Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast."
Now not everyone has pets and not everyone is a pet lover. I know that. But do you catch the gist of these words? If you are a righteous person and you have a pet—or if you would for some reason ever come to own a pet—you would love that furry little thing. If you are a righteous person you are going to show a righteous affection for that little creature (even if it's a cat!).
Now I know what you are thinking…and it is not right. I know that when you hear me say "a righteous affection for an animal," you think about someone who goes ga-ga over their pets. I'm not saying about that.
I saw a news clip a while ago about how much the average American will spend on their pet for Christmas. I don't remember the figure, but I was shocked at the amount. It was well over $50, I do know that.
I also saw another cast about exotic gifts that people can buy for their pets. One pet store offers designer clothing for pets and they were expecting to do a good deal of business over the holiday.
Elizabeth and I once saw a show about a married couple who had pet pigs. These were not barnyard pigs. They were pet pigs. And these people were ga-ga about their pigs. The pigs lived in the house and even had their own little rooms. They actually had sleeping arrangements that made some 4 star hotels look like a grease pits. These people were crazy about their pigs.
Now, I'm not talking about that. That is not what I am talking about when I talk about "a righteous affection for one's pets." No. A righteous affection for one's pets means you regard their life. It doesn't mean you pamper them, but it does mean you provide for them.
You want them to be well taken care of. If the beast needs food, you see to it that the animal receives the right nutrition. If the animal needs exercise, you see to it that it gets a work out. If the thing needs rest, you know what to do.
Really, you are doing what God does for his pets. Think about what Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount, "Look at the birds of the air. They do not toil or reap. Yet your Heavenly Father feeds them."
And think about the 10 commandments. Right there in the 4th commandment you see God's affection for his creatures. "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy…in it you shalt not do any work, neither you nor your son nor your daughter, your manservant nor your maid servant, not thy cattle, or the stranger within your gates."
Back in those days animals were beasts of burden. They helped with the chores: plowing, pulling, & what not. And God didn't want his pets being overworked. You could easily see someone being earthly minded and wanting to work, work work. He could easily be cruel and run a beast to exhaustion. Because he loved his creatures the Lord regulated how much work they could do. He set aside a day for them to rest too.
The Lord created the world and everything in it. And he has a righteous affection for every one of his creatures. He treats each of them with respect.
We who are his children simply reflect God's loving kindness. We treat the creatures that are under our dominion with the same respect God does.
You are probably sitting there thinking, "Well, I've never had a sermon devoted to my pets before. I didn't know that I was going to be receiving instruction on how to love my animal today."
Well, don't get me wrong. This is more than just about the fuzzy little creature that sheds all over your house. This is about your love, and how radically affectionate it is.
Today is the day we commemorate as Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. Just over 30 years ago our nation committed the atrocity of making abortion legal. Now hundreds and thousands of unborn children lose their lives everyday.
More than animals, this passage shows how great our love is (or should be) for human life. If our love is great enough to regard our four-legged friends, then our love for one another should be even greater, shouldn't it? If we respect the life of these creatures that are here today and gone tomorrow, how much more should we regard the life those who are created in God's image?
And if we really love them in a loving way we will love them in a way that is in accord with God's law.
That's why we unite together in standing against things like abortion and euthanasia. We do that because these things are against God's law. Therefore it is the loving thing to do.
We are pro life, because we are pro-God. Our love is affectionate because it is based on his Word. The affection that we show to our animals is simply representative of the love we show to all God's creatures, especially humans. It is the love that is regulated by God's law.
So you see how affectionate the Christians love is (or should be). If we are guided by God's law, we will promote life because God's law promotes life. Health and happiness find their roots in the Bible.
But let's consider the love of a fool. As I said earlier, an a wicked person's love is diametrically opposed to that of the righteous man's. His love is downright cruel and malicious.
II. Ungodly Love: downright cruel and malicious
Now again, that might shock you. But listen to what our verse says. "The righteous man has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel."
Did you hear that? His mercy is cruel. The most affectionate act he can muster is about as comforting as a bed of nails and about as warm as a glass of ice.
Now, most specifically this passage would be referring to the way a wicked person would treat his pets. To the wicked person, animals can be objects of their wickedness.
I read just recently about how some people were cited for the way they treated their dog. The owners had indulged their chocolate lab's appetite so that it weighted well over 150 pounds. The thing had become so fat that it could barely walk. And when it did, it had to rest every few steps because it couldn't bear its own weight.
They thought they were good pet owners. They were just letting their little pooch eat all he wanted. But that is wicked. That is some sort of cruel and unusual punishment.
That's not regarding the life of the beast. It is a violation of God's law. It is not treating your pet in accord with what God's word says about gluttony & proper health.
God's law is so important. It teaches us how to love in a loving way.
I read this week about the organization PETA, the People for the Ethical Treatement of Animals. This organization is known for raiding laboratories that do testing on animals. They are people who won't hunt or eat meat. In other words, they are people who think they love animals. But it was recently reported that the group is actually facing legal action for cruelty to animals.
Gene Edward Veith says, "It turns out, PETA runs an extensive program of euthanizing animals, saying that they are rescuing the stray dogs and cats from the cruelty and, I suppose, involuntary imprisonment of the local pounds. But in putting all of these animals "to sleep," PETA allegedly violated the applicable laws about such things."
This group mistreated animals--in the name of love. But this love was a love that was guided by their misguided perceptions and imaginations. So they have actually been unloving.
And that not only applies to animals. Whenever we are not guided by God's law, we end up acting like a barbarian.
In his commentary on this proverb Charles Bridges quotes another theologian by the name of Holden. Holden was commenting on a passage from Acts 24. That passage is about the Roman governors, Festus and Felix, who were holding the Apostle Paul prisoner and would not let him go free, even though he was innocent. They kept him in prison because they wanted to do a favor to the Jews. They wanted to show these Jews some love.
Holden says this,
"We have been used to hearing much of the benevolence of infidels and the philanthropy of deists. [But] It is all pretense. [When] self is the idol, and self-indulgence the object, [people are not very particular about the means they use to attain their goals.] Where self is the idol, the heart is cruel. While they talk of universal charity, they regard not the cruelty of robbing millions of the consolation of religion. While they speak of harmless gaiety and pleasure, they would treacherously corrupt piety and pollute unsuspecting innocence."[1]
A lot of people who think they are doing things of worth. They think they are doing things that will benefit society. But when their actions are not guided by God's law, they are actually doing the opposite. They are contributing to the delinquency of society.
Take this example: Why does abortion exist? People promote abortion on the basis of "a woman's right to choose." They think they are being loving, don't they? They say they love women so much that they say women should have this right. But what is really happening? In their vigilance they actually propagate murder.
I'm not going to talk about it, but if you even consider what happens in the abortion process you will understand how terribly cruel it is.
And this cruelty is not limited to abortion. You can choose from all sorts of so called acts of benevolence that wicked people promote. I can think of quite a few political issues that fall along these lines.
One of them is the current welfare program we have.[2] Many people promote government assistance because they think that it is good for the needy. They have a love for those in poverty. But the Bible doesn't say the government should provide welfare. And we don't realize how much harm we do by it.
Marvin Olasky points out that one of the ways it harms our society. He says that the welfare system promotes divorce.[3] Rather than staying in a marriage and trying to work out one's problems a woman may opt for divorce. She opts for it knowing that she can be supported by the government if she does. If she was dependant upon her husband, she would be more willing to stay in the relationship and work things through.
But what about some more personal issues? What about the parent who won't discipline their child. Isn't that cruel? At the time is seems so loving. "Oh, I could never discipline little Bobby. I just love him too much." But what happens? Little Bobby grows up to become Big Bobby. And Big Bobby has never been taught any discipline.
I believe that Canada recently made it illegal for parents to spank their children. I bet if you wait a decade or so you will be see a dramatic rise in the crime rate in Canada. If parents aren't able to discipline their children, then the state will have to end up doing it for them in the future. And letting a person grow up without discipline is just cruel.
Those who choose not to live by God's law will not be loving people. They will be barbaric. God's law is the law of love. Jesus said, "If you love me, you will obey my commands." Why did he say that? Because his law directs us in what is holy and good.
If we choose to live by our own whims, then we will cause a great deal of unnecessary harm to those around us. Surely we could examine many more examples, but these should suffice. All of what has been said should point out that God's way is the way that really promotes life.
And on this Sanctity of Life Sunday, I hold out to you this one thing: God's law. If you live by it, you will really be pro life.
[1] I have reworded a little to make the older English more readable. If you would like to check the original, you may do so: Charles Bridges, Proverbs. Banner of Truth Pub.
[2] Another pertains to the desire to raise the minimum wage. Doing this has many unfortunate ramifications for society.
[3] Marvin Olasky, Compassionate Conservatism: What it is, what it does, and how it can transform America. Free Press.
Kindled Fire is dedicated
to the preaching and teaching ministry of
Matt Timmons.
Matt is blessed to be a husband, father, and pastor in Ashland, Ohio.


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When I told my very masculine dining companion that we were going to Besos Tea House for dinner, he almost cringed, dreading tiny sandwiches and delicate tea cups.
But fear not, all you manly men. Besos is not your stereotypical tea house. From the wrap-around porch, we could hear laughter from the lively bar inside, a glowing three-sided onyx bar that's lit from below. That is one part of a stunning interior design. But Besos is not an in-your-face assault on its patrons' aesthetic senses. It takes a bit of time to notice the unique elements – crystal lighting suspended from an antique wooden door on the ceiling, murals painted by Newport artist Chris Wyllie, an abundance of drum lights in the private dining room behind old barn doors. What we thought were gathered drapes turned out to be slender trees massed together to form dramatic columns. More noticeable are the gleaming wood floors, glossy black chandeliers and a sexy banquette that wraps around the rear wall of the main dining room. Besos, which is Spanish for "kisses," explains the celebrity photos on one wall; all – including Elvis – are blowing kisses at the camera. A row of large gilded mirrors may grace one wall, but you won't find any lace curtains hanging in the nine-over-nine glass pane windows. Clearly, this is not what your great grandmother would call a tea house.
The food at Besos is as creative and dramatic as its interior. The menu is a mix of international fusion, starting with tapas and ending on an Asian note.
Foodie friends of mine contend that Besos does not serve true tapas, but rather a wide range of appetizers, from the requisite calamari to a pricey antipasto (Traditional tapas consist of small plates of Spanish food at very low prices.) That portion of the Besos menu labeled "tapas" includes plenty of Spanish dishes, as well as Grilled New York Strip Steak over crostini with a "brandy garlic shallot" cream sauce, Pan-Seared Crab Cakes and gourmet Pizza Bella, with prices that range from $8 to $20 (for the aforementioned antipasto).
That argument aside, I can tell you that much of what we sampled that night was exciting and delightful, beginning with the Stuffed Oysters a la Espanola ($12). Served on a slim, oblong platter were four large oysters on the half shell, each one smothered in a mixture of potatoes, roasted peppers, onions and garlic, accompanied by two petite servings of salsa and aioli. That appetizer will definitely make it to the list I compile each year of the very best things I've eaten.
Across our table for two, Brian thoroughly enjoyed a bowl of Vegetable Dumpling Saffron Soup ($10), a vegetable-based broth swimming with scallions, poblano peppers and plump yet light-as-a-feather dumplings.
For the next course, we shared the Latina Mixed Greens ($7), ordered mostly out of curiosity. Fastidiously fresh and tender greens were tossed lightly with bits of avocado, corn, onion and tomato in a balsamic vinaigrette.
Our dinner entrees were from the surf and the turf. I chose the Blackened Salmon ($22), and Brian selected the Caribbean Steak ($24).
My dinner was delicious, but not quite what the menu promised. The salmon was hardly blackened. The accompanying papaya passion fruit chutney sounded so exciting, but failed to deliver much more than some vibrant color to the plate. The jasmine rice was satisfying. Instead of the listed "sautéed mixed vegetables," I was served another fresh salad. If I had known salad was to be part of my dinner plate, I would not have ordered the mixed greens.
Brian was served an incredibly tender eight-ounce beef tenderloin brushed with just the right amount of a slightly sweet, tangy steak sauce. The accompanying
mashed potatoes were delicious.
All that we've come to expect on a dessert menu ($6 to $10) is offered at Besos, from crème brulee and tiramisu to chocolate lava cake and New York cheesecake. The fruit tart tempted us, but in the end the Five-Layer Chocolate Cake won out, and it was a big winner in all its dense, dark chocolate, fudgy glory.
So, you might wonder with nary a cup of tea in sight, why is this called the Besos Tea House? The plan is for Besos to be an upscale restaurant at night and a tea house in the afternoon, according to Kristin Dellagrotta, who co-owns Besos with Tony Morales, the longtime chef at Café Fresco in East Greenwich. Right now it's just a stylish restaurant, but one definitely worth checking out.
Linda Beaulieu is the author of The Providence and Rhode Island Cookbook, available at stores throughout the state.

subset: commoncrawl


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Jodhaa Akbar
This epic movie made tabloid headlines thanks to its big budget, vast sprawling sets, accomplished actors such as Aishwarya Rai and Hritik Roshan in leading roles, soul-stirring music, elaborate war scenes, excellent cinematography and, of course, stunningly gorgeous outfits and jewellery. Set in the 16th century, it is an endearing tale of how Mughal emperor Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar (Hritik Roshan) fell in love with a Rajput princess Jodha Bai (Aishwarya Rai) after they were subjected to a 'politically arranged' marriage, much to Jodha's dismay. A film about royal dynasties, the outfits are justifiably lavish and extravagant, not to forget the gorgeous traditional jewellery that, ironically, created new trends. While Jodha (Aishwarya Rai) and other Rajput women look gorgeous shown dressed in Ghagras with short Cholis and net Dupatta, the women at the Mughal court are clad in flared Anarkali suits.
Traditional flared Lehengas with short cholis featuring short sleeves would be ideal. It's all about draping the Dupatta in the right way: net Dupattas with embellished panels along the border draped similar to the Gujrati style of draping the pallu at the front and over the right shoulder, would be the key feature of this ethnic look. If you wish to be more contemporary, opt for a Lehenga Style Sari instead of a traditional Lehenga-Choli.
Gorgeous necklace sets are imperative. Finally, a 'maang teeka' and a simple red bindi complete your 'Jodha' look.


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Coffee granita
- 600ml/1 pint strong, hot espresso coffee
- 120g/4oz caster sugar
To serve
- 300ml/10fl oz double cream
- 1 vanilla pod, split lengthway, seeds scraped out
- 1 tbsp icing sugar
Put a shallow baking dish (about 1litre/1¾ pints capacity) into the freezer.
Stir and dissolve the sugar into the coffee over a low heat. Set aside to cool.
Pour the coffee mixture into the dish and freeze for 40 minutes. Check to see if there are any ice crystals forming around the edge. If there is, gently bring them into the liquid centre using a fork. Place the granita back into the freezer
Have another look again in about 20 minutes and repeat the same process as step 3. Keep doing this until the entire mixture is a mass of coffee crystals with no remaining liquid parts. Once this has been achieved, tip the granita into a plastic, lidded box and store in the freezer until needed.
Place the cream, vanilla and icing sugar in a large bowl. Add a handful of crushed ice and whip the mixture until a dropping consistency.
Serve the granita in pre-chilled glasses with the whipped cream mixture.
This recipe is from...
The Good Cook
Episode 2
BBC One


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Palm Beach, FL (WiredPRNews.com) Mark Dougan, CEO of Insurance Executives, Inc. was pleased to attend the "It Happened to Alexa" foundation, held at Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump's Palm Beach estate, with his twin sister, Jennifer, on March 25, 2011. Mr. Dougan stated:
"Rape is a crime of violence perpetrated by criminals who to feel absolute power over their victim. The 'It Happened to Alexa' foundation is truly an amazing cause. I know firsthand of the nonexistent support provided to the victims of violent crime, as well as the suffering and struggle they face in their recuperation. The fact this organization is the first of its kind to support rape victims is to be commended.
I had an opportunity to speak with Alexa Branchini and her parents, and cannot imagine the pain they endured during their ordeal. Alexa is such an amazing young lady and I'm pleased to know the criminal who committed the crime against her has failed. He failed not because he is in jail, but because Alexa used this horrible experience to become a powerful voice for the majority who are not powerful enough to speak on their own. I urge everyone to consider the nightmare they would face if they were a victim of rape, visit the foundation's web site and give to such a wonderful organization."
The "It Happened to Alexa" foundation (IHTA) is the only foundation of its kind in the United States, providing direct financial assistance to rape victims' families for travel-related expenses during the litigation process. After their daughter's long and traumatic trial ended, the Branchinis realized that many families in similar circumstances would not have the finances to support the travel and lodging costs incurred in an out-of-town trial. They didn't want a lack of funds to prevent any rape victim from prosecuting her (or his) attacker.
For more information of donating to the "It Happened to Alexa" foundation, please visit:
http://www.ithappenedtoalexa.org/ or contact (877) 77-ALEXA


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It's a question that's been asked many times, including by TechRadar: what happens to your social media accounts when you die?
Facebook's previous policy let deceased users' family members submit a request to have their pages "memorialized," but now the social network is finally giving users more control over their own postmortem profiles, the company has announced.
Starting today - at least in the US - Facebook is letting users assign a "legacy contact" who will be given powers to decide what happens to their profile once they've shuffled off.
Legacy powers
That legacy contact will be able to write a post that will be displayed at the top of the memorialized page's timeline, respond to the user's friend requests, and update their profile and cover photos.
The legacy contact can also download a user's photos, posts and profile information as an archive, though they won't be able to write posts on that person's behalf, change their settings or view their private messages.
Alternately, Facebook users can instruct the company to simply delete their accounts when they pass.
You can choose a legacy contact and assign them permissions in your settings under "security."
- Apple's iPhone 6 is bigger, better, sleeker and faster


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Josie Bissett is the latest original Melrose Place resident to plan a return visit to her old apartment building, on the CW reboot premiering Sept. 8.
Bissett will reprise her role as Jane Andrews Mancini — sneaky Sydney's sister and Dr. Michael Mancini's ex-wife — in at least one episode of the new Melrose Place, sources tell TVGuide.com.
Two of Bissett's former Melrose castmates, Laura Leighton (who plays Sydney) and Thomas Calabro (Michael), are in the new nighttime sudser's regular cast.
Fresh faces populating the new apartment complex include Ashlee Simpson-Wentz (7th Heaven), Michael Rady (Greek), Stephanie Jacobsen (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) and Shaun Sipos (playing Michael's hot-headed son).
Crave scoop on your favorite TV shows, from this summer or the upcoming fall season? E-mail senior editors Matt, Mickey and Tim at firstname.lastname@example.com. Also, follow TV Guide on Twitter.


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Please note: Due to recent IT Systems issues, we regret that we are currently unable to process any accommodation bookings at this time (either online or via our Contact Centre). We hope to have this function restored as soon as possible and urge you to check back to these pages regularly.
If you enjoy relaxing with your favourite tipple whilst gazing at the ever changing vista of the The Solent then the patio at The Fishbourne is just waiting for you! The Fishbourne is a great place to explore the Island from as being mid way between the main shopping towns of Ryde and Newport or venture further and enjoy the vast aray of attractions on offer on the Island.
The Fishbourne is positioned just 200 yards from Fishbourne beach, with a large patio area with summer shade for a relaxing view of the Solent with its ever changing vista of passing cruise ships sailing by. Enjoy quality dining in a pub environment, matched with superb ales and an extensive wine selection. Situated mid way between Newport and Ryde, Fishbourne gives you the opportunity to explore the Island easily.
The Fishbourne offers five newly refurbished bedrooms, comprising twin, double and family ensuites.Flatscreen TV with DVD and Freeview. i.Pod docking stations/alarm clock. Tea/coffee making facilities. Hairdryer. Free WiFi. Non-smoking establishment. Children of all ages welcome (children aged 14 years and above are counted as adults). Pets not accepted. Car parking.
Open: All year | Minimum number of nights: 1, except on Friday & Saturdays when it's 2 nights
Facilities included
- Car parking
- WiFi
- TV and DVD player
- Hair dryer
- Ironing facilities
- Hospitality tray
- Restaurant
- Check-in - 15:00
- Check-out - 10:30 (noon check-out for £15)
- Breakfast - 08:00 to 10:00 weekdays &
09:00 to 10:30 at weekends
- Evening meals available - 12:00 to 21:30 except Sunday to Thursday November to Easter when 12:00 to 21:00)
The Fishbourne Address: Fishbourne Lane, Fishbourne, Isle of Wight, PO33 4EU
- Quarr Abbey
- Monkey Haven
- Ryde
- Newport
- Isle of Wight Steam Railway
- Butterfly & Fountain World
- Osborne


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The Revolution beer hall can continue to ignore curfews imposed by Morristown's council, and the state should order the town to rescind them as arbitrary, capricious, unreasonable and discriminatory, a judge has ruled.
Town officials said they will appeal the decision by Administrative Law Judge John P. Scollo.
Owner Jimmy Cavanaugh chafed at early closing times imposed on Revolution by the town council in 2016, as conditions for approving his expansion of the liquor license from his adjoining Iron Bar.
While other establishments in town can operate until 2 am, Revolution was required to close at 11 pm Sundays through Thursdays, and at 11:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Council members were responding to complaints from residents about unruly behavior by patrons of downtown bars.
But of six bars on the same block, only Revolution had such restrictions–making them discriminatory, Scollo said in a written decision last month. The state Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control never approved the curfews, and the ABC should order their elimination, the judge advised.
Revolution has been operating until 2 am, after obtaining a stay of the conditions from the state.
"Michelle Harris was the only one with any sense," said Cavanaugh, referring to former Councilwoman Michelle Duprée Harris, the sole council member to oppose the curfews.
The town will appeal to the state ABC commissioner because Scollo is not the same administrative judge who heard the case in April 2017. That judge, Joan Bedrin-Murray, was appointed in December to state tax court. Scollo inherited the case and based his opinion on a transcript, said town Attorney Vij Pawar.
"There were a lot of facts the judge failed to consider," Pawar said of Scollo.
Cavanaugh's lawyer, Robert C. Williams, called several witnesses at last spring's hearing.
Morristown Police Chief Pete Demnitz testified that he knew of no reason for the curfews, and Fire Chief Robert Flanagan said no fire code violations had occurred at Iron Bar or Revolution.
Nor were there any ABC violations at Revolution or the Iron Bar, according to Cavanaugh, who told the court that the restricted hours would harm his business and its employees.
Bedrin-Murray also heard from then-Council President Stefan Armington, then-Councilwoman Harris,former Councilwoman Rebecca Feldman, and several residents.
Scollo said Armington "offered no facts" to warrant Revolution's early closing.
"I disagree with this ruling," Armington said. "They didn't take into consideration the effect of multiple establishments with a single license, which we've had a problem with. That's the primary issue here."
While public comments are important, the judge said the council gave them too much weight when no police records link any problems to Revolution.
Residents' testimony "did not constitute widespread public sentiment in opposition to the Iron Bar expansion and I find that it was too attenuated to establish that Iron Bar's expansion was a realistic danger to the public health, safety, morals, or general welfare of Morristown," Scollo wrote.
Opposition from 14 residents in a town of nearly 19,000 doesn't trump a license-holder's interests, the judge continued. Supervised by private security people and police, patrons were "well behaved" exiting Iron Bar and Revolution, Scollo found.
"We feel otherwise," said Councilman Robert Iannaccone, whose First Ward includes Revolution and Iron Bar.
A few months ago, he said, the council changed parking designations to make space for emergency vehicles in front of the Iron Bar. Noise complaints are numerous, he said. And late-night Uber and taxi pickups have been moved from this stretch of South Street, which grows congested at closing time.
"Obviously, the town feels there are disruptions," Iannaccone said.
Cavanaugh said he is appealing a separate council decision last year that denied his request to expand the Iron Bar liquor license a second time, for a Mexican restaurant to be called the Gran Cantina. And he said he is continuing his lawsuit against the Morristown Parking Authority in a dispute over access to an alley behind his bars.


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The outgoing Volkswagen Touareg range has always lived on the wrong side of the tracks in America. It was a big, expensive Volkswagen. Notice that we can't just say it was a big, expensive vehicle, because those adjectives are almost as much the norm as anything else – we must qualify those descriptors with the word " Volkswagen." And we can't help but think that's part of the reason this go-almost-anywhere SUV never really made a splash anywhere in the U.S. except in puddles.
The new 2011 Touareg is roomier, more powerful, more efficient and lighter. Much lighter. That's how we like our VWs. And now it comes in hybrid form. We spent a few hours in one to see what a Touareg reset looks like. Our first impressions: So good, this is what the first Touareg should have been like. Follow the jump for the story.
Photos by Jonathon Ramsey / Copyright ©2010 Weblogs, Inc.
Car buying is a little different in Europe than it is in America. Consumers take home an order sheet and lovingly choose each option, then submit it to a dealer and wait for weeks for their car to be built. In America, we show up at a dealer lot and expect to get the ride we want right now.
This is one of the reasons that the current Touareg endured a stiff sales climate. With something like 170 build combinations, potential buyers had lottery-like chances of finding the one they wanted on any given day. Play around with the configurator on the VW site and you'll see that even wheel choices will change your interior option selections.
Of course, there has also been the matter of price. Touaregs aren't cheap – again, "for Volkswagens." A 2010 Touareg V6 FSI starts at $40,850, the V6 TDI diesel at $44,350. Add the technology package to the cheaper model to get DVD navigation and you are at $46,850. From there, $50,000 is just a whisper away. VW said buyers were cross shopping the GMC Acadia, and it maxes out at about $47,000 if you throw everything possible at the top-of-the-line SLT2, a vehicle that may be less capable off-road, but it's also significantly larger than the Touareg and seats eight. The Acura MDX is priced similarly to the VW, is a seven-seater and gets about the same miles per gallon... but it has a bit more aspirational clout.
And, of course, there was also the size and the avoirdupois. It isn't small, especially for a dedicated five-seater, and while the Touareg's 4XMOTION air suspension setup could get you just about anywhere – as an eye-opening trip to Moab showed us a couple of years ago – you paid for it in heft and a heavy tiller. As you might have reasonably surmised, folks also shopping Acadias and MDXs aren't usually trying to conquer Hell's Revenge – they wanted to get to the cabin or the after-school sports practice or grandma's house in one piece and a little bit of style. And they don't want to scratch their Galapagos paint while doing it.
When it comes to the raw truths presented by numbers, while 500,000 Touareg and Touareg2 models were sold worldwide, Americans didn't make a good showing as part of that total.
In true Men in Black style, though, you can wipe those memories clean. The old Touareg is gone, and the new one is nothing like it. No, really, nothing. When we asked what was new, we were told "Everything." When we asked for clarification, just to make sure we understood, David Sweet, the general manager for marketing in the U.S., said "It's an entirely new vehicle." Silently, we were sure he added, "What part of the word 'everything' didn't you understand?"
Along with that, the new Touareg's attitude changes more than the vehicle, at least as far as the U.S. is concerned. We don't get most of the high-tech features in this new SUV. A sample of blacked out menu options includes:
- Dynamic Light Assist: camera-based continuous main beam headlight "sees" oncoming traffic and selectively dims and adjusts the direction of each main beam headlight to prevent other drivers, oncoming and in the same direction, from suffering glare. U.S. regulations don't allow the technology.
- Side Assist: a blind-spot warning system that also detects the closing speed of cars approaching you. Not coming because it's expensive and was developed for higher, Autobahn-like closing speeds, not American highways.
- Lane Assist: takes note of the lane you're in, and if you begin to stray sends a mild vibration through the steering wheel. Deemed not cost-effective for American buyers.
- Start/stop on the non-hybrid Touaregs: the tech doesn't count toward the EPA cycle, so VW didn't think it fair to charge for something that has no benefit they could point to on paper.
- Cross Traffic view camera: lets the driver see 90 degrees to the left and right at points located at the very front and rear of the Touareg – i.e. "around the corner." Felt to be more suited to pulling out into narrow European lanes than American driving situations.
- 334-horsepower, 599 pound-feet V8 TDI that replaces the V10 TDI. We get the V6 FSI, V6 TDI and Hybrid.
- 4XMotion: the full-fat four-wheel-drive system with air suspension has been replaced by VW's Torsen limited-slip differential called 4Motion which is lighter and less expensive. It also can't take you as many places as the 4XMotion, but VW realized no one in the U.S. was using their Touaregs as Unimogs.
- Automatic Cruise Control: the same kind of system filtering its way through all kinds of luxury cars, this version works even in stop-and-go traffic. Again, cost is the problem.
We know we've discussed the size thing, so we'll admit right now that the new Touareg is larger. It gets about an inch-and-a-half longer and a half-inch wider, with the front track increased just a hair and the rear track growing by about half an inch as well. It sits a half-inch lower, the lowest SUV in the class other than its sister, the new Porsche Cayenne.
The additional size outside and the 1.5-inch longer wheelbase translates into more roominess inside, with anywhere from 1.75 inches to 2.7 inches more elbow, shoulder and knee room. There is more room for cargo as well, something the previous Touareg didn't exactly lack.
Volkswagen has pulled off this enlargement the right way, though. The new Touareg is about 400 pounds lighter than the last, due to the use of aluminum and high-strength steel, tailored blanks and lighter sound insulation. And yes, that includes the Hybrid. Serious weight loss came from the 4Motion Torsion limited-slip diff setup replacing the 4XMotion air suspension and center and rear differentials. In a case of VW designing a vehicle to be used the way people actually drive it, the hardcore 4XMotion can be ordered as part of a Terrain Tech package, but the 4Motion system alone is left to handle the speed bumps and gravel access roads the average Touareg will find its greatest challenge.
Making sure you'll never be left out in the cold, though, the 4MOTION system has electronic differential locks at all four wheels, 31 degrees of climbing angle and an off-road driving program that tunes the ABS, EDS and ASR for off-road duty, activates Hill Descent Assist and adjusts the automatic gearshift points.
Should you need more – and should you not live in American, as VW has clarified that we won't get it – the Terrain Tech package uses a familiar rotary switch to set the system to one of five levels: on-road; off-road, which adds automatic control of the mechanical locks; low, which adds reduced gearing, higher shift points and no automatic upshift in manual mode; a fourth mode that locks the center diff; and a fifth mode that locks the rear diff.
The curb weight of the European Touareg V6 FSI is 4,477 pounds, quite a drop from the portly 5,086 pounds of the outgoing U.S. model. Ours has a bit more standard equipment and so has a higher base curb weight, but the loss is clearly there and dramatic. The Euro V6 TDI is 4,618 pounds, and the Hybrid is 4,928 pounds.
In the looks department, we feel that this new Touareg is also hugely superior to the outgoing model. We enjoyed the previous Touareg even as we had no problem admitting it appeared to have been squeezed out of a tube. This Touareg has replaced mere brawn with curves and shoulders and scallops, so even though it's bigger, it looks smaller, sleeker and vastly more sporty. The body-colored panels and shaped, integrated exhaust tips only add to the complete picture.
We do think the facial treatment could have been given a special detail or two – something more prominent than the headlights and U-shaped line of LEDs, that is – instead of having an enlarged version of the New Corporate VW front. But that's just us. Ultimately, no matter how you take it in, the new Touareg looks like one would expect a VW SUV to look.
Perhaps the designers saved those curves no longer needed up front for the interior. It is convex and concave all over and truly nicer, with cross-stitching accenting the new hills and valleys. The redesigned front seats are comfy going the distance, the transmission tunnel has been reshaped to provide more legroom and the center console moved forward to provide more support. Ensconced on the new back bench with the front seats placed where we had plenty of room, there remained more than two inches between our legs and the front seats. The back bench also slides six inches fore-and-aft and reclines a few degrees.
The 6.5-inch touchscreen DVD system, which will be standard in the U.S., is easy to navigate and has a 3-D view with major landmarks built in. A 60-GB hard drive has 18 GB set aside for you to download your media. It works in conjunction with the seven-inch, 15:9 aspect ratio multifunction display in the dash, between the gauges. Color and brightness for both screens was excellent in every light condition we encountered.
In fact, the new Touareg is replete with premium touches like an electronic parking brake, an electronic engine oil level display that replaces the dipstick, a start-stop button on the keyless entry model and a key that can be turned right or left to start the car on all models, an electronic tailgate that can be programmed to open to a preset height (to avoid scraping in low-hanging garages), ambiance lighting in the footwells and doors, four Area View cameras that provide a 360-degree view around the car, a panorama sunroof, park distance control (PDC), and the aforementioned bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights.
Yet the full story isn't all "more" with this car, "less" and "fewer" play parts as well and not just concerning weight. There will be fewer option choices. On the V6 FSI and TDI there are three build choices. Base includes bi-xenon and LED driving lights, 18-inch wheels, DVD navigation and rearview camera, and 12-way power driver and passenger seats. The next level adds Vienna Leather, memory seats, the panoramic sunroof, wood trim and 19-inch wheels. The top of the peak model throws in the 12-speaker, 620-watt Dynaudio system; PDC; Smart Key; heated rear seats and steering wheel and 20-inch wheels. The Hybrid will be available only in that top trim level, albeit riding on 19-inch wheels wearing all-season low-resistance tires. Throw in the Terrain and Tow packages, and Volkswagen has reduced build options from more than 170 to about 20.
The first of those options, and the one that will surely be the least expensive when VW announces pricing, is the V6 FSI. More efficient than the current Touareg2 V6 FSI, the direct-injection lump will have 275 horsepower and 265 pound-feet. The one above that will be the BlueMotion V6 TDI, a common-rail turbodiesel with 236 hp and 405 pound-feet that comes on from 2,000 rpm. They both do the 0-to-62-mph run in 7.8 seconds.
In Europe, those engines will get Stop-Start, but we won't. We will, however, get the eight-speed automatic transmission that is now standard throughout the range. The gearbox, which shifts faster than the current six-speeder and has a 20-percent larger spread, uses the top two gears as long-distance fuel-consumption-reducing ratios. At 80 mph the tach rests at just 2,200 rpm. Volkswagen hasn't released EPA cycle numbers yet, but you can expect something better than the 14 city/20 highway miles per gallon of the VR6 FSI and 18/25 of the current V6 TDI models.
It is the Hybrid that gets the marquee space, though. It mates a supercharged, direct-injection V6 TSI with 333 horsepower and 324 lb-ft of torque to a Hybrid Module powered by a nickel metal-hydride battery pack in what would be the spare wheel recess under the cargo area. The 288-volt battery pack with 240 individual cells has a peak output of 38 kW. It can propel the Touareg on electric power alone for about a 1.5 miles at speeds up to 32 mph. Stomp on the gas from a standstill and you get to 62 in 6.5 seconds because the combined power numbers jump to 375 hp and 428 lb.-ft.
The heart of the parallel hybrid system is the 121-pound, 15-inch wide circular Hybrid Module, which has a 47-hp electric motor and a disengagement clutch. Essentially what it does is act to engage or disengage the ICE and electric motor from each other or the drivetrain. As in every other hybrid, you can have just the V6 in use or just electricity or both, but by being able to disengage the electric motor completely, VW has kept the Touareg's off-road and towing performance. The 7,500-pound towing capacity – more than a GMC Sierra Hybrid and the same for all versions of the Touareg – wouldn't be possible if you couldn't set the electric motor entirely aside.
Speaking of which, that is what also enables the Touareg to "sail." When the engine isn't needed to help move the vehicle, it is disengaged from the transmission. When you are coasting down a hill, for instance, the disengagement clutch in the Hybrid Module unhooks the V6, the engine is shut off and the tachometer falls to zero. You notice you coast a lot further as well because there's no engine torque to drag on the driveline. This "sailing" can be done up to 100 mph.
How do they go? Don't let the 7.8-second time and the gap between the traditional and Hybrid version throw you off – none of them are slow and even the base engine, the V6 FSI, delivers fine motoring pleasure. Sure, it doesn't bolt from the line like the Hybrid, but on the move, its pickup, aided by the quick-shifting and additional cogs of the eight-speed automatic, never let a driver down. The diesel is a bit more peppy, but it is the Hybrid that gets moving most quickly when you sound the klaxon.
With the loss of the air suspension – which is tied to the 4XMotion and so won't be on any Touareg without the Terrain Tech package – road feel returns to the level of a middle-premium SUV. Cornering isn't table flat, potholes knock a bit louder, and bad roads make a bit more fuss, but it is all still premium. The engineers have done a good job letting you feel the loss of that 500 pounds, though – the cargo-ship stolidity of the current model is gone, replaced by a more capable, more nimble vehicle that offers more of everything all around. The new Touareg will show itself well when cross-shopped with VW's target competition.
The Hybrid's features like stop-start and coasting were superb. As you brake to stop for a light, the engine shuts down and you roll to a stop on electric power. All systems are maintained, so power steering, brake boosting and the like remain on call. When you take your foot off the brake to pull away, you can roll away on electric power alone if you don't ask for a lot of gumption. If you need to get going right now, peak electric power comes in to move the car the first meter while the ICE comes on, silently, and spools up to take over on-the-go. It exhibits all the refinement you could eve want in such a system, on top of which you can do the off-road thing and pull an enormous trailer.
If Volkswagen prices the Touareg right when it hits the market later this year – and the officials in attendance gave every indication that pricing is a tied-for-first priority – then they won't need to worry about selling just 500,000 of these new Touaregs over its product life cycle. Provided VW can right the Touareg's troubled reliability legacy with this new model, we expect more Yankees will show up for this party and wouldn't even be surprised if enough showed up to request an American-sized slice of the sales pie.
Photos by Jonathon Ramsey / Copyright ©2010 Weblogs, Inc.


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LENA Start® Parents Show Increases in Parenting Domains Beyond Those Measured by LENA
This poster describes the development of a qualitative pre/post questionnaire designed to supplement the automated measures gathered by the LENA System. Data from the questionnaire quantifies changes in parent perceptions and interactive behaviors before and after the LENA Start program.
Presenting Author(s):
Jill Gilkerson, PhD
Jill Gilkerson, PhD1,2 and Rosemary Russo, MA1
Author Affiliation(s):
1LENA, Boulder, CO, 2University of Colorado at Boulder


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Sparkling Sydney Harbour on a beautiful Spring afternoon was a most appropriate backdrop for the intimate surrounds of the Utzon Room at the Opera House where a stunning recital was given by clarinettist, David Rowden, Artistic Director and Founder of the Omega Ensemble, and pianist, and Maria Raspopova, resident pianist of the Ensemble.
The concert was a lovely balance of well-known works and lesser-known ones, typical of the approach of the Omega Ensemble to programming.
Proceedings commenced with Brahms' famous Clarinet Sonata in E-flat Op 120 No 2. The sublime lyrical opening by the clarinet was complemented by the expressive touch of Raspopova, each instrument immediately providing clean clear lines. Varied repetition of the first subject followed by its development led to a harmonically and rhythmically enjoyable coda with clarinet troplets over piano duplets. The second of the three movements was unusual for Brahms in that it is scherzo-like with a Trio. Well-controlled contrasts in dynamics and tempo by each player and during their interplay were evident. The last movement Andante con moto with variations was also unusual for a "classical" Brahms work. However, the agility and breath control of Rowden, already on display in the faster passages of the Andante beginning, was highlighted in the more usual Allegro tempo finale in the latter part of the movement.
A most satisfying delicate balance between the instruments was maintained throughout this piece. It displayed the clarinet's incisive high register as well as its warm resonant lower tones.
We were then treated to the first of two piano solo works played by Raspopova, heralded by the complete opening of the Steinway grand piano lid which was only partially open for the duo works. She introduced Felix Mendelssohn's Rondo Capriccioso as "very happy and light…like today!" This tall stylish pianist certainly showed off her great technique, judicious use of the pedal, particularly during the louder fast passages, and overall musicality.
Next up, Rowden rejoined Raspopova to perform a new discovery, a piece that Raspopova had played with another clarinettist, Dmitri Ashkenazy, during a recent tour. Fantasiestuecke by Danish composer, Niels Gade, was a substantial Romantic offering. By this time in the mid-afternoon just before Interval, I was totally relaxed and in the mood for the graceful tranquillity of the first movement Andantino con moto, ready for a reverie, only for it to be disturbed by a jetboat outside whizzing by! The second movement Allegro vivace and third movement Ballade provided plenty of contrast and interplay while the final movement Allegro molto vivace was very playful.
After Interval, Raspopova played Liszt's Tarantella, the third in a collection of musical sketches from Venezia e Napoli, composed during his travels to Italy, a work that further highlighted the pianist's formidable technique. She introduced the work as "serious fun" which was a delightful way of describing a work so typical of Liszt with notes all over the keyboard and with huge dynamic changes throughout. She certainly captured the rhythms of the Italian dance very well.
Another "find" was the final work by Poulenc, his Sonata for Clarinet and Piano in B-flat. It was a work dedicated to clarinettist Benny Goodman, famous as the King of Swing, and to be first performed by him and the composer at the piano. However, when Poulenc suffered a heart attack two weeks prior to the premiere, Leonard Bernstein replaced him as the pianist.
A moving calm beginning was soon replaced by an energetic end to the first movement where impressive changes in dynamics, tempo, and mood were all evident. The second movement Romanza featured serene slow passages. The final movement Allegro con fuoco (Tres anime) was a brilliant way to finish my first ever Omega Ensemble concert, one that made a most favourable impression.
Anecdotes provided by both performers during the concert revealed a wonderful insight into their personalities and leads to an increased understanding of the music which I find only adds to the overall enjoyment.
Rowden and Raspopova provided the icing on the cake with an encore, the first movement from the Sonatina for clarinet and piano by Joseph Horovitz, born in Vienna in 1926, later studying in London and Paris. It was a reflective piece, as its Allegro calmato suggested, very suitable for a "warm down" after such an invigorating and demanding program. Most interestingly, Raspopova revealed it was introduced to them by a couple who were in the audience!
Review for:
Omega Ensemble – Rowden & Raspopova | Sunday 16 October 2016, 2:30pm | Sydney Opera House: Utzon Room


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Art & Culture
Iran's Guide
History of Iran
Constitutional Revolution
uring the early 1900s the only way to save country from government corruption and foreign manipulation was to make a written code of laws. This sentiment caused the Constitutional Revolution. There had been a series of ongoing covert and overt activities against Naser o-Din Shah's despotic rule, for which many had lost their lives. The efforts of freedom fighters finally bore fruit during the reign of Moazaferedin Shah. Mozafaredin shah ascended to throne on June 1896. In the wake of the relentless efforts of freedom fighters, Mozafar o-Din Shah of
dynasty was forced to issue the decree for the constitution and the creation of an elected parliament (the Majlis) in August 5, 1906. The royal power limited and a parliamentary system established.
Bakhtiari Revolutionaries in camp outside Esfahan (June 1909)
In front, in a white coat with a sword, is Mohammad Ebrahim Khan,
of Julfa.
On August 18, 1906, the first Legislative assembly (called as Supreme National Assembly), was formed in the Military Academy to make the preparations for the opening of the first Term of the National Consultative Assembly and drafting the election law thereof. During this meeting, Prime Minister Moshirul Doleh delivered a speech as the head of the cabinet. The session concluded with the address made by Malek Al Motokalemin.
On October 7th, 1906 in a speech made in spite of his poor health, Mozaferedin Shah inaugurated the first session of the National Consultative Assembly. At this time the session was formed in the absence of representatives from provinces.
Following Mozafaredin Shah's death, his successor, Mohammad Ali Mirza who was then ruled
as a crown prince, ascended to the throne on January 21st, 1907. Before taking the reign, he pledged to respect the fundaments of Constitution and Nation's Rights. But he contravened this from the very beginning which made Constitutionalists to react.
Capitalizing on the internal struggles, both Russia and Britain entered a pact to settle their own differences; effectively dividing Iran into two areas of influence for their respected countries. This made headlines in early September 1907 and united the various factions in Iran. The Iranian government was officially notified of this pact on September 7, 1907 by Russian and British Ambassadors.
The rising tides of dissatisfaction and discontent caused Mohammad Mirza to summon the cabinet members on December 17, 1907 under the false pretense of soliciting advice. He immediately orders their detention. Only Nasserul Molk, who was the prime minister, was let free.
On December 22, 1907 a new cabinet was formed headed by Nezamul Saltaneh Mafi. On the surface the air is cleared and the tensions are eased. But on February 1908, a bomb is thrown at Shah's Coach, making him highly suspicious. On June 1st, 1908 Shah purges some of the courtiers. Ambassador Zapolski of Russia and Ambassador Marling of Britain warn the Iranian Government to submit to Shah's intents.
Freedom Fighters of Tabriz
The two men in the center are Sattar Khan & Bagher Khan.
Two days later, Shah invites the leaders of the constitutional movement to the Imperial Gardens outside
. There he imprisons all save for one who manages to escape. On June 24, 1908, Shah places Majlis under siege and orders its bombardment by artillery fire.
During these times, the Tabriz uprising culminated and within the span of four months spread to
, Qazvin,
, Lar,
, Astar-Abad,
Bandar Abbas
. The Freedom fighters prevailed against the tyranny at all points. Yet Tabriz was still under economic and military blocked set up by government forces.
On February 17, 1909, Freedom Forces captured Rasht. By March, they succeed in taking control of Rasht and Qazvin main roads. By April 22nd, 1909, Tabriz Freedom Fighters under the leadership of
Sattar Khan
(Sardar-e Meli) made their attack to break through the blockade. They lost huge number of their fighters. An English Reporter named Moore and an American Missionary called Howard Baskerville, who were sympathetic with the freedom fighters were killed.
Commanded by General Yeprim and Brigadier Mohi, freedom fighters of Rasht occupied Qazvin and advanced towards Tehran.
On June 22, 1909, Bakhtiari Chieftains, led by Samsam-ul-Saltaneh and Haj Aligholi Khan Bakhtiari (Sardar As'ad) reached the city of Qum, which they took over on July 8th,1909. The intimidations and interventions made by Russian and British embassies failed to stop the advance of freedom fighters. Inevitably, a number of Russian troops were dispatched to Gilan via Badkobeh, reaching Qazvin on July 12th, 1909. Russians warned Gilan Fighters to stop moving in against Tehran.
A nationalist council at Rasht
Ignoring the warning, Gilan freedom fighters advanced towards Tehran, and met up with Bakhtiari forces near Karaj (60km west of Tehran). Using the element of surprise, these forces moved through the lines of the government forces. Thus the 3000 strong, well-equipped forces led by Mohammad Valikhan Tonekaboni and Sardar As'ad, entered the capital amid welcoming cheers of freedom loving sympathizers. Following bloody fights in the streets and the Bazaar District, once again the national forces triumphed and the Cossack brigade, having retreated to the parade grounds, was surrounded and forced into surrender.
On July 16, 1909, the capital was under complete control of freedom fighters. At 8:30, on the morning of July 17, 1909, Mohammad shah and a number of his supporters, under armed escort of Russian soldiers, took asylum with Russian Embassy in Zargandeh.
On this very day, the National Consultative Assembly (Majlis) held an emergency session and deposed Mohammad Ali Shah as a monarch, and named his 13 year old son, Ahmad Mirza as his successor. Azadulmolk was named as the Vice-Regent.
On September 10th, 1909, Mohammad Ali Shah left the Russian Embassy and went into exile in Russia.
First Term (October 7th, 1906 ?June 23rd, 1908)
The most important task undertaken by the first Majlis was drafting and ratification of the Constitution on December 30th, 1906. It also set out the internal procedures. On October 17th, 1907 it drafted and ratified the constitutional amendments.
The first Majlis was dissolved before the end of its Term due to Mohammad Ali Shah's opposition against the Constitutionalists as well as foreign intrigues. Colonel Liakhov, the Russian commander of the Iranian Cossack brigade, along with several Russian officers set artillery fire against Majlis. A number of Majlis Representatives and Constitutionalists were detained in Bagh Shah, of which a number were killed. Some fled to and sought asylum with foreign embassies. Thus the First Majlis was dissolved and a martial law was declared.
Second Term (November 15th, 1909 ?December 24th, 1911)
The second Majlis came into session after a period of Interregnum that lasted almost 17 months. A two-stage, indirect plebiscite was carried out. Confronted with severe crises and dilemmas arising from interventions by foreign forces and domestic hardships, Majlis stood its ground as far as possible. Finally it was dissolved under foreign pressure. The representatives either fled or went into exile.
Nevertheless important bills were passed during this time. These included the Public Tax Act, Bureau of Audit Act, the new election law, and the Education Bill.
Third Term (December 6th, 1914 ?December 14th, 1915)
The Third Majlis did not last more than a year. Faced with the First Word War, Majlis representatives declared Iran's neutrality. Nevertheless, Iran's neutrality was blatantly transgressed by foreign expeditionary forces. The Czarist Russian Army expeditionary force left Qazvin for Tehran, bringing up the question of relocating the capital. It raised concerns and led to riots. A number of representatives moved to Qum and from there to Kermanshah. Majlis session could not be held due to lack of quorum. It finally adjourned in November 12th, 1915.
During this period, Majlis approved important laws such as the Military Conscription Act, Ministry of Finance constitution bill, and Real Estate tax law.
Fourth Term (June 21st, 1921 ?June 20th, 1923)
Following a long interregnum , that lasted five years and seven months), the Fourth Majlis was inaugurated. Most of its time had been spent in tension and rancor.
The most valuable action taken was when it drafted and approved a bill submitted by Majlis majority leader Seyyed Hassan Modaress. The bill called for the abolition of the 1919 accord, signed between the Iranian Prime Minister and the British Government without Majlis knowledge. The accord had been put into effect before Majlis had any chance on debating it.
Moddares?bill, once approved, was announced publicly and the British government was formally notified.
The most important legislations passed during this period had been:
Friendship Pact between Iran and the Soviet Union.
The Scholarship Bill for sending 60 students outside the country.
Property, Real Estate and Document Registry Bill.
Fifth Term (February 11th, 1924 ?February 11th, 1924)
One of the tumultuous periods in Majlis, when a combination of generalissimo and foreign influence joined forces to put an end to the Qajar Dynasty. Independent Majlis representatives were harassed, intimidated and even assassinated in order to have the Minister of War, Reza Khan, installed to the throne.
Some of the important bills and legislations approved by Majlis during this period were:
Ten year exemption of agricultural and industrial machinery from customs levies and excises.
Commercial Law.
The bill of Military draft conscription.
General Penal Law.
Sixth Term (July 10th, 1926 ?August 13th, 1928)
The most important event during this period had been the abolition of Capitulation on May 9th, 1927.
Some of the important bills and legislations approved by Majlis during this period were:
Permission granted to the Minister of Justice to make organizational, judicial and employment reforms in the Ministry of Justice.
Permission granted for establishment of Iran National Bank.
Dispatch of student to outside of country.
Procedure for Trial and Prosecution of Ministers by Jury.
Seventh Term (October 6th, 1928 ?November 5th, 1930)
Majlis granted the right of issuing currency to the Iran National Bank (Bank Melli Iran). This task used to be carried out by Iran Royal Bank.
Among the important bills and legislations approved by Majlis during this period were:
Prohibition of Slave trade within Iranian Territory by which any slave entering the country would be automatically emancipated.
Permission granted for formation of Agricultural Bank.
Eight Term (December 15th, 1930 ?January 14th, 1933)
During this period the Minister of Treasury proposed that Darcy License , which monopolized the Iranian oil fields, be cancelled.
The most important bills passed by Majlis at this time were:
Granting the exclusive right of foreign trade to the government.
Permission granted to exchange protocols for the liquidation of Indo-European Telegraph in Iran.
Legal verdict confirming government decision to Terminate Darcy License.
Ninth Term (March 15th, 1933 ?April 10th, 1935)
The period saw negotiations with the British government over petroleum. It led to a new agreement. The Tehran University was inaugurated on February 4th, 1936.
Some of the most important legislations were:
Granting of Petroleum License to Iran-o-British Petroleum Company in May 1934.
Permission granted for forming of Tehran University.
Tenth Term (June 6th, 1935?June 12th, 1937)
The most important event during this period had been negotiations for the signing of non-aggression pact between Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey and Iraq.
The most important legislations ratified were:
Formation of Iranian Government Railway Establishment.
Granting of petroleum license in parts of East and North-Eastern territories to Iran-American Oil Company.
Eleventh Term (September 11th, 1937 ?September 18th, 1939)
The Second World War conflagrated at this time. Iran proclaimed its neutrality in the conflict.
Among the important bills and legislations approved by Majlis during this period were:
Formation of Ministry of Commerce.
Formation of Ministry of Industry.
Ratification of the non-aggression pact among Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey and Iraq (The Saad Abbad Pact).
Census Law.
Twelfth Term (October 25th, 1940?October 30th, 1941)
Numerous social and economic problems arising from the Second World War gripped the country. While Iran had declared its neutrality, Soviet Union and Britain blatantly disregarded it and sent in their troops into Iran under the pretext of supposed Reich influence in Iran.
During an emergency session on September 17, 1941, Reza Shah abdicated in favor of his son, Mohammad Reza who was sworn in as the new monarch on the next day. Meanwhile with the Generalissimo Reza Khan out of the way, Majlis passed a bill of pardon and clemency for a number of political and general sentences.
Thirteenth Term (November 13th, 1941 ?November 23rd, 1943)
This period coincided with the Tehran Conference attended by the head of states of Britain, Soviet Union and United States, where the territorial integrity and political independence of Iran was guaranteed.
Important bills and legislations approved during this period were:
Permission for exchange of concord with Soviet and British government.
Permission to employ Dr. Millipso, the General Director of Treasury and delineation of his scope of authority Formation of Ministry of Industry.
Amendments to Press Law.
Resolution to declare war against the German Reich.
Insurance security for government and private workers.
Fourteenth Term (February 26th, 1944 ?March 11th, 1946)
The plebiscite was taken while Allied troops still occupied parts of Iran. The political parties and groups that were formed following Reza Khan's fall from power, made active bid for Majlis seats. This led to some unrest in some of the electoral districts. With the cessation of Second World War, there had been foreign instigated insurrections in Azerbaijan and Kurdistan.
Some of the noteworthy bills passed by this session of Majlis were:
Forbidding Iranian government from negotiating and entering into any contracts dealing with granting of petroleum license to foreign entities.
Revoking of Dr. Millipso's Economic authority.
Approval of UN Charter signed by Iran in San Francisco.
Permission for Iran membership in International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
Fifteenth Term (July 17, 1947 ?July 28, 1949)
Important bills and legislations approved by Majlis during this period were:
Resolution legally invalidating the March 26th agreement on formation of Iran-o-Soviet petroleum company.
A ten year allocation of proceeds from South Oil production for public works and industrial promotion.
General Amnesty for insurrectionists in Azerbaijan and Kurdistan.
The bill for establishment of universities in provincial cities.
Sixteenth Term (February 9th, 1950 ?February 18th, 1952)
A tumultuous period, deeming Gass-Golshaiyan contract amendments against government interest, Majlis expressed its opposition. The Select Petroleum Committee submitted its proposed amendments for Nationalization of Iranian Oil Industry. The British Government lodged a complaint with the International Tribunal in Hague. The Tribunal issued a restraining order preventing the Iranian government from measures it had already taken for transfer of oil industry to Iranians. Quoting inattributibility of the Tribunal in the case, the Iranian government deemed the order as being invalid. The British closed their consular offices in Iran.
Some of the noteworthy bills passed by this session of Majlis were:
Revoking of all press laws, except for 1908 law.
Resolution fpr nationalization of the Iranian Oil Industry.
Bill for establishment of piped water and sewage system utilities for Tehran.
Seventeenth Term (April 25h, 1952 ?December 19th, 1953)
This session, like the one before it, was plagued with political turmoil and unrest. Election was carried out with some difficulties, with some seats remaining vacant through out Majlis abnormally short life. Only 80 representatives were present out of 135. The issue of oil predominated most of the discussions.
The British government did recourse to International Tribunal in Hague, this time the Iranian Prime Minister attended the hearings. In a vote, the International Tribunal ruled that it is incompetent to deal with British claim regarding nationalization of oil industries. It is noteworthy that the British arbitrator did caste its vote in favor of the motion, which was passed 9 to 5. This led to complete break of political ties with the British government. The Majlis terminated the Iran-Soviet 1927 Caspian Sea Fisheries agreement and nationalized its facilities.
Shah was put to exile, only to be restored to power in a CIA-sponsored coup d'etat. Upon return, he promptly dissolved both Majlis and the House of Senate.
Of the bills passed during this period one could mention the following:
Special Powers Act in favor of Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh.
Nationalization of the Iranian Telecommunication.
Bill of Establishment of Public Shuttle Services.
Charter of Iranian Telephone Company.
See also
Pictures of Constitutional Revolution, 1906 - 1911
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U.S. drive-in theaters face demise without funds for digital
Drive-in movie theaters that scraped by during the surge in modern multiplexes are edging closer to extinction as Hollywood phases out the 35-millimeter reels they need to show films.
Most of the remaining 368 U.S. drive-ins, down from more than 4,000 in 1958, must decide whether to pay as much as $70,000 to install digital projectors for their large outdoor screens. About 10 percent have, and the United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association anticipates studios will move to electronic delivery only as soon as the end of next year.
"It's a pain," said Thomas Epps, who is trying to sell the Swingin' Midway Drive-In Theatre outside the eastern Tennessee town of Athens, population about 13,000. "It's an expense to us and it's not going to bring in another dollar. Nobody is going to say, 'Let's go to the drive-in tonight because they've got a little better picture.'"
The digital conversion, which spares studios the cost of buying and shipping thousands of heavy reels of film for every movie they release, has created a dilemma for drive-in owners, who typically operate one screen and depend on a mix of nostalgia and novelty to attract patrons in warm summer months. While large chains and smaller exhibitors were aided by financing plans, drive-ins don't have that option yet.
The cost is challenging cash-strapped owners to find a solution. At 75, Epps plans to retire once the Swingin' Midway is sold. In the meantime, he is leasing a used 2004 digital projector to attract a buyer for his 500-car cinema. Once he sells the theater, he'll pay the balance due on the equipment with the proceeds. His total cost will run about $40,000.
Conversion Rate
"It's hard to justify," said John Vincent, president of the drive-in association and owner of the single-screen Wellfleet Drive-In Theatre in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, which is converting. "About 10 percent converted last summer. It's too early to tell how many will ultimately make the switch."
Vincent is working with Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp., a provider of digital equipment for theaters, on an deal with film studios that would help owners obtain and repay loans to cover the conversion. Under a similar program for indoor theaters, the Morristown, New Jersey-based company arranges financing and makes money installing and servicing equipment.
To help cover upgrade costs and repay loans, studios pay exhibitors a fee based on the number of times a film is shown in digital format. The fee comes from money the studios save by not making and shipping film prints, Chris McGurk, Cinedigm's chairman and chief executive officer, said in an interview.
Cinedigm, Studios
Cinedigm is trying to work out the details of a plan within the next six months, according to McGurk, who said he's making progress. That would give drive-in operators time to make the conversions, which often require some remodeling of projection rooms, McGurk said. His goal is to convert as many as 400 of the remaining 611 screens.
"Everyone in this industry needs to be really focused on trying to figure out ways to help this unique part of Americana survive and thrive," McGurk said.
The company has two other business: distributing independent films to theaters and home-video outlets, and piping live events such as sports and opera to theaters. Cinedigm fell 1.5 percent to $1.33 at the close in New York and has declined 2.9 percent this year.
Studios are also exploring options, including a fee and the sale of used, older-generation digital gear from indoor theaters undergoing a second upgrade, said one studio executive who asked not to be named because the deliberations are private.
Car Culture
Representatives from each of the major Hollywood studios, owned by Sony Corp., Walt Disney Co., Time Warner Inc., News Corp., Comcast Corp. and Viacom Inc., declined to comment.
Drive-in movie theaters gained popularity in the U.S. after World War II, peaking at 4,063 in 1958, when gasoline was cheap and Detroit churned out big, comfortable cars. Before the latest crisis, rising land prices and development, along with the growth of multiplexes had already thinned their ranks.
Those that remain tend to be outside of urban cores, where land is cheap. Survivors have added family-friendly features like playgrounds and grassy areas in front of parking spaces that can fit lawn chairs.
Double-features are still typical, with a popular, big- budget movie playing first, said Lee Burgess, owner of the Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre near Jefferson, Wisconsin.
'Terrible Business'
Burgess paid for digital conversion out of his own pocket two years ago by raising prices and barring patrons from bringing their own food and beverages. While the policies riled some customers, he saw it as necessary to stay in business.
Last summer, he charged $8 for an adult and $5 for children. Concession prices included $5.50 for a large popcorn, $5 for a cheeseburger and $18 for a 16-inch pepperoni pizza, according to the theater website. There's a supper club with a bar behind the screen, Burgess said. No alcohol is allowed in the viewing area, Burgess said.
While the digital conversion didn't increase attendance, Highway 18 remains profitable, Burgess said. Many drive-ins aren't, because owners aren't willing to take a hard-nosed business approach, he said.
"It's a terrible business financially," he said. "None of the major cinema companies, like AMC, own drive-in theaters. There's a reason for that. They don't make money."


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If you live in one of the many areas of the US with a high, moderate, or even low risk of an earthquake occurring, you may want to consider adding this coverage to your existing homeowner's insurance protection as earthquake insurance is normally excluded from homeowner's policies.
While your homeowner's policy provides a solid foundation of defense against most of the risks facing your home, earthquakes are often excluded. This means without earthquake insurance, your home and belongings could be lost in the event an earthquake strikes in your area.
Depending on the magnitude of the quake and your home itself, the damage from an earthquake can vary. Some people may escape an earthquake with very little damage, such as a few broken dishes and windows. Others, however, may experience severe structural damage or a complete loss to their home.
Since there is no way to tell when, where, or what size an earthquake may strike, earthquake insurance can provide peace-of-mind that your home and belongings are protected no matter what.
Earthquake insurance provides coverage for the following:
Depending on your needs, you may be able to upgrade your earthquake insurance coverage to includes things such as debris removal, land restoration, emergency repairs, and to increase your loss of use limits, as well.
Earthquake insurance is one part of a strong home insurance defenses strategy. However it does not take the place of a homeowner's insurance policy. Some things are commonly excluded in earthquake coverage. Many of these exclusions can be covered by policies you may already have, or purchased as additional coverage options, such as:
Every state within in the US has recorded an earthquake at one time or another, although some states do have more earthquake activity than others. Whether your state has a high or low risk of earthquake activity, there is no denying the damage that a single quake can bring. You can't predict when or where the next earthquake may hit, but you can protect your home and belongings in the event it happens to you.
You don't have to live near a lake, river, or other body of water to benefit from the protection of flood insurance. Your homeowner's insurance policy can protect you against many unexpected risks, but you may be surprised to find that flooding and many forms of water damage aren't typically covered by your homeowner's insurance. This means you could be left paying for the high-cost of repairs if your home and belongings are damaged by heavy rains, rising rivers, or many other causes of water damage.
If heavy rainfall, melting snow, severe weather, or broken water main brought water into your home, the damage could be extensive. The cost of replacing carpeting, hardwood flooring, and even furniture can add up fast. And that's just the beginning. Even the smallest amount of moisture can lead to the biggest of problems. Mold can begin to spread in a moist environment in as little as 36 hours, and often requires professional removal and cleanup to protect your family's health.
When you have flood insurance, you won't have to worry about the high costs of cleanup, repairs, and replacement if your home is damaged by water.
Flood insurance protects your home and belongings from physical water damage. Flood insurance coverage typically includes:
The benefits of flood insurance are so widespread, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) provides flood insurance policies with nationally set rates to ensure this important coverage is affordable for everyone. Your rates will remain consistent, no matter who your insurance provider may be.
Flood insurance is the perfect addition to your homeowner's insurance coverage. While flood protection won't take the place of adequate homeowner's insurance, together the two policies offer a strong defense against the most common risks facing your home, belongings, and family.
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An all-high school team made up of teenagers from Morgan ran RAGNAR and garnered 11th place in the high school division and 25th overall in the mixed category. For many of the youth it was their first time to participate in RAGNAR although most had seen or helped with the race in the past.
The group ran under the name and hashtag, #noteamnameyet, but has since re-named themselves, "Running Sucks." Rising senior Verl Johansen said that he would "run RAGNAR again in a minute" but during the race "running was really hard and really sucked."
Rising junior team member, Broc Mathews, gave the inside scoop on the team name, "In cross country we would always cheer, 'Running sucks!' so we just went with it for our team name."
Team captain Adam Lucas, a rising junior as well, was the driving force behind organizing the team. Four years ago, Lucas filled a spot on his dad, Jeff's, team. "They were missing a runner and I jumped in. This was my third time to run RAGNAR in four years," he shared. Lucas assembled the high school team by asking around school.
"It started out kind of slow because you have to register six months before the race, but it caught on and we made a team. It's kind of like 'get friends and just run.'" The team is mainly composed of cross-country runners, but Lucas himself is a soccer player and hasn't participated in cross country.
Lucas ran the brutal 6.1-mile Guardsman Pass leg in Park City that increases in elevation with every step. "I knew it would be hard, and I just went and ran it," he stated with determination and the vigor and energy of youth.
Rising senior Parker London, a cross country and track team member, really enjoyed participating in his first RAGNAR. London's hardest run was the nine miles from Wanship to Promotory on the rail trail. "You run the entire canyon. There is no van support the entire nine miles, and it was hard. I learned that it is a lot easier when your team is there to support you."
Mathews, who was Runner 11 and ran almost 10 miles near Huntsville, echoed London's sentiments. "The distance was tough. We were by ourselves for a while—just me running 10 miles by myself was hard." Mathews plays on the MHS soccer team with Lucas and runs cross country, but not track.
"We just finished soccer season, and I didn't really train for this. I have volunteered for RAGNAR before parking cars, but haven't run as a participant. I was proud of our team because we passed 300 people and did pretty well. The lack of sleep was the hardest part of the race.
"We stopped by our house and slept, we had to sleep in a parking lot for two hours and we tried to sleep anytime we could."
Captain Lucas was pleased with his team's performance. "I think we did 'way good' and if we actually trained, we'd do a lot better."
The team was a mix of rising juniors and seniors with a lone rising sophomore. In addition to Lucas, London, Johansen, and Mathews, Shelby Lynam, Taylor Polad, Megan Bartol, Caleb Lunt, Talon Thornton, Caleb Dregde, Cole Niederhauser and Cameron Winn ran on the 12-person team.
London was thrilled to run in the race, "It was definitely worth the medal and I am an insane runner," he stated. The majority of the team plans to compete again next year in RAGNAR and would love to race in the Vegas RAGNAR so they can earn the "Saints and Sinners" medal awarded to those who participate in the Utah and Vegas races.
The team is exploring the option of running the Vegas November race. Congratulations to Morgan's all-high school team for their great performance!


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Duty-free shop at Heathrow apologises for 'discrimination' against Chinese customers
LONDON: A company which operates duty-free stores in Europe has apologised after reports that it discriminated against Chinese travellers at Heathrow airport in implementing its VIP voucher programme.
Chinese customers were asked to spend more than £1,000 (US$1,383) to qualify for a discount voucher at the World Duty Free outlet at Terminal 2, while customers from other countries needed £79 to receive the 20 per cent discount voucher.
"As a global company, we are committed to treating all our customers with respect and in a consistent and fair way," said World Duty Free in a statement on its social media accounts on Tuesday (Feb 13).
"We would like to take this opportunity to apologise profusely to all our valued customers."
The accusations emerged after Weibo user Ren Jian Nai Pao wrote in a blogpost dated Feb 11 that he was a student who worked part-time at the duty-free shop and had seen a Chinese customer treated unequally.
He said the customer had around £300 worth of products in her shopping basket, and that he advised her to buy those items first to get the VIP voucher before continuing with her shopping.
However, when he approached the cashier for the voucher, the cashier said the customer could not have it.
"I asked why ... the cashier said because she is Chinese; if she is Chinese, she has to spend £1,000 to get the VIP voucher," wrote the Weibo user in Chinese. His post has been shared tens of thousands of times, with Chinese netizens expressing their outrage.
The latest statement by World Duty Free is the second by the company since the discrimination row went viral.
However, there is a difference in the content of the English and the Chinese versions of the statements.
The English text did not mention Chinese travellers explicitly and simply referred to customers in general terms, while the Chinese version, immediately following the English one, did mention "the Chinese public".
The company did not respond to requests for an explanation of whether it did indeed discriminate against Chinese travellers.
"The VIP programme is designed to reward customers - on top of our normal promotions - at certain points of the year by offering an attractive incentive on a second purchase," the statement read.
"After close self-examination and having made further investigations, we have taken urgent steps to correct the implementation of this promotion going forward."
A Heathrow Airport spokesperson, quoted by British media, said that the offer was "unacceptable".
"We have been made aware of this offer which we find unacceptable," the spokesperson said. "We are currently working with our commercial partner to understand how this happened and ensure it does not happen again."