text:
PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Residents of the city's Woodlawn section gathered together Sunday afternoon just to have fun, something that can be in short supply in urban communities.
Pawtucket street workers organized a block party, the sixth annual held in the Woodlawn section to promote peace and nonviolence, this one held just weeks after the death of 10-year-old Aleida DePina — allegedly at the hands of her father.
The day's events included a march up West Avenue to Payne Park, where there were children's activities and a basketball game between local residents and police officers, along with a barbecue across the street at the Woodlawn Community Center. It would end with a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. to remember DePina and others killed by violence, or whose lives were cut short by accidents or illness in Pawtucket and other urban communities.
The event was sponsored by The Institute for the Study & Practice of Nonviolence and Knowledge is Power. The institute launched a street worker program in Pawtucket in 2012 to reduce violence in the city.
Street worker Melissa DaRosa, with the help of Pawtucket resident Jay Chattelle, organized the event. Chattelle said the event is a way for him to make life better in a city where he once caused problems.
"I was a problem," Chattelle said. "I was a plague on the city."
A horrific motorcycle crash that crushed his left side and left him with a limp prompted a turnaround, Chattelle said. Now, he joins with other motorcycle enthusiasts to help organize events like Sunday's block party in Woodlawn.
"It puts the word non-violence in their minds," DaRosa said of the event.
Waving an arm toward a chain link fence lined with pictures of the murdered and the deceased, DaRosa said the event allows residents to learn about nonviolence together, celebrate together and grieve together.
"This event right here is a perfect example" of the institute's mission.
As DaRosa spoke, dozens of children clambered into inflatable play spaces, played basketball or scrambled around playground equipment as parents and neighborhood adults chatted on the warm August afternoon.


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subset: commoncrawl


text:
This is probably the wrong place to post this, but this is such a wonderful group that I figured I would give it a shot. Forgive me if I am breaking the rules!
Time to start a project for Christmas 2009 - before the wife can figure out what I am doing.
Sorry, I am not a carpentar so probably have made no sense in what I am calling these things. 1) I have not been able to find a 'pattern' to get me started. Anyone know where a pattern can be obtained? 2) The issue I will face is that we are in a sort of wind-tunnel so I assume I would have to make the sawhorse legs Really long on both sides of the roof? I have put an image up here so you can see what I am trying to talk about :-) http://www.gretamobilefax.com/deck/rooftop.htm Feedback appreciated! Thanks! |
Here is a link that might be useful: Rooftop Santa Help!
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by sierraeast (My Page) on Wed, Dec 31, 08 at 11:30
There are many if you search for xmas woodworking patterns. Be careful to seal any penerations in the roof! |
Here is a link that might be useful: xmas woodworking patterns
thank you sierraeast - see the perfect pattern I think. Are they in the UK? And I have no intention of making any roof perferations - if I did that I would be looking for a large doghouse patternm as that is where I would be living! |
- Posted by sierraeast (My Page) on Wed, Dec 31, 08 at 14:46
Me too! I just googled christmas woodworking patterns and there seemed to be quite a few. Best of luck and cool you are planning ahead! |
I figure if I keep myself busy over the year it will keep the wife from creating a larger "Honey Do" list and let me teach the 2˝ year old granddaughter (that thinks she is a grandson) something new :-) She loves working with me no matter what we are working on. About 3 months ago she 'helped' me plant a few hundred bulbs and it will interesting to see if any of them grow in the spring. Beside a 1,940 sf deck project that I am about 60% done on, our Turtle Garden is what she likes the best! http://www.gretamobilefax.com/deck/turtle.htm Matter of fact, she is going to name all the unnamed ones this weekend - then it will be up to my tired ass to remember what the names are. Or if it keeps snowing, we just might work on learning some more Japanese! Happy New Year everyone! |
Here is a link that might be useful: Turtle Garden
- Posted by sierraeast (My Page) on Thu, Jan 1, 09 at 15:51
Awesome turtle garden! Quite a few abandoned mines in our area in the mojave desert. They were shut down during ww2 in case the govt needed to work them for the metals. Most are gold mines though! You got quite a helper, best of luck with your new years projects! |
- Posted by john_hyatt (My Page) on Thu, Jan 1, 09 at 22:08
You got to Slow Down take it easy Just Slow Down take it easy You got no place to go. So Funny! J. |
Dear John - Oh, you finally played with "Relax" (that is what the granddaughter calls him)! Told you it would make a bad day seem not so bad! Wife hide mine, so I just ordered another :-) |
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text:
Research themes
Research at the Department of Computer Science is classified into eight broad themes.
Within (and across) themes, research is conducted by teams of people, or individually, as best suits the staff, the topic, and the funding. If the research has a specific target, or an end-date, then it is presented here as a project; otherwise, it is presented as an activity.
The Department's research activity was evaluated in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise ( RAE2008), published in December 2008. 80% of the submitted researchers were found to be in the top two tiers, either 4* (world-leading) or 3* (internationally excellent). A more detailed analysis is available.
The newly established Algorithms Group deals with fundamental issues of computational complexity such as the P=NP? problem, and the design and analysis of classical, randomised, and online algorithms for highly relevant problems in areas such as constraint satisfaction, algorithmic game theory, computational mathematics, computational biology, formal logic, verification, quantum computing, database theory, artificial intelligence and others. Given that algorithms and complexity issues are fundamental to nearly every area of Computer Science, the Algorithms Group collaborates intensively with many other groups in the Department, investigating concrete problems arising in their respective research.
Automated Verification
Research stretches from the fundamental investigations into the decidability and complexity of model checking for infinite-state systems, through process calculi, logics and semantic models, to practical, machine-assisted methods applicable to real-world problems and programming languages. Strengths include concurrency, abstraction, industrial-scale hardware verification, software model checking, and verification of real-time and probabilistic systems, with applications in security protocols, power management, nanotechnology, and biology.
Computational Biology
Using computer science and mathematical techniques to solve pressing issues in the field of biomedical science. For example creating accurate computerised models of the human body and biomedical imaging.
Foundations, Logic and Structures
Research into the mathematical underpinnings of computer science and their application in a variety of different areas. For example, Quantum Computing, game semantics, and verification.
Information Systems
Includes research related to databases (including query languages and lightweight applications for mobile devices), knowledge representation and reasoning (including ontology languages, reasoning systems and applications in areas such as e-Science and the Semantic Web), and artificial intelligence (including computational linguistics, spatial reasoning and multiagent systems).
Programming Languages
Our work concerns programming language design and implementation, covering both programming tools, and the algebra of programming.
Allowing people to use information technology confidently, free of the danger of their privacy being breached or the actions they are performing being frustrated or subverted by an unauthorised intruder. Preventing the unauthorised use of hardware, software and the Internet and detecting attempts to break into systems. This theme is closely linked to Oxford's Cybersecurity Centre.
Software Engineering
Our research into developing software systems addresses every stage of the development process, from requirements analysis to the maintenance of existing implementations. Areas of particular interest include information modelling, requirements engineering, model-based development, research informatics, systems security, and sensor networks.


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Nov 29, 2012 12:21 PM by NBC News
The Food and Drug Administration may seek the advice of outside experts as it determines whether highly caffeinated energy drinks pose a health risk.
The agency has received reports of 18 deaths and more than 100 injuries allegedly tied to consumption of energy drinks.
There's no proof the beverages caused the health problems, but in a letter, FDA officials suggest their investigation could be enhanced by outside groups, like those in the prestigious Institute of Medicine.
Makers of energy drinks have insisted their products are safe.
Offensive or inappropriate comments are subject to removal. To report a comment, please e-mail us at email@example.com, and include the name of the story and information on the comment.
Thank you! KSBY.com
2 hours ago


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10 december 2014: Heavy christmas!
Cheers all, we played our last gig of the year in Aalen Germany and gonna prepare ourselves for a cool 2015! Stay tuned for more news!
29 july 2014: Brutal Fest cancelled
After some days full of rumours about Brutal fest in Belgium on august 30, and cancelations of Vader, Aborted, Aeon, TMDC we just got a email from the promoter that this festival is canceled because of his medical condition. Fact is that we got warned months ago that this same promoter was not professional and also a fact is that the venue where this fest would take place didn´t know anything about this festival. This is really a shame and very bad for the people who bought early bird tickets and we hope they will get there money back and this promoter will get punished for this criminal behaviour.
2 april 2014: A little update
Cheerz all, after some months of not playing we played again our first 2 shows with our drummer Martin and those shows where a blast!! Also some cool news is that after a decade we finally own our own music rights back of the "Clit Em All" and "Eat Clit Or Die" albums which means we are going to search for a label to re-release them and hopefully we got them finally in stock again! More news later!
16 february 2014: New drummer
Great news from the Clitfront!! In Marten van Kruijssen (Houwitser, Korpse, session drummer Beheaded) we found the perfect new drummer for Cliteater! After some weeks of searching he was the best man who can do the drumjob and we wanna welcome him with both arms to join the Clitclan!! First gig you can see him behind the kit will be on March 21st in Little Devil Tilburg! Grind!
16 january 2014: Sad news
Very sad news from the Clitfront. After 3 years Clemens had decided to part ways with Cliteater. We are going to miss the king of bad taste and his music in the bus while wearing croccs and a propeller hat on stage!! We had a great time together my friend and thankls for all the work for the band! You rule!!
Here are some famous last words of Clemens:
After three crazy years and 60 gigs I simply noticed that I lacked the motivation to give 100% for Cliteater.
My personal highlights with Cliteater were:
- touring in 2011 and 2013
- recording "Cliteaten back to life" (2012)
- the gigs at Party-San (2011), Meh-Suff! (2012), Pentagramfest (2013) and Summerbreeze (2013).\
Special thanx to:
Ivan, Robbie, Joost, Vedran, Erno, Mieze, War Anthem, Cudgel, Guus, Luc, Baard, Nicolas, Dima, Steffen, Jörg, Rompeprop, Anal Grind, Prostitute Disfigurement, Jesus Cröst and all the others I played and hung out with!!!
Clemens will play his last gig with us on Feb 28th in Amstelveen/ P60. So be there and wear all your croccs!!
Right now we are in search for a new drummer. Feel free to contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com for more details!
1 january 2014: Deathfeast
Cliteater wanna wish you all a happy and grinding 2014 and hope to see you all again at our shows to share some brews together! Besides that we are confirmed for this years Deathfeast and we are really looking forward to play there again! More news later!
20 december 2013: Heavy Christmass!
Cliteater want to wish you all a heavy Christmass and a thirsty newyear. We wanna thank you for the support of us in 2013 and we hope we will see you all back in 2014! Respect!
24 november 2013: Back from Russia
We safely came back from Rusia and it was a blast. We wanna thx everyone who was involved in this tour!! The show next week on nov 9th in cancelled by the organisation sadly. More news later!
25 september 2013: Russian tour update!
Cheerz all, the flight are booked and the instruments are allready packed! Just one day and we will hit our first Russian tour!! See you there and drink some beers with us! Really looking forward to this... grind!
15 july 2013: Russian tour!
Cliteater will hit Russia in autumn this year for a 10 day tour! More news and dates later!
27 may 2013: Extremefest!
Cheers all, we survived Extremefest and much respect for those who stayed and beat the rain and freezing coldness to share some beers with us and had a great time!! Thx for all who showed up. Last but not least we will proudly announce that Erno Noorlander will be our new 2nd guitarplayer so we wanna wish him a warm welcome in the band! More news later!
10 may 2013: Sad news
Unfortunately we have some sad news to announce, after some careful consideration, Robbie has decided he can no longer be part of Cliteater. We both are very proud of the things we achieved together,and wish him all the best for the future. He will be replaced by Erno Noorlander for the summerfests.
24 april 2013: Neurotic Deathfest
Cheerz Folks, just one week before Neurotic Deathfest we are proud to announce we will be part of it so see you all there!
25 march 2013: News
We wanna thx everone who showed up at our release show and also the band who partied with us to celebrate the new album! Also our new merch is ready, feel free to order this via www.cudgel.de.
18 march 2013: Update
Cheerz all, the new cd is out for a week and goes very well. The reviews are very positive and we looking forward to the official release show in Maasbree! See you there!
25 february 2013: New album available now!
cheers all, the new cd cCliteaten Back To Life is from now on available! Order your copy now and send a email to email@example.com for prices and sending info! Thx!!
29 january 2013: Promo video online
We just released a promo video of our new upcomming album Cliteaten Back To Life! Enjoy!
19 january 2013: Sad news from the Clitfront
The planned Mexico trip has been cancelled. The promoter did not kept his promises and just one week before take over he told us for the 2nd time in 6 months it was not possible to bring us to Mexico. We feel very sorry for this again but it's not our fault and we sure hope once will be a time we can hit for sure the land of Tequila and Corona to grind our asses off!!! Will be continued!
2 january 2013: Cheers!
Cheerz all, we wanna wish everyone a very heavy, healty and brutal 2013! See you on the road!
24 december 2012: 2012 so far!
We wanna thx everyone who supported us the last year in any way!! We wish you all a heavy Christmass and a heavy new year and hope to see you again on the road somewhere!! 2013 will be a excited year with 2 tours, new cd release and many cool summerfests so stay tuned!
14 december 2012: Album release party
Last weekend we played some really cool shows in Burscheid en Distortionfest in Eindhoven! Was a honor to play with acts like Fear factory, Devin Townsend, Opeth, Death Angel and many more cool bands. Also we did a photo shoot for the upcoming album Cliteaten Back To Life which will be released on March 8th by War Anthem records. On March 23th we will celebrate this fact with a release show in the Maf centrum, Maasbree. longtime and well known friends of Collison, Rompeprop and Snaggletooth will also join this cool party. More news later about the new album!
13 november 2012: Studio update
After 10 days of hard work and some booze we proudly can say Cliteaten Back To Life is recorded! Jorg Uken did a great job in the soundlodge studio and we had also a fun meeting with gerben Mol of Wings of Death zine who taped some fun stuff whille drinking some beers. At least we wanna thx the guest grunters from Prostitute disfigurement, Rompeprop, Serial butcher, Depth of Nature Putrid inbred and Marc macabre! U did a great job!! More news about the release and release show later!
26 oktober 2012: Cliteaten Back To Life!
Luisma Haemorrage has finished the new front cover of our new album Cliteaten Back To Life and in just one week we will hit the Soundlodge studio together with Jorg Uken
to record the new album that will be the most rockin album we ever did before. Also great news is that we are booked for a kickass festival which we can announce in december so stay tuned and loyal to the clits!
Studio report with pictures and short films will be online after we finished the recordings! Cheers!


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The HSC Foundation Headquarters
March 05, 2011The HSC Foundation Headquarters
Washington, D.C.
The seven-story, 30,000-sf headquarters for The HSC Foundation topped out last month. We are providing structural design to Group Goetz Architects. The project incorporates an existing three-story, nineteenth-century row house and carriage house. Restoration work includes stabilization of exterior walls and replacement of floors and underpinning to accommodate the addition of a new below-grade level. In addition to designing the new building, we designed the framing behind the historic façade and provided recommendations for the restoration of the existing brick masonry. The new lobby features two stories of clear height space, with the historic structures prominently displayed within. The five floors above the lobby are designed for office use and integrate the remaining floors of the existing buildings. Other notable features of the new building are its narrow 35-ft width and that it has only one structural bay.


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Select () or exclude () categories to narrow your recipe search.
As you select categories, the number of matching recipes will update.
Find exactly what you're looking for with the web's most powerful recipe filtering tool.
Sort by: Date | Rating | Most Helpful
"WOW! This is the best white bread I have ever made! I made this not only as plain bread, but then substituted a half cup of oat flour, and then made a loaf of cheese-stuffed bread. Divided the loaf in half, and spread the 2 halves out..sandwiched in about a 1/3 c crumbled feta and 2/3 c mozzarella. Let it rize the final hour and baked in the o..."
"This bread is absolutely delicious! My loaf pan had a difficult time containing it though! Planning on making this again as a braid, or rolls. It puts me in the mind of the brochen I used to get in Germany with the bacon and cheese baked into them. Very, very yummy!"
"This is an absolutely DELICIOUS recipe! I made this using Granny Smith Apples and also added a 1/2 tsp of nutmeg. My family went nuts over it and so did my neighbors! I am making it again this weekend for my Sunday School class."


text:
I joined TCW as managing/digital editor over a year ago, so I figured it was about time I join the ranks as one of our official bloggers. But what do I blog about? I'm not an interior decorator, a mom, professional traveler, doctor, et cetera. Am I an expert in anything? No…because, as Sherren Leigh would say, "You never stop learning."
But I've certainly experienced a lot. Whether it's been heartbreak, sickness or death, I've been around terrible circumstances and tragic situations since I can remember. I can count the number of people I know under the age of 30 who've passed away…on more than my own two hands. My father left when I was very young. And over a year ago, I became ill and still don't have a diagnosis from any of my six physicians. But you'll read more about all of that later.
"Carrie On" isn't just a pun on my name. It's a blog about how to push through life when you're handed one too many curve balls. It will be sad, funny, hopefully thought-provoking and completely personal. So I hope you'll come along with me on this journey of reflection and discovery, as I open up about my own experiences and share the thoughts of other women warriors (and maybe some men!) who live every day like it's their last.


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Description Facilities Map Granny Mouse Country House and Spa is in the magnificent Caversham Valley in Balgowan and surrounded by gardens overlooking conservancy areas on the Lion's River. This classic Country House hotel, with its reputation for excellence, is located an hour and a half from Durban and four and a half hours from Johannesburg. Award winning restaurants offer a range of menu items from relaxed Bistro though to Fine Dining in the Eaves restaurant. The refurbished property has retained its reputation for a relaxed gourmet experience, whilst introducing new menus and concepts to diners. Granny Mouse Country House & Spa is situated in the picturesque KwaZulu Natal Midlands at the foothills of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg, one of South Africa's world heritage sites. It offers accommodation as quaint as the name of the hotel implies. Old-world charm, embedded in the foundations of the hotel, complements the rural ambiance and modern comforts of the rooms and venues. Our accommodation, which has been newly refurbished, offers Garden Rooms, which face onto the gardens; Family Rooms, which sleep 4 and Deluxe Rooms, which overlook the Lion's River. Our newly built Deluxe Suites offer views of the Lion's River with corner lounges as well as panoramic views from the spacious window baths. This elegant hotel with two award winning restaurants is also the proud holder of the Diners Club wine list "2013 Diamond Award" since 2010. The chefs are renowned for creating pairing menus which can be served in the intimate setting of the wine cellar or in one of the restaurants. The evening is ended in the newly launched smoking (cigar) lounge which is gaining a reputation for its single malts and range of cigars . The Granny Mouse Country House Spa is situated in one of the most beautiful locations in South Africa. Rejuvenate all your senses besides the soothing sounds of the Lions River. The Granny Mouse Spa offers treatments for all preferences; you'll be spoilt for choice with a full range of massage and beauty treatments, Jacuzzi and hydrotherapy as well as a steam room. The Spa team also offers the perfect solution for your special day or event as we do make-up for special occasions. Dreams are made in the land of Zulu's and Weddings are the stuff that dreams are made of - Weddings and Conferences are part of what we offer - catering to groups of up to 120 people whilst at all times maintaining service excellence and those little personal touches that create the memories. With our chapel and reception venue overlooking the Caversham Valley that can seat up to 120 guests and blessed with panoramic views that are unique to the area. Type: HotelSleeps: 70 Check-in: 02:00 PM Check-out: 10:00 AM Reviews: 4 Parking AvailableBabysitting ServicesLaundry Facilities*FireplaceSatellite TV*Internet AccessSwimming PoolWi-FiCredit Card FacilitiesRestaurantOn-site ParkingLanguages SpokenEnglishZulu (isiZulu)AfrikaansGrading4 Stars - Tourism Grading Council of South Africa* Please enquire for further details. Toggle Street View * We rely on Google's mapping service, and the location information supplied to us to show street view images. Please use street view as a guide only as we cannot guarantee its accuracy.
Why use SafariNow? Over 142000 establishments No booking fees Over 104000 customer reviews Need to speak to us?(South Africa) 0861 801 802(International) +27 21 710 5800


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found a new home!
Plenty of my friends are looking
for one too. Find a pet to adopt.
Find a pet to adopt |
My name is Lester!
Facts about Lester
- Breed: Pug/Chihuahua Mix
- Color: Tan/Yellow/Fawn
- Age: Young
- Size: Small 25 lbs (11 kg) or less
- Sex: Male
Lester's Info...
I am already neutered, up to date with shots, and good with dogs.
Meet Lester the love bug chug. He is about a year old, 13 lbs, and heartworm negative. Full of energy, good spirited and ready to give kisses to the whole family. He is young and playful, keeping his foster pitbull brother and foster pug sister on their toes. he is learning leaps and bounds everyday to be a fabulous family guy. He is protective of his pack but easy to win over. He loves making you laugh running full speed circles in the yard or getting "lost" under the bed sheets. He is even known to give kisses to his foster siblings before bed. He is ready, willing, and able to be the best new addition to any loving home! Apply through www.PugRescueAustin.com/adopt
Other Pets at Pug Rescue of Austin
Why Adoption is a Great Option
Lester, a Austin Pug/Chihuahua dog was adopted! Here's how you can benefit by looking at adoption as an option to buying a Pug/Chihuahua for sale in Austin, or seeking a Pug/Chihuahua dog from a breeder in Austin.
- Rescues and shelter volunteers in Austin already know the personality and tendencies of their pets. This means they can match you with the right pet. That will makes it much easier transition to owning a pet for yourself and your new pet.
- On average adoption fees are much less than you'd pay a Austin breeder, or pet store. Plus most often rescue pets have already been to the veterinarian for a check-up, had a round of vaccinations, and are spayed or neutered. That is a lot of savings!
- You will become a hero, and give a needy dog or cat a loving home. In fact, there are even Pug/Chihuahua breeders who help with Pug/Chihuahua rescue. One puppy or kitten adopted in Austin paves the way for another one to be saved.


text:
PHS DOCUMENTED, #S MATCH 421 FACTORY AIR CONDITIONED CAR. FULL OF DESIRABLE OPTIONS INCLUDING TRI POWER , 4 SPEED, TACHOMETER, 8 LUG WHEELS &... More
1968 Pontiac CatalinaA beautiful 1968 Pontiac Catalina Convertible model in mint conditionShe has had only 2 owners and has approximately 67000 original miles. It... More
1965 Pontiac Catalina1965 Pontiac Catalina model in mint conditionClassified as a 2-Door Hardtop model with several options includedBurgundy metallic exteriorAll original except for the... More
1960 Pontiac Catalina 2-Door Bubble Top1960 Pontiac Catalina in Mint Excellent conditionPlease call 631.736.2743Dark-Blue Metallic exterior plus a two-tone Blue and White Vinyl interiorClassified... More
1960 Pontiac Catalina1960 Pontiac Catalina in Mint conditionPlease call 631.736.2743Red Metallic exterior plus a Burgundy Vinyl interiorEquipped with a 389 cubic inch V8 High-Output... More
This was your Daddy's Pontiac Catalina, and this one is a 1 owner car that was traded to a Toyota Dealer that had threatened... More
Here is a 1963 Pontiac Catalina Convertible with a 389ci V8 engine, a 2 bbl carburetor and a 3-speed Roto-Hydramatic automatic transmission. It is... More
Just arrived, this lifelong amazing finned Catalina in excellent condition. Lifetime southern USA car without rust or accident damage. Delivered to Parklane Hosea of Savannah, Tennessee... More
1962 PONTIAC CATALINA CONVERTIBLE, spectacular show car with Black Plate California history, constructed and built to the highest of standards, an extremely rare car... More
1962 Pontiac Catalina Ventura Trim PHS documented with build sheet. Correct Date Code motor, 389/348 hp, 4 speed,8 Lug wheels, Wonder Bar radio, Sun Tach... More
1963 Pontiac Catalina Convertible 3-deuce 4-speed, This is a fun, good running, convertible car with unusual equipment, some of which is not original. Equipped... More
OWNED & BODY OFF FRAME RESTORED BY ONCE PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL PONTIAC CLUB. HE WANTED STOCK APPEARING WITH BIG HORSE POWER. HAS A... More
The first year the Catalina 2+2 was its own model series and the final year of the famed 421ci big block! This highly optioned,... More
SUPER RARE STRAIGHT DRIVE COLUMN SHIFT 1963 PONTIAC CATALINA 2 DOOR HARDTOP, ORIGINAL 389V8, 3 SPEED TRANSMISSION ON THE COLUMN, CORRECT AM RADIO, SEAT BELTS,15... More
You just do not see cars like this every day. Especially as well preserved and original as this fine 1960 Catalina. Pontiac designers were... More
For sale in our St. Louis showroom is a stunning 1966 Pontiac Catalina Convertible. This Catalina holds many of the 60s styling curves and... More
Auto, 400 2BC, PB, 45,xxx act mi, orig int, runs... More
389 ci 283 hp V-8, 3 speed automatic transmission, power steering, power brakes. Recently installed convertible top, power operated, showing just 63,236 miles. High... More
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A Muslim's Murder: Double Standards, Crude Generalizations
July 16, 2009 by TMO · Leave a Comment
Why we must work harder to bridge the gulf between the culture of fear and the culture of humiliation
By Sheema Khan
The stabbing death of Marwa al-Sherbini in a German courtroom will have ramifications in the months to come. Already, there is palpable anger in Egypt, where she was buried this week. That anger will most likely spread to other parts of the Middle East and South Asia and amongst Europe's Muslim minorities.
The Egyptian blogosphere is filled with outrage – outrage at the vicious murder of a pregnant woman in a court of law and, most notably, at the lack of attention given to this hate crime by political institutions and European media. Many note the double standard: The ghastly murder of Theo van Gogh in Amsterdam in 2004 was used as a pretext to cast suspicion on Dutch Muslims, whereas Marwa's murder in Dresden last week is the work of a "lone wolf," an immigrant from Russia (and thus not "really" German).
The muted reaction to the killing of a woman, in the heart of Europe, for wearing her hijab, also galls. No need to imagine the outrage if a woman is killed for not wearing a hijab – just look to the visceral reaction at the killing of Mississauga teenager Aqsa Parvez in 2007.
And while German authorities investigate whether Marwa's murder was a hate crime, they might also want to focus on the reaction of court security. As Marwa was being stabbed, her husband tried to intervene. A court officer, apparently assuming the man with the Middle Eastern features to be the attacker, shot Marwa's husband. He is now in critical condition.
Many do not see Marwa's fate in isolation. The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, in its 2004 annual report, said "Islamophobia continues to manifest itself in different guises. Muslim communities are the target of negative attitudes, and sometimes, violence and harassment. They suffer multiple forms of discrimination, including sometimes from certain public institutions." The London-based Runnymede Charity, in its 2004 report Islamophobia: A Challenge for Us All, found that Muslims were seen by Europeans as the "other" and as lacking in values held by Western cultures, that Islam was violent, aggressive and terroristic, and that anti-Muslim hostility was natural or normal.
So, no surprise that European Muslims are increasingly seen as "outsiders," with a monolithic, rigid culture that's antithetical to that of Europe. Amidst sagging popularity and a recession, French President Nicolas Sarkozy redirected attention to the burka, saying it's not welcome in his country. Even Muslims who don't support the burka felt uncomfortable with Mr. Sarkozy's spotlight on their community.
And so the double standards abound. As do the crude generalizations. When the perpetrator happens to be a Muslim, reports are sensationalistic, and Muslims, along with their faith, are cast in a negative light. In the Dresden case, the mirror reaction is happening in Egypt: All Germans are somehow complicit in Marwa's fate. In the wake of horrific violence, the primal instinct is to blame all, to cast suspicion on those we don't know.
Yet, in the wake of such episodes, we must work even harder to bridge the gulf between what Dominique Moisi calls the culture of fear and the culture of humiliation. Otherwise, the perpetrators of hate will achieve their goal of driving people apart. As Mariane Pearl, the widow of Daniel Pearl, wrote: "They try to kill everything in you – initiative, hope, confidence, dialogue. The only way to oppose them is by demonstrating the strength they think they have taken from you. That strength is to keep on living, to keep on valuing life."
Let's remember that the enemy is xenophobia, which can metastasize like cancer unless society is on guard against the pernicious tendency to view others as less human. We have seen the ugly spectre of racism at Keswick High School and in Courtenay, B.C. We have our own painful history of wrongs committed against ethnic groups and indigenous communities. Yet, the better part of the human spirit tries to overcome these dark episodes with the light of justice and restitution.
Marwa's murder cannot be in vain. She took on her perpetrator in a court of law after he called her a terrorist. Some would say she lost. It is up to us to carry on the larger quest of fighting racism and building bridges, so her son – and all children – can grow up without fear and prejudice.
Racial Profiling Still Pervasive: ACLU Report
July 13, 2009 by TMO · Leave a Comment
Chris Levister, Black Voice News.com
U.S. authorities detain and harass thousands of people each year solely on the basis of religion, race or nationality despite efforts by senior law enforcement officials and the government to stop it, the American Civil Liberties Union said.
An ACLU report said racial profiling was often applied to immigrants from South Asia and to North Africans suspected of being Islamic militants following the September 11, 2001, attacks carried out by Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda militants.
The report, submitted on Tuesday to the U.N. Committee to End Racial Discrimination, said profiling could involve harassment, detention, arrest or investigation. Many Latin American immigrants were also targeted for immigration violations while others, including Black Americans, were profiled as suspected drug offenders, said the report, which did not provide precise figures.
President Barack Obama's government upholds the policy of the previous Bush administration that such profiling should end, but related laws contain a significant gray area, said Chandra Bhatnagar, a staff attorney with the ACLU's human rights program.
According to 2003 federal guidelines, it is illegal to detain or investigate someone solely on the basis of race, religion or ethnicity, but there are exceptions in the context of national security and border control.
"While there is a political consensus regarding the problem and a need for a solution it has not translated into concrete action," Bhatnagar said. He referred to the End Racial Profiling Bill first introduced in 1997, but which had not passed into law.
One factor that had increased the profiling of Latin Americans was a federal program to shift responsibility and resources for immigration enforcement to local and state authorities, according to the report.
Anecdotal evidence suggested that an increasing number of people had been targeted under profiling for possible immigration offenses over the past eight years, it said.
"Police officers who are often not adequately trained and in some cases not trained at all, in federal immigration enforcement, will improperly rely on race or ethnicity as a proxy for undocumented status," the report said.
The involvement of local police in this was having a "devastating impact" on some communities, Bhatnagar said.
In April the ACLU of Southern California filed suit against Moreno Valley police and city officials and the state Board of Barbering and Cosmetology claiming racial profiling.
The suit filed on behalf of three Moreno Valley barbers in U.S. District Court in Riverside alleged that "five of the six barbershops selected as targets for raid-style inspections on April 2, 2008, were owned by, operated by, and primarily frequented by African Americans."
The officers, city employees and members of the state Board of Barbering and Cosmetology allegedly targeted six shops in warrantless raids because of race, said lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union. The suit also alleges innocent clients waiting for haircuts and other services were detained, harassed and forced to produce identification.
ACLU alleged the officers and other agents targeted the businesses "based, in part or in whole, on the race of the barbers and their clientele."
Police, city and state officials have denied the claims. The case has attracted national attention for what ACLU lawyers and many in communities of color call blatant evidence that racial profiling is still pervasive.
The Muslims of Sri Lanka
June 18, 2009 by TMO · Leave a Comment
By Geoffrey Cook, MMNS
Oakland–It is scarcely known that there is an ample society of Muslims caught within the middle of Sri Lanka (Ceylon's) recent tragically war-torn civil insular nation-State.
There are three major groups of Muslims in that island's nation – the "Moors," Indian (originally from the Subcontinent) Muslims and the Malays. The two Islamic non-South Asian subminoritities – one from the Middle East and other from Southeastern Asia, with the long-standing immigrants from India, make up about the same percentage as European descendant settlers, the Burghers at 8%. The rest of the population is made up of the ultra-orthodox Hindus in the Tamil areas, and the majority 70% are Buddhists. The total population of all main groupings within the island is between 19 through 21 million (2009) persons. In 2005, the Islamic "Moors" represented 2 million of these souls. The "Moors" were descended from a troupe of traders from the Arabian Peninsula, who came to Colombo's island between the Eighteenth until the Fifteenth Century (CE) supposedly (by tradition) from the Arabian Peninsula. In fact, one source I evaluated claimed that the "Moors were traversing the Indian Ocean between Lanka and Mecca before the Hijra (622 CE). Nonetheless, the "Moors" had settled partially on Lanka bringing Islam to their ancient culture to the island. Yet, the earliest came late in the Seventh Century as traders between the Middle East and South Asia. Yet, most did not settle down on this Southern Asian Island, and took up the culture of the Tamils after they established a permanent residence upon the soil. Although they first employed Tamil as their "Father" tongue — that parole (speech) used outside the house — (they soon devised Awi, which, in turn has become archaic, was a mixture of Tamil and Arabic.) By marrying converted wives, they became a multi-lingual, multi-cultural people — Tamil, Sinhalese and English — while maintaining their religion inviolate: They are largely Sunni Muslims of the Shafi School. Although they can be described as a multi-ethnic, and religious alliance, they lack a linguistic cohesion, though, anthropologically (since they are tri-lingual).
The second group of Muslims, the Malays, came with the Dutch military during the period when Amsterdam controlled the island, and settled there over Ceylon's Netherlandish period. The Malays (originally from) Indonesia, and, thus from insular Southeast Asian origin (Ja Minissu), are some of the most orthodox of Muslims in the world today, but, unlike the "Moors," they did not take up the surrounding Tamil culture, but they resolutely stuck to an adapted Malay cultural and religious norm. They make up the smallest of minorities – 5% of the total Lankan Islamic citizenry only.
The third group was an alignment of mainly – although not exclusively — South Indian Muslim merchants, who emigrated southward over several centuries and naturally integrated well into the predominantly Tamil (Hindu) culture there on the other side of "Adam's Bridge" from Tamil Nadu.
The Muslims were well assimilated and accepted into Ceylonese society, but, during the recent civil war, the Tamil Tigers systematized a process of ethnic cleansing that the once flourishing "Moorish" and other Muslim masses are not represented in the Northern Province anymore. Most of those inhabitants have been forcibly cast largely into the Puttalam Region. Also, a small Diaspora has been arising in the Middle East, Australia and even North America. Now, that the Tigers have been defeated, will Islam be allowed back into their former (own) homes with full property rights restored? Much of this depends upon us individually, and the pressure we can exert upon our own governments plus the Sri Lankan government, and, thereby, institutions of the International Communities – the U.N. et al., and especially Islamic groupings!
The pictures of those large numbers of noncombatants wretchedly entrapped between the Government and the Tigers' forces during the former's last stand last stand are staggering. Amongst them is a significant number of Muslims, and the Islamic charities must especially address their needs, and become involved in their resettlement back to their ancestral homes with other (First World/Western) International NGOs.
Indo-Pak Nuclear Diplomacy Continues, Unaffected By Mumbai-Terror Strikes
January 8, 2009 by TMO · Leave a Comment
By Nilofar Suhrawardy, MMNS India Correspondent
NEW DELHI: Notwithstanding the war-hysteria raised on both sides over Mumbai terror-strikes, they have not refrained from pursuing agreements inked regarding their decision to abstain from being engaged in open conflict. Adhering to the nuclear deterrence pact, India and Pakistan inked in 1988, the two countries exchanged lists of nuclear installations and facilities through diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad on 1 January. Since their becoming nuclear powers and subsequently inking the deterrence pact, though Indo-Pak ties have ranged from being cordial to tense- as they are at present over the Mumbai terror strikes- they have continued the practice of exchanging these lists. The "Agreement on Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities" was signed between India and Pakistan by the then Prime Ministers Rajiv Gandhi and Benazir Bhutto on 31 December 1998. It entered into force on 27 January 1991.
"Under the agreement, the two countries, on first January of every calendar year, are to inform each other of Nuclear Installations and Facilities to be covered by the agreement," a press release from Indian ministry of external affairs stated. "The first such exchange of lists took place on 1 January 1992. This is the eighteenth consecutive time that both countries have exchanged such a list," the statement said.
The agreement details the location of nuclear-related facilities in the two countries. Despite the two countries having come close to war, the exchange of lists has not stopped, sources said. Even when the two countries were in state of high alert in 2001, they exchanged the lists. Defying apprehensions raised about their nearing a conflict or conflict-like stage over the Mumbai terror strikes, they exchanged the lists this year too.
Ever since the two countries conducted nuclear tests, the western powers – particularly United States- have expressed concern about their nuclear prowess leading to a nuclear war in South Asia as India and Pakistan are known as permanent enemies with their being no sign of their resolving differences over long-standing disputes, including the Kashmir issue. Though since 1998, they have come close to war, once over the Kargil-issue and war-hysteria has been raised after the Mumbai terror strikes, India and Pakistan have not been engaged in any open conflict since achieving nuclear prowess. In this context, Indo-Pak nuclear diplomacy, resting on their bilateral understanding of nuclear deterrence defies fears raised earlier about their nuclear-status leading to Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) in South Asia.
Undeniably, apprehensions still prevail on whether nuclear weapons would contribute to stability in South Asia. Concern has been voiced over unintentional/intentional targeting of nuclear facilities by militants in either country and/or access to the same falling in wrong hands fuelling nuclear tension in the sub-continent. To date, however, Indo-Pak nuclear diplomacy only stands as a commendable illustration of their deterrence ensuring military restraint and a check on their moving towards open conflict. This may be illustrated briefly by the role played by nuclear prowess of the two nations, taking their ties from the stage of conflict to no-conflict in the first stage. Without doubt, there was a period when India remained suspicious about Pakistan's nuclear ambitions. The first major step in taking their ties to a positive level was the six-point accord reached between the then President of Pakistan General Zia-ul-Haq and Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in December 1985 in Delhi. Their agreement on not attacking each other's nuclear installations was hailed as a significant step in establishing mutual confidence. This principle was re-emphasized when Gandhi and Bhutto signed the agreement in December 1988 in Islamabad.
Strangely, but definitely, there is a parallel between nuclear ambitions of India and Pakistan and a decisive improvement in their bilateral ties. It would not be wrong to state that their respective nuclear drives' impact on the upswing in their relations fits into the theory of "classic deterrence." Earlier than this, the two countries -known to shift between the stage of conflict, no-conflict and/or avoidance of conflict- had not even given serious consideration to the idea of entertaining cordial and/or friendly ties. The very principle of not attacking each other's nuclear installations marked the beginning of some sort of nuclear dialogue between the two. Had they not taken this step, that of considering the deterrent factor, the past two decades may have been marked by constant threat of a nuclear holocaust erupting any moment in the subcontinent. Equally significant was their decision to resolve their nuclear tensions bilaterally. This also implied their accepting each other's nuclear development. Had they criticized each other's nuclear intentions and designs unilaterally, the issue may have assumed serious proportions for multilateral deliberations. With the two nuclear powers sharing border, notwithstanding their disputes, they opted for a strategy that best suited their interests, unilaterally as well as bilaterally, that is work towards normalization of Indo-Pak ties. Interestingly, notwithstanding all the diplomatic hype raised over the Mumbai-terror strikes, India and Pakistan have ruled out prospects of going to war on this. This only suggests that they are not likely to backtrack- for quite some time- from the wise and rational nuclear diplomacy they have pursued so far.
Sufism in South Asia
December 4, 2008 by TMO · Leave a Comment
By Geoffrey Cook, MMNS
San Francisco–I am in the midst of the insanity of moving, but I am trying to keep up with my basic compilations early in the morning or late into the night.
I would like to discuss three presentations made last year (Summer of 2007) –in the Asian Art Museum — as part of the bi-annual meeting of the American Council of Southern Asian art in this City here on the Western shores of San Francisco Bay. I found the talks to be slight in news content; thus, I have previously refrained from composing on them, but because of circumstances, they have become a practicable article, and make an acceptable historical feature on an ancient vital Islamic tradition. An article on this form of piety stated that Sufism "…is a…mystical dimension of Islam" where meditation plays an integral part.
People talking about Islam usually mention Sunnis and Shi'a; among Sunnis are also Sufis – there is mutual tension between Sufis and Wahhabi/Salafis. Salafis accuse the Sufis, saying "…[Sufism] has never played a part in normative Islam."
A position with which your author extremely disagrees!
First, your journalist acknowledges that his main sources for his background on the Sufis in an historical and contemporary context are an excellent unsigned, thorough yet concise article on the Internet encyclopedia, Wikipedia. My second source is a review essay I wrote on a book that is considered the main Western source on Sufism. Unfortunately, I do not have the piece at my fingertips; therefore, I am paraphrasing it ex aqua.
Sufism has gained much of its doctrine through accretion from the mystic environ of religious clusters that Islam absorbed in its Eastward expansion. Accordingly, to several Western scholars, Sufism arose initially in the Western Mahgreb in a region of present-day Morocco where Christianity had been repressed three hundred years before. There was a yearning for the type of mysticism found in monasteries of the old religion, but in the Qur`an there is a strong injunction to marry and procreate! The early "Order" solved this "problem" by creating brotherhoods of married men who followed Muslim law carefully. As their Society traveled into new lands, they met new converts. For instance, the Sufic poet, Rumi, who has had a considerable influence over contemporary thought here in the West's, name derives from the word "Roman" (i.e., the Eastern Roman Empire ruled from Byzantine) in the local language of Anatolia at that time. The Turks had held that province from which Rumi wrote for a comparatively short time. Thus, his family must have been fairly recent converts. Sufic thought gained much when it crossed into India. The great poet Kabir, who some scholars claim was a Sufi was not fully Islamized, even though he did accomplished the hajj, for he referred to God both in the Hindu terminology as Ram and, also, as Allah interchangeably in his poetry! Traditionally, in the Sufi-dominated Districts of India, the Hindus revere the Islamic Saints as much as their own.
Yet the traditional Islamic scholarship on the Sufis view their development in quite a different manner. The Sufic thinkers trace their origins through the Prophet (Blessed be his Name!) himself. To quote an early Sufi, their teaching "…is a science through which one can know how to travel in the presence of the Divine…"
Their beliefs and persons have been persecuted by more fundamental (and, thereby, less mystically inclined) individuals. Consequently, their writings and practices took on an esoteric, secretive tone.
In the early centuries, Iman Al Ghazali answered that Sufic doctrine was compatible with Islamic law conclusively. In fact, "Sufism…is the central organizing principle of many…[other] Islamic groupings."
With the rise of more strident forms of Islam, Sufism is currently under duress. In many regions the repression made them illegal, and forced them underground. For instance, the Turkish government compelled the whirling dervishes into a mere entertainment. Yet there are areas in the Muslim world where they are still strong. To understand the attitude for an inquirer, a Sufi master was quoted as saying, "…the seeker must not self-diagnose" the situation.
The Islanicists have no sympathy for the Sufi reverence for saints, and their pilgrimages to the holy tombs for religious merit. In my following comments, these pilgrimages and the places of devotion and worship will be placed in context.
Persianate culture had a dominant position in the old Hindustan even before the rise of the Mughal Empire. An Indo-Persian culture dominated from western Persia well into the Subcontinent after the Muslim Empires in India, and Sufism had dominated Persian thinking before it crossed from Southwest into South Asia. Now, Sindh (presently in Pakistan) had been Islamic since the Ninth Century of the Common Era (i.e., A.D.). Sufism came forward with the Islamic conquest, but not from the top to the bottom. It burst through at the "grassroots" level (i.e., bottom up), and was greatly embedded in the evolving Indo-Persian Islam. The "Missionaries" were the humble, holy Pirs, a type of holy men with which the Medieval Indians could easily culturally identify. Soon, converted Indians adapted Islam and the Persian Worldview of Islam – even though they may not have chosen Shi'a religious views.
An Afshan Bokari pointed out that female devotees upheld the high ideals of religiosity within the Timurid Empire, and were the mainstay of the Mosques during this period which not only included India, but Iran into Mesopotamia – even into Syria — and a good extent of Central Asia. The Empire, founded by the Sunni military genius Emir Timur (Shakespeare's Tamerlane) was comparatively short-lived. Most of the acquisition of territory occurred during the late Fourteenth into the early Fifteenth Centuries (C.E.). This brief Imperial sway not only spread S.W. Asian ideas, but mystical Islam. as well. This can be termed a Timurid "ideology." Mystical Islam centered on feminine participation, also. This is markedly at odds with the modern Islamicists' dogma. A site was shaped into the sacred by an association with a saint or a sacred act, etc. This confine almost became a "…second Mecca!"
The major contemporary art historian, Catherine Asher, from Minnesota spoke on the "Sufic Shrines of Shahul Hamid in India and Southeast Asia." The basic style of the Sufic shrines spread into Peninsular and Insular S.E. Asia forming a consistent Southern Asian approach to sacred space. On the emigration of the righteous Pirs, it is hard to determine fact from legend. The Enlightened man often died in his travels. South Indian Islam, from which Southeast Asian cultural religiousness derived, assumed many traits of traditional Hinduism – in this case the veneration of exceptionally piously devout men, and this practice advanced ever eastward. Males were encouraged to go to the tombs, besides, for a sort of "darshan," or, in the Islamic cognizance, a type of religious merit. Basically, the Sufis' influence flowed over three different faiths because the Pirs exhibited extraordinary powers to do miracles in their lifetime, and to bequest assistance from the tomb to his devoted believers – whatever the saint's follower's religiosity!
Kishwar Rizvi talked about a shrine in the present Pakistani Punjab that was built around circa 1300 (C.E.). Most of the devoted came from the minority Shia community there. Further, there are many Sufic elements in the shrine, for it revolves around the casket of a Saint endowing the building as sared space. Women still retain a great responsibility in sustaining the shrine's sacredness. On the other hand, sexual degenerates are attracted to the location because of the laissez faire attitudes of the worshippers which may detract from the great postiveness of the greater Movement to more mainstream Muslims.
In this essay, your scribe has tried to describe a living tradition in Islam in historical and conteporary terms that has been repressed by the main thrust of the religion today, but is still strong among the common people in particular localities all over the World, and, furthermore, has brought many Westerners to the Qur`an, for its mystical saving methodologies.
South Asian Traditional Islam vs Western Islam
April 24, 2008 by TMO · Leave a Comment
Courtesy "Yursil"
After reading through a number of works discussing South Asian Islamic history, and also many of the references, I have thought a lot more deeply about the traditions of South Asian culture than my last series of posts on this subject. Every time I read the numerous moving stories, I marveled at how totally lost Muslim South Asians, especially expatriates and their children, have become from their traditional past. While the first Masjid in India was built in Kodungallur by Malik Bin Deenar(R), a Sahabi (during the Prophet's (s) lifetime), it certainly seems that most of what occurred after that point has been forgotten by South Asian Muslims living abroad.
The Islam that I experienced in American South Asian dominated mosques and organizations was so utterly disconnected from the traditional understanding of Islam of India, that without being mentally prepared, I would certainly have considered what I was reading as pure fiction. The attraction of Muslim South Asians in America to various agenda-driven forms of Islam (and their lack of awareness as to their shifted reality by these agendas) has been complete and total. This has made the alien into the norm and the norm into the alien.
The sheer volume of information on the subject of the spirituality, plurality, tolerance and strength of South Asian Muslims, combined with the natural understanding as to how South Asian society flourished with Muslim and Hindu interaction for over the 1400 years, makes it clear that the fiction was that which I was sold most of my youth.
In fact, it was the desire and clearly defined curriculum of organizations such as ICNA and early administrations of the various masjids that I attended (dominated by South Asians at nearly all levels of organization) that Muslim youth study the life and works of Seyyid Qutb, Maududi, and Bilal Phillips.
This created an entire generation (including most of my friends) that had never heard the name of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (R) much less the name of a single one of the countless saints buried in South Asia. The importance of knowing those names (and therefore, understanding and respecting their teachings) is vitally important for immigrant South Asian Muslims in the West for a proper return to the spiritually moving faith connected to the Prophet (S), as practiced by these holy people who carried Islam to us.
The difference between what has become 'modern Islam' and the traditional Islam of South Asia and other traditional Muslim communities is striking.
One is focused on a singular attempt at 'authenticity' and 'purification' of Islam using new understandings of Hadith and discussing their authenticity, the other is focused on the application of the immediate tradition for the purpose of bettering the soul.
One is focused on the political, absorbing worldly power and doing so with various levels of crassness, looking for religious and legal legitimacy the entire time, while the other has always been about building bridges between hearts with subtlety and care.
The Islam of South Asians in the West has mirrored that of converts. Many converts were in love of the faith of Islam primarily due to its claim of textual authenticity of the Quran (and hence the faith), which was unchanged for centuries. This was in stark comparison to the faiths of the West which suffered from deep questions of relevancy and authenticity, faiths which they had left for just those reasons. There is no doubt that the weight of the extreme desire for textual authenticity led to the 'off' switch of South Asian immigrants in examining the Islamic faith as understood by their families for generations.
The lack of textual information about Islam in South Asia certainly did not help. Modern South Asians were brought up appreciating the written word much more than that spoken word, a side effect of making education the largest priority in their lives (a means to escape poverty of the homeland). The idea of following a way of life which couldn't be immediately checked, verified, and looked up for confirmation led most to the path of various forms of Wahabism.
Of course, most of groups eschewed the name 'Wahabi' itself, preferring to claim the title 'Muslim' for themselves. Interestingly enough their use of 'Muslim' was to the exclusion of their 'grave worshipping' ancestors or family members, which they considered to be misguided and confused. Most likely, however, the situation was actually tragically reversed, with modernized South Asians being extremely confused about their faith and the 'ignorant' visitors of graves seeing with a spiritual clarity.
Many South Asian parents had not bought into their own intellectual superiority, and hence many had not adopted the Wahabi ideal in order to critique the problems 'back home'. These parents were quiet on the subjects of question (saints, graves, intercession, etc), and very few had the ability to respond back to the arguments presented by Wahabi philosophies from their children. Growing up their entire lives in that society, it was difficult for parents to forsake that which they had learned was de-facto Islam, an Islam which had run their lives and so many loved-ones lives could not easily be discarded… Saints, Milad, Naats, Qawaali, and all. Largely, they kept their distance from argument and supported the now adjusting faith of their children.
Interestingly enough, this comfortable nature of the different Islam between father and son, mother and daughter, in matters of practice of faith was a direct consequence of the open nature of the parents Islamic faith. It is this same South Asian pluralism which had created large periods of relative peace between Hindus and Muslims over a span of centuries, which now allowed children to look, dress, and act radically different from their parents, with hardly more than a word spoken.
This is not to say that parents did not fear the children would become 'Christian' in the West, indeed such fears existed and were a large part of growing up South Asian in the West. However, I would argue the fear towards Christianization was much more focused on the change in culture, and what that would mean for marriage, dress and social standings than what it meant to their soul. The pluralistic values of South Asia centered around a common culture, where often the weddings of the Muslim were not so dissimilar from that of the Hindu, in terms of dress and celebration. Exiting this culture was much more profound an issue than disagreements over details of faith.
After coming to terms with the reality of the rigid nature of a singular interpretation of Islam, the American convert experience, a struggle and challenge in its own right, seemed to need an understanding of how Islam survived with pluralistic flexibility in order to continue and progress in their faith. The first struggle for those espousing a return to the traditional understanding of Islam was to establish authenticity. This was done by focusing on the Madhabs, the schools of Islamic Law. Within these Madhabs lived the intellectual contribution of all Muslim legal scholars for centuries.
However, the reality was that the average South Asian Muslim had never heard of Madhabs in any Islamic sense. Since the overwhelming majority of their society was Hanafi, there was no need to even learn the names of other approaches in matter of form or externals. So, in fact, in American Masjids, it was those espousing "Madhabs" who ended up looking as if they were speaking of something new.
As a completely wayward path, the Wahabi agenda of puritanical groups looking to take over Islam in the West was rebuffed with this larger understanding of Islamic Law. The only escape for American converts from this type of Islam, was a broader understanding of the faith with multiple legal opinions. This has become to be known as "traditionalism", espoused by famous converts and speakers such as Sh Hamza Yusuf, Imam Zaid Shakir, and Sh Nuh Keller.
However, this following of converts, with their own issues of reconciliation of culture cannot be followed by South Asians descendants who plan on keeping their own culture alive. It seems the South Asian child's only two choices today are assimilation into three categories: the secular West, the Western Islamic discourse dominated by anti-traditionalists, or the Islamic discourse of Arabized traditionalists. As noted in my previous articles, it is clear that a traditional South Asian Islam has been ignored by the West. Revivalists of traditional sciences in the West have ignored the South Asian contribution for too long.
A focus on historical personalities and works of South Asian descent is a personal priority of mine. It is time the Milad, Ghazal, Naat, and Qawaali was understood and loved again, not simply analyzed through the lens of a protracted argument about good and bad "innovations".
"That is so 90's." It's time to move on.
Syed Adil Husain Wins MIT Business Award
February 14, 2008 by TMO · Leave a Comment
Award Recognizes Student's Company for Top Consumer Service
By Rabiah Ahmed and Adil James
Cambridge, MA–Syed Adil Hussain, a Harvard graduate student, is a recipient of the world-renowned MIT $100K Executive Summary Competition (ESC) award in recognition for the high-quality online tutoring his company, uProdigy, begins delivering this week to American college students.
The MIT $100K ESC award is one of the world's leading entrepreneur competitions and is designed to encourage students and researchers to act on their talent and ideas. It has produced hundreds of successful ventures since its establishment in 1990.
The winners of the ESC competition were announced Friday, February 8, at the Business Plan Competition kick off held at the Strata Center. Eight student-managed companies were selected from over 100 entries and were awarded cash prizes.
"I started this company because as an undergrad student, I could never afford the $60-$70 normally charged for help in higher-level math," said Hussain, 26, CEO of uProdigy. "The MIT award recognizes the important social impact uProdigy can make by delivering quality and affordable academic tutoring services to American college students."
Hussain's company, based in Massachusetts, was selected from a panel of judges from the MIT and Boston venture communities. Judges were asked to select business plans that showed high growth potential, market leadership potential, stage of idea development, and quality and breadth of team among other things.
As part of it services, uProdigy offers live, around-the-clock homework assistance from highly educated, English-speaking tutors in South Asia.
The niche for uProdigy is college students who need low-cost emergency one-on-one help with understanding concepts from very qualified people. Mr. Husain explained that "We are just launching the business to the public–we just launched yesterday. We had an alpha release in November."
He explained that "In India, there is so much talent, so many brilliant people. Most of the people we selected as tutors are professors at universities. There is really no shortage of them at all. We accepted only about 5% of those who applied to be tutors."
As for the future, Husain explains that "this is really a huge huge market–what we are seeing now is only the beginning." The biggest player in online tutoring now, he explains, is Tutorvista, which focuses on elementary school and middle school tutoring rather than the college students that uProdigy aims to serve.
Students will be able to use uProdigy's services for only $15 per hour–and the first hour is free. People who join uProdigy as members will also (in the future) have access to general academic instructional videos. Visit their website to learn more.
For more information on uProdigy, visit www.uProdigy.com.
Houstonian Corner for Volume 8, Issue 17
April 24, 2006 by TMO · Leave a Comment
First-Ever Mawlid Procession in Downtown Houston
"This effort is being done to show intense love for our Beloved Messenger Mohammad (Peace Be Upon him): Also this peaceful walk through the blocks of downtown calls all the world especially our neighboring Americans of all backgrounds to appreciate by learning and knowing about the humanity-loving personality of Messenger Mohammad (s)," said one of the organizers of this first-of-its kind march in downtown Houston, which was held in the honor of the glorious Messenger Muhammad (s) during this blessed hijra month, Rabi-ul-Awwal.
Many Muslims came to the event, where the atmosphere was buzzing with nasheeds and with Islamic Poetry sung in both English and Urdu. Slogans of "Allah Is Great" and "Naray Risala" were showered on the holiest messenger Muhammad (s).
The peaceful parade started at Market Square in downtown Houston, went up about four to five blocks along Milam, and then circled around back to the starting area.
There under tents all the participants listened to stories related by imams of the many beautiful aspects of the life of Messenger Muhammad (s).
The Shahnai Restaurant provided free food to show their love for the most beloved Messenger for the occasion.
For more information on similar programs, please call 713-779-1304. –
MYBA All-Star Basketball Benefit!
Don't Miss This Treat Next Time
By Coach
Jamaaluddin J. Al-Haidar
On Sunday, April 2nd, a small but vocal group of supporters and basketball fans filed into Northwest Houston's spacious air-conditioned Del Mar coliseum in anticipation of an afternoon of excitement and entertainment as six Muslim All-Star basketball teams took to the court for three highly-competitive games. Indeed these were the fortunate ones for they were to be a part of making history as the Muslim Youth Basketball Association (MYBA) held its first-ever-in-Texas-of-its-kind youth and young adult basketball competition.
The afternoon started with congregational dhur prayers followed by the first game of the afternoon, between the Mecca and Medina squads at the 14-and-under age division. This game was followed by the Mecca and Medina squads 18-and-under players, and then the main event, the ever popular and exciting 19-and-older young adult division.
Over the course of two months, tryouts were held at sites on the North and South sides of the city. The six 8-man rosters included some of the best talent from across the many ISGH-affiliated masajid and centers, as well as from Masjid Al-Farouk, Madrassa Islamiah, the Islamic Education Center, and the Nigerian-American Muslim community.
MYBA Commissioner Jamaaluddin Al-Haidar was himself very involved in the talent selection process. "While we wanted to access the best basketball talent available, we went out of our way to build Mecca and Medina teams that would showcase our ethnic and cultural diversity while developing strong bonds of kinship between brothers who under most scenarios would not likely be teammates or even attend the same Masjid."
At times, the coliseum sounded like a Rockets game at the Toyota Center. MC and play-by-play announcer Badar Alam set the stage as he introduced the starting lineups at the start of each game.
As players jogged out to center court one-by-one, acknowledging and tapping fists with the three uniformed licensed referee officials along the way, it was truly a wonderful sight to see two teams of Muslims wearing the names of these two historic Islamic cities. Team Mecca wore white jerseys with black trim, while the Medina squad wore black jerseys with white trim.
Despite disappointing ticket sales and gate receipts, MYBA Treasurer Aijaz Ahmed was optimistic about the future of these kinds of events in the local Muslim community. "This is just the beginning. This is something very new for our community. Those who were here at the event can now go back and tell others how well-organized the event was, how clean and comfortable the facility was, and certainly how exciting and competitive the games were. Insha`Allah, with more planning and marketing, the next one will be much bigger."
The excitement on the faces of the many young children who were in attendance and the cheers from their parents as their adopted teams scored points was something new….something that hasn't happened in a long time in this community…..something that MYBA hopes to make happen with regularity.
MYBA wishes to express its special gratitude for the efforts of dedicated volunteers and donors like Latif Bhegani, Nazeer Malik, Shabana Motors, and event sponsors, Jerusalem Halal Meats, Shahnai Restaurant and Payless/Affordable Auto Glass.
Proceeds from the event after expenses amounted to $1,200 and were presented to ICNA Relief for its Helping Hands Relief work in the earthquake-stricken regions of South Asia.
Plans are underway for a super tournament featuring Muslim teams from the Dallas Ft-Worth and Austin communities as well as our local Houston teams. The spring leagues as well as the annual MYBA Hoopfest summer-long basketball development camp, league, and tournament are currently under development as well.
Stay updated by joining the MYBA mailing list at www.mybausa.org. -


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Summer housing is available to registered students. Students who sign up for both summer sessions I and II get a discounted rate of $10 per night. Short-term summer housing (less than sessions I & II) costs $18 per night. Summer 2014 residents will be placed in University Suite apartments.
The Summer 2014 Housing Contractt is due to the Housing Office, FSC 120, by April 15.


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Information About Tirumala Tirupati
Devasthanams : Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams also referred as TTD is an independent trust which manages the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple at Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh.
Offered Post by this Recruitment : Special Officer
Candidature Requirements : Eligible and interested students or
candidate should have a Post Graduate in Tamil of the recognised University with high second class .
Important Dates to keep in Mind: Last Date for Application Submission
Will be 5th March 2013 .
Fellowship/Emoluments for this
Recruitment: Selected
candidates salary will be Rs.18030-43630/- pm.
Completion Mode of Application: Interested or desired candidate may complete their application along with Date of Birth, Qualification, Experience and Postal address with respective certificates and relevant document should reach :
The Executive Officer,
T.T.D. Administrative Building,
K.T. Road, Tirupati – 517 501,
Andhra Pradesh.
The Executive Officer,
T.T.D. Administrative Building,
K.T. Road, Tirupati – 517 501,
Andhra Pradesh.
Procedure for this Recruitment Rally: Selection will be based on merit in Written Examination.
More Important Notification For You


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They are picking my plants clean of all tomatoes! I've got hardware cloth 2' high and the deer netting overlapping it and going 7' high and deer netting over the top. But they are finding ways in |
Follow-Up Postings:
We were told to use tanglefoot tree coating and dust it with cayenne pepper in areas we didn't want squirrels. The resin sticks to their paws and drives them crazy- supposedly. We haven't tried it yet- maybe this weekend. They don't seem to go after our tomatoes so much. But they love our summer and winter squash, berries, etc. |
How big an area are you talkin here? A picture is worth a thousand tips. |
Years ago when I had squirrel & chipmunk problems, hot pepper powder was one of the methods I tried with no success. But...if cayenne pepper does repel your squirrels, why would you sprinkle it on the Tanglefoot resin that you want them to walk through? |
Rescue a pet dog. :) Or shop at the Farmer's Market ;) Your call. |
Rob- that's what we were told. You can make some sort of sticky cayenne pepper solution too- I once found a recipe on the web but didn't try it. We have a fence that the squirrels scale so we are going to apply it on the fence and maybe spots on our raised beds too. |
I had bird netting over mine which seemed to help for a little while. But they figured a way right on through that. I then started trapping them with Havaheart traps. Trapped and relocated 16 but they just kept on coming, seemed like more everyday. So I finally after several more tomatoes eaten, all the rest of my blueberries, totally destroying my wife's plants etc I decided to pull out the heavy artillery. I have taken out 10 of them in the past 3 weeks with my air rifle and it has the added effect of basically throwing a dead body on the dance floor. The Air Rifle has been the best solution for me so far. |
- Posted by sunnyside1 z6/SW Mo. (My Page) on Wed, Jul 18, 12 at 9:31
I have an 8 ft bed, a couple large containers, and three or so more tomatoes in a few 4 x 4 raised beds. I have found RepelsAll in a spray bottle (Lowe's $14) does a good job if I reapply it on the soil under the toms once a week or so. It smells terrible! They sure don't like it, nor do the rabbits. I also tied holographic ribbon (Wal-Mart about $1.50) hanging down on several points of the tomato supports. I have enough left for next year as well. The ribbon shimmers in the wind/sun and it really helps. Lastly, with this 100 degree temp every day, I have light insect barrier over the whole bed top and connected to tomato support by clothespins. It blows in the wind and keeps the toms cool and the critters out. Don't forget to keep water in birdbaths and water troughs every day. They get thirsty and look to your fruit for moisture. Oh yes - I pick them when I see a little blush and finish ripening inside. My neighbor also has the Air Rifle Solution but I don't want to go that route. |
Hi April (srg215), I saw the front of your home on Photobucket. We are just wondering if the vinyl siding is Tuscon Clay and if the stone is Bucks County Stone. Just trying to color coordinate. Thanks, Jerry |
- Posted by harveyhorses 7 Midlothian Va (My Page) on Mon, Apr 8, 13 at 9:47
Lead poisoning and electric fence. If on more person says they only eat your tomatoes when there is a drought, or they need water I will lay down and throw an internet hissyfit. We live on a creek fed pond, they cross the creek to get to my garden. Last year was the worst. They would pick them and leave them on our well or steps to the porch with a nibble or two taken out. I put up chicken wire with electric about two inches above it. I usually have 30 + plants. |
Is chicken wire or hardware cloth better to build a barrier? |
- Posted by harveyhorses 7 Midlothian Va (My Page) on Tue, Apr 9, 13 at 0:03
Unless you cover the entire plant either, or both. Like a hoop structure. They climb anything. I would go with hardware cloth, I don't think they can chew through that. |
I know this may sound crazy but try feeding them. I like the air rifle personally but you may be able to get them to eat something else better to their liking away from the plants. I say this becasue I have lots of hickory trees on my property and have never had them in my garden and I know they eat the hickory nuts like mad. |
Ditto Moorlord, I have lots of hickory trees on my property also and have never had them in my garden. But something strange to me, a co-worker has a lot of pecan trees and the squirrels eat his tomatoes! But he picks up the pecans and I leave the hickory nuts for the squirrels. I think that they may be after them for the water, we have had drought conditions for a long time here. I told him to put out a bowl of water for them this year and see if it helps. |
- Posted by flowerwoman z5 KS (My Page) on Wed, Apr 10, 13 at 0:18
I read a tip on another website......grate Irish Spring soap through the beds. I am going to try it, its worth a try! |
There is a post on this site about someone who bought a Costco sized Irish Spring Soap package to sprinkle through his garden. In short, it didn't work and it took him years to use up all the soap. I would continue searching that idea to see if it actually worked for anyone. |
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Mr. Marc Mueller
Instructor/Director of Bands
Department of Music
(580) 774-3175
Marc Mueller is the Director of Bands at SWOSU and also teaches Instrumental Music Conducting and Instrumental Music Education.
Mr. Mueller is a native of Tripp, South Dakota (population 600). He received his Master of Music Education from the University of Oklahoma and Bachelors of Music Education at South Dakota State University. Prior to his appointment at SWOSU, Mr. Mueller was the director of bands at Moore High School for 22 years.
Under his leadership, the SWOSU Marching Band has enjoyed tremendous growth and has a unique energy making it one of the premiere marching bands in the Southwest. The SWOSU Wind Symphony is one of the finest in the area promoting new music for wind band.
Mr. Mueller has championed numerous new compositions within the wind band genre. He has commissioned compositions from composers such as John Mackey, Jonathon Newman, Scott McAlister and David Maslanka. In addition to commissioning new works, his ensembles have been given the honor of providing world premiere performances for three separate compositions. These same compositions have gone on to be performed on national stages throughout the country by numerous collegiate and high school performing groups.
Mr. Mueller is also an accomplished musical arranger and marching band show designer. To date, he has over 200 arrangements to his credit. In the 2010 and 2011 state band championship season, over 40 percent of the shows in the top ten were designed by Mr. Mueller.
Mr. Mueller is active regionally and nationally as an adjudicator, clinician and consultant. He has presented seminars and workshops at various camps and clinics at colleges throughout the region.
Office Hours: | Courses: | |||||||||||||||||
Links | ||||||||||||||||||


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X8 Horizon Snare Cajon
Watch HD Video of this cajon:
(The cajon is played with the Snare on for the first half of the video. At 1:41, it is played with the Snare off.)
New! The X8 Horizon Snare Cajon is fitted with a padded seat and an adjustable snare that can easily be adjusted on the fly. Roll the snare on for a greater snare effect or roll the snare off for that larger than life bass. Either way this cajon delivers!
The X8 Horizon Snare Cajon is designed for those players who want it all: amazing tone, beautiful looks, versatility, and a great price. This Cajon was designed from the top down with today's player in mind. The adjustable snare located on the right hand side of the box is perfectly positioned for quick and easy adjustment. The industrial knob can be turned counter clockwise to loosen the snare. Roll it back quickly during performance for a bigger bass response. Pushing the snare knob toward the faceplate will position the snare directly on the back of the striking plate for that huge snare effect. The adjustable snare can also be positioned somewhere in the middle for a more subtle tone. The X8 Horizon Snare Cajon lets today's player "dial" in the tone they're after without compromise.
Every X8 Cajon is hand constructed, one unit at a time, by skilled artisans who meticulously assemble and finish every Cajon. With gorgeous designs, premium materials, and years of experience crafting the finest percussion products on the planet the X8 Horizon Snare Cajon is the perfect choice. X8 Drums"¦Put your hands on one!!
X8 Horizon Snare Cajon
- Playing surface: Sungkai Wood
- Resonance box: Fast growing replenishable Asian Oak
- Dimensions: Approx. 11.75"W x 19.5"H x 12"D
- Adjustable Snare on right side
- Produced by Fair trade and Labor standards
- Hand Crafted by wood product experts
About X8 Percussion
Founded in 2006, X8 Drums & Percussion is proud to be a premier manufacturer of drums and percussion instruments for the hand drumming community. Our focus has always been our passion for percussion and our commitment to innovation using green technology. We demonstrate this commitment by providing high quality hand drums and percussion instruments, made of legally certified hardwood that we are proud to put in the hands of players around the world. When you own an X8 Percussion instrument, you know that it comes from a place of quality, integrity, and a sincere love of drumming.
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Minority Business Success: Refocusing on The American Dream
The authors chart a path for the full participation of minority businesses in the U.S. economy. Today, minorities are on their way to becoming the majority of the workforce and a large part of entrepreneurial endeavors; their full contribution is essential to national competitive advantage in a global economy. The book lays out a new paradigm for developing minority businesses so that they can fully contribute to the national competitive advantage and prosperity.
Handbook of Corporate Finance: Empirical Corporate Finance, Volumes 1&2 (Chinese edition)
Now available in Chinese, this handbook takes stock of the main empirical findings across an unprecedented spectrum of corporate finance issues.
7 Bad Habits of Unsuccessful People
Talented leaders can be brought low by their own success. Self-confidence slides into over-confidence. Good press leads to prideful thinking.
The Other Side of Innovation: Solving the Execution Challenge
A new book about carrying out big ideas, by Tuck faculty members Vijay Govindarajan and Chris Trimble, takes on that misconception and uses the inventor's words of caution inside the cover: "Genius is 1 percent inspiration, 99 percent perspiration." The Other Side of Innovation: Solving the Execution Challenge (Harvard Business Press, September 2010) is about the latter. The book builds on the pair's 2005 international best-seller, 10 Rules for Strategic Innovators: From Idea to Execution (Harvard Business Press).
Management Science: The Art of Modeling with Spreadsheets
Now in its third edition, Powell and Baker's Management Science provides students and business analysts with the technical knowledge and skill needed to develop real expertise in business modeling. In this book, the authors cover spreadsheet engineering, management science, and the modeling craft.
CAREER GPS: Strategies for Women Navigating the New Corporate Landscape
In CAREER GPS, Professor Bell has drawn from her experience as a professor, consultant to Fortune 100 companies, and founder of ASCENT, the first management and leadership program committed to the professional development and career advancement of women. One of the nation's most respected experts in women's career advancement and retention, Bell profiles dozens of smart, successful women who have made it to the top of the corporate world—and explains how they did it.


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Current and prior cavities and dentists' assessments help identify patients at risk for future cavities
Research Activities, June 2009, No. 346
Over the past decade, dentists have been urged to perform caries risk assessments (CRAs) to boost the chance that patients will receive appropriate treatment to prevent future dental cavities. Adding the dentist's personal assessment to classification determined strictly by a patient's previous caries experience and current caries improves the sensitivity of identifying patients at risk for subsequent cavities. However, overall accuracy may suffer, according to a new study. Nancy A. Perrin, Ph.D., of Oregon Health & Science University, and colleagues determined the impact of these three approaches to determining caries risk by examining administrative data from two dental plans.
At Plan A, current caries activity alone explained about 2.5 percent of the variance in future caries activity, while previous and current caries activity explained 5.5 percent of the variance. The results for Plan B were similar. Current caries activity alone explained 4.9 percent of the variance, but previous and current caries activity explained 6.9 percent of the variance. When the dentists' CRAs were added to past and current caries activity, the model explained 8.2 percent of the variance in Plan A, but only 4.1 percent of the variance in Plan B.
In Plan B, more of the additional patients identified by the dentists' CRAs as caries-active were false-positives, thereby weakening the overall effectiveness of the additional information. At both plans, dentists were more likely to assign an elevated caries risk to those patients who were older, received prior preventive treatment, and had larger numbers of caries-related procedures in the prior 1-year period and current period.
The authors call for more studies to improve dentists' accuracy in caries risk assessments. The study was supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (HS13339).
See "Exploring the contributions of components of caries risk assessment guidelines," by James D. Bader, D.D.S., M.P.H., Dr. Perrin, Gerardo Maupome, D.D.P.H., Ph.D., and others, in Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology 36, pp. 357-362, 2008.


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This year I went to South by South West Interactive (SXSWi), for the first time and found the whole experience fascinating and exhausting.
When I was planning on going I was a little nervous about travelling and being in Texas on my own. Not something that now I should have worried about.
Before I bought my ticket for SXSWi there were several meetings to discus possible funding that was available from UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), along with networking with those people who were interested in going. As time drew closer to SXSW less and less people came to these networking events until it was only the delegates that had their tickets and were going.
The Birmingham contingent itself is made up of mostly people who have been to SXSW before and who are more than happy to help and give advice before and during the conference, which helps to promote a great community feel about attending. Once in Texas (on the first morning over breakfast), numbers and twitter handles were swapped so that everyone could stay in contact and no one was left feeling as if they were on their own. Every night (once the conference had ended for the evening), individuals and groups of Birmingham delegates kept in touch via twitter and text and ended up eating dinner and networking together which certainly helped to create a friendly community feel.
During SXSWi the UKTI created an event where some lucky companies were able to present themselves to people attending SXSWi. These mission companies can be found on the Chinwag site here. During this event Birmingham was well represented and it was great to see the products that the people who I had been spending time with were doing via demonstration. This was a very useful event to attend as it allowed for the Birmingham contingent to connect with others from the UK who we had not been too closely in contact with before, see their products and forum other useful links and networks.
Chinwag also held two events; The Great British Tea Party and The Great British Breakfast which brought together attendees from across the UK for a networking opportunity.
Overall I found the community feel of the Birmingham contingent really helpful, friendly and supportive with regards to my SXSWi experience. I would recommend that anyone who is planning on attending SXSW 2013 should make sure they get to know who's going from Birmingham before traveling to the conference so they can share their knowledge with you.
After going once, I hope to go to SXSWi again, and if I do I'm already looking forward to sharing my knowledge with anyone new attending.
networking, South by South West Interactive, sxswi, The Great British Breakfast, The Great British Tea Party, UKTIComments comment
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