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As I See it
November 3, 2011 by TMO · Leave a Comment
By Azher Quader
As the Muslim world wrestles with dictatorial rulers to remove them from power and establish popular democracies, allowing for greater freedoms and greater choices, here in America an aging Muslim community of first generation immigrants are facing their own struggles, as they try to transition power at their mosques. Next to the zoning battles no other issue excites the emotions of the mosque goers more than the issue of choosing its new leaders.
Here in Chicago arguably one of the most mature Muslim communities in the country, the transition of power within our mosques is increasingly threatened with conflict. At the Muslim Community Center (MCC), perhaps the oldest mosque in the country run by an elected board of directors, the electoral decisions had sometimes to be litigated and settled in a court of law. The path for succession is no less controversial in those centers where the transition of leadership is without election. There too the inevitability of the moment and the inadequacy of the system to meet the expectations of the majority is coming to light.
Is it then appropriate to pause and ponder on where we are and whither we are going? Is it right to win an argument within a core group of supporters or in front of a judge and claim victory over the people? Is it right to amend the rules to protect the turf and believe we have secured our future? Is it right to concoct a system where choice is removed to eradicate dissent?
If we are serious about building institutions of trust and leaving a legacy of goodwill, we cannot be happy with these small wins. If we are committed to passing on the baton to the young, we cannot be scared to let go the reigns of power in the twilight of our lives. If we are committed to serving the welfare of the people we cannot be worried about the preservation of our selves. If we are the vicegerents of Him who gave us the freedom to choose in life, we cannot deny to others the same freedoms including the freedom to choose their leaders. Neither institutions nor nations are strengthened when choices are controlled and freedoms are abridged.
A nomination process which delivers no choices is no better than the Egyptian model of Mubarak against which the people ultimately revolted.
It is time we took a harder look at the way we are setting up systems to assure not only the smooth transition of power within our mosques but also maintain the highest traditions of freedom and choice.
May Allah guide us to be humble and fearless in the pursuit of right.
Azer Quader is Executive Director of Community Builders Chicago. ww.mycommunitybuilders.com.
Huda Clinic Fundraiser
October 13, 2011 by TMO · Leave a Comment
By Adil James, TMO
Detroit–October 8–One of the best ways to help the Muslim community is to provide useful services to the surrounding communities. And so the Huda clinic has been providing free health care to Detroit since 2004.
An audience of about 300 watched as several speakers including two congressman spoke at a Huda Fundraiser Saturday.
Mitchell Shamsuddin spoke early in the event, speaking about the blood sweat and tears that had gone into building Huda. Imam El-Amin of the Detroit Muslim Center welcomed everyone to the mosque which has served as a home for Huda.
There was a promotional video for Huda, showing people who had received free healthcare at the facility, including non-Muslims living close to Huda who praised the friendly and helpful medical services provided at Huda, with only a short wait-time to see a doctor.
Rep. Hanson Clarke and Rep. John Dingell were in attendance. Both of the congressmen expressed their appreciation for the great work of Huda. John Dingell said "thanks to the volunteer doctors, donors, and staff. Thanks to you all and Huda." Dingell went on to speak about the importance of healthcare in the US, pointing out the great strides towards healthcare that has been fought for and built, since 2008. "Healthcare is a right, not a privilege," he said.
"Your mission is a superb success, and vital, and its importance is increasing as the economy suffers."
Hanson Clarke was very emotional at the sight of the hundreds of people in the audience, representing all of the Muslim communities in America. The three major communities are African American, South Asian, and Arab, and all three groups were not only present but are actively participating in Huda's work, serving as doctors and other volunteers, and management.
Rep. Clarke advocated early healthcare rather than last minute help in the emergency room.
He spoke very strongly against the past attacks on the Muslim community from, for example, Peter King. "How DARE they unfairly target Islam?" Clarke spoke very angrily about the conflation of the hunt for terror with prejudiced and biased rhetorical attacks on all Muslims.
Dr. Jukaku Tayeb said that at Huda the Muslim community is trying to "do our responsibility." He quoted Qur`an as emphasizing the importance of giving to others without reminding them or giving them pain after helping them.
"This is a purification of ourselves and of our wealth," he said. Also the work of Huda provided an opportunity to bring diverse communities together, including within the Muslim community, but also Huda serves as a bridge to other communities.
He pointed out the contributions of Huda's directors, especially Eide Alawan, and of all of the volunteers and volunteer physicians–some of whom come to Huda regularly every week as if they are being paid, although they are not.
He expressed his hope that Huda would be open full time in the future.
Rami Nashashibi spoke, praising Huda as one of the fruits of Warith Deen Mohammad's work, and Dr. Abed El-Mannan Alo also spoke.
Statement by the President on the Occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr
September 1, 2011 by TMO · Leave a Comment
White House Press Release
Michelle and I would like to send Eid greetings to Muslim communities in the United States and around the world. Ramadan has been a time for families and communities to share the happiness of coming together in intense devotion, reflection, and service. Millions all over the world have been inspired to honor their faith by reaching out to those less fortunate. This year, many have observed the month while courageously persevering in their efforts to secure basic necessities and fundamental freedoms. The United States will continue to stand with them and for the dignity and rights of all people, whether a hungry child in the Horn of Africa or a young person demanding freedom in the Middle East and North Africa.
As Ramadan comes to an end, we send our best wishes for a blessed holiday to Muslim communities around the world. Eid Mubarak.
Statement by President on the Occasion of Ramadan
August 4, 2011 by TMO · Leave a Comment
White House Press Release
As Ramadan begins, Michelle and I would like to send our best wishes to Muslim communities in the US and around the world. Ramadan is a festive time that is anticipated for months by Muslims everywhere. Families and communities share the happiness of gathering together for iftar and prayers. Bazaars light up the night in many cities from Rabat to Jakarta. And here in the US, Muslim Americans share Ramadan traditions with their neighbors, fellow students, and co-workers.
For so many Muslims around the world, Ramadan is also a time of deep reflection and sacrifice. As in other faiths, fasting is used to increase spirituality, discipline, and consciousness of God's mercy. It is also a reminder of the importance of reaching out to those less fortunate. The heartbreaking accounts of lost lives and the images of families and children in Somalia and the Horn of Africa struggling to survive remind us of our common humanity and compel us to act. Now is the time for nations and peoples to come together to avert an even worse catastrophe by offering support and assistance to on-going relief.
Times like this remind us of the lesson of all great faiths, including Islam–that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. In that spirit, I wish Muslims around the world a blessed month, and I look forward to again hosting an iftar dinner here at the White House. Ramadan Kareem.
Dubai Hotels Aim to Pick Up Pilgrim Trade During Ramadan
July 7, 2011 by TMO · Leave a Comment
The National
Atlantis Hotel in Dubai.
Hoteliers in Dubai are trying to tempt pilgrims to stop over in the emirate on their way to Saudi Arabia to make up for an expected slump in business next month during Ramadan.
The GCC is usually the most important market for Dubai hotels during the summer months, a low season for the industry as many Europeans are put off by the soaring temperatures.
This year, Ramadan takes place throughout August. Most GCC nationals prefer to spend the holy month at home.
The dual impact of Ramadan falling during the slowest month in the year has prompted hoteliers to launch "pilgrim packages" as they seek out alternative markets. Ramadan is a peak time for umrah trips to Saudi Arabia. About 4 million pilgrims travelled to Saudi Arabia for umrah throughout last year.
"We are trying to link the stopover for many of the Muslims who are travelling from India, Pakistan, Iran, and they go for umrah in Saudi Arabia," said Habib Khan, the general manager of the Arabian Courtyard Hotel and Spa in Dubai. He said the packages were likely to include iftars and suhoors.
Indonesia and Malaysia were other potential markets for this business, he said, adding that the pilgrims could be persuaded to stop over either on the way to Saudi Arabia or on their way back.
"That's an opportunity to give them a special offer and reach out to them," Mr Khan said. "If they get a good offer, they will stop over and stay for two or three nights."
The Ramada hotel in the Downtown Burj Khalifa area is also trying to attract pilgrims, aiming to draw stopover business from the large Muslim communities in South Africa and the UK.
"They have to transit via Dubai," said Wael El Behi, the executive assistant manager at Ramada Downtown Dubai. "This is another market which can generate a good proportion of business. There is another factor to consider, which is the inventory in town.
"The room inventory is increasing. We have to be tactical in our approach to win new business. Our expectations for the month of July, because of the Dubai Summer Surprises, will be 85 to 87 percent occupancy, while for the month of Ramadan our target is a maximum of 60 percent occupancy."
Mr El Behi said the room rates could more than halve next month compared with their present rates.
An influx of tourists from the GCC, in particular Saudi Arabia, has helped hotels in Dubai to achieve high occupancy levels in the past few months.
Beach hotels in Dubai benefited from an 11 percent increase in revenue per available room, a key industry indicator, during the first four months of the year, according to the property consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle. Occupancy levels across Dubai reached 81 percent, compared with 77 percent in the same period last year.
Dubai hotels will also be targeting their home market, with packages for UAE residents to attract guests from neighbouring emirates.
Tourists from China could also help to counteract the expected decline next month.
"The Chinese market will come because of the low prices," Mr Khan said. "My hotel has seen a threefold increase in the months of May and June."
He said that Chinese tourists made up 15 percent of all guests at the hotel during that period.
'Intolerant' Christians Are More Militant than Muslims, Says Equality Chief
June 23, 2011 by TMO · Leave a Comment
By Daniel Martin
Christians are more militant than Muslims in complaining about discrimination, the head of Britain's equality watchdog has claimed.
Trevor Phillips said Muslims are better at integrating into society, while Christians often complain about bias for cynical political gains.
Mr Phillips, the head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, blamed the increasing influence on mainstream churches of African and Caribbean immigrants with 'intolerant' views.
In contrast, he said Muslims 'are doing their damnedest' to develop 'an idea of Islam that is compatible with living in a modern liberal democracy'.
He added: 'I think there's an awful lot of noise about the Church being persecuted but there is a more real issue that the conventional churches face – that the people who are really driving their revival and success believe in an old-time religion which, in my view, is incompatible with a modern, multi-ethnic, multicultural society.
'Muslim communities in this country are doing their damnedest to come to terms with their neighbours to try to integrate and they're doing their best to try to develop an idea of Islam that is compatible with living in a modern liberal democracy.
'The most likely victim of actual religious discrimination in British society is a Muslim, but the person who is most likely to feel slighted because of their religion is an evangelical Christian.'
Senior churchmen, such as former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey, have attacked equality laws for stifling Christianity.
However, Mr Phillips said many of the legal cases brought by Christians over homosexuality were motivated by an attempt to gain political influence. He told the Sunday Telegraph: 'I think for a lot of Christian activists, they want to have a fight and they choose sexual orientation as the ground to fight it on. I think the argument isn't about the rights of Christians. It's about politics.
Religious differences: Former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey has in the past attacked equality laws for stifling Christianity
'There are a lot of Christian activist voices who appear bent on stressing the kind of persecution that I don't really think exists in this country.'
But Mr Phillips, who was brought up in a Salvation Army background, said he could 'understand why a lot of people in faith groups feel a bit under siege'. 'There's no question that there is more anti-religion noise in Britain,' he said.
He also said equality laws should not apply to the internal organisation of religious groups.
'It's perfectly fair that you can't be a Roman Catholic priest unless you're a man,' he continued. 'It seems right that the reach of anti-discriminatory law should stop at the door of the church or mosque.'
Tory MP Philip Davies suggested Mr Phillips was attempting to 'take the spotlight off his domestic difficulties' at the beleaguered body. Home Secretary Theresa May has vowed to reform the organisation after a report branded it a costly failure.
Sec of State Hillary Clinton Praises the Late Imam Tantawi
March 18, 2010 by TMO · Leave a Comment
From US Dept. of State Website
"I was saddened today to learn of the passing of Grand Imam Mohamed Sayyid Tantawi, the head of al-Azhar University in Cairo.
"Imam Tantawi was a highly respected cleric and the leader of one of the most important institutions of Islamic learning in the world. As President Obama said in Cairo last summer, Al-Azhar has stood as a beacon of Islamic learning for over a thousand years, and it continues to play a dynamic role today. Imam Tantawi was an important voice for dialogue among religions and communities. Under his leadership, the university co-hosted the President's speech laying out a vision for a "New Beginning" between the United States and Muslim communities around the world. And Americans will always remember Imam Tantawi for his condemnations of violence after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, when he said: "It's not courage in any way to kill an innocent person."
"We offer our condolences to the Imam's family and friends today, as well as his many students in Egypt and in Muslim communities throughout the world."
Clinton Ends US Visa Ban on Tariq Ramadan
January 28, 2010 by TMO · Leave a Comment
swissinfo.ch and agencies
The United States has lifted a ban on Swiss Muslim scholar Tariq Ramadan entering the country.
Ramadan has had his US visa revoked several times since 2004 when he was due to take up a university teaching post. He was banned from the US over alleged ties to terrorism.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has signed orders enabling the re-entry of Ramadan and Adam Habib, a professor at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa, once they obtained required admittance documents, department spokesman Darby Holladay said on Wednesday.
He said Clinton "has chosen to exercise her exemption authority" for the pair's benefit. "Both the president and the secretary of state have made it clear that the US government is pursuing a new relationship with Muslim communities based on mutual interest and mutual respect," Holladay said.
Both professors, who are frequently invited to the US to lecture, were critics of the war in Iraq.
Government lawyers have said Ramadan was barred because he gave money to a Swiss-based charity, the Association de Secours Palestinien (ASP), between 1998 and 2002. Washington listed ASP as a banned group in 2003, saying it supported terrorism and had contributed funds to the Palestinian Islamic movement Hamas.
"The decision brings to an end a dark period in American politics that saw security considerations invoked to block critical debate through a policy of exclusion and baseless allegation," Ramadan said in a statement.
Eid Mubarak from Pres. Obama
September 24, 2009 by TMO · Leave a Comment
The President released the following statement to mark the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Eid-ul-Fitr:
"As Muslims in the United States and around the world complete the month of Ramadan and celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, Michelle and I would like to extend our personal greetings on this joyous occasion. Eid is a time to celebrate the completion of 30 days and nights of devotion. But even on this festive occasion, Muslims remember those less fortunate, including those impacted by poverty, hunger, conflict, and disease. Throughout the month, Muslim communities collect and distribute zakat-ul-fitr so that all Muslims are able to participate in this day of celebration. As I said in Cairo, my Administration is working to ensure that Muslims are able to fulfill their charitable obligations not just during Ramadan, but throughout the year. On behalf of the American people, we congratulate Muslims in the United States and around the world on this blessed day. Eid Mubarak."
Over the past month, the President and several government Agencies participated in events to mark Ramadan – the President continued the tradition of hosting an Iftar here at the White House while the U.S. Department of Agriculture hosted the first in their history. The Corporation for National and Community Service spearheaded "Interfaith Service Week" as part of the President and First Lady's Summer of Service initiative and many other groups and individuals came together to make this month a time of giving and reaching out to our neighbors in need.
The President and the First Lady extend their personal greetings on this special day. May you be well throughout the year.
How to Connect with Qur`an
September 17, 2009 by TMO · Leave a Comment
By Dr. Aslam Abdullah, TMO Editor in Chief
The whole town was abuzz with the news that the best reciter of the Qur`an from the Middle East was coming to lead taraweeh prayers.
very one was talking about his voice, the magic of his recitation, the way his reading rises and falls and the way the melody of his recitation mesmerized everyone.
Especially in Ramadan this ritual is played out in Muslim communities around the world.
Although listening to a beautiful recitation of the Qur`an is captivating, but let us revive the essence of what the month of the Qur`an is meant to be.
In a population of over 1.5 billion Muslims in the world, some 50 percent are illiterate. Acquisition of knowledge is one of the obligations upon every Muslim. Nearly 83 per cent are totally ignorant of the book that is the foundation of their faith. Some may read the Arabic text but do not know what they read in their prayers.
The Qur`an describes itself as a message for people who reflect and think. Muslims all over the world have begun to place emphasis on learning. Muslim families are genuinely concerned to ensure that their children learn biology, mathematics, chemistry, social sciences from the best schools with full honors.
Where the Qur`an is being taught it is limited to reading and memorization. To learn and excel in various fields of knowledge is essential but at the same time to learn and excel in the understanding of the Qur`an cannot be neglected.
A patient cannot memorize and just listen to the doctors prescription and believe that he will be cured. Once a prescription is written, the patient immediately picks up the medicine from a pharmacy and starts using it.
But the divine prescription for curing human ills is neglected in a manner that is unexplainable. To memorize the Qur`an is an honorable deed that God will bless but it is better to learn also the meaning of the Qur`an.
When a child is raised up in an environment where the Qur`an is seen as a book to be recited only on certain occasions without the need to understand it, his relation with the Qur`an will be superficial unless there is some dramatic change in his or her attitude toward the divine book.
The Qur`an is the most read yet most neglected book in our recent and distant history. Millions of people have memorized parts or the whole of the Qur`an yet we do not see the practice of the Qur`an in our societies. If the purpose of this book was to be recited and read without understanding the Qur`an would not claim to be a guidance for humanity.
Alif. Lam. Mim. This is the Book in which there is no doubt, a guidance unto those who ward off (evil). Who believe in the unseen, and establish worship, and spend of that We have bestowed upon them; And who believe in that which is revealed unto thee (Muhammad) and that which was revealed before thee, and are certain of the Hereafter. These depend on guidance from their Lord. These are the successful.
The Qur`an was meant to be a book of guidance in every aspect of life. The recitation with understanding was recommended primarily to highlight the importance of its message in every day life. Yet we should also spend time reflecting on its message and looking for its application in our own lives, using it as a guidance in every aspect of life.
The month of Ramadan gives us a unique opportunity to restore our understanding of the Qur`an and learn its message. Yet most of the time and in most of the places, we fail to avail ourselves of the opportunity to further our understanding of the Qur`an beyond the surface level.
Modern technology gives us tools to capture the best voice and repeat it at our will. But this is not the only purpose of the revelation. It is meant to be understood, followed and implemented in one's life. Reading Qur`an is good no matter what. But if we are not living according to its guidance, perhaps we have not fully devoted ourselves to the Qur`an despite our reading.
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.
Mahinur Ozdemir: First Belgian MP to Don the Hijab
June 27, 2009 by TMO · Leave a Comment
By Abdullah Mustapha
Mahinur Ozdemir attends swearing-in ceremony in Brussels 6/23/09. REUTERS/Thierry Roge |
Brussels, Asharq Al-Awsat- When I met Mahinur Ozdimer in one of the biggest shopping malls in Brussels just one day before the Belgium elections that took place on June 7, I noticed that she was the only female candidate wearing Hijab as the candidates handed out leaflets and met and spoke with voters.
I asked Mahinur "Aren't you worried about the reaction you'll get from Belgian voters because you wear Hijab?" Ozdemir, a Belgium citizen of a Turkish descent, answered, "I will not take off my Hijab for the elections or for parliament. I wore the Hijab when I was working for Schaerbeek Municipal Council and I will carry on wearing it even in parliament."
Despite the pressure she is subjected to because she continues to wear the Hijab, Mahinur always says that "efficiency alone is what matters, not the Hijab."
Mahinur is the first parliamentarian to wear Hijab, but there is a problem; Belgian law does not allow MPs to wear headscarves in parliament. The issue has begun to raise controversy among members of Arab and Muslim communities and amongst the Belgians themselves.
MP Suad Razzouk from Belgium's Socialist Party said, "Ozdemir will face two options: resign if she does not take off the Hijab, or give up her seat in parliament."
Ahmed Mohsen, a member of the Green Party, said "I will work towards changing the current status as the right-wing, liberals and socialist parties caused the banning of Hijab in 95 per cent of Belgian schools with only five schools allowing it."
The Socialist Party's MP Sofia Bouarfa said, "I am concerned about the future of every female candidate who wears Hijab and wants to run for parliament because that person will face major challenges and difficulties. She is supposed to represent all parts of Belgian society and it is only normal that not everybody will be considerate of the fact that wearing Hijab is a personal freedom."
Having won 2851 votes, enough to secure her a seat in Belgian parliament, local and international media rushed to interview Mahinur. Everywhere she goes there are local and international press and television stations from different countries such as Britain, Turkey and Australia that want to talk to Mahinur.
In every interview, Mahinur has insisted that there should not be so much emphasis on the Hijab that she wears but on the issues that are of importance to a Belgian citizen, mainly unemployment and housing.
Mahinur said, "I will work against unemployment and towards allowing the Hijab to be worn in the workplace and in schools." She added, "I would like to point out that with or without Hijab, my view of the problems in this country and finding solutions to them and helping others will be the same. I cover my hair, but not my ideas, and the Islamic headscarf will in no way be an obstacle to my political activity. It should not be a controversial issue and I would advise those criticizing the Hijab to do away with the injustice that obscures their vision."
Mahinur emphasizes that she is a Belgian of Turkish and Muslim descent by saying, "I was born here in Belgium and raised and educated in this country. I'm a third-generation immigrant and I come from a family that is devoted to serious and sincere work. My family supported me and celebrated my success in the elections."
There is a large Muslim community that consists of at least half a million people in Belgium, the majority of which are Moroccans and Turks. The first generation of immigrants arrived in Belgium in the late 1950s to help rebuild the country following the destruction caused by World War II.
Mahinur got to a point where she avoided answering questions about Hijab after she found that there was too much focus on this issue, especially when it came to questions on the attitudes of her fellow party members towards her and whether people were open to the idea of a parliamentarian wearing Hijab. There was an incident during her party's election campaign; the party had put up pictures of the candidates in Schaerbeek and Mahinur's picture was enlarged so that people could only see her face, not her Hijab.
Commenting on the incident, Mahinur said, "The party officials explained that a mistake had been made either by the printing company or by an employee working on the election campaign, either of whom did not consult anyone else regarding the matter. I was angry but I am not now after the party explained the situation."
There has been debate over the name of the party to which Mahinur belongs. The foreign media calls it the 'Christian Democratic Party' whilst a number of party members of Arab descent state that this is incorrect and that the correct translation of the party's name is the 'Humanist Democratic Centre.'
Taha Adnan, who works for the administration of the francophone government in Brussels, said that in 2002, the Christian Democratic Party changed its name to 'Humanist Democratic Centre' [CdH] and as a result, it lost the votes of many Christians in Belgian society. But in turn, it gained votes from a number of Arab and Muslim immigrants.
But how did Mahinur get into politics? When did she join the party? When did she decide she wanted to enter parliament and how did she choose which party to join?
"When I was a child, I always dreamt of being a lawyer, but I started wearing the Hijab at 14 years old, so I had to reconsider my future. So I chose to study Political Science at the Free University of Brussels, with a major in Human Resources, and I obtained a diploma in Management…My decision not to study law was not because it was too difficult, as I'm not the kind of person who gives up. Even if became a lawyer I would have entered the world of politics, which I came to understand quite well during my free time at the university through the internet."
Mahinur stated that she read the programs of various Belgian political parties and liked the CdH, which calls for offering social aid, and upholding democratic principles and family values. "It is enough that it is a moderate party as I hate extremism, and the party's program has a lot of respect for religious beliefs."
Mahinur joined the party in 2004 when she was still studying. The following year she was offered the opportunity to take part in the municipal elections as part of the party and she joined the municipal council of Schaerbeek, which has a large number of citizens of Arab and Muslim descent, mainly Moroccans and Turks.
In the recent elections Mahinur ranked 21st, which was enough to guarantee a seat in parliament. In reference to her family, Mahinur said "They helped me a lot and gave me support. They are very happy for me."
Describing her as a very eloquent speaker, the Belgian press says that Mahinur has a lot to say on social issues and social development.
However, the elections are over and the winners have been announced. Mahinur is now waiting to take the constitutional oath as the first parliamentarian in Belgium to wear Hijab though this goes against Belgian law.
Mahinur believes that she will be a member of parliament in Brussels alongside a number of Muslims who were chosen by the Muslim community living in the Belgian capital to represent them. The issues that they want dealing with include the banning of the Hijab in some schools, the prohibition of slaughtering animals at home for the religious festival of Eid al Adha or any other day, and the issue of financial aid required for Islamic associations to help them carry out their religious duty of serving members of Muslim communities.
Prior to Mahinur, several Muslim MPs entered Belgian parliament to serve their society's interests.
MP Fatiha Saidi, a Belgian of Moroccan origin born in Algeria to Moroccan parents, says that she focuses on the issues of all races without discrimination and that her primary goal is to serve the oppressed, especially those with no residence permits or those who are jobless, and those who have problems with schooling and education etc.
Saidi said, "I have intervened in parliament with regards to the issue of slaughtering animals during the Eid festival or on other days. I raised questions on the matter in parliament and I questioned the Belgium Minister of Justice on racism in the Belgium labour market, the oppression that Muslim communities suffer and discrimination in the employment field."
Saidi indicated that she has prepared a report to this effect to be discussed in parliament and that she has also raised the issue of Hijab in schools; "Discussions on this are still underway." Finally, Fatiha Saidi added, "The Belgian people we work with do not share the same experiences or circumstances that Muslim communities experience such as nostalgia, racism and migration. This is why it is our role to clarify the nature of such problems to others through different means such as seminars and lectures within the party to which I belong or in parliament or during sessions, as well as in magazines, party-affiliated and independent newspapers."
Mohamad Daif, of Moroccan descent, was one of the first Muslims to enter Brussels parliament following the 1995 elections. Daif said, "The religion of Islam is acknowledged here in Belgium and there is a representative body that is recognized by the Belgian government despite the strong criticism against it from some Belgium parties that refuse to recognize this body or Islam as a religion. As a Muslim citizen, I am of the view that the executive body for Muslims must have the ability to work and achieve the goals for which it was established, and that there must be enough finance to provide for this. Towards this end, my role in the party to which I belong – the Socialist Party – and my role in parliament has been to work towards eliminating any kind of racism by providing finance to different bodies and ensuring a fair share of financial aid to different institutions so that it can achieve its goals."
It is clear that Mahinur has a lot of work ahead of her regarding the problems in the Muslim community but the important question remains; how will this parliamentarian escape the dilemma that lies ahead? Will she give up the Hijab? Or will the Brussels parliament turn a blind eye and let her take the oath and amend that specific article of the constitution? Deliberations to this effect are underway between different parties, and we will soon know the answers to those questions.
The Muslim Observer
April 24, 2006 by TMO · Leave a Comment
click here to visit The Muslim Observer website.
The Muslim Observer is the only Muslim weekly newspaper distributed in all 50 states in the USA. It is one of the largest subscription-based Muslim newspapers in the U.S. The Muslim Observer offers top-quality community, national, and international news.
We currently have domestic offices and correspondents in several major cities, with plans for further expansion within the U.S. We also maintain a large pool of writers and reporters around the world who provide interesting reports on current international events relevant to Muslims and Islam. Also, using the major news wire services, we cull stories and graphic images that are of particular interest to our readers but that might be under-reported outside of a special-interest newspaper like ours.
Our goal is continued growth and recognition within Muslim communities in the United States.


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Medgar Evers is one of the giants of the civil rights movement, but many did not know who he was until they saw the Whoopi Goldberg movie, "Ghosts of Mississippi." Medgar is one of those people like Elvis or Madonna or the Pope who needs no last name--he's that well known across all kinds of people. But WHO was Medgar Evers? Probably the one person in early 1960s-Mississippi who posed the most danger to that old friend of racism, Jim Crow.
Medgar was a veteran of World War II who served in Normandy and then returned to post-war Mississippi where he attended college and married Myrlie Evers. Armed with his new degree from Alcorn College, he became the neighborhood insurance salesman in Clarksdale, Mississippi for the African-American-owned Magnolia Mutual Insurance Company.
While selling policies in Crackled for the insurance company, Medgar became not only aware of, but shocked, at the abject poverty confronting the African-American community. When the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was looking for someone in late 1954 to fill their new Mississippi Field Secretary position, Medgar seized the opportunity and ran with it. He recruited new NAACP members, participated in lawsuits to desegregate elementary schools and investigated racial incidents and killings.
At this point, by the summer of 1963, Medgar had earned a target on his back from the rabid segregationists determined to stop his work. On the evening of June 11, 1963, Medgar came home from an NAACP meeting and pulled into his driveway. As Medgar walked beside his car, closing the door as he moved, Byron de la Beckwith, a racist, hiding behind shrubbery, found his target in a deer rifle scope and killed Medgar with a single shot. Medgar fell to the ground, with his house keys in his hands and a handful of "Jim Crow Must Go" shirts strewn around him. His family raced out of the house to aid him, but it was too late. Medgar's injuries were massive and he died from them later that night.
Medgar was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery. His grave is one of the few national notables listed in the visitor's guide provided by the cemetery.
On the grounds of the Jackson, Mississippi Public Library, a few blocks from his home, stands a statue to Medgar. As I took this picture I noticed the calm look on his face and thought, "He did the right thing and they took him out, but Medgar still won in the end."
A few blocks from his statue is Medgar's old neighborhood. As I entered the area on Missouri Road, one of those brown "historical" site signs on the side of the road proclaimed this was the "Medgar Evers Historical Neighborhood" . Going down the street a half a block, I turned left onto the old Guynes Street, now renamed Margaret Walker Alexander Drive. As the car turned, # 2332, Medgar's old house, appeared on left side. When I realized I was driving in Medgar's last tracks, an eerie feeling came over me. Starting a three-point turn, I maneuvered the car to the left into the driveway's apron. As I spun around in my seat to check the rear clearance, I looked out the car's back window, only to see the brushy area where the cowardly Byron de la Beckwith had knelt in hiding to kill Medgar. The thought, "you son of a b----", ran through my mind as I backed the car. Beckwith may have taken Medgar's life, but he couldn't take his ideals. That feeling swept the temporary anger from me as I left the area.
For more information, please visit these excellent web sites:

subset: commoncrawl


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Flap-jack's closes, to reopen in Oak Lawn
BY STEVE METSCH firstname.lastname@example.com December 6, 2013 7:48PM
Article Extras
Updated: January 9, 2014 6:43AM
As pile drivers pounded in the background, Nick Stamos and his brother, George, were busy inside the building that until recently was home to their Flap-jack's Restaurant.
Oak Lawn residents and others for the past 18 years had flocked to the northwest corner of 111th Street and Cicero Avenue, where they knew the Stamos brothers offered hearty meals at a reasonable price. And if they were smart, they'd order some of the soup that George prepares from scratch.
But Flap-jack's closed its doors Nov. 29, the day after Thanksgiving.
Nick Stamos knew the end was near because the restaurant sits on property owned by the village, land that Oak Lawn wants to redevelop. At a village board meeting a few weeks ago, it was announced that Oak Lawn is paying Nick Stamos $2.1 million for his property.
Several employees decided to not come to work Nov. 29, knowing the restaurant was doomed, so Stamos decided to shut the doors.
He and George are busy going through the building, salvaging what they can for storage until they open a new restaurant in the village, with a March opening planned.
"We are excited. We have a place in mind," Stamos said. "It's in Oak Lawn, and I can't say where yet because we are still negotiating the lease."
Some customers can't believe the restaurant is closed, including "one lady who stopped by and was crying," Stamos said.
He said he told most of his 30-some employees to find new work, even if it's part-time, to hold them over until the new Flap-jack's opens.
Extra food at the restaurant was donated to Evergreen Park's food pantry at the Maher Community Center, 3450 W. 97th St., Stamos said.
Meanwhile, the other business on the site, chiropractor Rory Marrello, of Worth, said he and the village remain far apart regarding the future of Platinum Chiropractic, which is in a small strip mall just north of Flap-jack's.
Marrello said he's not happy that the village is not willing to buy out his lease with the previous landowner and has offered only $15,000 for moving expenses. He said $450,000 would be a good starting point for negotiations.
"I'm the easiest one to get rid of because I'm not asking for millions of dollars. I don't own the property," Marrello said. "I have a 13-year lease here (at $3,000 a month). If they want it, (the village should) buy it. ... I've been told that when I step off this land I'll never afford to come back here."
Village manager Larry Deetjen has said negotiations are underway with Marrello, whose practice has remained open despite his entrance off Cicero Avenue being partially blocked with construction fences. Marrello hasn't talked with village representatives in a while, saying the "attorneys are handling this."
Marrello has not been given a deadline to leave.
"In fact, they (village officials) said I could stay here until the new office is open, which is great and I would not have to shut down at all," he said, adding that "I'm not trying to be greedy, but this is my business and my family relies on it."


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Capital Markets
Company Overview of Industrial Renaissance Inc.
BOARD MEMBERS AFFILIATED WITH Eric R. Hamburg *
Chief Executive Officer and Director | 57 57 |
MOST CONNECTED PEOPLE TO Eric R. Hamburg
Name | Relationships |
George Feldenkreis | 140 Relationships |
Joseph R. Gromek | 99 Relationships |
Katherine Gold | 98 Relationships |
Mark Weber | 84 Relationships |
Emanuel Chirico | 81 Relationships |
Sponsored Financial Commentaries
Sponsored Links
To contact Industrial Renaissance Inc., please visit . Company data is provided by Capital IQ. Please use this form to report any data issues.
Our data partners will research the update request and update the information on this page if necessary. Research and follow-up could take several weeks. If you have questions, you can contact them at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Is it time to love what you do?
Since 1912, we have been improving the performance of organizations by improving the performance of their people. We are committed to attracting and developing team members who share a passion and a commitment for the principles set forth by our founder, Dale Carnegie.
As a Marketing Coordinator for Dale Carnegie New York City:
What are the rewards of the Job?
The Marketing Coordinator role rewards people:
· With a strong "people orientation"
· With a "can do" mind set
· Who are results oriented
· Who like systems but can also be creative
What does the "Day to Day" Look Like?
Using Skype to coordinate efforts in Europe
What experience do I need?
What are the "must haves"?
What competencies should I have?
What benefits would I receive?


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In his post, Rich Johnston goes on to wonder whether Alan Moore could eventually terminate the Watchmen transfer from 1985. Commenters argue that this is absurd, but depending on the contract Moore could actually re-claim his share of the property.
Studio Coffee Run: Arrow, Amazon casting news, Brian K. Vaughan's new CBS Series, etc.
Webcomic alert: Mark of the Best by Conor Willumsen
An amazing descent into oddness by Wright Award nominee Connor Willumsen to disturb your weekend getaway.
Scientist: Our brains read comics as sentences
Kickstarter Alert: Angie Wang for LA Game Space
Angie Wang has garnered some impressive notoriety for her fresh and surrealistic illustrations as well as her comic work (such as GIRL APOCALYPSE and SP7 to name a few), but this next project for the Portland-based illustrator extraordinaire takes her work into a (literal) new dimension. Working with LA Game Space, a nonprofit center for […]
The Beat Comic Reviews for 28/11/12: My Little Pony and Hellblazer, together at last!
This week saw a number of big comic releases from Marvel and DC, but who cares when this was the week My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic #1 came out? PONIES, you guys! Ponies all over the place. This week I'll be reviewing My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic #1, Hellblazer #297, Gambit #6 and Masks […]
When great cartoonists ate Korean food together
Natalie Atkinson captures a cartooning summit in Toronto with, l-r, Chris Ware, Charles Burns, Seth, Chester Brown, Anouk Ricard, Beguiling owner Peter Birkamoe and Adrian Tomine.
SLG's offices and Art Boutiki must relocate
Although we've never been, the Boutiki run by San Jose-based comics publisher SLG has always sounded like a cool place: a storefront and performance space that sold comics and has a tiki theme in keeping with publisher Dan Vado's sensibilities. But now, in a dime-a-dozen story of real estate improvement, the space must close by next summer as the building is being razed to make way for an apartment building.
More comics make more "Best Of" lists for 2012
As year-end lists of best continue to come out at a steady clip, graphic novels continue to be represented on lists—not as a special category but as their own thing. And that's a good thing. § Dan Kois at Slate lists his best books of 2012 and GNs are represented by the award-winning Jim Henson's […]
Spain Rodriguez remembered, as he hoped he would be
Quite a few remembrances of underground pioneer Spain Rodriguez, including this round-up of reactions from his peers at TCJ. Here's Gary Panter's imagined history: SPAIN looked to be exploring edgy scenes and choosing to do bad things and hang out with violent sociopathic folk in his comics and past at least–people that did BAAAAADD things!!! […]
James Gunn apologizes for his offensive comments
Finally, the long national nightmare is over as future Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn has apologized on Facebook for his unwise, unfunny and offensive comments that he wrote on his blog two years ago:
Exclusive UNCENSORED clip from SUPERF***ERS cartoon debuting tomorrow
Tomorrow is the day human history changes direction and sets sail for the future, as SUPERF***CKERS, the cartoon based on the James Kochalka superhero epic, debuts on the Cartoon Hangover video channel.
Radio 4 Gather Stunning Voice-Cast for Adaptation of Neil Gaiman's 'Neverwhere'
The Gaiman Foundation Contributes $60,000 to CBLDF for Education Program
Yesterday morning, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund announced that longtime supporter and board member Neil Gaiman contributed $60,000 to the non-profit's growing education program. Gaiman, who has been a member of the CBLDF for more than a decade, retired from the Board of Directors earlier this year, and his generous contribution proves to be […]
James Gunn woos ladies by posing with an adorable lioness
While director James Gunn has remained silent on the shitstorm surrounding his two-year-old superhero sex list—probably because Disney won't let him speak out— he's fought back with a seething, hate filled tweet.
New tumblr alert: Tom Fowler
Artist Tom Fowler has a new tumblr blog called D&D&D. That is all.


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Quick casual restaurants, with their fresh high-quality food, fast service and moderate check averages, have enjoyed strong consumer appeal. Once a novelty in the restaurant industry, the quick casual segment has now grown into a major stand-alone category.
To provide in-depth analysis of the segment's performance, Technomic has released its new 2006 Technomic Top 100 Quick Casual Chain Restaurant Report. The only publication of its kind to offer rankings, analysis and profiles of the leading chains, the report helps chain organizations and suppliers to the industry improve their understanding of the quick casual segment and spot important growth opportunities.
The report is also unique in that it "defines" quick casual and analyzes the composition of its major menu categories, including Mexican, sandwich, bakery cafe, Asian, pizza, Italian, and chicken - highlighting which categories are most developed and which continue to offer underdeveloped opportunities. It also reports on the emerging top 100 quick casual players - who they are, where they are located and what they offer, including breakdowns by breakfast, lunch, dinner and those offering adult beverages.
Five Largest Quick Casual Chains -------------------------------------------------------------------- Rank Chain 2005 U.S. Sales % Sales Change ($000) -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Panera Bread $1,596,600 28.6% -------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 Boston Market 695,000(a) 5.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Chipotle 635,577 27.1 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 El Pollo Loco 478,121 11.6 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 Zaxby's 390,000(a) 62.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------- (a) Technomic estimate.
Other findings presented in the 2006 Technomic Top 100 Quick Casual Chain Restaurant Report:
-- The quick casual market is estimated at $10-11 billion in sales per year, and growing quickly.
-- Future growth opportunities remain strong, with growth rates for quick casual restaurants surpassing that of traditional quick-service restaurants.
-- The largest segments, Mexican, bakery cafe and chicken, all show significant growth at 18, 21, and 20 percent, respectively.
The 2006 Technomic Top 100 Quick Casual Chain Restaurant Report is offered by Technomic Information Services, a division of Technomic, Inc. To learn more, visit www.foodpubs.com
About Technomic Information Services
Technomic Information Services has been tracking the foodservice industry for over 40 years, providing industry intelligence, forecasts, data and training support to manufacturers, operators, distributors and others allied to the field. Our numerous publications and digital products--featuring quick-read newsletters, analytical annual reports, training handbooks, sales guides and restaurant chain profiles--help industry leaders keep a finger on the pulse of the entire foodservice terrain. Technomic Information Services delivers distinctive, premium content to its customers.
About Technomic, Inc.
Technomic provides food and foodservice clients with the research, insights and strategic consulting support they need to enhance their business strategies, decisions and results. Its services include category and channel analyses, customer satisfaction studies, opportunity assessments, benchmarking programs and brand equity enhancement.


text: Use our safe, reliable, and convenient scheduled bus services to get around Orange, Newark, and Elizabeth, NJ. We take pride in our courteous, well-trained, professional drivers. Schedule information for ONE / Independent Bus and all our affiliated Coach USA companies in North America can be found using the origin - destination scheduled service search engine. Many of our routes also will have links to fares, route maps, and other important information. |


text:
OMEA Honors Capital University's Jim Swearingen for Distinguished Service
23rd annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Learning January 20
Nursing Students Take Top Honors at Statewide Competition
see more news & events
Lifelong learning is a core value at Capital University. Nursing faculty takes this value to heart. Capital University nursing professors are more than just teachers; they're expert practitioners in their specialty areas. What's more, they are constantly refining the curriculum to reflect new knowledge so the concepts and techniques you learn have immediate applications in the real world. Nursing professors are also committed to individualized instruction, they'll spend the time to make sure you get the full benefit of their knowledge.
During clinical experiences, the faculty/student ratio is 1:8. In the laboratory, the average class size is 16.
We use standardized exams throughout our program that allow practice in the testing format used in the RN licensure exam.
Students are admitted directly into the School of Nursing as freshmen and immediately assigned a faculty adviser. This enables them to focus more quickly on areas of interest and make connections faster than they otherwise might.
The Capital University Nursing Program has been recognized by the Reserve Officers Training Corps as a Partner in Nursing Education for the preparation of U.S. Army nurses. Of the more than 400 college and university nursing programs in the U.S., Capital's is one of only 40 to be honored with this distinction. Capital's nursing/ROTC partnership is a strong collaboration that leads to a BSN degree and a commission as an Army officer.
At the Capital University, we believe there are many ways to solve problems and to learn. So we offer our students hands-on clinical experiences in a wide range of settings, including local hospitals accredited by the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Hospitals and local health-care agencies accredited by the appropriate accrediting bodies


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Just Serviced. This Chevrolet 3100 Stepside is in amazing condition. All metal, no bondo and a rock solid frame highlight this wonderful classic. 216 CID... More
1941 Chevrolet Special Deluxe Four Door Sport Sedan. Wonderful Pre-War Chevrolet. Excellent Survivor automobile with recent mechanical service including an engine rebuild with receipt.... More
1941 Chevrolet Club Coupe Northwest Classic Auto Mall advertises this vehicle for the owner. If you are interested in this vehicle or have any questions, please... More
Stk. 1937 1941 Chevrolet Special Deluxe Additional pictures coming soon. The first Chevrolet Special Deluxe was first introduced late in the 1941 model year as... More
1941 chevy master deluxe coupe, nice older resto, good body and paint, nice redone int, good chrome bumpers, www tires, 6 cyl, 3 speed,... More
Pristine 1941 Chevy deluxe with modern updated 350 cid with 700rd overdrive. Vintage AC power steering power disc brakes. tilt wheel. rally wheels with... More
The best rods are those that are finished and fully engineered. Built as a project car buy the guys at "Rod Action" magazine it's... More
Offered for Sale by the California Automobile Museum 1941 Chevrolet Business Coupe Special Deluxe We Offer Financing Exterior Going over the body with a magnet I found some... More
Very straight, rust free and original truck with excellent paint and driving manners from California's high desert. Well equipped with reliable components including 454... More
New Arrival to our Las Vegas Showroom. 1941 Chevrolet 2 Door Business Coupe Special Deluxe. 216 ci "VICTORY" I-6 O.H.V. 3 Speed Manual Transmission.... More
1941 was a pinnacle year in US auto production with some of the best-looking cars ever rolling out of GM factories. Perhaps the workers... More
Some rods just have "the look" and this 1941 Chevy coupe totally nails it. With a few traditional tricks and brilliant Viper Red paint... More
1941 Chevy special deluxe 2dr, stored for 30 years, 51,xxx miles, nice orig int, heater, clock, radio, 4 new www tires, 6 cyl, 3 speed,... More
1941 Chevy Deluxe Convertible. 6 -cyclinder, 235 hp engine with standard transmission. Dual exhaust, fender skirts and much more.... More


text:
Tags World HistoryCalculation and KnowledgeCapital and Interest TheoryOther Schools of Thought
If the current level of output and employment is made to depend on inflation, a slowing down in the pace of inflation will produce recessionary symptoms. Moreover, as the economy becomes adjusted to a particular rate of inflation, the rate must itself be continuously increased if symptoms of a depression are to be avoided: to inflate is to have "a tiger by the tail", writes Sudha R. Shenoy (1943-2008).
This audio Mises Daily is narrated by Floy Liley.
Note: The views expressed on Mises.org are not necessarily those of the Mises Institute.
View the discussion thread.


text:
Chartreuse ribbons encircle a bouquet of pink roses and other delicate, unifying accents elevate My Secret Garden's collection of blooms to gift-worthy realms. They also helped earn the shop its status as Inside Columbia's Best Place to Buy Flowers in 2010, 2011, and 2012. Florists happily work with patrons to construct custom arrangements with the shop's 40–60 varieties of fresh flowers that may include exotic blooms from Hawaii or locally grown wildflowers. Additionally, they can enhance bouquets with add-ons such as chocolates and balloons. They also deliver their floral masterpieces to homes, businesses, or beehives in Columbia.
Refueling barbecue bashes and backyard parties, Lindsey Rentals supplies the gas that pushes the grill up to a flammable feast. Propane sets the stage for backyard feasts, bringing a taste of summer to the table of friends, guests, and that one guy who you suspect may be living behind the rose garden. Give the gift of 20 pounds of gas to your winter-starved grill, and accent the smells of summer cookouts with barbecue meats and smoked steaks. The experienced and helpful hands at Lindsey Rentals will ensure that each tank is properly filled, answer any questions prospective "Kiss the Cook" apron wearers may have, and politely inform any customer if his or her homemade propane tank is actually just a windsock with a hose attached to it.
With a plethora of frame and mat samples, Deck The Walls can satisfy any and all framing fantasies. The expert framespeople can make diplomas radiate (most diplomas can be framed for around $100), dorm-room movie posters sparkle (many 24"x36" pieces are well under $100), and sports jerseys shine (most for under $350). The design wizards can also find a home for any prized possession, such as shoebox photos, baby booties, ticket stubs, medals, and really good pot roasts. Deck The Walls' lifetime guarantee and assurance that all work is done on-site means your frameables won't be subject to mistreatment at underground commercial framing facilities.
At Sound Performance, technicians upgrade cars with name-brand mobile electronics and alarm systems. They retool automotive acoustics with stereos, subwoofers, and speakers from brands such as Kenwood and Pioneer, and integrate smartphone ports into stereos so that motorists can tap into their music library while they drive. To protect the high-tech gadgets from the heat or the jealous eyes of strangers, technicians also install scratch-resistant LLumar window tints, which are cut with precision using a special computer system. Sound Performance prepares drivers for winter with remote starters, which enable drivers to warm up the car at the touch of a button without leaving the comfort of their home or curbside tanning bed.
For more than 120 years, Busch's Florist has dispatched flowers across the country. The family-owned company recruits its own drivers for local deliveries, and entrusts all other orders to upstanding industry partners. Regardless of destination, each order contains the freshest flowers. Florists arrange blossoms for traditional occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries, but also maintain a holiday calendar that denotes other possible motivations, such as sister's day or third Tuesday of the month.
All plants are gathered from native Missouri fauna that have consented to have their clippings or seeds donated to science, and are grown in high-quality potting soil that does not contain peat moss, which can make it more difficult for plants to adapt to their new homes. For shipped orders, Missouri Wildflowers Nursery guarantees that your plants or seeds will arrive in good condition, and that all species are true to their name and professed veganism.


text:
Fri, Dec 25, 09 at 10:36
This is my first white Christmas since I was a kid. We got around 4 inches and are snowed in!
Casper Pam in frigid north central Texas |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by napdognewfie MD zone 5b (My Page) on Fri, Dec 25, 09 at 10:49
4" LOL Enjoy your snow. We have 1/4" of ice over everything & still have the snow that didn't melt. Linda |
- Posted by givelittle_getlots Zone 8 TX (My Page) on Fri, Dec 25, 09 at 10:53
Pam that is a PRICELESS Christmas :-) Beautiful Pictures Merry Christmas Lucy |
- Posted by sibhskylvr (Mike) Arkansas (My Page) on Fri, Dec 25, 09 at 10:57
Lucky you Pam! :) We have NO snow - just cold! And sunny! Merry Christmas! Mike |
Awe so pretty, we have humid 76,with tornado watch! My flowers are so confused lol! Merry Christmas! Susan |
- Posted by fool4flowers Copperas Cove, Tx 8 (email@example.com) on Fri, Dec 25, 09 at 20:35
Merry Christmas Pam! Very pretty snow. Susan we were really warm the day before too then it snowed, lol. My water fall has icicles in it, lol. |
- Posted by givelittle_getlots Zone 8 TX (My Page) on Sun, Dec 27, 09 at 12:58
Ohhhhhhhhhhhh WOW Kylie. What an awesome shot. The 1st one especially. Like the second one too. Man are you sure you are in TEXAS? lol............Just kiddin ha ha ha I am just glad I am where I am lol Lucy |
Brrrrrr, you all can keep the snow! I get cold at 70 degrees so couldn't make it out there unless I truly hibernated the entire winter. |
We are expecting another 2~3" tomorrow..WOOHOO!!! ;O) |
- Posted by givelittle_getlots Zone 8 TX (My Page) on Mon, Dec 28, 09 at 19:39
I am NOT coming to visit,Kylie. brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr it is COLD. Man, was it THAT cold...that LONG last winter? Lucy |
Last winter was really mild! Our low was 27 (in Granbury, TX) and that was just for a few hours. I bet the daffodils will be beautiful in the spring with all the extra chill time. I planted a bunch the day before the snow when it was so warm. Pam |
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text:
Dr. David J. Delucia, MD
Internal Medicine, Pun & Delucia Mds PC
- 134 Grandview Ave Ste 202
Waterbury, CT 06708 - 1 Office Location
- (203) 756-7788
Dr. David J. Delucia graduated from the Brown University Alpert Medical School in 1997. He works in Waterbury, CT and specializes in Internal Medicine. Dr. Delucia is affiliated with Saint Marys Hospital and Waterbury Hospital. He speaks English, Italian and Spanish.
Gender: Male
Years in Practice: 18 Years
Languages Spoken: English, Italian, Spanish
Medical School: Brown University Alpert Medical School
Graduation Date: 1997
Hospital Affiliations: Saint Marys Hospital, Waterbury Hospital
Specialties: Internal Medicine


text:
The State Preschool Yearbook is an annual publication which has tracked the funding, access, and policies of state-funded preschool programs since the 2001-2002 school year. The Yearbook seeks to improve the public's knowledge and understanding of state efforts to expand the availability of high-quality education to young children in the 21st century. We hope that this report will serve as a resource for policymakers, advocates, and researchers to make more informed decisions as state-funded preschool education moves forward to another decade of progress.
2011 State Preschool YearbookThe 2011 Yearbook examines the 2010-2011 school year as well as documenting a decade of progress since the first Yearbook collected data on the 2001-2002 school year. Twenty-eight percent of America's 4-year-olds were enrolled in a state-funded preschool program in the 2010-2011 school year even as per child funding was cut, stressing the importance of ensuring quality in existing programs and expanding access to all children. |
2010 State Preschool YearbookIn the 2009-2010 school year, the effects of the recession became fully apparent despite federal government aid to the states for education. Total enrollment barely increased over the prior year. Total spending by the states decreased, and per-child spending declined in inflation-adjusted dollars. |
2009 State Preschool YearbookThe annual survey of state-funded preschool programs shows a slow down in progress in all three key dimensions- enrollment, quality standards and resources. This is a reflection of the impact of the recession, which not only has detrimental effects on young children, but also hinders early education opportunities that may buffer these negative effects. |
2008 State Preschool YearbookThe annual survey of state-funded preschool programs shows impressive expansion in enrollment and spending. However, the recession may reverse the trend, curtailing early education opportunities for children in lower and middle-income families. |
2007 State Preschool YearbookState-funded preschool sees a rise in per-child funding, expands access, and continues the march toward higher quality standards. Yet 12 states still provide no state preschool for their children. |
2006 State Preschool YearbookState-funded preschool education continues to expand but many states lack a commitment to stable funding. |
2005 State Preschool YearbookThe annual report on state preschool initiatives shows that state-funded programs increased enrollment but state spending per child is down. |
2004 State Preschool Yearbook50-state survey shows that high-quality preschool is the exception, not the rule. |
2003 State Preschool YearbookGround-breaking study of preschool programs across the country |


text:
TMNT Bra: Heroes in a D-Cup
Girls out there can probably relate to the statement "look me in the eyes" when a guy decides to stare at chest level instead of her face. But now, thanks to the power of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, you might even want to clarify exactly which eyes you want guys to look at.
Yep, this bra is done up in to look like TMNT bad boy Raphael, along with his big turtle eyeballs and red non-identity-concealing mask. There's no doubt if you decide to wear this bra that you'll be getting stares from your boyfriend or significant other – especially if they're fans of the classic comic series. And if you dare to wear it as a top, you can be assured that you'll get all sorts of attention whether you want it or not. Then again, your breasts will now be endowed with mutant ninja powers, so you can defeat any ogling pervs with one quick thwak!
The TMNT bra is available for $35 to $45 (USD) in a variety of sizes from SceeneShoes over on Etsy. And yes, you can choose between Raphael, Donatello, Leonardo or Michaelangelo to cover up your boobs.
MORE:Geek Art + Craft | Strange + Wonderful | bra | funny | teenage mutant ninja turtles | TMNT | underwear
Comments (6):
"Yep, this bra is done up in to look like TMNT bad boy Raphael, along with his big turtle eyeballs and red non-identity-concealing mask."
Looks purple/Donatello.
This might have worked well for Michael Bay's interpretation. http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/thatguywiththeglasses/specials/34667-why-ninja-turtles-should-be-aliens
Yeah, looks like Donatello to me!
Just a heads up but this is a purple mask which would make this Donatello. Raphael is red.
yes it does look like donatello even though my favorite one is raphael but im a huge tmnt fan and love it regardless..got to get me one of these
yep I agree it looks like donatello. Are the bras hand painted? It could be hard not to look into those eyes and not get a slapping. I tried to find them at the local store and they though I was nuts http://www.downunderwear.co.nz


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Chiropractic office of Dr. James Barr, chiropractor in White Bear Lake, MN.
Welcome to Barr Chiropractic!
At Barr Chiropractic and Sports Clinic, enjoy our state of the art chiropractic facility and discover the true wellness lifestyle! We will show you the natural way to better health without resorting to the use of expensive prescription medications. We are convinced that after one visit with Dr. Barr you will see why chiropractic is the safe and effective alternative to back surgery.
We provide a whole host of solutions to help you get over your current condition and feel better than you have before! Along with chiropractic adjustments, we offer many different types of therapies, as well as an Active Care Exercise facility where we focus on core strengthening, flexibility and balance. Chiropractic care covers a wide range of issues including neck pain, back pain, numbness, sciatica, sports and repetitive motion injuries, and much more! Dr. Barr is a member of Great Doctors of Chiropractic, certified in ART (Active Release Technique) and clinical nutrition and has helped many in the St. Paul area experience natural healing without surgery or drugs!
In addition, we will educate you about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, including exercise, diet, and nutrition. We want to be your complete health and wellness provider in St. Paul and vicinity. Chiropractic can make a difference in your life! We are interested in your long-term health and wellness, not just a quick fix to mask back pain or neck pain.
We are confident that after your first visit with Dr. Barr, you will know you came to the right place.
Thank you for choosing Barr Chiropractic!
If you have any questions, please click the Contact Us button above to reach one of our staff.


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The Board of Trustees is a five-member elected board serving four-year terms, with two student trustees appointed annually in May by the student governments from each campus.
Board Member Profiles Calendar Agenda Minutes Policy Board Mission Board Presentations
Board Highlights This is the newsletter of Board of Trustees meetings. For official records, see Minutes.
Usually the first Monday of each month (see Calendar). Meetings typically start at 6 p.m. in the Toyon Room (Room 2020) on the Foothill College campus, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills. The public may address the board during specific agenda items. For items not on the agenda, pick up a comment form at the start of the meeting. For further information, contact Chancellor's Office or call (650) 949-6106.
Board Committees
Audit & Finance Committee
Last Updated: Friday, March 7, 2014 at 8:34:44 AM©2015 Foothill-De Anza Community College District


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Sat, Feb 2, 08 at 8:32
I would like to locate some rosa setigera. Has anyone located it growing in Hamilton county? If so, where?
Thanks, Pepe |
Follow-Up Postings:
You might try contacting Reflection Riding Botanical Garden. They propagate and sell lots of native plants, and may have that rose, or know where you can get it. They have a two native plant sales per year, the spring one being April 11, 12 & 13 in 2008. They're located at the foot of Lookout Mt. Phone is 423-821-9582. Marty |
Marty, Thanks for the information. I'll give them a call; better yet, I'll be sure to go to their sale. |
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This is an entire act in your wallet!
Any card is chosen, signed, & placed back into the deck. The spectator takes out his wallet. His signed card is found in his wallet!
Many performers rate the Bendix Bombshell as the best magical wallet ever!
Some wallets do only one or two things, but the Complete Peek Wallet accomplishes all three key magician moves in one wallet!
Find the chosen card in an INSTANT!
The Espionage is a secret weapon that even James Bond would be thrilled to own. Kieron has taken elements from Peter Nardi's world famous Assassin wallet & Infinity wallet and added some incredible new features. Making The Espionage the most feature packed mentalism/magic wallet ever.
The best fire wallet on the market!
The Marvelous Fourseen Wallet is the first wallet to offer a simultaneous multi-peek feature. For the first time with a wallet you can instantly peek four separate pieces of information written on four separate business cards inserted into four separate places in the wallet. Of course you can still do a single peek routine but now the possibilities for routines have exploded.
Following the worldwide success of the Stealth Assassin, we have had countless requests for a peek wallet that incorporates a good card to wallet, a peek and will fit in the back pocket. This is it!
Using a brand new loading system, this is Instant ATW. For the first time ever, you'll be able to make any large object such as mobile phones, watches, glasses, keys, and even large finger rings, appear inside a sealed envelope, inside the wallet in seconds!
Any small borrowed item such as a coin or ring instantly reappears wrapped in cloth, inside a nest of three leather wallets.
David Regal's classic Passport effect, new and improved!
Folks, this is simply the best working card to wallets around!
The Stealth Assassin is the wallet of choice for many of the worlds top mentalists!
Perform mind-boggling business card miracles!
Countless Pros have tried every conceivable "Card to Wallet" out there and almost always end up using The Mullica Wallet. It's just hard to improve on perfection.
The TBS Wallet is a modern, stylish card wallet enabling you to change bills, cards, billets, etc.
Telethought Wallet is one of the most diabolical utility devices in magic...AND IT JUST GOT BETTER!!
Romanos has created a super cool ultra-organic and wonderfully deceptive peek device. The Business utilizes an ingenious method built into a normal looking business card case!
Jeff Kaylor's Greatest Hits!
An ingenious gimmick that turns ANY normal wallet (with at least one credit card slot) into a 'Signed Card To Wallet' utility.
Joshua Jay's Wonder Wallet Series Continues...TRANSPORTER Has Arrived!
Who'd have thought that a coin purse could be an ultimate weapon for magician"
At last, the WOW gimmick is made logical and completely invisible!
This booklet includes six fantastic routines hatched from Wayne Dobson's slightly Z wallet obsessed brain.


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There's some controversy now as to whether NBC, which broadcast the ceremony 12 hours after it happened, properly informed viewers that they were not, in fact, watching real fireworks in what was one of the most highly rated programs of the year. At the time, host Matt Lauer called the footprints "almost animation," leading many to believe that the fireworks were trying to imitate animation by "walking" across the sky--not that what they were watching was physically animated. It's unclear how much the network actually knew at the time of the broadcast. NBC officials and technical crew members did not respond to multiple requests for comment this week.
One person who certainly didn't know about the CGI mix-in was M. Philip Butler, a vice president at Fireworks by Grucci who calls himself "Chief Operating Brother-in-Law" of the company. (His wife, Donna Grucci, is its president.) Fireworks by Grucci is one of the country's pre-eminent fireworks innovators; the company was hired by the Beijing Olympics Organizing Committee to help engineer the presentation. Butler says that he was watching the fireworks at home in the U.S. and when the footprints started he was seriously impressed. But when he rewound to watch them again, Butler realized that they were just too perfect to be true.
On Monday, Butler gave his honest appraisal to PM: "I said to myself, 'How in the world would they do that?' Now I'm wondering, 'Why in the world would they do it?' " Of the rest of the performance, he said, "I don't think I'll ever see it again in my lifetime, it was so spectacular," adding, "so why did they have to put something fake in there?"
Butler's nephew Phil Grucci is in China now and has been traveling back and forth to the country frequently for over a year as a pyrotechnic designer and chief engineer for the ceremonies. In an interview from Beijing, he stressed that there was nothing fake about the fireworks. While he conceded that the fact that some of the video wasn't live "was unfortunate," to call the fireworks fake would be an error: "I don't want to taint the fact that those footprints really happened," Grucci says. "For people who saw it live, it was a spectacular scene."
Phil Grucci knew in advance that the Chinese had what he calls a "pre-recorded version of what happened," but he didn't know the extent to which it would be used in the broadcast or if it would be used at all.
The Grucci family frequently mounts fireworks for events that must be engineered around high levels of security--the company has done the pyrotechnics for three other Olympic games and for inaugurations for the last four U.S. presidents. But Phil Grucci called the security in Beijing "unprecedented," explaining that the one helicopter over the Bird's Nest stadium couldn't capture all the fireworks by itself. Though the events Grucci works on have high security, he doesn't anticipate that any event producer he works with will have to rely on preimaged footage again.
Revelations about CGI fireworks--even if they were real on the ground--may lead viewers to be less impressed by televised creative and innovative fireworks in the future. Phil Grucci tells PM that during the 14 months he worked with China on the presentation, the R&D led to huge steps forward for fireworks technology. He plans to take advantage of the developments that he worked on in Beijing in the next big Grucci spectacle. But when he does, will the television audience be able to believe its eyes?


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Nonprofit Organizations: Law and Governance
Course Number:
635 Nonprofit Organizations: Law and Governance focuses on the regulation of nonprofit organizations and on best practices in governance principles. Topics covered include the commercial versus charitable purposes of the nonprofit organization, ownership and use of assets, the fiduciary obligation of the board of directors or trustees, investment responisbilities, coflicts of interests, ethical considerations, determining organizational mission and vision, strategic planning, fund development, and regulation of charitable solicitations. Recommended preparation: Business Organizations. Credits:
2 or 3
Page last updated: Tue, 07/03/2012 - 06:19 |


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According to the Internet sales leader www.auto1.ua during the first quarter of 2007 the sales of the used cars via the Ukrainian Internet has increased by a factor of 6.9.
There was the growth of offers for the used cars of all brands, except Seat and the Chinese cars, for the whole first quarter of 2007. The VAZ, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Opel and VW were the most offered car brands. The least offered were such brands as Chrysler, Citroen, Lexus, Seat, Subaru and the Chinese cars. The number of offers of the used cars of the Classes C, E, F as well as Minibuses demonstrated stable growth with the Class E being well ahead compared to the other classes, while the growth rate of the Class F was the smallest one. The number of offers for the Off-Road cars and Minivans has been falling for the whole first quarter, but the slowdown in this market sector was significantly compensated in February-March by the increase in sales of the low price minicars of Class A, such as Daewoo Matiz, Hyundai Getz, Mitsubishi Colt, Nissan Micra, Peugeot 206, Toyota Yaris and the like. The demand for the goods wagons of a small class (Renault Kangoo, Fiat Scudo, VW Caddy and so forth) noticeably increased in the beginning of 2007. This entailed the offer increase for the used cars of the given class and additional import of these used cars from abroad (from Germany in particular). Despite the traditional Ukrainian long celebration in January and weak purchasing activity as a result, the above picture displays general tendency in the Ukrainian Automotive Internet Market of the used cars. Yaroslav Zilov
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September 2nd, 2010
Featured Retailer: Yo Yo Yogi
Manduka is proud to announce Yo Yo Yogi in Portland, Oregon as this month's featured retailer!
Imagine visiting 100 studios in just 100 days. Say what?! That's the adventure Alex and Terri from
Yo Yo Yogi did Summer 2009. Starting in Seattle, they ventured south to San Diego with their Manduka mats in tow and coined the journey "have yoga mat will travel..." Now a bit more settled, Alex and Terri have recently opened the doors to their dream studio with a "come one come all", playful and happy spirit.
"Slingin' our 'never leave home without it', Black Mat PRO, and armed with the schoolin' that yoga was a hell of a lot more than just a good sweat... we returned to our chosen land of Portland, Oregon to open our flagship studio. Here, our 'most excellent adventure' comes to LIFE!" says Alex.
Yo Yo Yogi...mind-bendin', body stretchin', peace-providin' YOGA!
August 23rd, 2010
Free Wallpaper Downloads
We don't just practice yoga on the mat, it's part of our world. Our practice is there where we learn and play and grow. Keep Manduka with you in the background. Download free #practice wallpapers for your desktop and iPhone right here.
August 16th, 2010
Show Us Your Manduka
And we could show you $100 Manduka bucks.
It's simple. Just snap a picture of you with your Manduka mat (don't worry, this isn't a photo contest) and share it with the community by uploading it here, or by posting to Facebook or Twitter. Every Thursday we'll randomly pick a pic to win $100 Manduka bucks, good towards anything in our store. Plus, we'll post a bundle of shots each day on our blog, so be on the lookout – we want your pose to inspire us all. Snap. Share. And you could be shopping on us. Share now
This promotion ended 9/16/10. Thank you for participating!
August 15th, 2010
We Are Family
By Eka Ekong
In the Spring of 2010, eighteen amazing yoga teachers dedicated their time, their energies and their hearts to show not only their love of yoga, but also their love of Manduka. I was lucky enough to be a fly on the wall (or on a yoga mat). James Wvinner was the photographer, and to see the world through his eyes was truly a delight. Kasey Luber recorded the day's activities with humor and honesty.
In the morning, Charlie Samos, Susan Sterlace, and Melanie Lora Meltzer were the first to appear. We chatted about new products. They warmed up their bodies in the cold studio, and then and got on some eKo lites. I was lucky enough to watch them playfully practice on their mats, and share in the happiness and ease they had with each other. Throughout the day, more Ambassadors arrived and gleefully jumped on the Manduka Mats: Caleb Asch, Travis Eliot, Kishan Shah, Brock and Krista Cahill, Kia Miller, Annmarie Solo, Jill Miller, Simon Park, Sara Ivanhoe, Ashley Turner, Brynn Rybacek, Jessie Schein, Elise Gulan, and Stella V. Wilkins. Everyone was excited to see each other and they greeted one another like a loved one who had been away from home for too long. Some brought their own Manduka mats, which they spoke about like a badge of honor, and with a level of reverence that shared their gratitude for their mat of choice.
There were lots of hugs, laughter, eating, and we talked about life, love, yoga, and everything in between. It was incredible to be in the company of so many gracious yogis, who are extremely dedicated to their practices, and to the elevation of the human spirit. We may not look the same, talk alike, or see life with the same eyes, but all of our paths have led us to this practice, and to Manduka. We are each connected by yoga, but also by the mat beneath our feet, and it easily felt like I was home, with family…
August 9th, 2010
Attitude Determines Altitude
By Ricky Tran
Maitri karuna mudito 'pekshanam sukha dukha punya apunya vishayanam bhavanatas chitta prasadanam
According to the great rishi Patanjali, there is more than one path to yoga. In other words, one does not have to practice asana, pranayama and meditate to achieve the state of yoga, which is a peaceful mind. In sutra 1.33, Patanjali prescribes four (4) attitudes to be cultivated toward four (4) distinct objects (people). When these four attitudes are cultivated toward 4 distinct objects over time, one's mind will automatically become clear and lucid.
These four attitudes are:
Delight or Appreciation
Indifference / Equanimity
The four objects (people) are:
Those who are in their agreeable space. People who are content or happy.
Those who are not in their agreeable space. People who are unhappy or suffering. Opposite of the 1st type.
Virtuous people. People that do good things in this world. People who are living their dharma.
People of vice. People who do things deemed wicked by society. Opposite of the 3rd type.
By cultivating an attitude of friendliness toward people who are happy, you become like these people. Surround yourself with those who have what they want and want what they have and you will soon find peace of mind. It is said we become who we hang around.
By cultivating an attitude of compassion toward those who suffer, you will soon find peace of mind. You don't want to have joy or delight when you see someone suffer. Likewise, you wouldn't want to have compassion for those who are happy and content.
By cultivating an attitude of delight or appreciation toward people who make this world a better place, you will find peace of mind. When you see someone do something good, like return a lost wallet, you should have delight and appreciation. When you see someone help an elderly or disabled person across a busy street, you should have an attitude of appreciation. When this attitude is cultivated toward these types of people, you will soon have peace of mind.
By cultivating an attitude of indifference toward those who do bad things, your mind will become clear and lucid. If you surround yourself with people of vice, you soon will become a person of vice. If you hang out with thieves, you too will soon be a thief. According to Patanjali, one should not have an attraction or even an aversion toward this type. If you become unaffected by these individuals, you will soon find peace of mind.
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On TV, there's always a group of friends who spontaneously meet up, or someone will call Tyler, and they'll say, "Tyler, meet me at [whatever bar or coffee shop here]" and they hang up and don't even give a time, and Tyler always shows up. And let's not forget the ole drop-by. This happens a lot on "Beverly Hills, 90210″ (the original). EVERYONE drops by Dylan's house. I understand why TV writers do this. To show characters calling each other, or texting each other, is a lot less interesting than having them speak in person. But this trope gave me false hopes about what being an "adult" would be like. And by "adult," I mean any cool, awesome chick from 18–30; from Clarissa Darling to Carrie Bradshaw. I thought that once I turned that magical adult age, I would have a close group of friends who would always be available to meet at "our" place or drop by unexpectedly.
I don't think this is a real thing. Keep reading »


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THE BOOK OF MORMON Tickets
Welcome to the Book of Mormon London. Since opening at Broadway's Eugene O'Neill Theatre in March 2011, The Book of Mormon musical has taken the modern musical theatre world by storm.
Conceived by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone whilst working on the successful TV series 'South Park', the show came from modest beginnings to be one of the most popular Broadway shows of the past decade.
The trio's interest in Mormonism and Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon Church stemmed from their working together throughout College and through the creation of 'South Park'. After collaborating together on 'Cannibal: The Musical', they grew in confidence, and The Book of Mormon was born. After a number of extended workshops and previews the show opened March 24 2011.
The show is an edgy and sometimes outrageous satire musical which takes shots at everything from organised religion to consumerism, the state of the economy and the musical theatre genre itself.
Robert Lopez is no stranger to controversial musicals, after co-writing the score and lyrics for the 2003 puppet musical Avenue Q which shocked many audience members and general public at the time. Just like Avenue Q, The Book of Mormon went on to win the Tony Award for Best New Musical and still continues to be the hottest ticket in town. Tickets are hard to come by for the show, with Broadway performances sold out until well into the New Year.
The show tells the story of two young Mormon missionaries who are sent to a small town in Uganda to bring news of the Latter Day Saints. They are shocked at the cultural differences, as a War Lord threatens the local villages and controls the area by fear. Both missionaries attempt to share the scriptures with the local people, although only one of them knows it well enough. Famine, poverty and AIDS threaten the town, and the duo must battle their own beliefs in order to succeed and make a change.