text:
Whether she cares or not, Sharapova, the youngest of the Russian women crowding the top rankings, is projected to sit atop the national rankings when the Australian Open concludes this weekend.
Her 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 comeback win in stifling heat against Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarterfinals Tuesday afternoon will allow her to leapfrog the current top Russian, No. 3 Anastasia Myskina.
While that might not impress Sharapova, her Jimmy Connors-like mental toughness and never-say-die attitude is making waves Down Under. (Related items:Gallery: Maria, full of grace | Sharapova, Serena set for semifinal showdown)
"She improved the shots, definitely, but I think the most thing is in her mind," says Kuznetsova, who had not dropped a set in four rounds and had been 2-1 lifetime against Sharapova.
Though visibly struggling with the 90-degree temperatures, Sharapova sealed the match with a running crosscourt forehand passing shot — accompanied by one of her trademark shrieks.
"Just enough to win that match point, that's it," she says when asked how much was left in her tank at the end of the match.
And just enough to get to her first Aussie Open semifinal, her second semifinal in her last three Grand Slam tournaments. She next faces 2003 Australian Open champ Serena Williams in one of the more highly anticipated matches of the tournament.
"She's a big fighter, and I don't think she wants to let any opportunities go," Sharapova says of Williams.
The hard-hitting Russian's rapid rise to the Wimbledon title has been well chronicled. She was spotted by Martina Navratilova at a clinic in Russia at age 5, then moved to the USA two years later with Yuri, her father and coach, who arrived with $700 in his pocket. Her mother could not leave Russia because of visa problems, and the shy young Sharapova was forced to live in the IMG/Bollettieri academy dormitory with girls much older — who often picked on her.
That might have steeled her, but Sharapova says she's been strong-minded as long as she can recall.
"I've always been a tough girl," says Sharapova, who trains primarily at the famed academy in Bradenton, Fla.
Just 17, Sharapova is proving that her Wimbledon win and rise from No. 32 to No. 4 in the rankings last year were no fluke.
"She's lost the first set three times now, and it doesn't seem to faze her," says Mary Joe Fernandez, an analyst with ESPN. "Whether she's down or whether it gets close or the pressure's on, she keeps hitting harder, keeps going for her shots. The concentration is there all the time. That's what's separating her from the rest of them."
In the last few months, the lanky 6-foot teen with the model looks has signed multimillion-dollar deals with Motorola, Canon, Parlux Fragrances and TAG Heuer. She has been in constant demand for media appearances, magazine shoots and celebrity shows. She had 300 photo requests after becoming the third-youngest player to win a major in the Open era.
Despite these demands, she seems to be steering clear of off-court distractions that can knock a player with newfound fame and fortune off track.
"The first thing I tell my sponsors is how many days I have in the year to do what they want me to do," says Sharapova, who has a team of 20 managers working for her around the globe but calls her own shots. "I stick to my priorities."
Sharapova says she can't compare the feeling she had on the grass courts of Wimbledon to her progress in Melbourne since they entail different surfaces, conditions and time zones.
Her self-belief, however, has carried over: "I've taken my confidence from Wimbledon. Hopefully, it will show here."
She will need all her energy and resolve for six-time major titlist Williams. Although Sharapova holds a 2-1 career edge over the 23-year-old American, Sharapova already has labored 8 hours, 7 minutes in her five matches, more than any player left in the draw. That's almost three hours more than Williams, who has spent 5:33 in reaching her second Melbourne semifinal.


text: Wax on… wax off. Wax on… wax off You might recognize that phrase from the 1984 hit movie, "The Karate Kid." A young student is expecting to learn karate but his teacher, Mr. Miyagi, gives him seemingly mundane jobs that are unrelated to karate. Daniel, the young star of the movie, is given the task … [Click to read more …]

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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text:
Streptocarpus eylesii
Photo by Ron Myhr
Grown by Ron Myhr
I grew S. eylesii, a unifoliate strep, for almost two years before it flowered. During that time it suffered a couple of periods of intense drought, but survived nicely. Part of the leaf died back each time, as has been reported in nature for these plants, which live through several seasonal cycles before flowering and then dying. Under natural conditions, or a more conducive cultivated environment, the leaf will grow much larger and the plant will produce a great many flowers, as can be seen here.
The large attractive flowers were a pleasant surprise, but they had no scent detectable by me, although some clones of the species have a clearly detectable odor.


text:
The area surrounding Douglas Park in Rock Island has become so dangerous that Little League baseball players are giving up part of their season to find a safer place to play, league officials said.
Coaches and office holders from the Rock Island Little League held an "emergency meeting" this week to decide whether it is still safe to play games at the park at 18th Avenue and 10th Street. The result of the meeting was to suspend play until another park is found.
A Rock Island police officer and a Rock Island County sheriff's deputy were among the parents who were coaching a game Tuesday night when shots were fired just outside the park. The shooters were aiming at three victims who managed to escape the gunfire, police said.
"Enough is enough," said sheriff's deputy and baseball coach Joel Keim. "We're looking for other places to play. I grew up playing baseball down at Douglas. Now people don't want to go down there."
Rock Island County Deputy Coroner Brian Gustafson, who will take over as coroner this fall, was coaching the opposing team Tuesday and said that he agrees with the decision to relocate the children's league.
"The safety of our kids is the most important thing," he said.
Keim said that some parents and children did not know that the series of loud bursts outside the park were coming from a gun. Some, he said, assumed it was fireworks.
"We have 9-and-10-year-olds in the league and one kid asked, 'Dad, was that gunfire?'" he said. "It hasn't gotten better at Douglas. It's nothing against the west end. We've got to do what's best. We're done."
He said it is possible the league now will have to pay to lease a diamond for summer play, but said parents felt forced to make the decision to leave Douglas Park.
"A catcher wears a chest protector," he said. "We're not putting the other eight players in bullet-proof vests."
Rock Island Police Capt. Scott Harris said that Little League officials have not yet contacted the police department, adding that shootings have occurred throughout the Quad-Cities this season.
"It's unfortunate the violent society we live in, but do we close everything?" he asked. "That incident (Tuesday night) was the first shots fired call there this year.
"I certainly share their concern. One (shots fired incident) is too many. The double homicide we had (April 11) was just about three blocks one direction and a couple blocks in the other, so that may be adding to the concern."
Renee Mosenfelder, president of the Rock Island Little League, said she preferred not to comment on the recent decision, saying the league's future is still in the planning stage.
Rock Island Parks Director Bill Nelson said that he hopes part of the planning process will include reconsidering the decision to leave Douglas Park. He said the parks department provides an off-duty police officer for every scheduled game, adding that the only time a police officer is not present is for practices and unscheduled games.
He pointed out that, in Tuesday's incident, the shooters were not targeting the park. He also said that his department and the league have been working together for more than a year to come up with a redevelopment plan for Douglas Park and he hopes the planning proceeds.
"I can understand people's concerns and reactions," he said. "I'm hoping folks will take a breath now, though, and think things through."
Douglas Park is not the only public play area to experience recent violence.
In Moline, police found shell casings and a knife on the grounds at Garfield Elementary School, 1518 25th Ave., where students often use the basketball court and playground after school hours.
Principal Todd Williams said parents have been informed of problems there, along with efforts by the school to make the property safer. It is up to parents, he said, to make an informed decision about where their children are allowed to play.
Police Chief Gary Francque agreed.
"We have been having trouble there," he said of Garfield. "There are gangbangers that hang around there. It's quite a bit of difficulty for us to handle. We don't have the resources to have people up there around the clock.
"I don't know that it's our role to advise people where kids should play. There's danger and questionable people in every neighborhood."
Barb Ickes can be contacted at (563) 383-2316 or email@example.com.


text:
ALMATY (TCA) — Looking at the map, suggestions that US sanctions might be at least part of the cause of Kazakhstan's current (relative) economic setbacks bear plenty of contradictions. Most of the cou ... Read More
BISHKEK (TCA) — Kyrgyzstan's Parliament endorsed the bill on animal identification. The document was developed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation. The draft law provides legal princip ... Read More
ASTANA (TCA) — The Kazakh section of the Western Europe-Western China transport corridor will be opened to traffic by the end of 2015, Kazakhstan Minister of Transport and Communications Zhenis Kasymb ... Read More
TASHKENT (TCA) — Uzbek joint stock automotive company Uzavtosanoat and Italian company Landi Renzo S.p.A have created a joint venture, Avtosanoat–Landi Renzo, specializing in production of engine comp ... Read More
TASHKENT (TCA) — Many people think that Uzbekistan is a poor country, but it is not. Uzbekistan has gold, gas, oil, cotton, and grain, but has pushed its citizens to the brink of survival, a prominent ... Read More
BISHKEK (TCA) — 2014 could be a turning point for the development of microfinance institutions (MFIs) around the world. New technologies, such as mobile banking and biometric identification of borrowe ... Read More
DUSHANBE (TCA) – A report on the Roghun dam by Francesca Corbacho, a Human Right Watch (HRW) fellow, We Suffered When We Came Here, has been released today.
ASHGABAT (TCA) — A new shopping center occupying over 70,000 square meters opened in Ashgabat.
DUSHANBE (TCA) – An article entitled "Studying Tajikistan Turns Dangerous" that was posted on The Economist's website on June 24 notes that it was always dangerous to be a journalist or government cr ... Read More
BISHKEK (TCA) — On June 25 in Saudi Arabia, Kyrgyzstan First Deputy Prime Minister Taiyrbek Sarpashev met with Islamic Development Bank President Ahmad Mohamed Ali to discuss cooperation priorities be ... Read More
ASTANA (TCA) — In 2006 Kazakhstan flared about 3.5 billion cubic meters of associated petroleum gas and in 2013 the figure reduced to one billion cubic meters, EnergoNews reported citing Akzhol Ospano ... Read More
BISHKEK (TCA) — Russia has tightened entry requirements for the citizens of former Soviet republics that are not members of the Customs Union and the Eurasian Economic Union.
DUSHANBE (TCA) – Tajikistan's Ministry of Education and Science and the LimKokWing University of Creative Technology (LUCT) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on establishing the LUCT bra ... Read More
DUSHANBE (TCA) – Tajik President yesterday visited Malaysian automobile manufacturer, Proton Holdings Berhad, according to the Tajik president's official website.
DUSHANBE (TCA) – Tajikistan's lower house (Majlisi Namoyndagon) of parliament has ratified an agreement between Tajikistan and NATO regarding the provision of host nation support to and transit of NAT ... Read More
BISHKEK (TCA) — Kyrgyzstan First Deputy Prime Minister Taiyrbek Sarpashev has met with Abdulwahab Al-Bader, Director General of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), and Yousef Bin Ib ... Read More
ASTANA (TCA) — An opening ceremony for a new office of KTZ Express, a subsidiary of Kazakhstan's national railway company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), was held in China's Hong Kong, the press service ... Read More
ALMATY (TCA) — Efficient water management as a way of promoting environmentally-friendly sustainable growth and improving the local ecology is the focus of an OSCE-supported event that started yesterd ... Read More
BISHKEK (TCA) — On June 23, Bishkek hosted the Ninth Forum of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to discuss the current challenges of regional economic development of the SCO. Members of the SCO ar ... Read More
ASHAGABAT (TCA) — President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received the Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), William Lacy Swing, and the Deputy High Commissioner for Refu ... Read More


text:
Debates and Proceedings of the Constitutional Convention of the State of California, Convened at the City of Sacramento, Saturday, September 28, 1978, Volume 2
Debates and Proceedings of the Constitutional Convention of the State of California, Convened at the City of Sacramento, Saturday, September 28, 1978, Volume 2
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.
List Price: $ 40.75
Price: $ 26.94
Tsunami In Crescent City California, March 27, 1964 "When The Pacific Ocean Came Through Our Front Door"
The true story of the Gee family who survived the biggest tsunami to strike the main land of the United States. It struck on a beautiful night with a bright full moon, on good Friday in 1964. You'll hear the children and their heroic Dad.
List Price: $ 8.50
Price: $ 8.50
Categories: Usa Tags: 1978, California, City, Constitutional, Convened, Convention, Debates, Proceedings, Sacramento, Saturday, September, State, Volume
Field Guide to Animal Tracks and Scat of California (California Natural History Guides)
Field Guide to Animal Tracks and Scat of California (California Natural History Guides)
Spotting an animal's fresh footprints in the wild can conjure a world for the hiker: Why did the deer tracks disappear? Where did the cougar turn off the trail? What does it mean when two sets of footprints seem to coincide? This beautifully illustrated field guide, the first devoted to the tracks and signs of California animals–including birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates like spiders and beetles–blends meticulous science with field experience to provide an engaging companion for both armchair exploration and easy field identification. Filled with useful tools for the wildlife expert, and essential background and visual aids for the novice, including in-depth information about the ecology of each species, this book g
List Price: $ 34.95
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Oakland, California: Towards A Sustainable City
Oakland, California: Towards A Sustainable City
"There are many good books focused on the theme of sustainability and cities. However, very few books examine how the three sectors of organizational life in a city — the private, government, and non-profit — work toward sustainability in one particular city. Oakland, California: Toward a Sustainable City identifies some of the best projects, practices, and people who are contributing to the present and future sustainability of Oakland. Although the focus of the book might seem local — Oakland, California — the projects and practices are ones that can be replicable in any city. The book is unique also in identifying how religious organizations, that responded slowly to environmental issues, are very much involved in the sustainability o
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Categories: Usa Tags: California, City, Oakland, Sustainable, Toward's
California Dreaming
California is a strong brand, the state of new beginnings, dreams and movie stars, of surfers and a wonderful climate. But the Golden State is bankrupt and the city of Los Angeles is running out of cash. Public services are being cut and unemployment keeps rising. At the same time, optimism, entrepreneurship and the belief in the power of America are stronger than ever. In Los Angeles, we meet five people who are going through a transformation in their lives during this crisis. Justin and Christine lost their jobs and are now living in a van with their two young sons. Charles has gotten out of prison after fourteen years. Mizuko prepares her children for the future by making them at ease in virtual reality. Laura has taken advantage of the crisis by buying land cheaply and starting an urban farm and artists collective Fallen Fruit maps the abundant free 'public fruit' available in the city. Who are the pioneers who are reinventing the new America and how do they see the future?
Categories: Usa Tags: California, Dreaming
Tornero' – I Santo California
I santo California are a 1970s Italian musical group. They are a vocal and instrumental group from Campania, Southern Italy and were founded in 1975, when they recorded their biggest hit Tornerò. With this song they achieved fame in their home country and they were able to sell approximately 11 million copies of the single, which was later translated and exported worldwide. (From Wikipedia) Images of the train are copied from Wikipedia. For images copyright information refer to: creativecommons.org The two poems in the sequence of the book image are by Emily Dickinson
Categories: Italy Tags: California, Santo, Tornero'
The Most Beautiful Villages and Towns of California
The Most Beautiful Villages and Towns of California
California's picturesque villages and small towns and its stunning landscape, from rugged sierras and fog-laced headlands to golden sand beaches and rolling oak-studded ranchland.
California is nicknamed "The Golden State," and though the name applies literally to the color of its state flower, the golden poppy, it is also a metaphor for the hopes and dreams that have lured generations of settlers. There are villages that grew up around the famed Spanish mission trail, and communities that boomed because of Gold Rush fever. There are places whose natural beauty nurtured artists and writers, and fertile valleys that were home to vintners and cattlemen.
The state is known for reinventing itself, yet a surprising number of its to
List Price: $ 40.00
Price: $ 9.42
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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA skyline Panorama [Panoramic Photograph] Poster
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA skyline Panorama [Panoramic Photograph] Poster
- Paper Size: 40 x 13.5 Image Size: 37.25 x 8
- Perfect for Home or Office!
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- We use grade "A", ph neutral, heavy art stock. UV resistant ink.
Blakeway Panoramas are an industry standard when it comes to panoramic photographs. This panoramic photograph of San Diego was taken by Christopher Gjevre. It features a twilight view of downtown San Diego as seen looking across San Diego Bay. The two tall buildings with steep angled roofs are The Manchester Grand Hyatt Seaport on the left and the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel on the right. To the right with its sail-type roof is the San Diego Convention Center. Further right is the brightly lit Petco Park, home to the San Diego Padres baseball team. Located on the Pacific Ocean with a large bay, San Diego serves as a major shipping point and is home to United State Naval facilities. Buy Blakeway Panoramas Today!
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Categories: Usa Tags: California, Diego, Panorama, Panoramic, Photograph, POSTER, Skyline
2012 Amgen Tour of California – Stage 1 – Santa Rosa Overall Start May 13, 2012
The first day of racing of the 2012 Amgen Tour of California will start and finish in Santa Rosa, California, the city that helped establish the race as the premier professional cycling event in the US and home to three-time race champion Levi Leipheimer. Expect to see spectators perched in the trees, rooftops and in windows near the finish line as they vie for the very best view of the final sprint. The stage will start with two neutral laps around the city before heading out to the open roads of beautiful Sonoma County. Within 30 minutes, the race will reach the Town of Windsor and the first of several of the stage's featured Sprints. The peloton will then head south, passing by several of Sonoma County's world-famous vineyards. In Graton, the racers will turn east and head back into Santa Rosa for another Sprint, followed by a straight shot towards the coast and into the quaint town of Occidental. From there, the stage heads north on Bohemian Hwy. and follow a portion of Levi's Leipheimer's "King Ridge Gran Fondo."
Video Rating: 5 / 5
California Cities and the Local Sales Tax
California Cities and the Local Sales Tax
In California, local sales tax revenues accrue to the jurisdiction in which the sale occurs. This gives cities an incentive to promote the location of retail businesses within their boundaries. Although sales taxes account for only a modest portion of total city revenues, cities regard them highly because they represent a major share of their discretionary income. This study focuses on two crucial questions related to cities' pursuit of these revenues. First, how does the sales tax affect land-use decisions? If cities are systematically favoring retail development over other types of growth, this may negatively affect overall economic development in the state. Second, which types of communities are doing better or worse in the quest for t
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Postborder City: Cultural Spaces of Bajalta California
Postborder City: Cultural Spaces of Bajalta California
This title concerns the postborder metropolis of Bajalta, California, which stretches from Los Angeles in the north to Tijuana and Mexicali in the south. Immigrants flock to Southern California, while corporations are drawn to the low wage industry of the Mexican border towns.
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Categories: Usa Tags: Bajalta, California, City, Cultural, Postborder, Spaces


text:
General ReferenceUp one level
These are meta-sites; collections of sites evaluated by librarians and others.
- Bartleby Reference
- Previously known as Project Bartleby from Columbia University, this site has full-text copies of many of the greatest Reference classics like: Strunk's Element of Style, Gray's Anatomy, Emily Post's Etiqutte, Fanny Farmer Cookbook, Bulfinch's Mythology, Robert's Rules, King James Bible, all of Shakespeare's works, and great orations of history.
- This British entry has been around a long time and is highly respected by librarians. Its selections have both a Brit and an International flavour that can be useful. Covers reference sources and all academic areas.
- Catholic Encyclopedia
- "Designed to present its readers with the full body of Catholic teaching." Use search box or the alphabetical browse bar at the top.
- Infoplease
- Information Please has been providing authoritative answers to all kinds of factual questions since 1938...Many things have changed since 1938, but not our dedication to providing reliable information, in a way that engages and entertains.
- A unique Web resource featuring well-organized access to important university level research and educational tools on the Internet.
- Internet Public Library
- A good strong list of websites with dictionaries, encyclopedias, directories, style guides, quotations. See also specialized collections managed and expanded by University of Michigan faculty and library students. Or ask your question of a librarian via email-http://www.ipl.org/div/askus/
- Library Spot
- A free virtual library resource center for educators and students, librarians and their patrons, families, businesses and just about anyone exploring the Web for valuable research information.
- Librarians' Index to the Internet
- The mission of Librarians' Index to the Internet is to provide a well-organized point of access for reliable, trustworthy, librarian-selected Internet resources, serving California, the nation, and the world. Sites reviewed and selected by libraries and librarians from California and Washington (state).
- Open Directory Project
- The Open Directory Project is the largest, most comprehensive human-edited directory of the Web. It is constructed and maintained by a vast, global community of volunteer editors." Sign up to be an editor of a webpage on your specialty. I like it because it indicates how many sources are available under the subheadings saving me evaluation time. Lists are then alphabetical.
- Pinakes
- Index of Internet resources. Links to the major subject gateways.
- RefDesk.com
- Messy, but possibly useful. Has lots of links to oddball websites like "Pun of the Day." "Refdesk is only about indexing quality Internet sites and assisting visitors in navigating these sites. At Refdesk that is all that counts and that is all that will ever count. Since 1995, Refdesk free and family friendly. Avaritia facit Bardus - Greed makes you stupid."
- Reference at your Desk
Archives Library Information Center
A mixture of reference and other sites designed to provide quick access to the type of ready-reference tools needed by archivists and records managers. We hope that organizing access to these reference tools will assist you in your archival work.
- Virtual Reference Shelf
- The Library of Congresses entry into the Reference wars. Also check out their Alcove 9 [http://lcweb.loc.gov/rr/main/alcove9/] "The Main Reading Room of the Library of Congress has eight alcoves. This ninth "virtual alcove" is a collection of websites selected and annotated by Humanities and Social Sciences Division subject specialists."
- Wikipedia
- Wikipedia is a free content encyclopedia being written collaboratively by contributors from around the world. The site is a wiki, which means that anyone can edit articles, simply by clicking on the edit this page link that appears at the top of each page...


text:
Cavs lose
The depleted Cavs could not keep up with the Wizards back court Sunday night and lost 96-83.
The Cavs were 2-18 from distance while shooting 26% from the field in the 2nd half. Wizards guards John Wall led all scorers with 21 points and SG Bradley Beal added 17 points.
Nearly acquired Spencer Hawes recorded his first double-double as a Cavalier scoring 16 points and adding 12 rebounds. The Cavaliers starting back court of Kyrie Irving and Jarrett Jack combined to go 9-28 from the field and 1-8 from three point distance. Luol Deng led the Cavs with 17 points.
The Cavs will try and end their 2 game slide on Tuesday as they welcome the Toronto Raptors to the Q.
Arnie Hamilton
WTAM Sports


text:
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text:
In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, Ever Merciful.
Love for All, Hatred for None.
Transcribed by Amatul-Hadi Ahmad
Questioner: What is there in Islam and particularly in the Ahmadiyya Movement which is lacking in all other religions or paths for spiritual and the worldly improvement of mankind?
Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad: I once gave a short address in Australia which dealt with this question under the heading of 'Some Distinctive Features of Islam' and there I presented not one but quite a few distinctive features as being unique (to Islam) which are not shared by other religions and I have shown this with reference to the Holy Qur'an and with reference to the other holy books. It has since been published in the form of a small booklet and that can be read, of course. It can be easily obtained from one of your friends here.
However, what I would point out here is the principal issue of distinctiveness of one religion as opposed to another. Why should there be such a distinction? Without first thoroughly examining this question, there should not, in fact, be any interest in what I wrote on the issue. Why should there be a distinction of one religion over another and should it be valid and will it be from the same God? These are the issues which are fundamental to the question you have raised and they must be answered first.
The Holy Qur'an itself raises these questions. To begin with it speaks of commonality of fundamental religious doctrine. It describes this as being the belief in the one and only God, the pure dedication to Him and Him alone, worship of Him and spending in the cause of God and believing in the hereafter, and so on. These are the fundamentals which Islam claims are common to all religions, without which no religion can be considered to be from the same God who spoke of these fundamentals to all the religions. So, the oneness of God requires not distinction as much as commonality and it is with this that the Holy Qur'an begins. Now, after understanding commonality, the issue is raised as to why should religions, founded upon the same base, differ from one another? The answer that has already been provided in many of my addresses, with reference to the Holy Qur'an, of course, and with reference to other religious books, is that despite this commonality, one can logically expect that there should be some differences.
There was a time in the history of man when man was only confined to the area where he lived, where he was born and grew up and there was very little knowledge, if any, which he shared with men of other areas and other religions. As a result, in previous periods of history, man is found living in isolated 'islands' of nations, clans and tribes and the religions which were revealed at these times defined responsibility in terms limited to people within relatively small areas and not in terms of the world as a whole. So, no universal idea could have been born at this stage of history. If it had been mentioned in the religious books of the time, it would have been completely outside (the boundaries of those people).
The Holy Qur'an again throws light on this subject and states that the teachings are always perfect in relation to the time in which they are revealed and (because of this) they differ and they meet the demands of the time perfectly. But when the times change then the teachings must change accordingly. So, the concept of perfection is relevant in the context of our discussion. For instance, there was the religion of Judaism where the emphasis lay on revenge, so much so that even Judaic scholars misunderstood (the full significance of this teaching). They thought that it was a must and there was no room for anyone to deviate from the teaching of an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, etc. While the Holy Qur'an, speaking of the same, mentions it to be a necessity of the time. But, according to the Holy Qur'an, a window was open even in the Torah for forgiveness -- just a small window which was emphasised. This was due to the fact that Moses (as) appeared among a people who had been oppressed for hundreds of years. If at that time he had placed equal emphasis upon forgiveness and revenge, the people who had become weak and had lost their dignity (due to the long period of oppression) and who could not rise to the challenges of responding to the enemy with strength, such people would always seek refuge in the teaching of forgiveness -- in the name of forgiveness, in fact. But it would be cowardice which they would be seeking. So, when revenge was emphasised it was not that the God of those people was a very revengeful God, so very different from the God of Christianity -- it was one and the same God who knew human nature better than anyone else. He knew what exact prescription the ills of the time required. The Holy Qur'an does not state, with reference to Moses(as) that it was an imperfect teaching. In fact, the Holy Qur'an says 'We blessed them and gave them preference over all the people of the world'. Was the Holy Qur'an referring to an imperfect teaching? Is that how God gives preference to a people over the rest of the world -- by giving them imperfect teaching? Certainly not! What is meant, as I have already been emphasising, is that the teaching is perfect in relation to the time for which it was sent.
After the teaching of Moses (as), there then comes the teaching of Jesus Christ (as). At the time of Jesus (as), the long history of revenge has already hardened the hearts of the Jewish people to the state of stone and that is how the Holy Qur'an mentions it. But it creates also hope even in those stony hearts and states that many a time one finds that from the hearts of rocks there springs forth the water of life. So, it is not a state of utter loss of hope, a state of pessimism which the Holy Qur'an describes with reference to the stony hearts of the Jews. It is a beautiful simile because it takes us back to the time when Moses (as) struck rock 12 times and at every strike there sprang forth the 'elixir' of life. So the Qur'anic references are deeply interrelated. It says this has happened before. You saw in the material world a miracle of Moses (as) that when he struck rock, water sprang forth. Why have you lost hope in your own stony hearts? Here is Jesus (as) who could repeat the same miracle over and over again and from among you would be born people who would emphasise forgiveness and would forsake revenge of their own free will. So a teaching, again so different from the previous ones, perfectly matched the needs of the time. This is an example of the distinctive features of any religion.
So far we have been talking of religions which are confined to certain areas, certain times and certain traditions. All religions, however, have predicted a Golden Age with the appearance of a universal religion. Christianity speaks of such an age, of course, but only with reference to the second advent of Jesus Christ (as), not with reference to another universal religion being born. But let us not enter the rigmarole of differences and in-fights. Let me, instead, bring you to the modern world of our time, the age we are sharing. If there is a religion already born which can fulfil the requirements of man as a whole, what additional features should it have, what distinctive features should it possess to attract the global man as such? Refer this question to yourself and then read the small booklet I have referred to and when we meet again, Inshallah (God willing), we will discuss your reaction to that and if you are not satisfied I will be available to answer any further queries you may have.
Questioner: There are people who are 'non-believers' (in Islam) but they follow all the rules, commandments and the good things taught in (their) religions. How would they be dealt with on the Day of Judgement? Although Allah is Merciful and Forgiving and Gracious, but, I am also told that 'whoever is an enemy to Allah, Allah is an enemy to him and that there is a humiliating punishment for the disbelievers as they will be put into a humiliating fire'. I don't think Allah is an enemy to anybody. Would you please tell us how this issue may be resolved?
Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad: This is a very important, fundamental question of universal applicability that you have addressed. You have granted me the opportunity to address this for the benefit of all the guests. I am grateful to you for this.
First of all, on the issue of such people who are basically and soundly good people, who believe in revelation of whatever form but being from God. They believe that it is God who has given the injunctions and they follow these honestly. What would happen to such people? How would God treat them on the Day of Judgement? Now, this is a question which was raised, perhaps to your surprise, 1400 years ago, by God speaking to the Holy Prophet (sa) (of Islam). It is raised three times directly in the Holy Qur'an with slight variation of words but always to the same effect, without exception. It speaks of those who believe in the Prophet Muhammed (sa). It speaks of those who were Jews, who had believed earlier in certain Books and Prophets and it speaks of Christians, referring to both these groups by name. It speaks of all other people who believe in Divine Books. Having laid this foundation, the Holy Qur'an then states that there is no fear for people who do good deeds and believe in the Resurrection and answerability of the Day of Judgement, this being a very important condition that is laid down, that is, belief in being held to account after death for the deeds here on earth. That is the meaning of believing in the Day of Judgement. The Holy Qur'an says there is no fear for such people, there is no remorse. Their reward will be with God and they are guaranteed peace and eternal heaven.
Now, could you expect a better promise from a benign God to all the people who in his eyes are good, true believers in whatever religion they believe but act in accordance with the message of their own religion, do righteous and good deeds here and believe in the answerability. That is very important.
The Holy Qur'an repeatedly emphasises the aspect of religion that you may say you believe in God, but if you do not put his injunctions or his expectations of you into practice in your own life, then you may be believing in a mythical God without realising. This happens when you really do not believe in life after death and do not believe in the question of accountability. Then you may live in a mythical world of your beliefs but you do not bring about a change in your attitude to God or your attitude to other human beings. So, accountability is highly important.
This is in answer to the first part of your question. I now turn to the last part of your question regarding the punishment of fire for the 'non-believers'. The issue of hell and heaven is to be understood with reference to the Holy Qur'an where there is no ambiguity on the issue. It very clearly points out one fundamental fact. First of all, the verse you quoted states that those who hate God, God hates them and you said God hates nobody. I say this is true because hatred begins, not from God, but from others. So, what does it mean when it is said 'God hates those who hate God'? If you hate a creator, you hate his creation. If you are an enemy of even an artist, you would burn his works of art and destroy all his efforts. Hence, it is unreasonable to expect man to believe in a principle that a person must escape the consequences of the madness of his destruction of goodness with the consequent belief that one should be left free to do whatever one likes and get away with it after one's death. If you accept this then you deny that fundamental principle to which I referred earlier, that is the question of accountability. Remove accountability and there would be no order left in the world even in the government of those who do not believe in God. Even in relation to man made laws it is always accountability which keeps order in a state. It is the monitoring of the fact that people adhere to the law, not only to the letter of the law but also to the spirit of the law, that determines the state of peace in any particular society. The more people are mindful of their duty to the letter of the law as well as to the spirit of the law, the more peace would prevail. The less you think yourself to be accountable, the stricter become the legal measures to find you, to capture you and to bring you to law. But if there is a total lack of faith in people, in the principles of law, in the principles of accountability then nothing can be done for such a society.
So, God is an enemy of those who are enemies of God and this is something from which there is no escape. If you do, you escape into chaos. You apparently escape from the hell of the hereafter, but you create a 'hell' for yourself here on this earth. As far as the concept of hell is concerned, it is made very clear in the Holy Qur'an that each man makes his own hell. There is nothing that comes from outside and the hellish souls that are born here know that they are hellish. They are never happy and contented. They commit crime upon crime and keep on burning in a 'fire' which coaxes them on to further crime. Yet they never find any happiness or peace.
True happiness is found only in goodness and with reference to your own personal experience, you know better than anyone else that whenever you have created a 'heaven' for yourself here, you enjoy eternal bliss. According to the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Community, it is this building of our own 'heaven' here on earth, and the building of our own 'hell' here on this earth that would materialise into some spiritual form to which we would be sent after death -- the heaven of our own making, the hell of our own making!


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The ASUS Transformer Pad 300 Seriesby Anand Lal Shimpi on 2/27/2012 5:30 AM EST
- Posted in
- Eee Pad
- Asus
- Mobile
- Transformer Prime
- Tablets
- Transformer Pad 300
9 Comments
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nathanddrews - Monday, February 27, 2012 - linkIt was all the rage at CES, then I became very excited when I saw the title of this article. Do we have to have for the 10" 300-series to come out before they release the 7" 300-series? Reply
haukionkannel - Monday, February 27, 2012 - linkNice to see also more budget version of trasformer! A bigger battery would have been nice, but otherwice this seems to bee solid product. Good IPS display, relative powerfull CPU...
Not bad at all! Reply
chrnochime - Monday, February 27, 2012 - linkCurious as to why they took out microSD support. Considering it costs the same as the first TP, has smaller battery and better screen. Does that IPS screen cost that much as to justify removing the connectivity? Reply
Malys - Monday, February 27, 2012 - linkIt does have a micro SD card slot. It says so on the Asus product page for tf300t. :) Reply
sidefxv1 - Tuesday, February 28, 2012 - linkWith all these new TF models, the one thing I wish they would release is a version that's compatible with the TF101 docking station. There were so many rumours that subsequent TFs would be compatible with it when it came out, and while ASUS didn't confirm it at the time, they certainly didn't do much in the way of denying it. Reply
NeedajobintheUSA - Wednesday, February 29, 2012 - linkAfter hearing so much about you, the wonder kid, with the billions of dollars I thought why not ask if you have any ideas about jobs for Americans who want to work and live in America? You know, all those wonderful jobs that your country now have which were previously in my country. Your country is sucking up all the jobs out of country, folks with Masters Degrees and ordinary hard working folks who do call center jobs are being fired and your people in India are taking up all the slack.
So tell me Mr. Rich Anand, your billion dollar website is also sucking up American dollars, and look, there are Americans with no jobs. I don't expect you to care, you see I am well acquainted with the Indian way of thinking, money first, God second, money third, the poor can disappear. I bet you do not have the nerve to print this comment. I just wrote it because I am upset with people like you and your country who are driving us Americans to poverty. Losing our jobs, our houses, while you suck up our jobs.
I hear you folks believe in Karma, well I hope that regardless of how many offerings you make to your temples that you all suffer deeply, for all those Americans who have had their houses foreclosed, for those poor children who have no homes, and for the many others without jobs. May you all suffer for your greed and selfishness. I wish President Clinton had never signed NAFTA, I wish that Bush never gave companies bonuses for taking jobs overseas and I wish I never heard of you or your country. Reply
ol1bit - Thursday, March 01, 2012 - linkIdiot!
Anyone can go out and build a hardware Website. If you dedicate the time, energy, creativity, and of course good reviews, you to can be successful, right here in America!
Nuff Said. Reply
InsaneScientist - Friday, March 02, 2012 - linkWhat the (censored) is wrong with you???
I don't think I've ever been as pissed off from reading a comment on this site as I am over yours... with that said, I'm going to TRY to be reasonable in responding to you... in the hopes that you might grow a neuron or two.
First off, there's no bloody way he's got anything even remotely resembling that much money from running this site. Despite the traffic that this site gets, ads do not pay that much... and there are operational costs to deal with. I sincerely doubt running this site provides any more than a rather average income. If even that.
Plus, to top it off, he'd show up on Forbes' rich lists if he were a billionaire, as you claim, and he doesn't.
He does this because he loves it and he cares about the community, not for the money.
And that time and time again, we've seen the readership of this site (both collectively and in individual cases) have issues with companies and Anand has taken up our fight because he has a voice that these companies respect?
And that he repeatedly does everything in his power to make this site reflect everything that we want it to be? He actively solicits and listens to the community's voice?
You do realize that he lives here in the US, right? And Anandtech just hired a whole bunch of new staff people that... mostly live in the US?
You do realize that he is providing a service that we AREN'T PAYING FOR?
Besides, even though it's not even relevant here, what's to say that people in other countries don't deserve to work and make a decent wage? Hmmm?
I... could go on, but I'll stop.
But I would like to say that I had thought we'd gotten well past mindsets like yours, and, on behalf of America, I would like to apologize to those outside our country who had to read that terrible comment. -_-
</rant> Reply
Marit - Wednesday, February 29, 2012 - linkCan your moderator please remove vile racist comment above?
On a brighter note...Love the look of this product! I have a Prime which I'm really enjoying, tbh the battery life is superb. Asus have obviously bought out a more affordable version which is fair enough. Nice colours btw! Reply


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By Anthony Scott
Killeen Daily Herald
BELTON - Bell County commissioners formally accepted $285,000 in grant money from the Texas Task Force on Indigent Defense at their meeting Monday.
Officially called the Task Force on Indigent Defense FY2011 Technical Support Award, the grant money will go toward programs aimed at providing training, mentorship and evaluations for court-appointed attorneys.
"This is all for indigent defendants," said Linda Ingraham, director of pretrial services for Bell County. "These attorneys who will be trained are only for the indigent, so what that will do is give them an attorney who can better represent them.
"That's why we're doing this. They need qualified attorneys so they can get better legal representation."
As many of the attorneys in the county age, Ingraham said the grant money will help foster a mentorship program that trains younger attorneys to handle cases.
"What we're trying to do is make sure we have the best representation for everybody," she said. "If it's a felony 2, we want to make sure we have an attorney to handle a felony 2."
Burn ban continues
One of the worst droughts on record in Texas history continues as fire conditions worsen across the sun-beaten region. As a result, commissioners will not lift the county's current disaster declaration and outdoor burn ban - including fireworks.
The commissioners considered the disaster declaration it issued June 16 and the outdoor burning restrictions it imposed June 20. They are set to expire July 25.
County Judge Jon Burrows said no action will be taken as the hot and dry weather continues; however, the court will review both the disaster declaration and the burn ban on a regular basis.
About 15 people attended the meeting.
Contact Anthony Scott at (254) 501-7568 or at email@example.com.


text:
Building the Future and Continuing the Excellence: The UHC/AACN Nurse Residency Program Curriculum Update
Date: December 6, 2012
Time: 2:00 - 3:30 Pm (ET)
Webinar Overview
The 2010 IOM Future of Nursing report has been a call to action throughout the country to integrate a residency experience into nursing education. This session will provide an overview of new curriculum updates and highlight key lessons learned from the gold standard nurse residency program.
Talking Points:
- IOM: #3 recommendation
- Quick overview of program: Successes
- Highlight the role of academic partners - Why AACN / UHC relationship has created a successful model
- Key considerations for a nurse residency curriculum (NCSBN recommendations)
- 2012 Curriculum Update: Process
- Key Components: QSEN, IPEC, Baccalaureate Essentials, Accreditation
- Measurement: What worked, what will be new
Webinar Speakers
Debra McElroy, MPH, RN
Debra McElroy is the Director of Nursing Leadership for UHC, an alliance of 116 academic medical centers and 261 of their affiliated hospitals representing approximately 90% of the nation's non-profit academic medical centers. Debra provides oversight and strategic planning for programs and products that interface with and benefit the nursing leaders of UHC members, including the national UHC/AACN Nurse Residency Program ™, the UHC Nursing Quality Data Base, the Advanced Practice Initiative, all continuing education activity for nurses, and the Chief Nursing Officer Council. At UHC she has also worked on operational and clinical performance improvement projects for UHC members.
Amy Drescher-Crumpley, DNP, CNM
Dr. Drescher-Crumpley currently serves as the manager of nursing leadership at UHC. As manager she is primarily responsible for the day to day operations of the UHC/AACN Nurse Residency Program™ and other responsibilities for the nursing leadership department. She started at UHC in May 2012. Her first major assignment was to provide oversight for the 19 curriculum revision work groups. Prior to working at UHC, Amy has worked in clinical practice as a full scope certified nurse-midwife, managing a major federal grant for women's health care, taught as adjunct faculty for didactic and clinical education at University Illinois Chicago and Northpark University. Additionally, Amy has been a clinical preceptor to nurses, nurse practitioners, midwives, and medical students and has provided support to OB/GYN and family practice residents.
Webinar Recording
NOTE: Only faculty of AACN Member Schools can participate in this AACN Faculty Webinar. You must be a member of the AACN Collaboration Community to view this webinar. Please contact Courtney Geanetta, Faculty Programs Coordinator, at firstname.lastname@example.com for access.


text:
Main navigation | Main content
Phone: 612.626.5438
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
During his 26 years at Honeywell, Jay Schrankler held key management and executive roles spanning the Aerospace Business to the Automation and Control Solutions business. After successfully leading Honeywell's $1.1B Global Environmental Controls Business as Vice President and General Manager he spent five years as the Vice President of Honeywell's Automation and Control Solutions Business ($13B in sales) Intellectual Property licensing and marketing business. He built this business from scratch by licensing Honeywell's technology as well as its renowned trademark.
In April 2007, he was appointed the Executive Director of the University of Minnesota's new Office for Technology Commercialization. Schrankler's group is responsible for mining the University for key inventions and determining the best route to commercialization. This comes in the form of technology licenses and in new venture start up companies created by the University's Venture Center. As an undergraduate at the University of Minnesota he studied electrical engineering before getting master's degrees in Electrical Engineering and in Computer Science at the University of Wisconsin. He has also completed executive management certifications at Harvard University and UCLA. Schrankler also has held engineering positions at both 3M and Unisys Corp.


text: It took us a bit of discussion to have an opinion about this teaser and website created by SuperHeroes. Some reactions: scary, gay, and stereotypical. Why show 6 men that demonstrate the different motions of an LG washing machine? Are women morons? Or are we taking this too seriously? Maybe we are. Maybe LG simply offers a good excuse – for some – to watch these hard bodies doing the laundry. We don't really know. What do you think?


text:
Here's how you can add additional items to the Menu Bar in OS X on your Mac.
1. Open a Finder window.
2. Go to /System/Library/CoreServices/Menu Extras
3. You will see a list of Menu Bar items.
4. Double click any of the items to add them to your Menu Bar.
5. To remove them, hold down the Command key while dragging the item off the menu bar and then release it.
For more, see the original article at the link below.
How to access additional Menu Bar items | Amsys
This article is published as part of the IDG Contributor Network. Want to Join?


text:
The Princeton Tec Remix Pro Headlamp
The Princeton Tec Remix Pro Headlamp gets you fully ready for great outdoor adventures! This product uses a Maxbright LED and three Ultrabright LEDs in red, white, or green for so you can choose the one you need. It works on a CR 123 Lithium battery which allows you up to 40 hours of burn time, making sure that you do not end up with no light at any point during your expedition. A push-button switch is built in to allow you to turn it on and off instantly. For your convenience, this item has a single-arm ratcheting head that enables a greater beam range for enhanced visibility. As it is lightweight, it's carried and handled in a hassle-free way. The Princeton Tec Remix Pro Headlamp is a must-have tool on every exploratory trip you take!
This product has a limited lifetime warranty.


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Settignano Vacation Packages
Settignano is a popular place to head to while you are in Florence as many of the city's star attractions are within easy driving distance. Among the most interesting places to see are the fascinating Villa Gamberaia and the incredible Cathedral of Fiesole. And don't miss Teatro Romano and Villa Medici.
Coming from here, it's just 4 miles (6 kilometers) to one of the city's most talked about sights, the Statue of David.
There is a lot to discover in Florence's city center, so be sure to pay a visit to some of the other iconic attractions, including Ponte Vecchio and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.
You'll find some interesting museums, exhibits and venues in and around Settignano. Visit some of the interesting artistic and historic collections including the Academy of Fine Arts, the Sinagoga and Jewish Museum and Bargello Museum. Book seats for a couple of the spectacular live shows at the La Pergola Theater. Popular art galleries, include Academy Gallery and the Art Gallery Studio Iguarnieri.
Get your body moving out-of-doors at the many beautiful destinations nearby. Relax and enjoy the fresh air. If you're in need of a green oasis check out the Florence Botanical Gardens.
Florence has some unique attractions such as Piazzale Michelangelo, the Piazza del Duomo and the San Miniato al Monte. Admire some of the holy places such as the San Lorenzo Church and the Church of Sant'Ambrogio. Admire the beautiful craftsmanship and gain a deeper understanding of the impotence of faith in Settignano.
Finding somewhere suitable to unpack your bags close to the Settignano area is easy. Check out the rooms and rates at the San Gallo Palace Hotel, the Plaza Hotel Lucchesi, or the Grand Hotel Cavour.


text: SMITTY: It sounds like Teddy Bridgewater (ankle) wants to play and the Vikes will just play it safe right up until about 90 minutes before kickoff. Anything can happen in warm-ups, so be sure to stay all over our news and Smart Alerts, but our early guess is that Bridgewater will make a strong push to get onto the field tonight against the Packers. If the QB can't play, the team will try to run the ball a ton, but if the game gets out of hand, that plan could collapse by the second quarter. Jarius Wright is a much better play with Bridgewater in the line-up, as proven by his monster Week 4 under Bridgewater's command. As for Eddie Lacy, one report (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) is suggesting we could see more James Starks tonight in Week 5. Sure, this could be the case, but the Pack could also get out to an early lead, in which we'd also expect to see a lot of Starks. Lacy is a boom or bust player at this point; he is the definition of a boom or bust buy-low candidate. If he continues to struggle, he could turn into one of the bigger busts of 2014. If he bounces back, those that bought low could win leagues. This week could determine a lot for Lacy owners, good or bad. The same could be said for Cordarrelle Patterson, who we have pegged as a great buy-low this week. That said, it's entirely possible his breakout season doesn't unfold until next year, which is why it's a boom or bust move to buy-low on CP right now. However, if you truly buy-low, risk is minimized, so be certain to offer the right deals (use our Trade Analyzer!). Looking for Week 5 Power Rankings?


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Thu Feb 7, 2013, 02:50 PM
michigandem58 (1,044 posts)
College credit recommended for free online courses
Source: USA Today
Students may soon be able to receive college credit for the free online courses that are reshaping higher education.
The American Council on Education announced Thursday that it is recommending degree credit for five courses offered by Coursera, a Mountain View-based company that provides "massive open online courses" from leading universities.
Many colleges and universities use the association's recommendations to determine whether to grant credit for nontraditional courses.
Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/02/07/online-courses-moocs-college-credit/1899175/
33 replies, 4856 views
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Response to michigandem58 (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2013, 02:56 PM
mike_c (34,654 posts)
1. coursera's latest disaster....
MOOC Mess
February 4, 2013 - 3:00am
By Scott Jaschik
Maybe it was inevitable that one of the new massive open online courses would crash. After all, MOOCs are being launched with considerable speed, not to mention hype. But MOOC advocates might have preferred the collapse of a course other than the one that was suspended this weekend, one week into instruction: "Fundamentals of Online Education: Planning and Application."
Technology and design problems are largely to blame for the course's problems. And many students are angry that a course about online education -- let alone one offered by the Georgia Institute of Technology -- wouldn't have figured out the tech issues in advance, or been able to respond quickly once they became evident. Many of the problems related to the course's use of Google Docs to sign up for group discussions.
Among the comments on blogs and Twitter: "Wowzers, 40,000 students signed up for #foemooc considering google spreadsheets limit of 50 simultaneous editors ... not a good choice!" and "Egads, this group thing in #foemooc is a giant clusterf*#k."
Those comments weren't coming from random undergraduates. As a number of students noted, much of the class seemed to be made up of professors, teachers and experts on online education (including Inside Higher Ed readers who forwarded information about the course to us) and many of these students expected a professional experience. They reacted with a mix of anger and humor to the implosion of the course, tweeting " 'Fundamentals of Online Education' MOOC, broke down in the first week. Cue scathing declarations of symbolism" and "Any one else find it ironic that the Fundamentals in Online Education #coursera class fell apart after one week?"
Response to michigandem58 (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2013, 03:07 PM
Deep13 (39,128 posts)
2. Dear promoters of on-line education...
Response to Deep13 (Reply #2)
Thu Feb 7, 2013, 03:13 PM
ScreamingMeemie (68,918 posts)
3. It is the only way for some to obtain an education.
I can see a place for it among working parents, the disabled, etc. There was no physical way I could have completed my degree as a young, single, working mother back in the day because I hadn't the time to attend physical classes nor the $$$ to finance daycare for my child--who would then, have never seen me.
I think your post is a bit harsh.
Response to ScreamingMeemie (Reply #3)
Thu Feb 7, 2013, 03:16 PM
dgibby (9,389 posts)
5. +1. n/t
Response to ScreamingMeemie (Reply #3)
Thu Feb 7, 2013, 06:13 PM
Deep13 (39,128 posts)
15. It's no way to obtain an education.
Yes, college is expensive and time consuming. We as a society might make it less expensive, but there is nothing we can do about the time and still be able to call it an education.
Robots are not teachers. You can't have a class room discussion on line. You can't tell which students are paying attention or are confused and lost on line. You can't take questions from the class on-line. And unless you limit the size of the audience, you cannot give real examinations on line. What if it is a language class? How the hell can you teach a foreign language on line?
This is a way for administrators to save money on faculty and building space. Period. And it is a pretty crummy prospect for the future.
Response to Deep13 (Reply #15)
Thu Feb 7, 2013, 06:47 PM
ScreamingMeemie (68,918 posts)
19. Yes it is. And I support it. For some it is their only shot at an education.
Response to Deep13 (Reply #15)
Fri Feb 8, 2013, 04:55 PM
CreekDog (45,676 posts)
33. Online education has its place in educational options
I don't think it can or should replace in class instruction and its interactive benefits.
But the benefits of online learning are already evident, not to the exclusion of classroom or campus education, but in concert with it.
I'm taking a class at a community college right now and the online resources are incredible and are making my time outside of class much more productive towards that class than would have been the case before those resources.
Response to Deep13 (Reply #2)
Thu Feb 7, 2013, 03:18 PM
CountAllVotes (15,457 posts)
6. I couldn't agree more!
You don't learn a thing with these sometimes "free" on-line courses. I've been there and done that already and sadly, nope, I did not learn a thing and it was a complete waste of time and effort.
Nothing beats the "real deal" which is a real person in front of your teaching YOU something, not some bogus on-line course which may or may not be of the best quality. You have no one to consult with should the need arise. Nope, sorry about that!
If you want to learn something, try going to a community college which might cost you a few bucks but it is a far better option that these "on-line" courses.
Response to CountAllVotes (Reply #6)
Thu Feb 7, 2013, 03:32 PM
ScreamingMeemie (68,918 posts)
8. Picture yourself at 21, with a young child and two jobs that take up your day
from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Yet you'd like to further your education without depriving your child of your presence in his/her life, to say nothing of the fact that you cannot afford the extra childcare when you're already paying through the nose for care during the day.
No, I think there is a place for online education in our world. It would be awesome if everyone could afford the time and money that goes into a brick and mortar (yes, even at a community college) education. It just isn't so these days.
Response to ScreamingMeemie (Reply #8)
Thu Feb 7, 2013, 06:26 PM
CountAllVotes (15,457 posts)
17. that is what was done
It took me 17 years to get my Bachelor's degree and I did it while working full-time.
School was at night, on the weekends and whenever/wherever I could fit it in. That is why I say I've done it all and no, I cannot see how I could have ever learned many subjects via an on-line class free or not free.
No humans need apply.
Alas, the final blow to society as we know it.
Response to ScreamingMeemie (Reply #8)
Thu Feb 7, 2013, 06:33 PM
enlightenment (8,830 posts)
18. There is a VERY big difference
between on-line/distance education and MOOC's.
There is definitely a place for on-line courses, taught by actual humans in a planned environment with limited class size (so said human can give some measure of attention to the students.
Do you really think that the stressed 21 year old is going to learn much watching video lectures with no ability to ask questions because there is no way on earth the instructor (assuming they are even available beyond providing said lectures) can begin to respond to thousands of students?
You're arguing apples and oranges. MOOCs are nightmarish and poorly designed - they may eventually become a tool useful enough to be credit-worthy but they are not ready for prime-time.
Response to enlightenment (Reply #18)
Fri Feb 8, 2013, 02:19 PM
Yavin4 (24,353 posts)
27. Online chat discussions can fill in the gap
I'd rather have a video of the lecture so that I can pause it and rewind over a part that I didn't get when I first heard it.
If you need extra consultation, there are online chats, Skype, message forums, email, etc.
Online learning is the future.
Response to Yavin4 (Reply #27)
Fri Feb 8, 2013, 04:15 PM
enlightenment (8,830 posts)
30. You aren't grasping what I'm saying.
There are plenty of online courses available and many offer full video and even live interactive content with the instructor. They are facilitated, planned courses that provide an environment where a self-motivated student can "drive" their own education and learning process - and prove that they have acquired the knowledge and/or skills required to be considered competent.
MOOCs are "online" only in their platform. Then are not - at this point - viable alternatives for credit-based assessment. One day they will be; but they aren't now.
If you want to enroll in a MOOC for personal enrichment, then go for it. I have. Some are very interesting. The "chat" discussions are worthless - far too many people, frankly - and the assessments (not always offered) and projects are the equivalent of studying flash cards. No real assessment of material studied or skills learned. But the lectures are often very good.
I am astonished that people (in general, not you specifically) complain about large class sizes at university and then embrace the idea of taking an online course with ten or twenty or forty thousand other students. I suppose if one believes that taking a class is sufficient, that no assessment is needed and completion proves competency, then the current format of most MOOCs is indeed the future.
I'm not sure that I would want to (for example) take my taxes to an accountant who earned their degree in that fashion, but everyone's mileage differs.
In my opinion - and the opinion of many others - MOOCs just aren't ready to become credit-based assessment tools.
That isn't saying they can't be. This blog post by someone who designs online courses, offers some very good ideas about what MOOCs need to do to improve.
The one thing it does not address is the unlimited size of the courses. An instructor may not be "leading" a MOOC, but the courses still require human interaction. Can one or two or even a dozen people adequately facilitate a class of 40,000?
Response to Deep13 (Reply #2)
Thu Feb 7, 2013, 03:20 PM
melm00se (3,320 posts)
7. a bit harsh
there are quite a few people (myself included) who cannot avail themselves of traditional in-classroom instruction as a way to a degree.
I am working on my masters (history) and I have been unable to find a program in my area that offers evening classes. I cannot just quit my job for 18 months or so, so I am taking masters classes purely online from an accredited masters program.
the world is changing and higher education is changing with it.
Response to melm00se (Reply #7)
Thu Feb 7, 2013, 03:40 PM
mike_c (34,654 posts)
9. unfortunately, the driving force behind online higher ed is not access...
...but rather profits, at least in most cases. That is especially the case at state universities, where classroom instruction and the tuition students pay for it is subsidized by state taxpayers. Online courses at those institutions are often offered through university extension or some similar institutional arm, which means they do not receive state support. Often the university's costs for offering the same courses online are substantially less, compared to offering those courses in state-support classrooms, while students in self support are pure profit and no cost to the institution's operating funds. It's a financial windfall for the university. At my institution, for example, students pay nearly three times as much per credit for self support classes online as they pay for the same classes on campus. There is still considerable debate about whether they receive the same value for their inflated costs.
It might not be so bad though, if those extra costs were the value added necessary for real distance learning, as you suggest-- increasing access for students who would otherwise be unable to attend school. In practice, however, that's not what happens. Not counting MOOCs, which are not usually offered for credit (there are a very few experiments with that happening right now, e.g. the OP and the recent contract between Udacity and San Jose State), nearly every student in most online courses is already a student matriculated at the institution offering the course. In other words, they're mostly not students who can't attend school otherwise-- they're students at the school who can't get into classes in time to graduate, otherwise.
In other words, many state universities are underfunding classroom instruction and closing needed sections of class, then opening those same classes online, at much higher self-support cost, to the students who would otherwise enjoy state-support access in the traditional manner. It's undermining educational opportunities for less well off students who cannot afford the higher costs, or forcing them to take on additional debt. It's the for-profit model of higher education being rolled out at not-for-profit state universities.
Response to mike_c (Reply #9)
Thu Feb 7, 2013, 03:43 PM
michigandem58 (1,044 posts)
10. So we'd better stop free courses, to protect those who can't afford higher education
Response to michigandem58 (Reply #10)
Thu Feb 7, 2013, 03:46 PM
mike_c (34,654 posts)
11. that's utter nonsense....
Online courses from CalState Online are mostly about $500 per credit unit (or thereabouts, it varies), which is more than twice the cost for those same units in state-supported classrooms. THAT'S the threat to low income students.
The free classes, generally MOOCs, are not getting anyone a degree. They're for self education, largely, and that's great. But it won't get you a degree. Period.
Response to Deep13 (Reply #2)
Bradical79 This message was self-deleted by its author.
Response to Deep13 (Reply #2)
Thu Feb 7, 2013, 05:45 PM
Bradical79 (2,924 posts)
14. Right back at you -nt
Response to Bradical79 (Reply #14)
Thu Feb 7, 2013, 06:14 PM
Deep13 (39,128 posts)
16. McSchool. nt
Response to Deep13 (Reply #2)
Thu Feb 7, 2013, 07:08 PM
joshcryer (58,595 posts)
21. Supporters of institutional education.
Have fun being systematically rendered irrelevant.
Response to Deep13 (Reply #2)
Fri Feb 8, 2013, 12:27 PM
LanternWaste (27,945 posts)
24. As too was said to Gutenberg... but in German, most likely.
As too was said to Gutenberg some time ago... but in German, most likely.
Response to Deep13 (Reply #2)
Fri Feb 8, 2013, 02:13 PM
Duer 157099 (17,742 posts)
26. Wow, that's quite a statement
I don't even want to know what provoked it.
Many people learn quite effectively online. WTF?
Response to Deep13 (Reply #2)
Fri Feb 8, 2013, 04:36 PM
exboyfil (7,876 posts)
31. My daughter is using PSEO and online
courses to get her first two years of engineering done while still in High School. Her exams are proctored so they are no different than the traditional class. Many of her lectures are videotaped, and she has access to her instructors through the computer. Not every course can be done this way (for example she took Chemistry at a local university), but she has had good courses in her other subject areas. She was required to film her speeches under tightly controlled conditions (no chance for reedits) in front of an audience (so redos were limited - she only had one "take" of her last two speeches for this reason). She was required to make numerous postings on discussion questions which were evaluated for content and insight.
She basically flushed most of her academic classes for her junior and senior year at the high school. She is now able to control her schedule (versus having four finals on the same day and five tests on the same day in her hardest classes which happened last year as a Sophomore). She does the same work that she would have in the High School class, but she is guaranteed credit that she can apply to her engineering degree.
Response to michigandem58 (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2013, 03:15 PM
bluestateguy (44,173 posts)
4. If they universities are to offer credit, they will not (and should not) be free anymore
Small fee perhaps, but not free. The instructors and tech people deserve to get paid.
Response to bluestateguy (Reply #4)
Thu Feb 7, 2013, 07:20 PM
joshcryer (58,595 posts)
23. It seems to be their plan all along. It's $70-100 per course.
Coursera didn't seem to have a coherent business model but adopting ACE CREDIT (a scam in my opinion; ones knowledge application is not determined by 'credits') looks to be how they're going to get a lot of revenue, especially if they are able to offer all courses that exist.
$100 per course means you wind up spending about $5k per degree (ACE CREDIT determines how many credits a given course receives so I just rounded up, some courses are 1 credit while others are 4 credits or possibly more).
Response to michigandem58 (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2013, 05:23 PM
EastKYLiberal (429 posts)
13. Excellent development in working around the scam that is for-profit education. nt
Response to EastKYLiberal (Reply #13)
Fri Feb 8, 2013, 02:07 PM
Xithras (16,191 posts)
25. The biggest losers with this technology are going to be the public uni's, not the for-profits.
This conversation has already been rattling around a number of political circles. There will always be a market among the 1%ers for degrees from Yale, Harvard, etc. Theres a penache to an Ivy League degree that will never go away.
Public colleges and universities, on the other hand, exist at taxpayer expense to bring education to the masses. There's been some discussion for several years now about online courses replacing traditional public colleges, because online systems are cheaper to run. Many policymakers seem to be regarding this more as an eventuality than a possibility. Here in California, the community college systems have already been informally notified that increases in funding to account for growing student populations won't be coming in the future...instead, the colleges have been quietly told to start ramping up their distance ed programs, because new students will need to be accomodated online. Similarly, the University of California system has recently announced a new distance education system that would allow students to start pursuing their degrees online. No campus required.
Here's the rub. If you're just taking your classes online anyway, why would you pay a state college or university hundreds or thousands of dollars a semester, when groups like Coursera are offering the same for-credit courses free, or for a nominal fee? Most people wouldn't. Few people will pay for a "state" school when they offer nothing that isn't already available from the free alternatives. The increasing interest by the states in pushing students online to reduce costs will have the net effect of pushing them out of the state school system entirely.
Here in California, a lot of visionary thinkers are saying that, 100 years from now, only a handful of our current public colleges and universities will still exist, and they will primarily focus on technical subjects that require a hands-on learning environment. Everyone else will learn from home on their computer. Information will have little value because it's instantly reproducible, and those who based a career around passing that information onto the next generation will find themselves unemployed.
Response to michigandem58 (Original post)
Thu Feb 7, 2013, 06:54 PM
WilmywoodNCparalegal (2,576 posts)
20. Coursera is awesome
I have taken a few classes from reputable institutions including my own grad school alma mater. Courses offered include basic calculus, astronomy, lots of science and engineering classes, lots of computer science classes, and more.
All the institutions are highly accredited and well known. The course I'm taking now is on the nature of arguments and reasoning. I took it in college eons ago, but I am glad that I can re-take it and learn something new. The course is made up of video lectures, online discussion fora, chat sessions, homework and quizzes. There are even meet-ups organized around the U.S. and the world where students meet face to face. The professors have been gracious and accommodating when responding to e-mails.
There are thousands of students from all parts of the world, including countries such as Iran and Afghanistan. It has been an awesome experience to be able to discuss some topics with people from all corners of the world who would otherwise not be able to afford a U.S. college education.
There are people of all ages, as well, and from all backgrounds. I am glad that some Coursera classes can now receive credits. Not everyone lives near a college or university and not everyone can afford the tuition or meet attendance requirements. Education should be as free as possible and as available as possible to everyone, not just those who can pay tuition.
Response to WilmywoodNCparalegal (Reply #20)
Thu Feb 7, 2013, 07:15 PM
joshcryer (58,595 posts)
22. The whole ACE CREDIT thing is a scam, anyway.
It's all designed in such a way that a student pretty much invests half their entire life paying back loans and all because your knowledge and expertise is not verified unless you've been educated via an accredited source. To get accredited? Spend a boatload of money paying into an archaic and institutionalized system specifically designed to take your money.
Who is to say that an Iranian who learns via open courses is not as smart or educated as someone who learns via a $100k student loan over 4 years? Only those invested in institutional eduction would say that.
Note: I think that Coursera is OK, but I expect more open alternatives to happen eventually.
Response to WilmywoodNCparalegal (Reply #20)
Fri Feb 8, 2013, 02:25 PM
Yavin4 (24,353 posts)
29. I'm taking an Algorithms course with Coursera right now, and it's kicking my ass
which means that it's worthwhile. I'm very impressed with its presentation and organization of course materials.
Response to Yavin4 (Reply #29)
Fri Feb 8, 2013, 04:40 PM
exboyfil (7,876 posts)
32. I liked the Python course I took last year
The credentialing and accreditation issues need to be addressed though. For general learning it is great. If you still need to get your B.S. you should look at one of the community college online offerings and compare the class to transfer artriculation agreements for universities which you are interested in.
Response to michigandem58 (Original post)
Fri Feb 8, 2013, 02:23 PM
Yavin4 (24,353 posts)
28. Online learning is the future of higher education
I'd rather have videos of the lectures so that I can pause and rewind over a portion that I didn't understand the first time that I heard it. Additionally, I can view the lectures at my own pace and time. I can schedule my classes when I want to, not because of a syllabus. If you need extra consultation, you could schedule a Skype session, an online chat, message board, email, etc.
Sure, online college courses need to be upgraded, but this is the future.


text:
58 Picture Quotes That Will Inspire You To Travel
Traveling is different for everyone. Some people travel for fun, some travel to get away from the day to day stress at their job, and some travel for their jobs. Whatever the case may be, traveling is good for the soul.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel the world? Even if you haven't I'm sure most of you have thought about a place that you want to go visit. Whether you want to travel the world or just go on an exciting adventure, you will soon become aware of how traveling can change your life.
Here are 58 exciting travel picture quotes that will motivate you to get out of the house and see the world:
Feel free to share your favorite travel picture quotes! I hope this inspires you to get out and see the world!
I'm so inspired to travel. Recently, I've been travelling alone as I skipped college for a year for figuring out my true purpose in life. As time went by, Now I can see a light that leads me to it. Last but not least, I think everyone should travel, no matter how poor or busy they are. Just travel.
Thank you for this post Tyler 🙂


text:
WHO is now reading this?
May-be one is now reading this who knows some wrong-doing of my past life,
Or may-be a stranger is reading this who has secretly loved me,
Or may-be one who meets all my grand assumptions and egotisms with derision,
Or may-be one who is puzzled at me.
As if I were not puzzled at myself!
Or as if I never deride myself! (O conscience-struck! O self-convicted!)
Or as if I do not secretly love strangers! (O tenderly, a long time, and never avow it;)
Or as if I did not see, perfectly well, interior in myself, the stuff of wrong-doing,
Or as if it could cease transpiring from me until it must cease.
Poet: Walt Whitman
Poem: 9.
Who is now Reading This?
Volume: Leaves of Grass
- 22. Gathered Leaves
Year: Published/Written in 1900
There are no comments for this poem. Why not be the first one to post something about it?
Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Who is now Reading This?, has not yet been commented on. You can click here to be the first to post a comment about it.
More Poems
(330 poems)
Walt Whitman books


text:
Locally-Based Enterprise Certification Workshop
NYC Department of Small Business Services
Thursday, September 18, 2014 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM (EDT)
Who's Going
San Francisco, California
London, United Kingdom
Florence, Italy
Event Details
There are now more opportunities for certified Locally-Based Enterprise (LBE) to bid on public contracts, increase their capacity and effectively contribute to the City's economy. This workshop is conducted by trained certification analysts who will guide you through the certification process so you can get your application right the first time! This course is geared towards Construction/Construction related firms only.
When & Where
NYC Department of Small Business Services
110 William St
New York,
Thursday, September 18, 2014 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM (EDT)
Add to my calendar
NYC Department of Small Business Services
The NYC Department of Small Business Services helps unlock economic potential and create economic security for all New Yorkers by connecting New Yorkers to good jobs, creating stronger businesses, and building thriving neighborhoods across the five boroughs.
You can register for all of our free courses on Eventbrite. For questions about individual courses or to register over the phone, please contact our staff at one of our NYC Business Solutions Centers or reach out to one of our Immigrant Business Initiative partners.
For more information on all of our services, visit nyc.gov/sbs.


text:
RUTLAND, Vt. (AP) - Vermont State Police say a 17-year-old Rutland youth is facing charges that he helped hide a 15-year-old Chittenden girl who had run away from home.
Cory Munger was charged with second-degree unlawful restraint and giving false information to a police officer.
Police say they don't know what the relationship was between Munger and the girl who ran away from home on Tuesday. She was found Wednesday at a Rutland home.
The Rutland Herald reports the girl Munger is alleged to have helped was part of a group of four girls who all planned to run away together. Three of the girls have been found.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
Not a Member?
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After taking a bath in bleach to try and cleanse himself of his 'sins,' Gibbs makes his way to the local church, where he confesses his sins to the local priest (played by porn superstar Ryan Idol!) While Gibbs relays the stories of his previous encounters, Idol opens his robe to reveal his legendary prick and begins to stroke himself off. In no time, he shoots a load onto his leg, groaning out loud as Gibbs wonders what is going on. Composing himself, Father Idol tells Gibbs, 'Remember, my son, God loves all His children, in all shapes and forms.' After returning to his aunt's farmhouse, Gibbs learns a shocking secret when she reveals that Gibbs' father was gay and once had a male lover who now lives on a farm further west. Wanting to learn all that he can about his late father, Gibbs takes to the road again


text:
Physical activity often causes a state of euphoria, commonly known as "runner's high" or "fly fisherman's ecstasy." Be moved with this Groupon.
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Here are the sounds you'll hear at a typical marathon: huff, puff, wheeze, snort, repeat. Here are the sounds you'll hear at the Hit and Run 5K: sploosh, boing, splat, whoopee, and other onomatopoeias that haven't yet been invented. Less like a race and more like running through a living cartoon, the Hit and Run 5K's obstacle course of inflatable onslaughts has been known to "make ninjas cry."
Dodging, ducking, leaping, and balancing across a wet-and-rubbery battlefield, contestants face formidable foes such as the giant spinning balls of the Duck or Dive, the unreliable puffy poles of the Wobble Walk, the flying wet menaces at the Whacking Wall, and the Bouncy Bridge, which is kind of like London's Tower Bridge if it were any fun. All contestants receive their own spiffy T-shirts and matching headbands—a fetching ensemble that instantly deflates roving dodge balls—along with a hearty packet of deals from the race's sponsors.


text:
Concerns over Bernard Tomic's fitness have complicated Pat Rafter's thinking ahead of Australia's Davis Cup World Group playoff with Uzbekistan next week.
Rafter will name his squad on Tuesday for the three-day grasscourt tie starting in Perth on Friday week, with Tomic in extreme doubt after quitting the US Open with a hip injury.
The 21-year-old had been a certain selection alongside Lleyton Hewitt and Nick Kyrgios, but his likely unavailability has presented Rafter with a doubles dilemma.
If Tomic had played, the skipper could have freed up Hewitt to team with regular Cup partner Chris Guccione for the key day-two doubles in addition to spearheading the singles.
Hewitt, though, won't carry the full load of two singles and a doubles match, so Tomic's potential absence opens the door for big-serving Sam Groth to earn a maiden call-up.
In addition to his breakthrough singles win at the US Open last week, Groth and Guccione have won six doubles titles in 2014 - mostly on the secondary Challenger Tour - but lost to the second seeds in the first round at Flushing Meadows.
As ever, the doubles rubber will be pivotal, especially with Uzbekistan's No.1 singles player, world No.44 Denis Istomin, currently ranked higher than most of the Australian players.
Uzbekistan also have a dangerous doubles exponent in Farrakh Dustov, a tall timber who serves bombs in the same fashion as Groth, Guccione and Kyrgios.
Young gun Thanasi Kokkinakis is also in the mix for Australia and is likely to be included in Rafter's extended squad.
If Tomic is out, Rafter is expected to go with Hewitt, Kyrgios and two from Groth, Guccione and Kokkinakis to make up his four-man team.
The only certainty is Kyrgios will lead the singles assault with Hewitt following his show-stopping run to the third round in New York.
"It's an important tie for us and he's obviously a very important member for us in the team," said Cup coach and Kyrgios' travelling mentor Josh Eagle.
"Given his form on grass at Wimbledon, we're hoping he can bring that sort of form to Perth as well."
Kyrgios flew straight home to Canberra after his third-round Open loss on Saturday night to Spaniard Tommy Robredo.
"It is a big Davis Cup tie, but I am not going to think about that for the next couple of days," the teenager said.
"I am just going to go home, soak it up for a couple of days and then do what I have to do at Davis Cup."


text:
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text:
a journal of analysis and comment
advancing public understanding of religion and education
Fall 2001, Vol. 28 No. 2
Letter from the Council on Islamic Education
October 12, 2001
Dear Education Official,
As-salaam Alaykum (peace be with you). The Council on Islamic Education (CIE) expresses its tremendous grief over the victims of the horrific terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, and unequivocally condemns the heartless, inhumane perpetrators of the act and any acts like them. We join in mourning the dead, among which were people of the Jewish, Christian, Muslim and other faiths.
As you must know, Islam categorically condemns terrorism and the killing of innocents. Islam's sacred scripture, the Qur'an, states:
"… whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if be had killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind." (Qur'an 5:32)
We want to take this opportunity to express our belief in the American system and our confidence in the American people to live up to our nation's best ideals. We are proud of the statements by government officials at all levels denouncing stereotyping and abuse of any Americans, and our law enforcement for taking an active role in safeguarding all Americans. We are confident that you are encouraging administrators and teachers to exhibit the same fairness and support for their colleagues and their students, especially those who may become victims of abuse or assault in the aftermath of the tragedy.
We pledge to share with educators the task of protecting civil order by right and honorable conduct, and to share in upholding civic discourse in the United States. The Council on Islamic Education calls upon all education officials to support the education process, an institution which can dispel ignorance, cultivate tolerance among all of the peoples who share this great land, and avoid civil strife. Only by taking a clear stand against reactive
violence and hatred, by reaching out to the school communities and promoting healing and knowledge can we protect students of all faiths and their families from ignorance and discord. The values and principles of justice and democracy so cherished in the United States of America are equally cherished by Muslims, and supported in the scripture of Islam, the Qur'an.
"God created the heavens and the earth for just ends and in order that each soul may find the recompense of what it has earned and none of them be wronged." (Qur'an 35: 22)
Our organization, comprised of scholars of history and religion, has been working in American education for over a decade, collaborating with K-12 publishers, state education officials, curriculum specialists, and classroom teachers. From consulting on new history/social studies textbook programs to developing classroom materials and providing in-service workshops to educators, CIE offers a range of services and resources to the education community. We have partnered with like-minded institutions such as the Freedom Forum First Amendment Center in Arlington, VA to engender fair and balanced teaching about religion in accordance with constitutional provisions. All of these efforts are meant to contribute to the vitality and preeminence of our great land, by helping to create a citizenry that is knowledgeable about the world and its diverse inhabitants.
May God relieve the suffering of the aggrieved and guide our nation toward peace and justice.
Shabbir Mansuri, Founding Director
Council on Islamic Education
P.O. Box 20186
Fountain Valley, CA 92728-0186