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Saying the government should lead by example, President Barack Obama is ordering the federal government to nearly triple its use of renewable sources for electricity by 2020. More>>
Fighting came to the capital of Central African Republic on Thursday, leaving dozens of casualties and posing the biggest threat yet to the new government just as the U.N. Security Council authorized an intervention force... More>>
A suicide car bomber struck Yemen's Defense Ministry Thursday, killing 18 soldiers and paving the way for a carload of gunmen wearing army uniforms to storm the heavily guarded compound in the capital of Sanaa,... More>>
Algerian army helicopters killed a high-level al-Qaida operative and four associates as they sped through the southern Algerian desert, a local official said Thursday. More>>
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is launching ads backing eight-term Republican Rep. Mike Simpson, who faces a primary challenge in Idaho, and two GOP candidates in West Virginia as the business organization ramps up its... More>>
The U.S. economy grew at a 3.6 percent annual rate from July through September, the fastest since early 2012. But nearly half the growth came from a buildup in business stockpiles, a trend that could reverse in the current... More>>
Unknown assailants shot an American teacher to death as he was jogging on Thursday in Benghazi, a hospital official said, underlining persistently tenuous security in the eastern Libyan city where the U.S. ambassador was... More>>
Wildlife workers are returning to Everglades National Park in Florida on Thursday to try leading 41 pilot whales out of dangerously shallow waters and back to the ocean where they belong. More>>
Jameis Winston will learn whether he faces prosecution Thursday when a state attorney finally announces the results of an intensive investigation into sexual assault allegations against the quarterback for top-ranked... More>>
Pope Francis is assembling a panel of experts to advise him on sex abuse in the clergy - a task that will involve looking at how to protect children from pedophiles, how to better screen men for the priesthood and how to... More>>
Two men who have been held without charge at the Guantanamo Bay for more than a decade have been sent back to their native Algeria as part of a renewed effort to gradually close the prison, U.S. officials said Thursday. More>>
Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson says she is not proud of her past drug use but came clean to avoid being "bullied by lies" from her ex-husband. More>>
It's sometimes called highway hypnosis or white-line fever, and it's familiar to anyone who has driven long distances along a monotonous route. More>>
By The Associated Press Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: More>>
Western diplomats urged Ukrainian authorities on Thursday to respect the massive protests gripping the country against the government's decision to freeze ties with the EU and turn to Moscow instead. More>>
Herb Weatherwax cruises the open-air grounds of the visitors center at Pearl Harbor on a motorized scooter dubbed "Herb's Hot Rod." When a woman notices his blue and white cap embroidered with the words "Pearl Harbor... More>>
With a flick of the switch, a 76-foot Norway Spruce officially became the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree after it was illuminated for the first time this holiday season in a ceremony that's been held since 1933. More>>
Some people were choosing to stay indoors as an arctic blast swept across the Northern Plains, but the prospect of temperatures not cracking single digits had a different effect on the roustabouts, roughnecks and thousands... More>>
Tramps like us, baby we were born to bid. More>>
The jet stream hunkered to the south Wednesday, promising to bring nearly a week of temperatures that could dip to minus 20 or worse in the northern midsection of the country, and forcing much of the rest of the nation to... More>>
Orchid is growing on us: A version of the purple hue is Pantone Inc.'s color of the year for 2014. More>>
Mexican troops and federal police kept a nighttime watch on a rural field where thieves abandoned a stolen shipment of highly radioactive cobalt-60, while officials began planning the delicate task of recovering the... More>>
Giving no ground, Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden traded strong arguments Wednesday over China's contentious new air defense zone, with little indication of progress toward defusing a... More>>
The game between the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves was postponed Wednesday night because of smoky conditions inside the Mexico City arena. More>>
A missing shipment of radioactive cobalt-60 was found Wednesday near where the stolen truck transporting the material was abandoned in central Mexico, the country's nuclear safety director said. More>>
It's sometimes called highway hypnosis or white-line fever, and it's familiar to anyone who has driven long distances along a monotonous route. More>>
With a flick of the switch, a 76-foot Norway Spruce officially became the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree Wednesday night after it was illuminated for the first time this holiday season in a ceremony that's been held... More>>
By The Associated Press Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Thursday: More>>
MSNBC host Martin Bashir resigned from the network Wednesday, nearly three weeks after making graphic remarks on his show about former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. More>>
The prosecutor overseeing the investigation of sexual assault allegations against Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston said Wednesday that it is completed. More>>
The National Security Agency tracks the locations of nearly 5 billion cellphones every day overseas, including those belonging to Americans abroad, The Washington Post reported Wednesday. More>>
With the fight over solving Illinois' worst-in-the-nation pension shortfall now headed to the courts, the financially troubled state faces a grim possibility: The plan could be tossed, and Illinois could wind up in an... More>>
President Barack Obama prodded Congress to raise wages and secure the social safety net as he issued an overarching appeal Wednesday to correct economic inequalities that he said make it harder for a child to escape... More>>
Here's another adjective Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin can call his ill-timed two-step onto the field last Thursday night against Baltimore. More>>
Universal Pictures has shut down production on "Fast & Furious 7" indefinitely following the death of its star, Paul Walker. More>>
Sex toys. French films. Star Wars action figures. Erotic photos. More>>
The man charged with killing a Transportation Security Administration officer and wounding two other agents and a civilian during a shooting rampage at Los Angeles International Airport made his first court appearance... More>>
In the five years since the "Octomom" case, big multiple births have gone way down but the twin rate has barely budged. Now fertility experts are pushing a new goal: One. More>>
As gunfire boomed over and over in the background, a janitor begged a 911 dispatcher to send help, saying, "There's still shooting going on! Please!" A woman breathlessly reported seeing a gunman run down a hall. And a... More>>
Towering over his fellow protest leaders, Vitali Klitschko, the reigning world heavyweight boxing champion, has emerged as Ukraine's most popular opposition figure and has ambitions to become its next president. More>>
Government subsidies to help Americans buy insurance under the health care overhaul may be vulnerable to fraud, a Treasury Department watchdog warned on Tuesday in the latest indication that troubles are far from over for... More>>
As protests roiled the Ukrainian capital and other cities, three of the country's former presidents on Wednesday gave support to the demonstrators and warned the tensions could be spinning into an uncontainable crisis. More>>
Look alive, selfie. There's another word of the year that's not all about you. More>>
By The Associated Press Senior Hezbollah commander Hassan al-Laqis was assassinated early Wednesday in southern Beirut - a sharp blow to the Iranian-backed Shiite group. Hezbollah has no shortage of... More>>
The attackers waited in an olive grove around midnight. As the Hezbollah commander pulled into the garage of his nearby apartment building, they went in after him. Five bullets were pumped into his head and neck from a... More>>
Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson admitted in court Wednesday that she had taken cocaine, but denied being a habitual user. She accused her ex-husband of trying to "destroy" her, during a lacerating day of testimony that laid... More>>
Secretary of State John Kerry will present the outlines of a West Bank security plan in meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders this week, stepping up American involvement in hopes of reviving faltering Mideast peace... More>>
Need a quick delivery? Jeff Bezos wants to send in the drones. More>>
A traveling medical technician who stole painkillers and infected dozens of patients in multiple states with hepatitis C through tainted syringes was sentenced Monday to 39 years in prison. More>>
Las Vegas, where the only design rule seems to be that everything must mirror something else, is getting a new mall modeled on Istanbul's Grand Bazaar. More>>
As a ninth-grader, Shanghai's Li Sixin spent more than three hours on homework a night and took tutorials in math, physics and chemistry on the weekends. When she was tapped to take an exam last year given to half a... More>>
A judge has given Detroit the green light to cut pensions as a way out of the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history, a decision that puts the case in the laps of thousands of retirees who had hoped that the Michigan... More>>
The century-old home of Egypt's mummies and King Tutankhamun's treasures is trying to make the best out of the worst times of political turmoil. But the Egyptian Museum is taking a hammering on multiple levels,... More>>
It's intriguing news: the claim by South Korea's spy agency that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un probably sacked the country's second-most-powerful official - his uncle. But the first question is, is it true? More>>
Jeff Bezos' idea to let self-guided drones deliver packages may be too futuristic for Washington to handle. More>>
By The Associated Press Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: More>>
The campus is overrun by a tangled web of weeds and vines. Many of the books in the open-air library are ancient, their pages yellow. Students will have to share a handful of donated computers and put up with slow-speed... More>>
An engineer whose speeding commuter train ran off the rails along a curve, killing four people, experienced a hypnosis-like "daze" and nodded at the controls just before the wreck, and by the time he caught himself it was... More>>
In what was supposed to be a warm reunion, Vice President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet instead Wednesday in a climate fraught with tension over an airspace dispute that has put Asia on edge. A day before... More>>
Free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million, a person familiar with the... More>>
By JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer Production on "Fast & Furious 7" is on hold following the death of star Paul Walker. More>>
Billy Joel will perform once a month at Madison Square Garden - as long as the fans will have him. More>>
Lindsey Vonn was cleared to get back on a World Cup course for downhill training, the latest step as she works to return from a right knee injury and get ready for the Sochi Olympics. More>>
Billy Joel will perform once a month at Madison Square Garden - as long as the fans will have him. More>>
Protesters intent on toppling Thailand's democratically elected prime minister plan to press their struggle again Wednesday with a peaceful march on Bangkok's national police headquarters, one day after a sudden... More>>
American students once again lag behind many of their Asian and European peers on a global exam, a continuing trend that often is blamed on child poverty and a diverse population in U.S. schools. More>>
By The Associated Press Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Wednesday: More>>
An 85-year-old U.S. veteran being held in North Korea spent his war years there in one of the Army's first special forces units, helping a clandestine group of Korean partisans who were fighting and spying well behind... More>>
The Illinois Legislature approved a historic plan Tuesday to eliminate the state's $100 billion pension shortfall, a long-delayed decision proponents described as critical to repairing the state's deeply troubled... More>>
Entombed at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean in an upended tugboat for three days, Harrison Odjegba Okene begged God for a miracle. More>>
A federal judge ruled Tuesday that Detroit can use bankruptcy to cut employee pensions and relieve itself of other crushing debts, handing a defeat to the city's unions and retirees and shifting the case into a... More>>
On perhaps the busiest online shopping day of the year, the Supreme Court refused to wade into a dispute over state sales taxes for purchases on websites like Amazon.com, an outcome likely to prompt more states to attempt... More>>
In a Dec. 1 obituary for Paul Walker, The Associated Press reported erroneously that Walker's "Fast & Furious" co-star Vin Diesel reacted to Walker's death in a message on Instagram. The account that was quoted... More>>
Cranes are lifting trailers into place and tents are being packed away as international aid workers rush to winterize a Syrian refugee camp in Jordan - trying to avoid a repeat of last year when three days of torrential... More>>
World diplomats issued a stern warning Tuesday to Afghan leaders in a new effort to help secure the war-torn nation's future with thousands of foreign forces after 2014. But officials backed off earlier U.S. threats to... More>>
Seeking to regroup from his health care law's disastrous rollout, President Barack Obama on Tuesday insisted that the sweeping overhaul is working and warned Republican critics that he would fight any efforts to strip... More>>
Ukraine appeared mired in a political standoff Tuesday, as massive protest rallies showed no sign of letting up and the government warned of its capability for force after a failed attempt to take it down. More>>
Opposition fighters abducted 12 nuns from a Christian village overrun by rebels, Syria's Greek Orthodox patriarch and the head of a convent said Tuesday, adding to fears that hard-line Muslim rebels trying to overthrow... More>>
To say that new academic standards have yielded strange bedfellows would be an understatement. More>>
Ahmed Fouad Negm, who died Tuesday at the age of 84, was Egypt's poet of revolution, inspiring protesters from the 1970s through the current wave of uprisings with sharply political verses excoriating the country's... More>>
Senior Palestinians say the diplomatic pressure that produced the nuclear deal with Iran - world powers negotiating jointly in Geneva and wielding the stick of sanctions - should now be applied to the long-festering... More>>
A judge's decision to allow Detroit to fix its finances in bankruptcy court raises a flurry of questions about what happens next. Here's a look at what's known about the next steps: More>>
The Native American Hopi tribe took a Paris auction house to court Tuesday to try to block the upcoming sale of 32 sacred tribal masks, arguing they are "bitterly opposed" to the use as merchandise of sacred objects that... More>>
On a night usually dominated by news of players let loose, the Washington Nationals and Oakland Athletics filled pitching needs with trades. More>>
A new wave of Europeans is heading to Syria, their ranks soaring in the past six months as tales of easy living and glorious martyrdom draw them to the rebellion against Bashar Assad. More>>
By The Associated Press Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: More>>
Before his death, "Fast & Furious" star Paul Walker was drawing parallels between his real-life role as dad to 15-year-old daughter Meadow and his part as an unexpected father to a newborn baby in the upcoming... More>>
Washoku, the traditional cuisine of Japan, is being considered for designation as part of the world's priceless cultural heritage by the U.N. this week. But even as sushi and sake booms worldwide, purists say its finer... More>>
Russell Wilson was so impressed with the way Seattle prepared for its showdown against New Orleans that he made a point of texting coach Pete Carroll about it. More>>
A couple thousand Seahawks fans were crowded in front of the television stage when Russell Wilson walked out of the locker room still in full uniform. More>>
Anti-government protesters crossed heavily fortified barriers and reached the gates of the Thai prime minister's office and the city police headquarters without resistance from police Tuesday. More>>
President Barack Obama's new and improved health care website faces yet another test in just a couple of weeks, its biggest yet. If HealthCare.gov becomes overwhelmed by an expected year-end crunch, many Americans will... More>>
The neighborhood where "Fast & Furious" star Paul Walker died in a one-car crash is known to attract street racers, according to law enforcement officials. More>>
A growing body of evidence collected by U.N. investigators points to the involvement of senior Syrian officials, including President Bashar Assad, in crimes against humanity and war crimes, the U.N.'s top human rights... More>>
A commuter train that derailed over the weekend, killing four passengers, was hurtling at 82 mph as it entered a 30 mph curve, a federal investigator said Monday. But whether the wreck was the result of human error or... More>>
Power up and shop. More>>
Egypt's draft constitution amending the charter adopted under ousted President Mohammed Morsi limits the scope of Islamic law and introduces new articles seen as a victory for rights advocates, while expanding the... More>>
The government authorized the army Monday to take charge of security in Lebanon's second-largest city of Tripoli for six months following deadly sectarian clashes by rival sides stemming from the civil war in... More>>
It's become a predictable routine at Matt Pryor's insurance agency: An earthquake rumbles through Oklahoma, rattling dishes and nerves. Then the phones light up with calls and text messages from desperate residents... More>>
Extensive amendments of the constitution adopted under Egypt's ousted Islamist president give the military more privileges, enshrining its place as the nation's most powerful institution and the source of real... More>>
Facing huge anti-government demonstrations after spurning a deal with the European Union, Ukraine's embattled president sought Monday to quell public anger by moving to renew talks with Brussels. More>>
Critics are relentless in warning about what they see as the folly of the new Common Core academic standards, designed to prepare students for college or a job by the time they graduate from high school. More>>
Doctors are reporting an epidemic - of twins. Nearly half of all babies born with advanced fertility help are multiple births, new federal numbers show. More>>
The Lebanese government authorized the army on Monday to take control of the northern city of Tripoli for six months following three days of sectarian clashes, a decision meant to allay fears that fighting in Lebanon's... More>>
Retailers got Americans into stores during the start to the holiday shopping season. Now, they'll need to figure out how to get them to actually shop. More>>
Twitter just issued its IPO but a lingering question is how the popular worldwide microblog company will turn a profit. One Colorado-based company thinks it has found one way to help Twitter, and itself, make money. More>>
Encrypted email, secure instant messaging and other privacy services are booming in the wake of the National Security Agency's recently revealed surveillance programs. But the flood of new computer security services is... More>>
The Chinese government has declared victory in cleaning up what it considers rumors, negativity and unruliness from online discourse, while critics say the moves have suppressed criticism of the government and ruling... More>>
He disappeared when he was 12 years old, a skinny boy named Min Thu from the wrong side of town who thought he'd stumbled onto the golden ticket. More>>
Both the protesters on the streets of Bangkok and the Thai government pleading for them to go home say they're on the side of democracy, but that is not what their increasingly dangerous conflict is about. This is a... More>>
In these parts, a pay phone is a visitor's best option for reaching the rest of the world. A cell phone signal is an hour away by car. Wifi is forbidden. The radio plays nothing but static. And other than the... More>>
By The Associated Press Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: More>>
The operation was called Kindertransport - Children's Transport - and it was a passage from hell to freedom. More>>
Soon after the current wave of protests arose in Ukraine, a new word appeared to describe them: Euromaidan. Already in wide use as a hashtag on Twitter, it's an intriguing invention - linguistically rooted in both East... More>>
A man died and three people were taken in for questioning after an altercation that happened Sunday in the parking lot of Arrowhead Stadium as the Kansas City Chiefs played the Denver Broncos. More>>
The late President Hugo Chavez's dream of leveraging Venezuela's oil wealth to spread revolution across Latin America is crumbling under the weight of an economic crisis that is forcing his hand-picked successor to... More>>
Within minutes of opening a Twitter account this past week, the leader of Syria's main Western-backed opposition group received an onslaught of criticism. More>>
A comet that gained an earthly following because of its bright tail visible from space was initially declared dead after grazing the sun. Now, there is a sliver of hope that Comet ISON may have survived. More>>
By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO AP Retail Writer The holiday shopping season started as a marathon, not a sprint. More>>
Investigators sought to determine the cause of a fiery crash that killed "Fast & Furious" star Paul Walker while the actor's fans erected a makeshift memorial Sunday near where the Porsche he was riding in smashed... More>>
The United Nations closed its main office in Bangkok, dozens of schools closed and many civil servants stayed away from work Monday as the Thai capital braced for more violence in a spiraling political crisis. More>>
A New York City commuter train rounding a riverside curve derailed Sunday, killing four people and injuring more than 60 in a crash that threw some riders from toppling cars and swiftly raised questions about whether... More>>
By The Associated Press Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Monday: More>>
Tom Brady was glad to escape Houston with a win. More>>
By STEVE ROTHWELL Thanksgiving Day is no longer all about turkey: It's eating away at Black Friday shopping. More>>
By The Associated Press A Metro-North train derailed Sunday as it rounded a curve in the Bronx borough of New York City, killing four people and injuring more than 60 others. More>>
The number of Iraqis slain "execution-style" surged last month, the U.N. said Sunday, raising fears of a return of the death squads that killed thousands during the darkest days of sectarian violence that followed the... More>>
Police fired tear gas to drive hundreds of supporters of Egypt's ousted Islamist president from Cairo's famed Tahrir Square on Sunday, as a panel tasked with amending the constitution adopted during his time in... More>>
A protest by about 300,000 Ukrainians angered by their government's decision to freeze integration with the West turned violent Sunday, when a group of demonstrators besieged the president's office and police drove... More>>
The worst of the online glitches, crashes and delays may be over for the problem-plagued government health care website, the Department of Health and Human Services said Sunday. More>>
A fiery car crash north of Los Angeles has killed 40-year-old Paul Walker, the star of the "Fast & Furious" movie series, and one other person in the vehicle. More>>
The family of an elderly U.S. tourist detained for more than a month in North Korea said Saturday the Swedish ambassador has seen the man and found him to be in good health. More>>
The weekly meetings of Mouthing Off!, a group for students at Mills College in Oakland, Calif., who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, always start the same way. Members take turns going around the room... More>>
Police guarded Thailand's seat of government and other key locations and braced for more violence Sunday, after political protests erupted into street fighting between supporters and opponents of Prime Minister... More>>
That crazy tipped pass for a long game-winning touchdown is now the second-most stunning and improbable play of Auburn's wild season. More>>
Revelers at this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade gave thanks for the giant balloons that flew above the city streets Thursday after a blustery storm accompanied by high winds nearly grounded them for only the... More>>
The Montana attorney general's office on Friday asked the state Supreme Court to throw out a 30-day sentence given to a teacher who raped a 14-year-old girl, saying the punishment was illegally lenient. More>>
A mother on board a plane that crashed in remote southwest Alaska made a frantic phone call for help resuscitating her 5-month-old baby, then left the fatally injured boy to lead searchers hampered by cold and fog to the... More>>
By The Associated Press The holiday shopping season kicked off early, as several retailers began offering deals on Thanksgiving. Many people complained about the early start and the mad rush for deals -... More>>
Former Boston crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger could soon see some of his jewelry, clothes and other belongings on the auction block. More>>
The Obama administration says it will meet its self-imposed deadline of fixing the troubled health care website so that 50,000 people can log in at the same time starting late Saturday. Yet questions remain about the... More>>
The panel amending Egypt's suspended constitution began voting Saturday on some 250 changes, the first step toward democratic rule following the July military coup that ousted the country's president. More>>
A New Jersey canine that was crowned the world's ugliest dog in 2007 and later became the topic of a children's book preaching acceptance has died. Elwood was 8. More>>
About 10,000 anti-government demonstrators angry about Ukraine's refusal to sign a pro-European Union agreement converged Saturday on a square outside a monastery where protesters driven away in a pre-dawn clash with... More>>
Syria's government will try to move the most lethal components of its chemical weapons program to a port city by the end of the year, and the U.S. has offered to pick up and destroy the hazardous material at an... More>>
Scotland's official holiday was transformed into a grim day of mourning Saturday as emergency crews searched the wreckage of a riverside pub smashed by a falling police helicopter. At least eight people died and more... More>>
Mexican drug cartels looking to diversify their businesses long ago moved into oil theft, pirated goods, extortion and kidnapping, consuming an ever larger swath of the country's economy. This month, federal officials... More>>
Federal officials say Americans are joining the bloody civil war in Syria, raising the chances they could become radicalized by al-Qaida-linked militant groups and return to the U.S. as battle-hardened security risks. More>>
By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO AP Retail Writer Millions of Americans turned out as the holiday buying season started earlier this year on Thanksgiving Day. But there's still a lot of shopping left. More>>
About a dozen Muslim armed fighters rolled up to the Catholic mission in their pickup truck and delivered an ominous message to the hundreds seeking refuge on church grounds: Leave the premises by morning or face death. More>>
Small businesses interested in buying marketplace health insurance plans for their workers will have to purchase them from agents, brokers or insurance companies for the next year, rather than through the government website. More>>
Destroying Syria's deadliest chemical weapons on land would come with vexing diplomatic and security problems as well as environmental issues. To avoid those potential troubles, U.S. officials say, the Obama... More>>
By The Associated Press Looking back at the stories to remember from the past week: More>>
Police in the Ukrainian capital broke up a large anti-government demonstration in the city center before dawn Saturday, swinging truncheons and injuring many. More>>
North Korea state media claimed Saturday that an elderly U.S. tourist detained for more than a month has apologized for alleged crimes during the Korean War and for "hostile acts" against the state during a recent trip. More>>
A police helicopter crashed into the roof of a crowded Glasgow pub, causing "numerous" casualties and leaving people trapped in the unstable building, officials said early Saturday. More>>
The United States advised U.S. carriers to comply with China's demand that it be told of any flights passing through its new maritime air defense zone over the East China Sea, an area where Beijing said it launched two... More>>
Tucked away in one of northern New Mexico's pristine mountain canyons is an old log cabin that was the birthplace not of a famous person, but a top-secret mission that forever changed the world. More>>
Egyptian security forces firing tear gas and water cannons on Friday broke up anti-government demonstrations by Islamists defying a draconian new law restricting protests. More>>
By The Associated Press The holiday shopping season kicked off early, as several retailers began offering deals on Thanksgiving Day. Many people complained about the early start and the mad rush for... More>>
A six-month-old pit bull that was buried under a pile of rubble for more than a week after a tornado ripped through a central Illinois city has been coaxed to freedom with hot dogs and reunited with his owner. More>>
When Olympic skier Bode Miller handed his infant son to the baby's mother in a courtroom this week, she was handed a victory - for now - in a case that became a rallying point for women's-rights advocates. More>>
The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan apologized to President Hamid Karzai for a drone strike that killed a child and NATO promised an investigation Friday as rising tensions threatened efforts to persuade the Afghan... More>>
An Amish girl with leukemia spent time at a natural cancer treatment center in Central America after she left home with her parents in Ohio to avoid being forced to resume chemotherapy treatments, the girl's... More>>
By The Associated Press The holiday shopping season kicked off early, as several retailers began offering deals on Thanksgiving Day. Many people complained about the early start and the mad rush for... More>>
Pope Francis has ramped up the Vatican's charity work, sending his chief alms-giver and a contingent of Swiss guards onto the streets of Rome at night to do what he usually can't do: comfort the poor and the homeless. More>>
Every morning in northeastern Lebanon, hundreds of Syrian children are picked up from refugee settlements, loaded onto trucks and taken to the fields or shops for a day's work that earns $4 or less. More>>
An Italian court accused ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi and his lawyers on Friday of tampering with evidence by paying off witnesses in a trial related to his notorious "bunga bunga" parties. More>>
Protesters forced their way onto the grounds of Thailand's army headquarters on Friday, asking the military to support their increasingly aggressive campaign to topple Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. The army... More>>
EU leaders Friday revived Cold War rhetoric Friday, accusing Russia of bullying Ukraine into ditching a landmark deal so the former Soviet republic would stay locked in Moscow's orbit. More>>
A German police officer has been arrested on suspicion of killing and chopping up a man he met on the Internet who had long fantasized about being killed and eaten, authorities said Friday. More>>
German authorities are posting online another 101 works from the huge trove of art found at a reclusive collector's apartment in Munich, bringing the total so far to 219. More>>
Kanye West continued to vent at former partner Nike, taking to the mic during a concert again this week to complain about his treatment by the sports apparel company. More>>
By The Associated Press Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: More>>
A wet and blustery storm along the East Coast made driving hazardous and tangled up hundreds of flights Wednesday but didn't cause the all-out gridlock many Thanksgiving travelers had feared. More>>


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Amazon's Cloud Player has been around for a while now, but the only way to access it in a desktop environment has been via the web browser. Now though, Amazon has announced a full desktop client for Cloud Player, and takes the fight to iTunes in doing so.
More →
Amazon's Kindle app for iOS has been updated in the App Store with support for VoiceOver for the visually impaired. The added compatibility with the built in iOS feature allows for easier navigation of the library, and makes it better to read and interact with the Kindle books.
If you're an Amazon Kindle for iOS app user, Amazon is warning you to avoid their latest update. Kelly Hodgkins from TUAW writes:
Apparently, a glitch in the update is erasing the user's entire book library from their iOS device.
The hugely popular app, IMDb Movies and TV has received a significant update with some nice shiny new features. If you are a user of Amazon Prime then you are in for a real treat as titles that you peruse on IMDb that are also available on Amazon Prime will have a link that will allow you to watch them instantly; as long as you have the Amazon Prime app installed on your iPhone or iPad.
Amazon announced today that their Amazon MP3 store, the section of their website where you can buy digital music downloads similar to what iTunes offers, has now been optimized to look and work better in Apple's Safari browser on the iPhone and iPod touch screen.
There is no question that Apple has done some amazing things. It has become the largest company in the world, by market value, because it has redefined industries. It redefined the music business, it redefined smartphones and it redefined tablet computing. Apple did not invent these businesses. Most observers would argue that the likes of Handspring/Palm and RIM invented smartphones and stylus-oriented computing devices, including Apple's Newton and Microsoft's Tablet PC certainly pre-dated the iPad. But Apple massively and permanently redefined consumers' expectations in these markets. While doing so, they built up an incredibly profitable hardware business.
So why is it that Apple's stock hasn't actually outperformed Amazon by that much?
Regulators in the European Union are reportedly ready to accept the offer made by Apple and four book publishers, bringing an end to an antitrust probe regarding ebook pricing. Apple and these publishers made the offer back in September, and regulators are expected to announce their acceptance of the deal next month. The deal with European regulators addresses aspects of pricing and contracts that prevent lower pricing at rival retailers.
Apple is paying less than 2% tax on its profits from overseas sales which are thought to be in the region of 37 billion dollars. The details were revealed in Apple's 10K filing which was presented to the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The news comes for UK newspaper The Guardian
Rene Ritchie and special guest Jim Dalrymple of The Loop talk Apple's October event, including the new 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac, iPad 4, and iPad mini. This is the iMore show.
While announcing their Q3 numbers yesterday, Amazon took the opportunity to take a few shots at Apple and the newly announced iPad mini. Amazon listed what they think are key advantages for their Kindle Fire HD over the iPad mini, including higher screen resolutions, better speakers, and lower cost. This, perhaps, to help distract from the loss Amazon suffered during the quarter.
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All applicants for admission to the College are required to submit an official final transcript as evidence of having completed their secondary school education. High school seniors may give their completed application form and application fee to a guidance counselor, who will enclose the necessary transcript and immunization records (see below) and mail them to RCC's Office of Admissions. Applicants who have already graduated from high school and are applying by mail should contact the school from which they graduated and request that the school forward an official transcript directly to the RCC Admissions Office. Applicants with a high school equivalency certificate (GED or USAFI) should have official or notarized copies of both their certificate and their test scores forwarded to the Office of Admissions. Applicants who hold an associate degree or bachelor's degree may submit either their college or their high school transcript. Students with a transcript in a language other than English must submit a notarized or certified translation of their transcript. The translated document must clearly indicate that the student completed the equivalent of secondary school with a passing grade in each subject, or they must submit a notarized evaluation of their transcript in English. All applicants from English-speaking countries, or applicants who have received their secondary school education in a British system or similar educational system, must submit the originals or certified copies of at least one of the following academic documents:
Other documents that are deemed comparable to or higher than the above credentials may be i considered. Transcripts of terminal school report cards, mock examination results, attendance records, or testimonials are not acceptable. Applicants without at least one of the records listed above, or applicants who are having trouble " obtaining transcripts, should contact the RCC Office of Admissions for assistance.
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Amika Obliphica Digital Titanium Glide Curler
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Rendezvous with the Stars in Thunder Bay this Summer!
The Thunder Bay Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada will play host to the Society's 53rd General Assembly from 2013 June 28-30. Help us celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Thunder Bay Centre on the beautiful campus of Lakehead University. The world's most interesting science will be celebrated with outstanding keynote speakers, social events and other activities designed for astronomy enthusiasts of all ages and stages.
We are pleased to be partnering with both Fort William Historical Park, and the Lakehead University Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies in order to help us bring this program to you.
We look forward to welcoming you to Thunder Bay in June!
Dave Gallant, Chair
GA 2013 Organizing Committee


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SAQ is an abbreviation for:
Self-Actualization Quotient
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Pool players of all ages and skill levels can find all the right angles at VIP Billiards' 20 pool tables seven days a week. When not sinking shots into the spot's 120 pockets, cue hands keep busy with bottles of beer or a cocktail from the full-service bar, and all patrons can pass the time between games by throwing darts, sending ping-pong balls careening across tables, or using the WiFi to look up pro tips for applying chalk. VIP Billiards also opens up its space and all the attendant green felt surfaces for private parties, fundraisers, and APA league teams.
O'Reilly's flame-wielders dish up an eclectic menu of traditional Irish-pub fare amid fetching period décor and games fit for the whole family. Imbue taste buds with the savory flavors of a twice-baked shrimp potato ($7.48) before unbridling a gallant fleet of forks upon a legion of irish-sausage links straddled with mashed potatoes and sautéed onions ($14.98). Or invoke the Earl of Sandwich without donning a fluffernutter-encrusted crown by perusing O'Reilly's selection of handheld eats, which includes the succulent short-rib grilled-cheese sandwich slathered in horseradish sauce ($10.48) and the Bookmaker—a robust layering of filet mignon, sautéed onions, and mushrooms ($13.48). Homemade by O'Reilly's crack chefs, the strawberry-rhubarb cobbler robes itself with regal dollops of whipped and sweetened Jameson butter ($4.98).
There's always something going on at Village Idiot Pub, where drink specials abound and live music takes the stage each weekend. A menu of pub grub tempts diners with starters such as lobster wontons and mac 'n' cheese wedges, along with beefy burgers topped with bacon and jalapeños. For finger-licking eats, the pub also prepares chicken wings in 11 sauces, from trademark buffalo to the super-spicy atomic.
At Rudi's Bar and Grill, it's easy to lose track of time when faced with the eatery's combination of sports, beer, and finger-licking grub. Ten TVs encircle the bar, surrounding the place in the sights and sounds of the season's sports, from basketball or football to competitive snowball fighting. Hungry customers can thwart their stomach's growls with a menu of classic American bar fare. Appetizers such as fried mac and cheese, spinach dip, and sliders precede traditional and boneless wings, black-and-blue cheeseburgers, and pulled-pork sandwiches. On weekends, live music permeates the crowd, which grows throughout the night thanks to a lack of cover charges.
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A well-kept secret tucked away in Lindenhurst, The Loyal Dog Ale House is home to more than 100 different beers from around the world. At any given time, Loyal Dog has more than a dozen craft selections on tap, and if visitors want to enjoy a brew at home, they can fill up a glass growler instead furtively pouring drinks into their shoes. The Loyal Dog's beer list acts as a fitting accomplice to its menu of finger-friendly eats, such as burgers and Jack Daniels pulled pork sandwiches. The international brews and pub grub also fuel festive events throughout the week, including 90s-themed trivia and music on Wednesday nights.


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Who is left defending George Osborne?
The economists have deserted him, and business leaders are nowhere to be heard.
By David Blanchflower Published 24 August 2012 11:58So far, we have heard from 13 of the 20 economists who signed the now-infamous letter to George Osborne in the Sunday Times in February 2010, in which they argued that:
[The] government's goal should be to eliminate the structural current Budget deficit over the course of a parliament.
Eleven of the economists responded to the New Statesman's request for a comment, two and a half years on. Of those, nine admitted that the changed situation had caused them to change their minds; one, Albert Marcet of Spain, remained supportive of Osborne; and the eleventh, Oxford's John Vickers, declined to comment either way.
Since then, two further signatories have got in touch with the Daily Telegraph to confirm that they, too, remain supportive. But what of the other seven? Will they admit they got it wrong; stake their colours ever firmer to a dying idea; or take the cowards' way out? We are still waiting to hear from:
- Sir Howard Davies, then of the London School of Economics, now working for France's Science Po
- Meghnad Desai, formerly of the London School of Economics
- Andrew Turnbull, former Cabinet Secretary
- Orazio Attanasio of University College London
- John Muellbauer of Nuffield College, Oxford
- Thomas Sargent of New York University, joint winner of 2011 Nobel prize in economics
- Anne Sibert of Birkbeck College
The economists aren't the only letter writers who should be embarrassed of their record. What about the 35 businesspeople who signed, corralled by CCHQ, their own letter in October 2010, to the Telegraph, which began:
It has been suggested that the deficit reduction programme set out by George Osborne in his emergency Budget should be watered down and spread over more than one parliament. We believe that this would be a mistake.
This letter was signed by the 34 men and one woman in their personal capacities, but some of them have surely been hit hard by the collapse in confidence which has ensued in the last two years. Andy Bond, ASDA's former chairman, can't be too happy about the impact the weak economy has had on his old company's sales growth, for instance.
Of course, some are unlikely to recant no matter what the evidence. Party-funding transparency website Search the Money reveals that five of the 35 are donors to the Tories, with donations totalling over half a million pounds between them.
Will any of the business leaders recant? The full list, including positions in 2010, is below. The New Statesman awaits their response.
- Will Adderley, CEO, Dunelm Group
- Robert Bensoussan, Chairman, L.K. Bennett
- Andy Bond, Chairman, ASDA
- Ian Cheshire, Chief Executive, Kingfisher
- Gerald Corbett, Chairman, SSL International, moneysupermarket.com, Britvic
- Peter Cullum, Executive Chairman, Towergate
- Tej Dhillon, Chairman and CEO, Dhillon Group
- Philip Dilley, Chairman, Arup
- Charles Dunstone, Chairman, Carphone Warehouse Group, Chairman, TalkTalk Telecom Group
- Warren East, CEO, ARM Holdings
- Gordon Frazer, Managing Director, Microsoft UK
- Sir Christopher Gent, Non-Executive Chairman, GlaxoSmithKline
- Ben Gordon, Chief Executive, Mothercare
- Anthony Habgood, Chairman, Whitbread , Chairman, Reed Elsevier
- Aidan Heavey, Chief Executive, Tullow Oil
- Neil Johnson, Chairman, UMECO
- Nick Leslau, Chairman, Prestbury Group
- Ian Livingston, CEO, BT Group
- Ruby McGregor-Smith, CEO, MITIE Group
- Rick Medlock, CFO, Inmarsat; Non-Executive Director lovefilms.com, The Betting Group
- John Nelson, Chairman, Hammerson
- Stefano Pessina, Executive Chairman, Alliance Boots
- Nick Prest, Chairman, AVEVA
- Nick Robertson, CEO, ASOS
- Sir Stuart Rose, Chairman, Marks & Spencer
- Tim Steiner, CEO, Ocado
- Andrew Sukawaty, Chairman and CEO, Inmarsat
- Michael Turner, Executive Chairman, Fuller, Smith and Turner
- Moni Varma,Chairman,Veetee
- Paul Walker, Chief Executive, Sage
- Paul Walsh, Chief Executive, Diageo
- Robert Walters, CEO, Robert Walters
- Joseph Wan, Chief Executive, Harvey Nichols
- Bob Wigley, Chairman, Expansys, Stonehaven Associates, Yell Group
- Simon Wolfson, Chief Executive, Next
Read David Blanchflower's most recent column for the New Statesman, "Perhaps Iain Duncan Smith will accuse me of peeing on the data", here
50 comments
How come a railway company close to David Cameron's family get awarded the West coast rail network, when they have just reneged ANOTHER RAIL NETWORK three years before contract to claim £850 million THEY WILL NOW NOT HAVE TO PAY BACK OR WOULD HAVE BECOME INSOLVENT AS A RAIL COMPANY.
Can a person of high morals explain this deal?
Think the author is missing the point slightly, after reading his article in NS. Now, I don't believe in alisdair darling's cynical thesis that the austerity is merely a mask for ideological conservatism ;the deficit needs to be reduced. No one is in any doubt about that. The pace of the cuts are what's crippling and is the sign of a Tory government attempting to stick to its electioneering strategy of cutting the deficit in one term. What is terrifying is that, when we entered DD recession, (I'd argue we never got out of the first one) it was revealed that just under 90% of cuts are still to be enacted. If the government continues to cut so deep and fast then growth will simply not happen. I've heard many people spectate that growth can come out of austerity, however this has simply not proven to be the case. A plan for jobs and full employement must be enacted alongside just pure austerity. I don't buy this rhetoric that farage and ukip have come out with, that 'regulation must be taken off the backs of businesses' etc. that is simply one of many platitudes associated with the right wing. The impetus provided by the government is vital. Labour's tax on banker bonuses and 'guaranteed' employment (slightly dubious) is very half baked, but is the kind of thing that needs to be enacted by the government. However what I find frustrating is everyone's talk of a 'plan b'. labour is as guilty of this as anyone else and mr blanchflower endorsed the phrase several times in his article. No one has specified any notion of a plan b. Does it mean a slower pace of cuts? Does it mean higher taxation? As of yet, no one has come up with a credible alternative. The author of this article mentioned an investment in infrastructure (nice and vague) but does not specify how this can effect jobs and growth. Bearing on mind the amount of money the current government is borrowing, 'plan b' must become specified, rather than just meaning dissatisfaction with the current governments austerity. I've said for a while, why not use the quantitative easing programme to help direct employment and growth, in terms of building houses? Instead of 'spending' 380 bn on bank lending, which hasn't seen much difference. Remember it is up to the banks discretion whether they lend, no one can force them to. However my point Is until economists like David blanchflower actually propose an alternative to austerity or a direct or indirect plan for jobs and growth, rather than do immature name and shame lists of other economists, then this whole debate becomes null and void.
Just watched Born Bankrupt on Sky News. It reminds me of the saying we don't inherit from our ancestors we borrow from our children.
It was very sobering, there is no one really willing to face reality and our unfunded government liabilities. Don't expect politicians of any party to admit and deal with the future liabilities as it will cost votes but the day of reckoning will come sooner than we think.
Does that mean Dave Cameron will not inherit the £350 billion tax free benfit as an offshore company his father left in the Windies?
Sky News, the television arm of the Tory Party. Sky news is a loss making organisation, whose sole aim is the broadcast properganda for the right.
Jeff Randall, being a wally brain, interviewed former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin over a year ago, and criticised " egg-head " economists, who were predicting a recession in the UK.
Well that line of attack worked.
Pay restraint in the public sector in this parliament would have been necessary whoever was in government. But my economic mistakes mean more difficult decisions on tax, spending and pay. It is now inevitable that public sector pay restraint will have to continue for longer, but it should be done in a fair way. I hope you will agree and act to guarantee a fairer way forward.
Ed Balls MP
Oh David
Do you remember pencilling: "I now have every expectation that within a few days the UK will lose its AAA credit rating.". 25 July 2012. Do you still hold the same view?
We might lose the AAA but the rating agencies will want to see a clearer view of the 2012 Q4/ 2013 Q1 data and the impact of the pending US down turn to decide on the underlying trend on the UKs capacity to service its massive debts.
Do you remember predicting that the UK would catch up with the US economy, growth wise, in a few months , I still giggle at that howler.
If Labour can make a complete ash of the economy with a government treasure chest overflowing how the hell are they going to convince enough of us to trust them with the economy with an empty treasure chest? Labour can make as many spending commitments it wishes. Labour can promise more sweets and cakes tomorrow all it likes. But without a solid economic alternative to responsible government Labour remains unelectable.
It think your mean " hash" Red Pain. You really do seem to be in denial over the Tories borrowing and tax raising history, why is that.
Why is okay for the Tories to borrow and blow £350 billion in north sea oil revenues. Between 1980 and 1985, North Sea oil accounted for 15% of all government revenues.
Why don't you want to talk about the 1 million NHS waiting list Labour inherited?
It think your mean " hash" . I did... thank you for pointing out my typing error. "It think your mean" Mmm...? Is the Hobbit your favorite book. It's just an afterthought ....Gollum....
Now now Red Pain, if you can't rebut the facts, it is better not to participate.
Do you mean my " favourite" book. As a matter of fact, the Riddle of the Sands, is my favourite book, unlike you, I managed to move on from Topsy and Tim.
It's a riddle why anyone would trust the Labour party with the nations finances never mind with the economy. Ed Balls and Ed Miliband were the advises who created Labour's tripartite financial regulation system. Labour completely screwed up the economy from 1999 onwards. Manufacturing slumped, trade deficits and current account deficits got wider and public sector waste increased faster than the nations ability to keep apace with public sector spending. Labour's disastrous immigration policy saw 80% of all new jobs created go to newly arrived immigrants depriving millions of our young people their fist opportunity of paid employment. Labour added to the Public debt each and every year starting from 2000 when it was in the valleys and creating a huge mountain by 2010. Labour would do all these things again. Ed Balls is untrustworthy and is economic poison.
Thatcher screwed the economy in the eighties
I take it you didn't live through the 1970's..... now that was a grim time.
The only riddle I am familiar with is the one from Nik Kershaw. As oppose to a hole in the ground, there seems to be a whole in your head.
" Manufacturing slumped, trade deficits and current account deficits " Welcome to Osborne's magic. Can't you bring yourself to read the economic data that is out there?. The current trade deficit is at a 15 year high.
What's the matter Gollum can't you find your precious. Your useless Labour party that you unquestionably defend was a total disaster for the working class. Your warmongering Labour party has the blood of ten's of thousands on it's hands. The Nations finances are in a perilous state because of your financially incompetent Labour party. Yet you persist in defending the indefeasible. Crawl back into your cave Gollum..
Whose upset you friend? You and your crackpot views, strange how borrowing £264 billion can't be construed as perilous. You might hanker for the days of one million on the Nhs waiting list, I don't in particular.
Gollum your precious Labour party would be doing very much the same if still in government. The Labour party has yet to formulate any credible alternative to responsible government. Your precious Labour party have yet to formulate any credible ideas at all that doesn't involve borrowing even greater amounts of money.
Labour boosted north sea oil production when they took power in order to drain the wells as fast as possible to fund expansion of the state and invading the odd country. Do you know how much north sea oil money Labour spent (of course you do but are too ashamed to say how much)?
How did they boost production? Come on Inastew, lets see the evidence. I take it your not disputing the fact since 1999, the oil fields have been in decline. Do you understand the term " decline"
I found this document from the HMRC (.gov.uk) website which might be of interest which shows some facts to discuss: (the NS website is blocking weblinks ). "/stats/corporate_tax/table11-11.pdf"
Do you think the HMRC facts show that the last government used substantially more North Sea oil revenues then the government before? Where did your £350Bn come from? Did you make it up?
Making things up, like Gideon borrowing £100 billion in his first year of government? Or the Tories borrowing £100 billion circa 1979-1997?
I didn't make those up, but it didn't stop you Inastew.
No being a chicken and ducking the North Sea oil issue like a slippery snake. You have been going on and on about abuse of oil money for years.
The HMRC facts sheet shows Labour consumed more Oil revenue that the previous government. The HMRC data does not add up to anything like your £350Bn - why is that? Did Ed Balls infultrate HMRC as well as the Treasury and corrupt their figures too?
Where did your £350Bn come from? Was it a figure your friends told you to use? Or is it made up like State Fairy economic policies?
Sorry I forgot, you are a bit simple many apologies. The figure I quoted included the adjustment for inflation, you probably don't understand with being stupid, that £12.035 Billion in 1984/5 is worth more the £12.925 billion in 2008/9
Are you interested to know that between 1980 and 1985, North Sea Oil accounted for 15% of all government income?
I see Osborne is still borrowing, even with £8.786 Billion 2010/11 and £12.250 Billion 2011/12 from North Sea Oil. Remind me how that works, £20 Billion and he still managed to borrow in excess of £20o Billion?
So your £350Bn is a load of old nonsense. Glad we've sorted that out. Dont be so Labour spin making up misleading statistics to conceal the truth -- instead try winning arguments on merit.
Dont forget to adjust the 2010/11 and 2011/12 figure for inflation before comparing Tory and Labour. In your Labour mathspin that means Labour used £2.5 oil money whilst the Tories used £10,000Tn.
Whether you are Labour or Tory makes no difference to the fact that the last government boosted oil production -its a fact that they did, I remeber the extra activity in the oil industry it generated- because they were not sure how long they were going to be in power and they wanted to get it used in case they lost it. It was against the national interest because with oil prices rising they knew they could have waited and got a lot more money for the oil. At the same time they sold the gold at a ridiculously cheap price and borrowed £350Bn before 2008. They pumped all that money - oil, gold, debt - into the economy when it was already booming. "No more boom and bust". The truth is they knew exactly what they were doing to the UK economy but only cared about clinging to power. We had regular press briefings about how the money was being spent improving the NHS and schools -- put all that together and it does not add up to £100bn. The rest of the money was pumped into the economy to boost the feel good factor to win elections. Thatcher did exactly the same dropping interest rates to pump money into the economy before elections except Labour did it with borrowing.
Dont you think -- whether you are Labour or Tory -- the UK political system is broken?
" The growth of North Sea oil revenues is the most important fiscal development in the British economy in the 1980s "
Nice quote from the IFS.
Inastew, stop avoiding your howlers. It wasn't me who talked about Gideon borrowing £100 Billion in his first year, I mean you were only out by £5o Billion. And as for Major and Thatcher only borrowing £100 Billion as opposed the reality of £264 Billion, you really need to aim your blunderbuss away from your feet.
What nonsense are you on about? Are you talking about a post when I asked you how much the annual deficit was and asked whether it was £100Bn?
You have been full on with people for more than a year repeatedly asserting the Tories drank £350Bn of oil money. The £350Bn was a nonsense fabriacted number which is widely wrong at least compared to the facts published by HMRC that we agree with.
Matt, why did you make up the £350Bn when actually Labour used more oil money than the Tories? Is it because you were being honest? Do you think Asil Nadir told the truth? Do you think he made up his company's treasury forecasts?
I am talking about your nonsense, I am not surprised you dont want to defend your mistakes.
You boldly talked about Osborne only borrowing £100 Billion, yet when addressed with the facts, you told me it was a guess.
Your guesses are awful, surely you should be at the OBR, they are totally hopeless and used as cover for Osborne.
Didn't Sir Alan Budd rush out figures to give cover to Cameron and Osborne?
The £350 Billion isn't fabricated, far from it genius. As I have to keep explaining, the value of monies I have stated are in real terms.
Asil Nadir, prominent Tory donor, do you mean him?
Companies don't issue treasury forecasts, the Treasury used too, can't you get anything right.
ave you been at the fermenting apples again as you are talking a load nonsense. The fact is you have been bleating on to lots of people for years about the Tory abus of North Sea oil and what do we find when we look at the HMRC facts sheets? You are have made it all up. Labour used ore oil revenue and -- it is known in the oil industry -- Labour turned the taps up to get the oil out as fast as possible in case they lost office. So much for acting in the interests of our kids.
If Osbourne is short of supporters he could always call on Angela Merkel, Mark Rutte and the ECB.
Looks like Gideon's day just got a bit darker. It looks like RBS are going to be hit with a big fine over the Libor scandal, and Osborne seems to be sitting on the term of the settlement.
Strange how Stephen Hester knew about the Libor scandal for years, but was more interested in getting a bonus.
Talking of bonus do you think Labour could have done as much as the coalition towards curbing board room pay? Also, could you help me out by reminding me under who's watch these happened:
- £600bn borrowing
- MPs expenses
- phone hacking/ bribing the police/ pyjama parties
- doubling of board room pay
- running down UK industry fastest since the 1970s
- poor regulation leading and libor fixing, collapse of the UK's banks
- no more boom and bust
- champaigne and canopes lifestyle for government MPs
- failing to deliver on affordable housing
- slipping back of NHS health care relative to other countries
- managing the proletariat and biggotgate
- not supporting Pearson to set up its university
- not supporting Ford
- photo opportunities with troops but not giving them the best equipment
- 2 aircraft carriers but no money for planes
- house prices rising excessively stopping people getting on the ladder
- opening up the North Sea oiltaps to consume it as fast as possible
- selling the gold
- growing the state out of control
- legacy of half of adults leaving school without maths and english GCSE (never mind the spin on the pass rate of people who sit the exams)
- warping treasury forecasts
- PFI/ PPI off the balancesheet concealing of debt
- government spin factory
- out of control magration flows
etc etc etc etc.
Even Thatcher could not compete with it!
Do you anticipate Balls and Miliband will follow in their predecessors footsteps? Will they complete an "O" turn on policy by dropping Plan A?
This is a wonderful list. Of course we must remember that all these things mean that under the "New" Labour years we saw a continuation of the implementation of neoliberal ideas initiated by the tories in 1979. Real Labour supporters have no need to apologies . Crazy right wing ideas always end up in the same mess. Instead of useless point scoring we need sober deliberation on the situation now .
Labour's murderous foreign wars. You can't compile a list of Labour's disastrous policy failures..... without listing that.
" opening up the North Sea oiltaps to consume it as fast as possible "
You really don't understand, do you Inastew. Since 1999, north sea oil production has declined, yes declined Inastew, There was no plateau, just year on year decline.
It is a shame you don't want to talk about the £350 Billion of North sea oil revenues circa 1979 to 1997 that bankrolled Thatcher and Major, we know it didn't go to pay down the National debt, because that increased by a whopping £264 billion over 17 years of conservative government.
Didn't Osborne give boardroom exes a tax cut, he doesn't want them to pay at a 50% rate
North sea oil production peaked under Labour. They took so much out the well pressures fell. But you knew that when you made the post above.
Why didnt Labour increase taxes to 50% when they were in power rather than leaving it to the last minute? Do you think it was out of politically biggotry even though they knew it would not be in the national interest?
Do you think the £600Bn borrowed and spent by Labour was invested to ensure UK industry proposered and our young people now have jobs? Or perhaps the money was waisted by a small greedy self-actualising elite bent on retaining power for themselves at the expense of the nation?
What about the other 20 items on the list (I stopped then but could find another 20)? Is your rebuttable equally as weak? Do you think Ed Balls should follow in Gordons shoes to match his achievements?
" The pressure fell" Come on Inastew, that a sad argument. Didn't they tell your bigotry just comes with one g?
How did Mrs T and John Major invest the £350 Billion of North Sea Oil reveunes, and the £50 Billion is state sell offs? The only national interest they left the country in was Debt interest, we are still paying that today.
"How did Mrs T and John Major invest the £350 Billion of North Sea Oil revenue"
They didnt - you made the number up.
A number which is not made up is the £600Bn that Labour borrowed. How did Ed Balls and Gordon spend the money?
Great, that means the tax-payer gets to pay the fine - there must be a special sound-proof room in No 11 where they all go to have a laugh at our expense.
When you're in trouble you quickly learn who your friends are.
Royal Flash Harry
So much for deficit denying, the march of the makers, and a export led recovery.
I recall in one of my columns I suggested that all we were going to see was a march of the unemployed ex-makers....
Danny B
As usual Mervyn King gets away with his part in all this.
He was the one that persuaded Clegg that huge cuts were required to keep the City and the bond markets happy and so set the coalition off.
King is more to blame for this crisis than anyone else in the UK but no-one seems to go for him, Prof Blanch does occasionally but the rest of the media and the politicians ignore his part in all the errors.
You couldn't be more right Prof Blanchflower.


text:
Product Description
Everyone loves the classic Christmas Carol, Jingle Bells! Now your small, furry friend can enjoy the same tune you grew up listening to during the holidays. The All Living Things Musical Exercise Wheel provides exercise and entertainment. A PetSmart exclusive.
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Set the frame base in the desired habitat location and slide the wheel bearing onto the frame. Switch on the play music while pet uses the wheel.
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text:
Browsing Research articles (Library) by Author "Fombad, M."
Now showing items 1-1 of 1
Fombad, M.; Mutula, S.M. (University of Malaysia, http://ejum.fsktm.um.edu., NaN, 2003)[more][less]
Abstract: The paper discusses collection development practices at the University of Botswana Library that are largely influenced by subject librarians as the drivers of the collection development policy. The paper looks at the challenges facing the library's collection development practices especially in relation to falling book budgets, proliferation of electronic materials, difficulties of dealing with faculty, poor book trade infrastructure, delays in the delivery of ordered books, and problems of evaluation of materials. The paper highlights strategies that the library is employing to deal with the challenges. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10311/715 Files in this item: 1
FombadUBLCollections.pdf (40.40Kb)
Now showing items 1-1 of 1


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VIDIOC_S_HW_FREQ_SEEK — Perform a hardware frequency seek
int ioctl( | int fd, |
int request, | |
struct v4l2_hw_freq_seek
*argp) ; |
Start a hardware frequency seek from the current frequency.
To do this applications initialize the tuner
, seek_upward
, spacing
and rangehigh
fields, and zero out the reserved
array of a
struct v4l2_hw_freq_seek and call the VIDIOC_S_HW_FREQ_SEEK
ioctl with a pointer to this structure.
The rangelow
fields can be set to a non-zero value to
tell the driver to search a specific band. If the struct v4l2_tuner
field has the
flag set, these values
must fall within one of the bands returned by VIDIOC_ENUM_FREQ_BANDS
. If
the V4L2_TUNER_CAP_HWSEEK_PROG_LIM
flag is not set,
then these values must exactly match those of one of the bands returned by
. If the current frequency of the tuner does not fall
within the selected band it will be clamped to fit in the band before the
seek is started.
If an error is returned, then the original frequency will be restored.
This ioctl is supported if the V4L2_CAP_HW_FREQ_SEEK
capability is set.
If this ioctl is called from a non-blocking filehandle, then EAGAIN error code is returned and no seek takes place.
Table A.95. struct v4l2_hw_freq_seek
__u32 | tuner | The tuner index number. This is the
same value as in the struct v4l2_input tuner
field and the struct v4l2_tuner index field. |
__u32 | type | The tuner type. This is the same value as in the
struct v4l2_tuner type field. See Table A.83, "enum v4l2_tuner_type" |
__u32 | seek_upward | If non-zero, seek upward from the current frequency, else seek downward. |
__u32 | wrap_around | If non-zero, wrap around when at the end of the frequency range, else stop seeking.
The struct v4l2_tuner capability field will tell you what the
hardware supports.
__u32 | spacing | If non-zero, defines the hardware seek resolution in Hz. The driver selects the nearest value that is supported by the device. If spacing is zero a reasonable default value is used. |
__u32 | rangelow | If non-zero, the lowest tunable frequency of the band to
search in units of 62.5 kHz, or if the struct v4l2_tuner
capability field has the
V4L2_TUNER_CAP_LOW flag set, in units of 62.5 Hz.
If rangelow is zero a reasonable default value
is used. |
__u32 | rangehigh | If non-zero, the highest tunable frequency of the band to
search in units of 62.5 kHz, or if the struct v4l2_tuner
capability field has the
V4L2_TUNER_CAP_LOW flag set, in units of 62.5 Hz.
If rangehigh is zero a reasonable default value
is used. |
__u32 | reserved [5] | Reserved for future extensions. Applications must set the array to zero. |
On success 0 is returned, on error -1 and the errno
variable is set appropriately. The generic error codes are described at the Generic Error Codes chapter.
The tuner
index is out of
bounds, the wrap_around
value is not supported or
one of the values in the type
or rangehigh
fields is wrong.
Attempted to call VIDIOC_S_HW_FREQ_SEEK
with the filehandle in non-blocking mode.
The hardware seek found no channels.
Another hardware seek is already in progress.


text:
Cecil Foster is looking forward to retirement after 52 years in the floral business.
Foster, who has owned Foster's Floral Fashions for 50-plus years and Foster's Bridal Fashions for more than 20 years, is hoping to sell both businesses and the building they are in, at 260 10th St., soon.
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Directions to Redbourne Hilldrop Guesthouse
12 Roseberry Avenue, Oranjezicht,
Cape Town,
South Africa
- Info
- |
- Rates
- |
- Map & Directions
- |
- Facilities
Map & Directions
Bus/Train station is located in the middle of the city. The only way to get from these stations, is to find a taxi. This should cost approximately R30-R50 to get to us. Or if you find yourself in the middle of the city, call us, we will be happy to help you find your way here or, if possible, come and fetch you.


text:
Over 175 300dpi black and white 100% royalty free fantasy and sci-fi clip art images by Joe Calkins. Most are roughly 1/4 page in size. The illustrations are in a variety of styles from sketches to line art to fully shaded pieces. Collection also includes six bonus page backgrounds. **WARNING** Some images contain nudity.
The Next Decade Of Fantasy: Volume 1 is the first installment in the follow-up series to the best-selling stock art product, A Decade of Fantasy by Joe J. Calkins. This, like subsequent products contains 20 original stock art images. These images were previously released as single image pr... [click here for more]
A Decade Of Fantasy is a collection of 100 stock art images. While some are previously unreleased, many of these images can be found in my other collections. Please review this product carefully to ensure that you don't purchase images you already own. Your satisfaction is very important to me. The images are 8.5x11 300dpi in full color and 1/4 page greyscale images are also provi... [click here for more]


text:
Can anyone describe Saber's Edge (Canadian publisher) rules: Pike and Shot and Zombies rules?
Here's the website:
Sounds very intriguing... Is is designed for 28mm? IGO-UGO mechanics? or something different?....
Has anyone here played it?
Looking for a good excuse to use Warlord Pike & Shotte miniatures along with zombies...
Cheers, Matt


text:
Eliminate disposable, plastic party decorations.
This cute and fun reusable party decoration pack has all you need for eco-friendly party decoration!
Reusable Party Decoration Pack, Blue Dots Includes:
- (1) Table Runner
- (1) Bunting Banner
- (1) Reusable Storage Bag
This decoration pack becomes a wonderful way to keep your party green for years to come!
Handmade in Canada.


text: What's Hot 2013 Gift Ideas Remembering Mandela World Cup Draw GALLERIES Mario Lemieux Pics 0 3 Back to Top ▲ Mario Lemieux Pics Mario Lemieux Pics AskMen Editors He is one of the greatest hockey players in the history of the NHL, if not the greatest. He has won 2 Stanley Cups, 6 scoring titles, and the MVP award 3 times. He is among the Top 10 all-time in goals, assists and points, and has a point-per-game average only Wayne Gretzky can beat. He is also known as Super Mario, and for good reasons. Continue reading Mario Lemieux's profile. Next Page Exclusive Access Get the best deals for men on Black Friday, Cyber Monday & more ✓ You're in!We'll be in touch soon. ✗ Something went wrong.Try again later. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


text:
Schwander is charged with open murder
TRAVERSE CITY -- The first day of the Robert Jensen Schwander trial has wrapped up. Eight men and four women will determine the teen's fate.
Schwander is accused of murdering 16-year old Carly Lewis back in June.
Dressed in a suit, Schwander showed little emotion as attorneys laid out their cases. The prosecution says the murder was premeditated, and that the defendant never really liked Carly so he lured her to a vacant building to kill her.
The defense calls the murder an accident, an argument gone horribly wrong. They say Carly died from strangulation, not from stab wounds found on her body. The defense says those are from police officers at the murder scene, using probes to locate her body in a sand pile.
Carly's mother Susie took the stand, and talked about her daughter with tears in her eyes. She said Schwander lived at the Lewis home for two months, when he had no other place to go.
She testified that she asked him to leave when he didn't help around the house and kept his bedroom door locked.
Schwander faces an open murder charge. This means the jury will have to decide if the evidence proves first degree murder, second degree murder, or manslaughter. He faces life in prison if convicted of first degree murder, which requires premeditation.
Related Links


text:
Even on a chilly, slushy March day, Honey in downtown Glen Ellyn feels a lot like spring. Maybe it's the corner bakery-restaurant's giant blooming flower artwork, or its pastel walls and live succulents in handmade ceramic pots. But more than anything, fresh-baked cupcakes, cookies and bars behind sparkling glass temper residual winter blahs. It's hard not to walk in here and feel happy.
Fittingly, Honey marks a fresh start for owner Elizabeth Janus, who switched careers to open the restaurant after a trip abroad. "I kept hearing locals talk about how the one thing their charming downtown needed was an all-natural place to dine with family and friends," she says. Bingo.
Settled in 1834, Glen Ellyn (population: 27,000) prides itself on its leafy downtown, which straddles the Metra train line. Original Tudor Revival-style storefronts complement rehabbed Victorian, Dutch Colonial, American Foursquare and cottage homes. Moms, daughters and girlfriends can easily spend the day exploring the stores and restaurants in this six-block downtown.
Just for starters, you could have breakfast at Honey; linger over handbags and jewelry at scrappy-cute AliKat; explore a vintage candy shop; and grab dinner before a movie at the historic Glen Art Theatre—or get there early and catch a matinee for just $5.
Residents watch the number of visitors swell every summer, when the Illinois Prairie Path, a 62-mile-long crushed-limestone former railbed, teems with bicyclists, dog walkers and joggers. A family-friendly cardboard regatta and picnic (June 30, 2012) draws crowds to nearby Lake Ellyn, also the site of a Fourth of July fireworks show. JazzFest Glen Ellyn (July 14, 2012) attracts thousands, too. But springtime is relatively quiet, giving girlfriends eager to catch up plenty of places to do it.
Click ahead for ideas on where to shop and eat in Glen Ellyn. Pictured: Friends gather at Honey, which serves from-scratch breakfast, lunch and dinner. (630) 469-0000; honeycafe.net
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text:
In the run up to our clubs very big campaign, I intend in stepping up my painting activities this long Esaster weekend.Whilst painting I love running DVDs with the theme that I am doing and therefore looking for ideas for DVDs that I can obtain in time for the weekend.
The Movies/Films I currently own are
The longest Day
Saving Private Ryan
Band of Brothers Boxed set.
Are there any others that you guys could recemmend.?


text:
Enrich your table setting with these platinum plated bird salt & pepper shakers by L'Objet. Masterfully crafted by hand they feature beautiful detail and blue Swarovski eyes, making them a glamorous addition to any dining table. Perfect to coordinate with matching bird place card holders & napkin rings they are available in both gold & platinum styles. This bird salt & pepper shaker set is decadently packaged in a signature L'Objet gift box making it a wonderful luxury present idea.
L'Objet designs are inspired by the natural world and are created using ancient production techniques by the very best artisans. Despite a timeless quality that resonates with Old World charm, the L'Objet collections are something entirely new –graceful, detailed and rich in history, but thoroughly modern.
Free delivery to UK addresses*Next Day delivery is £5.95 and Saturday delivery will be charged at £9.95.


text:
Around the Horn: May 4, 2011
(1) Orlando Hudson (hamstring) to the DL. Logan Forsythe to replace him.
(2) Brandon Lyon imploding for Astros. Time to add Mark Melancon?
(3) Andre Ethier (elbow) on shelf. Hitting streak intact.
(4) Jonathan Broxton (elbow) shut down. Who will Dodgers turn to – Hong-Chih Kuo, Vicente Padilla or someone else?
(5) Scott Sizemore starting at 2B for Tigers.
(6) Francisco Liriano's no-hitter.
By Ray Flowers


text:
• | • | • |
The Rural Mosque in Bengali History
As the focus of public prayer, the mosque has always been the principal public institution in Islamic civilization. Whether a grand edifice or a humble thatched hut, the mosque conceptually conflates Islam's macrocommunity of the umma—the worldwide body of believers—into a microcommunity of fellow villagers or fellow city-dwellers, affording them the physical space to articulate their collective response to the word of God. As such the mosque is the physical embodiment of the social reality of Islam, and hence the paramount institution by which community identity and solidarity are expressed. This is especially true of the "Friday" or "congregational" mosque (jāmi' masjid), in which Muslims gather once a week for a sermon read by one of its functionaries. Such mosques—unlike personal, or private, mosques—were generally intended for the male Muslim population of settled communities and were constructed as soon as any local society had achieved a sufficient number of Muslims to warrant one.
As is seen in table 1 (see p. 67), a total of 188 dated mosques built in the course of six hundred years of Muslim rule in Bengal have survived into the present. Of these fully 117, or 62 percent of the total, were built in the relatively short span of a hundred years, from 1450 to 1550. Most are located in the western portion of the delta, especially near the old Muslim capitals of Gaur and Pandua; almost a third of the total are in the present-day Malda and Murshidabad districts. Conversely, eastern districts like Comilla, Rangpur, Khulna, Jessore, and Bakarganj have only a few mosques each, and Faridpur and Noakhali have none at all. There is thus a negative correlation between the location of dated mosques and the distribution of Muslims in the delta: surviving mosques predominate in western Bengal, whereas Muslim society came to predominate in the east. And whereas the vast majority of dated mosques appeared between 1450 and 1550, the first recorded evidence of substantial rural Muslim communities appears only from the very end of the sixteenth century. How, then, can we reconcile the contradiction between the appearance of these mosques, both in time and in space, and the appearance of a predominantly Muslim population?
The answer is that the mosques recorded in table 1 include only those bearing inscriptions. Endowed by men in command of considerable resources—rulers or other wealthy patrons—these were typically monumental structures built of durable materials like brick or stone, which explains why they have survived into the present. On the other hand,there were many more smaller and humbler mosques that have not physically survived into the present, and that were not endowed with dated inscription tablets. Built of ordinary bamboo and thatching, and patronized not by the court but by local gentry, hundreds of such mosques appeared in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, especially in eastern Bengal.[4] Since the appearance of these institutions correlates positively with that of majority Muslim communities, both in time and place, one may hypothesize that such humble mosques, and not the monumental works of art endowed by the wealthy, played the more decisive role in the Islamization of the countryside (see figs. 22, 23, 24).
Why and how were such institutions built? We have seen that in the empire generally, Mughal policy aimed at expanding the agrarian basis upon which the state's wealth rested, and at creating loyal constituencies among local elites and their dependents. Although these aims were manifestly economic and political in nature, a characteristic means of achieving them, especially in frontier regions where new lands were being brought into cultivation, was by promoting the establishment of durable agrarian communities focused on religious institutions. Thus, in eastern Bengal, the state oversaw the establishment of both Hindu and Muslim institutions as new lands were opened up for cultivation. Of these, the Muslim institutions proved by far the more numerous and influential, and from them Islamic values, attitudes, terminology, and rituals gradually diffused over the countryside in the course of the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries. Contemporary state documents mention, in passing, that at such institutions new Friday assemblies or circles of believers had been established (iqāmat-i ḥalqa-yi jum'a).[5]
Such remarks take on special significance when it is recalled that throughout the delta the fundamental unit of social organization is not and never has been the mauẓa', or "village." Nucleated settlement patterns such as are typical in North India never existed in the delta proper, even though the Mughals, and later the British, continued to use the term mauẓa' as though they did.[6] Rather, homesteads are strung out in lines along the banks of past or existing creeks. Or, more often, they are stippled throughout the rural countryside, dispersed in amorphous clusters. A pair of rural sociologists have described the East Bengali countryside as "one vast, seamless village. People build on high ground to avoid floods, and since high ground usually lies along slight ridges or hillocks, their houses are dispersed, with no clear demarcation between one village and the next."[7] The geographers O. H. K. Spate and A. T. A. Learnmonth remark: "Over large areas there is no real 'pattern' at all, so homogeneous is the environment."[8]
As the Bengali physical landscape was for the most part flat and homogeneous in all directions, so also the social order lacked natural nodes of authority. To be sure, kin groups (baṃśa, goṣṭhī) sharing common patrilineal descent are found in Bengali society. But these do not have the same cohesiveness or social significance as the endogamous barādarīs among Muslims of Upper India, much less the endogamous jātis of fully developed Hindu caste society.[9] In such a circumstance, especially where centralized political authority was weak, as in the hinterland of Mughal Bengal, maintaining social order could be a serious problem. "In lawless communities," writes Eric Hobsbawm, "power is rarely scattered among an anarchy of competing units, but clusters round local strong-points. Its typical form is patronage, its typical holder the private magnate or boss with his body of retainers and dependents and the network of 'influence' which surrounds him and causes men to put themselves under his protection."[10]
In Mughal Bengal, lacking tightly organized units such as nucleated villages or dominant clans through which authority might be exercised and social control maintained, local networks of patronage coalesced around locally defined centers of authority. The religious basis of these networks is noted by Ralph Nicholas:
The Muslim equivalent of the maṇḍalī, Nicholas continues, is called a millat (Arabic for "sect," "party," or "religious group") or simply samāj, "society," and is organized around a particular mullā, who may also be called a pīr by his followers.[11] In the southeastern delta the typical millat is composed of from eighty to four hundred members, who dine together during festivals, celebrate rites of passage together (circumcision, marriage, death), and pray together in times of community stress. The mullā who provides the group with religious leadership is maintained by a monthly payment from each family in the millat.[12]Social order is a serious problem in frontier society everywhere. The people of the lower delta are known to be tough and independent. They are famous for their skill with the lathi ["staff," "cudgel"], which is often the only means of establishing a claim to a plot after a flood has changed the location of agricultural land. For centuries, in the lower delta, authority was poorly organized, centers of officialism were few and widely scattered. It seems likely that Islam and Vaisnavism functioned to provide authority in anarchic frontier society, and that they did so through loosely constituted religious organizations. The Vaisnava form of this organization is called a mandali (circle, congregation), it is organized around a particular guru, who may be called a gosvai by his followers, and is frequently constituted of persons of more than one village.
Similar structures of authority are found among rural Muslim communities in central and northern Bengal. In the central deltaic district of Pabna, the anthropologist John Thorp notes, a group whose members share mutual "feasting obligations" and who celebrate life-cycle rituals together is locally called a samāj, whereas a group that prays together in a single mosque is known as a jamā'at. In practice, the jamā'at may be coterminous with the samāj; alternatively, it may be composed of several samājes.[13] In any event, here as in the southeastern delta, it is the mosque and its socioreligious constituency, and not the "village" or the clan, that serves as the focus of identity and the effective vehicle for social mobilization. In neighboring Rajshahi District, two rural sociologists identified the jamā'at, a community of some fifty to sixty scattered households drawn to the same rural mosque, as the closest analog of the North Indian nuclear village.[14] The same is true further north. "In many villages," wrote Karunaketan Sen in a 1937 study of rural Dinajpur District, "there were huts which were places of worship and were called the 'Jumma-ghars.' Where there were more than one in a village, the local Muhammedan population was very often divided into factions, each attached to one of the Jumma-ghars."[15] Whatever Sen may have meant here by a "village," his remarks confirm that in rural Dinajpur, as in rural Rajshahi, Pabna, and Comilla, the mosque (masjid,jum'a-ghar) was the effective unit of social organization among Muslims.
The continuing social significance of the mosque in today's rural Bengali society is a legacy of a time when a religious gentry of 'ulamā and pīrs—and in their institutionalized form, mosques and shrines—first emerged as nodes of authority around which new peasant communities originally coalesced, and in relation to which such communities were understood as "dependents" (vā bastagān). Such people were attracted to the religious gentry not only as devotees of a religious leader but as groups of client peasants who had formerly been local fishermen and shifting cultivators beyond the pale of Hindu society. Islamization in Bengal, then, was but one aspect of a general set of transformations associated with an expanding economic frontier, which took place most dramatically in the Mughal period. We may scrutinize these processes more closely by examining the exceptional Persian documentation that has survived in two districts on the eastern edge of the delta, Chittagong and Sylhet.[16]