text:
- Contemporary Art at the Gardner
- ExhibitionsCurrent ExhibitionsForthcoming ExhibitionsPast Exhibitions
- Ambreen Butt: I Need a Hero
- Maurizio Cannavacciuolo: A Lecture on Martian History
- Rachel Perry: What Do You Really Want
- Charmaine Wheatley: Souvenirs
- Bharti Kher: Not All Who Wander Are Lost
- Jean-Michel Othoniel: Secret Flower Sculptures
- Nari Ward: Divination X
- Luisa Rabbia: Waterfall
- Carla Fernández: The Barefoot Designer: A Passion for Radical Design and Community
- Sophie Calle: Last Seen
- Hamra Abbas: Wall Hanging I
- Adam Pendleton: Untitled
- Raqs Media Collective: The Great Bare Mat & Constellation
- Stefano Arienti: Wild Carrot
- Luisa Lambri: Portrait
- Magic Moments: The Screen and the Eye–9 Artists 9 Projections
- (TAPESTRY) RADIO ON: New Work by Victoria Morton at the Gardner
- Points of View: 20 Years Artists-in-Residence at the Gardner
- Stefano Arienti: Ailanthus
- Danijel Zezelj: Once
- Taro Shinoda: Lunar Reflections
- Su-Mei Tse: Floating Memories
- Luisa Rabbia: Travels with Isabella, Travel Scrapbooks 1883/2008
- Cliff Evans: Empyrean
- Stefano Arienti: The Asian Shore
- Sculpture and Memory: Works from the Gardner and by Luigi Ontani
- Henrik Håkansson: Cyanopsitta spixii Case Study #001
- Michele Iodice: A Pagan Feast
- Variations On a Theme by Sol Lewitt and Paula Robison
- Danijel Zezelj: Stray Dogs
- Dayanita Singh: Chairs
- Maurizio Cannavacciuolo: TV Dinner
- Elaine Reichek: madamimadam
- Joseph Kosuth: Artist, Curator, Collector
- Nari Ward: Episodes: Bus Park & Forevermore
- Manfred Bischoff
- Ackroyd & Harvey: Presence
- Laura Owens
- Joan Bankemper: A Gardener's Diary
- Lee Mingwei: Living Room
- Josiah McElheny
- Abelardo Morell: Face to Face
- Mona Higuchi: Bamboo Echoes
- Juan Muñoz: Portrait of a Turkish Man Drawing
- Denise Marika: New Works by Denise Marika
- Dorit Cypis: The Body in the Picture
- Artists By 1999
- Multimedia
- Joan Bankemper planting the Healing Garden in the Fenway Victory Gardens, 2000. Photo: John Kennard
- Joan Bankemper planting the Healing Garden in the Fenway Victory Gardens, 2000. Photo: John Kennard
- Bankemper and fifth graders from the Farragut School cultivate the Healing Garden in the Fall, 1999. Photo: John Kennard
- A member of the Peterborough Senior Center works with students to plant the herbs that they grew, 2000. Photo: John Kennard
- The herbs in the central figure are planted in the area of the body that they help, 2000. Photo: John Kennard
- Jaon Bankemper and students from the Farragut school planting the outside containers, 2000. Photo: John Kennard
- Joan Bankemper, Untitled, 1999, Gouache on paper, 8.5" x 11"
Joan Bankemper
1999, 2000
Website: www.joanbankemper.com
Joan Bankemper (b.1959 USA) uses recycled sculptural objects and plant material to transform abandoned lots, urban rooftops, overlooked historic sites, derelict parks, and industrial sites into gardens that promote fellowship and learning. Bankemper's community-based art gardens are often filled with healing herb plants along with her unique shard pottery birdhouses. Bankemper also creates garden-inspired shard vases and sculptures that incorporate ceramic flowers, birds, kitsch figurines and teapots. Exuberant and colorful, these vases bring to mind the fertile and overabundant, late-summer garden.
Bankemper was born in Covington, Kentucky. She has created works at Wave Hill, NY; Art Pace, San Antonio, TX; Abbazia Benedettina, Milan, Italy; the New Museum of Contemporary Art, NY; Lux Institute, Encinitas, CA; Bellevue Hospital, NY; as well as several bird sanctuaries up and down the East Coast. She has received awards from Sugarman Fournation, National Endowment for the Arts and recently was named the first recipient of the McColl Center Gabi Award. After earning her B.F.A. from the Kansas City Art Institute, and her M.F.A from the Maryland Institute College of Art, Bankemper moved to New York City, where she currently resides.
Joan Bankemper spent her residency painting, doing research, and riding her bike through the park and the community gardens around the museum in the Spring of 1999. Bankemper passed many hours in the archives engrossed by Isabella Stewart Gardner's travel journals. Gardner recorded notes about her adventures through Europe, East Asia, and parts of the United States and Cuba, alongside photographs, botanical specimens, and other items she collected and pasted into albums during each trip. These volumes felt familiar to Bankemper who kept her own "gardener's diary" that included notes, drawings, and pasted ephemera. Bankemper also researched Gardner's life, her gardens at her Green Hill estate in Brookline, as well as her interests in plant cultivation. A few examples of flora and fauna seen in the Courtyard today are descendents of plants from Gardner's time.
The experience of nature within the museum is a fabricated construction, the result of extensive labor of the museum's staff instead of natural systems of biological exchange. Bankemper was intrigued by this notion and was often found chatting with the horticulture staff in the Courtyard and in the museum's greenhouses. She was struck by the installation of architectural elements in the Courtyard and with how the collection framed the garden. Bankemper devoted time to drawing in these spaces and used the plant material as a resource for a new suite of botanical gouaches.
During her residency Bankemper also began designing a community herb garden that she envisioned for the Fenway Victory Gardens. This community garden, located near the museum, was the first Victory Garden in the United States and is part of Frederick Law Olmsted's Emerald Necklace park system that stretches from the Boston Common to West Roxbury. Bankemper wanted to create a space that brought neighbors together to work and share experiences. The garden was constructed and planted the following year in conjunction with her exhibition, A Gardner's Diary. Fifth graders from the Farragut School, a participant in the museum's School Partnership Program, and senior residents of the Fenway neighborhood who lived near the garden, worked with Bankemper to construct, cultivate, and care for the garden. The Public was invited to use, enjoy and learn from their collaborative efforts.
In October, Bankemper visited the Ferraugt School and the Peterbourough Senior Center. She introduced the students and seniors to the scents and healing properties of a variety of herbs and outlined her ideas for a human-shaped healing garden in the center of the plot. Bankemper asked that the group research several varieties of plants and keep a Gardener's Diary about their findings. Under her direction, the group weeded, spread peat moss, and turned over the soil in the Fenway garden in preparation for spring.
Over the fall and winter the students and seniors made several visits to the museum where they toured the greenhouses with the museum's gardeners and asked questions about the care of the plants. Students sketched in the Courtyard, embossed their sketches in foil, and mounted them to use as covers for their Gardeners' Diaries. They continued their herb research in pairs and chose an herb that they would be interested in growing. The class also began a composting project with a volunteer from the Harvard School of Public Health, also a neighbor and Farragut partner. In the first weeks of March, the class used their research to decide on 13 herbs to start from seed in the classroom: chamomile, lavender, celery, hyssop, catnip, aniseed, peppermint, lemon balm, echinacea, daisy, thyme, comfrey, flax.
Bankemper returned in April, 2000, and again in May, to install new work in the Special Exhibition gallery and to work with the group on the garden. They planted the herbs which had been started from seed in a central body-shape and surrounding peripheral beds. Students brought composting worms from their classroom and released butterflies they had hatched. During the Farragut Family night on June 6, their Gardeners' Diaries were displayed and several students shared information about the process they used to make their diaries and experience working on the Healing Garden project with visitors. The garden was included in the school's curriculum and was maintained by Pat Keyo's fifth grade students, seniors, and volunteers from the museum staff until 2006; well beyond Bankemper's exhibition.


text:
Fair Trade Double Chocolate Fudge Cookies
Let us introduce you to one of our favorite new cookie recipes developed by Jenna Weber, the writer behind the food blog Eat, Live, Run. Fudgy, rich, and with chunks of melting Fair Trade chocolate goodness, these cookies are guaranteed to win mom over this Mother's Day. Not only will mom love your homemade treat, but you'll feel good knowing that with a few simple ingredient swaps, you're supporting moms around the world.
Double Chocolate Fudge Cookies
Yields 2 dozen cookies
- 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 1/3 cup Fair Trade Certified organic cane sugar
- 2 eggs
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/3 cup Fair Trade Certified cocoa powder
- 2 ¼ cups all purpose flour
- 1 12-oz bag Fair Trade Certified semisweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one by one, beating after each addition.
In another bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Add to the butter mixture and mix until combined. Add the chocolate chips and mix until just combined.
Drop dough by the spoonful onto prepared sheet tray. Press down gently to slightly flatten each cookie dough mound then bake for 12-13 minutes.
Let cookies cool on a wire rack then enjoy!
Fair Trade Double Chocolate Fudge Cookies
Yields 2 dozen cookies
2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/3 cup Fair Trade organic cane sugar
2 eggs
½ tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup cocoa powder
2 ¼ cups all purpose flour
1 12-oz bag Fair Trade semisweet chocolate chips

subset: commoncrawl


text:
- News From the Field
- UN hails drop in female genital mutilation
UN hails drop in female genital mutilation
Figures that reveal that fewer girls in Africa and the Middle East are being subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM) show it is possible to end the practice, the UN has said.
FGM, which typically involves removing the clitoris, can lead to bleeding, infections and childbirth problems.
The UN data said it was particularly in decline amongst the young in Kenya.
Kenyan women aged between 45 and 49 are three times more likely to have been cut than girls aged 15-19, it said.
In some communities female genital mutilation, also known as female circumcision, is seen as a traditional rite of passage and is used culturally to ensure virginity and to make a woman marriageable.
In December, the UN General Assembly unanimously approved a non-binding resolution calling for all member states to ban the practice.
'Deeply wrong'
The data, released by the UN children's charity and UN population fund on the international day calling for an end to FMG, showed that the younger generation was less vulnerable to female circumcision in 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East where it is usually practised.
In those countries 36% of girls aged between 15 and 19 had been cut compared to an estimated 53% of women between 45 and 49, it said.
Last year, 1,775 communities in Africa publicly declared their commitment to end the practice, the UN said.
"This progress shows it is possible to end FGM/C," Anthony Lake, Unicef's executive director said in a statement on Wednesday.
"FGM/C is not only deeply wrong, we can and must end it to help millions of girls and women lead healthier lives."
The BBC's Randy Joe Sa'ah reports from Cameroon, where it is estimated one in five women has been cut, that Muslim leaders signed a declaration on Wednesday saying that they did not agree with FGM.
(To read original article, visit this BBC News link)


text:
Being Good Neighbors
Photo credit: Joseph Kim
Working Together to Build a Better Community
UCR is dedicated to partnering with our neighbors for the benefit of everyone in our community. We invite you to join with us as we work to create an environment conducive to research, education and a high quality of life for all.
Good Neighbor Guidelines
UCR students who live in the neighborhoods around the campus are expected to be good citizens and represent the university positively, following our Good Neighbor Guidelines.
If you feel that UCR students are failing to abide by these guidelines, you may communicate questions, concerns or reports on specific incidents to the Student Conduct and Academic Integrity Program by the utilizing the online Good Neighbor Report Form.
City Codes and Campus Policies
- Quick Reference for Addressing Problematic and Disruptive Neighbor BehaviorThis single sheet details the roles of the university, the police, the city, landlords and you in addressing instances of problematic behavior by neighbors.
- Code Enforcement BrochureThis brochure, produced by the City of Riverside, details what it means to be a good neighbor and the municipal codes that all residents are expected to follow.
- University of California PoliciesLink to the University of California Office of Ethics, Compliance and Audit Services with the most current system-wide policies on campus activities, organizations and students.
- Riverside Municipal CodesLink to the City of Riverside municipal code website.


text: Lightweight Italian cashmere V-neck sweater Item E7441 Color: HTHR CHARCOAL Size: All sizes are US sizes. X-SMALL SMALL MEDIUM LARGE X-LARGE Size Charts Quantity: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Prices do not include taxes. Add to Bag Wishlist Add to Bag Add To Wishlist share: size & fit Product Details We used lightweight cashmere yarns (from one of Italy's finest mills) for this handsome V-neck sweater. It's a must-have for the guy who wants the laid-back look of a long-sleeve T-shirt but also the luxuriously soft feel of cashmere. Italian cashmere. Hand wash. Import. Online only. Item E7441.


text:
About Cate
I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on July 24th, 1961. New Orleans was a great place to grow up in then—still family-friendly but with a ready acceptance of eccentricity and the darker side of life. We lived in a little house on a little street, but our yard seemed huge, and my brother and I were given a big chunk of it in the back, where we could dig holes or do whatever we wanted. So we built little huts and roofed them with huge banana tree leaves, and when it rained we stood under elephant ears so big that two kids could stand under one and not get wet. We dug enormous holes and filled them with water and jumped into them. We climbed trees and jumped off the roof of our garage.
I remember spending a lot of time by myself, just playing complicated imagination games. Our TV was black and white and there were only three stations, so we didn't spend too much time in front of it. In my neighborhood there were only one or two other girls, so I played mostly with my brother and some of the boys next door. I was an excellent tomboy, and did well at games like "Behind the German Line" and "Paratrooper."
Even when I was little, I knew that New Orleans was a special place. The cemeteries were wonderful, and we explored the ones we could walk to. I still love cemeteries, and try to visit them when I'm traveling. Mardi Gras was a huge event every year, and my mother made us terrific costumes. My parents had interesting friends who were artists and potters and writers, and we would visit them in the French Quarter.
My high school was a public school called Ben Franklin, and back then it was housed in an old former courthouse not far from the Mississippi River. The high school that Morgan Rowlands (in Sweep) goes to is based on that building. I also went to a performing arts high school half a day for three years; two years for visual art and one year for writing. There was no air conditioning, only big fans and open windows, and the heat was stifling sometimes. It was almost impossible to stay awake after lunch on hot days.
I enjoyed college because I could choose what I wanted to study, and the classes were at different times on different days. It felt more flexible and catered to how I wanted to learn. I went to New York University and studied writing and Russian language and literature. I had some terrific teachers, but I just never really got what they were talking about, the whole "how to write" thing. And I was never able to write anything longer than three pages. But one of my teachers wrote on one of my papers that I had a genuine stylistic gift (despite all my other shortcomings as a writer), and I still think of those words with pleasure.
I finally graduated from Loyola University, in New Orleans, with a degree in Russian. In my mid-twenties I moved back to New York and got a job as an assistant at Random House. I worked for the head of the Juvenile Audio and Video department, and was surrounded by children's books and editors and people who read as much as I did. I learned so much, and decided I could write a children's book too. So I locked the door of my office (somehow I had an actual office, which was unusual) every day for an hour at lunch, for ten days, and I wrote a book.
And I sold it and it got published.
I did all sorts of chapter books and middle-grade books under different names, and ghost-wrote for some popular series. They were all learning experiences. Eventually I moved back down to New Orleans because I wanted my children to be born there. While I lived down there, a friend of mine who was an editor contacted me to write Sweep. She gave me a one-page description of the series, which basically said, "Teenage girl discovers she's a witch." It was such an amazing, brilliant idea, and it sparked an entire new universe inside me that I tried to put down on paper. My books always describe how I wish the world was, how I wish reality was.
I was crushed when Sweep ended, but by then I was already developing Balefire, and that was a whole new seductive universe. I set it in New Orleans so I could describe the beauty and otherworldliness of the city, and I put in my old hangouts and had the characters do some of the things I'd done as a teenager. Katrina hit while I was in the middle of writing the fourth book of Balefire, and I watched the news on TV and knew that my hometown would never be the same. The fourth book described the city as it was before the flood, and I sat there and cried for days as I wrote about things that no longer existed.
Now there's Immortal Beloved, which will come out in fall of 2010, from Little, Brown. In some ways it's a combination of all my favorite things about Sweep andBalefire—the notion of love that lasts for hundreds of years, a world filled with magick and possibilities. It's been my biggest challenge, but I believe I did Nastasya's story justice. I hope you think so too.
My most recent release was the first book in the Birthright series, Darkest Fear, which is out now! I'm working on the second book in the series now, so keep your eyes out for it!
Nowadays I live in North Carolina with my daughters and husband and stepsons. Our house is surrounded by land and woods and it feels like we're in the country. We have dogs and cats and lots of stuff going on all the time. It's a good life.


text:
Some Republican lawmakers are determined to kill the state's successful renewable-energy law.
Some Republican lawmakers are determined to kill the state's successful renewable-energy law, even after a House committee last week killed the bill. It's gotten new life there after tax-reform ideologue Grover Norquist and other outsiders decided to get into the act. The original decision was the right one.
And a dart for Sen. Bill Rabon, R-Brunswick and co-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, who determined through a voice vote that the measure passed his committee. But according to Raleigh TV station WRAL, which interviewed committee members, the bill would have been defeated had Rabon actually taken a roll-call vote.
Fossil fuels will be needed for many years to come, but that does not mean we should reject promising alternative-energy resources that have the potential to meet some of our fuel needs. Worldwide, renewable sources account for more than 16 percent of energy consumption, and that percentage is growing.
Since the law was approved more than five years ago, renewable energy, especially solar power, has grown in North Carolina. Electricity customers in North Carolina pay 22 cents to 42 cents per month to help subsidize the clean-energy industry. In addition to providing a percentage of the power we generate, the industry also is providing jobs – good jobs, not the low-wage service jobs that have dominated the post-recession recovery. The law is working.
If North Carolina is to attract 21st-century jobs, we have to embrace innovation and new things, including new ways to provide the fuel we need to keep our society running. Alternatively, we can leave innovation to other states or to China, which is investing heavily in green-energy industries. (According to a July 2012 article in Forbes magazine, not exactly a bastion of liberal commentary, China leads the world in renewable-energy investments.)
We should encourage innovation, not kill it – especially when the results thus far have been positive.
Hats off to the N.C. House for approving a bill designed to ensure humane treatment of dogs in commercial breeding kennels.
While many breeders do look out for the welfare of the puppies they raise, others have not been so conscientious. We've all seen footage of puppy mills where female dogs are bred as soon as they wean one litter, and where conditions are nothing short of atrocious.
House Bill 930 passed with overwhelming support – only 14 of the chamber's 120 members voted no. All Cape Fear area House members voted in favor of the bill.
Among other things the bill requires the type of basic care that should not be necessary to mandate of reputable breeders – access to food, water, regular exercise and good veterinary care, for starters, as well as humane euthanasia when it's necessary to put a dog down.
It's late in coming, but a welcome development. Let's hope the state Senate concurs.
More information is always preferable to less, as long as the information is accurate. If a bill requiring that school sex education programs include information on the potential long-range effects of abortion mandates teaching only established facts, there should be no objections from either parents or educators.
The problem is, since Republicans took control of the General Assembly, they have been quick to dictate not only policy but content of abortion-related information, such as the government-mandated script women seeking abortions must now hear from their doctor as they undergo a politically mandated, invasive and medically unnecessary vaginal ultrasound.
A few years back, abstinence-only programs mandated by lawmakers were teaching inaccurate information, causing school systems to change the curriculum. North Carolina now offers comprehensive sex education programs, which are also abstinence-based, in all school districts.
The Honorables heard testimony last week that research has found a correlation between abortion – particularly multiple abortions – and later risk of premature birth. They also heard testimony that several prominent health organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the World Health Organization and the American Public Health Association, don't necessarily agree with the science behind some of that research, a fact that also should be included in discussions. Of course, there are many other risk factors, which the curriculum also is supposed to include. Some women with no known risk factors also give birth prematurely.
Young people who will soon be faced with the pressure to become sexually active, if they are not already, need to know the facts. But educators and medical professionals, not politicians, should determine how to teach the information.
And let's remember that these classes are not pregnancy and childbirth classes, but pregnancy prevention classes. Teenagers who don't get pregnant don't need to consider an abortion.
Former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory doesn't want to get involved with the General Assembly's overt attempt to usurp city governments, particularly those where Democrats hold a majority.
Sitting on now-Gov. McCrory's desk is a bill that would take away Asheville's water and sewer system and turn it over to a regional authority – without compensation for the millions of dollars in debt that city taxpayers must still repay. McCrory notes the potential legal and constitutional issues associated with the heavy-handed action but says he'll let the bill become law without his signature.
A similar ongoing power struggle involves his former city. A bill in the General Assembly would take the Charlotte Douglas Airport away from the city's control.
If a former mayor of the state's largest city won't stand up for North Carolina municipalities, who will?


text:
Thank you! Your comment has been sent for review.
Unexpected error occurred, please contact support
05 December, 2016 by Anonymous:
this reminds of me and my new gay boyfriend Bertram grayson weeks doing this two months ago
08 January, 2016 by Anonymous:
the most exciting straight porn I have ever seen. too bad all straight porn is not like this


text:
219 South College Road
Directions Wilmington, NC 28403
Your privacy is important to us.
Neuwirth Motors takes your privacy seriously and does not rent or sell your personal information to third parties without your consent. Read our privacy policy.
The Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep model lineups are fully represented at Neuwirth Motors new car dealership in WIlmington, North Carolina. We maintain up-to-date new and pre-owned car inventories of each brand and have knowledgeable sales staff. If you need new car financing, vehicle service repair or a specific part, our Wilmington, NC location is your one-stop spot! Call us today at (910) 799-1815 if you'd like to speak with our knowledgeable staff!
* Images, pricing and options shown are examples, only, and may not reflect exact vehicle color, trim, options, pricing or other specifications.


text:
Top Searches: Jazzmaster, Les Paul, Rickenbacker, Gretsch, JHS
Body: Mahogany
Neck: Mahogany neck with a "C" profile, 1 11/16" wide nut, rosewood fretboard, 10" radius, and bird inlays
Neck Thickness: .85" at the 1st fret, .935" at the 12th fret
Pickups/Hardware: Original hardware, original pickups (rated at 7.6 kOhms in the neck and 8.6 k in the bridge), five-way pickup selector switch, volume and tone controls
Cosmetic Condition: The top is looking good with some swirling and play wear around the bridge. The sides have some dings and the back has some light scratching and buckle rash. The neck is smooth and the headstock is clean with minimal scratching. This PRS is shred-ready!
Playability: The strings are nice and low, play great, and ring out clearly across the board.
Modifications/Repairs: None
Weight: 6lbs 11oz
Case: Hardshell
Shop Brand: PRS Guitars
Shop All: Electric
From Pedaltrain: Pedaltrain's all-new Classic Series is rooted in the company's best-selling pedal board models. Pedaltrain has incorporated design improvements that make these models better than ever. The Classic 2...
NYXL1149 is designed with larger gauges for players who prefer moderate flexibility and a full, beefy tone.D'Addario NYXL guitar strings will bend farther, sing louder, and stay in tune better...
Mono M80 Guitar Sleeve The Guitar Sleeve™ is the latest addition to MONO's collection of professional luggage for musicians. Designed to be a minimalist solution for traveling light and simple,...
Lava Cable TightRope Solder-Free Pedal Board Kit is the most affordable and reliable DIY solder-free pedal patch cable kit on the market. Featuring a modified version of our proven Lava...
Enjoy your cup of joe with our Chicago Music Exchange/Chicago Drum Exchange diner mug! It'll make every sip taste even better.
Subscribe to our email newsletter for all the latest gear news and updates.
© 2017 Chicago Music Exchange. All Rights Reserved. 3316 N. Lincoln Ave Chicago, IL 60657 (773) 525-7773.


text: NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- Amazon ( AMZN) calls them "Coins" - the company's name for virtual currency that U.S. customers can use in its Amazon Appstore. Coins, which will launch in May, are for users of Amazon's Kindle Fire tablets. The idea's that Fire owners will use these new "Coins" to buy apps, games and other in-app items on their devices. Amazon says that when the new currency launches it will be giving away millions of Coins to get things started. That way, Fire users can begin using the new currency immediately. App developers are being asked to make the appropriate changes to their software by April 25 to make sure Coins are usable at launch. What Amazon has not yet explained is the process of changing U.S. dollars into Amazon Coins. According to the press release, "Amazon will also make it quick and easy for customers to buy additional Amazon Coins using their Amazon accounts." But the release is short on actual details. Amazon assures developers that they'll continue to receive their "70% revenue share" for their apps whether buyers use credit cards or the new Coins. --Written by Gary Krakow in New York. >To submit a news tip, send an email to: firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Applicants for admission to a graduate program at Northern Michigan University must submit complete application forms, send all official undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all institutions attended, test scores, and other required supportive papers.
Applications will be processed on a rolling basis unless restricted by departmental guidelines. Check your specific program requirements for admission deadlines.
Recommended submission deadlines are listed below. International students should apply one year prior to their expected enrollment date to ensure sufficient time for application processing. A full list of international student requirements is available in the Graduate Bulletin.
- Fall semester - July 1
- Winter semester - November 15
- Summer session - March 15
Applications submitted after the recommended dates above will still be accepted. Eligible applications submitted after departmental deadlines will be reviewed by the departments only if the program is still accepting candidates.
A graduate student's record remains open for three years from the date of last enrollment unless the student graduates, withdraws, or is dismissed. Graduate students who no longer have active student status must reactivate their files by completing another admission application before enrolling in graduate courses.
Applications from undergraduate students who have yet to complete course work for their bachelor's degree will only be processed if the student is in his/her final semester of undergraduate course work. Transcripts from the university that he/she currently attends should not be sent until that time. Admission to graduate programs for these students will be on a conditional basis, and the student will be required to furnish a final transcript for their undergraduate work once their final grades and bachelor's degree is conferred and listed on that transcript. The final transcript will be reviewed by the NMU academic department in which the student has conditionally been admitted, and if acceptable, the student's admission status will be changed to regular status.
Admission Procedures
- Submit a completed Application for Admission.
- Determine from the Graduate Bulletin the degree sought and the curriculum and major (area of concentration) to be studied.
- All new degree-seeking applicants must send a $50 application fee. Non-degree/Professional Development students do not need to submit an application fee. However, when changing status from non-degree to degree-seeking, the $50 application fee will be assessed. Applicants who were McNair Scholars also do not need to submit an application fee, but must send a letter from their undergraduate institution verifying their McNair status.
- Request the registrar of each college previously attended, with the exception of Northern Michigan University, to send official transcripts directly to the Office of Graduate Education. If you have not yet earned your bachelor's degree, do not request transcripts until you are in your final semester and your previous semester's grades have posted.
- Have other supportive papers, such as entrance examination scores, letters of recommendation or teaching certificates, as required by the specific department and program sent to the Office of Graduate Education. Some documents can be uploaded at the end of the online application.
- International students must provide additional information and meet international admission requirements.
Admission Requirements
Students seeking admission to a graduate level program must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year institution or an equivalent foreign institution and satisfy the admission requirements listed below. The admission policies presented here are the minimum requirements. Specific graduate programs may have requirements that exceed these minimum levels. These additional requirements may include tests, valid teaching certificates, letters of recommendation, personal interviews, specific course preparation or a grade-point average above the minimum established by the Office of Graduate Education. Applicants should consult the departmental listings under the program description section of the Graduate Bulletin for additional requirements.
Admission to graduate level coursework does not imply admission to candidacy for a graduate degree in a specific program. The requirements and procedures for admission to candidacy are described following this section.
Applications for admission to graduate programs are reviewed by the department responsible for the program to which the applicant seeks admission.
Admission to graduate studies is granted in one of the following categories based on the qualifications and educational objectives of the applicant. Eligibility for enrollment is based solely on the applicant's academic qualifications without regard to gender, race, marital status, color, age, religion, handicap or national origin.
Regular Degree Admission is granted to the student who wishes to pursue a master's degree and who has a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a minimum undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0 (A=4.0). For regular admission, a student must meet all of the admission requirements of the Office of Graduate Education, as well as any additional requirements for the program of their choice.
Conditional Admission may be authorized, based upon a recommendation from the department or by the Assistant Provost of Graduate Education and Research, for students who do not meet the requirements of regular admission. Conditional admission can be granted to students in their final semester or session of enrollment in an undergraduate program if the academic record is satisfactory, based on the final transcript sent by the student. The conditions for regular admission are recorded on the letter of admission that is sent to the applicant. Students who fail to meet the conditions of their admission by the completion of 12 semester hours of graduate credit are denied further registration. The determining factors for the conditions of admission are the responsibility of the assigned adviser with the endorsement of the appropriate department head and the Assistant Provost of Graduate Education and Research. Students will not be granted regular admission status until all the requirements and conditions for regular admission have been met.
Non-Degree Admission is granted to students who do not wish to obtain a graduate degree, but have an interest in work beyond the baccalaureate degree, or who graduated from a non-accredited undergraduate program. Included in this category are those students selecting special workshops or those who wish to pursue additional study for educational benefits. Students who are non-degree can later elect to change to a degree seeking program by petitioning for regular admission with a Request for Change of Curriculum form, available on-line. All admission requirements of the department and the Office of Graduate Education must also be met.
Certification or Endorsements Admission is granted to education students seeking professional teacher certification, professional development, or endorsements but not wishing to pursue a master's degree. Students must meet all admission requirements of the School of Education, Leadership and Public Service and the Office of Graduate Education. Admission for certification or endorsement in no way assures subsequent admission to a degree program. A student who wishes to later apply for regular admission to a degree program must file a Request for Change of Curriculum form with the Office of Graduate Education for review by the appropriate department. All admission requirements of the school and the Office of Graduate Education must also be met.
Guest Student. A student enrolled in another accredited graduate school in Michigan may register for a limited number of graduate credits at Northern Michigan University under the Guest Student status. The Michigan Intercollegiate Graduate Studies (MIGS) Program is a cooperative program established by a group of Michigan Universities to provide an opportunity for "guest" graduate students to participate in unique educational opportunities throughout the state without changing their status of enrollment at their present university. For more information on this program see the Michigan Intercollegiate Graduate Studies (MIGS) application.


text:
Copyright is one of four types of intellectual property protected by federal law in the U.S. The others are patent, trademark and trade secret. Copyright is important for students and educators to understand. But everyone who creates Web pages should watch for trademark issues as well as copyright issues.
The Copyright Law (first enacted in 1790) gives Copyright owners the exclusive right to duplication (reproduction), distribution, derivation, display, and public performance (directly, digitally or by telecommunications). The attempt to balance the rights of copyright owners and the needs of researchers is provided for in the various exemptions found in Sections 107 through 121 of the Copyright Law. Of particular importance to students and educators are Section 107: The Fair Use Exemption and Section 110 The Face-to-face Teaching Exemption of The U.S. Code Title 17 (aka The Copyright Law). These portions of the copyright law provide educators and researchers (students) for the reasonable use of copyrighted materials without permission from the copyright owner.
For more information on Copyright see Circular 1 Copyright Basics from the Library of Congress Copyright Office and for more in-depth study of the Copyright law as it relates to Educators see Circular 21.


text:
Follow the real estate.
That's a liberal misappropriation of the usual cliched instruction that investigators should "follow the money." But it's nonetheless an apt idea in light of the fact that at the end of a 10-year manhunt, it was Osama bin Laden's $1 million house that gave him away.
Authorities found out that bin Laden was living in "a large home" within a "secured compound in an affluent suburb" of Islamabad, Pakistan, called Abbottabad, a town about 35 miles north of the city, according to a transcript of a midnight White House press conference with unidentified senior officials.
The compound first attracted the attention of U.S. intelligence agencies because one of bin Laden's personal couriers and his brother were discovered to be operating in the local area. It then took some time to find out their specific place of residence.
"When we saw the compound where the brothers lived, we were shocked by what we saw -- an extraordinarily unique compound," an official said. "The compound sits on a large plot of land in an area that was relatively secluded when it was built. It is roughly eight times larger than the other homes in the area."
Built in 2005, the compound has 12- to 18-foot walls topped with barbed wire and internal walls that section off different portions to provide extra privacy. Access is restricted by two security gates. The main structure is a three-story building with few windows facing the outside world. A third-floor terrace has a seven-foot privacy wall. All that, but no wired telephone or Internet service.
"Intelligence analysts concluded that this compound was custom-built to hide someone of significance ... the location and the design (were) perfectly consistent with what our experts expected bin Laden's hideout to look like," an official said.
That's an impressive piece of property, not all like the dank cave or spartan tent so often associated with a typical terrorist's residence.
An irreverent wit might wonder whether bin Laden paid cash or took out a mortgage.
Follow me on Twitter: @marciegeff


text:
found a new home!
Plenty of my friends are looking
for one too. Find a pet to adopt.
I am already neutered, housetrained, up to date with shots, good with kids, good with dogs, and good with cats.
If you'd like to meet this dog, please fill out an adoption application at http://www.sarocks.org/adopt or visit us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sarocksorg.
The $85 adoption fee includes spay/neuter surgery, up-to-date vaccinations, microchip, rabies tag, heartworm test, and 1st month's flea/tick & heartworm preventative.
Adopting an animal from a foster home gives you the best option of finding a pet that matches your lifestyle and home environment, because they are in foster, our foster homes are able to give you more information on their temperament and personality.
Wally, a San Antonio Chihuahua/Dachshund dog was adopted! Here's how you can benefit by looking at adoption as an option to buying a Chihuahua/Dachshund for sale in San Antonio, or seeking a Chihuahua/Dachshund dog from a breeder in San Antonio.


text:
Crude Understanding of Disbelief
Contrary to the commonly held view, ignorant people are not totally unaware of religion. Most of them acknowledge the existence of Allah, the All-Powerful, Who created themselves and the entire universe. Yet despite this, they develop a deviant understanding of religion. In many verses of the Qur'an, Allah relates that people cannot comprehend the existence of Allah, since they do not ponder upon His creation:
If indeed you ask them who has created the heavens and the earth and subjected the sun and the moon (to His Law), they will certainly reply, Allah. How are they then diverted from the truth? (Surah Al-Ankaboot: 61)
If you ask them, who created them, they will certainly say, Allah: How then can they turn away from the Truth? (Surah Al-Zukhruf: 87)
Say (to them, O Muhammad): Who provided for you from the sky and the earth? Who has endowed you with hearing and sight? Who brought forth the living from the dead and brought forth the dead from the living? Who has ordained all things? They will say: Allah. Then say: Will you not then carry out your duty to Him? (Surah Yunus: 31)
The main reason why these people stray from their Creator's path is the strong attachment they have for this life. Due to this attachment, they simply disregard the facts and deceive themselves by some flimsy reasoning. If they pondered profoundly, they would realise that they should remain as Allah's devoted slaves all through their lives. If they ever trusted Allah, they would comprehend the existence of the life beyond and know that they should prepare themselves for it. However, they strongly resist doing so since such an attitude calls for devotion to the next life rather than to this one. In such a situation, the course adopted by ignorant people is not to think about it.
At this point, perverted beliefs regarding religion come to their rescue. These beliefs help the unen-lightened to avoid having a guilty conscience. Despite the variety of these beliefs, the rationale laying the ground for them is one and one only: to avoid being a slave of Allah.
Each of these perverted beliefs is explained in detail in the Qur'an, the last surviving guide to the true path for humanity revealed 1400 years ago. These perverted beliefs, which will be explained in the following pages, will not save human beings from an eternal punishment, though they may well serve to deceive them in this life. On the Day of Reckoning everybody will be judged according to his deeds and nobody will have the chance to conceal his wrongful actions. By virtue of the divine judgement, those adhering to the right path will be rewarded with Paradise for all eternity. Wrongdoers, they will have everything to regret and will face a fearsome end:
If you could see them when they are set before the Fire. They will say: Oh, would that we might return! Then we would not deny the revelations of our Lord but we would be of the believers! (Surah Al-Anaam: 27)
Again and again those who disbelieve will, wish that they had bowed to Allah's will in Islam. (Surah Al-Hijr: 2)
One of the perverted beliefs prevalent among ignorant people has it that what is accepted to be right by the majority is valid and true. What deceives them is often the same rationale: Since so many people do it, they should have a point. If these principles are shaped within a highly respected group of elite people, then the influence of these principles is felt even more profoundly among ignorant people. In this case, the latter raise no doubts whatsoever about the validity of these principles, which then serve them as life-guides ever after.
However, being accepted as true by the majority by no means legitimises these views. This is surely a dangerous trap to avoid for those whose faith in the Qur'an is not firm. Allah warns believers against adhering to the path of the majority:
If you obeyed the greater part of mankind, they would lead you away from Allah's path. They follow nothing but idle fancies and preach nothing but falsehoods. Allah knows best the men who stray from His path, and the best knows the rightly guided. (Surah Al-Anaam: 116)
Complying with this warning, believers follow only the commandments of the Qur'an and their own consciences. Ignorant individuals, however, seek refuge in the power of the majority in this world. They hope, too, that in the Hereafter following the majority would serve as a proper pretext for not conducting themselves responsibly towards their Creator. However, that is only wishful thinking. Those who neglect their religion in this world shall remain all alone and helpless in the Hereafter:
And no friend will ask after a friend. (Surah Al-Maarij: 10)
On that day, all excuses made up for avoiding Hell will prove to be invalid. The rationale behind the statements: Everyone was doing the same, or I assumed the majority to be true, will not save one from torment:
On that day their excuses will not profit those who did injustice, nor will they be allowed to make amends. (Surah Al-Rum: 57)
As Allah makes clear in the verse:
That which is revealed to you from your Lord is the truth but most men do not believe. (Surah Al-Rad: 1)
What the majority imposes prevails as long as they are not in compliance with the commandments of the Qur'an. Those who have faith in the Qur'an have always been in a minority throughout history.
Ignorant people believe only in what they perceive through their five senses. This materialistic approach lays the groundwork of the denial of the life beyond. Yet such a denial is nothing but a poor excuse they invent for their disbelief. Every man bestowed with the faculty of thinking conceives that there is technically no difference whatsoever between the creation of this life and the Hereafter. That man came into existence from nothingness proves that everything's existence is consequent upon the exercise of Allah's will.
Nevertheless, people bent on remaining ignorant simply treat this reality as though it did not exist. In the Qur'an, Allah deplores the excuses they make up to support their denial:
Man answers us back with arguments, having forgotten the fact of his own creation, saying: Who will revive these bones when they have rotted away? Say: He will revive them Who produced them at first, for He has knowledge of every creature. (Surah Ya-Seen: 78-79)
And they say: When we are lost in the earth, how can we then be re-created? But they are disbelievers in the meeting with their Lord. (Surah Al-Sajda: 10)
Surely there is a reason for their denial. After all, renouncing the existence of the life beyond justifies their attachment to this life. Acceptance of the resurrection is committing oneself to the notion that one will be summoned to account for one's good and wicked deeds on the Day of Judgement. This fact is surely unacceptable in terms of their inherently groundless system.
A person attesting to the existence of the life beyond also has to acknowledge that he should prepare himself for it. However, due to the unbridled ambitions of ignorant people, this is rather a difficult thing to do. Therefore, the only solution provided by their primitive rationale is a denial of the Hereafter.
Nevertheless, such an approach is to the detriment of the ignorant; as a consequence, they live troubled lives and deserve unceasing torment in the Hereafter. It is apparent then that denial of the life beyond is by no means in man's best interests. On the contrary, it entails great loss both in this life and beyond.
Before believing, some people expect supernatural events to happen. However, this is only a method of evading the truth and, throughout history; it has been employed by all communities who were resolute in their disbelief. These people who simply demanded that messengers show miracles are mentioned in the Qur'an:
Those who do not look for a meeting with Us say: Why are angels not sent down to us and why do we not see our Lord! (Surah Al-Furqan: 21)
We have set forth for mankind in this Qur'an all manner of arguments, but most of them persist in disbelief.
They say: We will not put our faith in you till you cause a spring to gush forth from the earth for us; or you have a garden of date-palms and grapes, and cause rivers to gush forth therein abundantly; or you cause the heaven to fall upon us piecemeal, as you have threatened to do or bring down Allah and the angels in our midst as a warrant; or you build a house of gold; or you ascend to heaven, and even then we will put no faith in your ascension till you bring down for us a book that we can read. Say (O Muhammad): Glory be to my Lord! Am I anything but a human messenger? (Surah Al-Isra: 89-93)
And those who have no knowledge say: Why does Allah not speak to us, or some sign come to us? The same demand was made by those before them. Their hearts are all alike. We have made clear our revelations for those people who are steadfast in faith. (Surah Al-Baqarah: 118)
As the verses relate, those who expect Allah's messengers to show miracles have always been disbelievers. They want miracles because, deep in their hearts, they know that messengers have had bestowed upon them what is right and true. Yet, to avoid this fact, they simply make up excuses to deny. This dishonest attitude is related in the following verse:
And they swear a solemn oath by Allah that if there come to them a portent they will believe in it. Say: Portents are with Allah. And how can you tell that if a sign be given them, they will indeed believe in it? (Surah Al-Anaam: 109)
Ignorant people have various perverted beliefs about religion, since they base their decisions about what is right and wrong upon their primitive rationale rather than on the Qur'an. Mostly they gather these beliefs from their parents or other people immediately surrounding them, who influence them deeply during their early years. Yet these beliefs, especially the ones regarding the existence of Allah, misguide them all through their lives.
Many people, who in fact do not really deny the existence of Allah but have a wrong perception of Him, share the basic mistake of those who deny Allah. They do not deny creation, but have superstitious beliefs about where Allah is. Most of them think that Allah is up in the sky. They imagine that Allah is behind a very distant planet and interferes with worldly affairs only once in a while. Or, perhaps, that He does not intervene at all: He created the universe and then left it to itself and people are left to determine their fates for themselves. Still others have heard that in the Qur'an it is written that Allah is everywhere, but they cannot perceive what exactly this means. They think that Allah surrounds everything like radio waves or like an invisible, intangible gas. For some, on the other hand, Allah evokes the image of an old wise man.
However, those who interpret and evaluate all happenings according to the Qur'an have an accurate grasp of Allah. Such people understand that the entire universe has a single Sovereign, that He changes the entire physical world, including all human beings, as He pleases, and that He is not confined to a particular place and time. They know that even a dust particle, invisible to the naked eye, is under His control. Allah's existence encompasses all things and reason apprehends this. As the verse suggests:
Allah is nearer to man than his jugular vein. (Surah Qaf, 16) Just as He has created this all-pervading order, He is the One Who also maintains it incessantly. He encompasses all things and all places as stated in the Qur'an:
To Allah belong the East and the West, and wherever you turn, there is Allah's Countenance. Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing. (Surah Al-Baqarah: 115)
To Allah belong whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Allah ever surrounded all things. (Surah Al-Nisa: 126)
Chasing vain pursuits, ignorant people spend their lives doing nothing for the life beyond. However, the fact that they fail to give due consideration to the Hereafter gives them an inner restlessness. Now and then, such a spirit prompts them to remorse. Yet, at this point, they feel the urge to ease this feeling by some pretexts like: It is still too early to give in myself up to religion, or now I have set my mind on a list of priorities, yet one day I will take my religion seriously. The one day mentioned here, however, is the latter years of one's life, when one feels death to be very close.
These people delay commitment to their religion to the last years of their lives. They believe adulthood should be spent in making the most of one's life. Otherwise they think their lives would be spent in vain. Besides, due to the physical disability accompanying old age, it would be difficult to enjoy life. Therefore, only in the latter years do they decide to show commitment to their religion. Meanwhile, they feel the inner pain of not following the true path.
This stance receives support among ignorant people. However, if it is only old age which can bring such a change of course, the sincerity of these people becomes highly questionable. After all, this is not the honest way of conducting oneself: never allowing concern for the Hereafter to take hold of one's mind in one's young days, and never sparing time for the remembrance of Allah until one has reached extreme old age. Even so, they expect their wrong actions to be forgiven.
No doubt, it is all possible to turn at times to Allah in repentance. Allah forgives anyone who sees the right path and mends his ways sincerely. The relevant verse about repentance is as follows:
Forgiveness is only incumbent on Allah toward those who do evil in ignorance (and) then turn quickly (in repentance) to Him. Allah will pardon them. Allah is All-Knowing and Wise. Forgiveness is not for those who do ill-deeds until, when death attended upon one of them, he said: I repent now; nor yet for those who die while they are disbelievers. For such We have prepared a painful doom. (Surah Al-Nisa: 17-18)
Those who are set astray by such perverted beliefs should acknowledge that they may have no time left to grow old and repent for the wrong actions they engaged in their young days. Their lives may end abruptly, giving them no chance to repent. In this case, one would have deep regrets. This fact is recalled in many verses:
Could you but see when the guilty hang their heads before their Lord, (and say): Our Lord! We have now seen and heard, so send us back; we will do right, now we are sure. (Surah Al-Sajda: 12)
If you could see them when they are set before the Fire and say: Oh, would that we might return! Then we would not deny the revelations of our Lord, but would be of the believers! (Surah Al-Anaam: 27)
Though basically having faith, the majority of the people raise doubts about the existence of the Hereafter. They avoid thinking seriously about the Day of Judgement, since thinking draws them to the recognition of death and the life beyond. The probability of the existence of life beyond death is an incentive to them to make up excuses since they know that they shall have to account, in the presence of Allah, for all the wrong actions they have committed during their lives in this world. Alternatively, they realise that they will ultimately be doomed to an eternal life of torment in Hell. At this point, they alternate between complying with the commandments of Allah and finding a way to ease their remorse at being strongly attached to this life.
The rationale of ignorance indisputably imposes the second alternative. Ignorant people deceive themselves into thinking that they will be forgiven no matter how irresponsibly they conduct themselves towards their Creator. Seeking refuge in the mercy of Allah, they assume that Allah will in any case bestow His mercy upon them and forgive their ungratefulness, wrong actions and disbelief.
The same attitude evinced by others also misguides a person. They comfort and support each other saying We will be forgiven anyhow. Allah expresses disapproval of this indoctrination of ignorance in the Qur'an:
And a generation has succeeded them who inherited the Scripture. They grasp the goods of this low life (as the price of evil-doing) and say: It will be forgiven us. And if there came to them (again) the offer of the like, they would accept it (and would sin again).
Has not the covenant of the Scripture been taken on their behalf that they should not say anything about Allah save the truth? And they have studied that which is therein. And the abode of the Hereafter is better for those who ward off (evil). Have you then no sense? (Surah Al-Araf: 169)
However, as stated in the Qur'an, this understanding of the ignorant society has by no means any validity in the sight of Allah and on the Day of Judgment. Allah is surely Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Yet this is valid only for those who immediately comprehend their wrongful actions and repent, and not for those who devise cunning plans to avade divine retribution. Allah describes really sincere believers as:
Those who, when they do an evil thing or wrong themselves, remember Allah and implore forgiveness for their sins ó Who forgives sins save Allah alone? - and will not knowingly repeat (the wrong) they did. The reward of such will be forgiveness from their Lord, and Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide for ever ó a bountiful reward for those who do good works!" ( Surah Aal-e Imran: 135-136)
To have good intentions deep in one's heart is a phrase that best describes a method commonly employed by ignorant people to ease their remorse. Though this is a way of expressly straying from the Creatorís path, ignorant people assume that they deserve an eternal reward just because of this so-called purity of heart. They assume themselves to be good since they cause no harm to anyone. Given this mentality, they see no hindrance to attaining Paradise ó if they ever meet the Hereafter. However, in terms of the Qur'an, such a conviction is completely groundless. This is merely a superstitious belief as stated in the following verse:
And indeed, if We show him to taste mercy after some hurt that had affected him, he will say: This is my own; and I do not think that the Hour of Doom will ever come. And even if I am brought back to my Lord, He will surely reward me well. But We shall certainly tell those who disbelieve (all) that they did, and truly We shall make them taste hard punishment. (Surah Fussilat: 50)
Indeed, these people fail to demonstrate sincere faith. They even raise doubts about the existence of the Day of Judgement. This is actually a sub-conscious psychological method to cope with remorse: if there is the probability of resurrection, they comfort themselves with the conviction that they will be rewarded for all eternity in Paradise rather than being meted out harsh punishment.
One to whom Allah gives the glad tidings of an eternal reward displays particular attributes. He loves Allah very much and fears Him. Such a person is mindful of the commandments of Allah. He expresses his gratefulness to Him, turns to Him and repents to Him. He always seeks Allah's guidance and illumination by engaging in good deeds. Allah avers that only those who demonstrate commitment to His way will be rewarded.
As we have seen, a purified heart is not a Qur'anic notion. It is a method invented by ignorant people to escape their divine responsibilities and ease the fear of eternal punishment. Moreover, the grounds for such reasoning are unknown. The criteria it rests upon surely change from one individual to another. For instance, a person may justify theft, stating that he engages in it, not because he wants or likes it, but because he is in need of it. This is surely a failure of reasoning.
Then we can conclude thus: the system of ignorance rests entirely upon dishonesty and is by no means acceptable by the Qur'an. The criteria by which people earn the Paradise are explicit: to fear nobody but Allah, to love Allah and to observe His limits. In the Qur'an Allah states:
And the Garden no longer distant, is brought near for those who kept from evil. (And it is said): This is what you were promised. (It is) for every penitent and heedful one, who feared the Beneficent though He is unseen, and came before Him with a contrite heart. Enter it in peace. This is the day of immortality. (Surah Qaf: 31-34)
People who adhere to their own values always find comfort in the wishful thinking that any wrong actions will be punished temporarily in Hell. Moreover, this rationale encourages one to transgress, since it suggests that eternal life in the Garden will follow this period of torment. Such a mentality unwittingly eases fears of the grievous penalty at the end of life. However, the irrationality of this mindset is thus described in the Qur'an:
That is because they say: The Fire will not touch us save for a certain number of days. Their own lies have deceived them regarding their religion. (Surah Aal-e Imran: 24)
It is apparent that this is a scenario which brings relief to the heart. Ignorant people accept that they have sins, yet they find them to be minor and not a hindrance to attaining Paradise. Though having the opportunity to repent and change their ways, they are unlikely to depart from their own stance.
This is surely a manifestation of the poor grasp they have of Hell. Hell, where disbelievers will remain for all eternity, is specially created to give pain to the human body and soul. That is solely because the disbelievers are guilty of great wrong and Allah's justice entails their punishment.
Being ungrateful and rebellious to the Creator, the One who gives man a soul, is the greatest wrong that can be committed in the whole universe. Therefore, in the Hereafter there is grievous punishment for such a deadly sin. That is the purpose Hell serves. Man is created to be a slave of Allah. If he denies the main purpose of his creation, then he surely receives what he deserves. Allah states the following:
And they say: The Fire (of punishment) will not touch us save for a certain number of days. Say: Have you received a covenant from Allah ó truly Allah will not break His covenant ó or do you assert about Allah that which you do not know? Truly whoever has committed evil and become eugrossed in sin are the heirs of the Fire; they will abide therein forever. (Surah Al-Baqarah: 80-81)
A person can easily deceive himself in this world. Yet, the Hereafter will be the place where all the facts about him will be disclosed. What is more important, it is surely a place of no return.
There is one another rationale which lays the ground for ignorant thinking. They assume Hell to be a place of limited capacity. Compared with the number of people that have ever lived on earth throughout the ages, they find it unlikely that all these people can be punished. Consequently, they find it unlikely that they will be the ones who will be exposed to torment, since there are many other guilty people who deserve it more.
However this reasoning is totally wrong. Those who carry such a conviction do not truly grasp the power of Allah. Surely Allah has the power to gather all men of all ages in Hell, a place of huge dimensions beyond the grasp of the human mind. The following verse gives an idea of Hell:
On the day when We say to Hell: Are you filled? and it answers: Can there be more to come? (Surah Qaf: 30)
Ah, what will convey to you what that burning is! - It leaves nothing; it spares no one.It shrivels the man. (Surah Al-Muddaththir: 27-29)
One who fears Allah and who believes without doubt in the Hereafter, knows for certain that he will be resurrected and judged along with his soul. This judgement is the ultimate justice of Allah. Therefore, those heedless of Allah's commandments in this world will not be saved from torment in Hell. In the Qur'an, the absolute justice of Allah is explained thus:
Have you not seen those who praise themselves for purity? Allah purifies whom He will, and they will not be wronged in the slightest degree. (Surah Al-Nisa: 49)
On that day Allah will pay them their just due, and they will know that Allah, He is the Manifest Truth. (Surah Al-Noor: 25)


text:
Here it is. And I got tired and wet, too!
Thanks Elly, tough day to be taking pictures. At least we were running and so were warm.
HolEE Smokes.
Nice shots of a1 at the finish.
12 Monkeys
Damn. I laughed.
A1 remains my hero.
I'm running somewhere tomorrow. It's going to be beautiful. I can't wait.
Poor baby
Great photos, Elly!
The rest are here. The best race pictures I've seen at least of myself.
Imminent Catastrophe
Damn. I laughed.
A1 remains my hero.
And the new champion of the "best finish line photo" thread.
"Able to function despite imminent catastrophe"
"To obtain the air that angels breathe you must come to Tahoe"--Mark Twain
"The most common question from potential entrants is 'I do not know if I can do this' to which I usually answer, 'that's the whole point'.--Paul Charteris, Tarawera Ultramarathon RD.
√ Javelina Jundred Jalloween 2015
Cruel Jewel 50 mile May 2016
Western States 100 June 2016
And the new champion of the "best finish line photo" thread.
A1 is classic but the b side, having been snapped only 17 minutes afterward, is fairly hilarious.
"He conquers who endures" - Persius "Every workout should have a purpose. Every purpose should link back to achieving a training objective." - Spaniel
I like these graphs
The King of Beasts
good pictures all around.
"As a dreamer of dreams and a travelin' man I have chalked up many a mile. Read dozens of books about heroes and crooks, And I've learned much from both of their styles." ~ Jimmy Buffett
"I don't see much sense in that," said Rabbit. "No," said Pooh humbly, "there isn't. But there was going to be when I began it. It's just that something happened to it along the way.""
Those other photographers couldn't even get a picture of the winner finishing...pssh.


text:
Discussion of the nature of Ultimate Reality and the path to Enlightenment
Diebert van Rhijn wrote:Luckily I still have some criticism though:
Randi didn't seem to get the question about love and romance, or the irrationality around it.
By changing to the rational aspects of marriage (the contract) and children this merely deflects the topic. Marriage never needed the current concept of love and romance for many ages, it's a recent development of last centuries and has become way bigger as mass phenomenon in the last century, just like big entertainment and multimedia.
Since this issue is quite important when we want to understand the core problem with the popularity of the supernatural claims and the hostility against scientific thought, I wonder if Randi was not let too easily of the hook. It seems a bit too much like a sacrifice to keep a sense of agreement in place perhaps, or just simplifying the conversation?
Another criticism would be how the topic of certainty was handled. Agreeing on the fact that absolute truths are definitional by its very nature leaves a lot of wiggle room. The law of identity or non-contradiction are not only valid because we define them into existence, like 1+1. Something like 1+1, or 4+4 is a contextual truth (4 golf balls arranged carefully together with 4 planets constitutes 8 spherical items). A sum like 4+4 is only short-hand for the reality it has to reflect, with all of its choices and parameters. An absolute or universal truth is still different from this because it's not short-hand for some application or limited generalization; it goes under all possible circumstances, past and future ones included.
I do understand however that the show is not meant as vehicle to get out Solway's philosophy but I notice a change from earlier shows where the viewpoints of the hosts themselves were often way more clearly profiled and debated. Is this intentional?
understand where QSR is coming from in regard to relationships, but his take on marriage seemed reasonable.Marriage may start out all romantic but 'romance' is a natural phenomina to extend the species even though emotionally driven. Over the long term marriage amounts to a mutually beneficial(hopefully) 'contract' once the 7 year itch kicks in(or what ever one wants to call it).If one recognises 'romance' for what it is -a burst of emotions(temporary false thoughts if you like) and sees marriage as a contract, can it not be rational?
Ataraxia wrote:...'romance' is a natural phenomina to extend the species even though emotionally driven.
Dan Rowden wrote:I was quite impressed with Randi's statements about science in the early stages of the show. That expressed a degree of cognizance and courage for me.
David Quinn wrote:One thing that puzzled me was his idea that he liked to think about 4+4 instead of 1+1. He implied that it was somehow a superior or more challenging thing to think about, for reasons that escape me.
Diebert van Rhijn wrote:Not sure how 'natural' it is since it only showed up somewhere during the Middle Ages in our cultures (Tristan and Isolde), slowly getting more 'mainstream' throughout the last ages. The really ancient 'love' stories mostly revolve around conquest, status and beauty ('perceived value').
Nick Treklis wrote:I thought the most ridiculous thing he said was claiming that he was getting closer to the Truth, even though he admitted he doesn't know what the Truth is. It's impossible to tell if your getting closer to something if you don't know what that something is. It's more or less an accident when one comes face to face with the Truth, kind of like walking around in the dark and suddenly running into a brick wall. If anything he had better hope he's getting closer to the Truth at his age.
Ataraxia wrote:I take your point,but men and women have fallen in love for millenia.Just because Mills and Boon weren't writing about it didn't mean it didn't occur.
Oedepus unwittingly falls in love with his mother as an example.
The philosopher can deny the pull of hormones and pheremones all they like, but they have ever been thus.
Do you mean examples in pre-middle ages literature?If so, in greek mythology there is Eros -the god of love,would be one that quickly comes to mind.Diebert van Rhijn wrote:Ataraxia wrote:I take your point,but men and women have fallen in love for millenia.Just because Mills and Boon weren't writing about it didn't mean it didn't occur.
Hmm, I'd love to hear some good examples.
Not really sure what your saying.Can you elaborate?ataraxia:The philosopher can deny the pull of hormones and pheremones all they like, but they have ever been thus.
Deibert:On the contrary, the philosopher knows them inside out. This sets him apart from the people who only dabble with the tip of that iceberg thinking all the while they have lived and loved in any significant way.
Ataraxia wrote:in greek mythology there is Eros -the god of love,would be one that quickly comes to mind.
Dan Rowden wrote:In this edition of the Reasoning Show we explore the nature of the skeptical mind, walk the high wire of doubt and examine the difference between illusion and delusion. In his own inimitable style, Randi discusses self-delusion, credulity, the nature of science, the importance of doubt and evidence and more! Arch nemesis to the self-styled psychic guru, Uri Geller, Randi is as sharp of mind and pointed in his criticism as ever. Get your copy of this show now, before it disappears!
The Skeptical Mind
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests


text:
PAINESVILLE, Ohio (AP) -- A multi-agency task force focusing on capturing violent fugitives in northern Ohio is expanding.
The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force will expand to include Ashtabula (ash-tuh-BYOO'-luh), Geauga (jee-AW'-guh) and Lake counties east and northeast of Cleveland.
The task force was created in 2003 by U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott. He announced the expanded affiliations last week in Painesville.
He tells The (Willoughby) News-Herald (bit.ly/YwA4hx) that the task force has arrested more than 30,000 violent fugitives.
The expansion adds to a lengthy list of member agencies including Cleveland, Euclid, Lakewood and Westlake police, Cuyahoga (ky-uh-HOH'-guh) County sheriff, state police, Coast Guard, housing agency and Social Security.
Information from: The News-Herald, http://www.news-herald.com/jrc-html/index/index_p33.html


text:
HOUSTON - One man was dead and another was in the hospital after a shooting in a south Houston neighborhood Saturday night.
Police said the men, a woman and a child were in the driveway of a home on Dacca Drive and Dulcimer Street at 10:30 p.m.
Detectives said men drove up in a white Dodge Magnum and both pointed guns at the people in the driveway.
The men forced the woman and child in the house and told the men to get on the ground, police said.
At some point, the men shot the victims then drove away, investigators said.
One man died, the other was shot in the arm and taken to Ben Taub Hospital in stable condition.
The reason for the shooting is under investigation.
The gunmen haven't been caught.
Copyright 2012 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
An intoxicating blend of influences from ancient Persia, Ottoman Turkey and India, book a flight to Zanzibar with Qatar Airways and be transported back into a spice-laden world of Arabic-style houses, brass doors and winding alleyways.
This exotic archipelago is full of allure and retains much of its magic despite recent tourist-focused development. Fly to Zanzibar and discover a real gem in the Indian Ocean that hasn't changed much in centuries.
The oldest building in Zanzibar City is the 17th century Stone Fort, built as a defence against the Portuguese. It can be found in Stone Town opposite the lush Forodhani Gardens. Traders and merchants hawk their wares in the vast courtyard and regular festivals are held in its small amphitheatre, and on your trip to Zanzibar this will be a real entertainment hub for you.
One of Stone Town's most prominent structures is the Palace Museum, otherwise known as the Beit-el-Sahel or Sultan's Palace. It's now a museum on the waterfront but was originally built for the Sultan and his immediate family in the 19th century.
Stone Town in Zanzibar City is itself a stunning cornucopia of whitewashed buildings and winding alleyways at the heart of the city. It's East Africa's oldest still-functioning settlement and home to a myriad of traditional markets and historic sites. It's buzzing 24/7 and is packed with restaurants and entertainment venues. Singer Freddie Mercury (real surname Bulsara) was born here in 1946, and the restaurant named after him pays homage to Queen's colourful front man.
The beaches that ring the Zanzibar islands on all sides are amongst the finest in the world, and during your trip to Zanzibar you'll inevitably find yourself stretched out on at least one of them, soaking up the sun. The beaches in the east of the archipelago are the best, and the acknowledged top five are Kendwa, Nungwi, Pongwe, Paje and Matamwe.
Take a boat trip out from Zanzibar City to Prison Island, about 30 minutes away. Slaves were originally detained here before it became a quarantine camp, so its history is pretty grim. However, nowadays the island is given over to giant tortoises and has been turned into a fabulous and internationally important nature reserve.
The most famous, and certainly the most lively and colourful, market in Zanzibar is Darajani Market in Stone Town. This is where you get a real taste for local life, obtain great photo opportunities and get a chance to practice your haggling skills.
Zanzibar is the perfect place for snorkelling and diving, and there are numerous spots around the islands for doing this. Pemba Island is especially popular, and you should board a traditional dhow boat to get there and enjoy the journey for its own sake.
Zanzibar's long multicultural and multiethnic history is reflected in its fabulous cuisine. The mix includes strong elements of Arab, Bantu, Portuguese, British, Chinese and Indian traditions, such as sorpotel which is boiled meat cooked in a Portuguese-Goan style.
The most typical Zanzibari dessert is Spice Cake, made from pastry with clove, cinnamon, chocolate and nutmeg mixed in. These are a true taste of Zanzibar's history as the heart of the original Spice Islands.
The best places to pick up all sorts of fabulous items when you're travelling to Zanzibar for shopping are located in Stone Town. Many of the shops here sell items made in India, Africa and the Far East. Spices, essential oils and jewellery can all be found here too, with gold shops clustered next to the Anglican Cathedral.
Cathedral Street is the best place for antiques, including the old Chinese bowls that used to be used for ballast in the dhows.
Qatar Airways flights to Zanzibar will take you to Zanzibar International Airport.
Flights to Zanzibar with Qatar Airways flights land at Zanzibar International Airport on Unguja Island, 5km to the south of Zanzibar City, the archipelago's capital. Take an airport taxi from there to your destination.
Visa restrictions for entry into the country will depend on your country of origin, length of stay and whether your trip is for business or pleasure. So before you fly to Zanzibar please check the visa and passport requirements.
Currency: Tanzanian Shilling (TZS)
Voltage: 230 V 50 Hz
Plugs: Type D / G
Language: Swahili / English
International dialing code: +255
Our Business Class cabin combines thoughtful amenities, sublime comfort and superb service centred around your needs.
Join Privilege Club and make travelling with Qatar Airways even more rewarding
Explore Discover Qatar's stopover packages offered by Qatar Airways Holidays. Book hotels, desert safaris, city and architectural tours including visits to Katara Cultural Village, Souq Waqif and The Pearl.


text:
You won't be able to dismiss this by usual means (escape or click button), but you can close it programatically based on user choices or actions.
"I used WPD to make a Save the Date card for my upcoming wedding and it was such a seamless process! I had a few changes to the design which they more than happily fixed, and their customer service was fantastic. Literally in 3-4 days I had designed the card, approved a proof, and received my shipment (with express delivery)."
"We love our save-the-dates! The quality is really good with shinier printing on the front and regular printing on the back to account for the photo versus text. The picture does print a little more "faded" than I thought it would, but for the picture we chose this worked well but keep it in mind for choosing what colors to use. Friends who received this commented on how cute and elegant it was!"
"I am so impressed with my postcards! I initially thought I wanted magnets, but went with postcards and couldn't be more satisfied. Looks exactly like the proof and better! Very nice paper quality, clean looking text! I am just so thrilled and all of my guests who have received them so far are so impressed!!! I read previous reviews cautiously and honestly disagree with all of the negative ones! I love the bored because it makes all the white text pop, the photo tint added a romantic look to the picture, and although people seem to have had trouble with the magnets... I HIGHLY recommend the postcards!!!!"
"It was great!! I loved how easy it was to design our personalized card. We received them a day earlier than expected which was a HUGE BONUS. The quality of the invitations are wonderful. I will be doing additional invitations for sure!!"
"I was very pleased with this card. It was great quality, good price, and got here quicker than I expected. I will definitely be using Wedding Paper Divas for my wedding invitations and invitations in the future."


text:
HOUSTON - Hundreds filled a downtown Houston church Monday to pay their respects to state Sen. Mario Gallegos.
Gallegos, 62, made history and inspired many as the first Hispanic state senator to serve Harris County when he was elected in 1995. However, his dedication to service began decades earlier. Gallegos served 22 years as a Houston firefighter.
His funeral mass took place at Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral in downtown Monday morning.
Members of the Houston Fire Department hung a large Texas flag suspended in the air by HFD ladder trucks to honor their fallen comrade.
Gallegos was described as a true fighter.
"If your back was against the wall, you wanted him on your side -- both sides -- my Republican colleagues as well. (He was) someone who believed in issues he fought for and he will be missed," said State Sen. Rodney Ellis.
"Sen. Gallegos lived life intensely, passionately and didn't waste a single moment of his precious life. Always giving back to others, even in the bitter end," said Dr. Laura Murillo with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
He was known for his strong defense of civil rights, health care and economic development in his district, where about a quarter live in poverty.
Gallegos' viewing and rosary were held Sunday at the University of Houston.
"We are very deeply thankful for you, his family, for sharing him with us. And of course, for all he has done for us," said Nelda Blair, University of Houston's system board chair.
"Every single day, he did his very best," said Gallegos' friend, Harold Cook.
"We lost someone who meant a lot to the Hispanic community as well as myself," said Gallegos' cousin, Joe Sanchez.
State leaders described the spirit of the senator.
"[He was] kind, friendly, courteous, brave, courageous and a fighter," said Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.
"Whenever Mario fought, he fought for others," said Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. "For Mario, may you rest in peace, my friend. I will miss you. I will miss you."
The retired firefighter earned a reputation for toughness in 2007 when he showed up for a critical vote just a few weeks after undergoing a liver transplant. He set up a hospital bed outside the Senate chamber to make sure he could block a bill that would have required a photo ID to vote. The Senate passed the bill four years later.
Mario Gallegos Jr. died Oct. 16 from liver disease.
Copyright 2012 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
For your convenience, we have made it possible to reserve tables of 2 at the Twine Loft online up until the day before the desired reservation date.
For different party sizes or same day reservations, please contact us directly
Lower Gun Hill Trail
1 Hour
Trail begins within walking distance of the Artisan Inn
The lower Gun Hill trail begins behind the Rising Tide Theatre in Trinity, just a 5 minute walk from the Artisan Inn.. Hike out to Tavener's Point and search the beach for sea glass, old clay pipes and seashells. Follow the path leading around the base of the hill through the woods. The trail passes through the old catholic graveyard full of colourful wild flowers and gravestones dating back over 100 years. Moose can often be spotted walking amongst the trees. The trail ends on the main road into town approximately a 15 minute walk from the Artisan Inn.
Guests of the Artisan Inn may borrow or purchase a hand carved wooden walking stick to help with their trek!
Francais Nederlands Deutsch


text:
Beaded Choker - Mystics Star : gilliauna - ArtFire Jewelry
A detailed five-point star in pewter engraved with tribal design hangs from a fully beaded strand of seedbeads and misty purple pearls in this handmade choker. The lobster claw clasp at the nape hooks to a matching silver plated chain that allows this handmade necklace to be worn tight enough to be a choker or loose enough to lie against the chest while a small matching bead bauble at the end of the chain gives an extra bit of a decorative touch. Length: Adjusts between 16.5" - 18.75" in length (42 cm - 47.5 cm)


text: First I don't think you would even need an exploit to accomplish what you've just done. Seems you've just connected to port 25 which could've just been done with telnet if that port was already open. Unless your trying to spoof an email containing the trojan via SMTP. First you would have to compile the code from the link you posted if you want it to actually run. But the way you're trying to compose this message is text only! You were cut off because your message exceeds the maximum characters allowed to be used this way. That's why it "stucks" or sticks and doesn't do anything else. But it sounds like you might have been trying to upload the trojan to the target server via SMTP. I don't believe this is possible on port 25. Try another port/protocol.But it just stucks after "250 OK", does the 552 means that server is not vuln for the exploit?


text:
More Top Tips from Top Dietitians
Ten additional ways to get skinny—and stay that way.
-Jackie Newgent
We've come up with new ways for you to permanently change the way you eat:
We've come up with new ways for you to permanently change the way you eat:
When I "treat" myself to little things each day though, like tip #3 suggests, I feel guilty. I also feel like those little treats add up.
Great story! For me, the best answer is always veggies, veggies and more veggies. They fill you up and they have relatively few calories.
As long as you plan your treats ahead of time (instead of having one whenever, wherever), and make sure to consume all the healthy foods and beverages from the key food groups (e.g. fruits, veggies, low fat dairy, and lean meat and beans (including nuts/fish/eggs), you can have one without guilt (a useless emotion) and still eat healthfully. A good rule of thumb: keep treats to one a day, and make sure calories for each stay between 100 and 150 max. Hope this helps! 🙂
i agree. veggies and fruits are the best diet plan. they make you full easily and the best part is that it isn't fattening. i always have an apple in the morning and it fills me up.
@elisazied- thanks for the great tips!
I have cancer and now, terrible insomnia. I sleep less than 2 hours per night with no naps during the day. Due to pain and exhaustion, I only get dressed once a month to go to the dr. This, along with being hungry every 4 hours (since I'm up 23 hours/day) has resulted in a 30 lb. weight gain for me in 3 months. I worked for 34 years and dressed up every day for my professional job and never gained an ounce because I could tell immediately from the waistband of my skirt. That tip about wearing something fabulous is one of the best I have read because you will notice any weight gain at once and be able to cut back on eating and/or up the exercise. I am miserable because I have never had "fat clothes" in my seven closets and now I dread getting dressed to go to the doctor because I have nothing that fits. I have become one of those overweight old ladies who wear leggings and long tunics and it just kills me to look in the mirror. How could I have let this happen???
the cooking and the jogos de cozinhar can be realted to each other very easily as they havre got so much in common also i love the jogos de moto as they are very girly to play also
Playing different games like as the and the other kind of the games such as the jogos de cozinhar can be played at any time as they totally cool games that you can play and plus the fact that jogos de moto
You must be logged in to post a comment.


text:
Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals: Statement by State Minister Maria Böhmer on behalf of France, Germany and Switzerland
(as delivered:)
"Mr. Co-Chair, Excellencies,
It is a pleasure for me to address you on behalf of the constituency France, Switzerland and Germany.
After eight successful sessions of stock taking, we now have to face the challenging task of identifying concrete Sustainable Development Goals and targets to fulfill the trustful mandate given to this group at the Rio Summit. In this regard we warmly welcome the document provided by the Co-Chairs as a very helpful and substantive basis for discussions. We fully support the adopted methods of work and are confident that you will succeed in your mission.
The future agenda should still aim at ending extreme poverty, while going further to tackle it in a more multidimensional understanding and to overcome social inequalities. Ending hunger and malnutrition are key issues on the task of finishing the job and leaving no one behind. Prerequisites of social development are food and nutrition security, health issues and education including lifelong learning for all.
We have to improve the living conditions for all people worldwide and to protect the natural resource base and the earth's systems which provide the basis of our living also for future generations.
It is therefore obvious that 'business-as-usual' is no longer an option. The agenda should accelerate the transformation to more sustainable societies to guarantee a life in dignity in ALL countries, in developed and developing countries as well as in emerging economies. Enhancing global sustainable development is critical for present and future generations. To this end, tackling inequalities, building resilience, adopting sustainable production and consumption, circular economy, resources efficiency and sustainable energy, corporate social and environmental responsibility, the protection and sustainable use of natural resources such as water, oceans, soil, forests, biodiversity and ecosystems are of utmost importance.
We see climate change as one of the most threatening issues for sustainable development. Engaging urgently in low-carbon development pathways that are resilient to climate change is key. It is a priority to act as fast as possible in order to limit global warming to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and for that purpose climate change should be integrated as a crosscutting issue throughout different goals and targets, to address both mitigation and adaptation challenges (e.g. sustainable energy, SCP, sustainable and resilient cities, infrastructures and transports, biodiversity and ecosystem services, food security and nutrition, water etc.).
The framing of the Agenda should be clearly based on human rights principles, in particular equality and non-discrimination, transparency, participation, effectiveness, accountability and inclusion.
For the effective implementation of the agenda we need a new global partnership. Implementation should be monitored at the international level, be based on mutual accountability and, given their important role, also include civil society and the private sector.
In general, we would like to stress the importance that all focus areas and possible dedicated goals integrate all dimensions of sustainable development.
Furthermore we welcome that the sectoral interlinkages and interconnectedness of issues have been taken into consideration. This must continue to be the case when including goals and targets in their next proposal, and may require targets that are shared across goals.
Mr. Co-Chair,
We support most of the focal and action areas mentioned in the proposal.
Without going into too much detail we would like to share with you a preliminary view of this constituency on our priorities areas of goals and targets based on the Co-Chairs' document. We will remain flexible and look forward to further exchange with all actors involved in the process.
In this understanding, we would like to suggest the following goals:
- "Leaving no one behind - end extreme poverty" as outlined in focus area 1 of the co-chairs document addressing also social protection floors as well as incorporate elements to strengthen resilience to risks and vulnerabilities.
- "End hunger and ensure food security and good nutrition". The reduction of post-harvest loss and food waste as well as evidence of tenure rights and sustainable agriculture are three important means we would like to emphasize to achieve sustainable agricultural production and halt the degradation of land and soil as the foundation of global nutrition.
- "Maximizing health for all through achieving universal health coverage". Coverage from financial risk of being pushed into poverty as well as universal sexual and reproductive health and rights, in particular for youth, gain special importance in this regard.
- "Education and lifelong learning" as a prerequisite for poverty eradication and sustainable development. Thus the Post 2015-Agenda should aim at ensuring quality education, that goes beyond primary education, and significantly increase adult literacy. Sustainable development should also be integrated in education curricula.
- "Achieving gender equality, empower women and enforce women's rights". Gender issues should be as well mainstreamed throughout the agenda. The crucial role of women and girls for sustainable development is undisputed. Ensuring gender equality and promoting women's full enjoyment of human rights, including ending child marriage, strengthening women's voice, leadership and participation in decision-making processes as well as in public and private institutions, ensuring women's equal access to assets and productive resources, as well as equal wages, and eliminating all violence against women are indispensable.
- "Water and sanitation". We would also like to note that this focus area reflects in an exemplary manner the integration of all three dimensions of sustainable development which is therefore a good illustration of how goals should be crafted. We are very much in favor of following a holistic approach, including issues as access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, water efficiency, quality and integrated management of water as well as the resilience of societies on water-related disasters.
- "Securing sustainable energy" based on the Secretary General's Sustainable Energy for all-Initiative, including for example reducing inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.
- "Sustainable and inclusive growth" is key for sustainable development including poverty eradication and inequalities reduction. Speed up the decoupling of economic growth from environmental degradation and resource use, the internalization of environmental external costs and the adoption of sustainable consumption patterns play a crucial role. We also highlight the importance of decent jobs including fair wages for women and men alike with a special focus on corporate social and environmental responsibility, the employment of women, youth, ethnic minorities and disabled people and the reconciliation of work and family life.
- "Sustainable management of natural resources". Action in this area should accelerate the implementation of the Aichi targets, including by achieving zero net deforestation and ensuring that marine ecosystems are clean, healthy, productive and resilient.
- "Sustainable and inclusive cities and territories" imply universal access to a secure, resilient and affordable built environment as well as resilient, modern and sustainable urban services, infrastructures and transport. Sustainable and integrated urban development plans based on participatory inclusive processes also including local and regional authorities are an important means to achieve this.
- Furthermore we suggest two additional goals: One on "peaceful and non-violent societies" and one on "governance, transparency and accountable, inclusive and effective institutions", including improvement of domestic resource mobilization through sound and just fiscal systems and elimination of corruption and illicit financial flows.
These are the goals we would like to suggest for discussion at this moment in time.
The inclusion of migration in different focus areas of the Co-Chairs' document is a step in the right direction. It rightly mentions the protection and empowerment of migrants as well as the role of remittances contributing to development. We look forward to contributing to concrete targets on these issues also.
We recognize that Means of Implementation will be key to the success of the agenda. Therefore, it will be important for us to structure and time the discussions on these issues in the right way going forward. The joint meeting taking place on Wednesday is a step in the right direction.
Mr. Co-Chair,
Your document provides us with a very rich and substantive basis for discussions on consensus building in this room. We would like to use the opportunity to reiterate our thanks and express our continued support for the guidance of the Co-Chairs to this group.
Thank you."