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Big news is the Song Manager:
The Song Manager is designed to help organize your songs easily and quickly. Click the image right to read the full article.
Deckadance has the widest support for MIDI controllers in the industry. DD 1.8 supports the following brands: Allen&Heath, American Audio, Bheringer, DJ-Tech, EKS, Hercules, iCon, Kontrol-DJ, M-Audio, Numark, Omnitronic, OpenLabs, Percussa, Reloop, Stanton, SYNQ, Vestax, Nintendo Wii & General MIDI.
FL Studio 9.7 Beta!
Download the installer from here.
Click the image to see the video.
FL Studio 9.7 Notable Changes
The beta incorporates a number of enhancements and new features based on ongoing development and customer input, including :
- Newtone - Pitch correction editor beta (see opposite).
- Pitcher - Live pitch correction plugin. Beta 2.
- Preview Playlist Clips - Alt + Right click Clip.
- New Pattern Button - On Stepsequencer.
- Ctrl + Middle Mouse - Resize Playlist tracks.
- Playlist - Left+Shift swaps Pencil and Brush tools.
- Piano roll - Sift + H or J cycles through used Channels.
- Project files - Local paths now saved in project.
- ...
Image-Line SOUND DESIGN CONTEST
You chance to add sound to Papam Studios animated Image-Line logo. Closes December 13 so be quick!
Enter the Image-Line Sound Design Contest
Win $300, $200 or $100 Image-Line virtual cash to spend on whatever you want in our shop. We will also use your sound design on our YouTube videos.
Social Media
See all our videos first on YouTube


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Motricity Will Pay Up to $150 Million for Mobile Marketing Expertise
Bellevue, Wash.-based Motricity has agreed to acquire Toronto-based Adenyo, a mobile marketing provider in the U.S., Canada and France. It will pay $100 million in a combination of cash and stock with an additional earn-out of up to $50 million. Motricity–which builds storefronts for wireless operators, including AT&T and Verizon Wireless, that sell and distribute smartphone applications–said it was attracted to the company for its mobile advertising and analytics capabilities. The deal is expected to close by the end of March.

subset: commoncrawl


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Membership of BCSA is open to any Steelwork Contractor who has a fabrication facility within the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland.
Companies are registered to undertake the fabrication and the responsibility for any design and erection of one or more Building Categories and Contract Value. Steelwork Contractors are also required to work within their Scope of Competence.
The steelwork contract value for which a company is pre-qualified under the Scheme is intended to give guidance on the size of steelwork contract which can be undertaken; where a project lasts longer than a year, the value is the proportion of the steelwork contract to be undertaken within a 12 month period.
Where an asterisk (*) appears against any company's classification number, this indicates that the assets required for this classification level are those of the parent company.
For details on BCSA Membership, please contact Lorraine MacKinder on 020 7747 8121 or firstname.lastname@example.com


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3 Day Paragliding Safety & Thermalling Course with Jocky Sanderson at Kamshet
The dates for the course were November 4th to 6th. Ten of us from Nirvana Adventures including a young Sunith Rao who has been a great fan of Jocky's having watched his Security in Flight training video innumerable times since the age of 4. In all there were over 35 pilots signed in for the course and our team went with no expectations and an open minds happy to meet the big man, listen to and fly with him.
Jocky Sanderson came across as youthful and full of energy. We were all familiar with how he looked from having watched his Security in flight video for the past 15 years. 'He seems to be growing younger' I thought. I guess it comes from doing what you love most. From his very first lecture we were spellbound. He delivered his lectures with a playful energy and his sound effects ( yes he made the most interesting sounds much to our delight) we were hooked. A guru for sure – I'd say a natural child and a guru rolled into one. An amazing combo of wisdom, patience and enthusiasm
Over the next couple of days were filled with morning and evening lectures and and an afternoon flying session (Strong winds in the morning kept is in the classroom) The group was loosely divided according to experience and the more proficient pilots took off in stronger winds while the rest waited for more favorable conditions. the flying was task based – thermalling, practicing maneuvers and those who got enough height would head out with Chris White, Jocky's colleague.
All in all it was a wonderful experience. Jocky beame a catalyst and raised our energy levels and our eagerness to learn, better ourselves. 'Practice Practice Practice', 'Push your boundaries' and 'become one with your wing' were the key words flying around. He changed the way we percieved our home sites and opened our thought process to new and exciting possibilities. Many pilots bested their performances including Rinul Pashankar who flew 6 km XC along with Jockey on the last day ( read about that in the next blog)
To see more pictures of this weekend click here
We are all grateful for the wonderful energizing experience
Peace Bliss & Happy Landings
Astrid Rao


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Egg Toast
Piece of bread (1 slice per toast)
Cookie cutter that fits within the size of the bread
Egg (1 egg per toast)
Shredded Cheese (optional)
Ham (optional)
Warm a fry pan, and drop in a pat of butter. Let it melt over medium heat.
On a cutting board, you're going to start with a piece of bread.
Using a cookie cutter, cut out the center of the piece of bread. (Make sure to leave the whole outer edge in tact, since that's what is going to frame the egg.) Put the piece of bread into the warm fry pan (that already has melted butter).
Then you crack an egg into the opening. The egg will ooze around and fill the shape you cut out. Cover with a lid so the egg cooks more quickly. (As you'll see above, I started adding some cut up ham and shredded cheese after I got the hang of it. But first, I'd just try it with the eggs...then you can get a little more creative!)
Once the egg is a little past halfway cooked, you're going to flip the piece of toast. It may splatter. That's ok! As long as one side is pretty, you're good to go!!
Once the egg is a little past halfway cooked, you're going to flip the piece of toast. It may splatter. That's ok! As long as one side is pretty, you're good to go!!
Let the egg finish cooking, the toast finish toasting. Then remove it from the pan and wow! Look at that. After my kids have ogled the hidden shape, I have been cutting it into quarters for them to eat it more easily.
A quick note on bread: you cannot use that funny, really thin bread for this. It will not work…the egg will run everywhere and you'll have one disappointed mom and child. Go for a nice hearty thick piece of bread. Our favorite is Eli's Health Bread (which you can get in 4-piece packs at Aux Delices in Darien). La Brea's Seeded Wheat or Whole Wheat would probably also work well.
And, as you see above, the buttery, egg-y bread is wonderful dipped into your favorite jam too.


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I'll admit it; I am one. I didn't used to be – I held out for as long as I could. I held out, not for reasons of principle, but because I hadn't grasped the nature of the thing. I didn't get it.
Now…well ok, I still don't get it, but I've succumbed; I've familiarised myself with the compulsion to follow, and attract followers. They call us tweeters, most likely because they felt they ought to avoid dubbing us twits, but believe me; if you're doing it in the same clueless, hopelessly hopeful way that I am doing it, twit is the appropriate term. More


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Feb. 24, 2015
GENEVA – Innovative design and product planning gave birth to Nissan Qashqai and JUKE, two of the biggest automotive success stories of recent years. What would happen if the company applied the same radical thinking and quality standards to one of the most important sectors in Europe: the small hatchback?
To be unveiled at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, Sway is a glimpse at how a future generation of small Nissan models could look if the company's striking new design language was applied to a European hatchback.
The car will be revealed during Nissan's press conference on March 3 at 11:30 a.m. local time.
About Nissan in Europe
Nissan has one of the most comprehensive European presences of any overseas manufacturer, employing more than 17,600 staff across locally based design, research & development, manufacturing, logistics and sales & marketing operations. Last financial year Nissan plants in the UK, Spain and Russia produced more than 675,000 vehicles including award-winning crossovers, small cars, SUVs, commercial vehicles and electric vehicles, including the Nissan LEAF, the world's most popular electric vehicle with 96% of customers willing to recommend the car to friends. Nissan now offers a strong line-up of 23 diverse and innovative models in Europe under the Nissan and Datsun brands.


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Put the following metetag as the first one behind the head-tag then IE9 will look like IE8 and show the site like it was ment.
<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=EmulateIE8" >
Kind regards,
Using a meta tag for IE will not help in this case because the page looks poorly in IE 8 as well. There are at least two problems with the page, probably more. It doesn't have a valid DOCTYPE. It does, but not as the first thing. The first thing on the page is an opening <html> tag:
As you can see it has two of those, that's invalid. So validating the page would be a good idea:Code:
<html><head> </head> <body> <script type="text/javascript"> var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-35881828-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); </script>
<!DOCTYPE html><html class="no-js"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="keywords" content="maszyny . . .
The other problem I see with IE is the use of text-align: center for the body in the ie.css stylesheet. This can actually cause more problems than it fixes. Use margin: 0 auto; to center individual elements that have width, and text-align center only for individual elements containing text that you want centered. The margin: 0 auto; won't work in IE however, until you have a valid DOCTYPE as the very first thing in the page's source code.
- John________________________
Show Additional Thanks: International Rescue Committee - Donate or: The Ocean Conservancy - Donate or: PayPal - Donate


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Situation: level 16 Dragonborn Sorcerer with Paladin Multiclass, Ancient Soul, Nusemnee's Atonement, Radiant Breath, Morninglord paragon path, and Fey Beast Tamer theme.
Whenever she breathes, she includes her fey beast in the blast, along with a number of enemies. This applies radiant vulnerability to the beast (Radiant Breath + Morninglord), she then takes the damage in place of her beast (Nusemnee's Atonement) with resistance 10 and recharges her breath (Acient Soul).
Then she breathes again. On the second breath, all the enemies have radiant vulnerability (yay) but so does the fey beast.
The issue is this: is the damage transferred from the fey beast to the sorcerer increased by 10 by the vulnerability?


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Flights to Cyprus with Qatar Airways
Cyprus is one of the gems of the Mediterranean, with both sides of the island offering attractions and interests to all types of visitors. From beach activities to archaeological ruins, tourists will surely have their hands full upon their visit here. Travel to Cyprus with Qatar Airways and explore one of the Mediterranean's most popular island destinations.
Cyprus is alive with historic mosques, ancient monasteries and past ruins, legacies of the numerous empires and kingdoms that have either been based here or passed through on their way elsewhere. You can combine exploring the historic landscape with hiking and walking tours from cities such as Larnaca, which have their own cultural attractions.
If you're based in the south of the island, you can now also travel north to see the old medieval castles and largely unspoiled beaches. Equally, in the south you'll find predominantly Greek and Roman treasures, with many fine Byzantine remains too.
Culturally, icon painting has long been a specialised art in Cyprus and is still practised today. In fact, frescoes and icons are what most attract visitors on cultural tours of the island, and they can be found in abundance in the numerous churches and monasteries scattered across the island.
These traditional buildings are splendid attractions for their old architecture alone. Many have now turned into museums where visitors can discover the ancient culture that runs throughout daily life in Cyprus.
All parts of southern Cyprus in particular are connected by a reliable bus service and it's cheap and easy to get around. Alternatively, you can hire a car and explore the island at your leisure.
Fly to Cyprus with Qatar Airways and you can enjoy relaxing on some of the best beaches in the Eastern Mediterranean, or head into Larnaca for some quality shopping and dining. Cypriot cuisine is renowned for its freshness and innovation, and if you like seafood you'll be in for a real treat.


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The Obama campaign couldn't care less about Herman Cain.Today Obama spokesman wasted no time going after Romney for his consistent criticism of President Obama and his responsibility for much of America's economic woes.
That seemed to be the subtext of a Monday statement from Obama spokesman Ben LaBolt, blasting one of the top GOP presidential candidates – but not the one currently under fire for alleged sexual harassment.
"It is deeply ironic that Mitt Romney, who is running on the No We Can't platform, would launch this false attack," LaBolt said, ticking off a list of attacks on Romney's economic policies. "While the President is fighting for an economy that's built to last where we out educate and out innovate the rest of the world, Mitt Romney has been busy telling Americans what he believes our nation can't do."This attack on Romney is nothing new and as the article points out that Democrats are taking a pass on the latest Cain story.
Democrats have never viewed Cain as a credible Republican presidential nominee, but the party's silence Monday but an especially fine point on it – and also highlighted the extent to which the Obama camp is already treating Romney like a general election candidate.
Read the full story on Politico HERE.
Please check us out on Facebook and If you like what you see, please "Like" us. You can find us here.


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Speed Rabbit
From Teampedia
Group Size
Set Up
Everyone stands in a circle with the leader is in the middle. Begin by teaching the group 5-10 of the various poses of the game, each pose should use 3 people. The leader points to 1 person in the circle, and the person on either side of them needs to create the stated pose. This is an elimination game, so if someone makes the wrong pose, moves when they weren't supposed to, then they are out. There are tons of these poses and you can make up your own, but a few are:
- Speedy rabbit – the 2 side people face out to make the shape of the ears, and the middle person puts his or her hands in front of them like paws
- Rabbit (Variation) – player makes whiskers with hands; partners make ears with their hands on player's head.
- Screaming Viking – the 2 side people make rowing motions on the outside, and the middle person bangs their fists on their chest yelling
- Girl Scout – the 2 side people put their arms up on a diagonal and lean in to make a house, and the middle person crouches down and says "want a cookie?"
- Moose – player holds two hands in front of face; partners place hands upon player's head to form antlers.
- Mosquito – player makes a "V" with fingers of one hand and places index finger through it up by face; partners stand close to player and make flapping wings and a buzzing sound.
- Dog – player bends over; partners lift up leg closest to player.
- Road Kill – player squats down; partners place one foot on the player.
- Elvis – player makes their favorite Elvis pose; partners stand close to player and scream with glee
- Milking the cow - person in the middle holds hands with thumbs down, and the people on either side squeeze thumbs - pretending to milk the cow
- Elephant - the 2 side people make floppy ears, and the person in the middle makes a swaying trunk
- No Evil - (hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil) - person to the left covers ears with hands, middle covers eyes with hands, person to the right covers mouth with hands
- Palm tree - person in the middle is the palms and the people on either side are the coconuts


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Convenience is essential when it comes to arranging your travel plans. When you're flying to Doha, don't waste time at the airport by waiting in long lines for cabs or trying to figure out bewildering bus routes. Instead, reserve your U-Save car rental in Doha today and be on the road as soon as you have your rental car keys in hand. Meaning once you've hit the tarmac, you can head to the U-Save rental counter and pick up your U-Save car rental in Doha.
U-Save Rental Doha Deals
Find Cheap U-Save Rental Deals in Doha
At Expedia, we are proud to work with U-Save due to their history of superior customer service as well their large fleet of premier vehicles. Start browsing through the great selection of rental cars by entering your search preferences into our online booking wizard and sorting through everything from spacious SUVs to compact luxury cars. Meaning, whether you need an economy car for a quick business trip or a roomy vehicle to fit the entire family on a long road trip, we've got you covered. And, what's more, we always offer U-Save Doha cars at the lowest possible prices. Backed by our Best Price Guarantee, our prices on U-Save rentals in Doha can't be beat. Get started and peruse our myriad of cheap deals and discounts on rental cars for your time in Doha today.
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U-Save: New Al Mana Commercial Tower, C Ring Roa, Doha, QAT
Location: In City
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Voiceless by Hollow Press
Album Description
Exploring ambient and unconventional sounds, there is something inherently intriguing about Hollow Press. Beginning in early 2012, Adelaide's Shaun McNamara has been using drone, glitches, field recordings, voices, industrial sounds, and other such things to create his work.
'Heads in Dust' is a collection of blissful and at times unsettling songs. It sounds like an abstract soundtrack to someone's innermost, darkest thoughts, as it drifts seamlessly though sonic atmospheres.
The third Hollow Press album in the span of a year, 'Heads in Dust' yet again defies the commercial and conventional music mould. Clearly Hollow Press loves the darker shades of experimentalism, exploring ambience, mingling sounds, wave-like-synths, bells, distorted voices, all of which are displayed on this captivating album.
» VIEW ALL"Voiceless" Fans
Track Info
Voiceless by Hollow Press is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License.


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The All Star Story
Thank you for visiting our website. All Star Cards has been helping customers around the country for over 20 years! Our professional staff has an average of 15+ years of hobby experience so we can help you with all your sports collectible needs.
We buy and sell a wide variety of inventory, from tobacco
cards of the late 1800's to today's latest prospects. We offer 14,000 PSA graded cards as well as thousands of ungraded vintage and modern cards. Great deals can be found throughout our catalog as we offer monthly specials, a rewards program and a monthly telephone auction. We are a high volume dealer so check back frequently as our inventory changes rapidly. All Star Cards has worked diligently to become one of the most recognized and respected names in the
industry and has been a PSA Authorized Dealer for over 15 years. We have created a national network of customers whose relationship is built on trust, understanding and satisfaction. We look forward to helping you with all your sports collectible needs.
Call us today to receive a FREE subscription to our 100 page monthly catalog via mail, or view and download our current catalog online NOW by clicking on "View Catalog Now."
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Anthony Hopkins. Robert DeNiro. Kathy Bates. Vincent D'Onofrio. Billy Zane. What do these people have in common? They all freak us the hell out. Not on a day-to-day basis, of course, but each has had at least one truly memorable role in a horror film. These singularly terrifying performances have earned them all spots on our list of the Scariest Horror Movie Villains of All Time, alongside such luminaries as Freddy Krueger and Leatherface. Check out our list, then let us know who we've left off below!
For more from Television Without Pity:
Copyright TVWOP - Television Without Pity


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In the summer of 1978, 16 Faculty Fellows from universities around the U.S. met at NASA's Ames Research Center near San Francisco to spend 10 weeks designing an Earth-orbiting Mars sample quarantine facility. It was one of a series of similar Ames-hosted Summer Faculty Design Studies conducted since the late 1960s. At the time, NASA actively considered Mars Sample Return (MSR) as a post-Viking mission. Agency interest flagged as it became clear that no such mission would receive funding, so publication of the 1978 design study, titled Orbiting Quarantine Facility: The Antaeus Report, was delayed until 1981.
The Ames Faculty Fellows noted that the three biology experiments on the Viking landers had found neither organic carbon nor clear evidence of ongoing metabolic processes in the soil they tested on Mars. Furthermore, the Viking cameras had observed no obvious signs of life at the two rather bland Viking landing sites. Nevertheless, the Fellows wrote, "the limitations of automated analysis" and the fact that "the landers sampled visually only a small fraction of one percent of the planet's surface" meant that there could be "no real certainty" about whether Mars was lifeless. This, they argued, meant that, "in the event that samples of Martian soil are returned to Earth for study, special precautions ought to be taken to safeguard them. . .the samples should be considered to be potentially hazardous to terrestrial organisms until it has been conclusively shown that they are not."
Their report listed three options for attempting to ensure that samples would not accidentally release martian organisms on Earth. The MSR spacecraft might sterilize the sample en route from Mars to Earth, perhaps by heating it. Alternately, the unsterilized sample might be quarantined in a "maximum containment" facility on Earth or in Earth orbit, outside our planet's biosphere. The Fellows noted that each of these three options would have advantages and disadvantages; sterilizing the sample, for example, might ensure that no martian organisms could reach Earth, but would likely also damage the sample, diminishing its scientific utility. The Antaeus study emphasized the third option because it had not been studied in detail previously.
The Faculty Fellows explained the significance of the name they had selected for their Orbiting Quarantine Facility (OQF) project. Antaeus was a giant in Greek mythology who forced passing travelers to wrestle with him and killed them when he won. The Earth was the source of Antaeus's power, so the hero Hercules was able to defeat the murderous giant by holding him above the ground. "Like Antaeus," they explained, a martian organism "might thrive on contact with the terrestrial biosphere. By keeping the pathogen contained and distant, the proposed [OQF] would safeguard the Earth from possible contamination."
The OQF would comprise five 4.1-meter-diameter cylindrical modules based on European Space Agency Spacelab hardware. The Fellows assumed that the modules and many of the other components needed to assemble and operate the OQF would become available during the 1980s as the Space Shuttle Program evolved into a Space Station Program.
Four Shuttle flights over two years would place OQF modules into a 296-kilometer-high circular orbit about the Earth. OQF assembly would begin with launch of drum-shaped Docking and Logistics Modules in a Shuttle Orbiter's cargo bay. The 2.3-ton Docking Module, the OQF's backbone, would measure 4.3 meters long and would include six 1.3-meter-diameter ports with docking units derived from the 1975 Apollo-Soyuz "international" design. This included outward-splayed guide "petals" and a system of shock absorbers and latches that would permit two identical docking units to link together. Logistics, Power, Habitation, and Laboratory Modules would link up with four of the ports to form a "pinwheel" design. The remaining two ports would enable Shuttle dockings, spacewalks outside the OQF with the Docking Module serving as an airlock, and attachment of additional modules as necessary.
The 4.3-meter-long Logistics Module would weigh 4.5 tons loaded with a one-month supply of air, water, food, and other supplies. After a crew boarded the OQF, a Shuttle Orbiter would arrive each month with a fresh Logistics Module. Using the Orbiter's twin robot arms, the Space Shuttle crew would remove the spent Logistics Module for return to Earth and berth the fresh one in its place.
On the second OQF assembly flight, the Shuttle crew would link the 13.6-ton Power Module to the Docking Module's aft port. The Power Module would then extend two steerable solar arrays capable of generating between 25 and 35 kilowatts of electricity. Spinning momentum wheels in the Power Module would provide OQF attitude control and small rockets would fire periodically to counter the effects of atmospheric drag on the quarantine station's orbital altitude. The Power Module would also provide OQF thermal control and communications.
The OQF's five-person crew would live in the 12.4-meter-long, 13.6-ton Habitation Module, which would arrive on the third assembly flight. The OQF's "command console," five crew sleep compartments, and workshop, sickbay, galley, exercise, and waste management/hygiene compartments would be arranged along a central aisle. The Hab Module would provide life support for all the OQF's modules except the Laboratory Module.
The Lab Module, delivered during the fourth assembly flight, would measure 6.9 meters long and, like the Habitation and Power Modules, would weigh 13.6 tons. Not surprisingly, the Ames Faculty Fellows devoted an entire chapter of the Antaeus report to the lab. Spacelab modules have a central corridor running their entire length with experiment equipment lining the walls; the OQF Lab Module, by contrast, would have a central experiment area running most of its length with corridors along the walls. Most of the experiment area would be contained within glass-walled "high-hazard" "Class III" biological containment cabinets similar to those at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia. Analysis equipment within the cabinets would include a refrigerator, a freezer, a centrifuge, an autoclave, a gas chromatograph, a mass spectrometer, incubation and metabolic chambers, scanning electron and compound light microscopes, and challenge culture plates. The crew would operate the equipment using mechanical arms.
The Lab Module would also include an independent life support system with "high efficiency particle accumulator" (HEPA) filters. Experimenters would enter the Lab Module through a decontamination area, where they would don respirator masks and protective clothing. If a mishap contaminated the Lab Module, the module could be detached from the OQF and boosted to a long-lived 8000-kilometer circular orbit using a Laboratory Abort Propulsion Kit delivered by a Shuttle Orbiter.
Following the two-year assembly period, a rehearsal crew would board the OQF to test its systems and try out the Mars sample analysis protocol using samples from Earth. The Faculty Fellows set aside up to two years for these preparatory activities. At about the time the rehearsal crew boarded the OQF, the robotic MSR spacecraft would depart Earth on a one-year journey to Mars.
Two years later, about four years after the start of OQF assembly, a small Mars Sample Return Vehicle (MSRV) containing one kilogram of martian surface material and air samples would arrive in high-Earth orbit. The sample would ride within a sample canister, the exterior of which would have been sterilized during Mars-Earth transfer. Meanwhile, a Space Shuttle would deliver to the OQF a five-person sample analysis crew consisting of a commander (a career astronaut with engineering training) and four scientists with clinical research experience (a medical doctor, a geobiologist, a biochemist, and a biologist).
A Shuttle-launched remote-controlled Space Tug would collect the sample canister from high-Earth orbit and deliver it to a "docking cone" on the side of the Lab Module. The canister would enter the experiment area through a small airlock. The sample analysis crew would then open it using "a mechanism similar to a can opener." They would immediately place 900 grams of the sample into "pristine storage." Over the next 60 days, they would execute an analysis protocol that would expend 100 grams of the sample. Twelve grams each would be devoted to microbiological culturing and challenge cultures containing living cells from more than 100 Earth species, six grams each to metabolic tests and microscopic inspection for living cells and fossils, 10 grams to chemical analysis, and 54 grams to "second-order" follow-up tests.
If the 60-day analysis protocol yielded no signs of life in the test sample, a Shuttle Orbiter would carry the pristine sample from the OQF to Earth's surface for distribution to laboratories around the world. Based on highly optimistic 1970s NASA estimates of Shuttle, Spacelab, and Station costs, the report placed the total cost of OQF construction and operations at only $1.66 billion for this "minimum scenario." If, on the other hand, life were detected in the Mars samples, then analysis on board the OQF could be extended for up to six and a half years, with Shuttles providing logistics resupply and periodic crew rotation throughout. The cost of this "maximum scenario" could reach $2.2 billion, the Ames Faculty Fellows estimated.
Orbiting Quarantine Facility: The Antaeus Report, D. DeVincenzi and J. Bagby, editors, NASA, 1981.
Beyond Apollo chronicles space history through missions and programs that didn't happen. Comments are encouraged. Off-topic comments might be deleted.


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Boost your salary and client base through continuing education and specialty training. NAR offers a wide selection of real estate training options for members and association executives, including classroom and online courses, training towards earning designations and certifications, webinars, and a Masters of Real Estate degree. As a member, you also have access to the world's largest real estate library.
- Search NAR's Library's collection.
- Search NAR's eBooks collection.
- Browse the research reports produced by NAR.
January Discounts & Offers
25% off the SRES designation course, e-PRO® certification courses, and the course of the month, Moving With Kids.


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3 individuals have pled guilty to loan modification fraud against hundreds of "desperate California homeowners" and were sentenced to as much as 6 years of prison. The defendants sentenced were part of a foreclosure scam engineered by the First Gov company, which was based in San Bernardino, California.
• Rosa Conrado, 51, San Bernardino, California, was sentenced to six years, four months of prison for 6 counts of grand theft.
• Alejandrina Maldonado, 33, St. Lucie, Florida, was sentenced on February 26, 2009, to a three year prison term for one count of grand theft.
• Martin Jesus Flores, 33, Baldwin Park, California, was given three years of probation today based on his limited participation in the scheme.
• David Giron, 44, ntario, and Saul Amador, 23, West Covina, both of Califonria, are scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 19, 2009, for theft, money laundering, and conspiracy.
• Three other members of the ring — Juan Jose Perez, 48, Isuara Hernandez, 33, La Habra, and Antonia Gonzalez, 66, San Bernardino, all of California, – are believed to have fled the jurisdiction and may be out of the country.
In November 2008, Attorney General Brown announced the break up of the First Gov scam ring. First Gov, — which also operated under such misleading names such as Foreclosure Prevention Services; Resolution Department; Reinstatement Department; and Reinstatement Processing — solicited hundreds of homeowners, offering to help them stop the foreclosure of their homes.
Ring members promised victims they would renegotiate their mortgages and reduce monthly payments. They demanded an up-front fee, ranging from $1,500 to $5,000, to participate in the loan-modification program.
Victims were told to stop making mortgage payments and communicating with their lender because this would interfere with the loan modification process. After collecting their fee, ring members pocketed the money and did nothing to help victims.
"While doing nothing to help and pocketing all the money, these individuals ripped off desperate California homeowners who paid thousands of dollars to stop the foreclosure of their homes," Attorney General Brown said.
The action is part of Attorney General Brown's campaign to fight predatory lending and loan modification scams.
• In March 2008, the Attorney General's office arrested members of Lifetime Financial Corporation for perpetrating a similar mortgage-modification scam that cheated hundreds of California homeowners out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• In October 2008, the Attorney General secured $8.6 billion in loan relief for eligible homeowners in a landmark settlement with Countrywide Financial Corporation for engaging in deceptive and predatory lending practices.
The Attorney General has also issued a Consumer Alert regarding foreclosure scam rings and tax reassessment scams. Homeowners should be on high alert when approached by companies offering ways to save your home or lower your property taxes.


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My name is Frank and I will be in PSP (Cathedral City) for a week starting Jan 2. I am looking for 3.5- 4 level players for single matches around Cathedral City or such. I am 42 and would love to play! Let me know. email@example.com or 403 764 9890 in YYC.
Thanks, Frank
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Hey Frank...I'd be happy to hit with you. I'm around the same level. Let me know if you're up for it. 760-285-9895 is my cell. Call or text is find. Rob
Super! I've written down your phone number and will call upon arrival. I actually arrive tonight (late) and so won't call until the next day to arrange a time and date, etc.. I don't have a cell so I will be calling from a land line at the condo which is 760 537 1184 or 760 324 3239. Looking forward to hitting the courts in southern Cal!
Excellent!! Looking forward to it! Safe travels!
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VOAVideo: Brain Scan Database Aims to Accelerate Chronic Pain Research
Many people around the world suffer from chronic pain - from pain in the joints to migraines to abdominal pain. Many scientists now believe that kind of pain - in whatever part of the body - has a common connection to the brain. The University of California Los Angeles is now developing an international database of brain images of hundreds of chronic pain patients. So far, they include people from North America and Europe. The goal: to accelerate research and develop better ways to treat chronic pain. Elizabeth Lee reports for VOA from Los Angeles. (read the article)


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Fracking isn't going away.
To put it another way, the technique of hydraulic fracturing, used to extract natural gas from once-impossible-to-get-at reservoirs like the Marcellus Shale that lies beneath New York and Pennsylvania, has more than proved its value. At this point, shale gas, as it's called, makes up more than 30 percent of the country's natural gas supply, up from 2 percent in 2001 — a figure that is sure to keep rising. Fracking's enemies can stamp their feet all they want, but that gas is too important to leave it in the ground.
Fred Krupp, the president of the Environmental Defense Fund, understands this as well as anyone. Last summer, he was a member of a small federal advisory panel that was charged by Steven Chu, the secretary of energy, with assessing the problems associated with fracking. The group came up with a long list of environmental issues. But it also concluded that "the U.S. shale gas resource has enormous potential to provide economic and environmental benefits for the country."
One thing I've always liked about the Environmental Defense Fund is its hardheaded approach. Founded by scientists, it believes in data, not hysteria. It promotes market incentives to change behavior and isn't afraid to work with industry. Utterly nonpartisan, it is oriented toward practical policy solutions.
And that has been its approach to fracking. When I spoke to him recently, Krupp didn't back away from the idea that domestic natural gas could be the "bridge fuel" that helps bring us toward a renewable energy future. Unlike others in the environmental movement, he and his colleagues at the Environmental Defense Fund don't want to shut down fracking; rather, their goal is to work with the states where most of the shale gas lies and help devise smart regulations that would make fracking environmentally safer.
Let's take one example: the problem of methane leaks. Every natural gas well leaks methane — methane is natural gas, after all — and while the natural gas that winds up being burned as fuel is, indeed, relatively clean, methane that escapes into the air is potent. Though it eventually disintegrates, for several decades methane can add significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
Question No. 1: How much methane leaks into the air as a result of fracking? Incredibly, nobody knows. The Environmental Protection Agency has estimated the leak rate at a little more than 2 percent, but a recent study suggested it might be twice that. And a controversial Cornell University study last year said it was closer to 6 percent. Clearly, it is critical to know the answer, which is why the Environmental Defenses Fund is currently participating in a study that is expected to provide one.
Question No. 2: How big a difference will it make to the environment if industry can minimize methane leaks? A lot. To illustrate the point, Steven Hamburg, the group's chief scientist, showed me a model he had devised. It allowed me to see the effect on greenhouse gas emissions as methane leaks were reduced. Suppose, for instance, the current leak rate turns out to be 4 percent. Suppose we then reduce it in half. That would mean an immediate reduction in overall U.S. greenhouse gases by — are you sitting down for this? — 9 percent. If the leaks are reduced to 1 percent, the decrease in greenhouse gases jumps to 14 percent. (That number eventually gets smaller as the potency of the methane wears off.) Meanwhile, failing to reduce methane leaks largely eliminates the environmental advantage of natural gas over coal. You can plug in different estimates and get different results, but the point is this: There is no denying the huge difference it can make to the environment to reduce methane gas leaks.
Nor is this some kind of impossible dream. "There are cost-effective ways to reduce methane leaks," says Michael Levi, an energy expert at the Council on Foreign Relations. In fact, a number of the better producers, like Shell, are already employing technology to minimize leaks and taking other steps to drill for natural gas in a responsible fashion. Nor is there much doubt that the outcry by environmentalists over fracking helped awaken the industry to the problems.
But, of course, not all drillers can be counted on to drill responsibly, which is why regulation is so critical. "Wouldn't it be better," I asked Krupp, "for fracking to be regulated by the federal government rather than by the states? Wouldn't that mean better, more uniform regulation and tougher enforcement?"
Krupp frowned. "Given the dysfunction in D.C., a state-by-state approach will be more effective," he said. "We need to focus on getting the rules right, and complied with, in the 14 states which have 85 percent of the onshore gas reserves."
Here's hoping that the anti-frackers someday join him.


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Lesson 27: A Brief History of the Saqifah
Muslims maintain that without any doubt and in all certainty the Prophet of Islam (S) is without sin or error, and that his faultless speech is the same as reality and is the wish of Allah. If it were otherwise, they say, Allah could not have commanded unconditional obedience to him. So his command is Allah's command, and it is an absolute necessity to obey him.
What is more, we can see on the basis of the ayahs quoted below that the Prophet - may Allah bless and praise him - had the right of jurisdiction over the people, that his order took precedence over everyone else's idea or opinion, and that his commands on social or other matters had to be carried out:
"The Prophet has a greater claim on the believers than they have themselves." (33: 6)
"It is not for any believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter, to have a choice in the matter." (33: 36)
An examination of this ayah anti its explanation makes it clear that the decree of the. Prophet in every mailer, even in personal matters, is binding, since the ayah was revealed concerning an individual matter, viz. the marriage of Zayd and Zaynab. Zaynab was the daughter of the Prophet's uncle, and Zayd was a slave whom the Prophet freed.
The Prophet of Islam (S), so as to break the pre- Islamic custom whereby the noble and rich were not prepared to many outside their own, ordered Zaynab to marry Zayd. The false pride and inappropriate arrogance which had been inherited from pre-lslamic times forbad her to take Zayd as a husband.
But this ayah makes it clear that even in personal matters the Prophet's command was to be obeyed, so Zaynab married him and was content.1
"But no, by thy Lord! they will not believe till they make thee judge between them, then they shall find in themselves no impediment touching thy verdict, but shall surrender in full submission." (4: 65)
Is the Prophet Subject to the Opinion of the Majority?
Some Sunnis say that in social matters the opinion of the majority is over-ruling, to the degree that the Prophet himself must obey.
A deeper look at the ayahs mentioned above would make it clear that this is invalid. Now we shall proceed to an investigation of their evidence and claims and then answer them.
Their evidence is ayah 159 of Surah 'Al Imran':
"It was by some mercy of Allah that thou wast gentle to them; hadst thou been harsh and hard of heart, they would have scattered from among thee. So pardon them, and pray forgiveness for them, and take counsel with them in the affair; and when thou art resolved put thy trust in Allah, surely Allah loves those who put their trust." (3: 159)
The answer to this is that this ayah also gives clear evidence that the Prophet (S) is not subject to the opinion of the majority. In other words, the right of jurisdiction belongs to the Prophet even in social matters, and he has a duty, after consultation, to put his view into practice, not the opinion of others, since it says:
"Take counsel with them in the affair, and when thou art resolved, put thy trust in Allah."
If it had been otherwise, and the view of others was to be acted upon. it should have said:
"When the opinion of people has been obtained on a matter, accept it and carry it out."
But we see that the ayah was not revealed in this sense. What is more, there is evidence in history, the view of the Sunnis. For example, in the peace of Hudaybiyyah.
The Prophet of Islam (S) left Medina to visit the Ka'bah. Near Mecca, the representatives of the unbelievers of the Quraysh met with him and said that the Quraysh were not prepared to admit him into Mecca. He replied that he had not come for war, but only to visit the Ka'bah.
After much discussion, the Quraysh were prepared to make a peace treaty, and the Prophet, with some special conditions, agreed, although the Muslims were not happy with the agreement and wanted to enter Mecca that day.2 The Prophet then told the Muslims; "I am the slave and Prophet of Allah . I will never turn away from the command of Allah, nor will He let me go."3
Here, an honest reasonable question would be, what then is the meaning of the Prophet consulting with people at all?
His consultations were part of a policy both of respecting and showing the value of the views of the people, and of using reason and thought in the way of progress of Islam. Also, when faced with some obstructions by some of the tribal leaders, consultations were held with them, because, by the value, which they gave to consultation, and by the fact that they saw themselves sharing in the work, they desisted from their destructiveness. However, in this kind of counsel meeting, the Prophet never subjected himself to the majority opinion, and, if he paid attention to the opinion of some person or group, it was, in fact, because that was also his own opinion.
Did Consultation Take Place after the Death of the Prophet?
We have seen and understood that it has been proved that the opinion of the Prophet was above the views of everyone, even the view of the majority, and that it was the sure view of the Prophet (S) that he selected Hazrat 'Ali (a.s.) to be his successor on the day of Ghadir and informed the people of his decision.
So, consultations aimed at appointing a successor after the Prophet (S) are clearly against the wish of Allah and His Prophet, and are completely useless; however, abandoning this reality, we now want to ask whether after the Prophet (S) consultative meetings were held, and if so, whether the majority opinion was upheld.
To answer and explain the question, we shall take a look first of all at some history and the circumstances of the Saqifah of the Bani Sa'adah according to reliable historical documents.
A Brief History of Saqifah
When the Prophet (S) closed his loving eyes to the world, the Ansars, the original Medinese, gathered in a building called the Saqifah of the Bani Sa'adah, and pronounced that after the Prophet, government and walayat belonged to Sa'ad ibn 'Ubadah. Sa'ad was ill, but was present in the meeting, and after praising Allah he said: "O Ansar! there is no group better than you in Islam.
For the Prophet (S) was thirteen years among the Quraysh, and he called them to abandon idols and their worship for the One God; but, apart from a few individuals, they did not believe in him and his ideas and make his religion grow. So Allah restored you to happiness put him and his religion in your hands, entrusted support for him and his religion to you. You have always been loyal to this agreement, till He chose to take him away. Now you should make every effort, for it is your special right."
The Ansar said that he had spoken well, and that he should take the government and succession into his own hands. But some said: "What if the Quraysh want to dispute the matter with us?"
"We shall tell them," said another group, "that they should choose a leader from themselves, and we shall choose a leader from among us."
"This would be the first blow to break Islam," said Sa'ad.
'Umar was informed. He sent for Abu Bakr, who was in the house of the Prophet (S) with 'Ali (a.s.), and who sent word that he was occupied. 'Umar sent another message, in which the news was that his presence was indispensable.
Abu Bakr left the presence of the beautiful body of the Prophet (S) which 'Ali was busy in preparing for the funeral. 'Umar said to him: "Do you not know that the Ansar are gathered in the Saqifah to choose Sa'ad for the Caliphate?"
So both of them hurried to the place. On the way they met Abu 'Ubaydah al- Jarrah, whom they took along with them. Then they reached the Sagifah, Abu Bakr raised up to address the crowd.
"Praise be to Allah, and blessings on his Prophet. Allah sent the Prophet to man so that they who worshipped many gods might worship the One God, they who suppose that their gods are healers that they are of benefit to them. And it was difficult for the Arabs to leave the religion of their fathers. Then Allah showed his preference for the Muhajrin (those Muslims from Mecca who migrated with the Prophet), and brought them faith in the religion of the Prophet (S). They bore the difficulties with this great man with forbearance, so they are more deserving after him in this matter. You, O Ansar, say that after you no one is to be more preferred in the religion, so after the muhajirin, no one has a higher degree than you. So we are the rulers, and you are the ministers and the counsellors We win not do anything without consulting you."
Habab ibn Mundhir stood up and said: "O Ansar, beware! Take the reins of government in your hands; for the people are under your protection, no one can quarrel with you. Do not fall out between yourselves, so that what you do is ruined. These people do not accept our authority, so we must have our own ruler, and they theirs."
"That can never be," said 'Umar. "The Arabs would never submit to your rule; they will not yield, for the Prophet was not from you."
Habab stood up again and said: "O Ansar! You must decide! Do not listen to this man and his friendliness. He wants to do completely away with your right. If they do not give up, you must throw them out of this town and take things over. I swear by Allah, you are the more deserving."
"May Allah kill you!" said 'Umar.
"May He kill you!" said Habab.
Abu 'Ubaydah stood up to come between them.
"O Ansar!" he cried, "you were the first group who gave support and believed, so you must not be the first to go astray."
Then Bashir ibn Sa'ad got up and said, "O Ansar, I swear by Allah that if we were the first in the jihad against the polytheists, and had priority in the religion, it was only because we wanted nothing but the will of Allah."
"Now!" cried Abu Bakr. "Do you wish to swear allegiance to both this 'Umar and this Abu 'Ubaydah al-Jarrah?"
"No!" they shouted. "We swear by Allah that you are the most deserving of the Muhajirin, and we are not on a par with you; so give your hands that we can swear allegiance to you."
Then, as 'Umar and Abu 'Ubaydah wanted, they swore allegiance to Abu Bakr. Bashir ibn Sa'ad, from the Ansar and the tribe of Aws, the great Medma tribe, went before them and swore allegiance.
When the people of the tribe of Aws saw Bashir open the way and acknowledge the Quraysh to be more deserving than them, and the Khazraj, the other great tribe, wanted Sa'ad ibn 'Ibedah as their leader, they spoke among themselves.
"By Allah, if the Khazraj take the reins of power in their hands, they will always have preference. Let us rise up and swear allegiance to Abu Bakr."
Then 'Umar seized Sa'ad ibn 'Ubadah by the collar and said to the people: "Kill him!"
And Sa'ad was ever more loyal to Abu Bakr.4
Now You Judge
With the evidence that we shall present to you now, it will be seen that the story of Saqifah was not only a consultation among the Muslims, but that it was a plot to usurp the right to the Caliphate of Hazrat 'Ali (a.s.) may Allah bless him - and to put someone else in his place.
Firstly, while on his way to Saqifah, 'Umar sent word only to Abu Bakr and not to anyone else. And Abu Bakr who was in the house of the Prophet (S) with the great ones among the companions of the Prophet and with Hazrat 'Ali (a.s.), did not tell anyone, forgot the commotion over the tragedy of the death of the Prophet (S), left the corpse of that great man and hurried to Saqifah. If, truly, a plan had not been arranged, why did Abu Bakr not tell 'Umar that he had to tell the Bani Hashim and the helpers of the Prophet, that at that time they should wait until the body of the Prophet was buried, and that afterwards they should proceed an together to the ascertaining of the successor to the Caliphate?
Is consultation - shura' - like this, that three people should come among one of the tribes of the town, and, with the opinion of these people being controlled by one man, by sweet words and threats and other means deceive them and create differences between them then by compulsion and bad words stop progress to their advantage and not let these people's trusted leader know, and then to kill anyone who is against them and say that he wanted to cause a disturbance among the people against the interests of the world of Islam, and on that pretext call for his execution or banishment?
In consultation over such a great and important matter, should not at least the great companions and the Bani Hashim in the forefront of whose ranks was Amir al- Mu'minin have been called'?
Secondly, Saqifah became like a football ground, involuntarily bringing shouts and cheers from the people.
After sweet words and self-advertisement, Abu Bakr said to the Ansar: "Swear allegiance to whomever you want - 'Umar or Abu 'Ubadah."
There was no place for questions. One of these two must be Khalifah, they who were following him. The Caliphate became like a ball, which they then passed to Abu Bakr and say, as long as you have it, what more do you want?
And the Sunnis call this childish ball game the meeting and consultation of the people!
Thirdly, 'Umar made dear that no consultation had taken place.
Some years after the proceedings of Saqifah, 'Umar said, at the time of his own Caliphate: "We have heard that one of you said that if 'Umar dies I shall swear allegiance to so-and-so. Someone said to him that the allegiance to Abu Bakr was without consultation and without reckoning.
"It is true that allegiance to Abu Bakr took place all at once without much thought or reckoning, but Allah protected us from mischief. However no-one should give you the example of Abu Bakr to follow."5
If there really had been a question of a consultation, and the great ones of the companions of the Prophet (S) could have voted in freedom, allegiance to Abu Bakr would not have been "all at once without much thought or reckoning." It would not in this way have become famous; there would have been no mischief or danger in it.
Fourthly, Umar said: "After the Prophet, 'Ali and Zubayr and their companions rose up against us, and assembled in Fatimah's house."6
We ask whether this clear opposition can be ignored, especially as it is acknowledged by 'Umar.
Fifthly, if the matter of the Caliphate must be resolved on the basis of consultation, the Prophet (S) would certainly before his death have explained, or at least implicated, the way it should be done. By the criterion of reason, would the Prophet explain some very abstruse command, but make no mention of such a great matter as this?
How was 'Ali's Right Usurped?
In all societies there are some people who wish to seize the reins of government by any possible means, and rule over the people.
They continue in their aims until such time as they manage to lay their hands on what they covet, although they disregard the commands of Allah and the Prophet. Anyone who looks into the history of the Caliphate after the Prophet of Islam (a.s.) will be able to find such people.
Now, those who gathered in Saqifah and struck a blow against Islam were from this group. So let us once again look at the reality of what happened during the illness and death of the Prophet.
1. The Troops of Usamah
In the last days of his life, on his sick bed, the Prophet (S) gave the command of the army to Usamah ibn Zayd who was a youth, but celebrated and worthy, to take the army towards Mu'tah, at the eastern limits of the Roman Empire of that time.
In his army there were both Muhajrin and Ansar, and in particular Abu Bakr, 'Umar, Abu 'Ubaydah al-Jarrah and others. The Prophet had laid much emphasis on the defence of this front, even though Usamah asked: "Please allow us to stay till Allah should favour you with recovery."
"Leave this town," the Prophet commanded, "and move off in the name of Allah."
"If I leave and dispatch the army and you are ill like this, I shall be anxious and ill at ease."
"Move off to victory and success."
"I am not happy to tell the expedition about your health."
"What I have commanded, do!" replied the Prophet, and fainted. When he recovered he said: "May Allah curse those who leave the army of Usamah and desert from it."7 But, in any case, Abu Bakr and 'Umar deserted from Usamah's troop, and resumed to Medina.
2. The Matter of the Pen and the Inkpot
In the last days of his life, on his sick bed, the Prophet (S) ordered that paper and ink be brought to him and he said that he wanted to write something down, so that the Ummah should not be lost after his death.
But some of those present said: "He is speaking in delirium."8
Ibn Abbas says that in the first years of 'Umar's Caliphate. He visited him 'Umar asked: "Does he ('Ali) still regard himself the Caliphate?" "Yes."
"Is he of the opinion that the Prophet made his Caliphate clear?" "Yes, and what is more clear is that I asked my father about this matter and he said that 'Ali was right."
"The Prophet wanted to specify his name towards the end of his life when he was ill, but I did not allow him to do so."9
It is clear from this sentence who was the person who, at that moment, had unjustly said that the Prophet was delirious.
Now, can it be said that 'Umar knew better than the Prophet what was to the advantage of the Islamic nation, that he should not allow the Prophet (S) to specify the name of 'Ali (a.s.)?
We can now bring this matter to an end by concluding that those who unjustly relied on plotting and deceit for the position of the Caliphate of the Prophet, were engaged in planning the seizure of the Caliphate from the time of the Prophet's death, if not before, and that it was from power-seeking and status-seeking motives.
This seeking of power motivated them to remove obstacles such as Sa'ad ibn 'Ubadah who was against the Caliphate of Abu Bakr and did not swear allegiance to him, whereupon he was killed. They said the 'Jinn' killed him! Or Malik ibn Nuwayrah, a man of faith who was such that the Prophet rightly said of him that if anyone wanted to see one of the people of heaven he should look at Malik's face. Since he had heard from the Prophet (S) that the Caliphate belonged to the Hazrat 'Ali (a.s.), when the Prophet died, and when he came to Medina and saw and heard that the Caliphate had been unjustly usurped, hastened to oppose it.
Khalid ibn Walid killed him and violated his honour. No punishment or penalty was meted out to him by the Khalifah.
Another evil work that was done in the way of consolidating this lust for power was the usurpation of Fadak.
Fadak was a district crowded with gardens and orchards and very fruitful. It was in the possession of the only daughter of the Prophet, Hazrat Fatimah - may Allah bless her always.
Abu Bakr seized it, and turned out Hazrat Fatimah's labourers out from it. Fatimah (a.s.) argued with Abu Bakr and won, and he give her the deed of ownership to the land. But 'Umar took that title-deed and tore it up without any reprimand from Abu Bakr10, hut this is matter to he treated separately, for Abu Bakr never replaced it with another document.
Thus, from what has been said, there can be no doubt that these were men with a lust for power, self-seekers, lovers of the world, who stooped at nothing to achieve their aims.
1. Why do Muslims believe that the holy Prophet is without sin and error?
2. Why are actions of the holy Prophet as God wills?
3. What does verse 6 ch. 33 say?
4. What does verse 36 ch. 33 say?
5. What does the explanation of verse 36 ch. 33 prove?
6. What does verse 65 ch. 4 say?
7. Is the holy Prophet subject to the opinions of the majority, if not why?
8. What dose verse 159 ch. 3 say?
9. What kind of evidence dose this verse provides?
10. What results does the author obtain from consultation mentioned in verse 159 ch. 3?
11. Does the peace treaty with Quraysh agree with the opinions of the majority?
12. If that peace treaty does not agree with the opinions of the majority then what is the meaning of consultation?
13. Did consultation take place after the death of the holy Prophet?
14. On what grounds the decisions of the holy Prophet are above other's opinions including that of the majority?
15. Why did Sa'd consider the Ansar as true supporters of Islam?
16. What right did Sa'd think the Ansars had?
17. What was the opinion of some others in case of dispute between Ansar and Quraysh?
18. Why did 'Umar urge Aba Bakr to join him and where did they go?
19. What did Abu Bakr say in his speech?
20. What reason did Abu Bakr provide in support of his group's rightfulness to Khilafat?
21. What did Habab Ibn Mundhir say in response to Abi Bakr?
22. What did 'Umar say in response to Habab?
23. What did Habab say again?
24. What did each of them say?
25. What did Abu 'Ubaydah say?
26. What did Bashir Ibn Sa'd say?
27. What die Abu Bakr say and propose?
28. What did 'Umar and Abu 'Ubaydah al-Jarrah say in response to Abi Bakr and what else did they do?
29. Who was the third person to support Abu Bakr?
30. Why is the outcome of the gathering at Saqifah not valid?
31. Who else should have been included in the gathering at Saqifah?
32. Who considers the happening at Saqifah as consulting?
33. Did 'Umar for his becoming successor to Abu Bakr follow the idea of consultation?
34. What is the implications of the statement of …..????
35. What is the legal effects of the gathering at the house of Sayyidah Fatimah according to 'Umar?
36. What does item 5th of the text suggest?
37. How was Imam Ali's rights usurped?
38. What kind of people is called power seekers?
39. What kind of instructions did the Prophet give to Usamah and his troops?
40. Who were ordered to join these troops?
41. What did the Prophet say about those who would not join the troops of Usama and ignore this order?
42. What are the facts of ink and paper?
43. Could the Prophet write the instructions that he wanted to write for the guidance of the Muslim and why not?
44. What are the fact in the conversation between 'Umar and ibn Abbass?
45. Who spoil the chance of the holy Prophet for writing instructions for the Muslims?
46. What did Imam Ali believe about Khilafat.
47. Was the establishment of Khilafat based on instructions of Qur'an and those of the Prophet or due to the zeal for power and position?
48. What did Khalid Ibn Walid do?
49. What happened to the garden of palm trees that belong to Fatimah Zahra'.
- 1. Tafsir Nur ath- Thaqalayn; vol. 4, p. 280.
- 2. Sirah ibn Hisham, vol. 3, p. 3 21.
- 3. Tarikh of Tabari, vol. 3, p. 1 546.
- 4. Of course, there were many who did not swear allegiance to Abu Bakr the Bani Hashim, Abbas and his sons Habab ibn Mundhir, Salman al-Farsi Abu Dharr, Miqdad, 'Ammar, Zubayr, etc. (See Fusul al-Muhimmah, vol. 4, p. 1837).
- 5. Tabari, vol. 4, p. 1820-1823
- 6. Ibid.
- 7. Ibn Abi'l Hadid Sharh Nahjul Balaghah, (in 4 volumes), vol. 2, p. 21.
- 8. Tabari in vol. 4, p. 186. Sahih of Muslim in Kitab al-Wasiyyah relates this sentence to 'Umar.
- 9. Ibn Abil Hadid, Op. cit. vol. 2, p. 563.
- 10. Sirah al-Halabiyyah, vol. 3, p. 400.


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E-Mail: email@example.com


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37 W 26th St
New York, NY 10010
If you want to dance with the best go to La Vieja Guardia. This is very you'll find New York City's elite salsa crowd; local Instructors, performers, professional dancers and the occasional salsa celebrity. I've also met many out of towner's here who travel to New York for the main purpose of dancing salsa. This is a strictly On2 social. Make sure to bring your A-game when coming to LVG. It can be a bit intimidating for beginners but Joel, his partner Maria and DJ La Conga create an amazingly welcoming/friendly atmosphere. If you are a hardcore salsa aficionado, you will love it here. There is not a higher concentration of top level dancers that meet on a regular basis any where else in Manhattan. Held twice per month on the 2nd and 4th Sunday at Stepping out studios. It is a very nice venue with two large rooms and a reception area. They do not serve alcohol. The concept at LVG is simple and it works brilliantly. No bands or Performances. Just pure dancing and great music.


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The copies I made were on 11" x 17" size paper, so I could read them, and were copied at the New England Historic Genealogical Society's library in Boston many years ago. My two Samuel Newells were both from Farmington, Hartford Co., Connecticut. One record dated 1751, the other 1753. They followed each other on the microfilm, Roll 93 Probate Records C69 Hartford District, 1641-1880 (Neuberth - Norris, G.).
Because of the size of the wills, I brought the wills to FedEx yesterday, where they were scanned to a flash drive.
Samuel Newell died 1751 (the son)
Samuel Newell died 1753 (the father)
Genealogy report of my Newell Line, as presented in a previous post.
Gravestone photos of very early Newell ancestors.
Gravestone photos of very early Newell ancestors.


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If you live in Vancouver and are experiencing oral pain in the back molars of your mouth, you may need to get your wisdom teeth removed. nameVancouver is an experienced dentist here in Vancouver, and understands that when it comes to oral surgery it is important that our patients feel comfortable in their decision to come to clinicVancouver.
Wisdom tooth removal, also called wisdom tooth extraction, may be daunting for some patients, that is why nameVancouver offers sedation dentistry to ensure that your experience with us is stress-free. Sedation denstistry allows our patients to be fully relaxed while undergoing procedures such as tooth extraction. clinicVancouver in Vancouver is dedicated to deserving your confidence and satisfaction. Our primary objective is to make you smile!


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Taylor Swift Makes a Dream Come True for 11-Year-Old With Rare Disease
Meeting Taylor Swift is a dream come true for so many fans, especially for those who know that as each day passes, they're getting more sick. That's why it was so special for 11-year-old Selena Yorke to meet her favorite singer at the Red Tour stop in Vancouver over the weekend.
Huffington Post reports that last year, Yorke was diagnosed with Friedreich's Ataxia, a rare degenerative neuro-muscular disease that will progressively affect her ability to speak and walk, causing her to use a wheelchair part-time. There is no known cure for this condition. While it's certainly daunting, Yorke finds inspiration in Swift's music, instead of being bogged down with the difficulties of the disease.
She tells Global News, "I like her because she's awesome and because her music is inspiring. How she can say all that stuff without being nervous and how she sings to thousands and thousands of people."
When the young girl found out she would be able to meet the 'Red' songstress, she was incredibly touched, and also nervous. "It means the world to me," Yorke explains, adding that when she met Swift, "I'd probably faint and then I'd wake up because I'd be too scared to faint."
According to the Facebook campaign which helped Yorke gain recognition to meet Swift, it was a sweetly memorable experience. "She was very sweet! She hugged her, Taylor said she glad she got to meet Selena, Selena said the same thing to her," her mother writes. "She was very sweet, she is so beautiful inside and out."
"I just want to give her a lasting memory," the 11-year-old's mother adds.
We're pretty sure that Yorke will never ever forget hugging the global crossover superstar.


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I updated this Friday on 3,1.19 or something like this.
And now I am having message that vieana doesn't have opened any windows no possibility to move. I must end the process.
1. How can I reinstall it.
2. What I shoult delete that I should go from older version?
I donloaded some ifle but it is not classic apk package.
I did it wrong update on both os and now I msut reinstall the system :-(.
Big thanks for a help.
update faills
An RSS/Atom newsreader with features comparable to commercial newsreaders.
5 posts • Page 1 of 1
Re: update faills
I have the same issue on Mac OS. All my feeds are gone after the update to version 3.1.9 (Vienna 3.1.9 :e81515b: is currently the newest version available.).
Can somebody help with that?
Can somebody help with that?
- josh64x2
- Cocoaforge Admin
- Posts: 159
- Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2014 1:38 am
- Location: Sydney, Australia
- Contact:
Re: update faills
What version of mac os are you using?
I help with Vienna development.
Re: update faills
Ao far El captain and updating to Sierra now (unwillingly)...
Re: update faills
Update did nothing. Vienna is now v3.1.10 and my subscriptions are gone. *great* ...
5 posts • Page 1 of 1
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The effort to control government workers' generous pensions through a state constitutional amendment was already in trouble. Today, the other well-polished shoe dropped.
After a Sacramento judge rejected a challenge to California Attorney General Kamala Harris' misleading official summary of a proposed pension-reform initiative, its chief backer called a halt to signature-gathering to put the measure to voters this November.
"Given that mid-April is the Secretary of State's recommended deadline for submitting signatures in order to make the November ballot, the proponents have decided it is not feasible to make the 2014 ballot," San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed said in a statement.
Reed said he and other supporters — who include former San Bernardino Mayor Pat Morris — will try again in 2016.
Reed continued: "Unfortunately, California's pension problems are not going away and will only grow larger in the coming years. CalPERS member agencies will be facing a 50 percent increase in annual costs, CalSTRS needs another $4.5 billion annually, and the state is a couple of billion of dollars short on covering the annual cost for retiree healthcare benefits."
If passed by voters, the initiative would have given the state and cities more power to control public employees' pension and health-care costs.
This would have involved collective bargaining. And the initiative would have explicitly protected the benefits that current workers have already earned.
But Harris' official summary said the proposed amendment "eliminates (state) constitutional protections for vested pension and retiree healthcare benefits for current public employees, including teachers, nurses and peace officers, for future work performed."
Last year, a poll showed that public opposition to the initiative rose if people were told it would "eliminate" public workers' pensions.
In today's ruling, Sacramento Superior Court Judge Allen Sumner said Reed failed to prove the attorney general's ballot summary was false, misleading or biased.
Today's news doesn't give state and city elected officials an excuse to ignore the unsustainable growth of retirement costs, which threaten to squeeze vital services — and government jobs — out of future budgets.
But it's a setback for those who already were pushing the cause.
While pension reformers wait for 2016, the trouble worsens.


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py's birthday party8:53 AM Tuesday, July 26, 2005
But of course there were lots of tears shed, what with Pyro not expecting about a hundred of people to grace his party at McDo... nabigla tuloy, and so he refused to stop crying and stop holding on to us as if his life depended on it... until his wonderful Ninong arrived with BUNTIS HORSE for him to bump up and down on.
It was a riot watching kids play games, or not listen to instructions, or go hungry, or grow tired... Twas also nice seeing all my nieces and nephews, plus the kids of my childhood playmates, in one area.
Some fave little people look adorable in this picture.


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Arg… Of course.. once again, I didn't play Frerevacca… Fimlys-Draenor is getting into some "end-game" finally and it is tough to tear yourself away from this stuff…
Well, onto what Fimlys was doing last night… I was pretty excited that pretty much immediately when I logged in Dragonpriest (DP) asked who needs Shadow Labs for their first key fragment for Karazhon (spelling?). I, of course, responded "I DO! I DO! I DO! INVITE ME! SPAMSPAMSPAM".. ok.. maybe not..
Anyway.. I got invited into a guild group to run Labs … Our group was made up of some good players, but I think our makeup didn't make things easy.. We ran with 2 Hunters, 1 Paladin (who wasn't specced to tank) and 2 priests (one holy, 1 shadow). We got through the first boss, but ran into issues on the larger trash groups. The paladin, other hunter and shadow priest headed out and we picked up a mage, rogue and out of guild Druid (to tank).
This went a little faster and we did really well until the 3rd boss. I think somehow either our tactics weren't working or we were just too low on DPS to take him down fast enough. I think we might try again tonight with a full warrior tank. (Not to say that Paladins and Druids can't tank well, they can. But there is something to say about the ability of a properly specced warrior tank).
Well, this all went on from about 8:30pm until 2:00am.. I have to thank everyone in BOTH groups because I DID have a great time. I have missed running instances quite a bit and if we don't run Labs tonight, I'd like to find some other instance to run.. Of course, if things get slow.. I might move back to Frerevacca and try to get him up another level..
That's about it for now.. I was having such a good time in the instance that I forgot to take some screenshots (although I think I have one of the 3rd boss). I'll try to take some next time, I promise! 🙂
See u in the game.


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New York City with children
Get around[edit]
can seat four people. Infants and toddlers don't count as long as they sit on an adult's lap. Occasionally you can find a mini-van taxi that will seat up to five people. Taxis do not carry infant or booster seats and children are allowed to ride without one. Most New Yorkers don't bother with a booster seat though some will carry an infant seat for the baby.If you want your child to be strapped into one, bring your own. The trunk in a taxi is huge and a Maclaren stroller will fit inside without having to be folded up.
can be fun as well as a challenge. While older kids will love the clatter of trains and enjoy watching the express rush by without stopping, parents with younger kids may have to negotiate an ancient system with their strollers. There are few escalators or elevators in New York subway stations and the odds are you'll have to lug your stroller up and down the steps. Fortunately, the tracks are just a few feet below street level so the lugging is not extensive. If you are alone and stand around long enough, someone will offer to help. If you have a stroller and want to take it onto the train without folding it, you must use a subway entrance with a manned token booth. A doorway next to token booths (labeled 'Emergency Exit') provides entry for passengers in wheelchairs or people with strollers. Inform the token booth attendant that you wish to use the door, slide your card through the turnstile and turn it with your hand, return to the door and pass through. Looks complicated but it is really quite easy! Technically, children under 48 inches ride free on the subway.
By bus[edit]
If you have younger kids, note that strollers must be folded and carried onto a bus.
On foot[edit]
Walking is the best way to enjoy the city. In winter it can get very cold and you will spend more time outdoors than you do at home so dress your children in warm clothes. Layering is the best way to deal with the contrasts between the freeze outside and the warmth indoors. If you have young children, bring your stroller.
See and Do[edit]
(See the New York City pages for general details on the items below. The information here is kid specific!)
Buy[edit][add listing]
Eat[edit][add listing]
Sleep[edit][add listing]
Stay safe[edit]
Get out[edit]


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Desktop Speakers and Radios
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An Imprinted Desktop Radio to Keep Your Audience "Tuned In"
Despite the advent of mp3 players, smartphones and tablet computers, promotional desktop radios remain popular giveaways for companies of all sizes. Technology now allows news to be shared across a variety of platforms, but radios are a consistently popular way of sharing information and music with the general public. During emergency situations when power supplies are low or nonexistent or even as a secondary source of news to the Internet, an imprinted desktop radio is a useful item for professionals to have close at hand. From promotional desktop radios shaped like cubes to multifunctional promotional desk radios that double as portable speakers, any variety of imprinted desktop radio serves as an effective medium to publicize your brand's desired marketing message. Whenever recipients glance at the time or adjust the tuner on their handy promotional desktop radios, they will be reminded of the organization responsible for providing them with such a practical gift. Even when promotional desktop radios are not in use, their mere presence increases awareness for your company's products and/or services as they rest in end users' cubicles, offices, or homes.
Promotional Desk Radios: Appropriate for All Generations
Promotional desktop radios evolved from Thomas Edison's original 19th century invention. Like most household objects, advertisers eventually realized the potential branding opportunities for radios, and following over a century of technological advancements, marketers can now purchase and customize promotional desktop radios to incorporate into their outreach campaigns. Promotional desktop radios are ideal products to offer as incentives for customer loyalty programs or they can even boost employee retention rates when featured in staff recognition and awards activities. People of all ages are familiar with the functionality of promotional desk radios, not to mention people representing a multitude of nationalities. Even children and teens appreciate the applications of promotional desktop radios, as they are invaluable tools to bring on camping trips and other outdoor adventures. The versatility of promotional desktop radios as campaign giveaways ensures that they will continue to garner a high number of impressions long after recipients take possession of them.
24/7 News and Music With Promotional Desktop Radios
Individuals and families around the world trust promotional desktop radios to keep them informed of inclement weather, natural disasters, and breaking news at all times. Also, listeners can rely on promotional desktop radios to stay in the loop about sporting events and scores, listen to various genres and styles of music, and enjoy radio talk shows dedicated to a number of topics and hobbies. Promotional desktop radios are typically powered by batteries, which can be easily and affordably replaced. Alternative radios and audio devices often require electricity to run, and therefore are less easily transported and not nearly as dependable as battery powered promotional desktop radios. The lightweight, compact designs of promotional desktop radios are ideal for tailgating events, beach trips, and other group activities. Additionally, promotional desk radios can be customized with your brand's name and logo to comprise a memorable, sensible gift item.


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Taylor Swift Reveals What She Likes About Songwriting, Teases New Album Details
It's an old maxim that you should write what you know, and Taylor Swift has taken those words to heart, earning a reputation as a songwriter who leans heavily on the events of her own life -- particularly her love life -- as grist for her music.
Of course, it isn't as easy as just coming up with a few rhymes about some boy she likes -- and during a recent YouTube chat, Swift delved into some of her songwriting methods, as well as dishing a little about what fans can expect to hear from her next album.
"It's very hard for me to come up with just some random metaphor for a situation if I'm not going through it or recently have just gone through it," Swift admitted during the chat, explaining why most of her songs are so directly tied to her own personal experiences.
When asked whether she tends to come up with music or lyrics first, Swift replied, "Neither," explaining, "For me it more comes as a general idea. My favorite thing about songwriting is it's so spontaneous and unpredictable what's gonna hit me first. Whether it's gonna be a general thought, like for example … when I wrote the song 'Love Story,' that's a song I wrote sitting on my bedroom floor because I liked a guy and my parents didn't want me to date him."
Swift has been writing for her next album since completing her last release, 'Speak Now,' in 2010, and although that means she has dozens of songs to choose from, she says it's more about quality than quantity -- she looks for what she calls "oooh, oooh" moments. "I have to have about four or five of those lines in a song to put it on a record," she said, explaining that it tends to take two or three years to build up enough of those moments to fill an album.
Although that means Swift's next release is still in the distance, she knows enough about it to promise that one thing won't change. As she explained during the chat, "I never really talk about my personal life but I write about it, so that's basically what the album is about as always."
Watch the full Taylor Swift interview


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Officials from North and South Korea met Monday for the third time this month but again failed to find a way to reopen an inter-Korean factory park that was a key symbol of cooperation before its shutdown in April. They agreed to meet again Wednesday.
The park opened in 2004 at the North Korean border town of Kaesong during a period of rapprochement between the rivals. Operations stopped in April when tension ran high in the wake of North Korea's February nuclear test.
The two Koreas recently agreed on a desire to reopen the complex after North Korea began showing signs of an interest in diplomacy after weeks of threatening rhetoric in March and April.
Delegates from the two Koreas met Wednesday at Kaesong to discuss details on how to revive the park, but the meeting ended without breakthrough.
South Korea wants measures that would prevent any future unilateral shutdown of Kaesong, and North Korea repeated past complaints, South Korean chief delegate Kim Kiwoong told reporters after the talks ended, according to South Korean media pool reports.
North Korea has previously pressed South Korea to end military exercises with the United States and stop what it says are insults against Pyongyang's leadership.
The complex, which blends South Korean capital and management skills with cheap North Korean labor, was the last remaining major symbol of inter-Korean cooperation before its suspension.
Other rapprochement projects like reunions of families separated by war and tours to a scenic North Korean mountain have stalled amid recent animosities.
The two Koreas remains divided by the world's most heavily fortified border. Their three-year war ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty, in 1953.


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by Paula M. Riley
Twenty-three years ago, Michael Rouse, executive director and co-founder of ESF(Education, Sports and Fun) Summer Camps, got a call from Sister Kathleen Pales, then assistant principal of Norwood-Fontbonne Academy.
She wanted to know if Rouse would be interested in running his camp at Norwood-Fontbonne. When he told her that the campers needed a swimming pool, the Sister of Saint Joseph replied that she would work out a deal with the other Sisters of Saint Joseph so the campers could use their swimming pool.
Her negotiations worked. For more than two decades, ESF camps were held at Norwood-Fontbonne Academy. Tall cloth teepees with colorful designs sat in the yard outside the academy's Fontbonne campus at Sunset and Norwood avenues. Sounds of children laughing and playing echoed throughout NFA's hallways, outdoor play areas and pool.
In 2008, NFA began its Reaching Our Dream Capital Project, which involved renovations at both the Fontbonne and Norwood (Germantown Avenue) campus. These improvements included new classrooms, upgraded classrooms, an air-conditioned building, a high-tech science laboratory, a state-of-the-art computer center, and a multi-purpose Commons building hosting a stage, gymnasium, cafeteria, and kitchen facilities.
During these renovations, ESF moved its Chestnut Hill camp to Chestnut Hill College. This summer, ESF returns to Norwood-Fontbonne Academy where it will use the academy's 14-acre campus including a renovated pool, three gymnasiums, playgrounds, fields, and air-conditioned classrooms. Chestnut Hill College fields will be utilized as well.
"We are delighted that ESF is returning to NFA," said Sister Mary Helen Beirne, NFA head of school. "We want our campuses to have the same energy in the summer that our children have during the school year. ESF brings that!"
ESF hosts a broad range of summer programs for boys and girls, ages 4-16. Offering art, academics, dance, sports, leadership and cultural opportunities, Michael Rouse, executive director and co-founder, believes, "We have our hand on the pulse of what children want."
With so many programs, campers can pick and choose how they want to spend their camp days. Younger children in the Day Camp enjoy swimming, fine art, crafts, science, performing arts, and more.
At Multi-Sports Camp, young athletes receive individualized and group instruction in different sports. Children ages 9-15 are challenged at Senior Camp where they experience a different True Life Adventure each week.
During Major Camp, students, ages 10-16, enjoy a three-week immersion experience as they explore specific areas of study such as forensics, law, medicine or leadership.
"We believe that Major Camp empowers young adolescents to dream and envision themselves in potential careers," Beirne said. "It fits well with our focus at NFA to develop self-directed persons."
Formerly called Innovation Project, Major Camp is designed to unleash children's talents and passions in a fun and exciting environment. "Hands-on" is the theme of Major Camps where industry leaders host challenging, thought-provoking discussions and exercises.
Campers enjoy field trips, leadership development, team building challenges and initiatives and real-world problem solving exercises.
Gina Smith is a former assistant district attorney in the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office and a partner in the Litigation Department at Ballard Spahr. She serves on the Advisory Board of Major Camp and participates in the Law and Justice Major Camp.
With a combination of pride and awe, Rouse noted that there were 10-year-olds in her class discussing a criminal case. They did it with such confidence and sophistication; — the dialogue was absolutely profound."
Rouse credits the success of this program to dynamic speakers, relevant field trips, rich curriculum and enthusiastic staff. Explaining that many children would not be able to experience this type of immersion program until college, Rouse believes Major Camp cultivates a curiosity for the world and a desire to explore passions and interests.
Like all of the camp programs, the curriculum at Major Camp changes every summer. ESF's full-time team of professionals work year-round to ensure programs, games, science projects, art activities and everything the campers experience is new and exciting. Incorporating 21st century learning skills and leveraging a network of thought leaders in behavioral modification, child development, business, psychology, nutrition, and project-based learning, ESF curriculum remains relevant, interesting and exciting.
Lee Brower is founder of The Quadrant Living Experience LLC, an internationally recognized educational and philanthropic organization that was recently featured in the hit film "The Secret." He is an ESF Advisory Board member and thought leader whose invaluable insights on gratitude have contributed to the ESF philosophy and curriculum.
In addition to leveraging cutting-edge business, child behavior and educational philosophies, ESF is constantly reevaluating the effectiveness of its programs.
"We are our worst critic," Rouse said. "We regularly survey our families, change curriculum and change our staff to stay ahead of the game. …We want kids to have the best possible experience. We want to ensure their summer is one they will never forget."
ESF and NFA are hosting an open house on Sunday, March 6, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Norwood-Fontbonne Academy, 8891 Germantown Ave. Parents and children are welcome to meet with counselors and learn more about ESF's exciting summer offering.
For more information visit www.esfcamps.com


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WATERFORD � It was halftime on Saturday afternoon and Emily Becher gathered her Woodstock Academy teammates around for a talk.
�We needed to pick up our intensity,� Becher said. �We were a little intimidated and I told them there is no reason to be intimidated by them.�
The them in question was the Lancers, the Centaurs� former foe in the ECC Large Division and this year�s Medium Division champs.
�Waterford�s a tough game every year,� Becher continued. �For a lot of these girls, it�s their first time playing Waterford. I needed to make sure the girls know we�re just as good.�
Woodstock allowed the game�s first two goals, but whatever Becher said at halftime worked, as the Centaurs scored twice in a 48-second span early in the second half for a 3-2 win in the regular season finale between two divisional champs.
�I�m very competitive,� Becher said. �I like to win. Our goal is to win. I also know we have states coming up and states is our main focus. This game was a real wakeup call to make sure we�re ready for the competition the next two or three weeks.�
2nd seed
With the win, ECC Large champion Woodstock (13-1-2) extended its winning streak to eight games and clinched the No. 2 seed for the ECC tournament, which begins on Monday. The Centaurs host Montville at 5 p.m. Becher�s speeches have become somewhat common, and are something Woodstock coach Dennis Snelling appreciates.
�I�d prefer they talk it out, to be honest,� he said. �They can relate to each other. Emily gets them thinking the right way. She gets their focus on the right track.�
The Lancers (12-2-2) got a goal from Melina Spanos just four and a half minutes into the game, and made it 2-0 when Claire Hurley scored 13 minutes before the half. Woodstock�s Elizabeth Redfield got the Centaurs on the board and within a goal four minutes later with a goal from about 20 yards out.
Playing facilitator
Becher didn�t score, but she assisted on both of Woodstock�s second-half goals, setting up her sister, Elaina, who took a shot from just inside the 18-yard line in the fourth minute of the second half. Waterford keeper Jordan Kovacs bobbled the ball, and it snuck in past the post.
Less then a minute later, Emily Becher set up Taylor Littell, who scored the eventual game-winner on a tough angle over Kovacs� head.
�They�re a dangerous team,� Waterford coach Rob Brule said. �With a kid like Emily up front and a good supporting cast that knows how to find her, you�re in for a long day. But I want their second or third best player to beat us. Any time you can shut down a team�s best player and they still beat you, you have to give them credit.�
The win was the first over Waterford for Woodstock�s seniors.
�This is like a playoff game, so it�s important for that, the mental aspect of competing with the best teams and beating them,� Snelling said.