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Blind Following of Madhabs
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Posted: 24 June 2008 at 11:55pm
Bi ismillahi rahmani raheem
assalamu alaikum
I was surprised to know that some people did not know that much of the hostility that many people feel towards those who call themselves salafiyah comes from there call for the abolishment of the madhhabs [although not all these people are actually calling for this, its hard to pinpoint the exact demographics of this but it was strongest among those who lived in western countries and the indo/pak sub continent] the quotes in points 4, 5 and 6 are very clear on this. So i decided to post this [again] as a way of looking at the history of this call to abandon the madhhabs. Please note that rashid rida is essentially the founder of the Quran only movement [i.e no sunnah just the Quran, a movement rasul allah [sallah llahu alaihi wa sallam] has said would come towards the end of time] and has some very heretical views that are borderline Kufr [essentially referring to his claim of being a messenger by defanition of the word]. Also please note that the Saudi Government has publicly admitted to teaching the wrong things and was in the process of correcting there past mistakes or that is how it was reported in the news so im not certain what teachings they are actually referring to but essentially they where referring to the extremism they helped spread, Sh. Albani has also acknowledged that he has made many mistakes in the past so this work does have to be taken in that context.
Recently, I came across a book entitled: Blind Following of Madhhabs, by one of the late "Shaykh's" of the "Salafiyya", Muhammad Sultaan al-Ma'soomee al-Khajnadee; edited by one of al-Albani's foremost students (Saleem al-Hilaalee). In the above named book, al-Khajnadee tried his best to refute Taqleed, but in reality he failed quite miserably in his refutation of what he calls "Blind Following!" After reading this book of garbled interpretations, slanders, and even lies, I came to the conclusion that al-Khajnadee seemed to have been a confused and contradicting personality! Now, let me elaborate my claim by quoting and commenting on just a few selected pages from the actual book.
It seems that the translation of the whole book was incomplete, since the editor, Abu Usaamah Saleem al-Hilaalee said on pg. iii, "I also noticed some places containing that which was superfluous, so I left it out." I wonder what these 'superfluous' statements were?
On page ix of the above named book, it was written that al-Khajnadee met,
"Shaykh Muhammad Rasheed Ridaa. He helped with al-Manaar magazine (this was edited by the last named person), and bought all of its back issues and the works of Shaykh Muhammad Abdah and likewise what had been printed from the works of Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah and his student Ibn ul-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah."From this last quote, those of us who have heard and read what the people of knowledge have said about the above named Shaykh's, will realize straight away that all four of them had corrupt Aqeedah on certain controversial points, like the attributes of Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala, as well as being famous for erring on many legal points of the Shari'ah!
It is a well known fact that Muhammad Rashid Rida (d. 1935) and his teacher Muhammad Abduh (he was the Mufti of Egypt in his day, d. 1905) were both Freemasons, who strove to reinterpret the Shari'ah with their own whims and desires by claiming to "reform" Islam from "impurities", and this led to their call for the abandonment of Taqleed; hence the need for the abolishment of the four schools of Fiqh. These two enemies of Islam strove hard in their Freemasonic plot to "reform" Islam, but in reality they fought against Islam from within; this was realized by many scholars with in their day as well as after them by examining their "Fatwa's" and speeches. Hence, many a man of knowledge (e.g. Shaykh Muhammad Bakhit al-Muti'i - the grand Mufti of Egypt and one of the leading Hanafi scholars of his time, d. 1354/1935; Rahimahullah) exposed them for what they were, as well as warning the sincere believers to be on their guard from their "sweet poison" (refer to The Evolution of Fiqh, pg. 114, by A.A. Bilal Philips). Thus, it is not hard to realise that al-Khajnadee himself may have been strongly influenced by the above named Freemasons, after imbibing 'knowledge' from their sweet poisoned chalice!
1. Saleem al-Hilaalee said on page 13, "For example, the Maalikees leave their arms at their side, during the Salaah and read Qunoot in Fajr, whereas we find Maalik-rahimahullaah-quotes in al-Muwatta; "Chapter: placing the two hands; one upon the other in Prayer... But the later Maalikees use as evidence that Maalik used to pray with his hands hanging at his side, this is ignorance with regard to the madhhab which they follow. Since Ja'far ibn Sulaymaan, the governor of al-Madeenah lashed the Imaam in the year 146H and stretched out his arms until his hands became dislocated and so he was not able to place his hands one over the other in Prayer...."
The above statement by al-Hilaalee claimed that those who follow the Maliki Madhhab only left their hands unfolded in Salah, since Imam Malik (Rahimahullah) had to leave his arms unfolded after being lashed!! He also claims that this is "ignorance with regard to the madhhab which they follow." But in reality, it is he who has fallen into the abyss of ignorance on this issue by 'blind' supposition! Although Imam Malik (Rahimahullah) related two Hadiths supporting the folding of the right hand on the left in Salah in his al-Muwatta, this does not mean that Imam Malik (Rahimahullah) himself always folded his hands in Salah. As you may have read in the section on "The Placing of Hands in Prayer", I quoted the most authoritative position of the Maliki madhhab, as well as what Imam Malik himself said about placing the hands in Salah. Here is the quote again for good measure; and for the displacement of ignorant claims: "In al- Mudawwanah (vol. 1, pg. 75-76), Imam Malik has been recorded to have said, 'Putting the right hand on the left in salah, I have no knowledge of it in the compulsory (Fard) prayer, it is thus disliked (Makrooh). But in the supererogatory (Nafl) prayer their is no harm (in folding the hands), it is left to the individual to decide.' Please ask yourselves who is ignorant, al-Hilaalee or the Maliki scholars?!
2. Al-Khajnadee claimed on page 47, that the book al-Mudawwanah was by Imam Malik! In fact, as I have said on more than one occasion previously, al-Mudawwanah is the compilation of Qadi Sahnoon! It is strange how al-Hilaalee did not correct al-Khajnadee in his editorial footnotes; do they want us to accept their claims blindly?
3. On page 22, al-Khajnadee quoted the well known Hadith from Irbaad ibn Saariyah (Allah be pleased with him) where the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) ordered us to, "Keep to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly-Guided Khulafaa, cling to that with your teeth." Thus it is incumbent to cling to the rightly guided Khulafaa; and they are Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali (may Allah be pleased with them all). But, as is the habit of men of his ilk, he contradicts himself by saying on the very next page: "Neither, Imaam Abu Haneefah or Maalik said, 'Keep to my saying' or 'Follow my madhhab', not even Abu Bakr or 'Umar-radiallaahu'anhum- rather they all forbade that." Thus, is he saying that we should not keep to the sayings of Abu Bakr or Umar (Allah be pleased with them) even though it is a command of the Prophet (Peace be upon him)?
In fact al-Albani himself quoted two statements in Sifah Salah-an- Nabee, from Imams Abu Hanifah and Malik (Allah's mercy be upon them) which permitted Taqleed of their views, so long as they agreed with the Qur'an and Sunnah! On page ix Imam Abu Hanifah (Rahimahullah) has been quoted as saying, "When I say something contradicting the Book of Allah the Exalted or what is narrated from the Messenger (peace be upon him), then ignore my saying." Does this not mean that if any of Imam Abu Hanifah's Fatwa's does not contradict the Qur'an and the Sunnah, may be taken by way of Taqleed; after the research scholars within the Hanafi school had shown that it had a basis?
Similarly, Imam Malik (Rahimahullah) was quoted by al-Albani to have said (see 'Sifah', pg. x): "Truly I am only a mortal: I make mistakes (sometimes) and I am correct (sometimes). Therefore, look into my opinions: all that agrees with the Sunnah, accept it; and all that does not agree with the Book and the Sunnah, ignore it." Again, Imam Malik has given us the right to take his opinions, so long as they agree with the Qur'an and Sunnah; Is this not in favour of Taqleed after the verifying scholars of the Maliki Madhhab proved which verdicts of Imam Malik were in harmony with the Shari'ah?
Also, al-Albani quoted Imam al-Shafi'i (see 'Sifah', pg. xi) as saying; "If you find in my writings something different to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), then speak on the basis of the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), and leave what I have said." Hence, whatever contradicts the authentic Sunnah in Imam al-Shafi'i's writings was carefully examined by the research scholars within the Shafi'i Madhhab. This means that whatever did not contradict the Sunnah in Shafi'i's writings may be taken by way of Taqleed; does it not?
4. On page 33, al-Khajnadee said, "Taqleed in the Sharee'ah is referring back to someone's saying for which there is no proof and that is prohibited in the Sharee'ah. Ittibaa is that for which the proof is established. Taqleed in Allah's deen is not correct and ittiba is binding."
This statement shows that al-Khajnadee did not even know what the correct definition of Taqleed was! He has definitely confused the meanings of the two words Taqleed and Ittiba. As I had said at the beginning of this section, Taqleed is the acceptance of a Mujtahids fatwa for which the proof has been established! How could it ever be said that Taqleed is the referring back to a "saying for which there is no proof?" Surely, this is not Taqleed but the following of mere opinion. What al-Khajnadee said about Ittiba is in reality the true extent of Taqleed! So, please beware of this cunning deception my dear brothers and sisters.
5. On page 37, al-Khajnadee made a blatantly false statement by saying nonsensically, "If you look into the matter carefully it will be clear to you that these madhhabs were spread, promoted and made attractive by the enemies of Islam in order to split the Muslims and cause discord amongst them. Or they were started by the ignorant in conformity with the Jews and Christians and in imitation of them, as they do in many matters."
By Allah, this is a grave calumniation, a highly nefarious aspersion and a blatant misrepresentation of historical facts! Only one who lacks a speck of analytical deduction and investigation into historical facts could say such a crass thing! In reality, these madhhabs were spread by the founders of these very schools, and especially by those amongst their disciples, and then those who succeeded them.... So that eventually a full chain of transmission (Isnad) was built up and recorded by the succeeding scholars in their works, just as in the science of Hadith. Even today, some scholars have an unbroken chain going back to the scholars of Hadith and Fiqh of the first generations of Islam!
The great scholar of Islam, Qadi Iyad (d. 544/1149 Rahimahullah), has quite beautifully and eloquently explained how the Madhhabs arose, and why one should make Taqleed of them. He said: "This Ijtihad and the handing down of rules and Shari'ah, on the basis of it-there are very few, very few who have the capacity. Indeed they are fewer than the few after the first generation (of Muslims), the upright Salihun, and the first three praiseworthy generations. Now since this is the nature of the matter, any human being burdened with the moral responsibility to obey Allah, but not having attained the status of being able to know the Shari'ah, on his own, is necessarily required to get that knowledge from someone else.
He must take the knowledge of every act of worship he has been commanded to do-every application of the Shari'ah that has been made responsible for him to perform directly, from that man who can give it to him straight from the source and who will make him know exactly what to do. That man must be the staff by which he stands in his own transmission to others, in the knowledge he acquires, and in the Shari'ah parameters by which he lives. This is Taqleed. And this is precisely the position of the ordinary people, indeed the vast majority of all people. Since this is the case, what is required of you is that in all such matters, you do Taqleed of the 'alim in whom you have complete trust. If such Ulama are many, then follow that one who is most knowledgeable. This is the portion of Ijtihad which falls to the lot of the Muqallid with regard to his deen. And it is not fitting that the Muqallid should abandon the most knowledgeable (Mujtahidun) in favour of someone else, even though that other person is also busy with knowledge. The Muqallid must therefore ask at that time about those things which he does not know until he has knowledge of them, just as Allah, Glory be to Him, has said, 'Then ask the people of Remembrance if you do not know.' (Holy Qur'an 16:43 and 21:7)
And the one upon whom we ask Allah's blessings and peace commanded the Khalifs after him and his Companions be emulated. The one upon whom we ask blessings and peace also sent his Companions out among the people to give them understanding in the deen, to teach them what had been made incumbent on them, and Allah urged on the entirety of them to go out, 'From every group among you let there be a group who will develop understanding of the deen and who will give warning to their people when they return to them.'
Now since this matter is something necessary, and there is no way around it, and since they who most deserve to be followed by the uniformed ordinary man, the beginner, who has taken it on himself to worship, or the student seeking right guidance and knowledge of Fiqh in the deen of Allah, and those who have the greatest right to be followed are the Fuqaha of the Sahaba of Rasulullah (Peace be upon him), they are those who took their knowledge directly from him, who knew the circumstances of the Revelation, of the commands and prohibitions, the various prophecies, of the different aspects of the Shari'ah, the exact pronunciation of the Prophet's words, may Allah bless him and give him peace, who themselves witnessed the accompanying circumstances of these ayats, who spoke to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and give him peace, directly, about most of it, who asked him about it despite the extensive knowledge from the Prophet (Peace be upon him) which they themselves already had, and their knowledge of the meanings of Arabic speech, the illumination of their hearts, and the openness and receptivity of their hearts, such that they were, without the least contention, the most knowledgeable of Imams, and they were those of the Imams most worthy of being followed by Taqleed.
Nevertheless, they only spoke about a few of the problematic events that happened among them, and large numbers of answers to Shari'ah questions did not branch out from them in detail. They did not speak about the Shari'ah, except with regard to the basic teachings, and certain things that actually happened. Most of their pre-occupation was with the putting into practise of what they knew and the active defence of the entire deen, the laying down of the firm foundation of the Shari'ah of the Muslims. There was among them a degree of difference of opinion in some of the things which they discussed which could keep the Muqallid in a perpetual state of confusion, and require of him the kind of reflection and review for which he is not yet prepared. And indeed the full elaboration of questions, resolving of problems, and setting out the discussions, only came about in response to those matters, the appearance of which had been anticipated after the Sahaba were gone.
Consequently, the Tabi'in, the Followers (like Imam's Abu Hanifah, an-Nakhai, Hammad, al-Zuhri, Hasan al-Basri, Sha'bi...), came and reflected on the differences of opinions of the Companions, and built on the foundations which they had laid down. Then after them came the Ulama from among the Followers of the Followers (like Imam's Malik, Shafi'i, Ibn Hanbal, Dawood al-Zahiri...). By that time, the occurrences which had happened already became many and the problematic events had already occurred, while Fatwas regarding all of this had branched out into many details. Therefore they gathered together the opinion of them all, and they committed their Fiqh to memory.
They sought out differences of opinion of the earlier generations as well as their areas of agreement, but they were cautious about the matter of this disagreement spreading and of its getting out of control. Therefore they did Ijtihad regarding all these parts of the Sunnah, and of the precise articulation of fundamental principles. They asked questions and they got answers. They built up the foundations of the basic precepts and they made accessible the basic principles. Upon them were delineated the solutions to problems and events and they were put down in writing for the people, and organised. Each of them worked on the basis of the inspiration he was given and the accomplishment to which Allah had guided them. So they became the ultimate in the science of Usool and of the specific details of the Shari'ah in the matters of agreement and disagreement. And on the basis of this knowledge which had come to them, they made Qiyas, analogy, according to the indications, and the similarities that they had got. May Allah be pleased with all of them and may He give them the full extent of the reward of their Ijtihad.
Therefore it is an individual obligation that falls on the ordinary Muqallid and the student of knowledge in his beginning stages, to take recourse in his Taqleed to these great men, or the explicit texts regarding the problems and events that befall him. Recourse must be had to them regarding all of these matters which are problematic because of the fact that they were immersed in knowledge of the Shari'ah and it literally revolved around them. They alone have precise understanding of the schools, of who had gone before, and the earlier generations, and that knowledge is enough for all who have come after them in later generations. Nevertheless, it is simply not possible that all of these earlier Fuqaha can be simultaneous objects of Taqleed regarding the most difficult problems and the majority of questions, because of their differences among themselves caused by conflicting opinions about the fundamental principles upon which they built. Moreover, it is not valid for the Muqallid to do Taqleed of any among them merely on the basis of personal whim, or chance that he has come upon a decision on the basis of what he happened to find the people of his region doing, or his family doing (and this is quite common today; is it not?)
Again therefore, the portion of Ijtihad that falls to his lot in this case, is that he seek to discover by reflection which of them was the most knowledgeable, and come to know which of them is most worthy of being an object of Taqleed from among all of them, so that in his practise and his Fatwas, the ordinary man can trust him and rely on him and trust that in his acts of worship, he had taken on himself only what the Mujtahid had and discerned as correct. The ordinary man therefore must give to the most knowledgeable (scholars) among the adherents to the schools of these earlier Fuqaha, the status which by right, he deserves. It is not permissible for him that he go beyond them in his seeking of Fatwas to one who does not follow the opinion of his school (NB-There are certain conditions which need to be fulfilled before one can take opinions from other schools, these principles have been explained by scholars like Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Hajar al-Haytami). For as some of the Shaykhs have said, 'The Imam is with regard to one who adheres to his school, to his way, like the Prophet, may Allah bless him and give him peace, is with regard to his Ummah.' It is not permissible for him to go against his Imam (unless one has become a Mujtahid within the school or in specific issues). This has been expressed quite correctly, and the correct way will become clear to those who have insight, and eyes with which to see, on the basis of what we have elaborated and the stipulations we have laid down." (quoted from Root Islamic Education, pp. 82-7, by Shaykh Abdalqadir al-Murabit ).
So please ask yourselves, "Were these great scholars the enemies of Islam (Allah forbid), who imitated the ways of corrupt Christians and Jews?" I say, never could these madhhabs have ever existed if the well known scholars did not spread them; is this not the basic and fundamental truth?
One of the most well known scholars of Hadith in our time, Shaykh Shu'ayb al-Arnaoot (b. 1928 in Albania, presently residing in Amman, Jordan), said with regard to Taqleed and the founders of the madhhabs:
They are explainers, not popes; but in each of their schools there afterwards followed a hundred or more scholars who refined and added to their work, men whose stature in Islamic knowledge was like mountains, any one of whom could put fifteen of the scholars available today in his pocket."6. Another imbecilic statement was made by al-Khajnadee on page 56, where he said, "They have taken a path opposite to that of the people of knowledge, their late-comers have inverted the way of the Salaf and turned the foundations of the Deen upside down. So they declare the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of His Messenger (Peace be upon him), the sayings of his Khulafaa and the rest of the Companions-radiallaahu 'anhum-to be false."
Again, he made a wicked declaration by claiming that the followers of these madhhabs declared the, "Book of Allah, the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace be upon him), the sayings of his Khulafaa and the rest of the Companions-radiallahu 'anhum-TO BE FALSE." I ask you which scholar within the four madhhabs, let alone the 'blind followers' declared it "To be false?" Would it not be true, that if one declared the above sources to be "false" he or she may automatically go out of the fold of Islam (especially the first two sources), let alone be a follower of a Madhhab (and only Allah knows best)? How could the 'blind followers' declare something to be false, when the great scholars have said that it is impermissible to take the "Ijtihad" of non-Mujtahid's as documentary proof? May Allah guide the people who believe in what al-Khajnadee proclaimed!
There are many other vile statements made by al-Khajnadee in his above named book, but this is not the time and place to outline them in detail; rather a well grounded scholar could easily refute his nonsensical slanders and lies by way of logical proofs from the sources of the Shari'ah. This book of his was meant to be "sound" advice for some prospective Japanese converts to Islam. It seems al- Khajnadee wanted his Japanese readers (not to mention the generality of the Muslim readership) to accept everything he said "blindly" and without research; thus he may not have been advising the Japanese questioners, but instead confusing them even more deeply by not explaining the meanings of many of the statements and their ramifications, let alone the Shari'ah terminology he had used! Besides that, he as well as his friend al-Albani (in his 'Sifah Salah an-Nabee'), failed to tell their readers that nearly every scholar they quoted from were the adherents of one of the four existing schools! This is a great trick of the most knowledgeable of "Salafi" scholars; they seem to deceive themselves as well as their readers when it comes to proclaiming this undeniable fact!
Rather, al-Khajnadee and al-Albani should have tried to disprove the evidences used by the scholars within the Madhhabs (from the Qur'an, Sunnah and even the Ijma), which documents and allows Taqleed to all non-Mujtahids! The following is a list of some of the scholars quoted by al-Albani and al-Khajnadee in their books, and the Madhhab they were in:
Imam Ibn Abidin (d. 1252/1836; al-A'lam, 6.42 [viii,15,22]), Hafiz Ibn al-Humam (d. 861/1457; al-A'lam, 6.255 [viii,22,32]), Imam Ibn al-Shahnah al-Kabeer [viii], Imam Zufar (d. 158 AH [viii]), Imam Abu Yusoof (d. 182/798; al-A'lam, 8.193 [viii,14]), Imam Muhammad al- Shaybani (d. 189/804; al-A'lam, 6.80 [ix,14]), Imam al-Tahawi (d. 321 AH, [5]), Imam ibn Abi al-Izz al-Hanafi [17], Imam ibn Nujaim al- Misri (d. 970 AH [34]), Shaykh Ali al-Qari (d. 1014/1606; al-A'lam, 5.12 [35]), Shaykh Abd al-Haqq Dehlawi (d. 1052 AH [36]), Allamah Abdal Hayy al-Lucknawi (d. 1304 AH; also known as Abul Hasanat [ix]), Shaykh Abul Hasan as-Sindee al-Hanafi [5], Shaykh Aafiyyah ibn Yazeed [viii].
Hafiz Ibn Abd al-Barr (d. 463/1071; al-A'lam, 8.240 [x,5]), Imam Ibn Wahb (d. 197/812 [x]), Imam Abdullah ibn Abee Zaid al-Qairwanee al-Maliki (d. 389 AH [16]).
Imam al-Bayhaqi (d. 458/1066; al-A'lam, 1.116 [xi,6]), Shaykh Abu Yusoof al-Buweeti [xii], Shaykh Abul Qasim ad-Daariki [xii], Hafiz Ibn as-Salah (d. 643/1245; Tabaqat al-Shafi'iya, 8.326 [xii]), Imam Taqi ad-Deen al-Subki (d. 756/1355; al-Fatawa al-Hadithiyya, 114 [xii,14]), Imam Abu Nu'aym (d. 430/1038; Tabaqat al-Shafi'iya, 4.18 [xii,52]), Imam al-Bukhari (d. 256/870; Tabaqat al-Shafi'iya, 2.212-14 [6]), Imam Muslim (d. 261/875; Siyar a'lam al-nubala, 12.557-61 [6]), Imam Abu Dawood (d. 275/889; Tabaqat al-Shafi'iya, 2.293 [xiii,14]), Imam Nisai (d. 309/915; Tabaqat al-Shafi'iya, 3.14-16 [6]), Imam Tirmidhi (d. 279/892; Siyar a'lam, 13.270-73 [6]), Imam ibn Majah (d. 209/824; al- A'lam, 7.144 [6]), Imam al-Suyuti (d. 911/1505; al-A'lam, 3.301-2 [5]), Hafiz Ibn Khuzaymah (d. 311/924; Tabaqat al-Shafi'iya, 3.109 [16]), Imam ash-Sha'rani (d. 973/1565; al-A'lam, 4.180-1 [viii,35]), Imam Hakim (d. 405/1014; Tabaqat al-Shafi'iya, 4.155 [xi,39]), Imam ibn Asakir (d. 571 AH [xi]), Hafiz Khateeb al-Baghdadi (d. 463/1072; Tabaqat al-Shafi'iya, 4.29 [xi,52]), Hafiz al-Dhahabi (d. 748/1348; Tabaqat al-Shafi'iya, 9.100 [18]), Hafiz al-Iraqi (d. 806/1404; al-A'lam, 3.344 [18]), Imam al-Tabarani (d. 360/971; Siyar a'lam, 16.119-23 [18]), Imam al-Izz ibn Abdas Salam (d. 660/1262; al-A'lam, 4.21 [27]), Imam ibn Hibban (d. 354/965; Tabaqat al-Shafi'iya, 3.131 [39]), Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (d. 852/1449; al-A'lam, 1.178 [39]), Hafiz al- Haythami (d. 807/1405; al-A'lam, 4.266 [40]), Imam al-Haramayn (d. 478/1085; Tabaqat al-Shafi'iya, 5.165 [41]), Imam Abul Qasim al- Qushayri (d. 465/1072; Tabaqat al-Shafi'iya, 5.153 [50]), Imam al-Razi (d. 606/1210; Tabaqat al-Shafi'iya, 8.81-89 [59]), Imam al-Baghawi (d. 510/1117; al-A'lam, 2.259 [59]), Imam Abu Shamah (d. 665 AH [78]), Imam al-Nawawi (d. 676/1277; al-A'lam, 8.149 [xi,15]).
Hafiz ibn Taymiyya (d. 728/1328; al-A'lam, 1.144 [30]), Hafiz ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (d. 751/1350; Siyar a'lam, 7.202 [xiii,42]), Hafiz ibn al-Jawzi (d. 508/1114; al-A'lam, 3.316 [xii,53]), Hafiz ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (d. 795/1393, [xiv]).
NB- The contents in the brackets (after the names of the above scholars), stand for the following abbreviations:-
(i) 'd.'- the year of the scholars death, usually in Hijri and Christian dates.
(ii) 'al-A'lam'- This is a well known biographical dictionary by Khayr al-Deen al-Zirikly (see bibliography for full details).
(iii) 'Tabaqat al-Shafi'iya'- This is a very well known dictionary listing all the famous Shafi'i scholars uptill the death of its author-Imam Taj al-Deen al-Subki (rahimahullah).
(iv) 'Siyar a'lam al-nubala'- This is a biographical dictionary by the famous scholar of Hadith-al-Hafiz Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Dhahabi (rahimahullah).
(v) 'al-Fatawa al-Hadithiyya'- This is a well known collection by the great scholar of Islam-Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Hajar al-Haytami (rahimahullah).
(vi) Whatever appears in square brackets- [ ], refers to the page number in al-Albani's 'Sifah Salah an-Nabee' (only in roman numerals) and al-Khajnadee's 'Blind Following of Madhhabs.'
So now my dear reader, you should be asking yourselves the simple question: "Why did the above named scholars adhere to one of the four schools, but today people like al-Albani etc; are calling for the abandonment of the Taqleed of the four schools?" Even two of the most prominent Imams of the neo-"Salafiyya", Ibn Taymiyya and Ibn al-Qayyim were Hanbali in Fiqh (but their Aqeedah has been questioned by many scholars). One may have also noticed that not one of the 6 main Imams of Hadith (al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, an-Nisai and Ibn Majah) were out of the four schools; and this fact may astonish the so called "Salafiyya" who claim to be on the path of the scholars of Hadith! If this fact seems unconvincing to the lay reader, then one should read their biographies in the above named dictionaries, or their actual books! Thus, without even writing a refutation against the likes of al-Albani and al-Khajnadee, the above named scholars (not to mention thousands of other scholars) stand as a witness against their false claims on the Islamic concept of Taqleed. The "Salafiyya" claim to be on the path of the scholars of Hadith; but I ask you, who were the scholars of Hadith? The answer to this question may be found in their biographies; but just for the record, one should never forget that the vast majority of the scholars of Hadith were usually in one of the four schools of Fiqh after their founding; and this may be called the way of the traditional and classical scholars, indifference to the modern day "Salafiyya". I ask you now, what is there to stop one from adhering to one of the four schools, when so many great scholars did so?Al-Albani and many of the other "Salafiyya" (modern-day Khawarij) "Shaykhs" try to refute Taqleed by quoting statements coming directly from the four Imams themselves, which apparently 'forbid' Taqleed of their Fatwa's! In fact the scholars have explained each one of these apparently Taqleed forbidding statements quite explicitly. The bottom line of these statements has lead the scholars to conclude, that these statements refer to the forbiddance of one Mujtahid taking the Ijtihad of another Mujtahid without knowing his documentary evidence (refer to the previous pages for some statements on this issue); but not the forbiddance of non-Mujtahids taking the Ijtihads of the Mujtahids, and this is precisely Taqleed of the allowable type. If Allah wills, the true meanings of these statements may be collated and annotated by way of reference to the classical scholars of Islam; instead of receiving garbled and incontextual quotations from the four Mujtahids (Allah's mercy be upon them) by the likes of al-Albani.
Edited by rami - 25 June 2008 at 4:44am
Rasul Allah (sallah llahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "Whoever knows himself, knows his Lord" and whoever knows his Lord has been given His gnosis and nearness.
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Assalam alaikum wa Rahmatullah
Jazak Allah khair brother for your post
As you mentioned Allah subhanu wa tala said in the Holy Quran :'Then ask the people of Remembrance if you do not know.'
Personally when i am in need of a certain fatwa in a particular subject i go back to the Four scholars (they all basically stem from the same sources) then i follow what my heart and mind accepts and not what is easier to follow, so i don't stick to one Madhab but i do regard all four as shining lights to understand our faith, may Allah have mercy on them all, Ameen.
"Whosoever fears Allah, he will appoint for him a way out, and provide for him from where he does not expect"
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OMG Brother
I discovered that khateeb and director of our mosque is Albaani's student!
What do we do now?
Kismet Domino: Faith/Courage/Liberty/Abundance/Selfishness/Immorality/Apathy/Bondage or extinction.
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Bi ismillahi rahmani raheem
Sign Reader,
That all depends on you and what you decide to follow your responsible for your self on the day of judgment no one else. The only people a muslim is not allowed to pray behind are shia becouse many of them [not all] have bad aqeedah and heretical beliefs. There is also no need for such an over the top reaction no one claimed Albani was the devil incarnite and if you look his students in the face you will turn to stone, the uluma do not comment on the personality of the shaykh but what they teach so you too should learn to seperate the two and not take things personally.
Rasul Allah (sallah llahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "Whoever knows himself, knows his Lord" and whoever knows his Lord has been given His gnosis and nearness.
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Assalamu alaikum.
Congratulations for your analysis. Our problem is we (Muslims) talk too much and do nothing to correct our mistakes. We do not have choice in Islam. It is an organic whole, but we fractionalize it. This is wrong and unaccepted. Muslims are not ready to follow the Sunna and the advice of the Sahabas. When we want to talk on an issue we do not follow any rule and regulation. For example, since we know that no Sahaba or their immediate followers ever belied what they were told was from the holy Prophet, but only to make the one swear that it was a true statement from the holy Prophet, we should adopt their method in respecting the statements of the holy Prophet. Moreover, we should know that you get reward on your actions and not necessary what you say. Let us remember the saying of Ali ibn Abi Talib: If there is an argument over an issue, it should be brought to the "Imam allazi istaqdahum' i.e. Khalifa. We do not have a Khalifa i.e. an authority to punish one according to the Sunna and to straighten conflicts. Mazhaba and Taqleed are not our priorities now, for if we have understood their according to their usage in the Qur 'an, we could have by known a central authority, a Khalifa leading in all the five dily prayers, thereby not separating Mosque from State. Taqleed can be positive or negative. We are all Muqalladin because our symbol is the Shahada and a shining forehead. Our Mazhaba is that of prophet Ibrahim (AS) in 37:99. Let us understand what the 4 Imams did: they did not say that we shall not establish the khalifate acording to the Sunna of Muhammad Rasulullah and the methods the Sahabas used in selecting a leader for the Muslim Umma. But we are selecting our leaders on inheritance basis. They never said that one should not read and undersand how Islam propagated. Probably we have more literature about islam today at our disposal than during their time. Finally, we should respect Imam Malik for he said he was reporting on the actions of the people of Madina during his time (93-179) and not 1-40 A.H. Therefore whatever he said should be cross-checked with what was the practice during that golden period. We have the records of life during the umayyad and Abbasyds empires. What type of leader do we need today, other than Hajjaj bin Yusuf or Umar bin Abdu'aziz to discipline those crating divisions in Islam?
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Who is we?
You cannot include me because in the country where I live our religious leaders are Imaams who are qualified 'alims and not selected on inheritance basis. But all of them are inheritors of the Prophet because Rasoolullah Sallalahu alaihi wasallam himself has declared that the Ulema are inheritors of Prophets.
As for political leadership, we are a religeous minority and so some of us are elected to the Parliament and assemblies by the ctizens in a general election on secret ballot.
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Assalamu alaikum.
Brother Abosait.
How I wished you have you read what Islamic scholars wrote on leadership and the qualifications required of them and what they are required to do. Please try to look for the book, "Al.Nizzamul Hukm fil Islam by Dr. Musa Yusuf' and read what he wrote. You will then understand what Islam stipulated on leadership.
My advise is always ensure you know the subject matter before you say something on it. The subject matter is Leadership in Islam. What you commented is on Imam Sugra and not on Imam Kubra. Imam Sugra may not be part of Ahlal hal wal aqad. Imam Kubra is the leader of Ahlal hal wal aqad. He must be functioning as Imam Sugra.
Edited by Friendship - 30 November 2008 at 5:18am
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1. What is "Ahlal hal wal aqad".
2. When you are writing in English please use appropriate words in English for the not so common words from other languages.
3. Sugra and Kubra you have explained (what you mean by it) in another post. Thank you for the same though I have not come across such terms with respect to Imam in Islam.
Edited by abosait - 25 December 2008 at 5:55am
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A 180-ton blue whale carcass washed up in the small Newfoundland town of Trout River last week. It's believed the whale was one of nine endangered blue whales that died in heavy ice off Canada's Atlantic coast several weeks ago.
Doris Sheppard runs the Sheppard's B & B in Trout River, and noticed the whale as she and her husband were driving home.
"We noticed this black thing out on the ice. That was Easter morning. And the next morning the ice had brought that into our cove. Now the ice has melted, but it didn't take the whale with it. It left it grounded on the beach."
And that could mean a big, stinky problem.
"Up until yesterday, I could not smell anything," Sheppard said. "But last night the smell was awful."
The smell is because the carcass is bloated with methane gas, caused by decomposition. If the whale's body becomes too stressed, it could actually explode, spewing whale guts all over the beach. But local and federal authorities disagree over who is responsible for the whale's disposal.
"We are a small town of a little over 600 people," Sheppard said. "We have a small tax base. We don't have the resources to deal with this. We don't have the experience to deal with this. There are suggestions coming in, but to leave it there just to decay on the beach, if it was a fast process we could probably deal with it. But this takes time."
Jack Lawson, a fisheries scientist with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans told the CBC that it's important for people not to touch the rotting carcasses because there are viruses and bacteria carried by whales that can be transferred by touch.
"Right now, we have local children being curious, they want to touch it," Sheppard said. "They have been climbing on top of it and getting their picture taken. If it breaks open and they fall through, we're in a tight spot here."
But with tourism season fast approaching, residents like Sheppard are concerned about the impact a decaying whale could have on businesses.
"It was obviously a beautiful mammal. It's too bad it had to die in the ice. I would prefer that we had a live one out there and that would be a tourist attraction. This is much harder to deal with," she added.

subset: commoncrawl


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This week's pop pundits, Daniel Ralston and Maggie Serota, come care of The Low Times Podcast (co-hosted by Tom Scharpling of The Best Show on WFMU). Daniel is enamored with Caitlin Rose's alt-country spin on The Arctic Monkeys' tune "Piledriver Waltz", while Maggie can't get enough of the infectiously poppy and deceivingly upbeat synth heartache of Lemonade's "Soft Kiss."
(Embed or Share The Low Times' Music Recommendations)
Ice-T is a rapper and actor, with more than ten albums and nearly eighty acting credits to his name. He's also one of the forefathers of west coast hip-hop. This week he adds "filmmaker" to an already diverse resume, as he makes his directorial debut with the hip hop documentary Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap, in theaters this Friday, June 15th.
Ice sits down with us to talk his desire to bring an artful appreciation to hip hop's origins and about going through his phone book to sit down with friends to discuss the craft, and to resolve the mystery as to whether or not he was a ghostwriter for an 80s rap album by Mister T.
(Embed or Share this interview with Ice-T on Bullseye)
For much of his musical career, Aaron Freeman might have been better known to you as Gene Ween, guitarist and co-founder of the experimental rock band Ween. In May, Freeman released his first solo record, Marvelous Clouds, a collection of covers of songs by 60s poet/songwriter Rod McKuen. And just a few weeks ago, Freeman announced he was retiring the Gene Ween persona for good. This week he tells us about the song that changed his life: Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry".
(Embed or Share Aaron Freeman on The Song That Changed My Life)
Greta Gerwig is an actress and filmmaker, whose starring role in the 2007 comedy Hannah Takes the Stairs put her right at the heart of the mumblecore movement. She's since gone on to leading roles in bigger indies alongside Ben Stiller in Greenberg, as well as major motion pictures like Arthur, opposite Russell Brand. The indie darling has had a particularly prominent year in 2012, with starring roles Damsels in Distress and the romantic comedy Lola Versus, both in theaters now, and a supporting role in Woody Allen's latest, To Rome With Love, due later this month.
Greta joins us to discuss her artistic upbringing in Sacramento (complete with dreams of being a ballerina), her meteoric and slightly serendipitous rise as an actress, and the way her public perception seems to change with each role she plays.
(Embed or Share this interview with Greta Gerwig on Bullseye)
On this week's Outshot, Jesse misses the old days of pure wacky comedy insanity exemplified by the unfiltered goofiness of Mel Brooks' History of the World, Part I.
Is there a film that never fails to make you laugh like a mad man? Share the laughs on the MaxFun Forum by picking your own Outshot.
(Embed or Share The Outshot on History of the World, Part I)


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Billions of words, hundreds of books, scores of movies and plays and countless articles—in newspapers, magazines and online—have been written about Adolf Hitler. Most of those writings have tried, at some point, to explain or at least examine how a nondescript, failed artist was able to bend millions of people to his will, overrun a continent and pull much of the globe into a catastrophic world war.
That Hitler was a galvanizing speaker is evident to anyone who has ever heard recordings or seen footage of him in action. That his blather about "Aryan" racial superiority and a Thousand Year Reich appealed to Germans who felt subjugated by other Western powers after World War I is beyond dispute. That his reliance on scapegoats—Jews, communists, homosexuals, Slavs and others—helped cement his control of a regime headed by gangsters, degenerates and sociopaths is both a confirmation of the power of propaganda and a distressing commentary on the primal hatreds lurking beneath the veneer of "civilized" societies.
Whatever the true, core source of his malevolent charisma, there's simply no getting around the fact that, for more than a decade in the middle part of the 20th century, men, women and children were drawn, in droves, to Hitler and his message. Here, LIFE.com offers color pictures by Hitler's personal photographer, Hugo Jaeger, that testify to the Führer's mass popularity, and the often frenzied response he was able to elicit from otherwise staid citizens of the Reich.
[Read the stranger-than-fiction tale of how Time Inc. came to own Jaeger's archive, and see more of his photos]


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Noncredit Admission
City College of San Francisco offers an extensive schedule of day,
evening and weekend noncredit classes. Enrollment procedure for these
may vary depending on the type of course and the location of the
class. You may complete a noncredit admissions application online.
Placement assessment, orientation and counseling are required for many
noncredit courses. These free services are offered at various CCSF locations. Please
check with the center that offers the class if you have
Pre-registration at the center(s) is required for enrolling in the following courses: (Pre-registration may include placement assessment, Orientation and counseling):
- Adult Basic Skills
- Adult High School
- GED Preparation
- Business and Computer Skills
- Disabled Students Programs and Services
- English as a Second Language
- Child Development and Family Services
- Health Care Technology and Health Science
Go directly to the class and register in class for the following courses:
- Consumer Arts and Sciences
- Consumer Education
- Older Adults
- Trade and Industry
Who is eligible?
- Anyone who is 18 years of age or older
- A minor who may benefit from instruction and has permission from both the local high school district and a parent/guardian
- Visa Type: F-1 Academic student
Is it permissible to enroll in Noncredit free classes while in F-1 status?
International students with a F1 visa may enroll in noncredit courses however they must be enrolled in a full-time status (12 units) at their Home School. NONCREDIT COURSES CANNOT COUNT TOWARD FULL-TIME STATUS. Please check with your International Student Counselor for more information.
You may enter in the F-1 visa category provided you meet the following criteria:
1. You must be enrolled in an "academic" educational program, a language-training program, or a vocational program
2. Your school must be approved by the Student and Exchange Visitors Program, Immigration & Customs Enforcemen
3. You must be enrolled as a full-time student at the institution
4. You must be proficient in English or be enrolled in courses leading to English proficiency
5. You must have sufficient funds available for self-support during the entire proposed course of stud
6. You must maintain a residence abroad which he/she has no intention of giving up.
More information on F-1 visa
- Visa Type: B-1/B-2 Visitor for business or pleasure
Is it permissible to enroll in school while in B-1/B-2 status?
No, it is NOT permissible to enroll in any class. The regulations, at 8 CFR 214.2(b)(7), specifically prohibit study in the United States while in B-1 or B-2 status.
More information on B-1/B-2 Visa
Placement Testing
To assist you in selecting the appropriate courses, students registering for ESL or vocational classes should take the placement test. Testing is offered at several CCSF centers. Contact the center(s) where you will go take the test:
Fall 2019
- Civic Center: (415) 561-1020
- Chinatown: (415) 395-8601
- Downtown: (415) 267-6543
- John Adams: (415) 561-1835
- Mission: (415) 920-6067
- Ocean: (415) 239-3124
Counselors are available to assist students complete educational and career planning. Visit or contact the center(s) for dates and times of operation


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As if this one is any surprise. Peekay uncovered the "mother" being arrested on $10k bond in Orlando of all places for a 3rd driving w/suspended license. In case anyone is wondering why people might go along with these scams. The second video is ridiculous. The funeral had adults dressed up as super heroes. Batman of course makes an appearance as always, like in so many hoaxes before it. The odds are astronomical. These events get worse and worse. As much as I believe some people are sick and crazy, I don't think they want to go shoot kids at schools. In my city, kids in bad neighborhoods get shot with stray bullets more often than you would imagine, but they aren't targeted like in these hoaxes. Just wrong place, wrong time. The usual horrible acting, no tears performances. Smiles in background and grieving mother who has nothing better to do than hang out on CNN all day with posers by her side who can't hold it together very long.
full link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sLzSYtFPiE
full link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGRTpwtHN9o
ADMIN NOTICE: please read how to embed Youtube videos here: viewtopic.php?f=32&t=1280


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Matt was home for a 2 week visit, which was not nearly long enough. He left to go back on June9, 2007. We are still hoping he will be back in the states in September. The 2 weeks just went much too fast and we didn't get to visit nearly as much as we wanted too. He gets to call home often and it is always so good to hear his voice. I am posting a picture of Matt taken the morning he left to go back to Iraq. I am also posting a picture of Matt and Nikki taken while he was at home.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
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|Ijamsville, Md.
|High School:
|Chemical Engineering
|Maryland Flames - Seraile
2012-13: Played in and started 22 games...10.5 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game, 62 assists, 35 steals...ranked sixth in the NEWMAC in assists per game (2.8) and eighth in assists...led the team in scoring and assists, was third in steals, and fifth in rebounds...registered at least 10 points in 13 games...posted 23 points at Wheaton (1/16) and 21 points against Bates (11/18)...notched seven rebounds versus Gordon (12/29)...dished out seven assists against Springfield (2/11)...generated six steals at Clark (2/16).
2011-12: Played in 24 games, started 23...NEWMAC Rookie of the Year...NEWMAC second team all-conference...10.7 points per game, 3.3 rebounds per game, 56 assists, 42 steals...led the team in scoring, assists, and steals, and was fifth in rebounds...recorded at least 10 points in 14 games...scored 23 points against Simmons (12/30) and had a 22-point performance at Mount Holyoke (2/4)...grabbed nine rebounds versus Wheaton (1/18)...dished out five assists on five occasions...had four steals in four games...against Albany College (11/20) she was sent to the charity stripe on three straight possessions where she hit five consecutive free throws that thwarted a late rally and propelled MIT to a 65-49 win...in a 617-57 win over WPI (12/3) she buried a jumper with 10 seconds remaining in regulation to give MIT a two-point edge...three days later in an overtime battle at Coast Guard, she connected on a three-pointer just 48 seconds into the extra session and later nailed a jumper with 47 seconds left to play, giving MIT a four-point cushion that resulted in a 73-67 victory...in a 69-65 come-from-behind win over Simmons (12/30), she went 3-of-4 from the free throw line during the final 16.4 seconds, including two successful attempts with two seconds on the clock...against Wheaton (1/18), she knocked down a trey right after coming off the bench to give MIT a four-point margin with three minutes left to play while her two free throws with 10 seconds to go sealed the 45-41 victory...trailing by four points at Springfield (2/11), Kordell sank a layup with 15 seconds on the clock and after a free throw by the Pride, she drove the length of the court for another lay-in with eight ticks left, while MIT stole the in-bounds pass and then drained two free throws with no time remaining to capture the 51-50 win.
Off the Court at MIT: Majoring in chemical engineering.
High School: A 2011 graduate of Urbana High School...captain junior and senior seasons...three-time all-conference...three-time first team all-county...Gazette Player of the Year (2010)...named to Gazette first team...received three varsity letters...three-time county champions...two-time regional champions...National Honor Society...National Math Honor Society.
Club/AAU: Maryland Flames – Seraile.


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Q & A with UCSD Alum Julie Ertel
Related Links
At the 2000 Olympic Games, 1995 UC
Q � After you won the silver medal with the U.S. Water Polo team in 2000 at Sydney, did you ever think you'd make a return trip to the Olympic Games?
Ertel � No, going back in water polo, much less another sport, was far from where I thought I'd be. I thought I'd settle down, get a full-time job and possibly get married � something a bit more traditional. Then when I was asked by NBC to commentate for the 2004 Olympics, I thought that would be the side of the Olympics with which I'd be involved.
Q � How many people do you think have seen your silver medal? Do friends and people you meet still ask to see it?
Ertel � I'd estimate that over 8,000 people have seen my medal, and at least 1,000 have tried it on for size. Over the past eight years I've done many speaking engagements so that gets the medal around pretty quickly, not to mention my friends and family. The demand does go in spurts though. In the springtime and especially in the year prior to and the six months after the Olympics, I get more requests than normal.
I do, frequently, get asked to see the medal whether at a local running race, shopping, or while out with friend. I love pretending that I have it with me by looking in my shirt or in my purse or bag. It is kind of mean as I watch them get excited at the prospect of seeing it, but eventually, when I produce no medal, they realize that it was kind of a silly question. (I do not wear it on a typical day.)
Q � Eight years later, what are the most memorable things from your first Olympics?
Ertel � Opening ceremonies was the most memorable Olympic moment. It is something that cannot be duplicated except at the Olympic Games. Walking into the stadium and hearing 100,000 people cheering is overwhelming. Being there, representing my country, marching behind our flag, made me so proud. It reminded me of all of the Olympic Opening Ceremonies I watched as a kid when I was glued to the TV, hoping to catch a glimpse of the athletes that would make our country proud
The second most memorable thing from the Sydney Olympics is living in the Olympic Village. I loved getting to walk around the Village seeing athletes from all over the world with similar goals and mutual respect, living harmoniously in such close quarters. It was a self-contained Village with a dining hall, housing, a large gym, a disco and nightclub, a doctor and sports med facilities, a post office and souvenir shops. If an athlete wanted to, they could sustain themselves in the Olympic Village until the day of their event (It was also nice getting a daily massage!). This time, I will not get to stay in the Olympic Village as much. I will stay there for two days around Opening Ceremonies then head to South Korea to train. When I return to China on the 15th, I will stay in a hotel near the triathlon venue until I'm through competing. I will return to Village after my event when I can explore and enjoy it to the fullest.
Q � Can you share something about being an Olympian that most people wouldn't know?
Ertel � Most people should know it, but sometimes forget that Olympians are just ordinary people with extraordinary sporting talents. It is no different than a talented musician or scientist, we all still put on our pants, one leg at a time. We are perceived as superhuman at times but we put in a lot of hard work to get to the Olympics but have similar hopes, dreams and emotions as anyone else.
Q � Most sports fans are probably more familiar with the Ironman Triathlon series. What are the Olympic triathlon distances and what are the differences between the two?
Ertel � A triathlon is an event that consists of a swim portion, a cycling portion and a run portion. There are several distances including sprint, Olympic or international distance, a � Ironman distance and an Ironman distance. The Olympic distance races consist of a 1.5 km swim (.9 miles), a 40 km bike (24.8 miles), and a 10 km run (6.2 miles) while the Ironman distance includes a 2.4 mile swim, 112 miles on the bike and a 26 mile run.
So, aside from the obvious difference in distance, the Olympic distance races on the international circuit allow drafting on the bike. This means that coming out of the water towards the front is critical in order to form a strong pack on the bike. The run portion becomes very important as in many races, the pack coming off the bike can be 30 or more athletes so it turns into a running race. Most triathlons in the U.S. as well as Ironman competitions are non-drafting on the bike which means that individuals ride alone and have to have sufficient space between them and any riders around them. Because of this no more than a few athletes typically enter transition at any one time.
Q � Tell us about your transition from water polo to triathlon. How long did it take before you felt like a bona fide triathlete? What is the most difficult aspect for you?
Ertel � After the 2000 Olympics, I was on top of the world and felt like I could do anything. I wanted to do something different, to challenge myself in a new way and decided to do a local sprint triathlon just a month after returning from the Games. I enjoyed it and signed up for several more the following year. My cardiovascular system was in great shape from water polo as was my swim and general leg strength which translated well on the bike. The toughest part was picking up the run. I had never run before, nor had I ever done any land-based sports (soccer, basketball, softball, etc.) so had to start from scratch to develop the running muscles, particularly in the lower leg. It was the most challenging part but also the most enjoyable. I loved the challenge and the act of "learning" a new sport. Running is still my favorite of the three sports and the one that I see myself continuing after my triathlon career has ended.
After winning the amateur national championship and world championships in 2002, I turned pro midway through 2003 (this is really just a title that allowed me to race in elite level domestic and international races). Going from amateur triathlete to the professional/elite level and faring well was when I really felt like a bona fide triathlete. But it wasn't until two years later that I won my first big triathlon in New York City.
Q � How does Olympic qualifying occur in triathlon? Tell us about the race where you earned your spot on the 2008 team.
Ertel � There are three Olympic qualifying events. The first was in China last year on the Olympic Course. The second was at the Olympic Trials race in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on April 19, 2008. The top American at both of these races earned a berth. The third and final race will occur June 22 at the Hy-Vee World Cup in Des Moines, Iowa. The third spot will be allocated based on a cumulative score from the three races, dropping the lowest score.
I qualified at the Olympic Trials in Alabama. It was open to athletes from all over the world, but ended up consisting of only U.S. athletes. I had a terrific swim and formed a pack of four on the bike. We stayed together throughout the bike which meant that the Olympic spot would be awarded to the athlete with the fastest run. I had a good transition and started the run about four seconds ahead of the others. There were hundreds of people cheering along the course, many of them collegiate athletes since the collegiate nationals were held earlier that morning. I was totally fueled by the cheers and energy of the crowd and slowly pulled away on each of the four laps of the run to finish 30 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher.
Q � There has been a lot of talk in regard to the air quality in Beijing. Is that something you're concerned about? Have you competed in Beijing before, and if so, what's the Olympic course like?
Ertel � The air quality will be a concern of mine. I will travel to South Korea to train between Opening Ceremonies and the triathlon event. It is the same time zone and has a similar climate so will be an ideal place to train without concern for air pollution and breathing difficulty.
I competed in the test event in Beijing in 2007, which I used as a dry run for 2008. I stayed in South Korea to train for five days, then went to Beijing and stayed in the same hotel where I'll stay this year for the race. The course familiarized me with what to expect for the Olympics as it was the exact course that will be used in 2008.
The swim is in a warm water reservoir which will prohibit the use of wetsuits, something that is beneficial to the Americans who tend to be better swimmers. The bike course is eight laps and includes a significant hill just out of transition. This was something of a shock last year, but something for which I've been training this year. The run is four loops around a course that has a small hill but where you spend nearly half of the race in front of the grandstands. The weather is expected to be hot and humid so I have been working on hydration strategies this year.
Q � Where does your career as a UCSD water polo All-American rank on your list of achievements?
Ertel � I am very proud of my achievements at UCSD. Winning two national championships and being named an All-American fall just behind winning an Olympic silver medal in 2000 and making the 2008 triathlon team. But it was definitely the experience at both the Olympics and at UCSD that I savor more than the accolades.
Q � In what way did your UCSD experience help you get to where you are now?
Ertel � Playing water polo for Denny Harper at UCSD is a large part of why I've achieved so much. He taught me about passion for competition and how to handle the "high pressure" competition. Even at our national tournament, he could keep things light by cracking a joke while demanding and demonstrating total focus on our goals. I've been able to carry that over into my Olympic water polo and triathlon careers.
Balancing school, athletics and a social life has helped me in my current situation. Throughout the last 12 year competing at the elite level, I have worked either full or part time and have balanced training with family and social events. My typical day now, leading up to the Games, consists of 3-4 hours of training, an hour of recovery (stretching, re-fueling, icing, etc.), and 2-3 hours of media or trip/event planning, and occasionally planning for or doing a speaking event. Without the practice juggling so much as an undergraduate, I don't think I would be able to do it now.
Q � You were married last year to Greg Ertel, a fellow athlete. Has that had an effect on your lifestyle and training?
Ertel � Greg and I were married in January of 2007. Marriage has had a positive affect on my training and triathlon career. He trains with me a few times a week but, more importantly, is incredibly supportive of my career. He understands the travel involved with competing and, while it isn't easy on either one of us, we've discussed my goals and see that the time away it demands is necessary and only short term. He also provides great balance in my life, giving me a life outside of triathlon. When we have time together, we rarely talk about training or competing but are just a "typical" couple. Some of our favorite things to do together are very low key and non-competitive like walking around the neighborhood, shopping, sitting in the Jacuzzi, etc.
Q � What will make the 2008 Olympic Games a success in your eyes?
Ertel � I will feel like I've had a successful Olympics if I represent my country well. That means that I will perform to my potential and hopefully either put myself on the podium or help a teammate to get on the podium.
Q � Any post-Olympic plans?
Ertel � After the Olympics, I will begin teaching again at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa. Greg and I plan to start a family a few years later and we will continue to reside in Irvine. I plan to continue running and swimming for fitness and probably doing triathlons recreationally for many years to come.
Previous Q&A Articles
Clint Allard (Men's Basketball) June 9, 2008
Jen Myers (Women's Crew) May 27, 2008
Casey Ryan (Men's Track and Field and Men's Basketball) May 21, 2008
Keith Noe (Baseball) May 13, 2008
Liz LaPlante (Women's Tennis Head Coach) April 30, 2008
Sydney Gstettenbauer (Women's Water Polo) April 22, 2008
Sarah Hendy (Women's Track and Field) April 17, 2008
Eric Leserman (Men's Volleyball) April 9, 2008
Danielle Lukk (Softball) April 4, 2008
Chris Franco (Baseball) March 24, 2008
Dan Perdew (Swimming) March 18, 2008
Evan Hsiao (Swimming) March 9, 2008
Eric Rubens (Men's Tennis) February 27, 2008
Melissa Ward (Softball) February 20, 2008
Cameron Sprowles (Fencing) February 13, 2008
Kim Hockett (Women's Water Polo) February 6, 2008
Trevor Decker (Baseball) January 31, 2008
Jordan Lawley (Men's Basketball) January 23, 2008
Jason Spangler (Men's Volleyball) January 5, 2008
Andrew Skewes (Men's Diving) December 26, 2007
Alexis Gaskin (Women's Basketball) December 17, 2007
Aubrey Panis (Women's Swimming) December 2, 2007
Andrew Hatch (Men's Basketball) November 26, 2007
Kevin Klein (Men's Cross Country) November 12, 2007
Kim Adams (Women's Volleyball) November 7, 2007
Ben Miller (Men's Water Polo) October 31, 2007
Alie Avina (Women's Soccer) October 19, 2007
Charity Elliott (Women's Basketball Head Coach) October 15, 2007
Jason Le (Men's Soccer ) October 3, 2007
Rebecca Bailey (Women's Volleyball) September 18, 2007
Amanda Burkhardt (Women's Cross Country) September 10, 2007
Curtis Williamson (Men's Water Polo) September 4, 2007


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Facebook Issues Privacy Upgrade
Facebook kicked off a security upgrade to its site Wednesday that is intended to streamline users' control over their privacy settings.
"When we add new features to Facebook, we usually include a corresponding privacy setting," Facebook chief privacy officer Chris Kelly wrote in a blog post. "While this has helped give some people more individualized controls over particular features, [it] has made controlling privacy on Facebook too complicated."
To simplify, Facebook launched a test with a limited group of U.S.-based users, who will try out a system that allows them to adjust their privacy settings all on one page.
Right now, when users access their privacy settings, they can click on profile, search, news feed and wall, or applications and adjust their settings separately. Once the upgrade is complete, all four categories will be listed and adjustable from one page.
Facebook will also incorporate several changes the company has announced over the past several weeks: allowing users to select privacy preferences for the publisher; the end of regional networks; and allowing people to select "everyone" when designating who can see their profile.
When the formal switch happens, users will be presented with a "transition tool" that outlines their privacy settings, and gives the option to make a profile more open, limited, or the same.
"We've designed the transition tool to respect previous decisions to limit access to information," Kelly wrote. "If you have selected settings that restrict who has access to information, those choices are carried over to the new privacy settings."
At the outset, a test group of 40,000 users in the U.S. will have access to the simpler privacy settings and receive one of six transition tools. That test will later expand to 80,000 users globally. Finally, Facebook will compile feedback to select the most popular of the six transition tools, and start a slow rollout to all of its users of the new settings.
Facebook insisted that the changes do not affect the way it provides information to advertisers.
"Facebook does not share personal information with advertisers except under the direction and control of a user," Kelly wrote. "These new tools do not alter that policy or practice."


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Do People Need Libraries in the Digital Age?
"Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?"—T.S. Eliot, "The Rock" (1934)
Back when I was in college, I was elected librarian of the Harvard Lampoon in a contest that seemed unusually tight despite the fact that I think my run was uncontested. The undergraduate humor magazine is housed in a mock Flemish castle that dates back to 1909, and I was supposed to find funny books to stock the Lampy library, a quirky, circular chamber with a secret sliding bookshelf that opened up to a hidden room.
Libraries, for me, have always been portals to unexpected places, but in the coming years some of them could become casualties of the internet age. Much of this will be a topic of discussion at The Public Library Association's (PLA) biennial Conference, set to be held next month in Indianapolis. Public school libraries are enduring budget cuts and staffing reductions. According to a Pew survey released in 2013, 54% of Americans ages 16 and older had personally used a library or library website in the past 12 months, down from 59 % the previous year. The American Library Association (ALA) reports that the use of library materials has increased in recent years, but recent numbers indicate that physical visits have dipped slightly.
To thrive in the digital present and future, today's librarians should take inspiration from the ancients–and heed their mistakes.
Egypt's Great Library of Alexandria was founded somewhere around 300 B.C. and endured until possibly 270 A.D. and, according to "Libraries in the Ancient World" by Lionel Casson, its leaders did more than just stock rolls of papyrus. The library thrived in part because of constant innovation.
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A South Jersey boy will take the football field with his teammates on Saturday after walking off the field last week when his coach told him he couldn't wear pink gloves in the game to honor his mother.
Egg Harbor City Crusaders football player Julian Connerton, 12, planned on wearing pink gloves this football season in support of his mom, Mayra Cruz-Connerton, who is battling breast cancer, but when he was told by coach Paul Burgan he wasn't allowed, Connerton walked off the field.
"I love my mom more than I love football," said the boy.
The 12-year-old said he won't play again until he gets an apology.
"My son deserves an apology. I deserve an apology. Women everywhere battling breast cancer deserve an apology," Cruz-Connerton told NBC10.
And on Tuesday night, that exactly what Connerton got, an apology from Coach Burgan
"He did something 100 percent right. He stood up for his mother," Burgan said. "That's what you want every kid to do."
Burgan said that he had forgotten Connerton's mother's situation and that had he remembered, his player would have been allowed to wear the gloves.
Connerton will return to the field this Saturday. His teammates will wear pink socks in honor of Cruz-Connerton and breast cancer awareness, according to Burgan.
"Everything is just gone. Like my throat's clear, my stomach's clear, everything," Connerton said after receiving the apology.


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If there's one thing Attorney General Greg Abbott is good at, it's accumulating money.
Fueling growing speculation of a bid for the Texas Governor's Mansion, Attorney General Greg Abbott reported Tuesday he has amassed a campaign war chest of $18 million, three times the amount claimed by incumbent Gov. Rick Perry.
While both men publicly have stated they will not make a decision about their political futures until the Legislature ends in June, Abbott's stunning fundraising success provided more grist for the Austin rumor mill that he will try to advance up the political ladder sooner, rather than later.
Abbott spokesman Eric Bearse declined to speculate how his boss would direct his campaign largesse.
"The attorney general is focused on protecting Texas taxpayers and enforcing the laws of Texas," Bearse said. "He's grateful to all his supporters who have made his service possible."
Political observers were impressed with the hand shown by Abbott, who raised $4.1 million in the most recent reporting period.
"It's hard to look at that number and not think he's planning to run a race at the top of the ticket," said Jim Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas. "This further fuels the intrigue of what each man will do."
Austin political consultant Bill Miller agreed that Abbott's prodigious fundraising signaled an interest in higher office. "He's accumulating a lot of money with the intention of making a run for higher office," though exactly when remains unknown, said Miller. "That's how I read the dollar signs."
You can see his report here. It should be noted that Rick Perry raised over $3.5 million, and David Dewhurst $3.3 million in the same reporting period, so as far as that goes Abbott wasn't that far ahead of the pack. It's just that Abbott has been sitting on millions for years, and it's really started to pile up. He had $8.5 million in January of 2009, $9.2 million in January of 2011, right after his last election, and $12.0 million last January. One presumes he's raising it for a reason, but who knows, maybe the reason is just that he likes having a ginormous amount of money at his command.
One thing you can't say is that no one could ever use that much money. Looking back at 2010, Rick Perry spent $4.7 million (raising $7.1 million in the same time) in the last six months of 2009; $1.9 million through January 21, 2010; $8.8 million from January 22 through February 20; and $3.4 million after that through June 30, raising another $7 million in the process. That's $18.8 million, technically over a year but really in nine months. So yeah, if Abbott intends to run for Governor and especially if he has to knock off Rick Perry to get there, I can't really say he "needs" all that money but I feel confident in saying he'll spend it. On a campaign to vigorously oppose out-of-control spending, of course, on which the irony will go completely unremarked.
Burka thinks Perry's relatively small cash on hand number – only in this context could $6 million be a small number – is another sign he's fixing to hang it up after this term ends. He doesn't think Perry wants to risk his record of not losing an election. I get that, but I'm not so sure. How many elite athletes choose to retire while their skills are still sharp? Very few take that path – most continue to play long after it's apparent to everyone else that they're not the player they once were. That's a hard thing to admit, and the same drive that made them what they are makes it difficult to see when it's over. I think Perry thinks he can win, and frankly I'm not sure that he's wrong. Be that as it may, I'm not sure he's the type of person to graciously step aside and let someone else have what he's had all to himself for the past decade. I think it will have to be taken from him. We'll see.
Finally, in a bit of late-breaking news, Abbott apparently has enough money to troll the New York Times in search of alienated gun-obsessed New Yorkers. Speaking as someone who grew up in one of the Republican parts of New York (Staten Island), all I can say is that I honestly can't think of anyone I knew back then who had a gun. It just wasn't part of the culture. (Dad, if you're reading this, please chime in with a comment.) I can't speak to how things are now on the Island, and I can't speak to how things are in upstate New York, but to the extent that my experience holds I daresay that Abbott – who I'm sure is quite ignorant of New York – will get less of a response than he might think. I'll have to keep an eye on what my Facebook peeps from back east have to say about this.


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It's not that the Northern California utility PG&E got nothing for the more than $40 million its parent company spent on the failed initiative Prop 16. It's clear that PG&E got less than nothing.
The defeat of the initiative to block public agencies from providing their own power has made PG&E a target. Various local governments are looking anew at expanding or introducing public power -- exactly what Prop 16 was designed to stop. And Democrats in the legislature have introduced legislation to prevent any utility with more than 3 million customers (that would just be PG&E) from using ratepayer funds for politics. In fact, it would create a whole new campaign regulatory regime for PG&E, administered by a state commission.
Such legislation is probably unconstitutional, given the U.S. Supreme Court's commitment to defending the political rights of corporations. But it's a sign that PG&E is in the political penalty box and will stay there for a while.
How to get out? As I argue over at Fox & Hounds Daily, PG&E should apologize -- by offering to bankroll the long-term work needed to fix California's broken political and fiscal systems. This might include ads to better inform the public on the problems with the budget (especially the state's tendency to lock in lower taxes and higher spending via ballot measure). This form of reparations not only would be a good thing to do, but also it would be far cheaper than another initaitive like Prop 16.
Will the company actually do this? I'm not holding my breath. PG&E is one of the backers of the Bay Area business policy group that led the effort to call a constitutional convention. That effort stalled for lack of financial support. Imagine if PG&E had stepped up then, and devoted its money and political resources to constitutional reform instead of Prop 16. The state might be further along the path to reform. And the utility would have held onto more of its cash -- and wouldn't be such an easy political target today.


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Peaceful Doves with Cross Reply Card Set
Baptism Reply Cards
Peaceful Doves with Cross Reply Card Set, Item# RC7195C
Note: Sparkles are simulated and will not light up.
Peaceful Doves with Cross Reply Card Set, Item# RC7195C
Note: Sparkles are simulated and will not light up.
Peaceful Doves Envelope Seals
This flat reply card, "Peaceful Doves" features an elegant design accented by an intricately beautiful subtle cross on the colored background with a pair of peaceful doves. The cross and doves are optional. Choose from various color schemes. Contemporary and chic!
You will be able to select the typestyle and ink colors to use for your personalized text during the design process. Start by clicking on the green 'Personalize and Continue' button. We recommend using the default typestyle and ink colors.
|Estimated Postage Required:
|$0.55 stamp - if other items are not added into the Envelope. Click here for additional postage information.
|Item Type:
|Foldover Notecard
|Card Dimensions:
|5 1/2" X 4 1/8" (W x H)
|Printing Process:
|Digital Press
|Paper Weight:
|Multiple Stock Options
|Typestyle Shown:
|Matching Ink Color:
|Hunter Green
|White Envelopes included. Printed return address and/or Calligraphy is available for an additional cost.


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Page 1
|1 of 3
This page
54 HASKINS & SELLS May France After the War By HOWARD P. GARNER Manager, Paris Office A T the signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918, France forgot for a day the four years of war through which she had passed. It is doubtful if many realized to the full the disheartening task ahead of turning the energy, which for four years had been concentrated on one purpose, back into the channels of industry and commerce. However, France is a country of surprises. She surprised the world by her prompt payment to Germany of the indemnities for the war of 1870; again she surprised the world on the Marne and at Verdun; and perhaps we are due for another surprise in the progress she will make in her recovery from the effects of this war. During the war industries and transportation facilities were under the control of the government and were used for war purposes to the exclusion of commerce and the individual. The army had its officers in control of the railway stations. The civilian could travel only if facilities were not needed for the transport of troops or munitions. I recall that as late as Christmas Day of 1919 we received a highly indignant protest because we ran a special train of soldier football rooters to witness their team play. The service rendered by the French railroads during the war was remarkable, when it is considered that they had practically no repairs during the war, and that their able-bodied men had gone to the front. When the Americans arrived in France, women were trucking the freight in stations and were even switching cars in the yards. One remarkable switching crew that I noticed during those times was composed of an American soldier, a Frenchman, a Frenchwoman, and an Austrian prisoner. Living conditions for the civilian population of France behind the lines were very trying. Food, bread and sugar particularly, were difficult to get. Fuel was rare and costly. Cities were in darkness at nine o'clock in the evening. Amusements were few. Hardly a family but had lost a father, brother, or son, and during the German drives in 1918, when no mail was received from the front for days or weeks, they looked forward with dread to any news, fearing it would be bad. The strain had almost reached the breaking point It was at this time the American support began to make itself felt, both at the front and in the morale of those behind. To the American soldier who knew France during those times and who now returns there the changes that have taken place are truly remarkable. He cannot at first realize that it is the same France. When he becomes somewhat adjusted to present conditions, he wonders if the past could have been real. For France has shown an energetic spirit in doing away with outward indications that war ever existed, and has set to work resolutely to mould her industrial and commercial future. If our returned soldier visits one of the busy base ports at which he landed in 1917, and where he embarked for home in 1919, he will find activity, but it will be a changed activity. The business of war has given way to the business of peace. The camouflaged transports that lay in the harbor are replaced by sober commercial boats. Soldier stevedores on the docks are gone. In their places are civilians. The hundreds of army trucks that made the place seem like a beehive are still there, that is, those that are needed. The others have been distributed to aid in the rebuilding of the devastated districts. When he goes out to
Object Description
France after the War
Garner, Howard Preston
Paris (France) -- Description and travel
World War, 1914-1918
Haskins & Sells. Paris Office
Haskins & Sells Bulletin, Vol. 03, no. 05 (1920 May), p. 54-56
|Originally published by: Haskins & Sells
|Deloitte Digital Collection
|Digital Publisher
|University of Mississippi Libraries. Accounting Collection
|Date-Digitally Created
|HS Bulletin 3-p54


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Here at the Pre-Prep, we help make the transition from home to school as gentle as possible. We firmly believe that close relationships between parents, staff and children are vital. With over 120 children aged 2-7 years, Monkton Pre-Prep is a very exciting place to be. We aim to provide a stimulating child-centered curriculum in a safe and vibrant learning environment. We hope that you will want to come and visit our busy, happy school.
Maintaining the delicate balance between academic success and personal development is one of the School's great strengths. From the tiny two-year olds in the Pre-Prep to the teenagers in the Prep School, the happiness of every child is of paramount importance. Please come and visit us. I would be delighted to show you around as well as introducing you to the staff and boys and girls.
Monkton is a school which is both modern and forward looking, yet remains close to the values and principles on which it was founded in 1868. We believe this combination is a powerful one for educating young people - an education which seeks not only to steer them to university with good A level grades, but also to develop qualities of character, confidence and sensitivity which will prepare them for the whole of their lives. If this is what you are looking for, please get in touch to arrange a visit.
Event on Friday, 15 November 2019
Event on Saturday, 23 November 2019


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Implementation of the Clarity Healthcare for NRRS in April 2004. Consulting Cadre successfully converted all data previously entered via another vendor's application into the Clarity Healthcare Solution in a matter of days, thus preserving continuity of patient care. Feedback from clinicians indicated that the Clarity Healthcare user interface was simpler and more intuitive then previous vendor's solution. The Information Technology group at Pembroke General Hospital remarked that the implementation was quick and trouble free resulted in no disruption of services. Again in 2005, when Pembroke Regional sought to implement OMHRS, the mental health unit chose Clarity Healthcare for MHRS.
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Funding of Clarity Healthcare Solutions is provided solely by Clarity Health Inc., the company responsible for the development and support of Clarity Healthcare Solutions.Our website hosts Google sponsored ads and links. We do not control Google ads content and our editorial content is free of any commercial influence. Advertisement is distinguished by the word "Advertisement".


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TV budget design trick: Use exterior lighting fixtures inside
Well, why not use outdoor lanterns inside? There's no law against it.
I saw this budget design trick last night on "Designed to Sell" with Lisa LaPorta. She's a SoCal gal, in case you didn't know.
In this particular show, Lisa wanted to punch up the sconces on either side of a vintage fireplace and add more metal to the room. Lisa calls metal the "jewelry" that completes the look of a room.
But rather than shopping for the wall lamps in the interior lighting section, she perused the exterior lights, which tend to give you more drama for the dollar. The lamp shown here, with a rubbed-oil bronze look, costs $79 at Lowe's, though Lisa said on the show that she got hers for $35 each.
Can you imagine something like this inside a house? It would be especially fitting in one of the small Spanish bungalows we see in these parts.
(Photos: Designed to Sell, Lowe's)


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A variation on the Tab Top, this time with a super narrow "invisitab" at the centre front. It offers the same excellent, customizable cleavage coverage in a more plunging vee neckline. The wide waist panel defines the natural waist beautifully. Shown with the a powder puff gathered cap sleeve, also available in the sleeve of your choice. Shown in Fog bamboo.
Ordering Information
The Mix & Match series is designed for easy customization and colour-blocking fun. Bodices, sleeves, and skirts are interchangeable, allowing you to create a dress or top that fits your unique body, style, and event. Other garments in this series can be seen here. Pricing may change according to the elements you choose, so contact us first to discuss details.
This is a made to measure garment. It will be made specifically to your measurements, so please be sure to visit the Fitting Room prior to checkout. We'll use the colour and fabric of your choice. Hover your cursor over the colour swatches to see the colour names and fabrics. Pricing may differ between fabrics, so click on the swatch to confirm the garment's price.
We work exclusively with bamboo rayon, modal, and merino jersey knits. Soft, stretchy, and comfortable, these fabrics have gorgeous drape and rich, saturated colour. Find out more about our fabrics and current colour selection here.
Custom requests are welcome, ex. different sleeve, higher neckline, colour blocking. In most cases, the pricing remains the same, but you can always check with us prior to ordering. Be sure to let us know about any special fit issues or preferences.
Remember - the more info you provide, the better your garment will fit! We'll keep your measurements on file for any future orders, just be sure to let us know of any significant changes. You can send us a new Fitting Room profile any time.
Questions? Contact us!


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Michelle Obama on president's drug use: 'He was like many young people' but moved on
Michelle Obama wasn't "taking any bait" Tuesday as late night host Jon Stewart tried to get her to crack a joke about former President George W. Bush.
And the same was true throughout her appearance on "The Daily Show" to promote her new book, "American Grown," as the first lady held back from getting too silly on the Comedy Central show.
Asked by Stewart about her husband's high school and college years, which the host described as "the script of a Cheech and Chong movie," the first lady avoided directly commenting on the president's youthful drug use. New details of his use of marijuana have emerged ahead of the release next month of David Maraniss's deeply reported biography of the young Barack Obama.
"He was like many young people," the first lady said. But, in time, "he realized he could with do more with his life."
"He had a mother who that always saying, you're so gifted, so talented, slap him on the head, 'get yourself together,'" she continued. "When he lost his father that was one of those click-in moments. And he really buckled down, he transferred schools, went to Columbia and thought about how to use his life to the fullest."
Though the first lady's approval rating is solidly above her husband's -- Stewart joked that hers is "like ice cream; your husband's approval rating is like astronaut ice cream" -- Obama said she doesn't try to use it to her advantage in marital disputes.
"I don't wield it over him," she said. "One of the things I've seen over the last 3 1/2 years, I've seen what it takes to be president. I kind of watch this thing pretty closely. You know, the president is getting all the hard decisions, where there is no easy answer."
Obama said there's no job in the White House she'd want to do, including that of gaffe-prone Vice President Joe Biden. "I love Joe," she said. "He's a great vice president and he's a great friend. My kids hang around with him and I'm good with it."
The first lady's last appearance on Comedy Central was in April, when she marked the anniversary of her Joining Forces initiative for military families.


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CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - After having its game against No. 17
Dartmouth pushed back a day due to Winter Storm Nemo, the Harvard
men's hockey team battled to a 1-1 tie Sunday afternoon at Bright
Hockey Center against the Big Green.
Marshall Everson netted the lone goal for the Crimson, an equalizer midway through the second period, on assists by Alex Fallstrom and Colin Blackwell to account for all the Harvard offense. Raphael Girard turned in his second straight impressive performance in net, turning away 26 of Dartmouth's 27 shots.
While the Crimson had two power-play opportunities in the first period, it was Dartmouth that struck first to open up the scoring just shy of the 10-minute mark in the opening stanza.
After recovering the puck in its own zone along the boards, Brad Schierhorn backhanded the puck to Eric Robinson streaking down the center of the ice in a 3-on-2 rush. The junior dished to Andy Simpson on his right, who fired a wrist shot into the top left corner of the net from just right of the right faceoff circle dot to give the Big Green a 1-0 advantage.
The Crimson put four more shots on net after falling behind and went back on the power play but could not break through to enter the first intermission down by a goal.
Harvard put another four shots on goal during the power play at the start of the second, but Dartmouth goalie Cab Morris continued to turn away Harvard scoring opportunities.
The Crimson went back up a skater after killing off a penalty of its own and broke through to even up the score.
Blackwell, camped out at the blue line, sent it down to Fallstrom down low along the left side boards. The senior assistant captain passed it to Everson, who had drifted out to the center of the left faceoff circle. After some patient stick work, he flicked it into the top right corner to even up the score at one.
Harvard killed off its second penalty of the night, allowing just one shot during the two-minute span to keep the game deadlocked at one.
In the third period, neither team could muster much offensively with Dartmouth just narrowly outshooting the Crimson, 7-6.
It did briefly look like the Big Green would take a 2-1 lead with just over three minutes left in the contest; however, the goal was disallowed after it was ruled that Mike Keenan was in the crease.
The extra session was similar to the third period with neither team mounting much of an offensive attack, as Girard stopped the only three shots on net by either team during the final five minutes.
The Crimson will turn around in less than 24 hours and take on Boston University, who it beat 6-5 in overtime Jan. 9 at Agganis Arena, in the Beanpot consolation game at TD Garden 4:30 p.m. Monday.
Harvard Skates to Tie with No. 17 Dartmouth
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - After having its game against No. 17
Dartmouth pushed back a day due to Winter Storm Nemo, the Harvard
men's hockey team battled to a 1-1 tie Sunday afternoon at Bright
Hockey Center against the Big Green.


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Me Graffiti Mug - Anvi
Have your drink in YOUR MUG. Your OWN NAME Mug."Anvi" your name stylized brilliantly in a graffiti wall artwork announces your taste for exclusivity. Lovely light blue shade inside the entire mug. Mug measures 3 inch wide by 3.7 inch tall. Mug can hold 11 Oz (approximately 350ml) of your favorite drink. Dishwasher Safe. Microwaveable. Mug comes in an attractive Hot Muggs packaging. Forget the days of using mugs that are common - USE YOUR OWN NAME MUG.
Returns Policy
You may return most new, unopened items within 15 days of delivery for a full refund. We'll also pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.).
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, simply login to your account, view the order using the 'Complete Orders' link under the My Account menu and click the Return Item(s) button. We'll notify you via e-mail of your refund once we've received and processed the returned item.
We can ship to virtually any address in India. Note that there are restrictions on some products, and some products cannot be shipped to certain destinations due to shipping service restrictions.
When you place an order, we estimate shipping and delivery dates for you based on the availability of your items and the shipping service available in your location.


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The best time to fly to Salt Lake City is in the spring and fall, when crowds dwindle and hotels and flights are less. The airport services eight airlines, including Southwest Airlines,* Delta Airlines, and American Airlines. Salt Lake City International Airport ranks high for on time arrivals and departures, boasting the least cancellations. Book one of the direct flights to Salt Lake City to save even more time.
The airport has free wireless Internet, a free "Language Line," and an art collection displayed throughout which began in 1977.
The climate offers four seasons, and there is a lot of snow in the winters, so search for cheap flights in spring, summer, or fall.
Founded by the Mormons in the 1800's, Salt Lake City had open lands and dirt roads carved by the horse driven wagons. The Mormons, thrown out of every city they went to until their emergence in Salt Lake, kept to themselves. They grew in population. When you fly into Salt Lake City, expect to see evidence of the influence of these gentle people.
The Utah Transit Authority provides ski bus service in the winter and airport shuttles to downtown year round. The city is easy to navigate with its grid system. Many attractions are within walking distance from the city's hotels. Take the Free Trax light rail or bus service to downtown. Purchase a cheap daily pass for multiple stops.
With restaurants from the four corners of the world, you can bet your palate will have a multitude of flavorful foods to try in Salt Lake City. Visiting a martini bar, tapas restaurant or experiencing a mouth-watering fondue, is a must do. The airport itself offers a range of delectable dining options.
After you visit downtown you will be ready to put your head down. Hipmunk finds the cheapest hotels close to the center of town--or, if you prefer, close to the airport. Try the Comfort Suites Airport or Comfort Inn.
*not sold by hipmunk
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