text:
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Wrong Time to Execute The Dictator Saddam Hussein
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Ahmed Bedier Condemns anti-Holocaust Iran Conference
No legitimate cause can ever be advanced by denying the enormous human suffering caused by the massacre of millions of Jews and other minority groups by the Nazis. Attempts to use Holocaust denial as a political tool in the Middle East conflict will only serve to deepen the level of mistrust and hostility already present in the region.
Muslims are commanded in the Quran to "enjoin in the good and forbid the evil," and clearly the genocide of European Jews was nothing but evil. It is a shame that the current government of Iran, which claims to be an Islamic State, would ignore Islamic ethical values and belittle evil. Responsible governments must encourage the study of the Holocaust and other human atrocities to ensure that they are not repeated.
Americans in general and the Jewish and Muslim communities in particular should know that those who spew anti-Semitic bigotry do not speak for Islam; Muslims denounce their views and their hatred. Islam acknowledges Judaism (and Christianity) as a true revealed religion from God; furthermore Muslims view Jews (and Christians) as fellow "People of the Book" who believe in the same Abrahamic Monotheism.
While the cynical conference was held in Iran, it included many non-Muslim participants like former KKK leader David Duke and French "scholar" George Tail, who called the Holocaust a myth. The diverse participation is a reminder that bigotry is not exclusive to any one group.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Bill Nelson should be commended for speaking to Syria, others should follow
Senator's Trip To Syria Lands Him In Hot Zone
Tampa Tribune, 12/13/06
TALLAHASSEE - U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is scheduled to meet with Syrian
President Bashar Assad today despite President Bush's objections.
"We discourage the travel of members of Congress to Syria because we believe it
undermines the Siniora government" of Lebanon, White House spokesman Blair Jones said.
"He should be commended for reaching out and trying for dialogue," said
Ahmed Bedier of Tampa, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic
Relations. Syria, branded by the Bush administration as a supporter of
terrorism, could perhaps help bring stability to Iraq, he said.
"You don't have to agree on everything - but there are some common
interests for all countries in the region," Bedier said. "If you continue to
neglect and not speak to them, that will make your job a lot harder."
Although Bedier welcomed the trip, he added a note of caution.
"A lot of things that are happening now are too little, too late. These things should have been happening years ago," Bedier said.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Ahmed Bedier Receives 2006 Human Rights Award
(TAMPA, FL - 12/8/06) - CAIR Tampa Executive Director Ahmed Bedier today received the prestigious Human Rights Award at the 33rd Annual Awards Breakfast of the Tampa/Hillsborough Human Rights Council.
Friday, November 17, 2006
FBI Tampa chief thanks Ahmed Bedier for helping protect civil rights and working to keep nation safe
"I wanted to say that we really appreciate the effort of Ahmed Bedier [Executive
Director, CAIR-Tampa] here in Florida and all the good work that he does on
behalf of CAIR in the community in the area of civil rights…Mr. Bedier has done
a great job in reaching out to law enforcement, establishing open forums for us
to exchange information in order to keep the nation safe."
-Carl Whitehead, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Tampa Field Office, speaking at the CAIR 2006 Tampa Banquet
Thursday, November 16, 2006
FL Congress woman Brown-Waite defends Muslim Bashers and says All Terrorists are Muslim
Watch her embarrassing performance on WTVT Fox News:
Text Version courtesy of WTVT:
Last Edited: Thursday, 09 Nov 2006, 10:18 PM EST
Created: Thursday, 09 Nov 2006, 10:18 PM EST
Ginny Brown-Waite is defending a supporter's comments. We've got you covered
BROOKSVILLE - When Governor-elect Charlie Crist heard one of his
supporters call Islam a "hateful and frightening" religion, he kicked
her off his election team.
Governor Bush also condemned Hernando Commissioner Tom Hogan's and
his wife for the remark.
Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite didn't respond until after the
election, then she rushed to the couple's defense.
"Ms. Hogan is entitled to her views, and her husband stood by her
side as a good husband should," stated Brown-Waite.
The congresswoman also attacked the Governor and the Governor-elect
for condemning the comment.
"Not every Muslim is a terrorist, but every terrorist is a Muslim
except for Tim McVeigh," offered Brown-Waite.
"What about Eric Rudolph?" FOX 13 asked.
"Well except him too," said Brown-Waite.
"What about the Klan?" we asked.
"They're not doing terrorist activities right now. We're talking
about a group that wants to do away with our way of life. With all
due respect, I don't think there's any comparison," said Brown-Waite.
We can find many non-Muslim terrorists, but Islamic groups say that's
not the point.
"She's actually standing up on the wrong side of the aisle, defending
bigotry and hatred," stated Ahmed Bedier with the Council on American
Islamic Relations.
The Congresswoman says she defends anti-Muslim remarks on grounds of
free speech.
She wrote a scorching three-page defense claiming those who call
Islam 'hateful and frightening' just reflect her community.
"If this does reflect the views of your community, what will you do
to educate the community?" FOX 13 asked.
"I think it's up to the moderate Muslims," Brown-Waite responded
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
FAQ: How does blog have anonymous comments, when it is not allowed
Why does a site that does not allow anonymous comments have so many?Out ofANSWER: Very simple, when I started this blog, the setting to accept Anonymous comments was enabled. After a flood of spam, I disabled it. Visitors in the past were able to post anonymous comments, visitors now can't.
have five comments...four of them are anonymous.
I hope that clarifies things for you.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Reacting to the Pope's Comments: Muslims Must Not Use Violence When Accused of Being Violent
THREE VIDEO CLIPS: To Watch Select the clip from menu on right, then play:
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Police Audio: AirTran Removes Muslim Passengers Because "Iranian" Look
The incident upset me enough to dig deeper, because there is no justification to selectively remove passengers off flights. I decided to research further and what I found was a very disturbing case of racial or ethnic or religious (whatever you want to call it) profiling and maybe a troubling trend in the aviation industry.
I believe that the evidence (when available) will always lead to the truth, because evidence does not lie. In this situation the evidence would be any audio archives between the flight crew and law enforcement. I've tracked it down courtesy of the Tampa Airport Police Department. Below is a transcript of the brief phone call from "Jeff" at AirTran to the Tampa Airport Police dispatch.
The conversation clearly shows that AirTran had no justified reason to remove the two Muslims from the aircraft except that they acted "suspicious" and looked "Iranian." What's an Iranian look like? does that mean anyone who is percieved to be Iranian is a suspect?
Ahmed Bedier is Not Spokesperson for Al-Arian and Has Never Met Him
What Kaufman fails to mention is that Ahmed Bedier has NEVER met Dr. Sami Al-Arian, NEVER spoke with Al-Arian on the phone and NEVER corresponded with Al-Arian via email/mail. So how can Kaufman claim that Bedier is a spokesperson of someone he has NEVER been in contact with??
Bedier is a community leader in Tampa and is the director of American Muslim civil rights group (CAIR) in that city. The Al-Arian trial was the biggest case in Tampa's Federal Judicial history, Bedier spoke a great deal to the media about the case, but so did everyone else. It was top news for several years. Bedier does NOT regret any of the comments he made surrounding the case. As a civil rights leader, Bedier speaks up on behalf of CAIR and its members calling for justice and due process. If Kaufman is upset that individuals are calling for the implementation of the U.S. constitution, than it is Kaufman who should answer whom does he speak for?
Kaufman's hatred for Muslims blinded him from looking at the true facts of the case. An American Jury of 12 who listened to all the evidence for six months overwhelmingly chose not to convict Al-Arian on a single count. Perhaps that's what Kaufman is so angry about, that a Palestinian Professor would get any justice in America. Kaufman is known for his extreme pro-Zionist sentiments which explains his hatred for Palestinians.
Joe Kaufman is recognized in the State of Florida for his hatred towards American Muslims and Arab Americans, just this year alone Americans United awarded him their infamous "Onion Award" recognizing his hatred and bigotry. If one is to review Kaufman's writings he would find that he has accused every Muslim he knows with terror ties, and has never written anything positive about a single Muslim. In his poor writing style, Kaufman attempts to link all Muslims to each other and labels them guilty by association (even if it does not exist, the mere fact that two people share the same religion is association in Kaufman's eyes).
In the same article Kaufman repeats an allegation he made last year that Bedier defended Palestinian Islamic Jihad on a TV show. A flat out lie which Bedier answered last year, for details read the posting Responding to the distortion: Bedier says "Nothing Immoral" About Islamic Jihad.
Finally, Kaufman recycles a FALSE claim that CAIR has some sort of terror ties. CAIR is a legitimate mainstream American organization with headquarters in Washington, D.C. and 33 offices nationwide with a combined staff of over 75. CAIR and Bedier have a positive working relationship with all levels of government and law enforcement including the FBI. If Kaufman believes his lies he should report them to the appropriate authorities so they can take appropriate action (or laugh at him).
If anyone is not familiar with the great work of CAIR or has concerns about the organization, feel free to visit www.cair.com and read What Public Officials Say About CAIR.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Remember CAIR's "Not In The Name of Islam" Campaign
"We, the undersigned Muslims, wish to state clearly that those who commit acts of terror, murder and cruelty in the name of Islam are not only destroying innocent lives, but are also betraying the values of the faith they claim to represent. No injustice done to Muslims can ever justify the massacre of innocent people, and no act of terror will ever serve the cause of Islam. We repudiate and dissociate ourselves from any Muslim group or individual who commits such brutal and un-Islamic acts. We refuse to allow our faith to be held hostage by the criminal actions of a tiny minority acting outside the teachings of both the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him."
View or sign the CAIR petition at:http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=169&theType=AA
See also: http://hussamayloush.blogspot.com/2006/08/not-in-name-of-islam-petition.html
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Bedier Reacts to UK Terror Plot, Concern of Backlash
Feeling a great deal of fear
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Ahmed Bedier said the center has received hate e-mails.
While many Americans were shaken by the latest developments regarding a possible terror plot to blow up airliners, American Muslims are dealing with an additional fear.
They're afraid people who associate Islam with terrorism judge them because they're Muslim.
"There's a great deal of fear," Council on American-Islamic Relations of Tampa Director Ahmed Bedier said. "There's a great deal of uncertainty and it's a hostile environment."
This comes after charges of a plot to blow up jetliners from Britain to the United States. All 24 suspects arrested are British citizens and are mostly men of Pakistani descent.
American Muslims in the Bay area are now afraid of a backlash, something Bedier said has been the reality for Muslims since 9/11.
"There's been a number of incidents across the country and also the state of Florida as far as mosques being targeted and hate crimes directed at mosques," Bedier said.
In response to that past, security at area Islamic centers and schools like the Islamic Society of Tampa Bay was noticeably heightened during the Day of Congregation. Hundreds of Muslims made their way into the mosque for worship under a close watch.
"All gates are being blocked except some specific gates," Bedier said. "Cars will be blocking the gates individual cars or trucks cannot get close to the structures or facilities."..... MORE
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Bedier Condemns Attack on Seattle Jewish Center
The national office CAIR and American Muslim religious leaders in Washington also condemned the attack:
Group says Mideast conflict must not be 'transplanted' to America
(WASHINGTON, DC, 7/28/06) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today condemned an attack on a Jewish community center in Seattle, Wash., that left one person dead and several more injured. (A statement signed by representatives of the Seattle Muslim community, including CAIR-Seattle, is attached below.)
A lone gunman who reportedly said, "I'm a Muslim American; I'm angry at Israel," entered the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and began shooting. The alleged gunman was later arrested.
In a statement, the Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group said:
"We condemn this senseless attack on a religious institution and offer sincere condolences to the loved ones of those killed or injured. The American Muslim and Jewish communities must do whatever is within their power to prevent the current conflict in the Middle East from being transplanted to this country. We also urge local, state and national law enforcement authorities to step up security measures at synagogues, mosques and other religious institutions of both faiths."
full release click here
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Bedier Perspective on the Israeli Attacks on Lebanon and Gaza
Council on American-Islamic Relations
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Bedier Leads Tampa Delegation Calling for Immediate Cease Fire in Lebanon and Safe Passage for Evacuees
In the news clip a U.S. Embassy spokeswoman encourages the use of "word of mouth" as an effective communication method that spreads "quicker than email."
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Is Israel a strategic friend or spoiled brat?
In light of the recent acts of War against Gaza and Lebanon, more and more Americans are questioning the liability of Israel's irrational behavior.
A brief side note: There is a clear distinction between the great religion of Judaism (recognized by the Quran as legitimate and from The One True Creator) and the government of Israel. Israel does not act in the name of Judaism and their illegal acts should not be seen as encouraged by Judaism. Criticism against Israel and the various Zionist parties should never be equated to the great Divine religion of Judaism. If Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) was here today, I would imagine that he would have some serious issues with how Israeli leaders are misrepresenting their faith.
Just like if Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was here today he would have issues with what the violent extremist are doing (i.e. attacking civilians, corruption, injustice).
A Beautiful Friendship?
In search of the truth about the Israel lobby's influence on Washington
By Glenn FrankelSunday, July 16, 2006; W13
All David Ben-Gurion wanted was 15 minutes of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's time.
Israel's founding father, one of the indomitable political leaders of the 20th century, came to Washington in December 1941 yearning to present the case for a Jewish state directly to the American president. He took a two-room suite at the old Ambassador Hotel at 14th and K for $1,000 a month and cooled his heels for 10 weeks, writing letters and reports and making passes at Miriam Cohen, his attractive American secretary. But Ben-Gurion didn't get the meeting. Not then, not ever. Not even a pair of presidential cuff links.
Now let's fast-forward 64 years to late May and a news conference in the East Room of the White House. That tall, freckled, slightly nervous-looking man with the rust-colored hair standing alongside President Bush at matching lecterns is Ehud Olmert, 12th prime minister of Israel. The two leaders and their advisers have just spent two hours together in the Oval Office. Bush is reaffirming the "deep and abiding ties between Israel and the United States" and praising Olmert's "bold ideas" and commitment to peace. Afterward, they'll adjourn for a private session without aides or note-takers and then go to dinner together. And the next day Olmert will address a joint session of Congress, whose members will interrupt his speech with 16 standing ovations. Ben-Gurion, whose remains rest in a simple grave overlooking the Negev Desert, would be stunned.
It's not that Olmert is a more commanding figure than Ben-Gurion. Far from it. No, it's about power. And not just Israeli power. It's really about the perceived power of the Israel lobby, a collection of American Jewish organizations, campaign contributors and think tanks -- aided by Christian conservatives and other non-Jewish supporters -- that arose over the second half of the 20th century and that sees as a principle goal the support and promotion of the interests of the state of Israel.
Thanks to the work of the lobby and its allies, Israel gets more direct foreign aid -- about $3 billion a year -- than any other nation. There's a file cabinet somewhere in the State Department full of memoranda of understanding on military, diplomatic and economic affairs. Israel gets treated like a NATO member when it comes to military matters and like Canada or Mexico when it comes to free trade. There's an annual calendar full of meetings of joint strategic task forces and other collaborative sessions. And there's a presidential pledge, re-avowed by Bush in the East Room, that the United States will come to Israel's aid in the event of attack.
On Capitol Hill the Israel lobby commands large majorities in both the House and Senate. Polls show strong public support for Israel -- a connection that has grown even deeper after the September 11 attacks. The popular equation goes like this: Israelis equal good guys, Arabs equal terrorists. Working the Hill these days, says Josh Block, spokesman for the premier Israeli lobbying group known as AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, "is like pushing at an open door."
Not everyone believes this is a good thing. In March two distinguished political scientists -- Stephen Walt from Harvard and John Mearsheimer from the University of Chicago -- published a 42-page, heavily footnoted essay arguing that the Bush administration's support for Israel and its related effort to spread democracy throughout the Middle East have "inflamed Arab and Islamic opinion and jeopardized U.S. security."
The professors claim that our intimate partnership with Israel is both dangerous and unprecedented. "Other special interest groups have managed to skew foreign policy, but no lobby has managed to divert it as far from what the national interest would suggest," they argue. They go on to say that the war in Iraq "was due in large part to the Lobby's influence," and that the same combine is "using all of the strategies in its playbook" to pressure the administration into being aggressive and belligerent with Iran. The bottom line: "Israel's enemies get weakened or overthrown, Israel gets a free hand with the Palestinians, and the United States does most of the fighting, dying, rebuilding and paying."
A sweet deal for Israel, in other words, but a very bad one for America.
Full article here
Monday, July 10, 2006
Was Racist Remark trigger of Zidane Head-Butt Foul at World Cup Final
Yesterday the world (over 1 billion of us) witnessed in slow motion the now infamous head butt fouled by French sports star Zinedine Zidane against Italy's Marco Materazzi. Whatever language you heard it in, all the announcers were saying the same thing pourqoi, pourqoi , why, why????
Today analysts, commentators and the world continues to ponder over the incident. Some news is filtering out, by the AP, European organizations and others that Materazzi might have triggered the foul by making a racist slur at Zidane.
I was disappointed that Zidane lost it and committed the foul. A star of his status should try to keep his cool, but there seems to be more to this story than just a player gone mad. Here are the articles:
The Zidane mystery: What set him off?
"The Italians did everything they
could do to provoke Zidane," France
defender William Gallas said.
Seconds before, Materazzi had wrapped his arm
around Zidane just as a
French attack on goal passed harmlessly by. The two
exchanged words as they
walked back up the field, well behind the play. Then,
without warning,
Zidane spun around, lowered his head and rammed Materazzi,
knocking him to
the ground.
The Paris-based anti-racism advocacy group
SOS-Racism issued
a statement Monday quoting "several very well informed sources
from the
world of football" as saying Materazzi called Zidane a "dirty
terrorist." It
demanded that FIFA investigate and take any appropriate
See Also: Why Today I Wear My Zidane Jersey
Friday, June 09, 2006
VIDEO: Ahmed Bedier Reacts to Death of Al-Zarqawi
The Council on American-Islamic Relations - aka CAIR, the organization that I represent has released the following statement:
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/8/06) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR) today said it hopes the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi will help bring
about a decrease in civilian casualties and sectarian violence in Iraq.
In a statement, CAIR said:
"We hope the death of terrorist
leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi will lead to a decrease in the skyrocketing number
of civilian deaths in Iraq and will help slow the downward spiral of sectarian
violence gripping that nation. The violent actions of al-Zarqawi and his
followers violated basic Islamic teachings and resulted directly or indirectly
in the deaths of many innocent Iraqis and foreign nationals."
Friday, May 26, 2006
Ahmed Bedier Debates Attorney on Religious Holidays in Schools
Thou Shalt Not Lie: Pat Robertson Says he Leg-Pressed 2000 Pounds
People across the country are questioning claims by Pat Robertson's (founder of the Christian Coalition) claim that he has leg pressed 200 pounds. From the Associated Press (via Yahoo News):
According to the CBN Web site, Robertson worked his way up to lifting a ton with
the help of his physician, who is not named. The posting does not say when the
lift occurred, but a CBN spokeswoman released photos to The Associated Press
that she said showed Robertson lifting 2,000 pounds in 2003, when Robertson was 73. He is now 76.
The Web posting said two men loaded the leg-press machine
with 2,000 pounds "and then let it down on Mr. Robertson, who pushed it up one
rep and let it go back down again." The Web site said several people witnessed
the event, and shows video of Robertson leg-pressing what appears to be 1,000
However most experts think Robertson is lying:
Clay Travis of CBS SportsLine.com called the 2,000-pound assertion impossible in
a column this week, writing that the leg-press record for football players at
Florida State University is 665 pounds less.
"Where in the world did Robertson even find a machine that could hold 2,000 pounds at one time?" Travis asked.
Why would anyone be surprised about Robertson's false witness. He does it all the time. Constantly attacking all non Judeo-Christian religions. He constantly bears false witness against God (Allah in Arabic) claiming that God and Allah are not the same. He defined Allah as the "moon god from Mecca." What an insult to all the Arabic speaking Christians who call upon God in their native tongue as Allah. If Robertson has no problem lying to the world about God, then there is nothing else he would not lie about.
Pat Robertson should practice what he preaches by following the bible and at least the 10 Commandments.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
USF Oracle Column: Walid Shoebat and Hillel Shock USF Audience by Preaching Violence and Hatred
Today Sean Kinane, a contributor to the campus newspaper of the University of South Florida, The Oracle, replies to both Walid Shoebat and Hillel in a column titled "Walid Shoebat preached violence, not peace." In the Column Kinane tells both Shoebat and Hillel "more violence and killing is not the way to bring peace," more violence was Shoebats solution for bringing peace. Kinane recalls a troubling exchange between Walid Shoebat and a student in the audience looking for solutions to the Mideast conflict:
A student in the audience asked Shoebat for the advice he would give young
people on creating a world of peace. Shoebat replied, "Sometimes we have to
shoot brother wolf until he promises to stop eating sister sheep." I was not
alone in my shock at this evidently contradictory answer, so I asked him if he
really thought more violence was the way to attain peace. He replied that yes,
essentially, extrajudicial assassinations were acceptable.
Kinnane rightly added:
What a shame it is for Hillel to bring to USF someone who advocates hateful
assassinations and retaliatory violence.
As shame it is indeed, Hillel and Greater Miami Jewish Federation are not only doing a disservice to humanity by promoting hatred and intolerance, but they're also doing a disservice to their own Jewish community. Respectable Jewish organizations in Florida are always at the forefront fighting bigotry, racism and hatred, it's very troubling that they would sponsor events that contradict the work they advocate.
Troubled by these type of events, I recently brought up my concern to a couple of my Jewish friends. Their response was embarrassment and frustration, questioning the wisdom of groups like Hillel and Greater Miami Jewish Federation. They also told me that these groups don't speak for all Jews and they don't speak or act in their name. I am realizing more an more, that when it comes to the Jewish community, one-size does NOT fit all. Like other religions and groups their is diverse opinions among the followers. My Jewish friends explained that the hardliners and extremists tend to be more active voicing their opinion and silencing other views.
Monday, April 03, 2006
Ahmed Bedier video commentary on religious Freedom, Islam and the case of Afghanistan's Abdul Rahman
This past Sunday I was invited by a Tampa Bay television news station to provide commentary on the topic of Islam and religious freedom. It was a good opportunity to take the message directly to the people.
source: http://ahmedbedier.com/video/060403-bedier-religious-freedom.wmv
Friday, March 31, 2006
Why are some Florida "Jewish" Groups sponsoring anti-Muslim hate speech events? Speaker at Tampa event says "Islam Not a Religion"
***Note: I know better than to stereotype against an entire community. The reason I question the judgment of some "Jewish" groups in the below post is because both groups openly claim they're advocating on behalf of the Jewish community***
It is with great displeasure that I write this post. However, unless we openly discuss this type of hatred that exists within our community, then we will not progress.
Last night (March 30, 2006) the University of South Florida chapter of Hillel hosted a hate filled seminar during their 'Israel Week' featuring Walid Shoebat, a self-described "Former PLO Terrorist." Shoebat's fantasy story about being a former terrorists has never been independently confirmed, yet he tours the country and the world speaking to or hosted/sponsored by so called "Jewish" organizations and/or right wing groups, raking in thousands of dollars in speaker fees. Here is one of the hate messages Shoebat had for the crowd at USF (audio clip link available below):
"I began to understand that Islam as a religion is NOT a religion. Islam is a
system of government. Can anybody deny that? Islam is a legislation, civil code,
government, then a religion. That's what Islam is. So now you want to
fight Islamic fundamentalism and it's a problem because you're really talking
about a religion. And you're going to offend people... We must have Islamic
democracy. I said, excuse me, Islam is not a religion. It's like saying
capitalistic communism, is there such an oxymoron?" -Walid Shoebat at
So Mr. Shoebat (not his real name by the way, he has consistently refused to provide his real name and/or age, place of birth or any other identifying information) wants to believe that Islam is not a religion, erasing the faith of over 1.2 billion Muslims around the world and the billions who lived before. Shoebat who has no formal education in theology, history or any other ligit study.
According to Hilled USF's website, the Hillel Shoebat hatefest event was unfortunately sponsored by Greater Miami Jewish Federation.
Which brings me to the question of the day for me, WHY ARE JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS SPONSORING ANTI-MUSLIM HATE SPEECH EVENTS? A question I think both groups and others that continue to host Walid Shoebat and other hate mongers like him, must answer.
Hillel's promotion for the Tampa event promised it would be
"Interactive dialogue" and "is going to be unbelievable."
They were partially accurate, the only description for the event is "unbelievable." However it was neither "interactive" nor a "dialogue."
Troubled by last night's event and the question on my mind. I visited the websites of Hillel and Greater Miami Jewish Federation to learn more about their mission and identity, to find out if anti-Muslim hate speech is part of their goals or agenda.
The largest Jewish campus organization in the world,
Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life provides opportunities for
Jewish students at more than 500 colleges and universities to explore and
celebrate their Jewish identity through its global network of regional
centers, campus Foundations and Hillel student organizations. Hillel is
working to provoke a renaissance of Jewish life.......
Hillel's mission is to enrich the lives of Jewish undergraduate and graduate students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world.
Nothing about Islam or hate speech there, if you continue reading Hillel has some positive goals like:
-creating a plenvironmentnviornment; pursue tzedek (social justice); tikkun olam (repairing the world)
So that troubles me even more, where does the seminar of a hate monger and fraud like Walid Shoebat fit in all of this?
To have "unbelievable" and "interactive" dialogue, Hillel and Jewish Federations around the country need to pick-up the phone and dial-up a local American-Muslim organization, mosque or school. Coordinate a real forum with a real agenda that can produce results. Hate speech and rhetoric will only serve to divide our communities.
As conscience consience, Jews, Muslims, Christians and others must condemn hate speech directed at any group. And if not condemn, the least we can do is not actively promote bigots and hate mongers. We have to be consistent and not have a double standard, just as my Jewish friends want me to distance myself from anti-Jewish hate speech by Muslim radicals, I expect the same from them, to distance themselves from anti-Muslim bashers.
The irony is, Shoebat's website provides that "love" is the solution, quoting Dr. Martin Luther King (on the frontpage of this website)
"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy
into friend."
Perhaps Shoebat and his sponsoring organization can start practicing what they preach.
TO LISTEN TO A CLIP FROM WALID SHOEBAT'S HATE SPEECH AT THE HILLEL USF EVENT, PLEASE CLICK HERE (then cry).
Related link(s):
Shoebat telling his fake story on O'Reilly Factor: http://youtube.com/watch?v=x6dYXXdiBBA
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Afghan Court Drops Case Against Christian Convert
A couple of days ago I (Ahmed Bedier) joined CAIR and others calling for his release.
Alhamdulillah (All praise is due to God) the Afghan authorities did the right thing by dropping this case, that should never have been one in the first place.
For over a week now news outlets reported that Abdul Rahman is facing the death penalty under Islamic Law for leaving Islam, however they failed to point out that this is not a unanimous opinion among all Muslim scholars. Also that there is not a single verse in the Quran that commands the killing of an apostate (a person leaving his faith). The New York Times did a better job in an article published yesterday (3/25/06) "In Kabul, a Test for Shariah."
The NY Times article provides more context and background on the apostasy in Islam and actually interviews Muslim scholars, where others like the AP simply repeated that Islamic Law mandates the killing of apostates. In the NY Times article John Esposito and others weighed in:
- Progressive Muslim scholars argue that the meaning of those laws has been lost over time: When the laws were created, they say, apostasy was seen as the equivalent of treason. "To be a Muslim was to live in an Islamic state or empire, so the presumption was you were not only becoming the enemy of God but the enemy of the empire," said John L. Esposito, a professor of religion and international affairs at Georgetown University.
Muslim jurists who support the execution of apostates often point to a hadith — a tradition attributed to the Prophet Muhammad in the seventh century — in which he is recorded as saying that a person who changes religions should be killed.
But while the Koran mentions ridda, it never calls for the execution of apostates. There is no record of the prophet killing an apostate himself. And executions of apostates have been rare in Islamic history.
"The common argument is that it clearly contradicts the Koran, which says there should not be compulsion in religion," said Khaled Abou El Fadl, an Islamic law expert and professor at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
RADIO: Ahmed Bedier talks to the Schnitt Show about religious freedom in Islam and the Afghan apostasy case of Abdul Rahman
Ahmed Bedier appeared today as a guest on the Schnitt Show, a Clearchannel syndicated radio show, to discuss the Afghanistan apostasy case of Abdul Rahman. Bedier called for the release of Abdul Rahman and said that Islam encourages religous freedom.
To listen to the segment, CLICK HERE
Why is an Afghani Man on Trial for leaving Islam?
** Muslim view and opinion on Afghan who converted from Islam to Christianity **
America's leading Muslim civil liberties and advocacy group the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), who I (Ahmed Bedier) represent in Florida, did the right thing by calling for the release of an Afghan man who claims to have left Islam for Christianity. A few Muslims might be scratching their head and asking "wait a minute why are Muslims supporting a man's right to leave their religion." The answer is clear in the Quran, the ultimate source of Islamic Law or Shariah. Now before I get a ton of email asking for my clerical credentials, I confess that I am not a scholar by any means nor do I have the authority to give any sort of fatwa.
But read for yourself:
- 'Let there be no compulsion in religion.' (Quran 2:256)
Islam came to liberate mankind from oppressive nations/tribes who forced religion on the people. Since Islam came and wherever it spread people enjoyed freedom of religion. European Christians, who were forced to practice what the Church forced upon them, envied those living in the Muslim World who were free to practice their faith as they wanted to.
- 'If it had been the will of your Lord that all the people of the world should be believers, all the people of the earth would have believed! Would you then compel mankind against their will to believe?' (Quran 10:99)
- '(O Prophet) proclaim: 'This is the Truth from your Lord. Now let him who will, believe in it, and him who will, deny it.'' (Quran 18:29)3)
Both verses are divine testaments in the Quran on the concept of free will. Even God the Almighty has given mankind free will to choose their faith, will mankind restrict that free will on their subjects?? It doesn't make sense.
- 'If they turn away from thee (O Muhammad) they should know that We have not sent you to be their keeper. Your only duty is to convey My message.' (Quran 42:48)4)
When Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) passed away, Muslims inherited the message from the messenger (pbuh). Muhammad (pbuh), the beloved example, was not sent to force religion on people or be their keeper. His duty, which Muslims inherited, is to only convey the message. Let God be the judge.
Some folks reading this will say 'that's cool and all, but how is it that Afghanistan is justifying the prosecution (and possible death penalty) of a man who changed his religion? My only guess is, since I have not found any official position yet, is that they're interpreting Islamic Law based on ancient conditions, where Islamic scholars use to equate apostasy (leaving the religion) to treason. Back then Islamic scholars used to define earth/world in geo-political terms of 'Dar al-Islam' the abode of Islam and 'Dar al-Harb' the abode of war. Which meant that if a person was not among the Muslims or from the Muslims he/she joined the other abode and committed an act of treason against the Islamic state. However in many parts of the Muslim world this was considered a narrow interpretation. Since in places like Spain and India where Muslims ruled for centuries they rarely ever persecuted non-Muslims.
The bottom line is Islam is not hurting for numbers, it continues to be one of the fastest growing religions (if not the fastest) and is the 2nd largest religious community in the world. Numbers are not important, as my father always told me "Ahmed, it's not the quanity that we need, it's the Quality!" He couldn't be more right.
Islamic scholars in Afghanistan need to rethink their position on the issue of apostasy, and interpert the Quran and Islamic law in the context and reality of today. There is NOT as single verse in the Quran that commands death for those that leave the faith.
While some might rightly argue that it is premature to release any statements on the individual case of Abdul Rahman, since we don't have the facts of his case, we can still take a position on the issue of apostasy. In the coming days and weeks we learn more and more about Abdul Rahman and why he was arrested in the first place.
To Read what other scholars have said about the topic, check out the following links:
Fatwa: Dr. Jamal Badawi and Sheikh Muhammad Nur Abdullah on 'Freedom of Belief in Islam
note: Ahmed Bedier is not responsible for the content found on the above links and/or any other website.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Hosting Afghanistan National Army Delegation
Ahmed Bedier speaking to General Muhammad Amin Nasib of the Afghan National Army. Bedier hosted a delegation of 8 (including two women) of the new Afghan National Army at the Islamic Society of Tampa Bay Area. Bedier shared with General Nasib and the delegation the diversity and freedoms American-Muslims enjoy in the United States. General Nasib who is on multi-week tour in America informed Bedier about progress made in Afghanistan. The tour and the visit was arranged by U.S. Military Central Command.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
VIDEO: Ahmed Bedier View on Danish Cartoons and Free Speech
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) representative Ahmed Bedier offers a video commentary on Tampa's Baynews9 on the Danish Cartoon controversy and freedom of speech
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
This is how we do it: CAIR Launches "Explore Life of Prophet Muhammad(p)" Campaign
The non-profit organization (CAIR) I'm affiliated with has launched a new campaign that I'm very proud of. Recognizing that the blasphemous Islamophobic cartoons of Prophet Muhammad as an obstacle to the image of Islam, CAIR turned a challenge into an opportunity by launching a new worldwide campaign called "Explore the life of Muhammad" (peace be upon him).
The world is hungry for knowledge on the life of prophet Muhammad and what he stood for. To more about the beloved prophet, visit http://www.cair.com/Muhammad
Besides learning about Muhammad online, visitors can get either a free book or documentary DVD on his life.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
VIDEO: Ahmed Bedier debates Radall Terry on free speech, Danish Cartoons and Islam
CAIR-FL Representative Ahmed Bedier debated Conservative Christian activist Randall Terry on Orlando's CBS affiliate WKMG Local6 on the global reaction to the Prophet Muhammad (p) cartoon flap.
Bedier corrected and answered Terry's baseless position that rioters in the Muslim world are reacting violently to the slander of Muhammad, because they're following His (Muhammad's) example of killing anyone who mocked him. Randall Terry is the founder of 'Operation Rescue' and 'Society for Truth and Justice.' Terry most recently acted as spokesman for the parents of Terri Shiavo.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
VIDEO: Bedier's Reaction to the Danish cartoon hysteria on NBC Tampa Affiliate
Monday, February 06, 2006
RADIO: Ahmed Bedier answers Questions on Prophet Muhammad Cartoons and Islam on the Schnitt Show
I was a guest on one of Tampa Bay's most listened to (I think, at least that's what they claim) radio talk shows knows as the Schnitt Show. Which is syndicated by Clear Channel in Tampa Bay, Miami and Charleston, SC. This was the first time I met Schnitt in person and was pleasantly surprised with his attitude on that day. I have to admit prior to being on his program I did have some pre-conceived notions about his show, because the couple of times I listened in he was bashing Islam.
On the show I told Schnitt and his listeners that Muslims reject the violent protests in reaction to the insulting anti-Muhammad (p) cartoons. While the cartoons are offensive, the violence is un-Islamic and counter productive. I also gave some examples on how prophet Muhammad responded to attacks.
Anyway it was fun to share the conservatives with Mr. Radio himself. Scroll down to listen to my appearance..... Ahmed Bedier
CAIR-FL Representative Ahmed Bedier appeared as a guest for a two-hour segment on Clear Channel's syndicated "Schnitt Radio Show." Bedier discussed the Muslim reaction to the Muhammad (p) cartoons and took live calls from listeners, including his favorite Michael Allen the "toilet man."
To listen to the show, follow the below link click here.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
WATCH Ahmed Bedier In Television Media
Monday, January 16, 2006
The 2006 Tampa Annual Marting Luther King Interfaith Memorial Service
Remembering Dr. King's legacy. CAIR Rep. Ahmed Bedier (me) addresses diverse Tampa worshipers from the pulpit of Beulah Baptist Church in Tampa, at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Interfaith Memorial Service. Behind Bedier are religious leaders from the Christian, Jewish and Bahai Communities. After speaking of Dr. King's legacy, Bedier offered a prayer for peace from the Islamic tradition.
The Rabbi (name not mentioned for their privacy) is laughing at something I said. A little humor goes a loooooong way.
On stage listening to City of Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio as she shares her thoughts on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It's been a loooooooong day, but we're still hangin in there. It's 8:00pm right about now!
Bedier (me) Laughing w/ the all male choir at Beulah Baptist Church in Tampa, at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Interfaith Memorial Service.
A wonderful local Jewish choir chanting "Shalom, Salam"
(c) 2005 Ahmed Bedier, all photo rights reserved.
6:45AM: Celebrating Dr King's Legacy in Tampa
Meeting up with the Millers.
Mrs. Tampa City Council, the elegant Gwen Miller, Chairwoman of
City Council of Tampa and her husband none other than Les
Miller. All the who's who was at event to celebrate Dr. King's
Enjoying the morning with City of
Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio at the Tampa Organization of Black Affairs
(TOBA) 26th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership
NewsPaper Interview: Quoted in the St. Petersburg Times on Anti-Muslim Hate Blogs (my blog is mentioned)
Blogs dedicated to protecting America against terrorism are troubling the Muslim community.
By S.I. ROSENBAUMPublished January 16, 2006
It's 4 a.m. Somewhere near Coral Springs, Joe Kaufman is still at his computer.
Blurry with fatigue, he types:
It has been said that 80 percent of all the mosques ... inside the United States are ... tied to a radical form of Islam. ...
One of the American locations that ... influence has been prevalent is the Tampa-St. Pete area of Southwest Florida.
Kaufman is 35, clean-shaven, a lawyer's assistant. He goes inline skating and writes love songs on guitar. But his passion is his Web site, AmericansAgainstHate.com, where he monitors the activities of Florida's Muslim community, looking for terrorist links.
Kaufman's site is only one of a constellation of blogs with names like JihadWatch.com, MilitantIslamMonitor.org, and WesternResistance.com that are dedicated to the surveillance of American Muslims. The blogs link to one another, with more-traveled sites amplifying stories from more obscure ones, like Kaufman's.
He claims he has not found a single mosque in Florida that is not linked to terrorists.
A lot of people are listening.....
Muslims say the blogs breed hate.....
"He's spreading lies, slandering individuals," said Ahmed Bedier, spokesman for the Tampa Bay chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "These are vigilantes." ......
"It's a clearinghouse for defamation and attacks against Muslims," Bedier said.
"I like to go out and reach out to folks and build bridges," he added. "These types of people, they want to be able to wedge a gap between Muslims and the rest of society."
To fight back, Bedier is starting his own blog, AhmedBedier.blogspot.com. He said he wants to set the Internet record straight.
"Nowadays when you meet people, they go home and Google your name," he said. On the search engine, the top hits for Bedier's name are articles by Kaufman.
"I'm not going to let bigots like that define who I am," Bedier said.......
Original source at the St. Petersburg Times Click here
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Islam's Ambassador: Bedier Trying to Teach not, Not Preach
By SHERRI DAY, St. Petersburg Times, Published November 16, 2005
[Times photo: Ken Helle] Ahmed Bedier, Central Florida director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, walks his son Jacob, back left, and his friend Laith, front left, to class. Bedier's days are busy with media interviews, helping other Muslims and taking Jacob, 9, to school every morning.
TAMPA - He sat in a conference room at Tampa General Hospital, surrounded by Christian chaplains in training. The lone Muslim in the group, Ahmed Bedier was there to teach.
"What comes to mind when you hear the word Islam or Muslim?" he asked, scanning the room. No one answered, but he knew what they wanted to say. It was okay to be offensive, he told them.
"Terrorists," several said at once. Bedier smiled.
Now they were getting somewhere. "After that, what else?" he asked.
At ease, group members spit out responses. "Oppressive," they said. "Aggressive." "Dangerous." "Uneducated."
Then it was time for Bedier, who is Central Florida director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, CAIR, to speak. "Imagine if you put yourself in a Muslim's shoes in America these days, and you go to Wal-Mart and everybody thinks that about you. It's not a comfortable feeling."
Bedier, 31, had only just begun. He works daily to dispel stereotypes and seek equal treatment for Muslims who face discrimination. Recently, his push to include Islamic holidays on the Hillsborough County public school calendar launched a national debate. In October, when the board voted to cancel all religious holidays, Bedier was at the forefront of the discussion again, urging restoration of Judeo-Christian holidays. Muslim inclusion, he said, should not harm others. But Bedier isn't giving up. He has already vowed to try again next year. Many local Muslims are glad he's on duty. "He at least speaks and brings out their issues," said Mohammad Sultan, imam for the Islamic Society of Tampa Bay Area Mosque in Tampa. "They see at least some kind of hope."
* * *
Born to an economist and statistician in Cairo, Bedier (pronounced Beh-DEER) immigrated with his family to the United States when he was 8. As a boy, he thought all Americans were rich. He knew about cowboys and oil tycoons from the television drama Dallas, which had aired in Cairo. The family landed in West Lafayette, Ind., where Bedier's father worked as a researcher at Purdue University. Bedier spoke Arabic and French but struggled with English. Other children made fun of him, calling him ugly names. He was often in the center of schoolyard brawls. By high school, he found popularity. A running back for the football team, he envisioned a career in the National Football League. As his family moved from one agricultural research institution to another, Bedier soaked up American culture.
When his parents returned to Egypt, Bedier and one of his three younger brothers stayed behind. They felt at home. By the time Bedier moved to St. Petersburg in 1994, he had almost forgotten his faith. In St. Petersburg, he worked as an operations manager for a dental group and eventually opened a dental laboratory. He bought two apartment buildings. By many accounts, he was successful, financially and otherwise. He enjoyed good food and spent hours at the gym. He drove a silver BMW 5 Series and fed his shopping jones at Saks Fifth Avenue. But something was missing. "I felt like I was living a fake lifestyle, like I was living to get pleasure because of what people would say about me or about what I had," Bedier said. "It wasn't fulfilling."
Seeking purpose, he began to spend more time at a mosque, the Islamic Society of Pinellas in Pinellas Park. In 2000, he vowed to read the Koran every day and committed to becoming an observant Muslim. As Bedier's faith deepened, he questioned his decision to remain in a non-Muslim country. Around him were myriad temptations. Ultimately, Bedier decided to stay - but to work on behalf of Islam and American Muslims.
He volunteered at his mosque, which eventually led to work with CAIR. His first brush with the media came after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The St. Petersburg Times called his mosque to learn how it felt to be a Muslim in America in such times. Bedier offered to share his view.
When CAIR opened a Tampa office in December 2003, he became director. He sold his business, got rid of the BMW and now listens to the Koran from the CD player of a Chrysler minivan. "He's very strong in what he does," said Ibrahim Hooper, national communications director at CAIR's Washington, D.C., headquarters. "I wish I had him here in Washington, but then I don't know what we'd do in Florida."
* * *
Ask Bedier about an issue facing Muslims, and he can speak for hours. Probe him about himself, and he shows reserve. He's happy to be in the background. He has been on television enough to want to share the spotlight with other Muslims.
Local religious and political leaders applaud his efforts. "I've been able to see his heart and know that he really is looking for peace and understanding amongst people," said Rabbi Kate Fagan, a chaplain at Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg.
Hillsborough County School Board member Doretha Edgecomb has learned that Bedier is not always as serious as his subject matter. In October, she watched him deliver lighthearted banter as emcee of CAIR's banquet. "I was just really shocked," she said. "I had not seen that side of him. The next time we need a funny emcee, I'm going to remember him."
Bedier so impressed the Rev. William Baugh, director of pastoral care at Tampa General Hospital, that the minister invited him to conduct hospital-wide diversity training.
Even people who disagree with Bedier wind up speaking well of him. Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair, who supported the restoration of a Judeo-Christian public school calendar, calls him a "nice person" and a "gentleman." "He smiles a lot, and he says he loves Jesus," Blair said, noting Bedier's explanation that Muslims revere Jesus, too.
After meeting Bedier, Pinellas Park resident Mike Allen temporarily withdrew an anti-Islamic display from his yard. It featured a toilet and a promise to flush the Koran to protest terrorism. Allen said he took it down because he thought Bedier was a nice person. "That Ahmed Bedier, he could charm the socks off a rooster," Allen said. "He doesn't raise his voice or fly off the handle. He's married and got kids and all that. He's not going to be strapping bombs on his kids. I'm sure he would never condone that."
Norm Gross, head of the media watchdog group Promoting Responsibility in Middle East Reporting, expresses admiration for Bedier's delivery, but questions CAIR's motives. "We're asking questions that we'd like to get answers to, and we haven't been able to," Gross said. "What is his mission? Who funds him? Let them tell us." Bedier said he has nothing to hide and maintains that he is simply an activist dedicated to integrating Muslims into the mainstream.
CAIR's 31 local chapters are funded by private donors. By no means, he says, does he or CAIR condone terrorism. Repeatedly, the organization has publicly denounced terrorist attacks.
Bedier sees himself as a regular guy. He is a car-pool dad who drives his son, Jacob, to school; a devoted husband who watches reality TV with his wife, Kelly; a father who must protect his family, including 2-year-old Amira, from harm. As a precaution, he has an unlisted phone number and gets his mail at a post office box. Strangers once accosted his wife at Wal-Mart. Bloggers disparage him on the Internet.
Bedier accepts his call to activism and has no plan to back down. "I'm doing it because I have to, not necessarily because I want to," Bedier said. "There's a lot of work that needs to be done, and Muslims are now feeling empowered. They know that somebody's got their back."
source: http://www.sptimes.com/2005/11/16/Tampabay/Trying_to_teach__not_.shtml


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Are you dying the moment you land in PUBG? Is the game becoming a survival nightmare for you? Are you in need of some expert help?
If you want to learn some key secrets in how to survive in PUBG, you are in the right place. Here, you will find few strategies that will enable you to survive longer, and hopefully become a winner.
Want a shortcut for survival? Go with a PUBG ESP.
An ESP can let you see every enemy all the time – usernames of all of them will become visible even through walls, thereby disclosing their locations. Thus, you get to know where they are and can avoid or eliminate them.
The following are some ways in which you can survive till the end without an ESP:
- Land as fast as possible
When diving from the plane, your primary aim will be to land as fast as possible and beat the others. Aiming at a landing zone by pressing the 'W' button (PC) will help in increasing your speed to more than 230 km/hr.
Moreover, following a HALO method, i.e. opening the parachute when closer to the ground, you can further reach the ground faster.
- Always drop beside buildings
Buildings hold loots and aiming for them is the smartest thing to do. Moreover, make sure that you are the only one on the way to it.
Avoid open spaces and fields as you won't find any loot and will be more susceptible to being killed.
Learn the locations beforehand and choose the one you feel more comfortable with.
- Don't spend much time in the open
Even if you are armed, hanging in open spaces can be the reason for your imminent death. When you have no option other than going in the open, plan your sprints cautiously. Use trees and other objects to take cover and move continuously.
Still getting killed? Maybe it's time you took help of a PUBG ESP.
- Use caution while hiding in a bush
Bushes provide minimal cover and enemies can spot you when you don't don a camo. On the other hand, when close to a bush, use caution to approach it as an enemy with a camo can eliminate you instantly.
- Avoid shooting enemies far away
One of the easiest ways to die in pubg esp hack is by shooting an enemy that is too far away. When you shoot such an enemy, you expose yourself and thereby invite others to eliminate you.
After spotting an enemy at a far distant, it is recommended to use stealth and caution for a successful kill.
- Learn the intricacies of the circle
The damage that you take when outside a circle increases with its number – if you are outside the final, you will die within a few seconds. Contrary to that, when outside the first circle, you can use med-kits to recover your damage.
Follow these rules with respect, and you will survive the longest and also become the champion. If still unable to win, use a PUBG ESP. read more about PUBG hacks to get the knowledge that you need.

subset: commoncrawl


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Lower back pain is a common problem among those who work in front of a computer. BT host Wilder Weir is with David Snively, who urges people to stand up and train to overcome back pain.
Wilder Weir discovers the vibration plate at DBS Fitness under the guidance of David. The vibration plate was originally created for astronauts in training. The machine helps to stimulate muscles to get the most out of your workout.
David Snively with the skinny on a better back -- and booty.
Fitness expert David Snively is back to talk about men's fitness just in time for Movember--plus, how to stay motivated and dedicated to your workouts.
Fitness expert David Snively is in studio with holiday gifts for the special someone who loves keeping in shape--in a variety of price ranges!
Fitness expert David Snively is showing us how high intensity cardio will help you lose that holiday weight!
Being pregnant doesn't mean you have to give up on fitness. David Snively is here to give us some tips on what moves to do, and which to avoid, while pregnant.
David Snively is telling us how seniors can exercise to feel young and vibrant. And he's brought two fitness models, Dorothy and Phil, to show us how it's done.
Fitness expert David Snively joins Alex in studio to explain how to use kettlebells the right way.
VIPR is a new kind of training. It was inspired by how fit farm workers are. David Snively is in-studio to show us what VIPR is, and the benefits of it.
David Snively is in-studio to talk about how asymmetry in your body can be the cause of injuries from sports and day-to-day life.
David Snively with tips you need to know for successful abdominal training.
David shows you how to release those trigger points with exercises aimed at enhancing your performance and preventing injuries.


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This is another milestone to me.
It means I can start saying "nine months" instead of the number of weeks when asked how far along I am.
It means I can say I'm due at the end of the month instead of listing out the month and day.
It means Squish could come at any time.
It means I've been thinking about labor and delivery.
A lot.
Like, a lot a lot.
Months 7 and 8 probably brought the worst of the anxiety, but somewhere in the last couple of weeks, I decided I was just about done being pregnant and ready to just do this.
I've been doing lots of reading to alleviate some of my fears and P-Daddy and I also took an online lamaze course.
Isn't everything online these days?
Truthfully, I was disappointed with the course but maybe it's because it didn't offer me anything my yoga practice hasn't already given me in the last few years.
But it's really been the desire to give birth naturally that has pushed me to start really practicing the breathing and movements seriously.
I'm flexible enough to recognize that medical intervention may be necessary (or even requested) but I still want to prepare my mind for the whole process.
I've also been practicing a whole lot of visualization since that's been helpful for me in the past.
And if childbirth is a marathon, then I was going to need a mantra to help me along the way.
I pondered this for a few weeks until the right one floated right into my brain space.
Well, more like it was given to me like a gift from God.
I say small prayers throughout the day when I'm having a tough time or even when I just want to thank God for my blessings.
And for nine months I've been praying that God would help me through this whole pregnancy and parenting process.
It's scary to me.
But I think Phillipians 4:13 sums it up nicely:
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
I actually prefer the NIV version which says:
I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.
I like the NIV version better because, while I don't believe I can do ALL things, I do believe I can do all THIS.
At least, I can with Jesus as my spiritual wing man.
While listening to my cousins regale me with their birth stories at a family gathering a while back, my Dad leaned over to me after about the 5th story and whispered,
"It only hurts until God takes over."
And then he went back to eating his nacho cheese dip.
That moment has stuck with me.
I know HE will be there with me, but I also needed a tangible reminder.
A reminder to use my mantra.
So I ordered a bracelet that I could wear from now until D-Day reminding me that I have the strength to do this.
And thankfully, after a good pep talk from my sister, excitement is finally starting to edge out the anxiety.
The nursery is ready.
The crib is fitted with a brand new sheet.
The clothes are washed and hung in the closet.
The pack and play is nestled in our bedroom.
The book shelf is stocked.
And I even practiced putting on the new baby carrier I received, courtesy of my Grandma.
Ross Barnaby approved.
I hope Squish does too!


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Insulated Bottle
This insulated bottle (aka Wine Growler) makes it easy to take your wine on an adventure! Perfect for keeping your whites and rosés cool on a summer day, or for transporting your favorite red on that perfect "let's go on a picnic" sort of day. Holds one bottle of wine. Rep your wine in style with the etched DeLille Cellars logo and matte black finish.
In Stock


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Michael Goodwin sums up the Obama years:
So this is how it ends — in a whimper wrapped in self-pity and recriminations. With President Obama on the defensive at his final press conference and Hillary Clinton's last campaign event resembling a wake, the Democratic Party is limping off the stage and into the political winter.
It was supposed to sit atop the national power pyramid for decades, a new paradigm of liberals, progressives, the young, the old, the unions and blacks, Latinos, Muslims and Asians.
The torch would be passed from Obama to Clinton, a liberal Supreme Court would vastly expand executive power and the regulatory state would enforce climate-change orthodoxy on all industry and elitist dictates on every American. Globalism would be the new patriotism.
But a funny thing happened on the way to one-party dominance: The people who work for a living said no, hell no. Their revolt brings Donald Trump to the White House amid hopes of a revival of the economy and of the American spirit.
Thoroughly beaten, the Dems are at their lowest point in nearly a century. From the White House to Congress to statehouses, they are on the outside looking in.
Go here to read the rest. Of course all the Democrats need to come roaring back is for Trump to fail as badly as Obama did.


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Rickie Lambert Deserves a Place in the England SquadMarch 6, 2013
By giving Leon Osman a first cap back in November, Roy Hodgson demonstrated that while his focus may be on the future, he's still willing to reward older players for impressive league form. This begs the question as to why, with a shortage of top-class strikers, Rickie Lambert has yet to figure in the England manager's plans?
It's reminiscent of the situation Grant Holt found himself in ahead of Euro 2012, prospering in a belated first season in the top flight but struggling to shed an unfashionable reputation. From formative years spent together at Rochdale the careers of Holt and Lambert have followed a remarkably similar path.
The spotlight seemed destined to elude the duo as they found their level bullying defences and plundering goals in the basement divisions, at Shrewsbury Town and Bristol Rovers respectively. That is until their unstoppable ascent began when called upon to arrest the decline of two big hitters slumming it in League One.
As a talismanic fan favourite Holt's goals powered Norwich to successive promotions, only for Lambert to repeat the trick at Southampton. Holt was the second-highest English goalscorer in his Premier League debut season behind Rooney, while Lambert currently leads his countrymen with 12 league goals this season. As yet, however, neither is deemed worthy of international recognition.
Perhaps the spectre of Michael Ricketts looms large in Hodgson's thinking. A convergence of favourable circumstances helped the former Bolton man to 15 Premier League goals by February and an England cap against the Netherlands before his bumbling inadequacy was cruelly exposed at Middlesbrough.
Ricketts has since become a byword for the laughable one-cap wonder, the player picked on a run of spectacular form which belies their true ability. Jay Bothroyd's name was added to the pantheon in 2010 when Fabio Capello was left with few alternatives other than the Championship's leading frontman.
This is decidedly not the case with Lambert, however, who has been consistently prolific, recently notching a 100th Saints goal in just his fourth season with the club. In amongst this century there's been tap-ins, long-range efforts, headers, volleys and penalties. The variety is as impressive as his flawless record from the spot under pressure.
More than an unerring knack for finding the net, he's possessed of tidy technique and a good all-round game. A Holt-like battering ram but with more strings to his bow, Lambert is equally as good on the floor as he is in the air. His link-up play with runners from midfield, as Morgan Schneiderlin and Adam Lallana can testify, is fantastic.
The upcoming round of fixtures sees England take on San Marino and Montenegro. Although hardly the ideal testing ground for a player's international credentials, Lambert has earned a call up on merit with his one-in-two strike rate.
Given that Jermain Defoe has only just returned from injury and Danny Welbeck is going through a goal drought, it would be disappointing if Hodgson fails to include the 31-year-old this time around; another example of the whims of status continuing to win out over tangible contribution.


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Skinny Jeans/
There's no step by step guidebook to being a mom. I'm sure there are people who have tried to write books along those lines (since clearly they have all the answers, ha) but ultimately a big part of life is experiencing the unknown.
I'll never forget my first grocery shopping attempt with Ellia right after she was born. Talk about the unknown.
Grammy had flown back home and there was just no more putting it off. It was time. I needed to face the terrifying real world by myself and buy some actual food (which if you've read any of my other posts, you know I despise doing with or without a newborn baby). Macaroni and cheese wasn't cutting it anymore.
I planned it all out the day before.
I would wait until the afternoon when she was the sleepiest, frantically change her, feed her, bundle her up and get to the closest local grocery store as fast as I could. I didn't care that everything was twice as much there…I just needed to survive the experience and get back home before she woke up to eat again.
Seemed like it could work.
I made it to the store and spent about 15 minutes trying to get her car seat to click into the shopping cart handle. In the meantime, at least 4 other moms walked past me, grabbed a cart, clicked their car seats in and hit the store like pros with 3 other kids in tow.
I finally gave up and concluded that mine just wasn't the kind of car seat to do that (it was). So I put her whole seat inside the cart and pretended like I had planned to do that all along.
After about 20 minutes the cereal boxes and veggies started piling up around her car seat and by the time I got to the diaper aisle there was no way it was going to fit unless it went in her lap. I sat there for a good 5 minutes just staring at the cart thinking "how do people do this?"
I somehow managed to move things around and make space I guess because somehow I made it out to the car… where I quickly ran into my next predicament.
I had two choices (that my frazzled brain could think of at the time). I could either put the baby and the groceries in the car and then leave them alone while I returned the cart a million miles away… or… I could ditch the cart next to the car.
I'm not saying you're a terrible person if you leave the shopping cart next to your car… I'm just saying you're a terrible person (jk I'm not really). But I had put in my years at Kmart retrieving that one lone cart on the other side of the world.
I sat there and racked my brain for several minutes trying to think of what all other moms do before I finally just left the shopping cart next to the car and went home. Where was that guidebook when I needed it?
Several months later while Ellia was in prime crawling stage, I headed out the door to do some clothes shopping.
My muffin top and fat preggo-ice-cream-craving-thighs were starting to diminish so I thought maybe I could squeeze myself into some stylish skinny jeans.
And then I got into the fitting room.
I set Ellia on the floor and had just managed to get both feet into the pants when Ellia made a mad dash for the space under the fitting room door. It's amazing how fast those little humans can move as crawlers.
Now if you've ever worn skinny jeans, then you understand the predicament I had here.
Do you remember back in middle school when those Chinese finger traps were so popular? The harder you pulled your fingers the tighter the trap got? That's the closest thing I can compare the process of removing skinny jeans to.
Jeans half off and inside out, I frantically tripped and dove for Ellia's foot just as it started to disappear under the changing room door and was barely able to drag her back under the door whilst she laughed hysterically.
And so commenced a new fun game for Ellia. How far could she get out the door before mommy pulled her back in again?
I can only imagine what the people sitting outside the changing room doors thought of this spectacle. I try not to think about it.
It took me a good while before I finally managed to peel those jeans off and retreat to the safety of my car. Needless to say, I didn't buy those skinny jeans.
Once again I was stuck sitting there wondering "how do you do it?" Looking back now I have all sorts of solutions.
But isn't that just like life? So often we're stuck in those "how do I do it?" moments with no obvious answers in front of us. We may never have an answer or maybe we'll have all sorts of "answers" down the road. It may even seem like everyone else has it all figured out.
Most times we just wing it and try to just get through it.
But that's the beautiful thing about trust. Trust can't exist without the unknown.
Why do you think God allows us to experience those times in our life when we have no answers? Because it's in those times that we turn to Him and admit, "Lord, I have no answers of my own, I don't know how to do this. Help me."
God does have the answers. He can see your future because He wrote it. Whether He chooses to reveal those answers to us at that very second is His choice, but He promises that if we ask for them, He'll provide them. He knows the answers to our questions before we even ask them.
"…before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear." Isaiah 65:24
But you have to ask!
"The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth." Psalm 145:18
So the next time you find yourself in a situation that seems helpless, remember that the unknown can be a good thing… because it pushes you to the One who holds the answers and that's the best place you can be.


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Photo Courtesy: Breckenridge Ski Resort Facebook
On Tuesday residents in the town of Breckenridge cast their ballots and approved a new measure that will implement a 4.5% sales tax on winter lift tickets. The tax is exclusive to winter lift tickets only and will not be applied to the Epic Pass or any other season passes. All summer lift ticket sales will be excluded from the tax as well. Voters who turned out on Tuesday predominantly opted in favor of the act with a preliminary tally of 917 to 185. The measure has come after months of debate between Breckenridge town officials and Vail Resorts about the final details of the ballot. Vail is the parent company that owns and operates Breckenridge Ski Resort and they have guaranteed that the tax will raise at least $3.5 million for the town annually. For many years Breckenridge has struggled to provide enough parking for the millions of tourists and skiers that visit each winter. Breckenridge Ski Resort frequently records over 1.5 million skier visits year after year and town leaders are hoping to fix parking issues long term with this new tax which will take effect July 1, 2016. A new parking structure will be designed for the town but first traffic flow studies must be conducted to determine just how big the garage must be.
Source: Summit County Voice
Photo Courtesy: Breckenridge Ski Resort


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As much as I love to share the stories of my adventures, my best satisfaction comes from hearing about my reader's own excursions into the outdoors. When reader Jordan Blair e-mailed me with a few questions to help him prepare for his upcoming road trip from Virginia to California, I thought answering his inquiries would make for a great post to help others plan their own trips.
Check out this road trip Q&A, and let me know if there's anything I missed! Jordan is heading out in a few days, and is open to pretty much anything along the way – so leave him a few comments with your favorite destinations, eateries, and travel advice! He's planning a stop in Salt Lake City, but other than that has a very open two-week agenda.
1. Is there anything you wish you had brought on some of your travels that you didn't have at the time?
Packing is always a learning process during my trips. I feel like I learn lessons on what I wish I had brought, and what was totally excessive, every time I travel.
Over the past few big trips, I've learned that there are a few items I didn't initially think I needed, but now prefer to have on hand. A big beach towel is one of those things. It acts as a picnic blanket, shower towel, spare blanket, pillow when rolled up – you name it. I recently started traveling with a hammock, and I love it. I've got a simple, easy to set-up hammock that creates an instant nap haven anywhere I can find two trees.
Niko and I make most of our own meals while on-the-go, so supplying yourself with a nice kitchen set-up is a great idea. Car camping really makes it easy to haul along a good arsenal of cooking tools. I always bring my favorite knife, a quality frying pan and pot, plenty of cookware, spices, and a little scrubber to wash the dishes. Eating well will make your adventure ten times more enjoyable.
I always end up over-packing when it comes to clothes. Let's face it, climbers are dirtbags by nature. Ain't no shame! Packing ten tank tops when I'm probably just going to wear the same three for a week straight is just plain silly. Plus, you can always make a pit stop at a local laundromat – makes for a great rest day, and always promises to expose you to the 'local culture,' ha!
2. Any specific skills that might be good that aren't necessarily considered common sense?
Maybe it's just because I've been spending too much time in Miami these past few weeks – but the top 'skill' I'm wishing more people had at the moment is patience. Especially while out adventuring in new places, being patient is a key factor to enjoying your trip. Things will never go as fast or smooth as you'd prefer, but getting worked up over little details will ultimately ruin your road trip. Waitress taking a little too long to refill your coffee? It's okay, you've got two minutes to spare. Getting lost won't totally kill the day; instead of getting irritated about your unexpected detour, learn to love the misadventure!
Being patient also really helps when dealing with people you encounter while traveling. Folks in the south tend to move at a very leisurely pace – roll with it. I've also found that the people you run into in smaller towns are always eager to share their stories; so instead of rushing on to the next destination, take a moment to listen – you'll likely come away with one hell of a tale. During my seven-week solo trip around the country, I met an older woman in North Carolina who wound up telling me all about her own cross-country adventure – and she took nearly the same exact route that I was on (in the late 1940s)! It really added a great vibe to the rest of my trip.
Along with practicing patience, a good smile is key. You can get so far with a good smile.
3. Any ways to get free food that you have found?
I haven't yet ventured into the realm of snaggin' free food while on the road – but it's definitely doable. Ever heard of dumpster diving? I haven't tried it, but I know plenty of people who have made a tasty hobby out of it. Check out this video from The Perennial Plate:
When it comes to getting food on the cheap, I'm a really big fan of the Yelp app for iPhones. I always scope out local eateries with the "$" rating – and tacos tend to be pretty affordable eats. I also use the LivingSocial and Groupon apps to keep an eye out for 50%+ discounts on tempting restaurants. Definitely not an everyday option for my budget, but when I'm hankering for a 'fancy' meal, I can always justify my cravings when I have a voucher for a meal at half the regular price!
4. Would an annual National Park entry pass be worth it? Do you visit many national parks yourself?
GET A NATIONAL PARKS PASS. Do it. Seriously. It will end up being one of the best investments for your trip. My dad gifted me with one before my big trip last summer, and it ended up paying for itself within the first few weeks. I think I visited nearly a dozen National Parks from the Everglades to Yosemite, and it was one of my favorite elements of my trip. Getting into a National Park can cost up to $20 a pop, and when you're traveling on a shoestring budget, those numbers really add up.
Splurge on the pass, and make the most out of your annual access to some of the most gorgeous spots around the country. I think Niko and I wound up visiting 5 National Parks in four days once.
While you're at it, start a collection of all the National Park stamps too. At nearly every visitor center or ranger station in every park, there will be a little stamp and inkpad stand, free for anyone to use. I collect the stamps in my Moleskine agenda book, but you can also buy a National Parks passport to make it more official. Makes for a great, and free, way to remember your adventure.
5. Do you have a specific climbing equipment checklist?
It all depends on the climbing trip. A bouldering trip to Rocktown requires a different set of equipment than a big sport climbing adventure out to Red River Gorge – and if you're planning on a big trip that involves both, you've got quite a checklist!
My standard climbing gear includes:
- Shoes. I'm all about my LaSportiva Katana lace-ups, but I also usually bring a backup pair, like my Testarossas. Having an aggressive pair and a comfy pair creates a good balance – you never know when your feet are going to be killin' ya.
- Chalk bag. Call me superstitious, but I feel like my mojo is totally out of whack when I'm climbing without my trusty Kendal Jackson chalk bag. It's almost like a security blanket. Also make sure you bring plenty of chalk. An empty bag clipped to your harness doesn't to much good on a sweaty, slick day.
- Tape and nail clippers. I feel like way too many people overlook these two easy-to-bring items, and they make such a difference. I always feel more apt to really commit to finger-shredding moves when I know I have a roll of tape to bandage me up. Nothing squashes my confidence like the threat of climbing all day on a giant, unprotected flapper.
- A brush. In the south, things tend to get really moist, really fast. Having a brush around helps to keep holds pleasant. Note: Some areas are very delicate about brush use, and you should always be gentle with your brushing. Don't use metal brushes or anything that will have a negative impact on the rock.
If you're going on a bouldering trip, you'll need to tot along a few crash pads. For sport climbing excursions, you'll have quite a few more things added to the checklist: harness, quick draws, rope, extra runners, belay devices, etc.
Do you have a guidebook for the crags you'll be visiting? I have a few favorite climbing destinations that I could navigate blindfolded, but it's always great to be prepared with a guidebook. If you don't want to dish out the cash for a proper paper copy, the Mountain Project app is a great way to get around climbing areas.
6. What is a good amount to plan on spending aside from gas? Just in terms of food, emergencies, or other activities?
The amount you spend on your trip is totally up to you. During my six-week trip with Niko, I spent a total of $1400 – he only spent about $800.
I'm a big fan of eating out. I can only survive on canned corn beef hash for so long – eventually, I need to indulge in a big 'ole burrito. So naturally, my budget is a bit bulkier than Niko's. Figure out how you like to eat, especially how often you'd like to enjoy a meal that doesn't come out of a can or straight off a campfire. Making your own food is always the cheapest option.
As far as extra activities, planning ahead is the best bet for eliminating unexpected costs. Check out the recreational options you have at your trip destinations, and scope out the prices. Alternatively, you can set aside a specific amount of money that's fair game for anything that might catch your eye. Put aside $100, and spend it guilt-free when you see that $30 kayak rental on the side of a scenic river, or splurge on the $15 admission to a local music event.
Frankly, Niko and I rarely spend money on activities. We spend most of our trips climbing, which is usually free, and rarely feel compelled to do anything else that requires a fee. Hiking is a great way to spend a day without spending money, and if you can bring your bikes along, the possibilities for adventure are endless!
7. What items should be brought for any quick car repair emergencies?
My lady friend Jillian made a very good point about making sure to mention how incredibly important bungee cords and duct tape are.
I was driving out to Flagstaff, AZ in May, and during a very long and lonesome stretch of Texas nothingness, I struck a small black bear while traveling at 75 MPH. There were no lights around for miles, no people around for miles, and the closest town, Childress, was 30 miles away. The impact snapped my front bumper in half, and there were all sorts of plastic and metal parts dragging along the road. I had literally just unloaded my supply of bungee cords from my trunk right before the trip, so I had to rig up my car with just a single cord and a few strings from my tent. It was a mess. As soon as I was able to get a roll of duct tape and a few more bungee cords, I was golden.
So get yourself some bungee cords and duct tape! Those are truly the most valuable staples you can have, but there are a few more items I always travel with. Always keep a flashlight in your glovebox, and stash a knife somewhere safe. Aside from the obvious protective nature of a strong blade, it's always useful to have a tool with a sharp edge. I've used mine for everything from sawing through a thick rope to slicing a birthday cake.
Do you have anything you would add to these answers? Any must-see destinations from Virginia to California? How about some favorite crag suggestions? Sound off in the comments, and help Jordan make his adventure truly epic.
Safe travels, Jordan! Can't wait to hear all about your adventures.


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In this last Module, we will be discussing how to grow not just as a business owner but as a leader. One of the biggest realizations I had during my first year in business was learning that I had to keep my head up during times of fear and doubt, and it is something I still continue to work on. I have learned to recognize and accept when I am feeling fearful and to know that it's ok. Instead of running the other way from what scares me, I accept it and move through it. Business owners take risks, but leaders get uncomfortable and vulnerable a lot. You will absolutely have to get outside of your comfort zone to become successful.
It's an inevitable part of the entrepreneurial journey: you will experience the highest of the highs where you feel like you are on top of the world, then come crashing back down to earth when something doesn't go the way you plan. Understand that everything happens for a reason, and when things do not go well, it is important to take a deep breath (or a yoga session!), examine the situation, and get the appropriate help. Here are some of the ways to help you get through those moments of despair:
1. Appreciate your progress.
Take the time to appreciate where you are currently at and recognize what you have accomplished already. Treat mistakes not as an indicator of failure, but as a learning tool for knowing what to do better on next time.
2. Practice being positive.
A great practice to incorporate here is using only positive language. Language is a reflection of your beliefs so if it is always negative, then you will act and believe negatively. Disregard and ignore negative thoughts. Substitute them with constructive, happy thoughts. Every time a negative thought enters your mind, immediately replace it with a positive thought.
3. Daily gratitude.
A wonderful tool for handling stress and keeping positive is to write in a gratitude journal everyday. We highly recommend starting a journal for this whole journey, whether that be one that you write in, or just writing on a digital notepad.
Simply start writing in your journal once a week to celebrate what you have achieved for the week, whether they be big or small wins. When you get in the habit of celebrating even the smallest wins, you allow yourself to step into your spotlight and recognizing what you have already accomplished. Celebrating your wins, even if they are from mistakes, is what gives you confidence to continue trekking forward
People who regularly practice gratitude and take the time to notice and reflect upon the things they're thankful for will experience more positive emotions. You inevitably will get stressed as a business owner, so this is one of the best ways to stay grounded and reduce unnecessary stress. In addition to writing down your gratitude, but go back to reflect and resonate with what you have written weeks before. It will provide a new perspective on how far you have come.
Write down two lists where you recognize what you have accomplished thus far.
LIST 1: Wherever you are at in your private practice journey, write down all that you have accomplished as an RD that you are proud of. If you are just starting out, that may be even just passing the exam.
LIST 2: Write down where you envision yourself 5 years from now if you can build the career of your dreams.
4. Know what works best.
Understand what time of the day you do your most inspired work. For some, this is early morning when your mind is fresh. Avoid the frustration of working on big tasks when you are tired at the end of the day.
On the contrary, the evening once the day is winding down can be some people's most productive time. Use this time to reflect what you got done today, what the next steps are, and write out your next day's to-do list.
5. Your community.
It is so important to surround yourself with positive, rational people who can lift you up in your darkest moments. After all, you are the average of 5 people you spend the most time with.
6. Believe in yourself.
Confidence in yourself is everything, and that starts with trusting yourself that you are capable and competent in everything that you put your mind to. That is what will help you take big action, and knowing that making mistakes is what allows us to gain perspective and confidence.
7. Focus on your strengths and know your weaknesses.
Bringing your strengths to the forefront and facing your weaknesses must become a routine practice, as we discussed back in Module 1. This will help you stay confident in yourself as you continue to navigate through unfamiliar situations that will force you to grow.
8. Strive for fulfillment.
If you are spreading your passion and message, your job will bring you joy and it will be something you look forward to every single day. People remember the way you make them feel, not the way you look or not even always the things you tell them. You will feel fulfilled, by knowing that you are fulfilling other people's lives.


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Systems Development
Systems development as a research area covers research into how Information Technology (IT) systems are created in ways that are effective and efficient. The area investigates analysis, design, construction maintenance, processes, tools, and methods for systems development. In the HCC section, we focus on approaches to systems development with active stakeholder involvement and we integrate design-oriented and technology-oriented research. Our current focus is on participatory design, design interventions, prototyping, software architecture, software ecosystems, and software evolution.
Current research projects
Akhera – software architecture evolution of complex software systems
Recent research projects
The CITH project (2008-2013) focused on the treatment and telemonitoring of chronic heart failure patients with an advanced pacemaker (ICD) at the Heart Centre at Rigshospitalet and Bispebjerg Hospital. The project developed and tested web-based prototypes of patient-centered e-health applications and inter-institutional communication for clinicians.
The Net4Care project designed and created prototypes of an ecosystem for telemedicine applications in order to accelerate the development of and create a new market for healthcare services.
- Connect2Care
The Connect2Care project identified and developed open technical standards, with a special focus on ICT-based solutions in and around the home.
Completed PhD projects
- Manikas, K. 2015. Analyzing, Modelling, and Designing Software Ecosystems: Towards the Danish Telemedicine Software Ecosystem. Ph.D. thesis, Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen.
- Mønsted, T.S. 2012. Medical emplotment: Designing IT for distributed healthcare . Ph.D. thesis, Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen.
- Andersen, T.O. 2012. Prototyping a Collective: On ethnography, design, and use of a personal health record . Ph.D. thesis, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen.
- Moll, J. 2012. Prototyping Matters of Concern: On Productive Relations of Participatory Design and STS in Patient-Centered Healthcare . Ph.D. thesis, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen.
Konstantinos Manikas
People in Systems Development
Are you looking for a member of the group?


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Lexus Mechanic
Lexus Mechanic at Santa Cruz
Experienced, knowledgeable and trustworthy are traits that are essential in a mechanic for the best care for your Lexus. At Mick's Automotive, that is what you will get with each of our Lexus mechanics.
Long-Term Relationships with Lexus Owners
Each of our Lexus mechanics has performed repairs for many years. In addition to ASE Certification, continual Lexus training is also a requirement of our repair shop to ensure that our Lexus mechanics will perform the repairs and services at the highest level.
Whatever question you may have or any Lexus issue that concerns you, it will be fully addressed in detail. We want to make sure you understand every issue and every repair needed for your Lexus.
Our Lexus Mechanics/Technicians
- ASE-Certified
- Lexus diagnostic and repair training
- Experienced in old and new Lexus models
- Provide excellent customer service
Have Questions?
Schedule your service online or give us a call
No question is too big or too small. Please feel free to get in touch if you would like additional information regarding a service. Our team will be happy to assist.


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The new 'heavy duty' bag by Aeros is the best hang glider bag I've seen until now. It's cushioned, it doesn't flap at all and it's a rain bag. Yesterday I drove it through a rain front to get home and the glider was perfectly dry.
The weather improved on the final stretch:
As expected, we had the most beautiful post-frontal weather today. I could observe the clouds from my desk :-(


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The big news this week was supposed to be the announcement of the rosters for the Jordan Brand Classic.
Seven of the 20 players on the 2012 team for this year's Jordan game on April 14 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) appeared on at least one ballot in this week's ESPNHS Mr. Basketball USA Tracker.
That announcement was trumped by the news that center Nerlens Noel of The Tilton School (Tilton, N.H.) is returning to the 2012 class and intends to enter college this fall. Noel's decision to reclassify created a bigger firestorm when he was named the No. 1 prospect in the updated ESPNU 100 over Shabazz Muhammad of Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas).
Despite Noel's move, Muhammad remains the front-runner for national player of the year honors, as he amassed 94 points for the second consecutive week and was the only Mr. Basketball USA candidate to appear on all ten ballots. Muhammad will lead the Jordan Brand West team while his good friend Kyle Anderson of St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.), who garnered 76 points while appearing on nine ballots, headlines the East.
Noel moved up in this week's tracker, replacing guard Tyler Lewis of Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) in fourth place with 63 points. This week Noel is only two points behind Jabari Parker of Simeon (Chicago), the player in front of Noel in the ESPNU 60 prior to his re-classification.
Although his re-classification impacted this week's tracker, Noel's rise as a bonafide national player of the year candidate began well before his decision was made public.
In the preseason, Noel appeared on two ballots good for 10 points. His point total actually went down at the turn of the New Year (8 points), but a show-stopping performance at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass., turned up the heat on his candidacy. Following that event, Noel appeared on six ballots and scored 45 points to move up to fifth place. Last week, he added another point before gaining even more traction this week.
Despite Noel's ascension to the top of the ESPNU 100, the panel has made it clear he'll need more big performances on his resume to win Mr. Basketball USA. He wasn't on the original Jordan Brand roster, but will the McDonald's All-American Game be part of the equation?
Others Receiving Votes:
Katin Reinhardt (Mater Dei, Santa Ana,
Calif.) 19 pts. (3)
Perry Ellis (Wichita Heights, Wichita, Kan.) 16 pts. (3)
Grant Jerrett (La Verne Lutheran, La Verne, Calif.) 13 pts.
Jordan Adams (Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 9 pts.
Kris Dunn (New London, New London, Conn.) 9 pts. (1)
Anthony Bennett (Findlay Prep, Henderson, Nev.) 6 pts. (1)
Paige (Linn-Mar, Marion, Iowa) 6 pts. (1)
Alex Poythress (Northeast,
Clarksville, Tenn.) 6 pts. (1)
Gabe York (Orange Lutheran, Orange,
Calif.) 6 pts. (1)
Tyler Dorsey (Ribet Academy, Los Angeles, Calif.)
5 pts. (1)
Amile Jefferson (Friends' Central, Wynnewood, Pa.) 5 pts.
Kris Jenkins (Gonzaga, Washington, D.C.) 5 pts. (1)
Marcus LoVett Jr. (Providence, Burbank, Calif.) 4 pts. (1)
Okafor (Whitney Young, Chicago, Ill.) 4 pts. (1)
About ESPNHS Mr. Basketball Tracker Panel
ESPNHS' panel of 10 experts, which includes five McDonald's All-American selection committee members, casts its vote each week for the top national player of the year candidates. Each panelist lists the top seven candidates regardless of class. The votes are then tabulated on a 10-point scoring system with a first-place vote equaling 10 points, a second-place vote earning nine points and down to four points for a seventh-place vote. The number in parenthesis refers to the numbers of ballots on which a player appeared and previous rankings refers to position in previous tracker.