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A catering cart caused utter chaos at Chicago O'Hare International Airport Monday until an American Airlines employee saved the day.
Dr. Kevin Klauer, an osteopathic physician, caught video of the cart's crazy circular ride on the tarmac while waiting for his flight to Tennessee.
"At first it was humorous to see this drive itself and not fall over, but then as it picked up speed it presented danger to people," Klauer told CNN.
Video shows the cart spinning wildly in circles with food and trays scattered around it. Employees on the tarmac can be seen trying to approach the cart, but it's clear the cart is too out of control for them. It appears one employee was hit by the cart.
As the cart continues to spin, it gets closer to the nose of an airplane until an employee in another vehicle crashed into the cart to avoid catastrophe.
"Everyone was actually really quietly watching this unfold," Klauer said. "When it ended, the whole gatehouse erupted in applause."
American Airlines said in a statement that preliminary reports showed the cart's accelerator got stuck and caused the cart to lose control.
"No American Airlines team members were injured and the incident resulted in one 10-minute flight delay," American Airlines said in a statement. "We appreciate the quick action of our team member who stopped the vehicle."
Klauer uploaded the video on Twitter before his flight took off. By the time he landed in Knoxville, he said his phone had blown up with notifications from the thousands of notifications.


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What to Say Regarding Hard to Explain Aspects of Your Work History.
Read this article if you might have trouble explaining why you were out of work, staying at home or are changing careers.
Nobody's perfect. But nobody wants to hear about your problems and baggage either. Especially in the job interview. Some people's lives begin to sound like a Soap Opera because there have been so many extenuating circumstances. The following is some advice to handle those tricky situations when interviewing that may be difficult to talk about let alone explain.
Returning To The Workforce After An Extended Absence.
1. Be able to explain why you have decided that now is the time for you to return to the work force – why now?
Have a convincing statement about your goals or intentions of staying in the work force after being away for a period of time – this is best done by scripting and practicing your answer so that you feel confident saying it in the interview.
2. Make sure that you are up-to-date on changes that have occurred in your field in your absence.
This may entail taking a brush up class or course. It is important that you be able to show that you can "hit the ground running," particularly with so many candidates to choose from in this economy.
3. Do some research, using the internet to discover what is required in the type of position you are seeking.
Job postings are "wish lists" that employers put together in hopes of finding the perfect candidate. Use these postings to see what employers are seeking and make sure that your resume and your interview answers address the employer's "wishes."
4. Focus on your strengths – the skills that you have used in the past.
Think of five skills that you consider you do "best." If your strengths are in sync with the employer's wish list, emphasize your ability and past experiences using those skills to show that you have "been there and done that" and can do it again.
5. Send a follow up letter (or email) after the interview to remind the interviewer what you would bring to the position and to address any concerns that you may have picked up on during the interview.
Changing Careers And Have No Or Little Experience At The New Career.
1. When you change careers the focus will be on the "softer" skills – referred to as "transferable" or "portable" skills.
These skills include communication skills, ability to work with a diversity of people, ability to plan and organize, time management, etc.
2. Each candidate is unique. What makes you unique?
Think about your personality and your personal traits. One of the things that the interviewer is looking for is "someone to fit in" – who is likeable – who will work well with the other team members.
Personal traits could be the tie breaker between two equally qualified people. Think of at least five personal traits that make you unique – friendly, flexible, quick learner, reliable, responsible, easy to get along with.
3. Believe in yourself. Show confidence in the fact that you can do the job.
Any sales person will tell you that when you believe in your product and its reliability it will is far easier to sell and influence someone to buy.
4. Prepare five to ten questions to ask about the company.
It is also important to listen to what is said as a way to formulate other questions. If a certain topic, for example, "databases," has been brought up, be sure to ask questions about the database; the challenges and the problems with the database.
5. Prepare stories about your past experiences where you used similar skills that would be needed for the position you are interviewing for.
When you can show examples of past successes, you will have a better chance of showing the interviewer that you have used similar skills even if the job duties are different.
Moms Returning To Work After Time Off For Children.
1. It is very important to assess what you have to offer. Not just the skills required for the position, but the "added value" you can bring.
An example would be your ability to work with a diversity of people, or coordinate events without missing deadlines, or stay calm in the face of stress. These are all skills that most "mothers" can do without even breathing heavy.
Sometimes no matter how much you prepare for your job interview and how much you try you will receive a rejection – and not get the job.
When rejection comes, it may trigger old wounds from past life experiences. You may feel hurt or angry and fed up with the way you are being treated.
Instead of being stuck and feeling rejected, take back the power by staying proactive.
If you really wanted to work for that particular company, sit down and write a letter, stating how disappointed you were. Remind them of all the positive traits you could bring to the organization. Let them know that you are still interested in working for the company if something should change or open up.
Resilience is needed in today's job market. This is no place for "sissies" – be prepared to keep trying. Never give up and be sure to be prepared for those interviews.
Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Category: Healthcare Interview Questions

subset: commoncrawl


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We've all decided to "sleep on it" when confronted with a difficult choice to make, usually hoping that a good night's sleep and fresh perspective in the morning will make the decision a little easier. Well, one study from Lancaster University and published in the journal Memory and Cognition shows that sleeping on it really does help us tackle tough problems.
It may seem like common sense, but if you're struggling with a major decision or life change to ponder, trying to power through it and make it on the fly may not serve you as well as getting a good night's sleep and approaching the problem freshly the next day after a little rest. Here's what the researchers found:
We presented participants with a set of remote-associate tasks that varied in difficulty as a function of the strength of the stimuli–answer associations. After a period of sleep, wake, or no delay, participants reattempted previously unsolved problems. The sleep group solved a greater number of difficult problems than did the other groups, but no difference was found for easy problems. We conclude that sleep facilitates problem solving, most likely via spreading activation, but this has its primary effect for harder problems.
Essentially, when presented with difficult problems, people who tried to solve them immediately and those without rest fared worse than the people who had the opportunity to sleep on their answers and approach the problem again after sleeping. The researchers qualify the conclusion with the fact that this only worked for difficult problems—when it came to easy choices, sleep wasn't terribly beneficial (which makes sense—when's the last time you felt the need to sleep on it when faced with an easy problem to solve?)
So the next time you have a big choice to make, give yourself a day to sleep on it. If you want to read more about the methodology or the study results, the whole text is available for free at the link below.
Sleep On It, but Only If It Is Difficult: Effects of Sleep on Problem Solving | Memory and Cognition via SpringerLink
Photo by Africa Studio (Shutterstock).


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Welcome to ModLand.net - Gaming Mods Community
Here you can find thousands of user created content - many gaming mods, like custom vehicles, maps, also tutorials, cheats and news about the latest games! Choose the game you want to explore below, join our large and growing gaming social network, choose from our large collection of content and download modifications completely for free. Our user friendly system is designed for sharing, updating content and communicating with other content creators. Share your created game mods with everyone, connect with new people and find ideas to take your gaming experience to a completely new level.


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About Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 was launched in March 2017 that shipped with Android 7.1.1. The device is packed with a 6.3-inch and 6 GB RAM with Exynos 8895, Li-Po 3300 mAh battery, and 12 MP Camera.
Android 9 is Google's 9th version of Android update. Dr.Ketan ROM brings Android 9 support for Samsung Galaxy Note 8. The developer of the Dr.Ketan ROM for Samsung Galaxy Note 8 phone is dr.ketan.
Features on Android 9
Android 9 has many new features such as Adaptive Battery and Brightness, a better overview, a smatter battery, improved notifications, app actions, digital wellbeing, native touch support. The main highlight of this version is gesture-based navigation.
Android 9 also offers New Accessibility Menu, New Screenshot Shortcut, Enhanced Security Features, Quick and Easy Screen Rotation, Volume and Sound Enhancements, and more.
- Follow the instructions properly.
- For Custom ROM, a user has to install ADB Drivers – Windows | Mac.
- After that, install the TWRP.
- Your device should be 80% charge while doing this process.
How to install Dr.Ketan ROM For Samsung Galaxy Note 8
If you are facing any issue while installing then comment and ask your questions.
Source: XDA


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Yes, welcome to America, where shelf space once reserved for increasingly shitty bikes is now being re-allocated to plastic motorized cars larger than actual economy cars from the 1970s, and where the "Li'l Asshole™ My First SUV" is rapidly replacing the bicycle as the child's first experience with vehicular locomotion. If you've ever seen one of these rumble into the neighborhood playground and observed the shitshow that ensues as kids beat the crap out of each other over who gets to ride in it, you begin to understand the dick-waving "Me first!" clusterfuck that is is commuting and life in general. It's depressing, though I guess it's never too early to get Junior used to the American way of life, which is sitting on your rapidly-spreading ass and trolling for attention and respect behind the wheel of your bank-owned symbol of independence™ and freedom®.
Anyway, needless to say I bought six of those bad boys, and they're currently sitting in the garage of my McMansion with bows on them.
Of course, if you want a more "pussified" gift, you could always go with a hat:
Or a book and a hat, or even just a book, which is autographed by Yors Truley:
Yors Truley is of course the Swedish literary sensation and author of the Nobel prize-winning novel "Alla Ni Haters Suger Min Pung."
So give the gift of me, and with any luck we'll all manage to limp to the end of this year together and make it to 2014, at which point the whole sad cycle of slowly eroding optimism will begin anew.
Meanwhile, we got the snowing this weekend, and I managed to slip out for a bicycle cycling ride before the snowing really started to accumulate:
Years ago, back when this blog was worth reading, the above bicycle was assembled in this guise:
It was my everyday commuting bicycle, and for reasons I can't recall I referred to it as the "Ironic Orange Julius Bike." Then I hastily converted it into an approximation of a single-speed cyclocrossing bicycle for some race or another and that's the way it's been ever since. In the meantime, my Scattante (RIP) assumed the role of commuter:
Now I just do my best to avoid commuting.
Anyway, I maintain that a single-speed cyclocrossing bicycle, while fun, is just about the most useless bicycle it's possible to have--but, as it so happens, there's an utterly flat 25-mile unpaved trail that starts pretty much in my backyard and is virtually 100% Fred-free (though I did get bitten by a dog there), so who's useless now?
So the moral of the story is, always buy that cheap metal frame with canti studs, even if you can't put a derailleur on it, because if you've got an ample spare parts bin you can have fun with it about twenty different ways.
It's also worth noting that I'm getting old. Not too long ago I would only use the most tiny, pert, just-got-out-of-a-cold-pool saddlebags, and now look:
See that? I'm not even remotely self-conscious about riding around with the big, saggy, swaying, old-Jewish-man-in-a-steamroom saddlebag setup.
In ten more years it should be rubbing against my rear tire.
(The saddle bag, too.)
Oh, by the way, at no point while riding my single-speed cyclocrossing-inspired bicycle did I dress like a giant hot dog:
I'm just lame like that, what can I say?
Though I like to think I'm not as lame as a bike dressed as a table (or a table dressed as a bike, because what's the difference really, they're both equally useless) as forwarded by a reader:
Come Ride With Me
Take your table on a ride-along! Wherever the party might move, this innovative design rolls with the punches - and carries your cocktails in tandem. Made from a vintage bicycle and topped with panels of rustic wood, this bespoke table by Tyagi Schwartz uses a kickstand-inspired design to create a moveable statement piece. A warmly weathered seat and handlebar rise from the tabletop and the richly weathered finish brings industrial charm to any room. Made in Brooklyn, NY.
At this point, even Portland is like, "Fuck you, Brooklyn."
And lastly, while we wait to find out just how fucked cycling will be under our new mayor, our outgoing one is now going to outsource his urban planning to the rest of the world--for free:
And that includes our bike lane fairy, Janette Sadik-Khan:
Ms. Sadik-Khan, the transportation commissioner, said that mayors are routinely startled to learn how little money and staffing are required to create the bike lanes, pedestrian plazas and slower-speed zones that have remade New York City's streets under Mr. Bloomberg.
"You can make these changes quickly and inexpensively," she said, adding that "the success we've had here can be tailored and replicated in other places."
This is great news for all you other cities out there, and if you want lots and lots of green paint to ride on before you get run down by a motorist who is allowed to get away scot-free, you know who to call.
Throw in a bullshit bike table or two and you've got your own Brooklyn.
Good luck with that.


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Happy, Happy Bloggy Birthday to The Love Nerds!
One year ago today, I published my first ever blog tutorial for the Letter Wall in my office. I was terrified. Nervous. And also excited! I never guessed then how much would change in year. How far The Love Nerds would come as a blog and Etsy shop! Plus, I worked my first wedding and first party as an event coordinator.
I initially started writing as way to focus on positive things in my life - like crafting and cooking - while my health and job were a challenge. The Love Nerds was really a distraction at first. Who knew this little corner of the internet called The Love Nerds would become such a huge part of my life?! The people I have met online in the past year have been such an amazing source of inspiration and support for me, and I am eternally thankful to all of you! I have really enjoyed sharing my experiences with you, and I hope you will continue to stick around!
To thank all of you and to celebrate The Love Nerds 1st Bloggy Birthday, I and 19 of my amazing Blogging Friends are hosting a $250 PayPal Cash Giveaway!! How awesome is that?! Everyone could use a little extra money, whether it is to help with bills or just to treat yourself!
These ladies are so incredibly talented, and I am thankful they came on board for this! I want to take a moment to introduce them to you before we get to the giveaway.
ADVENTURES WITH JUDE Meg is a city girl from Philadelphia transplanted to a 19-acre farm in the Garden State of New Jersey. She started college wanting to be a pediatrician, but ultimately graduated with a BA in theater, a minor in English, and her best friend and husband, Neal. They have five children, all with special needs. She homeschools three of them between the pick up and drop off for two others, and blogs about their adventures at Adventures with Jude.
A DASH OF SANITY As a mother of five, daycare provider, and head chef/owner of Delectable Moments, a catering business I started four years ago, I've discovered ways to make life easier while maintaining great taste. And on occasion, I find solace in the adventure of a challenging recipe or the elevation of an experience with heartfelt touches and a bit of panache.
DESIGNED BY BH Hi! My name is Brooke, and I blog over at DesignedByBH. I'm a married 30-something living and working in the ATL while blogging about Crafts/DIY, Recipes/Food, all things Wedding, & our occasional adventures as new homeowners. A few years ago, my husband & I had a very "hands-on" wedding & when it was over there was a huge void in my previously very busy life! I've always loved to cook & craft & I loved working on my wedding so much that I decided to throw it all together in a blog! I've fallen in love with blogging & social media & can't wait to share a little bit of my love with you!
DOMESTIC BLISS SQUARED Hi! We're Hilary and Jessica, & we're the two sister-in-laws who together run the diy/lifestyle blog Domestic Bliss Squared! We've known each other for over 10 years, since Hilary started dating Jessica's husband's younger brother. It wasn't until the birth of our daughters (9 weeks apart!) though that we became best friends. After 4 years we decided that we needed an outlet for our mutual love of crafts, cooking, sewing, & fashion, & our bloggy baby was born. In January of 2013 a dream came true for both of us! Jessica's family relocated to Boise, ID, where Hilary was living with her family! Now we live a mile apart after years of long distance friendship & we run our blog together in person from our living rooms & local coffee shop!
THE HAPPY HOUSIE The Happy Housie is a blog about all things housie (DIY, decorating, crafts, organizing, and making old things new). As an adult I realize that there is no such thing as a "dream" home and that every home we have lived in (four in twelve years) becomes our "dream" home when we add our own imprint upon it. HOME isn't built in a day...so you should enjoy the journey.
LITTE MISS CELEBRATION I'm Cindy from Little Miss Celebration! Just like the old Kool and the Gang song (ok, I'm dating myself!) there's a party going on right here…a celebration to last throughout the year! Whatever YOU are celebrating, we are going to "craft" together all of the things that will kick your special moments into high gear and make every celebration an experience that's amazing, memorable and awesome!
LOVE, PASTA, and a TOOL BELT Hi I'm Emily and I blog at Love, Pasta and a Tool Belt. I love to share recipes, DIY projects and talk about my favorite TV Shows. My husband and I recently bought a new to us house and are remodeling it and sharing our adventures as we go. I'm so happy to be here helping Maggie celebrate her blogiversary. I hope you will stop by the blog and say hello!
MY 30 BEST FRIENDS We have one thing in common, a January 2009 due date, and we've been supporting each other and laughing together online for over 5 years now. In January of 2014 we decided to start a blog that showcases our diversity and our commitment to being kind...no mommy or women-shaming with us! Join us for some fun, some informative and some advice...hey, we have 188 kids between us!
ON A WING AND A PRAYER On A Wing And A Prayer is a window into my world where I share everything from crafts to recipes to natural health care solutions and much much more. Promoting the wonderful therapeutic and medicinal uses of doTERRA essential oils is why I became an Independent Product Consultant. There's an oil for that!
SPINDLES DESIGNS BY MAGS AND MARY Spindles Designs is our Mother - Daughters blog where we share all of our creative adventures. We love crafts, quilting/sewing, and cooking. Family motto: You don't have to be crazy to be part of our family but it certainly does help.
THAT'S MY HOME Hi, I'm Mary Ellen! Everyone has something they do well and for me, it's cooking and baking. Cooking has been a passion for me for many years now and I would like to share my adventure of cooking with you. My hope is that you will find recipes that will be to your liking, recipes that could be served at a family outing, when friends come to visit, holiday time or any time of day.
Now, let's celebrate! Good luck to all of you!! a Rafflecopter giveaway


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You're on the bus, and one of the only free seats is next to you. How, and why, do you stop another passenger sitting there? New research reveals the tactics commuters use to avoid each other, a practice the paper published in Symbolic Interaction describes as 'non-social transient behaviour.'
The study was carried out by Esther Kim, from Yale University, who chalked up thousands of miles of bus travel to examine the unspoken rules and behaviour of commuters.
Over three years Kim took coach trips across the United States. Kim's first trip, between Connecticut and New Mexico, took two days and 17 hours, and this was followed by further adventures from California to Illinois, Colorado to New York, and Texas to Nevada.
"We live in a world of strangers, where life in public spaces feels increasingly anonymous," said Kim. "However, avoiding other people actually requires quite a lot of effort and this is especially true in confined spaces like public transport."
Kim found that the greatest unspoken rule of bus travel is that if other seats are available you shouldn't sit next to someone else. As the passengers claimed, "It makes you look weird." When all the rows are filled and more passengers are getting aboard the seated passengers initiate a performance to strategically avoid anyone sitting next to them.
"I became what's known as an experienced traveller and I jotted down many of the different methods people use to avoid sitting next to someone else," said Kim. "We engage in all sorts of behaviour to avoid others, pretending to be busy, checking phones, rummaging through bags, looking past people or falling asleep. Sometimes we even don a 'don't bother me face' or what's known as the 'hate stare'."
The best advice from Kim's fellow passengers was:
- Avoid eye contact with other people
- Lean against the window and stretch out your legs
- Place a large bag on the empty seat
- Sit on the aisle seat and turn on your iPod so you can pretend you can't hear people asking for the window seat.
- Place several items on the spare seat so it's not worth the passenger's time waiting for you to move them.
- Look out the window with a blank stare to look crazy
- Pretend to be asleep
- Put your coat on the seat to make it appear already taken
- If all else fails, lie and say the seat has been taken by someone else
"This all changes however when it is announced that the bus will be full so all seats should be made available," Kim observed. "The objective changes, from sitting alone to sitting next to a 'normal' person."
Kim found that race, class, gender and other background characteristics were not key concerns for commuters when they discovered someone had to sit next them. They all just wanted to avoid the "crazy person."
"One rider told me the objective is just 'getting through the ride', and that I should avoid fat people who may sweat more and so may be more likely to smell," said Kim. "Motivating this non-social behaviour is the fact that one's own comfort level is the rider's key concern, rather than the backgrounds of fellow passengers."
Kim found that this non-social behaviour is also driven by safety concerns, especially for coach travel which is perceived to be dangerous with ill lit bus stations. Kim also found that passengers expected each other to be jaded by delays or other inconveniences.
"In a cafe, which is more relaxed, people often ask strangers to watch their stuff for a moment," said Kim. "Yet at bus stations that rarely happens as people assume their fellow passengers will be tired and stressed out."
"Ultimately this non-social behaviour is due to the many frustrations of sharing a small public space together for a lengthy amount of time," concluded Kim. "Yet this deliberate disengagement is a calculated social action, which is part of a wider culture of social isolation in public spaces."


text:
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Select Country Select Country Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas, The Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo (Democratic Republic of) Congo (Republic of) Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic East Timor Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Polynesia Gabon Gambia, The Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Ivory Coast Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Korea, North Korea, South Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Monténégro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Reunion Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino San Marteen (French Part) Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia SÒo TomÚ and PrÝncipe South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands (British) Virgin Islands, British Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Select Current Network Select Current Network IMEI Number:
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text:
Clouds of dust belched from the corners of almost every room in Joe Reneau's house as the biggest earthquake in Oklahoma history rocked the two-story building.
A roar that sounded like a jumbo jet filled the air, and Reneau's red-brick chimney collapsed and fell into the roof above the living room. By the time the shaking stopped, a pantry worth of food had been strewn across the kitchen and shards of glass and pottery covered the floor.
"It was like WHAM!" said Reneau, 75, gesturing with swipes of his arms. "I thought in my mind the house would stand, but then again, maybe not."
The magnitude 5.6 earthquake and its aftershocks still had residents rattled Sunday.
Two minor injuries were reported from Saturday's quakes by the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, which said neither person was hospitalized. And, aside from a buckled highway and the collapse of a tower on the St. Gregory's University administration building in Shawnee, no major damage was reported.
But the weekend earthquakes were among the strongest yet in a state that has seen a dramatic, unexplained increase in seismic activity.
Oklahoma typically had about 50 earthquakes a year until 2009. Then the number spiked, and 1,047 quakes shook the state last year, prompting researchers to install seismographs in the area. Still, most of the earthquakes have been small.
Saturday night's big one jolted Oklahoma State University's stadium shortly after the No. 3 Cowboys defeated No. 17 Kansas State. Fans were still leaving the game.
"That shook up the place, had a lot of people nervous," Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon said.
The temblor sent Jesse Richards' wife running outside because she thought their home was going to collapse. The earthquake centered near their home in Sparks, 44 miles northeast of Oklahoma City, could be felt throughout the state and in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, northern Texas and some parts of Illinois and Wisconsin.
Richards estimated it lasted for as much as a minute. One of his wife's cookie jars fell on the floor and shattered, and pictures hanging in their living room were knocked askew.
"We've been here 18 years, and it's getting to be a regular occurrence," said Richards, 50. But, he added, "I hope I never get used to them."
Geologists now believe a magnitude 4.7 earthquake Saturday morning was a foreshock to the bigger one that followed that night. They recorded at least 10 aftershocks by midmorning Sunday and expected more. Two of the aftershocks, at 4 a.m. and 9 a.m., were big, magnitude 4.0.
"We will definitely continue to see aftershocks, as we've already seen aftershocks from this one," said Paul Earle, a seismologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Golden, Colo. "We will see aftershocks in the days and weeks to come, possibly even months."
Brad Collins, the spokesman for St. Gregory's University in Shawnee, said one of the four towers on its "castle-looking" administration building collapsed in the big earthquake and the other three towers were damaged. He estimated the towers were about 25 feet tall.
"We definitely felt it," Collins said. "I was at home, getting ready for bed and it felt like the house was going to collapse. I tried to get back to my kids' room and it was tough to keep my balance, I could hardly walk."
Scientists are puzzled by the recent seismic activity. It appeared the latest quake occurred on the Wilzetta fault, but researchers may never know for sure. Earthquakes that hit east of the Rocky Mountains are harder to pinpoint because the fault systems are not as well studied as major faults like the San Andreas in California.
Arkansas also has seen a big increase in earthquake activity, which residents have blamed on injection wells. Natural gas companies engaged in hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, use fluid to break apart shale and rock to release natural gas. Injection wells then dispose of the fluid by injecting it back into the ground.
There are 181 injection wells in the Oklahoma county where most of the weekend earthquakes happened, said Matt Skinner, spokesman for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, which oversees oil and gas production in the state and intrastate transportation pipelines.
But natural gas companies claim there is no proof of a connection between injection wells and earthquakes, and a study released earlier this year by an Oklahoma Geological Survey seismologist seems to back that up. It found most of the state's seismic activity didn't appear to be tied to the wells, although more investigation was needed.
"It's a real mystery," seismologist Austin Holland of the Oklahoma Geological Survey said of the recent shaking.
"At this point, there's no reason to think that the earthquakes would be caused by anything other than natural" shifts in the Earth's crust, Holland said.
Earle said he couldn't comment on the relationship between fracking, injection wells and earthquakes.
Most Oklahoma residents still see earthquakes as anomalies in a state more often damaged by tornadoes. Roger Baker, 52, laughed at the idea of buying earthquake insurance, although the weekend quakes left a 6-foot-long crack several inches deep his yard in Sparks.
"It's just a part of life," he said.
Prague resident Mark Treat, 52, was at the Dollar General store Sunday, buying paper towels in bulk, garbage bins and a broom and mop to begin cleaning up his home. He said the quake hit hard enough to knock dishes, lamps and a TV to the ground and overturn a chest of drawers.
"It busted up a lot of stuff," Treat said. "I can't believe it only was a 5.6."


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Google Map Maker Pulse
Google have released a map showing in real-time edits being made to Google Maps using Google Map Maker.
Google Map Maker allows anyone to edit or add features such as roads, businesses, parks, schools and more to Google Maps. Contributions on Map Maker are used to improve the accuracy of Google Maps.
This real-time map animates to the latest contributions made on Map Maker, showing the location updated in satellite view. The map also displays the name of the contributor and the type of edit or addition made to the map.
(update: Pulse seems to have quickly become a dead page - hopefully it will be back up soon)


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There is no denying the importance of keeping your carpet clean. As you browse around, you will find numerous services offering carpet cleaning services. Each service competes with the others in offering affordable and effective cleaning services. A lot of add-on services are offered by these services for an extra fee and it is up to the customer to determine whether they want to spend on pricey services.
At Hippo Cleaning Services (AKA:Carpet Cleaning Chevy Chase) we believe in honesty and fair pricing, so we can match any offer you get and provide a full refund policy
Dry cleaning method is used by most of the carpet cleaning services as it does not involve rinsing and the carpet remains dry. Steam cleaning involves using liquid to clean the carpets. Carpets take a longer time to dry. If you want to opt for dry cleaning method, you may have to pay more. If you are not in a hurry, you can save on this extra cost.
Hippo Cleaning Services offers Eco cleaning options. We offer optimum protection for your carpet and environment by using gentle cleansing agents that are toxin-free. This service comes at free of charge and is recommended if you have small children or a family member prone to allergies.
Depending on where the carpet is placed and the amount of traffic in that area, it may accumulate a lot of dust and dirt. Hippo Cleaning Services offers a special shield guard that ensures that the carpets do not gather dirt fast. You can avail of this special service that comes at an extra cost based on factors such as the amount of traffic in the area where the carpet is and your affordability.


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Before we start talking about the insanity of what almost amounts to deep-fried guacamole, let's talk about safety.
Because there are some things you shouldn't do on a school night. Like drinking most of a bottle of wine all by yourself.
And then come the things that you shouldn't do after drinking most of a bottle of wine yourself on a school night. Like getting anywhere near an open flame and hot, splattering oil.
But there is one thing that you should totally do with hot, splattering oil when you have all of your fine motor skills about you so you probably won't burn yourself 4 times in 10 minutes (how am I even still alive?): Make these Grilled Pineapple & Avocado Eggrolls.
Several years back, I made a clone of the Cheesecake Factory Eggroll recipe. It was… work. There was cream cheese and sundried tomatoes in the filling with the avocado and I've always found that kind of an odd combo. Although I will totally dominate a plate without complaint and call it dinner once a year.
And then the sauce had a couple new-to-me ingredients that were pricey and ended up going to waste because what else was I supposed to do with the rest of a $12 jar of tamarind paste? You know, besides not buy it in the first place.
But the one thing that recipe did get right? Wrapping chunky avocado in a thin, crispy fried shell. It's basically fried guacamole. And it's not at all hard to accomplish.
I basically made an extra chunky version of my very favorite guacamole, which is loaded with sweet and smokey cubes of grilled pineapple, wrapped that up in an eggroll wrapper, and fried for ~1 minute on each side. The dipping sauce was a crudely-measured, raid-the-pantry combination of soy sauce, honey, garlic, red pepper, and cilantro. Sweet, salty, savory, and slightly spicy all in a single bite.
And my poor burned fingertips (WHY DIDN'T I USE TONGS) have nearly completely healed.
Grilled Pineapple and Avocado Eggrolls
Avocado and juicy grilled pineapple are served inside crispy eggrolls.
- For the eggrolls:
- Oil for cooking (enough to be ~1-inch deep in your pan)
- 4 small avocados, diced
- 2 rings grilled pineapple, diced*
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
- 1 jalapeno pepper, diced
- Juice of 1 lime
- Salt
- 1 pkg (16 count) eggroll wrappers
- Small bowl of water
- For the sauce:
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp orange juice
- 2 Tbsp honey
- Generous pinch of red pepper flakes
- 1 minced clove garlic
- 1 Tbsp minced cilantro
- *If you aren't working with leftover pineapple, remove the husk, slice into ~1/2-inch thick rings, and place on a preheated grill.
- Cook ~4-5 minutes each side until nicely caramelized.
- Pour cooking oil into a pan and heat over medium high.
- In a large bowl, toss the avocado, pineapple. salt, lime juice, red onion, and pepper together.
- Lay a single wrapper on your work surface, dip your fingers in the water, and lightly moisten all four the edges of the wrapper.
- Place ~3 Tbsp of filling onto your eggroll wrapper and roll (I didn't get photos buy you can see the step by step here.
- Working with 3-4 eggrolls at a time, place them in the heated oil (it should sizzle with a drop of water) and fry ~1 minutes each side, until golden brown.
- Remove to a paper-towel lined plate and serve hot.
- To make the dipping sauce, whisk all ingredients together.
Yields: 16 servings
Estimated time: 40 minutes


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Download & Other Tools
Download & Other Tools
- Definition: Percentage of responses by public school staff on the extent to which they agree students at their school are well behaved, by type of school (e.g., in 2017-2019, 17.4% of responses by high school staff in California reported strong agreement that students at their school were well behaved).
- Data Source: WestEd, California School Staff Survey. California Dept. of Education (Mar. 2021).
- Footnote: Years presented comprise two school years (e.g., 2017-18 and 2018-19 school years are shown as 2017-2019). Data are unweighted. K-12 schools are classified according to the grade levels with greatest enrollment (e.g., schools with more students in the elementary grades than in the middle or high school grades are classified as elementary schools). Students in non-traditional programs are those enrolled in community day schools or continuation education. The notation S refers to data that have been suppressed because (a) there were fewer than 5 respondents in that group, or (b) the sample was too small to be representative. N/A means that data are not available.
Learn More About Children's Emotional Health
- Measures of Children's Emotional Health on Kidsdata.org
Kidsdata.org provides the following indicators of children's emotional health:
- The number and rate of hospital discharges for mental health issues among children and youth ages 5-19, by age group
- The percentage of California and U.S. children ages 3-17 with behavioral or mental health conditions (attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety problems, behavioral or conduct problems, or depression), along with the share of those who have received mental health treatment or counseling in the previous year
- The percentage of students with depression-related feelings (i.e., being so sad or hopeless every day for two weeks or more that they stop doing some usual activities) in the previous year, by grade level (7, 9, 11, and non-traditional), gender, level of school connectedness,* parent education level, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation
- The percentage of youth ages 12-17 needing help in the previous year for emotional or mental health problems, and, in California and Los Angeles County, the share of those receiving counseling
- The percentage of reports by school staff on their level of agreement that students are well behaved, the extent to which student depression or other mental health issues are a problem, and their level of agreement that helping students with emotional and behavioral problems is emphasized at their school, by type of school (elementary, middle, high, and non-traditional)
Data on student depression-related feelings come from the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS). State-level CHKS estimates, although derived from the Biennial State CHKS, may differ from data published in Biennial State CHKS reports due to differences in grade-level classification of students in continuation high schools.
*Levels of school connectedness are based on a scale created from responses to five questions about feeling safe, close to people, and a part of school, being happy at school, and about teachers treating students fairly. -
- Children's Emotional Health
- Hospitalizations for Mental Health Issues, by Age Group
- Children with Behavioral or Mental Health Conditions (California & U.S. Only)
- Depression-Related Feelings, by Grade Level
- Youth Needing Help for Emotional or Mental Health Problems
- Students at School Are Well Behaved (Staff Reported)
- Student Depression or Mental Health Is a Problem at School (Staff Reported)
- School Emphasizes Helping Students with Emotional and Behavioral Problems (Staff Reported)
- Bullying and Harassment at School
- Pupil Support Services
- Number of Pupil Support Service Personnel, by Type of Personnel
- Ratio of Students to Pupil Support Service Personnel, by Type of Personnel
- School Provides Adequate Counseling and Support Services for Students (Staff Reported)
- School Provides Services for Substance Abuse or Other Problems (Staff Reported)
- School Collaborates with Community Organizations to Address Youth Problems (Staff Reported)
- School Climate
- School Connectedness (Student Reported), by Grade Level
- School Supports (Student Reported), by Grade Level
- Caring Relationships with Adults at School (Student Reported), by Grade Level
- High Expectations from Adults at School (Student Reported), by Grade Level
- Meaningful Participation at School (Student Reported), by Grade Level
- Adults at School Care About Students (Staff Reported)
- Adults at School Believe in Student Success (Staff Reported)
- School Welcomes and Facilitates Parent Involvement (Staff Reported)
- School Gives Students Opportunities to Make a Difference (Staff Reported)
- School Fosters Youth Resilience or Asset Promotion (Staff Reported)
- Students Respect Each Other's Differences (Staff Reported)
- Cultural or Racial/Ethnic Tension at School (Staff Reported)
- Deaths
- Hospital Use
- Youth Suicide and Self-Inflicted Injury
- Injuries
- Why This Topic Is Important
Emotional health is an integral part of overall health, as physical and mental well being are intricately linked (1, 2). Mental wellness—which is more than the absence of disorders—includes effective coping skills and the ability to form positive relationships, to adapt in the face of difficulties, and to function well at home, in school, and in life (1). Emotional development is influenced by complex biological and social factors, with early positive and adverse experiences in relationships and environments being particularly profound (1, 2). Sound emotional health prepares young people for the challenges of growing up and living as healthy adults (1).
Most mental health disorders emerge before age 24, and the prevalence of such disorders is on the rise, affecting as many as one in five U.S. children and youth each year (1, 2). Suicide has become the second leading cause of death among youth ages 10-24 nationwide (2). Treatment of mental illness is costly and accounts for the largest share of health care spending for children and youth in the U.S. (1, 3). Still, the majority of young people who need mental health treatment do not receive it, placing them at increased risk for negative outcomes throughout their lifetimes (1, 2).
Anxiety disorders are the most commonly diagnosed mental health conditions among youth, affecting an estimated 32% of U.S. adolescents (1). Depression-related feelings also are common, with 42% of high school students nationwide in 2021 estimated to have had persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the previous year, up from 28% in 2011 (4). Youth with anxiety, depression, or other mental health problems are more likely to exhibit suicidal behavior, drop out of school, use alcohol or drugs, and engage in unsafe sexual activity, in addition to having difficulties with school and relationships (1, 4).For more information, see kidsdata.org's Research & Links section.
Sources for this narrative:
1. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2019). Fostering healthy mental, emotional, and behavioral development in children and youth: A national agenda. National Academies Press. Retrieved from: https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/25201/fostering-healthy-mental-emotional-and-behavioral-development-in-children-and-youth
2. Meschan Foy, J., et al. (2019). Mental health competencies for pediatric practice. Pediatrics, 144(5), e20192757. Retrieved from: https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/144/5/e20192757/38256/Mental-Health-Competencies-for-Pediatric-Practice
3. Dickson, K. S., et al. (2020). Defining and predicting high cost utilization in children's outpatient mental health services. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 47(5), 655-664. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7202946
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Youth Risk Behavior Survey: Data summary and trends report 2011-2021. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/yrbs_data_summary_and_trends.htm - How Children Are Faring
There were 37,787 hospital discharges for mental health issues among California young people ages 5-19 in 2020: 12,719 for children ages 5-14 and 25,068 for teens ages 15-19. After peaking at 5.8 hospitalizations per 1,000 youth ages 5-19 in 2019—a two-thirds increase compared with 2007—the statewide rate of mental health hospitalization fell to 4.8 per 1,000 in 2020.
According to 2017-2021 data collected from parents and caregivers, an estimated 12% of California children ages 3-17 had one or more provider-diagnosed mental health conditions—attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety problems, behavioral or conduct problems, or depression—at the time of survey. Just over half of these children (52%) had received mental health treatment or counseling in the previous year, while the remainder were reported as either not needing services or not receiving the services they needed. By comparison, nationwide, 17% of children had diagnosed conditions, with a similar share (53%) receiving treatment or counseling in the previous year.
In 2017-2019, an estimated 30% of 7th graders, 33% of 9th graders, 37% of 11th graders, and 32% of non-traditional students in California experienced depression-related feelings in the previous year (meaning they felt so sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks or more that they stopped doing some usual activities). Depression-related feelings were more common among female students and those with low levels of school connectedness. More than 67% of gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth had experienced depression-related feelings in 2017-2019, compared with fewer than 30% of their straight peers.When asked whether their school emphasizes helping students with emotional and behavioral problems, 37% of responses by elementary school staff, 33% of responses by middle school staff, 29% of responses by high school staff, and 50% of responses by staff at non-traditional schools reported strong agreement in 2017-2019. - Policy Implications
Youth emotional health problems and hospitalizations have been increasing in recent years, statewide and nationally (1, 2, 3). The vast majority of mental health problems begin before age 24, making childhood and adolescence a critical period for preventing disorders and promoting mental wellness (1). Screening, early identification, and treatment are critical, as untreated mental illness can disrupt children's development, education, and their ability to lead healthy, productive lives (1, 4, 5). Health care and school settings are natural places to identify early warning signs and connect children to services, although barriers exist such as lack of time and training among primary care providers and school staff (1, 4). Even when mental health problems are identified, most children who need treatment do not receive it, often due to factors related to administrative or insurance obstacles, cost, stigma, or shortage of providers (4). Policymakers and other leaders can work to improve systems so that all children with mental health problems are identified early and receive appropriate, timely services.
Social conditions and practices—such as poverty and systemic racism—and relationships and environments at home, school, and in the community influence children's emotional health (1). Policymakers can promote emotional wellness by prioritizing policies and cross-sector strategies that strengthen protective factors and provide stable, positive environments for children and families (1, 6).
Policy and practice options that could promote children's emotional health include:- Aligning mental health funding with what is known about the age of onset of disorders, groups at higher risk of mental illness (such as children in foster care and LGBTQ youth, among others), and effective strategies integrating mental health, health care, education, child welfare, juvenile justice, and other systems (1)
- Promoting strategies to expand mental health services at schools, maximizing Medi-Cal and other existing funding streams (1, 2, 3)
- Training school staff to recognize signs of mental distress and connect students with appropriate services; school practices should be trauma informed, culturally sensitive, and promote a safe and supportive environment for all students (2, 7)
- Supporting schools in creating positive school climates in which students feel valued and engaged, and can develop problem-solving and self-regulation skills as part of a comprehensive approach to social-emotional learning (1, 2, 8)
- Investing in community efforts—especially in under-resourced areas—to provide youth with positive experiences, relationships, and opportunities, such as quality after-school and summer programs (2)
- Promoting the use of primary care settings to prevent and address emotional health problems; as part of this, increasing consistency of mental health screenings in pediatric practice, expanding trauma-informed training for medical residents and pediatricians, and improving multidisciplinary coordination of services (1, 4)
- Expanding and diversifying the workforce of qualified mental health professionals serving youth, e.g., school counselors, social workers, and psychologists (1, 8)
- Supporting efforts to promote parents' mental health and positive parenting skills, increasing mental health screenings for caregivers, and expanding family support services, such as home visiting and mental health treatment as needed (1, 9)
- Improving access to high-quality early childhood education programs, especially for children experiencing poverty or other disadvantage, and ensuring that staff are trained on social-emotional learning (1, 2)
- Promoting proactive social policies and investments to address structural inequities and strengthen economic support for families (1, 6)
- Supporting public education to raise awareness of the importance of children's emotional health, reduce the stigma associated with mental health problems, and increase knowledge of warning signs and how to seek help (1)
For more on this topic, see kidsdata.org's Research & Links section. Also see Policy Implications under the following kidsdata.org topics: Childhood Adversity and Resilience, School Climate, and Youth Suicide and Self-Inflicted Injury.
Sources for this narrative:
1. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2019). Fostering healthy mental, emotional, and behavioral development in children and youth: A national agenda. National Academies Press. Retrieved from: https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/25201/fostering-healthy-mental-emotional-and-behavioral-development-in-children-and-youth
2. Children Now. (2023). 2023 pro-kid policy agenda for California. Retrieved from: https://www.childrennow.org/portfolio-posts/the-2023-pro-kid-policy-agenda
3. Briscoe, A., et al. (n.d.). Practical guide for financing social, emotional, and mental health in schools. California Children's Trust & Breaking Barriers. Retrieved from: https://cachildrenstrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/cct-practicalguide-final-v2.pdf
4. Meschan Foy, J., et al. (2019). Mental health competencies for pediatric practice. Pediatrics, 144(5), e20192757. Retrieved from: https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/144/5/e20192757/38256/Mental-Health-Competencies-for-Pediatric-Practice
5. World Health Organization. (n.d.). Improving the mental and brain health of children and adolescents. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/activities/improving-the-mental-and-brain-health-of-children-and-adolescents
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Essentials for childhood: Creating safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments for all children. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/childabuseandneglect/essentials
7. Joshi, S. V., et al. (n.d.). K-12 toolkit for mental health promotion and suicide prevention. HEARD Alliance. Retrieved from: https://www.heardalliance.org/help-toolkit
8. Whitaker, A., et al. (n.d.). Cops and no counselors: How the lack of school mental health staff is harming students. American Civil Liberties Union. Retrieved from: https://www.aclu.org/issues/juvenile-justice/school-prison-pipeline/cops-and-no-counselors
9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Mental health of children and parents—a strong connection. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/features/mental-health-children-and-parents.html - Research & Links
- Websites with Related Information
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Mental Health Initiatives
- Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development. University of Colorado Boulder.
- California Children's Trust
- Center on the Developing Child. Harvard University.
- Child Mind Institute
- Child Trends: Mental Health
- Children's Mental Health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Evidence-Based Practices Resource Center. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
- HEARD Alliance (Health Care Alliance for Response to Adolescent Depression)
- National Child Traumatic Stress Network. UCLA & Duke University.
- National Institute of Mental Health: Child and Adolescent Mental Health
- National Training and Technical Assistance Center for Child, Youth, and Family Mental Health. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
- Project Cal-Well. California Department of Education.
- Stanford Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing. Stanford Medicine.
- What is Mental Health? Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
- Young Minds Advocacy
- Youth.gov. Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs.
- Key Reports and Research
- 2024 California Children's Report Card. Children Now.
- An Update on the Portrait of Promise: Demographic Report on Health and Mental Health Equity in California. (2020). California Dept. of Public Health, Office of Health Equity.
- Behavioral Health Barometer (Vol. 5) (2019). Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
- Children's Mental Health and the Life Course Model: A Virtual Workshop Series. (2020). National Academies Press. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
- Children's Mental Health Report. Child Mind Institute.
- Coverage of Services to Promote Children's Mental Health: Analysis of State and Insurer Non-Compliance with Current Federal Law. (2020). Well Being Trust. Counts, N. Z., et al.
- Fostering Healthy Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Development in Children and Youth: A National Agenda. (2019). National Academies Press. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
- Improving Behavioral Health Care for Children in California: A Call to Action. (2019). California Children's Hospital Association.
- Mental and Behavioral Health: NSCH Data Brief. (2020). Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
- Mental Health and Substance Use Considerations Among Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic. (2021). Kaiser Family Foundation. Panchal, N., et al.
- Need for Long-Term Strategies to Address Children's Mental Health Underscored by COVID-19 Era. (2022). JAMA Health Forum. Butler, S. M.
- Practical Guide for Financing Social, Emotional, and Mental Health in Schools. California Children's Trust & Breaking Barriers. Briscoe, A., et al.
- Prevalence and Treatment of Depression, Anxiety, and Conduct Problems in U.S. Children. (2019). The Journal of Pediatrics. Ghandour, R. M., et al.
- Receipt of Behavioral Health Services Among U.S. Children and Youth with Adverse Childhood Experiences or Mental Health Symptoms. (2021). JAMA Network Open. Finkelhor, D., et al.
- Social and Emotional Learning. (2017). The Future of Children.
- The California Children's Trust Initiative: Financing New Approaches to Achieve Child Well-Being. (2019). California Children's Trust & Children Now.
- The State of Mental Health in America. Mental Health America.
- County/Regional Reports
- 2023 California County Scorecard of Children's Well-Being. Children Now.
- Annual Report on the Conditions of Children in Orange County. Orange County Children's Partnership.
- Community Health Improvement Plan for Los Angeles County. Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Health.
- Key Indicators of Health by Service Planning Area. (2017). Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Health.
- Live Well San Diego Report Card on Children, Families, and Community. The Children's Initiative.
- Orange County Community Indicators Report. Orange County Business Council, et al.
- San Mateo County All Together Better. San Mateo County Health.
- Santa Clara County Children's Data Book. Santa Clara County Office of Education, et al.
- Santa Monica Youth Wellbeing Report Card. Santa Monica Cradle to Career.
- Youth Need Data. Get Healthy San Mateo County.
- More Data Sources For Children's Emotional Health
- 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health. Trevor Project.
- California Health Interview Survey. UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
- California School Climate, Health, and Learning Surveys Public Dashboards. WestEd & California Dept. of Education.
- Health, United States – Data Finder. National Center for Health Statistics.
- Mental Health Data and Statistics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). UNC Carolina Population Center.
- National Survey of Children's Health. Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Data. U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.
- Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Dirty Harry
When a madman dubbed 'Scorpio' terrorizes San Francisco, hard-nosed cop, Harry Callahan – famous for his take-no-prisoners approach to law enforcement – is tasked with hunting down the psychopath. Harry eventually collars Scorpio in the process of rescuing a kidnap victim, only to see him walk on technicalities. Now, the maverick detective is determined to nail the maniac himself.
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About this game
On a race track, it's the car that makes all the difference. In a rally, it's the driver. WRC 6 puts you to the test: fog, mud, punctures, night racing, engine breakdowns... you have to deal with it all. WRC 6 also includes: all of the official 2016 content, including Rally China, 11 Super Special Stages on a 1:1 scale, local split-screen multiplayer, worldwide leaderboards and new online challenges every week, all the designated cars and courses in very high definition, two brand new modes, even more spectacular game cameras and free access to the entire 2017 eSports WRC!


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"A Latter-day Saint Perspective on Muhammad," Ensign, Aug. 2000, 51
A Latter-day Saint Perspective on Muhammad
Viewing Muhammad from the understanding of the restored gospel provides greater knowledge of Heavenly Father's love for His children in all nations.
Recently I received a phone call from two Church members in Los Angeles who had become acquainted with a Muslim neighbor from Pakistan. When they shared with him the story of Joseph Smith's First Vision, his response surprised them. After stating that Muslims accept no prophets after Muhammad, he said that Joseph Smith's story shared similarities with Muhammad's. He said, "We believe Muhammad encountered a divine messenger who informed him of his new calling as prophet. He received revelations of new scripture that contains God's word to mankind, and he established a community of believers that developed into a major world religion." Knowing little about Muslims and Islam* or about Muhammad, the members were unsure in their responses.
The issues raised by this experience imply a broader question that is relevant for all Latter-day Saints in view of the Church's global presence and the increasingly pluralistic societies in which we all live: What is an appropriate Latter-day Saint attitude toward other religions' claims of divinely inspired prophets, scriptures, visions, and miracles? The following may be helpful and is based on gospel insights I have gained over the years while studying and living in Muslim societies. Seeing Muhammad's role in religious history from the perspective of the restored gospel provides great understanding of one of history's most influential spiritual leaders, helps us appreciate Heavenly Father's love for His children of all nations, and gives principles to guide us in building positive relations with friends and neighbors of other faiths.
Thoughts on Interfaith Relations
President Gordon B. Hinckley has consistently advocated dialogue and mutual respect in interfaith relations. He has admonished members of the Church to cultivate "a spirit of affirmative gratitude" for those of differing religious, political, and philosophical persuasions, adding that "we do not in any way have to compromise our theology" in the process. He gave this counsel: "Be respectful of the opinions and feelings of other people. Recognize their virtues; don't look for their faults. Look for their strengths and their virtues, and you will find strength and virtues that will be helpful in your own life."1
President Hinckley's emphasis on building interfaith understanding is rooted in fundamental gospel principles—humility, charity, respect for eternal truth, and recognition of God's love for all mankind—taught by Jesus Christ and by ancient and modern prophets. The Savior repeatedly affirmed Heavenly Father's boundless concern for the well-being of each of His sons and daughters, as in the parable of the lost sheep (see Luke 15). In the parable of the good Samaritan, He taught that one of the keys to true discipleship is to treat others kindly and compassionately in spite of political, racial, or religious differences (see Luke 10:25–37). He denounced intolerance and rivalry among religious groups and the tendency to extol one's own virtues and deprecate the spiritual status of others. Addressing a parable to those who "trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others," Jesus condemned the pride of the Pharisee who prayed, "God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are" and commended the humility of the publican who implored, "God be merciful to me a sinner" (see Luke 18:9–14).
The Book of Mormon teaches that Heavenly Father "is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; … and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth" (Alma 26:37; see also 1 Ne. 1:14). Because of this love for His children of all nations, the Lord has provided spiritual light to guide and enrich their lives. Elder Orson F. Whitney (1855–1931) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles observed that God "is using not only his covenant people, but other peoples as well, to consummate a work, stupendous, magnificent, and altogether too arduous for this little handful of Saints to accomplish by and of themselves."2
Elder B. H. Roberts (1857–1933) of the Seventy also spoke on this doctrine: "While the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is established for the instruction of men; and it is one of God's instrumentalities for making known the truth yet he is not limited to that institution for such purposes, neither in time nor place. God raises up wise men and prophets here and there among all the children of men, of their own tongue and nationality, speaking to them through means that they can comprehend. … All the great teachers are servants of God; among all nations and in all ages. They are inspired men, appointed to instruct God's children according to the conditions in the midst of which he finds them."3
The Prophet Joseph Smith often expounded on this theme of the universality of God's love and the related need to remain open to all available sources of divine light and knowledge. "One of the grand fundamental principles of 'Mormonism,'" he said, "is to receive truth, let it come from whence it may."4 The Prophet exhorted Church members to "gather all the good and true principles in the world and treasure them."5
Church leaders continually have encouraged members to foster amicable relations with people of other faiths by acknowledging the spiritual truth they possess, emphasizing the similarities in belief and lifestyle, and teaching us to disagree agreeably. Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke on this theme to members and nonmembers during an area conference in Tahiti: "Keep all the truth and all the good that you have. Do not abandon any sound or proper principle. Do not forsake any standard of the past which is good, righteous, and true. Every truth found in every church in all the world we believe. But we also say this to all men—Come and take the added light and truth that God has restored in our day. The more truth we have, the greater is our joy here and now; the more truth we receive, the greater is our reward in eternity."6
During October 1991 general conference, President Howard W. Hunter of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: "As members of the Church of Jesus Christ, we seek to bring all truth together. We seek to enlarge the circle of love and understanding among all the peoples of the earth. Thus we strive to establish peace and happiness, not only within Christianity but among all mankind."7
Likewise, Elder Russell M. Nelson quoted a public statement issued by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in October 1992, calling upon "all people everywhere to re-commit themselves to the time-honored ideals of tolerance and mutual respect. We sincerely believe that as we acknowledge one another with consideration and compassion we will discover that we can all peacefully coexist despite our deepest differences." He then added: "That pronouncement is a contemporary confirmation of the Prophet Joseph's earlier entreaty for tolerance. Unitedly we may respond. Together we may stand, intolerant of transgression but tolerant of neighbors with differences they hold sacred. Our brothers and sisters throughout the world are all children of God."8
Latter-day Saint Interest in Muhammad
One of the noteworthy examples of the Latter-day Saint commitment to treasure up true principles and cultivate affirmative gratitude is the admiration that Church leaders have expressed over the years for the spiritual contributions of Muhammad.
As early as 1855, at a time when Christian literature generally ridiculed Muhammad as the Antichrist and the archenemy of Western civilization, Elders George A. Smith (1817–75) and Parley P. Pratt (1807–57) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles delivered lengthy sermons demonstrating an accurate and balanced understanding of Islamic history and speaking highly of Muhammad's leadership. Elder Smith observed that Muhammad was "descended from Abraham and was no doubt raised up by God on purpose" to preach against idolatry. He sympathized with the plight of Muslims, who, like Latter-day Saints, found it difficult "to get an honest history" written about them. Speaking next, Elder Pratt went on to express his admiration for Muhammad's teachings, asserting that "upon the whole, … [Muslims] have better morals and better institutions than many Christian nations."9
Latter-day Saint appreciation of Muhammad's role in history can also be found in the 1978 First Presidency statement regarding God's love for all mankind. This declaration specifically mentions Muhammad as one of "the great religious leaders of the world" who received "a portion of God's light" and affirms that "moral truths were given to [these leaders] by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals."10
In recent years, respect for the spiritual legacy of Muhammad and for the religious values of the Islamic community has led to increasing contact and cooperation between Latter-day Saints and Muslims around the world. This is due in part to the presence of Latter-day Saint congregations in areas such as the Levant, North Africa, the Persian Gulf, and Southeast Asia. The Church has sought to respect Islamic laws and traditions that prohibit conversion of Muslims to other faiths by adopting a policy of nonproselyting in Islamic countries of the Middle East. Yet examples of dialogue and cooperation abound, including visits of Muslim dignitaries at Church headquarters in Salt Lake City; Muslim use of Church canning facilities to produce halal (ritually clean) food products; Church humanitarian aid and disaster relief sent to predominantly Muslim areas including Jordan, Kosovo, and Turkey; academic agreements between Brigham Young University and various educational and governmental institutions in the Islamic world; the existence of the Muslim Student Association at BYU; and expanding collaboration between the Church and Islamic organizations to safeguard traditional family values worldwide.11 The recent initiation of the Islamic Translation Series, cosponsored by BYU and the Church, has resulted in several significant exchanges between Muslim officials and Latter-day Saint Church leaders. A Muslim ambassador to the United Nations predicted that this translation series "will play a positive role in the West's quest for a better understanding of Islam."12
A cabinet minister in Egypt, aware of the common ground shared by Muslims and Latter-day Saints, once remarked to Elder Howard W. Hunter of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles that "if a bridge is ever built between Christianity and Islam it must be built by the Mormon Church."13 The examples of Latter-day Saint–Muslim interaction mentioned above, together with the Church's establishment in 1989 of two major centers for educational and cultural exchange in the Middle East (Jerusalem and Amman), reflect the traditional attitude of respect for Islam that Church leaders have exhibited from earliest times. These activities represent tangible evidence of Latter-day Saint commitment to promote greater understanding of the Muslim world and witness an emerging role for the Church in helping to bridge the gap that has existed historically between Muslims and Christians.
The Life of Muhammad
Who, then, was Muhammad, and what is there in his life and teachings that has attracted the interest and admiration of Church leaders? What strength and virtues can we find in Muslim experience that, as President Hinckley has suggested, will be helpful in our own spiritual lives?
At the dawn of the 21st century, Islam is one of the largest and fastest-growing religions in the world. Muslims currently number more than one billion (almost one-fifth of the world's population), concentrated primarily in Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, the Middle East, and North Africa, but with significant populations located in Europe and North America. Some even project that Islam will become the most populous religion in the world during the first half of this new century. The roots of this dynamic and, for some people, misunderstood religious movement can be traced back 14 centuries to the humble beginnings and founding work of Muhammad, whom Muslims consider to be the last of a long line of prophets sent by God to teach Islam to the world.
Muhammad (Arabic, "praised") was born in 570 C.E.14 in Mecca, a prosperous city that was a center of caravan trade and religious pilgrimage in the northwest Arabian peninsula. Orphaned in early childhood, he lived a life of poverty as a youth, working as a herdsman for his family and neighbors, an occupation that gave him ample time and solitude to contemplate the deeper questions of life. Muhammad gained a reputation in the community as a trusted arbiter and peacemaker as indicated in the following account:
"At one time the Quraish [Muhammad's tribe] decided to rebuild the Ka'ba [sacred shrine], to reset the stones above the foundations. In one of the corners they wanted to put the black stone, but could not decide who should have the honour of placing it there. They would have quarrelled violently if [Muhammad] the young man they all admired and trusted had not come by. They asked [him] … to settle the dispute. He told them to spread a large cloak and place the black stone in the middle. They did so. Then, he asked a man from each of the four clans who were in dispute to take hold of a corner of the cloak. In this way they all shared the honour of carrying the stone."15
At the age of 25, Muhammad married a widow, Khadija, who was 15 years his senior and a prosperous caravan merchant. She knew of his reputation for honesty and hard work, and she made the proposal of marriage that turned out to be a successful and happy one, producing four daughters and two sons. For the next 15 years Muhammad was engaged with Khadija in running the family business and raising their family. It was during this period also that he retreated often into the solitude of the desert to pray, meditate, and worship. He had become dissatisfied with the corruption, idolatry, and social inequities that plagued Mecca; he sought for a higher truth that would provide peace, justice, and spiritual fulfillment for him and his people.
In 610 C.E., when he was 40, his spiritual seeking and preparation reached a culmination. According to Islamic history, one night while Muhammad was engaged in prayer and meditation on Mount Hira near Mecca, the angel Gabriel appeared to him to deliver a message from God (Arabic, Allah).16 Three times the angel commanded that Muhammad "Recite! In the name of thy Lord who created, created man of a blood-clot. Recite! And thy Lord is the Most Generous, who taught by the pen—Taught man that he knew not" (Qur'an 96:1–5).17
For a period of 22 years, from 610 C.E. to his death in 632, Muhammad received communications that he said were from Allah, by way of the angel Gabriel, and that he memorized verbatim and recited orally to his disciples. These oral recitations of Allah's mind and will are collectively referred to as al-Qur'an ("recitation") by Muslims. However, Muhammad's preaching against idolatry, polytheism, female infanticide, and other religious and social corruptions met fierce opposition in Mecca. His message was rejected in this early period in Mecca, and he and his fledgling community of converts, mostly a few family members and close friends, were shunned, persecuted, and even tortured.
Then a group of men came from the town Yathrib and asked Muhammad to act as an arbiter in the squabbles which were ruining their town. Muhammad saw an opportunity to alleviate the suffering of his followers and agreed to leave Mecca. First he sent his followers, and then he himself went to the town, which would thereafter be known as Madinat an-Nabi ("City of the Prophet"), or simply Medina. This emigration (Arabic, hijra), from Mecca to Medina, took place in 622 C.E., the year commemorated as the starting point of the Muslim Hijri calendar. Muslims saw in the Hijra a fundamental turning point in the life of the prophet and in the nature of the Muslim community. From being a rejected preacher, Muhammad became a statesman, legislator, judge, educator, and military leader.
In Medina, the Muslims had freedom to establish themselves securely, develop their institutions for governance and education, and become a prosperous community, in contrast to their status in Mecca as a persecuted, marginal religious minority.
A few years after the Hijra, Muhammad was able to return to the city of Mecca, where his teachings were gradually adopted. Today Mecca is considered by Muslims to be the spiritual center of Islam and the holiest of cities, with Medina as the second and Jerusalem the third holiest cities.
In 632, at the age of 62, Muhammad died unexpectedly after a short fever. By any measure Muhammad was phenomenally successful during his career, even though his name and achievements have been the subject of controversy over the centuries in Western civilization. During the last half of the 20th century, however, non-Muslim historians have become more objective and complimentary, acknowledging that Muhammad's achievements in both political and religious realms assure him a place as one of the most influential figures in history.
Contrary to Western civilization's stereotype of Muhammad as a false prophet or enemy of Christians, Muslim sources portray a man of unfailing humility, kindness, good humor, generosity, and simple tastes. Though he smiled often, it is said he seldom laughed because, as one famous hadith (report of Muhammad's sayings or actions) states, "If you knew what I know you would cry much and laugh little." His gentle humor is evident in the following story:
"One day a little old woman came to him to ask whether old wretched women would also go to Paradise. 'No,' he answered, 'there are no old women in Paradise!' Then, looking at her grieved face, he said with a smile: 'They will all be transformed in Paradise, for there, there is only one youthful age for all!'"
He dispensed wise and practical advice to followers. When a man asked if he needed to tie his camel up, since he already trusted in God's help and protection, Muhammad replied: "First tether it, and then trust in God." Some reports indicate that Muhammad's family were poor and often hungry, only able to afford coarse bread at times. His statement, faqri fakhri, "My poverty is my pride," reveals his joy in simple pleasures, and this saying was later adopted as a slogan by Muslim ascetics. He was especially fond of children, allowing his two young grandsons to climb on his back while he was performing prayers. A man once criticized him for kissing his grandson Hasan, saying, "I have 10 boys but have never kissed any of them." Muhammad answered, "He who does not show mercy will not receive mercy."18
In his last speech in the mosque in Medina, given on the day he died, Muhammad displayed humility and magnanimity in bidding farewell to his community after more than 30 years of sacrifice on their behalf: "If there is any man whose honour I might have injured, here I am to answer for it. If I have unjustifiably inflicted bodily harm on anyone, I present myself for retribution. If I owe anything to anyone, here is my property and he may help himself to it. … Nobody should say: 'I fear enmity and rancor of the Messenger of God.' I nurse no grudge towards anyone. These things are repugnant to my nature and temperament. I abhor them so."19
With this view of Muhammad in mind, we can understand why Muslims commonly bless his name when it is mentioned in speech or writing, invoke his name in conversations, and celebrate his birthday. Pious Muslims strive to emulate his example in every aspect of life: mode of dress, style of grooming, table manners, religious rituals, and benevolence toward others.
The Teachings of Muhammad
Islamic life revolves around five basic principles that are outlined in general terms in the Qur'an and expounded in the teachings and customs (Arabic, sunna) of Muhammad. These five pillars are the witness of faith, prayer, almsgiving, fasting, and pilgrimage to Mecca. Some examples of Muhammad's teachings on charitable giving and fasting will illustrate his manner of teaching and his central role in Muslim life.
The principle of almsgiving is designed to care for the poor and to foster empathy in the community of believers. The Qur'an states that charity and compassion, not mechanical observance of rituals, define one's worthiness in God's sight (2:177). Muhammad's sayings clearly teach the practice of charity:
"None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself."
"Each person's every joint must perform a charity every day the sun comes up: to act justly between two people is a charity; to help a man with his mount, lifting him onto it or hoisting up his belongings onto it is a charity; a good word is a charity; every step you take to prayers is a charity; and removing a harmful thing from the road is charity."
"Charity extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire."
"Smiling to another person is an act of charity."
"He who sleeps with a full stomach knowing that his neighbor is hungry [is not a believer]."20
Muslims view fasting as having a dual purpose: to bring about a state of humility and surrender of one's soul to God, and to foster compassion and care for the poor in the community. Thus, fasting and almsgiving go hand in hand: denying of oneself cannot be complete without giving of oneself.
I was reminded of this principle among Muslims, and the profound influence of Muhammad's example in their lives, while living in Cairo, Egypt, during the holy month of fasting, Ramadan.21 My family and I were invited by a Muslim friend, Nabil, to participate in his family's evening meal in which they broke their fast. As we entered their modest apartment in one of the most impoverished quarters of Cairo, I noticed that one of the rooms was occupied by numerous peasant women (distinguishable by their black clothing) and their children. They were all sitting on the floor with food spread out before them on a cloth, quietly waiting for the call to prayer that marks the end of fasting each day. When I asked if they were his relatives, he replied: "No, I don't know any of them. It is our habit to invite strangers off the street who cannot afford good food to share our Ramadan meal. We do this because it was one of the customs of our prophet, Muhammad."
I was deeply moved by my Muslim friend's unselfishness and compassion for the poor, and humbled by his good example in practicing a principle that I had learned from the Bible years before but had rarely observed: "When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; … but when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee" (Luke 14:12–14).
A Latter-day Saint Perspective
How, then, might Latter-day Saints regard the Muslim community? The most helpful approach is to recognize the truths and values we share with our Muslim brothers and sisters, even while politely acknowledging that theological differences exist. Certainly Latter-day Saints do not agree with Islamic teachings that deny the divinity of Jesus Christ, the need for modern prophets, or the principle of eternal progression. But by being humble and open to spiritual light wherever it may be found, we benefit from the religious insights of Muslims and affirm similarities in belief such as faith, prayer, fasting, repentance, compassion, modesty, and strong families as cornerstones of individual spirituality and community life.22
In a recent meeting with Muslim dignitaries, Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles focused on the common spiritual heritage of Mormons and Muslims. After quoting a verse from the Qur'an, he observed:
"God is the source of light in heaven and on earth. We share the belief with you. We resist the secular world. We believe with you that life has meaning and purpose. … We revere the institution of the family. … We salute you for your concern for the institution of the family. … Mutual respect, friendship, and love are precious things in today's world. We feel those emotions for our Islamic brothers and sisters. Love never needs a visa. It crosses over all borders and links generations and cultures."23
The Prophet Joseph Smith, in one of his most eloquent pronouncements on tolerance and compassion, encouraged the Saints to expand their vision of the human family, to view people of other faiths and cultures as our Heavenly Father does and not according to the "narrow, contracted notions of men." He taught that the Father will take complex personal, political, and social circumstances into account at the last day and render final judgment based on a divine, merciful perspective that surpasses our limited human understanding:
"While one portion of the human race is judging and condemning the other without mercy, the Great Parent of the universe looks upon the whole of the human family with a fatherly care and paternal regard; He views them as His offspring, and without any of the contracted feelings that influence the children of men, causes 'His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.' He holds the reins of judgment in His hands; He is a wise Lawgiver, and will judge all men, not according to the narrow, contracted notions of men, but, 'according to the deeds done in the body whether they be good or evil,' or whether these deeds were done in England, America, Spain, Turkey, or India. He will judge them, 'not according to what they have not, but according to what they have,' those who have lived without law, will be judged without law, and those who have a law, will be judged by that law. We need not doubt the wisdom and intelligence of the Great Jehovah; He will award judgment or mercy to all nations according to their several deserts, their means of obtaining intelligence, the laws by which they are governed, the facilities afforded them of obtaining correct information, and His inscrutable designs in relation to the human family; and when the designs of God shall be made manifest, and the curtain of futurity be withdrawn, we shall all of us eventually have to confess that the Judge of all the earth has done right."24
In response to the interfaith dilemma raised by the Church members in Los Angeles, I was grateful to state that we belong to a church that affirms the truths taught by Muhammad and other great teachers, reformers, and religious founders. We recognize the goodness reflected in the lives of those in other religious communities. While we do not compromise revealed eternal truths of the restored gospel, we never espouse an adversarial relationship with other faiths. Rather, in accordance with modern prophetic counsel, we seek to treasure up that which is virtuous and praiseworthy in other faiths and to cultivate an attitude of "affirmative gratitude" toward them. As Latter-day Saints, we believe that it is vital to respect and benefit from the spiritual light found in other religions, while seeking humbly to share the additional measure of eternal truth provided by latter-day revelation.
Sources on Latter-day Saint and Muslim Relations
Hunter, Howard W. "'All Are Alike Unto God.'" In 1979 Devotional Speeches of the Year, 32–36. 1980.
Kennedy, David M. "More Nations Than One." In Spencer J. Palmer, ed. The Expanding Church, 69–79. 1978.
Ludlow, Daniel H., ed. Encyclopedia of Mormonism. 5 vols. 1992. See "Middle East, The Church in the" and "World Religions (Non-Christian) and Mormonism: Islam."
Mayfield, James B. "Ishmael, Our Brother," Ensign, June 1979, 24–32.
Palmer, Spencer J., ed. Mormons and Muslims: Spiritual Foundations and Modern Manifestations. 1983.
Peterson, Daniel C. Abraham Divided: An LDS Perspective on the Middle East. 1995.
Platt, Joseph B. "Our Oasis of Faith," Ensign, Apr. 1988, 39–41.
Toronto, James A. "Islam." In Spencer J. Palmer and others. Religions of the World: A Latter-day Saint View, 213–41. 1997.
Above: Muhammad said that he was called by Allah (God) through the angel Gabriel, depicted here by a 14th-century Muslim artist. (Upper left: Courtesy of British Museum, London.) Right: Muslims believe that the Ka'ba in Mecca is the house of God. It is the sacred sanctuary toward which Muslims from all over the world pray five times daily. (Photo by L. Al Faruqi, reprinted by permission of the Gale Group.)
Instead of depicting Allah or Muhammad in human form, Muslim religious art employs geometric and written forms that represent the divine and prophetic teachings of Islam. Here we see the name of God (Allah) written in Arabic, the original language of the Qur'an.
Right: One of the five pillars of Islam is the pilgrimage to Mecca. This 13th-century illustration shows pilgrims traveling to Mecca. (Inset: Illustration from Maqamat, by Al-Hariri, courtesy of Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris.)
Below: A present-day view of the Great Mosque in Mecca and the Ka'ba (located in the center). Muslims consider Mecca the holiest city in the world. (Photo by Mohamed Amin, Camerapix, Nairobi.)
Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (far right) and BYU professor Daniel C. Peterson (far left) with Muslim dignitaries at a reception held 10 February 2000 at the United Nations building in New York City to honor the Islamic Translation Series.)
Fasting during the daylight hours of the month of Ramadan is another of Islam's five pillars. Here a family in Bahrain enjoys a predawn breakfast. (Photo by Christine Osborne.)
Most Muslims—approximately 75 percent—live in south and southeast Asia, not the Middle East. Here Malaysian children study the Qur'an. (Photo by Christine Osborne.)
Islam is growing rapidly throughout the world, as evidenced by this large new congregational mosque in Rome. (Photo © Foto Vasari.)
The most important religious holiday in the Islamic world is the Feast of Sacrifice, which marks the conclusion of the pilgrimage. Here thousands of Muslims gather for communal worship at the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan, to celebrate this feast. (Photo by Christine Osborne.)
The nationality and dress of this pilgrim, one of two million from throughout the world, reflect the cultural diversity in Islam. (Photo by L. Al Faruqi, reprinted by permission of the Gale Group.)