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Archive for December, 2009
Informational Billboards on Islamic Faith Are Going Up
Star Tribune: December 15, 2009
Hoping to encourage interfaith dialogue, an Islamic organization will unveil a pair of billboards in Minneapolis this week.
The Minnesota chapter of the Islamic Circle of North America plans to unveil the billboards Friday, the eve of the Islamic New Year.
Quran Is Healing
Islam takes a holistic approach to health. Just as religious life is inseparable from secular life, physical, emotional and spiritual health cannot be separated; they are three parts that make a completely healthy person. When one part is injured or unhealthy, the other parts suffer. If a person is physically ill or injured it may be difficult to concentrate on anything but the pain. If a person is emotionally unwell, he or she may not be able to take care of him or herself properly or find their minds distracted from the realities of life.
Diet And Nutrition
The Quran contains many verses of advice about healthy eating that relate to the interconnectedness of physical and spiritual health. Encouragement to eat only good and pure food is often combined with warnings to remember God and avoid Satan. Healthy eating not only satisfies hunger but also has an effect on how well we worship.
"O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy." (Quran 2:168)
If one becomes obsessed with food or indulges in too much unwholesome or junk food he or she may become physically weak or distracted from his primary purpose of serving God. On the other hand, if one concentrated exclusively on spiritual endeavours and neglected their health and nutrition, weakness injury or illness would also result in failure to carry out obligatory worship. The guidance found in the Quran and the traditions of Prophet Muhammad advise humankind to maintain a balance between these two extremes.
A healthy diet is balanced with a mixture of all the foods God has provided for His creation. The variety satisfies all the body's needs for carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, proteins, fats and amino acids. Numerous verses of Quran mention the foods God has provided for us to nourish and maintain our bodies. It is not an exhaustive list of dietary requirements but rather a general idea of the types of food that maintain a healthy body and prevent illness.
"He created cattle that give you warmth, benefits and food to eat." (Quran l6:5)
"It is He who subdued the seas, from which you eat fresh fish." (Quran 16:l4)
"It is He who sends down water from the sky with which He brings up corn, olives, dates and grapes and other fruit." (Quran 16:11)
"In cattle too you have a worthy lesson. We give you to drink of that which is in their bellies, between the undigested food and blood: pure milk, a pleasant beverage for those who drink it." (Quran l6:66)
"There emerges from their bellies a drink, varying in colors, in which there is healing for people. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who give thought. ." (Quran 16:69)
"And it is He Who produces gardens trellised and untrellised, and date palms, and crops of different shape and taste (its fruits and its seeds) and olives, and pomegranates, similar (in kind) and different (in taste). Eat of their fruit when they ripen…" (Quran 6:141)
"…and from it (the earth) we produced grain for their sustenance." (Quran 36:33)
God has also provided us with a list of foods that are forbidden and apart from these everything else is considered lawful.
"Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead animals – cattle-beast not slaughtered, blood, the flesh of swine, and the meat of that which has been slaughtered as a sacrifice for other than God…" (Quran 5:3) "…and intoxicants." (Quran 5:91-92)
While sweets and junk food are not forbidden they must be eaten sparingly as part of a balanced diet, designed to maintain optimum health. Many of the most common chronic illnesses today derive from unhealthy eating habits. Coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity and depression have all been linked to inadequate diets. The traditions of Prophet Muhammad praise moderation as a way of maintaining good health and the Quran stresses the need to strike a balance between any extremes.
True believers need healthy bodies and minds in order to worship God in the correct way. To maintain a sound mind, a pure heart and a healthy body special attention must be paid to health. The heart and the mind are nourished by remembrance of God, and worship performed in a lawful way, and the body is nourished by partaking of the good and lawful food God has provided. Attention to diet and nutrition is a part of the holistic health system inherent in Islam.
Safety With Young Children
It requires a lot of patience to take care of an active young child. Children are naturally curious; babies commonly put things in their mouths to test whether or not they are good to eat, and toddlers may put small objects into their nose or ears! Everyone in the family should by aware of safety rules. Every home with an infant or young child should be childproofed, which means that all dangerous items should be out of the child's reach.
Here are some good points to remember:
¥ Children should not be left in the car, or at home alone until they are old enough to take care of themselves in an emergency. Babies and young children must be supervised at all times. Even one-day-old babies have been known to roll themselves off tables. It only takes a few seconds for a disaster to happen!
¥ Keep medicines and poisons safely locked away out of the reach of young children. Special stickers can be bought from the chemist to put on bottles of medicine and poisons. They let children know with pictures and symbols that what is inside the bottle is not good to eat or drink. Cleaning liquids, paints, powders and dangerous chemicals should not be stored inside old food or drink containers.
¥ Keep the number of the doctor, hospital and emergency services near the telephone in case of a serious accident. Every home should have basic first aid supplies on hand; milk, charcoal tablets and syrup of ipecac are especially important since they may be needed at a moment's notice in order to treat accidental poisoning. Keep in mind that the doctor will need to know exactly what the child has swallowed in the case of poisoning, so that he can quickly decide on the best treatment.
¥ Try to learn a few basic rules of first aid – it might save the life of someone you love! Scouting groups, the International Red Cross and other organizations hold special first aid courses for young people where you can learn how to help someone who is choking, drowning, bleeding, or in a dangerous situation.
¥ Electrical sockets and appliances must be protected. Special plugs can be bought for insertion into main sockets so that small children will not be able to stick things into them and electrocute themselves. Never use electrical appliances such a hairdryers and radios where they could fall into the water or someone might splash water on them, such as in the bathroom, next to the baby's bath or near a swimming pool!
¥ Keep sharp and dangerous objects out of children's reach. Small toys or game parts should not be left where babies can pick them up and swallow or choke on them.
¥ If you must baby-sit or watch a younger brother or sister, use your common sense and keep your mind on what you are doing. Toddlers have drowned in the bath in just a few minutes while their older brother or sister left the bathroom to get something, and became distracted by something exciting on TV! Always test the temperature of the bath water with your elbow or inner arm before putting a baby into it; it should feel nice and warm.
The previous article is reprinted by permission from The Miracle of Life: a Guide on Islamic Family Life and Sex Education for Young People, by Fatima M. D'Oyen, 1996, pp. 39-40.
Spirituality, Medicine And Religion
Written by Dr. Shahid Athar
Seeking Solution To Domestic Violence:
Seeking Solution to Domestic Violence:
Domestic violence is defined as: "acts of violence or abuse against a person living in one's household, esp. a member of one's immediate family'
(i). In the encyclo¬pedia Britannica, the definition is widened to include more forms of abuse. Accordingly, domestic violence: "refers to any abuse that takes place among people living in the same household, al¬though the term is often used specifically to refer to assaults upon women by their male partners"
(ii). Both definitions, however, include any form of violence against spouse, sibling, child or parent. In the news, most Muslims read and learn about domestic violence and let pass as if such news or statistics are of no concern. This was happening until tragic news hit home in the form of the murder of wives and daughters by husbands and fathers in both Canada and the US. Furthermore, we were shocked to know of the vicious beheading of a Muslimah by her high profile Muslim husband.
Building on my formal religious education coupled with practi¬cal experience in teaching Muslim communities in the US, com¬bined with my Islamic leadership of more than 23 years in addition to my M.S. and Ph.D. education, practical experience in counsel¬ing Muslims and training Muslim and non Muslim professionals for more than 24 years, I will, in the article, briefly describe both the Islamic and psychological foundations for inter-family rela¬tions. Furthermore, I will also discuss the damaging effects and consequences for domestic abuse. Because of the serious damag¬ing and devastating effects of domestic violence, I will outline a call to action to the Muslim community to prevent and deal with it.
Between spouses. The Qur'an speaks of the mawaddha (love), rahmah (compassion) and sakinah (tranquility) [Qur'an 30:21 & 7:189] as being both the reasons as well as the expected results of marriage. The Qur'an mentions this beautifully in the context of being a favor from Allah, a sign of His infinite power and mercy and a source of contemplation. Furthermore, the Qur'an speaks of husbands and wives as being libaas (apparel) for each other [Qur'an 2:187]. Apparel fulfills the functions of covering, beauti¬fying, providing warmth and protection. In case of discord or even divorce, the Qur'an encourages dealing with kindness, generosity and gratitude for the good times and good deeds which were re¬ceived [Qur'an 2:237]. In case of divorce, the Prophet encour¬ages good and kind treatment of women. He states that no one would treat them with generosity and honor except an honorable man and no one would humiliate them but a person who is lack¬ing good character. Furthermore, the Prophet instructed in his farewell sermon to take good care of women and made kindness to women and family the criterion for being good: "the best among you is the one who is best to his family, and I am the best to my family".
Parents and children. The Qur'an makes obedience and respect to parents religious requirements in an unparalleled way. Children are required to be kind to parents, not to say any expression of dis¬gust to them, to be merciful to them particularly when they reach an old age, to lower one's wings out of humility and mercy to them and to pray for them for mercy as they have raised one in young age [Qur'an 17:23-24].
What is domestic violence? Abuse is a pattern of behavior used to establish power and control over another person through fear and intimidation, often including the threat or use of violence. Bat¬tering happens when one person believes he or she is entitled to control another. Assault, battery, and domestic violence are crimes. (Every home is a safe home) In addition to being a crime, domestic violence is destructive. It destroys the human spirit, productivity, morality, spirituality and mental wellbeing for all those who are involved in it as well as for those who witness it while unable to intervene or protect the abused ones particularly children. Children naturally consider home to be their safe haven. When violence occurs at home, it breaks that feeling of safety. While victims of domestic violence can be both men and women, the majority of victims are women. Women killed due to domestic violence in the United States are estimated at 30 % of all women killed.
The Muslim community has its share of domestic abuse against women. In spite of the fact that Rasool Allah , instructed kind¬ness and justice to women before he died and insisted upon it say¬ing what translates to: "Fear Allah with regards to women," "My advice is to take good care of women", "I emphasize the rights of the two weak: the woman and the orphan", "he does not honor them (i.e. women), unless he is an honorable and does not mistreat them, except one who is dishonorable" among many other reports and instructions.
Unfortunately, some Muslim men justify the beating of their wives religiously because of misunderstanding and ignorance. It is unfortunate, that most people use the Qur'an to justify their injus¬tice and wrongdoing. The particular verse which many people use to justify their criminal behavior toward women is verse number 34 in chapter 4 which is translated as follows:
Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next), refuse to share their beds, (and last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, Great (above you all). [Qur'an 4:34].
To answer those who misuse this verse to justify the beating, I would state the following:
Domestic violence can lead to either divorce or murder. The Muslim community is reminded violently of the horrible murder of wives, daughters and even beheading in the United States. Muslim communities ought to take responsibility for hiding the problem of violence at home and not educating about it and how to avoid it. Violence can lead to divorce or even spousal abandonment and may cause children to run away from home to escape the unsafe environment. Children can end up going to far riskier environ¬ments that may be detrimental to their lives and wellbeing.
Of the negative effects on children, Divorce and Domestic Vio¬lence can cause the following:
It affects children in the following ways:
Every individual, male or female, who suffers from the tendency to be violent and get angry easily and act upon his/her anger, owes it to Allah, his/her religion, himself, his/her family and community to seek treatment and learn anger management and positive rein¬forcement.
What Muslim families and communities should do to prevent violence:
Obstacles to helping Muslim families:
Seeking Solutions. The Islamic Learning Foundation (ILF) pro¬vides educational and training seminars and workshops to Muslim communities regarding the prevention, services and post-inter¬vention treatment of domestic violence. Furthermore, ILF offer training or parents on communication and parenting. ICNA Relief USA provides education, counseling and services to individual and family victims as well as to those involved in domestic violence.
Ahmed Kobeisy is Director and Resident Scholar at The Islamic Learning Foundation, NY. He is also a Consultant to ICNA Relief USA
Domestic Violence: How Can I Help
Domestic Violence: How can I help a friend or family member who is being abused?
Don't be afraid to let him or her know that you are concerned for their safety. Help your friend or family member recognize the abuse. Tell him or her you see what is going on and that you want to help. Help them recognize that what is happening is not "normal" and that they deserve a healthy, non-violent relationship.
Acknowledge that he or she is in a very difficult and scary situation. Let your friend or family member know that the abuse is not their fault. Reassure him or her that they are not alone and that there is help and support out there.
Be supportive. Listen to your friend or family member. Remember that it may be difficult for him or her to talk about the abuse. Let him or her know that you are available to help whenever they may need it. What they need most is someone who will believe and listen to them.
Be non-judgmental. Respect your friend or family member's decisions. There are many reasons why victims stay in abusive relationships. He or she may leave and return to the relationship many times. Do not criticize his or her decisions or try to guilt them. He or she will need your support even more during those times.
Encourage him or her to participate in activities outside of the relationship with friends and family. If he or she ends the relationship, continue to be supportive of them. Even though the relationship was abusive, your friend or family member may still feel sad and lonely once it is over. He or she will need time to mourn the loss of the relationship and will especially need your support at that time.
Help him or her to develop a safety plan. Encourage him or her to talk to people who can provide help and guidance. Find a local domestic violence agency that provides counseling or support groups. Offer to go with him or her to talk to family and friends. If he or she has to go to the police, court or a lawyer, offer to go along for moral support.
Remember that you cannot "rescue" him or her. Although it is difficult to see someone you care about get hurt, ultimately the person getting hurt has to be the one to decide that they want to do something about it. It's important for you to support him or her and help them find a way to safety and peace.
Anger And Dejection–An Islamic Perspective
Written by Dr. Shahid Athar
When God created human beings, He created many emotions and desires within him, which we call human instincts. These include positive qualities such as recognizing truth and expressing it, love and compassion, pure physiological desires such as being thirsty , hungry and in need of sex.
Then there are some negative qualities such as hate and anger, with resultant violence and dejection. The angels who were the witnesses to Adam's creation knew about some of the negative qualities of man and questioned the creation of this new being who was to create "'mischief on earth." (Quran 2:30)
However, at the same time, the Creator also instilled some protective mechanisms for fighting these negative instincts.
"Man was created weak," says the Quran. During the moment of weakness, we succumb to the designs of our enemy, that is, the devil, who "will attack us from front, from behind, from the side," in order to divert us from God consciousness and return to our true animistic nature. Thus anger by itself is not unnatural; it is the expression of anger which if done wrongfully, can lead to problems. The difference between the wild beasts and wild humans is the difference of free will.
When a lion or a wolf is angry, he does not think. When a man becomes angry as a result of provocation, he has a choice to control his anger or to respond to it as he has been taught by the teachings of prophets and saints, or forget all that and become a wild animal. Thus anger takes place when we are not in control of ourselves, but the devil is controlling us.
Anger is a de stabilizing thought. It is the most dividing emotion between friends; it takes away judgment, leads to depression, madness and wrong actions that we would repent later on when we are not angry. But why do we get angry to begin with? It is either an unexpected provocation or unexpected situation which leads to frustration and an angry response.
During anger, one can physically or verbally abuse a person that he or she loves, hurt another living being like an animal, or during the dejection phase of anger, one can even hurt him- or herself and even commit suicide.
When anger is directed toward a group of people, then it can manifest in terrorism, whether against people of other faiths or nations, or against even one's own government as is seen in the case of the Oklahoma City bombing. However, all anger is not of satanic origin. How can we blame Satan for a child who is angry because he does not get his toy or when he is hungry ?
The point I am making is that the natural fulfillment of normal desires, whether in terms of food or sex, is a prerequisite for prevention of anger. There are many chemicals and hormones which affect our moods and behavior. It is well known that hypoglycemia and hyperthyroidism precipitate irritability and anger. We must keep our hormones in balance in addition to facilitate our spiritual well-being.
Prophet Mohammed (Pbuh), who was sent to mankind to teach them good moral conduct, learned to control his anger toward the Unbelievers and teach them appropriate expressions. He constantly spoke against being angry. One companion asked him, Give me some short advice by virtue of which I hope for good in the life hereafter, and he said, "Don't be angry." Another person asked, what will save me from the wrath of God, and he said, "Do not express your anger." A third person asked three times, 0 Prophet of God, give me an order to do a short good deed, and he said, "Don't be angry." Once he asked a question of his companion, "Who among you do you consider a strong man?" They said, the one who can defeat so-and-so wrestler in a fight, and he said, that is not so. The one who is strong is the one who can control himself at the time of anger. He also said that anger is like fire, which destroys you from within, and it can also lead you to the fire of hell by your own expressions of anger unjustly.
Being angry is like being drunk. In both cases, we do not know what we are doing, hurting ourselves or someone else, and afterwards when the intoxication is over, we repent. Caliph Omar used to say, the one with all its goodn anger gets salvation. Shiekh Hassan Basri said that one of the signs of the Believers is that his anger will not prevail over him.
Anger should be distinguished between the natural response to wrongdoing and disbelief.
A person who has no feelings about oppression, wrongdoing and disbelief is, in fact, an impotent person emotionally. It has been said, "Evil flourishes when a few good people do not do anything to oppose it." Thus response to injustice and operation in a civilized way is the appropriate expression of anger. Being neutral to injustice is equal to contributing to injustice. Sometimes taking arms in order to fight the oppression and injustice, in defense or in off is the basis of "the just war." However, this "just war" is not justified on a personal level.
Caliph Ali was once fighting in a war imposed on Muslims, and the chief of the Unbelievers confronted him. During the fight, the Ali was able to overcome him, who fell down on the ground and Ali was about to kill him. This person, knowing his fate now, had no choice so he spit on the face of Ali. Ali immediately got up and left him alone. The man came running to him and asked, "You had a chance to kill me since I was defeated; how come you didn't use your sword?" Ali said, "I have no personal animosity toward you. I was fighting you because of your disbelief, on behalf of God. If I had killed you after you spat on my face, then it would have become my personal revenge which I do not wish to take." That Unbeliever chief became a Muslim immediately.
When Prophet Mohammed (Pbuh) became angry at someone else's wrong actions or disbeliefs, he never expressed it with his hand or tongue. His companions knew that he was angry by looking at his face, which would be red and with some sweat on his forehead, and he would keep quiet for a moment, trying to control himself.
What happens to us physiologically when we are angry? Our heart rate and blood pressure go up; this is a direct effect of excessive adrenalin in our system. Our physical strength increases although spiritual strength decreases. Our intellect or power to reason goes away, and things we would not justify in a normal state become acceptable. The organs of our body which are otherwise under our control, become out of control. Thus, our tongues become abusive, and we would say words which would hurt someone else. Our hands are out of control, and we will hit someone or sometimes ourselves. Our feet are out of control, and we might kick some one whether a human, an animal or sometimes a broken machine.
How do we control anger? Contrary to other teaching, I believe that to root out anger is impossible and unnatural, and may even be harmful. A person who does not control or redirect the expression of anger may have built up anger within himself, which may hurt him physically. Apart from being depressed and having a feeling of dejection, during the phase of unexpressed anger, his constant, rapid heart rate and high blood pressure may harm his heart and even lead to a heart attack over the long run. Apart from being violent, during the phase of anger since his mind does not work, he may make a wrong decision about his job or personal relationship which will affect his future.
Medicine for Anger
The first preventive medicine is to avoid being too sensitive to provocation and become "deaf, dumb and mute." It may be necessary for some people to engage in something else to divert themselves. For saints, it may be advisable to engage in remembrance of God or meditation, but for common folk, they need some worldly tools. A couple went to Prophet Mohammed and said, We have been fighting each other for many years. Each time she says something to hurt my feelings, I become angry, and then I fight back and this fight comes to such a degree that I am afraid that this verbal fight may,become physical, or we may end up divorced. So please advise how we can control our anger. He told the husband that when your wife provokes you and makes you angry, take a sip of your water in your mouth and do not swallow it or spit it out, but keep it there until she has calmed down. Well, he practiced that and a few months later, he reported back that it did work.
Since we believe that anger is an expression of satanic control, we must not let this control take over. The Prophet had advised us to say, "During anger, I seek refuge from lead to problemrotection of God." He also advised us that when angry, one should sit down or lie down as it is not easy to hit someone else in those positions. Obviously, the best remedy is to think about God and "ask yourself a question, "are you in control of yourself, or would you allow God to take control of you?" Think of God's anger and punishment. Is God's wrath less than your wrath? And what happens when He expresses His wrath? We humans who seek forgiveness from God must forgive others first. When one forgive someone else, it establishes peace and tranquility in one's heart, but at the same time, the matter of injustice or wrong actions which made one angry, become a dispute between him and God; and if one do not take revenge and forgive, God might act on ones behalf.
The first attribute of God/Allah that we Muslims are reminded (of) is Ar Rahman-Ar Rahim that is, Kind and Merciful. God Himself said, my mercy overtakes my wrath, and He told in one of the hadith qudsi , 'O son of Adam, when you get angry, remember Me." Thus, remembrance of God and meditation will keep us on the right track. One of the meditation words is ya Halim, which is one of the attributes of God, being the Mild One. One can also pray to God to take control of the situation and the person or the people who have caused His anger. We must also think that tone life so dear to us, is a temporary life, and we must not forget our death and destroy the life of eternity at the cost of this life. Washing one's face with cold water or taking a cold shower is also helpful.
Thus it is important for one to redirect the energy in engaging in something else. However, the height of sainthood is to do the opposite of the provoking person expects one to do. If he expects you to rebuke him or verbally abuse him back, then one should tell him, I love you, and mention his good qualities. If he expects one to physically attack him, then one embraces him and forgives him.
That is how the saying, "turn the other cheek" came about. One will become a calm person when he makes peace with himself, his Creator and his surroundings. Anger is a costly weed; it costs one his health, life in this world, and the life in the Hereafter. This weed must be rooted out to allow the healthy plant of righteousness, piety and service to God and His creation nurture and grow.
Dejection is a state of sad thought, depression and a feeling of being worthless. This could be a result of anger with self or someone else, unexpressed anger, failure and frustration. Dejection is a deadly disease which can harm the body acutely or on a chronic basis. and can irreversibly destroy one's relationships. It is during this state of dejection that people have suicidal thoughts and sometimes actions. During anger, however, a person tries to manifest his verbal and physical strengthening dejection, he completely gives up, thinking he is no good. Dejection slowly builds up while anger is a more acute manifestation, which is like a moth which slowly eats away the human spirit and body.
Dejection can be the result of losses, financial or of a dear one, or even failure in work, education and business. Many times terminally ill patients, without any hope of getting better, would also be dejected. Sometimes dejection or depression is due to a chemical imbalance just like anger, whether it is a psychotropic condition with depletion of brain amines, epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine, or hormonal imbalance like hypothyroidism and Addison's disease. Therefore, in all cases of depression, when a physician sees them, he does and he must evaluate them for a treatable organic cause.
The way to fight dejection again is a mind-control phenomenon. We must realize that we are not in control of our destiny. Certain failures and adversity have been designed to teach us certain lessons. We must know that someone else is in control of our past, present and future. This is what believer in God is what Caliph Ali once said, that "what makes me a believer in God is the fact that I realize that after doing everything humanly possible to make certain things go right, it goes wrong unexpectedly, making me believe that someone else was in control of that situation, not me."
When we give good advice to our teenaged children, encouraging them to do good and avoiding something wrong and they don't listen, as a result they get into trouble. It is human to be sad, but it is unnecessary to be dejected, thinking that I am not a good parent. We will be questioned for things we can do that we must do, but we will not be questioned on things that are beyond our control.
The remedy for dejection is hope. God made hopelessness unlawful by saying, "Do not despair of God's mercy." Thus, no matter at what level of despair, depression and frustration we are, whether loss of a loved one or a job, or as the result of anger from someone else, we must not give up hope as there is a ray of hope at the end of the tunnel. The greatest hope is mercy from God.
Thus, whoever has lost worldly possessions, expects and hopes that God will replace his losses in a better way. The.he person who has lost a dear one hopes to see that dear one in the life hereafter.
Hope is the medicine which keeps one alive and going, which is when we say, hang on, we mean hang onto the thread of hope. It is not unnatural to be sad over situations and events. Even Prophet Mohammed (Pbuh) used to be sad, looking at the plight of Unbelievers and their rejection of his message for oneness of God, and not becoming Muslims. And God reminded him by saying, "It is not your duty to make them Muslims, but just proclaim the truth, and God gives guidance to those whom He wishes."
During dejection, there is darkness, but in hope, there is light. Therefore, one must pray for this light to illuminate the heart so that we can see beyond what is causing the suffering today. If I knew that I would not see tomorrow, I might get depressed, but the fact that I hope I will see tomorrow with all its goodness, the love of my family, my friends, dear ones, the flowers, the music, that I go to sleep in peace, turning myself to God. We must pray for God's mercy and forgiveness so that we can love and forgive ourselves and God's other creations and have peace with ourselves, our Creator and our surroundings.
We Muslims believe that all our suffering, failures and adversities are nothing but a test from God, who has said that "You will not enter Paradise until you are tested. " He has also said, "Be sure we will test you with something of fear and hunger, a small loss in wealth and lives and the fruits (of your labors), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere, when afflicted with calamities, to God we belong and to Him shall we return."' (Chapter 2:15, 5-157).
An Islamic Perspective On Violence Against Women
While women in many parts of the world have made advances in areas previously closed to them, the problem of violence against women remains pervasive. Unfortunately, this violence takes many forms and occurs across national, cultural, racial, and religious borders.
Twelve Tips For Imams In The West For Dealing With Domestic Violence
by Soundvision.com
If you're an Imam who has come from abroad, you have seen how heavy the burden is on Imams in the West. While in Muslim countries, your role may have been simply leading prayers and teaching children Quran, for example, in North America, you cannot do only this.
The Imam is the leader of the community in the fullest sense of the word, and his responsibilities include more than leading prayers and teaching. He must deal with issues perhaps never touched upon "back home". Domestic violence in the Muslim community is just one of them.
Below are 12 tips for how Imams can deal with the issue of domestic violence in Muslim communities:
1. Know the definition of abuse.
There are different types of abuse (physical, verbal, emotional, etc.) Know what types of abuse there are and know their telltale signs. There is plenty of material on this subject which can be found at police stations, women's centers and libraries about this topic.
It will also help you read a few books about the domestic violence. May be you want to add some good books on this topic in your Islamic center's library as well.
2. Understand that this is not a personal matter
Domestic violence is not a private matter between a husband and wife that should be ignored. Domestic violence can lead to the destruction and separation of a Muslim family, which is already so fragile in a predominantly non-Muslim environment. The destruction of one family is the destruction of one unit of the Muslim community. As leaders, Imams have a duty to help those suffering in this crisis.
Remember that Muslims must help their brothers and sisters, whether they are the oppressed or the oppressor. Not only must we help the sister who is being abused, we must also help the brother who is abusing to make him stop. Domestic violence can lead to murder of the sister, and the brother being put in jail. Children would be separated from parents and most likely put in non-Muslim foster homes if this happened.
3. Approach domestic violence as you would any social problem
Provide solutions, not just threats of Hellfire to men who abuse. Remember that a person who has this problem can change Insha Allah (if Allah wills) if there is help and support from the community and leaders like the Imam.
4. Know what services exist in the community
Imams should know where the nearest battered women's shelter is, for instance. They should know if there are crisis hotlines available, as well as safehouses where women can stay if they are trying to escape from a violent husband.
5. Be able to assess a crisis and protection plans
Consult a counselor about knowing how to assess the level of crisis in a home and help women develop protection plans (see tips for victims of domestic violence in the West for details of the protection plan).
6. Give your name to a local women's shelter or a crisis line
7. Bring the issue to community's attention
It's easier to deny a problem exists when no one talks about it except in hush hush tones. But when an Imam starts giving Khutbas (sermons) on the topic and discusses it in Islamic study circles (Halaqas) men and women have to start taking it seriously.
A Khutba or discussion on this topic could be structured in the following way:
a. Start off giving the example from the Quran (4:34-35) regarding the five steps of conflict resolution and explain that this is not violence.
b. Mention that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was married 38 years of his life and never hit his wives.
c. Mention the steps in verse 4:34-35 are only applicable if the man is totally innocent and the woman is at fault.
d. Explain that the last step referred to in this verse is a symbolic gesture with Miswak which is only allowed in two cases: 1. if the wife is guilty of lewd behavior 2. if the wife, without any medical reason, refuses to share his bed.
e. Be clear and give examples of the kinds of abuse that do exist. For example, a husband regularly threatening to divorce his wife, intimidating her, telling her she is a failure, that she will go to Hell. Telling her he has a right from Allah to abuse her. Mention that abuse in Muslim homes includes pushing, slapping, punching, kicking, beating, bondage, and refusing to help a wife when she is sick or injured.
f. Remind people that the Islamic rules of good behavior apply to one's family just as much as to the Muslim community.
g. Remind people that Allah does not turn down the Dua (supplication) of the oppressed person, and if a man is abusing his wife and she makes a Dua against him, Allah, if He wills, will accept it and make it happen.
A note of caution: if you do decide to use a case study from the community when talking about domestic violence, make sure not to disclose details which will make it obvious to listeners which couple is being discussed. This is a violation of privacy.
8. Open up the mosque or Islamic center for abused women
Make sure the mosque or Islamic center is open at all times for abused women to seek refuge in. Remember that Muslim women would prefer to turn for help to their community before going to non-Muslim shelters and calling non-Muslim run crisis lines. Making sure the mosque is a "safe spot" can make women consider the mosque as one of their first points of refuge in an emergency. Ensure there is adequate safety in the mosque for women fleeing violence.
9. Make yourself available
Contact information and Timings when you, the Imam, are available should be known to all in the community, either through announcements and/or newsletters and bulletin boards. All Imams should have a pager where people can easily reach them in emergencies. There should be one locked mail box which only you can open. There should be an email address for those who wants to seek guidance maintaining their anonymity.
10. Establish a social services system or committee
In cooperation with Muslim social service professionals in your community, establish a committee which will develop a system for social services in your community to tackle issues like domestic violence in Muslim homes.
11. Set up support groups
In mosques and Islamic centers, encourage the establishment of support groups for abusers and the abused (separately) so they can share their experiences with other Muslims who may have suffered from domestic violence as well. Make sure the group is run by wise, trustworthy individuals.
12. Make Dua
As a leader of the community, the well-being of its members is part of your responsibility. Make Dua that Allah helps you in this heavy task and that He eases the difficulties of all those suffering in the community, men, women and children.
Wife Beating?
By Dr. Jamal Badawi
In the event of a family dispute, the Qur'an exhorts the husband to treat his wife kindly and not overlook her POSITIVE ASPECTS (see Qur'an 4:19). If the problem relates to the wife's behavior, her husband may exhort her and appeal for reason. In most cases, this measure is likely to be sufficient. In cases where the problem continues, the husband may express his displeasure in another peaceful manner, by sleeping in a separate bed from hers. There are cases, however, in which a wife persists in deliberate mistreatment and expresses contempt of her husband and disregard for her marital obligations. Instead of divorce, the husband may resort to another measure that may save the marriage, at least in some cases. Such a measure is more accurately described as a gentle tap on the body, but NEVER ON THE FACE, making it more of a symbolic measure then a punitive one. Following is the related Qur'anic text:
Domestic Violence – A Devilish Practice
by Dr. Mahbubur Rahman
For too long, the American Muslim community didn't recognize, let alone respond duly to the problem of domestic violence. Whenever any incident of domestic violence was reported, our usual response has been one of denial — as if his is exclusively a "non-Muslim" issue and/or the Muslim community has nothing to do with it. But some high profile
While commenting on the brutal murder of Assiya Hassan, one community leader thus remarked: "This is a wake up call to all of us, that violence against women is real and cannot be ignored. It must be addressed collectively by every member of our community ….. Domestic violence is a behavior that knows no boundaries of religion, race, ethnicity, or social status. Domestic violence occurs in every community. The Muslim community is not exempt from this issue. We, the Muslim community, need to take a strong stand against domestic violence."
Indeed, we betray our faith when we turn a blind eye to the occurrence of domestic violence in our midst suggesting that "it's a personal problem." We often forget that domestic violence is a crime against Islam and humanity. We should neither remain silent nor uninvolved when we become aware of cases of abuse. In fact, the Muslim community should be proactive in providing marriage counseling and provide support and help to the victims (if so is warranted in cases of bad marriages) by offering them safe refuge, information on their rights, as well as referrals to social service providers in their respective areas. After all, anger management and conflict resolution are learned skills and individuals lacking them hence require professional help and management. Instead of simply asking the victims to be patient, the Muslim community should offer counseling services and make them widely known and accessible to vulnerable members of their community. Our mosques, community centers and religious organizations should provide guidance to those who are trapped in the unfortunate web of domestic abuse, in ways that will enable the sufferers to connect with such resources and improve their lives.
It is also true that domestic violence happens in different forms and levels and it can be caused or initiated by any party- either husband or wife. The available statistics give us horrible pictures. In many cases, it starts simply as emotional or verbal abuse, but it is only after the occurrence of physical abuse, do people consider it domestic violence. Islam prohibits and denounces all forms of these abuses and violence. In the Islamic way of life, marriage is not just a legal contract: it's also a sacred bond between a man and a woman in which both husband and wife take a solemn pledge to abide by the divine dictum in their conjugal life. As stated in Surah Nisa (4:01) of the Qur'an, it's by God's name by which the married couple claims mutual rights and fulfills their marital obligations. Unfortunately, in many Muslims' lives, this "religious" dimension is absent and even if it exists, it's all but a formality that they perform at the time of wedding and afterwards many remain totally ignorant about these "religious injunctions" and some deliberately stay far away from God (i.e., divine prescriptions) especially when dealing with their spouses.
However, if we turn to the Qur'an, we notice how noble the institution of marriage is in the sight of Allah (swt) and how much mindful, careful and merciful we have to be while dealing with our spouses: "And among His Signs is this; that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put
Last but not least, domestic violence demonstrates the darkest side of a man's soul. It is clearly a devilish practice. While human beings are fallible, nothing justifies domestic abuse or domestic violence. To have a fulfilling marriage and a virtuous life, we have to deny the dictates of devil and abide by the Commands of Allah (swt) in our daily lives.
Source: The Message Magazine
Family And Marriage In America
Family and Marriage in America
By Father John Flynn, LC
Family life in many countries has undergone radical changes in the last few decades. The situation in America is, however, substantially worse compared to other countries, argued Andrew J. Cherlin in a book published earlier this year.
According to the arguments in "The Marriage Go-Round: The State of Marriage and the Family in America Today," (Alfred A. Knopf) Americans have embraced contradictory models of personal and family life. The first involves a commitment to share one's life with another; the second emphasizes personal growth and development.
Cherlin is the Benjamin H. Griswold III professor of Sociology and Public Policy at Johns Hopkins University and has spent the last three decades analyzing family life.
Marriage as a cultural ideal is a strong force in America, he points out. In fact, there are government programs promoting marriage and the fierce debate over proposals to introduce same-sex marriage testifies to the way marriage is strongly defended by many.
Nevertheless, Cherlin comments that in no other Western country is the waiting period for a no-fault divorce so short. One study he read said that children living with two married parents in the United States have a higher risk of experiencing a family breakup than do children with two unmarried parents in Sweden.
Cherlin recalled the experience some years back of some states that introduced a "covenant marriage" option for couples getting married in a civil ceremony. In such a marriage both spouses agree to restrictions on how quickly and easily they can obtain a divorce.
No covenant
At the time, Cherlin recalled, he thought that maybe up to a third of couples would choose this option. Experience showed this to be a wild overestimate. Several years later, less than 2% had opted for a covenant marriage in Louisiana and Arkansas.
So even though the covenant marriage option was introduced in Arkansas in 2001, in 2004 it had the second-highest number of divorces per person of any state — coming after Nevada, a notorious divorce destination for people from other states.
At the same time, in 2004, Arkansas also had the third highest per capita rate of marriage. Arkansas is part of the U.S. "Bible Belt," with above average church membership. In fact, six of the 10 states with the highest divorces rates are in the South — the other four are in the West — and all of them tend to be socially conservative.
Thus, while marriage is held in high esteem in America, Cherlin pointed out that the postmodern cultural trend to self-expression and personal growth is also very influential.
There are societies with strong marriage values, where few children are born outside marriage and there are low levels of cohabitation. Italy is such a case, said Cherlin. Then there are countries with a culture that places a high value on individualism, such as Sweden. Only in the United States, however, do both these cultural tendencies co-exist.
As a result, Americans value the stability and security of marriage, but they also believe that individuals who are unhappy with their marriages should be allowed to end them. "What Americans want, in other words, is for everyone else to have a covenant marriage," he concluded.
This is reflected in the statistics on marriage in the United States, Cherlin pointed out. The percentage of people who aspire to marriage is close to 90%, higher than in other countries. Yet America has the highest divorce rate in the Western world, higher even than countries such as Sweden.
Half of all first marriages occur by age 25 in the United States, compared to 29 years-of-age in Italy, 30 in France, and 31 in Sweden. Cohabitation also commences earlier for Americans than in many European nations.
Marriages in America also break down at a higher rate. Nearly half of all American marriages end in divorce. In fact, after only 5 years more than one-fifth of Americans who married are separated or divorced. Among those who began cohabitating over half had broken up 5 years later, a substantially higher figure than in many other countries.
In the United States, 40% of children born to married or cohabitating parents experience a breakup by age fifteen. In Sweden the rate is 30%, and in other countries it is in the high or low 20s.
After their breakups, Americans are also more likely to seek a new partner. Nearly half of children who experience a breakup see the entry of another partner in the household within three years, a much higher proportion than in other countries.
Frequent marriage, frequent divorce, more short-term cohabitation, this is what creates great turbulence in American family life, according to Cherlin. What he calls "this merry-go-round" of American families is more than a statistical quirk, he continues.
The impact on children is of particular concern. Some children experience great difficulty in adjusting to a series of partners. Children whose parents have remarried do not have higher levels of well-being than children in lone-parent families, despite the addition of a second parent. This is in spite of the fact that remarrying brings with it an increase in income and an additional person to parent the children.
New stepparents disrupt the existing relationships between lone parents and their children and repeated changes of parents or partners affects a child's emotional development.
Dramatic change
Looking back over the last 50 years or so, Cherlin commented on the dramatic changes in family and marriage. In the 1950s, having children out of marriage was a shameful experience, while today it is commonplace. Living together before marriage was a rarity, but today not living together before marriage is the exception.
Marriage is still considered as something important, Cherlin admitted, but it is now seen as an option. Moreover, we have seen an unprecedented decline in marriage being considered as the only acceptable arrangement for having sexual relations and for raising children.
Cherlin points out he is not arguing for a return to some idealized 50s model of family life, nor is he against the trend to individualism. What he does conclude is that Americans need to slow down and take more time to consider their decisions about marriage and family life.
At the same time, he isn't hopeful for any big immediate changes. Cherlin also points out that while the United States is a strongly religious nation, divorce has always long been a part of the culture and it was legal in America long before it was allowed in Europe.
The challenge, he continues, is to find a way to minimize the unwanted effects of individualism. How to this is not obvious, he concedes. Stable two-parent families provide better environments for children than do other arrangements.
The problem is that many people today see marriage in a different light, viewing it as a private relationship centered on the needs of adults for love and companionship. "This postmodern, relationship-based view of marriage has carried the day," Cherlin admits.
As a result, it is doubtful that government promotion of marriage or changes to welfare programs will be able to make a substantial impact on the structures of families.
No doubt Cherlin's urging that people slow down and take more time to make their choices when it comes to marriage is good advice. One can only wonder, however, how much difference that will make. The real solution is to change the cultural and social expectations and values that orient people's priorities. Achieving that sort of transformation of society is indeed a challenge.
Homosexuality In A Changing World: Are We Being Misinformed?
Homosexuality in a Changing World: Are We Being Misinformed?
Discussing the issue of homosexuality has been taboo in most societies for ages. Being considered an act of sin by most cultures and religions, there had not seemed to be much that required discussion. In recent years, however, gay lobbies have cropped up in the West, and talk of "coming out of the closet" has become common place. The pressure formed by these lobbies on political and legal institutions, the media, and society in general has resulted in a different definition and concept of homosexuality in the mindset of the common Westerner. Not only this, but the approach to homosexuality by scientists and psychiatrists has completely changed.
In November 2001, human rights groups severely criticized the Egyptian government for arresting a group of suspected homosexuals, which resulted in raising the issue of Islam's stance on homosexuality. Groups of gay Muslims have also become more vocal and have been organizing in an effort to convince themselves and others that there is no contradiction between being a Muslim and being a proclaimed homosexual.
Ignoring the issue and not properly discussing it only makes the issue more confusing for both Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Below is an attempt to commence such a discussion and to further understand this issue in an Islamic and a scientific light.
Islamic Stance on Homosexuality
Homosexuality-Related Research
Development Of Sexual Orientation
Diseases Related To Homosexuality
By Dr. Nadia El-Awady
Diseases Related To Homosexuality
Diseases Related To Homosexuality
In October 1999, the Archives of General Psychiatry published two studies related to homosexuality and mental health. The first, "Sexual Orientation and Suicidality: A Co-twin Control Study in Adult Men" by Richard Herrel et al, reported that same-gender sexual orientation is significantly associated with each of the suicidality measures. The study found that men with same-sex partners were 2.4 times as likely as their co-twins to have thoughts about death, 4.4 times as likely to want to die, 4.1 times as likely to have suicidal ideation, 6.5 times as likely to have attempted suicide, and 5.1 times as likely to have any of the suicidal symptoms. After adjustment for substance abuse and depressive symptoms (other than suicidality), all of the suicidality measures remained significantly associated with same-gender sexual orientation except for wanting to die.
What Constitutes Normal?
What Constitutes Normal?
NARTH comments on the issue of normality in an article that summarizes a paper written by Irving Bieber, M.D called "On Arriving at the American Psychiatric Association Decision on Homosexuality." The article notes that Dr. Bieber was one of the key participants in the historical debate that culminated in the 1973 decision to remove homosexuality from the psychiatric manual. His paper describes psychiatry's attempt to adopt a new "adaptational" perspective of normality. During this time, the profession was beginning to sever itself from established clinical theory-particularly psychoanalytic theories of unconscious motivation-claiming that if we do not readily see "distress, disability and disadvantage" in a particular psychological condition, then the condition is not disordered.
A Homosexual Friend
I have been reading a lot about Islam lately. I find it interesting and appealing. One question I do have. I have a gay (homosexual) friend. He is a good person who hurts no one. We have been friends for a very long time. I would never want to lose his friendship. If I converted, would I be told to end the friendship? I am curious what the Islamic teachings on this are.
Muslim Schools Vs. Public Schools
Seven-year-old Zaahirah Abdullah has a passion for nose rings and bellybutton rings, thanks to her friends and a favorite teacher at Pyrtle elementary school in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Men And Women In Islam
Shaykh Abdallah Adhami talks about how women and men who are shaped by Islamic ideals relate to one another in the dynamics of marriage in Islam.
Source: www.sakeenah.org


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BlackBerry: We Have Switchers, Too
Skeptical that BlackBerry's new operating system and the handsets on which it runs are slick enough to convert iPhone and Android users? Don't be. And if you can't help but raise an eyebrow over the idea, at least keep an open mind. Because, according to BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins, the appeal of the company's new Z10 handset extends well beyond BlackBerry loyalists.
Heins, who has been in the press a lot lately, talking up BlackBerry's new make-or-break line of smartphones, told Spanish newspaper Expansion this week that the Z10 has been well-received by more than just the BlackBerry faithful.
"We are receiving a very positive response to BlackBerry 10 from our customers, but it's also been attractive for customers coming from other platforms," Heins told Expansion. "We are a little surprised by that."
Happily surprised, I imagine. BlackBerry's comeback hinges not just on convincing existing customers to remain on its platform, but also on convincing users of rival operating systems like iOS and Android to switch. The big question, of course, is, can the company convince those users to switch in meaningful numbers, and across a number of markets?
According to BlackBerry there are some indications that it can. Sunil Dutt, managing director for BlackBerry India, says that the number of BlackBerry switchers in the country has been significant. Said Dutt, "In a couple of markets where we launched first, about 45 percent of people who bought BB10 devices were unique customers who were using phones of some other brand."
Forty-five percent.
That seems high for a new platform from a struggling handset maker, but it does jibe with what BlackBerry told AllThingsD last week. "We are seeing strong interest from consumers currently on other platforms, but can't comment further on specifics," BlackBerry spokeswoman Amy McDowell said. "While of course our loyal customer base is upgrading to BlackBerry 10, initial reports from Canada and the U.K. are encouraging, and data suggests a significant percentage of users are coming to us from iOS and Android, too."

subset: commoncrawl


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Psychadelik Pedestrian (7 Albums, 44 Tracks)
Psychadelik Pedestrian started producing breakbeat and jungle music in 1994 and first had online success in 2002, when his venture into chillout music, Night Beach, topped the downtempo charts at several early free download websites and was chosen for a mobile phone promotion.
During 2003 and 2004, Psychadelik Pedestrian tracks became more diverse, examples being the drum and bass Outer Self also being simultaneously made into chillout track Inner Self, and the funky Filter Groove, a track which sampled itself. By this stage, Psychadelik Pedestrian was combining half speed breakbeats and sweeping, haunting pad samples with modern instrumental sounds such as delayed piano, strings and electro beats.
Between 2003 and 2008, John spent some time remixing and remaking some of his older tracks, such as Eternal Truth and Tranquil War. Another Boring Lunchtime, a track originally written in 1996, was reworked in 2006. These remixes culminated in the self-titled album Psychadelik Pedestrian, featuring fourteen of the most well known Pedestrian tracks, which was released in August 2008.
During this time, PP was still releasing new material and, in early 2005, new track Memories was John's first track to feature a full, original vocal produced using a vocoder. Since 2005, John has used a more synthesized, electro sound in new tracks such as Twist Turn Slide.
Following the success of Psychadelik Pedestrian's self-titled album, the Transient album was released in November 2011. This album developed the Psychadelik Pedestrian sound with atmospheric, reverb heavy pads, dubstep influences and several tracks with full vocals. Two of these vocal tracks, Upside Down and the Black Moon Mix of Cry Over You were featured as editorial picks on the CCMixter site in summer 2011.


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Estee Lauder Ultimate Red Collection for Holiday 2009
Estee Lauder Ultimate Red Collection for Holiday 2009
Now available is Estee Lauder's seasonal colour collection!
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Lavish her lips with five full-size lipsticks. This gift collection brings together favorite shades from some of Estée Lauder's best-selling formulas, tucked in a red satin keepsake box: Pure Color Lipstick in Sugar Honey, Rubellite, Hot Kiss and Autumn; Estée Lauder Signature Lipstick in Soft Amethyst.
Holiday Lip Gloss Collection ($32.50)
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Availability: Nordstrom
See more photos…


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Bookseller: am here books
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p.o. box 262
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|Am Here Books has been in business since 1971. We began in Ollon, Switzerland and moved to Santa Barbara in 1979. We are now located in Camp Point, Illinois. We carry important stocks of 18th century English books with a special emphasis on Samuel John
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When violinist Nolan Reed concluded the opening concert in the 6th annual Bach Festival, a distinct hush fell over the crowd. Everyone seemed to sense that Reed was making real music, not learning, not practicing and not struggling to get it right. Music that was beautiful and meaningful.
Sundays student recital has become a tradition with performers ranging in age from 6 to 20 and skills developed more than half a year to more than a decade of lessons, workshops and, in some cases, conservatory classes and competitions. Traditionally, the Sunday concert sets the festival in motion, and it is of necessity a mixed bag.
St. Marks Church is usually packed with parents and siblings, and so it was. Even the performers sat in the audience, spilling over the front pews onto altar benches and floor space. So it was no surprise to see a standing-room-only crowd at this popular event. And its no surprise but pure delight to see a tiny musician lifted onto a piano bench or wrestle a small cello up the altar stairs.
What does surprise is something more than the structural building blocks of Johann Sebastion Bachs great music. When students study Bach, they have to master intricate polyphony, precision and rhythmic clarity.
Its a small miracle to see piano students resisting the temptation to blur Baroque architecture by sneaking a foot to the pedal. It takes courage to play Bach cleanly. Precision and clarity seemed to be the twin goals of all 14 music teachers represented at Sundays concert.
Sharon Neufelds Suzuki Academy Viola Students opened the program with a crisp reading of a Bach Minuet. Before the beginning violists played a note, however, you knew they were on stage for a purpose.
No matter how young, the musicians presented themselves as professionals, and that demeanor generally held true throughout the recital. Dressed for the occasion, the musicians came on stage with a purpose. Everyone demonstrated remarkable concentration.
A few forgot to acknowledge the audience before playing, and several rushed off stage when their music ended. Only two forgot to bow, but on the whole, the musicians communicated that they were there to perform works by perhaps the worlds greatest composer.
Most of the students constructed the scaffolding of Bachs music. Thats where one has to begin. But once learned, mastered and absorbed, theres music to be made, and three musicians stood out.
Reeds incredibly beautiful rendering of part of the Sonata No. 4 in C Minor stood out. It was an elegant, sad dance with a lilting rhythm and song-like passages that Reed leaned into before pressing into a transition. He shaped every phrase and lingered over some long notes while his accompanist, Beverly Lawrence, intuitively supported the entire superstructure with a fine pulsating rhythm.
Cellist Steve White played the Allemande from Suite #2 in D Minor, another splendid minor-key evocation of music beyond building blocks. And violist Nick Wilbur performed the Courante from Bachs Cello Suite No. 1, with a real sense of delight.
Its a pleasure to listen to and watch performers who have integrated the music so deeply that they appear to have gone beyond just notes and rudimentary phrasing to enter the realm of musical expression.
Now the rest of the week is unfolding with Bachs Lunch concerts at noon every day, two big concerts Wednesday and Saturday evenings, and this year, a few lectures by a Bach scholar for added value.
Timothy Smith, professor of music theory at Northern Arizona University will speak at the church Tuesday at noon and Wednesday evening before C. Scott Hagler presents the Goldberg Variations.
Smith will be at Fort Lewis College Thursday afternoon as part of the Artist in Residence program, and back at the church that night for a standalone lecture regarding the B Minor Mass.
firstname.lastname@example.com. Judith Reynolds is a Durango writer, artist and critic.


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BERLIN- Stephen Decatur's girls' varsity basketball team dropped a tough one this week in the opening round of the annual John Coleman Christmas Tournament, falling to Snow Hill, 44-35, on Tuesday.
The annual holiday tournament, named for long-time Worcester County Public Schools Administrator John Coleman, has become one of the highlights of the high school basketball tournament schedule on the Eastern Shore over the years. This year's tournament marked a return to tradition with the three county public schools, Decatur, Snow Hill and Pocomoke, competing along with Colonel Richardson.
In the beginning, the Coleman Tournament featured both the boys' and girls' varsity basketball teams from the county's three public high school along with an at-large invitee. Several years ago, the format changed to feature the girls' and boys' teams in alternating years and the site would rotate between Decatur, Snow Hill and Pocomoke.
This year, it was the Pocomoke girls' chance to host the tournament. Decatur fell to Snow Hill, 44-35, in the opening round as Virginia Harris led the Seahawks with eight points. Pocomoke won the other first-round game, beating Colone Richardson, 48-20 on Monday.


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This is an Epic Magic Adventure to Catalina Island for some street magic..See what happens.
Traveling Magic Vlogger creates Epic Magic Adventures and meets amazing people
Do you like to travel? What is your favorite part of it? I love meeting the people seeing the new exciting sights and best of all trying the food! Since I am a magician I am taking my magic on the road to the world! Every week I travel to a new location and bring my bag of tricks. I can't wait to share my Epic Magic Adventure with you! This episode is all about … Read More
In life it's important to have balance. Balance of work, family, goals, success,failure, dreams, and everything else in between. Balance gives us a quality feeling of zen and keeps us happy every single day. With the proper balance in life anything and everything is possible. At one point in my life all I did was work on my career, I would spend endless hours creating magic with no general direction. I did not have a … Read More
Revealing Sercrets
Happy Monday guys! In this post I wanted to address a huge issue that every professional magician has to deal with on many levels in their career. It is the revealing of all performance illusions in the media and on the internet. Granted anyone can buy a book or video of magic tricks and read how they are done. But ever since magic tricks were being televised and revealed for free to millions of people … Read More
Household Illusions, Entry #2
Hey guys! This week is gonna be incredible! Is your week gong to be the same? In this blog post I wanted to talk about another common household item, that now a days, seems to be absolutely everywhere. It is the ever present plastic bottle. In the video link at the bottom of this post, I show a lot of spectators how I can seemingly put the very object in their possession into a sealed … Read More
The Phoenix Rises
Hey guys! I hope your weekend was relaxing and entertaining. Mine surly was entertaining to say the least. I just got back from my show in Agoura Hills California. I met so many wonderful people at the Canyon Club. I wish that I could have stayed longer. I love you guys! So, what am I going to talk about this week? Well, I'm glad you asked. I want to briefly talk about a very old … Read More
UNLV Benefit for the Performing Arts Center
Hey guys! This week I wanted to talk about my alma mater, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The reason for this is because I will be performing a benefit on behalf of the performing arts center in October of this year. I deeply believe in giving back to my community and help to support it in any way I am able. Doing this benefit is just one step in that endeavor. My goal is … Read More
Household Illusions, Entry #1
Hello my wonderful gems and germs! Have you had a relaxing weekend? This week I wanted to put out an idea into the ether that focuses on simple household items that can be used in magic performances. I have been getting quite a few requests from viewers and readers asking to do magic tricks with everyday objects. So, as per your requests, I will randomly post a magic blog pertaining to a specific inexpensive item … Read More
Roping Imagination
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, guys and gals, mages and mystics. Today I would like to briefly talk about a curious and most spectacular trick that to some, is the most breathtaking and dumbfounding illusion ever thought up by a magician. It has many names, however the one name most associated with it is, The Indian Rope Trick. Though there are a few versions of this illusion, the most basic description entails a rope raising … Read More
Severing Ahead
Hey guys! Are you ready for another blog post about a death defying act that has haunted the history of magic? Well that would be convenient since that is what I want to talk about today. The stage illusion is simply known as, The Guillotine. This illusion in it's simplistic form deals with the dismemberment of a human head, or appendage when being performed. When performed on stage, the magician demonstrates the functionality of the … Read More


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Sometimes life sucks. We're talking about the little things that can wear on you in a big way: long commutes; waiting in line; dealing with rude people; being broke.
It was with these stressors in mind that we dreamed up an installation project small in scope but big in touchy-feeliness: we made a batch of fake cupcakes with uplifting phrases attached, and placed them throughout our neighborhood.
Told you it was touchy-feely.
Here's what we did:
First, we made up a batch of faux cupcakes using plaster of paris. (Cakespy Note: If doing it again we might not use the silicone baking cups though, because they have a built-in fill line which showed up in our finished cakes.)
Then we attached little flags to each, with cute sayings.
Then came the fun part: we let 'em loose around town. Here are some of the highlights:
A park bench got a whole lot sweeter with a cupcake that said "You're super sweet";
And finally, an ATM got a whimsical upgrade with a cupcake bearing the saying "The economy will be OK".
But on to the big question: Why?
Well, it's not too complicated. You know that we're strange little darlings, we spies. We liked the idea that the novelty of finding such an unusual art object in an unexpected spot might give viewer pause. Perhaps coming across one of these little cupcakes it made them smile, or maybe it annoyed them as a piece of rubbish. Maybe it made them scratch their head and wonder why. But in any instance, the ultimate goal was a repreive–a momentary escape from everyday worries, and a small reminder that yes, life can be strange–but sometimes sweet.
What happened to the cupcakes? Beats us, though if you live in Seattle, you might just find a sweet surprise where you least expect it.


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Homers hurt Herd
Erik Kratz did it to the Herd on Saturday. Jeff Larish was at it on Sunday afternoon.
The IronPigs first baseman hit a pair of home runs to power Lehigh Valley to a 7-5 victory over the Herd at Coca-Cola Field. The Bisons rallied late, but have now lost two straight, falling to 7-11 on the young season.
It was Larish's two-run home run that proved to be the difference in a 7-5 IronPigs win on Saturday in a game the Bisons led twice. The same scenario played out an afternoon later.
Buffalo had taken a 2-1 lead in the second inning thanks to a two-run double from catcher Raul Chavez. But Lehigh Valley answered right back to tie the game on Jeff Frandsen's third-inning sacrifice fly. Two batters later, Larish crushed a Jenrry Mejia offering to straight away centerfield for a game-changing three-run home run.
Larish provided more insurance in the eighth inning with a solo shot off reliever Dale Thayer. The slugger now has six home runs and 11RBI already this season.
The Bisons had their chances to get back into the game with base runners in every inning since the second. However, Buffalo didn't score until a three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth that was too little, too late.
The loss went to Mejia, his second in as many starts. The young righty allowed five runs in six innings of work.
BISONS NOTES: Kirk Nieuwenhuis doubled twice to extend his hit streak to a league-best 14 games. The outfielder has reached base in all 18 Bisons games this season…Raul Chavez has six RBI with only four hits this season…Jonathan Malo made his 2011 Bisons debut when he flew out as a pinch hitter in the sxith inning.


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The Vitec COMFORT (VCMF) offers a stimulating hydrotherapy bath
with active oxygen.
With the 10 selectable massage intensities the COMFORT provides an
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An adjustable mat provides air flow split to different zones of the mat
giving large or small bubbles which can be mixed.
Only £399.00 (including delivery English Mainland. No VAT)
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Markets/events may be regulated to ensure activities are carried out in a safe manner, while preventing nuisances to the surrounding environment. If you are a market operator, or sell second-hand goods you will require a Second-hand dealers and/or pawnbrokers licence.
Activities may include:
A licence defines the need to obtain recognition / certification and registration to undertake a certain business activity.
Food business licence
Second-hand Dealers and/or Pawnbrokers Licence
Council determines the length of this approval.
Food Act 2006 Queensland
(Opens in new window)
Liquor Act 1992 Queensland
(Opens in new window)
Second-hand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Act 2003 Queensland
(Opens in new window)
Contact council for more information on the current application process and relevant form.
If you intend to serve alcohol you will need a liquor licence.
Whitsunday Regional Council
Contact Email, Phone and Address Details for this service in simple two column table format, header then data.
Whitsunday Regional Council


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About Residence Inn Austin North
Residence Inn Austin North is newly renovated! Residence Inn has merged the warmth of home with wanting our guests to feel welcome and created the perfect extended stay experience. Residence Austin North offers spacious suites with plenty stretching room and separate living and sleeping quarters.
Welcome to Residence InnResidence Inn Austin North offers a free hot breakfast in the mornings and Monday thru Thursday offers an evening meal, on the light side, including beer, wine and sodas. Complimentary full breakfast buffet includes eggs, sausage, breakfast tacos, waffles, yogurt and more! Join Residence Inn North on Friday mornings for our Korean breakfast!!
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Contact Client All fields are required unless indicated.
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Featured Clients Some of our Favorite Listings.
Residence Inn Austin Downtown
Welcome to the New Residence Inn by Marriott Austin Downtown. Our prime location in downtown Austin adjacent to the Austin Convention Center.
Doubletree Hotel Austin North
The Doubletree Hotel Austin features beautifully appointed guestrooms, upgraded suite accommodations, and a long list of amenities, like high-speed Internet access and remote printing capability in every guestroom.
Embassy Suites Austin Central
Welcome to the Embassy Suites Austin Central where style, comfort and a true sense of hospitality define our accommodations and services.
Hampton Inn Austin Downtown
Immerse yourself in the heart of a cultural epicenter in downtown Austin, the capital city of Texas and the "Live Music Capital of the World." The Hampton Inn & Suites hotel in Austin-Downtown is located at the center of the action.
Sheraton Austin Hotel
Welcome to the Sheraton Austin Hotel! Featuring distinctively modern architecture and majestic views of downtown Austin, we combine the warm, friendly service with a prime location.
Renaissance Austin Hotel
At the Renaissance Hotel experience an authentic luxury hotel in Austin featuring the distinct style and diverse personality of the Lone Star State.
Courtyard Austin University
The newly renovated Courtyard by Marriott Austin University is located 3 miles north of downtown in central Austin with easy access on and off of IH-35.
DoubleTree by Hilton University Area
At DoubleTree by Hilton University Area you can enjoy a great location one mile from downtown and just seconds from the UT campus and the Frank Erwin Center.
Doubletree Guest Suites
Doubletree Guest Suites Austin Downtown Hotel at the Capitol, An oasis of warm Texas ambiance in downtown Austin, is within walking distance of the University of Texas, 20 minutes from Austin-bergstrom International Airport and convenient to IH-35.
Hilton Garden Inn Downtown
The Hilton Garden Inn in Downtown Austin offers a newly renovated Inn with 254 well-appointed accommodations and suites in a contemporary business environment. It's location at the intersection of historic 6th street and IH-35 offers unparalleled convenience.


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State Reports Six New Flu Deaths (Jan 24, 2013)
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - State health officials say six new flu deaths have been reported in Oklahoma in the past week.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health reported the new deaths Thursday. The agency says a total of 14 people have died in Oklahoma so far this flu season - with six of those deaths reported in the past week.
Of the recent deaths, three were reported in Comanche County. Cleveland, Oklahoma and Pittsburg each reported one new death.
The health department says those 65 and older have been hit hardest by the flu. Ten of the state's 14 deaths happened to people 65 or older.
The state has reported a total of 611 flu-related hospitalizations this season. That's nearly double the 316 hospitalizations reported last season.
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Save interesting products in this list and find them quickly at any time.
Simply click on the watch list symbol
The Subway 2.0 collection from Villeroy & Boch opens up a wide range of combination options for very diverse requirements. Regardless whether it's the family bathroom, guest bathroom or spa bathroom, individual bathroom design is easy with Subway 2.0. The bestseller shows that it is strong on design with the comprehensive range, the countless features, sizes and colours.
Wall-hung bidets are characterised by their versatile design. They are mounted in your chosen location on the bathroom wall. A frame system is required, however this is now standard in many new builds. The benefit: it's easier to clean the floor beneath the bidet. The wall-mounted bidets from Villeroy & Boch are coordinated with the matching toilets.
CeramicPlus - the anti-dirt surface for sanitary ceramics - simplifies bathroom cleaning. This innovative process causes water to immediately form droplets on contact, which then merge into beads and simply drain away, carrying dirt and limescale particles with them.
The toilets and bidets from Villeroy & Boch can be fitted with a concealed attachment. This leads to a uniform ceramics surface that looks great and is easy to clean.
Sanitary ceramic is the perfect material for washbasins, toilets and bidets. Sanitary ceramics from Villeroy & Boch are fired at 1200 °C and meet the highest requirements for durability and hygiene. Additional glazes such as CeramicPlus and AntiBac simplify bathroom cleaning with antibacterial protection and dirt-repellent surfaces. Sanitary ceramic is resistant to knocks and impacts.
|Subway 2.0
|355 mm
|480 mm
|17,1 kg
|Product designation
|Bidet compact
Sanitary ceramics. with fastening set for concealed fastening. EN 14528. Optionally available: Outlet valve with ceramic cover.
|Tap fitting / Tap hole remark
|suitable for 1-hole tap fittings, tap hole punched out
|Overflow remark
|with overflow
|Sanitary ceramics


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Blogs in 'DIY, Tweaks and Mods'
Once in a while, a friend will ask me which digital compact camera she should get. One request I often hear is for a compact camera that takes "good shots at night." It's hard to answer that question, because taking good photographs at night isn't just a matter of which camera you shoot with, but also how you shoot using the camera.
Lest the title should mislead you, I was referring to the Samsung Galaxy S, and not the Milky Way. Having tasted the Eclair, I made a cautious leap to Froyo to see if it would resolve the occasional bug experienced with the integrated Android 2.1. Making the upgrade is easy, and here's a relatively painless way on how to enjoy the zippier Android 2.2 JPA build.
No, this is not some wishy-washy piece on singlehood and the search for romance. It's about finding the right one, the right Linux distro of course. Would Ubuntu 10.10, released on the memorable 10th of October, 2010, be the one?
This Christmas is going to be pretty interesting for everyone with a whole slew of new products in every tech segment. Of particular interest in this blog update is the state of USB 3.0 on new generation motherboards on the horizon. Is Intel even interested in USB 3.0? Judging by new P67 and H67 boards pictured, perhaps not as much as we hoped.
Building a new PC but not sure how to fix it all up yourself? I decided to give the DIY shops at Sim Lim Square a chance with my latest PC build and here's how it turned out.


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Edison, Thomas Alva
Edison's first inventions were the transmitter and receiver for the automatic telegraph, the quadruplex system of transmitting four simultaneous messages, and an improved stock-ticker system. In 1877 he invented the carbon telephone transmitter (see microphone ) for the Western Union Telegraph Company. His phonograph (patented 1878) was notable as the first successful instrument of its kind.
In 1879, Edison created the first commercially practical incandescent lamp (with a carbon filament). For use with it he developed a complete electrical distribution system for light and power, including generators, motors, light sockets with the Edison base, junction boxes, safety fuses, underground conductors, and other devices. The crowning achievement of his work in this field was the Pearl St. plant (1881–82) in New York City, the first permanent central electric-light power plant in the world. He also built and operated (1880) an experimental electric railroad, and produced a superior storage battery of iron and nickel with an alkaline electrolyte.
Other significant inventions include the Kinetoscope, or peep-show machine. Edison later demonstrated experimentally the synchronization of motion pictures and sound, and talking pictures were based on this work. During World War I he helped to develop the manufacture in the United States of chemicals previously imported; he also served as head of the U.S. navy consulting board concerned with ship defenses against torpedoes and mines. Edison later worked on the production of rubber from American plants, notably goldenrod.
Edison held over 1,300 U.S. and foreign patents, and his workshops at Menlo Park (1876) and West Orange, N.J. (1887), were significant as forerunners of the modern industrial research laboratory in which teams of workers, rather than a lone inventor, systematically investigate a given subject. An Edison memorial tower and light was erected (1938) in Menlo Park, N.J.; Edison's laboratory and other buildings associated with his career are preserved or replicated in Greenfield Village . Some of his various companies were consolidated to form the General Electric Company (GE).
See the autobiographical Diary and Sundry Observations (ed. by D. D. Runes, 1948, repr. 1968); his papers, ed. by R. V. Jenkins, P. B. Israel, L. Carlat, et al. (7 vol., 1989–); biography by R. Silverberg (1967); W. Wachhorst, Thomas Alva Edison: An American Myth (1981); R. Friedel and P. Israel, Edison's Electric Light: The Art of Invention (2010).
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Electrical Engineering: Biographies


text: Flip to Work or Play, 10 Hours a Day! Flip to Work or Play, 10 Hours a Day! 1.7 kg Handy weight 19.9 mm Ultra thin The Perfect Laptop for Any Occasion By carefully trimming every last gram, we've made the 13-inch VivoBook Flip TP301 weigh a super-light 1.7kg. And what's even better is that it's 10% slimmer than the previous generation, measuring just 19.9mm thin. All this makes Flip TP301 not only a great choice for home or office use, but also a perfect take-anywhere device that allows you to work and relax anytime, anywhere. Its gorgeous metal finish makes it lovely to touch, and its stylish looks make it stand out from the crowd. In short, Flip TP301 is irresistibly stunning. Learn More About Design Solid Engineering, from Every Angle Flip TP301's robust and remarkable 360-degree, multi-gear metal hinge gives you the freedom to organize your life the way you want. Do serious work in laptop mode. Flip into tent mode to share or discuss stuff with your colleagues. Create your own personal movie theater in an instant with stand mode. And wherever you are, Flip's handy tablet mode is enhanced by the lightweight design and superb battery life. 360 Robust Hinge 20,000 Hinge Tests Your browser does not support the video tag. Your Way ,All Day! Despite its compact design, Flip TP301 features a powerful 55Wh battery to give you up to 10 hours of battery life, so you don't need to be constantly on the look-out for power sockets. And with all its versatile modes at your fingertips, Flip TP301 is everything you need for a whole fun-filled day. A Combination of Power and Efficiency Windows 10 Home UP TO i7 Intel-core CPU UP TO 920 M NVIDIA Graphic 512 GB SSD Storage Flip TP301 gives you powerful, energy-efficient performance with up to 6th-generation Intel® Core™ i7 processors and NVIDIA® GeForce™ discrete high-performance graphics. Windows 10 also lets you work smarter and smoother, with Continuum mode that automatically changes the Windows display layout depending on how you're using Flip TP301 — so you always get the best Windows experience, for every Flip mode! With up to 1TB HHD and 512GB SSD storage, Flip TP301 has more than enough space for your business presentations, photo albums, and multimedia content. Whether you're indoors, or on the move – you get more done with Flip TP301. Learn More About Performance Get Connected with USB Type-C and 802.11ac Wi-Fi The new, reversible USB Type-C port makes connecting devices so much easier! Fast USB 3.1 Gen 1 (up to 5Gbit/s) lets you transfer a 2GB movie to a USB drive in under 2 seconds! For maximum convenience and compatibility, TP301 features one standard USB 2.0 and two USB 3.0 ports, along with an additional HDMI port for connecting various peripherals and devices. Learn More About Performance Type-c USB 3.0 USB 2.0 Micro HDMI SD Card 802.11ac Wi-Fi gives you a better online experience – with stronger, more stable signals and transfer speeds that are three times that of previous Wi-Fi generations. 802.11 ac advanced Wi-Fi connection Immersive Audiovisuals TP301 immerses you in crystal-clear visuals and pitch-perfect sound. Its Full HD display gives you wide viewing angles so your images never look washed out or lacking in contrast, even when viewing them from off-center. This makes Flip TP301 perfect for sharing screen contents with a group of people, whatever mode Flip is in. Exclusive ASUS SonicMaster technology combines precision-crafted hardware with software tuning for truly immersive audio. Instant Response to The Lightest Touch Flip TP301 is designed to respond instantly to your every touch. We've doubled the touch sensitivity, so even the slightest movement of your fingertips is detected, and it only needs the lightest of touches to work perfectly. In fact, it's so good that it reacts accurately even to a child's small fingertips! Learn More About Performance 2 X Sensitive 10 Fingers Multi-Touch Typing Comfort is All in The Details Just because the 13.3 -inch Flip TP301 is incredibly slim, light and compact doesn't mean you have to suffer typing on it. We've engineered a superb keyboard with full-size keys, and with just the right amount of key travel to make it supremely comfortable to use, even for marathon typing stints. The cleverly-designed key mechanism gives the keys a reassuringly-solid feel —these backlit keys even feature ambient light control, so you stay productive even in dark environments — it's details like this that set Flip TP301 apart from the crowd. Solid cissor cut design 1.6 mm Travel distance Backlit Keyboard A Responsive Touchpad that's Smart The large touchpad on Flip TP301 makes it effortless to navigate your way around Windows. We've made it extra-sensitive for instant response, and to avoid those annoying jumps when your palm hits the touchpad, we use an exclusive smart algorithm that recognizes the difference between fingers and a palm. It's a perfect balance between sensitivity and usability. Learn More About Smart Gesture


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Gorham Fayette High School will be open to the public from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday, prior to the graduation ceremony. The open house will give residents the opportunity to walk through the school a final time before the move to the new school building.
Graduation is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.


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|105, 105-A, & 105-B Marigold Street
|105-A Marigold Street
|107 SE Main Street, Fifth Floor
|Beautiful Office with an Unbelieveable View!
|107 SE Main Street, Suite 206
|107 SE Main Street, Suite 306
|107 SE Main Street, Suite 404
|Great square footage in a charming historic building
|107 SE Main Street, Suite 407-408
|A 2-office suite, one leading into other. On the corner of Main and Tarboro - great view.
|107 SE Main Street, Suite 410
|A large single office overlooking Tarboro Street.
|107 SE Main Street, Suite 411
|A single office overlooking Tarboro Street.
|107 SE Main Street, Suites 310 & 311
|A 2-office space on the Tarboro street side, each office with large windows.
|112 NW Main Street
|115 N Church Street
|Former bank branch and insurance office. Two story with large parking lot. Prime location across the street from new Southern Bank Building and next door to PNC operations center.
|116 Sunset Avenue
|118 Sunset Avenue
|120 S Pearl Street
|126-128 SW Main Street
|133 S Franklin Street
|15,500 square feet brick office building in a choice location!
|156-158 SW Main Street
|211 Atlantic Avenue
|218-222 SW Main Street
|232 SW Main Street
|322 SW Main Street (Store Front)
|This is a storefront and is ideal for Retail (includes internet & utilities).
|442 S Church Street
|The Bottling Plant
|701 S Grace Street
|Poyner Spruill
|Space available in Poyner Spruill office building
|Station Square Mall, Suite 140
|This space is ready for you to make it your new office or retail space
|Station Square Mall, Suite 234
|Office space available for your business!
|Station Square, Suite 122
|Station Square, Suite 162
|Suite 140 (private offices)
|Private offices with shared conference rooms, reception area, & kitchen