text:
The story so far: Francisco's faith and prayers are put to the test when the Imam's daughter falls deathly ill, and he is called to pray over her. Miraculously, the little girl is raised to full health, and the Imam, beginning to look more kindly on Francisco, invites him, Abdul, and Abdul's family for a celebration in his house. It is there that Francisco's interest in Abdul's beautiful daughter, Fatima, increases.
Abdul must leave for Meknés to rally troops for the impending attack of the Spanish army. Meanwhile, Francisco remains in Jerada praying for Abdul, when an urge in his heart tells him to leave Jerada and head for Meknés.
– – –
Chapter Five
For days Abdul Aziz had been watching the long column of Spanish soldiers moving up the valley towards Meknés. His vantage point was a range of hills that ran southeast to northwest. He and a small group of fighters had been moving stealthily through the trees and bushes on the rills observing the unsuspecting Spaniards as they approached the city. Upon his arrival in Meknès three days earlier, a hastily called council of war had decided to implement Abdul Aziz's plan. A small force would be deployed in front of the city to bear the brunt of the initial attack, and then fall back. At the moment when the Spanish victory would appear imminent, Abdul Aziz and his men would sweep down from the hills and attack their left flank while another party led by the sheik of Meknés would come at them from the hills on the other side.
That morning Abdul Aziz had met up with his deputy, who had informed him that all his forces were at the ready, concealed from the Spanish by a hill. The Spanish battalion was in sight of the city and closing in, and the attack was expected to begin within hours. From a grove of trees at the top of the hill, Abdul Aziz was intently observing the movement of the Spanish with the aid of one of his prized possessions, a telescope captured from a Spanish officer in a battle near Casablanca. His observations were momentarily interrupted by the arrival of the Imam, who had followed him from Jerada in order to aid in councils of war and pray for the resistance forces. One of his deputies had brought him up into the hills from the city.
Customary greetings were waived in deference to the danger of attracting attention. In a few words Abdul Aziz informed the Imam of the situation. A little reluctantly, he passed the elder man his telescope to allow him a closer look at the infidel forces. The Imam trained the telescope back and forth along the road that led to the city as Abdul Aziz continued to watch the enemy massing for battle, estimating their numbers and sizing up any weaknesses that could be exploited.
Suddenly, the Imam pulled Abdul Aziz's sleeve and pointed to a spot across the valley close to Spanish front lines.
"What is going on down there?" he muttered, passing Abdul Aziz the telescope.
A figure had emerged from the orchards which lined the foothills opposite them and was crossing a field towards the road along which the spearhead of the column of Spanish troops was advancing, the remaining forces fanned out behind them. Quickly Abdul Aziz focused his telescope on the figure. It was the unmistakable brown robe.
"By Allah," he said, "it is the Spaniard, Francisco."
"The infidel!" snapped the Imam. "This proves my suspicions. He knows of our battle plans and is going to inform the army of them."
Abdul Aziz shook his head in disbelief. "Surely it could not be so."
"We were fools to ever trust him and let him into our company," retorted the Imam in an angry whisper. "To think that I entertained a spy and a traitor in my own house!"
"Wait," breathed Abdul Aziz. "Watch what is happening."
By now Francisco had reached the road and turned to face the army. The colonel who was leading the oncoming column of troops reined in his horse and raised his hand to call a halt as he took in the strange sight before him. Francisco stood barefoot on the road, the hood of his long brown habit flung back, and his arms folded defiantly across his chest. His unflinching gaze was fixed on the colonel, who returned it with steely malevolence.
The colonel nodded to the aide at his right who raised his rifle and pointed it at Francisco's chest.
"Get out of the way," snapped the colonel, "or we shall be forced to get you out of the way."
Francisco stood silent, impassive. The aide cocked his rifle ready to shoot. Some invisible force seemed to check the colonel.
"Hold your fire!" he barked at the aide. For a few moments he glowered at Francisco. "Who are you and what do you want?" he snarled.
"My name is Francisco," came the quiet but unperturbed reply. "I am but a humble monk whom our dear Lord has called to serve in these parts. I come to you in the name of God and in the name of my humble master, Saint Francis. I beg you to have mercy on this city and spare it. There are only a few hundred fighting men between you and its capture. Why should you cause more anguish, create more widows and fatherless children, and cause untold death and destruction as you have done in other cities? These people have done nothing to you."
"These are cursed heathen!" snapped the colonel. "You as a man of God ought to know that. They deserve to be subjugated. My commission is to carry out the orders of the king and not to listen to fanatical dreamers like you. Nevertheless, since you are a monk of the holy Franciscan order, I will not shoot you. I will have you sent back to Spain and tried as a heretic and a traitor." Turning to his men he snapped, "Seize him!"
Two soldiers quickly spurred their horses forward, dismounted and grabbed Francisco on either arm. He did not resist but boldly shouted at the commander: "You ought to obey God rather than men. You should obey the commandments of love from your God, rather than the orders of hate and war from the king. Let these poor people live in peace. If you don't listen to my words, what you have meted to others will come back upon your own head. This very day you shall know it…"
"Silence!" roared the colonel. "Take him and chain him!" he shouted to the soldiers. "We will deal with him after we have taken the city."
The two soldiers quickly removed Francisco from the road and began escorting him to the back of the column.
"Such insolence," said the colonel roughly to his aide. "To delay the advance of my entire battalion with such treacherous fallacies. Prepare to take the city!"
"We shall take up an observation position on that hill," said the colonel to his aide, pointing towards a knoll on the right of the road ahead. "Command the men to await my signal to attack."
Abdul Aziz had been watching the entire exchange through his telescope. He passed it to the Imam who took a long critical look at the scene before exclaiming triumphantly.
"See how the infidel goes over to the enemy! His loyalty is only to his own people. We were foolish to ever trust him."
Abdul Aziz did not reply but slowly shook his head. "Now we must prepare, for I see the army begin to take up its positions," he said quietly.
"We must change our plans," urged the Imam, "for surely the infidel has informed against us."
Abdul Aziz wrinkled his brow as he pondered the Imam's statement.
"There is not time to change our strategy. Victory or defeat is in the hands of Allah. Let us prepare for battle."
Abdul Aziz had assembled his men at a place where a long gully ran down into the valley. They thus would be sheltered by trees for as long as possible, before emerging into the flank of the army. The knoll on which the commander had taken up his position was just to the right of the emerging gully, between it and the city.
Abdul Aziz watched as the cavalry fanned out in the fields on either side of the road ready for the attack. He could already see lines of the fighting men of the city preparing to meet the onslaught. A palpable air of fear and tension hung over the valley as those on both sides prepared themselves for the imminent clash. The Spanish had six cannons, transported on horse-drawn carts, which were now arrayed facing the city.
The commander raised his right arm and fired a pistol into the air twice. At the signal the cannons immediately roared into life, and cannon balls began smashing into the city wall and the front line of the Moroccan cavalry, while other cannons fell harmlessly into the fields.
Some of the defending army's horses reeled in confusion, prancing and snorting. A few of the soldiers already lay dead or injured beside their slain horses. Before a second round of cannon balls could be fired, however, the Moroccans advanced, rifles raised, swords glinting in the morning sunlight. Abdul Aziz watched in awe as the two- or three-hundred-strong band plunged headlong towards the oncoming force of several thousand.
The commander raised his pistol again and fired three times and the Spanish cavalry charged toward the oncoming Moroccans. The crack of rifle fire rang out across the valley as the two lines approached each other, then clashed in full fury. The Moroccans fought like whirling dervishes*, but the superiority and sheer force of numbers of the Spanish and their more advanced weaponry began to wear down the Arabs. Although the Spanish sustained heavier losses than the Moroccans in the initial clash, they soon began to advance toward the city while the surviving Moroccans turned to retreat before them.
Abdul Aziz had been waiting for this moment. With a silent signal to his men they began to move almost noiselessly down the gully towards the unsuspecting army. As they reached the last line of trees, Abdul Aziz spurred his horse forward with his sword raised high. Suddenly the several hundred strong band of horsemen charged out into the valley and towards the flank of the advancing army. Abdul Aziz and the party of other horsemen's first objective was the knoll to their right where the commander was watching his army's advance through binoculars. The Spanish commander's elation at victory turned to horror as the crack of rifle fire and sound of approaching horses behind him alerted him to danger.
For a second he gazed, transfixed in horror at the swiftly approaching hordes of horse-borne, white-clad executors of the vengeance of God, before a bullet entered his heart and the binoculars fell from his lifeless hand onto the turf beside him. Within minutes the command post was overrun by Abdul Aziz's men. Meanwhile, the other Moroccans were sweeping into the flank of the Spanish from the other side. The invaders were suddenly plunged into disarray. Some of Abdul Aziz's men managed to reach the cannons and turned them around to face the bulk of the army that still lay behind. While this was happening, more fighters emerged from the city into the confused front ranks of the Spanish. Caught thus in a three-way crossfire, the enemy vanguard was powerless to withstand, whilst the bulk of the army behind them, like a beheaded behemoth*, began to torturously inch its way back up the valley with the Moroccans in pursuit.
Finally the Spanish were able to regroup enough to withstand the onslaught of the Arabian horsemen and maintain their position, but the rout* was complete. At the knoll that had served as the Spanish command post, Abdul Aziz picked up the binoculars that had fallen from the commander's hand. Placing them to his eyes, he looked long and searchingly at the retreating column of the Spanish battalions. He saw what he had been looking for, an unmistakable brown-clad figure, bound with chains, being dragged along between two horsemen.
"See that the prisoners are treated mercifully," he muttered to his deputy.
"Come with me," he said to four other fighters as he mounted his horse and rode off back towards the hills.
Chapter Six
After his capture, Francisco had been taken to the rear of the oncoming army and chained. When it had become apparent that the Spanish had suffered a dramatic and unexpected setback, the army had retreated up the valley, fortified its position against further attack, and set up camp for the night. The atmosphere was tense. The commander and his deputy had been killed in the battle, and the command now fell into the hands of a young major.
Francisco had been dragged for several miles between two soldiers on horseback, and had waited all day in the sun without food or water. At evening, after the camp was set up, the major came and stood imperiously* before Francisco, who was still bound hand and foot and now confined in a tent with two armed soldiers inside and an armed guard outside.
"What is this curse you have brought upon us this day?" he growled. "You are no monk of the church, but a heretic and a witch. It has been reported that you cursed the commander and the army before the battle. Now look what evil you have brought upon us."
Francisco stared silently at the dirt-strewn floor beneath him.
"I would kill you now, heretic," the commander went on, "but that is too good a fate for you. First you must be taken to Casablanca and excommunicated from the church and then you must die, that your soul may burn in Hell."
Francisco raised his eyes and looked him squarely in the face. "I have done nothing today but speak the words I was instructed to speak by God."
"Strike the heretic," ordered the commander, and a soldier at his left struck a fearsome blow with his rifle butt against Francisco's cheek. "Tomorrow at dawn we shall dispatch you to Casablanca and be rid of your presence as we continue to destroy these heathen, under whose evil powers you have fallen." With that he turned and after prosaic* commands to the guards to watch Francisco well, he departed from the tent.
Despite the miserably uncomfortable night, Francisco's spirit remained buoyant. He was filled with a strange peace that he had discharged his responsibilities well and that somehow deliverance would come. The fact that the battle had gone against the Spanish was undoubtedly some type of a miracle, and he prayed that somehow Abdul Aziz would recognize the Divine intervention. As the commander had ordered, the next day at dawn a four-man company of soldiers set out with Francisco on the long road back to Casablanca. To make better time, Francisco was given a horse, but had his hands chained together and his legs chained under the belly of the horse to prevent his escape. Two soldiers rode on either side of him, one took the lead and the other the rear. The soldiers were tense and expectant, as they knew that even though the army had conquered the territory thus far, there was still ample opportunity for attack from bands of local rebels.
Even Francisco questioned the wisdom of the major's decision, feeling that a more seasoned commander would never have exposed his men to such danger in this small a company. Nevertheless, he suspected that the hand of God was present even in the young officer's over-zealousness. Despite the painful manacles on his hands and ankles, Francisco could not resist admiring the beauty of the majestic mountain range that towered over them on their left, and he worshipped the immortal power Who had created it.
The long day wore on uneventfully, and at nightfall the company of soldiers pitched camp by a stream that ran into the valley from the mountains on their left. The atmosphere became more jovial and relaxed as the soldiers partook of some meager rations and one produced a flagon of wine. Francisco sat meditatively quiet, praying for the souls of these uncouth soldiers who cursed and swore incessantly. They entertained themselves with tales and boasts of ruthless conquest and plunder, which made Francisco boil inwardly. At length their conversation turned to a torrent of ugly slurs and verbal abuse directed at him. Francisco bore their taunts in silence, only interceding more fervently in silent prayer for their salvation. Branded a heretic and traitor as he was, aside from praying for them, Francisco was uncertain that he could affect much in the conversion of their souls that evening.
Finally the men put out their campfire. Francisco's chains were fixed to a stake in the ground inside the tent. One soldier slept on either side of him, whilst the two remaining stood guard outside. The first two guards were soon snoring loudly, while Francisco remained awake, alternating between prayer and wondering what would become of him.
At what could have been one or two o'clock in the morning, there was a muffled cry outside the tent and a loud thud. The flap of the tent was flung open. Francisco rose to his elbows with a start. Four swift, wraithlike* presences entered the tent and immediately set upon the guards on either side, who awoke to find themselves with daggers against their throats.
"Undo the chains of the infidel," came Abdul Aziz's unmistakable voice. "We will deal with him after the fashion of our own justice, for he has betrayed our trust."
A shiver of fear ran down Francisco's spine. The Inquisition, excommunication, even execution were fates that he knew, however unpleasant. But what would he be subjected to at the hands of vengeful Moroccans?
Speedily the men disarmed the Spaniards and collected all their weapons. With trembling hands one of the soldiers fished the keys out of his pocket and clumsily undid the shackles on Francisco's hands and wrists by the few beams of moonlight that managed to filter their way into the tent. Francisco was roughly pushed out of the tent and the Spanish soldiers followed. They looked down in consternation at the dark forms of their two comrades lying motionless on the moonlit ground.
Abdul Aziz pointed his dagger menacingly at the two soldiers.
"Have mercy on them," said Francisco quietly. "They are only obeying their orders, and they do not know what they are doing."
Reluctantly Abdul Aziz sheathed his dagger.
"Chain them to the tree," he said, pointing to a nearby willow whose branches dipped into a rippling brook.
Quickly Abdul Aziz's men seized the hapless Spaniards and using Francisco's chains bound them with their hands behind their back and the chains around the trunk of the tree.
"It is by the mercies of Allah that you do not die tonight," hissed Abdul Aziz through bared teeth. "And now, infidel," he said menacingly to Francisco, "we will give you a taste of Allah's justice."
So saying, he signaled to the men who had been collecting all the Spaniards' weapons and corralling their horses. Two of them seized Francisco and with their rifles pointed at his head, ordered him to mount one of the horses. The other dark figures all followed suit, some pulling the remaining horses by their bridles. As a parting gesture, Abdul Aziz threw the keys to the manacles into the stream and the company of horsemen rode off into the night.
The ghostly figures of the horsemen rode for what Francisco judged to be well over two hours through the moonlit and scrub-brush-studded landscape. They ascended into hilly country. Looking behind him Francisco could vaguely make out the valley that they had traversed spreading like a dark quilt into the distance. Eventually Abdul Aziz raised his hand to signal a halt near a grove of pine trees. He spoke some words in Arabic to his men, which Francisco understood as instructions to set up camp for the night.
Gruffly he ordered Francisco to dismount from his horse. As he did so Abdul Aziz himself dismounted and unsheathed his sword, which glinted threateningly in the moonlight. Francisco's heart beat furiously, but he stood firm with his hands by his sides staring at the dark figure before him.
After a long silence, Abdul Aziz spoke in low tones. "So, infidel, do you not fall on your knees and beg me for mercy? After all I did for you, you betrayed my trust, and now you refuse to humble yourself before the wrath of Allah and plead for your life?"
Francisco could not speak. Something seemed utterly wrong with this scenario. He had known that he was risking his life to fulfill this mission and had fully prepared his heart for peril at the hands his own countrymen. But something about the circumstances seemed oddly strange. For a reason he could not fathom he was not prepared to die at the hands of those he had been sent to love.
Suddenly Abdul Aziz leaned back, let out a hearty laugh and plunged his sword deep into the ground beside him. Manfully he walked up to Francisco, placed his hands on his shoulders and planted a hearty kiss on each cheek.
"You are a true brother," he said with undisguised admiration. "You bow before none but God and trust in His mercy alone."
Francisco, more confused than ever, was still unable to speak, but let out a little gasp. Abdul Aziz placed a hearty arm around his shoulder and led him towards some of his men who were starting to light a fire.
"Come," he said to them in Arabic, "let us celebrate. For our brother is safe, and rescued from the clutches of the infidel."
"So how does it feel, my brother," he said, after they had seated themselves by the infant fire, "to have looked death in the eye twice in one day, once condemned as a heretic by the Spaniards and once as a spy by the Moroccans?"
"It feels good," managed Francisco, "to be alive."
Abdul Aziz let out another loud guffaw, obviously delighted with his Spanish friend's mixture of boldness and humility. Soon the fire was blazing, the coffee was boiling, and thick slices of flat round bread had been produced.
"Fear not for your comrades," said Abdul Aziz, as he chewed on a slice of bread. "They are not dead, only unconscious. I knew you would not approve of us killing even your captors. They will awake in the morning, pull the key out of the stream, unlock each other and wander disconsolately back to their army, with the report that the heretic Francisco has met the wrath of Allah at the hands of the vicious sword of Islam and will be heard of no more."
Francisco started, "But how did you know that I would be tried as a heretic?"
"Ah," said Abdul Aziz, "the bushes of scrub are my eyes and the blades of grass are my ears."
"And you followed us all the way?"
"Yes, along the ridges, amongst the trees, where your captors could not see us."
Francisco let out a long sigh. "Forgive me," he said. "I have caused you to risk your life to come and save me. All through the lust of my desire to feel as if I was accomplishing something for my God."
Abdul Aziz's mood suddenly changed to one of solemn gravity.
"My brother, you must not speak thus. I know"–he gestured at the men around him–"and all my men know that the victory we won today was not achieved through our own power. It was through the unmistakable hand of God. I don't know how or why your prayers prevailed, but what was wrought today was not through human power. Tell us how you did this thing. What possessed you to walk out alone in front of an entire army?"
Francisco drew his breath as if contemplating a deep secret.
"When I was on my knees in Jerada, in your home, I felt the fire burning in my soul again. It was the same fire that brought me to these lands. Again and again I chastised myself and tried to submit myself to prayer and only prayer, but the fire could not be extinguished. With the fire there came a voice, a voice that told me that I must go up and stand before the armies of Spain, and that I must give them a message. The message was that they should turn back, they should not draw their swords against the innocent, and they should not persecute those who had no power, or unleash their bullets into the hearts of those who fought only to protect their lands and their loved ones. The Lord spoke through the fire and the voice in my heart, that if I would do this thing, He would deliver me.–I knew not how. He also told me that if they would not listen, then defeat and shame would come to them. It was done as God told me. That is why," Francisco began laughing, "I could not understand when you stood before me and drew out your sword as if to cut off my head, for this was not the deliverance that I was expecting, although a martyr's death is in its own way a glorious release."
"You must teach us more," said Abdul Aziz. "You must come and teach us how to hear the voice of God like this and how to avail ourselves of this power, for surely, although today's battle was won, the Spaniards will come against us with more force than ever, and we shall be unable to withstand. But now that the Spaniards think you are dead at my hand, you are safe. You shall come and live amongst us and dwell with me as one of my sons."
Anticipation fluttered through Francisco's heart. One of his sons? A vision of Fatima's dark, seductive eyes flashed before him in an instant. Was it too much to hope for?
"But now let us sleep." Abdul Aziz stifled a yawn. "Tomorrow we must travel far. One battle has been won, but the war is not over."
The fire was extinguished. A rough assortment of blankets was produced from saddlebags, and the men settled themselves as comfortably as possible on the ground for the night.
Chapter Seven
The blue-gray wash of dawn that began to paint the sky revealed that the grove of pine trees was situated not far from the summit of a hill. Francisco awoke, rubbed his eyes and rose, quietly, setting off towards the hilltop. After ten minutes of vigorous climbing he reached the top. A breath of wonderment escaped from him as he eyed the scene before him. To the northeast, majestic snowcapped mountains faded into the haze of dawn. To the southwest stretched the vast interminable plain, which eventually dissolved into the expanse of the Sahara Desert. To the east a faint swirl of orange in the sky heralded the coming sun.
Francisco sat himself down on a rock, lost in a silent symphony of praise to the Artist of the haunting masterpiece before him. After a period of time during which fleeting minutes seemed to dissolve into eternity–in fact, all measures of time seemed to disappear into irrelevancy–Francisco was startled by a whisper behind him.
"As-salamu Aleykum."
He turned to see Abdul Aziz standing quietly about fifteen feet behind him.
"Wa Aleykum is-salam," he replied.
"I do not wish to disturb you," said Abdul Aziz with an uncustomary reverence in his voice, "but I thought I might ask if I could join you in your prayers."
"You are more welcome than you could possibly know," said Francisco.
Quietly Abdul Aziz came forward and seated himself on a rock next to Francisco.
"Let us each pray a prayer to our God," said Abdul Aziz quietly.
Francisco nodded.
"You begin, my brother," continued Abdul Aziz once again with a gentility that Francisco had not previously noted.
Reverently Francisco prayed the "Our Father."
"Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom
and the power
and the glory, forever.
– (Mathew 6:9-13
After a short silence Abdul Aziz began to intone a prayer. Immediately Francisco recognized it as the shahada, the Muslim witness of faith.
"God is great, God is great. I witness that there is no God but God and that Mohammed is the prophet of God."
After he was finished there was another long silence.
"Quote me something from your Holy Book," said Abdul Aziz at length.
"There is one God," began Francisco, "and there is none other but He."
"But this is from the Koran," stated Abdul Aziz.
"No," said Francisco, "from the Bible. Mark chapter twelve, verse thirty-two. There is one God and there is none other but He, and to love him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is worth more than all offerings and sacrifices."
"Spoken like a true Muslim," said Abdul Aziz, without even a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
A slim crescent of sun on the horizon began to pierce the morning haze. Myriad rays of red and orange scattered across the landscape, illuminating the shadowy trees, boulders, and clumps of scrub, bringing into focus distant mountain peaks.
"With such majesty and glory before us," said Francisco, "it suddenly seems to me that the differences in our philosophy and theology are like tiny shadows driven away by the rising sun. Abdul Aziz"–he turned to his friend and spoke with gravity and sincerity–"if I accept Mohammed as a true prophet of God, which I truly believe he was, will you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Redeemer, and embrace His Holy Spirit as your comforter and guide?"
A shadow seemed to fall across Abdul Aziz's face, as he struggled to comprehend the gravity of the question. "My friend," he said, "I will think about it. I will think about it."
By now the full orb of the sun had risen into the sky, and the men could hear faint stirrings from the camp below them.
"Come," said Abdul Aziz. "We must prepare to travel before the heat of the day is upon us. Today we shall return to Jerada. The Spanish have fallen back and will most likely need time to regroup before attacking Meknés again. We must be sure that our own city is safe. But I must warn you," he continued as they wended their way down the hillside towards the stirring camp, "the Imam is still not convinced of your sincerity. He thought that you were betraying us and revealing our secrets when you stood before the army. There is still much to be done to win his favor. If it is the will of God, this shall be accomplished in time, but you must be careful. But now you are my guest and no longer my prisoner, nay you are no longer my guest but my brother, my son. Speaking of which," he paused, giving Francisco a quizzical sideways look, "how on earth did you come so quickly to Meknés? Surely you couldn't have made it there on that aged donkey of yours."
Francisco went a little red and coughed.
Undeterred, Abdul Aziz continued. "Of course! The horse! One of my men found one of my horses wandering in the forest after the battle. So did one of my sons help you with this? Was it Sami? Abdul Khader?"
"One of your children," said Francisco a little uncertainly.
Abdul Aziz eyed him narrowly. "Fatima? Fatima provided you with a horse?"
"Yes," said Francisco.
"That girl," he said shaking his head. "I suspected you had an eye for her."
Francisco remained silent, uncertain of how to respond.
By this time the two men had reached the camp. Once more Abdul Aziz eyed Francisco. "We shall talk more of this," he said.
Francisco heaved a silent sigh of relief mixed with trepidation as he mounted his horse. The protective wrath of Arab fathers was well known, perhaps equaled only by their Spanish counterparts. Within minutes the party was on the move, ascending paths that led over the top of the hills and clung to the range on the southern side so as to avoid the watchful gaze of any Spanish soldiers in the valley.
After several hours, Abdul Aziz, who had been leading the party, slowed his horse down level with Francisco's.
"And so, are you interested in my daughter?" he asked bluntly.
"I … I … uh…"
"Well, I can think of worse things," said Abdul Aziz.
"I … but my vows."
"Vows?" said Abdul Aziz. "Have you not been excommunicated already as a heretic? What vows?"
"My vows are a thing of the heart," said Francisco.
"Well then become a Protestant," said Abdul Aziz. "Their priests are allowed to marry."
"Protestant!" Francisco replied with his eyes raised. "Even if I were to do so, I have no camels to offer you as a dowry–nothing but an aging and stubborn donkey."
At this Abdul Aziz let out a hearty laugh. "I have more camels than I know what to do with," he said. "And as for your donkey, you can keep it, my brother. Think over my proposal," he said, and again breaking into a hearty laugh he spurred his horse back to the front of the party.
Abdul Aziz's words plunged Francisco into unsettling ponderings, which consumed him for the remainder of the journey.
That evening as the men talked and laughed around their fire underneath the unbroken expanse of stars, Francisco was silent and withdrawn, as if fighting an internal battle even more fierce than the defense of Meknés.
Abdul Aziz looked at him sympathetically, chuckling to himself at the strange mentality of this foreigner who seemed to struggle so hard to accept the simple joys of marriage and fatherhood as a gift from Allah.
– – –
(To be continued.)
*whirling dervish: someone working very quickly; frenzied
*behemoth: something huge
*rout: humiliating and crushing defeat
*imperiously: arrogantly
*prosaic: straightforward
*wraithlike: ghostlike


text:
U2: Elevation Tour
Pepsi Center
Denver, Colorado
6 April 2001
At first it seemed like U2 brought the weather with them. Rainy skies blew in Friday, reminiscent of most of the band's Denver appearances. There were the now infamous storms during the band's Red Rocks show, and it was cold and a little damp for their appearances at Mile High Stadium for ZOO-TV and PopMart.
This time, though, it did turn into a beautiful day as the skies cleared late in the afternoon, relieving general admission ticket holders standing on line for prime floor space.
The old McNichols arena, immortalized in Rattle and Hum, has been replaced since that last Denver indoor appearance. Now at the new home of the Colorado Avalanche, the band played to a raucous capacity crowd packed from floor to ceiling, providing the most energy the arena has seen since the Stanley Cup playoffs.
A lot has been said about how the Elevation tour is all back to basics and stripped down. But one has to keep in mind "stripped down" is purely relative. In U2 terms, this was scaled back. Even as such, it was the most extravagant indoor concert since... well, when ZOO-TV started up with its indoor broadcasts.
This time, all the theatrical flourishes were put in the service of the music, making the large tunes loom ever larger and the soulful songs wail with soul.
The most amazing aspect of the show was how the band was able to create an intimate atmosphere in a sports arena. With the heart-shaped stage extending halfway across the floor, parting a sea of people down the middle, each band member got a chance to strut down the catwalk and greet the crowd. Yes, even Larry Mullen, Jr., the drummer.
Most of the band interaction was between Bono and The Edge, whom Bono introduced as a man who could have flown the space shuttle but instead chose to be in a rock band. His head, Bono noted, is so large that he needs to wear a hat, referring to The Edge's ever-present knit cap.
There were a number of theatrical elements and nifty surprises that also helped make the cavernous arena feel like a nightclub. TV screens rising from the floor provided an opportunity to touch on elements of the Joshua Tree, ZOO-TV, and PopMart tours.
Those same screens even provided Bono with cyber belly dancers to accompany him during Mysterious Ways. At one point, he's lying on top of one of the screens as it rises up, singing while lying flat on his back, legs dangling off the end of the screen. At another point, he's dancing to the side of one of the screens, as if he's making out with his cyber partner.
The fantastic set covered a lot of new ground from All That You Can't Leave Behind, including the opener, Elevation, which found the band coming on stage with the lights still up and offering Bono an immediate opportunity to run around the catwalks, instantly breaking the ice with the crowd as he go-go danced around to the driving beat.
Beautiful Day followed on the heels of Elevation and kept the crowd jumping. They would stay on their feet - even those with seats - for the next two hours.
Taking a moment to chat, Bono thanked the fans for sticking around the past few years and also thanked the creator of the wide angle lens. Thanks to that invention, he said, the couple thousand drenched fans at Red Rocks looked like a packed stadium.
Unlike the chilly reception that greeted Pop's songs during PopMart, the new tunes have already been embraced by the fans and they were greeted with the same enthusiasm that awaited the band's classics.
The new material played well. Extra power was given to Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of as Bono dedicated the song to Michael Hutchence, the INXS lead singer who committed suicide.
In a Little While was pure soul and New York also got a stunning performance in a showcase of one of the tour's theatrical elements: drapes descended from the ceiling and bounced off light and shadows in a terrific demonstration of how the big arena can be made small.
Old hits peppered the list, running the gamut from Sunday, Bloody Sunday and I Will Follow to With or Without You and Until the End of the World.
Sweetest Thing, offering the rare opportunity to watch Bono perform behind a keyboard, was introduced as the "most expensive apology ever" since it was written as an apology to Bono's wife for his having missed her birthday. He then went on to relinquish the rights to her and the single, released in promotion of The Best of 1980-1990, became a huge smash. (As a side note, all the proceeds went to a good cause nonetheless. His wife used the funds to help her work in relief for Chernobyl victims.)
Contrary to reports of the band's "dismissal" of its work on Pop, the album was well represented during the show. Discotheque got a rocked-up retooling that ended with Staring at the Sun. Gone also made a surprise appearance. This time their reception was much more positive.
True to form, Bono provided thrills along the way. On a couple occasions he did a bit of bodysurfing into the crowd - and his last attempt, during The Fly, found him crashing to the floor, generating a unified gasp from the audience. Then he was seen charging through the "festival seating" crowd out the far exit only to return to the stage a couple minutes later to polish off the show. A quasi-James Brown moment!
The band now has such a solid catalog of material that, after two jam-packed hours, many hits were left behind, including I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For and Pride.
The show concluded with a rousing rendition of Walk On, with "leave it behind" lighting up the walls, and leaving the crowd craving more.
Early last year Bono explained how the band was going to "advance toward simplicity." At first it seemed a contradiction in terms. At the Pepsi Center during the Elevation Tour 2001, it all made sense.
Mattopia Jones covers the world's loudest folk band:
3 continents
14 countries • 30 cities • 7 tours
49 shows • 3 special appearances
1 boy dreaming in high volume
Mattopia Jones and the
Heart of Evita
Journey to
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— Coming Soon —
Mattopia Jones and the
Flames of the Fates
Journey to
Thailand • Vietnam • Myanmar
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subset: commoncrawl


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Where Eagles Dare (1968)
1 visible crew/equipment mistake
Directed by: Brian G. Hutton
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Mary Ure, Patrick Wymark, Richard Burton
Visible crew/equipment: In the scene where the Germans are pursuing Richard Burton's escaping party as they make their way towards the aircraft waiting for them, you will see the first of two pursuing German Kubelwagons being hit with machine gun fire and flipping. When this happens, you will see a cable used to flip the vehicle on the bottom left side of the screen being quickly retracted as it becomes detached from the Kubelwagon's axle.
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Three Williamson County students are the winners of this year's Golden Cone Awards.
The prizes were handed out September 15 at the Transportation Summit in Franklin. As part of Mobility Week, WCS TV and Film students were invited to create Public Service Announcements that will encourage WCS students to analyze the general public's understanding of traffic issues and inform the community.
Franklin High School student Josh Collins was one of the winners. He says his own daily commute to and from school prompted him to participate in the contest.
"It's something that affects me every day with all of the traffic and construction in front of Franklin High School," said Collins. "It feels good to know that I can put something I enjoy doing to good use and portray a good message about carpooling and riding the bus."
Ravenwood High School students Claudia Cruz and Susanna Dunn won an award for their PSA as well which focuses on carpooling.
"We thought it would be nice to offer a solution to our peers who always get frustrated by traffic," said Cruz.
"We thought carpooling would be helpful because it targets our peers and a lot of the times we go to the same after school activities," added Dunn. "We wanted to share the message that carpooling reduces pollution and makes things a lot easier."
Presented by Nissan and hosted by Williamson, Inc., Mobility Week is a county-wide initiative focused on exploring practical ways that individuals, commuters, corporations, schools and small businesses in Williamson County can work together as a community to reduce traffic on our roadways.


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The gardens are in, spring cleaning is behind us, and the kids are ready to burst out the doors on the last day of school. It's the perfect time to gather up items you can no longer use and earn some extra cash by taking part in the Orr Lake Community Garage Sale. On Saturday, June 27 just set up in your own driveway between 8:00 am and 2:00 pm and let the OLRA do the advertising. At the end of your sale, if you prefer not to tote everything inside again, why not donate your unsold items to the Seasons Centre for Grieving Children for their garage sale in August?
Let us know if you plan to participate so that we can better publicize on your behalf. Provide your address via email to firstname.lastname@example.com, text 905-716-2571, or call 705-322-7568. To arrange pick-up of your leftover items, call or text 705-725-4120 or email the above address.
Once you've decided to hold your sale, follow these tips to make it successful.
Start gathering the week before the sale. If you leave it until the last minute, you'll be far too rushed to make sure you have the time to earn top dollar. Ask friends and family members to join you with their things if you feel you don't have enough items to draw customers.
To make your sale as organized and as appealing as possible, group like objects together (glassware/kitchen items in one place; toys/children's books in another; and tools/lawn equipment in still another, for example). Hang up items for maximum visibility and so people can go through "your racks," just like they do at the store.
Place large items near the street to grab attention and, if possible, include items that will appeal to both men and women. Once you've drawn customers in, keep them interested. If you're selling dishes, set a small table with flowers and a cloth. Create a reading nook for browsing books. Offer muffins and coffee, or cold drinks on a hot day.
Make sure items are clearly priced. Nothing turns shoppers off quicker than having to ask a price for every item they pick up. Always mark chipped or cracked items "as is" so buyers know the price is for the item, flaws and all. Whatever the condition of the items, make sure they look their best—press the linens, wash and wipe dry glasses and china, etc.
Be ready to haggle. Your browsers aren't looking to spend a fortune at your sale. Be ready to negotiate by pricing items slightly higher to leave room for price-haggling. When you set prices, factor in price breaks of about 20 percent to 30 percent off the price you'd like to receive. Have plenty of change on hand in a safe location, and provide boxes or bags to pack sold items.
Offer freebies. Pick out a bunch of things that you never want to see again and place them in a box that says 'free'. This way shoppers and browsers alike can pick out what they want from the box and everyone wins. Place this free box near the curb so passersby will be more inclined to see what else you have for sale.
Once you've cleared some clutter and earned some cash, why not spend it on a day of fun and prizes by reserving a spot in the upcoming OLRA Golf Tournament taking place at Orr Lake Golf Club on July 4th? For OLRA members the cost is just $38 for nine holes, $48 for non-members. Enter individually or recruit a team. Call or text Susan Eccleshall at 705-725-4120 to reserve a spot.
We are still looking for volunteers to help with canvassing for memberships, and for the Annual Picnic in July. Contact us using any of the options mentioned in this article to offer a bit of your time. We do provide community hours for students, so let your kids and grandchildren know how to reach us as well.
We hope you are all looking forward to the break from routine that the summer holidays provide and wish you a safe and happy season.


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Discover the right course, explore career options, and apply online to your dream college, senior high school, or scholarship for free! Getting the most important education-to-career information you need has never been this easy!
A university's FAQ section sometimes doesn't cut it when it comes to shedding light on seemingly trivial yet important questions that bug a student's mind.
The practice of Civil Engineering shall embrace services in the form of consultation, design, preparation of plans, specifications, estimates, erection, installation and supervision of the construction of buildings and physical infrastructures, including demolition and retrofitting.
Accountants are practitioners of accountancy, which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities, and others make decisions about allocating resources.
A computer programmer, or coder, is someone who writes computer software. The term computer programmer can refer to a specialist in one area of computer programming or to a generalist who writes code for many kinds of software.
A Doctor provides primary and/or continuing medical care for patients. He/She takes account of physical, psychological and social factors when diagnosing an illness and recommends the required treatment.
A Flight Attendant provides personal services to ensure the safety and comfort of airline passengers during flight. He/she greets passengers, verifies tickets, explains the use of safety equipment, and serves food or beverages.
A Teacher acts as facilitator or coach, using interactive discussions and "hands-on" approaches to help students learn and apply concepts in subjects such as science, mathematics, or English.
A Chef plans and directs food preparation and cooking activities, and prepares and cooks meals and specialty foods.
An Architect is a licensed professional trained in the art and science of building design. He/She provides a wide variety of professional services to individuals and organizations planning a construction project.
STEM students are exposed to science and, therefore, capable of tackling more advanced science subjects. Quantum physics? They can walk you through it. Ruby on Rails? HTML? JavaScript? They know those like the back of their hands
As studying abroad is not common in our country, there are a lot of myths going around that may be the reason for your reservations. Here, we've gathered the common myths of studying abroad and debunked them one-by-one.
Ang Edukasyon.ph ang nagbigay daan upang mahanap ko ang school na tutulong sa'kin para maipagpatuloy ko ang aking pag-aaral. Ang scholarship na nakuha ko sa Punlaan School sa tulong ng Edukayson.ph ay nagbigay sa'kin ng pag asa para makamit ko ang mga pangarap ko sa buhay.
Edukasyon.ph is a friend for every student who wishes to have a guide on what path they are going to take. It gives us ideas on what our chosen career is all about. It also encourages us to dream more, aspire for more and achieve more.
Thank you Edukasyon.ph for helping us in choosing the possible pathways for Senior High School and for answering our questions. I hope that you can continue helping more students like me.
Edukasyon.ph is really helpful to both teachers and students who want to know more about the educational opportunities available to them. I hope that more amazing features will be developed soon.
Edukasyon.ph is very beneficial for us students because it would serve as a guide for our future decisions. It could be our companion as we make our choices regarding careers. For me, this website is really helpful that's why I'm recommending it to everyone.
Search for scholarships offered by schools, foundations, and government.
Philippines' #1 online platform for school listings!
Apply online to schools in the Philippines and abroad for free!


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Sometimes I worry about death- but not so much about dying, as about the people who have to deal with it. I won't finish my thoughts here tonight; maybe I'll add to it at a later point. But there are some things I'd like to say now.
1) If I die tragically, people will wonder about my last moments, so I want to say it went one of two ways: I either fought for my life til the end, or God gave me a sense of peace and helped me to let go. There was no sense of hopelessness. And hopelessness is the only thing to fear.
2) As much as I love life, and as many dreams as I have for the future, No one ever sits in Heaven saying, "Man! I wish I could go back."
3) If you didn't get to say goodbye, ask God to pass it along; but know that my last moments on earth aren't what eternity is based on- so if the last goodbye was abrupt and un-meaningful, or even hurtful, it's not like I'll spend eternity thinking you didn't care about me.... and I hope you know that I care about you too.
4) I didn't die too young to experience what God wanted me to experience. And, in fact, my life has already (while I still hope to live to be At Least 121), been very meaningful. The meaning is in relationships (and of course, in getting to know our creator who wants the ultimate relationship with us), not in worldly success. My goal is to be an encouragement every day, whatever I'm doing. Some days I succeed, other days I don't. But my now isn't building up to some goal which, if I don't attain, makes my life a failure. If my life blessed others, then my life was meaningful. And if it didn't bless them (hypothetically speaking- cause if nothing else, I at least got one run-away away from a probable pedifile/pimp and back to her family) well, my relationship with God still made my life meaningful.
5) I know I'll be in Heaven because I love God. He loves me. I want to be with him; I can't imagine being away from him. I crave him. No I'm not perfect, but he understands and accepts that. He knows I seek him. I don't have to be perfect; I just have to believe upon him- to rely on him, trust him, want him, put my hope in him- and not perfectly. I don't look to the day I get to have this and that in Heaven, or even to the day I get to see this person and that person. I look to the day that I get to be with God more truly than we can be here on earth. Those who don't make it to Heaven are those who reject him- don't care to be with him- they may want to live in a cool place like Heaven, but they don't care that it's his creation, his home- that they are guests. It means nothing to them. If he said, "Let's have dinner," they would blow him off to spend time with each other. They will probably be rude and inconsiderate to his other guests- the children who accepted his offer to "adopt" them- as well. No one in their right mind invites someone over to live as a guest if that person only wants to be there for the cool electronics, etc. Neither does God. But God does invite those who want to be with him, so I know I am invited; that's where you'll find me.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
If I Die Tragically
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*Estimated stock levels as of Wed, Apr 25, 2018. All items subject to prior sale. Please call ahead to verify.
Functions as clearance, side marker or identification light and may be used as combination side marker and clearance light when properly mounted. Durable base with external mounting holes. Lens snap-locks onto base. Includes single lead wire and grounds through mounting screw. 3-1/4 in W x 1 in x 1-1/8 in D, mounts on 2-3/4 in centers.
Helping You Build it Better®... Helping America Build it Better.®
Note: There are other stores operating under the name Sutherlands® that are not affiliated with the Sutherlands® stores identified in this website.
Other non affiliated stores are located in Amarillo, TX; Alexandria, LA; Fort Worth, TX, Lubbock, TX; Mineral Wells, TX and Nevada, MO.
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Tag: Immigration
I am the grandson of dreamers, and this country needs more like them
As the grandson of immigrant coal miners, I stand squarely and strongly with the President on his decision to change the way immigration laws are enforced and to offer undocumented people a way to come out of the shadows. It is the right and moral thing to do.
My grandparents were treated as indentured servants by the coal companies who employed them. They were exploited in the same way that employers exploit today's undocumented people. I don't know what people think it means to come to America legally, but it's probably nothing like most people believe. I wonder how many Americans could even pass the Naturalization Test (http://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship/naturalization-test).
My grandparents had to overcome their fair share of bigotry and hatred, too. From the stories I heard, it was a lot like what some Americans are doing to this generation's immigrants, but make no mistake. My grandparents came here for the same reasons people still come here today – for a better life.
What was different then was that this country had Ellis Island instead of barbed wire and border patrols and idiots screaming at children on buses. There was a port of entry, and the world knew where it was. They came and they stayed and they became citizens – not right away, mind you, and only because their employers "sponsored" them as citizens. They were uneducated. They didn't speak English and they never really learned to speak English all that well beyond "broken" English.
Despite all of that, they stayed. They became part of the people who built what would become the greatest country on Earth as the 20th century dawned. Without them, who knows what America would have become and what it would be today? What would America be without people like them willing to risk it all and to leave absolutely everything and everyone they knew behind to come here for a better life? Sure, they had grand plans to "go back" some day, but they never did. They stayed, and they became America.
How is it that some of us either can't or choose not to see precisely the same kinds of people with the same kinds of dreams and aspirations coming here today?
How is that some of us have come to think that today's immigrants are so very different from my grandparents?
And, how is that some of us think the definition of being an American is to embarrass ourselves and this great country by demanding that our government tear families apart for nothing more sinister than the "crime" of coming here to build a better life for themselves and their families?
That's not who I am, and it's not how I define what it means to be an American. I am the proud grandson of dreamers, and someday the kids whose parents and grandparents followed their dreams and came here despite the hatred and despite the fences and despite the lack of a modern-day Ellis Island will say the same things I'm saying. That is what America is about, and that is what it means to be an American.
What Became of, "Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor, Your Huddled Masses Yearning to Breath Free"?
"Since President Obama has been in office, over two million people have been deported from the United States. That's more than under George W. Bush in eight years and more than double Bill Clinton's number. It's more than any President, ever." (President Obama's Shameful Milestone, ACLU,
In addition to signing the ACLU's petition (above link), you may want to keep the above inconvenient truth handy for the next time someone wants to talk about Obama being soft on immigration.
He's not, and that's the shame of it.
As a proud liberal, I approach immigration reform not as a matter to be driven by xenophobic fear of "the other" or by what's economically most advantageous to private enterprise. Immigration reform is an issue, IMHO, completely bound up in how we think about one another as human beings and what it means to be an American.
Immigrants who risk everything they have ever owned and literally risk their very lives to come to this country strike me as the very type of people we need the most. They remind me of the very same type of people who helped to make this country great in the last century; namely, my grandparents and people just like them.
They were "welcomed", if you can call it that, in the first decade of the 20th century through Ellis Island. They came to this country undocumented and without money, and they proved what was possible for people like them.
Now, just over 100 years later and at the start of the 21st century, my money is on this same type of person.
I think what we should be doing on our southern border – which is where this debate seems to be centered – is spending millions on Ellis Island-like immigration centers instead of on drones and walls and night-vision goggles. If we built those immigration centers, yes, the criminals will still find ways to enter illegally just as they always have and always will. That is NOT the issue that should drive immigration reform.
Instead, ask yourself this: Do you really think that a Panamanian, Venezuelan, Guatemalan, or Mexican family willing to put everything, including their lives, at risk aren't yearning for and wouldn't make a bee-line to a processing center to enter this country legally and as a first step in becoming a legal citizen?
Which leads me to this question: Why do some people want to put artificial and capitalistic qualifiers on the type of people we'll welcome?
I've read a lot about how we want only highly educated immigrants, as if they're the only ones with something to contribute. To be sure, they do have a great deal to contribute in terms of their intelligence and their productivity, but understand this. They will be competing for the "good paying jobs" with natural-born Americans. I have no problem with that, either, so long as it results in having the best doctors, scientists, engineers, et. al., and not just those willing to work for less and just so that corporations and institutions can make greater profits at the expense (once again) of Americans.
If education and skills are to be the benchmark, we need to appreciate that what that could end up translating into is a form of "onshore outsourcing" of highly skilled and better paying jobs. Not to be hyperbolic, but that could be the lead toward more and more of a race to the bottom in terms of incomes and living standards here in America.
I am NOT saying that immigrant doctors and engineers will always work for less and should therefore be sent home. I'm just asking the question if they are the only type of immigrant we should welcome.
What about the unskilled immigrants and the jobs they'd have here? From a capitalistic perspective, isn't it "better" for a company's bottom line if they have cheaper and cheaper unskilled and less skilled immigrants working for them, too? If health care providers can hire less expensive immigrant doctors and industrialists can hire the less expensive foreign-born engineers, why can't the local restaurateur, hotelier, and contractor be given the same opportunity to hire less expensive immigrant cooks, housekeepers, and carpenters?
I think what's best for America is simple: Welcome everyone and anyone who has enough ambition and courage to leave everything they know behind for what they intend to build as a better life for themselves and their families. Aren't those admirable qualities, and aren't they enough to start with?
The second thing this country needs is an awakening by the 99% that the 1% do NOT have our best interests at heart. That means we need to get behind labor movements again, stop drinking the anti-labor Koch-Aid, and stop voting against our own economic self-interests. Trickle-down economics is a lie, and until we all understand that nothing else will really matter.
Step three is to get money out of politics. Once we get the one-percenters out of government, we can actually ALL make actual living wages, maybe even have clean energy and a planet to live on in the next century and….GASP!….perhaps health care provided for every human being on the planet because, you know, HUMAN BEINGS!
In the long-term and grand scheme of what immigration means to any society, I'll put just as much of my money on the unskilled individual who, like my grandparents, have the courage and ambition to come here. My ancestors came to this country with only their dreams and their desires for a better life for themselves and their progeny. That's what we need more of today.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not at all diminishing the value of highly educated immigrants. I value them, too. All that I am saying is that when it comes to our immigration policy there should be more to it than what private enterprise deems is good for them and what our blind devotion to capitalism has to say about "the value" human beings have to a financial statement. That is not only an extremely short-sighted view of what is best for America, it suffers from that malodorous air that comes with putting any kind of price tag on human beings.
Finally, I'll say this. It has to do with equality and equal opportunity.
The immigrants who can afford to attend university in the U.S. and have the support mechanisms and wherewithal to go through the appropriate visa process – not to mention the gates at JFK or Reagan – already have an edge. They aren't starting the game between third and home, but they are starting with an advantage. That advantage is money.
So, why not give an equal opportunity (something we hear a lot about from certain quarters, especially those who think everyone starts life in the same batter's box) to everyone else? We could start by stopping the construction of more walls and ending the investments in more technology meant solely to keep the poor out of America and, instead, start building Immigration Centers throughout our Southern states. Think of the jobs that would create, both during construction and then in the ongoing operations.
Maybe what this really all comes down to is whether or not these words actually do mean anything to us any longer….
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
If you're curious about positions of the Democratic and Republican parties on immigration in the 2012 election, here are a couple of links that may prove useful in general terms:
You can find the position of several individual politicians at http://www.ontheissues.org/Immigration.htm#Headlines
Obamas visit immigration hunger strikers
See on Scoop.it – DidYouCheckFirst
WASHINGTON — President Obama told about 20 hunger strikers on the National Mall on Friday that he supported their effort to pressure House Republicans to overhaul immigration laws but was concerned about their health.
"Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
See on www.latimes.com
House of Un-Representatives
See on Scoop.it – DidYouCheckFirst
This Republican House is almost like a parallel government, sitting in for some fantasy nation created in talk-radio land.
"Obama may be doomed to be a reactive president in his second term, with even the most common-sense proposals swatted down because, well — if he's for it, Republicans will have to be against it. What could be a signature achievement, immigration reform, faces quicksand in the House. But a gerrymander is good for only a decade or so. Eventually, demography and destiny will catch up with a Congress that refuses to do the people's bidding."


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Common Council tables Grasso bid for paving contract
Updated 3:06 pm, Wednesday, March 29, 2017
NORWALK — If Common Council members had their doubts about hiring The Grasso Cos. LLC to pave Norwalk streets for the coming year, residents left no doubt about their feelings.
Citing past noise complaints, unpaid taxes and zoning violations, they urged the local legislative body on Tuesday evening to reject a $3.4 million paving contract with the company based at 314 Wilson Ave. in South Norwalk.
"I live directly across the marsh from Grasso Construction," said Paul Braschi, who lives on Splitrock Road. "They have been the worst neighbor I can ever imagine. They do construction activities all night. We call the police five times, six times a year."
Braschi said the city should not "reward this kind of behavior by giving them a contract."
The council heard the concerns and voted, without discussion, to return the proposed contract to its Public Works Committee.
Councilman Travis L. Simms, a District B Democrat who strongly opposed the contract, said after the council meeting at City Hall he was pleased with the council's action.
"I don't know the Grassos, I don't know the corporation, but as an elected official, I'm here to look out for the best interests of the taxpayers and for the city," Simms said. "It's irresponsible as an elected official to push this forward, to award a contract of (roughly) $4 million to a company that's not been in compliance and has many violations against them."
At issue was whether the city should hire The Grasso Cos., run by Joseph M. Grasso Jr., when the company run by his father, The Original Grasso Construction Co., owes the city approximately $270,000 in unpaid taxes, according to the Norwalk Tax Collector's Office.
The city's law department inquired with the Tax Collector's Office and Department of Planning and Zoning. In a letter Friday, Corporation Counsel Mario F. Coppola wrote that The Grasso Cos. has no outstanding accounts with the city and is not in violation of any of the city's regulations.
At Tuesday evening's council meeting, Splitrock Road resident Pat Kerschner acknowledged the distinction between the two Grasso companies.
"I understand that the father's actions should not overshadow the son," Kerschner said, but urged the council to reject the paving contract given the history of the father's company.
"If Mr. Grasso Jr. is not related to Mr. Grasso Sr., then why when he brings an application before the Common Council or when he's asking to be awarded a contract, does the Grasso company suddenly become compliant?" Kerschner asked. "If there's no relationship, why do they suddenly become compliant?"
Luke Conrad, attorney for The Grasso Cos., urged the council to approve the paving contract based upon hiring rules and the potential cost to taxpayers if the second lowest bidder were hired.
"Personally, I would not want to see my municipality spend an additional $128,138 to go to a second bidder," Conrad said. "There's statutes in Connecticut. There's a public bidding statute. The bid is to go to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder, and with this bid and other bids that Grasso has been passed on, there will be $250,000 approximately, take it or leave it, in money that we've passed onto the taxpayers solely because the contractor is not popular in the town."
Conrad acknowledged construction is a "dirty business" and that residents live near The Grasso Cos. on Wilson Avenue, but added it's necessary to build schools and roads.
"Grasso has a history of doing good work," Conrad said. "There aren't workmanship complaints. There's not a lot of rework. There's never been a claim on their payment or performance bond that they haven't paid their subcontractors."
Conrad said The Grasso Cos., are current on their taxes and zoning obligations. The company has no legal obligations "for the tax liabilities of other organizations," he added.
They were the low bidder in the city's effort to hire a paving contractor for the coming year. The company offered to perform the work for $3.4 million, compared to a $3.5 million bid by Deering Construction Inc., $3.7 million by FGB Construction Co., $3.8 million by Laydon Industries and $4.4 million offered by Waters Construction Co., according to the Department of Public Works.


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Check out the latest pics from Trump's Scotland course
All right, this is pretty cool: the latest photos from Donald Trump's TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF LINKS (I think I'm required to capitalize that by law) in Aberdeen, Scotland. Like everything Trump does, it has a contentious history, and also like everything Trump does, it's so magnificent that it's an excess of luxury, like a solid gold turducken.
Check out the layout here. Let's just say you'd better keep your balls on the fairway:


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Find 36047 animal shelters, puppy dog and cat shelters, pet adoption centers, dog pounds, and humane societies. Animal shelters provide information on adopting dogs, cats, and pets, animal care and rescue, and animal control.
Butler County Humane Society PO Box 264 Greenville AL 36037 17.5 miles from 36047 334-210-7600
Greenville Animal Shelter 1310 East Commerce Street Greenville AL 36037 17.7 miles from 36047 334-382-7806
Montgomery Animal Control 320 North Ripley Street Montgomery AL 36104 24.8 miles from 36047 334-241-2970
Montgomery Humane Society 1150 John Overton Drive Montgomery AL 36110 28.1 miles from 36047 334-409-0622
Bullock County Humane Society 5809 Hyde Park Drive Montgomery AL 36117 29.0 miles from 36047 334-738-2432
Alabama Boxer Rescue and Adoption, Inc. 103 Chattahoochee Drive Montgomery AL 36117 30.3 miles from 36047 334-272-2590
Wetumpka Animal Control 208 Marshall Street Wetumpka AL 36092 37.0 miles from 36047 334-567-1327
The Pike Animal Shelter 1305 South Brundidge Street Troy AL 36081 38.0 miles from 36047 334-808-8898
Humane Society of Pike County 100 Dogwood Spring Road Troy AL 36081 38.6 miles from 36047 334-807-0002
The Humane Society Of Elmore County 255 Central Plank Road Wetumpka AL 36092 38.8 miles from 36047 334-567-3377
Selma Animal Shelter 206 Medical Center Parkway Selma AL 36701 39.2 miles from 36047 334-877-2204
Central Alabama Animal Shelter 3274 County Road 81 Valley Grande AL 36703 40.2 miles from 36047 334-872-5683
Conecuh County Humane Society 154 Liberty Hill Place Evergreen AL 36401 50.1 miles from 36047 251-578-3046
Evergreen Animal Shelter PO Box 229 Evergreen AL 36401 50.8 miles from 36047 334-578-7217
Chilton County Humane Society 139 Shade Tree Drive Clanton AL 35045 50.9 miles from 36047 205-755-9170
Andalusia Animal Shelter 101 Coliseum Ave Andalusia AL 36421 51.7 miles from 36047 334-222-8705
Andalusia Area Humane Society 1906 East 3 Notch Street Andalusia AL 36420 52.5 miles from 36047 334-222-8142
Tuskegee Animal Shelter Tolbert Cir Tuskegee AL 35083 54.7 miles from 36047 334-724-1264
Some animals are brought to shelters by owners who cannot care for them. Others are rescued from abuse or neglect. Stray or lost animals may be brought to shelters by the general public or animal control agencies.Do Animal Shelters euthanize unwanted or hard-to-adopt animals?
Some shelters have a firm no-kill policy and will strive to find homes for every animal they receive. Due to limited space and resources, other shelters may have to euthanize certain animals that are less suitable for adoption because of health or behavioral issues. Animal control agencies may euthanize animals that have not been adopted within a certain timeframe or animals that have shown aggression.Can anyone adopt a pet from an Animal Shelter?
Generally, any member of the public may adopt a pet from an Animal Shelter. Some Animal Shelters will first screen or interview an individual in order to assess their suitability as a pet owner.


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Henry Blaul's bid to return to the state swimming championships for York heats up today in the CCS swimming prelims at Santa Clara Swim Center.
The junior comes into the meet with the top mark in the Central Coast Section in the 100 yard breast at 56.97. He's also ranked No. 3 in the 200 individual medley (1:53.05).
Last year Blaul splashed onto the scene as a sophomore, finishing second in the 100 breast in 56.22. He has a career best of 55.94.
Blaul has swam a career best 1:49.66 in the 200 IM, which would move him into title contention if achieved at the section finals.
Gabilan Division 500 free champion Parker Costa will go into the meet vying for a spot in the finals for Monterey, as he's seeded No. 10 at 4:45.94.
Carmel's dynamic dual in diving in JeanPaul Ditto and Leo Gonzalez-Smith are in state contention as Ditto is ranked fifth and Gonzalez-Smith sixth.
Nicolas Sullivan is ranked 12th in the section in the 200 free (1:44.63) for Palma, just a arms length ahead of Costa at 1:44.91.
The top 16 at Friday's prelims advance to Saturday's finals.
Mission Trail Athletic League champion Will Morgan comes into the section meet ranked 12th in the 50 free (21.86) and 100 free (48.11). Matthew Trotter is ranked 13th in the 100 fly (52.65).
CCS swimming
Posted by John Devine at 10:18 AM


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Tech Tip 1 for Excel 2010: Using the COUNTIF function
by Mike Wilson
In this example we want to know the frequency of ratings in cells A15 through A34. In a small sample it is not a problem but with hundreds or even thousands of lines of data it can be quite cumbersome. Using the COUNTIF function and a couple of simple Excel tricks this can be accomplished rather quickly. (A pivot table can also accomplish this very easily.)
Click the Tip 1 worksheet link next to the sample worksheet below and you can walk through the following steps.
In the B10 cell type the following =COUNTIF(
When your cursor is positioned next to the left parenthesis above, move your pointer to the A15 cell and left click in that cell. Now hold the Ctrl and Shift keys and tap the down arrow. You will notice that all the cells from A15 through A34 are now selected. Next tap the F4 key and you will notice that the selected cell range is locked. ($A$15:$A$A34) If you tap the F4 again you can watch the cell locking change. Now that the cell range is selected, put a comma after A34. Next you want to move the pointer to the A10 cell and left click it, then hold the Ctrl key and hit Enter which will keep the cursor in the B10 cell and perform the function. This will give you a frequency of 9 which is how many people found the exhibition "Very Helpful" in this example. Dragging the formula from B10 to B12 will complete the frequency count for each of the ratings.
Degrees and Certificates
by Lisa Wang
Ever wonder what students are studying? IRP recently completed its annual Degrees and Certificates Awarded report, which revealed a great accomplish for El Camino College (ECC) and ECC Compton Center. In 2011-12, degrees and certificates awarded to ECC and Compton Center students reached an all-time high.
At ECC, the total degree and certificate count exceeded 2,000 for the first time. As in 2010-11, General Studies in Social and Behavioral Sciences remained the most popular major with 244 degrees awarded. For certificates, Machine Tool Technology grew the most in the last year alone with award counts increasing by 400%. Despite this increase, however, Childhood Education remained the most popular program.
The Compton Center awarded a grand total of 332 degrees and certificates. From the previous year, degrees and certificates increased by 9% and 100%, respectively. As the most popular programs at the Compton Center, Nursing awarded 45 degrees and Childhood Education awarded 41 certificates.
Great job, ECC and Compton Center students!
To read the full report, click on the following link:
Degrees and Certificates Awarded – El Camino College and Compton Center
IRP Hall of Famer
By Carolyn Pineda
Congratulations to our very own Mike Wilson for being inducted into 2012 Remark Customer Hall of Fame!
Gravic, Inc. awarded Mike this honor for being a loyal user of their Remark Software which is used to create online and paper surveys. Gravic said in their recognition – "We very much appreciate the many years of assistance you have given us in helping make the Remark products what they are today. It is this feedback and advice from long time users such as you that have helped shape the direction of our product line over the years."
As the newest Hall of Fame member, Mike was presented with a jacket and an engraved Louisville slugger!
You can read more about Mike in the Remark Customer Hall of Fame.
Program Review Dashboard
By Joshua Rosales
Did you know Institutional Research has been regularly providing data for the programs undergoing Program Review? Every year we put together a data packet for every academic program preparing to write their review report. These packets contain four years' worth of information including the demographics of students enrolled in the programs, grade distributions, success and retention rates, number of sections and fill rates for those sections. This data is useful in helping programs understand who they are serving and how those being served are doing.
This process has been evolving as we try to meet the general needs of all El Camino College and El Camino College Compton Center programs. We realize that Program Review is not the only time people need regular access to data, nor is it the only time programs plan. With that in mind, we created a spreadsheet which will allow ECC and ECC Compton Center programs access to the standard data set as needed. The data will be available on the portal for any staff member with MyECC access. This will be updated annually so it can be used for annual program updates as well.
To access the Program Review Dashboard, log into MyECC.
Click on "Research" in the middle of the main screen. This will take you to several resources provided by Institutional Research. Look for the Excel spreadsheet, "Program Review Datafile" and select for ECC or ECC Compton Center as appropriate. Voila! The standard data we provide is there for you when you need it.
This is also now available on CurricUNET. If you log on to CurricUNET, select the "Program Review" module. A series of Links will appear on the right of the screen. Select "ECC IR Data 2011-12". Yes, it's THAT easy.
Watch the low budget how-to video here:
New National Tally of College Completion Tries to Count All Students
By Lisa Wang
The National Student Clearinghouse recently conducted a study to calculate completion rates for all students, not only first-time, full-time students. NSC tracked students who entered a 2-year college in 2006 for 6 years and found that the national completion rate was 54%. This included nontraditional pathways, such as enrollment at numerous colleges. Of these students who are full-time, 75% earned a certificate or degree. Approximately 15% transferred and completed their higher education studies at a 4-year institution within 4 years; only one-third of these students obtained an associate degree in the process. Of those who attended part-time at a 2-year college, two-thirds of students dropped out.
You can find the full article below:
New National Tally of College Completion Tries to Count All Students
Basic Skills Tracking
By Marci Myers
Hello! Check out the latest reports on Basic Skills Tracking: Basic Skills Research
Each Basic Skills English and Math course has a report that tracks cohorts between 2007-2010 over two years. Additionally, each 2008 cohort has comparison tracking over two, three, and four years.
These reports will be updated annually. Enjoy!


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Hi everyone,
Once again, there was another great presentation this week. The topic was 'hands on data' and by the end of the tutorial I felt very clever at what I had achieved. The presenters took us through each step of the task, we were to collect data from a database and place this information into a sreadsheet. Although this sounds simple, I would not have known how to accomplish this task without the assistance of the presenters. To place the information into a spread sheet, we were to use the program excel, which I was not very familar with, however, by the end of the night, I felt I had learnt a lot about excel and was a lot more comfortable wth it.
Collecting information is a task we take for granted, however, for children this is a lot more complicated. The presenters provided us with a safe and easy to use website that is a great resource for the classroom, it was the National Geographic Kids website.
Thanks for another great presentation,


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One of the Dukes has stepped down......
by AFRIKANMAN
So I don't know much about this fellow, but it sounds like some here have an issue with him not being "politically" correct. I really like the way Bill Maher put it to Jake Trapper the other day:
Tapper tried to get Maher to talk about the "tense" moment on his last week's show, in which he called guest/Dem Sen. Elizabeth Warren "Pocahontas" as Trump loves to call her. Tapper wondered if that was an ethnic slur.
"Technically yes," Maher said. "Should we get that upset about it? Of course not!"
"This is one of the problems Democrats have," Maher said, shooting down Tapper's line of questioning. "They obsess about things like Halloween costumes and the name of the Washington Redskins." Meanwhile, "there's millions of people in this country saying, 'How about a little more of "I'm going to get your job back"?'"
enough with the PC obsession already
There's a list in the Telegraph of some of Philip's gaffes (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/04/48-prince-philips-greatest-gaffes-funny-moments/). Here are some of my favourites:
9. "How do you keep the natives off the booze long enough to get them through the test?" (to a driving instructor in Oban, Scotland, during a 1995 walkabout).
22. In Germany, in 1997, he welcomed German Chancellor Helmut Kohl at a trade fair as "Reichskanzler" - the last German leader who used the title was Adolf Hitler.
43. "If the man had succeeded in abducting Anne, she would have given him a hell of a time while in captivity." (On a gunman who tried to kidnap the Princess Royal in 1974.)
45. "If it doesn't fart or eat hay, she's not interested." (on the Princess Royal)
To a blind lady with a guide dog: 'I hear they have anorexia dogs that do the eating for you now'
The guy is a legend.


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Mariposa cream with a high concentration of snail mucus extracts helps strengthen your skin barrier.
1. Please use Mariposa Cream after face-wash.
2. Please use it in the morning twice a day at night.
You can do it more than twice depending on need.


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Recipe: Parmesan Hash Brown Cups
I came across this recipe for Parmesan Hash Brown Cups on The Yummy Life blog and thought I'd try it because I still had some shredded potatoes left over from when I made the Breakfast Cupcakes recipe. I followed Monica's recipe pretty closely, only making minor additions, so be sure to also stop by and check out the post on her BLOG and see what inspired her to make them ;) Ingredients Needed: 1 bag of Simply Potatoes Shredded Hash Browns 3 Green Onions, Chopped 1/2 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese 1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt 1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil Optional: 1 Tablespoon of Minced Garlic Before you start: Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray your muffin … Continue Reading


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Sneak Preview
Contributed by Philip Makari on Oct 19, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: There is more to the transfiguration of Jesus than the actual event.
THE TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS is another of those major events in the Bible that speak directly to us of his divine nature and point us strongly to the truth that he was indeed God's unique and personal revelation of himself. Transfiguration Sunday therefore, is an important day on the Church calendar, not only for the Church to celebrate, but also to confirm and be affirmed by it.
But before we get into that, let us observe first why the Transfiguration is where it is on the Church calendar.
The Church liturgical calendar, as you heard me say before, begins with the first Sunday in Advent. Advent is that season, which occupies our calendar for the four weeks immediately proceeding Christmas. During Advent, the church focuses on the fulfillment of God's promise of Messiah's coming and points to his anticipated return to rule as King of the Ages. Advent is the appropriate time to begin the Church liturgical year, signifying that Christ alone is the author and finisher of all that goes on in Church life and ministry.
Advent comes to an end on Christmas day. Christmas then continues as the shortest season on the church calendar. Its theme extends for only twelve days, which end with the beginning of another important but longer season, known to us as Epiphany, the season of divine revelations and manifestations.
Epiphany goes on for six weeks and concerns itself with biblical topics that shed more light on Christ's true identity. Some of those topics, with which Epiphany deals, are: the Wise Men's recognition of Jesus as God's Messiah, heaven's recognition of Jesus as the Son of God at his baptism, and the miracles of Jesus' recognition of him as One who possesses divine powers.
Epiphany comes to a climax at the Transfiguration, which happens to be the occasion of this Sunday. The Transfiguration of our Lord marks the end of the six weeks of Epiphany, which began January 6th. It is a remarkable incident that serves two purposes. It brings Epiphany to a close in a most assuring way and opens the door for Lent. Lent, like Epiphany is another season of six, which in turn comes to an end on Easter Sunday. Then the Church goes through the seven weeks of Easter, which end on Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost Sunday begins the longest season of the church year. The Pentecost season covers all the weeks from Pentecost to the Sunday after Thanksgiving, known to us as "Christ the King Sunday," the last day of the Church year.
The reason for sharing with you this background is twofold: First, it helps us put the Transfiguration of our Lord, in its legitimate theological context. The Transfiguration is another revelation of who Jesus really is. It is part of Epiphany. Secondly, such background is a reminder for us to be intentional in learning to place our theological beliefs in their historical biblical spot.
As we worshipfully celebrate the Transfiguration of our Lord, and close the season of Epiphany in anticipation of Lent, let us reflect on what this most beautiful of the days Jesus spent on earth, mean to our daily living and to all that we have learned so far about Christ's identity.
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Bishkek, May 29 / Kabar /. The Kyrgyz army has been developing and strengthening its authority step by step, along with the whole country, President Almazbek Atambayev said today at a solemn event dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic.
He said that the Armed Forces are being updated, a modern military infrastructure is being created.
"For the first time during the years of independence, we began to allocate finances for the construction of new military facilities: border patrols, detachments, military units, for conducting military exercises, training, uniforms. We started solving the most "sick" social problem - housing for servicemen. To date, the construction of 34 more facilities has already been completed. In addition, it is planned to build 37 additional housing units," Atambayev said.
The head of state also noted that the taken measures allowed to restore the prestige of military service. The number of people wishing to serve in the army increased.
"In addition, we receive more and more feedback from our international partners. The joint exercises conducted within the framework of the collective security system and the verification of the collective security forces testify the increased potential and combat readiness of our army. We see how the situation in the Armed Forces has radically changed over the years, and how defensive ability of the country strengthened," the President said.


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In your quest for optimal fitness, do you encounter the same old challenges? How do you deal with them? On the road to fitness, what is your main roadblock?
I have found that there are 3 major issues that seem to derail most individuals:
- Time. Too little time is the #1 excuse as to why most people can't commit to exercise over the long haul. Work, family, deadlines- there is always a time excuse, and they are often legitimate. You must, however, make time for exercise. Schedule it like an appointment that can't be broken. It is a great investment of your time (more on that is a future blog). The busiest people I know find time for exercise and it contributes to their success and feeling of well being.
- Physical Barriers. Aches, pains, injuries and ailments can make exercise a real challenge for many. If it is uncomfortable, then you won't want to return for more. Even the best of programs have a significant drop-out rate due to injuries. Most of this is preventable if your program properly designed and takes into account past or current orthopedic or musculoskeletal issues. If things hurt, get it checked out by an orthopedic surgeon or sports medicine specialist and perhaps work with physical therapist, athletic trainer or fitness professional to redesign and customize your program.
- Food. Your regular workouts are going great, but your body is not responding. You can't lose that extra weight. Sound familiar? The problem is that you haven't made the necessary dietary adjustments-cutting calories especially those "naked" calories. Watch your total daily calories and the quality of those calories- stick with high quality carbohydrates (not sugars) and friendly fats (not saturated) . Also, for those trying to gain weight or muscle, you may actually need more of these high quality calories.
Don't let these 3 troublemakers get in your path optimal fitness.
Share with us how you deal with these, or any fitness roadblocks.