Array Memphis is weird.For those of us who decided to spend our lives here, that’s one of the things we like most about this place, but a recent report by Chicago-based CEOs For Cities (headed up by Memphian and founder of our firm Carol Coletta) confirmed our opinion.The 26-city organization nurtures the competitiveness of cities by focusing on four dimensions of success — innovation, talent, distinctiveness, and connections. In support of its work, CEOs For Cities recently issued its fascinating City Vitals, a detailed set of indicators about the largest 50 MSA’s in each of these areas.Memphis tended to rank in the lower middle in most of the rankings, but in the category of distinctiveness, we recorded our strong marks One of these was the Weirdness Index where we were 19th among the 50 metro areas.Keep Memphis WeirdWeirdness was based on 75 different behaviors and activities, and using this information, the report looked at behaviors for each city that varied most from the national average, and places that differed most were deemed to be the weirdest.This is good news for Memphis. As Joe Cortright, Portland economist who authored the report, told Leadership Memphis a few weeks ago, it is precisely in recognizing their differentiation that cities have their greatest opportunities for success.That’s because, he says, it gives a city the opportunity to do something and be something that its competitors can’t replicate. and 37th in college attainment.Average Isn’t Good EnoughMr. Cortright said cities ranked in the middle should consider that they are doing average, so clearly, Memphis has considerable ground to make up since overall, it ranked # 37. Future success is based much more on exploiting strengths, and as a result, this provocative report suggests that Memphis should invest its energies and its resources in its distinctiveness and its connectedness, areas where we rank highest.As Mr. Cortright said, Memphis should use the City Vitals to understand the impact of the four dimensions of city vitality;
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After watching this movie more times that I can remember, I know exactly what’s going to happen, can even quote certain lines of dialogue, yet it keeps me on the edge of my seat, happily worrying about the outcome until the end. The first time I saw this movie was on a first date with a man I was quite infatuated with - I remember being incredibly aware of his presence in the chair next me and I’m sure the adrenaline flowing from the action on screen didn’t help matters one bit. Jodie Foster is fabulous, Anthony Hopkins is even more fabulous - his performance is beyond chilling, even the 11th time you watch the movie - and that scene at the end with the nightvision goggles freaks me out even though I know how it ends. I first saw this in the early 90âs, when my friend Andrew and I would haunt the local movie theatres a couple of times a month. When the movie ended, the doors opened and an entire theatre full of people came out, pale and silent.
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(The USS Lexington was ferrying aircraft to Midway, and the USS Saratoga and USS Colorado were undergoing repairs in the United States.) .In spite of the latest intelligence reports about the missing aircraft carriers (his most important targets), Admiral Nagumo decided to continue the attack with his force of six carriers and 423 aircraft. USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) - Light damage. USS Maryland (BB-46) - Light damage. USS Utah (AG-16) - (former battleship used as a target) - Sunk. .Cruisers USS New Orleans (CA-32) - Light Damage. USS San Francisco (CA38) - Light Damage. USS Honolulu (CL-48) - Light Damage..Destroyers USS Downes (DD-375) - Destroyed. USS Helm (DD-388) - Light Damage..Minelayer USS Ogala (CM-4) - Sunk but later raised and repaired..Seaplane Tender USS Curtiss (AV-4) - Severely damaged but later repaired..Aircraft 188 Aircraft destroyed (92 USN and 92 U.S. Army Air Corps.).
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A Prestigious Research CentreofIslamic studies&Oriental learning http://shibliacademy.orgOn November 21, 2004, Darul Musannefin Shibli Academy, Azamgarh, completed 90 years of its life. Widely acknowledged by scholars of our Asian neighbours, this Academy of letters specializes in research on Islamic Learning, medieval Indian history and oriental studies.Here we give a reprint of an article published by the Press Information Bureau, Government of India.“Moulded in the scholarly tradition of India’s ancient centre of learning, the Darul Musannefeen Shibli Academy in the old Azamgarh town of Uttar Pradesh has taken its place alongside some known modern research institutions. A well-equipped library and a well organised Publication Department, putting out original works or the fruits of modern research in oriental philosophy, history and culture, make it the envy of many an institution in the field.”EARLY HISTORYThe Darul Musannefin Shibli Academy was established on November21, 1914, three days after the death of its founder Maulana Shibli Nomani. With this end in view he made a two pronged attack on intellectual decadence.In the sphere of education, Shibli helped to found the NadwatuI Ulama, at Lucknow, a model institution for teaching of Arabic and Islamic studies, while in the field of research, he conceived of the plan of Darul Musannefin.An outline of the organisation was first published by Maulana Shibli in the Al-Hilal, the well-known weekly of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was so impressed by the plan that when Maulana Syed Suleman Nadvi later after his mentors death offered the fellowship of Darul Mussanefin to Maulana Azad, he wrote back to him that he would deem it an honour to serve the Academy even in the capacity of a coolie. He had, however, created a small group of co-workers and pupils who could carry the work further and had also compiled a few standard works to serve as pilot project.DEPARTMENTSIt was left to his pupils and co-workers, Maulana Hamiduddin Farahi, Maulana Syed Sulaiman Nadwi and Maulana Masood Ali to elaborate his ideas into actual practice. Besides the Seerat-un-Nabi the collection of the biographical sketches of the companions of the Holy Prophet, entitled the Seyar-us-Sahaba, is also a stupendous work.The AI-Farooq ( the Life of Caliph Omar) by Maulana Shibli, has won recognition from the scholars of Iran and Afghanistan, where its translation was undertaken, as a remarkable book still unsurpassed for its scholarly treatment The English translation of this book was attempted by Maulana ZafarAli Khan.In the literary field, Maulana Shibli’s Sher-ul-Ajam was highly spoken of by Prof. It attracted the elite of intellectual life and among its contributors have been writers, authors, poets theologians and administrators of proven abilitAUTHORS AND FELLOWSDarul Musannifeen’s founder, Allama Shibli Nomani, its first president Maulana Hamiduddin Farahi and its first administrator Maulana Sayyid Sulaiman Nadwi, enjoy international fame as scholars. Personalities like Nawab Imadul Mulk Mir Sayyid Hasan Bilgrami, Justice Karamat Husain, Tarjumanul Qur’an Maulana Hamiduddin Farahi, Nawab Sadar Yar Jung, Maulana Habibur Rahman Khan Sherwani, Dr. Sayed Mahmood (former Union minister), Maulana Abdul Majid Daryabadi and Maulana Sayyid Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi have presided over its meetings. Scholars and intellectuals like Saiyid Hamid, former Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University and Chancellor of Jamia Hamdard (Delhi), Maulana Sayed Muhammad Rabey Nadwi, rector of Nadwatul Ulama (Lucknow) and Maulana Abu Mahfoozul Karim Ma’soomi, former principal of Madrasa Aalia, Kolkata, have earlier been presidents of Darul Musannifeen’s managing committees.LIBRARYThe life throb of the Academy is undeniably its well equipped library. The library offers to research workers and scholars a very wide range of literature on a large variety of subjects.PATRONSOn account of the cosmopolitan and constructive outlook, the Academy, from its very inception, earned encouragement from leaders of all shades of thought Among them are Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Sir Tel Bahadur Sapru, Acharya Narendra Dev, Shri Jaya Prakash Narain , Pandit Motilal Nehru, Dr. Zakir Husain, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, Syedana Dr. Tahir Saifuddin, Maulana Shaukat Ali, Dr.M. After the death of Maulana Masood Ali Nadvi in 1968 and later of Shah Moinuddin Nadvi in 1974, the responsibilities of the Academy fell on the shoulders of Syed Sabahuddin Abdur Rahman who managed it very efficiently during his time. After the death of Syed Shahabuddin Desnavi, Maulana Ziauddin lslahi became secretary (Nazim) of the Academy.From the very beginning Darul Musannefin has been doing pioneer work in the field of Islamic studies, medieval history and oriental languages and literature without any regular grant from the Government although it received some financial assistance now and then.After the partition demand of Urdu books declined and restrictions on export of books affected the Academy’s sale adversely. BOOKS RELATED TO SEERAT-UN-NABI1.-SEERAT-UN-NABI –I -ALLAMA SHIBLI NOMANI2.-SEERAT-UN-NABI –II -ALLAMA SHIBLI NOMANI3.-SEERAT-UN-NABI –III -SYYED SULAIMAN NADWI4.-SEERAT-UN-NABI –IV -SYYED SULAIMAN NADWI5.-SEERAT-UN-NABI –V -SYYED SULAIMAN NADWI6.-SEERAT-UN-NABI –VI -SYYED SULAIMAN NADWI7.-SEERAT-UN-NABI –VII -SYYED SULAIMAN NADWI8.-KHUTBAAT MADRAS -SYYED SULAIMAN NADWI9.-RAHMAT-E-ALAM -SYYED SULAIMAN NADWI10.-MUQADMA SEERAT-UN-NABI -ALLAMA SHIBLI NOMANIII. TAZKARAH-WA-SAWANEH72.-ALFAROOQ-ALLAMA SHIBLI NOMANI73.-ALGHAZALI-ALLAMA SHIBLI NOMANI74.-ALMAMOON-ALLAMA SHIBLI NOMANI75.-SEERAT-UL-NOMAAN-ALLAMA SHIBLI NOMANI76.-SEERAT OMAR BIN ABDUL AZIZ-MOULANA ABDUSSALAM NADWI77.-SEERAT AYESHA-MOULANA SYED SULAIMAN NADWI78.-HAYAT SHIBLI-MOULANA SYED SULAIMAN NADWI79.-IMAM RAAZI-MOULANA ABDUSSALAM NADWI80.-HAZRAT KHWAJA MOINUDDIN CHISHTI-S. ABDULBARI NADWI99.-MA-AAL-WA-MASHIAT-SAHABZADA ZAFAR HASAN KHAN100.-HUKAMA-E-ISLAM –I-MOULANA ABDUSSALAM NADWI101.-HUKAMA-E-ISLAM –II-MOULANA ABDUSSALAM NADWI102.-TABQAAT-UL-UMAM-Trans: QAZI AHMAD MIAN AKHTAR103.-INQELAAB-UL-UMAM-MOULANA ABDUSSALAM NADWI104.-AFKAAR-E-ASRIAH-Trans: NASEER AHMAD USMANI NEOTANWI105.-ALKALAAM-ALLAMA SHIBLI NOMANI106.-ILM-UL-KALAAM-ALLAMA SHIBLI NOMANI107.-RISALA AHAL-E-SUNNAT-WAL-JAMAAT-MOULANA SYED SULAIMAN NADWIVIII. ADAB-WA-TANQEED131.-SHER-UL-AJAM –I-ALLAMA SHIBLI NOMANI132.-SHER-UL-AJAM –II-ALLAMA SHIBLI NOMANI133.-SHER-UL-AJAM –III-ALLAMA SHIBLI NOMANI134.-SHER-UL-AJAM –IV-ALLAMA SHIBLI NOMANI135.-SHER-UL-AJAM –V-ALLAMA SHIBLI NOMANI136.-KULLIYAT SHIBLI (URDU)-ALLAMA SHIBLI NOMANI137.-KULLIYAT SHIBLI (FARSI)-ALLAMA SHIBLI NOMANI138.-SHER-UL-HIND –I-MOULANA ABDUSSALAM NADWI139.-SHER-UL-HIND –II-MOULANA ABDUSSALAM NADWI140.-GUL-E-RANA-MOULANA ABDULHAI HASNI141.-INTEKHABAAT-E-SHIBLI-Compiled: S. ISLAM AUR MUSTASHREQEEN156.-ISLAM AUR MUSTASHREQEEN –I-SEMINAR KI RUDAAD157.-ISLAM AUR MUSTASHREQEEN –II-PAPERS READ IN SEMINAR158.-ISLAM AUR MUSTASHREQEEN –III-PAPERS PUBLISHED IN MAARIF159.-ISLAM AUR MUSTASHREQEEN –IV-PAPERS OF ALLAMA SHIBLI NOMANI160.-ISLAM AUR MUSTASHREQEEN –V-PAPERS OF MOULANA SYED SULAIMAN NADWI161.-ISLAM AUR MUSTASHREQEEN –VI-TRANSLATION OF SELECTED ARBIC PAPERS IN URDUXIII. of India)5- Prince Meer Karamat Ali Mufakhkham Jah BahadurSECRETARIES:1- Allama Syed Sulaiman Nadvi ( 1915 - 1950 )2- Maulana Shah Moinuddin Ahmad Nadvi ( 1951 - 1974 )3- Syed Sabahuddin Abdur Rahman ( 1975 - 1987 )4- Maulana Ziauddin Islahi ( 1988 - till date )RULES FOR LIFE MEMBERSHIP1- Any person (Not Institution) can become life member of Darul MusannefinShibli Academy by paying a sum of Rs 10,000/= to the Academy. 2- The Academy will present to the life member its published books valuingRs 2,000/= ( The books may be selected by the life member himself).3- The life member will be entitled to get every new book published by theAcademy after the date of his membership.4- The life member will be entitled to get Academy’s journal Ma’arif throughout his life.RULES FOR SPECIAL MEMBERS1- Any person (Not Institution) can become Special member of Darul MusannefinShibli Academy by paying a sum of Rs 5,000/= to the Academy.2- The Academy will present to the Special member its published books valuingRs 1,000/= ( The Special member may select the books himself).
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I’m not sure how to intepret this story:Mary Cheney, the openly gay daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney and wife Lynne, is pregnant, according to a published report.
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I’ve finished reading the entire report, and I took fairly good notes. The main thrust of the plan is to increase diplomatic efforts internationally, scale down U.S. combat troops while increasing U.S. support for Iraqi troops and the Iraqi government in addressing the internal problems with thier own people. Iraq must understand that the committment is not open ended. The study points out that this is a comprehensive plan and the recommendations within should not be seperated or carried out in isolation. They note that there are 1.6 million refugees inside Iraq and another 1.8 million refugees that have fled the country. They note that only 4 of the 18 provinces are affected by extremem violence, however those four represent 40% of the population. They note that the entire appropriation for Iraqi defense forces in FY2006 is billion, which is less than what the U.S. is spending every 2 weeks. Regarding the Facilities Protection Services it is noted that al-Sadr controls the Ministries of Health, Agriculture, and Transportation and the armed units that protect them. Should he not, the members of these groups will simply assimilate into the wider insurgency. Because none of the operations conducted by U.S. and Iraqi military forces are fundamentally changing the conditions encouraging sectarian violence, U.S. forces seem to be caught in a mission that has no foreseable end.They note the splitting of the Shia movement, both that al-Sistani is losing his ability to curb the violence and that al-Sadr’s Mehdi army seems to be fracturing which makes it more difficult to control. They note Maliki’s public rejection of U.S. imposed benchmarks. KIRKUKThe issue of Kirkut is very important to the ISG noting that the mixed population of Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmen present a barrier to reconciliation. The Arabs and Turks do not want Kirkuk to be incorporated into the Kurdish zone. They note that key leaders from both the Kurdish and Shia zones have shown little commitment to national reconciliation. Iran and Syria top the list of trouble makers, but they also note that, for instance, Isreal’s bombing of Lebanon undermined U.S. support in Iraq. Having noted Iranian interference, they are given some credit for getting involved at least. They note that Jordan and Egypt have particularly good records in helping with the process and that should be built on. U.S. MILITARYThey note that the current level of commitment cannot be sustained especially when progress is not being made. They favor the creation of a Support Group for Iraq, which would include all bordering countries, with Iran and Syria being key members. They highlight Iranian co-operation with the U.S. on Afghanistan and use that as proof that Iranian co-operation could possibly be enlisted on Iraq as well, especially if tied to other international issues that Iran wants discussed. They note that there is no military solution to this problem and that Bush’s two state proposal must be brought back to the table. Not just those in the government, but those who wield power which include al-Sistani and al-Sadr. #35: A caveat on #34 is that al-Qaeda should not be negotiated with. #40: The United states should not make an open ended commitment to keep large numbers of troops deployed in Iraq for three compelling reasons. So as not to break the compact made with the National Gaurd and Army Reserves. #55: Calls for the U.S. DoD to continue traning the Iraqi National Police and the Iraqi Border Patrol. But…#56: Calls for the U.S. DoJ to direct the training of the local police. #57: Calls for international civilian police experts to take over the training of Iraqi local police forces from the U.S. Military Police. The panel calls for less actual U.S. involvement but more funding for reconstruction efforts. #67: Calls for the position of Senior Advisor for economic reconstruction in Iraq. #68: Calls for the support of the Cheif of Mission for Iraq.#69: Calls for the support of the Special Inspector General for Iraq: Mr. Stuart Brown. Costs for the war in Iraq should be included in the President’s annual budget request, starting FY 2008: the war is in its fourth year, and the normal budget process should not be circumvented.
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For Sunday, I had grandiose plans of checking out early, having a nice breakfast, going through the bead district and then shopping for souvenirs at Macy’s before heading back to Penn Station and home. The on/off switch was under the dryer, on the wall. The way my hair is styled now, I need to put the dryer down on occasion in order to pick up my round brush. I am right-handed, so the dryer goes in the left hand while I am working with the brush. But with the dryer attached to the right wall, and the cord being short, I had a hard time attempting to style my hair and look in the mirror at the same time. And, every time I needed to pick up my brush, I had to put the dryer down. Since I couldn’t turn it off unless I reached over to the power switch on the wall, the dryer was running when I set it down on the edge of the sink, vibrating dangerously close to falling into the sink. At least the sink ledge was wide enough to hold a small hair dryer. On Sunday, as I was putting on my face, my bag capsized onto the floor, dropping not only my blush brush and brand new pressed powder compact into the toilet, but also my case of birth control pills. I was in a pissy mood by noon, when I thought my back was going to break from the weight of my bag. I put Neal on a seat with our bags and wandered up and down the stores, ending up with new powder, a new blush brush, some lipstick, and new perfume.