Architectural Designs

Why do luxury home makers or the rich build tennis courts into their house plans? I understand maybe a pro tennis player doing this but is it that much of a coincidence that about a quarter of mansions have a tennis court? Is that prime piece of property really worth wasting over a tennis court? Are they THAT much of a tennis enthusiast that they just HAVE to have a court to play on taking up half of their backyards?

Tips on drawing a luxury house plan!? Thank you! Im just a teenager who enjoys designing luxury house plans lol so nothing TOO TOO serious though..but anything is welcome! thank you

what website can i go to, that have a large gallery of Luxury houses and and floor plans also for luxury homes

Rough estimate at how much this house would cost? http://www.architecturaldesigns.com/luxury-house-plan-12207jl.asp#e, My dad wants to start building it but he wanted to know what other's people's estimates aside from the contractors are just to be on the safe side, will be built in thunder bay, ontario in the country

How much would it cost to build this luxury house in Hawaii? I think it would be between 1.5 and 2.5 million. http://www.luxuryplans.com/plan.asp?PlanNum=5608&Plan=6751&PlanGraphicID=16534&Index=56 Isn't it beautiful?

Where can I find luxury home rentals that could accommodate a family reunion of 11 at Walt Disney World Resort? My family is planning a family vacation (parents, sister and her kids, my family) at WDW over Christmas. We would like a nice (luxury) house or resort that would accomodate all of us without being too outrageously expensive. Does anyone know of a place or website that would help?

Best web page for home plans with real pictures from outside and inside? I want to build a luxury house but seems like there isn't any good web page with actual pictures of how it really looks

What would be the estimated cost to build this house? Here's the link to the house plan and everything: http://www.houseplans.com/7100-square-feet-6-bedroom-7.5-bathroom-Luxury-home-plans-3-garage-(28860) I would also like to add a basement, I would like a game room under what would be the living room and a sitting area under where the foyer is. Also, an indoor pool under the garage area, a home gym under the dining room area, and an indoor basketball court under the kitchen/family room area. I would first like to know if it is architecturally possible and what it would cost about to build Also, I would like to build it in the san diego area if that helps with calculating the costs. Thanks.

I would like some opinions on our website www.dallasdesigngroup.com? We are not doing well, we have spent alot of time on our website, but people are not finding it, and when they do, they are not contacting us or buying our products....When someone does contact us, they are amazed by our services and our close rate is near 100%. Something is missing from the website, and i can not figure out what it is...Is it not designed well? Is it not engaging enough? Does it look like an art gallery? Sincere opinions would be appreciated. Our business is selling Luxury House Plans online world wide...Thank you in advance for your time and answers

Atheist, can you do an experiment?? It could work? Look at the First link, it is a picture of the earth, breathtaking image embedded with ocean, clouds, glory, and LIFE. http://space.about.com/od/pictures/ig/Earth-Pictures-Gallery/Full-Earth-.htm Now take a look at the second link of a house, a luxary home designed with a sense of beauty and richness. Not as amazing as the earth but still a dream home. Must have been tough to build it. http://www.minkler-house-plans.com/luxury-home-plans.html Now go back to the earth link and say to yourself " the earth is nothing more than a big bang, all by chance". Do you see how ridiculous that sounds?? Clearly the home is planned, designed etc.......so how can the earth be a big bang?? To Super Atheist: "who designed God"?? God wouldn't be a God if he needed to be designed. Ironic, isn't it?? JesusReality, I could ask you the same thing. WHy don't you ask the evolutions why you can't "evolve" to have eyes in the back??

How do I go about planning to purchase a house...? For my entire life, it's a dream of mine to actually purchase or to take out a mortgage for a house that I'm sure of paying for. As I grew up, I had many friends who lived in luxurious or suburban houses that were just plain out beautiful. But, as this occurred, I became envious and sad because I lived in a one-bedroom apartment with my folks. My parents were not really educated nor had proper paying jobs, so we had to resort with whatever we had. I have finally decided to make a house purchase as one of my lifelong goals. When I speak of a house, I'm not materialistically describing the luxury houses, but just a simple 3/4 bedroom suburban hosue you would find in a middle class community. With this being said, I had just graduated from University of Pennsylvania with a degree in engineering. I just received an admissions decision that I've been accepted to various schools for business/medical school which will delay my chance of employment. Is there anything I should begin working on so I'll have the highest probability of having a house in the future? From what I know, your credit history should be good. So far, I only have a credit card account opened and have invested in a few certificate of deposits. Anything else I should be aware of or anything I could do to increase my credit score? I don't think I'll be able to save as much money as I would as I expect to accumulate debt overall from graduate school. Thank you for taking your time for reading this. Any suggestions/comments/advice would be much appreciated!

would u be able to rent luxury homes in the future? this is a different question to my other ones, im talking about in 50 - 60 years time, rent a beach house or a luxury house.. i know u can rent them now, i just wanna see if u can rent them in the future serious answers please.. thanks i dont wanna rent them now i wanna rent them then, because at the moment and about cars can u rent them in the future? electric luxury cars? like bentley etc.. im just planning so who can help me? thanks (real answers please)

How much of a house could a person making $200k or more? If they made 250k could they afford a 2 million dollar house. What if a family together makes 500/year what is the highest amount they could afford? A radiologist (270/year) is marrying a orthodontist (210/year) They want to build a 7 thousand sqft home in Atlanta and do not plan to spend more than $2million on it but still have high end luxuries.

Can I work as a contractor and build my self a house that cost me $1million and sell it for $2million+? I am very interested in becoming a doctor and right now that is my main goal. But I know that I am supposed to have a back up plan. Well I figured that since I love to look at different houses and I wouldnt want to be a real estate agent that I should learn how to construct luxury houses in luxury places. I still want to build/design my home anyway. If it cost under 1,000,000 build (materials and work) to build but the amenities (such as large kitchen, extra rooms, a theater and sauna, maybe a home gym, etc.) make the house valued well over $2million, can I sell it for that price. I would love to do that and then I would have made a million when the sale finally went through (I know that it would maybe take a while to sell. With that money I could use it to build more and more and make lots of many doing something I love. Is this a realistic alternative to being a doctor? I would probably need someone to invest but they are almost guaranteed their money back and then some.

Can I mortgage my house without an income? I am a full time university student without a job (juggling school and kids) with no child support. I have won a dream home which I plan to sell. I will than pay off student loans and buy a smaller house and a better vehicle and continue my university from the rest of the money. I take possession of the house in a month and student loans doesn't pay me much. So until I get the house sold, would I have a problem mortgaging it? I don't want it all mortgaged (it is a very expensive luxury house), but I would like to mortgage about a 1/4 of its value or even less, until I can sell it. I would make my mortgage payments from the lump sum I get from them. I have a good credit rating, but no income.

What would be the estimated cost to build this house and are this add-ons architecturally possible? http://www.houseplans.com/7100-square-feet-6-bedroom-7.5-bathroom-Luxury-home-plans-3-garage-(28860) I would like to add a basement with the following rooms to this house: 1.) Sitting area under the foyer 2.) Game room under the living room 3.) Indoor pool under the garage 4.) Home gym under the dining room 5.) Indoor basketball court under the family room/kitchen area My questions are as follows: 1. What would be the estimated cost to build this home with all of the things I would like to add if were built in the southern california area ( Los Angeles, San diego, Long Beach etc.) 2.) Is it possible to add the basement to begin with? Like will it be structurally stable?

Will the bank mortgage your house if you don't have an income? I am a full time university student without a job (juggling school and kids) with no child support. I have won a dream home which I plan to sell. I will than pay off student loans and buy a smaller house and a better vehicle and continue my university from the rest of the money. I take possession of the house in a month and student loans doesn't pay me much. So until I get the house sold, would I have a problem mortgaging it? I don't want it all mortgaged (it is a very expensive luxury house), but I would like to mortgage about a 1/4 of its value or even less, until I can sell it. I would make my mortgage payments from the lump sum I get from them. I have a good credit rating, but no income.

What are some characteristics you can include in your house in order to improve its energy rating? I'm doing a maths assignment and we have to draw a floor plan of our dream house & then investigate and write up a report and etc about it. I have to include some things in my house to improve its energy rating. It is a luxury beachfront house. What improvements can i include in the house in order to save on lighting, water, heating, cooling... etc. It also says, How windows, curtains, eves, house orientation etc. are important.. & Discuss the Insulation, solar paneling, ventilation, landscaping.. etc. This is all to help/improve on Energy rating. ..I really have no idea what things I could do... So i appreciate the help! :) [List as much as you can] :) Thanks for the ideas!

Does it really cost this much do build this home? So theirs this website and it has floor plans. THis house http://www.builderhouseplans.com/uncompromising-luxury/pid/147101759 is really nice super big but says its $758,999. How accurate is this and I know this is with out the land.

Low Credit Score Mortage for Cheap house In Alabama? I have a low credit score from back when I was a kid. I have a 05 Jeep Wrangler I paid cash for and I just paid my grandmothers mortage off and she gave me her house. However, I gave it right back to her as a life estate. So Im not sure if I could qualify for a first time buyers plan. I dont want to put her house up as collateral. However, I need to borrow about 60k to purchase a fixer upper home in my area. I have a steady job, a cosigner (mom) and even plan on having at least one room mate. I also have 5% put back in savings, plus 3 months mortage and bills in savings. I tried Eloan/Lending Tree and was denied. I have no outstanding blls and have paid my rent on time for my luxury apartment, early for over a year which proves I can afford a smaller house note! Who should I turn to? (I definitly want less than 10% intrest) Thanks! Which credit company has the most important score? I think my score is around 600. Its going up soon because I disputed a lot of charges that wasnt mine.

renting a house HELP HELP ?????? ok so me and my husband live in montgomery alabama he is 20 yrs old and i'am 19 yrs old as of september 3 of this year,,,, him and i have been staying in these luxury apartment on the east side of town we are paying 975 for a 2 bed/bath we have been ready to move out of state now,, also the apartment come with a double garage also.... we saw some house in georgia ,,,, and the houses out there u get your money worth. we found a couple of house we are planning on renting out the links are below this house is 5 bed room 6 bath but the morgage listing price is 678,000 http://www.unitedhomeraleigh.com/details.html?mlsid=15-937061&type=6&beds=5&baths=0&min=1500&max=3000&zip=ALL&minfoot=&maxfoot=&minacre=&maxacre=&justlisted=&limit=&school=&sortby=price:DESC#next these homes are for 2500 a moth this houses is listed for 677,000 but if i rent 2500 a month http://atlantamls.listingware.com/search/searchdetail.cfm?KeyField=ListingID&ListingID=2246010 is they work it to rent http://atlantamls.listingware.com/search/searchdetail.cfm?KeyField=ListingID&ListingID=2231928 http://atlantamls.listingware.com/search/searchdetail.cfm?KeyField=ListingID&ListingID=2226381 http://www.unitedhomerealty.com/details.html?mlsid=10-3494319 http://www.unitedhomerealty.com/details.html?mlsid=10-3526051 my question is this with these 6 to 5 bedroom homes is it worth renting for 25 to 2000 a moth then paying a morgage and have to spend at least 5 to 6 k a moth all because of your score is in the low 600's we need a big house for our 3 animals and my husband office plus a game and excerise room and guest to come for visit and 2 bedrooms isn't going to cut it . we could afford it we just need to know if houses like these are worth it,, for renting a year or two and then we might just upgrade to a mortgage cost is not a problem for us

Should my dad let his house foreclose? My dad bought a brand new house 145k. Now with the recession, its worth only about 80 or 90k. My dad mortgage is about 1900$. My dad has a good stable job, (no chance of him getting laid off). My mom works also. We are able to afford the house. But my dad says it is not worth paying for it. We still got another 10 years to pay, while neighbors have 20 years to pay. My dads plan is to stop paying and save the mortgage money to but a luxury apartment or a new house. He says we stop paying, leaving us 6 months to save money. Is this a good investment or plan. Should we let go of the house.

Are some foreclosure due to homeowners lifestyles? This question doesn't pertain to people who have lost their jobs!!!(I'm sorry for those that have lost their job) I'm talking about the people who have a million dollars , have a luxury style life and then cry then cry to the government that they cant afford the mortgages . I mean if you have 5-6 rooms use two of the rooms and rent it out and your back on track. Between me and my girlfriend we make about 50 thousand a year...and are planning on buying a house.

Do you ever "plan" the perfect heist in your head,just for fun? I do it if I'm stoned.I fantasise about pulling off a heist,leaving the country,living somewhere hot & sunny with gorgeous girls all over me,a beach,a luxury beachfront house,etc.... lol DAV!Nice attempt!

Are Republicans once again following bad economic policy, even Golmann Sachs reports failure of their plans.? Most Economists, and they do not have to be genius economists but just a regular old economist, will tell you that when in a recession the worst thing to do is create more jobless people. A fairly simple statement but very true. Yet Republican plans include cutting 800,000 Federal jobs. Some think these are overpaid luxury jobs but facts tell us different, on average a Federal worker doing the same job in the private sector with same amount of education makes 12.000 dollars less per year. Facts are we voted for job creation and are not getting that. Instead we are getting anti-abortion and anti-gay bills from the new Republican House along with Tax breaks for the richest and cuts to aid for the poor. We spent 8 years under Republicans and look what that did for economy. Does anyone now think they have somehow changed and are now good at economic policy? Even the Conservatives ar Goldman Sachs said Republican policies would cut growth by 2% of GDP, a staggering step backwards for America. How do you feel about the Goldman Sachs projection. They have the finest minds in economics that money can buy and they are against it. What does this tell you about the Republicans and their plans to create jobs"

I am looking to plan a 10 year wedding anniversary trip with friends and family...? I need assistance on which is the best route to go to plan the trip. I would like to book a small villa or large house. A nice luxury vacation home. You know, like the kinds in Sex in The City and Why Did I Get married movies. Ideally I would like for the couples to be able to pay on their portion of the trip throughout a years time. Would it be best to get an agent for this or does anyone know of a way to accomplish this trip? Or does anyone have ideas on great places to go with about 4 to 5 couples?

I heard Datin OC Phang Going to run away from Malaysia? I heard the great cheat OC Dating Phang who jointly swindle the Malaysian rahyat money in millions is planning to run away to China to hide there? Why not the Malaysian Government frozen her house, bank account and luxury properties she owns to recover bak the money?

What's the best way to get the feeling of local culture in Thailand? We are arriving to Bang Kok on 18th June and departing same city on 2nd July. We are planning to spend two days in Bang Kok (depending on things to do and see and sales in shops for my girlfriend. Mind you, I'm interested in digital cameras and electronics) and the rest of ten days in Koh Samui island. By writing "culture" in my question I also meant activities (I'm not kind of person who would lay on the beach all day every day), unusual and weird things to try, places to visit or things to buy. I'm very much in motoring so planning to hire a car and it would be much more fun to drive not Avis brand new car, but something local, old or authentic (or at least 4x4). We like luxury, but would be much nicer to hire a little log cabin (beach house) on the seaside. We're into mountain, water activities, cycling, trying local cusine, meeting local people, etc. Thank you in advance ;)

My fiance spends 5-6 nights a week at my house but has not helped with any household finances? I travel a lot for my job and my fiance has the luxury of staying in my very nice home even when I'm out of town. He also works from home (mine) every day even though he still has his own apt. He uses my electricity, water, internet, pool, food, ect... His lease runs out this month and he plans on moving in permantly but has avoided talking about finances and made no offer to help out with any bills. How do I tell him it's time to start paying his fair share?

Why is Chavez such a maniacal despot? Monday, Jan. 29, 2007 9:33 a.m. EST President Hugo Chavez denied Sunday that his left-leaning government would seize private property - such as second homes or expensive cars - from the wealthy and called on Venezuelans not to fear his accelerated push toward socialism. Chavez recently announced plans for a "luxury tax" targeting second homes, art collections and expensive cars that would be aimed at redistributing wealth to the poor. "Oh, you have a yacht? Perfect, give to me, buddy," he said at the time. "You have a house where you live and another one by sea ... You have some marvelous art collections - come here, buddy." He urged all Venezuelans to embrace "the socialism that we are going to create." But Chavez denied that he was attempting to steer oil-rich Venezuela toward Cuba-style communism. Chavez has raised concerns by repeatedly saying he wants to continue governing Venezuela until 2021 or longer. He was re-elected to a second, six-year term in December - his last under Venezuela's Constitution. But Chavez has proposed a constitutional reform that would allow indefinite re-election.

What are the Best UF Luxury Dorms? I have a friend who is an incoming freshman for the 2010 school year who is really looking for the full social experience of a dorm without living in such a cramped space and sharing a bathroom with 50 other girls doesn't appeal to her at all. She also is afraid that with her luck, she will be stuck in a temporary triple. She's looking at a luxury dorms such as Windsor Hall, Ivy House and The Courtyards. They are both walking distance to campus and guarantee placement into her requested floor plan. Here's the website for these properties http://www.luxurydormsuf.com She would really appreciate any thoughts or input about these places, so that she can make her final decision and/or meet a potential roommate for next year!

Adding an extra storey to our house? my dad is planning on adding an extra storey to our house so we will have a two-storey house. But i think he should just knock down the whole house and rebuild it so itll look like those luxury homes(split). Our kitchens really old, our carpet makes noises when we walk on it, our bricks reddish brown, our walls have cracks. Our house is like a classic home from the 80's and we want a modern one with those marble tables and stuff. I have been trying to convince my dad to knockdown and rebuild our house with Clarendon and build those beautiful splits(since we are on a corner and our street has a slope). But he doesnt listen. Hes spending 210,000 on extensions whereas if he would pay 230,980 he would build a beautiful split. How can i convince him to stop with the plan of additions.

Would there be legal difficulties, for a family owned company which houses family members? In order to provide basic housing for future family members and relieve housing stress, I plan to form a Ltd Company, managed by family members to accumulate funds mainly from legacies and donations to purchase basic and adequate, free of charge housing for future family members, especially for needy and homeless members, who do not have the skills to earn a high wage to afford their own housing. The housing would be kept in the ownership of the company. All family members can, if they wish, contribute to the housing fund. And instead of leaving assets when they die, they can do some good for other family members by breaking the continual stress, and continual chain of the perpetual buying and selling of housing, of each generation. Can anyone see any legal reasons against this? Also as far as I am aware, the company would be a 'mutual', family providing housing for family, the members also being the beneficiaries, would this mean that it would not be liable to corporation tax? or capital gains tax? (Small details of the company would be, that all family members would be eligible for basic housing, and only basic housing, and if they wanted luxury housing, then they would have to contribute the extra funds needed to do that, and at the end of use, the housing, or its money equivalent would go back into the family housing company pot. The company would be kept small so that family members would do the voluntary work of managing it, so that it didn't become so big that rents had to be charged to pay staff. It would be run democratically by general meeting of the interested family members.)

Any mothers out there that have brought up their child/children at their parent's house? I'm pregnant and have just turned 21 years old. I was living with the father for some time but we have recently split on good terms and I have moved back in with my parents and three siblings (one sibling is moving out in Sept). We have a very big house in a very good area and my child will have the luxury of having his/her own room and their own playroom. My parents are being very good to me and are helping me buy all brand new things etc. I am planning on waiting a few years until I get a career sorted out and am able to afford a decent house. Has anybody else done this? Thanks :)

Would Cancelling the Corporate Tax Deduction for Healthcare Plans Be Good or Bad? 1. Would it mean that all jobs in USA would cease immediately? No? People would still seek employment, and companies would still hire them? 2. Well how would the employees be "compensated" without corporate healthcare insurance plans? There is a thing called a paycheck. That would be the way to compensate the employees. 3. So how would people get health insurance without having it given to them by their corporations? They would buy it on the open market. That's how they get groceries, and cars, and houses. So they would go to the market, pick out a policy. Sign it. And start paying premiums. The glove fits, so wear it. Each glove fits each customer. Wow, it's like tailoring! What a concept! 4. How would this affect healthcare utilization? It would make it more moderate, more appropriate. If I have to pay for my own coverage, I'm likely to go for a high deductible policy with a Health Savings Account as backup. Very efficient -- and all the tax breaks come to me, not the corporation I work for. When I need care, I just get what I need. Not those extra PET scans and CAT scans just to see if they can find something, two or three times a year. Not those luxury discretionary operations and treatments. Just what I need. That way, my premiums stay low, my health stays OK, and I have $3 million in coverage in case of catastrophic illness, or accident (with a $5,000 deductible, covered by my Health Savings Account, from which I get a taxbreak). All corporations are always insatiable greed machines. So any contract or arrangement in which a corporation participates is going to be slanted mostly so that it benefits the corporation, not you, even though you think you're getting a big freebie. They would have to pay about 15% to 20% more in salary to attract employees if they did not offer healthcare insurance. So, cutting out the insurance is revenue neutral for you, but you get a much better deal, and you participate in lowering our national expenditure for healthcare, so maybe it doesn't go all the way up to 25% of GDP in the next five years, which is where it's heading now in five years time.

How much will my dream house cost? i want a modern style home room requirements: 3-4 half baths formal dining room office game/recreation room family/great room laundry room Bedroom requirements: 1 master bedroom with foyer and walk in closet 4 other bedrooms/ and with the 4 full baths walk in closet apartment/inlaw suite Kitchen requirements: kitchen-breakfast nook kitchen-island kitchen-walk in pantry modern kitchen appliances special features: indoor and outdoor pool hot tub indoor and out outdoor kitchen courtyard deck guest bedroom foundation will be a finished walkout basement and this is supposed to be a luxury/ masion modern style home. how much will it cost and what do you think of my plans?? the main bedroom is for me and my wife and they others for my kids maybe and other room just incase of guests or inlaws come for inlaws suite.

How much will my dream house cost to build? i want a modern style home room requirements: 3-4 half baths formal dining room office game/recreation room family/great room laundry room Bedroom requirements: 1 master bedroom with foyer and walk in closet 4 other bedrooms/ and with the 4 full baths walk in closet apartment/inlaw suite Kitchen requirements: kitchen-breakfast nook kitchen-island kitchen-walk in pantry modern kitchen appliances special features: indoor and outdoor pool hot tub indoor and out outdoor kitchen courtyard deck guest bedroom foundation will be a finished walkout basement and this is supposed to be a luxury/ masion modern style home. how much will it cost and what do you think of my plans?? the main bedroom is for me and my wife and they others for my kids maybe and other room just incase of guests or inlaws come for inlaws suite.

Im looking for a mansion to hire? HI im looking for a mansion or a big luxury house to hold my 21st birthday im not planning on having a major piss up just some drinks and yummu canapes and dance the night away something elegant, somewhere in victoria pref close to melbourne, there was an article in the newspaper about a mansion that did this but i cant find it anywhere if someone know anything could you please let me no, ive never had a birthday party so i want to remember this one, thanks ive looked everywhere on the internet all that comes up is werribee mansion

why do men disclose too much about their finances? Hello everyone, I just am little curious about this issue. I met a guy through an online dating site. we will be meeting today at a restaurant. this guy posted an old old pic with his profile, and I thought that was him. during our very first conversation, he disclosed everything about his highly paying job, his three fully paid luxury cars, his plans of buying a new house now etc etc. He also was asking about my financial issues. In this process, he gave me his full name. when I searched his name, I found out his recent pictures and shocked. of course, he is popular, but, he looks very older than his profile picture.Nevertheless, I am meeting him and I don't judge people by looks or income. My biggest surprise is, why was he disclosing too much about his income, savings, cars etc etc? I greatly appreciate your answers.

Marriage and Finances-He wants luxury and I don't? I am 22 and my fiance is 25 and are planning on getting married this summer. He has been at the same job for a few years and makes about $42K, I am in college with 1 yr. to go until I become a teacher and only make about $11,000 working part-time. I'd rather have a joint account when married but because I will be about $7,000 in debt from school, etc when I graduate he prefers to have separate accounts. When talking about the distant future, he wants to be making a couple hundred thousand a year and living in a 'million dollar home' leading a comfortable life. I grew up in a poor immigrant family and distrust people that have luxuries but he assures me that he would also be contributing to charity. Still, I feel uneasy, I don't want a 'luxurious' life, just a nice little house-easy to clean and maintain, he says we could later afford a maid- I just want a modest life where I don't worry about $ and give to those less fortunate. Could our marriage work with these different visions? He is about to receive a promotion. He's a very smart guy and is already seriously investing for retirement and in mutual funds. My fiance is big on saving for the 'later' and is great with money, also has a great work ethic, so I think ten years down the road he's going to be very well established in his career and making a lot of money. He has been asked if he could move to Seattle to be a manager there but he turned it down because I have to stay in school down in Portland, so I trust him but last night he asked me if I'd move if he had a good job offer later down the road. I told him that if I had been teaching at the same school for a long time and it was a positive environment, I would not want to move just so he'd be making more money. I am more concerned with having the essentials and a 'job' I love than leaving everything especially my family just to have more money. Excess money is not important to me as I believe it has the ability to corrupt even the most well-intentioned.

Buying a house (Payment question?)? So my sister and I have finally found the house for us, but we definitely do not want to lock ourselves into a 30-yr mortgage. I know that, typically, the 30-yr is what people choose, but we're not interested. The buyer asked for $71,000, which we were willing to pay considering we were looking for anything under $100,000. We are now wondering whether or not there is some sort of payment plan where we could pay off this house in 5 years. Yes, I know. Ambitious. We're willing to go without a few luxuries for awhile so that we can get this house paid for and then begin the renovations we had planned. 5 years? Is it possible? P.S. -- We know very little about the process of buying a house..Don't get me wrong, we've done our fair share of research, but we've pretty much only come up with the 30-yr mortgage thing and whatnot. So if what we're asking is done more commonly than we believe, pardon us for asking a possibly ridiculous question.

Poll: How do you convince a girl that you're not dating her just because of her various platinum creditcards, her many luxury sedans, her Newport beach house or the hefty inheritance the grandparents are planning to leave her when they kick the bucket?

High Paying Jobs in the South Of France? Alright,so i know the language poorly but i have a good amount of years to learn it and become fluent hopefully. I plan to live there probably the rest of my life. I live in the USA and I was just wondering what kind of jobs i could take? Enough for food,cable,and nice luxury house stuff. I don't think i can be anything that deals with money so much. I Want enough also to take vacations back to the USA and visit my family frequently. I do want a home too. What are some options for me? Being a native english speaker give me advantages? Also,i do not look into teacher or anything that makes around that wage.... Not a doctor or a lawyer >< kinda above average ish.

Christian, what does god got against people who are pride of their accomplishments? This another one of my atheist curiosity question. Lets say a person who work for his entire life went to a four-year college graduated then went into graduate school done what he/she had to do and became successful. He/She buys him/herself a luxury house, fancy expensive cars, and the best quality of living. Which is an American dream after all. He/She lays back on his/her executive fine leather chair and reflect back to the hard aches, the constant studying, the over night working at a food market store, and becomes very pride of how far he/she came to get where he/she wanted to go. Might a have smile on he/she face while remembering too, but never becomes self absorb by the material he/she possessive because he/she knows what it is like to be in stricken poverty. But as ever becoming very pride of him/herself. Is pride, ambition, self reliance, and the human will br should be freon upon? Because I'm a freshman in college right now working to get to that point, but I plan going through R.O.T.C. and becoming a commission U.S. Army officer. Does your god not like someone to be proud period? I'm not trying to sound self centered I thank people when I was still in high school without them I probably would be lost right about now. They help guided me above all else. Even before I became atheist, I prayed to god for guidance and wisdom a, but I lost faith because I felt alone. So, I'm sorry if I didn't clarify this further. Yes I'm dependent on my parents still and they help along the way, but they themselves aren't college educated I'm the first family generation to ever go to college. But that doesn't make me king or something I know nothing about how far my parents came to get to where they're now. Right now all the pride should go to my parents because they are proud of me above anything else. I simple saying if not being proud in anything then whats the point of doing it?

Where do I find a financial trainer/coach that do not have h(is)/(er)own agenda in mind,but my best interest? I am a 45 yrs old, with a husband a 2 children ages 19 and 17. I never received any training formal or informal on finances. I came to this Country and did not know how pensions and retirement plans worked, I did not know about planing for the future(kid's college/retirement), until about 12-15 yrs ago.Once I realized that these are aspects of life that we need to take care off, I started to read and look for answers. I have been contributing to a retirement plan at work.For years I have done things,such as not buying new cars to avoid being in debt,but have found myself paying a lot of money to maintain used cars. I feel that at my age I still do not have a good grip on my finances.We have never tried to "keep up" with the neighbors,we live from pay check to pay check, do not go after luxuries but do not have basic things such as a decent living room set. Our house needs maintainance but we do not have the money to do it and do not want to get debt we would not be able to pay.HELP!

how i can find Apartments, Flats, Houses in Kuwait ? we aims to inform people who are planning to come to Kuwait about our range of services that will help you and your family to settle down as soon as possible after your arrival in Kuwait we First Guide for the newcomers in Kuwait The agency specializing in: Reception at the airport placement services accommodation, housing services luxury, transportation, car rental, delivery, all administrative and legal services recreational,fun services and organizing special events,party, selling and buying and moving new or old furniture. just landing working 24 h 7 days in week Contact: Front office: Al Frwnya - facing Frwnyia police station - building of National Bank -floor3 - Office 2 cell:9809601 tel: 475475 fax: 4755474 e-mail: kwt_serv@yahoo.com web site: under construction welcome to Kuwait

Hesitations to Make Move to Vegas justified? PLEASE ONLY VEGAS or X VEGAS RESIDENTS REPLY...THANKS!!!!!? Having lived almost all my life in the US, Michigan, now planning on moving back from Egypt withen a year. My three final considersions are Portland(but some say not easy to make good friends), Seattle(perhaps to close too DC therefore maybe bias twoard peacefull Muslims) but most atracted to Vegas. The reasons are basicly, full of shops and entertainment, good economy for new small businesses, not too frigid, and a relitivly safe enviorment for a big city. Las Vegas realy stands out becuase of the very affordable unique and butifull luxury housing and appartments with breath taking views and pools. And certainly the overall cost of living with tax free insentives. My questions, my concearns about Vegas are the following: 1/ I am one of the vast majority of Muslims who do NOT support terrorist activity, despite the media not allways making their oppinions public. So is Las Vegas a non friendly enviorment for an Arab Muslim? 2/ Do many get burned out in Vegas? THANKS!!!!!

Should I live below my standards for 4 years to save for a house? Can anyone help me - unsure what to do. At the moment I live in a brand new city centre apartment, close to everything I need. I work from home so can move anywhere. I am wanting to save up a deposit to buy a house. I have 2 options, either stay where I am (paying £550 a month for an apartment) and save around a £10,000 deposit - or my second choice is to move 18 miles away to a small market town in the countryside and rent a 2 bedroomed victorian house in the market place surrounded by shops. It is only £350 a month, which will allow me to save an extra £10,000 on top of the £10,000 I was planning on saving, but would mean moving away from all the luxuries and convieniences I have living in a city centre. The property is small, 2 rooms down and 2 rooms (box rooms) upstairs, and a tiny kitchen with the bathroom off the kitchen. It is clean, but an old victorian property overlooking the main street (door onto pavement) and rear back onto churchyard.

Looking for investor for great business opportunity!? I have all the plans for a Luxury Mobile Home Park, but I don't have capitol to start it. Once set up with 200 sites at $200.00 per month per site, we would net a profit of $40,000.00 per month, with almost no overhead. Tenent owns own house and cares for own site. I will set up and run it for $50.00 per rented site per month and a salary to get it set up. If interested let me know for more details!

Need a Kerala Style Floor Plan? I am planning to build a 4 bedroom house in Kerala Kannur district. I am not looking for luxury in any elelment of the house but shoud be having basic facilities. These are the descriptions, 1. 4 Bedrooms ( Spacious MB: 400 * 360 , All other bedrooms 360*320) Two bedrooms in First Floor. All Bedrooms batch attached. 2. Living Room 3. Dining Room 4. Kitchen ( 400 *360) 5. a small pooja room House should be facing SouthWest. Planning to adopt the less expensive way since I have budget constraints to 16 L. If anyone is working in the same area, would be really great if you are sharing the plans and thoughts on this. Binesh 09902740694

Does anyone think this luxury dog culture is really hilariously stupid? I'm starting to get jealous of our dog! She hired this pet nutritionist because she's unhappy with the kibble breath. So now she feeds him a pet nutritionist prescribed home-cooked meal plan. They charge you shㅣt load of money each time you visit them as well as a opening account fee. I was amazed companies like this even existed. And she came home yesterday with 2 Juicy Couture cashmere sweaters for him because it's getting chilly outside at night, and she doesn't want him to catch a cold. And I saw the receipt for the sweaters, they were 90 dollars each. Why does a dog need cashmere sweaters anyway? They have their own fur coat they were born with. AND did you know there's a cable TV channel for your dogs? We pay $18/m for it. -_- it's the stupidest thing ever, basically, it just has videos of dogs running around happily and it's supposed to be a channel for your pet dog so you can have it on when you are leaving the house. She spends $155 every time at the groomer's salon, and she gets mad at me for going to a salon for a blow out before parties. Maybe the groomer charges a lot because he's a poodle, but still, I mean, does a dog really need "conditioning manicure" and aromatherapy sessions? My mom insists Henrii (YES, double i's) attends the sessions once every 2 months. And this salon has "Mommy and I" package where the owner and the dog gets salon treatment together. O M G I'm sorry, but if she loves her dog so much, she should just walk and play with her dog more at the PARK, not at a salon. Henrii probably gets to scared and depressed at those salons and in those thick cashmere sweaters! Well... my mom had me and my sister, so she has had kids before. i guess she wanted a son? but that's besides the point! The fact that these places exist must mean there are lots of other people like her on this planet!

Hosting trip parties/sessions at my house? Ok, i'm 14 years old, but fairly experienced in the world of psychedelic drugs. I've created a business model that needs an outside opinion. Say you're a first time tripper, you need a reliable source for your LSD, shrooms, dmt ect. and you're worried about getting caught or freaking out in front of your parents. Come to my house, buy the drugs, and pay and extra fee to trip at my house. I've got my room set up with all the essentials and a luxuries you might desire during a trip and I also have the experience you can trust when taking your first steps into mind expantion. I have scientifically studied the pros and cons of all drugs i'm prepared to offer so don't try to convince me that they are dangerous or bad. If you see any holes in my plan or possible problems that could arise please tell me.

should i buy "used luxury vehicle" or "cheap new vehicle"? My lease is ending in two month. So, i've been looking around for next vehicle. This time, i'm planning to purchase the vehicle... and here's my dilemma... i'm married with 2yr son... so safety is very important but due to high gas price, i'm giving up suv. I'm pretty serious about buying '06 Infiniti M35X... 20k~30k miles... and i think i can get it under $30K (after tax & fees). When i got inside, i was so impressed (this car made lexus ES & bmw 5's feel like honda civic). Basically my mind was set until one of my friend said... why are you paying almost 30K on a used car? and said that i can buy new accord, camry or altima for that amount...maybe less. I know he has point there... those are nice cars... but i just can't get over infiniti. I believe there are two things i have to try my best not to down grade in life... cars & house. What do you think? am i making a mistake here?

If Chi nee would not buy your house, should your taxes be lowered to reflect less potential buyers? A plan to build a hospice at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver has run into opposition from luxury condo owners nearby. The proposal calls for a 15-bed palliative care facility, called St. John Hospice, to be built next to a high-rise condominium building called the Promontory. One condo owner said most residents in the building are of Asian descent and believe living close to a hospice will bring bad luck. "In Chinese culture, we are against having dying people in your backyard," said Janet Fan, who has signed a petition against the hospice. "We cannot accept this. It's against our belief, against our culture. It's not culturally sensitive." Fan also said many residents worry about additional traffic and having to discuss the subject of death with their children. A two-bedroom condo in the Promontory sells for almost $1 million, and people fear their property value will plummet if the hospice is built. Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/01/13/bc-ubc-hospice-rejected.html#ixzz1B8MXxL6P

do you think we could live without cars? asap help please 10 POINTS? I have to plan a debate speech the matter is: This house believes that cars are a luxury we can live without? I am supporting the motion: do you have any advice? Negatives on cars, how we could live without them? Statistics? Money and environmental issues? Thank youu

The Moon isn't to far away so how come we don't have tons of 5 star hotels and houses up there yet? I mean there are lots of aerospace companies that talk a lot of stuff but all they offer are sub orbital flights, Bigelow Aerospace is planning on building a space station hotel in orbit, but when can i expect to see luxury hotels on the Moon?

OH MY GOD !! Did any one read Palins book. (to many lie to write about)? here's a few THE FACT IS................. PALIN: Says she made frugality a point when traveling on state business as Alaska governor, asking "only" for reasonably priced rooms and not "often" going for the "high-end, robe-and-slippers" hotels. THE FACTS: Although travel records indicate she usually opted for less-pricey hotels while governor, Palin and daughter Bristol stayed five days and four nights at the $707.29-per-night Essex House luxury hotel (robes and slippers come standard) overlooking New York City's Central Park for a five-hour women's leadership conference in October 2007. With air fare, the cost to Alaska was well over $3,000. Event organizers said Palin asked if she could bring her daughter. The governor billed her state more than $20,000 for her children's travel, including to events where they had not been invited, and in some cases later amended expense reports to specify that they had been on official business. ___ PALIN: Boasts that she ran her campaign for governor on small donations, mostly from first-time givers, and turned back large checks from big donors if her campaign perceived a conflict of interest. THE FACTS: Of the roughly $1.3 million she raised for her primary and general election campaigns for governor, more than half came from people and political action committees giving at least $500, according to an AP analysis of her campaign finance reports. The maximum that individual donors could give was $1,000; $2,000 for a PAC. Of the rest, about $76,000 came from Republican Party committees. She accepted $1,000 each from a state senator and his wife in the weeks after the two Republican lawmakers' offices were raided by the FBI as part of an investigation into a powerful Alaska oilfield services company. After AP reported those donations during the presidential campaign, she said she would give a comparative sum to charity after the general election in 2010, a date set by state election laws. ___ PALIN: Rails against taxpayer-financed bailouts, which she attributes to Obama. She recounts telling daughter Bristol that to succeed in business, "you'll have to be brave enough to fail." THE FACTS: Palin is blurring the lines between Obama's stimulus plan — a $787 billion package of tax cuts, state aid, social programs and government contracts — and the federal bailout that Republican presidential candidate John McCain voted for and President George W. Bush signed. Palin's views on bailouts appeared to evolve as McCain's vice presidential running mate. In September 2008, she said "taxpayers cannot be looked to as the bailout, as the solution, to the problems on Wall Street." A week later, she said "ultimately what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy." During the vice presidential debate in October, Palin praised McCain for being "instrumental in bringing folks together" to pass the $700 billion bailout. After that, she said "it is a time of crisis and government did have to step in." This is just a few whoppers she wrote about in her book

Is this what The Right wing wants for a leader? She criticizes President Barack Obama for pushing through a bailout package that actually was achieved by his Republican predecessor George W. Bush — a package she seemed to support at the time. A look at some of her statements in "Going Rogue," obtained by The Associated Press in advance of its release Tuesday: ___ PALIN: Says she made frugality a point when traveling on state business as Alaska governor, asking "only" for reasonably priced rooms and not "often" going for the "high-end, robe-and-slippers" hotels. THE FACTS: Although travel records indicate she usually opted for less-pricey hotels while governor, Palin and daughter Bristol stayed five days and four nights at the $707.29-per-night Essex House luxury hotel (robes and slippers come standard) overlooking New York City's Central Park for a five-hour women's leadership conference in October 2007. With air fare, the cost to Alaska was well over $3,000. Event organizers said Palin asked if she could bring her daughter. The governor billed her state more than $20,000 for her children's travel, including to events where they had not been invited, and in some cases later amended expense reports to specify that they had been on official business. ___ PALIN: Boasts that she ran her campaign for governor on small donations, mostly from first-time givers, and turned back large checks from big donors if her campaign perceived a conflict of interest. THE FACTS: Of the roughly $1.3 million she raised for her primary and general election campaigns for governor, more than half came from people and political action committees giving at least $500, according to an AP analysis of her campaign finance reports. The maximum that individual donors could give was $1,000; $2,000 for a PAC. Of the rest, about $76,000 came from Republican Party committees. She accepted $1,000 each from a state senator and his wife in the weeks after the two Republican lawmakers' offices were raided by the FBI as part of an investigation into a powerful Alaska oilfield services company. After AP reported those donations during the presidential campaign, she said she would give a comparative sum to charity after the general election in 2010, a date set by state election laws. ___ PALIN: Rails against taxpayer-financed bailouts, which she attributes to Obama. She recounts telling daughter Bristol that to succeed in business, "you'll have to be brave enough to fail." THE FACTS: Palin is blurring the lines between Obama's stimulus plan — a $787 billion package of tax cuts, state aid, social programs and government contracts — and the federal bailout that Republican presidential candidate John McCain voted for and President George W. Bush signed. Palin's views on bailouts appeared to evolve as McCain's vice presidential running mate. In September 2008, she said "taxpayers cannot be looked to as the bailout, as the solution, to the problems on Wall Street." A week later, she said "ultimately what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy." During the vice presidential debate in October, Palin praised McCain for being "instrumental in bringing folks together" to pass the $700 billion bailout. After that, she said "it is a time of crisis and government did have to step in." ___ PALIN: Says Ronald Reagan faced an even worse recession than the one that appears to be ending now, and "showed us how to get out of one. If you want real job growth, cut capital gains taxes and slay the death tax once and for all." THE FACTS: The estate tax, which some call the death tax, was not repealed under Reagan and capital gains taxes are lower now than when Reagan was president. Economists overwhelmingly say the current recession is far worse. The recession Reagan faced lasted for 16 months; this one is in its 23rd month. The recession of the early 1980s did not have a financial meltdown. Unemployment peaked at 10.8 percent, worse than the October 2009 high of 10.2 percent, but the jobless rate is still expected to climb. ___ PALIN: She says her team overseeing the development of a natural gas pipeline set up an open, competitive bidding process that allowed any company to compete for the right to build a 1,715-mile pipeline to bring natural gas from Alaska to the Lower 48. THE FACTS: Palin characterized the pipeline deal the same way before an AP investigation found her team crafted terms that favored only a few independent pipeline companies and ultimately benefited a company with ties to her administration, TransCanada Corp. Despite promises and legal guidance not to talk directly with potential bidders during the process, Palin had meetings or phone calls with nearly every major candidate, including TransCanada. ___ PALIN: Criticizes an aide to her predecessor, Gov. Frank Murkowski, for a conflict of interest because the aide represented the state in negotiations over a gas pipeline and then left to work as a

why would S. Palin deceive every body? She criticizes President Barack Obama for pushing through a bailout package that actually was achieved by his Republican predecessor George W. Bush — a package she seemed to support at the time. A look at some of her statements in "Going Rogue," obtained by The Associated Press in advance of its release Tuesday: ___ PALIN: Says she made frugality a point when traveling on state business as Alaska governor, asking "only" for reasonably priced rooms and not "often" going for the "high-end, robe-and-slippers" hotels. THE FACTS: Although travel records indicate she usually opted for less-pricey hotels while governor, Palin and daughter Bristol stayed five days and four nights at the $707.29-per-night Essex House luxury hotel (robes and slippers come standard) overlooking New York City's Central Park for a five-hour women's leadership conference in October 2007. With air fare, the cost to Alaska was well over $3,000. Event organizers said Palin asked if she could bring her daughter. The governor billed her state more than $20,000 for her children's travel, including to events where they had not been invited, and in some cases later amended expense reports to specify that they had been on official business. ___ PALIN: Boasts that she ran her campaign for governor on small donations, mostly from first-time givers, and turned back large checks from big donors if her campaign perceived a conflict of interest. THE FACTS: Of the roughly $1.3 million she raised for her primary and general election campaigns for governor, more than half came from people and political action committees giving at least $500, according to an AP analysis of her campaign finance reports. The maximum that individual donors could give was $1,000; $2,000 for a PAC. Of the rest, about $76,000 came from Republican Party committees. She accepted $1,000 each from a state senator and his wife in the weeks after the two Republican lawmakers' offices were raided by the FBI as part of an investigation into a powerful Alaska oilfield services company. After AP reported those donations during the presidential campaign, she said she would give a comparative sum to charity after the general election in 2010, a date set by state election laws. ___ PALIN: Rails against taxpayer-financed bailouts, which she attributes to Obama. She recounts telling daughter Bristol that to succeed in business, "you'll have to be brave enough to fail." THE FACTS: Palin is blurring the lines between Obama's stimulus plan — a $787 billion package of tax cuts, state aid, social programs and government contracts — and the federal bailout that Republican presidential candidate John McCain voted for and President George W. Bush signed. Palin's views on bailouts appeared to evolve as McCain's vice presidential running mate. In September 2008, she said "taxpayers cannot be looked to as the bailout, as the solution, to the problems on Wall Street." A week later, she said "ultimately what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy." During the vice presidential debate in October, Palin praised McCain for being "instrumental in bringing folks together" to pass the $700 billion bailout. After that, she said "it is a time of crisis and government did have to step in." ___ PALIN: Says Ronald Reagan faced an even worse recession than the one that appears to be ending now, and "showed us how to get out of one. If you want real job growth, cut capital gains taxes and slay the death tax once and for all." THE FACTS: The estate tax, which some call the death tax, was not repealed under Reagan and capital gains taxes are lower now than when Reagan was president. Economists overwhelmingly say the current recession is far worse. The recession Reagan faced lasted for 16 months; this one is in its 23rd month. The recession of the early 1980s did not have a financial meltdown. Unemployment peaked at 10.8 percent, worse than the October 2009 high of 10.2 percent, but the jobless rate is still expected to climb. ___ PALIN: She says her team overseeing the development of a natural gas pipeline set up an open, competitive bidding process that allowed any company to compete for the right to build a 1,715-mile pipeline to bring natural gas from Alaska to the Lower 48. THE FACTS: Palin characterized the pipeline deal the same way before an AP investigation found her team crafted terms that favored only a few independent pipeline companies and ultimately benefited a company with ties to her administration, TransCanada Corp. Despite promises and legal guidance not to talk directly with potential bidders during the process, Palin had meetings or phone calls with nearly every major candidate, including TransCanada. ___ PALIN: Criticizes an aide to her predecessor, Gov. Frank Murkowski, for a conflict of interest because the aide represented the state in negotiations over a gas pipeline and then left to work as a

Why doe Sahara Palin lie so much? She criticizes President Barack Obama for pushing through a bailout package that actually was achieved by his Republican predecessor George W. Bush — a package she seemed to support at the time. A look at some of her statements in "Going Rogue," obtained by The Associated Press in advance of its release Tuesday: ___ PALIN: Says she made frugality a point when traveling on state business as Alaska governor, asking "only" for reasonably priced rooms and not "often" going for the "high-end, robe-and-slippers" hotels. THE FACTS: Although travel records indicate she usually opted for less-pricey hotels while governor, Palin and daughter Bristol stayed five days and four nights at the $707.29-per-night Essex House luxury hotel (robes and slippers come standard) overlooking New York City's Central Park for a five-hour women's leadership conference in October 2007. With air fare, the cost to Alaska was well over $3,000. Event organizers said Palin asked if she could bring her daughter. The governor billed her state more than $20,000 for her children's travel, including to events where they had not been invited, and in some cases later amended expense reports to specify that they had been on official business. ___ PALIN: Boasts that she ran her campaign for governor on small donations, mostly from first-time givers, and turned back large checks from big donors if her campaign perceived a conflict of interest. THE FACTS: Of the roughly $1.3 million she raised for her primary and general election campaigns for governor, more than half came from people and political action committees giving at least $500, according to an AP analysis of her campaign finance reports. The maximum that individual donors could give was $1,000; $2,000 for a PAC. Of the rest, about $76,000 came from Republican Party committees. She accepted $1,000 each from a state senator and his wife in the weeks after the two Republican lawmakers' offices were raided by the FBI as part of an investigation into a powerful Alaska oilfield services company. After AP reported those donations during the presidential campaign, she said she would give a comparative sum to charity after the general election in 2010, a date set by state election laws. ___ PALIN: Rails against taxpayer-financed bailouts, which she attributes to Obama. She recounts telling daughter Bristol that to succeed in business, "you'll have to be brave enough to fail." THE FACTS: Palin is blurring the lines between Obama's stimulus plan — a $787 billion package of tax cuts, state aid, social programs and government contracts — and the federal bailout that Republican presidential candidate John McCain voted for and President George W. Bush signed. Palin's views on bailouts appeared to evolve as McCain's vice presidential running mate. In September 2008, she said "taxpayers cannot be looked to as the bailout, as the solution, to the problems on Wall Street." A week later, she said "ultimately what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy." During the vice presidential debate in October, Palin praised McCain for being "instrumental in bringing folks together" to pass the $700 billion bailout. After that, she said "it is a time of crisis and government did have to step in." ___ PALIN: Says Ronald Reagan faced an even worse recession than the one that appears to be ending now, and "showed us how to get out of one. If you want real job growth, cut capital gains taxes and slay the death tax once and for all." THE FACTS: The estate tax, which some call the death tax, was not repealed under Reagan and capital gains taxes are lower now than when Reagan was president. Economists overwhelmingly say the current recession is far worse. The recession Reagan faced lasted for 16 months; this one is in its 23rd month. The recession of the early 1980s did not have a financial meltdown. Unemployment peaked at 10.8 percent, worse than the October 2009 high of 10.2 percent, but the jobless rate is still expected to climb. ___ PALIN: She says her team overseeing the development of a natural gas pipeline set up an open, competitive bidding process that allowed any company to compete for the right to build a 1,715-mile pipeline to bring natural gas from Alaska to the Lower 48. THE FACTS: Palin characterized the pipeline deal the same way before an AP investigation found her team crafted terms that favored only a few independent pipeline companies and ultimately benefited a company with ties to her administration, TransCanada Corp. Despite promises and legal guidance not to talk directly with potential bidders during the process, Palin had meetings or phone calls with nearly every major candidate, including TransCanada. ___ PALIN: Criticizes an aide to her predecessor, Gov. Frank Murkowski, for a conflict of interest because the aide represented the state in negotiations over a gas pipeline and then left to work as

What do you think of Sarah Palin lying repeatedly in her new book? I have not read the book yet, however AP did some fact checking : PALIN: Says she made frugality a point when traveling on state business as Alaska governor, asking "only" for reasonably priced rooms and not "often" going for the "high-end, robe-and-slippers" hotels. THE FACTS: Although travel records indicate she usually opted for less-pricey hotels while governor, Palin and daughter Bristol stayed five days and four nights at the $707.29-per-night Essex House luxury hotel (robes and slippers come standard) overlooking New York City's Central Park for a five-hour women's leadership conference in October 2007. With air fare, the cost to Alaska was well over $3,000. Event organizers said Palin asked if she could bring her daughter. The governor billed her state more than $20,000 for her children's travel, including to events where they had not been invited, and in some cases later amended expense reports to specify that they had been on official business. PALIN: Boasts that she ran her campaign for governor on small donations, mostly from first-time givers, and turned back large checks from big donors if her campaign perceived a conflict of interest. THE FACTS: Of the roughly $1.3 million she raised for her primary and general election campaigns for governor, more than half came from people and political action committees giving at least $500, according to an AP analysis of her campaign finance reports. The maximum that individual donors could give was $1,000; $2,000 for a PAC. Of the rest, about $76,000 came from Republican Party committees. She accepted $1,000 each from a state senator and his wife and $30 from a state representative in the weeks after the two Republican lawmakers' offices were raided by the FBI as part of an investigation into a powerful Alaska oilfield services company. After AP reported those donations during the presidential campaign, she gave a comparative sum to charity. PALIN: Rails against taxpayer-financed bailouts, which she attributes to Obama. She recounts telling daughter Bristol that to succeed in business, "you'll have to be brave enough to fail." THE FACTS: Palin is blurring the lines between Obama's stimulus plan — a $787 billion package of tax cuts, state aid, social programs and government contracts — and the federal bailout that Republican presidential candidate John McCain voted for and President George W. Bush signed. Palin's views on bailouts appeared to evolve as McCain's vice presidential running mate. In September 2008, she said "taxpayers cannot be looked to as the bailout, as the solution, to the problems on Wall Street." A week later, she said "ultimately what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy." During the vice presidential debate in October, Palin praised McCain for being "instrumental in bringing folks together" to pass the $700 billion bailout. After that, she said "it is a time of crisis and government did have to step in." PALIN: Says Ronald Reagan faced an even worse recession than the one that appears to be ending now, and "showed us how to get out of one. If you want real job growth, cut capital gains taxes and slay the death tax once and for all." THE FACTS: The estate tax, which some call the death tax, was not repealed under Reagan and capital gains taxes are lower now than when Reagan was president. Economists overwhelmingly say the current recession is far worse. The recession Reagan faced lasted for 16 months; this one is in its 23rd month. The recession of the early 1980s did not have a financial meltdown. Unemployment peaked at 10.8 percent, worse than the October 2009 high of 10.2 percent, but the jobless rate is still expected to climb. PALIN: She says her team overseeing the development of a natural gas pipeline set up an open, competitive bidding process that allowed any company to compete for the right to build a 1,715-mile pipeline to bring natural gas from Alaska to the Lower 48. THE FACTS: Palin characterized the pipeline deal the same way before an AP investigation found her team crafted terms that favored only a few independent pipeline companies and ultimately benefited a company with ties to her administration, TransCanada Corp. Despite promises and legal guidance not to talk directly with potential bidders during the process, Palin had meetings or phone calls with nearly every major candidate, including TransCanada. PALIN: Criticizes an aide to her predecessor, Gov. Frank Murkowski, for a conflict of interest because the aide represented the state in negotiations over a gas pipeline and then left to work as a handsomely paid lobbyist for ExxonMobil. Palin asserts her administration ended all such arrangements, shoving a wedge in the revolving door between special interests and the state capital. THE FACTS: Palin ignores her own "revolving door" issue in office; the leader of her own pipeline team was a former lobbyis Source : Yahoo News http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091113/ap_on_el_pr/us_palin_book_fact_check

Who says that being a Single Mom, I am not allowed to provide nice things for my family? I asked a question the other day..about decorating tips for a HUGE bedroom I have...it is 1,200 sq ft...& YES it is....I looked at the floor plans again...to make sure.... I got this answer, as one of the answers..... you may have measured your room wrong....seeing that you are a single mother of 2 kids...how could you afford such luxury....it sounds fishy to me...maybe in your wildest dreams;) Where is it written that I am not allowed to have a huge house....my house is 5,000 sq ft....Just because I am a single Mom? I also have my Mom & a roommate living with me to help pay bills & stuff... Does anyone else agree with this statement? & to clarify...yes I am offended by this statement.....

how does the article make distinction between firms? use these distionctions to analyze and gain insights? Abstract (Summary) Instead, Giancarlo Di Risio, Versace's bespectacled chief executive, presided over an evening that highlighted luxury goods: Parked at one end of the courtyard was a half-million-dollar Lamborghini Murcielago with a black-and-white leather interior by Versace. A huge poster showed an AgustaWestland helicopter with a Versace-designed cabin. Stacked nearby was luggage embossed with the brand's Greek motif, with pieces starting at about $4,000. The company found it increasingly tough to squeeze profits out of highly perishable fashions as production costs rose in Italy. In 1997, Mr. Versace was murdered outside his Miami villa. The firm's finances went into a tailspin, and it was forced to shelve plans to go public. Mr. Versace's 50% stake in the label went to his niece, Ms. Versace's then-preteen daughter Allegra Versace Beck, shifting the balance of power. Though Ms. Versace owns only 20% of the company, she was seen to exert huge influence because of her daughter's stake. A third sibling, Santo Versace, owns the remaining 30% of the company. Ms. Versace Beck, now 20 years old, manages her stake with the help of advisers. "I said to Di Risio, 'This is not going to work. This is going to die,'" recalled Ms. Versace. But, she said, "I was wrong, and he was right. We sell more now." » Jump to indexing (document details) Full Text (1463 words) (c) 2007 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Reproduced with permission of copyright owner. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission. Milan -- When Italian fashion house Gianni Versace SpA recently threw a cocktail party in the courtyard of its 16th-century palazzo to promote its latest creations, designer Donatella Versace ducked out of the soiree early, flanked by bodyguards. Instead, Giancarlo Di Risio, Versace's bespectacled chief executive, presided over an evening that highlighted luxury goods: Parked at one end of the courtyard was a half-million-dollar Lamborghini Murcielago with a black-and-white leather interior by Versace. A huge poster showed an AgustaWestland helicopter with a Versace-designed cabin. Stacked nearby was luggage embossed with the brand's Greek motif, with pieces starting at about $4,000. Mr. Di Risio is trying to shift Versace's attention away from clothes and to accessories, home interiors and other lifestyle products that will bring in new streams of revenue and offset fickle fashion cycles. "Fashion does not exist at Versace," he said, describing his strategy in an interview before the reception. The new approach is bearing fruit. Versace swung back into the black last year, posting a $25.4 million profit after years of losses, and has shaken off millions in debt. Driving that turnaround were rising sales in the lucrative accessories Mr. Di Risio is pushing. Yet the effects of the makeover have touched the core of the company's identity. Ms. Versace has begun taming the flamboyant clothing designs that once set her and the fashion house apart from the crowd. "I no longer recognize myself in that kind of woman," the 52-year-old Ms. Versace said in a telephone interview. The culture shift at Versace highlights how an increasingly competitive fashion industry is forcing even the most freewheeling players to embrace a corporate culture. Many labels, including LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton's smaller brands like Celine and Marc Jacobs, have also been toning down their looks to appeal to a wider swath of consumers. Designers who once called the shots are ceding authority to executives who run the numbers. "In the beginning, it was a shock for me," Ms. Versace said. "When you tell a person who is used to being in power -- to saying yes or no on everything -- to take a step back, it's not easy. But it was necessary." Tweaking a label's aesthetics carries risks. If pushed too far, transformations risk alienating loyal customers, says Robert Burke, head of New York-based luxury-goods consultancy Robert Burke Associates and the former fashion director at Bergdorf Goodman. "You will always want to see a fashion edge to Versace," he says. Yet for family-owned fashion labels like Versace, pressure to make more money is high. They compete with publicly traded conglomerates such as LVMH and PPR SA's Gucci Group, which have the financial heft to expand with stores in the emerging markets of China, India and Russia -- seen as fueling the industry's growth. A number of Italy's top family-owned fashion houses, including Versace, Prada SpA and Salvatore Ferragamo SpA, are considering stock- market listings in the next couple of years. "An IPO would be the best way to raise money and implant in these countries," says Peter Farren, a luxury-goods analyst at the French investment firm Bryan Garnier. At Versace, a sobering realization is spurring Mr. Di Risio's moves: The clothes that once made the brand are now struggling to make money. In its heyday in the early 1990s, Versace stayed ahead of the fashion mainstream with lavish catwalk shows that celebrated the racy designs of founder Gianni Versace. The label amassed collections of real estate and artwork that enhanced the family's jet-setter status. The company found it increasingly tough to squeeze profits out of highly perishable fashions as production costs rose in Italy. In 1997, Mr. Versace was murdered outside his Miami villa. The firm's finances went into a tailspin, and it was forced to shelve plans to go public. Mr. Versace's 50% stake in the label went to his niece, Ms. Versace's then-preteen daughter Allegra Versace Beck, shifting the balance of power. Though Ms. Versace owns only 20% of the company, she was seen to exert huge influence because of her daughter's stake. A third sibling, Santo Versace, owns the remaining 30% of the company. Ms. Versace Beck, now 20 years old, manages her stake with the help of advisers. The Versace stakeholders decided the company needed a CEO who could turn the company around. Fabio Cacciatori, at one time an outside financial consultant for the company, became CEO in September 2003 but resigned in December. The company named Versace's then-Chief Financial Officer Daniele Ballestrazzi interim CEO as it searched for new leadership. When Versace recruited Mr. Di Risio from LVMH's Fendi label in the summer of 2004, the house was saddled with more than $146 million in debt and heading to a net loss of $124 million for the year, on revenue of $416 million. High-end retailers like Bergdorf Goodman had stopped carrying the brand. Bergdorf Chief Executive Jim Gold recalls that Versace was distributing too widely, diluting its exclusivity, and was overly consumed with making a splash on the runway. While many labels had started delivering retailers fresh designs more frequently, ahead of the runway collections, Versace resisted. Mr. Di Risio arrived with a new mantra. Clothing that is too fashionable, he told his lieutenants, is bad for business because it eats up capital and goes out of style quickly. Accessories and other leather goods are a better bet because they have a longer shelf life and fatter profit margins. To reduce Versace's dependence on fashion, Mr. Di Risio shut down lines such as Versace Intimates lingerie and Versace Young, a children's line. The company sold its unprofitable perfume, jewelry and watchmaking divisions, replacing them with lucrative licensing agreements with U.S. watch group Timex Corp. and Italian perfume and cosmetics maker EuroItalia Srl. Mr. Di Risio homed in on the company's shoes and handbags, which have higher profit margins because they cost less to produce than clothes but are easier to sell to a wide array of customers. Last year, more than 30% of Versace's $383 million in revenue came from accessories, compared with 4% when Mr. Di Risio arrived. He also expanded the label's push into home furnishings -- a business that generated sales of $82.5 million in 2006, up 55% from the year before. Versace recently unveiled its "Jet Seat," an aerodynamically-styled leather chair in a high-tech ceramic frame that is sold in Europe for <euro>38,000 (about $50,000). "It was like taking a blank page and rewriting everything," Mr. Di Risio says. To succeed, however, he had to get Ms. Versace on board. She had hoped to resurrect the costly haute-couture fashion shows the label had discontinued before Mr. Di Risio's arrival. But he argued she could more effectively enhance the line's exclusivity by holding showings for individual clients. "I said to Di Risio, 'This is not going to work. This is going to die,'" recalled Ms. Versace. But, she said, "I was wrong, and he was right. We sell more now." Ms. Versace had to become more conscious of how much time and money the label invests in promoting designs at events like the Oscars. Last year, the designer dressed actresses Hilary Swank, Uma Thurman and Salma Hayek and director Robert Altman's wife, Kathryn Reed Altman, who donned a navy-blue sequin gown. This year, however, Ms. Versace limited herself to one gown, designing a rose-colored dress with a sweeping train for best-actress nominee Penelope Cruz. For Versace's ready-to-wear line, Ms. Versace is going for looks she calls "a little more understated." Bergdorf Goodman will carry her designs in the fall for the first time in years. Ms. Versace is also working more closely with retailers, adding four more collections beyond the traditional spring and fall runway collections. These are shown to retailers in private visits, giving them a preview of what to expect. On the financial side, Mr. Di Risio has untangled the company's assets from those of the family, selling property he deemed "nonstrategic" to pay the company's debts. The family's Manhattan townhouse was sold for about $35 million, and its contents went up for auction in 2005. The paintings alone -- including works by artists Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Roy Lichtenstein and Julian Schnabel -- fetched more than $11 million dollars. Flagship stores in New York, London and Milan that Mr. Di Risio described as "decadent and sad," were redone with sleek, minimalist designs. The label, which operates 82 stores and has 35 franchise operations, plans to open more than 10 boutiques by the end of the year, including seven stores in China alone. When Versace opened the doors of its updated Moscow boutique in April, an array of leather bags, belts and shoes greeted customers at the store's lacquered ground-floor entrance. The label's ready-to-wear collection was relegated to the upper floor.

What is absolutely NEEDED for a baby? This is my 2nd child, but with my first I was given was given WAY MORE than what I needed. Which of course was great :) Before we ever planned on having our 2nd, we got rid of everything because we moved into a new house. We planned a huge baby shower down in Miami, and expected to get most of the things needed. We were very dissapointed because all we got was clothes. Which is of course, STILL wonderful! But...now we are stuck trying to figure out what all we still need and are on a bit of a budget. We've received a lot of things 2nd hand from a good friend. Crib, Bassinet, Swing, Changing Table, Dresser and a few toys. We were able to buy the crib mattress & crib set, and also a playpen for when we travel. But as for care...I have drawn a complete loss. My brother is taking me shopping today and has offered to get me either 1 big thing that we need, or a lot of little things. The question is...what do i NEED? I rather get a necessity then just a luxury....any ideas??? I did buy the carseat & stroller already also :)

DO YOU KNOW GROUPS OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO TRAVEL TO COSTA RICA? I'M LOOKING FOR DIFFERENT CONTACTS AND FRIENDS THAT MIGTH HAVE GROUPS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE PLANNING THEIR VACATIONS SPECIALLY TO COSTA RICA, I HAVE A LOCAL TRAVEL & EXCURSION COMPANY IN GUANACASTE WITH GREAT DEALS! FROM $99 P.P PER NIGTH IN 4 STAR HOTEL ON THE BEACH OR A LUXURY BEACHFRONT HOUSE WITH OCEAN VIEWS, INCLUDING AIRPORT TRANSFERS, VISIT TO VOLCANOES, NATIONAL PARKS, YOU OPTION ON TWO EXCURSIONS, SHOULD BE GROUPS AT LEAST 10 OR MORE PEOPLE, WE ALSO HAVE 5 DIFFERENT PACKES OTIONS WITH AVARAGE PRICES FROM $99 PER NIGTH TO $ 199, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED PLEASE CONTACT ME, E MAIL: CONEJO.IG@GMAIL.COM TEL: (506) 88-98-71-54, PURA VIDA!

Zoning meeting? I recently sold my house that is in the middle of 3 empty lots of land to a building company that is planning on building luxury townhomes contingent on the rezoning to allow it. In DuPage County, IL. We are aware of the neighbors unhappiness with the idea and that they are trying to get it stopped. What factors weigh in the decision and is there anything to do to prepare for the meeting. The town houses are gonna cost more then 100k more then our house is worth so its not exactly selling out and its still our problem because it is contingent on the zoning

Am I being over sensitive,Or am I being mentally abused? I believe that my husband is mentally abusing me. I wanted to ask other people this question.He is always putting me down. He is in the marine corps and I am a full time house wife.If I ask him to do one thing as simple as taking the trash out on the weekends , he gets really angry and calls me lazy and slings stuff around.He always says that it is all my job.My response to that is " I dont go to your job and make it harder for you" But he says that I dont go to his job and help him either.Well in my opinion if he is going to continue to not pick up after himself he should atleast do a few things on the weekend.He says that he works five days a week and on the weekends he shouldnt have to do anything.And then every time he gets angry he always puts me down. I have threatened with divorce several times and he says " well if I leave then you have no money" He always calls it his money.He does not support me with my plans for college he says " Well high school didnt go that well for you, so what makes you think college will be any better". I consider that a put down. he also calls me fat with out just coming out and saying that, but he says it in a way. He also calls me a whore in a way every time he gets angry, And I have never given him a reason to think about me.He always acts so miserable.He says it because he doesnt have alot of money and he always has to spend it on bills.But he doesnt look at the fact that he has a nice car, nice clothes, a nice home, he can eat whatever he wants whenever he wants, and he has the luxury of a full pack of cigarettes everyday. I have mentioned couples therapy , but he says he doesnt want to go because all the thereapist will do is put all the blame on him. I dont know how much more I can take with him anymore.He always acts so miserable.Am I just being over sensitive or is this mental abuse?

Cheap hotel in Hamburg? My husband and I were going to Hamburg from the 25 until the 30th of May, to a friend's house, but the plan has gone pearshape and we won't be able to stay at his place as he is having some family problems, and we have our flight booked already. We need to look for accomodation. We are not looking for a luxury hotel, but a cheap, central, clean hotel. We are used to hostals and pensions, but we don't want to go to a horrible place either. Could you help us? Thank you.

Please Help!? Hey pplz! I am 17 years old and pregnant with my first baby. i am currently 8 weeks and 2 days pregnant. Will my family ever except the fact that i am pregnant? I have the baby's father with me. He is 19 years, and a personal trainer, and very succesful, his mom loves me and says she will help as much as she can. We plan to rent a town house, or get a luxury 2 bedroom apartment. am i too young to move out and start a family? i have all i need. and i plan to go back to school, adn work after the baby. what do u think>?

CRNA's: What luxuries did you allow yourself after graduating and starting work your first years...? After 2-3 years of not working b/c of the incredible demands of school, what did you allow yourself as a "pat on the back" for graduating and after paying back all loans.? Did you buy your dream sports car, fatten up your wardrobe, plan vacations to exotic places, put a down payment on a house? :)

Has anyone else stayed in the supposed "gold" appartments at Butlins in Minehead and thought it was awful? We have just come back from a 4 night break and all I can say is I will never go again. They sent me an A5 landscape brochure for Minehead itself which contains a photo of some appartments which look really nice. On the photo it says "Typical accomodation". Isn't it misrepresentation that these appartments were not even at the location. How can they get away with it. The "gold" appartments look like really bad council housing and need demolishing. Oh and if you are planning a break where you may have late nights, for God's sake go somewhere else cos the seagulls wake you up at dawn. People throw food out of the windows and so it's no wonder the birds see the place as a massive feeding ground. They were so loud, I couldn't bear it and left a day early. Butlins should not be allowed to use words, like "gold", "spacious" and "luxury" when they obviously have no concept of what they mean. Also, I cannot believe they allow smoking in the main pavilion. It really is the pits.

can a single person live off 20,000 a year? I'm 20 and trying to plan how much it will cost to live. My parents want me out of the house, so my plan is to move out into a cheap apartment, work two jobs maybe and save money so I can eventually go to college. I don't know what my salary will be, but I am guessing 20,000. I don't have many luxury needs but will probably have to buy my own health insurance.

What happen to Punjabis in India? Where their's helping nature gone ? My name is Sukhwinder Singh Arora. I live in Punjab (India). One year back I had been diagnosed with Cancer disease. I had been bed ridden for 8 months. Actually I had a very tough time in business since 3-4 years. I suffered heavy losses. May be because of tensions, I diagnosed with cancer disease. I had a good connections with well settled and rich peoples. I used to help them when they are in trouble. When I was on bed, they came only once to my house and assured me that they would help me whenever I needed. Now I am 90% recovered from my disease. Still I feel tired after 3-4 hours of work. To stand again in my life and to feed my family, I went to some of my friends and requested them to give me loan on interest. They promised to help but after my 3-4 visits, they refused to help with a simple reason they were also financinaaly tight. One of them purchased luxury car just few days back. I offered them Investman plans? They refused? what should I do? coolsukhwin_der@yahoo.co.in

Will paying off car lease improve DTI? Ok so this is the situation: We (my husband and I) have been spending the past year fixing up our credit to buy a house. We initially planned to wait 2 years, but we have to move out of our rental because our landlord is in foreclosure.Our credit is in the high 600's. The only outstanding debt we have at this point (aside from carrying a 5-20 dollar balance on our CC's for activity) is an auto lease with about 5k left on it. WE got this lease when our credit was at its worst, and it has a very high payment to reflect this.When we figure out how much of a payment wed like to have on a mortgage our car lease puts us over 50% DTI, which makes it hard to get a loan in this market. What we would like to do is pay off the lease completely using $ from the downpayment. I have heard that car lease payoffs dont always reduce DTI, so i'm looking for advice.I'm not looking for peopel to tell me to wait an other year to buy.I don't have that luxury. Thanks!

Can I work as a contractor and build my self a house that cost me $1million and sell it for $2million+? I am very interested in becoming a doctor and right now that is my main goal. But I know that I am supposed to have a back up plan. Well I figured that since I love to look at different houses and I wouldnt want to be a real estate agent that I should learn how to construct luxury houses in luxury places. I still want to build/design my home anyway. If it cost under 1,000,000 build (materials and work) to build but the amenities (such as large kitchen, extra rooms, a theater and sauna, maybe a home gym, etc.) make the house valued well over $2million, can I sell it for that price. I would love to do that and then I would have made a million when the sale finally went through (I know that it would maybe take a while to sell. With that money I could use it to build more and more and make lots of many doing something I love. Is this a realistic alternative to being a doctor? I would probably need someone to invest but they are almost guaranteed their money back and then some.

ethics of an instant millionaire lying to hide his identity? A cousin of mine who never gambles or does anything even remotely like that bought a lottery ticket several weeks ago and won huge, around $100 million before taxes. He opted for a lump sum disbursement and has settled with the IRS on taxes, and he has set up a foundation to distribute most of the rest of this to various charities. Now comes the dilemma: We live in a fairly smallish town of about 60,000 people, and my cousin doesn't want anyone here to know about his jackpot. The only person besides me that he has told is, naturally, his wife. They paid cash for an old, Victorian style house built in 1876 that's pretty big at 3,500 square feet, but for just $95,000 was pretty much a steal. Other than that, he's not planning on any luxuries, and is not one to collect "stuff." But the media in our town know that my cousin won, although since he goes by his middle name, few know him by his first name, which he used to claim the money. For his own safety, if people find out it's him... Pastor Chad, I'm glad you are posting a reply, because my cousin is a really strong Christian and in fact has already given a lot of money anonymously to churches and other ministries in our area, and he wants to do the right thing according to the Bible, but the temptation to lie--mostly to family, actually, since they've heard murmurings through the grapevine about this, and a few of our family members are prone to big-time jealousy over stuff like this--but lying to family in this case seems...bad but necessary??? He and I are best friends, have been since we were kids, which is why he told me because he knows I can keep a secret about anything, but the whispers from others are starting to get louder and we just want to protect him and his family and the money that God has entrusted to him. I need all the advice I can get, people. And prayers, too. KeAhi, moving is not an option for my cousin and his family. They've lived here for a long time, their daughter is in middle school and they don't want to pull her out of school with friends she's known her whole life. But then again, they don't want their daughter to be seen as some rich guy's daughter and start treating her like she's a spoiled brat, because she's the greatest kid in the world and would never be like that anyway, but you know how word gets around. For that matter, I don't even know if my cousin and his wife have told their daughter anything about this. If he's going to give all of the money away, why worry a 13-year-old about something like this? I guess I should clarify about the local media knowing who he is. The newspaper here ran a very short article saying that so-and-so from our town was the apparent jackpot winner, but my cousin's first name is known only to a few people and his phone number is unlisted, so we're guessing the TV stations don't know who he is, or at least we haven't seen them mention anything, but my cousin wouldn't talk to them anyway if they did try to get an interview. He called the newspaper after the article ran (thankfully not on the front page) and told them he would not talk on the record, and I would think they would realize why he would want privacy in this case anyway.

Help me in finding good resort or cottage in munnar? Hi, i am planning for honeymoon in munnar this month.I am totally confused which resort to stay .My budget is 1200 to 2000.which one is good ? One more question ,we r gng to take a package for 15,000 .thy will take us to munnar,thekady,allapey,cochin.Las palms hotel,delux room in munnar,luxury room in house boat.Is it worthable??? help me soon.We have to decide n fix the package by today..

Why do people lecture me on my bf's child support that his wife said 3 years ago she didn't want? Before we moved in together he was paying $400/month but she'd reimburse him $100. Then she said she didn't want anything. Now, 3 years later she wants all the back-pay and $600/month which I'm sure she won't be entitled to that much with what he makes. She owns a bar and a restaurant; makes lots of money and is planning on marrying her millionaire boyfriend that used to be her boss and thus les to her split-up with my bf. They live in luxury (just built another huge house and go on exotic vacations) while we rent a place and do not go on vacations. His kids have everything imaginable while I struggle to provide my daughter with things to "keep up" in today's world. My b/f says he'll have to sell the dog and get a small apartment to pay her. He'll still have the same bills without me and even if we get a 2-bedroom together he'll only be ahead by about $100 to give his ex by the time we split all costs.

Question for brides, How do I tell the bride I simply cannot afford to be in her wedding? An immediate family member is getting married and wants me to be a bridesmaid. I'm happy for her and want to be there, but the wedding involves a trip to an expensive resort and we just cannot afford the expense. Our family income cannot afford luxuries like outside trips. While I realize it's her dream day and it's important to her, how do I get her to understand this??? I work a lot of hours at my job and I just can't afford to pay $800 to $1000 for a trip. We can't afford a loan, don't have space on a credit card, and she's ticked off that I told her no. If we go, it means that we can't pay for our house payment, and my boss has already told me that I can't take the time off from work. I've just gotten a full time job and we're trying to catch up on bills. The wedding is in 3 weeks, and this wedding was planned at the last minute. As a bride, how do you recommend that I get her to understand? I love her, but I just can't afford to go. And no, we can't borrow money from a family member, either. We're still owing them money from when we were behind on bills. I just got chewed out by my father in law for not being part of the family and putting my family before my job. And he says she is being generous by paying for my dress!! Now I have my entire in-law family upset at me for not being there for her. I'd be happy to speak with her, but she never answers her cell phone and my work schedule makes it so I can't stop by her house when she's home.

How did you and your husband know it was time to have a baby? For all you married mothers out there, If you got the luxury of getting to plan your first pregnancy, when did you know it was the right time? Was it when the finances slipped into place, or when you moved into a house, or some kind of external force like that, or was it just a sense that something was missing or feeling your biological clock go off? My husband and I have been married for almost 5 years, and it seems that there is always an excuse not to...... and I keep flip-flopping on what I want, (baby vs. career vs. husband time, etc.) it is driving me crazy! A little insight from some of your own stories would be a big help!! I am 26 and my husband is 28, we both have stable jobs, and live in a small but sturdy home, if this helps at all. Thanks so much in advance.

Anyone moving to Australia? I am from England and am considering moving to Australia. I have a holiday home there but plan to move there for good. I've lived in England since the 1940s and was born here in 1946.I used to love England so much,as did everyone else and it was my home and I felt I never wanted to move anywhere else. My ancestors were here and I was born and bred here as well. My mind has completely changed and I am so shocked and sad to see what a disgrace our lovely country has become now. Compare Britain now to 50 years ago. Back then it was so much nicer. Our NHS has fallen apart, society is crumbling, 30,000 jobs on the line, government is too soft with immigrants they need to be strict, luxury items off sale, house prices and gas prices too high, illegal immigrants ruining our culture, dirty streets, chavs, some people are nasty and rude and have no manners at all,taxes paid, noneof this green - litter waste,rubbish service,ridiculous transport, awful media, I could go on! I remember the days when everyone was very relaxed and the 60s were a very carefree and innocent decade and everyone was very laid back. There was no rush or hassle, we just enjoyed what we had. Nowadays we can't get everything that we want because there are immigrants that are taking our money and health care and daily jobs, just almost everything about this "used to be lovely" country has fallen apart! I considered to stay here and stand up for our country, but now there's not much we can do! I am so fed up and so frustrated that I cannot do anything to help that I wish to leave and move to glorious Australia until everything has been put right again. Are you leaving and do you agree with my statement? The scary thing is that there are so many foreigners in our country like pakistanis, polish etc and if you ask them where to go if they are bus drivers they don't understand you because they don't speak English! So what is the point of coming here if they don't understand English?

Big family - vacation to Maui...? I am planning to go to Maui next year. Our group will include 4 couples and 3 children. Does anyone know a place where we can get moderately priced accommodations (preferable 1 house with a kitchen etc etc)? Most of the things I checked on the internet had some luxury accommodations and I don't care for luxury as long as the place accommodates our group. Your suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

How do i convince my husband its time to have a baby? We got married young he was 19 and i was 21 when we got married we've been married for 5 years and i'm 27 and he's 25 I feel its time to start having a baby with in the next year or two cause i don't want to be so old when i have kids. He likes to go on trips and drive luxury cars - and feels he won't be able to do any of this . at times he tells me he doesn't want any cause his sisters kids are really bad -but since day one i told him that in the future i wanted kids and he said he did too but now he seems if - e but when we talk he mentions kids in the way future like oh our kids are gonna go to a good school and i'm gonna buy them a car when they turn 16 We both have good jobs and are planning on buying a house in a year or less. so what do i do sorry if im blabbing just frusturated . I've known since i was a kid that i wanted to be a mom let me know what i should do Mrs. FRUSTERATED Plus - i know he could be a great father

Does anyone ever do this besides me??? Sometimes when Im doing or watching something, I start thinking these thoughts about it or related to it. But Im really not paying attention to what im thinking. I feel like Im not explaining this good. Ok, heres an example. The other day I was watching MTV Cribs. I was comparing the prices and luxuries of each star's home to the star before it, trying to see which I liked best. (Plus I plan to be a singer when I get around to voice lessons, so I was looking at how I might want my house, even though I plan to be singing be4 this.) Anyways, I was watching, when I started thinking about the things I would Like to put in my current house and how much bigger I would make it, though I didnt realize it at the time. And next thing I knew, I was having a convo with myself! The first things I remember myself saying were, "I would probably put that in that room." Then as if answering, "Nah, not in there." Also sometimes when I get absorbed in something I cant see or hear anything. You? As an example of the "i cant see or hear anything else," one time I was at the movies. My best friend's cousin kept tapping my arm, but I didnt feel it. Then he started waving the box of candy he was trying to offer me in my face, and I still didnt see it. I didnt realize what he was doing till he smacked me with it.

How do I convince my parents to let me move to the basement? I have wanted to move down to the basement in our house for quite some time now, but my parents think otherwise. I am 13 and I am just your average, run-of-the-mill type of boy. I have asked my parents many times in a mature manner on why they don't want me to have my room down there. So far they have given me just two reasons. 1. we are your parents and we decide what goes on around here. 2. please refer to reason number one for any other inquiry. Don't get me wrong, they are great parents, but they wont give me a real explanatory reason (unless you consider those two reasons explanatory). I recently have managed to pry out a more legitimate reason. They say that I would be too isolated down there, and that would have too much privacy. I do however have my own laptop, which I can see is a source of concern for them for obvious reasons. They are used to having my bedroom door in plain sight from the living room since the house has a more "open" floor plan. Of course that would not be a luxury that they would have if i moved my room to the basement, but i feel i deserve more privacy. My reasons for wanting to move down to the basement, along with having more privacy, is because i could have a desk. My current room is not quite the right shape and size for a full time dedicated desk space. I have never done anything seriously wrong to make them not want me to be in the basement (for example: sneaking out, crazy party, drugs, pornography) Any suggestions on how to convince my parents to let me have my room in the basement would be greatly appreciated! Thanks Ryan C

My mom keeps asking for money...what should I do? I know that people have asked this question before, but I was hoping some different answers. I moved out of mom's house about 4 or 5 years ago. When I was living there with her, I helped her pay off all her debt (hospital bills, mortgage, unpaid utilities, etc...). She has her own business at home that doesn't completely cover all the bills. After I moved out, I was still giving her money whenever she asked for it...$200 here...$900 there. Last year she could not work at all due to a disability. I worked throughout the semesters at college and worked 70 hours a week during the summer to support her. She got better, but not fully...enough that she could work again. She finally received disability money but it still doesn't cover the monthly bills for her. So I still give here money ever few months. To this point, I have given her enough money to have been able to pay off my own debts. I haven't been counting, but it's been well over 10 grand over the last 6 years. I have student loans, credit cards (some of which I have used for repairs on her car, and her mortgage). I hate doing this, but when I don't have enough I ask my fiance for some money to give to her. I have an okay paying job as an intern, but besides those bills we just bought a house. Also, I am planning a wedding. There are several other things that I need to get to take care of myself, but have delayed in getting those (primarily new glasses, contacts, other medical stuff). I can't afford health insurance. I have told her many times to get rid of cable and internet, to quick smoking just so she can use it for the mortgage. I think those things are luxuries and I don't have them. But she always says that she doesn't have anyone to talk to at home and she's lonely without the tv and internet. She's told me that she feels terrible for always having to ask her daughter for the money and has cried many times for it. She's told me that she feels ashamed for having to do this. I know that she's my mom and I owe her my life, but I'm just so tired from working my fingers to the bone for her. When I mention that she should get a job, she said that probably no one will hire her. I'm tired of doing badly at college because I am always working so many hours to be able to give her money. I'm tired of not being able to buy myself nice things even though I have a decent paying job. I'm tired of having to choose giving her money instead of paying my owns debts off. I'm graduating next month and I'm worried that she will start asking for money more often then. She's an adult and adults deal with their own problems. I want to tell her no, but I would feel too guilty to do so. Please tell me your thoughts.

Against Obama's tax plan, are they being greedy? I would like to know why people who make "good money" are against paying higher taxes. If I had reach a certain level of "comfort" I would not mind paying higher taxes to help those in need. There are a lot of people that cannot afford medical bills because insurance is not only too costly but does not cover everything. I know a business owner who is against Obama's tax plan because he refuses to pay higher taxes even though he happens to have 4 luxury cars 2 homes and 1 vacation house. So I guess he rather have people dying unable to pay their medical bills rather then him helping his fellow Americans by paying higher taxes. Now that I do think is "unpatriotic". In my opinion I believe that just like it is your job to be a good neighbor, it should be your job to be a good American. Please give me your opinion, I am a grown woman so I don't need any insults I am just stating my opinion and I would not mind to hear your side. To repeat the question; Are they being greedy? JOHN, If I could anything to give, I would. I have accepted non-profit jobs where I get paid very little over other opportunities offered. Also, if you want to mention a quote from our founding fathers, here is another from Thomas Jefferson; To the corruptions of Christianity I am, indeed, opposed; but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself. I am a Christian in the only sense in which he wished any one to be; sincerely attached to his doctrines in preference to all others..." As for you CAPTAINS, how would you feel if you son or daughter was very sick and you were unable to keep up with the medical bills, how would you like it if someone told you "go figure it out we can't help you"? Unfortunately James, you are wrong on the health care for children. My daughter was without healthcare because it was too costly for me. I know what it is to struggle, I was'nt poor enough to get free help and I was'nt paid enough to afford it.

Help!! Answer this question !?! LIKE NOW...lol? I really want to write a book and I was just wondering if you thought if this would look good on like the back of a book * not sure what its called*? If its a good idea? Or if you think I have potential to be a author? I am 13 by the way. Meet Claire Von Johnson a beautiful "A-List" girl who has everything. Model looks, a huge house , the latest things, and tons of money. With out a doubt, this Beverly hill, girl is pretty much what every teen want to be. Summers out and Claire is ecstatic to find out that the whole family is going on a luxury vacation to Tahiti. However, when she thinks nothing bad can happen she learns the truth. A terrible plan crash occurs resulting in her parents death. Alone and miserable, will Claire find someone who will help her through this? Is Claire going to be able to handle this long summer of hate, love, despair, riches and possibly murder? Well that’s all I have ! Don’t be that rude!! Thanks! WOW everyones is sooo much more positive than yesterday..i got yelled at and said i wasnt good lol...thanks for the spelling help, i did word check maybe it didnt show...ill add more details and post it tho!!! Thanks so much!

(Attention) Dnt come? pls dont? Breaking news Breaking news.....................If you are a would be immigrant planning or dreaming to come over to the UK.pls think twice.The country is now or(shld l say)a ra*** empire.....if your country is stable and you have a a job,car,a House and 3 square meal dont throw that luxury away..........or you will regret it for ever.everyone here is raci**.....dont give up ur luxury for a lif e of pain.Argentina,Brazil,China,ghana,india,singaporee,mali,malawi,,malaysia and all other non EU nationals dont come...institutionalised discrimination and racism abound here...to be fore warn is to be fore harm

i want 2 go bak 2 skool cuz i want 2 make more money--fashion is top on da list--but am far from it---wah now? am a roofer---they make sum pretty decent money ova tha years---but fashion is my passion---skool is 2 high and i would hate 2 b in $40,000---cuz i want 2 own a house,a building,and a nice luxury car and a really good job wit really good pay would help---i wouldnt might werking hard 2 get there---its jus tryin 2 get there seems so long away---and comin up wit a plan again iz goin 2 b tough.....

Am I being mentally abused? I believe that my husband is mentally abusing me. I wanted to ask other people this question.He is always putting me down. He is in the marine corps and I am a full time house wife.If I ask him to do one thing as simple as taking the trash out on the weekends , he gets really angry and calls me lazy and slings stuff around.He always says that it is all my job.My response to that is " I dont go to your job and make it harder for you" But he says that I dont go to his job and help him either.Well in my opinion if he is going to continue to not pick up after himself he should atleast do a few things on the weekend.He says that he works five days a week and on the weekends he shouldnt have to do anything.And then every time he gets angry he always puts me down. I have threatened with divorce several times and he says " well if I leave then you have no money" He always calls it his money.He does not support me with my plans for college he says " Well high school didnt go that well for you, so what makes you think college will be any better". I consider that a put down. he also calls me fat with out just coming out and saying that, but he says it in a way. He also calls me a whore in a way every time he gets angry, And I have never given him a reason to think about me.He always acts so miserable.He says it because he doesnt have alot of money and he always has to spend it on bills.But he doesnt look at the fact that he has a nice car, nice clothes, a nice home, he can eat whatever he wants whenever he wants, and he has the luxury of a full pack of cigarettes everyday. I have mentioned couples therapy , but he says he doesnt want to go because all the thereapist will do is put all the blame on him. I dont know how much more I can take with him anymore.He always acts so miserable.Am I just being over sensitive or is this mental abuse?

Looking for the best 500-word multi-paragraph essya that elaborates on this topic.? Discuss what happens to Mathilde in "The Necklace".Why did it happen?How could it have been different?What would you have done in this situation? The Diamond Necklace Authors : Guy de Maupassant Abstract by: Jubell / 600 / 24 July 2005 / Rating: 2.6 Abstract type:Abstract Visits: 1066 Guy de Maupassant’s short story “The Necklace” tells about the fate of a middle class woman in France. Mathilde, a woman of a certain beauty lives an ordinary life with a maid servant and her husband who works as a clerk. Although the couple does not have to suffer and enjoys a secure life, Mathilde is not satisfied. She longs for more luxury, lovely dresses and attractiveness. One day her husband, well aware of his wife’s desires, comes home with an invitation from the Minister of Education. He expects Mathilde to be pleased because the high society of the town is most likely to be present. Mathilde is far from happy, because she feels that none of her dresses are appropriate for such an occasion. Her husband, although he had planned to buy a gun for his weekend hunting, offers to spend their saved money on a new dress. The date of the invitation comes closer but even with the new dress at hand Mathilde is not satisfied. She has no jewelry and refuses to go to the banquet. Her husband suggests she should visit her old schoolmate whom Mathilde had not visited for a while, out of jealousy. Madame Forestier, delighted by the visit, offers to lend Mathilde the necklace she likes best and after some hesitation Mathilde picks the most expensive looking diamond necklace. The awaited evening comes and Mathilde is delighted. She feels admired and enjoys every moment of her appearance. At the end of the party she and her husband leave to catch one of the night carriages. At home, taking a last look at her beauty in the mirror, Mathilde discovers that the borrowed necklace has disappeared. Monsieur Loisel walks back to all the places they had been that night but cannot find it. The next day they try to gain some time, telling Madame Forestier that they had brought the necklace to a jeweler to get the clasp fixed, but this lie does not help either. Not even the jeweler who had made the necklace is to be found. Finally the Loisels decide to buy a replacement. They get together all their saved money and borrow from everybody they know. Madame Forestier gets the new necklace and does not realize that it is a replacement. In order to be able to pay all the loans back Mathilde has to fire the maid and do all housework by herself. They live through ten years of poverty in a small house. After these long years of discomfort Mathilde meets Madame Forestier in the street and decides to tell her the truth about the necklace and how she had to suffer. At first Madame Forestier does not even recognize Mathilde whose beauty has faded. She is surprised when she hears the story and feels pity for Mathilde as she tells her the original necklace had not even been a real diamond one, but a simple imitation.

HELP! Please answer this question! Story plot?!? Everyone and anyone answer me pls!!!!? I really want to write a book and i was just wondering if you thought if this plot is a good idea or if you think i have potential to be a author? I am 13 by the way. Meet Claire Von Johnson a beautiful "A-List" girl who has everything. Model looks, a huge house , the latest things, and tons of money. With out a doubt, this beverly hill, girl is pretty much what every teen want to be. Summers out and Claire is estatic to find out that the whole family is going on a luxury vacation to Tahiti. However, when she thinks nothing bad can happen she learns the truth. A terrible plan crash occurs resulting in her parents death. Alone and miserable, will Claire find someone who will help her through this? Is claire going to be able to handle this long summer of hate,love,despair,riches and possibly murder? Well thats all i have , its going to be better just cant write everything down. Please excuse ALL spelling mistakes!!Thanks! well let me explain..i didnt know whole family couldn't mean three people..Anyway the parents are in the end really murdered..i think i want it to be that the father owed the piolet some money and took advantage of him so he killed him. Also claire is 15. She meets a young girl and she is invited to stay with them...There is more to it..i just wrote like wat would be on the back of a book...and the spell check isnt working so i wrote excuse spelling mistakes to be polite!!

NEED HELP renting a house,,, sombody HELP ME? ok so me and my husband live in montgomery alabama he is 20 yrs old and i'am 19 yrs old as of september 3 of this year,,,, him and i have been staying in these luxury apartment on the east side of town we are paying 975 for a 2 bed/bath we have been ready to move out of state now,, also the apartment come with a double garage also.... we saw some house in georgia ,,,, and the houses out there u get your money worth. we found a couple of house we are planning on renting out the links are below this house is 5 bed room 6 bath but the morgage listing price is 678,000 http://www.unitedhomeraleigh.com/details... these homes are for 2500 a moth this houses is listed for 677,000 but if i rent 2500 a month http://atlantamls.listingware.com/search... is they work it to rent http://atlantamls.listingware.com/search... http://atlantamls.listingware.com/search... 12 minutes ago http://www.unitedhomerealty.com/details.... http://www.unitedhomerealty.com/details.... my question is this with these 6 to 5 bedroom homes is it worth renting for 25 to 2000 a moth then paying a morgage and have to spend at least 5 to 6 k a moth all because of your score is in the low 600's we need a big house for our 3 animals and my husband office plus a game and excerise room and guest to come for visit and 2 bedrooms isn't going to cut it . 3 seconds ago we could afford it we just need to know if houses like these are worth it,, for renting a year or two and then we might just upgrade to a mortgage cost is not a problem for us

do u want better life? The Wisdom in Prohibiting Usury in Islam Translated by :Mai Ahmad Abul Ola Allah says in Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow) verse 275: ( Those who charge usury are in the same position as those whom the devil hath prostrated by (his) touch. That is because they say: "Trade is like usury” whereas Allah permits trade, and prohibits usury. Thus, whoever heeds this commandment from his Lord, and refrains from usury, he may keep his past earnings, and his case is for Allah (to judge); but whoever returns (to usury) - Such are the rightful owners of the Fire. ) It is reported that Gabir transmitted that: " TheProphet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) cursed those who pay usury, those who receive it, those who write a contract based on it, and those who witness such a contract, and said they are all equal." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Definition of usury: Usury means “growth” or “addition”, and what is meant by “addition” here is what is added to the capital. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Its legitimacy: It is prohibited in all religions and strictly forbidden in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Usury is mentioned in the Old Testament: 25 "If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest ". Exodus 22 And in the New Testament: 6:34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive again as much. 6:35 But love your enemies, and do them good, and lend, never despairing; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of the Most High: for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. (Gospel of Luke) Besides, the Church declared usury unlawful. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Usury is Harmful to Economy, Individuals, and Society The Psychological and Moral Effects: Allah sent religion to the people to guide them to the right path, and to raise them to highness and perfection so that they can get rid of the corruption of their souls with its hopes and ambitions. Islam’s aim is to purify both people’s hidden souls and visible acts, and the legislations of Islam are working on those two things as Allah mentions in the Qur’an the words “Purification” and “sanctifying.” In Surat Al-Tawbah (Repentance; verse 103): (Take alms from their money to purify them and sanctify them. And pray for them; surely your prayer is an assuagement for them; and Allah is the All-Hearing and the Omniscient) Allah (Exalted be HE) swore on seven things in Surat Ash -Shams (The Sun; verse 9) that the successful is he who purifies his soul and the failure is he who corrupts it: “ He is indeed successful who purifies it. And he is indeed a failure who corrupts it.” Usury deviates man from the right path; as the usurer becomes a slave to money of which glitter blinds him. He always seeks to gain money regardless of the means. That is why, he preserves no value, exceeds all the proper limits and violates sanctities. Usury also fills the human soul with avarice and thrift that soon corrupt it and fill it with laziness and cowardice. For, usurers are cowards and know nothing about courage or intrepidity. Thus, “waiting” is the craft of usurers and those who follow their examples; as they give money only to those who invest it and wait for the money to “grow”, and then take the price of their waiting. Moreover, usurers are indolent and inert; they do not make anything useful but rather wait for the others to work in order to steal the fruits of their efforts. The following verse refers to this meaning: (That which ye give in usury so that it may increase through the property of (other) people, will have no increase with Allah; but that which ye give in charity, seeking Allah's pleasure, these are the ones who receive their reward manifold.) (Surat Al-Room (The Romans; verse 39)) The verse is referring to the fact that usurers give their money to people so as to increase through their money. The Qur’an describes usurers as follows: (Those who charge usury are in the same position as those whom the devil hath prostrated by (his) touch. That is because they say: "Trade is like usury” whereas Allah permits trade, and prohibits usury. Thus, whoever heeds this commandment from his Lord, and refrains from usury, he may keep his past earnings, and his case is for Allah (to judge); but whoever returns (to usury) - Such are the rightful owners of the Fire) (Al-Baqarah (The Cow; verse 275)) Allah (exalted be He) asserts that He takes away any blessing from any money gained through usury. (Allah makes usury to wane and makes almsgiving fruitful, and Allah does not love the always ungrateful the always sinner) (Al-Baqarah (The Cow; verse 276)) Usury has malignant effects on usurers, their souls, actions and appearances. Physicians see that economic instability that results in avarice causes many heart diseases, hypertension, myocardial infarction, blood clotting, brain damage or sudden death. Dr. Abdel-Aziz Ismael, the master of the internal medicine in Egypt, said in his “Islam and Modern Medicine” that usury is the main reason behind the spread of heart diseases. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Usurers’ Disorientation: The Qur’an describes the state of the usurer as the one whom the Devil has exhausted and prostrated by his touch; Allah says: (Those who charge usury are in the same position as those whom the devil hath prostrated by (his) touch. That is because they say: "Trade is like usury” whereas Allah permits trade, and prohibits usury. Thus, whoever heeds this commandment from his Lord, and refrains from usury, he may keep his past earnings, and his case is for Allah (to judge); but whoever returns (to usury) - Such are the rightful owners of the Fire.) (Surat Al Baqarah (The Cow), verse 275) This state is called in Arabic (Takhabbut) which means, according to Al-Nawawi (may Allah rest his soul), a clumsy movement. When we say (Khabata Al-Jamal), this means that Al-Jamal(the camel) hits the ground by its hooves. Also when a man is acting awkwardly, we say in Arabic that he (Khabata Khabt Ashwaa) i.e. he is acting blindly; as the Arabic word (Ashwaa) means (a poor-sighted female camel.) The Devil’s touch here means his call for seeking pleasures, satisfying desires, and being occupied by anything but Allah. Thus, whoever follows him, he is then Motakhabbet (disorientated): At times the Devil degraded him to his whims and desires, and at other timesThe King guides him to piety and religion. That is why there is no steady movements or actions, and this is the Takhabbut(disorientation) caused by the Devil. However, this state from which usurers suffer is not confined to what has been mentioned but it extends to include his mental and psychological state. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Reflection of Usury on the Human Societies: Human societies are based on people’s unity through cordiality and love which are the product of mercy, vouching and brotherhood. The individuals in the society, or any group of people, who do not care about the pains, suffering and ordeals of their brothers in the same society are exactly like the paralyzed organ that has nothing to do with the other organs in the body, or like those who are doing the donkey work because their aims and ambitions are only centered around their own interest. That is why; they do not care about those who are bereaved of their children, or the moaning of the sad people or the suffering of the orphans. They know nothing about the miserable and the needy except that they are a priceless prey whose blood has to be sucked. In the past, the merciless usurers used to enslave the insolvents who were not able to pay off their debts or the interests of these debts. Moreover, Abu-Lahab compelled Al-‘as Ben Hisham to fight on his behalf in the battle of Badr because the latter was owed to him. How can a society prosper while usurers fill it trying by every possible means to loot people’s money? How does intimacy spread in a society that lives under a usurious system in which the rich crushes the poor? How can we expect that those whose money was stolen can love those who stole them? In such societies, there is nothing but hatred, grudge and ill-feelings. In such societies, hearts are full of malice, and tongues are cursing those who dispossessed people of their money and wealth. It is not only that, but sometimes people plan for fatal rebellions that crush usurers, their properties, and homes, and ruin everything in their way. Al Maraghi, may Allah rest his soul, said: “ usury results in hatred, enmity, wrangles and hostility. It makes hearts devoid of mercy, and it takes away chivalry and good deeds among people. Hence, cruelty replaces mercy to the extent that the poor are starved to death because they do not find what keeps their body and soul together. That is why, the usurious societies are always suffering from social problems; as workers, and all those who are suffering under the same circumstances, often rally against money lenders and go out on strikes. Ever since the spread of usury in the Egyptian society, both mercy and cooperation have disappeared, people are no longer trusting even the closest persons to them, and refuse to lend anything unless there is a contract and witnesses (whereas lenders in the past were keen to give money, even to the foreigner, without telling anybody, and borrowers could easily get their rights without demanding or suing.” The meanness and immorality of the Jews led them to conspire against the societies that opened their doors for them and for the world at large. They always ignite the flames of war and they do their best to corrupt this land. Allah tells us in (surat Al-Ma’edah {The Table} verse 64) about their dreadful nature: (The Jews say: "Allah's hand is tied up." Be their hands tied up and be they cursed for what they say. Nay, both His hands are spread out in bounty, He expends as He pleases; and what has been revealed to you from your Lord will certainly cause many of them to plunge deeper into transgression and infidelity. Amongst them we have placed enmity and hatred till doomsday. Whenever they ignite the flames of war, Allah puts them out. Their effort is for corruption in the land, and Allah does not love corrupters.) Many trusty writers drew our attention that the Jewish Emperors of money are the main reason behind the wars broken out last century, it were them who ignited the flames of those wars. Consequently, much blood was shed, and millions of money were squandered. All of this was in order for the Jewish money to grow and their power to increase. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Imbalance of the Society due to the Inequitable Distribution of Wealth If money is confined only to the rich, the rich and the poor will both suffer. Usury centralizes money in the hands of the few and deprives the majority of this money, and this is what is called the inequitable distribution of wealth. Dr. Schacht, the former president of Bank of Germany, said in a lecture delivered in Syria 1953, “It becomes obvious, with an infinite mathematical calculation, that all the wealth would end up to the hands of usurers. That is because debtor usurers always profit in every deal whereas creditors are liable to profit and loss. Hence, all the money, by mathematical calculation, will end up to he who always gains.” That is why, the Jews insist on dealing through usury and spreading it among people. Moreover, they are keen on teaching such a “profession” to their children in order to take hold of the money and hoard it in their safes. This inequitable distribution is a blight that baffled doctors; even eminent economists in the West, including Charles Rist, acknowledged that. Charles Rist, according to the Muslim economist Issa Abdu – may Allah rest his soul - is an authority on the history of economic doctrines, and the founder of an unexampled school in the West. After he reached the acme of his experience, he said: “Now, I’m about to retire, and I want to give a piece of advice to the younger generation concerning this issue. (After all these efforts, we became in an incessant confusion. For, all of us suffer from the uneven distribution of wealth and income. This is either because of minor issues like that of usury and interest or major issues like that of class division. We got so exhausted but to no avail.” Don’t you think that Rist said the inevitable end of whoever turns away from the Divine laws? “We became in an incessant confusion… all of us suffer from the uneven distribution of wealth…we got so exhausted but to no avail” this is the wretchedness of the present life, and the wretchedness of the Hereafter is far worse and everlasting. Allah says in (Surat Taha): (And whoever turns away from the remembrance of Me, verily he will have a miserable life, and we resurrect him blind on doomsday (124) He will say: "O my Lord! Why did you resurrect me blind, while indeed I was a seer (before) (125) (Allah) will say: “you forgot our revelations when they came to you, In like manner you are forgotten this day. We thus recompense him who transgresses and refuses to believe in the Signs of his Lord. And verily the retribution in the Hereafter is far worse and everlasting.” (126)) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Usury Destroys Societies: Usury afflicts the human soul with diseases, the economy with plagues and causes an unequal distribution of wealth which result in the destruction of the human societies. The author of the economic encyclopedia said that usury had a great role to play in the collapse of the primitive societies, and in the emergence of the slavery-based economies. Because of the fact that loans were guaranteed by the borrower himself along with other guarantees, the end was always the centralization of the “real-estate ownership” in the hands of the few. This is the effect of usury in the past, and the writers who could see the hidden reality of things was able to realize the effect of usury on these societies; but most of them think that the usurious interest nowadays does not have the same effect on the primitive societies. In the past, usurers turned people into slaves working in the very farms stolen from them. Till today, usurers seek to take hold of the fruits of people’s labour and to steal their sweat and money. The ages of filthy usury haven’t ended yet; this is a mere fiction, as the British list of money lenders in 1927 allows usurers to impose an interest of 48%. This is the apparent rate but in fact it was far more than that. Anwar Al-Qorashi tells us incredible things, which were happening in Great Britain in the 1st quarter of this century through a report prepared by a joint committee of the House of Lords and House of Commons concerning moneylenders letters of exchange in 1923, and through finding the bad effect of money lending in Liverpool in 1924. Those who prepared the report reached the fact that the interest, in some loans, could be up to 250%, 260%, 400% and 433% and sometimes, according to the report, 866% and 1300% per year. What is mentioned in the report of the House of Lords and the House of Commons in the greatest country at that time was not an individual case. The representative of money lenders union of the joint committee said: “ money lending is a huge mission and I will prove this by figures. Is it too astonishing for you to know that there are more than 300 of money lenders registered in these countries?” the report tells about 1380 of those usurers in Liverpool , and if we compare this number to that of the people, we will find that there is a usurer for every 730 person. The case in America, according to Al-Qorashi, is not better than in Britain. He mentioned reports and facts to prove that usurers were receiving rates of interest up to 20%, 40%, 100% and more. If we have a look at a developing country like India, suffice it to say that the farmers of the district of Punjab were paying interests that equaled two times the land yield (1). It could be said that today is different as interests are now fixed and exhaust neither individuals nor institutions and governments, but I see that this is a short-sightedness as the interests of the usurious banks and finance houses at the beginning of this century were not more than 3%, 4%, 5%, 6% or 7% at the very most. However, nowadays they reached 18%, 20%, and now 10%, 11%, 12% and in some dealings in Kuwait 800% which caused what is called “ Climate Crisis.” Those who know the details of the crisis say that the amount of money that was behind this crisis was 27 billions (9 billions were accumulated because of usury), but those who did not charge usury were very far from the effects of this crisis. What proves that people are still afflicted with this plague is that what is known as the third world countries are now overburdened with debts and even its exports cannot help to pay them off. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Economic Repercussion of Usury Usury, when blights economy, spreads like cancer, and as doctor failed to cure cancer, men of intellect, politicians and economists fail to cure the plague of usury. What is astonishing is that some people believe that usury is good for people. In this, they are exactly like those who think that the body swelling that results form certain disease is a good sign for health while not every swelling in the body is a sign for health. Cancer is an abnormal growth of cells in the body; a growth that is not in the benefit of the human being but rather it is devastating and killing. The same can be said about usury as all what results from it is not for the benefit of the society but it is very harmful to it. The problem is that the effects of usury do not appear in the structure of the society and economy all at once. Al-Razi said, “Although it appears that usury is increasing, it is in fact decreasing” and this is taken from the Qur’an in(Surat AL-Baqarah (The Cow), verse 176): (Allah makes usury to wane and makes almsgiving fruitful) “Waning” means that something is gradually decreasing. This meaning is taken from the waning of the moon; as when the moon wanes, its size is gradually decreasing one night after another after being full. Those who are dealing through usury think that it is profitable while what the Omniscient and the All-knowing, and also reality, tells us is that usury causes any profit to wane and destroys economy as it afflicts economy with malignant diseases that could baffle the skilled physician. Usury is not a blessing and prosperity, but a chronic disease that takes away money and decreases it. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said: "Though usury seems to be increasing, it is in fact turns towards decrease" Narrated by Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him); Ibn Majah transmitted it. Hadith No.2827 of Mishkat Al-Masabih. Our Muslim scientists that knew the truths through Hadiths and Qur’an realized this fact. Al-Maraghi said: “usury results in havoc and ruin; as we see many people whose money was lost and families were broken up because they charge usury.” Al-Qasem said; “ there is no blessing in any money comes through usury because it is the result of violating divine laws. That is why its end is always fatal.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Economic blights caused by usury are so many and the following are the most important ones: 1) Hindering Human Power: Usury hinders the productive human power as it encourages people to neglect their works and to be lazy, and human life gets advanced and civilized only when people pool their physical and intellectual efforts towards construction and development. Usurers who find it easy to increase their money through usury get used to laziness and hate forced labour and anything that requires hard working. The thing that deprives people of their livelihood; as it is well known that construction, crafts, and trade are the pillars of people’s life. Moreover, it is not only usurers who stop being a productive power but also many workers and businessmen could leave their works because of the difficult economic problems that usury causes to them. Those who suffer under the capitalist system find no body to help them but usurers who lend them money at exorbitant rates of interest that takes away the fruits of their labour. These economic problems have a very passive effect on the workers’ productivity. Besides, usury results in economic recession and unemployment which hinder the working power in any human society. 2) Preventing Money from Circulation: As usury hinders part of the productive human power, it prevents money from circulation. Money circulation to society is exactly like blood that circulates in the body, and water that runs in orchards. Preventing money from circulating has very bad effects on the society just like arteriosclerosis or the blocks that prevent water from running. Allah (exalted be He) frighten those who hoard money and threaten to give them a painful retribution: (Those who hoard the gold and silver, and do not spend them in the way of Allah, promise them (O Muhammad) a painful retribution (34) The day will come when their gold and silver will be heated in the fire of Hell, then used to burn their foreheads, their sides, and their backs: "This is what you hoarded for yourselves, so taste what you have hoarded.) (35) (Surat Al-Tawbah {Repentance}) Allah sent us divine laws to guarantee the continuous flowing of money to all the members of the society, and not for it to be monopolized by the rich. Allah says in surat (AL Hashr, (Exile), verse 7) : (Thus, it will not remain monopolized by the rich of you.) Usurers, because of their cowardice and their desire to earn as much money as possible, do not contribute in useful projects or economic business except with the amount that guarantees that money will be back tenfold. When they feel that they are in danger or that they wish for a higher interest in the long run, they keep their money from people. That is why people fall in a great distress when they became short of money. Besides, they do not lend money unless they guaranteed a profit more than the interest of the debt. 3) Inflation: “ Inflation” means a continuing increase in the prices of goods and services because their amount does not keep up with the demand for them, or a surplus without the ability to expand the amount of supply. Inflation has direct and indirect causes, and usury is one of its indirect ones. This is because usurers, although they demand high rates of interest, compel the owners of commodities and services to increase the latter’s price. It goes without saying that inflation is very harmful to people especially those who have fixed salaries such as employees and workers; as their actual salaries decrease. If the government tries to find a way out by increasing salaries, this increase happens neither quickly nor in the proper time. That is why, men of intellect, politicians, and economists should work on fighting inflation especially the one that economists describe as “rampant inflation.” In this kind of inflation, prices increase in an exorbitant way, and usury is one of its main causes. Therefore, fighting inflation is exactly like fighting a serious disease. 4) Recession and Unemployment: When there is a great increase in the prices of commodities and services, people stop buying them either because they cannot afford the price or because the price will exhaust their budget. When people refrain from buying, goods will remain unsold in the stores and shops. In this case, factories will reduce their production and, as a consequence, they will get rid of some of their workers and employees; or factories may stop their production completely and, as a consequence, workers and employees will be a surplus labour. At this point, when usurers feel that the market is declined, they add salt to injury and stop lending money or withdraw it altogether, which brings about economic convulsions. This is really astonishing because money is available but it is hoarded in the usurers’ safes. In spite of that, people have to buy their needs but they cannot afford the price, and workers need to work but there is no place for them in factories or companies either because the latter are in bad a need for money or because they need to sell their goods. Usury has a bad effect on the trade cycle. That is why, Islam prohibited it in order to maintain this cycle, and it made a lot of legislations to prevent the centralization of money in the hands of the few. Today, America; the master of capitalism, is suffering from a frightening terrorism crisis. When the nations are shackled like this, they keep working and working and working and get nothing; as their efforts end up to usurer's safes. That is why, individuals in the society cannot get all what they need. However, the government imposes more taxes and increases prices in order to reduce the deficit in its payments. As a result, many revolutions broke up, people died, and all what is happening in the world is not satisfying. Sometimes, the country fails to pay off its debts and decides to write them off exactly like what happened in Cuba in 1961, and in North Korea in 1974. Dr. Stuart Greenbawn, the professor of banking and finance in the university of North Western, said:" Imagine yourself as one of the dictatorial rulers in Latin America, and you sank heavily in debts. Then, if you agreed to the conditions imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and decreased the imports, for example, you will be attacked through protest demonstrations and rebellions, and; on the other hand, if you refused to pay off your debts , you will be renounced by the international community and the international loan markets. Hence, When you get dead sure that the first solution will hang you on a tree branch, you will, inevitably, go for the second one." 5) Economic Deviation: Moreover, one of the bad effects of usury is that it deviates economy from its normal course. Usurers pay to those who give them more profit, and the one who takes the usurious loan do not invest the money except in the fields that give him a profit that exceeds what is imposed by usurers. That is why, the issue is an issue of cupidity which takes people away from the useful projects that works for the good of the society, to invest their money, instead, in the more profitable projects. 6) Extravagance and Taking risks: It is too easy to get money through usury as long as the usurer guarantees that he will take his money back. That is why, those who have no experience become greedy and take usurious loans and get involved in projects that could be doomed to fail or in business which has more to do with gambling rather than clean business. When this kind of business spreads, it harms the economy of the nation. Usurers do not refrain form lending money to those people because they do not care about the means through which they will invest their money, but rather they care about getting their money back with its interests. Islam orders us to prevent extravagants from spending their money as they pleases for the nation's wealth not to be lost. Allah says in surat Al- Nesaa (Women, verse 5) : (Do not give extravagants the properties that Allah has made a means of support for you) Notice here the word "Your" which means that the money of extravagants is a collective ownership and the nation may make use of it. For, usury centralizes the nations' money in the hands of adventurers and ignorants who waste it. what is worse is that usurers can take hold of the people's houses, farms, factories and stores. The easiness of the usurious loan encourages people to be extravagants and to waste their money. The American "Time" mentioned, in its study concerning the Third World debts at the beginning of this year that Liberia sank heavily in the usurious debts as a result of hosting the meetings of the Organization of African Unity. The " Time" also mentioned that Central African Republic spent over 5 million dollars (i.e. the half of its annual budget in 1977) during the coronation of Emperor Bokasa. Al Maraghi said because borrowers can take money without an immediate exchange, The Devil tempts them to buy luxury goods, which leads to the increase of their debts to the extent that they became overburdened with them. Hence, when the time comes for their debts to be paid off, they keep procrastinating till the debtors put their hands on their properties and they become poor and destitute. Allah is right when he says: (Allah makes usury to wane and makes almsgiving fruitful) 7) Putting the Muslims Money in the Hands of their Enemies: The most dangerous thing that could befall the Muslims is the depositing of their money surplus in the usurious banks; as this could divest them of the tools of economy and of the force majeure in the exchanges and put it in the hands of the Jewish emperors of money who gained full control over the money markets . Besides, the interests that usurers pay us is considered to be the price of their (the Jewish emperors of money) control over the international liquidity. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- References : R. Esaa ABDW (1) Ser. Malcolom lwbal draleng book

Trip to China cheated by Ming Ming Travel Service?

Costs of raising a baby? Okay: 1. I'm a second hand store kind of person. Babies don't know the difference and if its still safe there is no difference except the price. I will even buy baby furniture this way if I found a store that sold them that way. 2. My bf will be going into the army. We can choose between two insurance plans. I plan to choose Tricare Prime so I see military doctors, they do the paperwork, and I pay nothing for copay or prescriptions or anything. 3. I hope to breastfeed and hopefully exclusively for the first 6 months and continuing as long as I can (The World Health Organization says babies should be breastfed to two years, I hope for 12 to 16 months). But I know this isn't always a possible, that I may have problems early and have to use formula 4. We can also choose to get Basic Allowance for housing to live off base or live without house rent/payment (and many places still offer free utilities). We would have to pay for additional "luxuries" like cable and internet and such though. If I can I'll be a stay at home mom

Please help us come to a compromise.? My fiance and I can not decide on the type of wedding we want. We are going back and forth. We both want a small intimate wedding. She wants the Ritz Carlton for 5000 (that is just for two) includes minister, cake, ceremony, photographer and flowers. *does not include stay at hotel I want a luxury villa for 1200 a night with 10 people and bring in a chef, flowers, minister, cake etc. My plan will ultimately cost more but she says that she does not see 10 people in a house together as a wedding. I believe a wedding is what you make it. *please note that we will only stay one week at the house with the guest the remaining two weeks will be the two of us alone. Week in Europe and and Island on the way back home to the west coast. I do not want to be cheap, selfish or disregard what she wants. Bring peace back to this house. Where is our happy medium? Thank you to all who respond.

Is it wrong the way television and media portray the huge spending of rich celebreties as glamorous? I really get sick when I watch these television shows that are dedicated entirely to glamourising the outrages amounts of money some celebrities spend on material possessions such as cars, clothes, houses etc. We live in a world where people starve because they cant afford food and millions remain uneducated because they dont have schools or cant afford them and millions are sick from illness because they cant afford treatment. Yet channels like MTV work hard to give the image that it is ok and even glamerous for rich celebrities to spend huge amounts of money on more luxury than any person would ever need. I HATE IT! Its just another completely immoral and ignorant part of western society. And people dont realise that it is done with the very deliberate and planned purpose of making millions of ignorant viewers feel they must also go out and buy expensive brand name clothes in order to feel good about themselves. Its all just a big advertisment. Who else sees we all need to WAKE UP!!

The Beginning of the Call? Just save it ? read it ? The Beginning of the Call -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This chapter will present a brief account of the life of the Messenger of Allah (Allah's blessings and peace be upon him and the people of his household) from the time of his call until his migration to Medina. It will indicate the time when he was commanded to fight, and will present some of the signs and miracles which were wrought at his hands during that period. It consists of eight sections. The Beginning Of His Call 'Ali ibn Ibrahim [al-Qummi, who is one of our most respected traditionists, related that when the Prophet was thirty-seven years of age, a person used to come to him in his dreams, addressing him and saying: "O Apostle of Allah ! ", but he used to ignore this. After a long time had passed, and as he was among the hills grazing the sheep of his uncle Abu Talib, he saw and heard a person addressing him: "O Messenger of Allah ! " He asked: "Who are you?" "I am Gabriel", the person answered; "Allah has sent me to you so that He may take you for a messenger." The Messenger of Allah told Khadijah of what happened. Khadijah had already been informed of the accounts of the Jews and Bahira', and what Muhammad's mother Aminah had also recounted. Thus, she answered: "O Muhammad, I do hope that it is true!" The Prophet used to hide all this, until one day Gabriel came to him with heavenly water and said: "O Muhammad, rise and perform your ablutions for prayers! " Gabriel taught him the ablutions - washing the face and the two hands from the elbows down, rubbing the head and the two feet to the two heels. He also taught him prostration (sujud) and kneeling (ruku'). When the Prophet attained his fortieth year, Gabriel commanded him to perform the prayers and taught him their rites, except their prescribed times. The Messenger of Allah used to pray two rak`ahs every time he prayed. 'Ali ibn Abi Talib was very much attached to the Prophet, accompanying him wherever he went. One day he saw him praying. He asked: "O Abu 'l-Qasim, what is this that you are doing?" The Prophet answered: "It is the prayer which Allah commanded me to perform." He then called 'Ali to Islam; he accepted, and used to pray with him. Khadijah also entered into Islam. Thus at that time only the Messenger of Allah, 'Ali and Khadijah used to pray. After a few days, Abu Talib came in to see the Messenger of Allah, accompanied by Ja'far (the Prophet's cousin). He saw the Prophet and `Ali standing beside him in prayer. Abu Talib said to Ja'far, "Stand by the side of your cousin." As he stood at the other side of the Prophet, the Messenger of Allah stepped forward and stood in front of the two men (as prayer leader). Seeing them, Abu Talib recited the following verses: In truth, Ali and Ja`far are my trust, In times of hardship and sorrow. By Allah, I shall never abandon the Prophet, Nor would any of my sons of high birth abandon him - Do not abandon, but rather support your cousin, The son of my brother from my mother as well as my father. Al-Qummi related further that the Prophet used to trade for Khadijah before he married her. When he was working for her, she sent him with a caravan belonging to the people of Quraysh to Syria. He was accompanied by a servant of hers called Maysarah. They encamped one day beneath a hermitage belonging to one of the monks living in the area. The monk came down from his cell and looked intently at the Messenger of Allah. He then asked: "Who is this man?" The people answered: "He is the son of `Abdu'l-Muttalib." The monk retorted: "His father could not be alive." Then looking at his eyes and between his shoulders, he exclaimed: "This is the Prophet of the people! This is the Prophet sent with the sword!" When Maysarah returned, he told Khadijah what happened and what had convinced her to offer herself to the Prophet in marriage. Khadijah gained a thousand dinars from that caravan. One day the Prophet went into a market of the Arabs where he saw Zayd [ibn al-Harithah]. Zayd was a smart youth; the Prophet thus bought him for Khadijah. When, however, the Prophet married her, she gave him Zayd as a gift. When the Messenger of Allah received the call to Prophethood, and 'Ali accepted Islam, Zayd also became a Muslim after him. Thus `Ali, Ja'far, Zayd and Khadijah used to pray behind the Messenger of Allah. Ash-Shaykh Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn al-Hasan al-Bayhaqi reported in his book Dala'ilu'n-Nubuwwah on the authority of `Ali, who said: "We were with the Messenger of Allah in Mecca when he went out into its suburbs. He did not pass by a tree or mountain but that it met him with the greeting `Peace be upon you O Apostle of Allah.' " [31] It is reported that 'Ali said: "I remember when I used to go with the Prophet into the valley, how he did not pass by a stone or tree but that it exclaimed, `Peace be upon you O Apostle of Allah', while I stood and listened." A man called `Afif [al-Kindi] related that, "I was a merchant; I came to Mina one day during the hajj (pilgrimage) season. al-`Abbas ibn `Abdi'l-Muttalib was also a merchant. I therefore came to trade with him.. As we were thus occupied, a man came out of a tent to pray: He faced the Ka'bah, and soon a woman came out and likewise stood in prayer. A youth also came out to pray with them. I exclaimed, `O `Abbas, what is this religion? We do not know what this religion is.' He answered, `This is Muhammad ibn `Abdillah, who claims that Allah called him to be a messenger, and that the treasures of Kisra (Khusraw, the Sasanid Persian Emperor) and Qaysar (Caesar, the Byzantine Emperor) will be opened for him. This is his wife Khadijah, daughter of Khuwaylid, who has believed in him. The youth is his cousin 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, who also believed in him.' " `Afif then concluded: "Would that I had believed in him on that day so that I would have been the second man to follow him." Ibn Ishaq reported that when the Prophet came out of the tent he looked at the sky, and when he saw the sun had inclined, he rose up to pray. Ibn Ishaq also mentioned Khadijah's standing in prayer behind him. It is related on the authority of Mujahid ibn Jabr ( a well-known Qur'an interpreter and traditionist), who said: "Among the favors which Allah bestowed upon 'Ali ibn Abi Talib and the great good He willed for him, was this: The people of Quraysh suffered a great shortage of food. Abu Talib had many children. Thus the Messenger of Allah said one day to his uncle `Abbas, who was one of the wealthiest men among the sons of Hashim, `O `Abbas, your brother Abu Talib is a man with many children, and you can see for yourself how people are suffering as a result of this crisis. Come let us go and relieve him and his children.' They thus went to him and discussed the matter. He answered: `Leave `Aqil (a brother of 'Ali) .and take whomever you wish.' The Messenger of Allah took . 'Ali into his home, and `Ali remained with the Messenger of Allah until Allah called him to be a prophet. `Ali then followed him, believed in him and assented to him." 'Ali ibn Ibrahim [al-Qummi] related that three years after this, Allah revealed to the Apostle of Allah: Declare openly what you have been commanded and be not concerned with the Associators [Quran S : 94] . The Messenger of Allah therefore went out, stood up at al-Hijr [that space which encompasses the Ka'bah on the north] and proclaimed: "O people of Quraysh and you Arab people, I call you all to the worship of Allah alone, and call you to reject all partners with Him, and all idols. I call you all to bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah. Heed my call that you may through it have dominion over all the Arabs. Through it also would non-Arabs submit to your authority. Through it you would be kings in Paradise." But they mocked and laughed at him, exclaiming: "Muhammad son of `Abdullah has gone mad!" They caused him much hurt with their tongues. Abu Talib asked: "O son of my brother, what is this?" He answered: "Uncle, this is Allah's religion which He chose for His angels and prophets. It is the religion of Abraham and the prophets after him. Allah has sent me also as a messenger to humankind." Abu Talib said: "O son of my brother, surely your people will not accept this from you! Desist, therefore, from proclaiming it to them." "I shall not do so", the Prophet answered, "because Allah has commanded me to call (people to Islam)." Thus, Abu Talib left him alone. The Messenger of Allah intensified his effort in calling the people and warning them at all times. Those among the People of the Book who heard the news accepted Islam. When, however, the people of Quraysh saw people entering Islam, they were alarmed. They thus went to Abu Talib and demanded: "Restrain your nephew from us, for he has declared our mind to be foolish, and has insulted our gods! He has corrupted our youths, and has dissolved our unity!" Abu Talib then called him and said: "O my brother's son, the people have come to me asking that you desist from insulting their gods." The Prophet answered: "O uncle, I cannot disobey the command of my Lord." Thus he used to call them and warn them of the impending divine punishment. The people of Quraysh gathered in assembly and enquired: "To what does Muhammad call us?" He answered: "I call you to bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and to reject all associates with Him." They protested: "Shall we then abandon three hundred and sixty gods and worship only one God?" Thus Allah mentions in the Qur'an their saying: They marvel that a warner from among them came to them, and the rejecters of faith said, "He is a magician, a liar. Does he wish to render all gods one? This, indeed is a strange thing". . ., and so on to His saying, No! But they have not yet tasted the torment [Qur'an 38: 4 - 8] . The people then came together to Abu Talib and said: "O Abu Talib, if poverty is the cause of your nephew's action, then we will gather so much wealth for him that he would be the wealthiest man of Quraysh." Abu Talib called him and informed him of their offer. The Messenger of Allah, however, said: "Uncle, I have no need of wealth! Heed my call, so that you may be kings in this world and in the world to come! Then will both Arabs and non-Arabs submit to your authority." They dispersed, but soon returned to Abu Talib and said: "O Abu Talib, you are one of our foremost notables! You see that your nephew has declared us to be of foolish mind. He has cursed our gods and dissolve our unity! Let us give you `Umarah ibn al-Walid, the most handsome and bright youth of Quraysh, the freshest youth and the noblest of lineage to be your son - on condition that you turn over Muhammad to us that we may kill him." He answered: "You have not dealt justly with me! Would you give me your son that I may bring him up, and yet take my son to kill him?" Finally, despairing of convincing him, they desisted. Al-Hafiz (al-Bayhaqi) related in his book Dala'ilu'n-Nubuwwah on the authority of Ibrahim ibn Muhammad ibn Talhah, that Talhah ibn `Ubaydillah said: "I was present one day at the market of Busra, where I heard a monk who lived in a cell say: `Enquire of the people of this fair if there is anyone among them of the people of the Sanctuary (that is, Mecca).' I replied: `Yes, I am.' He asked: `Has Ahmad come forth yet?' `Who is Ahmad?' I asked. He replied: `The son of `Abdullah ibn `Abdi 'l-Muttalib. This is the month in which he should come forth. He is the last of the prophets. The place of his appearance is the Sanctuary, and that of his migration is a place of date-palms and black stones (that is, Medina). Beware lest anyone accept him before you do.' " Talhah continued: "I kept what he said in my heart, and .hastened to Mecca. I enquired if anything unusual had happened, and was told that, 'Muhammad ibn `Abdillah al-Amin has declared himself a prophet. Ibn Abi Quhafah (that is, Abu Bakr) has followed him.' I thus went to Abu Bakr and said: `Have you really become a follower of this man?' `Yes', he answered. `You too go to him and follow him, for he invites men to the truth.' " Talhah then told Abu Bakr what the monk had said. Abu. Bakr took Talhah to the Apostle of Allah, whereupon Talhah became a Muslim. He told the Messenger of Allah what the monk had said, which gladdened the Apostle of Allah. [32] When both Abu Bakr and Talhah had accepted Islam, a man called Nawfal ibn Khuwaylid ibn al-`Adawiyyah took them and tied them together with one rope. The people of Taym (the tribe to which Abu Bakr belonged) did not protect them. Nawfal ibn Khuwaylid was known as the harshest man of the Quraysh. The Quraysh Admit The Miraculous Qualities Of The Qur'an The Messenger of Allah never ceased to insult the gods of the Associators, nor did he cease reciting the Qur'an to them. But they used to say: "This is only the poetry of Muhammad." Some of them also said: "It is rather oratory discourse." There was an old man called al-Walid ibn al-Mughirah who was a judge among the Arabs, whom they brought difficult cases. They likewise used to recite their poems to him in order that he might judge among them. Whatever he judged to be good, that was chosen by all. He had many sons, who never left Mecca. He also possessed ten slaves, every one of whom had one thousand dinars to use as capital in trade. At that time he alone owned a qintar, [the skin of a bull filled with gold]. al-Walid was one of those who mocked the Messenger of Allah and he was the uncle of Abu Jahl ibn Hisham. The people went to al-Walid and asked: "O Abu `Abd ash-Shams, what is this which Muhammad is uttering? Is it magic, soothsaying, or oratory?" He replied: "Let me hear his words." He thus came to the Messenger of Allah while he was sitting in the Ka'bah and said: "O Muhammad, recite for me some of your poetry! " He answered: "It is not poetry, but rather the word of Allah, with which He sent His prophets and apostles." al-Walid insisted: "Recite some of it to me." The Messenger of Allah then recited: "In the name of Allah, the All-merciful, the Compassionate. " When al-Walid heard the name ar-Rahman (the All-merciful), he mockingly said: "Do you call us to follow a man of Yamamah who is called ar-Rahman?" The Prophet answered: "No, rather I call men to Allah, Who is the All-merciful, the Compassionate." He then recited the beginning of "Ha mim: as-Sajdah ", (Surah 41) until he reached verse (13) But if they turn back, say: "I have warned you of a great catastrophe like the catastrophe of Ad and Thamud. " When al-Walid heard this, he trembled and every hair on his head and in his beard stood on end. He then rose and went to his home, and did not return to the people of Quraysh. The people said to Abu Jahl, "O Abu 'l-Hakam, (that is, al-Walid) has abandoned his religion for the religion of Muhammad! Do you not see that he has not returned to us? He must have, therefore, accepted his claim and gone to his home." The people of Quraysh became exceedingly saddened by this. Abu Jahl went to al-Walid the next day and said: "O uncle, you have brought low our heads and disgraced us!" He answered: "How have I done that, O son of my brother?" "Have you turned to the religion of Muhammad?" he asked. "No", answered al-Walid, "I did not do so. Rather, I stand by the religion of my people and my forefathers. I have, however, heard great words which cause skins to shudder." Abu Jahl asked: "Is it poetry?" "No, it is not poetry", answered his uncle. Abu Jahl asked further: "Is it oratory discourse?" al-Walid answered: "No, for oratory discourse is of connected rhymed prose; yet this is free prose whose different parts do not resemble one another. It is possessed of great beauty." Abu Jahl insisted: "So it is oratory." "No", answered his uncle. Abu Jahl asked: "What is it then?" al-Walid said: "Let me think about it for a while." The next day, the people asked al-Walid: "O Abu `Abd ash-Shams, what do you say?" He answered: "Say it is magic, for it has truly attracted the hearts of the people." Thus, Allah sent down concerning him in the Qur'an - Leave me to deal with him whom I have alone created, and whom I have granted great wealth and sons, constantly present with him . . . and so on to Allah's saying: Over it (that is, Hell) stand nineteen (angels) [Qur.74:11-30]. In a tradition related by Hammad ibn Zayd on the authority of `Ikrimah (a slave and pupil of Ibn `Abb5s and a well-known traditionist), he reported that al-Walid ibn al-Mughirah came to the Messenger of Allah and asked him to recite some verses of the Qur'an. He recited: "Allah surely commands justice and doing good, and giving (of one's wealth) to near relatives. He likewise forbids lewdness, indecency and insolence. He thus admonishes you, that perhaps you may remember" [Qur'an. 16:90] . al-Walid said: "Recite the verse once more!" He did, and al-Walid exclaimed: "By Allah, it indeed is possessed of great sweetness and adorned with great beauty. Its top is indeed fruitful, and its bottom is like a palm-tree laden with fruits! Nor can any mortal utter such speech." How Allah Protected Muhammad Against The Mockers It is related that those who mocked the Messenger of Allah were five: al-Walid ibn al-Mughirah, al-`As ibn Wail as-Sahmi, al-Aswad ibn al-Muttalib, who was also known as Abu Zama'ah, al-Aswad ibn `Abd Yaghuth of the tribe of Zuhrah and al-Harith ibn at-Tulatilah al-Khuza`i. It is said that al-Walid ibn al-Mughirah passed one day by the Messenger of Allah, while the angel Gabriel was with him. Gabriel addressed the Prophet, saying: "Here comes al-Walid ibn al-Mughirah, who is one of the mockers." "Yes", he answered. Then al-Walid passed by a man of the tribe of Khuza'ah, sharpening his arrows at the door of the mosque. He accidentally stepped on some of them, a silver went into the bottom of his foot, and blood gushed out. Gabriel pointed to that spot, and blood continued to flow until it stained the bed of his daughter. Frightened, the girl cried out: "O maid, the mouth of the water skin has come untied! " "This is not the water of the water skin", said al-Walid, "it is the blood of your father. Call together for me my sons and the sons of my brother, for I am about to die." When they all gathered, he made his will, and immediately breathed his last. Al-Aswad ibn al-Muttalib passed one day by the Messenger of Allah. Gabriel pointed to his eyes and he became blind, and soon after died. al-Aswad ibn `Abd Yaghuth also passed by the Prophet one day; Gabriel pointed to his stomach, and he drank so much water that his belly swelled until it burst. al-`As ibn Wail passed also by the Prophet, and Gabriel pointed to his foot. Soon a splinter went into the bottom of his foot and came out of the top. His foot swelled up, and soon he died. at-Tulatilah passed by the Prophet, and Gabriel spat in his face. The man then went out into the Tihamah mountains (in the vicinity of Mecca), where he was hit by a burning sand storm. He was burnt and turned black. When he returned home. his family would not let him in, saying, "You are not of this family." He went away and was afflicted with great thirst. He thus drank until his stomach burst, and he died. All this happened in fulfilment of Allah's saying: We have surely protected you against the mockers [Qur'an. 15:95]. The Migration To Abyssinia And An-Naiashi's Assent To Muhammad's Prophethood When the people of Quraysh intensified their harsh treatment of the Messenger of Allah and his Companions, he ordered some of his Companions to migrate to Abyssinia. He delegated Ja'far son of Abu Talib to take charge of them, and he set out with seventy men until they took to sea. When the people of Quraysh knew of their departure, they sent `Amr ibn al-`As as-Sahmi and `Umarah ibn al-Walid to an-Najashi (Negus) .of Abyssinia, requesting him to return the men to the people of Quraysh. They were also instructed to tell the King that these men had gone against the wishes and traditions of their people. `Umarah was a handsome and wealthy man. `Amr ibn al`As set out with his wife. When they boarded the ship, they became intoxicated with wine. `Umarah then said to `Amr ibn al-`As : "Tell your wife to kiss me!" The latter answered: "Glorified be Allah! Is this possible?" `Umarah waited until `Amr got drunk, then he pushed him overboard. `Amr was on the edge of the ship; thus he held on to the edge, and people rushed to his rescue. When `Amr saw what `Umarah had done to him, he said to his wife, "Kiss him! ", which she did. When they reached Abyssinia, they went straight to an-Najashi bearing presents for him. `Amr addressed him saying: "O King, these people have gone against our religion and sought refuge with you. Return them, therefore, to us! " The King sent for Ja'far and said to him: "These men are requesting that I return you all to them." He answered: "O King, ask them, are we their slaves?" "No", answered `Amr, "rather they are free and noble men." "Ask them," Ja'far continued, "do we then owe them debts which they have come to claim from us?" `Amr answered: "They owe us no debts which we have come to claim." Ja'far continued: "Have they come then to avenge any blood of theirs that we had wrongfully shed?" `Amr answered: "They have shed no blood for which we come to exact vengeance or blood money." Ja'far asked: "What then do you want from us?" `Amr said: "They have opposed us in our religion and the religion of our forefathers and insulted our gods. They have corrupted our youths and spread dissension among us. Return them to us, therefore, that our unity might be restored." Ja'far then addressed the King saying: "O King, we have opposed them in order to follow a prophet whom Allah has raised among us. He commands us to repudiate equals to Allah, and that we abandon chance games by means of arrows. He enjoins prayers and almsgiving upon us. He has prohibited wrongdoing, oppression and the unlawful shedding of blood. He has prohibited adultery, usury, and eating the flesh of dead animals which have not been properly slaughtered, as well as eating blood. He has enjoined decency and good works upon us, and that we show kindness to near relatives. He forbids grave immorality, indecency and insolence." The King said: "It is with such (teachings) that Allah also sent Jesus son of Mary! " Then addressing Ja`far, he continued: "Do you know by heart any of the revelations which Allah sent down to your prophet?" "Yes", he answered. "Recite then! " the King demanded. Ja'far recited the Surah of Maryam (Surah 19). When he reached the words - Shake down towards you the branch of the palm-tree, and it shall drop down before you ripened dates ready to be picked. Eat and drink, therefore, and be of good cheer [Qur'an. 19 : 25 - 26 ] - an-Najashi wept and exclaimed: "By Allah this is the truth!" `Amr protested: "O King, this man has abandoned our religion; give him to us that we may take him back to our country! " an-Najashi lifted his hand and slapped him saying: "If you utter any evil against him, I will kill you!" `Amr finally said: "O King, if this is what you say, then we shall not interfere with him." A young maid stood by an-Najashi keeping flies away from him. She kept her eyes on `Umarah ibn al-Walid, as he was a handsome young man. When they went to their lodgings, `Amr said to him: "Why do you not send a message to the King's maid?" `Umarah sent a message to her, and she answered him. `Amr said: "Tell her to bring you with her some of the King's perfumes. She did so, and `Amr ibn al`As took the perfume. He had kept in his heart what `Umarah had done to him when he attempted to throw him overboard. Thus, he took the perfume and went to an-Najashi, and said to him: "O King, it is fitting that we take cognition of the King's honour and magnanimity toward us, and that we do not betray him in his own realm. Yet, my companion who is with me has sent messages to your maid and tempted her. She even brought him some of your perfumes." He then showed the King the perfume. an-Najashi was exceedingly angry and was about to kill `Umarah. But he changed his mind and said: "It is not right that I kill him, for they entered our realm under a pledge of protection." He thus called his magicians and said to them: "Do something to him that would be worse than death! " They took him and injected mercury into his generative organ. He lost his mind, so that he lived with the wild beasts and shunned human company. [33] The people of Quraysh sent men to bring `Umarah back home. The men lay in wait for him until he came with wild beasts to drink at a spring. Thus they caught him, but he continued to struggle and scream in their hands until he expired. `Amr, however, returned to the people of Quraysh and recounted to them his story. As for Ja'far, he remained in Abyssinia enjoying the best of hospitality and honour. He remained there until he heard that the Messenger of Allah had established a truce with the people of Quraysh and that peace had prevailed between them and the Muslims. He then returned with a large company of people. He arrived to find that the Messenger of Allah had conquered Khaybar (a Jewish settlement near Medina). A son was born to Ja'far by Asma', daughter of `Umays. an-Najashi also had a son, whom he called Muhammad. Asma' gave an-Najashi's son of her own milk to drink (thus making him a nursing brother of her own son). Abu Talib recited these verses urging an-Najashi to support the Prophet and his followers: Know, O King of the Ethiopians, that Muhammad is a prophet like Moses and Jesus son of Mary. He came with guidance such as they brought, for each of them was by Allah's command well -protected. Concerning him, you recite verses in your own scriptures; a true account it is, not a fantastic tale. Do not, therefore, set up equals with Allah; rather become Muslims, for the way of truth is not obscured in darkness. The traditionist Abu `Abdillah (al-Bayhaqi) transmitted on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ishaq that the Messenger of Allah sent `Amr ibn Umayyah ad-Damri to an-Najashi regarding Ja'far ibn Abi Talib and his Companions. He sent a letter with him which read thus: "In the name of Allah, the All-merciful, the Compassionate - From Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah to the Negus, the King of Abyssinia - I convey to you the praises of Allah the King, the Holy, the Accepter of Faith, the Guardian [Qur.59:23]. I furthermore bear witness that Jesus son of Mary is the Spirit of Allah and His Word, which He sent down to Mary [Qur'an. 4 : 171) , the pure and chaste virgin who then conceived Jesus, whom Allah created of His Spirit which he breathed into him -just as he created Adam with His Hand and breathed of His Spirit into him. I thus call you to the worship of the One and only Allah alone Who has no associate, and that you obey Him, follow me and believe in me and the message which was vouchsafed me. For I indeed am the Messenger of Allah. I have, moreover, sent to you my cousin Ja'far with a company of the Muslims. When they come to you, show hospitality to them and do not be arrogant. I call you and your hosts to Allah! I have conveyed my message to you and given good counsel. Peace be with those who follow true guidance." An-Najashi wrote in answer to the Messenger of Allah: "In the name of Allah, the All-merciful, the Compassionate - to Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah - from the Negus al-Ashamah ibn Abhar: peace be upon you O Prophet of Allah and Allah's mercy and blessings - there is no god but He Who guided me to Islam. I have received your letter, O Messenger of Allah, concerning the importance you give in the case of Jesus. By the Lord of the heaven and earth, Jesus does not exceed what you have mentioned concerning him. We acknowledge what you have written to us, and have thus shown hospitality to your cousin and Companions. I bear witness that you are the Messenger of Allah truly and that you tell the truth. I have, therefore, given allegiance (bay `ah) to you and your cousin. I have accepted Islam to Allah, the Lord of all beings at his hands. I have sent to you, O Messenger of Allah, Arijan ibn Ashamah ibn Abhar, I have-indeed no authority except over myself alone. If, therefore, you wish that I come to you, I would come, O Messenger of Allah. For I bear witness that what you say is the truth." An-Najashi then sent presents to the Prophet. He sent him also Mariyah the Copt, the mother of the Prophet's son Ibrahim. He sent him much clothing and aromatics, and a mare. He also sent him thirty learned men to hear his words and observe his conduct. When they arrived in Medina, the Messenger of Allah called them to. Islam, and they accepted Islam and returned to the Negus. Jabir ibn `Abdillah al-Ansari reported that, "When an-Najashi died, the Messenger of Allah prayed over Ashamah, the Negus." The Prophet Is Persecuted By The Associators And Hamzah Accepts Islam The people of Quraysh redoubled their efforts in troubling the Messenger of Allah. The harshest of men toward him was his uncle Abu Lahab. One day the Prophet was sitting in the precincts of the Ka'bah, when the people sent for a birth sack of a sheep and threw it at him.[ According to al-Jazari, the well-known lexicographer and traditionist, this happened while the Prophet was praying. (ed. )] The Messenger of Allah was greatly saddened by this, and went to Abu Talib to complain, saying: "O uncle, how is my status among you?" Abu Talib asked: "What is the matter O son of my brother?" He replied: "The people of Quraysh threw a birth sack at me." Abu Talib then said to Hamzah: "Take up the sword!" The people of Quraysh were assembled in the Mosque. Both Hamzah and Abu Talib went in with their swords. Abu Talib ordered Hamzah, saying: "Rub the birth sack over their moustaches, and if anyone resists, cut off his head!" But no one moved while he rubbed the birth sack over their moustaches.. He then turned to the Messenger of Allah, and said: "O son of my brother, this is your status among us!" In the book Dala'ilu'n-Nubuwwah (of al-Bayhaqi) [34], it is reported on the authority of Abu Dawud who reported from Shu'bah who reported from Abu Ishaq (as-Sabi`i), who heard `Amr ibn Maymun relate on the authority of `Abdullah (ibn Mas'ud), who said: "While the Messenger of Allah was prostrating in prayer one day, with some men of Quraysh sitting all around him, and the birth sack of a she-camel lying around, some dared others men saying: `Who would take this birth sack and throw it at his back?' A man called `Uqbah ibn Abi Mu'ayt took up the birth sack and threw it at the Prophet's back. Fatimah (the Prophet's daughter) came and took the camel's birth sack off the Prophet's back, and cursed those who did that to him." `Abdullah continued: "I never saw the Messenger of Allah invoke Allah against them except on that day. He said: "O Allah, I leave to you the people of Quraysh! O Allah to you do I leave Abu Jahl ibn Hisham, `Utbah ibn Rabi `ah, Shaybah ibn Rabi `ah, `Uqbah ibn Abi Mu'ayt, Umayyah ibn Khalaf or Ubayy ibn Khalaf (Shu'bah was confused). The Prophet enumerated seven men in all." `Abdullah went on: "I saw them all slain in the Battle of Badr and thrown into a well. Umayyah ibn Khalaf, however, was a very fat man. His body disintegrated as it was dragged along before reaching the well.' " [35] It is related on the authority of Khabbab (a well-known Companion), who said: "I came one day to the Messenger of Allah, while he lay in the shade of the Ka` bah using his mantle as a pillow. We had endured much suffering at the hands of the people of Quraysh. Thus I asked: `O Messenger of Allah, would you not invoke Allah on our behalf?' He sat up, red in the safe, and said: `Those who were before you -often were their flesh and nerves scraped with sharp iron combs. Yet they did not turn away from their faith. A man would be sawed in half from his head down, yet he would not be turned away from his faith. But Allah shall indeed bring this affair to fruition, so that a horseman would travel all the way between San'a and Hadramawt fearing no one but Allah, or the wolf that may attack his sheep.' " [36] It is also related on the authority of Jabir (son of the famous Companion, `Abdullah al-Ansari) that the Messenger of Allah passed one day by `Ammar ibn Yasir and his family while they were being tortured for Allah's sake. He said: "Be of good cheer, O family of `Ammar, for you shall soon enter Paradise! " It is reported on the authority of Mujahid [ ibn Jabr] (a well-known traditionist of the second generation) that the first martyr in Islam was Sumayyah, the mother of `Ammar, whom Abu Jahl stabbed in the heart. 'Ali ibn Ibrahim al-Qummi reported that Abu Jahl met the Messenger of Allah one day and spoke harsh words to him. All the men of the Hashimite clan angrily assembled. Hamzah had just returned from hunting, when he saw the crowd and enquired about the commotion. A woman called down to him from one of the roof-tops saying: "O Abu Ya'la, `Amr ibn Hisham (i.e., Abu Jahl) confronted Muhammad and insulted him." Hamzah enraged, went to Abu Jahl hit him with his bow on the head and picked him up and beat him hard against the ground. People crowded around them, and it was feared that great conflict might ensue. People then asked Hamzah: "O Abu Ya'la, have you then turned to the religion of your nephew?" "Yes", he answered: "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah." He said this only as a result of anger and feeling of support for his nephew. When, however, he returned to his home, he regretted his decision. Thus he went to the Messenger of Allah and asked: "O son of my brother, is what you say the truth?" The Messenger of Allah recited to him a Surah of the Qur'an, and Hamzah saw the truth and stood firm in the faith of Islam. The Messenger of Allah was exceedingly happy. Abu Talib also was glad to learn of Hamzah's Islam, and recited the following verses: Be steadfast, O Abu Ya`la in the faith of Ahmad; Show forth your faith; may you be strengthened in your resolve! Follow the footsteps of him who came with true' faith from his Lord; Do not, O Hamzah, be a rejecter of faith! It made me glad when you said that you are a man of faith; Be then a true supporter of the Messenger of Allah in Allah's cause. Call openly the people of Quraysh to that which you yourself have been given; Proclaim to them that Ahmad is indeed not a magician! The Prophet's Night Journey To Jerusalem And His Hiding In A Ravine Belonging To Abu Talib The Messenger of Allah was transported by Allah from Mecca to Jerusalem, (see Qur'an. 17 :1) . Gabriel carried him thither on al-Buraq (a celestial horse), and showed him the prayer chambers of the prophets before him. After the Prophet had led them all in prayer, Gabriel brought him back to Mecca. On his way back, the Prophet passed by a caravan belonging to the people of Quraysh. They had with them water in a vessel, from which he drank, and poured out the rest. They also lost one of their camels and went out in search of it. Next morning Muhammad recounted to the people of Quraysh: "Allah transported me by night to Jerusalem where He showed me the signs and stations of the prophets. I have also passed by a caravan in such and such a place, where they lost one of their camels. I drank from a vessel of water which they had, and poured out the rest of the water." Abu Jahl said: "You have now an opportune moment; ask him, therefore, how many columns and lamps are in Jerusalem! " They thus said to him: "O Muhammad, here is someone who has been to Jerusalem! " Describe for us its columns, lamps, and prayer chambers! " Gabriel came and suspended an image of Jerusalem before the Prophet's eyes, and he told them whatever they wished to know about the holy city. When he had informed them, they said: "Let us wait until the caravan returns and we question the people about what you have told us:" "The sign of the truth of what I have said is that the caravan will appear at sunrise led by a red camel carrying two white sacks", the Prophet said. Next morning, they went out looking towards the hill outside the city and saying: "The sun shall soon rise." As they were thus wondering, the caravan appeared, led by a red camel, just as the disk of the sun was becoming visible. They asked the men with the caravan about the things which the Messenger of Allah had told them. The men answered: "It is true, it was as he said. We lost a camel in such and such a place; we left water by night, but when we woke up next morning, the water was all poured out." Yet, all this only increased the people of Quraysh in their stubbornness. They then all gathered in their assembly hall and prepared a written pledge neither to share food with the sons of Hashim, nor to speak to them. Nor would they transact any trade with them, or intermarry with them. They would not even socialize with them in any way, until they turned Muhammad over to them that they might kill him. They agreed to be as one hand against Muhammad, either to assassinate him, or kill him openly. When Abu Talib learned of all this, he gathered the sons of Hashim, forty men in all, and went into a secret ravine. Abu Talib swore to them by the Ka'bah, the haram, the rukn and the station (maqam of Abraham) that if even a thorn was to prick Muhammad, "I will steadfastly fight against you all, 0 sons of Hashim." Abu Talib fortified the ravine and set up guards over it night and day. At night he kept guard himself with his sword, while the Messenger of Allah slept. Then he had him get up and sleep in another spot, guarded by his own sons and the sons of his brother. They watched over the Prophet during the day as well. In the end, they endured much hardship. Thus it was that no one of the Arabs entering Mecca dared buy from or sell anything to the family of Hashim, for fear that his wealth would be seized. To that end, Abu Jahl, al-`As ibn Wail as-Sahmi, an-Nadr ibn al-Harith ibn Kaladah and `Uqbah ibn Abi Mu'ayt used to go out to the roads leading to Mecca, and anyone they saw carrying goods, they forbade to trade with the sons of Hashim. Otherwise they threatened to seize his wealth. Khadijah, however, had much wealth, which she spent in caring for the Messenger of Allah while he was in the ravine. Mut'im ibn `Adiyy ibn Nawfal ibn `Abdi'lMuttalib refused to sign the pledge, saying: "This is wrongdoing." The document was, nonetheless, sealed with forty seals, representing all the notables of Quraysh. They then hung it in the Ka'bah. Abu Lahab also concurred with them in this action. During the special seasons (when fighting was banned), the Messenger of Allah would go around the Arab tribes and plead with them: "If you would protect me, I would recite to you the Book of my Lord, and your reward with Allah shall be Paradise." Abu Lahab would follow close behind him and say: "Do not accept his offer! He is my brother's son. He is a magician and a liar." Thus it went on, and the sons of Hashim remained in the ravine for four years, having no security except during special seasons, nor could they buy or sell anything except during these seasons. There were two seasons held in Mecca every year: that of the `umrah (lesser pilgrimage) during Rajab, and the pilgrimage season in Dhi'l-Hijjah (the 7th and 12th months respectively). Hence, only when either of these two special seasons come did the sons of Hashim leave their ravine to buy and sell. Then no one of them dared venture out till the next season. They therefore suffered much hardship and hunger. The people of Quraysh sent a message to Abu Talib, saying: "Turn Muhammad over to us that we may kill him; then we would make you king over us." In response, Abu Talib recited a long poem, in which he says: When I saw that these people had no love, having cut off all ties and means of friendship; (I said): Do you not know that we do not regard our son as a liar, Nor does he utter vain words. Pure is he, that for the sake of his face prayers for rain are answered; Generous towards orphans is he, and a protection for widows. The errant of the clan of Hashim crowd around him; For with him they find bounty and generous gifts. You lie, by Allah's house! We shall never abandon Muhammad; Rather we shall wield the sword and strive to protect him. We shall never betray him, until we fall slain before him; For his sake we shall neglect our sons and wives. By my life! I have been charged with great affection for Ahmad! I loved him with the love of a faithful lover. I have sacrificed willingly my soul for him and protected him; I have defended him with all that is precious, Even the bones of my breast! He remains an object of beauty in this world for its inhabitants; A harsh match to anyone showing enmity toward him is he, and the ornament of every assembly. He is clement, wise, unwavering and not foolish; Friend of the Lord of Truth, never indulging in vain disputation. Thus the Lord of human servants has strengthened him with His victory; He caused a religion to prevail whose truth knows no falsehood. When they heard this poem, they despaired of convincing Abu Talib. Abu 'l-`As ibn Rabi', who was the Messenger of Allah's son-in-law, used to bring by night camels laden with wheat and dates to the entrance of the ravine and call out loudly to them, so that they would rush in, and the sons of Hashim would have provisions. The Messenger of Allah used to say: "Abu 'l-`As has established a tie of marriage with us and has honoured well this marriage relation. He brought laden camels to us when we were besieged and delivered them to our ravine by night." When the Messenger of Allah had spent four years in the ravine, Allah sent against the hostile document of the Quraysh an earthworm which licked clean all words of unkindness to next of kin, and all wrongdoing and oppression. It only spared the name of Allah. Gabriel came down to the Messenger of Allah and told him about it. The Messenger of Allah then told Abu Talib, who went to the men of Quraysh as they assembled in the mosque. When they saw him they said: "Abu Talib has finally given in; he has now come to turn his nephew in." He drew near and greeted them with the salutation of peace. They all rose up and received him with deference. They then said: "O Abu Talib, we know that you wish our friendship and return to our society! You will turn your nephew over to us." He answered: "No, by Allah, it is not for this that I have come to you. Rather my nephew tells me - and he utters no lies - that Allah has told him that He sent an earthworm against your hostile document, which ate every word of unkindness to next of kin, of wrongdoing and oppression. It only spared the name of Allah. Bring your document, and if what he says is true, then fear Allah and abandon your wrongdoing, oppression and unkindness toward blood relations. If, on the other hand, what he says is false, I will turn him over to you. If you wish, you may kill him, or if you wish you may spare his life." They brought the document down from the Ka'bah, still bearing forty seals. When it was brought before them, every man saw his seal. When, however, they .opened it, they found no letters except the phrase: `in your name, O Allah.' Abu Talib then pleaded with them saying: "O people, fear Allah and desist from what you are doing! " But the people dispersed, and no one spoke a word. Abu Talib then returned to the ravine and recited his poem rhyming with the letter `b' and which begins as follows: Who shall endure standing on guard till night's end, Or the retreat which your divided people have decreed. In the document there was indeed a lesson; Anyone knowing about it would surely marvel. Allah had Himself erased from it their rejection of faith and insolence, As well as their hostility toward him who proclaimed the truth openly. Thus what they said came to nought, For anyone inventing falsehood only tells lies. Yet the son of Abdullah has been truthful among us, in spite of our people's wrath. Do not think that we shall betray Muhammad; For neither our honour nor fidelity would permit it! A strong Hashimite hand shall protect him; He whose deeds among men are the best of deeds. Then some of the sons of `Abd Manaf and the sons of Qusayy, as well as other men of Quraysh who were born to women of the sons of Hashim - among whom was Mut'im ibn `Adiyy ibn `Amir ibn Lu'ayy, an old man of great wealth and many children, and Abu 'l-Bakhtari ibn Hisham and Zuhayr ibn (Abi) Umayyah al-Makhzumi and other of their notables - said: "We dissociate ourselves from this document." Abu Jahl likewise said: "This is a matter which was decided in the dark." Thus the Prophet and those who were with him were able to leave the ravine. Two months later, Abu Talib died. Khadijah also died soon after. These were two grave occurrences which the Messenger of Allah had to endure, and he was greatly saddened. He went in to see Abu Talib while he was breathing his last. He said: "O uncle, you cared for a child until he grew up. You supported him when he was a grown man, and cared for him as an orphan. May Allah, therefore, reward you on my behalf with the best reward. Give me a word (that is, the shahadah) that I may intercede with it on your behalf with my Lord." Abu Talib replied: "O son of my brother, were I not to fear the reproach of people after me, I would have gladdened your heart." Saying this he died. Muhammad ibn Ishaq reported that Khadijah daughter of Khuwaylid, and Abu Talib died in the same year. [37] Thus afflictions followed one another for the Messenger of Allah after the death of Khadijah and Abu Talib - for she was a true helper (wazir) to him in Islam, and he found comfort in her. Abu `Abdillah ibn Mandah reported in the Kitabu'l-Ma`rifah that Khadijah died three days after Abu Talib. [38] al-Waqidi claimed that they all left the ravine three years before the Migration. In that year Khadijah and Abu Talib died within the space of thirty-five nights. The Prophet Offers Himself To Neighboring Arab Tribes. The Allegiance Of The Ansar To Him, And The Event Of Al-`Aqabah It is reported in the book entitled Dala'ilu'n-Nubuwwah [39] on the authority of az-Zuhri (a well-known traditionist), that the Messenger of Allah used to offer himself as a prophet to the Arab tribes every year during the pilgrimage season. He used to speak to the chief of every tribe, requesting only that they give him shelter and protection. He said: "I shall not ask anyone of you to do anything he does not wish to do. For anyone of you who accepts what I have come to call you to, it is well. But I shall not compel anyone who would refuse. I only ask that you protect me from those who wish to kill me, so that I might convey the messages of my Lord - and Allah decrees what He wills for me and those who will follow him." Yet no one of them accepted him. Everyone he spoke to of these tribes would say: "The people of this man know best his claims. Do you think that a man can reform us when he has corrupted his own people, and who have therefore, abandoned him? " When Abu Talib died, trials increased greatly as never before for the Messenger of Allah. He thus turned to the tribe of Thaqif in the city of at-Ta'if in the hope that they might give him shelter. He sought three men, who were the notables of Thaqif in those days. They were brothers: `Abd Yalayl ibn `Amr, Habib ibn `Amr and Mas'ud ibn `Amr. He offered himself to them and told them of the trials that had afflicted him at the hands of his people. One of them exclaimed: "I swear that I would even steal the curtains of the Ka'bah, if Allah had truly sent you with anything! " The other said: "Could not Allah send someone other than you?" The third exclaimed: "By Allah, I shall never speak to you henceforth. By Allah, if you are truly the Messenger of Allah, you would be of too great honour for me even to speak to you. If, on the other hand, you lie concerning Allah, you would be too evil for me to speak to you." They mocked him and revealed to their people their conversation with him. The men then placed people in two lines in his way. When the Messenger of Allah passed between the two lines, he did not lift his feet or put them down but that they pelted them with stones. They repeated this until his feet bled. He escaped from them with his feet gushing blood, and ran to one of their gardens and took shelter under a tree, sad and suffering much pain. `Utbah ibn Rabi `ah and Shaybah ibn Rabi `ah were in the garden. He therefore did not wish to remain with them, as he knew their great hostility to Allah and His Messenger. When they saw him, they sent to him a servant of theirs called `Addas who was of the people of Naynawa (Nineveh), with grapes. When `Addas came to him, the Messenger of Allah asked: "From which land are you?" He answered: "I am of the people of Nineveh." He said to him: "So you are from the city of the righteous man Yunus (Jonah) son of Mitts (Matthew)." `Addas asked him: "How do you know who Yunus was? " The Messenger of Allah, who never looked down at anyone so much as not to convey to him the message of his Lord, answered: "I am the Messenger of Allah. Allah, exalted be He, informed me of the account of Yunus ibn Mitts." When he had told him what Allah had revealed to him concerning Yunus ibn Mitts, `Addas fell prostrate before Allah and began to kiss the Prophet's feet while they continued to gush blood. When `Utbah and Shaybah saw what their servant was doing, they kept silent. But when he returned to them they asked: "Why did you prostrate yourself before Muhammad and kiss his feet, while we never saw you do so to any of us?" He answered: "He is a righteous man who told me things which I recognized concerning a messenger whom Allah had sent to us, whose name was Yunus ibn Mitts." They laughed and said "Let him not tempt you away from your Christianity, for he is a deceitful man." The Messenger of Allah then returned to Mecca. `Ali ibn Ibrahim ibn Hashim (al-Qummi) reports that when the Messenger. of Allah returned from the city of at-Ta'if and approached Mecca with the intention of performing the `umrah (lesser pilgrimage), he did not wish to enter Mecca where he had no protector. He saw a man of the Quraysh who had secretly embraced Islam and said to him: "Go to al-Akhnas ibn Shurayq and tell him that Muhammad asks you to protect him until he performs the circumambulations ( tawaf , around the Ka'bah) and the running (sa`i) between the two hills of as-Safa and al-Marwa, for he has come to perform the `umrah." The man went to al-Akhnas and conveyed to him what the Messenger of Allah had said. al-Akhnas answered: "I am not of the Quraysh, but only an ally, and an ally cannot offer protection. I fear that they would violate my protection, and that would be an insult." The man returned to the Messenger of Allah and told him. The Messenger of Allah was hiding in the ravine of Harra' with Zayd ibn al-Harithah. He said to the man: "Go to Suhayl ibn `Amr and ask him to protect me only until I circumambulate the House (that is, the Ka'bah) and perform the sa`i (running between as-Safa and al-Marwa)." The man went and told Suhayl, but he answered: "No, I will not." The Messenger of Allah sent the man to Mut'im ibn `Adiyy (ibn `Amir) to make the same request. When the man went to him he asked: "Where is Muhammad?" The man, however, did not wish to tell him where the Prophet was. He rather answered: "He is nearby." Mut'im said: "Go to him and say that I shall give you protection. Come, therefore, and circumambulate and run as you wish." The Messenger of Allah entered the city. Mut'im said to his sons, his sister, and to his brother, who was called Tu'aymah ibn `Adiyy: "Take up your arms, for I have offered Muhammad protection! Stay around the Ka'bah until he performs the circumambulation and running." There were ten men in all who took up arms. Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, then came in to the mosque. Abu Jahl saw him and said: "O people of Quraysh, here is Muhammad alone. His supporter has died; do with him, therefore, as you please." Tu'aymah ibn `Adiyy said to him: "O uncle, do not speak, for Abu Wahb (that is, Mut'im) has offered Muhammad protection." Abu Jahl went to Mut`im and asked: "Are you a protector, or one who has abandoned his religion for another?" He answered: "I am only a protector." Abu Jahl said: "In that case your protection will not be violated." When the Messenger of Allah had finished his circumambulation and running, he came to Mut'im and said: "O Abu Wahb, you have protected and done well! Release me now from your protection." Mut'im replied: "What would prevent you from remaining in my protection?" He answered: "I detest remaining in the protection of an Associator for more than one day." Mut'im then exclaimed: "O people of Quraysh, Muhammad has released himself from my protection! " 'Ali ibn Ibrahim (al-Qummi) reported that As'ad ibn Zurarah and Dhakwan ibn `Abd Qays, both of whom were of the Khazraj tribe of Medina, came to Mecca during one of the pilgrimage seasons. At that time a state of war, which had already lasted for a long time, existed between the Aws and Khazraj (both of which were Medinan tribes). The people did not lay down their arms by day or night. In the last engagement between them on the day of Bu'ath [40], the Aws tribe had prevailed over the Khazraj. As'ad ibn Zurarah and Dhakwan came to Mecca for the `umrah of the sacred month of Rajab seeking an alliance against the Aws tribe. As'ad ibn Zurarah was a friend of `Utbah ibn Rabi `ah. He thus came to him as a guest and said: "A long period of war has prevailed between us and our people. We have come, therefore, seeking alliance against them." `Utbah answered: "Your dwellings are far from ours, and we have an important preoccupation which prevents us from undertaking any other." As'ad asked: "What is your preoccupation, when you live securely in your sacred city? " "A man has appeared among us who claims that he is the Messenger of Allah", answered `Utbah. He continued: "This man has declared our minds foolish, and insulted our gods. He has also corrupted our youths and dissolved our unity." "Who is he?" As'ad asked. `Utbah replied: "He is the son of `Abdullah son of `Abdu 'l-Muttalib. He is of a family that is of high honour and status among us." As'ad and Dhakwan as well as all the people of the Aws and Khazraj tribes used to hear from the Jews of an-Nadir, Qurayzah and Qaynuqa' - who lived among them - that: "The time has come when a prophet shall appear in Mecca, whose migration shall be to Medina. With him we shall slay you all, O people of the Arabs! " When As'ad heard all this from `Utbah, the things which he had heard from the Jews came back into his mind. He thus asked: "Where is he?" `Utbah answered: "He is sitting in the Ka'bah. They do not come out of their ravine except during the pilgrimage season. As for you, do not listen to him or speak to him, for he is a sorcerer who would bewitch you with his words." All this took place at the time when the men of Hashim were besieged in the ravine. As'ad said: "What shall I do when I have come for the `umrah and it is necessary for me to circumambulate the House? " He answered: "Plug your ears up with cotton." As'ad then went into the sanctuary, having stuffed his ears with cotton. He circumambulated the House while the Messenger of Allah was sitting in the sanctuary with some of the men of Hashim. He looked at the Prophet and passed him by. As he passed by, however, performing the second circumambulation, he said to himself: "Truly, there is no one more foolish than I ! Should all this occur in Mecca, and I know not what it is so that I might go back to my people and tell them? " He thus took the cotton out of his ears, threw it away and addressed the Messenger of Allah, saying: "Have a happy morning!" This was the greeting of the Arabs before Islam. The Messenger of Allah turned to him and said: "Allah has given us another greeting instead which is better than this one; it is the greeting of the people of Paradise: `as-Salamu `alaykum' [peace be upon you] ." As'ad said: "You must have come recently to this! What do you call men to, O Muhammad?" He replied: "To the witness (shahadah) that there is no god but Allah, and that I am the Messenger of Allah! I enjoin upon you that: `You associate nothing with Him, and that you act kindly towards your parents. Do not kill your children for fear of poverty, for We shall provide both for you and them. Do not come near vile transgressions, be they disclosed or hidden, and do not kill a soul, which Allah has made unlawful except with justice. With all this you have been charged that perhaps you may understand. Do not come near the wealth of an orphan except in the fairest manner, until he reaches the age of discretion. Give full and just measure and weight. Yet We do not charge a soul except in accordance with its capacity. When you speak, speak justly, even if it be against one who is nearest of kin. Fulfil Allah's covenant. You are enjoined to all this, that perhaps you may recollect.' " [41] When As'ad heard this, he exclaimed: "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, having no associate, and that you are the Messenger of Allah! O Messenger of Allah, may my father and my mother be a ransom for you! I am of the city of Yathrib (Medina), of the Khazraj tribe. All relations between us and our brothers of the Aws tribe are cut off. If Allah were to re-establish them by means of you, I would find no one more honoured than you. Another man of my people is accompanying me. I trust that he too will enter into this matter, and that Allah will set our affairs right through you. By Allah, 0 Messenger of Allah, we often heard reports of you from the Jews. They used to announce to us your coming forth and inform us of your characteristics. I trust that our abode shall be the abode of your migration, and that with us shall be your dwelling. The Jews have informed us of this. Praise be to Allah Who led me to you! By Allah, I came only to seek some alliance against our opponents. Yet Allah has given us something better than the purpose for which I came." Dhakwan then came, and As'ad told him: "This is the Messenger of Allah whom the Jews announced and of whose characteristics they informed us. Come, therefore, and declare your Islam." Dhakwan thus accepted Islam and said: "O Messenger of Allah, send with us a man who would teach us the Qur'an and call the people to your message." The Messenger of Allah sent Mus'ab ibn `Umayr, a youth who had lived in luxury with his parents, who preferred him over all their other children, and who had never left Mecca. But when Mus'ab became a Muslim, his parents disowned him, and he remained with the Messenger of Allah in the ravine until the signs of exhaustion were visible on his changed face. The Messenger of Allah ordered him to go with As'ad, as he had learned much of the Qur'an. Dhakwan then left for Medina with As'ad accompanied by Mus'ab ibn `Umayr. When As'ad and Dhakwan came to their people, they told them about the Messenger of Allah and his message. From every family one or two men accepted Islam. Mus'ab lived with As'ad ibn Zurarah, and every day he would go around the assemblies of the men of Khazraj calling them to Islam, but only the youths would accept his call. There was a man called `Abdullah ibn Ubayy who was a notable of the Khazraj tribe. They all agreed to appoint him as king over them because of his honourable status and generosity. They had made a crown for him which they then presented to him, seeking by this mediation in their long hostilities, for he had not fought on the side of his people of the Khazraj in the war of Bu'ath, nor had he supported them against the Aws tribe. He had said

I like this lady!! What do you think??? Questions spark McCain flip on illegals Schlafly program trains volunteers to pin candidates down on issues -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: March 22, 2007 1:00 a.m. Eastern By Jerome R. Corsi © 2007 WorldNetDaily.com Phyllis Schlafly Sen. John McCain's new attention to, and possibly new position on, illegal immigration is being credited to a grassroots program implemented by Phyllis Schlafly, who is training Eagle Forum leaders how to question presidential candidates on key national issues. McCain has expressed surprise by the intensity of immigration questions he has received in Iowa at town hall meetings and as his campaign bus, named the "Straight Talk Express," has toured the state. It's because of Eagle Forum's work, Schlafly told WND. "The town meetings that presidential candidates visit this year give grassroots Americans the opportunity to ask follow-up questions so the candidates can't evade and obfuscate their views on vital issues," Schlafly said. "We want to know what presidential candidates plan to do about the problems we care about." Schlafly has published a detailed list of questions she is encouraging Eagle Forum leaders to ask presidential candidates as they tour primary states seeking votes. (Story continues below) Schlafly's list includes 22 hard-hitting immigration questions designed to deny presidential candidates the luxury of hiding under answers crafted by political wordsmiths. Among the questions are the following: Do you consider it a presidential duty to prevent illegal entry into our country? Will you use whatever means necessary to close our borders to illegal aliens and illegal drugs, including electronic fences and National Guard troops? Since most illegal drugs come across our southern border, will you require visual inspection of the contents of at least 50 percent of trucks coming across our border (instead of just 1 percent to 2 percent)? What is your plan to stop the entry of 85 percent of illegal drugs that come over our southern border? Will you pardon the two Border Patrol agents who stopped an illegal alien from bringing in a million dollars worth of illegal drugs, and now face 11- and 12-year sentences while the drug smuggler was given immunity from prosecution? Last year, the Senate passed the Secure Fence Act 80-19, the House passed it 283-138, and we saw President Bush on television signing it into law. Now we are told the fence will never be built. Do you intend to obey the Secure Fence Act and order a fence built on our southern border? Will you veto any plan to put illegal aliens on a path to citizenship without going home and getting in line for lawful immigration? Will you veto any plan to put illegal aliens into our Social Security system under the State Department plan called "totalization"? That would bankrupt the system just when baby boomers are retiring. In the 109th Congress, McCain co-sponsored with Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass, S.2611, a "comprehensive immigration reform" bill supported by the Bush administration that included provisions calling for "guest workers" and a "pathway to citizenship." But after facing intensive questioning in Iowa about immigration issues, McCain is widely reported to be considering a change in his position, requiring illegal immigrants to return home before applying for citizenship, suggesting a compromise measure similar to that proposed by Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind. "The national media were generally favorable to the Kennedy-McCain bill last year, as well as to McCain himself," Schlafly explained to WND, "so before the Iowa meetings, McCain only had to respond to softball questions." Eagle Forum in Iowa made sure that situation for McCain changed. "What McCain probably has not realized," Schlafly told WND, "is that Eagle Forum has made sure that the grassroots are well informed about immigration and other issues. It may be a surprise to presidential candidates like McCain, but the Eagle Forum grassroots are not going to accept the typical politicians' platitudes." WND asked Schlafly if she thought the questioning from Eagle Forum leaders was the reason McCain appears to have shifted his immigration position. "Yes," she responded, "because I doubt McCain has been asked these specific questions. The specific questions force the candidates to face up to the issues in a practical and meaningful way." "Schlafly also noted that Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., also was startled by the tough line of questioning he faced in Iowa about immigration. "After 30 minutes, Brownback pleaded for questions about something other than immigration," Schlafly told WND. In the 109th Congress, Brownback added his name as a co-sponsor to S.2611, the "comprehensive immigration reform" bill advanced in the Senate by Kennedy. WND asked Schlafly if the Eagle Forum leaders intended to ask her question list to both Democratic and Republican candidates. Of course, she said. "All Republican and Democratic Party candidates for president should answer the Eagle Forum questions," Schlafly told WND. "That's why I published the list. We have a right to know what the candidates plan to do if elected." The Eagle Forum list of questions for presidential candidates includes a variety of policy issues besides immigration – including "supremacist judges legislating from the bench," North American integration under the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, jobs and the economy, as well as "respect for life."

Travel lodge? ....Valentines? Wats it like?......any1 kno? Right this is about my 4th valentines related post but im getting there! Because at first we planned to have valentines at my BF house I haven't booked anything but now we cant do that as there will be builders working! So as its my turn to arrange something im goin to book a hotel. But because I have left it late all the local hotels are fully booked! The only place I can get for Valentines night is a Travel Lodge and it hardly sounds romantic ! May be im just thinking this because i only know business men on quick trips that stay there purely for convinience! So what are they really like, I know there not going to be luxury but will they be ok 4 a valentines evening? Im quite creative so perhaps i could make the most of the situation? plzz help!

How much does my salary needs to be to live this life? I am planning on being a bachelor, and live in a decent city, like Los Angeles. This is my hope, and I am going to list the things I want to do. - Always have soda at my home - Eat out 2 times a week - buy high speed internet - always have snacks at my house - spend at least 5k-10k in luxury a year. - live in a apartment in a safe part of Los Angeles - able to by a smoothie or coffee each day So how much should my salary need to be, if I want to do everything on my list? Ok, perhaps I don't need to live in LA, I need to live in a city or a suburb. What would you recommend, to live off of a 65,000 salary? What you say want be my life plan, so just answer if you have any ideas