Jadwal Sholat

Three eggs a week Trigger Point Prostate Cancer?

This is just horrible and needs to be aware that  Consuming three eggs a week can increase the chances of men dying from prostate cancer. In addition, men who ate eggs in greater amounts are also generally not dieting, overweight, smoking, and rarely exercise.Experts in the United States revealed that men who ate eggs more than two and a half grains a week had a 81 percent higher chance of dying from prostate cancer.Disclosed that the possibility of damage to the body occurs due to the large amount of cholesterol or choline-nutrients that help the cells to function well-contained within the egg.According to the data, the average British man consumes 182 eggs per year or equal to 3.5 eggs per week.Until some time ago, the British Heart Foundation recommends eating no more than three eggs a week. This is because of fears of increased risk of heart attack and stroke.However, recommend it revoked in 2007 after new evidence that shows that very little cholesterol in eggs that enter the body's blood flow system.

Benefits of Soursop Fruit

Benefits of Soursop Fruit, whether it is fruit that is often underestimated health giving properties has not? In terms of taste, there is indeed no one denies that the very delicious and fresh made juice. Sour-sour sweet and fresh aroma.Maybe you think, this fruit is native Indonesia. But actually this useful plant originating from the Caribbean, Central America and South America. Imported by the Dutch East Indies colonial government to the archipelago, namely in the 19th century. Now, let's go back to the main topic, namely the Soursop fruit for health benefits. By taking we will have the benefit or efficacy as follows:

Austin Police Department has issued their list of the most frequented bars for suspected DWI drivers


The Austin Police Department has released its annual compilation of  bars, clubs and restaurants that are most frequently named by motorists who are arrested for DWI.  Police use the information when deciding what areas of Austin to target their enforcement.
Here’s the bar name, the address and the number of motorists who reported having their last drink at the locations for 2009:

DWI Probation Program


San Antonio Express News ran a report last week of a Tarrant County DWI probation program called Felony Alcohol Intervention Project. It is designed for offenders with three or more DWIs.  This program these repeat offenders to accept a “plea bargain for a seven-year prison sentence that is probated to four years.  The goal of the program is to reduce the number of injuries and deaths from alcohol related accidents. Currently, there are 175 probationers with 10 graduates.
 FAIP include the following requirements:
-        10 days jail
-        work 40 hours a week
-        Driver’s license suspense for 6 months to a year
-        random urinalysis
-        counseling and alcohol treatment; including daily meeting for the first 90 days
-        ankle monitor that detects alcohol for the first 90 days
-        attend court weekly for judicial review
-        meet with their probation officer once a week
-        community service at homeless shelters

While this may be good resolution for some folks, it is clearly not a one size fits all solution.  Some case just need fighting, and not just a quick probation outcome.  If this type of programs comes to Austin, we will sure look at on a client by client bases.  Pleading guilty to a felony DWI is always an avenue of last resort.  

Changes in DWI Law in Texas


As of today, September 1, two new laws go into force that deal with DWIs in Texas.  Section 724.017 of the Transportation Code is now expended to allow more situations where police can do a forced blood draw without a warrant.  Mandatory warrantless blood draws are now allowed if a person is arrested for DWI, or BWI, the person refuses to submit to the taking of a specimen volutarily, and: 1) an individual other than the person arrested has suffered bodily injury and was transported to a hospital or other medical facility for medical treatment; 2) the person is arrested for DWI with a child passenger under 15; 3) the officer has reliable information that the person has been previously convicted of DWI two or more times; or 4) the officer has reliable information that the person has been previously convicted of DWI with a child passenger under 15, intoxication assault, or intoxication manslaughter.
The Legislature also tried to give some assurance to the health care providers that actually draw the blood persuant to a blood warrant, or mandatory blood draw.  Section 724.017 of the Transportation code was amended to provide protection to those who take blood specimens according to "recognized medical procedures."  However, this change in the law DOES NOT relieve a person from lability for negligence in the taking of a blood specimen.  And there lies the danger to anyone that takes blood under these intrusive warrant/warrantless blood draws.

DWI bills in the 82nd Legislature

In this session, like in previous one, some state legislators targeted drunk drivers but most of those proposals, seem to be going nowhere. Here are some of the bills and their status three weeks before the Legislature adjourns. .
Bill Goal Status
• SB 231 To revoke driving privileges of anyone with two convictions. In committee
• HB 99 Third-degree felony for anyone with a previous conviction. House calendar
• HB 101 A hotline to report suspected cases of impaired driving. In committee
• HB 189 Mandating ignition interlock for any DWI conviction. Attached to other bill
• HB 237 To mark driver’s license of anyone with a prior conviction. In committee
• HB 3477 Ten-year driver’s license suspension after five convictions. To full House
Fortunately, the Legislature seems distracted with cutting education funding, cutting back who can vote, and making sure the police don't give immigrants any protection from deportation even when they are witnesses to a crime, to care much about DWIs this session.

Jail for First Time DWI Doesn't Prevent A Subsequent DWI

USA Today posted a good article about the fact that punishment for drunken driving among the states is inconsistent at best. Get arrested in Alaska, Tennessee or Georgia and you will face mandatory jail time for your first offense. These three states require mandatory sentences ranging from one to three days. Get arrested in California, Texas, Connecticut or Indiana and you won't face mandatory jail time for your first offense.
In some states, like Wisconsin, first-offense DWIs aren’t even considered a criminal matter. It's a civil infraction that results in a ticket. So far, there are no punishment guidelines for the states. It is up to each State's Legislature to figure out what the punishment range should be.
The article states that National research suggests jailing first-time offenders "has no impact" on whether they will do it again.
Sentencing guidelines drawn up in 2006 by federal highway officials and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism concur. "The available evidence suggests that as a specific deterrent, jail terms are extremely costly and no more effective in reducing (drunken driving) recidivism," the guidelines note.

DWI Dismissal Could Lead To Removal Of Ignition Interlock Device

Proving that the Wichita Falls Times Record News Online is just a little behind what most people would consider news, a few days ago they ran a story titled “First Offense May Require DWI Device”:
Repeat drinking and driving offenders in Texas know the hassle that comes with the advanced charges, but soon, first-time offenders, too, could face a tougher crack down.
Texas state legislation mandates that repeat offenders be ordered to have an ignition interlock installed on their vehicle as a condition of their bond.
However, that could change soon, as legislators are looking at amending the law, making the interlock a requirement on the first offense.
Actually, the legislative session is over, and I’m pretty sure House Bill 1110, which would have done just that, was left pending in committee, which is fancy legi-speak for “went nowhere”. I say “pretty sure” because Texas has some funky procedures regarding the Governor’s ability to call special sessions for certain issues, but I haven’t heard of one for this… yet. Not saying it couldn’t happen.
At any rate, I found this tidbit from the article amusing. Sometimes journalists like to rile their readers up, let ‘em know what sorts of outrageous consequences there could be if a bill doesn’t pass:
For some, the device is only a temporary inconvenience.
Being a condition of bond, the suspect could be allowed to have the device removed if the case is dismissed, or the terms of the conviction or probation don’t mandate its use.
That’s right folks! You get arrested, not convicted but just accused of DWI second in Texas, and you’re going to be required to put an interlock on your car. But as the law stands now… if the state dismisses your case (or, and the article doesn’t mention this, but hey, this is bad law too) if you are acquitted…
Under current law, you are no longer required to have the IID on your car. Imagine that. The horror. Better call your legislator and, well, tell them what? Rewind time and get this bill out of committee?

Term life insurance

Term life insurance or term assurance is life insurance which provides coverage at a fixed rate of payments for a limited period of time, the relevant term. After that period expires coverage at the previous rate of premiums is no longer guaranteed and the client must either forgo coverage or potentially obtain further coverage with different payments and/or conditions. If the insured dies during the term, the death benefit will be paid to the beneficiary. Term insurance is the least expensive way to purchase a substantial death benefit on a coverage amount per premium dollar basis over a specific period of time.Term life insurance is the original form of life insurance[citation needed] and can be contrasted to permanent life insurance such as whole life, universal life, and variable universal life, which guarantee coverage at fixed premiums for the lifetime of the covered individual[dubious – discuss]. Term insurance is not generally used for estate planning needs or charitable giving strategies but for pure income replacement needs for an individual. Many permanent life insurance products also build a predetermined cash value over the life of the contract, available for later withdrawal by the client under specific conditions. However, on most cash value policies like Whole Life insurance, the only way to receive the cash value is to cash out the policy. The beneficiaries receive the face value of the insurance but NEVER the cash value with Whole Life policies. Financial advisers generally advise buying term life insurance and investing the difference elsewhere to those who still qualify to contribute to other tax-deferred investment growth such as IRA's or 401k's.[1][2][3][4]

Term insurance functions in a manner similar to most other types of insurance in that it satisfies claims against what is insured if the premiums are up to date and the contract has not expired, and does not expect a return of Premium dollars if no claims are filed. As an example, auto insurance will satisfy claims against the insured in the event of an accident and a home owner policy will satisfy claims against the home if it is damaged or destroyed by, for example, a fire. Whether or not these events will occur is uncertain, and if the policy holder discontinues coverage because he has sold the insured car or home the insurance company will not refund the premium. This is purely risk protection.

Auto Insurance

All too often, car owners don't know what their auto insurance policy covers and what is optional. Since cost is always a consideration, working with a Service Insurance agent to find just the right coverage is important.
The calculations for premiums include factors such as the age of the car, your driving record as well as the number of cars owned by a family. But having the wrong coverage can prove to be more costly than getting the right options up front.
Insurance can be confusing, but it doesn't need to be that way. We take the time to educate our customers, to truly evaluate their needs. As an independent agent, we provide a custom blend of options and prices from multiple insurance companies. This requires us to take more time up front, shopping around for the coverages that fit you best.
Anyone can put a quote form on the internet and tell you this is the best price, but that's not service - that's not making sure you have the appropriate coverages - that's a machine. Our personal approach means we take the time to understand your priorities and your budget. For example, perhaps raising your deductible could cut your cost, but that's not an option for everyone.

Liability Coverage

There are two primary forms of liability coverage: Bodily Injury Liability and Property Damage Liability.
  • Bodily Injury Liability coverage helps should you injure someone while operating your car by covering medical treatment.
  • Property Damage Liability covers the property portion should you damage someone else's car or property in an accident.

Uninsured Motorists

If you have an accident with a negligent driver that is uninsured, this coverage protects you.

Underinsured Motorists

This protects you if the negligent driver carries less insurance than you.

Personal Injury

Regardless of fault, this coverage contributes towards your medical expenses.

Collision Coverage

This coverage protects your car should you overturn your car, or if you strike another vehicle or object.

Other Than Collision Coverage

This coverage protects you from theft, glass breakage or collision with an animal.

Transportation Expense

If you cannot drive your car because of a covered loss, this coverage provides you with the cost of a rental vehicle.

structured settlements


Helping people with structured settlements since 1999.
Whether you are an attorney who wants a certified structured settlement consultant to work on behalf of your client, or if you already have a structured settlement you are thinking about selling, feel free to contact us.  For new clients, we can refer you to a licensed consultant in your area.
It is important for every claimant to have their own consultant who is independent from the liability insurer.  Otherwise, you will be relying on an adversary to handle a large financial transaction on your behalf.

Legal Structure

The typical structured settlement arises and is structured as follows: An injured party (the claimant) settles a tort suit with the defendant (or its insurance carrier) pursuant to a settlement agreement that provides that, in exchange for the claimant's securing the dismissal of the lawsuit, the defendant (or, more commonly, its insurer) agrees to make a series of periodic payments over time.[8] The defendant, or the property/casualty insurance company, thus finds itself with a long-term payment obligation to the claimant. To fund this obligation, the property/casualty insurer generally takes one of two typical approaches: It either purchases an annuity from a life insurance company (an arrangement called a "buy and hold" case) or it assigns (or, more properly, delegates) its periodic payment obligation to a third party ("assigned case") which in turn purchases a "qualified funding asset" to finance the assigned periodic payment obligation. Pursuant to IRC 130(d) a "qualified funding asset" may be an annuity or an obligation of the United States government.

In an unassigned case, the defendant or property/casualty insurer retains the periodic payment obligation and funds it by purchasing an annuity from a life insurance company, thereby offsetting its obligation with a matching asset. The payment stream purchased under the annuity matches exactly, in timing and amounts, the periodic payments agreed to in the settlement agreement. The defendant or property/casualty company owns the annuity and names the claimant as the payee under the annuity, thereby directing the annuity issuer to send payments directly to the claimant. If any of the periodic payments are life-contingent (i.e., the obligation to make a payment is contingent on someone continuing to be alive), then the claimant (or whoever is determined to be the measuring life) is named as the annuitant or measuring life under the annuity.

In an assigned case, the defendant or property/casualty company does not wish to retain the long-term periodic payment obligation on its books. Accordingly, the defendant or property/casualty insurer transfers the obligation, through a legal device called a qualified assignment, to a third party. The third party, called an assignment company, will require the defendant or property/casualty company to pay it an amount sufficient to enable it to buy an annuity that will fund its newly accepted periodic payment obligation. If the claimant consents to the transfer of the periodic payment obligation (either in the settlement agreement or, failing that, in a special form of qualified assignment known as a qualified assignment and release), the defendant and/or its property/casualty company has no further liability to make the periodic payments. This method of substituting the obligor is desirable for defendants or property/casualty companies that do not want to retain the periodic payment obligation on their books. A qualified assignment is also advantageous for the claimant as it will not have to rely on the continued credit of the defendant or property/casualty company as a general creditor. Typically, an assignment company is an affiliate of the life insurance company from which the annuity is purchased.

An assignment is said to be "qualified" if it satisfies the criteria set forth in Internal Revenue Code Section 130 [1]. Qualification of the assignment is important to assignment companies because without it the amount they receive to induce them to accept periodic payment obligations would be considered income for federal income tax purposes. If an assignment qualifies under Section 130, however, the amount received is excluded from the income of the assignment company. This provision of the tax code was enacted to encourage assigned cases; without it, assignment companies would owe federal income taxes but would typically have no source from which to make the payments.

Structured Settlements in the United States

The United States has enacted structured settlement laws and regulations at both the federal and state levels. Federal structured settlement laws include sections of the (federal) Internal Revenue Code.[5] State structured settlement laws include structured settlement protection statutes and periodic payment of judgment statutes. Forty-seven of the states have structured settlement protection acts created using a model promulgated by the National Conference of Insurance Legislations ("NCOIL"). Of the 47 states, 37 are based in whole or in part on the NCOIL model act. Medicaid and Medicare laws and regulations affect structured settlements. To preserve a claimant’s Medicare and Medicaid benefits, structured settlement payments may be incorporated into “Medicare Set Aside Arrangements” “Special Needs Trusts."

Structured settlements have been endorsed by many of the nation's largest disability rights organizations, including the American Association of People with Disabilities [6] and the National Organization on Disability.[7]
[edit] Definitions

A definition of “structured settlement” can be found in Internal Revenue Code Section 5891(c)(1) (26 U.S.C. § 5891(c)(1)), which states that a structured settlement is an "arrangement" that meets the following requirements:

    A structured settlement must be established by:
        A suit or agreement for periodic payment of damages excludable from gross income under Internal Revenue Code Section 104(a)(2) (26 U.S.C. § 104(a)(2)); or
        An agreement for the periodic payment of compensation under any workers’ compensation law excludable under Internal Revenue Code Section 104(a)(1) (26 U.S.C. § 104(a)(1)); and
    The periodic payments must be of the character described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of Internal Revenue Code Section 130(c)(2) (26 U.S.C. § 130(c)(2))) and must be payable by a person who:
        Is a party to the suit or agreement or to a workers' compensation claim; or
        By a person who has assumed the liability for such periodic payments under a qualified assignment in accordance with Internal Revenue Code Section 130 (26 U.S.C. § 130).

It is important to note that the language immediately prior to Internal Revenue Code Section 5891(c)(1) states that the definition that appears there is "for the purposes of this section". Internal Revenue Code Section 5891 entitled "Structured Settlement Factoring Transactions" deals with the excise tax imposed on the "factoring discount" (see IRC 5891(c)(4)), when there is a purchase of structured settlement payment rights and the exceptions to the excise tax. A number of structured settlement industry commentators have been observed attempting to broaden the express language that appears in the Internal Revenue Code.

A world-renowned university

A world-renowned university


UC Davis is one of the nation's top public-research universities, with a tradition of service to the region, nation and the world. UC Davis, which celebrated its centennial in 2008, is a pioneer in interdisciplinary problem-solving. Its four colleges, five professional schools, more than 100 academic majors and 86 graduate programs provide a comprehensive, rigorous and research-based learning environment for students, faculty and researchers. The 30,000-student university has its main campus in the Sacramento Valley, near the state capital and the San Francisco Bay Area.
One of 10 campuses in the University of California system, UC Davis ranks 6th among U.S. universities based on contributions to society (Washington Monthly), 10th in research funding among public universities (National Science Foundation) and 9th among public universities nationwide and 39th among public and private research universities (U.S. News and World Report's 2011 "America's Best Colleges"). It is one of 62 North American universities admitted into the prestigious Association of American Universities.
UC Davis Health System is one of five health systems within the University of California. It is an integrated, academic health system consisting of the UC Davis School of Medicine, the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, the 613-bed, acute-care hospital and clinical services of UC Davis Medical Center, and the 800-member physician group known as UC Davis Medical Group. The health system also includes a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center, a comprehensive children's hospital and a Level I trauma center. In 2007, the health system was named as one of the 100 most highly integrated health networks in the United States.


UC Davis School of Medicine is ranked 44th among U.S. medical schools in research funding from the National Institutes of Health. It is ranked by U.S. News and World Report among the top 50 medical schools in the nation for both primary care and research. The school operates the largest family nurse practitioner and physician assistant training program in California.
UC Davis Medical Center serves as a clinical training site for health-care professionals, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, radiological technicians, medical transcriptionists and others. The medical center's all-R.N. nursing staff is one of the most highly regarded in the nation, and is distinguished by its peer/partner relationship with medical staff. Nurses are encouraged and given assistance to seek advanced degrees. They also are encouraged to design, conduct and publish their own research studies, reflecting the health system's commitment to academically rigorous, evidence-based health care.
The health system maintains the historic UC Davis campus tradition of being guided by public service in all of its endeavors: research, care and education. The health system has a reputation for encouraging students to cross traditional dividing lines among departments, divisions and programs, emphasizing teamwork, partnerships and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Faculty, researchers and students have scores of collaborative relationships, not only among units within the health system, but also with the university's other colleges and professional schools and outside organizations, including:
Among the distinguishing features of UC Davis Health System include:
The Center for Health and Technology. This program is a world leader in the use of telecommunications and information technology to improve the availability and delivery of high-quality health care. Its “distance education” program uses interactive technologies to deliver continuing medical education (CME) and continuing nursing education (CNE) to health professionals in remote regions. Consumer health information also is delivered via distance education, with wellness classes in adult and pediatric asthma management, heart disease prevention and prenatal care, among many others.
The Family Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant Program. UC Davis has the oldest and largest program of its kind in California, and the only physician assistant program in the UC system and other California public universities. The program is recognized for the excellence of its training, the diversity of its student body, and the placement of graduates in medically underserved areas of California. The program has earned honors from the Song Brown Commission and the California Office of Statewide Health, Planning and Development.
The UC Davis Clinical and Translational Science Center. This is the academic home for innovative and collaborative medical research conducted at UC Davis and its many institutional and community partners. The center expedites the translation and integration of science from a variety of disciplines into discoveries and treatments that benefit society. Established with a Clinical and Translational Science Award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the center is transforming how scientists and clinicians are trained and how they conduct clinical and translational research so that new treatments reach patients more quickly.

Stanford experts: how 9/11 has changed the world

Stanford experts: how 9/11 has changed the world

Never-ending war? A new "greatest generation?" A professor whose 3-year-old son is on the government's watchlist? Six Stanford experts talk about the world since that terrible day a decade ago.
BY CYNTHIA HAVEN
As we approach the 10th anniversary of the al-Qaeda attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the Stanford News Service posed this question to a series of Stanford experts: "How has the world changed as a result of 9/11?" Their insightful answers are below.
Robert Crews Robert Crews
Robert Crews, expert on Muslim networks 
 The most striking change has been the emergence in the United States of a garrison mentality. In the name of security, Washington embarked in 2001 on a course of open-ended war. Politicians have called intervention in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen and Libya essential to America's safety. Yet the military has shouldered this burden alone. Meanwhile, these policies have brought death to hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and tens of thousands of Afghans. A perpetual state of chaos reigns.
The United States is more intolerant and less curious about the world beyond the walls of the garrison. State legislatures have introduced harsh legislation against immigrants and demonized Islam. Few question Guantanamo – or a U.S. prison population of more than 2.2 million. Study of foreign language, history, literature, and the arts – knowledge that might inform a dialogue with the "barbarians" – is mostly ignored. Huddled in their insular world, Americans imagine that technology – drones, computers and smartphones – will make the world safer for them, no matter what the costs for foreign civilians. Delusion has followed tragedy in the garrison state.
Robert Crews, the director of Stanford's Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies, is the author of For Prophet and Tsar: Islam and Empire in Russia and Central Asia.

Priya Satia Priya Satia
Priya Satia, expert on war, technology and culture
My 3-year-old is on a Department of Homeland Security blacklist. The problem is his blessing of a name: Kabir. Kabir is Arabic for "great," but the name has a special significance on the Indian subcontinent, where it refers to a medieval mystic poet beloved by Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs. But the DHS is, alas, deaf, dumb and blind to such cultural subtleties and the syncretism they capture – and, apparently, to age. So, last week when we flew from Delhi to San Francisco, Kabir underwent special screenings and pat-downs, although his unruly tresses produced some confusion about his gender in addition to the concern with his possible involvement with an unspecified terrorist network. Once I clarify his status with the DHS, his name will not be simply struck from the blacklist but will be included in another list – individuals who sound like they might be terrorists but are not. The world has indeed changed since 9/11.
In other ways, however, our times uncannily echo past eras. The reliance on covert aerial policing; military occupations that deny their own existence; and a democratic polity sufficiently appeased by the discretion with which occupation and counter-insurgency are pursued – these were features of the interwar British occupation of the Middle East, too. But alongside the global enmities produced by 9/11 – the world of "us" versus "them" – the past decade has also unleashed the power of new forms of social communication and media. It is difficult to judge which aspects of our changed world – for instance, the unanticipated flowering of political protest from Egypt to Israel to India – are rooted in the newly wired world and which in the atavistic binaries that structure the U.S. government's post-9/11 understanding of the planet. For us, 9/11 might be everything, but as so many of these protestors have shown, the real story is at once more local and more global – those old demons of economic inequality and political exclusion.
Priya Satia, an assistant professor of history, is the author of Spies in Arabia: The Great War and the Cultural Foundations of Britain's Covert Empire in the Middle East.

John Taylor John Taylor
John Taylor, economist and government adviser
Ten years after 9/11 we now have a "new greatest generation" of Americans on the scene and ready to lead. It includes, of course, all the post 9/11 Afghanistan and Iraq veterans to whom Time Magazine dedicates its cover this week. Fifty-one have enrolled at Stanford with more to come. As [Stanford President] John Hennessy and [Stanford Provost] John Etchemendy say, "We are honored and proud to have many excellent current students and alumni who have served in the military."
But I see a new greatest generation that also includes equally dedicated civil servants, like those at the U.S. Treasury who froze terrorists' assets after 9/11 or funded new schools in Afghanistan; young entrepreneurs, who through ingenuity and hard work have been developing new products to improve peoples' lives; and the teachers, the doctors, the engineers who are just beginning their careers.
This is the best news and the most promising.
John Taylor, a fellow in economics at the Hoover Institution, served as a member of the President's Council of Economic Advisers from 1989 to 1991 and as under secretary of the treasury for international affairs from 2001 to 2005. He is currently a member of the California Governor's Council of Economic Advisors.

Ali Yaycioglu Ali Yaycioglu
Ali Yaycioglu, expert on globalization and economic institutions in the Islamic world
Perhaps the main impact of 9/11 is the consolidation of a conviction that the world is divided by the Western, Islamic, Hindu and East Asian civilizations and there are inherent tensions or clashes among them. Such a perspective, however, not only ignores the interconnectedness of the world through diverse cultural and economic ties but it also overshadows several other categories of understanding human history, such as class, gender and environment. On the other hand, 9/11 and following global violence committed both by the terrorists and the states seeded distrusts and phobia among peoples of the world. This process of distrust has been further strengthened by the consolidation of advance surveillance technologies employed by the states to control their societies and mobility of individuals and ideas. Although we are far from the birth of global civil society that Immanuel Kant once imagined, we should make efforts to challenge the established paradigm of 9/11.
Ali Yaycioglu, an assistant professor of history, is the author of the forthcoming Partners of the Empire: The Rise of Provincial Notables and the Crisis of the Ottoman Order.

Amy Zegart Amy Zegart
Amy Zegart, expert on intelligence and security
Osama bin Laden is dead. Yet 10 years after 9/11, it would be dangerous and wrong to think that the terrorist threat is behind us. Violent Islamist extremism comes from many places, not just the 50-100 core al-Qaeda fighters holed up along the Af/Pak border. The years 2009 and 2010 have seen a spike in plots against the U.S. homeland. Nearly all of them have come from radicalized homegrown terrorists or "franchise" groups with loose and murky ties to the core al-Qaeda organization. In addition, WMD terrorism remains a haunting future possibility. And the FBI has not made the leap from crime-fighting to intelligence. FBI analysts, whose work is vital to connect dots and protect lives, are still treated like second-class citizens – labeled "support staff" alongside janitors and secretaries, and relegated to middle and lower rungs of the bureaucracy. So long as FBI analysts are treated like second-class citizens, Americans will get second-class security. These three factors – diversification of the terrorist threat, the potential to combine destructive motives with devastating weapons and the FBI's continued weaknesses – suggest that the future may not be any safer than the past.
Amy Zegart is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and an affiliated faculty member at the Center for International Security and Cooperation. She is the author of the forthcoming book, Eyes on Spies: Congress and the United States Intelligence Community.

Lisa Blaydes Lisa Blaydes
Lisa Blaydes, an expert on Middle Eastern politics and the dynamics of authoritarianism
[The events of] 9/11 made it increasingly clear that the grievances of citizens in the Islamic world – legitimate or falsely constructed – impact not just Muslim populations but also residents of Western democracies. Since 2001, survey researchers began taking a much greater interest in understanding how Muslims view religion and extremism, Americans and U.S. policy, as well as Muslim attitudes toward democracy. What we have come to know is that citizens of Muslim-majority countries place tremendous value on democracy as a form of government while simultaneously disliking the way that Western democracies – like the United States – have projected their interests and power in the world.
Lisa Blaydes is an assistant professor of political science.  She is the author of this year's Elections and Distributive Politics in Mubarak’s Egypt.

Byron Bland Byron Bland
Byron Bland, international conflict negotiator
Since 9/11, the practice of tolerance has come increasingly under assault. The adage, tolerance is tolerant of everything but intolerance, provides little guidance for dealing with seemingly intolerable threats looming on the horizon. In the post-9/11 world, because what we can afford to tolerate appears much less certain, tolerance must mean more than indifference toward whatever some fool might do or think. Under pressure, it seems that we are tempted to tolerate only those things that we respect. However, if we allow only those things we find meaningful, valuable or comfortable, are we really practicing tolerance?
Tolerance is hard to pin down because it revolves around two distinct and opposing principles: first, the freedom to be different, and, second, a positive regard toward these differences. When these principles conflict, the practice of tolerance suffers if either is allowed to eclipse the other. Take, for instance, the turmoil surrounding the proposal to build a mosque near the World Trade Center Memorial. Tolerance requires that freedom of religion trump apprehensions that non-Muslims may have about Islam. At the same time, unless Muslims who seek to exercise this right also make clear their deep respect for the dignity and worth of every human being regardless of their religion, tolerance will remain superficial and fragile. If tolerance is to flourish, the tension that exists between these two vibrant principles must be not only balanced but continuously cultivated.
Byron Bland is a senior consultant for the Stanford Center on International Conflict and Negotiation and a lecturer at the Stanford Law School. He is currently exploring the social and political dynamics of reconciliation in Northern Ireland. He is also working with community groups and civil leaders in Israel and the West Bank.

Top Schools for Accounting and Bookkeeping



Read on for useful career and educational information for those interested in entering the field of Accounting and Bookkeeping. This article includes some of the top Accounting and Bookkeeping schools and colleges.

Training for Careers in Accounting and Bookkeeping

Many adults choose to pursue a business education each year. One reason may be the variety of specialties to choose from, such as Accounting and Bookkeeping. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), www.bls.gov, bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks held about two million jobs in 2002. Accountants and bookkeepers are in demand in all types of industry and at every level of government. Most accountants and bookkeepers employed in local government deal with tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services.
According to the BLS, students who study Accounting and Bookkeeping in college will enroll in a variety of courses providing skills in auditing, bookkeeping and managerial accounting. Upon completion of the program, the students will have the Accounting and Bookkeeping skills necessary to launch a successful career in the business world.

Top Accounting and Bookkeeping Schools

1. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne-
The University of Illinois is the top-ranked college for accounting, and one of the longest- established public universities in the state of Illinois (founded in 1867).--Undergraduate Student Body: 29,632; Faculty to Student Ratio: 1:14; Tuition Costs: In-state-$8,624, Out of State-$22,710; Test Scores of Incoming Freshmen: ACT- 50% had scores of 27-31, SAT- 54% had scores of 1200-1399.)
2. University of Texas-Austin-
This university takes pride in providing a well-rounded education experience blending classroom experience and extracurricular activities.--Undergraduate Student Body: 37,377; Faculty to Student Ratio: 1:19; Tuition Costs: In-state-$5,735, Out-of-state-$14,435; Average High School GPA of Incoming Freshmen: Not listed; Test Scores of Incoming Freshmen: SAT- 40% had scores of 1200-1300.)
3. University of Pennsylvania -
The University of Pennsylvania has one of the top ranked accounting programs in the country, with an overall ranking of four. This university provides a multitude of research possibilities to enrich the education experience.--Undergraduate Student Body: 9,719; Faculty to Student Ratio: 1:6; Tuition Costs: $32,364; Average High School GPA of Incoming Freshmen: 3.8; Test Scores of Incoming Freshmen: SAT- More than 50% had scores of 1400-1600.

 
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