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Muslim Marriage Contract in American Courts

by Azizah Y. al-Hibri

T. C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond

<[email protected]>

Minaret of Freedom Banquet

May 20, 2000

Let me first thank Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad and the Minaret of Freedom for their kind invitation to address this distinguished audience.My remarks tonight are not just about Virginia courts.Other courts in other states face similar issues.But an order from a Virginia court led me to take a good look at the problems facing Muslim women in American courts and address them in a serious and professional way.

Last spring a court order came across my desk, by chance, in which a judge said that Islamic law of marriage is contrary to public policy in Virginia.That is a very serious statement to make, because anything that is contrary to public policy in any state is struck down.The question becomes what is the status of Muslim marriage contracts in Virginia?Several cases have come to my attention since that time.

"When you divorce women and they fulfill the term of their “iddah”, the Qur'an said,"either take them back on equitable terms or set them free on equitable terms; but do not take them back to injure them or to take undue advantage; if anyone does that He wrongs his own soul" (2:231).It also said: "…[T]he parties should either live together in kindness or leave each other charitably …" (2:229).But there are very few Muslim marriages at the divorce stage where the parties separate charitably.It's very unfortunate and it is against what the Qur'an says.Often the husband does not want to pay the last part of the mahr.The result is that expert witnesses are called to testify about what should happen under the Islamic marriage contract.

In the Virginia case, the transcript revealed that the court reached this conclusion based on the testimony of an expert witness.That witness was a Muslim professor of religion in a prestigious Virginia university.My search could not uncover, however, the content of that testimony because the parties decided to keep it un-transcribed, and hence unavailable to the public.

This result is disappointing especially in light of an e-mail I received a few months ago from an advocate of the High Court in the jurisdiction where the marriage contract in this Virginia case was entered into.Though now living in the U.S., this Muslim couple was married outside the U.S.To avoid personalizing this case, let us call their country of origin “Country X.”When I was traveling two summers ago to Country X, I mentioned that an Islamic marriage contract executed in that country was found unenforceable in an American court.I addressed the bar association and the judges of Country X.They were very concerned about the situation and wondered what they needed to do to make their marriage contracts enforceable in Virginia and other American jurisdictions.Having no idea why the American judge made his decision, I could offer no definite answer.The discussion made its way to the newspapers in that country, because there are many Muslims in the U.S. who married there before immigrating.

The court decision is alarming because Virginia has a large Muslim population whose marital relations are based on Islamic marriage contracts.There are at least seven million Muslims in the US, and a large concentration of Muslims in North Virginia alone.Richmond has several mosques.All of them are likely to have been involved in the preparation and execution of Muslim marriage contracts.Are we to conclude that all these marriage contracts (I'm sure many in this room are parties to one of their own) are all null and void in Virginia?

The most disturbing aspect of the order is that it was based on testimony by an expert Muslim.The judge reached this opinion not because he had a certain image of or bias against Islam.He listened to an expert Muslim witness and based on that testimony he reached his conclusion.The problem that this fact reveals is very basic.Many Muslim men, whether imams of mosques or professors of religion, are not sufficiently familiar with Islamic law.Often, they confuse their cultural beliefs and practices with Islam itself.An American judge has no way of discerning the difference in the absence of more reliable sources of information.If I am a non-Muslim American judge and a Muslim expert witness, a Muslim professor of Islam (how more reliable can an expert witness be?) or the imam of a masjid walks into my court, then I am inclined to believe that I am going to get the real story.But that is not always the case.There are some important issues about who can, with authority, interpret Islamic laws, and the judges are not aware of this.

Now consider the fact that the Islamic marriage contract used in this country is usually a one-page document.Fill in your name and the name of your spouse, the names of two witnesses, the name of the imam, the amount of the mahr, and underneath in fine print it says “governed by Islamic law.”That's it.What is a judge to do with that, given the separation of church and state? The judge can't tell the clerk, "Go back to the Qur'an and tell me what the Qur'an says" or “what does Islamic jurisprudence say?”We have not told the judges what the parties contracted upon; we just told the judges to go back to Islamic law.You can immediately see that we have inadequate marriage contracts.

Suppose the judge looks at the document, and it either uses the word mahr or sadâq, and says here is the amount of money the prospective husband agrees to pay to the prospective wife. What is “mahr”?That is a basic term of the contract and the judge has no idea what it means.While a statement about Qur'an or Shari`ah may clarify many issues for a Muslim judge, it does very little to enlighten an American non-Muslim judge.Consequently, she has to rely on an expert witness who may provide, as I've seen often happen, incorrect information.

In Islam if a woman wants out she gives back the money.That's called khul`.So the imam said that.How would the judge know to ask questions that some of you are asking right now, "He did all of this to her and he still takes the money?"There is an exception to the rule; a woman can seek judicial divorce for harm (dharar) without losing her delayed mahr.The husband need not physically torture her; under Jordanian law, under Kuwaiti law, just verbal abuse is sufficient.The imam did not go into the exceptions.It may not have been intentional.Perhaps he didn't know.In this case the husband transmitted venereal disease to the woman, and therefore the harm was clearly established.It was not a question of fact, but the imam did not mention the exceptions.

In another case a man ordered his wife to leave the house, and sent her to live with her brother, her only relative in the US.He simply did not want her around anymore.He then waited a year and sued her for divorce on the grounds of abandonment.Other Muslim women told me that they know of several Muslim men who tired of their wives and forced them to go back to their country of origin.Then they sued them for abandonment.

I went to the imam and council of the mosque and I explained to them the importance of the case because it was taking place in a jurisdiction neighboring that where the judge stated that Islamic law was against public policy in Virginia.I said, "It is your Islamic duty to see that Islamic law is properly observed in this case.Otherwise we will have one precedent of ignoring Islamic law piled on top of another.I need your help."I didn't get that help.The leadership just listened and stared.And argued.After two weeks I found out it was very hard for them to support Islamic law in this because it meant the husband would have to pay.But the husband was the son of a major donor to the mosque.

On one occasion a well-known Islamic scholar said to me, "Mahr is the bride price."This is abhorrent.It is my suspicion that it is such testimony that the judge heard in his court that led him to say "slavery is over in the U.S., if Islamic marriage law says women are sold into marriage, then we will not enforce it in this country."

The interpretation of mahr as bride price is clearly contradicted by the Qur'an, which states that sadâq is a gift (nihlah) from the husband to the wife.Yet, if a witness were to testify in an American court that sadâq is bride price, then we should not be surprised if the judge was offended and refused to enforce the terms of the marriage contract.Is this what happened in the Virginia case?We do not know because the public record is not complete.

It's not just the expert witnesses.It's also the lawyers.In Islam there is a form of marriage in which the woman retains for herself, in the marriage contract, the right to divorce her husband.It's called "keeping the ’ismah in her hand."This language, “keeping the ’ismah,” has two different meanings in the Muslim world.In some countries (Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, etc.) it means the woman may divorce at will.In other countries it could mean that the husband loses the right to divorce and only the woman can divorce, which is an extreme result.And there are certain jurisdictions which will allow the woman to keep the ’ismah in her hand, but she could lose it very easily, so you have to learn all these jurisdictional distinctions.

In one case, a woman had written in her marriage contract that the ’ismah was in her own hand (malaktu amri biyadi), so that she could divorce at will.This meant that, when she wanted to divorce, she would simply tell her husband "I divorce you" and then goes to an imam to record the divorce, and she would be done.The husband’s input/consent is not required for this process.This form of divorce is very different from khul`, which does not involve ’ismah, but involves giving up the woman’s mahr and, some argue, obtaining the consent of the husband.

In the khul` form of divorce, the wife tells the husband "I want to leave you; take your mahr and go."Traditionally this has been interpreted to mean that the wife must first get the husband's consent to khul`, which is not really in the prophetic tradition.In that tradition, the Prophet said to a woman who had received a garden as her mahr, "Are you willing to return the garden?"She said: “yes,” and they were pronounced divorced.Yet many Muslim countries require the consent of the husband, and that has led to husbands blackmailing their rich wives.In some cases, the husband demanded not only the return of his mahr, but also an additional bonus of hundreds of thousands of dollars.For this reason, women who cannot obtain khul` for lack of spousal consent, end up asking for judicial divorce.So, what kind of a right is this khul`?It is almost useless!

That is why in the 1960s a court in Pakistan revisited the issue and concluded from the Qur’an and the prophetic tradition that the consent of the husband is necessary in the case of khul`.Under this view, you have a khul`when the woman says "Here's your mahr and goodbye."Nobody picked up on this Pakistani opinion although it was excellent jurisprudentially.But, in January of this year, al-Azhar in cooperation with the Egyptian government changed the law of khul` so that the consent of the husband was no longer required.Some journalists protested that the change spelled the end of Islamic law in Egypt; but the change in the law was passed and now Egypt follows the prophetic tradition of granting khul`without the consent of the husband.Although it is too early to say, there are other countries getting ready to follow suite.

Let me go back to the case where the woman had kept her ’ismah.Her lawyer was a Jewish woman familiar with the Jewish law of divorce.Encouraged by the general similarities between Jewish law and Muslim law, she extended that analogy to the law of khul`.But Jewish law does not have a counterpart (as far as I know) to khul`, as understood by the Pakistani and Egyptian jurisdictions.So, to divorce, the Jewish woman must obtain the consent of her husband, which consent can be unreasonably withheld (this is the get process).Further the judge or rabbi is unable to grant the woman judicial divorce.

In the case at hand, although the consent of the Muslim husband was not required, the wife asked him to sign her declaration of divorce to document the fact that he was on notice.The lawyer, believing that the signature of the husband was necessary, examined it very carefully and was troubled by it.She noted that it was quite different from his signature on the other documents.She said, "I'm afraid that we might not have his consent to the divorce."

I said, "Your client is not relying on her husband’s consent for divorce, she's using the ’ismah form of divorce; the signature is not necessary and is not part of the evidence."The lawyer said she did not know that about Islam.The same is the case with Christian lawyers.They analogize to their own religion and some of these analogies just don't work.So you have to educate your lawyers who are from other faiths about how Islamic law works so that they can then give the right presentation to the courts.

Many women do not even know their rights under the marriage contract in Islam.I'll start with sadâq.It is a gift from the husband to the wife.The amount of the sadâq is to be agreed upon by the two parties while negotiating the marriage contract.They may agree that the full amount would be due at the time of the marriage, or that part of it would be postponed to a later date, which is more common since the young husband may not have the cash up front.Often, the largest portion of the sadâq is postponed to the earlier of the divorce or death of one of the spouses.In either event, the postponed amount of the sadâq becomes due immediately without any court action.You don't have to go to court to get your muta`akhir (the delayed part).In the case of death of the husband, the sadâq becomes a senior debt against his estate, separate from the wife's inheritance rights.Thus even if the estate would become exhausted by debt repayment, the wife would still get her sadâq first and without delay.

The sadâq is a pure right of the woman herself.She is free to spend it any way she pleases.No one may touch it, not even her father or her husband.In some countries I visited they told me that women were being pressured by to show their love for their husbands by saying "I forgive you the muta`akhir, you don't have to pay me the latter part of the mahr.”Then, when they get divorced they realize they weren't very smart to do that.Another mode of customary pressure on the woman is to say "You get more barakat, more blessings, if you ask for a man to give you two or three dollars."Then when the woman gets divorced at fifty she is in trouble because that is all that she gets on her way out of the house.

What I have said about the mahr is true about all the money of the woman. Islam gave the woman full financial independence.No one has the right of guardianship over her money.This is the reason that Abu Hanifah says that the woman has the right to enter and execute her own marriage contract without a wali, because if she is free and independent with regard to money, marriage is much more important and we should give her self-sufficiency in marriage.

This situation follows from two basic Islamic legal concepts.First, a married Muslim woman is legally entitled to her financial independence.Her husband may not touch any of her assets.Second, the husband is obligated to support his wife, even if she is wealthier than he is.She has no obligation to support her husband.Any money she gives him is regarded as charity or gift or a loan.

These legal facts are part of a larger framework of Muslim women's rights.In this larger framework, a Muslim woman retains her maiden name upon marriage and is not obligated to perform houseworkIf she chooses not to cook, her husband is obligated to bring her prepared food.Understand that all of the major imams take this position.This is not a"women's lib" position.These facts rest on the recognition by Muslim jurists that the marriage contract is not a service contract.The recognition is based on the Qur'anic view of the marriage contract: it is not for service, but for muwaddah wa rahmha, for sakînah, for human companionship.It is not entered into so that the husband can find somebody to cook and iron his clothes.Where the sadâq is large, it is usually viewed by the woman as an important security net for later years.That is why women say, "I don't want your money now, but on death or divorce, I want a million dollars."That was not uncommon in my circle in Lebanon.Of course, when the lira dropped in value there was a wave of divorces.Then, the shari’ah courts intervened and adjusted the amount of the mahr to inflation; and then things stabilized.

Because of these large sadâq demands, the government in the United Arab Emirates placed a cap on the amount of sadâq. This action by the government of the Emirates is questionable because the Qur'an gave the women the right to any amount they please and let the market forces determine whether they could get it or not.When the khalifah Umar ibn al-Khattab said "I want to cap the mahr" an old woman stood up in the mosque to argue with the khalîfah of all the Muslims.

We do not know this woman's name; she didn't belong to an influential tribe.All we know is that she was an old woman in the back of the mosque and said, "You cannot take away from us what God gave us."

He said, "What is that?"

She cited the Qur'anic verses that "even if ye had given the latter a whole treasure for dower take not the least bit of it back: would ye take it by slander and a manifest wrong?" (4:20) and Umar said, "The woman is right and the khalîfah is wrong," and he took back his idea.Yet now we see government again putting a cap on these.

In many Muslim countries, the tendency, usually introduced by the parents, is to minimize the amount of the sadâq, as a way to of showing upper class stature, or piety.In these cases, women suffer upon divorce, especially if they had moved to the US, lost their families, and have no ability to support themselves. Consider the similar story of Shah Bano in India.A rich husband divorced a 70-year-old woman and gave her a very minimal settlement–like a hundred dollars.(That was also the case in Virginia, where the judge said that the Islamic law of marriage was against public policy.Had he said otherwise, and enforced the contract, this older woman who was in her late forties, would have been given about $300 and sent into the streets of India with no means of support.)In the Shah Bano case, the woman went to court and asked the husband, "Is this all you're going to give me?After all my life with you?At aged 70, you're rich and I'm going to get pennies?"The non-Muslim Indian court intervened and tried to interpret Islamic law so as to give her maintenance.The act of a non-Muslim court trying to interpret Islamic law was unforgivable.There were riots in the streets.Finally, Shah Bano dropped her case under pressure from the Muslims community who did not want to give the Indian government further opportunity to interfere.

Faced with Muslim marriage contracts, some American judges may treat them as prenuptial agreements.If they do, then our usual American laws about property distribution and other financial matters upon divorce would not apply.Instead, the marriage contract provisions will take over.The first consequence of this view has usually been that the sadâq provision will represent the full financial settlement between the parties.Where the amount of the sadâq is high and the length of marriage short, in one case I saw, even the lawyer for the woman refused to go after the husband for the full amount of the sadâq.He said, "She lived with him for only three months.Why should he should give her $50,000?"

I said, "That's her sadâq. If he spent only one minute with her and consummated the marriage, she gets $50,000."The lawyer had real difficulty understanding that.These are the sorts of things we need to explain to the women, to the lawyers, and to the judges.

The policy of not enforcing the terms of the Islamic marriage contract causes problems for the majority of Muslim women in America, many of whom use the sadâq as a security package.It may also create constitutional issues relating to the free exercise clause, because Muslims would be restricted then from exercising fully their religion.But then what is a judge to do?

One thing we can do for the judge when we execute a Muslim marriage contract is to define the terms, define all the rules, make it clear which madhhabwe are following, which point of view this couple is committed to.This means that a marriage contract would be much thicker than this presentation, something like a book.That's exactly what I'm hoping to work on at the National Humanities Center next year.I'm hoping my book will include:What are the definitions of the various concepts in the Islamic marriage contract?What are the rules of the various madhhabs?And how do they work in the case of divorce?Then the marriage contract could be a page or two with an appendix, which is the whole book, that explains to the judge so that the judge does not have to go and ask an "expert" witness who does not know what the rules are.So we can safeguard the position of Muslim people from here on if they use the Muslim marriage contract.However, I don’t know what to do about those women who have gotten married already in other jurisdictions and did not safeguard their rights.

Even with this book, the question remains: Is the Muslim marriage contract a pre-nuptial agreement that cuts off the rights of Muslim women under American law or not?Is the Muslim marriage contract a representation of all the woman’s financial rights at divorce?If the answer is yes, it means that her sadâq is all that she is going to get upon divorce whether she is 50 or 20, or 80.But there are other notions in the Qur'an beyond the concept of mahr that have been ignored for a long time that actually specify a more equitable distribution of marital property among the spouses.It is time for us in America to develop this jurisprudence and hope that other jurisdictions around the world will find it interesting enough to for them to adopt.

[Questions and Answers]

Q.:Please clarify the concept of ’ismah.

Al-Hibri:The concept of ’ismah, or the wife’s right to it, in a marriage, is a right that a woman negotiates with her groom at the time of the marriage.It is a condition of the marriage contract, which he may accept or reject.If the groom is not willing to accept it, then the woman may not wish to proceed with that marriage.If the groom accepts the condition, then it should be recorded in the contract as a condition of the marriage.Once the condition becomes part of the contract, then the woman does not need the permission of the husband to exercise it.Permission of the husband is no longer relevant.

Q.:In the marriage contract you can pretty much negotiate everything including the fact that you do not want him to get married to other women.

Al-Hibri:You can put a variety of conditions in the marriage contract, not just the ’ismah condition.One such condition is to require the groom not to move his prospective wife from her city or country.If he does, she is divorced from him at her option.Some major jurists have accepted that condition as valid.Others have accepted, for example, the condition that if the husband marries another woman (polygamy) the first wife is entitled to divorce at her option.However, some jurisdictions do not accept certain conditions.For example, this last condition about not allowing a husband to marry a second wife is rejected by some jurisdictions as against sharî`ah and therefore null and void.Any condition viewed as contrary to sharî`ah or contrary to the intent of the marriage contract–for example if you make a condition that you will not have sexual relations–is considered null and void, but the contract remains valid.So, it is a complex situation.

Q.:What is being done in terns of abusive marriage in this country through the legal system and particularly with regard to Islamic marriages?

Al-Hibri:I got a call from a Muslim convert, a woman who said "I really want to be a good Muslim, but I'm so black and blue that I can't do it anymore."

I said, "What do you mean?"

She said, "Well, I'm trying as hard as I can to be a good wife, but my husband's beatings have gotten so much worse that I just cannot bear it."

I said, "Why do you have to bear it?"

She said, "I talked to the imam and he said it's my fault, that I provoked my husband and that I have to be obedient and he will stop beating me up."

I said, "Did you talk to anyone in your community?"

She said, "Yes.The women told me, 'You better not be such a bad wife that you bad-mouth your husband in public and now people know that he beats you up; that's not a very nice thing for a wife to do.'I'm at my wit's end.I've tried being obedient; I've tried being nice; I've tried being a good Muslim and I'm black and blue."

I said, "That's not what being a good Muslim is about."

I sat on a task force of religious leaders that the Virginia legislature had put in place to study violence against women.There were various religions represented around the table.According to one Christian voice at the table, there are some Christians–not many–who believe that it is okay for the husband to beat the wife to discipline her.People have local customs or cultural beliefs that they then say are religious.There are others who do not know enough about their religion.This poor woman was a convert; she thought this was part of Islam.My feeling is that the first thing we need to do is to educate the community about what Islam says about abusing women.That's why in my lecture I managed to throw in a few words about the fact that verbal abuse alone is sufficient for a grant of divorce in Kuwait, Jordan, and maybe a couple of other places.Islam does not condone the mistreatment of any human beings, not even a cat, according to the Prophetic hadith.We need to do something about that.It is a serious problem.

Q.:I don't think we necessarily have to follow other countries whether Saudi Arabia or Jordan or whatever.We need Muslim scholars in North America to study the teachings of the religion and engage in ijtihâd.Whatever was in the past should not limit us except what is in the Qur'an and sunnah, and other schools of thought are just there to learn from and not necessarily to limit.My interpretation of sadâq is that it is part of the initiation of the contract of marriage but if there is a divorce a woman should certainly have other rights and in accepting sadâq she isn't giving away her other rights.Maybe you could clarify that.

Al-Hibri:Any time you hear about a problem in Islam and a ruling about that problem, the main question to ask is this:Is the result just?Because the hallmark of Islam is justice.If the result is not just, then something is very wrong.Somebody misapplied the law; some issue got messed up.So in a general fashion, I would say, "Yes, you're right."But if you are going to be a legal scholar, a jurist, the next question is: "What are you hanging your hat on? Or, what are you hanging your turban on?"What is the jurisprudential argument, the Qur'anic verse, the hadith that you're relying on.That is the question.That's what I need to write about because no one has done it.Why haven't they done it?There's a very easy answer.Why is it that for over fourteen hundred years no one cared about the fact that all a Muslim woman gets upon her divorce is her sadâq, which may be pennies?Some husbands may give her also a dress or two, a pair of shoes, something to make her happy, because the Qur'an recommends a mat`a for a divorced woman, and that has been interpreted to mean something minor that would make her happy.It could be a handbag; you can buy it from Paris if you want to be nice.That's it.I'm not exaggerating; that's what happens.You are welcome to say otherwise, but where's the jurisprudence for it?What I have discovered is that the Qur'an does give a basis for additional financial rights for the woman but no one bothered to develop those sufficiently because everyone was living in a Muslim country.In a Muslim country you have the notion of al-takâful al-ijtimâ`i.If a woman gets divorced it's not a big deal.Now it's a big deal, but historically, "It's only a husband."She goes back to her family, brothers, father, and sisters.That's her family.Husbands come and go.In our families the real basic relationship is the blood relationship.You can divorce a husband; you cannot divorce a brother or a father.So under Islamic law when she gets divorced, guess who has to maintain her?Her father.She doesn't need money.Even if has her independent fund of money, and she never has to pay a penny.If her father is poor, her brother pays, if her brother is poor, her uncle pays, and so on.And if she has no one, the head of her state pays.She is never left with no one to maintain her.Plus, why does a man want to give the woman too much money? She's more controllable if you say sit in my home and I'll maintain you.So, it's patriarchy and it's old family arrangements that are different from today.Today, she does not have the family arrangement in the U.S.Today, if she gets divorced, she's out on the street.She might not have children.Her parents are God knows where–if they're still alive.She has nobody.It is not a luxury for her to look back to the Qur'an and ask what more financial value can she have in her marriage.

You speak about ijtihâd.What you're talking about is something that is very popular these days."Let's do Islamic ijtihâd for America.What does that mean?First of all, Islamic ijtihâd for America is not going to be that different from ijtihâd in any other part of the Muslim world because there are certain things that are fixed in Islam.Monotheism is one of them.`ibidât, items of worship usually do not change, but mu`amalât, human dealings, are subject to variety from society to society.What does that mean?A free-for-all?You can do whatever ijtihâd you want?No.We have guidelines.The way we have worked those guidelines is first you study the Qur'an.If you want me to take you seriously, first you better know the Qur'an in Arabic.I don't want to work with you from a translation.I give an example.I have a Ph.D. in philosophy.I'm not only a law professor.I taught philosophy.I was an admirer of Hegel.I studied Hegel quite a bit, but I never called myself a Hegelian, an expert on Hegel.Do you want to know why?I could never read German.That's just a standard professional requirement in this country.Why would we have a lesser requirement for Islam?You read the Qur'an in Arabic and understand it; you read the hadith; you read the jurisprudence of the major imams and then come talk to me.If you read, for example, the jurisprudence of Imam Abu Hanifah, you will find out that he himself specifies in his reasoning his cultural assumptions.All right.I'm no longer living in the culture of Imam Abu Hanifa, but I'm bound by the Qur'an.His reasoning is good.You throw out his assumption; what happens to the remainder of the fiqh?That's how you rejuvenate fiqh.There are rules and regulations.It's not like I'm making something out of nothing.I'm still relying heavily, first of all on the Qur'an, then on the hadith, and then on the jurisprudence of those before me because I respect their work.People must understand that it is not that easy to do ijtihâd for America because you still have to know what happened before America.

Q.:What is the difference between a pre-nuptial agreement and the Islamic marriage contract?

Al-Hibri:It could be a nuptial agreement rather than a pre-nuptial agreement, because you sign it at the same time as the marriage.Then you have to study under the laws of the various jurisdictions, what is the difference in counting an agreement as nuptial rather than pre-nuptial.By the way, it could also be post-nuptial, because many have a civil marriage followed by an Islamic marriage.I don't recommend it, by the way.What does that mean for their rights?You have to study specific jurisdictions to see what is the impact in each case.For those of you who say, "I wish I'd heard this lecture earlier, I would have negotiated a better marriage contract," if your husband is enlightened, please remind him that it is not too late, you can always amend.

Q.:Suppose I pass away and my wife inherits my social security and my pension, would that offset the sadâq mutta'akhir

Al-Hibri:It’s a very good question.The first time I came across the question of pensions and such things was in connection with illegal polygamous marriages in this country, although it happens in other countries as well.Someone would be officially married to one wife and he goes and marries another Islamically, but she is not his wife under American law, because he already has another wife.The question is: Is he treating the two equally?The answer is no.As hard as he tries only the legally recognized wife will get the pensions, etc.Suppose you are 40 or 50 years old–it doesn't matter–and you divorce your wife today.Under Islamic law, she is entitled right now to the delayed part of the mahr if there is any (you might have paid her up front).But you want to give it to her later.As corporate finance professor, I'm going to ask you, what happened to the time-value of money?What she's entitled to is her mahr now, in one installment at the value of the dollar today.What about the payments she's going to get later which you didn't factor in?That's under civil law.The question is whether she's entitled to them at all.Maybe, maybe not, depending on the ijtihâd you develop.But let's assume she's not entitled to the money.You paid her the mahr and now she's getting extra money from you.Then it’s between her and God if she's going to take money she is not entitled to.But that doesn't waive your right to pay her sadâq when it's due.That's your duty.The other payment, if she believes she's not entitled to it, it is her duty to give it back to you.Let me give you an example.I know of a case where the court awarded a woman a large amount of money and the women had conscience pangs.It was inheritance money, not sadâq.She had a disagreement with others who would have inherited more under Islamic law.She said: “what should I do?Shall I not go under American law?”I said: “no,” because if she didn't go under American law she would have gotten nothing, as the others weren't going to give her her share.I said, "Get it under American law, then give back the part you think they're entitled to.It's okay. If you're in a society where you cannot establish Islamic justice, use the American system, get the payments and then give back whatever you think is beyond what you deserve.

Q.:Would you elaborate on why you do not recommend a civil ceremony be combined with an Islamic contract?

Al-Hibri:That's not what I said.I said you should have the religious ceremony first and then the civil one. If you have the civil one first, then you are married in the eyes of the law but not in the eyes of God and there are complications resulting from that.You either do them at the same time or you do the Islamic one first.Perhaps the best approach, in my view, is to do them at the same time if you can.I have to study that from the legal point of view of the various jurisdictions before I write about it.When I write about it, I don't know how I will come out, so please don't listen to me now, wait a little bit longer.

Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad: I don’t know if there may be a simpler question buried beneath that seemingly complex one.A number of Muslims I know are not aware that if you have a marriage license and you have a marriage ceremony performed by a recognized imam, that ceremony is recognized by the state.In other words, you have performed the ceremony you are licensed to perform.You are married in the eyes of the law provided the imam registers that marriage with the county in which it is performed.This is separate from the more complex questions of what are the terms of the marriage, not whether you're married.

Al-Hibri:In that case you have a nuptial contract.But you do not always have a recognized imam doing the marriage ceremony, then it would not be recognized in the eyes of the state.These things could get complicated.I know a case where a woman had two husbands.How?One under Islamic law, one under American law.She couldn't divorce the other one.She wanted to divorce the one under Muslim law; she couldn't.She wanted to divorce the one under civil law, but she didn't have the money to divorce him.So she was stuck with two and actually had none.This could get sticky.

Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad:One should make sure that the county would accept the imam's filing.

Q.:Beyond educating the courts, lawyers, and Muslim scholars, do you see in America, where so many of us are converts and don't know Arabic, and are struggling to understand the subtleties of Islam, is there any movement towards pre-marital counseling so that a couple, before getting married, can gain an understanding of these various options?Do we have enough imams capable of carrying out pre-marital counseling without making things worse.Even before that do we even have a beginning of preparation for education for adulthood?Do you see any movement in that direction?Will you put out your book in paperback?

Al-Hibri:I'm trying to think who I will have publish my book.If it's a university press, it's not going to be as accessible to Muslims who need it as a marriage document.We'll resolve these issues once the book is written.But you're asking some very important questions.Let me first comment about my condition that somebody who does jurisprudence ought to have read the Qur'an in Arabic.I want to point out to you that some of the major jurists in the early history of Islam were not Arabs.They just studied Arabic and learned the language of the Qur'an and did excellent jurisprudence.Being an Arab is not a requirement, just knowing Arabic.Unfortunately, these days not even Arabs know Arabic; so its' not enough to be an Arab either.A major example of this is what colonialism did in Algeria.When the French closed down all the religious schools and then they opened limited French schools for the elite in Algeria and created different strata of Algerians who could not communicate with each other because some are thinking and educated in French and some are thinking and educated in Arabic, although they don't necessarily read Arabic very well.I think that's part of what we're seeing in Algeria now, a lack of communication.Arabs in the Muslim world, as a result of colonialism, no longer have a handle on the Arabic language.But, if you're going to write about the Qur'an whether you're an Arab or a non-Arab, then the first thing you should do is to learn Arabic.Or, if you don't know Arabic, at least in that case show humility, for heaven's sake.We have people writing like they are the successors of Malik and Abu Hanifah and they are explaining the Qur'an in ways that are ridiculous.And when criticized they take offense and are aggressive about it rather than showing humility.You can't do this.This is not a political party.This is not about who's going to win the argument.The argument is won in the afterlife.Look at what the Muslims jurists did throughout the centuries.Every one who ever wrote something and was worth anything ended his chapter with Allahu a`lam.God knows best.And Malik himself said, "Don't emulate me; take from where I took."In other words, every one of you should think for him/ herself.Malik himself forbade the khalifah from imposing the Maliki madhhab on the people of that country, which was the Abbassid Empire.Today, we are less knowledgeable scholars than those big ones I'm talking about, but we have no humility.We all think we have the answers.Step number one: let's be humble.Sometimes we're more wrong than right.As Abu Hanifah said, "I'm a human being.I say right things and I say wrong things.Just take what accords with the sunnah and the Qur'an and leave out the rest."I tell you the same.What can someone like you do?You're a good Muslim, but you don't know Arabic.What should you do?Give Up? No.You befriend someone like me.[Laughter]No, it's true; we team up.When you have a verse you don't understand you speak to someone who knows Arabic.You team up.As far as the social services, we definitely need that.

Q.:You mentioned that Islamic law exempts a woman from cooking and she could ask for prepared food, like calling for pizza, or something like that.

Al-Hibri:Hopefully better. [Laughter]

Q.:I was struck by listening to a distinguished imam who went much farther than that and said that strictly speaking a woman is not required to do house chores at all and that housework has never been part of the marital duties and that in fact a woman could ask to be paid for doing housework.

Al-Hibri:I said the marriage contract is not a service contract.In fact she doesn't even have to nurse the baby unless the baby will take no other nurturing except the mother's.Then it becomes a humanitarian thing.She is then required to nurse the baby.If she's divorced and nurses the baby, the father must pay her to nurse the baby.

Q.: If that is indeed the case, then isn't it ironic that the Muslim woman is proclaimed as a persecuted woman when she's in fact a spoiled woman.

Al-Hibri:She's not, unfortunately.We'd love to say that, but she's not.Because while I've told you about all this jurisprudence, I've also studied the personal status codes or family laws of the various Muslim countries and in the various codes they say that part of her duties is to oversee the house.That is, if she has maids she has to oversee them and if there are no maids she oversees herself; she does the cooking and cleaning herself.Where did this come from?Why is it in the family status codes of several Muslim countries?Partly culture.Abu Zahrah, the well-known Egyptian jurist says you go according to custom in many ways.Custom has entered many of our laws.This is supposed to be a positive thing.Remember, in the Qur'an it says, "…I made you into nations and tribes so that you get to know each other."God did not want to straightjacket all Muslims to be alike.God wanted the customary and cultural variations.But what happened was that the customary laws that were introduced into the Islamic laws of Muslim countries, became obsolete and oppressive in time; but thanks to the new Jahiliyyah, Muslims forgot the non-sacred origins of these laws and preserved them.

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A big job requires top-quality equipment and expertise. Miner designs, installs and services complete waste material systems for facilities of every size.
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February 2010

Mines Bierstadt Painting Conserved, On Display At The Denver Art Museum

A rare painting by renowned 19th century western landscape artist Albert Bierstadt, which was donated to Colorado School of Mines in 1938 by wealthy Idaho Springs miner Benjamin Briscoe, was prepared for public viewing by the conservation staff at the Denver Art Museum (DAM) and is now on exhibit. The painting, titled Yosemite, will hang on the seventh floor of the DAM’s North Building as part of the historical western art exhibition Creating the West in Art through spring 2011. >Read more.

Michelle Roark Competes in Winter Olympics

This Saturday, freestyle skier Michelle Roark will be competing in the Ladies Moguls event at the 2010 Winter Olympics, which airs at 8:30 EST on NBC. >Read more.

CSMAA Fiscal Year 2009 Annual Report

The CSMAA annual report for July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009 is now available for viewing. Click here to view our list of members and donors and an audited Statement of Financial Position.

Mines, New Sky Energy Form Partnership

New Sky Energy and Colorado School of Mines announced today they have entered into a sponsored research agreement to build a fully operating, scalable model of New Sky’s electro-chemical and carbon capture technology.  >Read More

Mines to Partner with NREL in New Biofuels Research; DOE Announces $33.8M in Funding

The U.S. Department of Energy has announced a $33.8 million investment in a National Advanced Biofuels Consortium (NABC), led by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, with Colorado School of Mines as one of the partners in the consortium. >Read More

CSMAA Merchandise

We are having a New Year Clearance Sale on all apparel!

Made by Port Authority®, both the vest and jacket items come in a True Navy color, with a full-zip front, deep front pockets and the CSM logo emblazoned on the left breast.

Click Here to enter the Merchandise Store.

MinesOnline.net is an online community just for Mines alumni. Stay in touch with the school and your classmates by logging on and building a profile. , your unique authenticator ID is ##Authenticator_id##.Use it to complete the first-time login. If you've already done this, log in here with your username and password. Just want to look around the public part of MinesOnline.net? >Click here.

Tip of the Month:
How to find the Online Directory on MinesOnline.net

The Online Directory is the most-used feature of MinesOnline.net. After logging into the website, click on "Members," on the left-hand navigation, then "Online Directory." The directory is equipped with both a simple and an advanced search mode. Note: You must be a current member of CSMAA and
logged into the community to access the Online Directory.

Alumni Job Center - The AJC is another CSMAA membership benefit. Take a look at career resources that accompany CSMAA membership. Also, see the AJC JOB Of THE MONTH.

>Click Here for more information on CSMAA membership.

Stay Connected with Alumni Worldwide:

Carry Your Mines Pride!

Get a Mines Bank of America Platinum Plus® MasterCard

Don't Miss!

Join us in a Celebration!  Honoring the following classes:
  • Golden Miner Classes 1932-1959
  • 50th Reunion Class of 1960
  • 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980
  • 25th Reunion Class of 1985
  • 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005
  • All Mining, Geology and Geophysics Department Alumni
Early Bird Registration is now open!  Register before April 8th and your registration fee is waived (a $25 value). You will need to click on one of the two red links on the top right of Web page here to register. , if you have never logged into MinesOnline.net, select "First Time Login" and use this unique authenticator ID: ##Authenticator_id##.

     E-Days 'Round the World
April 8
Where Will You Be?

Public Lecture: “Extreme Ice Survey”
Wednesday, February 10, 7:30 p.m.
Bunker Auditorium, Green Center, CSM
More details of this and other Hennebach Lectures

Campus Research Center Tours
Multiple dates February - June

Professional Development: How to Create and Leverage Your Network
March 10, 6:30 p.m.
Petroleum Hall, Green Center
Andrew Flynn PE earned his BS in 1986 and an MS 1998.  He is a senior consultant with Delta Consultants, a global consulting firm.

Kevin Knebl is a professional speaker who helps companies and individuals develop successful networking practices.

See & Show: Exploring Alumni-Owned Businesses
Enjoy a special tour, refreshments, and networking at D&R CNC Machining Inc. D&R is owned by two Mines alumni, Darke Bruzgo '95 Eng (Mechanical Specialty) and Robert Bruzgo '95 Eng (Civil Specialty). March 18

Edgar Mine Tour
You Drilled.
You Blasted.
You Mucked.
Have you ever wondered how the Edgar Mine has changed since you graduated? Join us for a special tour on April 1.

SPE Student Chapter Events (alumni welcome):
Upcoming Section Events

Houston Happy Hour
Pub Fiction, Houston
March 11
For more Houston events, click here!

Bone Valley Picnic & Phosphate Mine Tour
March 14

Copyright (c) 2009
Colorado School of Mines Alumni Association
303-273-3295 | fax 303-273-3583
P.O. Box 1410
Golden, CO 80402


text:
Product Detail

3-Pc. Composition Book Set

Made in the USA

Pin It
Item #: 56114
Our Price: $8.69
14 units available

This book set is extremely realistic. Book has approx. 10 ruled pages and sturdy covers (may vary slightly). This set also includes red paper ruler and pencil.

Book: 1/2" x 3/4"
Pencil: 5/8"L
Ruler: 1"L

Scale: 1/12
Assembly Required: No

1/12 scale, also referred to as one-inch scale (or 1" scale), means 1 inch = 1 foot

There are no reviews yet for this item.
Only verified purchasers may leave a review.

miniatures.com is dedicated to bringing you quality items at the best prices, and we stand behind our products 100 percent. Satisfaction guaranteed. If, for any reason, you are not completely satisfied with your order from miniatures.com, simply return it to us within 30 days. We are more than happy to exchange it or provide you with a credit or refund.

This painted metal doll stand will hold most dolls up to 6"H. 2 1/4"Dia. x 4 3/4"H (fully exten...

Assembled. Includes sets for bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, dining room and study. Made of durable plas...
reg. $11.45

The pad and pencil are extremely realistic. Pad has approx. 16 ruled pages and sturdy back cover . ...

To our knowledge, this is the smallest working outlet ever made, measuring a mere .414"H x .3"W x .1...

About UsContact UsInternational OrdersPrivacy PolicyQuick OrderReturnsShippingLinks
© 2015 Benamy International Inc. All rights reserved. • 2388 Pleasantdale Rd • Atlanta, GA 30340


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Tech outlines benefit changes

Administration: More changes to come

April 4, 2013
By STEPHEN ANDERSON - DMG writer ( , The Daily Mining Gazette

HOUGHTON - Many changes have already been made to employee benefits packages at Michigan Technological University, but many more changes lie ahead, including likely becoming the only university in the nation to offer only a high deductible health care plan.

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Gary McDowell

October 27, 2010
Mining Journal

Representative Gary McDowell is a hard worker, an interested listener, and he earns my vote on a daily basis. Yet even more importantly, Rep. McDowell represents thousands of constituents who know how well grounded and determined he is. I find that to be very refreshing, as do those who comfortably cross party lines to secure his representation.

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News, Blogs & Events Web


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National Signing Day 2014: Nine Superiorland football stars sign NLIs on Wednesday

Marquette, Negaunee, Ishpeming, Gwinn and L'Anse sending recruits to Central Michigan, Dayton, Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech

February 6, 2014
By STEVE BROWNLEE - Journal Sports Writer ( , The Mining Journal

MARQUETTE - Area high school seniors who signed Wednesday to play football in college have no illusions that they will start at their chosen schools right away.

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Neighborhood & Community Relations

Crown Roller Mill, Room 425
105 5th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 673-3737

About the NRP Policy Board

Background, Purpose and Membership Details

On December 16, 2011 the City Council adopted Resolution 2011R-667, Reestablishing a Neighborhood Revitalization Program Policy Board. The key work of the Policy Board is to review and approve the NRP plans and to also to review the Community Participation Plan submissions from neighborhood organizations. Both programs are described below:

NRP Plans

The Policy Board will take action on various NRP plans:

Community Participation Program (CPP)

For the period beginning in July 2012 and extending through 2013 NRP funds will be used as the source for CPP financing. Use of NRP funds will require Policy Board review and approval for funding of two program submissions:

Membership Details

The membership of the NRP Policy Board is as follows:

Mayor of the City of Minneapolis or designee

President or other member of the Minneapolis City Council

Council Member Kevin Reich

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

Commissioner Anne Young (Vice-Chair)

Board of Education, Special School District No. 1

Josh Reimnitz (Secretary)

Board of Commissioners of Hennepin County

Commissioner Gail Dorfman

A representative from Minneapolis’ House of Representatives delegation

A representative from Minneapolis’ State Senate delegation

Senator Jeff Hayden

Neighborhood representative

Denis Houle

Neighborhood representative

Andres Hortillosa

Neighborhood representative

Kirk Roggensack

Neighborhood representative

Jeffrey Strand (Chair)

Click here to contact a NRP Policy Board Member

The City of Minneapolis invites and encourages participation by every resident to each program, service and event within our city. Should you require an accommodation in order for you to fully participate, or should you require this document in a different format, please let us know by contacting 612-673-3737.

Last updated Apr 2, 2014


text:
Public Works

350 South 5th Street
RM 203 City Hall
Minneapolis, MN  55415-1390

Malls and Plazas Use Permits

A permit is required to use or hold an event at the following City owned locations:

* See special instructions below for Chicago Mall requests

Application Process

Conditions and Restrictions

Chicago Mall

Nicollet Mall

Last updated Sep 16, 2014


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Mio Destino Head Office
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Phone: 646-290-6113

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European lingerie

European lingerie from top Italian lingerie, French lingerie and English lingerie designers including, Aubade, Mimi Holliday, Lise Charmel, Lingadore, Simone Perele, Kiss Me Deadly, Mio Sexy, Curvy Kate, Mio Sexy, What Katie Did and Fleur of England.


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Summer Series tickets to see George Ezra and Jessie J now on sale

Set in London's fashion landmark, Somerset House, this year's event is set to be hotter than ever featuring Belle and Sebastian, Passenger, James Bay and more

Animal magic caught on camera in contest to find the best photographs of the year

Amazing images of the annual kingdom are among the short-listed entries for the Sony World Photography Awards and go on show in London in April

Pictured: See world's best photographs from stunning Milky Way to black and white belly flop

  • Art

The winners of the Sony World Photography Awards have been revealed and the resulting pictures will astound you

Summit of photography: Best of Sony World Photography Awards from the Matterhorn to the Obamas

The shots, including a begging lizard, balancing ladybird and African sunset, are all shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Awards

One Direction, Orlando Bloom and Myleene Klass star in charity video to tackle world hunger

The boyband teamed up with other celebrities to back the Enough Food For Everyone… IF campaign

"The world has enough food so why do 870 MILLION people go hungry?": 100 charities join forces to tackle world hunger

The launch of the Enough Food for Everyone IF campaign, which is open to the public in several UK cities, will be attended by more than 1,000 campaign supporters

Have Faith: Pint-sized Paloma proves she's got staying power at Somerset House last night

Pint-sized songstress Paloma Faith has a larger-than-life personality and even bigger voice.

L-R Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and Mick Jagger attend 'The Rolling Stones: 50 - Private View'

Roll up, roll up: Rolling Stones spend launch night together to mark Daily Mirror's new book

Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood, Charlie Watts and Keith Richards joined friends, family and celebrity guests at London's Somerset House

The year's most extraordinary photos from around the world - view the gallery

The 2012 Sony World Photography Awards feature extraordinary moments captured by amateurs and professionals from around the world

Pippa Middleton goes skating at Somerset House in a cream coat days after splitting from city broker Alex Loudon

Pippa Middleton IS Dancing on Ice

Okay, not the show. She’s not really dancing per se either.

Pippa Middleton attends Tiffany & Co. Presents Skate launch at Somerset House (Pic: Getty Images)

Pippa Middleton shows off her ice-skating skills on night out with friends

With a beaming smile Pippa Middleton goes ice skating in her first public outing since her recent split from boyfriend Alex Loudon.

Skate under the stars: No shortage of ice rinks in run-up to Christmas

Gliding around an ice rink under the stars is for many of us the perfect way to enjoy the run-up to Christmas.

Naomi Campbell (Pic: Getty Images)

London Fashion Week kicks off with Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss

THE battle of the fashion week divas has already begun – and we’re only hours into London’s bi-annual festival of fabulousness.

Brook Vincent (Pic:PR Handout)

Coronation Street star Brooke Vincent's dramatic new look

Coronation Street star, Brooke Vincent, certainly scrubbed up well when she wore a one-off dress inspired by a British heritage brand in honour of London Fashion Week.

Walliams to celebrate James Bond

David Walliams is to lead James Bond fans at a celebration of cinema's iconic spy as part of Film4 Summer Screen 2010.

Holidays - Natural History Museum

Unleash your inner Torvill and Dean at a festive ice rink

We start our look at top rinks with Manchester's, at the heart of the new Spinningfields development - an hour on the ice is the perfect antidote to all that shopping stress.

xfactor sifr

X Factor star Stacey Solomon takes a spin on the ice with Dannii Minogue

Fans of X Factor’s Stacey Solomon need not worry – she hasn’t defected to rival show Dancing on Ice.

Call us old softies - wait, not the old part - but these X Factor ice-skating pics make us feel nice inside

These pictures of Dannii Minogue having a good old bonding sesh with Stacey Solomon caught us off guard, because they are actually rather sweet.

Lily Allen (Pic:Rex)

Kate Moss sees Lily Allen flash BOTH boobs at Somerset House and more in Mirror.co.uk's Monday gossip round-up - see the pic

Monday morning and we are still wringing out our socks after a soggy but scintillating Saturday night watching our fave Lily Allen alongside the likes of Kate Moss, Adele and Miquita Oliver at Somerset House.

Carry on camping

Lily Allen's nipple pops out (Pic:Rex)

Lily Allen makes a boob at Montreux Jazz Festival with wardrobe malfunction– pic

Lily Allen makes a boob at Montreux Jazz Festival with wardrobe malfunction– pic

Jessica Taylor: "I can’t wait to flash some flesh on the ice!

Ex Liberty X-er Jessica Taylor, 28, has taken to the cold stuff for ITV1’s Dancing On Ice.

Tanya Brier wobbling on ice skates at Somerset House, London... Stan Collymore shopping and turning girls' heads in Birmingham...

Zutons (Pic:Getty)

Caught Live!: The Zutons at London's Koko

It must be a bit annoying for this Liverpudlian indie rock quintet to have toiled away for seven years, only for Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson to steal their thunder with a cover of one of their hits.

Justice (Pic:Rex)

Video: Justice on working with Red Hot Chili Peppers

French electronic duo Justice talk about their debut album and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Kylie Minogue (Getty Images)

Get with the Chimes

You're spoilt for choice about the best way to see in 2008 on TV.

Xmas activity guide

Our guide to events around the country will guarantee kids enjoy run up to Xmas.

Amy Winehouse (Getty Images)

AMY Winehouse's hubby Blake Fielder-Civil played a blinder at her Somerset House gig.

Amy Winehouse at Somerset House ...shows what she can do if she's sober.


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Winter Olympics snowboarder gets onboard for bike test

Aimee Fuller on her way to full bike licence

Aimee Fuller KTM
Aimee Fuller meets the 125 Duke

ONE of the country’s most promising freestyle snowboarders and a Team GB medal hope for the Winter Olympics is taking to two wheels.

Aimee Fuller has taken the first steps towards getting her full bike licence by completing her Compulsory Basic Training on board KTM’s 125 Duke.

The 22-year-old will represent Team GB in the “Slopestyle” event in Sochi, Russia, on February 6.

Originally from Kent, but now based in Holywood, County Down, Aimee needed two top 12 finishes in the last two World Cup events to represent her country at the Games and did so with 11th and fifth, sitting eight overall in the world standings.

No stranger to bikes or KTM, Aimee began riding on a 50SX and even competed in motocross for a number of seasons from the age of six.

Earlier this winter she found time to head to Shires Motorcycle Training, in Derby, and complete her CBT as the first stage to obtaining her full licence.

Aimee said: “I’ve always wanted to get a road bike, but I’ve been so busy travelling and competing all over the world to find the time to do it.

“Fortunately, I was able to do my CBT with Shires on a 125 Duke.

“I’ve sold my car now, so once the games in Sochi are finished, I’m going to complete my full test and get a 390 Duke.

“Bikes will be a buzz for me when I’m away from the slopes and I’m planning a big tour through Norway in the summer taking in snowboarding, surfing and bikes – as long as I pass my test.”

In 2013, the 125 Duke became the first bike in its class to be equipped standard with a two-channel – front and rear – ABS system.

The bike is well equipped, robust, economical and available at £3,995 on the road in a choice of orange or white.

Click for latest motorbike reviews.

Follow @MirrorBiker


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The End of Art

Local heroes Triste Tropiques and Sex Pigeon debut a new performance art piece at Baer Ridgway.

(Image courtesy of the talented Plug 1)

Anti-War Protest Documentary with Music by LCD Soundsystem

This is my fully edited account of the early morning efforts of the March 19 San Francisco Day of Direct Action. In it, you’ll find decked-out riot police, a brass band, more twirlers, demonstrating in front of Chevron, a cable car, more Frank Chu, the Transamerica Pyramid, dancing in the streets, yelling in the streets, posters, signage, bloody hands, people in pink, motorcycles on sidewalks, blockaded intersections, and more — all set to the tune of “Big Ideas” by LCD Soundsystem.

Link to yesterday’s coverage.

Link to response at Curbed SF in which they’re debating the hipster question.

Link to Bay Area Direct Action.


text:
Missoni Moments Making Magic

Girl's Winter 2013

Colours, softness and contrasts: a dive into the patterns of Girl's Winter 2013 collection

Colourful, cheerful, playful. The cutest Missoni pattern wonderland has been created for the Winter 2013 Girls collection. An infinite variety of vivacious zigzag motifs, happy stripes, perky polka dots and dreamy dégradés has been interpreted as the brightest palette of sweet candy colours.

A lightweight ombre-stripe knit with a two-tone ripple detail in a lively tonal contrast becomes a sleeveless dress with a soft fit. Missoni magic happens on a multi-coloured zigzag sweater in a delicate knitted lace. The palette turns to dégradé shades of peacock blue and lime green, toning down from the crewneck to the hem of the long-sleeved wool pullover. The voluminous A-line wool hooded cape with prismatic stripes can be worn in two ways.

It ends in an embroidered border and the  reversible side has a zigzag pattern. Boiled wool in a fresh polka-dot design turns into a preppy little skirt with bold green wool piping. In addition to the apparel collection, Missoni has designed a delicate knit blanket, with soft petal-shaped flounces, that creates the cosiest feeling in a new-born’s crib.


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Super Tips Washable Markers Kit

by Crayola

This 65 piece kit contains a super-colorful collection of 25 Supertip markers and 40 sheets of paper in a durable, portable carry-all case.

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#757 Disposable Palette Pad

by Borden & Riley

Disposable palette tablets provide a full mixing surface of specially plastic-treated, economical paper. Well suited for painting with acrylics, oils, casein, and watercolors. 50 sheets in each tape bound pad.

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#757 Disposable Palette Pad

by Borden & Riley

Average User Rating: Based on (4 Reviews)

4 4

Cindy B. from Grand Junction, CO says:

I am still just playing with paints, colors, etc., I find this product to be extremely useful and easy to use AND easy to toss!

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#757 Disposable Palette Pad 12 in. x 16 in. 12 in. x 16 in. PALP121650 $18.32 $12.82 30% Off $10.99 40% Off
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#757 Disposable Palette Pad 9 in. x 12 in. 9 in. x 12 in. PALP091250 $11.30 $7.91 30% Off $6.78 40% Off

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Rated by: Cindy B. in Grand Junction, CO
I am still just playing with paints, colors, etc., I find this product to be extremely useful and easy to use AND easy to toss!
Rated by: Martha C. in P.C., FL
I love this product! These pads are easy to mix oils on and clean up is a total breeze! I'll always have these on hand.
Rated by: M. G. in Sedro Woolley, WA
Thanks for a great price on your product! I had not painted for many years and was excited to find such nice upgrades in the product market.
Rated by: Jill B. in albuquerque, NM
This disposable palette pad was is very difficult to use. The sheets do not stay stuck to the pad when using so it slides around and makes it very difficult to mix paints, etc.

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Leonardo Artist Drawing Kit

by Martin/Universal

The Leonardo Artist Drawing Kit includes a sturdy 22 in. x 25 in. clipboard made of 1 1/2 in. tempered masonite, with two locking clips and an oversized rubber band to secure artwork, a handy removable tool bag, an artist eraser, and three artist pencils. All of this comes packaged in a large (24 in. x 27 in), durable portfolio that features reinforced corners, comfort handle to carry heavy loads, two zippered compartments, and a removable shoulder strap.

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Leonardo Artist Drawing Kit

by Martin/Universal

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Thursday, August 18, 2011

More Sirius/XM Radio: the Flute

I posted here about musical instruments used back in the 60s that you just don't hear much anymore in today's music.  I focused on the organ, harpsichord, and the tambourine.

Today's forgotten instrument is the flute:

Heard it in a Love Song (Marshall Tucker Band )

Pied Piper (Crispian St. Peters)

And of course, Thick as a Brick (Jethro Tull, around 4:40 for the flute work).

The Marshall Tucker song often is in my head while I run easy trails. As a feminist, however, I am torn between the excellent music versus the misogynistic lyrics.  Nevertheless, enjoy!

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Zachary Segal
Zachary Segal
Height: 5-11
Year: Sr.
Hometown: Los Altos, Calif.
Major: Computer Science

2011-12: Saw action in five races during the season … member of the MIT varsity boat in the #7 seat at the San Diego Crew Classic (3/31) and at Penn (4/28) … rowed in the #5 seat at Yale (4/7); against Harvard (4/14) and versus Cornell (4/21).

Off The Water at MIT: Majoring in computer science … web developer for … conducted research in the STEP Lab where he was a web logo developer … team captain.

Personal: Son of Laurie and Andrew Segal … family member was on the gymnastics team at Brown.


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Heather Rivera
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Weekend Flashback-Great place for Summertime Fun/Relaxation...

Memorial Weekend highlight in pictures...

*Huey's chilling in the car ride down..

*Made some new friends while we were there!!!

*Checked out the sites...

*Hit the beach.... with lots of sunscreen.
I'm almost glowing in this picture!!'

Can you figure out where I was? Click Here to find out!

BTW great place to stay that is newly remodeled/decorated with one of the
'Most Comfortable Beds' I have ever slept on in a hotel- OMNI C.C.,

They allow dogs under 25lbs in the rooms. Huey gives them a 'BIG PAW' up!

Great Eats: Italian food... 'Mamma Mia's' open at 5pm only for dinner!
Just make sure you have cash on you that is all they take, but they do have an ATM nearby,
which was very convenient!!

The short trip over the weekend was the highlight for Ted, Huey & I of the Memorial Day Weekend!
Good Times, Good Food, and Fun!   I got more pictures/video coming! :)

Click here to make plans for Big Fun this summer! :)

05/31/2011 7:28AM
Weekend Flashback-Great place for Summertime Fun/Relaxation...
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Club 71 Volume Two by Wild-Colombini Magic - DVD

Price $10.00

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The English magazine CLUB 71 ran from 1970 to 2007 and was produced by Geoff Maltby the owner of Repro Magic. For most of the time Walt Lees was the editor.

Contributors include: Max Maven, Peter Duffie, Patrick Page, Al Smith, Angelo Carbone, Ian Rowland, Werner Miller, Peter Kane, Paul Hallas, Stephen Tucker, Ali Bongo and many more. The subjects discussed span everything from mentalism and cards, to magic for children and close-up.

FINALE (Brian Davies): A card is selected (face unseen) from a red-backed deck and retained by a spectator. A number is chosen and counted in a blue-backed deck. The two cards match!

THE POWER OF SUGGESTION (Barrie Richardson): A ring is placed around the neck of a Coca Cola bottle. The ring is removed, vanished and it appears back on the neck of the bottle!

DOMINO TELEPATHY (Anonimous): All the domino pieces are put together in line. You devine the spots at each end of the chain. A classic!

COLOR CROSSER (Max Maven): A series of stunning effects using just a packet of cards! SCAT (Sebastian Cody): Here you have a packet routine, which combines elements of 'Twisting the Aces,' 'The Six Card Repeat,' 'Wild Card' and Alex Elmsley's 'Four Card Trick!'

OPTICAL DELUSIONS (Sebastian Cody): To an appropriate story, three cards with colored circles on the front undergo a variety of changes!

THE P.K. KEY (Nico Thelman): A key is handed around for examination. It is attached to a string which is hung around the neck of a spectator. The key acquires a corkscrew like twist. The key may be examined!

EVEN FURTHER THAN FURTHER THAN THAT (Cushing Strout): A funny version of the classic trick with several climaxes including a lie detector test!

CHINESE CHOUSE (Sebastian Cody): Four cards bearing question marks, reveal the name of a selected card. Funny routine!

QUICK KNOT THAT'S NOT (Angelo Carbone): You clearly tie a knot on a rope and the knot disappears while you pull the rope!

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