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Win 44,000 points from Hyatt Gold Passport when you share your New Years travel resolutions! {Gadling}
Jan 18th 2011 2:51PM To be more diligent at collecting airline/hotel points throughout the year so I have them when I need them.
Clash at Jerusalem sacred site {Gadling}
Sep 29th 2009 3:06PM Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dome_of_the_Rock#Accessibility :
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Until the mid-nineteenth century, non-Muslims were barred from the area. Since 1967, non-Muslims have been allowed some entry, but non-Muslim prayers on the Temple Mount are not allowed.
After Ariel Sharon, then Israeli opposition leader, visited the Temple Mount in 2000, in what was considered as a provocative gesture that set off Muslim rioting, non-Muslims were forbidden to enter the Temple compound.
In 2006, the compound was reopened to non-Muslim visitors free of charge, between 7:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-2:30 p.m. during Summer and 7:30-10:30 a.m. and 1:30-2:30 p.m. during Winter. However, timings can vary depending on the date and it is highly recommended to arrive early. Non-Muslims may never enter on Fridays, Saturdays, or Muslim holidays. Entry is through a covered wooden walkway next to the security entrance to the Western Wall known as the Mugrabi or Maimonides Gate. Entry to the mosques themselves is prohibited to non-Muslims, as is access to the Temple Mount through the Cotton Market. Visitors undergo strict security screening, and items such as Hebrew prayerbooks or musical instruments are not allowed.
Some Orthodox rabbis regard the rules of entry to the compound established by the Muslim Council as a violation of Jewish law. This is based on the belief that since the time the Temple was destroyed, centuries ago, the precise location of the Holy of Holies, the sanctuary entered only by the High Priest, is not known. Hence a restriction applies to the entire compound. However, other rabbis believe that modern archeological and other evidence has enabled them to identify areas that can be safely entered without violating Jewish law.
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So you're right to say that non-Muslim prayers are not allowed on the Temple Mount.
Clash at Jerusalem sacred site {Gadling}
Sep 29th 2009 2:59PM correction: "without the temple being properly in place."
Clash at Jerusalem sacred site {Gadling}
Sep 29th 2009 2:56PM Tourists are allowed up onto the Temple Mount or the al-Aqsa/Dome of the Rock courtyard, but they're not allowed to go inside the mosque buildings. Also, they're allowed to be there for only two short time periods each day, between prayer times. The non-Muslims have to pass through 30-40 min security lines while the Muslims walk in without any security check--if an Israeli security officer is suspicious you aren't Muslim, you must recite a Muslim prayer in Arabic. In my ignorance, I tried to go to DoR straight from il-Quds University (right next to DoR) where I was studying Arabic; the quickest route was the Muslim entrance which I didn't know was the Muslim entrance. I found out quickly that I had to walk all the way around to the Jewish Quarter and come in by the Western Wall. This difference in security makes sense because the main possible source of violence is Israelis/right-wingers trying to destroy DoR/al-Aqsa to rebuild the temple.
I believe that this prohibition on non-Muslims was put into place after the 2001 uprising and Ariel Sharon's visit to the Temple Mount, but that's just a rusty memory.
btw, I lived on the Mount of Olives with a nice view of the Old City and DoR/al-Aqsa from my bedroom balcony.
(also, re: "trying to enter the area in defiance to Israeli law, which reserves the top of the Temple Mount for Muslims" I don't think Israeli law prohibits Jews from visiting DoR courtyard, but rather the religious authorities of Judaism have issued an edict that it is blasphemy to worship G-d on the Temple Mount when it is currently desecrated by Muslims with the temple being properly in place. There's a large sign at the non-Muslim entrance from the Chief Rabbinate of Jerusalem proclaiming this theological ruling.)
Clash at Jerusalem sacred site {Gadling}
Sep 28th 2009 7:17PM I lived in Jerusalem for 5 months last summer/fall. Non-Muslims are not allowed inside the Dome of the Rock or al-Aqsa.
FairUse4WM strips Windows Media DRM! {Engadget}
Sep 2nd 2006 6:04PM I answered my own question again. Just go to Start-->Search-->For Files or Folders. Click All Files and Folders. In "All or Part of the File Name" put "*.wma" (without the quotes). In the "Look in" select the folder that contains *only* the old DRM'ed WMAs and the new nonDRMed WMAs. Hit Search. Make sure you are in Detail view and then click the Name column header to sort by name. Select all the files without the "[NoDRM]" prefix. Hit Shift-Delete.
FairUse4WM strips Windows Media DRM! {Engadget}
Sep 2nd 2006 5:38PM Ok, I figured out that to add files recursively, I had to drag them from Explorer and drop them into FairUse4WM. Next question: How do I make so that it just strips the DRM? So that it doesn't go and make a brand new file? Or alternatively, how can I delete all the old DRM'ed versions in one shot?
FairUse4WM strips Windows Media DRM! {Engadget}
Sep 2nd 2006 4:50PM How do you make FairUse4WM descend into directories recursively? I don't want to go through a select every freaking file in my WMA collection! Especialy becuase of how fast this prog is! It will take longer to select the files than actually strip them of the DRM!
