Here are some bits and pieces, quoted from recent issues of TIME magazine.

December 19, 2005 issue: Philanthropy by Eleazar David Melendez

The new scrutiny [of nonprofit organizations by state and federal lawmakers] is a response to the exponential growth of the nonprofit sector over the past decade—and to concerns that some institutions are scamming the system by seeking tax-exempt status. The Internal Revenue Service lists more that 1.8 million charities, up from 739,000 charities 25 years ago. The tax-exempt sector includes not just soup kitchens and scholarship funds but also labor unions, hospitals, the NCAA—even Major League Baseball. "Today you see nonprofit holding companies," says Minnesota state attorney general Mike Hatch, who has aggressively pushed for better nonprofit governance. "We're dealing with multibillion-dollar enterprises, many times with no tie to the community."

January 16, 2006: Great Performances, Terrence Howard by Desa Philadelphia/Los Angeles

An actor has to hustle himself to get into the flow. "It's up to every performer to buy the stage," [actor Howard] says, "And if you've got to pay the first audience to get in there, do it. Have a buffet for 'em. And the moment they get in there, you pour yourself out for them."

February 20, 2006: Fanning the Flames by Matthew Cooper, et. al.

This article reported on the events surrounding publication of Danish caricatures of Muhammed. A synopsis of these events was presented thus--

Anatomy of an Uproar

• September 2005:
  
  Flemming Rose, culture editor of the Danish weekly Jyllands-Posten, solicits illustrations of the Prophet Muhammed, hoping to spark a debate about self-censorship in Denmark.
• September 30:
  
  Jyllands-Posten published 12 cartoon caricatures of the Prophet.
• October 14:
  
  Some 3,500 Muslims demonstrate peacefully in Copenhagen, demanding an apology from the newspaper.
• October 17:
  
  Al-Fagr, a weekly newspaper based in Cairo, publishes the cartoons. Three Egyptian magazines reprint the drawings to little reaction.
• October 19:
  
  Ambassadors from several Muslim countries request a meeting with Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen. He declines.
• November 19:
  
  A group of Danish Muslims announces a visit to the Middle East to publicize the cartoon controversy.
• December 2005:
  
  Danish Muslim delegations visit Cairo, Damascus and Beirut and present a 43-page dossier with the original 12 cartoons and three others that had not been published.
• December 9:
  
  After a meeting in the holy city of Mecca, leaders from 57 Muslim nations condemn the "desecration of the image" of Muhammed.
• January 10, 2006:
  
  A Norwegian paper reprints the cartoons in solidarity with Jyllands-Posten.
• January 26:
  
  Saudi Arabia recalls its ambassador from Denmark, and several groups in the Middle East launch a boycott of Danish products.
• January 29:
  
  Libya announces it will close it embassy in Denmark.
• January 30:
  
  Jyllands-Posten apologizes on its website to any Muslims it has offended but stands by its decision to publish the cartoons.
• February 1:
  
  Newspapers around Europe reprint the cartoons in defense of press freedom.
• February 3:
  
  Prime Minister Rasmussen meets with the foreign diplomatic corps in Copenhagen and calls for calm.
• February 4-5:
  
  Mobs set fire to Danish and Norwegian embassies in Damascus and the Danish consulate in Beirut.
• February 8:
  
  Three people are killed in protests in Afghanistan, bringing the toal dead there to 11.
• February 10:
  
  Rose takes a leave of absence from Jyllands-Posten, citing exhaustion.

An overview of the situation states:

At each juncture, attempts by some parties to defuse the crisis were overwhelmed by those intent on escalating it.

Journal entry dated (6 April 2006)
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