Police hunt missing Wimbledon tennis hawk Rufus

Metropolitan Police handout

Rufus the Wimbledon hawk, pictured in this Metropolitan Police handout image

By ITV News

The bird of prey that patrols the skies of Wimbledon remained missing Sunday after it was snatched by thieves near the tennis tournament.

Harris Hawk Rufus, who deters pigeons from the All England Club, was stolen along with his cage overnight between Thursday and Friday.


Detectives are investigating the theft and have appealed for help from members of the public to find the missing bird.

A police spokesman said Rufus was taken from a car parked on a private drive in one the residential areas surrounding the venue, with the rear window open for ventilation.

Rufus is also a family pet, the spokesman said.

Owner Imogen Davis, 25, said: "It's really, really sad. He was taken in his travelling box, which is where he sleeps because it's nice and dark and cool and he can fall asleep in there.

See more on this story at ITV News

"We're very, very shocked, we just want to know he's okay."

Rufus has become a well-known fixture at the south-west London club, with visitors often stopping to ask for photos with the hawk.

He even has his own Twitter account, but has not tweeted since his disappearance. His last tweet was before Rafael Nadal's shock exit from the tournament.

David said her family reared four-year-old Rufus as part of the family-run business Avian Environmental Consultants.

"We work as a team together. To have him taken away like that is just horrible," she added."It's a family business, the birds are brought up around us. They're part of the family. It's just the way it is."

Davis said she originally thought it was a prank, but was not sure as a falconry glove and falconry hood were stolen at the same time.

"Initially I was almost hoping that it was a prank because there was more possibility of us getting him back, and somebody would realize it was a stupid thing to do," she added.

"But because the hood and the glove were taken, I'm not sure. I suppose at least it means he's been looked after."

Rufus is a Harris Hawk, an American species. Hawking was first introduced to the All England Club in 1999 as an environmentally-friendly method of pest control.

Pigeons are not the Harris Hawk's natural prey, and they are trained not to attack but to circle and fly around the courts to scare the birds.

Rufus is flown each morning and evening of the championships before and after play, but not during, so as to avoid any distraction.

ITV News is the UK partner of NBC News.

More world news from msnbc.com and NBC News:

Follow World News on msnbc.com on Twitter and Facebook

?

Source: http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/01/12506669-wimbledon-mystery-as-police-hunt-missing-tennis-hawk-rufus?lite

wisconsin recall election april 4 santa monica college wisconsin primary dallas fort worth airport texas tornados seattle seahawks new uniforms

Braun (Sorta) Resurrects an Old Dieter Rams Watch Design [Design]

In 1978, Dieter Rams designed a watch for Braun that saw a limited, 3,000 unit production run. The stainless-steel DW30 featured a digital face and only two buttons, with a thick, leather band holding the timekeeper in place. Out of production since 1982, Braun has resurrected the spirit of the DW30 with the BN0076—a watch directly inspired by Rams' design, but updated for a modern wrist (or something like that. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/5FYrCwBrXGQ/braun-sorta-resurrects-an-old-dieter-rams-watch-design

jeremy lin game winner chocolate covered strawberries shrimp scampi kate upton si cover lobster recipes hearts roses

AntonGurevich: Just watched a video on YT... Fedor's coach (Voronov) says Fedor "will think whether he wants to retire". He spoke post-Rizzo fight #MMA

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source:

porphyria cinnamon rolls krampus robert de niro winner of x factor cheesecake recipe leona lewis

Business Advertising Directories ? SMB Advice & Tips

Online business advertising directories are an essential part of building and maintaining your small business? online presence. Not only do these directories help increase exposure, business directories can add relevancy to your site which is vital for search engine ranking.

There is a wide range of online advertising directories. Some offer free submissions, others charge fees. Some are designed as general directories; others are industry or location specific. A concentrated effort to list your business in multiple directories is a low cost way to gain online exposure.

The advantages of listing your business in as many directories as possible go beyond increased exposure to potential customers. Incoming links to your web site are of critical importance when it comes to search engine rankings. Search engines, like Google, place significant emphasis on link popularity, or the number of outside links pointing to your web site. Business directory listings play an important role in increasing incoming links.

Many directory listings allow customers to rate and review their experiences with your business. While this can be a two-edged sword, positive reviews and comments can greatly increase your customer base. If someone posts a negative experience, most directory sites allow a rebuttal, giving you the perfect opportunity to regain goodwill, address the submitters issue, and show other potential customers that you are committed to quality and customer satisfaction.

Of course, increased exposure is one of the main advantages of using a variety of business directories. It stands to reason that the more directories in which your business listing appears, the more people will be drawn to your web site.

There are three main types of business directories. They are:

GeneralRegionalIndustry Specific

General business advertising directories list businesses in all industries, specializations, and regions. Most general business directories offer free listings and differing levels of more prominent sponsored listing options. Examples of general business advertising directories include:

Business.com ? Business.com is a general business site dedicated to providing business information, how-to articles, directories, and additional resources. Directories match customers with needed services and products. Free listings, pay-per-click, and banner advertising levels are available.

RichDir.com ? Rich?s business directories provide a wealth of business information as well as business listings. Listings are submitted by business owners and reviewed for acceptance. Premium listings are available.

Best of the Web ? Best of the Web is one of the oldest directory sites. Not a business specific direction, they feature general, blog, and local directories, business owners may create their own listing, upload photos, and take advantage of a free get started option.

DMOZ ? DMOZ, or the Open Directory Project, is a large, comprehensive, human-edited web directory. A global community of volunteers maintains and constructs the directories. All listings, including those for business, are free.

Regional directories list businesses in specific geographical locations. Most regional directories break local businesses into industry categories and encourage customer reviews. Many regional directories offer business owners the opportunity to announce events, create coupons, monitor visitor traffic, and contact customers privately. Some of the currently popular regional business advertising directories include:

Yelp ? Yelp offers free listings for business owners and managers. ?Yelpers? rate and review various types of businesses, from restaurants to pet sitters. Yelp encourages users to socialize using online chatting and community tools.

Google Places ? Google Places offers free business listings with some advanced features. Photos, coupons, directions, and more can be included in a Google Places listing. Listing with Google Places improves your visibility in Google search listings and on Google Maps.

Yellow Pages ? A popular destination for consumers, Yellow Pages offers a free basic business listing and various paid options.

Yellow Book ? Yellow Book is another popular local search directory for consumers. Yellow Book offers a wide variety of free and premium tools for business owners.

CitySlick.net ? CitySlick.net offers a free service and various levels of premium features, including video promotions and classified ads.

Industry-related business advertising directories focus on a specific business type. Consumers looking for a competent attorney, for example, enter their zip code in a web site search field and receive a listing of nearby professionals. Some industry directories provide contact forms for each listing so that potential clients may contact the business professional directly.

Other useful types of business directories include listings with your local Chamber of Commerce, professional organizations, and local media web sites.

View the original article here

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Relative Terms: advertising-directories | business | Directories | Advertising

Related tips

Source: http://smallbusiness.howtoadvicetips.com/business-advertising-directories/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=business-advertising-directories

friday the 13th news 10 hillary rosen j.k. rowling j.k. rowling axl rose google earnings

PEOPLE LIKE US ? DreamWorks Pictures Movie Review ? 5 ...

Lolli here?

Every once in a while, a movie sneaks up on me and completely catches me off guard.

People Like Us was like that for me. I knew the basic story line before I saw it last week. I had seen the trailer. But I honestly didn?t give it much thought before sitting down in the theater to see a screening.

Here?s the basic run-down on People Like Us:

People Like Us Synopsis

From DreamWorks Pictures comes ?People Like Us,? a drama/comedy about family, inspired by true events, starring Chris Pine (?Star Trek?) as Sam, a twenty-something, fast-talking salesman, whose latest deal collapses on the day he learns that his father has suddenly died. Against his wishes, Sam is called home, where he must put his father?s estate in order and reconnect with his estranged family. In the course of fulfilling his father?s last wishes, Sam uncovers a startling secret that turns his entire world upside down: He has a 30-year-old sister Frankie whom he never knew about (Elizabeth Banks). As their relationship develops, Sam is forced to rethink everything he thought he knew about his family?and re-examine his own life choices in the process.

Have you seen the trailer yet?

The two main characters, Sam and Frankie, are people like us ? imperfect and struggling. They take the viewer on an emotional roller coaster that leaves everyone laughing one moment and tearing up the next.

There are no special effects. No action. No exotic set. The beauty of People Like Us is in the PEOPLE. Regardless of family situation or dynamics, this movie seems to hit a chord with everyone who sees it. I found myself tearing up several times during the movie, but what surprised me most was that the entire theater was misty-eyed (including the men in attendance) as the final credits rolled. It?s hard not to get wrapped up in the story and become virtually lost in Sam and Frankie?s life.

People Like Us will leave you thinking about family, friends, and what is important. It will make you consider the quality of the time spent with your own kids, and might just motivate you to open up and reach out to someone you haven?t talked to in a while.

Check out a few motivational #PeopleLikeUs quotes on family, friends, and what matters most.

See PEOPLE LIKE US in theaters June 29, 2012

Starring Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks, Olivia Wilde, Michael Hall D?Addario, Philip Baker Hall, Mark Duplass and Michelle Pfeiffer
Directed By Alex Kurtzman
Written By Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci & Jody Lambert
Produced By Roberto Orci, Bobby Cohen, Clayton Townsend, Alex Kurtzman

?Like? PEOPLE LIKE US on Facebook: facebook.com/peoplelikeus

Follow PEOPLE LIKE US on Twitter: @ppllikeusmovie

PEOPLE LIKE US hits theaters everywhere on June 29th!

Written by 5 Minutes for Mom writer, Lolli. You can find Lolli blogging at Better in Bulk and tweeting at @1momof5.

Disclosure: I attended a screening of People Like Us while I was in LA last week. My travel expenses were covered, but all thoughts about my experiences and the movies that I watched are my own.

Email Author? ? |? ? Website About Lolli

Lolli is a busy mother of five kids, ranging in age from 7 to 15, photographer, and author of Better in Bulk. Her blog has a little bit of everything ? parenting, life in a large family and photography with a central tie-in: Bringing moms together to learn, connect, and enjoy life.

View all articles by Lolli

Source: http://www.5minutesformom.com/58305/people-like-us-dreamworks-pictures-movie-review/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=people-like-us-dreamworks-pictures-movie-review

modeselektor gran torino gloria steinem war of the worlds rock and roll hall of fame severe weather wichita

Turkey sends military convoys toward Syrian border

A bomb targeting Syria's highest court has exploded in Damascus. NBC's Bill Neely reports.

By msnbc.com's F. Brinley Bruton, NBC News' Aziz Akyavas and news services

Updated at 09:55 ET: Hamas said on Thursday that one of its members, Kamal Husni Ghanaja, had been killed in his home in Damascus and that it was trying to find who was behind what the Palestinian Islamist group described as a "cowardly murder."

Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, said in a statement that it was trying "to identify the party behind the deplorable crime," but did not immediately accuse Israel, its long-time enemy, of involvement in the killing.?


ISKENDERUN, Turkey -- Turkish troops and military vehicles deployed toward the border with Syria on Thursday as a precaution after Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan gave orders to react to any Syrian threat approaching the frontier.

Erdogan, who has given shelter in the border area to rebels fighting Syrian President Bashar Assad, announced the new rules of engagement for Turkish troops on the border after Syrian air defenses shot down a Turkish warplane last Friday.

Umit Bektas / Reuters

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan sits in the cockpit of a Hurkus aircraft, Turkey's first locally-produced military training plane, during a ceremony in Ankara on Wednesday.

"I can confirm there are troops being deployed along the border in Hatay province. Turkey is taking precautions after its jet was shot down," a Turkish official said on condition of anonymity.

He said he did not know how many troops or vehicles were being moved but said they were being stationed in the Yayladagi, Altinozu and Reyhanli border areas of Turkey's southern Hatay province. He said anti-aircraft guns were also being stationed along the border.

Turkey to help 'liberate the Syrians from dictatorship'

A military convoy of vehicles including anti-aircraft missile launchers from the 5th Mechanized Armored Brigade left a base in the southeastern city of Gaziantep on Thursday and travelled to neighboring Kilis province on the border, video from the Turkish Dogan news agency showed.

A strong explosion rocked the Syrian capital near a busy market and the Palace of Justice. Msnbc.com's Richard Lui reports.

Roads were closed to traffic as the convoy, escorted by police cars, passed by.

Seven die in attack on pro-regime TV station

Another convoy of about 30 military vehicles, including trucks loaded with missile batteries, left Turkey's coastal town of Iskenderun on Wednesday and deployed near the Syrian border 30 miles away, Turkish news agencies said.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told his newly appointed cabinet that a real "state of war" exists in the country and directed them to direct all its efforts toward vanquishing the uprising against him. ITV's Bill Neely reports.

Turkish television film showed the column moving on Wednesday, escorted by police cars, along a narrow highway leading out of the town, the main port of Turkey's Hatay province. It included rocket launchers on transporters, anti-aircraft artillery and military ambulances.

A Reuters journalist saw another large truck carrying an anti-aircraft gun leave Iskenderun on Thursday for the border area, escorted by two army trucks, one carrying 10 troops.

'No more tolerance'
Erdogan said any military element moving towards the Turkish border and deemed threatening would be declared a military target. The preponderance of air defense weapons in the convoy suggested Turkey was preparing for any possible approach by Syrian helicopters or warplanes.

Homs and other Syrian suburbs continue to be relentlessly shelled. Meanwhile, rebel fighters targeted the main court building in the capital. NBC's Bill Neely reports.

NYT: Turkish border a crucial link in Syrian conflict

While the military movements were ratcheting up the pressure on Syria, Turkey was likely being very careful, NBC News producer?Aziz Akyavas in Turkey said.

"Syria has been chasing Syrians fleeing the country and hitting Turkish soldiers and posts," he said on the telephone on the border with Syria. "Turkey is saying, from now on no more tolerance."

The Turkish border region is sheltering more than 33,000 Syrian refugees as well as elements of the rebel Free Syrian Army.

But "the Turks are being very careful, using diplomatic language very carefully -- a war would be a real disaster," he added.?

State-run Anatolia news agency said armored military vehicles were being transported to military installations in Sanliurfa, in the middle of Turkey's border with Syria, and Hatay, a panhandle province that juts down into Syria.

Report: Syrian general, dozens of other soldiers defect to Turkey

It said several military vehicles had travelled separately to a military garrison in the border town of Reyhanli in Hatay.

Specific details have not been made public of the new rules of engagement issued to troops after the shooting down of the warplane, which Turkey says was in international air space but Syria says entered its territory at high speed.

Syria's pro-government television station has been attacked. Seven people were killed. It is one of the boldest attacks yet on a symbol of that regime as rebel forces step up the fighting around the capital Damascus. ITV's Bill Neely reports.

Aram Nerguizian, a Syria expert at Washington, D.C.,-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies, told msnbc.com that?Assad "has a very small window" ?to say that the downing of the the Turkish fighter was a mistake.

"Syria is sitting and not providing a high-level response to this (and) the last thing these players should be doing is not talking to each other," he said. "These are two of the region?s largest militaries and it would be disastrous if things deteriorated in ways neither side expected."

Nerguizian added that "neither side wants to show weakness."

Blast near busy market
Meanwhile, a?strong explosion rocked the Syrian capital Thursday near a busy market and the Palace of Justice, sending black smoke billowing into the sky. State TV reported at least three people were wounded and around 20 cars were damaged.?

An Associated Press reporter at the scene said some cars were charred and many had their windshields blown out.

AFP - Getty Images

A fireman tries to extinguish fires at the scene of two huge bomb explosions outside the Palace of Justice in Central Damascus on Thursday.

Syria's state-run TV said the explosion was in the parking lot of the Palace of Justice, a compound that houses several courts. The blast happened at 1 p.m. near the capital's famous Hamidiyeh Market, an area crowded with families stocking up on food and other supplies for the weekend, which begins on Friday in Syria.

More photos: Explosion outside Syria's highest court

Witnesses reported hearing one blast, but state-run TV said two explosions struck the area. The report also said a roadside bomb was found but did not explode.

Msnbc.com's F. Brinley Bruton, NBC News' Aziz Akyavas, Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

More world news from msnbc.com and NBC News:

Source: http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/28/12454945-turkey-sends-military-convoys-toward-syrian-border?lite

dancing with the stars aapl creutzfeldt jakob disease the lone ranger yu darvish mad cow pennsylvania primary

Analyst: Ford shares get "Hold" on slow sales

[ [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 2]], 'http://yhoo.it/KeQd0p', '[Slideshow: See photos taken on the way down]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['Connery is an experienced stuntman', 7]], ' http://yhoo.it/KpUoHO', '[Slideshow: Death-defying daredevils]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['know that we have confidence in', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/LqYjAX ', '[Related: The Secret Service guide to Cartagena]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['We picked up this other dog and', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JUSxvi', '[Related: 8 common dog fears, how to calm them]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 5]], 'http://bit.ly/JnoJYN', '[Related: Did WH share raid details with filmmakers?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['accused of running a fake hepatitis B', 3]], 'http://bit.ly/KoKiqJ', '[Factbox: AQAP, al-Qaeda in Yemen]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have my contacts on or glasses', 3]], 'http://abcn.ws/KTE5AZ', '[Related: Should the murder charge be dropped?]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 5]], 'http://yhoo.it/JD7nlD', '[Related: Bristol Palin reality show debuts June 19]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['have made this nation great as Sarah Palin', 1]], 'http://bit.ly/JRPFRO', '[Related: McCain adviser who vetted Palin weighs in on VP race]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['A JetBlue flight from New York to Las Vegas', 3]], 'http://yhoo.it/GV9zpj', '[Related: View photos of the JetBlue plane in Amarillo]', ' ', '630', ' ', ' ', ], [ [['the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 15]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/white-house-stays-out-of-teen-s-killing-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120411/martinzimmermen.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['He was in shock and still strapped to his seat', 6]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/navy-jet-crashes-in-virginia-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/120406/jet_ap.jpg', '630', ' ', 'AP', ], [ [['xxxxxxxxxxxx', 11]], 'http://news.yahoo.com/photos/russian-grannies-win-bid-to-sing-at-eurovision-1331223625-slideshow/', 'Click image to see more photos', 'http://l.yimg.com/a/p/us/news/editorial/1/56/156d92f2760dcd3e75bcd649a8b85fcf.jpeg', '500', ' ', 'AP', ] ]

[ [ [['did not go as far his colleague', 8]], '29438204', '0' ], [ [[' the 28-year-old neighborhood watchman who shot and killed', 4]], '28924649', '0' ], [ [['because I know God protects me', 14], ['Brian Snow was at a nearby credit union', 5]], '28811216', '0' ], [ [['The state news agency RIA-Novosti quoted Rosaviatsiya', 6]], '28805461', '0' ], [ [['measure all but certain to fail in the face of bipartisan', 4]], '28771014', '0' ], [ [['matter what you do in this case', 5]], '28759848', '0' ], [ [['presume laws are constitutional', 7]], '28747556', '0' ], [ [['has destroyed 15 to 25 houses', 7]], '28744868', '0' ], [ [['short answer is yes', 7]], '28746030', '0' ], [ [['opportunity to tell the real story', 7]], '28731764', '0' ], [ [['entirely respectable way to put off the searing constitutional controversy', 7]], '28723797', '0' ], [ [['point of my campaign is that big ideas matter', 9]], '28712293', '0' ], [ [['As the standoff dragged into a second day', 7]], '28687424', '0' ], [ [['French police stepped up the search', 17]], '28667224', '0' ], [ [['Seeking to elevate his candidacy back to a general', 8]], '28660934', '0' ], [ [['The tragic story of Trayvon Martin', 4]], '28647343', '0' ], [ [['Karzai will get a chance soon to express', 8]], '28630306', '0' ], [ [['powerful storms stretching', 8]], '28493546', '0' ], [ [['basic norm that death is private', 6]], '28413590', '0' ], [ [['songwriter also saw a surge in sales for her debut album', 6]], '28413590', '1', 'Watch music videos from Whitney Houston ', 'on Yahoo! Music', 'http://music.yahoo.com' ], [ [['keyword', 99999999999999999999999]], 'videoID', '1', 'overwrite-pre-description', 'overwrite-link-string', 'overwrite-link-url' ] ]

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/analyst-ford-shares-hold-slow-sales-182002214--finance.html

hillary rosen j.k. rowling j.k. rowling axl rose google earnings pat burrell hilary rosen

University Interior Designer, University Architect - HigherEdJobs

Job Summary: Reviews all interior designs to ensure compliance with plans and to influence decisions regarding the appropriateness of furniture and interior design for all spaces on the IU campuses. Serves as project manager or team member on facilities projects as assigned. Develops plans for interior design, furnishings, and interior finishes independently or in consultation with supervisors or outside experts. Reviews and approves interior design, furnishings, and interior finishes required for capital projects or requested by departments.

Establishes vendor contacts and conducts product research. Consults with departments, writes specifications, develops budget recommendations, updates database and progress schedule reports, and supervises outside designers. Remains current on regulations. Establishes interior design standards for all campuses and leads other IU designers regarding interior design standards.

Qualifications: Review your qualifications prior to applying to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications for the position. Resume and cover letter required.

REQUIRED: Bachelor's degree in interior design, architecture, or similar field and five years of experience, including State of Indiana Interior Designer License or current NCIDQ certificate.

Proficiency with AutoCAD systems; REVIT proficiency a plus. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and knowledge of common business furniture systems.

Preferred: LEED AP and ten or more years of experience.

Applications accepted until July 26, 2012, or until position is filled.

Indiana University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and a provider of ADA services. We value diversity and encourage applications from women, members of minority groups, and persons with disabilities.

juliette lewis chelsea handler mitch daniels shirataki noodles john kerry prince fielder state of the union address 2012

Ex-colleagues: Morsi was conservative, open-minded

EPA

Egyptian president-elect Mohamed Morsi spent seven years in the United States, from 1978 to 1985, as an engineering student and then assistant professor. Two professors remembered him fondly as a quiet man who was not particularly political or religious.

By Isolde Raftery, msnbc.com

In the days since Mohamed Morsi was named president-elect of Egypt, two narratives have emerged about the 60-year-old engineer.

The first paints Morsi as an anti-American, anti-woman, anti-Christian and anti-Israel enforcer for the Muslim Brotherhood who will, despite his claims, turn back the clock in Egypt.

The second narrative, supported by two engineering professors from Egypt who knew Morsi when he was an engineering student and professor in California for seven years from 1978 to 1985, depicts a quiet, hardworking young man more driven by studies than politics.


Professor Nagi El Naga, who knew Morsi as an assistant professor in engineering at California State University Northridge, described his former colleague as kind, open-minded and conservative. At the time, Morsi was 30, with a wife and two young, U.S.-born children. His wife covered her hair with a veil; El Naga?s wife, a professor, did not.

?He was somewhat more conservative than me as far as religion, but there?s a difference between being conservative and being extremist,? said El Naga, who still teaches at Northridge. ?He was open-minded. We had differences but these differences never prevented us from sharing dinner and things like that.

NBC's Andrea Mitchell examines the obstacles ahead for President-elect Mohammed Morsi of Egypt.

?He was not irrational,? El Naga continued. ?He was sincere in what he believed in.?

Morsi has been described as the accidental candidate; in April, he replaced Khairat El-Shater, the Muslim Brotherhood?s more charismatic and effusive choice who was deemed ineligible to run. Morsi became the chairman of the Freedom and Justice Party, a group with ties to the Brotherhood that emerged after the 2011 revolution. He was an independent member of parliament from 2000 to 2005.

Egypt's Morsi goes from prisoner to president

He won the election with 51 percent of the vote, edging out Ahmed Shafiq, who was viewed as an extension of former President Hosni Mubarak?s regime. Mubarak resigned in February of 2011 after 30 years in control. ?

Affable, hardworking
Professor Farghalli Mohamed of University of California said he was surprised to see his former graduate student join the Muslim Brotherhood. He said Morsi prayed five times a day and observed Ramadan, but did not discuss religion or politics, nor did he grow a light beard, as did the more devout Muslim students.

Rather, Mohamed remembers Morsi as an affable, hardworking and unmarried young man who joined his family at their home and on outings to the Magic Mountain amusement park.

Beaten candidate, under graft probe, leaves Egypt

?I saw students from the Middle East at the time whose views were very conservative, who didn?t like what they saw in America in terms of social values -- they didn?t like the dress code of women,? Mohamed said. ?When you visit them in their house, they are very conservative. Usually you don?t see their wives. But Mohamed Morsi, he met with my wife, and my wife doesn?t (wear a veil).?

In 1985, Morsi traveled to Egypt and never returned to California.

El Naga and Mohamed, who have lost touch with Morsi, have?differing theories on why Egypt's president-elect joined the Brotherhood.

Mohamed believes Morsi would not have joined the Brotherhood had he returned to Cairo to teach, rather than taking a position at a small university in the more conservative northern part of Egypt.

El Naga, however, believes that Morsi joined the Brotherhood because he shared one of their values: to fight corruption in the Mubarak regime. ??

Morsi quits Muslim Brotherhood after election

When El Naga heard Morsi speak on Sunday, he said he believed the new president?s claims that he would unify the country.

?When I saw him talking it brought me back to many years back,? El Naga said. ?I felt he was the same person I was with 30 years ago.?

Mohamed was less enthusiastic.

?I feel sad for Morsi,? he said. ?He was elected as president -- that is great -- but at the moment it is vague for him. He has no constitution on which to rely on to govern the country. There is no Congress, and then the military council is still in control.?

More world news from msnbc.com and NBC News:

Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world

colt mccoy philadelphia eagles arbor day packers mike adams janoris jenkins john edwards trial