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The Secret Beyond Matter
Character-Types of The Unbelievers
The Character of Members of The Societies of Ignorance
The lives led by members of the societies of ignorance which are far removed from the Qur'an cause them all to be in difficulty and error throughout all stages of their lives. The greatest of these difficulties, however, is suffered within themselves. Because of their corrupted understanding, the character they develop causes them discontent and anxiety.
During their childhood, these ignorant persons chose others to model themselves after. And, as they grew up, they try to be like them. The role-models they choose may be a parent, a sister or brother, a close friend, a neighbor or someone they have seen on television. The identity they want to emulate may lead a very different life and under different circumstances; the quality of the environment the role-model lives and his level of cultivation may also be different. While some may believe that the best life is attained by being rebellious and irresponsible, others, influenced by trends of his environment, may believe that the best attitude is to be aloof and arrogant.
Though, when they finally meet their role model, they realize that their personality is not as they had originally considered. From then on, they spend their lives in search of another way of life to satisfy their expectations — but, without any results. As they become older, and their circumstances and their environment change, so do the personalities they wish to emulate also change. They are influenced by every fashion and novelty; they hope to find the fulfillment they are seeking by imitating these people, trying them one after the other. This search for identity lasts throughout their lives, but they can never find the attitude and contentment that they were created for. That is because, everything they try is always merely a product of their ignorance.
After a certain time, some will settle into a particular identity. But, this is not because they have found their ideal role-model and attained happiness. On the contrary, they realize that their problem cannot be solved within the web of ignorance in which they live, and accept defeat.
In the coming pages, we will present the features of the types of character that pervade the societies of ignorance; we will try to define them, and show the difficulties they suffer. By investigating this important condition, we will come to recognize the tremendous difference that exists between the character of a believer and that of one mired in ignorance. Therefore, however ardently they may try to find a way out, those who live in ignorance are already lost. Their only salvation is, we repeat, to live the moral life of a believer.
But, before we continue, we must recall an important point: The types of character we will describe here represent the members of the societies of ignorance in general. Of course, there will be some exceptions that, for some reason, do not conform to the norm. Such individuals, under particular conditions, may not display any of the qualities predicated by these conditions. Therefore, we cannot say that all individuals in a society of ignorance acquire the character we will describe. We are not referring to these individuals, but only those who reflect the endemic corruption that plagues the societies of ignorance.
The Character of the Female in the Societies of Ignorance
In a society of ignorance, there is a silent, unnamed power that directs all the people. From the moment he is born, a member of such societies submits himself to this power, and orders his entire life according to its edicts. This power dominates this member of the society of ignorance, to such an extent that he does not depart from its laws, even though they go against his own desires and expectations; and, come what may, he remains loyal to it.
What is this power, then, to which the ignorant are so attached, and which commands them so absolutely?
As we have said, it does not have a name; it is the totality of the false laws that the ignorant refer to as "tradition." It is not known who formulated these laws and determined whether or not they were valid. No one, however, would dare to question or alter them. Anyone who attempts to question these traditions is despised, and attempts are made to prevent any who are thought to be violating these laws or disrupting the established order.
Members of this society are firmly devoted to the rules they have adopted; if one wanted to tell them that these rules may be wrong, they would reply that they came down to them from previous generations and, therefore, cannot be abandoned. They do not dare to examine what they do, or why they do it, because their forebears did the same. In the Qur'an Allah describes this distorted point of view characteristic of a society of ignorance:
When they are told, "Follow what Allah has sent down to you," They say, "We are following what we found our fathers doing." What, even though their fathers did not understand a thing and were not guided! (Surat al-Baqara, 170)
The character and way of life required of a member of a society of ignorance has been predetermined according to the false and formalistic nature of tradition. Take, for example, a child: No matter how mature he may be, he must act like a child. There are specific expectations as to his behavior, mode of conversation, and other every day matters. Any type of behavior that does not conform to these expectations is regarded as strange.
So, in the same way, the "female character" is defined by the characteristics regarded as acceptable for women in the society. The society of ignorance has accepted a mode of behavior for women, and they are not permitted to venture beyond these parameters, and must develop their own personalities within it. However, the kind of behavior prescribed for women by an ignorant society is rife with corruptions.
Surely, the worst form of corruption is the belief that, because women are physically weaker than men, they must also be weak of character. Girls are brought up from a very early age with this idea instilled in their minds. Women in a society of ignorance accept, without question, this notion imposed on them and, as a result, develop a feeble sense of identity. They believe that they cannot match the power and endurance of a man. Great majority of women never think of themselves as one who can protect and care for others; since their childhood, they have always been the ones who were protected and looked after. They think it normal for themselves to be emotional, to cry and become angry as they are "weak" in character. This character type has been accepted as extremely natural in the societies of ignorance. Some women have accepted this model, without considering its validity, and the detriment it causes them, and, thereby, do not recognize the need to reform themselves.
Compared to this convoluted understanding of the society of ignorance, the way revealed by the Qur'an is simpler and far more straightforward. A Muslim does not make any distinction between the character of a man and that of a woman. Therefore, a woman is first of all a Muslim, and then a woman. Her identity is not determined by her sex, but according to the morality proclaimed in the Qur'an. In the Qur'an, Allah describes only a one type of character. Man or woman, all are held responsible for aspiring to this character. Accordingly, a female believer, who is aware of this, develops fortitude, balance and superior character.
When the character of a Muslim woman and that of a woman which has developed under the sway of ignorance are compared, the superiority of the character molded in the light of the morality described in the Qur'an becomes apparent.
Indeed, the Qur'an is the unique source that all people, regardless of their gender, should refer to, as our Prophet (saas) also indicated in his following tradition:
"The Qur'an is a strong rope of Allah, meaning that it is a reliable means of linking with Allah and a firm charter of guidance. It is the straight path. The Qur'an is the clear truth that keep thoughts from straying." (Tirmidhi)
The Housewife in an Ignorant Society
Among the most prominent types of identities inherited by the society of ignorance from their ancestors is that of the housewife. This identity is known by almost all the members of the society, and, no matter what the culture, it is found among the majority of women throughout the world.
This identity is cultivated in almost every girl, from her childhood on, with the expectation that she will one day certainly have to conform to that model. It is usually their mothers, the person usually closest to them, who provides them with that example. They observe their mothers and other women in the community, and little by little, they begin to adopt the identity in their own minds. The role-model is that of a woman who marries well, who is a good housekeeper, and gives birth to healthy children; she receives visits from relatives and friends, and meets with other women to have tea; she brings up her children, does the shopping, cleans the house, and other similar domestic duties.
Surely it is a beauty and blessing for someone to make a good marriage and have a good family life. Believers also desire to have such a blessing. However what is flawed here is the desire to possess them with a worldly greed, without adopting the morality and attitude proclaimed by Allah.
These young girls know nothing about the world, and believe this occupation to be the ideal for a woman. And, in the future, without questioning, that is the life they will choose.
Certainly, it is not a blameworthy thing for a person to be interested in their home. But it is erroneous to confine one's entire world only within four walls, and to forget her real purpose of life which is revealed in the Qur'an. Indeed, these people limit their thoughts to the location in which they reside and start to live in this small world. They have small targets, small aims, small expectations and small calculations. They possess a kind of character far removed from that of believers described in the Qur'an who fulfill their duties as servants to Allah in the best form possible, aim to display best of the attitudes and conduct hoping to earn Allah's good pleasure, constantly turn to Allah and remember the abode of the Hereafter.
In the society of ignorance, however, the most important issues occupying the mind of a typical housewife are herself, her family, kids and future plans. In a middle-income family these plans include owning a flat and thus ceasing to be a tenant, covering monthly electricity and water bills or kids' school payments, being able to possess a car one day or renewing furniture. The goals of a housewife with better living conditions are no better than the ones cited above. Her plans are likewise made upon her home, family and kids. What makes her life meaningful is to be able to boast about the beauty of her house, the quality of education her kids get or the new car her husband has purchased.
It deserves mention here to say that all the deeds cited above are surely requisite, but the error of ignorant women here is not setting ideals for themselves beyond these few ordinary pleasures. If their lives were established on higher spiritual ideals, even if they lived in the same conditions, they would not be content to be confined to such an identity. The best example of this can be the pious woman.
A person who believes in Allah, whether man or a woman, has high ideals and broad horizons. A woman with a believer's character takes responsibility, not only for her house, family and relatives, but for the whole world. When necessary, she may live within four walls doing her housework, and organize meetings with her friends, but her thoughts, goals and responsibilities are never limited to that. She would never let herself be an insignificant person concerning herself with minor issues. From where she is, she seeks solutions to the world's problems, develops ideas, and bridges impasses.
An ignorant housewife, who conforms to the model determined for her by society, never desiring to venture beyond it, leads her life within the parameters drawn for her. One of the main reasons being that she assumes there is only one place for her to be in this world, and neglects to consider the fact that the day is coming when she will be called to account before Allah. Indeed, one who does not think about what happens beyond death spends his life struggling to maximize the benefits that it has to offer. Our Prophet (saas) has indicated the importance of thinking about death:
"Speak a lot about death. Because this removes a man from the world. And makes him free of sin." (Ahmad Diya'al-Din al-Kamushkhanawi, Ramuz al-Ahadith, Vol 1, 80/16)
One who fails to keep himself occupied with the remembrance of death strives only to live without overstepping the limits set by those around him. They seek not the favor of Allah, but the approval of others. The result is a backward and ignorant way of life. The basic principles on which this way of life is founded are clear.
Why Do They Yearn to Be Housewives?
When the word "housewife" is mentioned, everyone immediately brings a specific picture to mind. They think of a person who wakes up early in the morning and sends her husband and children off, cleans and tidies up the house, does the laundry, thinks about what to have for supper, and spends most of her day in the kitchen preparing meals… This is the stereotypical image of a woman.
Surely there is no harm for a woman to engage in these actions. Many devout women may also do these works as a part of their daily routines. However what distinguishes a faithful woman engaging in these deeds from the one abiding by the morality of ignorance is her morality, thoughts and intentions. For a devout woman preparing food for her family or cleaning her house, is a way to earn Allah's good pleasure and His mercy. Her thoughts, the way she interprets incidents is, in no way, confined to a realm comprised of this routine alone.
Indeed, for many, such daily work expected from a housewife is considered boring and tiresome. But, in spite of this, a great many ignorant women aspire to one day living such a life.
So, what renders this lifestyle which will bring no benefits in the Hereafter so attractive for some people? Do people yearn for it only because it is tradition? Or, is it because, according to them, they make life more fulfilling?
All the above reasons may be true. However they are not the only reasons. These reasons depend on the person and their circumstances. But, generally speaking, most of these women can be categorized according to several traits they share in common.
One of the most important reasons they aspire to be housewives is that most young girls believe that they will be freer when they are married. After having lived for years under their family's control, and according to the rules imposed upon them, they think that marriage is the easiest and the shortest way for change. For this reason, they often marry the first suitable man that comes along. Nevertheless, while ignorant women want to marry, they are also aware of the difficulties that come with marriage. But they are willing to ignore these difficulties with the hope that they will be able to live by their own rules.
In marriage, women enter into a situation where they are often burdened with more material and personal responsibilities than they had to deal with before. Besides, they cannot be always free to live according to their own rules, because, based on the norms that govern ignorant societies, the master of the house is the man, and he commands the woman according to his rules and beliefs. So, nothing changes; the husband takes on the role her family once did.
There is another important reason for some women's desire to become housewives: the assumed material means that marriage provide. Especially for some girls from families with scarce means, marriage is considered the primary opportunity to improve their circumstances. For this reason, young women are often advised by their families to marry accordingly. And so, often the only criterion a young girl considers in marriage is wealth. Rather than marrying one she admires for his standards of morality and character, she chooses a man who will offer her a prosperous future, or a better life than she had known with her family. In return, she is prepared, if necessary, to get up early every morning for the rest of her life, cook meals, do the laundry and housekeep.
We can see that it is because of that which they expect to gain from being a housewife that so many ignorant women choose this lot. Women with such mentality think they can escape family pressures, raise their standard of living, and secure their future; in addition, they believe they will also help their families and relatives to benefit from their improved circumstances. At first, being a housewife may appear attractive, because of the many benefits it would appear to offer, but later in life it becomes monotonous, until they are finally filled with regret.
The Personality of the Housewife in the Ignorant Society
Although they may vary in level of education or quality of moral characters; and although where they live and their means may be different, the identity of all housewives in a society of ignorance is much the same.
The women in the societies of ignorance are influenced from the outset by the expectations placed upon them by the society. From the time of their childhood, they may have observed thousands of housewives and, whether they know it or not, have recorded their observations subconsciously. And, when they find themselves in similar circumstances, they conduct themselves unaware of the influence they have acquired and which, in a sense, they allow to determine their identity. For this reason, the character of the average housewife is composed of the same basic aspects. They all lead their lives according to their early observations and experiences. Even the ideal of a young woman, who has studied at university, and though she has a network of friends, may become an entirely different personality after she marries. The week before her marriage she may have been a lively and outgoing person but, suddenly, when she takes on the role of housewife, she may assume an identity that her former friends not longer recognize.
It is the corrupted notion of marriage in a society of ignorance that makes them adopt such a personality. This is important to keep in mind as we examine the personality of the housewife. In the formation of this identity, which we will explore in detail in the following pages, the fact that marriage is "ignorant marriage," that is, that it is a component of the society of ignorance, is of important significance.
Under the influence of all such factors, this specific identity is formed according to all the corrupting influences of the ignorant system. We must also add that a society of ignorance does not regard these distortions as unusual, nor does it regard the identities it produce as undesirable. On the contrary, they consider them normal and legitimate. It is the society in which they live that determines the character of individuals, and so it is to be expected that they would tolerate and accept the expectations placed upon them and that they should comply by them.
Display of Emotion
A trait considered natural among ignorant women is their emotionality, though such behavior is totally at odds with the moral teachings of the Qur'an. And, according to the expectations of a culture of ignorance, a woman must be meek and needs to be protected and looked after by a man.
For this reason, whenever a housewife is confronted by some difficulty, she immediately becomes overly emotional. And, she does not regard such a response as weakness, but makes an exhibition of her emotions, thinking that it will make others feel sorry for her. This mode of behavior is encouraged by the community. In an ignorant system, people behave as if they feel sympathy for one overcome by emotion, and the person exhibiting her feelings usually attracts the attention she wants.
In addition, there is a more powerful emotion that some ignorant women tend to display which takes hold of her whole character. It is a kind of emotionalism that pervades every aspect of the lives of the women in question; it derives from unhappiness and not submitting to Allah or her fate. So, because of this emotionalism, she becomes irrational, unable to arrive at intelligent decisions or to act prudently. She sees everything in negatively, considers herself sufferer of some injustice; and, therefore, deludes herself with false scenarios, sinking further into an unhealthy spiritual quagmire. What she expected from marriage did not materialize; the initial exhilaration, love and respect disappeared. Such disappointment led to her despondence. Her behavior becomes an external manifestation of her condition; her eyes are constantly brimming with tears, she is melancholic and sorrowful. If she does not receive a compliment on a meal she has carefully prepared, or no one notices her new outfit, or if she does not immediately get she is after, she becomes overly emotional. A misspoken word, a joking remark, or sometimes, just the wrong word will fix in her mind, and lead her to become emotional. She will remember the offense throughout the day, and let it become something in her mind that was never intended of it. But, the guilty person was probably not even aware of what he had done. Nevertheless, an ignorant woman who has let emotionalism become a part of her character loses the ability of judgment to recognize the fact.
As a result, another dominant feature among ignorant women is their tendency to weep. Everything that happens in their home may be an occasion for sorrow and weeping. Financial difficulties in the family, difficulties in raising the children, soap operas, or many other factors, may provide the excuse for them to yield to this side of their character. This sort of woman is so mired in her emotionalism that she will find any excuse to cry and be miserable, even if there isn't one. For example, if one of the characters on a television series dies she will cry afterwards for several minutes. Or, if she hears a song she had enjoyed with a friend many years ago, she will suddenly become emotional and begin to cry. Examples like these are many.
Women who harbor these ignorant tendencies may experience both spiritual and physical breakdowns. This is one of the consequences of the distress they experience for choosing life of ignorance over the moral teachings of the Qur'an. Allah has said in the Qur'an that only those who remember Him, submit to Him and prepare themselves for the Afterlife, will lead a good life in this world and find peace in their hearts. But, characters such as those we have described here have forgotten Allah, by Whose eternal power they were created, and, for this reason, have fallen into melancholy.
They Are Easily Offended
One of the most definite features of a housewife's character is the ease with which she takes offense. These women harbor many subconscious fears, and are afraid of being neglected, abandoned or deceived. Recognizing that members of the society of ignorance are not trustworthy, they are in constant fear of betrayal. So, they interpret every thing that happens, and every word they hear, in this perspective.
If her husband or her children forget a wedding anniversary, birthday or another special occasion, it provides an opportunity for them to become overly sensitive and emotional. They will try to find a hidden meaning behind the slightest oversight, and feel a deep fear of being unappreciated or neglected. This psychological condition creates tension and often leads heated arguments.
However, a woman who is a believer does not have this defect in her character. Above all, in compliance with Allah's command, she is not suspicious about others or that which happens. If someone says something or acts in a way she does not understand, she will try to sort it out in her mind; she will try to understand that person's intention and act accordingly. But, she never takes offense because of something she does not understand, or suppose the meaning of a word spoken. She knows that being touchy is not in compliance with the morality of the Qur'an. Moreover, because a female believer's marriage and friendships are within the community of other Muslims, confusion does not arise to such eruptions. Because, it is the responsibility of believers to speak the truth clearly and correctly. Allah forbids believers from using in their conversation the off-color innuendo and tasteless humor that is characteristic of the wicked morality of a society of ignorance. We can see that a woman who is a believer makes her life conform to the Qur'an, and so is content and secure, and untouched by moral defects.
Complaining About Everything
Ignorant women often speak about the conditions they live in and their unhappiness brought about by their characters which are far removed from the morality of the Qur'an. This tendency though, is also reflected in the men around them. After all, women regard this kind of behavior as appropriate to a housewife. In their opinion, spending the whole day making meals, cleaning the house saps their energy, and, for them, it is to be expected that they should complain. They believe that complaining is their right, and that those around ought to tolerate it. They believe that they, more than others, know the monotony of their marriage. Some men think that complaining is the only way their wives can vent their tensions, and so they accept their behavior to a certain point. But, it must be noted that these women knowingly chose this life themselves. Nevertheless, they never cease in their incessant complaining.
This habit of often complaining, as is found among housewives, and which they regard as their right, manifests itself at every minute of the day. They become so accustomed to complaining about everything, great or small, that they even complain to themselves when they are alone in the house. Such a woman tidies up the house grudgingly and, if a member of the family contributes to the mess, she assaults him with words of reproach. She will even complain to the first person who comes along, even a complete stranger.
This habit of complaining makes one argumentative. The most insignificant matter is magnified and a quarrel ensues; even for minor issues, the women become contrary and stubbornly insistent. They take every word the wrong way, and respond with an opposite assertion. These women live with a lot of anxiety because of their tense irritability. Their most common complaints are of headaches, stomach aches, and insomnia; and, ultimately, they begin to show early signs of aging.
All this is the result of the corrupt society in which they live. There is only one way out of this disturbed spiritual state brought on by their lack of faith and trust in Allah: To submit to the moral teachings of the Qur'an, and to live a life pleasing to Allah. Other than that, there are no other options.
Most often, ignorant women who display such a base form of behavior look for a solution by visiting some type of specialist or another, trying every new medication, therapy, or may even try to escape by ending their marriage. But, none of these remedies is a real resolution to the miserable lives they lead. As long as they do not live by the morality of the Qur'an and become devoted to our Lord with a sincere heart, there will be no change to their way of life, even though in actuality they would have had nothing to complain about, no one to grumble at or another house to live in.
However, compared to all the base forms of behavior typical of the majority of the women of the ignorant societies, the comportment of a woman of faith is reflective of a character that is positive in outlook and well-balanced. For example, she realizes that complaining is a bad habit. She does not forget that, even if things appear to be going badly, there is a reason for it in the Sight of Allah. So, no matter what comes her way, she sees no reason to be discontent or anxious. Even in her most difficult moments, she shows to those around her a tolerant, forgiving and compassionate character. And, even if she must criticize someone, in accordance with the dictates of her conscience, and by observing the Prophet's (saas) warning, "Whoever is not merciful towards people, will not be treated mercifully by Allah." (Ibn Ahmad Hanbal), she does so with language that is appropriate. Also, as the Qur'an commands, she knows that in this way outcome will be more positive. This is the behavior required of believers, as revealed in the Qur'an:
Make allowances for people, command what is right, and turn away from the ignorant. (Surat al-A'raf, 199)
Do you do not see how Allah makes a metaphor of a good word: A good tree whose roots are firm and whose branches are in heaven? (Surah Ibrahim, 24)
Say to My servants that they should only say the best. Satan wants to stir up trouble between them. Satan is an outright enemy to man. (Surat al-Isra', 53)
Jealousy and Mistrust
Jealousy exercises an important influence in an ignorant society, where it is not regarded as a negative trait. Such a society tries to present jealousy as a mark of love and devotion. If an individual is not jealous of the one he loves, he thinks it is not real love. According to this erroneous way of thinking, in order for an individual to be sure that his partner loves him, the partner must love him exclusively.
But this idea is completely wrong. Because, ultimately, love is a profound feeling and a superior moral trait. For an individual to be jealous in a loving relationship is contrary to the teaching of the Qur'an. A person shows his love to the one he loves through his faithfulness, devotion and tenderness, and by speaking and acting appropriately towards the object of his affection. This creates the idea in the mind of the other person that he or she is really loved. It is very selfish for an individual to want to be loved exclusively.
In societies of ignorance, jealousy, especially in married life, causes much anxiety. A woman of such a tendency, who hears of the love her husband has for his mother, father, sisters, friends and even his children, may become a cause of misery for her. Such women do not want their husbands to love anyone else more than, or even as much, as he loves them.
A second type of jealousy that such housewives experience comes from the fact that they are aware of the corrupted perception of marriage in ignorant society. There is no genuine love or faithfulness in any union that is not based on the love and fear of Allah, and on seeking His pleasure. It is because ignorant women are aware of this that they expect being deceived at any moment, and live in fear of being neglected. For this reason, they regard everything that happens with suspicion, becoming overwhelmed with tense feelings and jealousy.
Instead of improving the situation, their behavior makes things worse, and often makes even the problem itself worse. They try to send their partner a message with their erratic behavior, contrariety and irascibility. They tend to derive complicated insinuations from the most trivial circumstances, and then form definite conclusions on the basis of the scenarios they imagine. But, this behavior only makes their lives more miserable. Moreover, contrary to the desired results, they succeed only in driving their partner farther away from them. Because living with a person without knowing when the next outburst will occur, and what kind of false conclusion she will jump to, makes for a very unhappy co-existence. For this reason, the obsessive jealousy of housewives in the ignorant societies usually ends with the breakup of the marriage.
However, the solution is very simple. In the Qur'an Allah informs us that everyone has feelings of jealousy, but these feelings have to be eliminated:
… people are prone to selfish greed. If you do good and fear Allah, Allah is aware of what you do. (Surat an-Nisa', 128)
For this reason, a believer, who dutifully practices the moral teachings of the Qur'an, does not harbor jealousy. The mutual faithfulness and trust that comes from the fear of Allah prevents any such tension from occurring.
The Habits of a Housewife
When the term "housewife" is mentioned in the societies of ignorance, a specific stereotype enters the minds. Because, the system that fosters this kind of character has, in a sense, become entrenched. Of course, there are some housewives who do not conform to the mould for one reason or another. But, in the sense of the morality of ignorance dealt with here, this is the model of a housewife that is widely recognized in society.
In ignorant societies, the life typical of a housewife is one filled every day with monotony. Usually, her days are taken up with basic duties, such as tidying up the rooms of other family members, doing the laundry, preparing meals, shopping and other chores that need to be done around the house. Of course, everyone must do such things. But, the mistake they make is disregarding the problems pervading this world, forgetting the Afterlife completely, one's responsibilities towards Allah, and instead performing their duties in the expectation of some worldly gain. They base their whole lives, their thoughts, and plans, on the work they do and, instead of seeking the favor of Allah Who created them, they try to find satisfaction in trivial goals of their daily lives.
In addition, during all this daily activity, there are several habits, usually shared by all housewives who are members of the ignorant society, in which they tend persist. In their own eyes, they think these will improve their lives and alleviate their anxiety and thus they fill their spare time with them. However, when considered carefully, it becomes evident that all such habits only mire them in what is a very ordinary and mundane life.
The most common of these habits are:Gossiping
One of the most common traits of housewives in a society of ignorance is their love of gossiping. Even if they do not have the time or the occasion, they will surely find some bit of time for gossip. We can see them devoted to it in doorways with their neighbors, on the telephone for hours with their friends, and sometimes at tea and coffee parties. These people living by this morality derive a great deal of pleasure from gossiping, because they can humiliate a person who has criticized them, and make themselves look superior. For this reason, even if there is a more useful or pleasant topic to be discussed at a meeting of friends, they will insist on bringing the conversation around to gossiping. Anyone can become the fodder for their gossip: Their neighbors, friends, relatives, spouses, television stars or even a complete stranger passing in the street.
But, it is not right to say something behind someone's back that he would not appreciate. If there is some matter a person should be criticized for, and if there is any benefit in it, the best thing to do is to inform the person in question. But if the matter is discussed by everyone, and the person being criticized is not informed, it cannot be said that there is any underlying good intention or intelligent purpose. Moreover, the individuals doing the gossiping are aware that the same thing would certainly happen to them because it is a common practice of ignorant societies. But they would certainly detest it. When they hear that other people have been talking about them, they are very upset by it. But, though fraught with such over-sensitivity, they will nevertheless behave terribly towards others without caring whether they are hurting anyone.
However, Allah has forbidden human beings from gossiping. He explains to us in the Qur'an that gossiping is not part of a good moral character, and if there is something wrong, He commands that the offending person be told by "enjoining the good and forbidding the evil":
You who believe! Avoid most suspicion. Indeed some suspicion is a crime. And do not spy and do not backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat his brother's dead flesh? No, you would hate it. And fear Allah. Allah is Ever-Returning, Most Merciful. (Surat al-Hujurat, 12)
So, according to this command of the Qur'an, believers never criticize another person behind their back. They know that one of the greatest signs of real love and friendship is to act in such a way as to be of benefit to another person both in this life and the next. If they see a person behaving incorrectly, they will immediately tell them, and urge them to make up for their mistake. This is the basis of real friendship and loyalty. But, in a society of ignorance, the dearest relationships, like marriage, are not based on sound foundations, and, because they do not rest on mutual love and respect, this negative tendency is then widespread.
Meeting with Friends
One habit that most housewives in the societies of ignorance could not live without is what they call their "day out," when they meet together with friends for a meal. Surely it is a blessing for a person to come together with her friends and host them. However, it is very important that these gatherings become the times during which love and respect are expressed, friendships are solidified, and the name of Allah is remembered. However, they turn out to be meetings in which just a contrary morality is displayed. Usually at such gatherings, it is sufficient for women of the ignorant society to lift their spirits merely to receive a compliment about a cake they baked, but, if their husbands do not give them permission to attend one of these meetings, they would stay miserable for weeks. This demonstrates just how petty and narrow is the world of these people in question. The kind of conversation, and other things that happen during this kind of meeting, is far from being of any use to them for the Afterlife. In fact, such meetings usually draw them towards this world. Instead of reminding them about the world to come, the greatness of Allah Who created all things, and to live according to the moral standards commanded in the Qur'an, these meetings are full of idle chatter, arguments and banal criticisms. They do not judge what is good about each other according to the Qur'an; on the contrary, their praise for one another is usually insincere, far removed from their genuine convictions. They do not judge others according to how well they practice the moral teachings of the Qur'an.
Usually, among the more important topics talked in these gatherings is either gossip or what happened on the last episode of a television soap opera, or sharing recipes.
However, if the same meeting were composed of individuals that feared Allah, and were making their preparations for the Afterlife, then their conversation would instead be edifying and good for everyone. Believers are commanded in the Qur'an to refrain from idle talk, and non-productive activities, but to spend every moment towards doing something useful and thinking about how they may be helpful to others. This is emphasized in the following verses:
[T]hose who turn away from worthless talk. (Surat al-Muminun, 3)
[T]hose who do not bear false witness and who, when they pass by worthless talk, pass by with dignity. (Surat al-Furqan, 72)
When they hear worthless talk they turn away from it and say, "We have our actions and you have your actions. Peace be upon you. We do not desire the company of the ignorant." (Surat al-Qasas, 55)
Idly Watching Television
A great part of a housewife's life in a society of ignorance is spent in front of the television. But, it is not only they who enjoy this habit; their husbands and children also spend hours watching television, it being one of the favorite forms of entertainment of a society of ignorance. However, what they watch is most often of no value. The most important thing for them is to pass the time and, in their own way, enjoy some brief relief from the anxieties they suffer in their lives. Regardless of whatever else they might be doing, throughout the day, housewives leave the television on. Especially when the soap operas come on, then they are glued to the screen. The romance featured in these soap operas gives them particular enjoyment. For this reason, their daily schedule is organized around the times when these soap operas are broadcast, and if they have to go anywhere, they ensure that they record the episode on videocassette. If they can't, then as soon as they finish what they are doing, they eagerly find out the latest developments that took place on the program from friends or neighbors.
Even if they were offered better quality programming and documentaries in which signs leading to faith are displayed, with more intelligent content so as to broaden their horizons, these women, being far removed from the morality of the true religion, would still not give up their soap operas. Because these programs reflect their aspirations, pleasures and their outlook on life so well.
Of course, there would be nothing wrong with watching television, if there were better programming; then people could learn Islamic values from it. But, it is wrong as it stands, because of its mindless content, leaving a person heedless of the existence of Allah and the Hereafter. Especially, it is wrong if the housewife cannot tear herself away from watching television to do something more important or useful. These women could do something positive, but never do, nor are they uncomfortable about it, because their lack of sense of purpose and their self-image as housewife is so ingrained.
Unnecessary Telephone Conversations
A woman in a society of ignorance spends most of her day on the telephone. She calls her friends, one after the other, to learn the latest news and gossip. She relates what has been going on in her family, the arguments she had with her husband, what she bought at the store, who came to visit, and what they talked about. These telephone conversations go on for hours but, generally, they accomplish nothing fruitful.
Believers, on the contrary, as we saw in previous sections, avoid all kind of idle talk and futile activities. They never allow themselves to debase their level of conversation. If they have to, they can spend much time on the telephone, but to discuss an important matter. If there were no such need, they would not talk on the phone just out of habit; they would instead engage in more useful and educational pursuits.
The Character of the "Society" Woman
In the societies living by the morality of ignorance, the character of a woman brought up within the group called, "high society" is still no different from that of a housewife. Their characteristics and habits are similar. But the circumstance and possibilities in this environment, being better disposed of by financial means, are different from those of the middle-income housewife. This difference results in different habits among them.
These women are overwhelmed with anxiety about fitting in to their milieu. For this reason, they behave according to the expectations of those around them, rather than according to their own desires, disposition or inclinations. The expectations of the majority of the members of high society are usually based on money and pretense. Therefore, those women who adopt this lifestyle spend their days mainly in "high society" doing the "in-things," trying their best to fit in to that way of life. The world of such women is one of pretence and putting on airs; to this end she will go to holiday resorts, wear clothes considered "high fashion," gossip at a spa or high-class beauty salon, meet her friends for lunch in an expensive restaurant, or buy things imported from abroad.
Although they appear to have brightly colored lives from the outside, their lives are in fact at least as monotonous and dull as those of housewives. After sleeping until lunchtime every day, they then glance at the magazine gossip pages and begin drawing up their program for the day. Over the course of the day they prepare what to wear to wherever they are invited to that evening, go to the hairdressers and then attend these parties, remaining there until the early hours. The time they spend there is troubling and distressing, full of false show, artificial laughter and people showing off to one another. The following day, due to the tiredness and physical fatigue resulting from this night life, they wake from an uneasy sleep with a raging headache.
Preoccupations such as housework and looking after the children play much less of a role in their daily lives compared to housewives. They enjoy the irresponsibility of having handed such matters over to their assistants. But the fact that they assume no responsibilities leads to the development of an even more uncaring character. The fact that everything they want in life is laid out on a platter for them, that their children and homes are managed by others and the fact that they themselves hope for nothing apart from being part of "high society" soon leads them to dissatisfaction and a terrible emptiness.
All this eventually causes them to become dissatisfied and draws them into a moral abyss. As soon as they acquire something they want, they no longer desire it anymore. Instead, some other things attract their attention, which they then pursue. They are wealthy in material possessions, but they can never achieve spiritual happiness. They cannot attain trust, love or respect, either in their marriages or in their friendships.
Even though they have whatever they want, they are not content. The moral degeneration of a certain section of the high society is reflected in their own lives. Lying, fraud, deceit and all sorts of other moral deficiencies are usually regarded by them as normal. There will come a point, however, where this corruption will turn on these people living by this wicked morality. For instance, while they are themselves gossiping, others are talking about them. Every detail of their private lives, and even unfounded hearsay, becomes the subject of rumors. A secret they share with a friend becomes the headline in a magazine the next day. They approach others with feigned affection, and false friendship, and they are approached in the same way by others. They can never enjoy real genuine friendship. They rarely have intimate conversations, to share their sincere feelings. They never experience loyalty, either in their friendships or in their marriages; they do not trust even their husbands. This life they have chosen for themselves, as in other roles in a society of ignorance, is the product of an environment far removed from the morality of religion. For this reason, these women find themselves at a significant impasse. But, in spite of the fact that they have lived their entire lives in anxiety, they are unable to recognize the contentment the religion and a good moral life can provide. They seek the solution to their predicament in the corrupt social system they live in, but their efforts are futile; they are digging themselves deeper and deeper into a rut.
This is all because these people in question have turned their backs to the Qur'an. Because they do not live in the way that Allah, our All-Mighty Creator, has commanded, they will never be able to find peace of mind. As is stated in the Qur'an, "... Only in the remembrance of Allah can the heart find peace." (Surat ar-Ra'd, 28) their hearts will never find ease, and they will never escape from their anxiety and misery. They have fallen into this condition because they chose a lifestyle that does not suit the purpose of their creation. If they had lived a life pleasing to Allah, and kept to the moral precepts that He has commanded, they would certainly have enjoyed the reward that comes from living a good life. In the Qur'an, Allah has promised:
When those who fear Allah are asked, "What has your Lord sent down?" their reply is, "Good!" There is good in the world for those who do good, and the abode of the Hereafter is even better. How wonderful is the abode of those who guard against evil. (Surat an-Nahl, 30)
It is obvious that a person who lives by the morality Allah commands in the Qur'an and makes her friends among righteous believers would not have had to live with such insecurity. They would have been able to enjoy a society of individuals who are trustworthy, loyal, honest and sincere, and would not have experienced the insecurity and fears plaguing a society of ignorance. In a community where the moral teachings of the Qur'an are adhered to, every believer is eager to live a good moral life, and to receive the reward that comes from it.
Anyone who acts rightly, male or female, being a believer, We will give them a good life and We will recompense them according to the best of what they did. (Surat an-Nahl, 97)


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With training camp just weeks away, Jairus Byrd reportedly is no closer to signing a long-term deal with the Buffalo Bills.
NFL.com's Ian Rapoport noted in early June there was "nothing happening" on the contract front. On Friday, a source told ESPN.com's James Walker that all remains quiet between the team and last year's starting free safety.
Byrd and Denver Broncos offensive tackle Ryan Clady are the only two players yet to sign their one-year franchise tender offers. Rapoport has reported that contract talks are underway between Clady and the Broncos' front office, but Byrd is a different story. If no deal is struck and he refuses to sign his one-year, $6.9 million tender by July 15, the fifth-year safety would be out of the picture for training camp. The Bills and Byrd reportedly are $2 million apart annually.
Chris Brown of the team's official site wrote Friday that he believes the Bills"would prefer to keep" Byrd around long-term, but he didn't rule out the possibility of a sign-and-trade deal. Buffalo traveled down that road before in 2003, when they sent franchise-tagged receiver Peerless Price to the Atlanta Falcons for a first-round draft pick.
Keep in mind there's still time to hammer out a deal with Byrd, who missed the entire offseason program. If the sides can't marry their interests, the void in the Bills' secondary will be hard to fill. Byrd recorded a team-high five interceptions last season and stands out as one of the only playmakers in the back of this defense.

subset: commoncrawl


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Party Bus Limo Hire in Farnham
party bus hire is undoubtedly the most exciting way to travel Farnham; an area that we have been supplying with Party Bus Limo Hire and party buses for Hire for many years now. Understanding the need to offer reliable, affordable party bus hire, we are renowned for putting our customers first, getting to know them, their ideas for their Party Bus Hire trip and working from there.
Planning your Party Bus Hire trip with you
When choosing a coach travel business for your Party Bus Hire needs, you want to make sure your money and time is well spent. This is why at Cheap coach hire we are celebrated for our personal approach, learning of our customers' wishes and suggesting ways to make their Party Bus Hire experience one to remember.
From advising on the best vehicles to meet your requirements, to coming up with recommendations on how to keep your Party Bus Limo Hire and Party Buses for Hire costs down, we will do all we can to make your trip nothing but perfect.
What's the occasion?
Passionate about our all-encompassing nature, we are happy to assist every customer that comes our way, no matter what their needs. With such a diverse fleet of all-sized coaches, we can deliver exceptional Party Bus Limo Hire and Party Buses for Hire standards for those planning all sorts of trips. These include weddings, birthday parties, anniversary celebrations, sports matches and events, graduations, proms, business trips and much more.
Party Bus Hire for school trips
Though covering it all when it comes to Party Bus Hire we are without doubt best known for supplying coaches for school trips. Whether that be for trips to the zoo, theatre, theme park or educational trips to the museum, we've got the relevant experience to make your school trip a success.
For a free quote for any of our Party Bus Hire services, contact the Cheap Coach Hire team at your convenience.


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The 140 Club: Curated Twitter News Service Debuts
NEW YORK, June 12, 2012 – MLB.com, the official Web site of Major League Baseball, today announced the debut of The 140 Club (MLB.com/the140club), a curated news service for fans to see what the world is saying about baseball and what baseball is saying about the world via the popular social networking service.
This first edition of The 140 Club delivers more than a feed of hashtags or accounts. Supported by the power of Mass Relevance, Twitter's official social curation and integration partner, MLB.com's social media team selects the most talked about topics of the day and curates a live stream of the best tweets from around the world on those topics. Recent examples include the no-hitters by Johan Santana and the Seattle Mariners, the Interleague Play series sweeps by the New York Yankees and Washington Nationals, the College World Series and the Bradley-Pacquiao fight.
"Tweets connect us in groundbreaking ways to previously inaccessible points of view," said Dinn Mann, Executive Vice President, Content, MLB.com. "We are delighted to leverage the reach of Twitter and tools of Mass Relevance to discover and share discussions and observations that rise above the noise. Baseball personalities, fans and celebrities are weighing in at a prolific pace on topics of all kinds, and The 140 Club is a reliable, entertaining place to get inside the ropes and eavesdrop or take part."
"MLB.com continues to create engaging experiences that connect fans to baseball," said Sam Decker, CEO of Mass Relevance. "By curating and surfacing the most important social conversations around baseball through the Mass Relevance platform, MLB.com is taking a strong social leadership position across all sports worldwide."
The 140 Club on MLB.com also offers functionality for fans to search by an individual player's Twitter account or an official team account. Future enhancements to the news service will include an archive for a retrospective look at the most talked about topics of the previous week.


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Your car battery is an essential part of your car's overall health. Did you know that hot weather can be more of a drain on your car battery than cold weather? Make sure your car starts and runs efficiently with the best car batteries from OPTIMA, and DieHard.
Visit our stores to get free car battery testing and installation for most makes and models. We also provide car battery recycling. DieHard car batteries are fully sealed, and can be shipped right to your door. Don't wait until your car won't start, if your car battery is more than three years old (check the sticker on the top of the battery for the installation date), we suggest you test and upgrade your car battery today. To learn more about which battery is best for you, view our car battery features chart.
Buy car batteries online or visit your local Advance Auto Parts store and have one of our knowledgeable Team Members help you.


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Daises: Kindergarten + First Grade
There is nothing that shines quite like the excitement on a Daisy's face as she heads through her first year in Girl Scouting. From forming new friendships to putting the first petal on her vest, a Daisy Girl Scout is full of energy and wants you to be part of her journey.
Troop Leaders
Whether it is your first year on the Girl Scouts team or you are returning for some more fun, this is the place for you! We want to help you be the most successful troop leader you can be—below are some great tools that can help.
You are the core of many girls' experiences in Girl Scouting. Let's make it rock, together!
Grade Levels
Daises: Kindergarten + First Grade
Brownies: Second + Third Grades
Brownies are ready to share their next big adventure with you! They are curious and confident and ready to take on the world. They are looking to explore new things with their Girl Scout friends and you, of course!
Juniors: Fourth + Fifth Grades
Juniors are ready to make an impact! They are looking to take charge (with your motivating guidance) and start putting their big ideas into action. These girls know they will be future leaders and are ready to show the world!
Cadettes: Sixth through Eighth Grades
Cadettes are ready to make a difference. They want to form lifelong friendships and figure out who they are and how they fit into the world around them. They are ready to let their voice be heard and take action to make it happen!
Seniors: Ninth + Tenth Grades
Seniors are ready to expand their horizons. They will tackle challenges that push their independence and big-time thinking to the next level. They are almost ready to spread their wings and fly, with a little help from you.
Ambassadors: Eleventh + Twelfth Grades
Ambassadors know they are making our world a better place. They know who they are, what they care about, and they want to advocate it to the world. Their achievements could not be possible without a mentor like you.


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National Parks and Monuments
Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef History
Capitol Reef Activities
Dixie National Forest
Bryce Canyon National Park
Canyonlands National Park
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
State Parks
Goblin Valley State Park
Anasazi State Park and Museum
Other Attractions
Horseshoe Canyon
Lake Powell
Boulder Mountain
Henry Mountains
Thousand Lake Mountain
Bicknell Bottoms
Mars Desert Research Station
Hanksville-Burpee Dinosaur Quarry
Robbers Roost: The Outlaw Hideout
Ghost Towns
ATV Trails and Maps
Biking Trails and Maps
Hiking and Canyoneering
Hiking Trails and Maps
Fishing and Hunting
Horseback Riding
Horseback Riding Trails and Maps
Jeep Tours
Jeep Trails and Maps
Capitol Reef Wildlife
Scenic Drives
Winter Activities
Capitol Reef Itineraries
Guides and Outfitters
More Services
Media Gallery
Request a Capitol Reef Brochure
Capitol Reef Travel Planner
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Scenic Drives
Driving Through Capitol Reef Country
The Burr Point at the end of this tour is one of the great overlooks in Utah. The Dirty Devil River Canyon is 1,400 feet deep here. It is a very remote and lonely place but easily accessible with your vehicle (RVs may have some difficulty). Head South from historic Hanksville on Utah 95 which is the Bicentennial Highway. At mile marker 15.5 make a left hand turn onto Burr Point Road. This is a maintained dirt road. Follow signs east 11 miles to a looped dead end. There are numerous spots to park and provides several places for a picnic lunch. Return the same way you came in. Please remember the roads my become impassable during inclement weather. At the junction of Highways 12 and 24, Torrey offers access to some of the most scenic routes in Capitol Reef Country. Heading south on Scenic Byway 12 leads to Boulder, where you can detour east to the Burr Trail Loop. The 66-mile scenic backway follows the cattle trail blazed by rancher John Atlantic Burr and cuts through the extraordinary, untamed wilderness of Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Capitol Reef National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. With the exception of a remote stretch through Capitol Reef National Park, the road is mostly paved and fairly well maintained although it can be muddy and impassable when wet. There are no services along the backway, so be sure your tank is full and your vehicle is in good working condition before heading out. A four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended for portions of this trip. The western section of the road, beginning near Boulder, cuts through pale Navajo sandstone dunes and domes, past The Gulch gorge and the lower slopes of Boulder Mountain on the way to Long Canyon. The narrow canyon runs for about seven miles, surrounded by sheer sandstone walls which tower hundreds of feet above the road. About five miles down the road you'll pass the unusual formation known as The Lampstand, as you approach Wolverine Loop Road. This 28-mile loop is optional, and rejoins Burr Trail Loop near the western border of Capitol Reef National Park. From here, there are stunning panoramic views to the east of the rugged Waterpocket Fold and the peaks of the Henry Mountains. Continue driving across the red sandstone Circle Cliffs and through a section of pinion and juniper forest, down the east slope of the Waterpocket Fold. As you approach the junction for Muley Twist Canyon, there is a picnic area. The road through Muley Twist Canyon is a serious of narrow, winding switchbacks; this is where four-wheel drive comes in handy. At the bottom of the switchbacks you'll approach the junction of Burr Trail Road and 1670/Notom/Bullfrog Road. Head north on Notom, along the east side of the Waterpocket Fold, about 40 miles to Caineville, or turn west onto Highway 24 and head back to Torrey.
This is a trek through mountains and meadows of the Fishlake National Forest to two of the most scenic and popular fishing spots in the state. Early on, you will experience a change in terrain from sagebrush and occasional trees to high mountain aspen, shimmering in their summer greenery or blazing fall foliage. Wildlife is abundant along the way. Deer and elk are a common sight among the trees, and moose were recently reintroduced to the area. Mountain lions make their homes in the surrounding mountains, but are rarely seen. At Fish Lake a variety of waterfowl and birds are established including golden and bald eagles. The fishing is excellent at both Fish Lake and Johnson Reservoir. To access the Fishlake Scenic Byway, take Utah SR 24 20 miles north of Loa. Watch for a righthand turn on Utah SR 25 with signs to the Fishlake Recreation Area. Follow Utah SR 25 to Utah SR 72 back to Utah SR 24. The total loop is 60 miles. Resorts, day-use areas, and campgrounds are located all along this route. Look for the unusual rock monuments, found along the west end of SR-25, which were built over a period of 40 years by a local sheepherder. Fishlake Scenice Byway (U-25) winds for about 16 miles through the Fish Lake Basin in the Fishlake National Forest. At an 8,850-foot elevation, there's no shortage of scenic wonders along this route, which makes for a lovely, leisurely day trip. Loa, just 20 miles southeast of Fish Lake, is a great starting point for this scenic drive. Head northwest on Highway 24 until you reach the turnoff for Highway 25/Fishlake Scenic Byway. Be sure to fill your tank prior to heading out, as gas is only available on the byway during the summer months at Lakeside Resort. Keep in mind that in winter Fishlake Scenic Byway is only plowed as far as Bowery Haven resort. Scenic stops along the byway include the Lorenzo's Rock Monuments, a series of mid-20th century man-made stone formations hidden in the hills, beginning about 2.5 miles past the junction of Highways 24 and 25. About 5.5 miles along Fishlake Scenic Byway, a scenic overlook gives travelers a first glimpse of the incredible Fish Lake Basin. The highlight of the route is the 2,500-acre Fish Lake, the largest mountain lake in Utah, which boasts excellent trout fishing. In fact, some of the biggest trout scored in Utah have been fished from this lake. At mile seven, near the southern end of Fish Lake, there is access to two trailheads, the Dr. Creek trail which climbs to over 10,000 feet, and the 6-mile Lakeshore Trail along Fish Lake's western shore. The Lakeside Resort is just ahead, followed just over a mile down the road by the historic Fish Lake Lodge. Near the lodge you'll see the Aspen Heart, the heart-shaped—and largest—grove of aspen trees in the Basin. Continue on Highway 25 past Twin Creek Fishery, a natural tributary to Fish Lake, on the way to Bowery Haven (mile 10), where Mormon pioneers once held Sunday services on log benches beneath the spruce trees. Two miles down the road, Pelican Point offers a view of the fault that caused the formation of Fish Lake. More history can be seen less than a mile down the road at Jorgensen Creek, the site of a late 1800s ranch. Johnson Reservoir, around mile 16, offers fewer crowds but equally good fishing. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has stocked the lake with Tiger Muskie, which can grow upwards of three feet long, to control the non-game fish population. From Johnson Reservoir, travelers can turn around and head back on Fishlake Scenic Byway, or loop around to the lake along the Fremont River Road. This route provides access to the Old Spanish Trail and Zedd's Meadow, around 19 miles into the drive. Pull-outs along the winding road, which follows a river gorge, overlook scenic viewpoints on the way to Mill Meadow Reservoir. The reservoir is near the junction of Highway 24 and SR-72, which will leads to the tiny community of Fremont, just five miles north of Loa.
Cathedral Valley Loop
offers scenes unlike any other in Capitol Reef National Park. Towering monoliths, panoramic vistas, and a stark desert landscape await those who venture here. Vehicles with good ground clearance, even those without four wheel drive, can usually negotiate the roads without difficulty. Road conditions can vary greatly depending on recent changes in weather. Please check at the visitor center for current road and weather conditions before starting your trip. Be prepared for the unexpected. Carry plenty of food, water, gas, adequate clothing, a shovel and emergency supplies. The 58 mile loop starts at River Ford (11.7 miles east of the visitor center on Hwy 24). This follows the Hartnet Road to the Caineville Wash Road and returns back to Hwy 24 just west of Caineville (18.6 miles east of the visitor center). The loop tour traverses the classic Cathedral Valley landscape of monoliths and stark desert vistas, and offers access to Gypsum Sinkhole, Glass Mountain, and the South Desert. If your time is limited, you may want to start the tour at the Caineville Wash Road. From this end, the driving time to lower Cathedral Valley (Temples of the Moon and Sun, and Glass Mountain) and back via the same route only takes about two hours. It is 15 miles from Hwy. 24 to the side road which accesses the Temples of the Moon and Sun; a sign marks the road junction. The access road to River Ford crosses private land. The gate on Highway 24 may be closed, but is not locked. Please close the gate after you drive through, and honor the 'No Trespassing" signs along the road near the ford by not parking off road or camping in the vicinity. If you have time to stop and explore,
Cathedral Valley
has beautiful views, camping and some interesting sites worth checking out.
When you want to escape the heat of the canyon country on a sweltering summer day, get an early start, pack a picnic lunch and go up and over the Aquarius Plateau. This route is a true high country adventure and may be driven with a car in good weather conditions. This is a maintained gravel road with some rough washboard sections. From Bicknell to Escalante it is 46 miles or from Bicknell to Boulder town it is 58 miles. Start your tour in Bicknell at the Scenic Backways sign going south. This road turns into Forest Rd 154 to Escalante. (Watch for signage and a Forest Service map is recommended.) Continue south past Posey Lake Campground to the intersection of Forest Rd 153. A left-hand turn takes you on Hell's Backbone Road to the town of Boulder. A right hand turn on Forest Rd 153 takes you into Escalante. A left-hand turn on Utah Scenic Byway 12 takes you 65 miles back to Torrey.
Start your driving tour in Torrey. Driving east through Capitol Reef National Park on Highway 24. At the east entrance of the park follow the signage for a right hand turn on the Notom/Bullfrog Road going south. You will have great views of the east slopes of the water pocket fold on the right and the massive Henry Mountains on the left. Follow the signage to the Burr Trail switchbacks and Boulder. The Burr Trail winds through the canyon country of the Grand Staircase/Escalante National Monument and ends in the community of Boulder. Make a right hand turn onto Highway 12 than climb up to 9400 feet above sea level as you drive over Boulder Mountain. Your trip takes you down through Grover to end where you started in Torrey. This drive is approximately 120 miles, so plan a good half day to a full day. Notom/Bullfrog Road may be impassible during inclement weather.
Forest Service Road Featured Drive – The North Slope Road 179 locally known as the North Slope Road is a maintained gravel track that twists and turns its way up the northeast shoulder of Boulder Mountain. While traveling up Boulder Mountain you will have excellent views of the surrounding countryside plus opportunities for viewing wildlife such as mule deer and yellow bellied marmots (whistle pigs). The track ends at a trailhead and ATV unloading area. This gives access to Fish Creek, Blind and Pear Lakes. These trails also tie into the Great Western Trail system. To access the North Slope Road, drive south of Torrey about 5 miles on Scenic Byway 12. Watch for a right hand turn with signage for the Great Western Trail and Blind Lake. This road is seven miles long and should be passable with a passenger car. Road conditions are subject to change during inclement weather. This road is impassable during snowy winter months.
Overlooks – When you travel South on
Scenic Byway 12
over Boulder Mountain (Utah's first All American Road), you should stop at the many overlooks along the way. Our favorite is the Larb Hollow overlook. Face Capitol Reef which runs north to south and look northeast towards Moab. If you can see the La Sal Mountains in the distance, you are looking out over a hundred miles. What a view!
Fox News
rated Scenic Byway 12 the #2 most beautiful highway in the world. Hop in the car and go see why!
One of Utah's great scenic vistas can be seen here in Capitol Reef Country. The Hogan Pass overlook sits at 9,200 feet above sea level and looks out over Capitol Reef National Park's Cathedral Valley towards the Henry Mountains, which are over 40 miles away. From Hogan Pass you can literally see for hundreds of miles. It is truly one of the best views on earth. The desert scenery is in stark contrast to the timbered peaks of the Fishlake Mountain Range. This is a great place for a roadside picnic or a wildlife viewing safari. Deer and elk may be seen from many miles away, so bring your binoculars or spotting scope. The Hogan Pass Desert View Overlook is located 15 miles north of Loa on Utah State Road 72. It is on the right side of the road as you head North with a large parking area and a rest room. Enjoy the view.
Capitol Reef Virtual Tour
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Monitoring the Metrics that Matter: Introducing the New Relic PlatformSendGrid Team
As a developer, you understand just how complex your application stack can be. Depending on its environment, there can be hundreds of critical components that make up your app, and each piece is vital to its performance and reliability. To monitor each component, you might use multiple, non-integrated tools to gain visibility into your stack. And that makes troubleshooting app performance issues a challenging endeavor.
Our partner New Relic has always strived to make the lives of its customers easier with its SaaS-based Application Performance Management (APM) tool. Now they've made a good thing even better with the release of the New Relic Platform – a seamless new way to monitor the performance of any technology through the intuitive and easy-to-use New Relic interface.
With the New Relic Platform, you'll be able to get in-depth, real time insight into the performance of each component of your application stack – from cloud services, to the database, caching, networking, queuing and more. And best of all, you'll be able to do it from a single pane of glass to monitor all the metrics you care about.
We're excited to be part of this new initiative with New Relic. With our plugin on the New Relic platform, our customers have the ability to see all of their data in one place so they can not only monitor their email performance, but also their application performance in one location. Developers can easily access statistical monitoring and a simple 'at-a-glance' health check of email traffic. Our plugin includes real-time information on email performance including deliverability, engagement, and compliance factors.
Our partnership with New Relic saves developers time, adds agility to the process, and makes them more productive to build amazing apps. That's what we're all about. Smart, fast decisions with your email data.
Sign up now for your free New Relic Standard account. You'll quickly get insight into all the metrics you care about and wonder how you ever got by without it. And it's easy to access your SendGrid email statistics on the New Relic dashboard. To get started, all you need is a New Relic account and a SendGrid account and to follow these steps:
1. From the New Relic SendGrid Plugin Dashboard you will be provided a product activation key. Copy this and click the link "continue".
2. You will be redirected to the App settings within SendGrid and will need to log in if you are not already authenticated to the SendGrid site.
3. Provide your New Relic license key.
4. Enable the app.
5. In less than five minutes your stats should be sent to the New Relic API. SendGrid sends stats to New Relic every 5 minutes for users with the app enabled. Go to the New Relic site and there you will find the SendGrid extension on the left menu.
6. After clicking on 'SendGrid' extension, a SendGrid instance will be displayed. Click on it.
7. And there you will see the statistics in three categories: Deliveries, Engagement, and Compliance.
Also on the right side you can see metrics in percentages.
SendGrid provides two methods of sending email: the Web API and SMTP API. SendGrid recommends using the SMTP API for sending emails. For an explanation of the benefits of each, refer to our integration page.
Now that you've seen how easy it is to use the SendGrid email service, follow these links to learn more:


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6 Inventors Killed by Their Own Inventions
Not all inventions lead to glory. Some fail, while others tragically end in death. Here are six inventors who were killed by the very contraptions they created.
1. Franz Reichelt
On February 4, 1912, Austrian-born French tailor Franz Reichelt climbed to the top of the Eiffel Tower in a wingsuit of his own design. The tailor had told French authorities he planned to test the suit using dummies, but upon his arrival at the tower, he announced that he would make the jump himself. His friends tried to dissuade him, citing wind speed and other factors—including previously unsuccessful attempts with dummies—but Reichelt was not moved. He would not use a safety rope or any other precautions. "I want to try the experiment myself and without trickery, as I intend to prove the worth of my invention," he told journalists.
Newspapers described the suit as "only a little more voluminous than ordinary clothing" that, when extended, resembled "a sort of cloak fitted with a vast hood of silk." To release the parachute, which had a surface area of 320 square feet and a height of 16 feet, Reichelt merely had to extend his arms out so his body was in a cross position.
By 8:22 a.m., Reichelt was at the top of the Eiffel Tower. He adjusted the suit, and, facing the Seine, tested the wind direction by tossing a scrap of paper off the edge. Then, he placed one foot on the guardrail, and—observed by 30 journalists, two cinematographers (one up top, and one of the ground), and crowds gathered below—jumped (You can watch his fall here, but take note: it may be unsettling for some people.)
The parachute folded around Reichelt almost immediately; he plummeted for a few seconds before hitting the ground 187 feet below, leaving a crater 5.9 inches deep. His injuries were gruesome—in its April 1912 issue, Popular Mechanics reported that "his body was a shapeless mass when the police picked it up"—and the tailor was dead by the time onlookers reached him. An autopsy later determined he died of a heart attack during his fall.
2. Thomas Midgley, Jr.
Thomas Midgley, Jr., an American engineer and chemist, developed additives for gasoline as well as CFCs, and was awarded over 100 patents in his lifetime. When he contracted polio at age 51, he applied that inventor's spirit to his impairment, creating a system of strings and pulleys that would make it easier for others to lift him out of bed. In 1944, when he was 55, Midgley became entangled in the ropes and was strangled by them.
3. Henry Smolinski
Engineer Henry Smolinski wanted to create a commercially viable flying car, so he quit his job at Northrop and started Advanced Vehicle Engineers. In 1973, the company built two prototype vehicles, called AVE Mizars, by fusing the rear end of a Cessna Skymaster airplane—which could be attached and detached from the car—with a Ford Pinto. The chimera vehicles were due to go into production in 1974, but on September 11, 1973, Smolinski and his friend and business partner Harold Blake were killed when the wing strut detached from the vehicle during a test flight. Bad welds were responsible for the crash.
4. Karel Soucek
In 1984, Czechoslovakian-born stuntman Karel Soucek went over Niagara Falls in a custom-built, shock-absorbent barrel that was 9 feet long and 5 feet in diameter. He emerged, alive but bleeding, at the bottom, and decided to build a museum dedicated to his stunting equipment in Niagara Falls, Ontario. To finance the project, he convinced a company to sponsor another crazy stunt: Dropping the barrel, with Soucek inside, 180 feet from the top of the Houston Astrodome into a tank of water as part of a Thrill Show and Destruction Derby to be held on January 20, 1985.
Even daredevil Evel Knievel tried to talk Soucek out of the stunt, calling it "the most dangerous I've ever seen," but the stuntman proceeded anyway. When the barrel was released, it began to spin dangerously, hitting the rim of the water tank instead of landing in the center. The 37-year-old's chest and abdomen were crushed and his skull was fractured; he died at a hospital while the show was still going on.
5. William Nelson
On October 3, 1903, 24-year-old General Electric employee William Nelson took the new motorized bicycle he had invented out for a test spin. He fell off the bike on a hill and died instantly. According to the New York Times, "Nelson was regarded as an inventor of much promise."
6. Valerian Ivanovich Abakovsky
Valerian Abakovsky was just 25 when he invented the Aerowagon, a high-speed railcar equipped with an aircraft engine and propeller traction, which was designed to take Soviet officials to and from Moscow. On July 24, 1921, a group of Communists—including Abakovsky, revolutionary Fyodor Sergeyev, and four others—took the Aerocar out for a test run. The vehicle successfully made the trip from Moscow to Tula, but on the way back, it derailed at high speed, killing six of the 22 people on board.


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Wolf Blitzer delivers the most important breaking news and political, international, and national security stories of the day. Tune to The Situation Room weekdays 5-7pm ET on CNN.
Sen. Blumenthal says increased school security should be part of a comprehensive reaction to the recent shooting.
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We'll be honest - most of these characters are from the Street Fighter III series. The games introduced a 12-year-old's sketch book worth of extraordinarily absurd bogeymen and we'll never forgive them. Okay, maybe we will, but we're still going to point and laugh.
Of course, not all of Capcom's bizarre deviations occurred in SF III - there's plenty of awful character design in the series to ridicule, and we've collected the best of the worst for you to peruse.
Don't get us wrong - we love Street Fighter, check outsome of this week's other retrospectives (opens in new tab)for proof!
An elite British boxer roughly patterned after famous fist-fighter Jack Johnson, Dudley makes his entrance in SF III in search of a stolen antique car, further perpetuating the harmful stereotype that British people love antique cars.
Above: "Pardon me, sir, do you fancy a ruck? Oh bollocks, I've forgotten the Grey Poupon!"
Again,a character sourced from a real person - Andre the Giant. Not a bad resemblance, excepting the bulbous Scandinavian sausage fingers. He can at least be remembered as the character with the most descriptive name - it probably took five Tequila shots and a creative mind on par with Da Vinci's to come up with this one.
Above: Yep, Hugo is pretty huge. Clever.
You would think that being a Kung-fu master, skateboarding, and wearing a hat would make you cool. Actually it makes you look like a complete tool. Weird.
Above: Radical!


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In loving memory of my Dad
Mr. R.S.Sahaye IPS
(16th January, 1945 – 9th June, 2000)
Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure,
you are loved beyond words & missed beyond measures!
Barely a year after his birth in Lahore (1945), this infant was torn between the partition of India and Pakistan. He survived the onslaughts and migrated to Punjab with his parents to start a new life. He grew up to be a brilliant student and one of the youngest among his fellow classmates in Ludhiana, Punjab. Son of an Engineer, he often topped the university in academics and started teaching as a lecturer in English (1965-1968). He was a prankster, yet simple & honest at heart, who was destined to do bigger things in life. He Mastered in arts with English as his subject and was very fond of reading the likes of Robert Ludlum, Agatha Cristie and Ian Fleming among others. He also enjoyed listening to the Beatles, Abba, BoneyM and Indian legends Mohd. Rafi and Jagjit Singh as his favorites.
A little reluctant for lack of preparations and some insistence by his brothers, he gave exams for the élite Indian civil services and got selected with a very high score. He went on to join the Indian Police services in July, 1968. Apart from the stringent training schedule at the Police academy in Mt. Abu (Rajasthan, India), he took special interest in cultural activities and was quite popular among his batchmates for his skills, wit, singing and above all a very jovial nature. He put his heart and soul in the profession and became known for solving highly complicated & sensitive cases in his career. He was the 1st Superintendent of Police (SP) for East Delhi District and was later the chief of detectives at the Crime Branch of Delhi Police (DCP), where he created a record for the longest and most successful tenure in the department. He consistently got a Distinction in ACR's (Annual Confidential Reports) throughout the career and was awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious services (Republic Day, 1984) and later the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Services (Independence day, 1992), the highest police honor in the country. His reputation of being a thoroughly upright, effective and non-political nature, sought him both – accolades (for those who valued his work) and many frequent transfers (for whom he was more of an "Inconvenience").
Throughout his tenures, he always kept his family close to his heart and took them along wherever he was posted, be it the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (first as ASP in 1971-72 and then again as IGP in 1990-91), Chandigarh (1977-80) or even while he became the 1st Director General of Police (DGP) of Goa (1999-2000). His intense loving, protective, selfless and caring attitude towards the family was astonishing, considering the round the clock working hours and dealing with many hardened criminals at work. He was also a very religious, disciplined, grounded, practical, diligent and a farsighted person who never allowed his children to go astray with all the power.
Former Director General of Police
1968 AGMUT Cadre, Indian Police Services
He passed away at a very early age of 55 years with a massive heart attack, while at the peak of his career but left behind his uncompromising values and ideals that guide us to live with humility and self-respect. Today, ten years have gone by without him and we can still feel his warmth and love around us.
I now, firmly believe that taking care of your loved ones (especially parents) is true religion. We often pray to a God, we've never seen and overlook the unrelenting love and sacrifice that our parents have given for our future. If only, I had that one extra moment with my "Papa" and seize it forever.


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There are a lot of things I don't miss about being a kid, and things I suffer through now just for the kids. Digimon, Seek & Find books, games where I have to pretend to be a plastic pony spring to mind. But, some stuff meant for kidlets… I actually enjoy.
Playing Barbies. Barbie has some serious swag. The impossible shoes, fashion forward outfits, multiple careers. I don't want to be Barbie; some of her incarnations are tramp-tastic; I just want the stuff. Her dream house is my dream house. That closet that goes on for miles, an Olympic-sized pool, a horse to ride at any time. It's Kardashian-esque, but not nearly as x-rated.
Fairies. I hated the portrayal of Tinker Bell in Peter Pan. The short skirt and bitchy attitude just made me mad. So, when the first fairy movie came out, I was less than thrilled. Her leaves left little to the imagination. Why were the other fairies covered up and not her? Is it impossible to add an extra layer of ivy? Of course, my daughter watched it and loved it. Then I watched it and loved it. Tink is an engineer! There is friendship and of that warm and fuzzy crap! Eventually she did get some more leaves, thank goodness. I don't like my smart, engineer fairies too skanky.
Magic shell. Turns any bowl of ice cream into a Klondike bar. Throw in some caramel, and it's orgasmic.
Disney World. The princesses! The rides! The sheer magic of it all. Watching my kids having fun, means I have fun too. Plus, did you know that there are many pools where you can sit on the sidelines and drink margaritas? Seriously. The pool is fenced in, the water is shallow and a bar is nearby. That mouse is super fantastic and awesome.
Forts. Take sheets, pillows, chairs and an engineer of a husband, and you get paradise. I don't fit in them very well since I am not three apples high anymore, but there is something so magical about creating your own little world. The kids love to watch movies and eat popcorn in their fort. For me, it's a perfect place to hide. Take a glass of wine, go into the fort, and no one knows I am there. There is no screaming or crying in my fort; just blessed silence.
Dilly dallying. When I finally let go, which isn't very often, I love looking at the world around me. Rabbits, leaves, all that outdoorsy shit. The kids do too. A hike that would take most people a half hour takes us at least twice that, because we're making dirt mounds, examining fallen trees, and play guessing games with the clouds. I bond with the kids, and I don't have to put much effort into hiking. It's a win all over, really.
Giggle & snuggle fests. The kids crawl into my bed on a Sunday morning, and we cuddle up, laugh, and act unbelievably lazy before finally getting up for the day. It's special and magical and I love it. I also love not having to get out of bed for an extended period of time on the weekends. If only I could convince my husband to get me coffee and a bowl of cereal, it would be perfect.
It's cathartic to share my secret with all of you. Don't you dare tell anyone, or else I won't give you a bowl of ice cream with magic shell. It's perfect when it's paired with pinot grigio in a tent.


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Electric Gates
Electric Gates in Droitwich
to our website!
Manufacturers of beautiful quality electric gates for Droitwich.
A & H Automation have been undertaking gate automation installation for over 27 years. During this period our staff have gained a vast amount of experience working as main official importers/distributors for 5 major European manufacturer's. Our staff have provided OFFICIAL TRAINING to other installers (Fully accredited by the manufacturer) as well running technical help lines & onsite support or other gate automation installers.
This vast knowledge of gate automation/electric gates is your guarantee of a professional and SAFE installation.
Here at A & H Automation SAFETY is always our number one concern. We are constantly stunned by the ignorance and disregard shown to safety in our industry. We will always explain to you the important safety elements required so you can make an informed choice on which installer to use. We are pleased to increase your understanding of safety on electric/automatic gates so you can make the right choice for your family.
A & H Automation will always keep at the cutting edge of technology. The latest generation of our intercoms are controlled by a GSM pay as you go SIM card. This creates a completely wireless, cable free intercom system (no cable required to the house for communication). When a visitor arrives at your property and presses the call button, the GSM intercom will telephone you on your landline or mobile. If there is no answer it will call 2 further numbers. If you answer the call, you can have a normal conversation and open your gates with the * key on your phone.
Happy Clients
National Trust
WH Smiths
Local Authority
Prison Services
Police Stations
We have also been used in court proceedings in the role of 'expert witness'
Free safety inspections for existing gates