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The idea was such a sweet one. When the Giants play their first home game of 2012 on Friday afternoon at AT&T Park, the perfect person to appear on the mound for the ceremonial first pitch would be Bryan Stow.
How awesome would the reaction be to that sight? Stow, roughly one year after being beaten into a coma by parking lot thugs at Dodger Stadium following the Giants' 2011 season opener, could bring the crowd to its feet with a simple wave and smile.
But it won't be happening. Although the Stow family was receptive when the Giants invited Bryan to the opener, the idea wasn't realistic. Last month, Stow left the rehabilitation unit at Valley Medical Center in San Jose to take the next step of a long and complicated recovery from his traumatic brain injury.
Stow is now living at a specialized facility in the Central Valley, where he continues his fight to stand on his own or even start a simple conversation. The sad truth is, neither task may be attainable. Stow's cerebral damage was that severe.
His family's more immediate concern, however, is that while Bryan might handle a day at the ballpark just fine, the long trip back and forth could be problematic.
"We're concerned it might tire him out too much and set back his recovery," said his mother, Ann Stow. "He's still getting used to his new place."
The hope, she said, is that Bryan can attend a Giants game later this summer. And the Giants might honor Stow in some fashion Friday. Meanwhile, family members remain both optimistic and realistic as they view Bryan's incremental progress.
"My best moments," Ann Stow said, "are when I see a little victory for the day."
One would think the anniversary of Stow's beating, which occurred March 31, might bring back haunting memories for those around him. Ann Stow admitted that there was some anxiety as the anniversary approached. But she -- along with husband Dave, plus Bryan's sisters Bonnie and Erin -- all decided to mark the occasion by participating in a local fundraising/awareness event for traumatic brain injury (TBI) research. They drove from their Santa Cruz-area homes to San Jose for the Walk For Thought at Lake Almaden in San Jose. It helped.
"In our hearts, we wanted to participate for the millions of people who have TBI," Ann Stow said. "A year ago, I don't think I knew what TBI even stood for. We're hoping that Bryan's situation can help create an awareness for the research that's going on and the money needed for that research. We also want to thank everybody for their prayers and support over the last year. That's what helped us so much."
As with all TBI patients, Bryan faces an uncertain comeback journey. Late last year, a network news magazine broadcast a video clip of him speaking a few words. It raised a lot of hopes. Wild rumors even circulated that Stow might return to his previous work as an emergency medical technician. That's not an option, said Ann Perkins, the director of rehabilitation relations at Valley Med, where Stow spent three months over the winter.
"I think a lot of people don't understand how complex his injury is and how seriously injured he is," Perkins said. "Bryan is a very disabled man and always will be."
Yet when you consider that a year ago at this time, Stow was battling to breathe on his own, his situation is still remarkable. When he left intensive care, he was moved to the UCLA Medical Center and then to San Francisco General Hospital. This was followed by his hard-working stint at Valley Med, where he managed to pull himself into a standing position with the help of a metal frame.
Stow's verbal skills have also progressed but will likely also remain limited. The muggers who attacked him -- two suspects remain in Los Angeles County jail, awaiting trial -- repeatedly and forcefully slammed Bryan's forehead into the ground. The frontal lobe of his brain was damaged beyond recovery and had to be partially removed.
"That's a very important part of the brain," said Perkins. "It controls the ability to initiate conversation and interactions. Therefore, Bryan's ability to initiate is weak."
What that means: Bryan will respond to cues or conversations but does not begin them on his own.
"A third of his brain was destroyed," said his mother. "So he's had to find new pathways."
The best way to monitor Stow's progress is on the family's website, support4bryanstow.com, where frequent updates are posted. There's also a link for those who wish to donate money for his childrens' college fund and to the TBI cause. At his current location, Stow is living with similar patients as he and his family learn a "new normal." Despite the distance and tiring drive, Ann and Dave and the sisters make sure someone from the family is always there for support.
The ultimate goal and best case scenario, all agree, is for Bryan to eventually return home and live with his parents along with the assistance of fulltime caregivers. He'll need help to get out of bed or into a chair. Last month, a judge said the Stow family could move ahead with a lawsuit against the Dodgers for inadequate security in their parking lot. With the team finally emerging from bankruptcy under new ownership, the case could be settled soon and provide enough funds for Stow to make the move back to Santa Cruz.
For now, as Ann Stow, mentioned, there are those little daily victories. During the NCAA basketball tournament, Bryan watched several games and seemed to enjoy them. And there's no question where he'll be Friday.
"I'm sure he'll be glued to the TV," Ann Stow said, "and be rooting for his Giants."
If he listens closely enough to the broadcast, Bryan might hear some rooting coming right back at him.


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Evolution Hoax
Sincerity Described in the Qur'an
Avoiding Attitudes Harming Sincerity
Cleansing of the Evil of the Lower-self
As the test of this life entails—unless otherwise willed by Allah—the lower-self was created to continuously invite men to commit evil deeds. One of these evil deeds is to act insincerely. In order to destroy sincerity, the lower-self directs itself in a way as to encourage all kinds of evil thoughts. As indicated in the verse quoted below, the wicked side of the soul is comprised of "incessant sin and evil."
And the self and what proportioned it and inspired it with depravity or with its sense of duty. (Surat ash-Shams: 7-8)
However, Allah also inspires man ways to avoid this incessant evil and to cleanse and purify his soul.
The subsequent verse maintains that those who corrupt their souls will fail and those who purify them will be among those who succeed as follows:
He who purifies it has succeeded, he who covers it up has failed. (Surat ash-Shams: 9-10)
Certainly, the one who aims to acquire sincerity and to be among the pious servants of Allah should make such a choice. Allah calls attention to the genuine efforts made by the true believers in the following verse:
And among the people there are some who give up everything, desiring the good pleasure of Allah. Allah is Ever-Gentle with His servants. (Surat al-Baqara: 207)
However, what is important is that one should conduct himself with honesty and sincerity, and should in no way pity nor support the wicked side of his soul. Thus, he must train himself to this effect, purifying his soul of evil, and rendering it submissive. Therefore, he should never confuse the wicked side for his real soul, nor ever support it. He should know that the wicked side of his soul is always wrong, opposes the Qur'an, and acts as the devil's speaker. One should evaluate anything received from it with this understanding.
Just as one feels no pity towards another person's lower-self, or feel compelled to defend it or prove that it is in the right, he should act similarly in regards to his own self. He should treat the wicked side of his soul as an alien and take opposing side to it. He should admonish it when it encourages evil, and should listen to his conscience's voice, without submitting to the evil compulsion. Only in this way could he detect any deceptive methods used by his lower-self, evaluate it objectively, and judge it on the basis of the Qur'an. Only then could he acquire sincerity and Allah's consent. Allah informs us of this truth in a verse as follows:
But as for him who feared the Station of his Lord and forbade the lower self its appetites, the Garden will be his refuge. (Surat an-Nazi'at: 40-41)
Preferring Another Believer's Soul over One's Own
One of the attitudes that harms sincerity is the "greediness and selfishness" innate in one's self. Allah made light of this tendency with the words:
Truly man was created headstrong—desperate when bad things happen, begrudging when good things come. (Surat al-Ma'arij: 19-21)
In order to acquire sincerity, one should be superior over this negative aspect of his soul, and instead replace it with self-sacrifice and self-denial. As Allah informs us in the verse below, to be successful, one must purify himself from the greediness of his soul:
... It is the people who are safe-guarded from the avarice of their own selves who are successful. (Surat at-Taghabun: 16)
It is easy for someone to train his soul in this way. Not believing himself to be self-sufficient, and always being suspicious of the wicked side of one's soul, is what is most necessary. However, the vices of selfishness and greed should not be misunderstood. In ignorant communities, where people lack fear of Allah and faith in the hereafter, selfishness and greed are a philosophy of life. These people perceive as vigilance placing their needs above others and defending merely their own wishes; and assume this to be a good quality. Hence, they never take into consideration their responsibility towards Allah. In light of the verses of the Qur'an, it would be wrong to attribute greedy and selfish passions only to these people and limit the issue to ignorant people alone. These people practice this morality to the extreme. However, some people who are not commonly thought of as greedy or selfish could secretly or openly harbor these tendencies in themselves. Such tendencies prevent them from acting sincerely under any condition, and of being sincere. It is truly very simple for one to purify his soul of these evils. For this purpose, he will only have to practice the morality of the Qur'an to its fullest and most perfect extent.
Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, called attention to the solution revealed in a verse of the Qur'an as follows:
In His verse, Allah stresses that true believers prefer their brothers before themselves, even if they are themselves hungry or needy; and that they stood by their brothers, against themselves, when they had to make a choice. Muslims living in Medina were not troubled to help their fleeing brothers from Mecca. They provided them shelter and food, regardless of their limited means. On the contrary, they were happy and rejoiced at having beaten the selfish and niggardly tendencies of their souls and given priority to their brothers for Allah's sake. In that situation, they clearly knew that such behavior was the most noble, conscientious and sincere, and in compliance with the Qur'an. Moreover, Allah has and will increase their reward for their self-sacrifice many times, both in this world and the hereafter. Allah announces the reward to be granted to those who practice such morality as follows:
If you set apart for Allah a goodly portion, He will double it for you and forgive you; and Allah is the Multiplier (of rewards), Forbearing. (Surat at-Taghabun: 17)
Not to be Deceived by the Temptations of One's Lower-soul
If one were to consider the matter honestly, he would see that throughout his day he is constantly being confronted with the incitements of his lower-self. These incitements of the lower-self encourage him not to abandon his worldly inclinations. For instance, Allah has indicated in one of His verses that spending in charity out of what one loves is what is best. Only in this way can a person become truly good:
You will not attain true goodness until you give of what you love. Whatever you give away, Allah knows it. (Surah Al 'Imran: 92)
Though he may sacrifice everything he owns, one could still be passionately attached to some of his belongings, thus, be reluctant to give them up. Or, when he is to share his belongings with a fellow Muslim, he may prefer himself to his brother. He may keep his favorite belongings for himself and leave only the remaining to his brother. However, his conscience would nevertheless remind him that spending out of what he loves is more worthy. However, such desire in himself will prevent him from behaving in accordance to his better moral judgement and acting sincerely.
However, true good is in offering one's favorite possessions immediately when he sees that another is in need. If his possession had been so dear to him, then the other person will enjoy and be pleased with it as equally. Therefore, keeping one's favorite things for oneself and giving away to others only those less desireable shows that one's soul is not yet fully purified of selfishness. Hence, Allah has called attention to the fact that this attitude should first be established before one could hope to attain goodness.
If one prefers the good of another to his own, always looks out for the betterment, health and happiness of others, then he is said to be sincere. For instance, if a difficult and tasking job is to be performed, he should come forward and volunteer for it. It is insincere to avoid a difficult task and expect others to take care of it. What is more befitting to a Muslim is to complete such jobs secretly, without there being anybody to thank him. As indicated in the verse "race each other to the good," what is truly representative of sincerity is to immediately embark upon a task and to complete it in the best possible manner. Such an act is also a sign that the said person prefers his brothers to himself. He chooses difficulty over comfort and ease, with thoughts of self-sacrifice such as, "Let me be tired instead of my Muslim brother," "Let me be burdened with the difficulty of this work while he rests," or "Let myself and not he spend the time to do this." In this way he may hope to gain Allah's consent with this sincere behavior.
In one of his works, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi underlined the goodness of giving precedence to other Muslims when it comes to innocent, harmless benefits in order to be free of the selfish passions of the soul by saying, "Choose your brothers' souls to your own soul in honor, rank, acclaim, in the things your soul enjoys like material benefits. Even in the most innocent, harmless benefits like informing a needy believer about one of the subtle, fine truths of belief. If possible, encourage one of your companions who does not want to, to inform him, so that your soul does not become conceited. If you have a desire like, 'Let me tell him this pleasant matter so I'll gain the reward,' it surely is not a sin and there is no harm in it, but the meaning of sincerity between you could be damaged."24 Thus, he reminds the Muslims that sacrificing that which is pleasing to one's soul, such as honor, reputation, authority, material benefits, and affection, should become a means to acquire sincerity. For instance, a believer can remain in the background and let one of his brothers receives the attention if he were to make a good suggestion or say something important.
Any man who avoids these incitements from his soul, and strives to gain sincerity and Allah's consent, will be welcomed by Allah and be successful in his endeavors. Allah gives the good news to the believers as follows:
But as for him who feared the Station of his Lord and forbade the lower self its appetites, the Garden will be his refuge. (Surat an-Na'ziat: 40-41)
Conquering Greed and Jealousy
Allah informs us in the following verse that human soul is swayed by greed as follows:
... people are prone to selfish greed. If you do good and do your duty, Allah is aware of what you do. (Surat an-Nisa: 128)
Thus, as with other evils, we are all prone to struggle internally with feelings of jealousy and greed. One should strive to purify himself of them. Otherwise, he will never be able to duly practice the morality of the Qur'an and to fully gain Allah's consent. Similarly, in another verse of the Qur'an, it is indicated that people disagreed among each other and strayed from the straight path because of the "envy" they felt against each other, in spite of having received the Book guiding them to the straight path:
Mankind was a single community. Then Allah sent out prophets bringing good news and giving warning, and with them He sent down the Book with truth to decide between people regarding their differences. Only those who were given it differed about it, after the Clear Signs had come to them, envying one another. Then, by His permission, Allah guided those who believed to the truth of that about which they had differed. Allah guides whoever He wills to a straight path. (Surat al-Baqara: 213)
This instance related in the Qur'an is of a great importance for aiding people to understand the extent of harm jealousy can cause. Although being aware of and seeing the right path, one could take the wrong turn, merely as a result of jealousy. Feelings of jealousy and greed prevent one from thinking rationally and of properly evaluating events. When confronted with certain situations, one overcome by such feelings could in no way react according to the values of the Qur'an. He could not speak of what pertains to Allah, or act in a sincere and genuine manner. Under such circumstances, he would not be ruled by his mind and conscience, but rather by his lower-soul, taking on the role as the devil's advocate. His lower-self directs him towards the morality of evil.
In order to be purified of these vices, one should, first and foremost, understand that feelings of jealousy and greed are contrary to religion. These feelings emerge from worldly values. People become jealous of the material or moral virtues of others, and therefore vie against them. Whereas, the true believers are those who refrain from becoming excessively attached to worldly possessions. Essentially, they long only for the hereafter. A true believer knows for certain that worldly benefits are granted by Allah, and will again be taken back by Him when the time comes. Although he may derive benefits from them in a way that pleases Allah, he never becomes passionately devoted to them. He does not become consumed with ambition for more. He gives thanks to Allah for what He bestowed upon him, and knows how to be content with what he has. And, as stated in the subsequent verse, if Allah for some reason bestows more of His blessings upon another, he knows that this is for a purpose:
The Keys of the heavens and earth belong to Him. He expands the provision of anyone He wills or restricts it. He has knowledge of all things. (Surat ash-Shura: 12)
Thinking About the Hereafter Eliminates Jealousy and Greed
Each person is being tested through the blessings that Allah either makes ample and straightens for him. Thus, those who approach Allah with gratitude differ from those who behave ungratefully by abandoning the morality of the Qur'an. Hence, it is impossible for one to become greedy or jealous of the worldly blessings of another if he comprehends that this worldly life is an ephemeral place created merely to test people. For instance, being jealous of another because he is rich, handsome or endowed with authority is not in accord with the morality of the Qur'an. One, who lives by the high level of morality of the Qur'an, knows clearly that Allah will bestow great blessings upon him in the hereafter. Thus, he lives with the peace of mind of that awareness of this truth brings. However, those who fail to understand fate, the real nature of this worldly life, the fact that Allah is the Creator of all things and to put their faith in Him, get carried away by feelings of jealousy and greed. Any true believer well aware of that truth, refrains from committing such wrongdoing.
Even if it is for traits reflecting the sublime morality of the Qur'an, a true believer carefully avoids becoming jealous. Instead, he will desire to adopt the fine morality of that fellow Muslim. His wish to "keep-up" never leads to greediness. In compliance with the verse of the Qur'an that states, "race each other to the good," he strives with sincere effort to become among the beloved servants of Allah, and to practice the morality of the Qur'an in the most ideal manner. Nevertheless, this competition is not based upon feelings of jealousy or rivalry. This is a competition aimed at approaching closer to Allah rather than human beings. Similarly, such a person also wishes for other believers to be among Allah's most beloved servants, just like he does for himself. Not only does he pray for this sincerely, but also strives for it.
True believers are aware that, like all creatures, they are weak. They fear Allah, and they do not refrain from admitting to their weaknesses when faced with their Lord. A verse of Surat al-A'raf enlightens us this truth:
Say: "I possess no power to help or harm myself, except as Allah wills. If I had had knowledge of the Unseen, I would have sought to gain much good and no evil would have touched me. I am only a warner and a bringer of good news to people who believe." (Surat al-A'raf: 188)
One who places more importance on the hereafter than the worldly things never adopts a morality that is based on the opinion of others. He strives to gain only Allah's consent. Thus, he never tries to be better than others, gain esteem or to secure a place among them and achieve an important role in society. As understood from the issues mentioned up to this point, if one recognizes such tendencies or deficiency in himself, he should then be aware that he is practicing a morality which will ultimately harm his sincerity and prevent him from gaining Allah's consent.
In his works, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi dealt profoundly upon this issue, and stressed a number of important points in order to guide the true believers. In his commentary on sincerity, he described rivalry among believers as follows:
"In matters relating to religion and the hereafter there should be no rivalry, envy or jealousy; indeed there can be none of these in truth. The reason for envy and jealousy is that when several hands reach out after a single object, when several eyes are fixed on a single position, when several stomachs hunger for a single loaf of bread, first envy arises as a result of conflict, dispute and rivalry, and then jealousy. Since many people desire the same thing in the world, and because the world, narrow and transitory as it is, cannot satisfy the limitless desires of man, people become rivals of each other. However,… It is ... clear that there is no cause for rivalry in the hereafter, nor can there be rivalry. In that case, neither should there be any rivalry with respect to those good deeds that entail reward in the hereafter; there is no room for jealousy here. The one jealous here is either a hypocrite, seeking worldly result through the performance of good deeds, or a sincere but ignorant devotee, not knowing the true purpose of good deeds and not comprehending that sincerity is the spirit and foundation of all good deeds. By cultivating a kind of rivalry and hostility toward Allah's saints, he is in fact placing in doubt the breadth of Allah's compassion…
Here, Bediuzzaman has reminded true believers that jealousy and rivalry have no place in the morality of Paradise. Just as rivalry has no place in Paradise, pious deeds aiming to gain Paradise could never be tainted with jealousy or rivalry. True believers are friends, guardians and brothers of each other, both in the life of this world and in the hereafter. Each serves the same purpose. The more they support each other, the more they will be pleasing to Allah. For this reason, what befits a true believer is to help and be proud of the other, rather than being jealous of his noble qualities and competing with him. In all situations, this is what best reflects sincerity. The Prophet (saas) told of the need for this unity, mutual affection and comraderie among true believers as follows:
In another one of his works, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi reminded Muslims that true believers could overcome jealousy and rivalry by taking pride in the superior characteristics of each other. He also stressed that each and everybody practicing such morality will leave his own personality aside to dissolve within the morality of the entire Muslim community. Thus, every noble virtue will be attributed to each and every one of them:
Jealousy and Rivalry Destroy the Power of Believers
Bediuzzaman also emphasized the harm caused by disagreements arising among believers. He said that, just as disagreements and rivalry destroy the power of believers, agreements and alliance render them even more powerful:
As understood from the words of Said Nursi, people who do not believe in Allah or in the hereafter could forget the rivalry among them and establish an alliance with each other only to gain more power, worldly benefits and rewards. Their excessive fondness for these benefits could eliminate the jealousy and rivalry among them, and could immediately make them the closest of friends. They hope to benefit from their alliance, and thus reap its rewards.
As even those who deny Allah could form such powerful alliances, only to gain benefits and rewards, it would be impossible for true believers, who aim to gain Allah's consent, to fail to abandon jealousy or rivalry and establish such an alliance. Their enthusiasm to gain Allah's assent can easily overcome the jealousy or rivalry whispered to them by their lower-souls. Most important is that they understand that such disagreements could harm both themselves and their religion. They are reminded that conflicts and disagreements cause their power to diminish.
The Prophet Muhammad (saas) has also expressed that Muslims should always complement the deficiencies of each other and cover their mistakes by saying, "If anyone covers up a Muslim [his sins], Allah will cover him up [his sins] on the Resurrection Day."29 Otherwise, the unity among them will be eliminated and their power will be diminished. When the power of the Muslims diminishes, those who deny Allah will grow in strength. No Muslim would like to be held accountable for such a thing, just for fulfilling the desires of his lower-self. Essentially, Muslims are expected to practice the morality of the Qur'an to the best of their abilities, to be examples for others, and to encourage them to live according to the religion. It is apparent that one, who hasn't succeeded in overcoming the jealousy or rivalry within him, could not correctly fulfill this responsibility. Therefore, he acts in a way that diminishes the power of the believers and strengthens those who deny Allah. Consequently, such a person is not only a bad example for his friends and family, but also bears a great deal of guilt. Therefore, he should immediately cease to behave in such a fashion and adopt a nobler morality. Only then could he acquire sincerity and attain a level of morality consented by Allah. As Bediuzzaman said, what befits a Muslim is to "establish a genuine alliance with Muslims" in compliance with the verse which states, "Help one and another in goodness and piety," and to keep sincerity alive:
Abandoning Arrogance
In this chapter, we discussed that which harms a believer's sincerity, and examined the inclinations of the soul such as rivalry, ambition, and preferring oneself to others. All of these traits of one's lower-self are based upon a much greater evil: Arrogance.
Arrogance is found in one who disdains to worship Allah, by forgetting his weaknesses, despising others, and feeling proud. However, man is a weak creature. He depends upon Allah's power to exist and sustain his existence. Allah is the sole Power Who has created man from nothing, imparted him with spirit, sheltered and fed him, caused him to breathe, and bestowed countless other blessings upon him. Allah is the Lord of the Universe. In spite of the clarity of this truth, one who thinks of himself as a being independent of Him, and believes his qualities and abilities to result from himself, is evidently suffering from a grave self-delusion.
In fact, one has no right to be proud. The truth that Allah could take back all blessings bestowed upon him when He pleases is sufficient evidence. From time to time, we all observe the harm caused by one who behaves proudly on account of his or her physical beauty, knowledge, ability, wealth or social status. We can also observe what becomes of them when they suddenly lose these for any reason. If such qualities had resulted in the person from his or her own doing, then there would be no reason for him or her to lose them. Likewise, Allah creates many afflictions and difficulties in this worldly life to help people understand this truth. He tests mankind through many frailties, such as ageing and illness.
One who comprehends that Allah bestows all he possesses, and that he has no power without His help and assistance, may then discern in return the wisdom of Allah in His creation, and acquire humility by reconizing his own weakness. According to Bediuzzaman, the most important step taken towards acquiring sincerity is to abandon arrogance:
It is necessary to adhere to this morality in order to acquire sincerity. Arrogance causes one to behave in a way as to favor himself rather than Allah. Arrogance means loving one's self more than any other, listening to himself rather than the others, and protecting that which he owns at all cost. Hence, one who is swept away by pride closes his conscience from any warnings. Therefore, as he does not listen to the voice of his conscience, he could in no way behave sincerely.
In the Qur'an, Allah defines the influence of arrogance as follows:
When he is told to heed Allah, he is seized by pride which drives him to wrongdoing. Hell will be enough for him! What an evil resting-place! (Surat al-Baqara: 206)
What is truly befitting a believer is to put aside his arrogance and lower-self, and behave according to that which is pleasing to Allah. The following verse reads:
And among the people there are some who give up everything, desiring the good pleasure of Allah. Allah is Ever-Gentle with His servants. (Surat al-Baqara: 207)
In Surat al-Qasas Allah informs us of the end met by the tribes who behaved haughtily towards the Messengers sent by Him:
He said, "I have only been given it because of knowledge I have." Did he not know that before him Allah had destroyed generations with far greater strength than his and far more possessions? The evildoers will not be questioned about their sins. (Surat al-Qasas: 78)
Realizing What is Lost through Arrogance
It is possible to observe the damage done by arrogance on one's sincerity in every phase of one's life. One claiming to be superior to others is closed against all kinds of criticism, warning or advice coming from them. Even if the other were to remind him of a point he had not considered, he would be influenced adversely by his sense of superiority. Instead of surrendering to truth, he will defend his views, even if they are wrong. Therefore, he becomes insincere, and is ruled by his lower self. However, what exemplifies sincerity is to comply with what the other had said, and surrender without the need to feel superior.
For this purpose, one should, first and foremost, abandon the feelings of his ego which cause arrogance, and refrain from stubbornly defending himself. Only then can he hope to act in compliance with the spirit of the Qur'an and behave sincerely. Likewise, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi reminded the true believer that the most efficient antidote against the ambition to be superior and to be in the right, stemming from arrogance, is to "surrender to the mind of true believers without supporting one's self":
Considering one's successes to be achieved merely by virtue of one's self stems from arrogance and destroys sincerity. However, Allah is the One Who has bestowed upon mankind their mind and ability. As stated in the following verse, man knows nothing except what Allah has taught him:
They said, "Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. You are the All-Knowing, the All-Wise." (Surat al-Baqara: 32)
Man is a weak creature Allah has created from nothing. All of man's powers are the result of the generous gifts and benevolence of Allah. When taking into account the endless wisdom, limitless power and knowledge of Allah, clearly, one who considers having acquired these qualities by himself is in grave error. Carried away by pride, he forgets these realities, and thinks that his success arises out of his own accomplishment. He may become arrogant and insincere. What is more befitting for a true believer is never to consider any of his successes as his own, even if he were the most able, intelligent and perfect man ever to set foot on earth. Arrogance should never take hold of him. If he behaves in a manner by which he takes account of his own weakness, in spite of all these blessings, then Allah will bestow even greater favors upon him. He will make him obtain His consent, compassion and enter Paradise, on account of his sincerity. Yet, most people forget that this worldly life is nothing but a test. They turn to Allah in times of affliction, and yet, act ungratefully when they are granted blessings. They also commit a great error by believing that these blessings are the outcome of their own abilities, and that the success belongs to them alone. In Surat az-Zumar, Allah commands the following:
When harm touches man he calls on Us. Then when We grant him a blessing from Us he says, "I have only been given this because of my knowledge." In fact it is a trial but most of them do not know it. (Surat az-Zumar: 49)
Another tendency frequently found among people under the influence of arrogance is the "ambition to lead." The lower-soul tempts a man to act ambitiously even while performing good and pious deeds, and attempt to destroy his sincerity by putting forth excuses that would seem reasonable. As Said Nursi affirmed, saying: "Moreover sincerity and adherence to the truth require that one should desire the Muslims to benefit from anyone and at any place they can. To think 'Let them take lessons from me so that I gain the reward' is a trick of the soul and the ego."33, in various circumstances, some people act by deciding that, "I will be the one to complete this job" without taking into account quality of the outcome or the benefits to be gained as a consequence. This attitude, ruled by the desire to lead and arrogance, completely destroys sincerity.
As expressed by Bediuzzaman, who said "Thinking to oneself 'Let me gain this reward, let me guide these people, let them listen to me,' he takes up a position of rivalry towards the true brother who faces him and who stands in real need of his love, assistance, brotherhood and aid. Saying to oneself, 'Why are my pupils going to him? Why don't I have as many pupils as him?' he falls prey to egoism, inclines to the chronic disease of ambition, loses all sincerity, and opens the door to hypocrisy"34, a peevish man considers his Muslim brothers as his rivals. Unwilling that another be endowed with important responsibilities, and complete his tasks successfully, is to be understood as not wishing anyone else to gain the rewards of Paradise, nor to accept a responsibility which will grant him entry into Paradise. Yet, the noblest attitude according to the Qur'an, that which is most sincere, is to let others earn the access to Paradise and to encourage them to embark on tasks pleasing to Allah.
A Muslim should wish to make others gain the rewards of Paradise and take on noble tasks leading to favor in the hereafter, just as he wishes to perform pious deeds for his own benefit. Turning a good deed into one for the sake of a worldly ambition, by saying "I am the most qualified person to do this job," "Let them see how good I can manage this job, and understand how superior are my qualities," "I will undertake this job in order to acquire a status and prestige among the believers," is not in accordance with sincerity. Instead, one should give preference to another believer. He should point out that he also possesses superior qualities to enable him to practice good morality and to act sincerely. In order to conquer one's arrogance and the ambition to authority, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi gave the following recommendation:
By these words, Said Nursi has once again underlined the importance of sincerity, and reminded the believers that those who aim to live in Paradise should be cleansed of selfish feelings, such as ego, rivalry, and the ambition to lead. He also made note of the importance of giving preference to another believer as an act of sincerity, of allowing him to lead and of being pleased with his accomplishments. He reminded believers that what is truly reflecting of sincerity is to believe that others could be superior to oneself and to surrender to them.
Refraining from Hypocrisy
Hypocrisy is one of those tendencies that is encouraged by the lower-soul, which, though, is contrary to the laws of the Qur'an. Hypocrisy means that the true thinking hidden within a person differs from his outward behavior. The person is a two-faced, by not behaving according to what he believes. Thus, hypocrisy is a vice that destroys sincerity. The fact that a person could behave so insincerely and could adopt two different characters, inside and out, indicates that he has not yet fully grasped the meaning of faith, or appreciated the extent of Allah's power and wisdom.
Allah surrounds all, knows the secret of the secrets, hears the thoughts in people's minds, and sees them everywhere. If one hides his true feelings and strives to appear elsewise, then he has forgotten these attributes of Allah. Even if this person succeeds in pleasing others around him through his behavior or words, Allah knows what he hides in his heart.
One who fears Allah should avoid behaving in such a way that displeases Him. People could praise someone in this worldly life due to his hypocritical outward behavior. However, he will not gain any favor in the hereafter. It should always be kept in mind that any benefits gained during this worldly life are trivial when compared with those gained in the hereafter. Allah reminds us of this truth as follows:
... Are you happier with the life of this world than the hereafter? Yet the enjoyment of the life of this world is very small compared to that of the hereafter. (Surat at-Tawba: 38)
One who is hypocritical is insincere and pretentious. By Allah's Will, true believers would be able to detect such characteristics. In particular, Allah's prophets, aided by a knowledge imparted to them by Allah, were capable of recognizing such people, those who hide what they really think by acting hypocritically, and who display a different identity than their true one, by the tone of their speech and their features. Even if these people are not detected by the true believers, Allah knows about their affected and insincere behavior, hears their every word, and sees their every action. Allah makes the following known in one of His verses:
He knows everything in the heavens and earth.He knows what you keep secret and what you divulge. Allah knows what the heart contains. (Surat at-Taghabun: 4)
No true believer needs to rely on hypocrisy to make people love or accept him. Because, it is only Allah Who is capable of placing love among people. All believers naturally support and love the believer who strives to gain Allah's consent. It is in the nature of their faith for believers to love a decent, sincere, honest and genuine person. Obtaining Allah's consent results ultimately also in gaining the consent of true believers. However, any deed done solely to gain people's consent is worthless in gaining Allah's consent.
For this reason, one should not harken to these incitements of his soul. He should purify himself of any kind of hypocritical thought and attitude in order to acquire sincerity.
Abandoning the Ambition to Acquire Authority and Position
Another reason that prevents people from aiming solely to gain Allah's consent, and from striving sincerely for only Paradise, is their excessive fondness of worldly values such as authority, status and reputation. However, such worldly values will mean nothing in terms of the hereafter. Allah announces that the superiority between humans will be determined, not in accordance with their authority or status, but in accordance with their level of righteousness:
Mankind! We created you from a male and female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you might come to know each other. The noblest among you in Allah's sight is the one who best performs his duty. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware (Surat al-Hujurat: 13)
In one of his works, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi affirmed this fact as follows:
The belief that authority and position implies superiority is a deception quite common in ignorant societies. Any true believer who grasps the meaning of faith should in no way incline to the insinuations of his lower-self. He should instead seek superiority through sincerity. Hence, one who purifies his soul of these desires will gain authority of a sort far above the worldly variety. He will be bestowed upon with true honor and respect. Mankind are reminded of this truth in the following verse of the Qur'an:
If you avoid the serious wrong actions you have been forbidden, We will erase your bad actions from you and admit you by a Gate of Honor. (Surat an-Nisa': 31)
To deserve such a place of honor, the believer should grasp the following truth:
If anyone wants power, all power belongs to Allah. All good words rise to Him and He raises up all virtuous deeds… (Surah Fatir: 10)
Allah is the sole Possessor of honor. The only way to acquire honor, is to sincerely perform good deeds.
In his works, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi also called special attention to this matter. He highlighted the insignificance of worldly authority, such as status and reputation, when compared to the honored place to be gained in the hereafter. He quoted Allah's verse that says, "nor sell My Signs for a small price," and stated the following:
This desire to acquire status and authority prevents a person from being sincere in deed and leads him to become dishonest. Such a person, who aims at gaining Allah's consent and heavenly reward, on the one hand, may also aim to acquire honor and repute in this life. This will cause him to invalidate his deeds inadvertently. Any true believer should heed these reminders of the Qur'an, and cleanse his soul of the worldly desires to acquire repute and honor. He should endeavor to gain glory and honor with Allah.
Otherwise, a person will become diverted by the "mutual rivalry for piling up," until he reaches the end of his life, as stated in the following verse: "Fierce competition for this world distracted you until you went down to the graves." (Surat at-Takathur: 1-2) He will only understand his doom in the hereafter, as the result of many lost years spent aiming to fulfill the vain desires of his lower-soul. All his effort would have been in vain. More fitting for a true believer is to purify himself of the evil side of his soul while there is still time. He should acquire sincerity, a level of morality consented by Allah.
Not Worrying about One's Property or One's Life
Another corrupt tendency of the lower-soul is its passionate attachment to material objects and to one's physical self. For this reason, the lower-soul continuously encourages the person to be more ambitious for these two things. However, material objects and one's physical self were not created for passionate attachment to worldly things but only to test men, as the following verse says:
You will be tested in your wealth and in yourselves... (Surah Al 'Imran: 186)
Allah gave the glad tidings of Paradise to those who preferred to sacrifice their worldly possessions to gain His assent, instead of pursuing them obsessively. He informed humanity that they should only in this manner attain happiness and success, as in the following verse:
Allah has bought from the believers their selves and their wealth in return for the Garden. They fight in the Way of Allah and they kill and are killed. It is a promise binding on Him in the Torah, the Injil and the Qur'an and who is truer to his contract than Allah? Rejoice then in the bargain you have made. That is the great victory. (Surat at-Tawba: 111)
Therefore, true believers should carefully refrain from becoming passionately attached to their wealth and their selves. The soul will certainly incite a man to these motives. However, a believer who is aware of the promise of Allah could in no way incline to his lower-soul. Hence, nothing gained through one's property or personal effort in this worldly life could match the eternal blessings of the hereafter. Therefore, Allah instructs men to "rejoice in your bargain that you have made." Humans are destined to enjoy the blessings of this world only briefly. At death, one will be forced to leave behind not only his body, but also the belongings he had accumulated. The blessings to be bestowed by Allah in the hereafter are the true means for one's attainment of success or happiness.
Bediuzzaman expresses the condition of those who are deeply attached to their belongings and lives, and who then come to comprehend their futility, as follows:
In the same work, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi points out the futility of men's passion for material objects and their personal selves in the following manner:
If one worries about his belongings and of his life, then it will be impossible for him to approach unto Allah with a sincere heart, to duly surrender himself to Him. These passions that are hidden deep in his soul will direct him furtively, and cause him to act on behalf of his own gain rather than for Allah's consent. For instance, when he encounters someone in need, he prefers to secure his own benefit rather than giving alms and support to the needy. Yet, as Allah has informed in the verse below, that which is more representative of sincerity is to willingly give to another, even if if it means he will have to do without:
Those who were already settled in the abode [i.e., Medina], and in faith, before they came, love those who have migrated to them and do not find in their hearts any need for what they have been given and prefer them to themselves even if they themselves are needy. It is the people who are safe-guarded from the avarice of their own selves who are successful. (Surat al-Hashr: 9)
Similarly, his personal desires will overshadow his concern for gaining Allah's consent. Allah informs us in the Qur'an that such a choice will only bring disgrace:
Say: "If your fathers or your sons or your brothers or your wives or your tribe, or any wealth you have acquired, or any business you fear may slump, or any house which pleases you, are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His Way, then wait until Allah brings about His command. Allah does not guide people who are deviators." (Surat at-Tawba: 24)
As outlined by Our Lord, one's wealth will not be of any avail in the hereafter: "His wealth will not help him when he plummets to the depths." (Surat al-Layl: 11) However, only those who are sincere will be rewarded with endless and eternal blessings:
Those who best perform their duty will be far removed from it: those who give their wealth to purify themselves —not to repay someone else for a favor done—desiring only the Face of their Lord Most High. They will certainly be satisfied. (Surat al-Layl: 17-21)
The Qur'an relates various examples of the condition of those who worry as much for their lives as for their wealth. Thus they lose their sincerity, and become unable to gain Allah's consent. When the Prophet (saas) invited people to fight with their selves for Allah's sake, some said that, "Had we been able to, we would have gone out with you" (Surat at-Tawba: 42) and others voiced, "Do not go out to fight in the heat." (Surat at-Tawba: 81) Hence, they preferred their own selves by putting forth excuses. While fabricating such excuses, some went beyond that by pronoucing an oath by Allah to demonstrate that they were speaking the truth. However, Allah affirmed that He was well aware of their lies, that they have committed their souls to punishment for their insincerity. The comportment of true believers as portrayed in the verse quoted below is that which is truly representative of sincerity:
But the Messenger and those who believed along with him have struggled with their wealth and with themselves. They are the people who will have the good things. They are the ones who are successful. (Surat at-Tawba: 88)
Believers should strive hard with their property and their selves to gain Allah's consent. In another of His verses, Allah gave the glad tidings to the true believers that those who strive hard in His way, with their belongings and persons, and those who grant a greater importance to Allah's consent, will have a higher degree with Him. The verse states as follows:
Those believers who stay behind—other than those forced to by necessity—are not the same as those who strive in the Way of Allah, sacrificing their wealth and themselves. Allah has given those who strive with their wealth and themselves a higher rank than those who stay behind. Allah has promised the Best to both, but Allah has preferred those who strive over those who stay behind by an immense reward. (Surat an-Nisa': 95)
22. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, The Risale-i Nur Collection, The Flashes Collection, The Twentyfirst Flash
23. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, The Risale-i Nur Collection, The Flashes Collection, The Twentyfirst Flash
24. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, The Risale-i Nur Collection, The Flashes Collection, The Twentyfirst Flash
25. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, The Risale-i Nur Collection, The Flashes Collection, The Twentieth Flash
26. Hadith of Al-Bukhari and Muslim on the Authority of Nu'man Ibn Bashir
27. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, The Risale-i Nur Collection, The Flashes Collection, The Twentyfirst Flash
28. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, The Risale-i Nur Collection, The Flashes Collection, The Twentieth Flash
29. Sahih Bukhari and Muslim hadith
30. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, The Risale-i Nur Collection, The Flashes Collection, The Twentieth Flash
31. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, The Risale-i Nur Collection, The Flashes Collection, The Twentieth Flash
32. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, The Risale-i Nur Collection, The Flashes Collection, The Twentieth Flash
33. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, The Risale-i Nur Collection, The Flashes Collection, The Twentieth Flash
34. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, The Risale-i Nur Collection, The Flashes Collection, The Twentieth Flash
35. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, The Risale-i Nur Collection, The Flashes Collection, The Twentieth Flash
36. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, The Risale-i Nur Collection, The Flashes Collection, The Twentyfirst Flash
37. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, The Risale-i Nur Collection, The Flashes Collection, The Twentyfirst Flash
38. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, The Risale-i Nur Collection, The Letters Collection, The Ninth Letter
39. Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, The Risale-i Nur Collection, The Letters Collection, The Ninth Letter

subset: commoncrawl


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SAN CARLOS — Two security guards at a home improvement store were clubbed Sunday when they confronted two men who tried to steal about $2,000 in power tools, police said.
The suspects hit the guards with a "small wooden bat" in the parking lot of the Home Depot store on Old County Road around 6 p.m. Sunday. Neither guard was seriously hurt and the would-be thieves got away, but without the tools, said Sheriff's Deputy Rebecca Rosenblatt.
Store security guards began keeping an eye one of the suspects, a Hispanic man in 20s who appeared to weigh over 300 pounds, because he loaded a cart with about $2,000 worth of power tools. The guards found that suspicious and so were watching when he rolled the cart into the parking lot without paying, Rosenblatt said.
The guards confronted the 300-pound man as he pushed the cart toward a getaway vehicle, which police described as a newer model Honda Accord with tinted windows and large rear spoiler. When the guards told the suspects to stop a fight started.
The suspect in the car was a white man in his mid to late 20s with blonde hair who was about 6 feet tall and appeared to weigh about 185 pounds, police said. Both suspects wore short sleeve shirts and blue jeans.
Anyone with information can call the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office at 650-363-4363.
Contact Joshua Melvin at 650-348-4335. Follow him at Twitter.com/melvinreport.


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Topic: Update on mum
I just thought i'd write an update on my mum, to let you all know how she's getting on. She has recently been diagnosed with stage IV ICC, and we've just found out that thankfully the cancer is contained within the liver at the moment. As I understand, she has one large tumour and lots of very small satellite tumours throughout the liver.
The tumour has been deemed inoperable at present, due to there not being enough healthy liver tissue to perform the op. However, the surgeon would like her to try three months of Gem/Cis and then review her case for surgery - fingers crossed. He said that if we can 'clean up' the smaller satellites then it is possible that he will be able to remove 75% of her liver. I see on this sight that surgery has sometimes becomes an option after chemo, so we can only hope that this is the case with mum. Mum is very scared about starting chemo, largely due to the side effects, but I also see that some people experience few few side effects on this regime?
This journey has been made so much easier for all of us because of this site and i'm so grateful that you're all here. My mum feels supported by the fact that there is so much knowledge and support here. Despite everything, we are remaining positive and keeping our hopes up that mum will be able to have the surgery.


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By Varietal
These burgers are juicy and delicious with a taste of the tropics.
This American burger is great because everything about it can be found locally.
I enjoy the experience when eating at a Tapas style restaurant since it is small portions which means being able to sample lots of different flavors.
I wrote this recipe because I simply love to eat, and so does my family. Our favorites are seafood and italian cuisine, so what better way to bring together our two favorites than a burger?
This is the perfect light summertime grilled meal. It will leave you fealing completely satisfied. Get ready for the flavors to explode in your mouth.


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Being unable to close out a game in which you have a comfortable lead in the 4th Q = Pulling a Frank Vogel
I think he will be though. Hubie Brown is 80, so I think eventually, maybe as soon as next season, Collins will be their #2 broadcast team's analyst, and team with Breen and Van Gundy for the conference and NBA finals.
Jeff Zillgitt @JeffZillgitt 8m
NBA D-League president Dan Reed sees affiliates for all 30 NBA teams sooner rather than later as 13th season begins: http://usat.ly/1g0tLaZ
Jeff Zillgitt @JeffZillgitt 3m
. @TheSandman21 Pacers have expressed interest in owning/running their own D-League team.
"Nobody wants to play against Tyler Hansbrough NO BODY!" ~ Frank Vogel
"And David put his hand in the bag and took out a stone and slung it. And it struck the Philistine on the head and he fell to the ground. Amen. "
good, it makes too much sense not to. Rasual Butler's probably making more money this year than the salaries of the entirety of the Mad Ants organization. If/when it happens I hope we use it like the Spurs do where they use the same sets and principles as the NBA team.
Speaking of the D League, with Cope getting Solo's spot in the rotation it looks like, how long until Solo's sent down?
Things like this keep me thrilled every day that Carlisle is the Mavericks' coach.
Bulls losing in Denver... always a plus for the Pacers.
"We've got to be very clear about this. We don't want our players hanging around with murderers," said Larry Bird, Pacers president.
Luol Deng can't find the basket today.
Was it the Mayor of Louisville that wanted to get the Pacers to play some games down there. If we get our own team perhaps we should put it down there to help build the fanbase.
I would be very curious to see where some of the teams put their affiliates at, I think a Tucson team for the Suns would be pretty cool, I might catch a game or two if its cheap.
"It's just unfortunate that we've been penalized so much this year and nothing has happened to the Pistons, the Palace or the city of Detroit," he said. "It's almost like it's always our fault. The league knows it. They should be ashamed of themselves to let the security be as lax as it is around here."
----------------- Reggie Miller
hahahhaa. well played. did you hear the guy scream, "PAUL GEORGE U SUCK, WHO HAS TWO FIRST NAMES FOR A NAME. " He had some funny lines
I'm happy for Coach Brian Shaw. It's a rocky start, and will probably be rocky the whole season. But he's starting to get his team together and maybe they'll surprise some on the latter part of the season.
Just checking the team standings as of today...one thing I noticed was...
Toronto is #1 in Atlantic! Who would've thought this would happen?
Shame on you New York teams! Too early, but let's enjoy the New York teams' downfall while it lasts...
How lame is they are first with a losing record though, eh? Yikes.
Random Thought: Luis Scola has a huge chance of winning 6th man of the year.
Pacers + Colts + Seahawks = Game mode on!
I have a question:
Aside from Utah, which teams are really tanking this season?
Pacers + Colts + Seahawks = Game mode on!
Smothered Chicken!
The Knicks should consider it. Oh wait, they don't have a first rounder this year. It's absolutely amazing how little that organization values draft picks.
Knicks just sidelined valuable players and it's too early in the season for them to consider tanking. Well, I think this is Melo's last year (in his contract).
PS: Sorry for the multiple posts. Those are unintentional. I am on my mobile phone and I don't know if posts can be deleted here.
Pacers + Colts + Seahawks = Game mode on!
Nets picks traded away since 2010: Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter, Damian Lillard, Darius Morris, Gorgui Dieng, Shane Larkin, 2014, 2016, 2018.— devin kharpertian (@uuords) November 21, 2013
I'm confused. Another thread says he's the least-loved Pacer, and you say the thought of trading him is unmentionable. Those are opposites.
The poster "pacertom" since this forum began (and before!). I changed my name here to "Slick Pinkham" in honor of the imaginary player That Bobby "Slick" Leonard picked late in the 1971 ABA draft (true story!).
Hey, If you are starting Gerald Green, winning is NOT a priority.
The poster "pacertom" since this forum began (and before!). I changed my name here to "Slick Pinkham" in honor of the imaginary player That Bobby "Slick" Leonard picked late in the 1971 ABA draft (true story!).
Found it funny that he would include the Pacers, not gonna lie guys, if I wasn't a Pacers fan I probably would not be in a hurry to watch them, as the offense is just so brutal often.Abbott: Fact. The Pacers, Clippers and Timberwolves also create fascinating high-energy contests on the regular (and everything Kyrie Irving does is exciting), but all in all, the Warriors top the "viewing pleasure" list.
Of course when their M.O. is high offense, no defense.


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dakini_boi wrote:deepbluehum wrote: Yogini tantras also have the result of rainbow body leaving onl hair and nails, and great transference.
Great post, deepbluehum. How do the methods for rainbow body in the Yogini tantras differ from in Dzogchen?
The difference only seems like a difference from dualism vision. In dzogchen the Bindu is self arising. In yogini tantras it is visualized. But the deeper you go into both ways, one will see little difference, because in the mode of no dualism, there's no one to do or not do and there is no arising anyway. Of course details like winds dissolving into heart or becoming still in place seems like a big deal too, but when the guru's blessing comes through the winds are still anyway, because wind is result of attachment. Actually a wind doesn't dissolve. That's a misread. It's either blowing or not. The different colors that can be seen from elements are just like colors in a prism not something happening.


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We've spent almost five weeks on the FIT BFA fashion show now. The final due date for the first look will be this coming Monday, and yet none of us can seem to find the light at the end of the tunnel.
When we're working long hours with very little sleep in between, we all have our niches that get us through the night. Some of us smoke and drink coffee heavily to stay awake. Others take bar breaks and get straight back to work with a blissful buzz. While I may be guilty of the former and the latter, I always turn on Nine Inch Nails, or anything Trent Reznor through my favorite sub-amplified headphones. Many find it hostile and uneasy to listen to, but it gets my blood pumping, much like working out. Perhaps the hostility gives me the will to conquer the difficulties of foundation construction. Mr Reznor helps me cope with how burnt out I can become.
Below is a little insight of how I work in C714 while listening to NIN, and a bit of preview for my first ensemble.
embedded by Embedded Video
YouTube Direkt
… And when you devote all of your passion to this one aspect of your life at the moment, it becomes all you can think about. My mind is constantly swimming with ideas for my collection, and images that inspire me
Mood board for my senior collection titles HAVOC. and some photos I used as inspiration. Perhaps eventually I'll go into more detail about my inspiration for the collection, but for now I'd rather you draw your own conclusions.
It'll be a long few days, but when look number one is finally complete, we'll finally get to move on to our second: the Cotton ensemble!


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BBC News - Apple boss Steve Jobs to be replaced by Tim Cook
Huge news for Apple fans, with many speculating a severe drop in shares and confidence in the company.
It's a shame to see him go, especially on what would seem like health grounds.
Yes, big news, but he does seem to have been good at surrounding himself with like-minded, capable people, and it doesn't seem he's been playing a big role for quite a while now. Hasn't he been on sick leave all year?
It's hard to say whether all the innovations over the last decade have been the product of Jobs' mind or not. If it is all down to him, this could be the beginning of the end, but I doubt it.
I agree with Ralph. I highly doubt the success of the company depends on Jobs'. I do think, however, that shares and general trust in the company may decline until this Cooks' fellow proves himself.
Steve Jobs has been ill for quite a while now so I would have thought that he'd have introduced some sort of five or ten year plan for Apple, so his influence will be there for years to come still (especially as he'll still be a part of day-to-day operations).
The main issue for me is that a lot of people who own Apple stock are personally invested in Apple products. This is evident in that a poor MacWorld where Steve Jobs is not giving the keynote presentation will result in a fall in shares, whereas a good one will make shares soar. I cannot help but think that those who are fiscally aware will wake up this morning, panic and get their shares out because, wait for it, other people have panicked and want their shares out.
Apple have the upper hand in the market at the moment, but we'll soon see how effective Apple as a company is five years down the line when Steve Jobs will likely retire altogether. Don't forget that Steve Jobs rescued Apple in his second stint there, and as it sounds he won't be there to help them through any potential problems this time.
And the other view is perhaps what a great share BUYING opportunity for what is probably an undervalued stock. I was a shareholder but sold mine a few days ago (more by luck than judgement, I might add!)
Well, if you've got shares in Samsung or HTC it may be time to get them out and put your money back in Apple. All of Apple's mobile competitors experienced a sharp rise in stock while Apple went down 7-8%.
For me, the most important aspect of this story isn't Apple, it's Steve Jobs. There will be a lot of hurtful news judging the company and how they'll survive, but what needs to be highlighted is the man himself.
Love or hate Apple, no one can deny that Steve Jobs is one of the best entrepreneurs and tech leaders of our time, and the turn-around Apple has experienced since the company made the strange move of making the iPod has been nothing short of incredible.
His resignation letter once again highlights his health concerns, and hopefully this change in career will allow Steve Jobs the time to recover and enjoy life.
I wish him well. Hope he gets well soon! And you guys talking about stock trading. Come on, show some respect....
I suspect this means his health is worse than we think. It seems like this guy lives & breaths Apple. It's a major step for him to give it up.
It sounds like he's still going to be involved as the chairman of the board.
I think the man is really sick. I wish him well and hope he gets better. I was looking forward to him walking out on stage to say "just one more thing" and reveal the new iPhone 5. Ohhh.. gonna miss that!
Most people think Jobs is responsible for Apple design, where as it's actually Johnathon Ive that is responsible for the hardware of the ipod/iphone etc
I guess it is only natural that he had to go. He's been having serious health problems for such a long time! Still, he's charismatic and it was really part of the brand, the face of Apple. Shame that he has to leave due to health issues and not because he simply wants to enjoy life.
to be frank, when I head of this news at first time , i feel a little pity
I'm kind of an anti-Apple fan, so this made me kind of happy. However, I do wish it was something that was his fault, not because of health reasons. That sucks and it's rather unfair.
I would like to add to that you shouldn't underestimate the value of a good CEO. He doesn't do any of the actual building, but I'm sure he has his hands in a lot of pots and is directly involved in the success of many of the products. Without him (even if he's acting as chairman of the board), it's going to hurt Apple.
The CEO is directly involved in a lot of things. The chairman of the board is a lot less... in many ways they essentially just say "you're doing good" or "you're doing bad, fix it", but aren't involved in as much day to day activity.
Are there any interview with Tim Cook (Jobs' successor) out, since Jobs announced his resignment?
I think we all know where this is going, so sad.
steve jobs is apple, i hope he gets better
The man may have been a hard nosed leader. But that is what Apple needed in the late 90's. Steve came in, streamlined all aspects of the company and said this is the way it is going to be. To some that is being an ass; all business minded people that is being a leader. To the point that even Google wanted Steve as their only CEO choice. This man had a brilliant career and finally got the recognition he deserved in the past decade.
very sad day. i hope he still have even a small part in apple, because without him it won't be the same...
A little saddened by this - but not worried. Apple will continue on and be the dominating force it is today for a very, very long time.


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Live From Lincoln Center's RING THEM BELLS Concert to Air on PBS Tonight!
Live From Lincoln Center's winter and spring broadcast season kicks off with a special concert from Lincoln Center's 2013 American Songbook series celebrating the legendary songwriting duo of John Kander and Fred Ebb. The broadcast, "RingThem Bells! A Kander & Ebb Celebration," is hosted by Audra McDonald and will air on PBS stations tomorrow, February 15, 2013, at 9 p.m. (ET) (check local listings).
"All That Jazz," "Mister Cellophane," "Wilkommen," "A Quiet Thing," "Maybe This Time" and the incomparable "New York, New York" are some of the dozens of songs written by Kander and Ebb over the course of their creative collaboration. These songs are also some of the great works that Broadway stars Marin Mazzie (Kiss Me Kate, Next to Normal) and Jason Danieley (Curtains, Next to Normal) will perform, along with theater legends Joel Grey and Chita Rivera, in a review conceived and conducted by creative director and musical host Rob Fisher. Fisher, who works extensively on Broadway and in concert halls across the country, presented three previous composer celebrations for American Songbook, which were joyous explorations of the work of Cole Porter, Leonard Bernstein and George Gershwin. Kander and Ebb's indelible songs-with all of their brass, sass and heart-will pulse under Fisher's capable hands.
"RingThem Bells! A Kander & Ebb Celebration," part of Lincoln Center's 2013 American Songbook series, will be broadcast from The Allen Room at Lincoln Center, with its stunning view of Central Park South. Since it was launched in 1998, American Songbook has been dedicated to celebrating the extraordinary achievements of the popular American songwriter from the turn of the 20th century to the present day. Spanning all styles and genres from Tin Pan Alley and Broadway to the eclecticism of today's songwriters working in pop, cabaret, rock, folk and country, American Songbook traces the history and charts the course of the American song from its past and current forms to its future direction.
Live From Lincoln Center is in its 38th broadcast season. The series has received 13 Emmy Awards to date. Live From Lincoln Center has made the world's greatest artists on Lincoln Center's renowned stages accessible to home viewers in virtually every corner of the United States. This episode will be directed by Lonny Price. The executive producer is Andrew C. Wilk. Lincoln Center's Chief Media and Digital Officer, Elizabeth W. Scott, is executive in charge of the series' production.
"RingThem Bells! A Kander & Ebb Celebration" is the first of six recently announced Live From Lincoln Center programs to air this winter and spring on PBS, part of an expanded 2013 broadcast season. The next episode of Live From Lincoln Center features Kristin Chenoweth's "The Dames of Broadway...All of 'Em!!!" on March 24 at 8 p.m. (ET). Three programs will air in consecutive weeks in April: a special concert with Josh Groban on April 12 at 9 p.m. (ET), Stephanie Blythe's tribute to the wartime era songs of Kate Smith ("Celebration: Stephanie Blythe Meets Kate Smith") on April 19 at 9 p.m. (ET), and the New York Philharmonic's staging of Rodgers and Hammerstein's iconic musical Carousel starring Kelli O'Hara and Nathan Gunn on April 26 at 9 p.m. (ET). The final broadcast of the season airs on May 24 at 9 p.m. with host Audra McDonald performing at a special gala concert. Please check local listings for exact air times in each market.
Live From Lincoln Center is made possible by a major grant from MetLife.
In addition to underwriting from MetLife, the series is also made possible with generous support from the RoBert Wood Johnson 1962 Charitable Trust, Thomas H. Lee and Ann Tenenbaum, The Robert and Renée Belfer Family Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.


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Hate to copy off the PU guy, but it is time to start a new thread for the new season.
Keep hearing good things about Kevin Wilson and the mentality he has brought to the Hoosier football program. I don't expect more than 3-5 wins this year, but I am very excited about the direction our football program has taken.


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text: Yesterday I refreshed 2nd day hair with Lily of the Desert AVG (it's edible and quite runny). I put like a half dollar blob in my hands, rubbed it and smoothed it onto my hair "prayer method" or "sandwhich method" style as Morgan describes it section by section (maybe did 5 sections). I was happy with the results, but I'm traveling now and the dews were moderate yesterday. (I only had SSI Vanilla/coconut spray leave-in in my hair from the day before.)


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Easy-Carry Laundry Bag
No longer available
- Overview
Redesigned to hold more laundry, our Easy Carry hamper has a flip-up top with reinforced handles that slip over the shoulder for easy toting.
- 12" diameter, 38" high
- Expertly crafted of dyed polyester.
- Magnetic circle handles fold on top of each other to create a hole for throwing in laundry.
- Dimensions + Care
- Overall: 12" diameter, 38" high
- Handles: 10" diameter
- Spot clean with a soft, damp cloth.
- Shipping Info
This item will arrive in 3-5 business days. Please proceed to the Payment & Review page of Checkout for a precise delivery estimate.


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June 1 Board of Supervisors Meeting Features 8 Presentations
May 29, 2009
News Highlights
More Information
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, at its meeting on Monday, June 1, scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m., will make the following presentations to residents and county staff. For more information, call 703-324-3187, TTY 711. More information on the June 1 meeting, including an agenda, can be found online.
Army Strong Week
The Board of Supervisors will designate June 14-20, 2009, as Army Strong Week in Fairfax County. Fairfax County is grateful for its community ties and partnerships with the Fort Belvoir Community and urges all residents to join in congratulating the United States Army on the 234th anniversary of its formation.
2009 Lord and Lady Fairfax
The Board of Supervisors will recognize the 2009 Lord and Lady Fairfax Honorees. Each honoree, designated as a Lady or Lord Fairfax, is selected by a member of the Board of Supervisors. Individuals chosen for this year are Corazon Sandoval Foley and William W. Hanks, At-Large; Pamela K. Barrett and Thomas Frenzinger, Braddock District; Lisa Lombardozzi and Vance S. Zavela, Dranesville District; Joan Dempsey and Howard J. Springsteen, Hunter Mill District; Michele Menapace and J. Douglas Koelemay, Lee District; Suzanne Holland and Kevin Holland, Mason District; Christine Morin and Gilbert McCutcheon, Mount Vernon District; Lola Quintela and Dr. G. Ray Worley, Providence District; Leslie Carlin and Erik Hawkins, Springfield District; and Patricia Strat and David L. Lacey, Sully District.
Fire and Emergency Medical Support Safety, Health and Survival
The Board of Supervisors will designate June 14-20, 2009, as Fire and Emergency Medical Support Safety, Health and Survival Week in Fairfax County and urges all residents to reflect on the need for personal responsibility, leadership and accountability within a strong culture of safety. Access to quality emergency personnel dramatically reduces property loss and improves the survival and recovery rates of those who experience a fire, sudden illness or injury.
Oakton High School Girls Varsity Basketball Team
The Board of Supervisors will recognize the Oakton High School Girls Varsity Basketball Team for its successful season and advancing to the finals of the Virginia State Championship. They completed their regular season undefeated, winning the district and regional titles.
Bull Run Watershed Cleanup
The Board of Supervisors will thank the Arlington-Fairfax Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America, Colin Riley and volunteers who cleaned up a dumping site in the Bull Run River Watershed. They removed more than 3 1/2 tons of household trash, contractor rubble, automotive refuse, medical refuse and cans of lead-based paint that covered a quarter of an acre in the Bull Run River Watershed.
Hepatitis Awareness Day
The Board of Supervisors will designate June 13, 2009, as Hepatitis Awareness Day in Fairfax County. The growing incidence of Hepatitis C is rapidly becoming one of society's serious health concerns. Residents are urged to take advantage of opportunities to increase their awareness of the Hepatitis C epidemic and its impact on the health of our community.
JoAnne Jorgenson
The Board of Supervisors will recognize JoAnne Jorgenson for her 38 years of service to Fairfax County. As deputy director for health services for the Health Department, Jorgenson designed a safety net system that improves access to health care for all residents through streamlined eligibility and high quality, accessible maternity and primary care services. She also has played a vital role shaping public health policy in our community and has served on various public health boards, commissions and consortiums. Jorgenson also was recently named the 2009 Public Health Nurse of the Year by the Virginia Department of Health.
Mosquito Control Awareness Week
The Board of Supervisors will designate June 21-27, 2009, as Mosquito Control Awareness Week in Fairfax County. The Fairfax County Health Department provides residents proactive treatment of mosquito breeding sites; surveillance and testing of mosquitoes to track West Nile virus; and public educational materials online. Residents are urged to say no to mosquitoes by eliminating breeding sites around their homes and to prevent mosquito bites by wearing light-colored, long loose-fitting clothing and using DEET or federally approved insect repellents.
Contact: Merni Fitzgerald, Director, Office of Public Affairs
703-324-3189, TTY 711, Media Pager: 703-324-NEWS (6397)
To request this information in an alternate format, call 703-324-3187, TTY 711


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Players now believe Cowher is quitting
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Some Steelers players came from yesterday's meeting with coach Bill Cowher believing even more firmly that he will quit as their coach.
Cowher met with his players and assistant coaches as a group yesterday morning and then spent the rest of the day meeting with each of them individually. The feeling in the organization -- from management to the players -- is that Cowher will step down after 15 seasons and with one year left on his contract.
At least one prominent Steelers veteran said publicly he believes Cowher will soon quit, based on what he told his team the past two days.
"I think he's definitely leaning toward calling it a day, but you never know," All-Pro guard Alan Faneca said after meeting with Cowher yesterday. "He said he's going to step away and let the emotions set and get back with his family and make a decision."
Cowher talked to the whole team at 10 a.m. yesterday, then began meeting individually with players, starting with the team's oldest veterans.
It's a daylong process he has followed during his 15 years as Steelers coach.
Players said while he did not reveal his plans, it was emotional and carried the feeling that it could be the final meeting with their coach. Others too in the organization say they believe he will soon step down.
"I didn't cry," said linebacker Joey Porter, like Faneca a team co-captain. "That was a good thing. I almost did, but I didn't.
"It was emotional because that is my guy there. Whatever decision he makes, he has been in it for so long. What people don't understand is when you are a head coach you deal with all of the stress. You come to a point where do you let football be your whole life. If he does retire, I can understand it."
Talks to extend his contract broke off in August. Cowher plans to leave today to join his wife and youngest daughter in his new home in Raleigh, N.C.
"He's going to give some thought about it," said Porter. "But I think if he comes to a point where he's at ease with himself and he feels good about it, a week from today or something like that, it'll be clear-cut on his decision he has for us."
Porter and Faneca both hugged Cowher in their meetings. Faneca said he felt it would be the last time they see him as their coach.
"The team meeting was handled in a manner, I think, anybody who's not sure of [him] coming back, this could be the last one," Faneca said. "It definitely had that feeling and tone to it ...
"Yesterday was handled as if it could have been his last game. Today was handled as if it could have been his last meeting. It adds to it, but I think it's the same feeling I've had."
Those players who spoke publicly after yesterday's meetings said they do not feel abandoned by their coach less than a year after they won a Super Bowl.
"No, he's going to be missed," Faneca said. "Everybody has his time, whether they're playing or coaching. There are decisions in life and other things in football, if that's what it is. I think you have to respect everyone's decision."
The Steelers do not expect Cowher to reveal his plans this week, but Cowher said it won't be long after that. They'd like a quick decision because they'd like to begin the search for his successor as soon as possible.
Offensive line coach Russ Grimm, also the assistant head coach, and offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt are considered prime candidates to replace Cowher. One or both also could be attractive candidates elsewhere, particularly in Atlanta and Arizona, teams that fired their coaches yesterday. Whisenhunt is a Georgia native who played at Georgia Tech and was a tight end for the Falcons. He also started his pro coaching career with them.
However, team president Art Rooney II and his father, team chairman Dan Rooney, might not want to be pressured to move quickly to look for a new coach. They would prefer to go through a more thorough process than to react to what another NFL team might do.
"The Rooneys know how to find good coaches," defensive end Brett Keisel said. "If he does go, they know how to pick winners. I'm not worried about that at all." Said safety Ryan Clark, "I just want it to be somebody from here."


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Get an overview of this hotelAdults-only beachfront resort
Popular property highlights
With a stay at Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort All Inclusive in San Jose del Cabo, you'll be on the beach and minutes from Puerto Los Cabos Golf Club, and close to Puerto Los Cabos Golf Course.
This 4.5-star resort is within close proximity of Little Beach and Dolphin Discovery Puerto Los Cabos.
Make yourself at home in one of the 500 air-conditioned rooms featuring private spa tubs and flat-screen televisions. Your room comes with a pillowtop bed. Rooms have private furnished balconies or patios. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and satellite programming is available for your entertainment. Private bathrooms with separate bathtubs and showers feature jetted bathtubs and rainfall showerheads.
Relax at the full-service spa, where you can enjoy massages, body treatments, and facials. You're sure to appreciate the recreational amenities, including a nightclub, a spa tub, and an outdoor tennis court. This resort also features complimentary wireless Internet access, concierge services, and gift shops/newsstands.
This resort is all inclusive. Rates include meals and beverages at onsite dining establishments. Charges may be applied for dining at some restaurants, special dinners and dishes, some beverages, and other amenities.
Enjoy a meal at one of the resort's dining establishments, which include 7 restaurants and a coffee shop/café. From your room, you can also access 24-hour room service. Relax with a refreshing drink at a beach bar, a poolside bar, or one of 5 bars/lounges.
Featured amenities include a business center, dry cleaning/laundry services, and a 24-hour front desk. Planning an event in San Jose del Cabo? This resort has 10609 square feet (986 square meters) of space consisting of a conference center and meeting rooms. Free valet parking is available onsite.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!Opens in a new window
Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort All Inclusive
Resort Amenities
All-Inclusive Details
This resort is all-inclusive. Onsite food and beverages are included in the room price (some restrictions may apply).
Gratuities and taxes
Gratuities and taxes are included.
Food and beverages
- All buffet and à la carte meals, snacks, and beverages included
- 24-hour room service
- In-room minibar (all beverages included)
Activities and facilities/equipment
All onsite activities and use of facilities and equipment are included.
Land activities
- Bicycling
- Fitness facilities
- Tennis
- Tennis lessons
- Volleyball
- Aerobics
- Bartending
- Cooking
- Dancing
- Language
- Pilates
- Water fitness
- Yoga
- Onsite entertainment and activities
- Access to onsite clubs
- Onsite live performances
- Theme parties
Not included
- Golf green fees
- Use of golf cart
- Use of golf equipment
- Miniature golf
- Motorized water sports
- Sailboats
- Scuba-diving certification
- Scuba-diving excursions
- Scuba-diving lessons
- Snorkeling excursions
- Snorkeling gear
- Windsurfing equipment
- Premium food items
- Premium or imported alcoholic beverages
- Bottled wine
- Bottled liquor
- Airport transfers
- Laundry/dry cleaning services
- Spa/beauty facilities and services
- Activities and services offered by independent operators
- Offsite tours
- Transportation to offsite activities
Resort Amenities
Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort All Inclusive is an all-inclusive resort. Room rates include meals and beverages at onsite restaurants and bars. Other items and amenities, including taxes and gratuities, and access to recreational activities and entertainment may also be included. Additional charges may apply for meals at some restaurants, special dinners and dishes, certain beverages, and other amenities.
Lie back and work on your tan with relaxing beach amenities like umbrellas and sun loungers. Pamper yourself with a treatment at the full-service spa and enjoy amenities at Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort All Inclusive like a seasonal outdoor pool and an outdoor tennis court.
Guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast each morning. Dining is available at one of the resort's 7 restaurants and guests can grab coffee at the coffee shop/café. The property also has a snack bar/deli. Guests can unwind with a drink at one of the resort's bars, which include 5 bars/lounges, a beach bar, and a swim-up bar. A computer station is located on site and wireless Internet access is complimentary. This all-inclusive resort also offers a spa tub, a steam room, and a fitness center. Complimentary valet parking is available on site.
Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort All Inclusive has designated areas for smoking.
- 24-hour front desk
- Total number of rooms - 500
- Number of floors - 5
- ATM/banking
- Number of bars/lounges - 5
- Business center
- Coffee/tea in common areas
- Coffee shop or café
- Free breakfast
- Concierge services
- Conference space
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Elevator/lift
- Fireplace in lobby
- Fitness facilities
- Full-service spa
- Gift shops or newsstand
- Hair salon
- Designated smoking areas
- Pool umbrellas
- Billiards or pool table
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Free WiFi
- Designated smoking areas (fines apply)
- Computer station
- Laundry facilities
- Spa treatment room(s)
- Meeting rooms
- Multilingual staff
- Nightclub
- Free valet parking
- Garden
- Terrace
- Beach bar
- Poolside bar
- Luggage storage
- Local Expert Concierge
- Year Built 2013
- Number of restaurants - 7
- Conference space size (feet) - 10609
- Beach umbrellas
- Beach sun loungers
- Pool sun loungers
- Beach towels
- Conference center
- Outdoor tennis court
- Snack bar/deli
- Conference space size (meters) - 986
- Number of meeting rooms - 8
- Tennis on site
- Sauna
- Shopping on site
- Number of buildings/towers - 8
- Spa tub
- Steam room
- Outdoor seasonal pool
- Swim-up bar
- Wedding services
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Free valet parking
Room Amenities
- Premium bedding
- Separate sitting area
- Furnished balcony or patio
- Access via exterior corridors
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Air conditioning
- Ceiling fan
- Phone
- Free local calls
- Free long-distance calls
- Free international calls
- Minibar (stocked, free items)
- Coffee/tea maker
- Free bottled water
- Daily housekeeping
- Turndown service
- Designer toiletries
- Private bathroom
- Bathrobes
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Jetted bathtub
- Rainfall showerhead
- Separate bathtub and shower
- Slippers
- Iron/ironing board
- Desk
- Satellite TV service
- Flat-panel TV
- Free WiFi
- Free dial-up Internet access
- In-room safe (laptop compatible)
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Private spa tub
- Room service (24 hours)
- Pillowtop mattress
- Rollaway/extra beds (free)
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
Where to Eat
A complimentary hot/cold buffet breakfast is served each morning between 7 AM and noon.
Himitsu - This restaurant specializes in Pan-Asian cuisine and serves dinner only. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar.
El Patio - This restaurant specializes in Mexican cuisine and serves dinner only. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar.
Portofino - This restaurant specializes in Italian cuisine and serves dinner only. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar.
Oceana - Overlooking the ocean and golf course, this seafood restaurant specializes in international cuisine and serves lunch and dinner.
Seaside Grill - This poolside restaurant specializes in seafood and serves lunch and dinner.
Late night fare is available from 24-hour room service.
Start your day with a free hot/cold buffet breakfast, available daily from 7 AM to noon. You can order up room service around the clock.
Nearby Things to Do
An outdoor tennis court and complimentary bicycles are featured at the resort. A seasonal outdoor pool and a spa tub are on site. Other recreational amenities include a sauna and a fitness center.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Golfing nearby
- Snorkeling nearby
- Surfing/boogie boarding nearby
- Windsurfing nearby
- Kayaking nearby
- Sailing nearby
- Scuba diving nearby
- Water skiing nearby
- Free bicycles on site
- Bicycle rentals nearby
- Skydiving nearby
- Ecotours nearby
- Golf lessons available nearby
- Fitness classes on site
- Pilates classes on site
- Tennis lessons on site
- Volleyball on site
- Yoga classes/instruction on site
- Beach volleyball on site
- Beach yoga on site
- Boat tours nearby
- Ziplining nearby
Spa Services
Secrets Spa by Pevonia has 21 treatment rooms including rooms for couples and outdoor treatment areas. Massages are available on the beach and in the spa; other services include deep-tissue massages, hot stone massages, and sports massages. The spa is equipped with a sauna, a spa tub, and a steam room. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including aromatherapy, hydrotherapy, and reflexology.
- Hot stone massage
- Deep tissue massage
- Swedish massage
- Steam room in spa
- Reflexology
- Sports massage
- Number of treatment rooms 21
- Outdoor treatment areas
- Couples treatment rooms
- Massages on beach
- Manicures and pedicures
- Body wraps
- Body scrubs
- Aromatherapy treatments
- Hydrotherapy treatments
- Sauna in spa
- Spa tub in spa
- Massages
- Body treatments
- Facial treatments
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please note them at check-out when you book your room.
- Accessible bathroom
- In-room accessibility
- Roll-in shower
Resort Policies
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
Minimum check-in age is 18
Check-out time is noon
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children 18 and younger are not allowed at this adults-only property. All guests older than 18 are welcome.
- Free rollaway/extra beds!
- Cribs (infant beds) are not available.
- No pets or service animals allowed
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
Resort Name
- Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Golf Resort All Inclusive
- Secrets Puerto Los Golf
- Secrets Puerto Los Golf Resort All Inclusive
- Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Golf & Spa Resort San Jose Del Cabo
- Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Golf
- Secrets Puerto Los Cabos Golf Spa Resort All Inclusive
We should mention
Reservations are required for golf tee times, massage services, and spa treatments. Reservations can be made by contacting the resort prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation. Guests under 18 years old are not permitted at this adults-only property. Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms. The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation. Some facilities may have restricted access. Guests can contact the property for details using the contact information on the booking confirmation. No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property.


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Just one win, that's all it takes. One Notre Dame victory and all the madness ends. And if the Irish lose next weekend at rival USC? Keep you hands and feet inside the car, everyone. It's going to get bumpy.
— BCS standings: ND, Alabama clear-cut Top 2
With two weeks remaining in the college football regular season, Notre Dame has moved into the No.1 spot and is one of three teams that controls its destiny in the race for the BCS National Championship Game. The other two: No. 2 Alabama and No. 3 Georgia.
If the Tide or Bulldogs win out, they will play in the championship game no matter what Notre Dame does. And if Notre Dame loses?
Get ready for any number of potential matchups, including two possible SEC vs. SEC National Championship Games. If the Irish lose to USC, the winner of the SEC Championship Game will more than likely play Florida if the Gators win next week at Florida State.
— Top 25 rankings: Sporting News' experts analyze the polls
One bit of good news for those sick at the thought of another SEC. vs. SEC national title game: USC star quarterback Matt Barkley will miss the Notre Dame game with a shoulder injury, and redshirt freshman Max Wittek will start. In other words, Notre Dame's chances of winning at USC—and therefore locking up one spot in the BCS National Championship Game—are stronger.
Breaking down the BCS poll:
No. 4 Florida. Been saying this for a few weeks now, and the Gators continue to back it up. Look at the last two weeks: anyone who thinks this team that struggled to beat Louisiana-Lafayette and FCS Jacksonville State is a top five team, isn't watching the games.
Could Florida be resting players in these two games to prepare for FSU? Doubtful. The Gators just aren't good on offense, yet still clearly have the best resume of any one-loss team (and really, any team) in the field.
No. 6 Kansas State. With all due respect to the Baylor defense, the Bears were 120th overall in total defense before whipping Kansas State. After the game, they moved to 119. And this is the unit that consistently shut down K-State's offense.
That game, more than anything, underscored K-State's ability to score on short fields all season after forcing turnovers. When the Wildcats didn't force multiple turnovers, they were forced to drive the length of the field. And we all saw how that worked out.
— Linemakers: Important college football news
No. 8 Stanford. Let's call it the way it is: Stanford got hosed in the loss to Notre Dame (yes, Stepfan Taylor scored). The Cardinal also dropped numerous passes and played awful on offense in a 17-13 loss at No.25 Washington.
And now? There's not a team in the nation Stanford couldn't beat. In fact, Stanford would likely be favored over every team, except Alabama. This is the perfect team for the 2014 playoff. Getting hot at the right time. Let's see what they can do this week against another hot team, UCLA.
No. 10 Florida State. Blame this on the computers. The human polls have the 'Noles at No. 5 (coaches) and No. 6 (Harris), but FSU is barely recognized by the computer polls (highest rank is No. 15; still unranked by one).
— Checkdown: Saturday's BCS chaos
— Photos: Hayes' BCS bowl predictions


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Trader Joe's Pumpkin Bread Mix
As much as I love to bake, I just don't have the energy to do it lately unless it's for an order. Cooking in general, as well as walking, standing, breathing… they're all much harder these days as my belly continues to grow. When we were doing our Sunday shopping at Trader Joe's I saw [...]Read more