Time Me Up, Time Me Down

...But Whatever You Do,
Don't Put My Feet Back on Their Same Ground!
--Sung to the Tune 'Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down' by the Stereophonics
(from the Album 'Just Enough Education to Perform')

Because I have come to the same conclusion as another fellow American, Carl Sandburg, American Writer, Poet, Editor.
So...Let's Do The Time Warp, Again!

(Riff Raff & Magenta)
… And the void would be calling.
(Guests) Let's do the Time Warp again.
Let's do the Time Warp again.
(Narrator) It's just a jump to the left.
(Guests) And then a step to the right.
(Narrator) With your hand on your hips.
(Guests) You bring your knees in tight.
But it's the pelvic thrust.
They really drive you insane.
Let's do the Time Warp Again.
Let's do the Time Warp, Again.
(Magenta) It's so dreamy
Oh, fantasy free me
So you can't see me
No not at all.
In another dimension
With voyeuristic intention.
Well secluded I see all...
(Riff Raff) With a bit of a mind flip... (via a well-c0nc0cted 'air fresherner')
(Magenta) You're into a time slip...
(Riff Raff) And nothing can ever be the same.
(Magenta) You're spaced out on sensation.
(Riff Raff) Like you're under sedation... (Welcome to Heaven, See. I. A...Non Such A...)
—Lyrics 'Let's Do the Time Warp, Again!' from The Rocky Horror Picture Show

The Travel Log may not be accurate or complete since times were checked randomly and not all sources available at all locations/activities.

{Added to this Post on 29.10.2011: Men strutting about in boys' bodies, being loud and boystrous for no apparent reason at Starbucks tonight, they took note of the coffeeshop's location/business card, had a camera and were taking pictures; the first group of 5 came together and represented different ethnicities (African American, Asian, and 3 others (may have been various Caucasian/Semetic/whatever else is other). Once they left, 2 more came in, the one dressed for an early Holloween (maybe a poor version of Robin Hood) was about 5' 3" tall, well-groomed hair, caucasian and seemed excitable, a loudmouth; the other was an exotic mix, maybe Hispanic/Asian, dressed casually and much quieter, also not very tall, maybe about 5'7".

As an Aside, apparently discussing Physics/Scripture with the Void (like we do here) qualifies as some sort of Proselytism, as evidendced by some woman seated nearby that made deliberate eye contact with me and giggled as much in her phone conversation with someone.

What to think of all this: If these shysters want to grab my attention they should do something more constructive than to scramble the preset radio stations in my vehicle--it is in dire need of a good detailing, why not do something helpful like that!}

And in all fairness I Am, once again, to give fair warning. My invisible 'Friend', the One euphemistically referred to as 'Husband' (ie., One Who Keeps An Eye on The House, Affords me some measure of Protection) is not a childhood pretend playmate that I have failed to outgrow or my 'Higher Self', but what some of you call 'God'.

I only say 'Husband' not because we are married or that I am anyone's Wife, not by any stretch of the imagination, but because I have been known to throw a tizzy-fit in 'His' Presence and 'God' puts up with it for no apparent reason other than that my patience approaches that of the Saints'. And while it would be ideal and lovely (and kindo' boring) for all of us to have those qualities, our individuality dictates that we each bring our unique approach to problem-solving; mine happens to be a very long fuse of varying indeterminate lengths leading to an explosive temper (off-the-chart-multiple-Supernova-temper) at the end of my protracted prim peaceful patience. Thankfully, since this condition has been imposed on me and I was not born this way, a reasonable accommodation is provided for this legal disqualifier (debility, medical condition, encumberance, ...whathaveyou):

Surah 2 The Al-Baqara (The Calf)

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنزَلْنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالْهُدَى

مِن بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّاهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِي الْكِتَابِ أُولَـئِكَ

(2:159)يَلعَنُهُمُ اللّهُ وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّاعِنُونَ
(2:159) Indeed, those who suppress any of what We Reveal of the Evidence (Signs) and Guidance, after We have made it clear to Humanity through the Divine Writ (The Book, Scripture) - they will incur (both) God's Curse/Damnation and the Curse/Damnation of those entitled to Curse them.

The Unfolding

Surah 74 AlMuddathir (الْمُدَّثِّرُ) (The Enveloped/Enfolded/Wrapped Up One)

(74:1) O You Enfolded One (Enveloped/Wrapped Up In Your Mantle)
(74:2) Arise and Warn! (Ascend/Mount Up To Deliver The Message)


You, My Dear, Can give any Message You would like at this point. Since I've been hung out to dry for over 14 years by my reckoning, the only message I feel the need to deliver is in answer to the question, "Why are the planetary orbits elliptical?"

Plane curves (lines, circles, parabolas, sine curves, etc.) that are wrapped onto cylinders of varying radii exhibit a sinusoudal influence, and can be characterised in terms of equations whose solutions are simple 2-Dimensional geometric transformations(rotation, translation, etc.), without resorting to calculus.
A cylinder is a developmental surface it can be 'flattened' or 'unwrapped' onto a plane without distortion--Mathematically expressed as having Zero Guassian Curvature Κ , (intrinsic curvature is Zero). Gaussian curvature is defined as the product of the principal curvatures κ1 and κ2.




Κ = κ1κ2
And since cylinders can be transformed flat without compression or expansion (distortion), unwrapping a curve that lies on the surface of a cylinder preserves the distance between points on that curve. In other words, any arc lengths on their profile unfolds/unwraps/uncurls onto a line segment of the same length. The diagram above shows the simple case where an arc on a right cylinder's circular profile is unwrapped by rolling the cylinder along its side; the end point on the circle projects onto a point t, but unwraps onto a point x. And since the sinusoidal influence is determined by the relationship of the arc length to the linear projection, unwrapping curves that lie along the cylinder surface gives rise to their periodic nature.









By extension, space curves unwrapped from the lateral surface of a right circular cone produce periodic plane curves. (An interesting anolog found in nature of curves unwrapped from conics is the lunar obit).



A line segment (the shortest distance between two points) wrapped onto a right circular cylinder is also a geodesic arc (shortest path) on the cylinder, no matter how tightly it is rolled (decreasing r) and the profile of a geodesic arc on a right circular cylinder is a function of arcsine. * A geodesic on a circular cylinder is always part of a circular Helix.



The profile of such a wrapped line is given by:





p(t)=cr arcsin (t/r) (where; c= constant, r=radius, t= projected point)
In case of a right circular cylinder, eccentricity is 0, where such a line in the xyz plane is given by z=t lies at a 45 degree angle to the generators (a=pi/2), the tightly wrapped line would stack into circular ringlets should the cylinder collapse orthogonally (like a Slinky would when there is no tension). The profile of such a line in this particular case is given by:









p(t)= ct^2





The stacked ringlets (circles) it forms are given by:





z^2 + t^2 = r^2
There are 3 ways to distort these circles into ellipses, by changing the viewing angle either via rotating the cylinder or changing the position of the outside Observer or by deforming the cylinder itself (squeezing it) so that the eccentricity is no longer 0. Changing the viewing angle is simply a matter of shifting perspective (--); physically deforming the right cylinder such that its eccentricity is no longer 0 requires effort (Force).









So, this begs the question, when considering planetary orbits, is it the perspective that makes the orbits appear to be elliptical or something more intrinsic?





From a purely geometric consideration, and realizing that circles are in fact merely ellipses with eccentricity=0, it is strange that the more generic elliptical orbits are the common case and not the perfect circular orbit.





In a 2-body system where a much heavier object is at the center, a circular orbit would be the expected outcome, or the ideal case, in any event. Neptune's largest moon, Triton, comes closest to this ideal case in the Solar system, with eccentricity=0.000016. {That of the Earth's orbit around the Sun is 0.01675 (a far cry from the exaggerated elliptical orbit often depicted in the literature)--based on a cursory look at the limited curricular activity on the web, it's no longer a surprise that the Germans landed first--in my living room--& very good helpers they are, too, even if they do tend to overshop the tomatoes.





The event alluded to happened over a dozen years ago and has nothing to do with my state of mind which was as sound then despite the intractable headache as it is now despite the fact that a casual trip to the local library to pick up a book accompanied by my child has some people conspicuously talking to You about 'stopping her, now!'





Is 'stop her' code for 'shoot her'? (^_~)





And it's a good thing You didn't because it isn't like I don't give You ample opportunities to do just that without the children present; and it would be in exceedingly poor taste if something like that were to happen right in front of their eyes given how much of a predictable, isolated, easy mark I make myself the rest of the time when they are not around.} "<o _<o"





Anyway, back to the present.





That the geodesic is the shortest distance between two points on the surface of a cylinder, regardless how tightly it is rolled up, is interesting from the perspective of an outside observer in that an object or person following this route would appear to be going around in circles (elliptical path), but from that traveller's or object's point of view they think they are travelling in a straight line.





An interesting variation on this theme is if the object or person were to follow a weaving path in a sinusoidal fashion in a plane that is then rolled up into a right cylinder. The sinuous path can represent Time as well as Displacement. One familiar representation of just such a path is the apparent Time Difference due to the Earth's orbit about the Sun (The Time Equation).










A knack for stating the obvious is one of my strong suits. Orbits "unfolded" in such a manner are indistinguishable from displacement due to simple harmonic motion, as found in springs that obey Hooke's Law or the motion of a Pendulum.





In terms of the Geometry, an Orbit is essentially a Straight Line 'Wrapped' around a Developmental Surface (like that of a Cylinder), and its Profile is essentially a Circular (Elliptical) Path.





By extension: Time (t) is a Projection of Orbit onto a Tangential Viewing Plane. Each Point in Time is also a Position (x) in the Orbital path. As that Path (displacement) 'unfolds/unwraps' (theta) onto the Viewing Plane, the Time correlates to a particlular Place (x) on the Orbit's Profile given by:





x= (Time*Theta)/(Sin (Theta))





or x= Time*θ Csc[θ] = ; and





alternatively;











and for the Real Time, and Place and Angular Displacement (Azimuth)











Interstingly has only 1 Real Integer Root at t=0;

Does this mean that In Reality Nothing Really Ever Happens?





(Projecting a Point and/or Unwrapping a Curve from a Developmental Surface is like Stepping Down from a Higher Dimension. When the need to refresh What this is all about arises, we can always go back to How Emily treats Bob, and Where Angels come from--always leaving the residual question, Why?)

"They forgot Y I told U!"
The Argyle Sweater -Confusion at the Alphabet Gang Hideout
Appeared in the March 1, 2014 Los Angeles Times Comics Section

*Unwrapping Curves from Cylinders and Cones, Apostol and Mnatsakanian, 1997, The Mathematical Association of America; pp 392-415

The Big Idea

What's the Big Idea?!That's 5,6,7,8... too many times I tried to complete this paragraph about curvature and hyperbolic geometry only to have it get wiped out each time I Saved it or Posted it!

Tell You What...You can keep Your Low-Rank-O's Dumdressands and BoppingCrosses, have Your self-appointed and self-annointed MonkeyNutBrains MDsense sit ize their own kith and kin and themselves too while they're at it.

I don't particularly have any trouble distinguishing when I am on the Flat or in the Saddle and if they do---then, good, that's Exactly how it was Designed to Work.

Now quit messing with my Duckie post and wiping out the curvature paragraph pertaining to hyperbolic geometry on the Cosmic Scale...because that's how big the Truth can Get...BeYOnd Hyperbole!QQQ

Go Desensitize This Symptoms of chemical burns depend on the causing agent. However, most of them are characterized by a superficial or profound destruction of the tissue and a sensation of intense heat or pain. Some tissues are more vulnerable than others -- for example, even mildly corrosive substances can cause damage to one's eyes while not causing anything but discomfort on the hands.
If the injury occurs internally, it can also be associated with poisoning, which renders these type of burns more difficult to treat.

And by All Accounts others complaining of much milder symptoms due to the exposure were relocated. But, they all kept me returning to the same location--blithely explaining away any abnormal sign and symptom to me as a 'false positive' or 'false negative,' (All the while thinking, 'We've seen this sort of thing before; we convince our medical specimen it is all in her head and to make amends, somewhere down the line, someone will volunteer to have a pity-party for her (aka marry her) and take care of her because they can never own the mess they've made of Her life or make reparations any other way without letting the proverbial cat out of the bag; like by allowing this kind of criminal activity to actually be adjudicated in a court of law. As if! Never once stopping to think they picked the wrong specimen, believing there were no other 'witnesses,' since they could not see Him. The old we can't see Him, therefore, He must not Exist! Or, that a simple websearch doesn't turn up that this sort of thing has gone down Just As Viciously in the past (similar case in Louisiana 1996)? Yeah, it may have started out as an accident but that 'coctail' they injected her with at Harbor UCLA was malicious and planned--Ugh!)




...and everybody else ... pretended I was the only one complaining of some 'fictitious' sic-building-syndrome... (Science Hertz, but the Grammar Nazi is not supposed to make out worse than Hilter and PolPot combined...Right: Bizarro Comics January 4, 2011)...that's why I don't subscribe to their Morality (Do Unto others until you're done with them) or Your Physics (For every action there is an Equal and Opposite Reaction; in other words, Good deeds yield Bad results).

...That's why I don't want to be a Rock Star or a Wonder Tsar--Reinventing Physics Is Where I R.

If any of this is making me sound like my great grandmother 7 generations back, giving a shout out across the space-time continuum might have attenuated the message, only adding to the confusion.

If there was any French in Her, what She said was, 'Fou toi!' (sounds like fu.twa!)

Non Sequitur August 24, 2012
'The Laws of Physics Shall Be Strictly Enforced'

Not to be mistaken for the similar sounding Advisory Opinion, 'Fatweh!' issued by My Late Father's great grandfather 7 generations back--that would make Him Jed-Jed-Jedi--and what He said was, 'فتوى!'
At any rate, it's a moot point whether He said, 'This is my opinion!' or, She said, 'You crazy!'
Because in the Final Analysis according to forget me, aka منسي sounds like 'mansee', it's "Like saying Peace be upon you!"
('zaii call it salaamu 3alykum!' )
زي قوله سلام عليكم
'A fashionable way to say ;-Peace Be Upon You'!'

The Real Issue...zzzz

During the last segment of the Bill Maher show he pulled out a picture of an Afghan slum, some of it in rubble from what we can only assume was shelling, and he wondered how it is that Muslim countries, some of the richest in the world, can possibly justify having another Muslim nation subsist in such conditions. After all, there must be well over 1 Billion Muslims in the world, surely they can cobble together enough cash as say a handful of 14 Million Jews, or whatever the point was he was trying to make.

He made his point in a very funny way, I would have to watch the program again to make it sound as good, but the point is well taken. (By the way, is Bill Maher's head really as large as it appears on screen? He must have smoked way more than he owns up to in his youth; it's absolutely bulbous--sort of like Helena Bonham Carter's head in the latest Alice in Wonderland movie).

But there really is no need to belabor the reasons as to why there is no visible cooperation between Muslims, just look what happened when the Muslim Turks tried to help out the besieged Palestinians in Gaza recently (who are predominantly Christian). And that's pretty much been the history and the usual consequence of Muslim outreach in modern times.

Yeah, I know, what's one less Muslim, or five or 1 Million--I mean, here I've been gone for over 15 years and my own kids haven't missed me; my computer at work only randomly acknowledges my logging on for each day I am there which makes me wonder if I am really there or not. Still, I get my paychecks each month, less 15% diverted to coffers that have as yet to be accounted for by way of forced 3-day furloughs each month; this despite several State University studies showing that beyond a 1-day furlough per month the State is actually losing more money with more furlough days and 2 Court rulings that such cut backs in workers' wages are in fact illegal. The aforementioned non sequitur and run-on sentence is to show that it is not only Muslims that apparently cannot manage money.

So, the reason for the lack of development among these countries must not really be fiduciary but something else. (Let's eschew the obvious reason, corruption, since that is also a symptom rather than a cause). Since it is Afghanistan that is in the limelight one reason for its lack of growth is in its being the unluckies Muslim nation when it comes to natural resources.***

Let's see--it has mud...and bricks!

A point not wasted on the US Military when they went there to bomb high-value targets and couldn't find any; most of the targets bombed in Kabul (the Capital of Afghanistan) were not worth the price of 1 Bomb we dropped on them (as far as material + labor cost; we continue to ignore the price of 'collateral damage' because the pencil-necks in accounting have not come up with a way to establish that yet).**** Images of the better built Afghan domiciles along a hillside and what an advanced weapon reduces such buildings to appear below.

And Afghanistan has been beleaguered by war in some form or another since the late 1970's, which further stunts its chance at real growth. But war is only a contributing factor and not the only reason for stalled economic development; a problem specific to Afghanistan as to why it has not joined the rest of the world economy but not the big deal of a problem.

The most compelling reason for it failing to do so is also the reason the wealthier Muslim countries have not either. It is the devestating lack of education among the population, but specifically, the female population (recall a recent incident where a significant number of Afghan girls reported strange odors at school prior to falling ill and those affected reported symptoms very much like those involving toxic exposure, yet some wrote this incident off as mere mass hysteria--this should sound familiar if you have by now read Maxie Time). And where there is a pretence at educating women in these other countries, their growth is limited by the fact that the educated women have very limited opportunities for real growth, and so goes that whole society--they have set an upper limit for their own development, they maxed out.

In many of these societies, the women basically can become doctors (but only so they can marry a doctor), lawyers (and teach law), teachers (and be educators), and so on. No one ever tells these women, "Now, get out there and win one for the Gipper!"

That is the cover story. There is also a dark side. Being an educated person I have hob-knobbed with other educated people and one time in the long distant past I met a highly educated person who told me she had won a sizeable contract to go to Malaysia and report on the Muslim-Christian conflict.

This was prior to 1985 and there was not any Muslim-Christian conflict that I was aware of and I read newspapers and listened to the evening news and talked to other professionals in my field who were usually of foreign origins and they brought the news in from their own far-away homelands. Before she mentioned it, none of us had ever heard about it. And when I checked her on this, she abashedly restated that her report would come first then the conflict would ensue. Ohhh (I can be such a Ralph Kramden, or Ed Norton at times). I went straight home and casually mentioned to my significant other we should be more careful how we choose our neighbors in the future because apparently the natives are not friendly. (Husband! Don't you worry, never fear, methinks they Cannot Kill Me Twice, Dear. And, Al, I promise not to let them see me cry--how's the old leg?).

At any rate, Muslims it would appear are not the only demographic that cannot account for why the rich portion does not help out the disadvantaged amongst themselves. Here in the Western Hemisphere the poorest nation has as its popular majority Roman Catholics. Below, we see images of Haitian living conditions prior to the recent big earthquake and after. And we also see the religious leader of the Roman Catholic Church that, should he be inclined to do so, could single-handedly float the Haitian economy for the rest of its existence without having to sacrifice the quality of his robes or shoes.

And as for those really expensive bombs we drop like diamonds from the sky, for good measure, images of the homeless in Los Angeles are also included along with a photo-op of the Mayor of Los Angeles at a red carpet event in the very same hometown. If he did not ask for an assist on their behalf from every celebrity at that fete, he was not doing his job that evening working for the disestablished among his constituency (and nice suit, by the way).

_______________________________________________________
***THIS JUST IN....
Now that we know the real reason why the US is over there and by some miracle we have not found that elusive Osama, the real question is: When exactly did we first 'discover' these vast stores of Afghan mineral deposits and how much of their own country's wealth do the Afghan's get to keep?
****These newfound riches will also help the pencil-necks in accounting come up with a figure as to how much an Afghan's life, aka 'collateral damage' is worth as well; let's see $908 Billion/29 million population is about 31,310++ USD. Note: How the pencil-neck accountants have figured out exactly how much unmined mineral deposits are worth, but are clueless as the value of one human's life born in Afghanistan.

Pairings

Someone did a search with the following string and landed at telepathy101.blogspot.com :

"what should a girl do when a man is communicating by mental telepathy? "


In an ordinary world, the answer is obvious, you let nature take its course; but under extraordinary circumstances, say, because every cell in your body has been manipulated to oblivion and each of you is married to someone else and you don't look anything like the tail he is chasing around his office and you're not short on cash or company, you do what the Big Voice in the room tells you to do and you "Get Out of The Way-Now!"
Not surprisingly, the Quran offers just this type of tailor-made approach to problems; a fix to suit any occassion.
As an example, let's take Abraham's concern and the way it's handled as recorded in Sign 2:260.
{Ok. Ok. What He, the 'Big Voice' in the room, actually Said (but in the interest of brevity I gave a sound bite); "I Will Not Let you Fall. I Want you to get dressed (not what you all may think-- I was getting a medical exam) and Leave. NOW! You'll not see him again.} (In response; I got dressed, left the examining room, called the elevator, made it to the parking lot, got in the car, started the engine, fastened my seatbelt, exited the building and made it to the street in less than 30 seconds flat! And as I drove off I could 'see' that my departure was lightening quick because it was just then that the doctor was just making his way back to the examining room and rushed to the elevator bank only to find that I was gone without a trace---date of the incident on or about October 5, 1996 at around 6 pm. Who was the doctor speaking to about my medical condition on the phone in his office having established that it was not me, not the Owner of the 'Big Voice' (the Big Voice was kind o' neat, but what clinched it for me was seeing a demonstration of Your 'ability to commandeer the pixels' on my flatscreen tv at home and scroll messages of a personal nature in 30 inch lettering across it while knowing there was no dedicated private feed to our basic cable subscription), and not my spouse who was with me during part of the exam and had just left to to pick up the kids, and later found out it was not my lawyer, and not my other treating doctor, either? That pretty much elimates it being any body else's business. And now that You are all tied up in Nots, The Real Question Remains; More Importantly than What Planet am I on-- What Kind of Game are You Playing?)
And, get this; some time later, maybe years had gone by, I contacted a young lady who gave psychic readings by phone out of her home in New Jersey. Something about her seemed genuine. She did not ask me for anything other than my name and payment information and started her reading. She had never met me before the night of that 15-minute consulation; she couldn't get a bead on who the mysterious caller was, but she did say; whithout any prompting from me whatsoever; 'We All Saw You Leave That Night, We saw you leave him and he went after you as far as the elevator bank.' I asked her who was the caller, who are We that saw all this? She could only say she speaks spontaneously when she gives her readings and does not really know what is the nature of the information or who is providing it.)

Chapter 2 The Calfوَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ أَرِنِي كَيْفَ تُحْيِـي الْمَوْتَى قَالَ أَوَلَمْ تُؤْمِن
قَالَ بَلَى وَلَـكِن لِّيَطْمَئِنَّ قَلْبِي قَالَ فَخُذْ أَرْبَعَةً مِّنَ الطَّيْرِ فَصُرْهُنَّ إِلَيْكَ
ثُمَّ اجْعَلْ عَلَى كُلِّ جَبَلٍ مِّنْهُنَّ جُزْءًا ثُمَّ ادْعُهُنَّ يَأْتِينَكَ سَعْيًا
وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ 2:260

2:260 And when Abraham said, "Lord, show me how you give life to the dead." (God) Said, "Do you not Believe (accept it as True)?" (Abraham) said, "Yes, (of course), but so that I am reassured (with) inner (certainty, in my heart)." (God) Said, "Take 4 birds and train them to obey you, then place a portion of them on each mountain and call them; they will seek you (come to you) at your command (in order); and know/teach that God is Wise, Powerful."

So, Abraham learned by similitude of Falconry how it is that God Resurrects the Dead.

And, word apparently got out about my culinary prowess, so the same Sign 2:260 is a convenient Recipe that I plan to try for tonight's dinner:
2:260 And Abraham (his daughter) said, ”Lord, show me how to adapt (this recipe) and bring life to this dead (chicken)!” He said, “Don’t you believe (it can be done)?” (She) said, “Yes, but to insure the inside (is cooked).” He Said, “Take the thighs/legs of 4 birds and ground them up, then take a portion of that and knead it with a couple of figs (play up to your taste, ie season to your liking) and (grill until) there is a mark over the highest part (of the fire); and invite them to dinner and they will come in an orderly fashion; and know Your God Is Provident (Compos Mentis when it comes to you) and very Powerful (because at any time He could Swat you like a fly).”

{I substituted 1 lb. ground chicken breast for the legs and minced a couple of dried figs for the fresh and formed them into cutlets, seasoned with salt and pepper and a little dry tarragon then grilled them and they turned out moist and lovely; my family complained about the sweetness, but I balanced it with tart heirloom tomatoes for a side and made Panini sandwiches with provolone cheese out of the cutlets; they were quite nice. It turns out I have a bunch of finicky eaters at home and I hope the substitution wasn’t committing sacrilege, but the dark meat may have stood up to the figs' sweetness better, and next time maybe leave out the terragon.}

And You, Dear, get a buggy program out of it (Just what You need, right?)
وَand
إِذْ while
قَالَ declare
إِبْرَاneedle /cursor/pointer بْرَ land/ground
هِيمُ main
رَبِّ raise/increase/collect/gather/accumulate
أَرِنِي show me /display/
كَيْفَ how to alter/revise/copy/rework/adapt
تُ to
حْيِـيneighborhood/vicinity/
الْمَوْتَى endless /death/infinity

قَالَ declare
أَوَ Or
لَمْ Round up/gather/collect
تُؤْمِن accept as True; or تُؤْTau مِن from/of

قَالَ declare
بَلَى Yes; or بَ with; لَى twisting/torsion
وَ and
لَـكِن while is
لِّيَ twisting/bending/torsion/contortion/bending/flexion/
طْمَئِنَّ reassure/check
قَلْبِي inner/core decrease; invert/flip/transform B (or the center?)

قَالَ Declare
فَخُذْ take; thigh/leg (of a right triangle)
4أَرْبَعَةً four, tuple-4
مِّنَ of/from
الطَّيْرِ whatever flies around
فَصُرْ grate/cut into small pieces/differentiate
هُنّ from/of
إِلَيْكَ to you; to torsion/flexion/twisting...

ثُمَّ then
اجْعَلْ mark/locate
عَلَى on/to
كُلِّ each
جَبَلٍ maximum
مِّنْهُنَّ among them/key or most important of them (presumable the key vector)
جُزْءًا portion/section/slice/fraction/piece/bit/parcel

ثُمَّ then
ادْعُهُنَّ call them/execute the function

يَأْتِينَكَ come/comes/ (it should yield (this is a guess, any 2 pairs in order))
سَعْيًا in order/sequence
وَاعْلَمْand know/teach
أَنَّthat
اللّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ God is Wise/Sage/Provident/Separate/Discrete and Powerful/Exponential

My first sloppy take, since I don't know what I'm doing:

Do While (2, 260)
Declare Cursor = 0, **The main pointer/needle set to
ground/ and other values needed for this algorithm**
Display [Value];
//**How to adapt the Area (local neighborhood) from the Infinite** (Big O?)

Declare [A,B]
Or //**Round Up, Collect; ie sum up the vector space
with torsion?**
Direct Sum ΠUT= ATÅBT
Check True? //I don't know
what/

Else
//make sure the Inner/Core is diminished, is this some sort of
topology investigation?//
Declare Tuple-4 (a, b, c, d)//4 of whatever is
flying around//key vector
a=c sin A = c cos B
b=c sin B = c cos A //the
legs of a right triangle//

σaθb {R} //select Key Vector/help!//
d/d(R)//cut them into pieces, discrete values, differentiate
/help!--someone must have already developed this algorithm//
//locate/mark
the maxima
//then call /execute

Print [A,B]
Declare //God is
Wise, Powerful//

Laugh if you like, but I am not the programming genius here and You have your work cut out for You...

***As a general observation, your airfoils sure fly slow around here**

Vive La Différence

It's funny when oui Americans try to speak French...mais non.

Before I go again, I think my Dad pbuh wants to weigh in on something:

"I have three daughters, there is my eldest, the very pretty smart one (John
met her); and the younger one, the reallly good speller (he heard of her, but doesn't want to meet her); and then there is my youngest one (meeting her was no picnic in the park...more like a day at the beach). After we had her we could only have sons. Of all the people in all the worlds she is the last one to be crazy. For the simple reason that she does crazy consummately well.

(She is a nondrinker, nonsmoker, non-recreational drug user, whose idea of a
soul vacation is to get out of school fast, become gainfully employed
in her own field, and marry for love (not money) and give birth to two children
while helping to keep her husband's fledgling business going all before she
turns 30--yes, she has a flaw--she can't cook.) 

Here is my impression of her crazy act: She is hale as a prize horse and rarely ever gets sick until one day she goes into a doctors' office complaining of an obscene amount of pain everywhere in her body and brings along a can of stuff she thinks caused it since she is some crazy kind of a chemical engineer who picked up her degree from some first rate school in New York City on a full scholarship (proud dad, can you tell?) and deduced she is suffering effects from having had a toxic exposure, only to have the doctor tell her she is crazy for coming in to his practice over the course of the past several months complaining of and being diagnosed with a host of various other ailments including but not limited to: 

asthma, tacchicardia, allergies to everything including histamine and anti-histamine, aggravated sinusitis, irregular monthly cycles, joint problems, swelling, migraines, hypersensitivity to light and sound and climate and other
neuropathy, mammary and lymphatic cysts, sleep disturbances, nausea, DTs,
skin tags that behave strangely by practically growing 2 cm during a shower and then falling off 24 hours later, and a host of other dermal, respiratory,
digestive, neuropathic, psychomotor, neuropsychic, non-viral non-bacterial kidney infections, and other systemic aggravated sinusitis, irregular monthly cycles, joint problems, swelling, migraines, hypersensitivity to light and sound and climate and other neuropathy, mammary and lymphatic cysts, sleep disturbances, nausea, DTs, skin tags that behave strangely by practically growing 2 cm during a shower and then falling off 24 hours later, and a host of other dermal, respiratory, digestive, neuropathic, psychomotor, neuropsychiatric, non-viral non-bacterial kidney infections, and other systemic maladies...but then there was also blue tinged nail beds, tears that burn her skin, out-of-body experiences, strange auditory effects that her toddler also reacts to, and yes, hallucinations that she knows are hallucinations because they are after all accompanied by screaming cluster headaches and otherwise known as aura

 ...never mind that her lab tests are abnormal, there is blood in her sputum and any medicine she is given makes it all worse! and her hallucinations get so vivid that they dress really natty and pull up in their SUV's in the middle of a busy intersection not only hearing but following directions coming from her auditory hallucinations and her kindergartner sees them and wonders aloud 'why do they look funny?' and the doctor tells her she is crazy and crying out for attention and deftly gives her a referral to see a psychiatrist.

And when it becomes clear to her the doctors do not or cannot help she makes an appointment to view her medical records because they made her doubt her own mind and she thinks she needs a reality check; and when she shows up as appointed some wild dog of an HMO administrator goes off on her and doesn't keep her wild dog thoughts to herself when she tells my daughter to take the elevator back down to hell (where presumably she came from) and calls the cops and tries to place her under false arrest for cussing and threatening her staff; but when the cops show up they see my daughter doesn't have enough breath in her body to even speak; so the officers threaten to have the wild dog of an HMO administrator arrested for attempting to make a false arrest if she does not comply with the law and give her a date and time to allow her access to her medical records; and one officer offers to walk her in on that day if she thinks they are going to give her any more trouble (she wrote him a letter to thank him)

On her return visit, she notices some key visit(s) are missing from her chart and nowhere to be found (not then, and here it is about 15 years later, and so far not ever; something did surface about 10 years later but it was more like creative writing and not what she knew took place during 'that very strange visit').

Things deteriorated quickly from there since being crazy pretty much kills a marriage where she comes from (not hell) and the only reason her husband and she stay together is because of a promise he made to me that he would take care of her and neither one of them has the heart to tell the kids (who pretty much figured that much out, but for their own reasons still prefer both parents under one roof over any other option).

And that's why We All Landed In The Psych Ward, and why everybody else on the planet gets to do crazy before she does."

...here is the subtext for those of you who keep insisting it is worth the risk; it is not that Michael doesn't eat but that he had not yet had the opportunity to wash up, since he was still in the paint during our little lunch...

I guess now you can all see why I love my Dad (and my Mom--someone please ask her to stop saying 'Land!' everytime she sees me, I find it a oui bit disorienting) so much; and why the usual manner of coming and going doesn't quite suit me...I mean, do I want to be 'born again' and have some other nice lady poop on my head? Or worse yet, be made to forget that I have my own children (surely no matter how awful my cooking it does not warrant that kind of punishment)?

That's why nothing short of a full Resurrection (Being Borne) will do; and in the matters of both coming and going, this is how we roll:

Surah 17 Al.Isra (Travelling)
وَقُل رَّبِّ أَدْخِلْنِي مُدْخَلَ صِدْقٍ وَأَخْرِجْنِي مُخْرَجَ صِدْقٍ وَاجْعَل لِّي مِن لَّدُنكَ سُلْطَانًا نَّصِيرًا 17:80

17:80 And say: "My Lord, Admit me a good/honest/truthful Entrance (Way In/Entry) and release me/allow me to depart in a good/honest/truthful departure; and grant me from Your Power an Authoritative Victory.

Surah 22 Al.Hajj (The Pilgrimage)
لَيُدْخِلَنَّهُم مُّدْخَلًا يَرْضَوْنَهُ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَعَلِيمٌ حَلِيمٌ 22:59
22:59 He Will Admit them in an Entrance (Way In/Entry) that Pleases them and indeed, God is Aware (Knowing), Patient.

And that, Dear Children, brings us back around to the topic of UFOs (You Flying that (those) Object(s)?):

17 Al-Isra (Travelling)
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَى بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلاً مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الأَقْصَى الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ لِنُرِيَهُ مِنْ آيَاتِنَا إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُ 17:1
17:1 Extol/Exalt the One Who Captured/Seized/Took/Captivated His Servant one night from the Holy Mosque (Ka’ba) to the Farthest (Most Remote) Mosque (Majid al’Aqsa in Jerusalem); whose precincts We Blessed; so that We Can Show/Demonstrate to him some of Our Signs that Indeed He, and Only He, Is the Hearer, Seer (All-Hearing, All-Seeing).

And why, while it may seem like I am blabbing secrets all over the globe, I publicize tightly guarded secrets with the confidence of knowing not a single word gets out except to those already in the know or the ones it is meant for:

وَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ الْقُرآنَ جَعَلْنَا بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَ الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالآخِرَةِ حِجَابًا مَّسْتُورًا 17:45
17:45 And if/when you Read/Recite the Quran We Create between you and those who do not believe in the Hereafter a Secure Barrier (Invisible Cloak, Secret/Hidden Veil...)

and it's all in Good Spirit...

وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي وَمَا أُوتِيتُم مِّن الْعِلْمِ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً 17:85
17:85 And they will ask you about The Spirit, say: "The Spirit Is At God's Behest and you have not been given knowledge/information about it except a little."

___________________________________________________

"In women, courage is often mistaken for insanity."--Doctor in Iron Jawed Angels

Twinkle, Twinkle, A Blink Of An Eye

The discussion which began with Time and Man and illustrated with the story about The Cave Dwellers culminates here with the Final Outcome as to why we perceive Time as we do. It is at once a Lesson and a Mercy that Time itself is maleable in God's Hands and in that manner those not deserving of Punishment are Shielded from any Adversity the Passing of the 'Hour' of Judgment entails. For all we know the World is Destroyed and ReAssembled Time and Time again with many of us being Blissfully Unaware of the Judgment that is Being Handed Down to the Reprobates; and those deserving of a Beautiful Reward are Meted Out their Just Desserts while jealous eyes are likewise Averted.

16 Nahl (Bees)
وَلِلّهِ غَيْبُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَا أَمْرُ السَّاعَةِ إِلاَّ كَلَمْحِ الْبَصَرِ أَوْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ إِنَّ اللّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ 16:77

16:77 To God Belongs the Secrets of the Heavens and the Earth and His Commandment
of the Hour is but a Blink of the Eye (a twinkle) or even closer; Surely, God Has
Power Over All Things.

54 Quamar (Moon)
وَمَا أَمْرُنَا إِلَّا وَاحِدَةٌ كَلَمْحٍ بِالْبَصَرِ 54:50

54:50 Our Commandment is but a single Blink of the Eye (a twinkle)

79 Nazyi'at
يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ السَّاعَةِ أَيَّانَ مُرْسَاهَا 79:42
79:42 They ask you about the Hour ‘When shall it befall?’

فِيمَ أَنتَ مِن ذِكْرَاهَا 79:43
79:43 How could you know (have any Remembrance of it)?

إِلَى رَبِّكَ مُنتَهَاهَا 79:44
79:44 It’s Final Outcome Rests with Your Lord.

إِنَّمَا أَنتَ مُنذِرُ مَن يَخْشَاهَا 79:45
79:45 You are only Warning those who Stand in Awe of it.

كَأَنَّهُمْ يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَهَا لَمْ يَلْبَثُوا إِلَّا عَشِيَّةً أَوْ ضُحَاهَا 79:46
79:46 The Day they see it they will think it's as though they had only been there
(tarried there) just an eve or overnight.

30 Al-Rum (The Romans)
وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ يُقْسِمُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ مَا لَبِثُوا غَيْرَ سَاعَةٍ كَذَلِكَ كَانُوا يُؤْفَكُونَ 30:55

30:55 On the Day the Hour arises the criminals swear they had not tarried but for an Hour;
how can they succeed?

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ وَالْإِيمَانَ لَقَدْ لَبِثْتُمْ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْبَعْثِ فَهَذَا يَوْمُ الْبَعْثِ وَلَكِنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ 30:56

30:56 And say those given Knowledge and Faith, 'In this manner you have been Raised
according to God's Scripture to the Day of Reckoning for this is the Day of Judgment
and of it you were unaware (wont to deny it)'

46 Al-Ahqaf
فَاصْبِرْ كَمَا صَبَرَ أُوْلُوا الْعَزْمِ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ وَلَا تَسْتَعْجِل لَّهُمْ كَأَنَّهُمْ يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَ مَا يُوعَدُونَ
لَمْ يَلْبَثُوا إِلَّا سَاعَةً مِّن نَّهَارٍ بَلَاغٌ فَهَلْ يُهْلَكُ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ 46:35

46:35 So be Patient as the Community of Messengers before you were Patient and
do not Rush it for them; the Day they see what they are Promised they will think
they had only tarried but an Hour of the Morn or less than that; will any but the
reprobates perish?

The Cave Dwellers Is A Story About Time Travel

Chapter 18 relates the story of the Cave Dwellers which recounts a Time Travel Experience. It is presented as an actual event surrounding some youths fleeing persecution and finding refuge in a Cave. While the story itself is a historic telling the Cave (in addition to being an actual place) may be an allegory for a state of suspended animation, since there is mention of their senses being isolated and some outside agent turning them while they 'sleep' beyond an Earthly count of time.

It is assumed that these Companions who fled seeking refuge in a Cave were early Christian youths that had broken away from their community since it had fallen to joining other gods to God for woship. And since the Premable to the narrative about the Cave Dwellers mentions their community had invented that 'God had a Son' it is reasonable to think these youths were Fundamental Christians; believing in One God without any share to His Sovereignty; this is reinforced in Chapter 18 and the theme of His Absolute Dominion echoes throughout the Chapter.

There is a passing reference made to 'The Inscription' or 'The Numbered/Enumerated' as an additional Symbol and it would appear there is no widely accepted basis as to what this entails. Some say it is an Inscription left at the location where the Cave Dwellers were thought to have slept commemorating the event, but the jury is out on that one**. So as far as we know, it is a mystery as to what the 'Inscription' is unless it is referring to the Cave Dwellers having received their designations by way of numeric stigmata from their Lord. This last assumption is in line with one of the 99 Names or Attributes mentioned in the Quran about God, that being 'Al-Muhsi'; the 'One Who Counts' or 'Numbers All' and by extention He is 'Al-Hasib'--'The Accounter,' as we are accountable to Him and He can Render Accounts.

Chapter 18 Al-Kahf (The Cave)
أَمْ حَسِبْتَ أَنَّ أَصْحَابَ الْكَهْفِ وَالرَّقِيمِ كَانُوا مِنْ آيَاتِنَا عَجَبًا 18:9
18:9 Has the account of the Companions of the Cave and the Inscription (the Numbered) (reached you); they are among Our Remarkable Signs

إِذْ أَوَى الْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى الْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا 18:10,
18:10 When the youths took to the Cave and prayed, ‘Our Lord, Grant us from Your Mercy and Prepare for us a Righteous Will (Outcome, Commandment).'

They prayed and God Responded, His Attribute 'Al Mujib'--'The Responsive' is brought to the fore in this telling of the story.

فَضَرَبْنَا عَلَى آذَانِهِمْ فِي الْكَهْفِ سِنِينَ عَدَدًا 18:11
18:11 So We secluded/sheltered/isolated/covered their ears in the Cave for a number of years

18:12 ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَاهُمْ لِنَعْلَمَ أَيُّ الْحِزْبَيْنِ أَحْصَى لِمَا لَبِثُوا أَمَدًا
18:12 then We sent them (made them a Symbol) to know which of the bipartisans counted the term (accurately), nevertheless

نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ نَبَأَهُم بِالْحَقِّ إِنَّهُمْ فِتْيَةٌ آمَنُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ وَزِدْنَاهُمْ هُدًى 18:13
18:13 We relate their News to you in Truth; for they were youths who came to Believe in their Lord and He Granted them Increased Guidance.

Here are another two of the 99 Attributes of God, 'Al-Hadi' meaning 'The Guide'; increasing guidance is the path to Repentance so He is known as 'At-Tawwib'--'The Guide To Repentance.' And the fact that the tale is related in Truth calls to mind another of His 99 Names, 'Al-Haqq' meaning 'The Truth.'

وَرَبَطْنَا عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ إِذْ قَامُوا فَقَالُوا رَبُّنَا رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَن نَّدْعُوَ مِن دُونِهِ إِلَهًا لَقَدْ قُلْنَا إِذًا شَطَطًا 18:14
18:14 And We Secured their hearts when they arose saying/praying, 'Our Lord, Sustainer of the Heavens and the Earth, we do not call on any other god; it would be Implausible/Prohibitive/Not Possible (for us to do so).'

Giving 'Security to their hearts', the Cave Dwellers felt no fear for He had established in them a feeling of safety for what they were about to experience, for He is 'Al-Mu'min', 'The One Who Grants Security.' They prayed to 'The Sustainer' of Heaven and Earth, for He is 'Al-Razzaq.'

هَؤُلَاء قَوْمُنَا اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ آلِهَةً لَّوْلَا يَأْتُونَ عَلَيْهِم بِسُلْطَانٍ بَيِّنٍ فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَى عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا 18:15
18:15 "These, our People, have taken gods other than God without having any Authoritative Clear Signs given to them and out of their ignorance they have invented Lies about God."

There was no doubt in these youths' minds that He is 'Al-Ahad', 'The One' and He is 'Al-Wahid'--'The Unique,' not two or three or a committee.

وَإِذِ اعْتَزَلْتُمُوهُمْ وَمَا يَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ فَأْوُوا إِلَى الْكَهْفِ يَنشُرْ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُم مِّن رَّحمته ويُهَيِّئْ لَكُم مِّنْ أَمْرِكُم مِّرْفَقًا 18:16
18:16 And when they took leave (of their community) and they worshipped none but God, He gave them Sanctuary in the Cave; Your Lord informs you of His Mercy and He Wills Facility for you.

Of the 99 Names 18:16 refers to 'Ar-Rahman' and 'Ar-Rahim,' respectively, 'The Beneficent', 'The Mericful.'

وَتَرَى الشَّمْسَ إِذَا طَلَعَت تَّزَاوَرُ عَن كَهْفِهِمْ ذَاتَ الْيَمِينِ
وَإِذَا غَرَبَت تَّقْرِضُهُمْ ذَاتَ الشِّمَالِ وَهُمْ فِي فَجْوَةٍ مِّنْهُ
ذَلِكَ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ مَن يَهْدِ اللَّهُ فَهُوَ الْمُهْتَدِي وَمَن يُضْلِلْ
فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ وَلِيًّا مُّرْشِدًا 18:17
18:17 and you see the Sun as it rises visiting their Cave on the right and when setting (West) advancing to the North and them inside (facing); these are God’s Signs; whomever God Grants (Guidance) (finds himself guided) they are the Proselytes (newly faithful) and whoever goes astray there is no Benefactor (to guide them aright) /supporter to/ righteousness

Many people reflect on 18:17 to try and determine the actual spot where the Cave is since it indicates the relative position of the Sun** as it rises and sets in the vicinity of the Cave; should one be inside the Cave and facing the Sunlight they would see it rising on their right and setting North-West. 'Al-Hadi' is mentioned for 'The Guide' and 'Ar-Rashid' for 'The Teacher of Righteousness' and He is 'The Benefactor' or 'The Protecting Friend'--'Al-Wali.'

وَتَحْسَبُهُمْ أَيْقَاظًا وَهُمْ رُقُودٌ وَنُقَلِّبُهُمْ ذَاتَ الْيَمِينِ وَذَاتَ الشِّمَالِ
وَكَلْبُهُم بَاسِطٌ ذِرَاعَيْهِ بِالْوَصِيدِ لَوِ اطَّلَعْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ
لَوَلَّيْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِرَارًا وَلَمُلِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ رُعْبًا 18:18
18:18 and you would think them awake the while they are asleep and We turn them to the right and to the left (North) and their dog extending its arms guarding them; if you came upon them you would be apprehensive of them escaping (from them) and filled with horror.

Apparently their dog had fallen 'asleep' too, probably near the entrance 'at the guard position,' and coming upon people in such a state of suspended animation is strange enough to strike terror in many. As they slept their bodies were oriented such that North was to their left. And as they slept He watched over them, for He is 'Al-Raqib'--'The Watchful;' with their dog also asleep their guardianship was solely left up to Him for He is 'Al-Mahaymin'--'The Guardian.'

وَكَذَلِكَ بَعَثْنَاهُمْ لِيَتَسَاءلُوا بَيْنَهُمْ قَالَ قَائِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ
كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ قَالُوا لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ قَالُوا رَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثْتُمْ
فَابْعَثُوا أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُمْ هَذِهِ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَلْيَنظُرْ أَيُّهَا أَزْكَى طَعَامًا
فَلْيَأْتِكُم بِرِزْقٍ مِّنْهُ وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا 18:19
18:19 And as well We uncovered them to ask each other (wonder amongst themselves), one of them said, “How long were we in this state?”, they said, “ We tarried in this state a Day or part of a day.” He (one of them) said, “Your Lord Knows how long you have tarried, so send one of you with your papers (money?) here to the city to procure the purest food…and do not let anyone sense (become suspicious) of you.”

Having awakened the Cave Dwellers were aware that they did not know the exact passage of time; and not wanting to invite attention to themselves, they cautiously sent someone out to procure food knowing that if the Times had changed their 'papers/money' might give them away; and they apparently were still apprehensive about going back out into the midst of what they believed to be a community still hostile towards them and that could seek to harm them or, worse yet, convert them to joining partners to God for worship. Removing the 'covering' or 'awakening' the sleepers in the Cave calls to mind another one of the 99 Most Beautiful Names, 'Al-Ba'ith' or 'The Awakener,' or 'The Resurrector'; we can assume the sleepers returned as they were when they first had fallen asleep for He is 'Al-Mu'id'--'The Restorer,' since they still recognized each other by the way they picked up where they left off. They were certain only God Knows how long they slept because He is 'Al-'alim' --'The All Knowing,' and 'Al-Khabir' --'The All-Aware,' and they felt He was still around after whatever length of time they had slept because He is 'Al-Quyyum'--'The Self-Existing.'

إِنَّهُمْ إِن يَظْهَرُوا عَلَيْكُمْ يَرْجُمُوكُمْ أَوْ يُعِيدُوكُمْ فِي مِلَّتِهِمْ وَلَن تُفْلِحُوا إِذًا أَبَدًا 18:20
18:20 "If they discover you they will stone you or revert you to their religion and thereby you will not flourish ever."

وَكَذَلِكَ أَعْثَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ
وَأَنَّ السَّاعَةَ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَا إِذْ يَتَنَازَعُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَمْرَهُمْ
فَقَالُوا ابْنُوا عَلَيْهِم بُنْيَانًا رَّبُّهُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ
قَالَ الَّذِينَ غَلَبُوا عَلَى أَمْرِهِمْ لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِم مَّسْجِدًا 18:21
18:21 And in this manner We found to teach them God’s Promise is True and there is no Doubting the Hour; as they (those who learned of the Cave Dwellers) quarreled amongst themselves what they should do; one said, ‘Erect over them (in remembrance of them) a building, their Lord Knows of them,” those who overwhelmed (their plans) said, “We shall commemorate them with a temple/place of prayer.”

Sign 18:21 conveys that while Sequestering the youths was a means of Preserving and Protecting them it was also meant to be a Demonstrable Act for them to learn first hand what is meant by God's Promise; that they would be preserved as Witnesses to the Hour (Judgment/Last Day/Resurrection). It is worthwhile to mention some of the other 99 Most Beautiful Attributes connected to God's Actions in Chapter 18, for God is 'Al- Hafiz' meaning 'The Preserver,' since the youths were kept in such a state those many years and by extention 'Al- Waliyy' or 'The Protector' since He Protected them; and having Shielded them from any harm His Attribute as 'Al-Mani','-- 'The Preventer of Harm,' is also inferred in this narrative. This was meant to be not only a Sign for People but a Lesson to the Sleepers, again Him being 'The Teacher of Righteousness'--'Ar-Rashid.'


سَيَقُولُونَ ثَلَاثَةٌ رَّابِعُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ خَمْسَةٌ سَادِسُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ
رَجْمًا بِالْغَيْبِ وَيَقُولُونَ سَبْعَةٌ وَثَامِنُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ
قُل رَّبِّي أَعْلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ فَلَا تُمَارِ فِيهِمْ إِلَّا مِرَاء ظَاهِرًا
وَلَا تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِم مِّنْهُمْ أَحَدًا 18:22
18:22 So they say, “Three and their dog is their fourth,” and they say, “Five and their dog the sixth (one of them),” casting (guesses) of the Unknown, and they say, “Seven and their dog the eighth…” Say, “My Lord Knows their number; no one knows (the Truth) but few, so do not argue about them except in an obvious (manner); and not one of them (the others) is certain about them (the Cave Dwellers).”

Sign 18:22 refers to the confusion by those who came to learn of the Cave Dwellers about the actual passage of time and even the exact number of how many individuals were involved. Having so many generations pass away while they slept, those who came to know of them could only guess at the facts since no one else had the continuity to accurately assess the span of years that had gone by from the time the youths slept to the time they awakened. So, yet two more of the 99 Names is called to mind since only God has the requisite continuity enabling Him to know the exact length of time, He is 'Al-Hayy" which means 'The Ever-Living,' and He is 'Al-Baqi'--'The Everlasting.'

وَلَا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَيْءٍ إِنِّي فَاعِلٌ ذَلِكَ غَدًا 18:23
18:22 So do not say about anything “I will do it tomorrow.”

إِلَّا أَن يَشَاء اللَّهُ وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ وَقُلْ عَسَى أَن يَهْدِيَنِ رَبِّي لِأَقْرَبَ مِنْ هَذَا رَشَدًا 18:24
18:24 Except (by tempering it with), “God Willing,” and remember Your Lord if you forget and say, “May my Lord Guide me ever closer to Righteousness.”

18:23-18:24 may seem like non sequiturs that have nothing to do with the story's development, but the point made is that none of us can be sure what 'tomorrow' really means; it could be 24 hours from now or a century away; it is only with Guidance that we can be aware enough to know, and that is why it is important to acknowledge the Very Being Who Establishes Time itself. In addition to the Names 'The Ever-Living' and 'The Everlasting,' the Names of God specific to His Command Over Time are 'Al-Maqqaddim' ('The Expediter, Advancer') and 'Al-Muakhkhir' ('The Delayer') since He is able to move Time itself; and His Eternal Quality is further reflected in His Names 'Al-Awwal,'--'The First' and 'Al-Akhkhir'--'The Last.'

وَلَبِثُوا فِي كَهْفِهِمْ ثَلَاثَ مِائَةٍ سِنِينَ وَازْدَادُوا تِسْعًا 18:25
18:25 And they stayed in their Cave 300 years, and increased by 9.

Sign 18:25 is the reason why I decided to forego all of the accepted interpretations and attempt to decode the passage for myself. While the others lead us to believe that this follows from the guessing in 18:22; it reads more like an actual statement as to how long they actually 'slept.' The only part that is vague is whether the 9 that were added were years or individuals that joined the original set of companions. It would appear they were kept in suspended animation for 300 years, give or take, and it would naturally follow that since the number is a multiple of 10 that it is by our perceived time (Base-10) and not the actual number of years (Base-12); if 'a year' is taken for its primary meaning that it is 12 months; but a secondary meaning for 'years' is periods or eons, and that would relegate us back to still just guessing. So the best we can do for our part is an educated guess and it remains that only God Knows the actual span of time they were kept in that state.

قُلِ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثُوا لَهُ غَيْبُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَبْصِرْ بِهِ وَأَسْمِعْ مَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلَا يُشْرِكُ فِي حُكْمِهِ أَحَدًا 18:26
18:26 Say, “God Knows how long they tarried (in that state); His are the Secrets of the Heavens and the Earth; He Sees and Hears all about them (everything concerning Heaven and Earth); there is no Benefactor other than Him; and He does not associate anyone (take partners) in His Dominion.”

Of the 99 Beautiful Names, 'As-Sami'--' 'The All Hearing' and 'Al-Basir'--'The All Seeing,' are mentioned in 18:26; and since He has no need of partners or associates, the Perfect Attribute 'As-Summad'--'The Absolutely Self-Sufficient/Eternally Besought' is described in the story--for having full command of His Dominion without anyone else's assistance; and it follows that everything and everyone else relies on Him and seeks His assistance. Understanding the Secrets of the Unseen that lay hidden and are not otherwise Witnesssed, He is 'Al-Wasi''--'The All-Comprehending,' or 'All-Encompassing.'

وَاتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِن كِتَابِ رَبِّكَ لَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِهِ وَلَن تَجِدَ مِن دُونِهِ مُلْتَحَدًا 18:27
18:27 And Recite what is Inspired in you of Your Lord’s Book; there is no changing His Words and you will find No Refuge but in Him.

With none other to provide us Refuge, He is 'Al-Wakil,' 'The One To Trust,' and personally I found no other Refuge but for Him which makes Him my de facto Friend, 'Ar-Rafiq;' and that's why I took the liberty here of calling Him Names, especially since my Friend has an interesting sense of humor (like dropping me behind enemy lines with a tot at my hem and a babe at my breast and nothing more than a diaper bag for field equipment). But in the final analysis, I can't account for my being here in any other way and that's why He means Everything to me and why I call Him by The Greatest Name--Allah.

اللّه إِلَى ستر
اللّه إِلَى سطر ﺳﻂﺮ
Allah illi satr
God Shielded/veiled ('Wrote'/inscribed/lined this/Ordained this for) me

**Appended 19/12/2009, Consider the position of the Sun with respect to the Cave and the 'Sleeping' Cave Dwellers in light of a recent hypothesis regarding the significance of the pre-historic Cave Paintings at Lascaux, France, 'The Lascaux Cave; A Pre-Historic Sky Map' http://issuu.com/lightmediation/docs/the_lascaux_cave___a_prehistoric_sky-map_3390.