Originally posted by NGONGE: ^^ Who else is going? Waxa tagaaya 'isku xidniinka'e' adigu iskeenuun and don’t give me the usual 'I’m afraid of snakes' story

There are some great buildings around the world. Today's buildings cannot be considered as wonders as the tools, engineering know how is already present. What distincts the old buildings is their innovative ways to achieve what was thought impossible at the time. The inter-connected domes of the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque, the mud structur of the Mosque in Timbuktu, Mali and how its all kept together with long sticks are great examples. They are still studying how the pyramids were put up, how Petra was put together etc.

Looks like no one was killed,,,,,,,,

Duke, you have quickly labelled people you dont know, you have not researched, you have no proof of, as 'terrorists'. All because its the official TFG/Ethio/US line. Have you no shame?

^^Maxaa dacay? QL, give me a call saxib (check your pm) i'll show you around the new Dubai. Its a tad warm (41 degrees yesterday) so be prepared (dont worry the car has AC) North is not allowed to smoke shiisha. Doctor's orders Saxib, I have managed to steer clear of it (for the most part) but a nomad visiting is an exception Talking of East Africa Ngonge, have you decided on that trip to Burco yet? There is quite a few of us going. Paragon, I assume your looking into the ease of setting things up in Kenya. Never been there but by all accounts its an idealic place. Sun, sea and mangos if a decent opportunity comes about.

Another source told of seeing two Somali warlords and five of their fighters spend a week of rest and relaxation at a middle-class downtown hotel during the height of the Somali civil war in 2006. At the end of the week, a car from the U.S. Embassy dropped off one of the warlords with an envelope full of U.S. dollars to pay for the rooms and to give to the fighters to pay their airfare back to the fighting in Somalia. :rolleyes:

Yaa? Whether these guys are employed by the SL authorities we cant possibly varify laakin this guy who states he lives in Hargaisa on his web page is odd to say the least.

Thanks LST I'm still agast at this news. Bombing anyone who is slightly 'deen inclined' in Somalia.

Oh why not? Ciyaal = children/kids, as an example Ciyaalka = The kids Ciyaalkeena = Our Kids Ciyaalkaanaa = These kids 'will or have' ie ciyaalkanaa ku raaci or ciyaalkanaa wax sameeyey Ciyaaloow = Hey kids Ciyaalkeenoow = Hey our kids Ciyaalkaasba = NEVER HEARD THIS BEFORE (you mean 'ciyaalkasta'?) Ciyaalkaanba = These kids (similar yet different to when 'ciyaalkanaa' is used) Ciyaalkooda = Their kids Ciyaalkee = Which kids? Ciyaalkiisa = His kids Ciyaalkeeda = Her kids Ciyaalkaaga = Your kids Ciyaalkeyga = My kids Ciyaalkaas = Those kids Ciyaalkaan = These kids (ciyaalkan) Ciyaalbaas = Damned kids Ciyaalkeenoow II = Hey our kids Edit Just realised MMA gave the answers already

^^ King James steps up to the plate again! Happy for the Cavs but the spurs will probably be too strong.

Nice review of the nomads down under. Sounds as though they have the old fashioned hospitality still with them (unlike their EU cousins). Nice pics (cant access them)

Paragon Thanks for the ics saxib. Glad your enjoying your time. Sounds as though you are considering staying there.

Originally posted by NGONGE: ^^ Someone sent me an e-mail with this clip (at least I think it is the same clip!). If you don't like snakes I don't think you should watch this. I made the mistake of opening the file and almost had a heartattack. ps One day, I shall have my revenge on the person that sent me the e-mail. Glad it jolted you out of your comfortable high-back chair

Hot? I heard it rained recently and the place is very pictureque. Xan, enjoy

What is going on in Barga? Are these stories true about foriegn fighters landed onshore etc?

Not really worth my time yA Dukey!

9.30pm and still in office! going home now

Lecturers vote for boycott of Israeli universities James Meikle, education correspondent Thursday May 31, 2007 The Guardian University lecturers threatened yesterday to provoke international condemnation by forcing their union into a year-long debate over boycotting work with Israeli universities. Delegates at the first conference of the new University and College Union in Bournemouth voted by 158 to 99 for "a comprehensive and consistent boycott" of all Israeli academic institutions, as called for by Palestinian trade unions in response to Israel's "40-year occupation" of Palestinian land. The union's leadership must now circulate calls from Palestinians for a boycott of Israeli universities to all branches throughout the country. Tom Hickey, a Brighton University academic and union executive member, who led the move, said: "There will be adverse effects on individuals, but this is not targeting individuals or trying to break contacts with them." The vote reflected "the deep concern people have". A boycott might involve refusing to work with journals published by Israeli companies or collaborate on research contracts with Israeli academics. But Sally Hunt, the general secretary of the union, said: "I do not believe a boycott is supported by a majority of [120,000] UCU members, nor do I believe that members see it as a priority for the union." The boycott was also opposed by the education minister, Bill Rammell. He said: "The UK government fully supports academic freedom and is firmly against any academic boycotts of Israel or Israeli academics. Whilst I appreciate the independence of the UCU, I am very disappointed that the union has decided to pass a motion which encourages its members to consider boycotting Israeli academics and education institutions. I profoundly believe this does nothing to promote the Middle East peace process." The issue has been hotly debated over the past five years by academics within the Association of University Teachers and the University and College Lecturers' Union, which merged into the UCU last year. In 2005, a vote for a boycott by the AUT was rejected at a special meeting later that year. Natfhe continued to support boycotts at its conference last year, but the policy was dissolved when it merged to form the UCU very soon afterwards. Previous attempts at a boycott have caused international outcry, especially in Israel and the US. When the AUT ratified a boycott in February 2005, the story hit the front pages in Europe, North America and Asia. During the ensuing weeks, a delegation of Israeli academics put pressure on the union by touring UK campuses. Twenty one Nobel prizewinners, including Shimon Peres and Elie Wiesel, wrote to the Guardian, stating: "Academic freedom has never been the property of a few and must not be manipulated by them ... mixing science with politics and limiting academic freedom by boycotts is wrong". In response to yesterday's decision, Ofir Frankel, spokesman for the Advisory Board for Academic Freedom, said: "We see it as discriminatory and counterproductive. It will make British academia look a little less serious." Jon Benjamin, chief executive of the board of Deputies of British Jews, said: "Now is the time to strengthen the kinds of relationships that will bring all sides of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict together and, in this country, create a better understanding of the complex issues through that engagement. We call upon the union's leadership and all members who are rightly outraged by the decision to work towards a reversal of this policy." http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/worldwide/story/0,,2091769,00.html

Originally posted by Zafir: Zafir doesn't accept apologies, apologies accept Zafir.

^^waar xagaad joogtaa? Wali ma Addis ba?

Val, is Joe Mangal still alive? The best Aussie ever!

Outcry over TV kidney competition A Dutch TV station says it will go ahead with a programme in which a terminally ill woman selects one of three patients to receive her kidneys. Political parties have called for The Big Donor Show to be scrapped, but broadcaster BNN says it will highlight the country's shortage of organ donors. "It's a crazy idea," said Joop Atsma, of the ruling Christian Democrat Party. "It can't be possible that, in the Netherlands, people vote about who's getting a kidney," he told the BBC. The programme, from Big Brother creators Endemol, is due to be screened on Friday night. 'Totally unacceptable' The 37-year-old donor, identified only as Lisa, will make her choice based on the contestants' history, profile and conversation with their family and friends. Viewers will also be able to send in their advice by text message during the 80-minute show. The Dutch donor authority has condemned the show, as have kidney specialists in the UK. "The scenario portrayed in this programme is ethically totally unacceptable," said Professor John Feehally, who has just ended his term as president of the UK's Renal Association. "The show will not further understanding of transplants," he added. "Instead it will cause confusion and anxiety." Professor Feehally also pointed out that, under normal circumstances, two people would benefit from a donor, each receiving one kidney. "The set up of the programme bears no relationship to the way decisions are made about transplants in the real world," he said. "Living donors can choose altruistically to give one of their kidneys - usually to a family member. "If organs become available after someone dies, health professionals with access to detailed information about those waiting for a transplant make objective decisions about who should receive those particular kidneys." 'Shocking' The former director of TV station BNN, Bart de Graaff, died from kidney failure aged 35 after spending years on a transplant waiting list. "The chance for a kidney for the contestants is 33%," said the station's current chairman, Laurens Drillich. "This is much higher than that for people on a waiting list." "We think that is disastrous, so we are acting in a shocking way to bring attention to this problem." "For years and years we have had problems in the Netherlands with organ donations and especially kidney donations," agreed Alexander Pechtold of D-66, the Dutch social liberal party. "You can have a discussion about if this is distasteful, but finally we have a public debate," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. TV critics in the UK have expressed horror at the programme, but said such a show would be unlikely in Britain. "My first reaction, probably everyone's reaction, is that this is as dangerously near as we've got to a TV programme playing God," said Julia Raeside of the Guardian newspaper. "People may live or die on the result of a game show. It's a step too far. "I don't think this is anything to do with reality TV. It's just a crazy idea that would never play out over here." The outcry comes at a difficult time for production company Endemol, who were censured by Ofcom last week for their handling of the Celebrity Big Brother racism row. The Australian version of Big Brother has also drawn criticism for not telling a contestant that her father had died. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6699847.stm

Paragon, use putfile.com