i think some of the guys in the sports section will be preparing for their finals, Soma Inc and Rocko come to mind. Good luck to you all and remember this is only the beginning as by this time next year you will be dreaming of the good ole uni days and addicted to coffee

It's a dog-eat-dog world. Woof. loool, got to be a classic on SOL

^^i categorically deny being drunk!

187, i have not voted but two divisions is not a good idea it will become boring when someone get relegated. Keep it as it is and do not have to many new teams as we all know what will happen. People will not be active and even forget their password (ala Massa). ps save a team for me (someone wants try their hand at football management)

There is obviously a problem of sexual harrassment in Colombia hence the long sentence mainly to discourage others by setting a precedent. diplomatic response

Castro says: Wow. That's great. It finally dawned on us that double standards are not inherently Israeli or Western. I knew that cartoon saga was indeed a blessing in disguise. It's spring cleaning everywhere you look. Saxib, maybe you can expand on what exactly they may be extracing from the text books (not sure what is meant by text books either)as you were educated (i think) in arab lands. This came about from a discussion with some of the people at work (Arabs) who were all for it for the sake of peace and not being 'hostile' towards the USA agenda in the ME. Plus the fact that they can not say anything against the actions of the Govnt.

^^This has been brewing for a while between the evening standard and red ken. Evening Standard paper is pro-Isreal and has pushed for Ken's suspension well before this incident. Funnily enough this whole process was put on hold during the 2012 Olympics announcement period to show a 'united' front. Back to the main topic, many ME countries are in the process of changing school text books by extracting anything showing Isreal and Isrealis in a bad light after a push from the US.

The whole essence of the 10 shirt seems to have al but disappeared. It just does not have the same ‘umph’ as it did previously. There have been many great players recently who have never worn the number shirt. I have to agree with you, Roberto Baggio (aka the Divine ponytail) was probably the best num 10 europe ever produced closely followed by Zainudine Zidane (no 10 for France, 21 for Juve and 5 for Real Madrid). Baggio pips him simply because of his emergence at an early age with great consistency throughout his career. Zizou arrived later at the big stage, yes he won more important medals but Baggio was unlucky with injuries. If he was 100% in the 1994 WC final, I’m convinced Italy would have won after he single handedly took them to the final (only done by Maradona previously – taking a whole team to the final on his own). Having said that, I think Platini and Cruyff (not sure if he was a number 10) would have something to say about that!

Some similarities are there BOB, you alos need ALOT of luck at the right times and to score at the right times. but before you jump out of your chair and scream that's just a mere coincidence and argue that, lightning doesn't strike twice..think about this, "Men are four times more likely to be struck by lightning than Women" so strange things happen in this world my brotherand as your older brother I suggest to you never ever to underestimate the chances of mighty Arsenal Thank for making my day!

So has he done a track with Dead Prez themselves or a member of? Just gettin some recognition from those folks is a big up and a step in the right direction. Cant imagine K-nan insulting the police though now that would be something

Shrine fury sparks Iraq killings Iraqi police have recovered at least 50 bullet-riddled bodies of people believed killed to avenge a bomb attack on an important Shia Muslim shrine. A curfew has been called in the capital Baghdad and dozens of Sunni mosques have been attacked across the country. A prominent Arab reporter and her crew have been killed in Samarra, where they had gone to cover the attack on the shrine in the central Iraqi city. Iraq's leaders are warning publicly about the dangers of a civil war. "We are facing a major conspiracy that is targeting Iraq's unity," President Jalal Talabani said. "We should all stand hand in hand to prevent the danger of a civil war." The attack on the al-Askari shrine takes the danger of a civil conflict to a new level, the BBC's Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen says. Iraq has seen a wave of violence following the bombing of the shrine, which is one of Shia Islam's holiest sites. Gunmen open fire on a Sunni mosque in the town of Baquba on Thursday, killing one person and wounding two At least 11 people are killed after gunmen masquerading as police abducted them from a Basra jail on Wednesday Iraq's main Sunni Arab political group boycotts a meeting called by the president to discuss the crisis A bomb targeting an Iraqi army patrol kills 12 people in Baquba Gunmen The journalists for the Dubai-based al-Arabiya TV had gone to Samarra to report on the bombing and the angry protests that followed. Correspondent Atwar Bahjat's body was among the three found early on Thursday about 15km (10 miles) north of the city, police said. The deaths come amid a wave of anger over the bombing, which destroyed the 100-year-old golden dome of the shrine. The killings of the prisoners in Basra followed clashes in the city between followers of firebrand Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and Sunnis. Iraqi political and religious leaders have all called for calm. But a spokesman for Iraq's top Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani said the anger may be hard to contain. "You wouldn't expect an abrupt or sudden calm, because there are some people whose reaction you can't control," London-based spokesman Fadel Bahar al-Eloum told the BBC. Civil war? Our correspondent says the assault on the shrine could multiply the danger and the violence. direct assault on the identity and rights of an entire community, our correspondent says. He says a civil war would destroy the chances of the elected central government, which will be led and dominated by Shias when it is formed. Civil war could lead to the break-up of the country, and would export even more instability and violence across the wider Middle East and beyond, he says. BBC

^^LOL, a bit harsh Nuune Good game, i never expected a red card, i was waiting for a yellow then out came the red,lol, but i was glad, remeber Robben when he got Reina sent off? what goes around comes around, but the tie is still open. Dinho started to play after 60 mins and made the difference.

Sheheheneeze, good points. Johnny, what nothing else to say? not going to come out with an anti Islamic outburst? Cat got your tongue? Where is your mate Socod Badne? Cant contribute to the thread? You thought the old man divorcing his wives was OK in Islam? You and Ayan Hirsi would make a decent couple

quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Originally posted by Northerner: quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The entire gallery seems to get shocked at old men marrying young girls as if this was new to us, Somali tradition. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I think judgments have been clouded somewhat to accord with general laws rather than thinking along those lines. I would go as far as saying 50% of first children (prior to the war) among Somalis were products of such marriages (mothers 16/17 years old). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Doesn't make it OK nor is 16/17 13! It was ok back then, what has changed? Would we be making such comments (Old man marrying young girl is not wise) if we as Somalis did not live here (qurbaha) for so long? Does it still happen? If so why? The fact of the matter is Halal marriages do happen between older men and young girls and it is OK (when in accordance with the Sheriica) but it has become a taboo over the years to those who have left their homelands and settled mainly in the west. A wedding of this sort tomorrow will raise more eyebrows in the west than in the middle east, why? Have we become to accept UK Legistlation above that of Sheria in such issues?

Soma Inc, come on son dont be serious, Barca all the way but i have a bad feeling about this one Order of Preference for CL winners: Liverpool, Juve, Barca, Lyon, Bayern, PSV, Real, Villareal, Inter, Werder Bremen, Milan, Arsenal, Chelsea Note: Rangers and Benfica not included

^^unscientific of course

The entire gallery seems to get shocked at old men marrying young girls as if this was new to us, Somali tradition. I think judgments have been clouded somewhat to accord with general laws rather than thinking along those lines. I would go as far as saying 50% of first children (prior to the war) among Somalis were products of such marriages (mothers 16/17 years old).

Well done the THE arsenal, very good game. Lpool were aweful last night, very negative and went for the draw, but Anfield will be a totally different game. Celski vs Barca tonight, i expect fireworks!

The stench of craftiness By Rashid Saleh Al Oraimy, Special to Gulf News Even since Islamophobia became the active currency in the hands of US rightists, who invent a new bogus enemy every new day, the symptoms of such a syndrome (Islamophobia) have begun appearing in various segments in the West, whether open-minded or narrow-minded, liberal or fanatic. Islamophobia is rising and has become like an infectious disease that spreads amidst political and media circles in the West. In its editorial on Thursday, February 16, The New York Times, which prides itself as the first newspaper that speaks of US liberalism, called on the US administration to reconsider the decision that gives Dubai Ports World control over London-based P&O, which operates the Port of New York, and other US ports. The newspaper said the move would pose a danger to the US national security on the pretext that many of the September 11 hijackers and planners travelled through the UAE. It also said the UAE banking system was used in preparing for the attacks. The newspaper has not been satisfied with this baseless allegation and also called on Bush administration to block the sale and prevent Dubai Ports World from obtaining its commercial rights due to terror-related reasons. Discrepancy and bad faith in the editorial can come under the famous saying: "Explaining an obvious matter makes it more complicated." Yet, the US banking system and even flight-training institutes and US airports are to be blamed as they hosted those terrorists who carried out the September 11 attacks. The US is the country to be blamed since its security services, the strongest in the world, did not succeed in uncovering the plot and left the terrorists free until they struck the country. Responsible So, no country should be blamed or held responsible for the acts of terrorists, who managed to transfer money for financing their attacks. Yet, if it is a must that a country should be blamed and held responsible, than no doubt the US is to be blamed. The issue of acquiring the British company that operates US ports is a mere business matter and it has nothing to do with politics, and thus, it must be looked at within its true framework. Worse, such a tricky means by The New York Times brings out the smell of incompetence for dubious commercial purposes. If not, what is the logical explanation for printing a shocking and unfair editorial? Such an editorial comes within the context of incitement against a peaceful company operating under the umbrella of the law in the UAE and the US. Does Dubai Ports World not practise its activities in the US, and other countries, in line with international and local laws followed in each country? And, if the answer is yes, it means that objectivity and credibility will be the victims if a distinction is made. It will also deepen the already bleeding wounds of The New York Times and its reputation will be in the mud. No one can forget the newspaper's recent scandal in which its journalist Judith Miller was arrested and prosecuted because she refused to give the names of her sources. Where does The New York Times stand today? And where is the objective and fair media now? Rashed Saleh Al Oraimi is a UAE-based columnist for Al Ittihad newspaper. Gulf News

Good Castro Because he probably is a pedophile or a sex addict or both. And the marriage to 13 year old is not halal. Matrimony for pleasure alone, specially when another wife is divorced for no other reason than to reduce the count allowed by Islam, is far from sanctioned. Good point. As Digaale said, in 'this' case (ie divorcing for no apparent reason) the marriage may not be Sheria compliant. But the theory of one (however old) is a pedo for marrying a young girl is bordering on anti-Islamic sentiments, or are we working with western laws here?

Do you remeber the conference a few months ago (Islamic Nations) in the Saudi? Repetitions of helping Philastine and fighting extremism (are they to blame for any of the extremism rife in many a young today?)were loud and clear by all nations. Not any mention of unity (how to achieve it), education and development nor political issues were discussed. People were starving in Niger at the time (and probably still are). "Unity of the Arab and Islamic Ummah Why the seperation of Arab and Islam???

:rolleyes: @Katrina, all that effort and for what? sister i was not referring to you but JB, please re-read my post You, my dear man might surpass me in politics or other matters but when it comes to the culture, language and people of that region and the above country in particular you’re talking to the real McCoy We have something in common, i shall be boarding a flight bound for Jeddah on the 16th IA :cool: JB, i apologise for 'missing' the other part of his marriage to a 13 year old and thus apologise for questioning your comprehension skills on that point. However, the lack of comprehension on the manipulation of the Sheria on the divorcing of wives and not recognising that this is wrong, even after our dear Katrina highlighted it, still stands. Why is it that Mr Jibis (new to Islam) seems to be the only one being sensible here? Calling an old man a pedophile when the marriage is Halal but then do not mention anything about the divorcing of his other wives seems illogical. How many old Somali men do you know who have had similar marriages, how many of us/or our parents are products of pedophilic of old men??? Have a nice day

^^Does it matter who he was referring to if what he was saying is wrong?? Misinformed views should be addressed and not ignored.

Shura members want ban on women drivers lifted By Mariam Al Hakeem, Correspondent Riyadh: Some members of the Shura Council criticised the statement of the Shura President Shaikh Saleh Bin Humeid, in which he stated that the council did not have the authority to address the issue. This has triggered a new debate over women drivers in Saudi Arabia. "The Shura has been given enough powers by the kingdom's political leadership to discuss and take a decision in this regard," the members observed while renewing their call to take the initiative to get the ban on women drivers lifted. The Shura rejected last week a proposal presented by one of its members, Mohammad Al Zulfa, to lift the ban. The new traffic law, which was approved by the Shura, did not address the women's driving provision. Addressing the Shura Council meeting yesterday, Dr Khaleel Bin Abdullah Al Khaleel, a member of the Shura, said that skipping of an issue like women's driving on the pretext of leaving some matters to the government, will reduce the powers of the Shura and dampen hopes of its ability to fulfill the development needs of the country and aspirations of the people. Supported by several members of the council, Dr Al Khaleel made a strong plea for looking into the matter again and taking a decision on the ban. "There is no justification for skipping a debate on the issue as the Shura is the legitimate body to tackle such an issue on which there were serious divisions in Saudi society. There is a difference between making decisions and taking decisions. As a consultative body, the Shura should initiate deliberations on the issue and take appropriate decisions," he said while referring to Shaikh Saleh's remarks that the council has no authority to discuss the issue because of a fatwa issued by the Senior Scholars' Commission, which is the kingdom's highest legal authority to take a decision on the matter. Al Zulfa introduced his proposal to lift the ban last year as part of a wider traffic law that was approved by the Shura on February 12 but failed to address the issue of women's driving. The Shura rejected the proposal, saying that women's driving was skipped over among other reasons because of a religious edict issued by the Senior Scholars' Commission on the matter. "The Shura has no powers to review the matter unless a decision to look into it was taken by the kingdom's top leadership," Shaikh Saleh said in his statement. The issue sparked a heated debate in the local media with the remarks of Culture and Information Minister Eyad Madani at the recently concluded Jeddah Economic Forum. He said that there was "nothing in the Saudi legislation that forbids Saudi women to apply for a driving licence. If the traffic director turns down your request, approach him and try to sort out your problem," he said. Gulf News