Alpha Blondy;983740 wrote: i'm not sure if i could risk my artifact being taken away and then displayed in the British Museum. these folks are known for such behaviours. my friend who's a gemstone dealer had a precious stone taken away from him. the story goes...... the authorities somewhere in yurubta dheexe confiscated his diamond for fueling civil wars (blood diamonds). they thought he was Charlies Taylor oo kale. according to him it was worth €800,000. this unfortunate incident didn't deter him from coming back to SL. he'd stock up on rations and disappear for months on end searching for precious stones. caajib. They won't steal anything from you, but museums and archives often try to purchase items from people for much lower than their actual worth, which is why it's important to get it appraised independently or from several different institutions.

Classified;983735 wrote: Sorry to inform you Alpha, but your prophecy was wrong. She quitted on page 2. lol It's "quit" and no, I just wasn't on SOL yesterday. But glad to see the quality of discussion has gone up when people like Khadafi come in with actual points for a conversation, and halfwits like you aren't able to derail the thread by trying to troll me with personal attacks. Carry on.

SomaliPhilosopher;983737 wrote: ^ Catching on to that American lingo it appears. Somewhat. I could use some panera bread or panda express care to dhl me saffy ? Who said it's American lingo :mad: I'm actually at Panera now lol. Enjoy the food in Africa while you're there, there will be plenty of fast food still here when you get back.

What's good SP, still traveling?

Alpha Blondy;983724 wrote: i see. balse as you already know i'm in SL. my only contact with the outside world is the net. i'd like for you to appraise this rare artifact. waayow? because you seem to appraise everything else, somaha? ''it's not my area'' lagama aqbalayo Only with someone with training in artifacts/material culture and who specializes in ancient history can do that, so have it checked out next time you visit the UK. I know as much about this as you do lol, sorry.

Tallaabo;983716 wrote: LOL dee markaa bisinka ma u qabatay;) Of course

lool Haatu SomaliPhilosopher;983707 wrote: ^^ you haven't answered the question! You're right, I eat beef. I don't even eat red meat but if I'm going to have a hot dog, I have to do it properly dee. Veggie burgers/hot dogs taste terrible.

Tallaabo;983703 wrote: Are the hot dogs halal?:mad: There's pork, beef and veggie hot dogs.

Haatu;983620 wrote: What on earth do you see in baseball? I don't often watch baseball games (they're almost as boring as sitting through a soccer game), but the World Series is always great and going to a game at Fenway or the Rogers Centre and eating hot dogs is a lot of fun Going to a baseball game is a must if you ever visit the US, I'd say. You'll get it then.

Blackflash;983690 wrote: It's only a matter of time now. I only wish the video had been released well before his destructive transit policies had been approved. I just hope he's not able to survive this. Every time I think he's finished, he manages to deny his way through it and stay put. He seems the type not to leave office until he's forcibly removed/arrested. That said, day. MADE.

Alpha Blondy;983687 wrote: what can you tell us about the artifact? I can't say, it's not my area and I'm not an archaeologist But like I mentioned in the other thread, look into getting it appraised while you're in London, if you think you have something important in your hands.

Haatu;983652 wrote: She's barely as good looking as an average girl. Maybe because a lot of sisters wear the qamaar and she doesn't she automatically appears better looking to you lol You're nuts... Sada is gorgeous.

Alleged Rob Ford video recovered by Toronto police: Chief Bill Blair Natalie Alcoba, Megan O'Toole, Adrian Humphreys, Josh Visser and Peter Kuitenbrouwer | 31/10/13 | Last Updated: 31/10/13 11:55 AM ET Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair says investigators have recovered a digital video file that depicts Mayor Rob Ford and is “consistent with what had been previously described in various media reports.” Chief Blair also announced that police had on Thursday taken into custody the mayor’s friend, Alexander Lisi, and charged him with extortion. Lisi will appear in court today. The police chief said he was “disappointed” after viewing the video. Chief Blair said the video was recovered as part of the Project Traveller raids on alleged gang activity in the city’s northwest end this summer. “I think it’s fair to say the mayor does appear in that video but I’m not going to get into the detail of what activities is depicted in that video,” Chief Blair said in a news conference at a police headquarters. He said it is “consistent with what had been previously described in various media reports.” The Toronto Star and Gawker.com reported earlier this year that they saw video of the mayor smoking crack cocaine and making a homophobic slur about Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau. “We’ve done our job here,” says Chief Blair. He said a second digital file that was “relevant” had also been recovered. Blair made the extraordinary announcement shortly after court documents were released, revealing Ford’s close relationship with Lisi, an alleged drug dealer. Toronto police assigned one of its most senior detectives to specifically investigate allegations that Mayor Rob Ford is captured on a cell phone smoking crack cocaine, new court documents reveal. Details of the probe are contained in a lengthy “information to obtain” (ITO) used by police to obtain a search warrant in the case of Alexander Lisi, a friend of the mayor’s who is accused of drug trafficking. A judge ordered portions of the ITO released to media. “On May 18th, 2013 Detective Sergeant [Gary] Giroux was assigned to investigate the matter brought forth by the Toronto Star and gawker.com and their allegations against Mayor Rob Ford. Specifically to investigate the existence of a cellular phone containing a video of Ford smoking crack cocaine,” the sworn affidavit states. The massive document includes pictures of Ford interacting with Lisi. The pair would often meet in parking lots and once met in “the woods.” The document alleges that Ford visited an Esso gas station and when Ford was inside, Lisi placed an envelope inside the mayor’s vehicle. In July, police obtained a “production order” which allowed it to view a list of the telephone calls that Lisi made on his Rogers cell phone with a number of people, including Mayor Ford, Richview Cleaners, Fabio Basso, Liban Sayad and three people in the mayor’s office: Brooks Barnett, Thomas Beyer and Isaac Ransom. The court file shows that Mayor Rob Ford repeatedly called Lisi in March, 2013. One line notes: “March 28, 2013: (Anthony Smith is killed). Lisi and Mayor Ford speak 7 times.” In March, 2013, Mayor Ford called Lisi’s cell phone 44 times. On March 30, Ford called Lisi twice; the same day, Lisi phoned Fabio Basso, a man whose house appeared in a photo of the mayor connected to an alleged crack video, five times. Police found four numbers associated with Mayor Ford in Lisi’s phone records, including the mayor’s OnStar, cellphone, home line and a fourth number believed to be a second home landline. Between June 25 and July 19, Mayor Ford called Lisi 27 times, records indicate; 19 of those calls were from the OnStar number in the mayor’s Escalade. During the same time period, Lisi called the mayor 18 times, but only called his cellphone once — a “dramatic change” from previous phone records, police say. On July 11, police allege, Lisi placed a package in the mayor’s Escalade at an Esso gas station without speaking to him, after the pair exchanged brief phone calls earlier in the afternoon. “Lisi can be seen walking around near the Mayor’s Escalade still holding onto the manila envelope,” the ITO states. “Lisi appears to be looking around, possibly scoping out the area. Shortly after this image he walks along the passenger side of the Mayor’s Escalade and walks out of frame… Mayor Ford exits the Esso Station, gets back into his Escalade and exits the parking lot.” Under a heading called “Project Traveller and the Rob Ford connection”, the police affidavit details surveillance that occurred at 15 Windsor Road, a home “believed to be a “Trap House” (crack house) for the named parties to sell drugs from.” 15 Windsor is believed to be the backdrop of a now infamous photo that shows Mayor Ford with a man who was later murdered [smith], and two other men who were later arrested. It alleges that surveillance crew observed activity consistent with drug trafficking and that “no known persons” were seen. “There were no arrests or seizures made during this operation.” Then, large swaths of information are blacked out, but there is a first reference in the document to Lisi, with his address and a brief description of his interactions with Toronto police. A subsequent line states “a unified search query of Mayor Rob Ford does not reveal that his phone was reported stolen.” Chief Bill Blair was announced a news conference at 11:30 a.m. to discuss Project Brazen 2, the investigation that led to the Lisi arrest. None of the allegations have been proven in court. Ford refused to answer reporters’ questions about the documents Thursday morning at his home in Etobicoke. He screamed at media to “get off my property.” The nearly 500-page document was released Thursday morning, one day after Superior Court Justice Ian Nordheimer found no “principled basis” on which the court should give notice to dozens of named parties. Several media outlets filed an application to access the massive ITO (information to obtain a search warrant) after police this month raided a west-end dry cleaners, arresting owner Jamshid Bahrami and Lisi, the mayor’s friend and occasional driver. The document, called an Information to Obtain a Search Warrant, referred to as an ITO, is a lengthy compendium of information used by police to convince a judge to issue a warrant that will allow them to search private property to further a drug investigation. While not facts proven in court, it is information that officers swear gives them “reasonable and probable grounds to believe” there is evidence of a crime. This ITO was used by Toronto police to search Lisi’s home at 5 Madill Street, and was sworn before a judice of the peace on Oct. 2 by Detective Constable Ali Nader Khoshbooi. This ITO is unusually long and detailed for such a document. For months, police have been investigating the mayor and a number of his associates, including Lisi, as part of Project Brazen 2, an offshoot of the June guns-and-gangs sweep dubbed Project Traveller.

Rob Ford video scandal: Police have the video that appears to show mayor smoking crack, Blair says Ford friend Alexander Sandro Lisi charged with extortion related to the video, police chief says By: Kevin Donovan Investigations, Star investigations Published on Thu Oct 31 2013 Toronto Police have recovered the video that appears to show Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine, Toronto police Chief Bill Blair said Thursday. Blair said at a press conference, “The video files depict images that are consistent with what has previously been reported” in the media. Ford has long denied the video existed. Blair also said Alexander Sandro Lisi will face an extortion charge related to the video. The Star earlier reported that Lisi was involved in attempts to recover the video. Ford has been the target of a police investigation that witnessed and photographed him taking part in meetings with Lisi, according to police documents released Thursday. “It's safe to say the mayor does appear in the video,” Blair told reporters. “Detective Sergeant Giroux was detailed to investigate the matter of the Mayor Ford allegations and to substantiate any of the claims that have been made,” the documenst said. Those allegations began with the news, published by the Star and Gawker, of the Ford video. The details of an extensive police investigation into Ford’s drug activities come six months after two Toronto Star reporters saw a video showing the mayor, obviously impaired, smoking what appears to be crack cocaine and making homophobic and racist slurs. In a heavily censored portion of the document, police said that the day after the world learned news of the video that appeared to show Ford smoking crack cocaine, top homicide detective Sgt. Gary Giroux was assigned to “investigate the existence of a cellular phone containing a video of Ford smoking crack cocaine.” The search warrant document contains allegations that have not been tested in court. The only charges laid in the matter involve Lisi and the drycleaner swept up in the Oct. 1 raid. Ford emerged from his home around 9:45 a.m. and walked toward waiting reporters and photographers yelling “Get off my driveway,” before getting into his SUV and driving away. Multiple police surveillance photographs that pinpoint Ford or his assistant with Lisi have been released as part of the ITO (information to obtain a search warrant). Three copies of the now infamous photo of Rob Ford standing in front of 15 Windsor Rd. with Anthony Smith, Monir Kasim and Mohammad Khattak are included in the documents. The file also included a picture of the garage door alone on which police have circled recognizable markings in the photo featuring Ford. Police generated a “timeline of Rob Ford related information.” In this heavily redacted section, it said: “On April 9, police surveilled 15 Windsor, believed to be a crack house. Looked like drug trafficking going on. . . . “No known persons observed.” No arrests that day. And later, “A unified search query of Mayor Rob Ford does not reveal that his phone was reported stolen.” The documents said: “Confidential source tells police Det. Const. Clarke that 15 Windsor Drive (sic) is a ‘trap’ house. The house belongs to a couple of crack heads but Dixon guys go there often to ‘chop’ crack or just hang out and get drunk. “The source advises that they have seen the following people at this address: Liban Siy Ad, Abdhullahi, Monir Kassim, Ahmed Dirie, Anthony Smith.” From March 18 to June 24, Lisi had phone conversations with Ford and two of the mayor’s special assistants — Thomas Beyer and Chris Fickel, according to the documents. Investigators obtained a list of calls made to and from specific individuals on Lisi’s phone. On the same phone, Lisi also spoke with Fabio Basso, who lives at 15 Windsor Rd. The phone records also showed Lisi had contact with Liban Siyad, an alleged member of the Dixon City Bloods arrested during the Project Traveller raids. Between Aug. 7 and Sept. 13, Lisi had telephone calls with Ford almost daily, often multiple times a day. In the 44 days, Lisi and Ford had 349 “points of telephone contact,” the documents said. There are also multiple examples of on-the-ground surveillance. For example, just before 4 p.m. on Sept 8, after calls were placed to Lisi from the mayor’s Deco label business and his car’s On Star system, the pair met at the Esso gas station near Ford’s home. Police watched as Ford entered the gas station, bought a newspaper and a Gatorade, then waited in his car. When Lisi arrived at 4 p.m., Ford got out of his car and entered the gas station again to use the washroom without speaking to Lisi, who backed his Range Rover up besides the mayor’s vehicle. Ford got back in his car, the pair roll down their windows, talk briefly, and then leave. Lisi also had contact with members of Ford’s staff, including his logistics director David Price, current executive assistant Tom Beyer, current special assistant Xhesjo Hasko and former special assistant Chris Fickel. The documents detail another rmeeting, in the early evening of July 1,1 as the two arrived separately to an Esso station just 350 metres from Ford’s home. The gas station’s security footage shows Ford arriving in his black Escalade around 5:40 p.m. and heading straight to the station’s bathroom. As the mayor’s in the washroom, security cameras caught Lisi drive up. He appears to be texting someone on his phone while holding an envelope. Lisi entered the Esso and “searches around the refrigerators,” police said, before picking up a few Gatorades and a bag of chips. Lisi left the store. Security cameras caught him standing near the mayor’s vehicle, holding the envelope. “Lisi appears to be looking around, possibly scoping out the area,” the document said. “He walks along the passenger side of the Mayor's Escalade and walks out of (the security camera’s) frame. He is not seen again.” Around the same time, Ford left the washroom and bought s a Gatorade and pack of gum. Ford left the store about 10 minutes after arriving. On June 28, Toronto police Detective Shertzer and Detective Constable Davey interviewed Fickel. According to the documents, Fickel told police that the mayor and Lisi spent a lot of time together until “media release events [crack video scandal].” “Fickel does not know where the mayor got marijuana from but has heard that 'Sandro' may be the person who provides the mayor with marijuana and possibly cocaine.” With files from Robyn Doolittle, David Bruser, Jesse McLean and Kenyon Wallace Fickel told investigators that Ford met Lisi through Don Bosco football coach Payman Abdoodowleh, a man with numerous convictions including three assault convictions, a break and enter and assautl with a weapon. The former staffer added that Aboodowleh “said that he was mad at Lisi because he was fueling the mayor’s drug abuse.” Among the photos is one of Richview Cleaners in the Richview Plaza where Lisi and Jamshid Bahrami, the owner of the dry cleaning shop, were arrested on Oct. 1. On June 14, police followed Lisi to the plaza, where he entered the cleaners for several minutes and left carrying a pizza box, the documents said. Under the section called “Biography/Background of Mayor Rob Ford,” the document notes Ford’s political history and philosophy, community service, volunteer work, football coaching career and football foundation. Outside his home Thursday morning, a visibly angry Ford shouted at reporters: “What don't you understand? Get off my property.” Ford only said “Thank you” in response to questions about whether he is the focus of a police drug investigation into Lisi. As the journalists backed onto the sidewalk, Ford moved within inches of one photographer, yelling in his face, “Get off my property.” The documents suggested police Project Traveller wiretaps also picked up details of meeting between Gawker’s John Cook and tipster who claimed to have an “associate” in possession of the video. For Ford, the tough campaigner who leads Ford Nation, it remains to be seen whether the fact that police surveillance teams spent the summer watching him consort with drug and weapons dealers will have an impact on the former Scarlett Heights football player’s popularity. Olivia Chow, John Tory, Karen Stintz, and other potential mayoral candidates are waiting in the wings. Ford, who proudly says he has never given up on anything, has warned the election will be a “bloodbath” and that his fellow candidates will “bring up everything.” The information to obtain the search warrant will provide Ford critics with much to discuss, everything from allegations of drug purchase and use, to connections to Toronto’s underworld. Read the rest of the article here.

BREAKING NEWS: Toronto police have the crack tape! Watch the police press conference here: Will post articles as they're published...

And the Red Sox win the World Series in Fenway Park for the first time in 95 years. Boston is LIVE right now, which is probably why I should head home before things get too crazy out here lol. BOSTON STRONG!

Khayr;983414 wrote: Do you know what UCLA did when they invited an Israeli Ambassador to their campus? They punished the students that had spoken out against the Ambassador and kicked them out. Where does or did Abou El Fadl work at the time of this. You guess it right - UCLA. That was UC Irvine, not UCLA. But even if it were UCLA (a university made up of a number of schools, including the law school Abou El Fadl teaches at, and the college where undergrads like those students would be a part of... so you can't generalize), your argument is still fallacious.

Classified;983393 wrote: Lol, yes. The so-called "Reformers" or "Intellectuals" Safferz strongly advocates for believe that earlier Muslim scholars interpreted the drinking of Alcohol and that it's up for "debates", thus it can be re-interpreted. Alcohol is halal for the "Free Thinkers". As Safferz said, Sources, citations, provide concrete examples and evidence to back up your nonsense. And again, what have you read from Khourchide and Abou El Fadl? Critique their work and deconstruct their arguments here for us, since you take issue with their work. Pinpoint what you take issue with in their writing, or you have nothing to say. Khayr;983394 wrote: By the way, to attain tenure at any University - as a professor, you have to echo the views of that University. There is no way come high waters, that any professor (include Prof. Douchebag) would go against their employer. I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt until I clicked and read the link that Ibti provided. As for Abou El Fadl, he is known for his anti-islamic and pro-butt kissing views. I need not spend any time exposed to their diatribes. You obviously have no idea how universities or the tenure system work. What are "the views" of the University of Munster (Khourchide) and UCLA (Abou El Fadl), the two institutions that have granted these two tenure? Neither of you have anything substantive or intelligent to contribute here, just baseless assumptions and ridicule, which shows how small your minds actually are.

Apophis;983385 wrote: More Ad hominems from SOL's only intelligent “intellectual". PS: you have shown no ability change your mind about anything; you have done nothing but reinforce views which sit comfortable with you. How ironic. You may also want to look up "ad hominem" and "irony" so you can use them correctly next time

Apophis;983380 wrote: What's the female version of uncle tom? Just interested. You may want to clarify your understanding of what an "Uncle Tom" is before you jump to counterparts, since your lack of self-awareness is astounding. *hands you a mirror*

I'm still waiting, Classfied. What have you read from Khorchide and Abou El Fadl?

Khadafi;983375 wrote: Safferz, I fully get you here, read and then comment. That sounds very logical and I have to admit I myself had that mentality until a wise person once said to me,. Our eyes and ears are the doors to the heart and soul, so take good care of them. For an example, Ayaan Hirsi published a couple of years ago a book. I saw that it was for sale in a book-shop. I wanted to buy the book and read the book but I then asked myself, Why would I want to give my hard earned money for a book written by woman that I really dislike for her opinion. I simply bought another book. PS: By the way I do not know who Khaled Abou Fadel is, My anology with Ayaan Hirsi might not be correct but I think you get the message Safferz. I actually had to read Ayaan Hirsi's "Infidel" as an undergraduate when it first came out, and I hated it and told the professor exactly why I did. He was so impressed by my critique that he removed the book from the syllabus from the course and never taught it again. That's why it's important to read and formulate your own opinions and critiques on texts and ideas whether you agree with them or not, anything else is willful ignorance. Apophis;983377 wrote: In other words, one must think and do like you have been taught by the whites to qualify as an “intellectual"? You are quick to pretend your method is different but it's exactly the same as those you disagree with. You agree with the author because his views fit with yours, and khayr disagrees with him because it doesn't fit with his world view. Stop pretending it's anything else or that your method is “intellectual". Again, you project positions that were never said because you're a lazy debater. I actually enjoy disagreement and debate, with intelligent people who share the same point of reference ie. the text we've both read, because it pushes me to think in different ways and refine my arguments. Khayr doesn't "disagree" with Khorchide or Abou El Fadl, because he hasn't read them and is unfamiliar with their thinking. He's simply refusing to read and engage with other people's ideas. Disagreement and agreement with a perspective requires that engagement.

Speaking of cake, can a black person dress up as Marie Antoinette for Halloween, or would that look too off? I'd like to do that next year. That, or Frida Kahlo.

Classified;983370 wrote: Lol @ two scholars. Again, care to share what works of Professor Abou El Fadl and Professor Khorchide you've personally read? What's your basis for dismissing their scholarship?

Apophis;983362 wrote: Why are those who disagree with liberal hypocrisy called “anti-intellectual"?. I guess one must be a dirt,y lentil eating liberal to qualify as an “intellectual". Utter BS. You enjoy strawman arguments, don't you? Anti-intellectualism can mean a number of things, but here I mean it as the unwillingness to engage with perspectives, positions and ideas different from one's own and participate in productive exchange (whether that's a debate, or reading a text) and specifically the hostility certain SOLers towards 'thinking outside the box' as Ibti put it. Marching in here as Classified and Khayr have, hostile to even reading the works of the two scholars mentioned in this thread, is the very definition and practice of anti-intellectualism. No one said anything about agreeing with them, you read THEN you share your thoughtful disagreement.