They've really hurt the aesthetic beauty of the place by building those gaudy towers. IMHO the most predominate structure in the whole city should be the Masjid.

^^^@Chimera what the heck is "Regaine" I've heard of Rogaine before, but not of this other concoction . For the record, my hair hasnt gone all the way away, just has receded somewhat. Ive invested in Rogaine and Propecia (this Propecia stuff is kinda serious). My plan is to submit the powers of hairless into a Korean War like armistice until I get married, then Ill just give up and let nature take its course. The one silver lining to all of this is that I've become super health conscious and Im actually in better shape today than I was when I was playing high school soccer. So no potbelly here .

I used to often hear people say "oh no, you're balding, you better get married" to various poor souls out there. I used to laugh and walk away with my full head of awesomely curly hair. But as I invested way too much time into my career and obviously aged over the years, the curse of male pattern balding crept up on me. Now I'm 29, with an awesome job, a decent education and all sorts of worldly trappings. But I dont have a wife and for the first time in my life I'm super conscious about my look and am paying obligatory bi-weekly trips to the barber to keep a close cropped look up. Sooner or later the Potemkin Village maintained atop my skull, thanks to these short haircuts, will become untenable as more hair is lost and the hairline races backwards faster than a Jamaican sprinter. The thing that keeps me somewhat happy is the prevalence of 6,7 and even 8-heads, in the Somali populace, instead of the naturally occurring 4-head in the rest of the world . So I figure, "hey, Im not THAT different". At any rate, I have a question for our SOL-ers of the fairer sex. How much of a deal breaker is a bidaar, in an otherwise desirable gentleman, when it comes to choosing a suitable mate?

If it was good enough for the Prophet(SAW) and Khadijah who am I to complain? I would totally marry a woman that is older than me as long as there was mutual attraction, and I dont mean just in the physical sense.

N.O.R.F;854218 wrote: What if all Somalis moved to Antarctica and then raced back to Somalia. The qabiil of the person to get back first wins. This is then repeated every 5 years. This idea makes as much sense as our collective enchantment with the utterly trivial qabil system. So yea, lets go for it .

Blackflash;854515 wrote: Agreed, there are much deeper problems to attend to in Somalia. Can anyone even fathom how many developmentally challenged children that have to be dealt with in the future? The effects of the famine on the populace will be felt for generations. Not to mention the impacts of PTSD on Somalis in Somalia and those outside.The women who are dealing with living with the fact that they were raped. All the kids born and raised in random countries across the world that will lose their "Somalisness" forever. The destruction of this evil war that basically boils down to lineage hatred is not really appreciated by us as a people.

BoldNewSomali;842701 wrote: I doubt the veracity of this story. Its an urban legend repackaged as a news story. I read the same story like 6 years ago, instead the story was set in Tel Aviv in Israel. Found it, and it was from 10 years ago. Gosh im old! http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/2319863.stm

I doubt the veracity of this story. Its an urban legend repackaged as a news story. I read the same story like 6 years ago, instead the story was set in Tel Aviv in Israel.

Wow, we're screwed! Bunch of morons all around.

A) Why is there a guy named "Mr. Baashaal"? B) What the heck is going on with said gentleman's tie?

Preach!

What is going on with SOL? Civility is totally gone around here and people talk like we're on Somalinet whatnot with all the cursing.

I really hope it crumbled from lack of care as opposed to it being shelled or something horrid like that. I know, I know, the lack of care (if that was the culprit for this destruction) is undoubtedly as a result of the generalized chaos in Somalia which doesnt make things any better. BUT, if people destroyed it I will dislike mankind even more

Somalis, perpetually living in a bizarro world, where warlords are hailed as heroes.

Whats up with the random South Asian workers?

I used to joke with my Arab and Afghan friends that no way, never, will a Somali commit a suicide bombing. Mainly because we're not into the whole blowing yourself up for a cause thing. These Shabaab beardos have proved me wrong time and again. I wonder how they threatened this 15 year old girl that's suspected of doing this, they probably told her they would stone her if she didnt do this.

So depressing to see the discussion of this tragedy devolve into the same tired qabilist back and forth finger wagging. It is because of this kind of thinking, that is so absurdly on display in this thread, that Somalia will NOT have a chance at peace.

The takeaway from this sad report from HRW is that in Somalia there are no good guys and bad guys. Just bad guys and bad guys.

That guy is sweating like a pregnant nun!

Sh!t, Carab haku adoonsado. I feel ashamed walahi. Agreed!

^^^^Somalis are aggressive period.

So some chick from the States takes a trip and now we're supposed to discuss it? Shaqolaan.com

Somalia: Pro-Government Militias Executing Civilians Ethiopian Soldiers Beating Suspects; Al-Shabaab Targeting Alleged Government Supporters March 28, 2012 Civilians in Beletweyne and Baidoa hoped that threats, fear, and repression would diminish with al-Shabaab’s departure. Instead, the arrival of the Ethiopian forces and their militia allies has meant that one set of abusive authorities has been replaced by another. Leslie Lefkow, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch (Nairobi) – Pro-government militias in Somalia have committed summary executions and torture in the towns of Beletweyne and Baidoa since occupying them with Ethiopian forces earlier in 2012, Human Rights Watch said today. The authorities should take immediate steps to stop the abuses and hold those responsible to account, Human Rights Watch said. On December 31, 2011, the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) and two Somali militia groups – Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a (ASWJ) and Shabelle Valley State (SVS) – ousted the militant Islamist group al-Shabaab from Beletweyne, the capital of the Hiraan region, which borders Ethiopia. Ethiopian troops and militias allied with the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia took over Baidoa, the capital of the Bay region, on February 22, 2012. Civilians told Human Rights Watch that since the transition, security has become worse in both towns due to abusive security operations by allied forces and, in the case of Beletweyne, rising tensions between militias vying for control. Although al-Shabaab no longer controls either town, its forces continue to attack the Ethiopian and other forces and target civilians perceived to support them. “Civilians in Beletweyne and Baidoa hoped that threats, fear, and repression would diminish with al-Shabaab’s departure,” said Leslie Lefkow, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “Instead, the arrival of the Ethiopian forces and their militia allies has meant that one set of abusive authorities has been replaced by another.” Residents of Beletweyne described the more unpredictable and dangerous security situation since al-Shabaab’s retreat. Several residents told Human Rights Watch that at least under al-Shabaab they knew what to expect and how to avoid problems. One man in Beletweyne, when asked why people were being executed, told Human Rights Watch: “You must know one thing, in Beletweyne nowadays killing someone doesn’t need whys, it needs the militiamen to decide to kill you, and that is it.” Summary Executions and Indiscriminate Killings Human Rights Watch interviewed relatives of the victims and witnesses of more than seven summary executions committed since mid-January in Beletweyne by militia allied with the Ethiopian forces. The total number of executions is believed to be significantly higher. Human Rights Watch’s research indicates that the SVS militia was responsible for most of the executions. The Somali militias and Ethiopian forces controlling Beletweyne appear to have committed some of the abuses in response to continuing attacks in the town, including attacks by al-Shabaab. International humanitarian law, which applies to all parties to the conflict in Somalia, prohibits summary executions, as well as unlawful reprisal attacks against civilians. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for a suicide bus bombing on January 24 that damaged a government building taken over by the Ethiopian military. In the ensuing hours, Ethiopian troops and allied militias arrested a number of people, including a teacher in Beletweyne, Abdirahman Muhumed-Nur Abdulle, known as “Matan.” Witnesses told Human Rights Watch that Matan was seized from his home during house searches by the SVS militia, beaten, and then taken away. His body was found in a river several hours later after a member of the SVS administration told Matan’s relatives where to find it. In the early hours of February 8, SVS militia members forcibly entered a building housing members of the Takfir Islamic sect. The militia members abducted five men, took them to a bridge 100 meters away from the house, and shot and killed four on the spot. A local resident described seeing the four bodies lying under the bridge the following morning with gunshot wounds to their heads, necks, faces, and chests. According to a credible source, the fifth man was wounded but managed to escape. SVS militias tracked him down, abducted him the next morning from a nearby home where he was taking shelter, and shot him. Credible sources also told Human Rights Watch that on March 2, SVS militias abducted a man with mental health problems from a mosque in Beletweyne, accused him of being an al-Shabaab spy, and summarily executed him. Other armed forces in Beletweyne have also been implicated in summary executions, although the cases need further investigation. On March 12, unidentified assailants threw a grenade at a tea shop near a house belonging to the former governor of Hiraan, Yusuf Ahmed Hagar, known as “Dabageed.” The next day, members of Dabageed’s militia went to the home of a 17-year-old boy who had been at the scene and was wounded in the attack and took him away. His body was found the following day, riddled with bullet wounds, in the Koshin neighborhood of Beletweyne. “Wartime attacks never justify summary executions,” Lefkow said. “All armed groups need to stop such atrocities.” Since withdrawing from Baidoa in February, al-Shabaab has killed people it perceives to be supporting the TFG or Ethiopian forces. On the evening of February 25, an Ethiopian Oromo businessman in Baidoa was killed by gunmen, who shot him three times in the head. He had occasionally translated for Ethiopian troops and was the first to reopen his business, a laundry, after the arrival of the Ethiopian forces. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the killing, local residents reported. At 7 p.m. on March 11, Nur Mohamed Nur, a brother of the former TFG parliament speaker, Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur, was shot by a gunman outside of the Hormud Telephone Company office in Baidoa, where he worked. Al-Shabaab had accused him of having attended the funeral of his cousin, a TFG soldier killed during fighting with al-Shabaab at Yurkut village on March 10, a relative said. Nur Mohammed had been openly critical of al-Shabaab. Al-Shabaab has continued to threaten Baidoa residents. Residents told Human Rights Watch that the al-Shabaab administration warned the population before it left town not to cooperate with new forces, and in particular threatened businesses likely to provide services and goods to the Ethiopian and allied Somali forces. In March, al-Shabaab reportedly distributed leaflets in Baidoa, threatening residents who cooperate with these forces. Elders in Baidoa received threatening phone calls from al-Shabaab following a meeting with TFG officials, a reliable source said. Human Rights Watch documented one incident of indiscriminate attacks by TFG-allied militia in Baidoa. On March 21, alleged al-Shabaab sympathizers threw a hand grenade at TFG-allied militia in the marketplace. The militia responded by opening fire on civilians. According to two witnesses, at least six died – four immediately and at least two later in a hospital – and several more were wounded. Arbitrary Detentions and Torture Credible sources, including reports from United Nations monitors, describe frequent arbitrary detentions in Beletweyne and Baidoa by the Ethiopian forces and allied militias. Human Rights Watch interviewed five people who were arbitrarily detained in Beletweyne and Baidoa, three of whom were badly beaten by the Ethiopian troops. A man arrested by the SVS militia in Beletweyne during a house-to-house search and handed over to Ethiopian forces was held for several days at the Hiraan University campus, which Ethiopian forces are using as a base. Credible sources told Human Rights Watch that he was tied to a tree, repeatedly beaten, and denied food throughout his detention. Dozens of people have been arbitrarily detained following attacks in Baidoa, eyewitnesses reported. The UN has said that young men and boys are particularly likely to be picked up in such operations and accused of being al-Shabaab members or supporters. As a result, young men are fleeing the town for fear of being taken into custody. One such sweep occurred on March 2, following an explosion outside a police station in Baidoa. Forty-two people, including three local leaders and at least eight teenagers, were arrested by Ethiopian forces and TFG allied forces. Dr. Mohammed Ali Ahmed “Kalay,” the president of the University of Southern Somalia and former education minister, was at the scene of the explosion, but was unable to flee due to a physical disability. Five Ethiopian soldiers beat him with the butts of their AK-47 assault rifles on his head, mouth, and ears until he bled, then detained him at the central police station. A witness said Kalay and the two other local leaders were held for a day and then released. A witness said that two teenagers were among those arrested and beaten by the TFG forces. All were subsequently released. “Ethiopian and TFG forces need to treat everyone in their custody humanely,” Lefkow said. “The current security vacuum should be resolved while respecting basic rights, not through abusive security operations.” The residents of Beletweyne also complain of the curfew imposed by the Ethiopian forces on January 24. It currently runs for five hours in the morning and has severely restricted everyday life and access to basic services. School attendance has dropped due to the curfew, but also because people fled the town and schools were closed during the fighting in December and early January. Hiraan University is being used as a military base by the Ethiopian troops, and the university has had to move to a makeshift campus inside town.

Hoorta the thing I dont get about Somali weddings is the fact that they cost $30,000 or more and then the Bride and Groom move into a 1 bedroom low income apartment in the hood!

xiinfaniin;745806 wrote: This is a reminder of the need for strong, unified Somalia Despite our petty squabbling, it is clear that we as Somalis are ruled from Ethiopia. The Ethiopians are laughing at how idiotic we are as a nation because of our tribalism. Xiinfaniin, I hate to say this, but a unified Somalia is nothing but a pipe dream. Qabil hate is deeply ingrained in our ethnic psyche.