Great news indeed Brown. It is tough to survive in Minnesota with only 200 dollars welfare check as well. That is another reason why every greenhorn who arrives there goes straight to work. Why settle for $200 with all its hassles when you can make $2000/month at the chicken factory. In the mind of a fresh flight13 strongman, there is absolutely no comfort, decency or future by standing in line with drunkies at the welfare office when Qowdhan is making mad money at the factory. Lander, saxib the province of Alberta has much more high paying opportunities than Minnesota today because of Alberta’s huge economy. The Canadian dollar is also closing in on the American one due to Canada's energy boom so it really makes not much sense to work in the States anymore. If you, as a young graduate, have been contemplating to move, don't go to Minnesota. Head to booming Alberta specially the city of Calgary. The only disadvantage of working in Calgary is the high cost of living (crowded, everyone wants to be there), but companies are for the most part eager to compensate for the difference.

Garaad Baashoow, I became a sad zombie in the last couple of days. Can't concentrate on running the production plants I was hired to do. Filled with sadness and deep anger. My excuse to the boss? Boss I don't know why the efficiency of the plant is down because my calculations show huge savings. Wrong. I stopped reading the news, stopped listening to my wife who cried couple of times (she has never even seen Somalia) updating me on what is happening when I come off work. I am still locked in my isolated hotel in oil country. Today is the worst day in our history. Worse than when Caydiid was massacring civilians in the 90's because at least our faith wasn't threatened. Today it seems Islam in our country is badly injured and may be shot dead in the hospital by the invading Ethiopians. Carry on nomads ... A brighter day will come Inshallah. The day will come when the plotting culamaa in the South, Puntland and Somaliland will overcome this difficult period and rise to the top with less mistakes this time. May Allah bless all those who tried so hard to bring Shariah to our country. May Allah give mercy to all those who died in this senseless war. The ICU had the Prime miniter post, 50% of cabinet ministers and 50% of the parliamentarians as an offer from the TFG in the last Yemen initiative. Now it will be zero. Back to work for me ... I gotta make a living.

I don't know how Duke does it --I never understood it and I don't think I will ever undersand it in the future -- but the man stays civil and tries his best to upholds the rules of the forum even in the most heated conversations. Agree or disagree, the brother articulates his thoughts and always seems like a man on a mission who doesn't care much about "minor" distractions(insults, etc). Ninkani waa askari baan u malaynayaa. No wonder Me is trying so hard to woe the good General to his side. lool Duke makes moderators' lives much easier. Waryaa DUKE, after you finish you "fact-finding" phone calls to Mogadishu, Baidoa and Galkacyo, give us the update without any salt.

Ilaahayoow ummadaada kala qabooji. It is tough to get a credible news xiinoow. But onething that usually indicates "victory" in this Somali saga, is the actual capture of towns and if these towns, including Baidoa, are controlled by the ICU, it will come out very soon and there will be no doubt. Let us give these claims and counter claims a couple of days and things may actually become much clearer.

loooooool@Fiqikheyre name. Reer Nugaaleed iga dheh? By the way, if Fiqikheyre, Cabdiraxmaan Fiqikheyre and Caaji Cali Cabdiraxmaan Fiqikheyre were alive today, they wouldn't be happy with your "hostility" towards the ICU Mr sakhar. Faataxada ayay kuu mari lahaayeen maandhoow. Some History for Sakhar: Cabdiraxmaan Fiqikheyre, the legendary Nugaal Sheikh, is burried in Sinujiif town which he founded (East of Garoowe). Sinujiif at the time was what we would call today a "university town" attracting students from all over. That same sheikh is the father of Xaaji Cali Cabdiraxmaan aka Xaaji Cali *****clan name*** who himself is burried in Cagaaran cemetery outside of Marka, Shabeelaha Hoose. Xaaji Cali came to the South to spread his "purist" teachings and to make Islamic education reach all corners of the Somali lands. He found a great audience in the South and never went back to Nugaal. Xaaji Cali Cabdiraxmaan was one of the most brilliant Islamic scholars from the Horn of Africa. M.F.Idaajaa is working on the good Sheikh's biography I was told. Talk to brother Sophist about Nugaal history. He has so many stories. All in his head ofcourse

Glad to hear the event was successful. Bless the tireless organizers and the many nomads who supported it by simply showing up. Good job. We wait for the next one inshalah.

http://www.france24.com/france24Public/en/news/world.html Watch it online for free anytime. (click on the "live feed" link at the bottom of the middle blue columns) Impressive graphics and sophisticated programming. Not bad at all.

Somali politics is indeed very strange.

Amazing story. http://news.google.ca/nwshp?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&tab=wn&q=Litvinenko%20Islam Ilaahay ha unaxariisto, dambigiisana ha dhaafo.

Garaad Baashoow, war waxaad sheegaysoo dhan waa kheyr iyo wanaag. Dubai mar hadaad tagtay oo xaaskiina soo aragtay, ninyahow adigaa nasiib wacan. In Dubai, construction cranes seem to be abundant and loom above every "luuq". Manahsalah, that city will probably turn into a "skyscraper paradise" in short 5 years.

Richest tenth own 85% of world's assets David Brown Source: The World Distribution of Household Wealth Where the wealth is The richest 2 per cent of adults own more than half the world’s wealth, according to the most comprehensive study of personal assets. Among the largest economies, Britain boasted the third-highest average wealth of $126,832 (£64,172) per adult, after the United States and Japan, a United Nations development research institute found. Those with assets of $500,000 could consider themselves to be among the richest 1 per cent in the world. Those with net assets of $2,200 per adult were in the top half of the wealth distribution. Although global income was distributed unequally, the spread of wealth was more skewed, according to the study by the World Institute for Development Economics Research of the UN University. “Wealth is heavily concentrated in North America, Europe and high-income AsiaPacific countries. People in these countries collectively hold almost 90 per cent of total world wealth,” the report said. Researchers defined wealth as the value of physical and financial assets minus debts. The richest 10 per cent of adults accounted for 85 per cent of assets. The bottom 50 per cent of the world’s adults owned barely 1 per cent of global wealth. Among high-income nations, the amounts varied from $37,000 per person in New Zealand to $86,369 in Germany and $109,418 in the Netherlands. In terms of wealth distribution the US was among the most unequal, whereas Japan had one of the lowest levels of inequality. Britain ranked with Russia, Indonesia and Pakistan in wealth inequality. James Davies, Professor of Economics at the University of Western Ontario, and one of the authors of the report, said: “Income inequality has been rising for the past 20 to 25 years and we think that is true for inequality in the distribution of wealth. “There is a group of problems in developing countries that make it difficult for people to build assets, which are important, since life is so precarious.” The gulf between rich and poor nations has long concerned politicians and economists, who say that it is one of the biggest bars to development. Household wealth in 2000 was valued at $125 trillion, equivalent to about three times total global production, or $20,500 a person, according to The World Distribution of Household Wealth report. Average wealth in the US was $143,727 a person in 2000, and in Japan, $180,837, it said. In India the figure was $1,100, in Indonesia per capita wealth was $1,400, and in Zimbabwe, $1,465. The Democratic Republic of Congo came last with $180. Professor Davies said that there were some hopeful signs: China and India, developing rapidly, were gaining wealth. In countries such as Bangladesh, the spread of microcredit institutions was helping to increase personal wealth. In others, registration programmes were allowing the poor to own land for the first time, he said. Anthony Shorrocks, the institute’s director, said: “Despite its rapid growth, China does not yet feature among the super-rich, because average wealth is modest and evenly spread by international standards. “However, China is already likely to have more wealthy residents than our data reveals, and membership of the super-rich seems set to rise fast in the next decade.” 13,568,229: number of dollar millionaires in 2000 499: number of dollar billionaires in 2000

Zidane and the rest shocked Brazil

I still remember this

Emotions high for Wenger's summit with Henry Kevin McCarra at the Emirates Stadium Monday December 4, 2006 The Guardian The man who had been ruled out was the most eye-catching figure of all. Thierry Henry, sitting close to the action, was available for celebrations with Emmanuel Adebayor when the Togo striker opened the scoring and got on to the pitch for the festivities at full-time. If this was intended as a show of solidarity, it felt overblown. Emotions are running high at the club. One could deduce that from the reticence of Arsène Wenger, with a manager who normally prides himself on the suaveness of his answers declining to discuss an "internal affair". Henry, for his part, could not really explain why a mere injury should have had him racing away from the training ground in a state of high emotion on Friday. Wenger will hold a meeting soon to set out what he expects from his captain. "We have a very good relationship and I think we will have a good relationship in the future again," he said, refusing to deny that they are temporarily at loggerheads. Henry has a sore neck and may well join the suspended Kolo Touré in missing Sunday's match at Chelsea but there are other aches throbbing away in mind and body. "We have to sit down with the medical staff and see where we go from here," said the manager. "Does he need a rest or not?" Henry, the only person to have been on the losing side in the finals of both the Champions League and the World Cup this year, is disillusioned by the fact that Arsenal are also-rans once again in the Premiership. It is inevitable that he will wonder about his decision to stay in London when he had the chance to join Barcelona, Arsenal's conquerors in Paris last May. It was somewhat predictable that reports should emerge that he may even be presented with that chance again. Barcelona, lacking the injured Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi, have found the going more difficult than usual in the Champions League and La Liga. The striker would be cup-tied for European competition if he made the mooted £30m move next month and, in any case, his present unease at Arsenal would not necessarily be enough to make him reverse the major decision he took so recently. Arsenal count on their captain so much that his return of only one goal from his last seven appearances must be a factor in the stumbling progress of the club. Wenger stated once again that he would not be buying anyone in the January transfer window. There is probably no money available to go shopping and leading players tend not to be available in mid-season. And Arsenal, after this win over their north London rivals, need not despair at proceeding with the existing staff. An in-form Henry is so good that team-mates occasionally wither in the comparison. Without him Adebayor and Robin van Persie relished the opportunity to shine against Spurs. That was a relief for Wenger since Henry is suspended for Wednesday's Champions League game in Porto, when a draw will be necessary to make certain of a place in the last 16. Adebayor speaks with gratitude of all that Henry has done for him since he came to Arsenal from Monaco in January. At the weekend Henry had been specific in his advice, cautioning Adebayor that, if he did get a chance, Paul Robinson was too good to make his job easier by going to ground prematurely. The £7m purchase from Monaco stayed calm and finished precisely in the 20th minute. Adebayor had been ruled on-side in a very tight decision but the judgments of the referee, Graham Poll, were wrong when he awarded the two penalties that were expertly converted by Gilberto Silva, deputising for Henry, in the 42nd and 72nd minutes. On the first occasion, Pascal Chimbonda had connected with the ball rather than Tomas Rosicky, who was later injured and will miss the match with Porto. In the build-up to the second penalty Van Persie handled before the substitute Jermaine Jenas fouled him. "The referee missed a lot of things," said Chimbonda. Luckily for Poll, Martin Jol is no Jose Mourinho. The Spurs manager had no intention of marshalling his grievances when he was so conscious that opponents who had just lost two matches in a row had needed to give only a reasonable showing to dominate his team. "Look at Kolo Touré and Johan Djourou," said Jol. "They were aggressive and we have to be the same. Arsenal controlled it but that was because we were standing too far off all the time. We're not as strong as last year, even though we've got more talent. We have to bond all that talent." Adebayor proposed that Henry, like everyone else at the club, had merely been going through a "difficult moment". There is more to it than that but, by comparison with Spurs on Saturday, Arsenal's worries must be slight. Man of the match Freddie Ljungberg (Arsenal) Henry's unsettled year May 2005 Tells Arsène Wenger to stop procrastinating and offer Dennis Bergkamp a new contract. September 2005 Reported to be upset at failure to replace Patrick Vieira and halts contract negotiations. May 2006 After months of stalling, signs new contract days after calling Barcelona's players "women" for diving in Champions League final. November 2006 Frustrated that "depth of squad is nowhere near the others". December 2006 Leaves training ground early on eve of Spurs game but denies bust-up.

"I mean, really, what has your father done for you lately?" Bad bad father. Welcome back Amigo. The great Cuban was a no show at his parade today. Bad news indeed. This event will be a great event Inshalah. It is organized by Somalis so brothers and sisters show your support and join other nomads to celebrate what it means to be a Somali father. Buy the tickets first.

I like this guy. "The delegates picked someone they could trust. The one with the most experience in Ottawa's halls of power. A friend, a respected colleague, a well-known former cabinet minister who had proved himself, time and again, on difficult files. "Files" is one of those words associated with Stephane Dion -- implying hard work, a studious approach, a methodical and legalistic approach to difficult problems." http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061202/dion_profile_061202/20061202?hub=Politics

Next time you see Russian looking folks in a sushi bar(who in the world eats raw fish. ), think "SPY and CONTACTS" having a "meeting". This drama is straight out of A holywood script.

Amazing landscape. Thank You for sharing this with us.

Aaah Amazing Sheikh. I visited Sheikh boarding school when I went to Sheikh. Sheikh is one of the most amazing places I have ever seen particularly the surrounding countryside. Qabow u diyaar garoow. I was young and I still remember freaking out after seeing “clouds” moving below the mountains. I am pleased the guardians have taken the opportunity to renovate the historic school and keep it well maintained. Ilaahay kheyr ha siiyo. Dad badan ayaa ku aflaxay.

Good pictures Paragon. Here is mogadishu in late 1800

SSDF | | | | V SNM | | | | V USC | | | | V ICU --?--> Goverment(?) | | ? | | V SSDF/SNM/USC (?} PS: question mark = possibilities in the near future.

The famous Nugaal valley of course!

President of Ecuador Prime Minister of Jamaica President of Columbia [edit] Politicians of Lebanese Descent Spencer Abraham - U.S Senator from Michigan (1995-2001), US Secretary of Energy (2001-2005) Anthony Alexander Alam - political leader, member of the Australian Labor Party Ralph Nader - political leader of the American Green Party John Baldacci - U.S. Representative from Maine (1995-2003), Governor of Maine (2003- ) Marie Bashir - Governor of New South Wales, Australia (2001-) Steve Bracks - Premier of Victoria, Australia (1999-) Abdalá Bucaram - President of Ecuador (1996-1997) Assid Corban - former Mayor of Henderson Borough and of Waitakere City, New Zealand. Najeeb Halaby, U.S. government official and father of Jordan's Queen Noor Darrell Issa, U.S. Representative from California Bob Katter - right-wing Australian politician Assad Kotaite - ICAO Council President (1976-) Ray LaHood - U.S. Representative from Illinois (1995- ), grandson of Lebanese immigrants George J. Mitchell - Former U.S. Senator from Maine (1980-1995) & peace activist (Lebanese mother) Jamil Mahuad - President of Ecuador (1998-2000) Paulo Maluf - mayor & governor of São Paulo Maria Mourani - Bloc Québécois Member of Parliament Canada. Jeanine Pirro - District Attorney, Westchester County, New York(1993-), Candidate for New York state Attorney General. Edward Seaga - Prime Minister of Jamaica (1980-1989) Donna Shalala - US Secretary of Health (1993-2001) John E. Sununu- U.S. Senator from New Hampshire (2003- ) John H. Sununu - White House Chief of Staff (1989-1991) Julio César Turbay Ayala - President of Colombia (1978-1982) Eliott Tanos Sakr- leader of the Kataeb's youth movement [edit] Activists Bahia Hariri - politician & UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. Giorgio-Guy Tarraf - (1988 - ) UNESCO Youth Ambassador for the Culture of Peace. Candy Lightner - founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Charles Malik - (1906 - 1987) - diplomat, philosopher, co-drafter of Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Ralph Nader - consumer rights activist & US presidential candidate. Joseph Raya - archbishop and civil rights activist. James Zogby - founder of Arab-American Institute, brother of John Zogby, son of Lebanese immigrants. [edit] Military Michel Sulaiman - General of the military of Lebanon Hisham Jaber - Former Commander of Beirut John Abizaid - US general, CENTCOM Commander James Jabara - US fighter pilot, world's first jet-vs-jet ace and 2nd-highest ace of the Korean War George Joulwan - US general, SACEUR [edit] Cultural figures [edit] Film, Television, and Radio Personalities Lili Estefan, Cuban American television hostess, (niece of Emilio Estefan; Lebanese ancestry) Jamie Farr actor of M*A*S*H fame Salma Hayek, Mexican actress (Lebanese father and Mexican mother) Keanu Reeves, Lebanese-born (English, Irish, Chinese, Hawaiian and Portuguese background) Diane Rehm - host and executive producer of "The Diane Rehm Show" Fouad Said - cinematographer (Inventor of the Cinemobile) James Stacy - actor (Laramie) Khrystyne Haje, actress Arsinée Khanjian, actress (Lebanese-born, Armenian ethnicity) Tom Shadyac, director Nadia Behette, Miss New York 2003 (Lebanese mother, Syrian father) Mahmoud Baghdadi, fought Muhammed Ali and got crippled. Gaston Chikhani, actor and comedian, co-founder of "Le théatre de 10 heures" Beirut Jean-Pierre Chikhani, actor and comedian "Le théatre de 10 heures" Beirut, founder of the first out-door advertising in Lebanon Michel Chikhani, actor and comedian "Le théatre de 10 heures" Beirut Tony Shalhoub, television and film actor; presently stars in "Monk" Danny Thomas, nightclub comedian and television actor Casey Kasem, television personality of Druze Lebanese Descent [[Mario Kassar], Movie producer Catalina Prince, Model "Ford Supermodel of Lebanon 1996" [edit] Musicians of Lebanese Descent Shakira, Colombian pop singer, born Shakira Mebarak Chedid (Lebanese father from Zahle, Colombian mother of Catalan descent) Soraya, American-Colombian-Lebanese singer/songwriter (Lebanese mother) Tiffany, American pop singer, first teen singer to have her first two singles both hit number one (Lebanese/Syrian father, Irish/Cherokee mother) Gabriel Yared, composer Matthieu Chedid, Lebanese-French rock/blues songwriter and singer Frank Zappa Herbert Khaury (Tiny Tim), singer, ukulele player (Lebanese father) K-Maro, French singer (Lebanese-born) Emilio Estefan, Cuban musician/producer (Lebanese parents) Sammy Hagar, former lead vocalist for the rock band Van Halen Dick Dale, surf guitarist (Lebanese father, Polish mother) Nawal Zoughbi, pop singer Joe Fuad Najar - JFN Rapper and Producer Nicolas (musician) eliott sakr Rapper Amanda Abizaid Lebanese-American singer / songwriter [edit] Athletes Rony Seikaly, Lebanese American, Former NBA basketball player Bill George - NFL Hall of Famer Doug Flutie - NFL player Samir Bannout - Mr Olympia 1983 George Farah - 19th Mr Olympia 2002 Brian Habib - former NFL player Fuad Reveiz - former NFL player Jeff George - former NFL player Abe Gibran - former NFL player and coach Rich Kotite - former NFL coach Joe Lahoud - former MLB player John Jaha - former MLB player Jim Baxis - former MLB player Fred Maalouf - former NFL player Hazem El Masri - NRL player Steve Kerr - former NBA Star (Lebanese-born) Zuhair Mansour - Weightlifting's Grandmaster of the World (1990) Bobby Rahal - Winner of the Indianapolis 500 Victor Taweel - former lightweight boxing champion Pete Sarron - former featherweight boxing champion Maloof Brothers - Owners of the Sacramento Kings (NBA) George Maloof - former owner of the Houston Rockets (NBA) Joe Robbie - former owner of the Miami Dolphins (NFL) Kerbawy family - former owners of the Detroit Lions (NFL) Fred Saigh - former owner of the St. Louis Cardinals (MLB) Frank Skaff - former manager of the Detroit Tigers (MLB) Victor Taweel - former lightweight boxing champion Pete Sarron - former featherweight boxing champion Eddie Elias - Founder of the Bowling Association of America Elias Ghanem - Head of the Las Vegas Boxing Association Elie Yahchouchi- former head basketball committe of the Sagesse club(3 times Asian Champion) [edit] Writers & Journalists Ahmad Reda - linguist, wrote Matn al-lugha dictionary Muhammad Jaber, writer and historian Edward Atiyah, writer Gibran Khalil Gibran - poet and writer, "The Prophet" Salim El Lawzeh - Founder of Al Hawadeth Magazine - Allegedly was assassinated by Syria Said Akl - writer, poet, philosopher Rabih Alameddine - painter, novelist William Peter Blatty - writer, "The Exorcist" Andree Chedid - poet Neal Conan - radio journalist (lebanese-born) Elias Khoury - novelist Philip Khuri Hitti Samir Kassir - assassinated journalist of An-Nahar newspaper and writer Amin Maalouf - writer, Prix Goncourt (1993) Ann-Marie MacDonald - writer (Lebanese mother) David Malouf - famous Australian homosexual author (Lebanese father, English-Sephardic Jewish mother of Portuguese descent) Gebran Tueni - Former editor and publisher of An-Nahar newspaper - Legislator, allegedly assassinated by Syria Ghassan Tueni - father of Gebran Tueni and editor in chief of An-Nahar newspaper, legislator May Chidiac - A pillar in Lebanese Journalism - She was nearly killed by an alleged assassination attempt by Syria Nadia Tueni - poet George Zahar - publisher & editor (Lebanese father) Issa Makhlouf - poet Mikhael Neame - writer Maroun Abboud - writer Nidal Achkar - poetess Tarek Hijazi - Managing Editor of The Middle East's first and best selling western entertainment magazine - Teen World Magazine - [edit] Artists Reem Acra - fashion designer Annabel Daou - painter Sam Maloof - woodworker Joseph Matar - Artist painter and poet Zuhair Mrad - fashion designer Elie Saab - fashion designer Tarek Yamout - nail and yarn art Paul Zgheib - Photographer Bill Schiffbauer -Designer (Lebanese Mother, German/Irish Father) Clemence Massaad Musa - Journalist and author [edit] Practical figures [edit] Scientists Hassan Kamel Al-Sabbah - electrical engineer Michael Atiyah - mathematician, Fields Medal (1966), Abel Prize (2004) (Lebanese father) Abdulrahim N. Chafi- Dr. Chafi is a Chemist and Civil/Environmental engineer. President of Dar Science and Engineering. Elias J. Corey - chemist, Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1990) Charles Elachi - director of Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA Peter Medawar - immunologist, Nobel Prize in Medicine (1960) (Lebanese father) Alain Chikhani - one of the most famous plastic surgeon (Johns Hopkins Hospital, USA) [edit] Entrepreneurs Robert Abboud - ex-chairman of First Chicago, brother of Joseph Abboud Assid Corban - winemaker, founder of Corbans Carlos Ghosn - CEO of Nissan and Renault Joseph Maroun Haggar - founder of Haggar Clothing Company Sam Hammam - owner of Cardiff City F.C. Rafik Hariri - Ex-prime minister-businessman assassinated 14 February 2005 Nicolas Hayek - the 'father of Swatch' Carlos Slim Helu - Latin America's richest man and 3rd richest in the world Mario Kassar - co-founder of Carolco Pictures (Lebanese father, Italian mother) Jacques Nasser - ex-CEO of Ford Motors Paul Orfalea - founder of Kinko's Edmond Safra - founder of Republic Bank of New York and Banco Safra in Brazil (Jewish Lebanese) Elie Samaha - chairman/CEO of Franchise Pictures Oussama Ziade - founder of Ptech Al-Waleed bin Talal - Lebanese mother, Grandson of Prime Minister Riad El Solh Johnny R.Saade - Lebanese businessman, founder of CMA-CGM, 3rd container shipping company in the world. Khalil Ghattas- Lebanese business man, Founder of GAT oil [edit] Other Christa McAuliffe - American high school teacher and astronaut on the Challenger Disaster John Zogby, American political pollster, brother of James Zogby, son of Lebanese immigrants Richard Hibey, American attorney in Washington, DC, brother of Jim Hibey, son of Anthony "Ezhiyah" Hibey Jim Hibey, American attorney in Washington, DC Patrick Joseph "PJ" Hasham, a fictional character in the long running Australian drama series Blue Heelers was of Lebanese descent. Chadillac - The 'G' out of Lala http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Lebanese_people

Actually the overwhelming majority look decent Somalis to me. There are few "diif" ka muuqato but the vast majority of those pics show the look of an average Somali elder. I guess a picture says thousand words. I expected worse.