Blowing up mosques is a sad new chapter. Ilaahay ha u naxariisto inta masaajidka la qarxiyey ku dhimatay.

I say Inter will crush Barca 1) because of the Inter manager. 2) Because of the belief in the Inter team. 3) Because of the Inter defence and 4) because Barca struggle against teams that press them high up the field. Aight, NGONGE is the dude!

I prefer to use the term "homemaker".

The guru is under serious scrutiny. He says he hasn't eaten for 70 year, and can survive without food forever. Let us see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/7645857/Man-claims-to-have-had-no-food-or-drink -for-70-years.html

Originally posted by Cowke: Karl, we will wait till the anthropologist finish their studies, but yes it doesn't look good lool@"it doesn't look good".

Tulsa faraxoow.

I am in Oklahoma for a conference and I couldn't resist it. It is a good product I tell ya. No regrets. Cool first post using iPad

Classic pics indeed.

UK is below the Czech Republic. But I am surprised by Sweden being at 30th spot. Somalia is the last. ...but atleast we made to the list. It is not bad to be counted. 1 France 2 Australia 3 Switzerland 4 Germany 5 New Zealand 6 Luxembourg 7 United States 8 Belgium 9 Canada 10 Italy 11 Netherlands 12 Norway 13 Austria 14 Liechtenstein 15 Malta 16 Denmark 17 Spain 18 Finland 19 Uruguay 20 Hungary 21 Portugal 22 Lithuania 23 Andorra 24 Czech Republic 25 United Kingdom 26 Argentina 27 Slovenia 28 Greece 29 Monaco 30 Sweden 31 Chile 32 Estonia 33 Costa Rica 34 Panama 35 Poland 36 Japan 37 Croatia 38 Brazil 39 Ecuador 40 Latvia 41 Ireland 42 Korea- South (Rep of) 43 Slovakia 44 Bulgaria 45 Cyprus (Greek) 46 Mexico 47 Israel 48 Iceland 49 Bermuda 50 Saint Kitts & Nevis 51 South Africa 52 Dominica 53 Romania 54 Cayman Islands 55 Moldova 56 Colombia 57 Taiwan 58 Bolivia 59 Macedonia 60 Barbados 61 Mauritius 62 Namibia 63 Belize 64 Paraguay 65 Albania 66 Bosnia-Herzegovina 67 Bahamas 68 Ukraine 69 Grenada 70 Singapore 71 Antigua & Barbuda 72 Turkey 73 Dominican Republic 74 Seychelles 75 Bhutan 76 Peru 77 Jamaica 78 Nicaragua 79 Botswana 80 Honduras 81 Suriname 82 Puerto Rico 83 Tunisia 84 Brunei 85 Malaysia 86 El Salvador 87 Guatemala 88 India 89 Venezuela 90 Cuba 91 Trinidad & Tobago 92 French Polynesia 93 Guyana 94 Tonga 95 Mongolia 96 Nauru 97 China 98 Georgia 99 Ghana 100 Maldives 101 Armenia 102 Lesotho 103 Martinique 104 Jordan 105 Philippines 106 Kuwait 107 Kiribati 108 French Guiana 109 Belarus 110 Thailand 111 Russia 112 Zambia 113 Lebanon 114 Palau 115 Malawi 116 Morocco 117 Samoa (Western Samoa) 118 Swaziland 119 Bahrain 120 Fiji 121 Sri Lanka 122 Madagascar 123 Tuvalu 124 Syria 125 Vietnam 126 Comoros 127 Nepal 128 Qatar 129 Indonesia 130 Macau 131 Vanuatu 132 Senegal 133 Solomon Islands 134 Tajikistan 135 Egypt 136 Benin 137 Kenya 138 Kyrgyzstan 139 Azerbaijan 140 Korea- North (DR of) 141 United Arab Emirates 142 Cape Verde 143 Marshall Islands 144 Tanzania 145 Bangladesh 146 Algeria 147 Uganda 148 Uzbekistan 149 Cambodia 150 Iran 151 Mozambique 152 Gambia 153 Papua New Guinea 154 Mayotte 155 Kazakhstan 156 Mali 157 Libya 158 Guinea-Bissau 159 Micronesia 160 Togo 161 Myanmar (Burma) 162 Turkmenistan 163 Ethiopia 164 Congo- Republic of 165 Rwanda 166 Nigeria 167 Gabon 168 Oman 169 Saudi Arabia 170 Iraq 171 Laos 172 Cameroon 173 Mauritania 174 Niger 175 Burkina Faso 176 Equatorial Guinea 177 Burundi 178 Pakistan 179 Haiti 180 Zimbabwe 181 Central African Republic 182 Cote d'Ivoire 183 Liberia 184 Congo- Democratic Republic of 185 Angola 186 Guinea 187 Eritrea 188 Djibouti 189 Sierra Leone 190 Afghanistan 191 Chad 192 Sudan 193 Yemen 194 Somalia

1. France For the fifth year running, France takes first in our annual Quality of Life Index. No surprise. Its tiresome bureaucracy and high taxes are outweighed by an unsurpassable quality of life, including the world's best health care. France always nets high scores in most categories. But you don't need number-crunchers to tell you its bon vivant lifestyle is special. Step off a plane and you'll experience it first-hand. I always wish quality of life indicators could measure a country's heart and soul. But it's impossible to enumerate the joy of lingering for hours over dinner and a bottle of red wine in a Parisian brasserie. Or strolling beside the Seine on a spring morning, poking through the book vendors' wares. Or buying buttery croissants in bohemian Montmartre...hearing Notre Dame's bells...walking antique streets paved with poetry. Romantic Paris offers the best of everything, but services don't fall away in Alsace's wine villages...in wild and lovely Corsica...in lavender-scented Provence. Or in the Languedoc of the troubadors, bathed in Mediterranean sunlight. Provincial French properties are often keenly priced and lifestyles are less expensive than Paris. The Southwestern Midi-Pyrenees region is a particularly good hunting ground for village homes for less than $100,000—and classic three-course lunches for $14. Houses cascade with wisteria blossom; outdoor markets are everywhere. Foie gras, pink garlic, Armagnac, and crystallized violets aren't gourmet fare for locals. Rather, just another day's shopping. 2. Australia They don't call it the "Lucky Country" for nothing. Australia is famous for its large beaches and temperate climate. Across the continent, Aussies and those who've chosen to emigrate there have access to an active and healthy lifestyle. But urban dwellers will find plenty of great culture and excellent food in Sydney and Melbourne, and a cost of living below that of some of the world's other great cities. Australia's economy has managed to weather the Global Financial Crisis better than any other Western country. For tourists and travelers, this means you'll be dealing with a strong Aussie dollar, making your visit there more expensive. But if you plan to stay, you'll find that few English-speaking countries with quality health care and good infrastructure will benefit as much as Australia from the economic booms in Asia and China. The Australian economy is powered by agricultural, mineral, and energy exports that feed the voracious appetite of rapidly industrializing populations in Asia. Housing in Australia remains expensive by global standards. But there are plenty of jobs for skilled expats who can ride the Asian boom from the sandy, sunny, and safe beaches of the land Down Under. 3. Switzerland For Harry Lime, in Graham Greene's story The Third Man, all the Swiss have to show for five centuries of peaceful neutrality is the cuckoo clock. The rest of Europe, meanwhile, stumped on through rivers of blood to create art, history, and civilization. This is rubbish. Switzerland is an award-winning country because it turned all its natural disadvantages to its own advantage, ending up as a super-efficient, high-tech society while still managing to play Alpine inn-keeper to the world. Moreover the cuckoo clock comes from the Black Forest in Germany. Lacking natural frontiers or a unifying religion, and divided by five different languages, it sensibly decided that internationalism was its calling, quickly adding English to the French, German (two kinds), Italian, and Romansch (like ancient Latin) its people already speak so that foreigners of every linguistic persuasion could feel at home. Altruism followed from this and Geneva became home to the United Nations and the Red Cross. Landlocked, mountainous, and without natural resources (except cheese), Switzerland still needed more than tourism to provide a living. So it developed secretive banks, whose potential clientele is numberless and efficient engineering and pharmaceutical industries whose appeal similarly knows no borders. Such achievements reinforce each other. Tourists gladly clamber into Alpine cable cars because they trust their Swiss steel cables and electric motors. Jump on a Swiss train and you know you will arrive on time. Swallow a Swiss pill and you know it won't poison you. Likewise, you know the bank will always be discreet and the hotel room spotless. You also know everyone will speak your language. The Swiss succeeded because they made everything work. 4. Germany Some Americans (often ex-military) retire to Germany. One forum poster mentioned being thrilled that youth culture hasn't taken over. Techno-throb Berlin and numerous summer rock festivals refute that, but this is the land of Goethe and Beethoven. Theater, art, and classical music concerts aren't considered elitist. Will your medical insurance fund a health spa stay? Probably not, but it happens here with a doctor's recommendation. Despite the global downturn, Germans have it pretty good. Along with 30 days paid annual holiday, the average employee earns €41,509 ($61,433). In Germany, everything works and works well. Its houses are built to last, and their legendary autobahns are still mostly without speed limits. If you enjoy sports, even small towns have numerous facilities. Some odd ones too—the Harz Mountains now has a specialist hiking trail for nudists. From spas to parks to North Sea beaches, Germany is arguably the world's most naturist-friendly country. Romantics adore its Christmas markets and fairytale towns of half-timbered houses. Some favorites are Quedlinburg and Wernigerode in Saxony, and the Black Forest spa town of Baden-Baden. The latter has a posh reputation, but you could buy a 55-sqaure-meter apartment for $160,000. Or rent for $673 monthly. 5. New Zealand From Auckland's waterfront to the Southern Alps, English-speaking New Zealand boasts some of the most pristine landscapes on earth. Much of the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy was filmed here. For younger migrants with the right skills, it's a wonderful place to relocate and raise a family. There's huge emphasis on sports, beach-life, and healthy lifestyles. New Zealand's immigration department sums up the attractions perfectly. "In many ways it's not what we have that's important to our quality of life—it's what we don't have. We don't have high crime rates, our police don't carry guns and instances of corruption are virtually unheard of. We don't have abject poverty or hunger and we don't have the pollution, congestion, health issues and cramped city living that we see elsewhere." Unless you buy your way in as an investor, it's difficult for retirees to get permanent residency. But you could rent or purchase a home and live there part-time. Seasons are reversed, so it's possible to enjoy two summers a year. However, property prices are rebounding. Taken nationally, latest figures show the average home costs $274,881. 6. Luxembourg If we judged quality of life by a nation's Michelin-starred restaurants per square mile, the winner would be the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. A founder member of the EU, its national motto is Mir wëlle bleiwe wat mir sin (we want to remain what we are). Only 51 miles long and 35 miles wide, landlocked Luxembourg is relatively unknown to Americans. Yet with per capita GDP of $88,000, it's among the world's richest countries. Most apartments in its postcard-pretty capital—also called Luxembourg—cost at least $7,400 per square meter. But they come with an operetta scene of medieval turrets, bridges, and flower-filled squares. Ruled by a Grand Duke, a third of Luxembourg's 420,000 inhabitants were born elsewhere. Add cross-border workers, and foreigners account for 60% of its labor force. Although the official language is Lëtzebuergesch, English, French, and standard German are widely spoken—cosmopolitan Luxembourg is an international finance center and tax haven. However, its bank secrecy laws are now under scrutiny. 7. United States From Florida's palm-lined coasts to Alaska's snow-covered crags…from the dazzle of New York to the big skies of Montana…the U.S. has, arguably, something to offer everyone. And no question: It is the land of convenience. No place else on Earth is it easier to get what you want, when you want it. The U.S. is safe. It's comfortable. It can even be affordable. As readers will on occasion point out: It's possible to rent a place in central Nebraska for the same price you'll pay in Merida, Mexico. (Though that does beg the question: There amid the cornfields, can you see the opera, enjoy the café culture, or be at the beach in half an hour?) It's hard to beat the day-to-day ease you enjoy in the U.S. You can buy eye drops at a pharmacy at 3 a.m. and have dinner delivered to your door in 30 minutes or less. We are efficient. (And, if you've ever tried to shop on a Sunday in France or get a driver's license in Italy in under 45 days, you appreciate the merits in that.) But—as our editors and readers living overseas are quick to point out—convenience (and the frenetic pace that comes with it) is often overrated. Our sources We used the following sources to compile the data for our 2010 Quality of Life Index: UNESCO Statistical Yearbook; Freedom in the World: The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties; United States Department of Commerce; U.S. State Department; The United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention; The Freedom House Survey; Statistical Abstract of the United States; The World Factbook; The World Almanac and Book of Facts; U.S. Department of State Indexes of Living Costs Abroad, Quarters Allowances, and Hardship Differentials; The World Health Organization; The Economist World in Figures. And, we ask our editors from around the world to comment on our official findings to give a more realistic view of the numbers. 8. Belgium Divided into Flemish-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia, Belgium also boasts high scores. Since medieval times, its merchant cities have prospered. The capital, Brussels, grabs most attention, but Bruges and Antwerp (famed for diamond trading) also flaunt stepped-gable houses and splendid guildhalls. Employing thousands of foreign staff, Brussels is the headquarters of the European Union and NATO. A dreary place of paper-shuffling bureaucrats? Not at all. Ringed with parks, it's Europe's greenest capital. Along with many international schools, it delivers all an expat could desire: theater, English-language cinema, sports centers, great public transport, Trappist-brewed beers, numerous gourmet and ethnic restaurants, and fast trains to London, Paris, and Amsterdam. As they rarely plan to stay, most expats rent. In central Brussels, one-bedroom apartments start at $740 monthly. Like its delectable chocolates, Brussels has a soft-centered heart. The municipality not only sterilizes stray cats, it appoints someone to feed them. Its main library offers storytelling in sign language for deaf children. And disadvantaged citizens can attend cultural events at hefty discounts. 9. Canada Stretching from the islands of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia in the east to Vancouver Island in the west and north to the Arctic Circle, Canada is a diverse country of incredible natural beauty and resources. Health care and living standards are among the highest in the world. Canada's economy is based on vast natural resources, a robust financial industry, and innovative manufacturing including the renewable energy sector. Canada has remained resilient through the global financial crises. The banks are considered "more Swiss than the Swiss banks," and property markets are "on fire." Canada's major cities (like Toronto and Vancouver) offer fantastic entertainment. Sports, theater, and concerts are widely accessible and affordable and there's a rich offering of free festivals. Our Western bias Our sources, staff, and contributing editors are all influenced by a Western bias. We have definite, preconceived ideas about what constitutes a high or low standard of living, what constitutes culture and entertainment, and what climate is the most enjoyable. Please also remember that statistics obtained from official government sources are not always current, accurate, or reliable. And some statistics are highly subjective. What someone else might consider a museum, you and I might think of as a garden shed. Other statistics may be estimated, outdated, or incorrect for any number of reasons. Since the statistics we gathered don’t always reflect our own experiences, we sometimes interject a subjective factor to make the numbers better reflect reality. This is most often necessary in the "Leisure and Culture" category. Cost of living is affordable, although the strong currency has made it relatively more expensive in recent times. Canada's real attraction comes in the form of nature and outdoor activities. In summer, there's hiking, boating, golf, and fishing. Winter offers outdoor activities like skiing, snow mobiling, and ice fishing. Canadians are warm, welcoming, and fun, and the country still retains many of the charms brought by her early visitors from Europe. 10. Italy What Italians don't know about la dolce vita (the sweet life) isn't worth knowing. OK, trains are often in ritardo (late), workers frequently strike, corruption isn't unknown, and red tape comes in slow-moving triplicate. But balance that against Rome, Venice, and Florence...against mountains reflected in sapphire lakes...against golden beaches and hill towns cobbled with secrets. Then throw in 60% of the world's art treasures. A national health care system rated second in the world by the WHO. Sunflowers, vineyards, and opera. And the best espresso, pizza, and ice cream you'll ever taste. Admittedly, major cities and tourist hotspots are expensive. But the Mezzogiorno, Italy's deep south, is different. Although unemployment is high and incomes far less than in the north, it's just as colorful. As historic, too. Phoenicians, Greeks, and Saracens all left traces of their passing. Southern winters are short and mild, summers are scorching hot, and jugs of wine cost $6.50. On Sicily and in slow-paced regions like Puglia, Basilicata, and Campania, affordable homes abound. Even farmhouses with a couple of acres surface for $60,000. Many village houses cost even less. Decent rentals start at $550 monthly. SEE MORE http://www.internationalliving.com/Internal-Components/Further-Resources/quality-of-life-2010

Amrita Singh discovers the art of hijab shopping with Sagal Searag and Arwa Ishak. It's definitely NOT a drab affair. Nasiye Store is located at 1119 Cobden Road, Ottawa. http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/ID=1468870046

Nuune, ninka waa in sawir laga soo qaado, cajiladna laga soo duubo. Arrinkaani baxnaanin-horraad weyn ayuu u baahan yahay intaan la gudo gelin oo falanqayn gudo-dheer lagu samayn. baaritaanka hala wado ...

The SOL community in London is strong and welcoming. I am positive you will not be watched suffering under a bridge. PS: Try to get a job even if it is washing dishes. A grown man's best friend is his job. It is his sanity. It is much more dignified than a government handout.

"In the South African, Namibian, Zambian, Botswana and Zimbabwean context, the term Coloured (also known as Bruinmense, Kleurlinge or Bruin Afrikaners in Afrikaans) refers or referred to an ethnic group of mixed-race people who possess some sub-Saharan African ancestry, but not enough to be considered Black under the law of South Africa. They are mixed race and often possess substantial ancestry from Europe, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaya, Mozambique, Mauritius, Saint Helena and Southern Africa. Besides the extensive combining of these diverse heritages in the Western Cape – in which a distinctive 'Cape Coloured' and affiliated Cape Malay culture developed – in other parts of Southern Africa, their development has usually been the result of the meeting of two distinct groups. Genetic studies suggest the group has the highest levels of mixed ancestry in the world.[2][3] source: wiki

Kool, maya inadeer. That is a "baqal" not a horse the good man is on.

Maaddeey waa "cirroole qurbaysan" Nin aynu aragnay ma aha.

involving interviews with sources possessing first-hand knowledge of piracy operations, ransom negotiations and/or payments, have confirmed Rubbish.

Libaax

Nimanka waa loo qayilay it seems.

Maxamed Xasan, Cabdulqadir Sheikh Maxamed and co. have done a wonderful job building and maintaining this wonderful institution for our kids. Great job Dugsi Academy. Go get'em!

By JEFFREY GETTLEMAN He is back again!

Innaa Lilaahi Wa inna Ileyhi Raajicuun Tonight I got the terrible news that one of my friends has died in Toronto. May Allah shower him with mercy. This brother was one of the most kind people I have ever known. A man of great integrity and compassion for others is no longer with us. What really saddens me more tonight is how relatives found out he passed away. He stopped answering his phone for two days. His body was found in his apartment after relatives went to the building and called in the security to open the door. He was on his chair probably gone for many hours. It is a horrible way of finding a loved one in such circumstance. Last time friends saw him, he was at the mosque listening to a lecture. Please pray for him as we are a family here. May Allah forgive all his sins and take him to Jannah. Qaraabadiisan samir iyo iimaan Allaha ka siiyo. Aamiin.

Has he openly declared his support for secession? Anyone got an audio or video?

Thanks Serenity.