Ramadan kariim and wlc back bro, Shallow but 1, 3, 5 are best: aiming for goals, being frank and carefully choosing relationships and not over-stressing about things that may happen while ignoring that serenity is from within (assuming keeping in touch with relatives is already a must). Easier said than done if you have too many interests and constraints with pessimistic tendencies.

It feels much better inside this library and the shop nearby; had tests at the hospital, then some flu-like infection but today alhamdulilah (reminds us how vital water or health are). Those Dubai tickets are scarce lately.

I can vouch for oats, even when taken at dinner/isha the fainting sensation of no suxur has gone away (always prefer and advocate for unrefined grains or oats to flour based things). Great way to get used to minimise food (most of which is junk or too refined to matter anyway). Calorie restriction makes those japanese elders etc look much younger than they are (around 1000 calories, some studies show that a fast or minimal eating twice a week helps as much as fasting) and is one of the greatest "secrets" along with switching to olive oil.

Top five regrets of the dying [...]Bronnie Ware is an Australian nurse who spent several years working in palliative care, caring for patients in the last 12 weeks of their lives. She recorded their dying epiphanies in a blog called Inspiration and Chai, which gathered so much attention that she put her observations into a book called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying. Ware writes of the phenomenal clarity of vision that people gain at the end of their lives, and how we might learn from their wisdom. "When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently," she says, "common themes surfaced again and again." Here are the top five regrets of the dying, as witnessed by Ware: 1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. "This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it." 2. I wish I hadn't worked so hard. "This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret, but as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence." 3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings. "Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result." 4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends. "Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying." 5. I wish that I had let myself be happier. "This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content, when deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again." Top five regrets of the dying (The Guardian) www.inspirationandchai.com/Regrets-of-the-Dying.html

Ramadan Kariim Norf and all; carrying your pocket Quran to finsh reading it (eg a juzz or 20 pages a day) is great. Ideal moment too for a new start, to get acquainted with your mosque or forgive and maintain family ties.

ramadan Kareem all Just discovered mother went to Xamar around 83, shocked of lights off (cockroaches) at night etc in the home of the Dr and nurse who used to visit us in Jabuuti; they were also first fervent kacaan enthusiasts before the wadaads step in. As there was no state paid rents etc there, people were thriftier there ("ilbax" too in Xamar). Lots of serious or interesting stuff also told now that we are grown up, as if discovering the whole family. So JB and Norf have you not kept few nostalgia "Guulwade" shirts?

Talking about Peter Pan and nostalgia; while often serious, I do joke, talk and play litterally like the excited teen I once was whenever comfortable (say with a visiting cousin when we pass in review all the 90s mad moments) and find myself even playing video games with others. It must be that the kid has just more experience but is still very much the same inside (enjoy playing with the same people or curiosity). Alas, we must put on adult masks more often after teen years; life is a theater said a litterature teacher. So how do elders overcome aging, as the teen golden years nostalgia increases with time?

Exactely, Norf; it's all about occasional treats. Mashallah, fit siblings and family moments are unique moments. You got life secrets figured out I just meant focusing on winning, drama and refusing beginners in foot sessions too much to bear. we use skype for family etc to have multiple reunions or when free voip call is not practical Maaddeey.

My paternal grandfather aun used to fly planes in the 1940-60 as colonial officer; those were not jets of course with modern safety and instrumentations.

never understood those extra cooking (I'd find just finishing reading the quran and taraawiih as great these days)...being briefed on skype etc about things to bring etc just before the "cooking season". I'm more into rekindling family & friends bonds. Football is ok for excercising, fun etc but never understood the pure competition party. So, Ngonge and other elders are still at the samosa stage or wisely eating porridge with linseed?

asc dreading fasting in jabuuti heat while disposing of some mish-mash goods accross the border etc; it's ok but not propitious to multi-tasking. May have to delay medical tests etc. So those telesom shares do not give the highest returns? The internet seems cheaper and better in Hargeysa, esp when the high speed optical fiber arrives...

The 1st lady and other officials may play an unofficial or controversial role but college scholarships are entirely on merit (whether you are arab, eritrean or somali) and even the pres relatives pay heavy car duties etc. The one clan in question is overrepresented in the Telecoms, central bank, commerce etc just like afars in Onead and many others. Reforms are ongoing (tests based recruitment, proportional elections, anti corruption etc) with some successes; clannishness comes more from all civil servants recruiting their relatives and few ambitious politicians than the cosmopolitan elites (more mixed marriages, interests before clans etc). We are all involved in commerce at the family level to a varying extent and despite misconceptions, things are often different and changing; else, they would have all moved long ago to France, Canada, Somaliand etc where many are simultaneously based and other Somalis would not invest so much etc.

Sincerity and loving Allah as keys to repentence that open doors. Not only fear but also hope in balance: Allah will treat you as you expect from him or importance of good expectations from Allah.

Some great ideas about very needed basics, but focus and staying there required. If the elder secessionists resettle there, it would be much more fun and easier for the rest of us though PS: JB you need few beehives in Hargeysa sxb, I'm surprised there is shortage of local raw honey and it sells at up to $30 a kilo (not much skills or money needed but only few are doing it unlike in Yemen).

Calling now again aabo et al at Arabsiyo from gmail (very convenient, as Skype), I'm wondering how I could ever reconciliate my two identities of being second generation Djibouti citizen yet very Somali or "Somalilander". It's like we have complicated things for no reason: I've always seen myself as a Muslim Somali as we were raised (pan-Somalist cherishing my Northern area and people). Why do Somalis feel the urge to categorise: you are "qaldan", "jabuutiyaan" etc? In Djibouti, despite informal political quotas, nobody really cares about your ancestral hometown but it is mostly other Somalis that see you as not being "real Somalilander" etc when we probably have more direct links and stakes there than many abroad.

JZkllah walaalo Clear and concise facts indeed: tidiness is very important in islam (you feel much better and more spiritual than in a messy environment).

maalin dhowayd koley sh axmed d. wuu joogay lakin the other dhalinyar one maya.

wcs Maaddeey, Borama is indeed known as a beautiful town with mentalities ahead that of other somali places. |'ve met our two nomad VIP, both very decent and interesting brothers; one can not possibly be somali iit seems

He's been hiding it well; may you stay overjoyed for long brother. I'm sure some of our resident "secessionists" will inundate you with tips but plenty of sun and vitamin D for all, maternal milk only and mental stimulations both indoors and outdoors for the baby is key.

The place is teeming with ports, rail and energy projects among others and the city ever expanding with large new social housing or residential schemes; Iranians only play a minor role but new players such as Japon (first overseas base) are paying substantial dues or investing in farming, industries etc. Hijrah In Djibouti is a detailed page about the local conditions and cost of living, written by and for French reverts and other practising Muslims that setlle there (a growing trend lately). It shows that around $400 for a single individual or $700 for a family with 3 children is enough for living relatively comfortable (AC for summer heat) in middle-class neighborhoods; some prices may have increased but electricity costs have been very reduced, so were Telecoms and further reductions are planned as further projects materialise (large low cost housing schemes, more generic drugs and decent clinics etc). Those spending quotes include Islamic schools costs such as the Saudi one that teaches from the elementary level up to university diploma level or provides scholarships to graduates (the educational offer is varied and pretty challenging, more flexibility and choice at university level). There is a huge need for all skills even without experience (langage teaching, telecoms, energy or business fields etc with untaxed starting salaries of between $1000-$2000 a month in general) while self-employment or business prospects are reasonable. Naturalisation is automatic for those married to locals and easier for Somalis (increasing numbers settling there). Thus, the place reputation as being expensive, a half-truth (it all depends; services for expatriates are overpriced), is increasingly looking as obsolete, while the exceptional beaches and sun are still intact.

Some of us may not be very familiar with Somalia role in the independence or liberation of African countries from Eritrea to South Africa or how influential the Somali State was within Africa during the early decades after decolonisation in the 1960-1970s particularly; eg TPLF leaders in Ethiopia were based in cosmopolitan Xamar, travelling with Somali passports and Somali support to Zimbabwe or SA anti-apartheid militants rattled Anglo-Saxon powers: [/b]Somalia marks 35th anniversary of Djibouti independence(Bar Kulan) Somalia is today marking the 35th anniversary of Djibouti independence as several colourful events are being held in various parts of the country including the capital, Mogadishu. It is now exactly 35 years down the line after the tiny Horn of African country got its independence from France on 27 June 1977. A colourful ceremony to honour the day was today held in Mogadishu and was attended by several top Somali government officials including Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, speaker of the national transitional federal parliament Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan. Djiboutian ambassador to Somalia Dayib Dubad Roble was also present at the ceremony. A similar ceremony was held at the Somali central town of Beledweyne near Ethiopia, where Djiboutian soldiers serving the African Union Mission in Somalia are based. The event comes just a day after Somalia celebrated the independence of its northern regions which gained the independence just four days before the south. Djibouti which is inhabited by many ethnic Somalis is regarded “second home” by many Somalis due to its endless efforts towards peace and tranquility in Somalia which has been marred by two decades of civil war. : Djibouti, whose decolonization heroes such as Mahamoud Harbi dreamt of the reunification and liberation of all Somalis including Djibouti, is now a fast growing regional hub and strategic, middle-income country, very closely allied with Somalia and a second home to Somali investors (major owners of estates, banks etc).

Down the years, it will looks like the lack of acess, of coverage or the institutionalised routine reimbursment denials by HMOs was akin to the segregation laws as highly uncivilised; not to mention the disastrous costs of emergency services as the only care open to anyone (much more economical to prevent and treat outside emergency services). Of course rednecks (most US citizens still think Obama is Muslim) will shout forced socialism by Hussein Obama and whatnot when the run away health costs is one of the key breaks on the economy and small-buinesses can't afford to pay employees insurance. PS: I suppose Somalis in relatively progressive Minnesota get mostly medicaid and free primary or preventive care.

Sunny, by the sea, diverse cities are the best for me, eg Muscat in Oman (Nice is French rednecks central, San Diego too wild). Thus, Marka or Kismayo have all those plus good farms nearby; they could compete with Xamar with their ports and Kismayo hinterland is the rainiest in Somalia (huge Jubba forest), the port was a major cattle export hub all the way down to kenya next door etc. Those clans neutral cities would make ideal resettlement areas for Northern nomads again; fishing, farming, meat or hide processing, trade, ports...not to say the splendid islands and exceptional tourism potential. PS: Reer Hargeysa love Marka more, those from Nuugaal Kismayo. Both are great alternatives to Xamar. Many old setllers families from Borama etc are still living in the South too.

wcs, Maaddeey n all. Chimera, FB is full of damning pics and alarm relatives when they stumble upon some (edo in the US seeing a cousin in company or in a bar, others less than decently clothed etc). Of course, men are not that holy but it's much more visible for girls everywhere these days. Wyre try to help hooyo, abaayo or aabo set up something like a mini shop but dont send money without good reasons, like a sibling needing expensive treatment etc (I hate people spending beyond vital basics yet dependent on someone). I'm suggesting to relatives in Arabsiyo to keep beehives, and habo herself know that other families make decent income from it, or grow their greens and keep chicken but all those flows discourage creativity or anything other than TV, qat etc.

As a former economics enthusiast and student, I was always puzzled at how little seemed logical or supported by the evidence and how statistics could be very versatile (authors free to interpret data according to their preferences). Fortunately, I later stumbled on Professor Yanis Varoufakis "Foundations of Economics" that clearly explained the gross assumptions and ideology behind the neo-classical pseudo-truths in textbooks and why economics brainwash more than educate (economics graduates are shown to be more cynical in his book). A quite essential and captivating book not only for students in social sciences but for everyone interested in knowing more about the flawed assupmtions on which economics rely, the history of key ideas and why they are still promoted as "truths". Also, the now famous Cambridge Professor Ha-Joon Chang remind us that his South Korea ignored every "expert" advise, with the country run by engineers and technicians rather than economists: this made South Korea experiences the fastest economic and technological growth ever instead of the doom predicted by the IMF/World bank. His book Bad Samaritans: the guilty secrets of rich nations and the threat to global prosperity is another useful eye-opener about pseudo development theories and globalisation or free trade. Watch him during an LSE conference about another book of his where he dispels widespread prejudices: . Thus, we are reminded again that people are far more enterprising in poor countries, that immigration control is another sort of tariff that artificially protect the labor market in the West, that communism in Russia led to spectacular progress in investments and industrialisation (rapid gain in heavy industries or armament), that the "socialist" French workers are more productive than say American ones despite more rights, that elites invest badly and no economy is totally unplanned etc (I do not believe in strict communism, though some property rights, trades or farming are respected under those regimes). In fact, even UNDP data clearly show communist or ex communist nations leading in terms of education, health, poverty and inequalities despite much lower levels of income (Build Your own Index, deselect income and check in Education, Health, Poverty and Inequality). It is well-known by the WHO and everyone else that Cuba guarantee decent healthcare (constitutional right to Health) or top education and made equality as its national priority; hence the health statistics better than those in the USA and the country sending and training thousands of Doctors accross the world (and other scientific breakthroughs such as affordable drugs and vaccines). Equal access to those quality public services is possible despite considerable financial strain and restrictions such as trade embargo etc. Here is The Guardian:Along with South Korea, Cuba probably has one of the most impressive and distinctive stories to tell in the annals of modern development. Apart from achieving near 100% literacy many years ago, its health statistics are the envy of many far richer countries. This happened because health and social spending were not seen as financial costs but the best long-term investments, as equality was decreed a national priority. The Indian state of Kerala made also great strides in health or equality despite income levels lower than in most African states, under communists or trade-unions leaders from minorities and disadvantaged backgrounds (Jordan is also a muslim country that excel in health and healthcare tourism, which earned much praise and ranks high in terms of equality and human development, higher even than Tunisia). Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg about how usually misled we tend to be, fed torrents of misinformations and assuming that experts or textbooks are reliable teller of "truths". Perhaps the most interesting part is that equality and environmental sustainabilty (eg Cuba urban farming) prove to be the real issues that matters in fine, both in terms of social harmony (much less crime) and health, well-being or happiness rather than the controversial sets of data such as GDP, GNI etc. Indeed, research shows that what matters to individuals is the wealth comparison or consumerist race rather than absolute levels of incomes, hence the health and unhappiness toll or that lasting happiness comes from connection to others and serving them along with clean environment and basic needs met.