Abu-Salman

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Everything posted by Abu-Salman

  1. ^Unless the other one has stronger basis (unlikely), I prefer to follow the years long observation by the Ulamas/Central mosque Lily (I know its confusing sometimes). ^machine blending alter fiber structures and releases sugar readily, not a good routine for your fruits Juxa (just like other forms of processing); eg, grains are best and finely ground flour is equivalent to sugar (all those white breads and croissants act as bonanza for abnormal/pre-cancerous cells)...
  2. The Regents Park mosque timetable convinced me as they said Ulamas in S.A rectified the old one (adopted around 85), suhur limit was at 3:38, so why I suspect Ayoub is not far from there lol Of course, for optimal sleep and health, let's try to ban or limit caffeine (that includes teas and some drinks) as well as meals heavy on fats/meat or fried (porridge or at least wholemeal bread is great for suhur). The dates/banana, salad/rice, reasonable portions at Finsbury Park Mosque striked me as a much more sensible routine, though my digestion and thus Tarawiih was made heavy by the sheer amount of water ingested (it may help to drink the rest of water one hour after iftar so not to dilute digestive juices too much). One may drink milk/water and have dates/banana before bed in case you miss suhur...
  3. ^Aamiin, qof Quraanka lala subciyuu is great. glad to see you settled bro (MMA seems one of the favorite Solers, nice, real patriot and civilised guy)...
  4. Alpha Blondy;737593 wrote: how exciting..... waar take them to somewhere decent. the life of a neo-salafee akhi is so boring. I still enjoy children, but mostly the close relatives now/ favorite aunt. Was thinkin time flies so fast man, I vividly remember me staying with habo and gettin spoiled, the marriage at end of 92, then the cousins comin. Now, 2 are grown men (though they mature slowly these days with all the comfort/control). was thinkin too I may be a well-informed dad and its overdue to try and get my own ones, but my perfectionist/overthinking/brainwashed side deludes me that I should first "ensure" that they will afford Stanford medical school without usury and Oxbridge is oversubscribed (potential or giftedness seems not enough these days)...
  5. Have been proposed to translate from what looked like poor Esol english by the agency, didn't know what to reply... have to go and maaweelis some tourist cousins, thanks to Ramadan, all I have to do is put them to taraawiix and let them have a good sleep (can't be bothered with video games, esp with others than street fighter and other nostalgic titles); the gifted macawis, malab and other health products compensate for the hassle though...
  6. There are more rents than ever thanks to piracy, a captive huge market for its modernised port that is growing fast and other mega infrastructure projects ; yet, all this has only profited few apparatchiks and highly skilled professionals ready to tolerate them, while the rest has to deal with soaring, already relatively high cost of living. One could argue that it is indeed a textbook case of "Resources curse" similar to that of other minerals rich countries (Brass, Jennifer, 2008. “Djibouti’s Unusual Resource Curse.” Journal of Modern African Studies) and blame mismanagement, corruption and nepotism; however, the deeper truth is that colonial legacies, maintained by mostly French neo-colonialism has, here too, deliberately orchestrated this African tragedy. The good news is that France is losing its influence and appeal, with the elites sending their kids to Malaysia, Arab countries, Canada etc despite the widespread French passports, while local cultures are more valued...
  7. Actually, I spent some days at the hospital in Leicester due to internal knee swelling (had the good sense to call the ambulance, sensing a septicemia). The treatment with IV antibiotics seemed chaotic (no full information), but I knew better than to rely fully on the changing team/skip a single injection. Apart from one particularly bad apple, I was overwhelmed with all the care provided for free (from regular hot drinks...to free Taxi back home) as I was expecting a more rotten NHS unlike in continental Europe. When all its said, the more informed and self-reliant, the better placed one is to make optimal use of the system (too many people have naive, blind faith in GPs or moderrn medicine, can't evaluate medical advise, or does not realise that their health is almost entirely in their hand in terms of prevention).
  8. Nina Fox;736867 wrote: London to Montreal on a budget try Airtransat ( http://www.canadianaffair.com/ ). Cheapest deal is 280 GBP depending on your departure date from Heathrow or Gatwick. I travelled on it once, not a pleasant experience, but then again I was a backpacker and on a string budget, to calaacal about comfort was not an option. Eurostar is the best option if you want to go to Paris. Its around 80 bucks a pop. Its advisable to book your holiday in advance and dodge the holiday period if you can, as the tickets are sky high at these times. Good Luck..... Good morning humans, wadzzzaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap? Tx sis, I know, complaining about "comfort" is incongruous, unless one is rich and important enough that luxury "opportunity cost" becomes justifiable (For Paris/Bruxelles etc National Express coaches are even better priced n ok).
  9. Anyone know how to get from London to Montreal (or nearby like NewYork, Ottawa etc), from now till end of august, on the cheap (I even looked to tickets from Paris to there, but its still a lot). Some cousins wanna "see the world" and buying tickets last minutes (even the Eurostar can cost to the hundreds just to get to Paris); they definitely need some agency for travels/healthcare/studies abroad back in Djibouti (had to tell someone that going to India for IVF will cost a fraction of the cost with more experimented practicioners)...
  10. Well, even The Economist was lamenting the GOP slashing of poor pregnant mothers supplementary nutrition, the already woefully inadequate medicare and other most basic provisions to the poors (mostly minorities); what is most ironical is that these should be exactely the programs that have the biggest multiplier effect on every invested dollar in this recession for the long haul, not to mention their incalculable long-term or indirect benefits. When you have ideology ("No tax" marketing, even when the richest have accumulated tax breaks until recently) combined to greed gone mad (corporations are making record profits to the tune of 2 trillions), no wonder income inequality and social breakdown are rising out of the control while long-term investments on infrastructure or education is absent (infrastructures around the USA are derelict , barely maintained, with long-term competitivity in question)...
  11. Well, has this one been shelved due to the drought, Ramadan etc? thought I sent a pm...
  12. I would suggest that we write to and lobby local representatives/MPs and all major papers: The New York Times, The Economist or even post articles on The Huffington Post etc as this is a media run world and some journalists have already shown to be quite responsive (eg, The Guardian is still doing some excellent work but it's mainly influent with those "on the left"). With minimal overhead cost and proven track record, Muslim Aid is already on the field; their link for direct online donation could be forwarded to contacts by mail or posted on Facebook etc: http://www.muslimaid.org/index.php/what-we-do/current-campaigns-live/horn-of-africa
  13. With bees diseased in many places and natural honey increasingly in demand and so expensive (30 us$ the kg in Djibouti, up to 6 times in the Gulf for Yemeni varieties etc), parts of Africa seem ideally suited for organic beekeeping (no cold, pesticides, modern hives etc); it seems the Bakool area in Somalia is a paradise for bees with several good harvests a year, but other places could be suitable too: We are just outside of Hargeysa, the capital city of Somaliland, in the village of Haleeya. This is one of the places where GABA – Ga’an Libah Agriculture and Bee Association runs beekeeping activities, in co-operation with the NGO Berri-Somal Kehitys based in Finland. It feels good to be outside the town and its traffic jams, get some fresh air and enjoy the green scenery, with the silhouette of the mountain Naasa Hablood at the background. Multipurpose and valuable product Since Abdulqadir started as a beekeeper, he has been given a nickname “Shinele”. Shinni in the Somali language means a bee. Abdulqadir used to have a small business in Hargeysa, but four years ago he started as a beekeeper. He has invested and bought the land where 40 beehives are kept, as well as a small plot for a garden nearby. Beekeeping is the only source of income for Abdulqadir and his immediate family, a wife and three children. Honey is a valuable product, which is also consumed as medicine. Moreover, bee products are used, for example, for beautification. Abdulqadir relates that before the training given by Berri-Somal Kehitys, he did not know, for example, that bee wax could be used for many purposes. He used to throw it away. Now he has learnt that it can be mixed with moisturizing cream and, hence, made into a nourishing skin product. Flowers for the honeybees Annually, Abdulqadir’s bees have produced some 360 kilos of honey. One kilo of honey costs approximately 10 USD, the most expensive and finest honey being the one coming from the mountainous areas. However, beekeeping is a risky business, Abdulqadir says. “Drought makes beekeeping difficult, because there are no flowers. Last year we collected honey only once, normally we may harvest it 2−3 times a year. Moreover, there are some insects in the boxes that kill the bees.” I am relieved when we move further from the bees to a nearby garden, which is protected from grazing animals by a fence. Abdulqadir proudly shows a water reservoir he has dug by himself. Abdulqadir seems to enjoy introducing different flowers he has planted and grown. He knows which flowers the bees like the most. [...] Through the project, in addition to the knowledge on bees and beekeeping itself, GABA has also raised awareness about the need to protect environment and stop cutting trees for charcoal. In the future GABA would like to extend beekeeping activities also to other regions in Somaliland Beekeeping in Somaliland
  14. Saying "waqti xun" should be avoided: "Allah said, 'The offspring of Adam abuse the Dahr (Time), and I am the Dahr[...]". Else, I am wondering how much aware Somalis are of the fact that as we age, infertility risks explode, particularly in the West where it is already a huge issue and ever rising; in parallel to that, the pollution, lack of natural Vitamin D (sun), stress and diet do damage the DNA of both parents and make it very difficult to have optimal offsprings, even before they are born, though this may be mitigated to some extent (and yes, these factors influence even the physical appearance or looks of the babies, let alone its future health, brain etc). Now, I'm a bit of a dreamer too but these two factors of age and unhealthy environment (particularly in the West) seems often overlooked (even men's sperm defects increases rapidly after 34), when it comes to procreation (people may compete for nomads back home if they fully realised it)...
  15. Actually, my choice of the Nordic models had to do with the desire to stay "relevant" with the Westerncentric folks; one could indeed quote much less prosperous nations (financially at least) that provide much more efficiently public services or safety nets: Cuba with its first class education and health services as well as export of cheap medical expertise worldwide, Jordania with its "medical tourism industry", Costa Rica, cases studies such as Iran, Tunisia or even Sri lanka etc (Arab states from Egypt to richer ones have impressive social policies and particular achievements, though environmental awareness is still low). What is really remarkable is that all that is achieved with much less resources than in the world leading wealth concentrations of California, North-East, Fairfax and other US corridors (Cuba, for instance, has been declared the most environmentally efficient country with its very little footprint yet better public services than vastly richer states).
  16. Great steps from the PM who looks like a natural leader; the president's choices in that crucial area seem to conform to our best expectations. The only obstacles now appear to be the farcically corrupt "parliament", along with the regional issues as these are the entry points of influences designed to perpetuate anarchy. Essentially, it's all about resisting foreign pressures for anarchical "federalism" in the most homogenous and vulnerable nation, ie negociate a more realistic power-sharing with the likes of Puntland. this, along with a more regulated and numerically limited parliament, if we must, that can not perpetually obstruct and interfere with the executive; eg, the already proven model of a small Gurti or chamber of elders with mostly consultative powers (Shariah compliance of legislations would be approved by a "supreme council" of Ulamas).
  17. The famous author of "kaana siib, kana saar" or Timacade was ayeeyo first marriage (habo who shares the same nickname is a celebrity in Gabiley). They released a popular video interview of ayeeyo in Canada back in around 98 after she went there (she was also praised in one of the poems ). My cousin, ie the poet's grandson, just related to me that when Yusuf Garad of the BBC came, she requested him to stop using the "self-proclaimed/la magac baxdey" for Somaliland of all things lol
  18. Lol Sayid, my idealistic/uber-generous parents and my considerate nature did not prepare me well for all the meanness/envy around us. The first learning started after high school with relatives who should have known better and it gradually increased; now, I'm no longer surprised by anything as it takes extraordinary ethical intelligence and upbringing to even come close to realise that much of what is routinely seen is deeply wrong...
  19. Not one single thing stands out in particular Malika sis, or maybe the spread of false rumors, misbehaviors etc Ive seen among so-called religious figures; you just learn to lower expectations...
  20. Sorry for being general bro, I was refering to the rift between what people openly claim and their often thoroughly different deeds, hence the resulting shock...
  21. Well, I've seen enough to write several books or thesis, including among the "religious" types, however revolting that may be. The learning curve is indeed a steep one when coming from a more principled background or you want to assume others to be as considerate as you. The harsh struggles, relatives harassment for papers/money, the damage caused by all sorts of traumas and deprivations, open racism and abuses, resulting paranoia and depression etc may all be contributing factors though that may often trump the professed Islamic values...
  22. With world leading levels of innovation, Scandinavians demonstrate that State run schools can work while solidarity actually breeds a more competitive society, with less crime and inequalities. Despite 57% of the GDP spent by the State in Sweden, creativity and entrepeneurship remain relatively high; there is still a good case for reinforcing the State role, notably in areas of public goods such as Telecoms or key industries. Of course, there is ample room for improvements in that Socialist logic and, ultimately, the safeguard of public health and the environment is what matters rather than conspicuous consumerism which destroys both and foster crime (high rise appartments and trams rather than individual properties and cars). Interestingly, this primacy accorded to public well-being resonates particularly well with both authentic Somali culture which pride itself on generosity and selflessness as well as the whole philosophy of Islam (and both advocate for frugalism and "green" consciousness or ecologism). Your thoughts fellow Solers about promoting that kind of vision or similarly inspired political platforms at home (with the caveat of pitiless anti-corruption accompanying high levels of taxation)?
  23. Apart from malicious envy and often concomitant gossiping, ie finding or inventing faults to others as to "cancel out" perceived advantages and exaggerating or making up stories accordingly, I found another fundamental flaw particularly irritating. True, envy explain quite a lot in humans, particularly with overly proud Somalis all too eager to climb the social ladder and resenting their modest origins; while, sadly, even religious learning might not necessarily compensate for low ethical intelligence. However, when you add ingratitude in the mix, it becomes an even more irritatingly potent deadly mix.
  24. ^the level of native students conversations, their narcissistic outlook and obssesions may be a kind of mental torture...but are not those on selective courses supposed to be more mature?
  25. Passports are not needed for Djibs to travel to and from Yemen/Ethiopia/Somalia overland but "laissez-passer" are highly recommended; even our own group returning back from Arabsiyo in 2000 were refused entry at Loyada without it, before a prominent member was recognised. The one day travel overland was a unique experience though. Come to think about it, I should maybe host a Solers meeting in Hargeysa this summer.