Liibaan go for it. It is doable.

^ur parenting style will be different haye...how different, I love you L i b e r i a n girl ? War heedhe Alle-u-Baahane awoowe kaftan iyo xifaalo bay iga ahayd ee addiguna cidla ha ka diddin dee sxb.

This is a not-so-helpful e-Nuri post. I totally disagree with Nur's gudid suggestion. Gudniin is a cruel and backward phraonic practice. It's hardly a solution to any problem.

Dube madaxa waa iskala dhacdaa, daa'in abidkeede Dadka kama yaraateene, intaa waa is dabarjaraysaaye --Abdilahi Suldaan Timocade Waa runtii. On the other hand, look at some of the European countries with declining population like Italy. These countries are forced to bring other nationalities in to sustain their economic wellbeing.

Aerowen u rock lady! Keep the strong, articulate, and opinionated posts coming per favore. I second widaay MMA...bring fab Barwaaqo :cool: back.

Waa hawraarsan akhyaarta. Warkaasu waa war fiican. Hadde waxay ila tahay in rag aan laga maarmi doonin ay naga maqan yihiin. Saxibkeen Nur iyo Xiin nalama joogaan oo Ramadaankiiba iyo dikriga yaa dhinac u tuuray. Innaga qudheena hawl wanaagsan baan halakan ku heynaa oo taloda fiican iyo doobkaa oo la tilmaamaa waa wax wanaagsan. Abdiladiif mara waaxid awoowe. Waan malaynayey in Mahammed uu yahay nin wanaag iyo akhyaarnimo ku tilmaaman l'annu halakan beyba ka muuqataa. Akhyaarta hadde annigu hore yaan u affeeftay oo habaynta waa siduu Mahammed ii la fahmay oo tilmaan bay ku eg tahay. Tilmaan nin raggi waa ku filan tahay maxaa yeelay ninkii tilmaan ka badan doonayaa hadde waa nin ii lagad yiri Alle-u-Baahane warkiisu halkaa kama fogayn Mahammed sxb qallanjo golaha inalla joogta yaa jidha ee si xaal mastuur ah yaan ku tilmaamayaa ee waa addigii hal xiraalaha aadka u badiyaye ila garo. Gabadhan naaneesteedu waa Somali aad iyo aad ii cajabiyey. Miyir iyo miisaan aad xataa ka gadhan kadho shaashada yaa kolay annigu ka dareemay. Geeljire cusub ma aha oo waa geeljirayaasha dadka ugu soo horeeyey golaha. Marka la doodayo oo waliba diinta laga doodayo ama dumarka siiba xuquuqdooda bay soo gashaa golaha. Mowqif ahaan waxaad moodaa in ay u janjeedho xaga diinta haddana cod qalad ah oo dagaal iyo xagxagasho leh kuma muujiso ra'yigeeda oo si aayar ah bay u jeedisaa. Halkaa dabeecad wanaag iyo dad la dhaqan baan ku tuhmay. Way go'aan adag tahay oo hadaan si haboon looga qancin halka ay ku dhegto si sahal ah codkeedu uma midabeeyo iskamana horyimaado. Halkaa inay qof mabda qaadan kara ee aan hawada (hawada la ciyaar)hadba halka ay u xagliso aan raacin baan annigu kolay u qaatay li'annu muddo dheer bay golaha inalla joogtay walina bartii bay taagan tahay si consistent ah. Kolka doodu kulushahay ee dadku qaar u maleeyaan in iyaga shaqsiyadooda loo dan leeyahay iyaddu bal Ilaahay amarkii wanaageeda waxba kama soo qaado. Halkaa waxaa iiga soo baxay kalsooni iyo garasho. Kolka la isla qaad qaado oo madaxa iyo manjaha la isla galo iyaddu dadka lama tirsato oo inta candhuufta dib u laqdo yay aayar libidhaa oo laba waayaa. Halkaa dulqaad iyo samir baa iiga soo baxay. Da'da qof yar bay u muuqataa oo dugsi inay dhigato yay dhowr jeer ka sharqamisay. Qof meel Somali ku badan tahay joogtana waa u muuqataa oo dhowr jeer Somalida cilada jidha oo ay leeyihiin bay tilmaantay umana cudur daarin. Halkaa qof run sheeg ah oo aan la gaban ra'yigeeda bay iila muuqatay. Hadde Mahammed waxu waa shaashad oo si aad ah qof miisaan sugan looma saari karo. Laakiin awoowe oday baan ahay hadde waxa jidha waxyaala aan qarsoomin oo haduu qofku muddo kula sheekaysto ama aad la dhaqanto iska soo baxa. Berrigii wiil hooga ahaa ee aan dumarka isha la raaci jidhay bal in wax i cajibiya aan arko quruxdu qayb yar bay ahayd waxa aan qaymayn jiray. Waxa aan ogaaday in aadanahu uu fidhro ahaan jecelyahay quruxda oo aad inta badan marka aad eegtid haweenka hadii aadan aqoon markii hore u lahayn in tan qurxoon ishu qabanayso. Waxaan kaloo ogaaday in hadaad la dhaqanto ama dugsi ama shaqo isgu timaadaan in quruxdu gadaal galayso oo tan dhoola cadaysa oo sida haboon ragga u qaabisha oo debci iyo garasho wanaagsan aad ku barato in ay taa aad la jaan qaadayso. Waxa aan uga jeedaa halakan golaha ah waxaa nalla jooga dumar tiro badan oo giddi mudan sheeko iyo xodxodosho. Waxa kala miira oo kala shaandheeya waa hawsha aan ka soo sheekeeyey ee hebla ku tilmaamay oo ka dhigay waxaan la quudhi karin kolay anniga ray'yigeyga. Waxaan qabaa nin naago doon ah in ay fiican tahay bal inuu ka war doono oo hubsado in qofkanni sidaa u wanaagsan yahay. Adeer hadde ku tilmaamay. Kuwa badan oo aan la quudhi karin baa ku jira golaha barashana mudan bal taa soo hel horta.

Raula wlc back lady and Ramadan Kariim. Long time no see..moi no shaah anymore eh. Ya know Raula Dinkytown rules and if and when I come back I hope u r still in Dinky neighborhood. I'm off to afur. Later.

Warka uu Ducaqabe ku kalaamay waa saxiix. Magac wanaagsane labo kala daa. Raggiinu gabdhahayaga ma gayaan iyo waad gabdho fiican tihiin isma qaadatee kala daa. Dad wanaagsan baanu nahay iyo cunsiriyada midab takoorka reer Hanaan Gobeed aad ku heysid isma qaadatee kale daa. Rag baan la xaajoonayaa misana hawsha si ay iigu hagaagto waan is been fartiimayaa oo cilad aan jirin baan reer Hanaan Wanaag ku baacsanayaa iyadduna is ma qaadatee kala daa. Intaa waxaa ii weheliya ninyahaw hadalkaagu wali isma raacsanna oo si buu u kala qaaran yahay. Mar waxaa tiri waan kuu gafay hadaad qallanjo idinka ah aan soo hunguriyeeyey oo hawsheydu isma beddelin oo waa halkii Inna Dagax-tuur baan taaganahay. Markii xigtay waxaad raacisay in xaafadeyadu hablo wanaagsan Ilaah ku galadystay oo aad dhuubo nagga dooneysid. Intaad hadalka waday waad afeefatay oo waxaa tiri inaan bilcaan doon ahay iyo xodxodosho yaan loo qaadan. Intaas oo kalaam ah afakaadeey ka soo wada baxeen waxna umaad dhaxeysiin. Halkaa waxbaa iiga baxay Sideedaba warbaan kuu sheegayaa. Doodu waxay ku fiican tahay in ay baab leedahay. Macnaha madax iyo manjo la qabteey yeelataa hadduu hadalkaagu qotonsan yahay. Annigu warkeygu waa caadaa. Muhammed waa doob akhyaarnimaa ka muuqata. Muqaawiirta golaha xitaa waa garatay ninkaa qeymigiisa oo dee waa issaga horjeege loo calmaday. Midaan la quuri karin oo golaha na la joogta yaan la calmaday ninkaa qiimaha badan. Warkiisa waxaa ka muuqatay innuu diyaar yahay oo uu doonayo in uu Mas'uuliyiinta ku biiro (ragga xaasleeyda ah) Waan u jawaabay oo waxaan iri awoowe ma ku habeynaa. Muhammed waa og yahay in heshiis iyo is afgrasho in ay tahay wadada ugu fiican ee reer ugub ah lagu yagleelo. Halkaa markay botorineyso yaad haf la tidhi oo waxii rag shalay ku kala tagay oo marqaatigeeda aannu hayno yaad soo celisay. Awoowe si miyir leh baan kuu xasuusiyey geffaf hore oo kaaga dhacay. Maad hubsane misana haf baad la tidhi oo kii hore inta qiratay xaalna tiri waa iga bixis baad gef kale raacisay. Halkaa waxa ka muuqata fudeyd. Saaxiib gabdhahayaga waa aftax marba haday qaan gaaraan. Sax iyo qalad, wanaag iyo xumaan, iyo waxa mas'uuliyadi tahay baannu ku ababinaa yaraanta. Iyagoo garasho ku filan leh bay adduun is qaabilaan. Ninkii cajabiya oo ay naga talo galiyaan waanu la eegnaa. Waxii talo ah waannu siinaa. Haday yiraahdaan mahadsanid laakiin kan baan na cajabiyaye naggu maamus ogalaansho dee waa howraarsan oo waanu yeelaa. Awoowe gabdho sidii xoolihii inta rag suuqa isku af-gartay la is sa siiyo caado uma lihin. Midkaa weeye midkaanu isla keeni la'nahay saaxiib. Hadaan akhriyey kalaamkaagii ugu danbeeyey waxaad u muuqatay nin saaxiibnamadu ka dhab tahay oo cunsiriyada aad addigu ogolaatay in dadka kale lagu fuliyo in aad anniga iiga turri doontid macriifo ahaan. Halkaa mawqifkaaga diiniyan waa qaldan yahay. Mar labaad awoowe dhinac isu raac xataa kftanka waa inaad sheekadaadu madax iyo manjo leedahay. Hadaad magaca Ducaqabe uu ku cajibayey waxaan kuu hayaa Ducaale ee qaado. Waan sii caraabayaa ee afur wanaagsan saaxiib.

Many thanks CAAMIR. This is a helluva speech. Late Cigaal Alla yarxama made the best case for the Somaliweyn. My advocacy for Somaliweyn principle as Somalia's foreign policy is rested on, in part, the line of reasoning Egal has just articulated in the speech. Infact, the thesis of the speech is from the four principles engraved on the Somali Republic's constitution preample. It was a policy that understood not to foresake other Somalis in their hour of need. The crux of the speech is about Somalia's foreign policy at the time of its delivery. The rest is as they say a warm up...putting things in context so others can grasp and appreciate how the Republic is cornered by the harsh political reality of the Horn region. That's how pragmatic politicians address issues: acknowledge realities on the ground but base policies on a moral principle. This lamentable partitioning of the Somali people and their territories has left the Somali Republic in a dilemma. As the only independent sovereign Somali state, it has assumed the inevitable role of championing the cause of those other Somali territories still under alien authority. These now find them­ selves, with the exception of French Somaliland, the unnatural and the unwilling appendages of other sister African states. Consequently, Somalia has found itself in confrontation with these African states. Somalia on its part cannot understand how the natural political aspirations of the Somali peoples in these territories, and its own equally natural role and responsibility to their cause could possibly be misunderstood and taken amiss by any one with any clear knowledge and insight of the Somali problem. On the other hand, the leaders of our neighbouring states share the view that it is intolerable to have a sister African state interfering with what they consider to be the internal affairs of their countries. These two diametrically opposed concepts of the problem have led to bitterness, to open conflict and to un­ becoming postures and attitudes of confrontation. Such was the situation which my Government inherited when it took office in July 1967. We immediately decided to make this problem our first concern in formu­lating the new policies of the country. Naturally, the aims and the political objectives of the Somali people are unalterable and are enshrined in our constitution, viz, that we are obliged to seek the unification of the Somali territories through peaceful and legal means. It was however open to us to alter the policy of confrontation and to seek accommodation for a detente with our neighbours as a preliminary to creating a suitable atmosphere without abandoning the context of our political aspirations and objectives. From the outset, we made it clear on every possible occasion that, as the Somali Republic, we have no policy of aggrandizement against our neighbours, neither do we want to claim territory that is not our own. We are, however, irretrievably bound by unbreakable ties to our Somali brethren who still have not had the opportunity freely to choose their own political destiny. Of the five segments into which the Somali nation was artificially partitioned, only two, namely the Somali Republic , have attained their right of self-deter­ mination. It is only natural that the remaining three segments should also seek to exercise this freedom of political expression, and whether they obtain support from outside sources including Somalia is irrelevant to their own struggle for independence. The desire for freedom stems from within and is not being imposed from external sources as some would make the world believe. This innate national and political consciousness is the real root of the problem and the source of the continuous friction between the Somali peoples and the governments which now control them. Therefore, at the OAU Summit Con­ ference in Kinshasa , I made tentative approaches to the leaders of both of our neighbours, and I am glad to say that my initiatives have been richly rewarded by a reciprocal show of goodwill and a desire for peaceful negotiations from my colleagues across the border. The Arusha Memorandum of Under­ standing which I signed with President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta last September has not touched upon the substance of our dispute with Kenya , but it has set up a firm foundation for an understanding and machinery for a mutual quest for a solution to the dispute. Its salient point is that Kenya recognises the existence of a major dispute and lends itself to seeking a solution for its settlement, whilst Somalia on its part undertakes to respect the sovereignty of Kenya. It is my sincere hope that in the process of discussing possible solutions to the dispute, and in the mental engagement of thinking out possible proposals acceptable to those directly involved, we shall eventually turn up with an equitable solution acceptable to all concerned. In that alone, there is hope ; and there is no valid reason why there should not be a good chance for settlement so long as there is goodwill and so long as both parties are realistic in their approach. In the meantime, we have decided to leave the people in the area in peace in the pursuit of their daily life, unimpeded by emergency regulations and by political strife. I have great confidence in the personal relationship which I have established with the Mzee, and I am convinced that he is just as anxious as I am to solve this problem once and for all.

^Nick got changed yet again. This time it happens to be Currling Waterfall. Get used to this change of nick.

^ Marra waaxid. Hayye hee aawanna xaragada iyo xaalkii aad balanta ku qaaday in aad na guddoonsiiso sidii xeerku ahaa in ninkii geffa oo dee issagoon cidi xukumin issagu golle ka qirta in aan ciqaab iyo xarig midna lagu dayin e xaal marin laga dhowro. Hadal badan haa ma buuxshe ee ninyahaw magaca wanaagsan ama nin doodiisu tahay annigu cidna wax uma dhimin kumana aabyoon ahoow ama dee naga gar bax see Alle kuu galay awoowe. Bal waxa muqadamiin. maqaawiir, garcas, intii garasho waayeel lahayd ee halkaa addigu kuu gabran eeg. Halka aad tidhi raggiina gabdhahayaga ma gayaan, awoowe waa khatif iyo gef kale. Hadaan eegnay fudeydkaaga iyo dhaadhacaaga assaan odorosnay sida aad u midabeyneyso oo hadba hawlo aan is galin issugu qasseyso, waxaannu garannay in aannu wax ka gilgilasho ah aynaannu qadaf kaa danbe ka muujin. Li'annu waannu kaa daaleeynaa. Ileyn kolkaan hadba is niraahno kala dhamaate halkeedii baad ka miiseeysaa e! Midka aad tidhi dhaqan wanaagsan baannu lahaan jirnay ninyahow magaca wanaagsan halkaa si sidaa ka duwan baannu u arganaa. Waxaan qabaa in dhaqankayagu uu meelaha qaar ku wanaagsanaa sida martisoorka. Sidoo kale waxaan indhaha laga qarsin karin waxyaalo badan oo gadaal innoo dhigay sida casabiyada, gudniinka fircooniga ah, iyo beryada ama shaxaadka. Hadde waa ayada la yiri dadka maangalka ah ra'yiga waa suure inay ku kala duwanaadaan. Ee awoowe sida ii la garo. Isku soo duub. Ninyahow magaca wanaagsan dhinac isu raac. Waxay ila tahay hadaad dib u milicsato halakan waxaad maanta uga hadashay waa garan doontaa sidaad u midabeysay. Awoowe intaa ma ku kala joognaa mise xaal iyo xarago yaad qadafkii hore iga siinaysaa kii danbena qirasho aan qaneeco ka helo baad igu aamusinaysaa. Awoowe kalaamkeygu waa rag xaajadii oo dee kaftan aan turxaan lahayn buu u badan yahay laakiin dulucdu waa yeynaanu isku dhicin. Ilaahayba iga tahay waxaas oo kalaam ah markaan qorohayey waan dhoolo cadeynahayey

^ Beautifull just beautifull. Saxibkey Duqa Boston waa ii salaxan tahay rigoore camal. Laakiin rageedii aan ahay I will let it slide this time. Hawraarsan bal xaal iyo xarago waxaad noo waday na guddoonsii. Nin wanaagsan baa tahay marba hadaad inta garnaqsatay aad garatay in aysan munaasib ahayn in gabadh i sii lagu yiraahdo rag afeeftay kow iyo laba jeer hablahoodu in aan sidii hadiyadii la bixin. Imisa jeer baan ku nirri qalanjooyinka iyo dhuubooyinka Ilaah nagu galadaystay waxaa hela kaliya nin ay iyagu janteen oo heshiis ku yihiin guurka. Imisaanu Somalida kor iyo hoos ugu sheegnay in abaarta inooga aadan uun ay tahay in lala eego iyo in galbin iyo dabaldeg heshiiskood xalaasha ah xalaashana ku yimid lagu maamuso. Kaa weeye innagu dhaqankaanu niqiin. Malaha isku xaafad beynu ka iman. Magac wanaagsane maahmaahdu waa tii iyada ahayd. Waa ninna si u yiri, ninna si u qaaday.

^ Good one Lady FF. Easy with the stress. Don't let it get to u. Keep them coming sis. Alle-u-Baahane, Ma kaa dhab baa! oo awoowe ma ilowday beladii na kala qabsatay berrigii adigoo habow ah oo heybinaya inna Dhagax-Tuur aannu kuu hiilanay oo aannu ku tilmaanay deetana aad waxii la ogaa naga raacisay. See Alle kuu galay sxb. Show durbadiiba waad ilowday in aad gogol waayeel, gar cas, iyo maqaawiir ay fadhido nagu ciideysay oo waliba hadalo aan munaasib ahayn aad gabadha kula (in the heat of the moment) dul kuftay. Ha ilaabin in innagu hadaannu nahay raggii sida caamka ah loo yiqiin in gabdhahayaga aan sidii hadiyadii la hibayn. Xaasha awoowe show aqoon baa issugu kaaya laaban. Awoowe hana danbaajin maalin Ramadaan baa la joogaa e. Muhammed waa la habeenaa laakiin gabadh la siin mayo. Waa la tilmaamaya weeye macanuhu. Addiga qudhaada axem hadii Eebe idinkeed leeyahay waa lagu tilmaamahayaa. Laakiin waa hadii sidii gobanimada lahayd aad xarago iyo xaal gefkii aad nagula kacday naga siisid.

JB I'm glad u like it. In fact I thought you would. Have a safe trip. I'm kinda dissapointed in you my boy JB. I thought ur philosophical renditions would shake our SOL resident-scholar and in the process the crowd would get enlightened. You see JB philosophy and theology is not our cup of tea and most of us lay folks don't get the gist of it most of the times. Maa caleesh though. Will make sure I don't miss it when u come back from Italy invigorated and energised by the wisdom of the giants that used to dwell in that historical Rome in its heyday. Till then have a one of a kind of Ramadan and see ya soon. So long JB.

Horn Afrique, I am right there with u, living in Seattle that is. I live there part-time. I buy my hilib halal from Renton Halal Meat you know where and have relatives in Kent, Renton, and Burien. My bad Horn. I was comparing the city with San Jose, Toronto, and Minneapolis. It came short and I'm calling it as I see it. I guess you right you may know more than I do in socializing dept. for I'm a new comer. However, the truth is the city is damn gray and everyone will agree with me notwithstanding with passionate Horn. The rain common brother this city is way too rainy. Rain pours in from the heaven in three seasons out of the four! Tukwilla is where are the Somalis are biz wise and u know it. If u want to send couple of greens to home u go to Tukwilla. If u want to get Somali stuff u go to Tukwilla. If u want to eat Somali cuisine u go to Salaama, Marwo, that lil shack called Ayan or something...and the one in downtown Most of Hilib halals are in there. How about Somali shopping centers again Tukwila. I get my haircut done there too. Tukwila is a ghetto as gheto gets. MLK and Rainer areas are ghetto my friend. Broadway area in Mpls or old Franklin/Chicago intersection's Phillips neighborhood back in the days before the renovations fare way better I tell ya. I have seen both places and Rainer and MLK section of Tukwilla are rundown places. I suppose every nmajor city has a ghetto but Horn is painting his neck of the wood with rossy color. I remember even the date I saw the Somali prostitute and drug addict thug wannabee on International BLvd. It was late August and there was big wedding taking place Seatac hotel and a lot of my buddies came from Toronto and Mnpls for this wedding. I was dropping someone to Tukwilla and there she was just on the intersection where we were stopped by traffic light. First time in my stay in the states that I have seen openly Somali prostitute. That being said I like the city especially Issaquah town. I don't if you have been this area of the metropolitan but man the view is breathtaking nature undisturbed. They have starbuck in a seemingly remote or rather isolated strip mall...two homengous mountains populated by forest trees in plain view...can't get better than that. Waryee u and Brown didn't realise inaan isku xaafad nahay haye. Now u know...not really but I'm there every other week doin shopping for my halal rations. An I stay put two days in a row.

***Is this seat taken, No dankis...waves Asalamu Caleykum to Nur and says Hi to my boy JB...as Baashi settles in this uncomfortable seat, the imaginary screen character beside me breaks the ice and said u must be good Ol'Baashi...trying too hard to recognize him with no avail...I said u must be a new nomad. New Nomad: Ramadan Kariim Oday Baashi. Ol'Baashi: Ramadan Kariim ya akhi. NN: I like SOL but what's up with this never ending muran adeer Baashi. OB: Well I guess u r right but look on the bright side of things. Ya see, I call what u refer to as muran an uncomfortable conversation that must happen. NN: Adeerkiis as often is the case u lost me again. I don't know what's up with ur peretentious self...let me break it for u Duqa: here is how I see it if the convo is uncomfortable, don't have it. Ain't that simple? OB: Yes it is. Can I ask you a question NN. NN: Ya betcha. OB: Do u like to be challenged say in ur views of things. NN: Hell NO! R u nuts! Look old man, why would I like to be confronted by an ignorant Geeljire? OB: I guess u have a point. U see there r folks who for one reason or another like to have intellectual discussion with fellaz whose views are not compatible with theirs. They figure if they sit down with these high calibre guns at least they will learn one or two things from them. In the same token, there are folks who think that if they have something valuable it is their moral duty to share that which is good with their fellow community members. NN: U kidding aren't u old man? My take on these things is to avoid arguments. Also I despise the self-rightous folks who think they have a license to tell others what to do and how to do it. U see my motto in life is live and lett others live. It ain't that complicated if u think about it. OB: Live and let others live I like that. And No it's not that complicated. But if you think about it there is something unsettling in all of this...u see the question live according to whose laws begs the question. For instance, here in the states it's illegal to have a sip of Budweiser if u r under 21. Just across the border they let u drain a pack of Miller down in ur throat if u r 19 yrs old! Apparently u r not free to fancy whatever u wanna do. What u make of these limitations imposed on society by different authorities? NN: Not to disrespect u or anything like that but u seem to be missing the point here. These limitations are imposed by men whose power are checked by our tastes. I can assure u if the people want to change the age where we can drink alcohol then we will just vote for some initiative and it will be done. BO: So if 30% don't want that to happen but 31% wants the old ordinace revised to their liking, and the rest don't care about one way or another, the 30% who say no should swallow their pride and go with the flow...right? NN: Duh! this is no brainer adeer. It's what the democracy is all about. If u got ideas take them to the people and if u can't convince the majority then too bad and don't balme anyone cuz u couldn't sell it to the masses. BO: I see where u coming from but my point is someone is not letting the other to live life the way one see fit. Don't u agree NN? NN: Yeah sort of. But hey this is as good as it gets. I don't see any alternative to this thriving market place of ideas where freedom of speech is protected by the highest court of the land. BO: Hold it buddy! NN: Jee what's gotten in u old man? You shouldn't shout like that...see we are different Oldy I don't get excited like that with simple convo. BO: Easy boy. Did u say the highest court? and I take it what u r referring to is the constitution right? NN: Duh. Yeah! BO: And I take it that's the yardstick all the legislative and executive (elected branches) initiatives conform to. No? NN: I guess so...hell I don't know...u think I'm geek or something? BO: Same here NN I dunno much about these things. We just had a good and civil conversation about the stuff that make society tick. ***It looks like another good mannered and civil conversation is about to start off. It looks like someone is telling the crowd that the stage is for only these two nomads and the rset are asked to be quiet and be considerate***

Akhyaarta ma isla keeneesaane ma kala gambisatiin.

Brown, I see you highlighted Bellevue but I gotta give to u...Bellevue is a one helluva town. But c'mon how many times can u go to Space needle...everyday yeah right. On a serious note, Portland, Oregan is "the" city in my book. I gave it this high mark on the liveable status ground. Less hassle and less gangs in the cheap and avordable areas of the city.

It's a gray, cloudy, and rainy for the most of the year! For how long? here is the surprise: nine frikking months! It gets F for commuting. It has only one main highway (I-5). Hwy I-90 is not much of a help. Granted there are corrolory bypasses but that's it! They are batch fixes to I-5. The upside: plenty of seafood and coffee The city is surrounded by forrest and mountains - a breath taking few but in order to enjoy it ya gotta go out say about 40 miles to the east on I-90. Of course Mount Rainer is the highlight. Somali community live all over and apart each other. They have not so fancy biz going in the getto area of Tukwilla. Roads are terrible there even though they finnaly fixed the International blvd. Somali Restuarents are terrible as well. Majority of the Somalis are blue color workers with menial jobs. Surprisingly enough, many of them work in the Seatac airoport! The good thing is almost all of them do work though. A lotta cabbies too. The community is not organized and the talented Somalis are very few and they are detached from the community. There is high tech industry in the city but unfortunately there are only handful (several) who are employed by these high tech. If you are the hip kinda fella too bad...u better mix with non-Somalis for an entertainment cuz Somalis seem to be qaad-jewing group and cheap hard-liqour drinking who go to cheap nite clubs. On the bright side there are a lot of students, sports (soccer mainly), handful of college going nomads. Religiouly inclined Somalis are very organized and have their leader Sh. Ibrahim. They have raised about over a million dollars for a new Masjid that will be constructed in the Tukwilla area. They have bought the land and will start another fundraising events soon. Seattle is the only city in the states and I have been in several cities, that I have seen Somali prostitutes. To be exact I have seen a young thug wannabee 18 yr old prostitute on Inetrnational Blvd!!!! Moreover at one time I was helping a guy who got ripped off by US Bank well not really but kinda and there was a young lady propbably drunk asking a quarter...gotta go my man Horn Afrique I'm terribly sorru but under skycrapers their is a dark world out there.

Cajiib, yaab, amakaag, istacajib, ashqaraar, anfariir, iyo dhabanohays baannu aragnay. All of this cuz Yaasiin raised the issue of abortion within Somali community in Mpls.

Parents: Don't let your kids loose their heritage intaad English ku practice garee is leedihiin.. Good advice sis but ain't that easy.

Mr. Moderator ya Muhammed duqa ha lagu habeeyo bacdu Ramadan. What ya say? Shez, Dale is a wise man I tell ya. He understands human nature very well and knows how to articulate that understanding in a plain English. Rare talent I say. Ms. Goat swallower sxb ain't easy having them kids wallahi. Hooyoda dhankeedana bal ila eeg. Writing On The Wall A weary mother returned from the store, Lugging groceries through the kitchen door. Awaiting her arrival was her 8 year old son, Anxious to relate what his younger brother had done. "While I was out playing and Dad was on a call, T.J. took his crayons and wrote on the wall! It's on the new paper you just hung in the den. I told him you'd be mad at having to do it again." She let out a moan and furrowed her brow, "Where is your little brother right now?" She emptied her arms and with a purposeful stride, she marched to his closet where he had gone to hide. She called his full name as she entered his room. He trembled with fear--he knew that meant doom! For the next ten minutes, she ranted and raved About the expensive wallpaper and how she had saved. Lamenting all the work it would take to repair, She condemned his actions and total lack of care. The more she scolded, the madder she got, Then stomped from his room, totally distraught! She headed for the den to confirm her fears. When she saw the wall, her eyes flooded with tears. The message she read pierced her soul with a dart. It said, "I love Mommy," surrounded by a heart. Well, the wallpaper remained, just as she found it, With an empty picture frame hung to surround it. A reminder to her, and indeed to all, Take time to read the handwriting on the wall. Source: don't remember. This one is a recycled post from my previous posts in SOL informative articles thread.

FATHER FORGETS, by W. Livingston Larned Listen, son: I am saying this as you lie asleep, one little paw crumpled under your cheek and the blond curls stickily wet on your damp forehead. I have stolen into your room alone. Just a few minutes ago, as I sat reading my paper in the library, a stifling wave of remorse swept over me. Guiltily I came to your bedside. There are the things I was thinking, son; I had been cross to you. I scolded you as you were dressing for school because you gave your face merely a dab with a towel. I took you to task for not cleaning your shoes. I called out angrily when you threw some of your things on the floor. At breakfast I found fault, too. You spilled things. You gulped down your food. You put your elbows on the table. You spread butter too thick on your bread. And as you started off to play and I made for my train, you turned and waved a hand and called, "Goodbye, Daddy!" and I frowned, and said in reply, "Hold your shoulders back!" Then it began all over again in the late afternoon. As I came up the road I spied you, down on your knees, playing marbles. There were holes in your stockings. I humiliated you before your boyfriends by marching you ahead of me to the house. Stockings were expensive-and if you had to buy them you would be more careful! Imagine that, son, from a father! Do you remember, later, when I was reading in the library, how you came in timidly, with a sort of hurt look in your eyes? When I glanced up over my paper, impatient at the interruption, you hesitated at the door, "What is it you want?" I snapped. You said nothing, but ran across in one tempestuous plunge, and threw your arms around my neck and kissed me, and your small arms tightened with an affection that God had set blooming in your heart and which even neglect could not wither. And then you were going, pattering up the stairs. Well, son, it was shortly afterwards that my paper slipped from my hands and a terrible sickening fear came over me. What has habit been doing to me? The habit of finding fault, of reprimanding this was my reward to you for being a boy. It was not that I did not love you; it was that I expected too much of youth. I was measuring you by the yardstick of my own years. And there was so much that was good and fine and true in your character. The little heart of you was as big as the dawn itself over the wide hills. This was shown by your spontaneous impulse to rush in and kiss me good night. Nothing else matters tonight, son. I have come to your bedside in the darkness, and I have knelt there, ashamed! It is a feeble atonement; I know you would not understand these things if I told them to you during your waking hours. But tomorrow I will be a real daddy! I will chum with you, and suffer when you suffer, and laugh when you laugh. I will bite my tongue when impatient words come. I will keep saying as if it were a ritual: "He is nothing but a boy- a little boy"! I am afraid I have visualized you as a man. Yet as I see you now, son, crumpled and weary in your cot, I can see that you are still a baby. Yesterday you were in your mother's arms, your head on her shoulder. I have asked too much, too much. ++++++++++++++++++++++ I had a similar experience with my lil jr the other night...I remembered this reading from Dale Carnegie's book...I thought I share it with the SOL parents and other wannabees. Ramadan Kariim akhyaarta.

Ramadan Kariim.

Different take...hear me out. 1. Tribes/clans are the basis of Somali society is organized. In contrast, many nations around the world have social organization based on ideology, class, ethnicity, race, or religion but they also have unified national interest that overrides their differences. 2. Somalis are clan-conscious society. 3. Tribes and its ofshoot clans vie for political power and economic resources. Political contests in Somalia have always been waged along tribal lines (in sixties political parties were vying political power but under the facade the parties were clans disguised as legit political party) . The only exception that I can think of is the Islamists who attempt to position themselves as political force. There is also different political contest with nationalistic streak (unionists vs. secessionists) but many believe that it has tribal undercurrent too.