Your suggestion was a good one but not one that is very practical. I assume that you’re a student, sitting at home after having had your solitary lecture today and you’re preparing to watch another episode of Neighbours (or was that Home and Away?). You have the time, and most importantly, the space to sit and recite the holy book. Many of the rest of us are at work and other than quick trivia to pass the time; we are not in a position to indulge in a great pastime as the one you suggest. Originally posted by sweeter_than_your_tea: ^alla maskaxdaada aan ka yaabay! ....theres more to life than SOL...if they can't discuss anything usefull in here they should log off and do something else homosexuality iyo Quran same sentence xitaa masoo gelin kari Heh. I’m going to return the favour and be real obtuse now and ask you ladies, have you not read the Quran? It’s very easy to put the two words in the same sentence, dear. That’s not much of an argument, is it now?

^^^^ Couldn't help it dee

^^ Such as?

Dr Nimco Cali an eminent Canadian anthropologist has gone back to her homeland to do “her bit†for her people. Dr Nimco was not a feminist, though she believed in women’s rights. Dr Nimco was not a sexist, though she supposed all Somali men to be a bunch of sick misogynists. Dr Nimco was born and raised in Toronto in what could be termed a middle class family; her father was also a doctor and her mother was a university lecturer. Nimco was an ambitious bookworm who studied and worked hard to gain her doctorate in anthropology at the young age of 30! She was single and fairly inexperienced. Nimco was an independent and strong willed individual. As soon as she set foot back in her homeland, she hired a small house and bought herself a landcrusier! She could have stayed with her relatives but this was a statement of intent on her part. Nimco’s mission was to empower her Somali sisters. She believed the first part of achieving that was by asserting her very own independence and showing the women of her homeland that a woman can take charge of her own destiny. After a few months of staying in her country and mingling with the womenfolk, Nimco decided it’s time to up the ante a little and tackle one of the main problems facing Somali women. She dreamed of abolishing the dreaded practise of FGM! During the same period, the rumour mill has been working extra hard and various stories have sprung up about this western-acting spinster who lives alone and drives a car! People wondered about the reason for her single hood at the age of 30. Some used this, her independence and some of her “shameful†western ways to suggest that it would not be a farfetched idea to assume that Nimco also had a secret smoking habit. Others spread more sinister rumours about her. In no time at all, it was agreed by most that western and uncultured Nimco was a lesbian. Living alone, driving a car and having an alleged smoking habit were all strong signs of this “western†disease. Nimco, unaware of these rumours, got down to work and started questioning women about FGM and their feelings about it. Being the studious scientist that she is, she did not start by asking specific questions but rather limited her questions to those that were general in nature at first. She would strike up a conversation with a woman and ask her if she was married, how good is married life, were bedroom activities to her satisfaction, etc. By using this gossipy style of eliciting information, Nimco hoped to get an honest and fair idea of the effects of FGM on married women. The married women on the other hand, thought this western lesbian was flirting with them and were all aghast at her daring and shameful behaviour. The womenfolk decided to save this lost child and talk her into changing her disgusting ways. One day, while Nimco was sitting at home reading a book about FGM, a delegation of females knocked at her door and asked to be let in. Nimco put her book down on a table and invited them in with the usual exclamations of how her humble house has been blessed by such a visit, etc. The women, upon entering the room, noticed the book on the table and saw a glimpse of a photo of a female’s private part! They were horrified and one of them loudly declared this to be a lost cause and suggested that they all leave. The chairwoman of this delegation was adamant that they should all stay and have a word with Nimco. Nimco on her part, was very excited, and having been reading the FGM book for the past hour or so, felt equipped to tackle the issue head-on! The chairwoman started by eulogising the Somali culture and the Islamic faith (as you do). She went on to talk about how hard a woman’s lot in this world is and how Somali women always bore such hardships and responsibilities with great dignity and never neglected or rejected their duties. Nimco interrupted the old lady and told her that while it was indeed a noble thing to adhere to one’s duties, some parts of the Somali culture were wrong and needed to be eradicated. She was using FGM as her point of reference and assumed that the women implicitly understood her aim. The women were using her abnormal lifestyle as their point of reference and assumed that she tacitly understood their aim. When Nimco informed them that God created humans equal and that women should not meekly submit to the unreasonable whims of men, the women sighed in unison. This was, in their eyes, a confirmation of Nimco’s lesbianism and her desire to really be a man! Some of the women quietly surveyed the room for signs of cigarettes, but when they did not find any, the sight of an empty ashtray on the table was enough confirmation of this woman’s deviant ways! Nimco was appalled by what she perceived as meekness and submissiveness on their part and thought it was high time for plain talking. She was not going to mince her words anymore and was going to talk, directly, clearly and specifically about the horrid practise that is FGM. The women, having seen the stubbornness of this mixed up western spinster, were also outraged and decided to, once and for all, put this woman in her place. Whatever credit or respect she had from them was gone, the benefit of the doubt was no longer to be extended. This was a wayward child that’s needed a telling off! Nimco started speaking and mentioned FGM and how barbaric that practise was. The women were instantly on the defensive and, despite hearing the sense in her words, were not going to agree with a lesbian! One of them stumbled upon the brilliant idea of asking Nimco if she had gone through the, very normal process of FGM! Nimco told her that, fortunately for her, she never had to suffer such barbaric treatment. The women all looked at each other in shock and stared back at Nimco with petty, as if she divulged an embarrassing secret! Nimco, for her part, was shocked at their reaction! She was on the point of losing her temper and that was becoming obvious from her words as she told them that they all are, in a very small way, deformed! The women laughed, all at once. Some had tears in their eyes as they informed her that, in this society at least, she was the one who was deformed. Dr Nimco Cali the eminent Canadian anthropologist was independent, intelligent, highly cultivated and deformed! A few weeks after this incident took place, Dr Nimco was back in Canada where she felt normal again and was in no way deformed (though of course, being a Hijab wearer, the Canadians regarded her as a poor and oppressed woman who was forced by men’s interpretation of their and her faith to be submissive and meek). PS The above story is a work of fiction and none of the characters in it are real. In addition, it was my aim to leave it open to all manner of interpretation and not give my personal take on the issue. PPS I wrote this in a bit of a hurry fifteen minutes ago, so I apologise in advance for any grammatical, spelling or factual mistakes. One wasn’t trying to win the Nobel Prize for literature, see.

^^^^ It sounds like a good idea. Those plastic bags are a menace. In the case of Kenya, the report implies that those bags are manufactured in the country. Taxing these manufacturers while providing an environmentally friendly alternative should sort Kenya’s problem. Somaliland is probably a different case though. I’m not aware of plastic bag factories in Somaliland and can only assume that such products are imported! If such is the case, I really can’t see how the government can enforce such a law. American style paper bags would be much better in my opinion and can be recycled (oops, getting ahead of myself there). Again, it sounds like a very good idea, but is it enforceable?

^^^ I said this is going to turn vulgar sooner or later and it looks now like it’s heading that way. Are you saying that those who were “possessed†were abused in addition to being possessed? :eek: lol@Juma. The dog comment was merely a fleeting one but people seem to have hung on to it and let it run. We’ll be talking about snake knees and fish legs soon I bet.

^^^^ I believe Ireland did something similar a while back. Somaliland seems to be keeping up with the Joneses! Surely the qaat-chewing brigade will not stand for such nonsense though! Anyway, let's wait for some of the Somaliland haters to mock this whole idea and then the die hard Somalilanders to retaliate with a few words of their own. It'll give a whole new meaning to the phrase “bac ba ku xidhanâ€

^^^ X-rated? Oh for shame, woman, for shame. :eek: I'm going home now but if your question is, erm, of the educational variety in regards to homosexual dogs, drop me a PM and I'll try to give you an adequate reply later tonight. Dinho, that's a mule, saaxib.

That's what I thought.

^^ Now, now, what have the people of Cardiff ever done to you to deserve such insults, saaxib?

Originally posted by Libaax-Sankataabte: "C/laahi Yuusuf Axmed waxa uu yiri “kani waa Cali Maxamed Geedi, raiisal wasaarihii dowladda Federaalka Kumeel gaarka ee Somalia, isaga dowladdiisa ayaad ka amar qaadanaysaan, haddii aad ka hortimaaddaan reer Boosaasooy aniga ayaa meesha soo galaya anigana waan isnaqaannaa waan islaynaynaa†hadalkaasi ayuu madaxweyne C/laahi yuusuf jeediyay isagoo dhoola cadaynaya iyadoo dadweynaha dhagaysanayay khudbadda madaxweynaha ay iyaguna sacabka u tumeen iyagoo sidoo kale dhoola cadaynaya." SBC radio, Boosaaso. lol@dayniile.com . They didn't have to go that far. Fair and balanced. The way he spoke (in both “interpretationsâ€) comes across as being tongue-in-cheek. He wasn’t being serious, was he?

^^^ We rode them around and then let them go. Totti, I don't know about your theories, saaxib. I trust my own eyes. I could go on to convince you that such a thing, amongst animals at least, does exist. However, I fear that by attempting to do so, we might go down the slippery slope of vulgarity. Still, let me throw you a bone (heh): ** Warning: faint hearts should turn away now ** Have you never witnessed a dog getting excited over someone’s leg? Say no more, saaxib, say no more....

^^^ It broke my heart to part from him but I gave him to an English couple that thought he was cute and were in the lookout for male dogs. Now that you remind me, it seems that in the city I grew up in (in the UAE) I was the sole supplier of dogs! My friend, donkey Abood (a corruption of the name Abdi) specialised in wild donkeys but, sadly, had no customers (again, true story).

^^^^^ Seeing that you let loose straight after I posted my contribution to this thread, I’m left with the impression that my words were somewhat distasteful to your sensitive taste, saaxib! I took no position on this issue (or rather, didn’t want to air my views). Try not to take my story (true story by the way) literally and just follow the moral of it (I’m not comparing humans to dogs). For what it’s worth, I’m erring on your side of the argument here. Those opposing you are not presenting any solid refutations to your, rather, convoluted logic. The question that always irks me when faced with such discussion is one concerned with non-Muslims and whether they should adhere to Islamic rules! Is it ok to respect a non-believer? If it’s ok to respect such a person, one that does share our faith, does it matter if this non-believer was homosexual or not? Why?

Tragedy and comedy (though the latter is self evident) are appealing. The death of Hamlet, Ophelia and Macbeth were all very fascinating to anyone reading Shakespeare’s works. The Deaths of Hector in the Iliad, Achilles and Patroclus were breathtaking. The point of any such literary works is to convey the emotions, the drama and the overall absurdity of life. In Shakespeare’s tragedies, the audience, though many are likely to be contemporary students, doctors or Taxi drivers, identify with the situation the prince of Denmark finds himself in. As the plot unfolds, so too do the emotions and feelings of the readers of the tale! The issues Shakespeare dealt with are still valid even in today’s crazy world and those sampling his works for the first time find solace in the bard’s ability to analyse human nature and expose the vulnerability and depth of his characters for all to see. Such weaknesses and strengths, we all have! Such great masterpieces feed our fear and anxiety. In addition, many of these tragedies deal with moral quandaries. Hamlet’s timeless soliloquy for instance, deals with the idea of suicide “to be or not to beâ€! He chooses not to commit suicide because it’s not, according to his faith and responsibilities, the right thing to do. How many suicidal fellows would nod in agreement (or partial agreement) as they read those words and observe Hamlet’s self-examination? Macbeth on the other hand was an evil fellow who was driven by ambition and was goaded by his wife to kill all before him and become king. Still, despite that, he had some humanity in him and was troubled by his own virtues. It’s this close inspection of his own characters that makes Shakespeare’s tragedies worth watching. The plots might be different, but in our own lives, we too are faced with situations, moral predicaments and troubles as those confronting the characters of a tragic play. Art is but an imitation of life (as the saying goes), and where in real life one would be utterly absorbed in the “problem†to enjoy it’s cruel attraction, in plays, books and movies one is at liberty to sample such tragedies and reflect upon the complexity of life from a safe distance. Ultimately, it’s a reminder of our own mortality and lack of control. Shakespeare and many other talented storytellers are in the upper echelons of those able to convey such feelings, fears and views so vividly. However, even the most average of tragic tales would still receive a glimpse (though fleeting at times) from most. Think of hospital dramas on TV, think of Horror movies or even sad and very contrived folktales. People still seek out such stories and revel in the melancholic feelings they generate! Tragedy is appealing and pain and pleasure often overlap.

The Prince of poets, Ahmed Shouqi’s masterpiece on teachers. Ù‚Ùـمْ للمعلّم٠وَÙÙ‘Ùـه٠التبجيـلا كـادَ المعلّم٠أن يكونَ رسولا أعلمتَ أشرÙÙŽ أو أجلَّ من الذي يبني وينشئ٠أنÙـساً وعقولا سـبحانكَ اللهمَّ خـيرَ معـلّم٠علَّمتَ بالقلم٠القـرونَ الأولى أخرجـتَ هذا العقلَ من ظلماته٠وهديتَه٠النـورَ المبينَ سـبيلا وطبعتَـه٠بÙيَد٠المعلّـم٠، تـارةً صديء الحديد٠، وتارةً مصقولا أرسلتَ بالتـوراة٠موسى Ù…Ùرشداً وابنَ البتـول٠Ùعلَّمَ الإنجيـلا ÙˆÙجـرتَ ينبـوعَ البيان٠محمّداً Ùسقى الحديثَ وناولَ التنزيلا علَّمْـتَ يوناناً ومصر Ùزالـتا عن كلّ شـمس٠ما تريد Ø£Ùولا واليوم أصبحنـا بحـال٠طÙولـة٠ÙÙŠ العÙلْم٠تلتمسانه تطÙيـلا من مشرق٠الأرض٠الشموس٠تظاهرتْ ما بال٠مغربها عليه Ø£ÙدÙيـلا يا أرض٠مذ Ùقدَ المعلّـم٠نÙسَه بين الشموس٠وبين شرقك Ø­Ùيلا ذهبَ الذينَ حموا حقيقـةَ عÙلمهم واستعذبوا Ùيها العذاب وبيلا ÙÙŠ عالَـم٠صحبَ الحيـاةَ Ù…Ùقيّداً بالÙرد٠، مخزوماً بـه ØŒ مغلولا صرعتْه٠دنيـا المستبدّ كما هَوَتْ من ضربة٠الشمس الرؤوس ذهولا سقراط أعطى الكـأس وهي منيّةٌ Ø´Ùتي Ù…ÙØ­Ùبّ٠يشتهي التقبيـلا عرضوا الحيـاةَ عليه وهي غباوة Ùأبى وآثَرَ أن ÙŠÙŽÙ…Ùوتَ نبيـلا إنَّ الشجاعةَ ÙÙŠ القلوب٠كثيرةٌ ووجدت٠شجعانَ العقول٠قليلا إنَّ الذي خلـقَ الحقيقـةَ علقماً لم ÙŠÙخـل٠من أهل٠الحقيقة٠جيلا ولربّما قتلَ الغـرام٠رجالَـها Ù‚ÙتÙÙ„ÙŽ الغرام٠، كم استباحَ قتيلا أوَ كلّ٠من حامى عن الحقّ٠اقتنى عندَ السَّـواد٠ضغائناً وذخولا لو كنت٠أعتقد٠الصليـبَ وخطبَه٠لأقمت٠من صَلْب٠المسيح٠دليلا أمعلّمي الوادي وساسـة نشئـه٠والطابعين شبابَـه المأمـولا والحامليـنَ إذا دÙعـوا ليعلّÙمـوا عبءَ الأمانـة٠Ùادحـاً مسؤولا ÙˆÙŽÙ†Ùيَتْ Ø®Ùطـَى التعليم٠بعـد محمّد٠ومشى الهوينا بعد إسماعيـلا كانت لنا قَدَمٌ إليـه٠خÙÙŠÙـةٌ ورَمَتْ بدنلوب٠Ùكان الÙيـلا حتّى رأينـا مصـر تخطـو إصبعاً ÙÙŠ العÙلْم٠إنْ مشت الممالك٠ميلا تلك الكÙـور٠وحشـوها أميّةٌ من عهد٠خوÙÙˆ لم تَرَ القنديـلا تجد٠الذين بـنى المسلّـةَ جـدّÙهم لا ÙŠÙحسـنونَ لإبرة٠تشكيلا ويÙدَلّـلون ÙŽ إذا Ø£Ùريـدَ Ù‚ÙيادÙهـم كالبÙهْم٠تأنس٠إذ ترى التدليلا يتلـو الرجـال٠عليهم٠شهواتـهم Ùالناجحون أَلَذّÙهـم ترتيـلا الجهـل٠لا تحيـا عليـه٠جماعـةٌ كيÙÙŽ الحياة٠على يديّ عزريلا واللـه٠لـولا ألسـنٌ وقرائـحٌ دارتْ على Ùطن٠الشباب٠شمـولا وتعهّـدتْ من أربعيـن Ù†Ùوسـهم تغزو القنـوط وتغـرس٠التأميلا عرÙتْ مواضعَ جدبـهم Ùتتابعـتْ كالعيـن٠Ùَيْضَـاً والغمام٠مسيلا تÙسدي الجميلَ إلى البلاد٠وتستحي من أن تÙكاÙـأَ بالثنـاء٠جميـلا ما كـانَ دنلـوبٌ ولا تعليمـÙÙ‡ عند الشدائـد٠يÙغنيـان٠Ùتيـلا ربّÙوا على الإنصاÙÙ Ùتيانَ الحÙمـى تجدوهم٠كهÙÙŽ الحقوق٠كÙهـولا Ùهوَ الـذي يبني الطبـاعَ قـويمةً وهوَ الذي يبني النÙوسَ عÙـدولا ويقيم منطقَ كلّ أعـوج منطـق٠ويريه رأياً ÙÙŠ الأمـور٠أصيـلا وإذا المعلّم٠لم يكـنْ عدلاً مشى روح٠العدالة٠ÙÙŠ الشباب٠ضـئيلا وإذا المعلّم٠سـاءَ لحـظَ بصيـرة٠جاءتْ على يدÙه٠البصائر٠حÙـولا وإذا أتى الإرشاد٠من سبب٠الهوى ومن الغرور Ù ÙسَمّÙه٠التضـليلا وإذا أصيـبَ القوم٠ÙÙŠ أخلاقÙـهمْ Ùأقـمْ عليهـم مأتماً وعـويلا إنّي لأعذركم وأحسـب عبئـكم من بين أعباء٠الرجـال٠ثقيـلا وجدَ المساعـدَ غيرÙكم وحÙرÙمتـم٠ÙÙŠ مصرَ عونَ الأمهات٠جليـلا وإذا النسـاء٠نشـأنَ ÙÙŠ Ø£Ùمّـيَّة٠رضـعَ الرجال٠جهالةً وخمولا ليـسَ اليتيم٠من انتهى أبواه٠من هـمّ٠الحـياة٠، وخلّÙاه٠ذليـلا Ùأصـابَ بالدنيـا الحكيمـة منهما وبحÙسْن٠تربيـة٠الزمـان٠بديـلا إنَّ اليتيمَ هـوَ الذي تلقـى لَـه٠أمّاً تخلّـتْ أو أبَاً مشغـولا مصـرٌ إذا ما راجعـتْ أيّامـها لم تلقَ للسبت٠العظيم٠مثيـلا البرلـمان٠غـداً يـمدّ رواقَـه٠ظلاً على الوادي السعيد٠ظليلا نرجو إذا التعليم حرَّكَ شجـوَه٠إلاّ يكون ÙŽ على البـلاد بخيـلا قل للشباب٠اليومَ بÙورÙÙƒÙŽ غرسكم دَنت٠القطوÙ٠وذÙلّـÙلَتْ تذليـلا حَيّـوا من الشهداء٠كلَّ Ù…Ùغَيّـب٠وضعوا على أحجـاره إكليـلا ليكونَ حـظَّ الحيّ من شكرانكم جمَّـاً وحظّ الميت٠منه جزيـلا لا يلمس الدستور٠Ùيكم روحَـه حتّى يـرى جÙنْديَّـه٠المجهـولا ناشدتكم تلك الدمـاءَ زكيّـةً لا تبعثـوا للبرلمـان٠جهـولا Ùليسألنَّ عن الأرائـك٠سائـلٌ أحملنَ Ùضـلاً أم حملنَ ÙÙضـولا إنْ أنتَ أطلعتَ الممثّلَ ناقصـاً لم تلقَ عند كمالـه التمثيـلا Ùادعوا لها أهلَ الأمانـة٠واجعلوا لأولي البصائر منهÙـم٠التÙضيلا إنَّ المÙقصّÙرَ قد يحول ولن تـرى لجهالـة٠الطبـع٠الغبيّ٠محيـلا ÙلرÙبَّ قول٠ÙÙŠ الرجال٠سمعتÙـم٠ثم انقضى Ùكأنـه ما قيـلا ولكَمْ نصرتم بالكرامـة والـهوى من كان عندكم هو المخـذولا كَـرَمٌ وصَÙْحٌ ÙÙŠ الشبـاب٠وطالمـا كَرÙÙ…ÙŽ الشباب٠شمائلاً وميـولا قوموا اجمعوا Ø´Ùعَب٠الأÙبÙوَّة٠وارÙعوا صوتَ الشباب٠مÙحبَّبَاً مقبولا أدّوا إلى العـرش٠التحيّةَ واجعلـوا للخالق٠التكبيرَ والتهليـلا ما أبعـدَ الغايـات٠إلاّ أنّنـي أجÙد٠الثباتَ لكم بهنَّ ÙƒÙيـلا ÙÙƒÙÙ„Ùوا إلى الله٠النجـاحَ وثابـروا Ùالله٠خيرٌ كاÙلاً ووكيـلا Here is the Palestinian poet Ibrahim Touqan replying to that poem from a teacher’s perspective. شَوْقÙÙŠ ÙŠÙŽÙ‚Ùول٠وَمَا دَرَى بÙÙ…ÙصÙيبَتÙÙŠ Ù‚Ùمْ Ù„ÙلْمÙعَلّÙـم٠وَÙÙ‘Ùـه٠التَّبْجÙيــلا اقْعÙدْ ÙَدَيْتÙÙƒÙŽ هَلْ ÙŠÙŽÙƒÙون٠مÙبَجَّلاً مَنْ كَان٠لÙلْنَشْء٠الصّÙغَار٠خَلÙيلا وَيَكَاد٠يَÙْلÙÙ‚ÙÙ†ÙÙŠ الأَمÙير٠بÙقَوْلÙـه٠كَادَ الْمÙعَلّÙم٠أَنْ ÙŠÙŽÙƒÙونَ رَسÙولا لَوْ جَرَّبَ التَّعْلÙيمَ شَوْقÙÙŠ سَاعَةً لَقَضَى الْحَيَاةَ شَقَاوَةً ÙˆÙŽØ®ÙÙ…Ùولا حَسْب الْمÙعَلّÙÙ… غÙمَّـةً وَكَآبَـةً مَرْأَى الدَّÙَاتÙر٠بÙكْـرَةً وَأَصÙيلا Ù…Ùئَـةٌ عَلَى Ù…Ùئَة٠إÙذَا Ù‡ÙÙŠÙŽ صÙلّÙحَتْ وَجَدَ العَمَى نَحْوَ الْعÙÙŠÙون٠سَبÙيلا وَلَوْ أَنَّ ÙÙŠ التَّصْلÙيح٠نَÙْعَاً ÙŠÙرْتَجَى وَأَبÙيكَ لَمْ أَك٠بÙالْعÙÙŠÙون بَخÙيلا Ù„ÙŽÙƒÙنْ Ø£ÙصَلّÙح٠غَلْطَـةً Ù†ÙŽØ­ÙŽÙˆÙيَّـةً مَثَـلاً وَاتَّخÙØ° الكÙتَابَ دَلÙيلا Ù…ÙسْتَشْهÙدَاً بÙالْغÙـرّ٠مÙنْ آيَاتÙـه٠أَوْ بÙالْحَدÙيث٠مÙÙَصّلا تَÙْصÙيلا وَأَغÙوص٠ÙÙŠ الشّÙعْر٠الْقَدÙيم٠ÙَأَنْتَقÙÙŠ مَا لَيْسَ Ù…ÙلْتَبÙسَاً وَلاَ مَبْذÙولا وَأَكَاد٠أَبْعَث٠سÙيبَوَيْه٠مÙÙ†ÙŽ الْبلَى وَذَويÙÙ‡Ù Ù…Ùنْ أَهْل٠الْقÙرÙون٠الأÙولَى Ùَأَرَى (Ø­Ùمَارَاً ) بَعْدَ Ø°ÙŽÙ„ÙÙƒÙŽ ÙƒÙلّه رَÙَعَ الْمÙضَاÙÙŽ Ø¥Ùلَيْه٠وَالْمَÙْعÙولا لاَ تَعْجَبÙوا Ø¥Ùنْ صÙحْت٠يَوْمَاً صَيْحَةً وَوَقَعْت٠مَا بَيْنَ الْبÙÙ†Ùوك٠قَتÙيلا يَا مَنْ ÙŠÙرÙيد٠الانْتÙحَارَ وَجَدْتـه٠إÙنَّ الْمÙعَلّÙÙ…ÙŽ لاَ يَعÙيش٠طَويلا Both Poems (and more) found here

Didn’t want to disturb the other thread with these somewhat melancholic poems. In addition to admiring the poets’ genius, a sadistic predisposition compels me to derive real pleasure from the pictures that they paint. إني نظرت٠إلى المرآة٠إذ جÙليت Ùأنكرت Ù…Ùقلتاي ÙƒÙلَّ ما رأتا رأيت٠Ùيها Ø´Ùيَيْخاً لست٠أعرÙÙÙ‡ وكنت٠أعهده٠من قبل ذاك الÙتى Ùقلت: أين الذي بالأمس٠كان هنا متى ترحَّل عن هذا المكان٠متى؟ Ùاستضحكت ثم قالت وهي Ù…Ùعْجَبَةٌ إن الذي أنكرْتـه٠مقلتاكَ أتى كانت سÙلَيمي تنادي يا Ø£Ùخَيَّ وقد صارت سÙلَيمي تنادي اليومَ يا أبَتاه Source ÙƒÙÙ‰ حَزَناً أَنّ الشبابَ Ù…Ùعَجَّلٌ قصير٠الليالي والمشيب٠مخلَّد٠وعَزَّاكَ عن ليل٠الشباب معاشÙرٌ Ùقالوا: نهار٠الشيب أهدى وأرشد٠ÙقلتÙ: نهار المرء أهدى لسعيه ولكنَّ ظÙلَّ الليل أندى وأبرد٠محار٠الÙتى شيخوخةٌ أو Ù…ÙŽÙ†Ùيّةٌ ومرجوع٠وَهَّاج المصابيح رÙمْدÙد٠Same source as above.

You two are giving the game of good cop, bad cop a whole new set of rules, Duke. Impress you say? Why who else other than you would I seek to impress my dear? I even managed to get a roll of the eyes from you there, saaxib. Less of that if you please though. Otherwise, your fellow bad cop will turn against you and ask you to pay a visit to the women’s section again. This is cruel of me and I repent. I’ll leave you guys to discuss what compensation the Puntland government should pay this wronged man. Strictly speaking, it really should be the Somali government, with Somaliland chipping in for good measure. Oh deary me, I cracked another bad joke it seemes! Tsk, with such temptations one just can’t suppress the mirth. Carry on...

Originally posted by Farah: If this is to be true then the Puntland Admin should release him on bail and from thenceforth,the appropriate procedures should be followed in order justice to pervail. Jamatatu; If this happened in Hobyo or Hamar would you be so fervent to initiate this thread?; then again sadly, such things are trivial, sadly for more fetid things happen habitually that part of our country. Ngone: Doubtlesly, the Duke never takes you seriously; you have painted a picture of yourself that is whimsical to say the least-- perhaps such would go down well in the women's section; I hear have idée fixe for such things. I don’t recall having the pleasure of discoursing with such a cultivated gentleman as you, Farah (or is that lady? Farah, when written in English you see, can be read as either). Still, enough with the feminine niceties and let us get all masculine, dear boy. Would pistols at dawn suit you, my manly nomad? Ah! I fear I disrupted your cyber poise with my whimsical retorts again. How juvenile of me to suggest a duel in a virtual world, beg your pardon, lad! What I’ll say in my own defence, though it does not at all excuse my persistent merriment, is that your constant teasing is what drives me to mock and sneer. You (and your Duke) do mean to tease, don’t you? Ah damn my cursed humbleness; the novelty of addressing you has waned off already, saaxib! Up I return to my ivory tower to continue lobbing down my usual gibes (strangely enough, there, the novelty never wares off). :cool:

^^^Heh. Do people in Africa (never mind Somalia) get compensated when treated badly? :confused: Ps Never knew you valued my contributions, saaxib. I’ll endeavour to increase my input from now on, so long as you promise to provide me with the laughs. On a serious note, there isn’t much to comment on in the Somali situation nowadays. Things are changing so fast it would be foolish to predict what happens next (remember the story about relocating the capital for instance?).

^^^^ Heh@pay him compensation! "Do you accept Master Card, Sir or will the usual consignment of Camels do you?"

We lost 3-2 to the new money of West London, again. :mad: I'm not too sad though. I've written off this season a long time ago. Let Senor Benitez feel his way round this year, next year is where the Kop fans are expecting him to deliver. Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart....

I would like to apologise in advance to fellow LFC fans A primary teacher starts a new job at a school on Mersyside and, trying to make a good impression on her first day, explains to her class that she is a Liverpool fan. She asks her students to raise their hands if they, too, are Liverpool fans. Everyone in the class raises their hand expect one little girl. The teacher looks at the girl with surprise and says: "Mary, why didn't you raise your hand?" "Because I'm not a Liverpool fan," she replied. The teacher, still shocked, asked: "Well if your not a Liverpool fan, then who are you a fan of?" "I'm a Manchester City fan, and proud of it," Mary replied. The teacher could not believe her ears. "Mary, why, pray tell, are you a City fan?" "Because my mum and dad are from Manchester, and my mum is a City fan and my dad is a City fan, so I'm a City fan too!" "Well," said the teacher, in a obviously annoyed tone, "that's no reason for you to be a City fan. You don't have to be just like your parents all the time. What if your mum was a prostitute and you dad was a drug dealer and car theif, what what you be then?" "Then," Mary smiled, "I'd be a Liverpool fan." Just in case you need it..

The European Commission has announced an agreement whereby English will be the official language of the EU, rather than German, which was the other contender. Her Majesty's Government conceded that English spelling had room for improvement and has therefore accepted a five-year phasing in of "Euro-English". In the first year, "s" will replace the soft "c". Sertainly, this will make sivil servants jump for joy. The hard "c" will be dropped in favour of the "k", Which should klear up some konfusion and allow one key less on keyboards. There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the sekond year, when the troublesome "ph" will be replaced with "f", making words like "fotograf" 20% shorter. In the third year, publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expekted to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible. Governments will enkourage the removal of double letters which have always ben a deterent to akurate speling. Also, al wil agre that the horible mes of the silent "e" is disgrasful. By the fourth yer, peopl wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing "th" with "z" and "w" with "v". During ze fifz yer, ze unesesary "o" kan be dropd from vords kontaining "ou" and similar changes vud of kors be aplid to ozer kombinations of leters. After zis fifz yer, ve vil hav a reli sensibl riten styl. Zer vil be no mor trubls or difikultis and everivun vil find it ezi to understand ech ozer. ZE DREM VIL FINALI COM TRU! Herr Schmidt Sorse

When I was a kid I used to adopt stray dogs. The street outside my house was the scariest in the whole neighbourhood. I owned all kinds of dogs and they all hanged around the street waiting for me to come out. When I came out my dogs followed me everywhere I went. I was like a pied piper with my 16 dogs lining up behind me. One day, on my way to school, I looked around me to see if all my dogs were following when I noticed something really strange! Two of my dogs were having sex! THEY WERE BOTH MALE! I owned a gay dog! My gay dog (the girly one) was a pretty breed of dog. I can’t recall the breed’s name right now but, for those interested, it was the same breed as Tintin’s dog. My shock at discovring that I owned a gay dog led me to tell everyone I knew about this queer discovery. At first, all my friends laughed at this absurd idea, but as the days went on, the laughter grew and ended up being at my expense. “Here comes the gay dog owner“, they would say when they see me approaching. “You better be careful that your dog does not convert youâ€, they would shout out when they saw me walking my gay dog (and the rest). My gay dog became a burden and I had to get rid of it. One day, I did. Nowadays, if I should happen to discover that I had a gay dog, cat or friend I think I’m going to seek my own counsel and decide the best course of action without referring to anyone else. Carry on....