I voted for you!

lol JB, What's the chances?! I was talking about Somali goats yesterday at work and then you go a post these, this is so strange because it happens far too often for it to be a coincident.

Abu-Salman try http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/choosingandusing/findasolicitor.law you can search by area and it details if they accept legal aid etc.

looool, what is that? looks very cool. Saddaam Khaliqo looks very fetching in striped wooly hat. I would love to play this game...what is it? Pirates of the burning sea lol trust you to be on there. The conversation is hilarious too. btw I don't think my hat making skills are all that good, but it'll be good to have a project to take along to the group.

We might be having another snow day tomorrow...fingers crossed! The met office has reported heavy snow from 6pm tonight and tomorrow morning. --------- Flash and Early warnings and Advisories have been issued for London & South East England Heavy snow showers at first this evening becoming heavier and more prolonged overnight will give accumulations of 5-10cm and locally as much as 15-20cm. Some drifting snow is likely in the strong north to northeasterly wind. The public are advised to take extra care and refer to the 'Highways Agency' for further advice on traffic disruption on motorways and trunk roads. Issued at: 1437 Thu 17 Dec http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/se/london_forecast_weather.html

funniest story today! http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126102247889095011.html?mod=yahoo_buzz By SIOBHAN GORMAN, YOCHI J. DREAZEN and AUGUST COLE WASHINGTON -- Militants in Iraq have used $26 off-the-shelf software to intercept live video feeds from U.S. Predator drones, potentially providing them with information they need to evade or monitor U.S. military operations. Senior defense and intelligence officials said Iranian-backed insurgents intercepted the video feeds by taking advantage of an unprotected communications link in some of the remotely flown planes' systems. Shiite fighters in Iraq used software programs such as SkyGrabber -- available for as little as $25.95 on the Internet -- to regularly capture drone video feeds, according to a person familiar with reports on the matter. U.S. officials say there is no evidence that militants were able to take control of the drones or otherwise interfere with their flights. Still, the intercepts could give America's enemies battlefield advantages by removing the element of surprise from certain missions and making it easier for insurgents to determine which roads and buildings are under U.S. surveillance. The drone intercepts mark the emergence of a shadow cyber war within the U.S.-led conflicts overseas. They also point to a potentially serious vulnerability in Washington's growing network of unmanned drones, which have become the American weapon of choice in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Obama administration has come to rely heavily on the unmanned drones because they allow the U.S. to safely monitor and stalk insurgent targets in areas where sending American troops would be either politically untenable or too risky. The stolen video feeds also indicate that U.S. adversaries continue to find simple ways of counteracting sophisticated American military technologies. U.S. military personnel in Iraq discovered the problem late last year when they apprehended a Shiite militant whose laptop contained files of intercepted drone video feeds. In July, the U.S. military found pirated drone video feeds on other militant laptops, leading some officials to conclude that militant groups trained and funded by Iran were regularly intercepting feeds. In the summer 2009 incident, the military found "days and days and hours and hours of proof" that the feeds were being intercepted and shared with multiple extremist groups, the person said. "It is part of their kit now." A senior defense official said that James Clapper, the Pentagon's intelligence chief, assessed the Iraq intercepts at the direction of Defense Secretary Robert Gates and concluded they represented a shortcoming to the security of the drone network. "There did appear to be a vulnerability," the defense official said. "There's been no harm done to troops or missions compromised as a result of it, but there's an issue that we can take care of and we're doing so." Senior military and intelligence officials said the U.S. was working to encrypt all of its drone video feeds from Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, but said it wasn't yet clear if the problem had been completely resolved. Some of the most detailed evidence of intercepted feeds has been discovered in Iraq, but adversaries have also intercepted drone video feeds in Afghanistan, according to people briefed on the matter. These intercept techniques could be employed in other locations where the U.S. is using pilotless planes, such as Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia, they said. The Pentagon is deploying record numbers of drones to Afghanistan as part of the Obama administration's troop surge there. Lt. Gen. David Deptula, who oversees the Air Force's unmanned aviation program, said some of the drones would employ a sophisticated new camera system called "Gorgon Stare," which allows a single aerial vehicle to transmit back at least 10 separate video feeds simultaneously. Gen. Deptula, speaking to reporters Wednesday, said there were inherent risks to using drones since they are remotely controlled and need to send and receive video and other data over great distances. "Those kinds of things are subject to listening and exploitation," he said, adding the military was trying to solve the problems by better encrypting the drones' feeds. The potential drone vulnerability lies in an unencrypted downlink between the unmanned craft and ground control. The U.S. government has known about the flaw since the U.S. campaign in Bosnia in the 1990s, current and former officials said. But the Pentagon assumed local adversaries wouldn't know how to exploit it, the officials said. Last December, U.S. military personnel in Iraq discovered copies of Predator drone feeds on a laptop belonging to a Shiite militant, according to a person familiar with reports on the matter. "There was evidence this was not a one-time deal," this person said. The U.S. accuses Iran of providing weapons, money and training to Shiite fighters in Iraq, a charge that Tehran has long denied. The militants use programs such as SkyGrabber, from Russian company SkySoftware. Andrew Solonikov, one of the software's developers, said he was unaware that his software could be used to intercept drone feeds. "It was developed to intercept music, photos, video, programs and other content that other users download from the Internet -- no military data or other commercial data, only free legal content," he said by email from Russia. Officials stepped up efforts to prevent insurgents from intercepting video feeds after the July incident. The difficulty, officials said, is that adding encryption to a network that is more than a decade old involves more than placing a new piece of equipment on individual drones. Instead, many components of the network linking the drones to their operators in the U.S., Afghanistan or Pakistan have to be upgraded to handle the changes. Additional concerns remain about the vulnerability of the communications signals to electronic jamming, though there's no evidence that has occurred, said people familiar with reports on the matter. Predator drones are built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. of San Diego. Some of its communications technology is proprietary, so widely used encryption systems aren't readily compatible, said people familiar with the matter. In an email, a spokeswoman said that for security reasons, the company couldn't comment on "specific data link capabilities and limitations." Fixing the security gap would have caused delays, according to current and former military officials. It would have added to the Predator's price. Some officials worried that adding encryption would make it harder to quickly share time-sensitive data within the U.S. military, and with allies. "There's a balance between pragmatics and sophistication," said Mike Wynne, Air Force Secretary from 2005 to 2008. The Air Force has staked its future on unmanned aerial vehicles. Drones account for 36% of the planes in the service's proposed 2010 budget. Today, the Air Force is buying hundreds of Reaper drones, a newer model, whose video feeds could be intercepted in much the same way as with the Predators, according to people familiar with the matter. A Reaper costs between $10 million and $12 million each and is faster and better armed than the Predator. General Atomics expects the Air Force to buy as many as 375 Reapers. Write to Siobhan Gorman at siobhan.gorman@wsj.com, Yochi J. Dreazen at yochi.dreazen@wsj.com and August Cole at august.cole@dowjones.com

lol... Max Power—he's the man whose name you'd love to touch... But, you musn't touch! His name sounds good in your ear But when you say it, you mustn't fear Because his name can be said by anyone! Including me happy birthday Max Powers, our very own Homer Simpson. Have a good one.

Aww thank you guys, I don't deserve all that praise considering I've barely been doing anything constructive of late. I've joined a knitting group called Stitch & ***** lol http://www.stitchand*****london.co.uk/ It’s free and sounds like fun...they meet all around London to help another through projects and guide learners. Meetings start back up after the christmas holidays!

Originally posted by Raamsade: I'm obviously not a Muslim. And I'm dead serious. Aren't you tired of apologizing for your religion? I'm the last person in the world to oppose any campaign by Muslims to change Hudud punishments. But for that campaign to be successful, it needs better arguments than the lamentable catalog we got in this thread. The Jihadis who implement these punishments cite Mohammed, the Ahadith and the Quran. What do you nay-sayers cite? They'll always win. Raamsade I think you should take a minute to read some of the previous posts. Hopefully in those posts you'll see some of the valid arguments we've stated in contrary to use of stoning in present day. No rational person can possibly deny the proof which has been taken from the Quran and hadith. I don't think anyone here has apologised for our religion, but I will apologies for those who take our religion in vain and twist it to serve their own needs. Raamsade I do honestly value your opinion, but like Tujiye said I have this distinct feeling that you're not here to debate about the use of stoning in Islam but to attempt to debunk Islam completely maybe even to provoke solers. If you’d like to debate about what is the true religion I’m happy to do that in another dedicated thread perhaps but not here.

That's just it Che...you're not allowed to question it, just follow it!

Originally posted by Geel_jire: Castro and Naden That the prophet P.B.U.H carried out this execution on numerous occasions refer to curly`s post for an example ... the actions and sunnah of the prophet are themselves divine revelations. Geel no one can honestly deny that stoning was practised but without the correct context people will be killed unlawfully. What we don't need are more hardliners, because we're are all equal in Allah's eyes and we should be more concerned about repenting for our own sins instead of busying ourselves with hunting down and killing other people who might well be innocent. Somalia is already rife with killings, If they really want to change things in Somalia maybe they need to take a good long hard look in the mirror and start with themselves.

QUOTE]Originally posted by Rayan*: ^^Wonder what offended you to that extent, how completely irresponsible of you, with all this self-importance drivel bay tidhi intay qosashay - what a sad-faced woman, How bloody rude! Also why don’t you rein your friends petty irritations instead aad dadka iska caayayso, say nothing to you and done nothing to you. What's wrong with you Rayan? Honest to god I had to re-read what I wrote just to make sure I didn't unconsciously insult the woman lol. Rayan I don't remember addressing you at all. it seems you're the defensive one here, did I offend you some how? Just for future reference dear just because someone posted right after you did doesn't mean their post was a reply to yours. And you had the cheek to call me self-important, nayaa get off your high horse and start reading a little more. p.s your insults need a little work too, 'sad faced woman' and 'irresponsible of you, with all this self-importance' what is that? BTW CL... did I ever mentioned I'm married, work and live in London?

Let stop bickering about who’s right and wrong and look at the facts... here is the only verse in the Quran prescribing the punishment for adultery. As you can see the second verse prescribes the punishment for those who unlawfully accuse someone (woman) of adultery without producing four witnesses. Al-Noor The woman and the man guilty of adultery or fornication― flog each of them with a hundred stripes: let not compassion move you in their case, in a matter prescribed by Allah, if ye believe in Allah and the Last Day: and let a party of the Believers witness their punishment. (2) Al-Noor And those who launch a charge against chaste women, and produce not four witnesses (to support their allegation)― flog them with eighty stripes: and reject their evidence ever after: for such men are wicked transgressors (4) Surah Al-Noor goes on to say... Al-Noor Let no man guilty of adultery or fornication marry any but a woman similarly guilty, or an Unbeliever nor let any but such a man or an Unbeliever marry such a woman: to the Believers such a thing is forbidden. (3) Which to me would explain that these people should live on...to even marry, right? Muslim :: Book 17 : Hadith 4196 Abu Huraira reported that a person from amongst the Muslims came to Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) while he was in the mosque. He called him saying: Allah's Messenger. I have committed adultery. He (the Holy Prophet) turned away from him, He (again) came round facing him and said to him: Allah's Messenger, I have committed adultery. He (the Holy Prophet) turned away until he did that four times, and as he testified four times against his own self, Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) called him and said: Are you mad? He said: No. He (again) said: Are you married? He said: Yes. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Take him and stone him. Ibn Shihab (one of the narrators) said: One who had heard Jabir b. 'Abdullah saying this informed me thus: I was one of those who stoned him. We stoned him at the place of prayer (either that of 'Id or a funeral). When the stones hurt him, he ran away. We caught him in the Harra and stoned him (to death). This hadith has been narrated through another chain of transmitters. Another hadith on adultery... Imran b. Husain reported that a woman from Juhaina came to the Prophet Muhammad and she had become pregnant because of adultery. She said: I am pregnant as a result of Zina. Allah's Apostle said: "Go back, and come to me after the birth of the child". After giving birth, the woman came back to Allah's Apostle, saying: "please purify me now". Next, Allah's Apostle said, "Go and suckle your child, and come after the period of suckling is over." She came after the period of weaning and brought a piece of bread with her. She fed the child the piece of bread and said, "Oh Allah's Apostle, the child has been weaned." At that Allah's Apostle pronounced judgment about her and she was stoned to death. I think you would all agree with me when I say that stoning isn’t something that we should take lightly as the prophet (saw) didn’t take it lightly. This hadith relates back how merciful the prophet (saw) was and how Islam is merciful... the man who committed adultery whilst married testified against himself four times as you must have four witnesses as stated in the Quran before the prophet (saw) asked him are you mad? Are you married? The woman in the second hadith was given the opportunity to breastfeed her child, weaned the child. The sunna is there so that we can all learn from the way the prophet behaved towards others and how he worshiped Allah...so we should look at these hadith and take away how merciful we should be to one another not to carry out brutal acts in the name of Islam without the proper knowledge and justice.

lol, what drivel. Hey CL I see you were getting hot and bothered about this topic, in all honesty I don't blame you! I've been keeping up with this thread for sometime now and I've had to stop myself from replying several times because I didn't want to bite anyone's head off. Seriously, this is just as pathetic as the "are Somalis African /Arab?' thread in the general section. It's like this inferority complex, where we're constantly having to prove our worth to others and to our selves. Why do we need someone else to tell you you're beautiful? In any rate how can you bulk together thousands of girls who look complete different to one another. I've seen plenty of unattractive and attractive women in all nationalities and the same applies for us. I personally think beauty should be completely objective to personal preferences but unfortunately globalisation has paved the way for a type of beauty that is a best unattainable and unrealistic for most...but can be brought for a price. All that aside I think you should be more concerned about making yourself feel good and confident about how you look and that's where I agree with CL... grooming yourself now and again helps and it wouldn't hurt!

Sorry che, what are you refering too?

I've read the replies and I think people expressing their disgust with this is correct and with good reason. Where as you are defending the someone maybe stoned to death in a country that is not fit to be called an Islamic State and is handing out Sharia law without following through the sunna? When people start abusing a religion in that way, anyone in their right mind would be outraged and disgusted with it and have the right to feel that way...even a non- Muslim. It's not about being politically correct; it's about being respectful to others and their beliefs. The tone you used was very dismissive, just because he's not Muslim...you shouldn't hate someone because they're different, that's not what Islam is about. -------- PS, it's not enough to say hey that's you opinion. What's wrong is wrong and should come to an end; however people like you are stopping that from happening.

Geel what the hell is up with you, why are you getting defensive about something that is clearly wrong in very aspect? Sharia law can not be enforced in a country that isn't under Islamic rule...Somali's government is in turmoil and it's hardly the place to start enforcing Sharia Law. Besides Islamic law is very black and white yet these people are abusing it. Stoning a person to death because of having sex out of wedlock or adultery is wrong when you have no witnesses and no judicial system in place. How can you be sure that injustices do not occur when you have so called self proclaimed judges and executioners. And Geel who are you to be calling JB gaal, what the hell is that based on? And even if he was non-Muslim why wouldn't his opinions count? His religion/ belief doesn't diminish his intelligence. You don't have the right to be talking to people like their beneath you, snobbery isn't a good look on you.

Are you serious? A good deed is a good deed and it'll help wipe away your bad deeds...it's the shaydaan that tells you not to bother because "you've gone too far". It's simple...If this person commits adultery and doesn't pray that would equate to more sins than someone who commits adultery and does pray...right?

Che, I'm not basing my judgement on skin colour like I said earlier Africa is very diverse. Look at the geographical and historical facts...we're African. Most of the 'white northerners' are rarely true representations of their countries and they will tell you their gulf ancestry themselves.

DP

Originally posted by MAXIMUS POWERS: Even in South Africa, Somalis businesses are attacked and destroyed since the black South Africans don’t consider Somalis to be African. I think you'll find the reason was because those business owners weren't South African yet reaping the rewards of something South Africans fought for, for so long. I don't know about the rest of your reasoning either, religion is hardly the reason why people think we might be ethnically different to Africans. The plain truth is that African have brought into the racist colonial ideas of what it means to be Black African.

Sorry to rubbish your post Queen but Somalis are Africans plain and simple...I'm tired of people discussing this over and over like it's up for debate. Africans are very diverse, so don't let anyone tell you you're not African because you don't fit into their narrow minded view of what an African look like.

Originally posted by General Duke: One of the worst movies I ever saw in quite a long time. It was so boring, there was hardly any dialogue and the characters were one dimensional at best. But what did you think, also don’t ask me how I ended up watching this rubbish. You were just intimidated by all the good loking actors. I loved that film regardless of what you jealous men say. I'm with 5....Team Jacob!

It's a little different for us Brits, £35,000 or under tax is 22% of your salary and 40% if your earning over £35,000 and that's not including National insurance tax. The idea that anyone is abusing taxpayers money and that includes MPs and bogus benefit claims annoy me!

Allahu naxaristo! Is Al shabah really just getting bad press? I think people need to stop deluding themselves, extremism can turn up anywhere!