Two movies I eagerly await: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey We have waited since December 2003 of whether we'll be seeing Hobbits, Wizards, Dwarfs etc again and we are finally going to see it. It is a prequel to The Lord Of The Rings trilogy and we see how Bilbo first had the Ring and how it was originally to him and to everyone else just a magic ring. I think that the first film is on The Hobbit novel itself all together and the second film is like the gap in between The Hobbit and Lord Of The Rings (so possibly end about where Fellowship Of The Ring) began. I am going to be constantly obsessed with both of these films until released. Lord Of The Rings trilogy are my number 1 favourite film (including all three) and because it stars two of the actors who delivered the best performances in the trilogy: Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis and I am intrigued at the rest of the cast especially Martin Freeman as Bilbo. Peter Jackson directed, co-produced and co-wrote my favourites ever and with this prequel, I could see him making both Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit my number 1 and 2 favourites. We'll have to see. DJANGO UNCHAINED Quentin Tarantino directing a spaghetti western? Wow! Now, this will be something worthwhile. A spaghetti western + Quentin Tarantino = "cool". After directing his previous film Inglourious Basterds and showing that he is capable of almost making almost any kind of film. However, I think Django Unchained could be something that is a typically unique Tarantino style, but with a very emotional story alongside. Of what we know the cast is going to be thus far, it is probably the most impressive cast that has ever been in a Quentin Tarantino film. First, seeing Jamie Foxx as the protagonist. Awesome! Christoph Waltz returning in a Tarantino film after his mind-blowing Oscar-winning performance in Inglourious Basterds! Leonardo DiCaprio in a Tarantino film? Awesome. Better yet, he is playing the villain! Now, that'll be REALLY interesting to see. Samuel L. Jackson who has worked alongside Tarantino a few times in the past has a role in the film too. No Tarantino works well with actors without Jackson, especially after Pulp Fiction! Kevin Costner, an actor who people have mixed feelings for, but I find a very good actor and definitely a great director, so should be great to see him in the film too! I know for a fact that this will be a badass film that will rival with 'The Hobbit' in Christmas 2012. I know already that they will be my favourite films of 2012. http://www.listal.com/list/most-anticipating-films-2012

If you wonder what happened to the old topic, read this. These days, they can jail for not just hosting such material but being part of the desemination culture in the form of a 'conspiracy charge'. I prefer to keep my 'clean record' clean, as does the Admin, hence the need for a new topic strictly discussing films and animation without the insertion of controversial material.

Raula that is sweet! MMA, my favourite uncle lives in Toronto, I might be heading your way in the near future!

Your absolutely right, you can add to that the various new soap, furniture, boat, and beverages factories. It seems the Kurd has a point, there is a potential lucrative market for these milk products.

Well, MMA, one community is just coming out of a war, while another has enjoyed the fruits of Turkish industralization. Somalia had bigger factories than any owned by a Kurd before the war, in fact some of them were the biggest in Africa, but our fortunes perished when the state collapsed and with it the ability to construct major modern infrastructure and export various products. No amount of remittances can change this I'm afraid, or result in the construction of a major milk-products factory, only the big businessmen or the state can, and there is still the risk of losing all of your investment, just look at the fate of all the major factories and plants.

The Kurdish brother clearly has an issue with the Turkish State, not surprising, however his comment on the variety of Somali milk products is nonsense. Somalis make butter, yoghurt and cheese, usually from Sheep milk, just because he happened to not come across those products doesn't mean they don't exist. It's like coming to Beirut in the aftermath of the war and then in a silly way point out why the Lebanese don't have honey, carrots and chocolate in their stores, a bloody war just happened dude. I concur with Carafaat, this is all about systems, be it transport, prices, capital, and modern equipment and facilities. When you have a cancerous militant organisation in the most fertile regions, don't be surprised if much sought after food products never make it to the cities of the coast. When you have various Western NGOs with their aid-campaigns paying big sums for that 'quality food' the prices will skyrocket and the locals won'tl be able to afford it, hence fixed prices should be introduced to prevent such situations.

Somali-Americans are a real community, no wonder their children are flying up the academic rankings, their businesses are flourishing and their political clout is greater than any diaspora community. They did well in protecting that beautiful sister from harrassment and ill-treatment, yes sometimes you need to be loud to achieve your goals. However, I remember reading about this mall in 2007, and always wondered why the premise wasn't owned by a Somali businesman or a group of Somali stakeholders. The Somali community in Minnesota purchasing power stands at $300-500 million annually, which is significant when you consider its something like 50/60% of the total African purchasing power in that state. Therefore Somalis are very much capable of buying their own space where they can make sure their rights aren't trampled upon. If I ever decide not to return to Somalia for some reason, Minnesota or Columbus, Ohio would be the places I would settle instead.

Did you graduate from the same University as Dr.Osman and Phd Engineer Poet laureate Bladland professor Polanyi? Welcome sxb.

It was a joke. NG, Jujugeenta waad jeceshay abti, lakiin marka aniga saas kula ciyaaro, qof xanaaqsan baan ahay, ama wax walaan lol, how convenient. *Waves at Malika*

Admin;808737 wrote: Who is Ngonge? A nobody, mr Admin.

MoonLight1;856533 wrote: LOL@ Usain doing the Mo-bot.

5, I might do that, thanks for the offer!

*Ibtisam;856341 wrote: I started writing a book... well being in Somaliland does strange things which force you start creating another world for the sake of sanity. I recent realized I have a lot to say, but now I have an issue- I want to be publish without being pulled into the rat races of book launches, book signing and all the other promotional madness. Is it still possible to be an autonomous and sell a few copies. :hmmmm it will probably stay in my computer till I upgrade and forget about. Good luck to the serious writers. You should publish it on Amazon-Kindle, with a good cover you could be selling a couple hundred every month. Good luck Ibti!

NGONGE;856513 wrote: ^^ I'd love to ride that made wave that you're forever on, saaxib. But, here on dry land, the article gives one title and then goes on mainly talking about people returning back to Somalia, etc. In fact, the body of the article does not (really) say much about the difference that Mo's win will make for UK Somalis. It's all about the "some will stay" and "some will go" fence sitting that you're sharing with me here. Something that would have likely happened regardless of Mo's win. Where is the impact? What was the point of the article and how does the title relate to any of it? (save for the couple of sentences at the end and the sub title at the top?). Your just being your usual tedious self, read the whole article instead of relying on Che to spoonfeed you. Who cares if she also highlights the backmigration that would occur with peace in Somalia, the following bits clearly justify the title: While Jamaican, Nigerian and other black communities have put down roots in Britain, sending MPs to parliament and joining professions , Somalis have been nomads on a global scale – arriving and then leaving in ever greater numbers over the past 150 years - Nadifa Mohamed. Mo Farah is a living legend, if there is a British Somali community in a hundred years time, the man will still be remembered, but there is no British Somali from a 100 years ago that you could name today. For those who decide to remain, a new relationship to this country is developing; a sense of curiosity replacing the insularity that has grown over the past 20 years. As second- and third-generation British Somalis put down roots, a community that has been ignored since the first Somali sailors sailed up the Thames will begin to demand attention - Nadifa Mohamed Now come back and tell me how I enjoy flying Dragons, and live in a magical castle, not a red-herring at all.

GOLLUM;856248 wrote: ^ token somalis who i feel do not represent the common somali on the streets of the uk. we'll need to encourage more people to achieve higher in schools, employment and being law-abiding citizens. otherwise we'll become like the African-Caribbean and look to sports, music and entertainment as sources of successes. Wax walaan, pay attention to the concept of identity, and why its hugely important for young Somali kids to have one that feels authentic and is a genuine representation of their generation. In academics, new generations are always measured through pop-culture, political events, or economic ups and downs. The 80s was the Michael Jackson generation, the 90s the Nirvana generation, the 00s the Hip Hop generation, etc. Therefore these so-called 'token' Somalis are highly important to the identity of a Somali kid, and I'll bet if you had them to look up to during your childhood you wouldn't have mutated into Gollum. Secondly academic achievement is not determined by role-models alone, instead socio-economic status and resources are more important. Somalis came as refugees and had to start from the bottom but with the growing business class of Somalis, the situation is already changing for the better: Immigration and multiculturalism in Britain: New issues in research and policy Somali is now the majority home language for children in many London schools, and young Somalis, Eritreans and Ethiopians are beginning to come through as university students, following young South Asians along trails that they seem to have blazed a decade or so ago. These new multicultural realities are not only making themselves felt at primary or secondary school level, therefore, they now affect life and work also in universities, where a new generation of the descendants of immigrants are coming up as top students, asking many questions that we never heard before. - Werner F. Menski The Academic Rise of Somali students at the Tower Hamlets College Somali students are steadily climbing the Academic ladder at Tower Hamletss College with more students than ever taking A-level and vocational courses - Somali Student Success The Changing Face of Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship in Britain New minority groups, emerging despite apparently strong immigration controls, are beginning to replace earlier communities in some places. For example in Southall, the heart of London’s Indian Sikh community, both Somali and Afghan enterprises have appeared. The Afghans occupy a number of large shops sub-divided into low-grade micro malls, mainly selling cheap clothing and household goods. The Somali businesses are on the southern fringe of the Southall shopping district; restaurants and cafés are the most prominent types of activities. In the 1980s, the premises currently occupied by Afghans and Somalis mainly accommodated Indian retailers.-Link SOMALI BUSINESSES DRIVE GROWTH BUT NEED MORE SUPPORT Somali entrepreneurs are actively contributing to productivity in Leicester but are restricted by a lack of financial and business support, new research has found. Academics at De Montfort University (DMU) have completed a year-long study of Somali business activity in the city. DMU’s Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CREME) carried out the research, funded by the Leicestershire Learning and Skills Council. CREME Director at DMU, Professor Monder Ram, said: “Ethnic minority entrepreneurs are renowned contributors to Leicester and the wider UK economy, yet many face challenges in securing finance, accessing new markets and gaining appropriate support for their businesses. “We hope that identifying examples of success will widen the aspirations of new migrant business owners, increasing the number in self-employment and creating job opportunities in existing businesses. “Our findings also provide valuable information for policymakers about how best to support, and benefit from, entrepreneurship among the new immigrant communities that are now present in many British cities.” The study identified a number of drivers and barriers to success: - Somali entrepreneurs are intensely motivated. Many have strong track records in business and practical ownership experience gained before migration. Often they come to Britain in response to frustrated entrepreneurial ambitions elsewhere and the prospect of more expansive trading opportunities. - Link

NGONGE;856507 wrote: You just repeated what Nadifa said on her article, saaxib. How does what you say (and she said) fit in with the title NOMADS NO MORE? 'Mo Farah's glorious gold medal symbolises the emergence of Britain's Somali community' - Nadifa Mohamed. It's clear that some of us are here to stay permanently, regardless of the changing fortunes back home. I agree with her on that front, in twenty years time there will be a much more robust and prominent Somali community in Britain represented in all walks of life, that can't be compared to the various communities of the past that left us with a small foundation to stand upon. In this decade alone we have more British icons of Somali origins than the whole preceding century. Indeed nomads no more!

5;856273 wrote: I would have liked to have given you pos rep Chimera 'cuz you're right, but I can't. Lol you need to spread the love to another poster first, I still have your old rep. I did get a meeting with a publishing house in Jan, if that helps. It went horribly - if anyone cares to know. I gave a terrible pitch in which I tried to sound very smart and prepared. It was cringeworthy. They gave me two copies of their best-selling books by the end of the meeting, and I hid my face behind the books until I was safely outside. They did ask me to send a chapter in though. I'm still recovering. Awww, that's sad , but I'm SUPER jealous, at least you got to the finished package stage, I'm struggling with my 5th draft because I'm a deluded perfectionist. Would you mind sharing a short synopsis? The fact that you got an interview, messed up and still was asked to send in a chapter means they're INTERESTED. You have more than a foot in the door, i'd say you almost have yourself a contract. I do hope you send them that chapter, you would get a reply from most publishers between 6-9 months. Wait a minute, these guys don't do unsolicited manuscripts, so you must have an agent then? Well done.

I wonder whether Khalaf's disappearance means he has become a best-selling millionaire author. 5 years have passed, how many millions of words did we type?

Juxa, your right, but I was shocked at how little attention is paid to her passing. You have hundreds of useless Somali media outlets reporting on what their clan-chieftains ate today and farted the day before, but nothing on this huge topic, it's mind boggling.

LMAO! The other videos in the 'suggestions' are funny as well.

Dr_Osman is the Puntland rover to Jupiter on schedule walaal? How is the Olympic bid to host the Games in Bosaso going? Bosaso 2020!

Juxa;855709 wrote: on a sad note, I am told that gabadhii ciyaarihi beijing oroday, Samia has now passed away whilst trying to come into Europe:( Huh? This would make headlines both on Somali and international outlets, who report on missing individuals let alone those that died. Last I heard she was training in Addis Ababa. Did the Olympic committee dump her in favour of Zamzam? I have a feeling when all the hoohah of this olympic ends, nobody will care about Zamzam and Mohamed's futures, and then we wonder why we suck at sports. Just look at how this sad news was ignored even in this same topic.

BoldNewSomali, lack of vitamin D could also be a factor in your loss of hair, remember your not in your ancestral homeland (the Somali peninsula) where our genotype and phenotype developed under a healthy sun. Just look at old pictures of Somali men, they all had a good head of hair well into their 40s, after which signs of baldness appeared, now I have seen Somali brothers as young as twenty struggling with their loss of hair because they don't get as much Vitamin D in their system:

^I actually think she nailed it. Somalis in Britain are the oldest African community, but outside of old pictures of Somali Sailors in British ports, you would never know, and most people think we arrived with the Vietnamese and Afghans. This is because those Somali communities were like an eb and flow, changing with the fortunes of the Somali Republic. In good times, many would take their hard-earned money and settle back in the homeland, in bad times these same men would bring their families to the host country, and now that the fortunes are beginning to change for the better many will make a back-migration, and this could be considerably large. If Somalia were to have another dictatorship or god forbid a civil-war in thirty years time, the Somalis arriving in Britain would most likely again have to start from scratch unless a substantial group of professionals remains in the country dating from our current era. Nadifa was also spot on the dead, static and uncool Somali entertainment industry of today that our kids want nothing to do with. Somali songs are all dated, Somali films are an embarassment, almost all Somali novels always leave a ''bad taste in your mouth'', however the likes of K'naan, Nadifa, Rageh Omaar, Mataano, Mo Ali, Mo Farah, and dozens of other rising and established icons are a good start, and will shape a modern Somali identity the kids can grab with both hands.

Macallinka;855873 wrote: He can't speak Somali so it will be difficult Adiga ruunta ii sheeg, ma qof shaati cusub heesta aya tahay? LOL maba ku xasuusta sxb, sidee qof 2011 ku so registergareeyay SOL igu dahii kara af Somali ma taqaantiid wa cajiib sxb, sanadkan dan hal mar wax af-Somali uu eeg mabaan qorin meesan, intee ka keentay sheekadan? Hadalka, akhrinta iyo qoraalka af-Somali isku mid ma'aha, taas ogoow. Qoraalka weli wey igu adagtahay; systemka af-Somali wa sida systemka Japanese, anigana luuqayaasha Germanicga - Dutch, German, English - ku so koray, markaas waqtii qadaaneyso inta maskaxdeedii systemka Somali sii fiicaan uu qabsata, waxaas ceeb ma'aha, ceebta wa burburkii dalkeena ka dhacay. Akhrinta af-Somali waan fahma, xita sida la ku hadla waan garanaya, lakiin doorashada Madaxweynka Somaaliya ma rabii dex gala maanta ama berii. Waxyeelo kale - business & entertainment - indoheygii ku heesta, that's enough influence for me.