^Ahhh - but you're assuming the regular denizens of this thread are people

^In true Cabdul-Ciid style too! I don't get what running commentary is all about - that's the women's personal style - and she's doing it out of religious conviction. Let's move on.

^LOL - now wasn't there are a more diplomatic way of putting it Or better yet - just ignore them all - that would really drive them nuts. Attention seekers the lot of them.

Reminds me of workshop I took about having a healthy dialogue. The starting point was always to stick to observable facts and to guard against interpretation. And then to seek interpretation afterward. That is to say: Observable fact - I see you picked up my wallet off the floor. Interpretation - Why are you stealing my wallet. It seems folks are doing a helluva lot of interpreting rather than just considering facts and then seeking clarification.

^Now you're the one stalking me I didn't know I had dispensed with my manners in that post or that I had an outburst(apart from the self-acknowledged last paragraph which was in a by-the-by sort of vein). The 'wareer badanida' comment was a tongue in cheek reference to the series of questions you bombarded Khalaf with. Khalaf actually had no questions per se - his was more of an informative piece simply. Man - I think I have a wareer now - good night. Or good day whereever you are.

^Only just kidding around! Are you sure it's a curmudgeon place? BTW - Hedgies are really the new masters of the universe. If you gonna aim high - aim there.

^Ha! You are so last century. Hedge fund operators are the new masters of the universe not the piddling IBers

Stalking? - maybe - you like the stalker type? It's a nice brush to paint all the Islam haters out there - or those that tend in that direction. You know who you are. It's hyperbole that has my seal of approval!

^Somali politics, unfortunately, has always been reduced to a zero sum game - not a project to attempt to benefit a nation. And this truism holds regardless of education or sophistication.

^Wareer badanida! God decides who is saved regardless of any attributes humans accord to them including religious affiliation. The particulars of salvation are God's alone - I'm not sure that any imam can truly answer that. But the path to salvation is through God's religion - Islam. To rant a little on this issue - I really dislike folks who say 'I/my loved one is going to heaven' etc. The presumptiousness of it all!

Well - I don't want to be unkind - and clearly there is much to be cutting about in this case but - may Allah grant them his mercy and comfort their families.

OK - I really didn't put much store in threads proclaiming the deterioration and demise of SOL but this thread makes me rethink.....

The collapse of Somali society began in the late 80s and accelerated in the 90s. Clearly it predates Ethiopia and its involvement in Somali affairs. And that is the root of the problem - Somalis unable to share power. If folks want to reach genuine peace in Somalia, they should take up offers to talk and negotiate and involve non-partisan actors like the UN etc. Preconditions and red lines are indicative only of a desire for power and its trappings and not a real desire for peace.

^Adeer - leaps of logic are clearly quite easy for you but not for me. Reread to get the point

JB is vying for the Ayan Hersi Ali award on SOL. I'm not sure that Naden isn't too far behind

Hmmm - interesting case. I wish her luck - her 'alteration' wasn't a big deal. On a related note - I think there are limits to what Muslims can demand vis-a-vis a uniform. A uniform is about a certain kind of conformity - one is restricted about what changes can be made with regard to it. At some point Muslims have got to say - I will simply choose my religion's dictates and understand that accomodations to my religion are necessarily limited in certain cases.

I wonder why neither 'expert' wished to be named. Seems one would want to take credit for accurate prognostications. Go figure.

^War amus. Alugu jihaado kufaarta Xamar jooga. I tell ya - Dheeg is the solution. That's the new motto. Get with it

^I think you missed the most important one that would rank at the top of the list. A viable Somali government in Mogadishu. And the corollary of that is Ethiopia. I hope you get the picture.

^Yaa iska dhiseysaa?

^Xiin - clearly - you and your helpers made a cardinal mistake. Your tour should've included all the fadhi-ku-dhirir hotspots - of which we have a fair number and a requisite amount of time spent therein. I'm sure your views would have been different but for that one factor. For old men - a fair amount of routine is truly the spice of life Adeer [-], Original would connote time and brainpower exerted to find a creative avatar - you've just given up completely even trying. You've completely missed the point of the word 'original' I understand you're the product of American schools so I'll go easy - recently the Canadian dollar surpassed the US one - clearly that is because we suck. That sorta of suckiness I like.

^Ottawa rocks. You/your hosts are boring. Old men are always confused regardless of the city. Yes - many do say habbo. One out of four. Unnatural? That's rich coming from Mr. No Name.

^There are programs to help with the dyslexia you know

^Unheard of I tell ya! What is there to be depressed about - unless you dislike politeness and cleanliness. Ottawa is the most beautiful city in North America - if you come here in the summer months that is. Winter is another story altogether.

Charming songs - so mellow. Beach in Zanzibar sounds very nice rite about now. I think there is a variation but they can understand each other if they try hard. Sort of like the differences in German spoken in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. At least - so I think.