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The following is a sampling of the West Boylston Police Log. During the week of Nov. 19 through 25, officers responded to six alarms and seven motor vehicle accidents. The ambulance was dispatched 23 times.
Monday, Nov. 19
12:18 a.m., an officer responded to the area of Thomas Street and River Road for gunshots heard.
6:02 a.m., an officer reported traffic light problems at Wachusett Plaza, on West Boylston Street.
8:09 a.m., a firefighter and an officer responded to Goodale Street for an activated carbon monoxide alarm.
4:29 p.m., an officer and an ambulance responded to Planet Fitness, on West Boylston Street, for a man with a head laceration.
8:12 p.m., officers and an ambulance responded to Oakdale Rehabilitation Center, on North Main Street, for a man who fell.
Tuesday, Nov. 20
3:34 p.m., a resident of Hillside Village Drive reported a possible scam.
6:39 p.m., officers responded to Prospect Street for a residential breaking and entering.
9:50 p.m., an officer responded to Woodland Park, on Woodland Street, for youths disturbing the peace.
Wednesday, Nov. 21
8:18 a.m., an officer and an ambulance responded to Wachusett Country Club, on Prospect Street, for a person with a severe laceration.
12:12 p.m., officers responded to Classic Suites and Inn, on West Boylston Street, for an intoxicated male.
2:11 p.m., officers responded to West Boylston Street for a handgun found on a WRTA bus. Item was not a firearm. Matter was referred to Worcester police for follow-up investigation.
Thursday, Nov. 22
6:08 p.m., a resident of Central Street reported money stolen from a purse.
6:09 p.m., firefighters responded to Boylston to assist with a residential fire on East Temple Street (see story, page 4).
6:50 p.m., officers and firefighters responded to Townsend Circle for an out-of-control fire in a fireplace.
9:33 p.m., officers responded to Walmart, on West Boylston Street, for intoxicated males fighting.
11:41 p.m., officers responded to Freedom Village, on Franklin Street, for a reported argument/vandalism/windows smashed.
Friday, Nov. 23
7:23 a.m., an ambulance responded to the Worcester County House of Correction, on Paul X. Tivnan Drive, for a person with difficulty breathing.
10:52 a.m., a firefighter responded to Worcester Street for an outside fire.
3:17 p.m., an officer responded to Laurel Street for gunshots heard over the Rail Trail.
8:13 p.m., officers responded to Lancaster Street for a domestic dispute.
10:33 p.m., officers responded to Woodland Park for youths disturbing the peace.
Saturday, Nov. 24
11:04 a.m., officers and an ambulance responded to Flagg RV Center, on West Boylston Street, for a man down on the side of the road.
4:22 p.m., officers and an ambulance responded to Reservoir Motor Lodge, on Sterling Street, for a woman with abdominal pain.
11:03 p.m., firefighters responded to Leominster to assist with a structure fire.
11:13 p.m., the State Police reported illegal burning of pallets at CEA Environmental, on Hartwell Street. Firefighters and officers responded.
Sunday, Nov. 25
9:29 a.m., officers responded to Prescott Street for a domestic assault and battery; one male arrested.
9:32 a.m., an officer responded to West Boylston Street for a motor vehicle hit-and-run.
Scott S. Mellecker Jr., 18, of 532 D Hubbarston Road, Princeton, was arrested Wednesday, Nov. 21 by officers David Pupecki and James Dugan and Sergeant Francis Glynn and charged with being a minor transporting/carrying liquor and a marked lanes violation.
Patrick M. O�Connor, 48, of 149 Prescott St., West Boylston, was arrested Sunday, Nov. 25 by Officer James Bartlett and Sergeant Anthony Papandrea and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery and larceny of property valued over $250.


text:
CHICAGO -- On a windy day at Wrigley Field, the fortunes finally blew in the Chicago Cubs' favor.
The Cubs stopped their 12-game losing streak, getting a boost from Alfonso Soriano's go-ahead home run to beat the San Diego Padres 11-7 Monday.
"It's a big relief," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "It shows you sometimes how tough it is to win a major league baseball game."
The Cubs' skid was their worst since they opened the 1997 season with 14 straight losses.
"I think now everybody is more relaxed," Soriano said. "Now we have to keep doing our jobs and win some games."
"We have to turn it around. You have to believe in this team because we're not that bad."
The gusts were blowing out at 35 mph on a 90-degree afternoon and the ball was flying. There were eight home runs, including four by each team and two from San Diego's Chase Headley, and a total of 17 extra-base hits.
Chicago trailed 7-6 in the sixth inning when Soriano launched a drive off Alex Hinshaw (0-1) over the right-field bleachers onto Waveland Avenue.
Soriano had three hits and drove in three runs. Ian Stewart and Starlin Castro each homered and drove in three for the Cubs. Darwin Barney also homered and David DeJesus tripled twice.
"We haven't had a game like that in a while where we have a lot of guys break out and get multiple hits, driving the ball," said Stewart. "Losing that many in a row was getting old."
Stewart also had a big day in the field, cutting down the potential game-tying run in the seventh when he threw out Headley trying to score on a grounder to third.
"I take a lot of pride in my defense, so whenever I can make a play out there, it makes me feel good," he said.
Everth Cabrera and Will Venable connected for San Diego, which lost its fourth in a row. The Padres hadn't hit more than two home runs in a game all season and came into the game last in the majors with only 18 overall.
Headley had four hits, including a double.
"Right off the bat, I think you knew it was going to be an offensive game," Padres manager Bud Black said. "It was good see a number of guys swing the bats, get multiple hits. Hopefully, that can carry over â" not only tomorrow but moving through the week."
Randy Wells (1-1) picked up the win in relief.
Barney hit a solo shot in the second and Stewart's two-run shot capped a three-run fourth that put the Cubs ahead 6-4.
Castro hit an 0-2 pitch onto Waveland to pad the one-run lead in the seventh.
Headley hit a tying homer leading off the fourth, then tied it again with a two-run drive in the fifth.
It was Headley's second multihomer game of the year. He has seven home runs this season after hitting just four in 113 games in 2011.
"When it's hot and you come here and the wind's blowing, you're going to be rewarded for good swings," Headley said. "When the conditions are like that, you know you have to put up a good amount of runs to be able to win the game."
Carlos Quentin hit an RBI double in his Padres' debut to give San Diego a 1-0 lead and snap their streak of 26 scoreless innings.
Quentin was activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to the game. He had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in March after being acquired from the Chicago White Sox on Dec. 31.
DeJesus got the Cubs going in the first with a leadoff triple and scoring on Castro's single. Castro stole second and later scored on Bryan LaHair's groundout.
Cubs starter Travis Wood lasted just five innings. He was tagged for a season-high six runs on seven hits, including four home runs.
San Diego starter Jeff Suppan yielded six runs over five innings.
NOTES: Cabrera's solo shot in the fourth was his first homer since July 11, 2010. ... The Padres optioned OF Blake Tekotte to Triple-A Tucson to make room on the roster for Quentin. ... San Diego OF Cameron Maybin (sprained right wrist) missed his second straight game after leaving in the sixth inning Saturday. He remains day-to-day. ... Padres RHP Huston Street (right shoulder strain) felt "really good" after throwing off a mound Sunday, Black said. He is scheduled to throw another bullpen on Wednesday. ... The Cubs activated RHP Carlos Marmol from the 15-day DL and optioned RHP Rafael Dolis to Triple-A Iowa. ... Jeff Samardzija (4-3, 3.00 ERA) will pitch for the Cubs on Tuesday against San Diego's Eric Stults (1-0, 1.96).

subset: commoncrawl


text:
- About us
- Blogs
- Funding/Donations
- Challenges
- Chapters
- Papers
- Projects
- Code of Conduct
- Google SoC
- Recent posts
- Security Workshops
New structure:
Hugo Gonzalez - Full Member, Chapter Leader
Miguel Lopez
New contributors:
Francisco Ordaz
Rafael Llamas
Armín García
The Chapter members are interested in research projects covering the following topics:
1. Low-interaction/high-interaction client honeypots
2. Distributed honeynet deployment, operation and data analysis
3. Automated malware collection and analysis systems
* We have some boxes with dionaea.
* Skynet on the latin america domains.
* Parse some production webserver logs looking for RFI attacks.
* Working on the malicious PDF analysis. (Mahmud has been advising us)
We will release a light PDF analysis service on the web, based only in the characteristics of the PDF file and some IA stuff.
* Testing cuckoo sandbox, we will release soon a detailed Spanish docs on installation and configuration.
* IPv6 (in)security.
* Working on a "massive password analysis framework". (We could use this for the list of ssh attacks, if the attackers use the same lists or personalized ones for example)
* Web interface for visualization on the RFI's analysis. (Jose Narario is sharing a lot of RFI data with us)
The RFI attackers are not always web servers as we assumed.
*Does virus work on IPv6 only network?
Summer research 2010 on the UPSLP.
*Characteristics of a malicius PDF file.
*Hands on lab on structured network analysis
BugCon Security Conferences 2010.
*Improve our capacities on malware analysis.
*Began to analysis android malware.
*Implement an easy way to interpret cuckoo reports.
*Implement an easy way to send virus to cuckoo, like a web interface.
*Contribute to the cuckoo sandbox project
*Contribute to dionaea project.
*Cooperation with other chapters.
*Run a forensics challenge on IPv6
Help on forensics challenge 1 and 7.
Participate in the annual committee.
Work on education campaigns for information security.


text:
Signature Sampler
- Contents
- Details
- Reviews
Arrives with 6 original chocolate chip cookies.
**Due to our dough mixing process, all of our products may have come in contact with nut oils.
- Comes in a variety of sizes and compositions: 12 cookies, 24 cookies, or 24, 60, and 112 Nibblers® bite-sized cookies.
- Cookies can be sent in a variety of our most popular flavors, shown above, or cookie assortment without nuts.
- Nibblers® bite-sized cookies come in a selection of our most popular flavors to please a crowd.
- It takes about four Nibblers® bite-sized cookies to make one cookie.
- Cookies come packaged in pairs in a special wrapper designed to preserve out-of-the-oven freshness since no preservatives are used.
- Nibblers® bite-sized cookies come in packages of six.
- Cookies taste best when eaten within two weeks of arrival.
- Some tips if you have to save some for later: never refrigerate - they dry out, store in an airtight container with a piece of white bread, may be frozen in an airtight bag.
- Thawed cookies can be warmed in the microwave for up to 10 seconds or a 375 degree oven for 1-2 minutes.
- Frozen cookies can be warmed in the microwave for 20-30 seconds or a 375 degree oven for 1-3 minutes.
- (0 Reviews)


text:
Anyone been there? Slight possibility i might be going there for work for a fortnight. Wondering what to expect.
Anyone been there? Slight possibility i might be going there for work for a fortnight. Wondering what to expect.
I was meant to go to Almaty for work this year, but the trip's not yet materialised. However, I went to Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan last year (and loved it), where I met a Kazakh colleague, so I know a bit about the country. Almaty looks beautifully situated in the mountains. Is it there you're going or Astana (which looks like one of the weirdest cities on earth) - I think they're wildly different kinds of places?
We tried to organise an Association of Autonomous Astronauts conference there in the 90s because apparently there was plenty of junked space hardware to be had.
Unfortunately it didn't happen... would love to go.
thanks baboon and thanks john.
if i end up having to go it is to astana. slightly nervous about the proposition so your input was very gratefully received.
i reason that it's one of those places which i wouldn't naturally go to of my own volition - and therefore to have the opportunity would be a really excellent experience.
Woebot, did you end up going to Astana in the end? Would be interesting to hear how it went if so. I'm likely to be going to Almaty next month.
in the end no - i kinda swerved it actually. on the project i ended up concentrating on animating this giant eagle and these mongol horsemen which meant that i wasn't needed for the compositing and graphics work.
have a look here for a giggle
tbh was a little troubled at leaving my fam for such a long time.
interested in hearing your thoughts about it.
Sorry, never noticed your reply on this. Pity you never made it to Astana, but quite honestly I'm sure it would have been all about the bizarre novelty rather than an actually pleasant place to be.
That's a nice giant eagle. What exactly was the project...?
did anything crazy happen? like central asian type craziness?
did you tronc today?
Eyewitnesses claimed that the detainees were kept incommunicado in overcrowded cells, that they had been stripped naked, beaten, kicked and doused with cold water. At least one man died as a result of the torture.
what about turkmenistan?
did you tronc today?


text:
Apr 05, 2016 | 320 Pages
Sep 09, 2014 | 448 Minutes
"Chris Guillebeau is a rare combination of sage and adventurer, and The Happiness of Pursuit is both a distillation of his wisdom and and a demonstration of his — and others'– passion for the questing life. The passion Chris chronicles is infectious, and it becomes even more so as we read about life-focusing action delivering deep meaning. Even if you prefer never to leave your armchair, this book will inspire you to to take a beautiful voyage – one that can be either physical or mental as you chase the thrill of steady accomplishment."
—Susan Cain, Quiet Revolution co-founder and New York Times bestselling author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
"If you like complacency and mediocrity, do not read this book. It's dangerously inspiring. It will make you want to do amazing things with your life. You may not end up visiting every country on Earth or directing a global protest from the top of a tree (I certainly won't), but Chris made me want to dive into an adventure. The Happiness of Pursuit is a how-to guide for avoiding a boring life."
—A.J. Jacobs, New York Times bestselling author of The Know-It-All and The Year of Living Biblically
"The Happiness of Pursuit is smart, honest, and dangerous. Why dangerous? Because it is as practical as it is inspiring. You won't just be daydreaming about your quest — you'll be packing for it!"
—Brené Brown, Ph.D., LMSW, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Daring Greatly
"It's not easy to dream big—and it's not easy to turn that dream into reality. The brilliant Chris Guillebeau provides the essential blueprint for those of us for whom the happiness of pursuit—such as Chris's successful quest to visit every country in the world—is a key part of the pursuit of happiness."
—Gretchen Ruben, New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Project
"The incredible quests Chris Guillebeau explores in The Happiness of Pursuit, including his own to visit every country, left me feeling exhausted. Of course, as a person who works from home, I limit my quests most days to taking a shower. Bottom line: these stories are inspiring–and very, very entertaining."
—Joel Stein, columnist, Time magazine and author of Man Made: A Stupid Quest for Masculinity
"Passion is the quickest route to joy — the kind that gets your heart beating and your soul smiling. It involves committing to something bigger than yourself, taking risks, trusting; there's no passion in your comfort zone. Guillebeau's route to happiness is taking on a quest — something that will get you up in the morning, impatient to begin your day. His stories, biographies, observations, and personal insights will get you thinking about a greater purpose. And there's a lot of how-to in here. If you've been wondering 'what it's all about?' this book could change your life."
—Rita Golden Gelman, author of Tales of a Female Nomad, Living at Large in the World
"When a quest is a journey or a sought-after goal, it can be satisfying, fun, even paradigm-shifting. But when a quest begins with an inner yearning and transforms into a calling, it becomes medicine for the soul, and this changes everything. The Happiness of Pursuit is an invitation to listen to the part of oneself that craves purpose. It says. "Hey! Wake up! Your unique adventure awaits you."
—Lissa Rankin, MD, New York Times bestselling author of Mind Over Medicine


text:
The 49ers made it to their sixth Super Bowl this year, 18 years after their last trip to the title game. But the success of the San Francisco football team apparently hasn't fired up the San Francisco fan base.
Ann Killion of the San Francisco Chronicle explained earlier this week that the Giants seem to be the favorite sports team in the Bay Area.
She points to the fact that, during Super Bowl XLVII, Baltimore was the top market in the country under the Nielsen ratings — and San Francisco was 28th, behind the likes of Dayton, Milwaukee, and Jacksonville.
That wasn't the case during the World Series, when San Francisco and Detroit were the top markets watching the Giants and Tigers, respectively. And so, as Killion describes it, there's a "different vibe with the 49ers than there once was," with a lower level of passion than the Giants generate.
The 49ers have the talent and the potential to rekindle flame. Still, the current version of the team already can never fully compare to its predecessors, since the new Niners have lost the first Super Bowl in team history.


text:
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text:
Words by Mr James Hadfield
Everybody said he was too young to retire. Mr Hidetoshi Nakata was just 29 when he announced he would be calling it quits, bringing to a close a football career that saw him represent his country in three World Cups and play in the Italian Serie A and English Premier League. But the most famous Japanese footballer of his generation - OK, make that any generation - already had other plans: he wanted to travel. "The football world seems very big, but actually it's not," says the 35 year old. "Every day of my life I played football, so I [only] knew about football... Of course, we travelled a lot for the matches, but we were always in the hotel, stadium, hotel, stadium: we never got to see the cities." Mr Nakata would spend the first few years of his retirement plugging the gaps in his knowledge of the world; today, he estimates that he has visited around 100 countries. And in every one of them, he's found someone who recognised him. "Not because of me," he says, "but because of football."
Well, not just football. Mr Nakata wasn't the first Japanese player to try his luck overseas when he signed to Italy's AC Perugia after the 1998 World Cup, but he was the first to become a household name. His impressive displays in Serie A helped, but so did the modelling contracts and a sense of style that drew comparisons to his European counterparts Mr David Beckham and Mr Fredrik Ljungberg. (In 2010, he even followed Mr Ljungberg's example to become a Calvin Klein Underwear model.)
Mr Nakata says it was during a month-long training session in Italy when he was 18 years old that his sense of style really began to develop. "Obviously, if you go to Italy - you go for football, but fashion is all around you," he says. Before long, he was spending his pay packets on expensive outfits and dying his hair a range of different colours.
There was a considerable media hubbub at home when he gave himself a peroxide rinse in advance of the 1998 World Cup, in what was thought to be an attempt to get noticed by European scouts (if so, it worked a charm). But these days, Mr Nakata is not inclined to be so ostentatious. "Before, fashion was something to look at: I wanted to be fashionable," he continues. "Now it's like a part of my life, so I don't need to really think about it. Every day, I'll take a shower and then eat - [it's on] the same level."
His tastes have evolved, too, extending from fashion to architecture, interior design and craftsmanship - "because that influences you a lot in your life". All these experiences have come in handy for his latest mission. After travelling around the world, Mr Nakata is now rediscovering his native country. He's spent the past few years scouring each of Japan's 47 prefectures for their best arts, crafts, shrines, temples and ryokan (inns), starting in the far-flung southern islands of Okinawa and steadily working his way north. When we meet, he only has eight prefectures left to visit.
the work
the traveller
Mr Nakata has extensively travelled Japan, including visiting the Nangu Taisha Shrine in Gifu Prefecture, in September 2010
the Style Setter
Mr Nakata at the Korea Best Dresser Swan Awards, Seoul, December 2011
the footballer
Mr Nakata's Japan side takes on Argentina during the World Cup, Toulouse, June 1998
It was in the course of these travels that he picked up his latest obsession: sake. Japan's traditional rice wine is a drink with a rich history and an image problem - a tipple that could do with some high-profile help as sales decrease in Japan. And after visiting 150 of Japan's top breweries, Mr Nakata will be launching his own brand this year, sold exclusively overseas - where consumption is on the rise - and aimed at high-end restaurants.
"Before, I thought maybe it would be nice to have my own vinery or wine brand," he says. "But after visiting sake makers, I said: 'I'm Japanese, so maybe I should have my own sake label'.
"At the same time, it would be cool to have one of the best sakes in the world. It's like having a Château Mouton or Gaja - if you are the owner of that kind of wine. You go to good restaurants in London, in New York, and then you can order your own sake. That's cool."


text:
sahara on Family Tree Circles
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EDGE = Knockrath, IRELAND
Searching for descendants of John Dalles Edge and Sarah Snell. John was born c1841 in Knockrath, IRL.
Sarah was born c1841 in Ballintombay, IRL.
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Dangerous journeys, contentious crossings
Migrant families desperate to flee gang violence and an administration determined to stop illegal immigration are adding up to a crisis on the border
Migrant families desperate to flee gang violence and an administration determined to stop illegal immigration are adding up to a crisis on the border
In the Notre Dame Cathedral fire, France's Christian past collides with its turbulent secular present
Los Angeles residents mourn the murder of rapper Nipsey Hussle and pray for God's peace amid violence
A sweeping campaign against house churches in China is sending leaders to prison and forcing many faithful Christians underground
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MUTHAFAR YACOUB IS ONE MAN trying to win against postwar Iraq. Right now that means he has to fight for his lights.
He grabs a box cutter from the coffee table, slices into cable, then splices colored wire, threading each piece quickly into copper conductors for a new plug. A friend sits at his shoulder, holding a penlight above the work. The living room is dark and chilling fast. Shadows trace across the walls from three scattered oil lamps. Mr. Yacoub is eager to have light-and heat on a December night-because he has guests. Outside, other generators whir in the dark, filling the air with gas fumes and homes with something to see by.
Baghdad is promised a full-time electrical grid by next year. In the meantime everyone is sharing not enough power. In Baghdad electricity is at best unpredictable. Some days there is juice all day; others, only a few hours. Today power was promised on a three-hours-on/three-hours-off rotation. But after two hours in the afternoon it quit. Around 7 p.m. it was on again, but at 9 p.m. it went off.
"Ma fe dhaimaan," Mr. Yacoub declares as he works. "No guarantees."
Eight months after coalition forces took Baghdad and the lights went out, generators persist as a high-demand item. Mr. Yacoub returned to Baghdad from Jordan only a month ago with his wife and two young daughters. They have lived in this walkup only 10 days, but already the frustrations with power outages prompted him to pay $225 for a household generator. At home he discovered that the box had already been opened, and the generator wouldn't start.
He returned to the store. "It's yours now," the owner said. He would give Mr. Yacoub only $100 on return, then Mr. Yacoub had to buy another generator at full price. Back home, its engine sputtered and caught, only for Mr. Yacoub to discover he didn't have the right cable to connect his new power supply to the fuse box. Back to the store he went. And the late night retrofitting began. The cable finished, he yanked the engine to life, flicked a switch inside, and-lights at last.
Like his electricity, Mr. Yacoub and his family are back in Baghdad with fits and starts. Each new day in what U.S. administrator Paul Bremer likes to call "new Iraq" is a surprise, they say, and holds no guarantees.
Sixty percent of Iraqis are out of work, double the number from before the war. Prices in the city are rising. Gasoline is in short supply, sending fuel prices to five times their normal rate. Outside stations, the lines of cars can extend a mile or more. Some drivers wait all day for half a tank. Some will choose instead to buy a liter of fuel at black-market prices-12 times the normal cost-from boys toting fuel from the stations in soda bottles. Customers set an all-time record on Dec. 6 in Baghdad: 670 cars in one gas line.
For a country that has lived through three costly wars and 30 years of dictatorship, the old adage about things getting worse before they get better isn't one Iraqis want to hear.
"Lift up your heads-you are Iraqis," reads a sign in Arabic at the center of Firdos Square, where Iraqis in April triumphantly pulled down a statue of Saddam. Another reads, "The dictator will not be back." But at midpoint between the start of the U.S. invasion and next year's expected handover of sovereignty to a new Iraq provisional government, residents believe they have reason to see more progress in "new Iraq."
For most residents, utilities they had before the war-power, phone service, and water-have not returned at all or return only intermittently. The fuel situation is particularly galling. Iraqis are acutely aware that they sit atop the world's second-largest oil reserve yet cannot power their homes or cars. "We are like a camel who goes hungry while carrying all the food," said Mr. Yacoub.
Mr. Yacoub, a biochemist who once worked in the oil industry, said most Iraqis recognize that it was looters who crippled the oil supply, not U.S. forces. But it's hard to be patient with winter winds blowing and the oil fields not yet fully operational. He knows that insecurity created by Islamic fighters is hampering reconstruction. Still, he thinks the Coalition Provisional Authority should have been ready before the war to do more in the aftermath.
"When they came to change the situation, they should have been ready for the next step," he said. "They should have been ready to supply hospitals and to fix electricity. They should have trained people for security. If they had been ready, they would not have given an opportunity for Islamic parties."
Even now, signs of foot-dragging continue. Defense contractors arrived in Jordan only this month to set up a training camp outside Amman for new Iraqi security forces. They expect to house and train up to 20,000. But with six months to go before the coalition hands state sovereignty-including local security-to a new government, the training facility isn't yet built.
In northern Iraq support for the U.S. invasion could hardly be higher. The newest restaurant in Irbil is called Washington Restaurant and welcomes patrons with side-by-side U.S. and Iraqi flags. Children in Kirkuk greet an American with "hi, buddy" and thumbs-up-gestures they borrowed from paratroopers. But local officials are frustrated with U.S. civil authority. At offices for the Coalition Provisional Authority, the most common answer to the latest problem, say local officials, is "I don't know." They are frustrated by staff turnovers among the civilian administration and frequent policy changes.
At the same time, those officials don't want to publicly criticize the Bush administration, one of them told WORLD, because they are more afraid of what might happen if President Bush is not reelected next year. "A lot of people are angry in northern Iraq," said Douglas Layton, director of field operations for Health Care Partnerships, a U.S.-based nongovernmental organization working in the region. "That's unfortunate because this is a passionately pro-American region."
Mr. Layton, who has done humanitarian work in Iraq for a decade, believes the civil administration of Mr. Bremer misunderstands both the ethnic and religious diversity of Iraq. "Mr. Bremer does not want a factional government, even the kind of provincial federalism Kurdish leaders have argued for. He wants a powerful central government," something only the predominant Shia favor. Iraq's Sunni and Kurdish Muslim leaders, along with ethnic Turkmen, Assyrians, Chaldeans, and others fear a Shiite-dominated central authority, however many democratic guarantees eventually make it into a new constitution.
"Americans made a mistake because of their misunderstanding of Islam. Shia and Sunni will never like us. They will always hate us and our view of government. They don't recognize inalienable rights," Mr. Layton said.
None of that seems to be stopping Iraqis from approving today's limbo with their feet. Remember when humanitarian groups worried about teeming refugee camps at the borders? Just the opposite has happened. Exiles from Saddam's regime, most of whom sat out the last decade in neighboring countries, cross the border hourly. Ironically, their sudden influx is intensifying the fuel crisis. Roads in major cities are sporting cars from Jordan, the Gulf States, and as far away as Denmark. Many who were chased out by Saddam-like Mr. Yacoub-are coming back to stay and bringing automobiles with them.
And like those who lived through the Saddam era, few would trade today's hardships for yesterday's dictator. They can point to a surprising plenty that is new about Iraq: new license plates, new currency, new computers and supplies for every school (courtesy of the U.S. Army). Policemen are wearing new uniforms and driving new Suzukis. There is new flight service to cities like Basra in the south and Irbil in the north-cities once cut off from Baghdad by no-fly zones imposed after the Gulf War.
Satellite dishes-nonexistent in Saddam's Iraq-are abundant. Where television viewers once had two government-controlled channels to choose from, they now have dozens-including 13 channels of Christian programming. Few cities had internet access. Now the Coalition Provisional Authority has seen to it that every major city is wired.
While prices are on the rise, so too are salaries for many who can find or keep jobs. Akram Almashmos, a cosmetics wholesaler, said he used to make the equivalent of $3 a month when Saddam set prices and salaries. Now he is making over $150 a month.
For a city where street demonstrations were outlawed for three decades, street marches against terrorism in early December were a breakthrough. Newspaper publishers also are taking advantage of their newfound freedom of expression. Independent newspapers proliferate, and hawkers walk the traffic jams selling the latest editions. One, an Islamic daily, gave full-length treatment to the photo of President Bush serving U.S. soldiers turkey on Thanksgiving Day-only the turkey had been cropped into the shape of Iraq and the platter was held out to a smug Saddam.
"There is fear inside every Iraqi that has built up for 30 years. It's not easy to get away from it," said Insaf Safou, another recent returnee. But clearly most believe their future is up to the U.S. president.
Lawlessness and insecurity do weigh on many. Asked if he is afraid of being robbed, Mr. Almashmos replied, "I expect it." Greater fear arises from bombings and roadside attacks. While November was the deadliest month for U.S. forces, it was also a high-casualty month for Iraqis. Seven Iraqis-including a father of four-were killed in the Dec. 5 Baghdad bombing that killed one U.S. soldier. Twenty Iraqis were seriously injured. "We are afraid of explosions more than thieves," says Mr. Yacoub's wife, Ghada.
Nevertheless, residents here believe they are safer than they were a few months ago, and certainly than they were under Saddam. "In the small towns there is already more control. Baghdad is bigger and has more immigrants, it is more insecure," said Mr. Almashmos. Like most Iraqis WORLD interviewed, he believes bombings are coming from foreigners with ties to al-Qaeda. "Iraqis don't kill other Iraqis like this," he said. He and others support the aggressive efforts of U.S. forces to go after terror cells.
"Every day you see people going to school and going to the store. They are fighting for their way of life. They are wanting to be normal," said Ghada.
Mr. Yacoub once worked as a teacher and his wife was a dentist. Both also participated in Christian outreach ministries. They were forced to flee to Jordan in 1998. Saddam cracked down on groups suspected of Western ties, and their ministry in Baghdad was specifically targeted. After more than five years in exile, they could have lived on in stable, more prosperous Jordan. But both say they have no regrets about their decision to return this month with their young girls.
Every day Ghada gets a thrill putting local Iraqi cheeses on her table. Relief at resettling in her homeland and once again living across town from relatives overwhelms the frustration of daily shortages and other hardships. "There are so many rumors that are not true," she said. "You can unlock your doors. All day my door stays open, and I can go to the store. It's very safe."
More importantly, even when the lights go out, one thing is guaranteed. The dictator will not be back.


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Clinical Trials
What are Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are patient studies that test new treatments and therapies. A trial may test drugs, a new type of therapy, new ways to do surgery, new medical devices, new combinations of treatments, or other new approaches to medical care. Often, clinical trials give children with rare or hard-to-treat conditions access to innovative treatments that may help where traditional options fail.
Clinical trials at Boston Children's Hospital
Boston Children's Hospital is currently leading or collaborating in hundreds of clinical trials, including trials for heart disease, cancer, blood disorders, neurological impairments, asthma and other respiratory diseases, bone and joint conditions, organ transplants, and much more.
To find a Boston Children's Hospital clinical trial, visit clinicaltrials.gov and search for "Boston Children's Hospital" and your child's condition.
Cancer, blood disorder, and stem cell transplant clinical trials
To search our cancer, blood disorder, stem cell transplant or gene therapy trials, you also can use the pediatric cancer and blood disorder clinical trial search on the Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center website.


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A mantra most of us can — or should — embrace: "Wear things that make you happy…"
Tag: merchandising
Another Awesome Job Alert!
Calling all artists, fashion, and design junkies!! Do you love to create inviting atmospheres? Do you constantly add touches of detail to transform a space? Do you understand the Free People brand thoroughly and love the aesthetic, constantly trying to recreate it in your own world?
Free People is looking to hire a District Visual Manager for its Wholesale division to manage all aspects of merchandising for their specific region. The role requires a highly motivated, energetic, and organized individual, who can drive sales through creative ideas and analysis of what works.
Role & Responsibility:
Training and Development:
- Educate and motivate sales associates, specialists and management in each store within the region about the product, sales goals and merchandising objectives
- Build the Free People Clientele through customer service and leading by example in the Free People Shop
- Train associates on how to build multiple sales and use the directives as a guide for putting key looks together
- Merchandise the floor space to reflect the Free People Corporate image based on the current trend of the season
- Communicate and establish effective relationships with visual managers, merchandise managers, selling managers and sales staff to create the Free People Image
- Utilize and pass out visual lookbooks and directives to ensure our images are being recreated within the department store environment
- Consistent communication with store management regarding floor space, numbers analysis, selling events and review of specialist performance
Selling Analysis:
- Analyze and communicate weekly goals to each store of responsibility
- Review allocations to your individual stores and communicate any issues
- Submit competitive recaps and detailed weekly recaps
- Conduct seminars with stores on a quarterly basis
Job Location
New York, NY US
Position Type
For more info and to apply, click here.
Cool Internship Alert!
We are looking for a full time merchandising intern to work here at our home office in Philadelphia!
For more info on the position and requirements, and to apply, please visit our job site.


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General Description
Located 12 miles east of Altoona, Canoe Creek State Park is a modern day-use facility developed during the Project 70 expansion era of state parks and was dedicated in 1979. The vast openness of this 958-acre park is exemplified with a panoramic view from the crest of the hill on Canoe Creek Road. Canoe Creek provides 155-acres of waterborne adventure, including year-round fishing for walleye, muskellunge, bass, trout, chain pickerel, catfish, crappies and other panfish. Small pleasure boaters can find plenty of open water to enjoy, and a popular swimming area provides a relaxing escape from summertime heat. Fields and woodlots are managed to provide diversified habitat for small game species and a variety of wildlife.
Ice fishing is a popular winter activity during the extended trout season. The ice thickness is not monitored. For your safety, be sure the ice is four inches thick and carry safety equipment. Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission laws apply.
Home Page
Click here to view.
Launch Areas
The 155-acre Canoe Lake has boat launching areas are on both sides of the lake. Boat mooring spaces are available along the eastern shoreline.
Fees & Licenses
Motorboats must display a boat registration from any state. Non-powered boats must display one of the following: boat registration from any state; launching permit or mooring permit from Pennsylvania State Parks that are available at most state park offices; launch use permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
Only electric powered boats are permitted.
All Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission rules and regulations apply. Fishing licenses are required.
Boat Rentals
Located on the west side of the park, the boat rental has rowboats, paddleboats, kayaks and canoes.
To reach Canoe Creek State Park, travel on US 22, until you arrive at the small village of Canoe Creek (seven miles east of Hollidaysburg), turn north on the Turkey Valley Road for one half mile to Canoe Creek Road, on the right.
View PA Boating Regulations
Toll Free Phone: 800-458-3433


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TYR Warehouse Sale 2019 is here! From 19th to 21st April 2019, get up to 80% Discount on merchandise ranging from Shoes, Sunglasses, Dragon Boat Equipment, Active Wear, Goggles, Accessories, Backpacks, Swimwear, Apparel, Swim Caps, Cycling & Triathlon Apparel & many more other items! Check out the bundle deals at the sale! Free Gifts with Purchase too!
Terms and conditions apply.
Singapore's Largest Travel Fair by The Planet Traveller is happening from 17-28 Apr at Marina Square Central Atrium. Enjoy up to 80% off travel gear, luggage, backpacks & travel accessories. Special buys at great discounts from well-renowned brands, including Eagle Creek, Klean Kanteen, Moleskine, Nalgene, Osprey, Pacsafe, Thule, Victorinox and many more. Citi Cardmembers enjoy an additional 10% off with $120 spend.
Liv Activ Warehouse Sale is back with up to 70% off selected outdoor performance, sports & lifestyle apparel, footwear, and accessories! Happening from 25 to 27 April 2019, take your pick from brands such as The North Face, Gregory, Under Armour, Asics, Helly Hansen, On, Zoot & Patagonia!
Show some love for yourselves and indulge in Guardian's amazing deals! Get 30% OFF ALL PERSONAL CARE items from now till 21 April. What's more check in everyday for the DAILY DEAL offers! Shop at all stores and online now!
*Terms & conditions apply. Whilst stocks last.


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Social Media users are familiar with what are considered the "top tiers" of social networking, such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, due to their popularity amongst peers. However, when it comes to engagement, which of these sites do you think is most engaging?
Second to Facebook… None.
Yep, that is correct; Facebook is no surprise here as it is a leader in engagement and a conglomerate in its own right, yet its well-known adversaries are not up to par as to where people are spending their time interacting online.
Nevertheless, Facebook is not the leader when it comes to social discovery sites, as it ranks as #3, followed by the newly popular site, Pinterest. So which site tops Facebook?
In a recent study conducted by ComScore, data shows that the social discovery site Tagged leads the header board at #1 in social discovery, even beating the all mighty Facebook along with other well-known sites such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Google Plus.
In fact, Tagged is THE social site you need to be watching out for, since next to Facebook, its ranking average per visitor is 16 per day, whereas Facebook sits at 35. These are the only two social sites that not only come close but surpass the 10 visits per visitor mark.
These stats are not based on every social site either; they are built upon the ones that have a community with an average of 250,000 daily visitors, which is no small feat and includes sites that you are already using or have in the past.
Tagged was created in 2004, and has been on the rise, especially since social discovery has become relevant amongst the social media enthusiasts. Surprising us all as how it has provided a community where people are not only going to but are actively engaging on, so much for those who thought Tagged was a passing phase.
Clearly they have proven themselves as a worthy social site that can contribute a fresh twist that is appealing enough even to those who have been using social sites since the days of MySpace.
Although Tagged creeps up behind Facebook, it still adds its own unique value in differentiating itself from any other social site out there; giving those who like engaging on the web a spot to interact online other than Facebook, without being another Facebook.
Let's face it; we are well aware that Facebook is directed more towards established relationships as opposed to Tagged where it entices new relationships or networking. In fact their algorithm is designed to match people upon interests to encourage new encounters.
As you can see, there are more sites out there that can give you opportunities to discover socially with others and provide you with eager engagers, as Tagged does, since when it comes to social discovery and visits per visitor Tagged has tagged itself by leaving an impression that leaves other social sites in its wake.
Tagged… "You are IT."


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You are here
Turning Your Tablet into a Point of Sale System – Is it Time to Make the Switch?
Turning Your Tablet into a Point of Sale System – Is it Time to Make the Switch?
Considering upgrading your business' point of sale system (POS) to one that runs on a mobile device or tablet?
Mobile payment platforms that turn your tablet into a credit card processing device have become increasingly popular with small businesses, thanks to offerings from companies like Square, Intuit and PayPal. But mobile POS is evolving beyond being a convenient way to swipe credit cards on-the-go. The next generation of POS systems will not only turn your tablet into a cash register, they offer fully-fledged business management tools including CRM services, inventory tracking, loyalty program integration and employee management tools – all made possible thanks to the power of cloud computing.
So what are the advantages of a tablet-based POS system for small business owners and what factors should you consider when making the switch? Here are some benefits and points to consider.
Cost Savings
Traditional POS systems typically involve an up-front fee of around $3,000, with some running as high as $50,000 (according to Street Fight magazine). In addition, you can expect to pay an annual software license fee per register and a yearly maintenance fee of 18-20 percent for upgrades. And, since costs are paid up front, chances are you're stuck with the system you choose even if you don't like it.
Cloud-based tablet POS systems, however, can be up and running for as little as $1,000 or less, with no upfront fee. Cost-savings also extend across the lifetime of the service – you pay a low monthly fee (which also includes instant software upgrades, support, back-up and upgrades) and can cancel at any time.
Easy Integration of Sales and Marketing Tools
In this age of ubiquitous information, many of us have come to expect instant, anytime, anywhere access to the data that matters most to us. Cloud-enabled tablet POS systems make this a reality with fingertip access to sales and inventory data – whenever you need it. Some also offer advanced integration with loyalty programs, accounting tools, as well as coupon and gift card generation options. You can even take advantage of marketing outreach features, such as auto-generated thank you emails to new customers and "poke" emails that encourage dormant customers to stop by. Other tools let you track sales volume by employees and manage inventory and restaurant seating. Others also offer integration with mobile card reader platforms such as Square and Intuit GoPayment.
Ease of Management
Not only does cloud-based POS cut the costs involved in managing your systems, it also streamlines their management. All the software upgrades are instant; trouble-shooting is taken care of by the system provider, and your applications and data are securely backed-up and stored within the cloud. No need to invest in additional service contracts or IT headcount.
If you think about the cost and time involved in managing your own POS and any downtime or system issues your run into – the appeal of a mobile POS system starts to catch on.
Things to Watch Out For
Benefits aside, there are some things to look out for when considering a tablet POS:
- Migration – Migrating any system can be tricky. Put this on your due diligence list and screen providers to see what migration tools or services they provide. Many will be able to handle a simple inventory and customer data import from a spreadsheet.
- Internet Downtime – You'll need a good internet connection to process transactions and manage your data. If you are worried about outages, then this type of POS may not be for you. The good news is that some providers are offering off-line services that let you sync transactions when you come back online.
To help you in your research, check out Street Fight's comparative guide – 7 Cloud-Based POS Systems for SMBs.
Related Articles
- Payments On the Go – Turning Your Mobile Device Into a Cash Register
- Online Payment Services – Are They a Good Fit for Your Small Business?
About the Author:
Caron Beesley


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Broker Note Briefing: Wednesday
The fourth-quarter U.S. earnings season got off to a positive start with Alcoa's better-than-expected results, which helped lift sentiment across European markets.
And this is just the beginning, with other big earnings statements eagerly awaited. In the meantime, it's been an incredibly busy day for European rating changes, with analysts churning out a mountain of recommendations.
Goldman Sachs has cut its view on the European oil services sector to "neutral" from "attractive" and followed this with a slew of recommendations.
"We see oil prices trending slightly lower in 2013/2014, leading to a flatter capital expenditure profile and lower growth for European oil services," said GS analysts. The brokerage warned of a more challenging environment ahead. With limited scope for margin expansion, the brokerage is instead looking for attractive risk reward driven by strong free cash flow, combined with revenue growth or self-help strategies.
John Wood Group, AMEC, TGS-Nopec Geophysical and Subsea 7 are among those upgraded. Aker Solutions is taken off the "conviction buy" list but left at "buy". Those downgraded include Technip, Petrofac and CGG Veritas.
Morgan Stanley has cast its eye over the media and internet sector in 2013…
[Read on over the jump]


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35395, Children's Songbook, Fun and Activity, Two Little Eyes, 268
Two little eyes that blink, blink, blink,
Two little eyes that see;
Head and shoulders; knees and toes;
And many more things make me.
Tra la la la la la,
Two little eyes that see,
Two little eyes that blink, blink, blink,
And many more things make me.
Improvise actions as suggested by the words.
Words and music: Moiselle Renstrom, 1889-1956
From Merrily We Sing, © 1948, 1975 by Pioneer Press, Inc. Used by permission. This song may be copied for incidental, noncommercial church or home use.


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Cuba's LGBT community celebrates
HAVANA — A week of drag shows, colorful marches and social and cultural events here culminated Friday with celebrations of the International Day Against Homophobia.
Hundreds of activists took part in the activities organized by a sex education center headed by first daughter Mariela Castro.
"Join (us) to educate families about their great social responsibility to ensure that there is no discrimination of any kind," Castro said.
The schedule included a gala bash at the capital's cavernous Karl Marx theater, with drag performers on stage with the popular musical group Los Van Van.
Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel attended.
Gays were persecuted for decades after the 1959 Cuban Revolution, sometimes sent to grueling rural work camps along with others considered socially suspect by the communist government.
But there has been a gradual shift away from macho attitudes, and Fidel Castro himself has publicly regretted the mistreatment of people seen as different.
Six years ago, Cuba's health care system began providing gender reassignment surgery free of charge, and a proposal to legalize same-sex civil unions is being studied.
But Mariela Castro, Fidel's niece and the daughter of current President Raul Castro, says more must be done to raise awareness about lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender people.


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NOTICE! NEW TOPIC IS READY!1. Character 'actions' must be adressed to the character's name, once other characters are introduced. I.E <Name>: <action>2. Action commands should be sent in PM, to remove clutter to the topic.3. If you are interested in any sort of cameo appearance, be it recurring or singular, please PM it to me, so as to keep the topic relatively clutter-free. Cameos must include spritesheet, either chimoru Sixshade, Kal, or R, i won't accept any others, as well as their name, action-command abbreviation, description, and powers. Cameos can be either a Simple Cameo [Equivalent to GS, may be in a few strips, or be a background character], or a Lasting Cameo [Equivalent to PGS, will be recurring character and should be around for awhile.]4. I am most likely to post each new 'comic' in a new post, as putting them in links would sort of... 'ruin the effect'.[AUTHOR NOTE: Update frequency depends on, for the most part, how many action commands i recieve in PM! So, please don't not-send me a command just because you think someone else already has - it may or may not be very likely, although sometimes i may be already working on the comic. Keep trying though, for the sake of the comic!]PLEASE KEEP IN MIND.Once you become a cameo, your character will be at the whims of those who give action commands, and the whims of how i play things out. In this sort of comic, it's something that has to be done.Regardless, i will try to keep what happens to the character within their... 'description'.Current Lasting Cameos:1. King Joe2. Justax-Kal3. Soran4. Utah5. Facade(Technically closed, but, feel free to send in a request. I might be able to use you at some point.)Current Simple Cameos:1. JiMing2. RO - (Ptolemaios)3. Open4. Open5. Open(People will be removed from the CSC list as they are moved out of place by newer CSCs, to keep in track of the latest ones.)Current available people for ACsLeraku: LERJustax-Kal: JKKing Joe: KJUtah: UTSoran: SORFacade: FACACS are enabled for everyone at the moment.Trophies:Soran's SANDWICH trophyUtah's JOLAND SEAL OF APPROVAL trophyBannersSeason One bannerSeason Two bannerSeason One fan banner by Soran (Image is too large, please click first link for Soran's fan banner)Season Two Banner ReduxFeel free to contribute a fan banner!And now...Dents.Dings.and Disasters.An orange matoran has awoken on the beach. Nearby is what looks like a large boulder, and far off, further down the beach behind him, there seems to be an odd collection of 'lilypads'.He can remember his name, but he does not seem to know why he would want to recall it. He knows it after all.What will you do?
Edited by Black Six, May 20 2014 - 07:21 AM.


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Women's Work Boots
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- If you work outdoors or in wet conditions, look for women's work boots with water resistant features like leather uppers, GORE-TEX® linings, and rubber welted construction. Many water resistant work boots also include advanced materials in the lining and upper that allow air to circulate through the boot while repelling water, helping you stay more comfortable while you work.
For more, shop the entire collection of women's footwear at DICK'S Sporting Goods.


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Yus neereth gassan, pheereth cha yevaano: morda che gassan zinde (Kashmiri saying)
Accolades and laurels for what?
39 comments:
Nothing to cheer about. Its like killing you and telling your dead body, "I am sorry. I killed you by mistake". Where is justice. They admitted to have committed the crime but where are the criminals. By now they should have been in the Central jail or sitting in the Tihar jail adjacent to Afzal Guru's cell. I think they have released the pressure of them with this twist. They are trying to kill two birds with one shot. Releasing public pressure and primarily playing a big election stunt. They want to show that they care about Kashmiris all but in vain. They have started their election campaign with this. I can compare Omar Abdullah with only Kadirov of Chechanya, Kadirov is President of Chechanya and is having stark resemblence with Om... Ar in terms of duplicity, crookry and brutality. If you want to know more about it, just Google Ramzan Kadirov, the President of Checheniya. You are going to shiver.ReplyDelete
Om...Ar is going to be worst than Jagmohan the Butcher. Allah will prevent him from unleashing his demon. Inshallah
Koshur I agree with to a great extent.Facts must be put as facts. JK Govt has done something which previous govt including his father have never done. I do not agree that the present govt wants to overtake Jagmohan as far as atrocitites are concerned. They may use police but they will not use army against common man. However, politics is a dirty game and the lust of power is very dangerous. They can do anything like bribing people to become informners, giving a free hand to police, increase corruption and deviate the people of kashmir from the main issue of self determination. In that respect I feel governors rule is better as the political leadership know how to reach to masses and create confusion. We have seen in the recent elections how on the basis of Rs 100 note, people were motivated in many places....I see a great danger ahead with this renewed pro Indian political activites on surge. This is the crucial time where we need a very strong pro freedom leadership to counter them. email@example.com
@Kashmir center and AijazReplyDelete
I couldnt agree more. Chechnya and Kashmir have many political similarities. Both Russia and India have massacred hundreds of thousands of innocent freedom seeking people to hold on to territory that doesnt belong to them. One of the differences though is that India is a hypocrite because it claims to be a democracy, and yet its actions in Kashmir put even dictators to shame. Russia never claims to be a beacon of democracy like India keeps blabbering it is.
I googled Ramzan Kadirov, but have to disagree that Omar Abdullah can be compared to such a criminal as Ramzan Kadirov. For instance it is mentioned that, "German human rights group the Society for Threatened Peoples (GfbV), which branded Kadyrov a "war criminal", has alleged that up to 75 percent of recent incidents of murder, torture, rape and kidnapping in Chechnya have been committed by Ramzan's paramilitary forces. "
Thank God Omar Abdullah does not have a private army, is not a warlord, or a religious leader, and has not been accused by any rights organisation of being a war criminal. Ramzan Kadirov has all these distinctions. As of now, Omar has a clean record and facts are in his favour.
However things could change. He has many options to build his legacy. He could turn a blind eye to atrocities like his predecessors did, including his father, and merely pay lip service. Or he could emulate Jagmohan and turn into a tyrant which India will bless him for. Or he could continue doing what his conscience tells him to do, and we saw the results in the recent events.
That is what I believe. That Omar Abdullah very unlike his predecessors, indeed has a conscience.
But I could be wrong. My views are speculation just like any other opinion on the political happenings in Kashmir. Only time will prove who is right. We will soon find out whether the lust of power will trump justice.
When Kadirov was installed upon Chechenya by Putin after the assasination of his father , he too was seen as the young voice, man with a vision and an innocent soul. He seemed to be shy, humble and honest. Everyone laid high hopes on him. He too promised justice and was viceferous about HR abuses. He too ordered probes and indicted people for murders and abuses. As he streghtened his grip over the power, the real demon in him came to light steadily. He graduated into a devil. His duplicity made him a hot favourite in Kremlin. On one hand he butchered all those who asked for freedom from Russia and on the other hand he banned sale of liquor during Ramadan to please the massas. On one hand he carried out extra judicial killings and on the other hand awarded mothers who gave birth to male children on Milad un Nabi SAWS with huge sums of dollars. He advocated honour killings of girls and gave it an islamic colour. He initiated probes against the murders for which he himself was a culprit. He indicted those people in these murders who were averse to his policies.
Now see Omar. Ten innocent souls silenced in two months. Scores of dormant and inactive militants killed, thus trying to force other dormant ones to become active again meaning more violence in Kashmir. If a militant is dormant and inactive, then why should one kill him. Perhaps Violent Kashmir suits them more. And scores of youth put behind the bars and much more to come. So he has not graduated into Kadirov but could be Kadirov in making. Time will show. He has just started and already 10 innocent men are down.
- The Kashmir CenterMarch 23, 2009 7:56 AM
And let me addReplyDelete
I pray to Almighty Allah:
Ya Allah let my predictions and apprehensions be totally wrong. Thats from the core of my heart. Wa Allah......
- LiberalMMarch 23, 2009 4:40 PM
For Kashmir to be peaceful, Kashmiris also have to take responsibility. You said so many times, there will be no inquiry. Well, inquiry was held. Then you said, there will be no report. Well, a report was released. You said the report won't be released in time. It was released before time. Then you said, the military won't do a thing about the report. Well, the military didn't do anything about that report but it did something on its own court of inquiry. Then you said, the culprits won't be punished. The culprits have been punished. At least things have moved this far this time, haven't they ?ReplyDelete
I maintain that if Kashmiri politicians show some spine then most of the killings (which I absolutely condemn) will stop.
LiberalM, what is the punishment for murder of an innocent in your country???? I do not know what makes you to say that Indian culprits have been punished.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 24, 2009 11:16 AM
@ AjazReplyDelete
what will you suggest - eye for an eye
But civilized society would have tried to remove the reason behind killing of innocence - not the weapon
Punishing army person with death sentence gives us nothing - we simply want army to be removed since they come with a feeling kashmir is theirs and we kashmiri's are enemies so crush them
Omar should demand removing army inside kashmir - they may continue to have them on borders
- LiberalMMarch 24, 2009 2:37 PM
All members of the armed forces are bound by the Army Act 1950. Any crimes committed by a member of the armed forces on active duty has to be investigated according to that act and that act alone. The punishment is also awarded according to the Army Act 1950.
Under the Army Act, the main aim is to maintain discipline and cohesion within the Armed Forces. Murder of a civilian is a crime under the act but not necessarily punishable by a death sentence.
Let us see what is working here. A crime was committed. An alert citizenry persisted in demanding that the culprits be caught and punished. A responsive government took action. The guilty were caught, investigated and punished under a legal jurisdiction that applied to them. Everything seems to be working under the law as it is supposed to.
This doesn't bring the two innocent human beings back but hopefully it will deter enough errant armymen from taking law into their own hands in the future.
@ Koshur.ReplyDelete
Atlest he stood by what he said.
Please dont compare Kashmnir with chechniya.Chechen warlord Basaev took into hostage pregnant women in a maternity home,Beslan school seige he took into hostage innocent school children.Chechen warlods used to Kidnap and ask ransom.We have a different story in Kashmir.Chechen people were part of Soviet empire as any other republic.There was no discrimnation whatsoever.The roots of sepatisim in chechniya were sowed by America for its interests as a part of big game so that to weaken then Russia.Russia is a great power and cannot be compared with the oppressors of India.India even today owes 20 million dollars to Russia of Soviet era.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 26, 2009 11:58 AM
Why isn't anyone mentioning about Kupwara - 8 army men were killed to save kashmir from forces of destruction or you want those to be called freedom supporters and army your enemy since they laid their lives for thankless kashmiri'sReplyDelete
why just glorify the bad about army - main reason army is there is to eliminate these destructive forces who you think are your friends
The main reason why militants are operating in Kashmir is to drag Indian army out of Kashmir. The moment army leaves, Kashmiris will definitely ask militants to leave. Although I personally believe that militancy is giving a bad name to the Kashmir cause, I have no right to nullify the sacrifices offered by millitants for Kashmir neither can we stop militants from infilterating into Kashmir. LOC and international borders of J & K are being manned by BSF and army. They are unable to stop them from infiltrating into Kashmir. We Kashmiris regret loss of life on the both sides. India should leave Kashmir and live a peaceful life.
@Dr. Waleed
Half of the population of Chechenya has been annhilated by Russian foces since 1996. Russian war planes impounded villages and towns of Chechenya with cluster bombs in 2000 killing 1.5 lac people in just 20 days. 90% inmates of Grozny, the capital of Chechenya were either killed or forced to leave the town. During Stalin's rule majority of Chechens were forced to migrate to Siberia as Chechens were asking for freedom and were challenging communists with conviction. Chechenya was the only place in USSR where mosques could not be locked down.
Majority of militants fighting in Chechenya are followers of Wahabi ideology. Basaev and others were indoctrined by Wahabi militant namely Khatab, who came from Jordon. If a handful of elements indulge in crimes, whole of the society cant be blamed. So in future, please refrain from comments justifying ethenic cleansing of Chechens by Russia.
- AnonymousMarch 27, 2009 9:52 AM
@ kashmir centerReplyDelete
can people be so blind and think that these infiltrators are helping Kashmir's and when army will leave they will just go away vanish.
How can human brain be so blind - there is plant called "soy" which when touched would give bruises - at present army is trying to control and get bruised and in there absence this "soy " will cover whole kahmir and bruise it.
You may think of them as needle to remove "meeach" but dear our other hand controls needle and once we remove "meach" we throw needle but these infiltrators are they controlled by kashmiri's - do we kashmiri's tell them where to blast -whom to kill - have they never killed innocent people - forced our women to cook for them - haven't we hidden our sons from them
- LiberalMMarch 27, 2009 2:21 PM
@Kashmir CenterReplyDelete
LeT militants sacrificing their lives for Kashmir ? And you'll ask them to leave once India leaves. Get over it sir, please. They are sacrificing their lives because they have been brain-washed into believing what their handlers across the border want them believe (occupation of territory under the guise of Jihad). If such militants win, Kashmir will become no different than Swat. Try asking the militants who occupy Swat to leave politely and see what they do. The present-day Kashmir with all its problems (understandably many) looks like a heaven compared to the hell that has become of Swat. At least you have the freedom to openly call yourself a separatist and a chance to participate in a political opposition. Give it a chance for your sake and for the sake of your fellow Kashmiris.
- LiberalM
- AnonymousMarch 27, 2009 3:31 PM
A warrant is awaiting execution by the Interpol. Thirteen years have passed since the body of the slain jurist was fished out from Jehlum. The culprit has been identified and a detailed charge sheet produced against him. But justice seems a distant dream for Jalil's relatives, friends and colleagues. If this can happen to a reputed person like Jalil, the plight of the lesser mortals can only be imagined
Those in Swat are natives and natives wont leave. And going by your assertion, it seems you have lived in Swat and have experienced the hell out there. If so, then all sympathies to you and if you dont even know where the Swat is, which is the only probablity here, you are spreading lies and indulging in malacious propoganda. I suggust you to write somewhere in Varun Gandhis blog. Your point of view will be in sync with the people of anti- Muslim bias and people of Malign Islam Mentality. By the way, your army is killing Kashmiris in cold blood and doing it in the 'national interest of India'. Fighting LeT is their compulsion and killing civilians is their passion. And you talk about liberty in Kashmir. Hilarious. Liberty to kill, liberty to arrest without any reason, liberty to destroy houses. Yes that type of liberty is being enjoyed by Indians and its stooges in Kashmir. And dont forget all the mass graves have not been dug up and unearthed as of yet in Kashmir.
- LiberalMMarch 30, 2009 8:22 AM
@Kashmir CenterReplyDelete
I certainly do know where Swat is - so no worries there. I am not a religious person (at all) so I have little sympathy for the politics of Varun Gandhi and his likes or the politics of Gilani Sahab and his likes. Varun Gandhi did get arrested and that is a good thing to happen.
I acknowledged in my previous comment that Kashmir has many problems. I was only commenting about Kashmir's relative liberties compared to the "liberties" of Swat where militancy has been allowed to run its full course.
- LiberalM
"Kashmiris relative liberties"
Kashmir center eloquently elaborated what those liberties translate to in reality in Kashmir.
I think we are way past comparing Kashmir with other parts of the subcontinent. The argument that Kashmir will turn into another hotbed of al qaida activity, when we are independent, is worn off so much now that it's not even worth responding to.
If that were the case we wouldnt be trying to convince the world community and the US to have permanent bases in Kashmir. Anything to rid us of the scourge of Indian presence here.
- AnonymousMarch 30, 2009 12:28 PM
You believe US will help you - I think present condition of kashmir has ended up in reduction in your mental abilities - In order to get rid of needle you want to hug porcupine -want to be afganistan or iraq or may be vietnamReplyDelete
It is US intrest to have burning kashmir issue so that pakistan and India fight and it is they who actually fund terrorism in kashmir - all the help you get from pakistan is all for money - go and check the wealth militants made after 1990 - if they are freedom fighters why they are buying properties in jammu , banglore even london etc for their kith and kin
Actually those who favour pakistan and even US - I know they simply believe in making money - they have no sympathies for poeple who are suffering in kashmir
- LiberalMMarch 30, 2009 8:27 PM
The human rights abuses have gone down in direct relationship to the going down of militancy. Yes, there are sporadic incidents here and there but on the whole the level of abuses and violence has gone down (I do try to read Kashmiri newspapers to get a balanced view).
This is a poor man's democracy and for most of us it works fine. Police and politicians are corrupt to the bone everywhere in India. But when a thousand well-meaning people band together the police brutality stops and politicians start listening. This is what happened in Bomai and I salute the spirit of the people there. Luckily for most Kashmiris too, bread, butter, poor-man's democracy, and /relative/ peace and political space (as compared to previous years and as compared to other entities in the geographical neighbourhood) seem to matter a lot more than somewhat unrealistic, distant, hazy, and unclear dreams of independence.
- LiberalM
I couldnt agree more. It works perfectly fine for you. therefore, just let us be on our own because we know we can do way better for ourselves on our own.
you can be happy with your "poor man's democracy". and we'll be happy with our version.
- LiberalMMarch 30, 2009 11:07 PM
Who is "we" in "we'll be happy with our version" ? Most of the "we" that you are referring to actively participated in this "poor man's democracy" by voting in the last election held in Kashmir in 2008. They are already happier having participated in a generally free vote, having a responsive government of their choice, and looking forward to a peaceful Kashmir. Most of "we" appear to be ready to move on to better things in life. Don't you think you need to listen more to what a large majority of your own people are telling you by their own actions ?
- LiberalM
You mean the rigged elections with tampered electronic voting machines?ReplyDelete
You're fooling yourselves if you believe that 60% kashmiris voted in those elections.
In any case, like many Kashmiris have suggested in the past, if you're so confident that 60% Kashmiris voted to express their undenying love for India and have given up dreams of freedom, then hold the long overdue plebiscite to prove your claim once and for all.
Yes I am aware what the large majority of Kashmiris are yearning for. It is evident everyday on their faces when we see the criminal faces of your soldiers on our streets.
- LiberalMMarch 31, 2009 1:12 AM
Plebscite has no meaning when people freely participate in elections to vote for the candidates of their choice - all of whom have sworn an oath of allegiance to the constitution of India. That is your plebiscite right there.
Hurriyat asked people to boycott the elections. People could have and should have boycotted the elections but they didn't, did they ? Why would people go out in droves to vote for candidates that have sworn their loyalty to the Republic of India ?
As far as the legitimacy of the elections is concerned I will trust my sources (including many kashmiri newspapers) and believe that it was a generally free and fair poll.
- LiberalM
hurriyet leaders were under house arrest, there is a good example of what a sham your "poor man's democracy" truly is.
no it does nor substitute for a UN supervised plebiscite.
you can believe whatever you want. I promise you the day is not far when your forces will be forced from Kashmir by the same UN and US sanctions that your government is trying so hard to avoid.
- AnonymousMarch 31, 2009 9:51 AM
I believe in short koshur and liberalIM are simple people of parties who won in election and who lost in electionsReplyDelete
nothing to do with kashmir - vote bank politics nothing more
- LiberalMMarch 31, 2009 9:58 AM
There are many who would say that hurriyet leaders wanted to be under house-arrest. Their popularity is so abysmally low, what with their random strike calls and 15 different talking heads speaking in dissonant voices all at the same time. If that is the leadership you rely on for getting your independence then wish you all the best. The majority of kashmiris seem to have spoken loud and clear that they have nothing to do with the hurriyet agenda of needless confrontation and would rather get on as best as they can in a poor-man's democracy.
UN supervised plebiscite is a mirage that even the UN doesn't believe in any more. In the end, even if a UN supervised plebiscite is actually held (fat chance that), kashmiris can be offered only two choices: join the rapidly unraveling Pakistan or join poor-man's demcracy India. There is no third option in a UN-sponsored plebiscite. Sorry.
Don't know what UN/US sanctions you are talking about. Wishful thinking perhaps ?
- LiberalM
@anonymous aboveReplyDelete
thankyou for the priceless gems of wisdom.
goes to show how flawed your comprehension is. Even after reading more than 150 blog posts on this blog, you came to the conclusion that I belong to a pro-india party. I guess in your logic the Jehlum flows north to south.
You seem to somehow know exactly what a majority of Kashmiris want therefore I will let you be in your make beleive world. No matter how much you try to spin the recent elections as somehow reflective of the supposed pro-India leanings of Kashmiris, it's not going to work. There are many Kashmiris working to disrove just that and let me break it to you that there are many sympathetic ears in the Obama administration.
It's just a matter of time when the US and the world community wakes up to what evil India is perpetrating in Kashmir and decides to put up permanent bases in Kashmir . Indians keep blabbering as though the new US administration is unaware of the pro-Bush leanings of the Indians.
We could care less what the options were in the old UN resolutions. If we want independence we will make sure that option is included. The destiny of a nation cannot be decided by mere wordings on an archaic document. We are demanding a plebiscite - not necessarily the one that was promised 60 years ago. The UN can pass a new resolution demanding India and Pakistan to hold a plebiscite in Kashmir. With the Independence option included.
The stuff of India's worst nightmare is coming to fruition. Dont lose too much sleep on it.
- LiberalMMarch 31, 2009 6:49 PM
Once again you are harkening back to "we". The "we" that you are referring to is now a small band of avowed separatists who can't seem to see beyond the foggy ideas of "independence". The large majority of the "we" has voted with their feet to avoid a needless confrontation, engage in political processes, and pursue their goals of personal happiness.
As for the rest of your comments, about having sympathetic ears in the Obama administration, about ignoring the old UN resolutions, about passing a brand new UN plebiscite resolution with an option of independence, about US establishing bases in Kashmir, US/UN sanctioning India till India chokes, worst nightmare for India etc etc ..... that is the kind of heroic stuff that I am afraid, I am simply not equipped to argue with.
Hope all people sleep peacefully tonight and every coming night in Kashmir and may the mornings bring hope and happiness every day.
- LiberalM
"a small band of separatists."ReplyDelete
you really are becoming delusional now!
And that would be the reason for the 1.3 million Indian troops here?
Get some sleep. You really are not equipped to argue - be the arguments "heroic" or not.
- AnonymousApril 01, 2009 10:24 AM
one rotten apple can make whole garden rotten - a small band has potential to be reason behind massive killings in kashmir - i think you very well know the count - add count of army , bsf,crpf and jk police as well .ReplyDelete
@ koshur
I know you can not argue - when you fail you simply make others agree with guns .
Argument is not what every person can do - to hold a gun and say we are freedom fighters is what anyone can do
- LiberalMApril 01, 2009 10:57 AM
1.3 million troops ? That is more than the entire military. At least get your exaggerations right, please ?
The election participation was a shocker to the separatists and you lost the force of your arguments and the ability to call "we" to refer to Kashmiris at large right there and then.
When breathless dreams and wishful thinking is inserted into a discussion, then it is meaningless to argue further. I can argue with your opinions but I can't argue with your or anyone else's dreams. You may have the last word Koshur but you disappointed me this time.
- LiberalM
Just goes to show your knowledge of the conflict. Please enlighten me on how many occupation troops are there then in Kashmir. I suppose in your make believe world, where Kashmiris are pro-India, and fly your tri-color from roof-tops on Aug 15, and dont cheer when India loses a cricket match, there are only a few thousand occupation troops to tackle the handful of separatists.ReplyDelete
The only wishful thinking here is Indians thinking that Kashmiris will ever be pro-India or that we'll ever give up our quest for independence.
Pardon me if you were disappointed! the least of my concerns is to entertain some hindutva agent!
- AnonymousApril 02, 2009 12:01 PM
Dear KoshurReplyDelete
pro india , pro pak , hindu muslim - that is what politicians use for votebank and money
I though we here want peace and happiness in kashmir . It is simply of quest to make certain that our children do net see bloodshed and live a normal childhood . their schoold impart real education and do not close because of bandh , their mother do not wait anxiously when there is news about cross fire for teenagers who are not in home , women are not humilated and what not they have suffered.
if flag is tricolor and my future generations can be happy I will not mind that but at present neither green nor tricolor flag makes me feel safe about my kids - be it militants or army kashmir's younger generation is not getting what they deserve - small kids want toys in hands not grenades - small kids need parks and play grounds to play not curfews and hartals and even harrasment
kasmir independence has never focussed on real objective always tried to either bent to pak or india that is why we till now have not achieved our goal
Koshur - try to live your name and be koshur YOU may be able to give youth right direction not try to take help of wrong people
- LiberalMApril 03, 2009 7:23 PM
Hindutva agent ? Moi ? Sorry, that couldn't be further from the reality. Calling me a Hindutva agent is akin to calling you a patriotic, tri-colour waving Indian. Look at my comments above. Hindutva agents don't go about saluting the ordinary people of Bomai, J&K for standing up to their rights in the face of atrocities committed by the Army.ReplyDelete
You want independence ? Fine. I have no issues with that. Can you define what independence means to you ? Here by "you" I mean You, not Kashmiris in general. It is clear that people of Jammu region and Ladakh do not share your aspirations for independence. It is also clear that while there is some level of support for a foggy notion of "independence" in Kashmir valley it is not clear how many people have this as their #1 priority in life. It is also not very clear if people in the valley support an idea of Kashmir that will be independent and hostile to India. Most Indians as of today, will be extremely hostile to the idea of an independent Kashmir valley so I would suspect that an independent Kashmir valley is not going to have an easy time of it trying to be friends with India. And you know what being friends with Pakistan means so I will skip the gory details.
Best wishes,
- LiberalM
- AnonymousApril 07, 2009 2:10 PM
It was a delight reading you again LiberalM.ReplyDelete
I have stopped posting any further. The reason for that is what you have elucidated so aptly:
"When breathless dreams and wishful thinking is inserted into a discussion, then it is meaningless to argue further. I can argue with your opinions but I can't argue with your or anyone else's dreams."
- AnonymousJuly 03, 2009 12:37 PM
SO WHAT IS THE PROBLEM LET PELBICITE TAKES PLACEReplyDelete