EGYPTIAN BLOGGER JAILED FOR INSULTING ISLAM

Thought you guys might be interested in this piece.

An Alexandria court sentenced an Egyptian blogger to four years in prison on Thursday for insulting both Islam and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Abdel Karim Suleiman, a 22-year-old former law student who has been in custody since November, was the first blogger to stand trial in Egypt for his Internet writings.
He was convicted in connection with eight articles he wrote since 2004. Rights groups and opposition bloggers have watched Suleiman's case closely, and said they feared a conviction could set a legal precedent limiting Internet freedom in Egypt, the Arab world's most populous country.

"This is yet another slap in the face of freedom of expression in Egypt," the London-based rights group Amnesty International said in a statement. The group considers Suleiman to be a prisoner of conscience, jailed solely for peacefully expressing his opinion, the statement added.

The Paris-based press freedom organisation Reporters Without Borders said the sentence was "a disgrace" and the United Nations should respond by disqualifying Egypt from hosting an Internet Governance Forum in 2009.
"It is time the international community took a stand on Egypt's repeated violations of press freedom and the rights of Internet users," the organisation said in a statement.

A fellow blogger who runs the Rantings of a Sandmonkey blog said: "It's a dangerous precedent because it will impact the only free space available now, which is the Internet. The charges were undefined and vague."
"Tell me. What does insulting the president mean? What is the difference between criticising religion and being in contempt of religion?" he added, asking to remain anonymous.

The Internet has emerged as a major forum for critics of the Egyptian government to express their views in a country where the state runs large newspapers and the main television stations.

While Suleiman was the first blogger to go on trial for the content of his writings, other opposition bloggers have been arrested periodically during street protests and then held for weeks or months before being released.

Suleiman, a Muslim and a liberal, has not denied writing the articles but said they merely represented his own views. His lawyers said they planned to appeal the verdict, and one member of the defence team described the trial as unfair.
One of Suleiman's articles said that al-Azhar in Cairo, one of the most prominent seats of Sunni Muslim learning, was promoting extreme ideas. Another article, headlined 'The Naked Truth of Islam as I Saw it', accused Muslims of savagery during clashes with Christians in Alexandria in 2005.
He has also described some of the companions of the Muslim prophet Mohammad as "terrorists", and has likened Mubarak to dictatorial pharaohs who ruled ancient Egypt.
"I was hoping that he would get a harsher sentence because he presented to the world a bad image of Egypt. There are things that one should not talk about, like religion and politics. He should have got a ten-year sentence," said lawyer Nizar Habib, who attended the trial as a member of the public.

I have no comment. None at all. You have any comment? Do send it in.

BEYONCE!!! NO WONDER JAY Z IS STUCK ON HER

She has a great body, not so? She should have sang 'Don't ya wish ur girlfriend was hot like me?'...instead of Pussycat Dolls. Delicious woman!

PLEASE READ THIS!!!

Dear friends...please read this and read it and read it and read it.

He almost didn't see the old lady, stranded on the side of the road, but even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her.

Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe; he looked poor and hungry.

He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold.

He knew how she felt. It was that chill which only fear can put in you. He said, "I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan Anderson."

Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough.

Bryan crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt. As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid. Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk.

The lady asked how much she owed him. Any amount would have been all right with her. She already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped. Bryan never thought twice about being paid. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty, who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way.

He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed, and Bryan added, "And think of me." He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight.

A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't erase. The lady noticed the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Bryan .

After the lady finished her meal, she paid with a hundred dollar bill. The waitress quickly went to get change for her hundred dollar bill, but the old lady had slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. The waitress wondered where the lady could be. Then she noticed something written on the napkin. There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote: "You don't owe me anything. I have been there too. Somebody once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you do: Do not let this chain of love end with you." Under the napkin were four more $100 bills. Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day.

That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could the lady have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard. She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, "Everything's going to be all right. I love you, Bryan Anderson."

There is an old saying "What goes around comes around." Today, I sent you this story, pls invite your friends to come read it. Let this light shine.

WHEN I WAS SMALL...

When I was small, I used to be so mischievious. Check out what I used to do!!!


I used to break rocks with my head


Used to play with basketball !


Used to take a ride with Comodo Dragon !


Swim with my Dolphin !


Even make a lion get frightened !



Used to scare the police


Used to race with cars


Go skating


Always made new friends.


Surf on the waves

Now all I do is go around looking for a job! I used to be so talentless, sorry, talented. What happened to me? Sad!

THIS PROOVES LOVE IS REALLY BLIND!

22 year old Mbugua marries 77 year old Wambui at the Bomas in Kenya. I'm speechless. Don't have any comment.












Ok. I have a comment. No, an observation. No, a question...questions. Pardon me, I'm confused. To my comment, sorry observation, I mean questions; Is this natural? Where the hell are the boy's parents? Why would they allow this to happen to their son? Is he normal? Isn't the bride scared of God? Doesn't she have a conscience? What did she give him? She's 77 for goodness sake. Is this fair to a young boy who's just starting life? Someone pls answer me. Do you have questions also? Send it in. Wonder shall never end!!!!!!!

NATURE GONE BAD!!!

I'm not going to make any comment. Just carefully view the pictures below. hmmmmmm.....

















Still no comment. But I do wonder! I really really wonder!!!

Pictures courtesy my friend Macauley Akinbami.

ASH WEDNESDAY

Yesterday 21st February was Ash-Wednesday, how many of you catholics went to receive Ash? I did. Lent/Fasting has started. For those of you who want miracles or changes in your lives, this is the time to talk to God. May he answer all our prayers. Amen

THE SOUND OF MUSIC KIDS TODAY. SO PRECIOUS

The Von Trapp children in 1965

How many of you ever wondered about the kids from THE SOUND OF MUSIC? This movie is one of the best movies ever made and it's my all-time favourite movie. It was filmed in 1964 and released in 1965. It won FIVE Oscars, including best picture. The movie is full of magic, beautiful songs, love, great acting, and fairytale. Really beautiful!

For years I wondered about those SEVEN cute and adorable Von Trapp children. 42 years later, are they all still alive? What are they doing now? Where are they? I bet some of you don't even know their real names.

Well, I went digging to find out about the children, they are not children anymore, and this is what I found out about them.

I present to you, the Von Trapp children...as they are today!


Gretl, Martha, Brigitta, Kurt, Louisa, Friedrich, Leisl, Maria and Captain Von Trapp


The Von Trapp children in 2004


Liesl Von Trapp 1964 (Charmian Carr)

Charmian Carr in 2004 (LIESL)

Charmian is internationally recognized as Liesl and often does personal appearances, radio and television as a result of the phenomenal success of this film. In 1995, she hosted "The Sound of Music" segment for the A&E channel's special on Rogers and Hammerstein's "The Sound of Movies." She wrote a book titled "Forever, Liesl" about her experiences making the film which is available from Penguin Putnam Books. Her newest book is "Letters to Liesl".

Television audiences remember Charmian when she starred with Anthony Perkins in the John Houseman/Stephen Sondheim production of "Evening Primrose." Charmian found herself involved in two careers. She spent many years acting in national commercials while at the same time developing a highly successful Interior Design business.

Charmian's interests include skiing, aerobics, dance, biking, and she is often called upon to perform "Sixteen Going on Seventeen." She spends as much time as possible visiting her two daughters, Jennifer and Emily and swimming with her three yellow Labrador Retrievers. One of her passions is gardening, and her results are spectacular. For more info http://www.charmiancarr.com

NICHOLAS HAMMOND (FRIEDRICH)

Nicholas was born May 15, 1950 in Washington DC. He has appeared in many movies and television roles including "Spiderman," "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" with Michael Caine, "Mission Impossible" with Peter Graves and "Flipper," and currently a CBS pilot with Stacy Keach.
He's lived in Paris, New York and Los Angeles and graduated from Princeton University. He went to Australia for a two week vacation ten years ago and has made Sydney his home since then. Nicholas has turned his career to writing and producing and has a miniseries titled "A Difficult Woman" which aired in Australia. He also has a feature he has penned and produced titled "Peril". He continues to work in film, theatre and television down under.

HEATHER MENZIES (LOUISA)

Heather continued to act after "The Sound of Music" in such movies as "Hawaii," "Piranha," "SSSSSSS," and "How Sweet it Is." She played 'Jessica' in the television version of "Logan's Run" and guest starred in many television shows. Heather starred on Broadway with Shirley Knight in "We Always Lived in a Castle" and with Robert Urich, her husband for 28 years, in "Hasty Heart" at the Kennedy Center.

Heather has two grown children Ryan and Emily, Allison, born in May 1998 and two grandchildren. Now a Producer and part time actress Heather works tirelessly for the Robert Urich Cancer Foundation which she founded with her late husband. She is also in the process of producing various projects with her partner Angela Cartwright. For more info http://www.heathermenziesurich.com

DUANE CHASE (KURT)

Duane lives with Petra, his wife of 12 years outside Seattle, Washington. Duane left show business after high school and went on to get a masters degree in geology. Today, he designs computer software for geologists and geophysicists.

ANGELA CARTWRIGHT (BRIGITTA)

Angela was born in Altrincham, Cheshire, England and moved to Los Angeles, California with her sister Veronica and her parents when she was 3 years old. She started as a child fashion model and by the time she was four, Angela was well known by the top photographers and appeared on magazine covers and in many advertisements. At the age of 3 she made her movie debut in "Somebody Up There Likes Me" as Paul Newman's daughter. Another part followed in "Something of Value" with Rock Hudson and Sidney Poitier.
Angela was signed by Danny Thomas when she was 4 to play his daughter "Linda Williams" on the TV series "Make Room for Daddy". The series ran for 7 years, during which Angela found time to star in "Lad: A Dog" with Carroll O'Connor.

In 1965 following the end of "The Danny Thomas Show" Angela was cast as "Brigitta" in the movie version of "The Sound of Music." Soon after, she returned to television as "Penny Robinson" in Irwin Allen's "Lost In Space." This now-classic series ran for 3 years. In the years that followed Angela guest starred in numerous television shows and commercials. She recreated her role as "Linda" in a revival of "The Danny Thomas Show" called "Make Room for Granddaddy" and worked for Irwin Allen again in the movie "Beyond the Poseidon Adventure." She returned to the big screen in "Lost In Space - The Movie".
While continuing to pursue her acting career, Angela married in 1976 and has raised two children. She has also to her credit a nationally acclaimed book "My Book: A Child's First Journal." In 1977 Angela opened "Rubber Boots," an eclectic gift boutique which is now on the internet which she owns and operates. She has written a fantasy novel with Bill Mumy and is in the process of producing several projects with her partner Heather Menzies. She has also been a successful photographer for over 30 years and continues to pursue her love of art. Her recently released book "Transparent Art" she wrote in collaboration with Stampington & Company and she writes articles and contributes art for Somerset Magazine. Her photography has been licensed by various companies. For more info http://www.angela-cartwright.com

DEBBIE TURNER (MARTA)

Debbie Turner (Larson) was born & raised in Southern California. She worked as a television actress since the age of 6 months. Before she was cast as 'Marta' she was in numerous commercials including over 30 for Mattel toys. After "The Sound of Music" she became a professional skier in Utah.

Debbie has a floral design business since 1989 concentrating on floral designs for distinctive tastes. She also designs one of a kind collectable Santa Clauses and is now perfecting her skills as a restoration artist for European antique furniture. Debbie has lived in Chanhassen, Minnesota since 1985. She is married, and the mother of four daughters.

KYM KARATH (GRETL)

Kym began her acting career at the age of 3, appearing in "Spencer's Mountain" with Henry Fonda and Maureen O'Hara. "The Thrill of It All" with Doris Day and James Garner, and "Good Neighbor Sam" with Jack Lemmon before winning the role of the youngest Von Trapp daughter.
After "The Sound of Music," Kym continued acting, appearing over the years in such television shows as "Dr. Kildare," "Lassie," "My Three Sons," "Lost In Space, "Family Affair," and "The Brady Bunch" before taking time off to pursue her education.
Graduating from USC with her degree in Humanities, Kym made television appearances in such shows as "Archie Bunker's Place," and "Midnight Offerings," before moving to Paris to model and study art history. Upon returning to the States, Kym appeared in "All My Children" and various print ads before taking time off to raise her son, Eric. She is now resuming her acting career in Los Angeles, California.

Glad to know they all turned out well.

NAOMI CAMPBELL WANTS KIDS ASAP. NICE!

"I'm the only one of my friends who doesn't have kids. If I don't have them soon I'll be under loads of pressure."

- Naomi Campbell

Naomi wants kids. Isn't that sweet? Will she follow the trend now and have a kid without first getting married? Falling in love, getting married and having children should come in that order, that's the proper way to do it right? Hmm..maybe, if you're under 30 years of age. Above 35yrs like Naomi? Sweetheart go have yourself a kid, especially if you can afford to take care of the child. Love and marriage will come later. Or what do you guys think?

Goodluck to Naomi in finding a man to marry or a man to give her his sperm. Let's Just hope she goes after a very fine man to procreate with!

THOUGHT THIS MIGHT CHEER YOU UP

I found this hilarious. Thought to share it with you. Naija for sure!


A family in Nigeria was puzzled when the coffin of their dead mother arrived from the USA , sent by their sister. The tiny corpse was so tightly squeezed inside the coffin that their mother's face was practically touching the glass cover.When they opened the coffin, they found a letter from their sister pinned to their mother's chest, which read:-

Dearest brothers and sisters,
I am sending you our mother's remains for burial in Lagos . Sorry I could not come along, as the expenses were so high.You will find inside the coffin, under Mama's body, 12 cans of Libby's corned beef and12 cans of Luncheon Meat.Just divide it amongst yourselves.On Mama's feet is a brand-new pair of Reeboks (size 8) for Junior.There are four pairs of Reeboks under Mama's head for Buhari's sons.Mama is wearing six Ralph Lauren T-shirts - one is for OMO, Roy and the rest are for my nephews. Mama is also wearing one dozen Wonder Bras (your favorite), just divide them among yourselves.The 2 dozen Victoria ’s Secret panties that Mama is wearing should be distributed among my nieces and cousins. Mama is also wearing eight Dockers pants - Ikeje, please get one for yourself and the rest are for the boys. The Swiss watch you asked for, is on Mama's left wrist, please get it. Aunty Funmi, Mama is wearing what you asked for - earrings, rings and a necklace; please take them also, the six pairs of Chanel stockings that Mama is wearing must be divided among the teen-age girls there. I hope they like the colors.
Your loving sister,
Mulikatu

P.S. Please take care of finding a nice dress for Mama for her burial.(YOU MAY GO TO ORILE OR YABA FOR A CHEAP OKRIKA...)

Incase you need anything that I may have forgotten, please let me know as UNCLE IS NOT FEELING TOO WELL.

Is this wicked or what? It's courtesy my friend Macauley Akinbami

THIS IS WHY WOMEN SHOULD NOT DRINK! YUCK!

Check out how this women who have had so much to drink, pour it all out wherever...however...anyhow. Great ain't it?















Some of you might find this offensive. I found it hilarious. Thank God I don't drink. Something tells me I might be in this same category. Have you had any similar experience? Send me your story.

PLEASE READ THIS VERY SAD STORY

I have this friend called solomon. Solomon has a younger brother called Simon. On the 12th of February 2007, Simon who walks for a Spare part Merchant at Oyingbo, was sent to Balogun market, Lagos Island, by his boss to buy him some goods. When Simon got to the market, he went straight to his regular customer where he's been buying things from for the past 2years. Simon's customer, popular called Iya Bukky, didn't have everything Simon needed. She sold to him what she had and asked him to go elsewhere to buy the remaining. Simon decided to leave his goods with Iya Bukky and come back later to get it after purchasing the remaining items. At the next street from Iya Bukky, Simon went into a shop that had exactly what he wanted. The owner of the shop, an elderly man of about 60/65years old, introduced himself as Alhaji and was very pleasant and courteous to Simon as they came to an agreement about the goods. They settled on 14, 000 thousand Naira. Simon paid. Then he realised he couldn't carry the goods himself, he asked the Alhaji where he could find people who carry stuff for other people in the market. The Alhaji showed him where to go. Simon left in the direction the Alhaji pointed to him not knowing his life was about to change in the next couple of minutes. Simon got back about 10minutes later with the person to carry the things he had bought. He pointed the goods to the 'carrier' and as the 'carrier' was about to pick them up, the Alhaji stopped him. Then asked Simon to pay him for the goods. This surprised Simon because he knew he had paid and this he told the Alhaji. The Alhaji agreed that Simon had paid but that Simon stole the money he had paid him and more money he kept in his drawer before leaving to find the 'carrier'. Simon couldn't believe what he just heard, so he raised his voice, called the Alhaji a liar and tried to take the goods he had paid. The well known Alhaji in Balogun market started shouting 'thief' 'thief', 'ole, ole'. Before Simon knew what was happening, he was surrounded by area boys who asked the Alhaji what happened. The Alhaji told his story and noboby bothered to ask Simon his own version. They first searched him and when they didn't find anything on him, they descended on him. They hit him with their fists, sticks, iron, anything and everything they found. He was stripped naked. There were over seventeen thugs that beat Simon till he almost collapsed. Then one of them suggested they burn him. By this time people had gathered the mob beating the thief. One of the thugs went to look for fuel, one went to fetch tyres while another one went to fetch matches. In a minute or so, Simon would be history. But then there was this little girl in the crowd that recognised Simon, she had left her mother's shop to come watch the thief being beaten, and then she realised she had seen this same boy in her mother's shop just less than 30minutes ago. She recognised him especially because her mother had asked her to sit and watch over the goods Simon had bought pending when he came back to collect them. And she had reluctantly sat with the goods until she had heard the commotion in the market and had snuck out to watch even when her mother had warned her not to go. Young Bukky went running to her mother and told her the thief they caught and were about to kill was the same person who had come to their shop earlier to buy things from her. At first Iya Bukky didn't understand what her daughter was talking about but decided to go check things out for herself. As she got there, she saw Simon naked on the floor, tied with ropes, blood everywhere, two tyres around his neck and petrol being poured on him. Iya Bukky shrieked, managed to cut through the crowd and fell on Simon. She wrapped herself on him and started shouting that the young man was known to her, had been her customer for years, he was no thief, and she started crying, praying and begging. They tried all they could but Iya Bukky refused to remove herself from Simon. She said if they wanted to kill him, they should kill both of them. Fortunately for Simon, Iya Bukky was well known to the area boys and after long minutes of pleading from Iya Bukky, the area boys left with their deadly weapons. Iya Bukky removed the tyres from Simon's neck and she and two other males carried Simon to her shop naked. (Simon was unconscious at this point). She washed away the blood, found him clothes to wear and waited for him to wake up. When he did, he gave Iya Bukky a number to call, it was his boss's. His boss called Simon's older brother Solomon, together they went to pick Simon up. He was taken to the hospital where the doctor said he had internal bleeding, broken bones, fractured ribs, torn ligaments and so many others that will take years to heal. Solomon called the police on the Alhaji, he was arrested and locked up. Two days later, he was released. And nothing was heard about the case again. The police were not interested in persecuting the Alhaji, they just asked Solomon to go take care of his brother. Solomon is 29 years old and he couldn't stop crying about what this people had done to his baby brother (Simon is 24). When he came to my house to tell me the story I coudn't believe it until I went to the hospital to see Simon. He was a total mess. Almost killed for something he didn't do. I cried like I'd never cried before for such an injustice. Simon wasnt my brother but there was a time as I stared at him on his hospital bed that I wished I could get hold of the guys who had done that to him. I was so angry I felt like sending the police after the area boys myself. The worst part is that none of the area boys was arrested. Not one. The police went to the scene of crime, made their investigations, and closed the matter. Not a single area boy was arrested. Simon is still in the hospital and will be there for another 2/3 weeks. He will be fine one day and one day God will reward all of us for the evil we commit against our fellow human beings.