jotono

ICC to Rule on Kenya violence case today

2012-01-22T17:46:00.000-08:00

Kenya’s prominent political and civil service figures are waiting to find out whether the International Criminal Court will formally indict them on charges of helping orchestrate violence that killed more than 1,000 people following the 2007 disputed elections.

The court is due to announce its decision on Monday whether to prosecute six influential leaders, including two men planning to run for the presidency this year, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and former Education Minister William Ruto.

The trial at the criminal court is referred in Kenya as the Ocampo 6.

Today, January 23rd, the ICC suspects ruling will be made in The Hague.

It remains unclear whether the case could block their ambitions, since government officials have issued conflicting statements on whether they will remain eligible to run.

Two recent opinion polls show that the majority of Kenyans back the ICC process. Most citizens have little faith in their own judiciary, widely perceived as corrupt and choking on a backlog of cases.

The ICC 6 suspects include head of the civil service, Francis Muthaura, the nerve center of Kenya’s public industry. He has held several senior positions in government before finally rising to the pinnacle of the public service.
Muthaura was born in 1946 and is a Meru.

Other suspects are Henry Kosgey, Joshua Sang and Hussein Ali, the former police chief. The ruling is highly anticipated in Kenya because of the high profile of politicians involved.

Samsung OMNIA 7 Windows Phone unveiled

2011-12-07T06:13:00.001-08:00

Driven by Windows Mobile 7 and offering a clear 4. 0″ Super AMOLED touch display, the Samsung OMNIA 7 I8700 provides an outstanding communication expertise and is offered at a median cost of $490.

Samsung OMNIA 7 I8700 is a stunning smartphone with amazing Zune software providing super fast overall performance and fantastic connectivity.

Offering Microsoft’s most recent version of Windows Phone 7, 4-inch AMOLED display, and a circular shape, the Samsung Omnia 7 is a little bit different by other Windows driven mobile phones.

Top-notch develop quality, superior functioning but some missing in camera side items, in general the Omnia 7 is very recommendable product.

With a 4-inch 16M-color Super AMOLED display almost everything appears more real compared to reality. The display has a resolution of 480×800 pixels as well as multi-touch ability and is covered by a scratch-resistant glass covering. Windows Phone 7 delivers out excellent viewing angles along with deep contrast and also intense colors much better compared to Android powered products.

The body design of the Omnia 7 is almost related to that of Galaxy S having power key on the right-hand part that is simply accessible and even a dedicated camera key to enable activate it possibly the mobile is at standby way. The top of the mobile has a 3. 5mm music output as well as a micro USB slot under a moving cover when the left side houses the volume up/down key that is simple to control for right-handed persons.

The plastic backside of the Windows Phone 7 cover has been exchanged with a metallic cover up in the smartphone just like Samsung Wave. The 4-inch display has occupied the many of Omnia’s front side along with 3 keys.

The Omnia 7 packs a 1 GHz Snapdragon processor chip below its cover. This comes in 8 GB along with 16 GB models. However, the Omnia 7 doesn’t contain a micro SD port to insert additional memory space card for additional backup facility. It is due to incompetency of Windows OS as it resets whenever the card is taken out.

The tone quality as well as signal power is very good. If you want to transfer data you need to set up Zune software in your PC to synchronize your phone with it. Moreover, it comes having great cloud services integration.

Big and easy to hit symbols on the home display screen and a tactile experience when touching them produce the navigation of the Omnia 7 outstanding. Swiping around various applications and widgets is enjoyable and smooth 3D effects help to make it even more attractive.

You can access fairly much everything by the home display. It’s frustrating to have a bunch of applications on the home display that is the reason why Microsoft has maintained it very simple.

As the Omnia 7 runs on WP7, this doesn’t support Android applications. If you’re an application fan, then Omnia 7 might appear an incompetent mobile as WP7 lacks in third party applications. Moreover, the browser doesn’t include flash or Silverlight. Omnia doesn’t possess handwriting realization program too.

Samsung i927 Captivate Glide Specifications News

2011-12-05T13:45:00.001-08:00

We are presented with the most recent Android-running Samsung i927 Captivate Glide mobile phone for the forthcoming Christmas holiday season. A 1 GHz dual-core processor chip, 8 Mega Pixel camera, and the fun of Android applications, what else do you desire to make your vacation interesting and enjoyable?

With a dimension of 124×64×13 mm the Samsung i927 Captivate Glide Android moderate valued side-sliding mobile weighs 147 g. There are four touch-sensitive keys that are common on almost all AMOLED mobile phones. The Samsung i927 Captivate Glide appears cool and attractive and feels excellent in hand. You can bear it comfortably in your house and workplace.

The forward side is fully filled by the 4-inch display with no physical keys that has developed it look wonderful. Its 4-inch 16M-colors Extremely Plus AMOLED capacitive touchscreen provides a pixel density of 223 pixels per inch and a resolution of 480×800 pixels. In equivalence to many other high-end Samsung lineups specifically the Galaxy S2 the pixel density is very cheap.

The display is covered with a tough Gorilla Glass display and provides multi-touch input ability. The mobile also contains Accelerometer sensor for UI auto-rotate, Proximity sensor for auto turn-off, and Gyro sensor. The touchscreen is extremely fast and steady and senses great to touch.

Samsung i927 Captivate Glide is available at cost approximately $530 at several electronic and mobile phone shops. That costing is however in the range of various other Samsung cell phones in the Galaxy series.

The Samsung i927 Captivate Glide Android phone is driven by a 1 GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor chip. For soft operation it contains 1 GB RAM and 1 GB ROM. You can store large quantity of data in its 8 GB interior memory which can be extended up to 32 GB with the help of an additional card because this mobile phone has micro SD card port.

But the awful news is you won’t get the 4G LTE capability with this Samsung smartphone. For syncing the mobile contains micro USB and HDMI slot. The four-row QWERTY keyboard is very large and keys are very easy to push even with big thumbs. The square-shaped round-edged keys seem like the symbols of Apple’s iPhone.

The Samsung i927 Captivate Glide can run on Google’s Android 2. 3 Gingerbread operating system. Samsung applied their TouchWiz UI to get it look outstanding among various other DROID mobile phones. And the Android application market is there to fulfill your all demand.

The overall performance of the Samsung camera is quite remarkable as it is an 8 Mega Pixel auto focus with LED flash. You will be able to record 1080p HD videos at 30 frames per second. For video-calling the mobile contains a 1. 3 MP forward-facing camera. The camera also contains touch-focus, geo-tagging, and face and smile sensors ability.
With a 1.65 Ah Li-ion battery the Samsung i927 Captivate Glide gives you talk time up to 8 hours and standby time up to 396 hours.

People who enjoy sliding mobile phones must certainly choose for this brand new lineup of Samsung. It also contains many of the most innovative software and technical functions that make it a fantastic purchase for the forthcoming holiday period.

Where to buy Apple's iPhone 4S at cheap price

2011-10-30T06:04:00.000-07:00

Find out where to buy an iPhone 4S at cheapest price in Australia and get the best after sale service. The iPhone 4S allows you to capture 1080p HD video at any location. Some new improvements include new optics, which makes the light right and the colors vivid, and video stabilization, which makes shots less shaky. Compare Apple iPhone 4S price in different online mobile shops.

The Apple store offers a choice of rate plans from Optus, Telstra and Vodafone. The Apple Retail Store is the best place to buy iPhone 4S. You’ll get expert advice and fast activation on the carrier of your choice.

Secure Android Phones using Mobile Malware detection software

2011-09-27T07:52:00.000-07:00

I bought a Motorola Droid X more than a year ago and since then, I have used it as my work phone. Although there are infrequent problems, I generally have a good experience in using it. I find its applications very functional. I appreciate the help I get from the Internet connection and the Google navigation application.

I love my smartphone but I am nostalgic about days when mobile phone technology was almost always harmless.

The number of Android smartphone users is increasing. However, as it becomes popular as a smartphone operating system, security issues also start to get in the way. Unfortunately, there opportunists who ride with Android phones’ fame. Examples of these are cybercriminals, hackers and malware creators.

As a matter of fact, a security researcher stated that at least 120,000 applications found with malware had actually been downloaded from Android Market.

So should we give up our Android mobile gadgets? Definitely not. Although it may be true that there is no measure that provides 100% mobile security, there are tips to help you protect your Android pones from hostile software like malware.

Most of these security measures are just at the tip of our fingers. The simplest way to protect your device is to add (if you don’t have one yet) a good password. Make sure that your password is unique and that you do not share it to ANYONE.

It is always helpful for you to be extra careful all the time. For example, before you get too excited to download an application on your phone, take time to research about people’s feedback on it. Find out also if the application is really legitimate.

Android is indeed a powerful and amazing operating system. This, however, creates a good chance for it to be infected by malware especially if the phone is not configured correctly. Thus, you have to be careful when giving permission to install a new app. If you find an application unusual or suspicious, then don’t give access to it.

Android’s flexibility gives consumers an easy way to install apps that were downloaded from servers that are not within the Android Market. This may be useful for some, but there are also many users who don’t find it necessary to get apps outside the Android Market. If you are one of these people, then downloading apps exclusively from the Android Market would help a little. However, doing this will not protect you from malware-infected applications that are accidentally provided by Android.

Free Wi-Fi connections might be fun, but with them also comes the danger of your phone sending information and data to untrusted servers. Be conscious of this by disabling the automatic connection to wireless networks on your phone. This option is found in the Android device settings, in the "Wireless & networks" tab. Connect only to secure and/or trusted wireless networks.

Aside from the measures you can do by yourself, a little help from security vendors would also do good. These vendors like McAffee, Symantec, Trend Micro, and Webroot Software have created applications for mobile device security. They do not have the same number of features and not all threats are included in their packages, so choose the one that fits your needs.

There are a handful of security issues concerning mobile phone devices nowadays. It’s a good thing there are ways that are handy to ease this problem.

Forget Ipad 2: Android is Nokia’s no. 1 Tech Gadget threat in business

2011-04-26T16:37:00.000-07:00

The current Nokia chief executive recently termed Android smartphones as his major competitive target, not regarding a latest survey showing that Apple has surpassed the Finnish company to become world’s largest cell phone producer by sales.

During the first quarter of the year, Apple generated $11.9bn of wholesale revenues from its iPhone, Nokia’s $9.4bn of handset sales does not measure up to it this is according to estimates by Strategy Analytics, a research company.

The data highlights the challenge facing Nokia after it signed a final agreement with Microsoft this week to join forces in the smartphone market. Apple has guaranteed goldmine from its ipad 2 sales but iphone is up for competition.

Conversely, the chief executive, Stephen Elop, noted that, while the Microsoft pact would help improve Nokia’s response to the iPhone, the major focus was on the broader range of rivals, such as Samsung, HTC and Motorola, which use Google’s Android operating system.

“We’ve been very clear that our number one competitive consideration is Android,” said Stephen Elop,

Gartner, a research company indicates there could be market anticipation of increase in Android phones from last years 23 % of the smartphone to 39 % this year and nearly half-in 2012,

In contrast, Nokia’s share is forest to be below 20% in 2011 as it has made a risky transaction with Microsoft. Both companies hope that by teaming up and coming up with an hybrid of Nokia’s most criticized Symbian operating System and Microsoft windows phone they would effectively compete with Android and apple better than they have done on separate ventures.

After the announcement of this deal in February, some reviewers argued that Microsoft would gain most by winning access to a big new distribution channel for Windows Phone 7, while Nokia pays royalties for the software.

Nevertheless, Mr. Elop was adamant that the deal also included attractive financial rewards for Nokia, with Microsoft due to make payments worth “billions of dollars” to its new partner for adopting Windows Phone 7.

“We are making a commitment to do our best work for the Windows Phone 7 ecosystem whereas other cell phone makers are doing their best work for Android,” Mr Elop said. “The very fact we are making that decision is very valuable to Microsoft.”

The expected revenues from the deal will see Nokia achieve its target to save €1bn ($1.4bn) a year from 2013 by reducing its own software development costs. Consultations are due to start with unions next week on the planned restructuring, with labour leaders predicting thousands of people would loose jobs.

Mr. Elop Nokia’s Executive Director highlighted intellectual property rights as a key asset in Nokia’s turnaround efforts and vowed to use the group’s extensive patent portfolio more “strategically”.

He declined to make any if Nokia might get into a dispute with Google similar to its legal battle with Apple over alleged patent violations. However, he noted that Microsoft had already filed a lawsuit related to software used by Motorola in its Android phones.

According to analysts, Nokia and Microsoft could seek to raise costs for Android manufacturers by extracting license fees for their patented technology.

Investors’ regained hopes and spirits on Thursday with Nokia’s smaller-than-expected drop in first-quarter profits. Tough competitive environment and supply chain of disruptions from Japanese earthquake thus weakening profits margins of the second quarter of the year.

Nokia’s Executive Director, Mr. Elop said Nokia had sought alternative component supplies in countries such as Taiwan, China and South Korea but maintained the company would not abandon Japan.

Competition in smartphone and computer tablets market is fierce between Google’s Android, Apples ipad 2 and Microsoft’s Windows phone 7 and will continue unabated for the foreseeable future. .

Mistakes people make when in debt

2011-02-25T15:35:00.000-08:00

A big number of people in the world to day owe banks and at least two people. You are not alone in this situation. It is very easy for a person to borrow than to give. Paying back borrowed money to most of us is a great problem. Due to recession and inflation in some countries, Credit cards, medical bills, personal loans and raising interest rates do not make a good financial mix.

The following are mistakes that borrowers make during repayment

• Paying the minimum payments on your debts this will results in increasing your overall debt and making the situation worse. If possible pay the largest amount you can afford, this will decrease your debts and sacrifice unnecessary wants to clear debts.
• Getting credit advice from unscrupulous credit counselors that demand cash upfront or high fees for help they promise, but rarely do they deliver.

• Relying on friends and family, it not only ruins your relationship with them but also makes you look as a much-disorganized person. Remember these are the most important people in your life and you cannot afford to damage the relationship with them.

• Relying on overdrafts, plan and budget for your income appropriately, this will save you from always finding yourself paying extra interest and other fees related to overdrafts. Only use overdraft for emergency purposes.

• Making unnecessary borrowing, if there are things you can postpone buying or you can buy in cash avoid getting yourself in unnecessary debts. Items bought on hire purchase are more expensive comparing with ones bought on cash.

• Taking very high interest rate loan to pay off another lower interest rate loan, it may look like an easier way of settling the debt but you will be getting yourself into more debt. This is because you will be increasing the pay back period.
• Hibernating into bankruptcy when you know that debt settlement may work.

Bankruptcy is a serious step with long-term implications for you and your financial future. Take bankruptcy option as your last resort by trying debt settlement companies to assist you deal with your debt problems with creditors.

Debt settlement is a process of negotiating with your creditors appeal to them to reduce a potion of your debt. Specialty settlement companies determine a reasonable monthly amount that you can afford to pay, basing on total amount owed.

You make your affordable payment every month into a special purpose account, and as these funds accumulate, the settlement company reaches out to creditors to negotiate a final actual settlement amount. Normally, debt settlement companies have outstanding dealings with creditors and negotiate behalf of a large number of debtors daily.

Overcoming Communication Barriers

2011-02-25T10:18:00.000-08:00

People are facing quite a number of communication barriers. A receiver does not understand the message anticipated by the sender in the same terms and sense and thus communication breakdown occurs. It is essential to deal and cope up with these communication barriers to ensure effective communication.

Ways to overcome communication barriers

Get rid of disparity in perception

When communicating, the sender should ensure the person receiving the message understands the real intention of the sender. Give a clear message and interpret where necessary.

Choose a simple language

Emphasize on simple words to avoid ambiguity. Too many words describing the same thing are ambiguous. Use words that are not pretentious, this might confuse the receiver and you end up not getting the right response or feedback.

Eliminate or reduce noise levels

Noise is a major cause of communication barrier, it is advisable to eliminate noise where possible or reduce the level of noise. If the receiver cannot clearly get your words because of a background noise from your end, he or she might not be able to respond appropriately. It is essential to identify the source of noise and then eliminate that source.

Listen attentively

Be careful to listen, an active listener hears and understands the meaning of a message. Ask questions where necessary. Make sure you have heard the message clearly. You can achieve good communication when the sender and the listener understand each other. How will you respond to a message if you have not heard the right words or you have not understood the message?

Body language

Use effective body language during communication. Do not show your emotions, the receiver might misinterpret the message delivered in accordance to your body language. When in bad moods avoid conveying any message since the receiver might interpret the message as bad.

Shun information Overload

A person has two ears but one mind to store the message. If you give a person a series of instructions at the same time, the probability of getting the right response is almost zero.

Select the right medium

The sender must consider the number of intended recipients; convey simple messages orally, like face-to-face interaction or meetings. Use of written means of communication should be encouraged for delivering complex messages. For significant messages reminders can be given by using written means of communication such as: Memos, Notices etc.

Tips for a well applied eye shadow

2011-02-25T10:16:00.000-08:00

For someone to look great on eye shadow, they must have gone through some guidance on how to do it right. Your eye shadow some times characterizes and judges your general appearance. Remember people look at your eyes when communicating with you. Everyone needs a few good eye shadow tips every now and then.

Eye shadow, like any other type of makeup, should match your style, your skin color and your budget. There a great deal of products on the market that you are sure to find many options to select from for that perfect look.

Use following eye shadow tips

Use the right amount

When applying eye shadow, avoid overdoing it, layers of eye shadow makes someone look like an old woman. The first rule of applying eye shadow is not to over do the amount that you apply. Alternatively, go for a minimal look and it will give you an amazing look.

Balance with your eye color

Before buying or selecting eye shadow, it is very important to know your eye color this will assist you to select an eye shadow that will match with your eye color. If you have a light colored eye, make sure that you apply a light colored eye shadow to your eye. If your eyes are darker, a darker look will work well. You can define the color of your eye more so with the use of eye shadow if you balance the colors in this way.

To get a formal look, add a bit of glamour; just use a shimmering type of eye shadow. Match your eye shadow with your dressing and other make up

Dark or light

There is a range of ways that one can apply the eye shadow. Most apply a darker shade of eye shadow to the area right above the eyelashes. Then, right under the eyebrow, apply a lighter color. You can mix and match the colors that fit with your preference. You can even apply a thin layer of a darker eye shadow under the eye right next to your lower eyelashes.

An eye shadow can be overwhelming and ugly. Do not copy what your friend has on, you might apply it and look like a walking ghost. Apply Eye shadow to emphasize on your looks. To avoid looking old or ghostly, know your skin color, eye color and apply it right.

Make Cash from SEO

2011-02-25T10:14:00.000-08:00

SEO is a necessity nowadays. Ever heard of the saying “don’t judge the book by its cover”? Which means you shouldn’t presume the worth and value of something by just simply looking at its outward appearance.

Or maybe we could say it this way, we just don’t need to work on the external part of something, but we should always consider the interior part of it. This is true with SEO, usually you spent most of your time and energy on the exterior element like search engine rankings while overlooking the interior part such as building a great website.

Putting your focus on the search engine rankings may be a good way of getting visitors in the door, but ignoring the quality and usability of website may affect on what they find on your website once they get there.
Putting your money where it counts

Most businesses today really want to spend their money on something more likely to bring the greatest benefit. But sometimes they just spend their money on what they perceive to be the most beneficial though it’s not. It is true that SEO can help you achieve exposure and could drive traffic to your website’s front door, but all money spent just to get them there will be put into waste if what behind those doors isn’t up to expectations.

But don’t get it wrong, there is nothing wrong with investing on SEO to drive traffic in your site, however SEO is not the end of it.

Conversion matters

For instance, a certain business remained solid with their rankings over the years but their site’s design is getting out of date. Since their business had been growing considerably they started thinking about working on their SEO campaign. The company invested in a major site development and rolled it out to the public that made a big leap on their conversion rates by 30 percent.

Off course that result wasn’t just because of new optimized keywords or even previously optimized keywords. The great increase on their conversion rates is directly tied on the major changes on their site, making it more appealing and user-friendly.

The new design of the site cost them a lot of money but with a site that is more user and search engine friendly, additional revenue is at hand and the company will be able to expand online marketing. The value of getting the first page placement for relevant keyword searches is undeniable. Small businesses still need to be persuaded about the truth that there is more to marketing than site rankings and traffic.

With this, it is not far of a distance on going from trash to cash and proving that conversions are really what matters most.

Fashion Mistakes People make

2011-02-24T04:04:00.000-08:00

Have you ever met someone walking in the street or work place and wondered if this person looked at herself or himself in the mirror? People ignorantly or carelessly make some stupid fashion mistakes. Others may not realize what they look like, or they may not care. I bet every one wants to look the best when walking out of that door to the office, school or party.

When standing in front of a mirror you should wonder if you are doing the things that are right on. Pay attention to what is around you and know the audience you are going to face in advance. If you cannot go in those tight jeans trousers for an interview, why would you want to put it on during an official meeting? Something famous and rich is not always good and you might make a fashion howler

Dress for the occasion.

Know what to where and when to wear it. Attending a summer party in a ball gown is a huge blunder. Either this makes you look clueless or you just want to outdo the rest. Make a point of asking the host or others that are attending the same party on what to wear, this will help you get to the same level of formality. You just cannot wear anything that you feel is good for you. Another persons opinion can help get the right attire for the right occasion.

The wrong size of dress

Sometimes people put on clothes and leave others wondering if they borrowed the clothes. It is very important to pick the right size of outfit, something too baggy looks borrowed, very tight clothing looks also looks borrowed. Know your right size and do not assume that it is a new way of dressing or you are inventing a new fashion.

An on looker will not see things in your perspective and will criticize everything that you are in. so be cautious when buying attires. You can avoid this fashion howler by getting the right clothing sizes.

The belly bump

If you have a big belly or a protruding, wear clothes that show other appealing parts of your body, these could be the legs and chest. Do not put on something that is exposing your big tummy or clothing that draws all attention to you waistline. This applies to all parts of your body. Put on a dress or a skirt that is not too tight if you are bowlegged. If you have an extraordinary large burst, put on clothes that emphasize on your hips instead of your burst.

See me through attire

See through clothing is the worst fashion howler, give people a room for imagination. There is nothing as worse as seeing through someone's clothing. This becomes more inappropriate if the people you want to see through your clothes are not interested. Where you are going or the party you are attending is not an issue or your shape and figure, see through clothing is very hardly ever the right thing to wear.

Those are just a few fashion mistakes. Others include, exposing cleavage under the arms, any type of stains of any, panties showing, and bunched up under wears. If you want to look beautiful and avoid scaring them away, then try your level best not to commit these fashion mistakes.

Getting the right bra shape and size

2011-02-24T04:00:00.000-08:00

A number of women do not know their bra size; others know their size but do not know their cup shape. Some end up buying the wrong sizes and shapes due to ignorance. There are reasons that might hinder a woman from knowing her bra size and shape. For example if she is a late teen or a woman in early twenties most probably the mother does underwear shopping.

This woman will be less concerned about the size. I must confess that buying a perfect fitting bra is not very easy. One eighth of women are wearing bras are in the right size, fitting and shape to suit their body. If only 1/8 of women are in the right bra size that means the rest of them are in wrong sizes.

The dilemma is not that we do not want to look good and find the right support but it is that most of us have no idea how to buy the perfect bra. If women knew the right size and shape of bra that can fit them perfectly they would buy it.

The following are guidelines that will help you to buy the right bra size and shape.

Know your size

Using a tailor’s tape measure, find the right size measure around the rib cage just below the breasts. When you get the measurement and it up to the nearest half inch and then add four to it. You want to come close to an even number, so you may need to add five to it.

Find the cup size by measuring the fullest part of your bust. Subtract your measurements from this and you have the cup size.

Supporting under wires

Get a bra that has under wires. These wires supports your breast, make sure that they are fitting well under your breast.

The back of the bra should be level across your back. To know if your bra is too small or too big, if it pulls up you have on a bra that is too big for you. This can lead to back pain down the road.

Observe when your bra wears out and replace it. You will notice this when the elastic is no longer there. Was your bra as directed and if not the best way to wash them is by hand wash in cold soapy water. Do not use a lot of friction since this will affect the elasticity of the bra.

If the above guidelines are too complicated for you, then visit a high quality bikini shop and talk to someone knowledgeable to help you get the right bra size.
Bikini shops and stores have your specific bra size; the problem is that you have never taken interest to get it. It is always good to be in the right size and shape of bra for comfort.

Italy Under-21s Defeat England Under-21s 1-0

2011-02-08T10:26:00.000-08:00

England were defeated by Italy after Manchester United striker Federico Macheda scored a late penalty in the Under-21 friendly at Empoli, Italy.
Shortly after substitute Scott Sinclair had squandered a great chance for the visitors, Ben Mee brought down Niccolo Giannetti to concede a spot-kick with two minutes remaining.
Macheda, who is currently on loan at Sampdoria, made no mistake to deal England a blow in their preparations for this summer's European Under-21 Championship in Denmark.
Manager Stuart Pearce, who saw his squad severely weakened by withdrawals, handed a debut to Middlesbrough defender Joe Bennett while 17-year-old Chelsea midfielder Josh McEachran made his first start.
Everton striker James Vaughan, meanwhile, made his first appearance for nearly 18 months after impressing on loan for Crystal Palace.

kalonzo, raila, kibaki, uhuru, ruto, debating

2011-01-23T04:17:00.000-08:00

kalonzo, raila, kibaki, uhuru, ruto, debating

Kamlesh Pattni becomes Chairman of Kenya Coucil of Elders

2011-01-16T06:03:00.000-08:00

Kamlesh Pattni is chairman of Kenya council of elders!

Crazy Acts

2011-01-12T15:13:00.000-08:00

Some men never cease to amaze.
Today I was reading a news article about a man who walked too close to a woman as they left a train station, brushing his body against hers... He tried to fondle her but she rejected his advances and walked away, but not before seeing him stand next to a wall and jerking off.
Now the police are looking for the jerk off. What will he be charged with?

New Day

2011-01-12T15:08:00.000-08:00

Been wondering whether to stop taking beer, or smoking...
Just can stop taking both, one indulgence is necessary.
Currently am experimenting on smoking.
My lips are cracked from "cigarette thirst" but I am determined to beat the addiction.

jotono is still around.

2011-01-12T12:04:00.000-08:00

i am still around!

The food I like to eat

2011-01-11T22:24:00.000-08:00

Now that I am in no-smoking state, I am also eating a lot of food.
A man must indulge in something.
The roasted chicken with carrots is one of my favorites.

Therapy Sessions

2011-01-11T21:23:00.000-08:00

3 months ago I started attending 'group therapy sessions'.
Everyone is given 10 minutes to talk about the most shameful or embarrassing thing that has happened to them in the previous week.
A vote is then held to choose the most compelling confession.
Last week it was Mr Bruge who won.

Mr Bruge had been having marital problems with his wife, not serious, just bedroom pressures.
Mrs Bruge seems to have one excuse or the other everytime her husband asks for sex.He even begs but to no avail. For 6 weeks now.

'Last Friday, I was so low, I decided to go to a bar and drink a couple of beers', he tells us.
'Temptation to stray is great, but I am in therapy and learning to control my impulses', he continues.
By the time he went back home, his mind was so numbed by sexual feelings, and knowing his wife was a no-no, he went straight to the bathroom to jerk off.
'I heard strange noise coming from the bathroom as I was preparing to get in and do my thing.', he says sadly.
'Only to discover my wife was in uncontrollable euphoria, in the middle of orgasm as she was masturbating herself''.
'It would have been better if she was with another man', he blurts, bitterly.

2011-01-11T21:12:00.000-08:00

I know I am not alone in this struggle against addiction.
So many others are also struggling against something.
Some are adept at hinding their shortcomings.

My hands-off-smoking diary

2011-01-11T21:10:00.000-08:00

I have decided to stop smoking.
Now, don't get me wrong. I am talking about cigarettes.
3 days and counting. Today morning almost cried from thirst.
Still holding out but really difficult.
The temptation to smoke is overwhelming.

2) It is now 5 days since I last held a cigarette. I am still craving for a stick, but just keeping the temptation at bay. Tough times.

back to earth

2009-12-25T06:11:00.000-08:00

jotono is back from mars.

so jotono is not the craziest earthling.

2009-03-15T05:27:00.000-07:00

This guy climbs wall to release stress!

jotono agrees entirely with the sentiments.

2009-03-15T05:02:00.000-07:00

jotono is still around.

2009-03-15T04:43:00.000-07:00

jotono is back with new ideas.

THE POWER OF MODERN REAL-TIME TECHNOLOGY

2009-02-18T12:02:00.000-08:00

The most amazing thing in the recent US election was not only the diversity of the candidates, but the blatant use of modern technology. Indeed it might be argued use/ non-use of technology played the most crucial part in the see-saw of the opinion polls, first in the primaries and later in the election proper.

It cannot be disputed that younger people are usually more tech savvy than seniors, and when the game is played in the cyber world, well the younger peoples’ choice has a serious head start. Of course the candidate must have ideas that excite this genre of potential voters, but to be able to reach them in real time, make them feel as if you are talking directly to them is a truly awesome experience, and probably another vote bagged.

It’s indisputable that President Obama used this technology more frequently and in a more suave manner than any other candidate. And he was elected president. He was speaking directly to us in our living rooms through YouTube, beseeching us to be part of the change America wanted, and needed. He looked us straight in the eye when he said that- in real time. How could we doubt him?

His supporters were everywhere: on facebook, twitter… and who could know whether it was President Obama writing directly to our mailboxes or a volunteer supporter? In the end it didn’t matter. What mattered was that he was delivering messages to ‘me only’ in my inbox, and through YouTube.

The power of modern technology and mode of communication has surely entered a new era. The era of online campaigns, online tutoring, online legal debates, online medical practice…and the companies coming up with newer user friendly and easier to use tools- even for the novice computer user are increasing every month. previously unknown multimedia companies like Faculte's Broadcasting Studio among others are establishing a powerful presence in the real-time multimedia conferencing field.

Only a few months ago, it was reported that a European doctor based in Congo, and faced with a patient needing urgent surgery of which the doctor was not familiar with, used mobile phone [of all instruments] to communicate with an Europe based doctor expert in the field. They exchanged required technique via cell phone, and voila1 the operation was a success.

At no time in history have we seen such rapid life changing technological advancement as we are seeing now. And things can only become better, and sometimes more confusing for those not in the ‘loop’ of these modern wizardly. the modern tech gadgets come in various forms. i just found one such intro technique and like it.

2009-01-24T13:30:00.000-08:00

Am back! lemme check this blog before it gets dark.

2009-01-01T01:15:00.001-08:00

MYSTERIES OF THE NIGHT

"It was supposed to be easy," I whispered.

The smell of something foul stung my noise as I stood in the basement doorway. All I had to do was to go down into the dark underground room and look inside Uncle Joe's trunk.

Ever since my uncle came to live with us in The Valley, nothing was the same. Folks whispered about the trunk he brought with him from the sanitarium. Some said he had a dead body in it. Others claimed gold. Jim and I felt drawn to the mystery like bees to honey. We wanted to know what was in that trunk.

No way I would have gone down the cellar, but my brother Jim bet me and I have never backed down from a bet. Not even when he conned me into eating worms. I did it just to prove a point.

To this day, Papa still doesn't know what happened to his bait.

As I took the first step, I looked down and swallowed hard. The stairs disappeared into the dark abyss and a tiny voice whispered in my head. Go back, stupid; you don't have to prove anything. My stomach rumbled as cold fear settled in it. Nobody had been down here since Granddad slipped on a loose plank and broke his hip. After he got better, he went to live with Aunt Esther. He claimed there were too many ghosts down there, but Mama told Aunt Esther the only ghosts were the ones from the beer he drank. I wasn't taking any chances, and I took my time walking down the stairs. Finally, I made it down to the bottom.

"Randy, what's taking you so long?" Jim hollered.

I stood below, basking in the warmth of the sun rays that reached even this dark place.

"If you think this is easy, why don't you come down here?" I yelled back.

"Just hurry up, will you. I hear somebody coming."

"Fine." My hand shook as I pointed the flashlight at the darkest corner of the room. The light skimmed the dust covered walls and scattered old furniture. All of a sudden there was a loud bang and I turned in time to see the underground room door close.

"Jim! Jim!" I swallowed the lump in my throat and gritted my teeth. Angry, I hatched on a plan to get back at him. When something moved across the floor, my heart began to race. Two beady eyes stared back at me as it scurried across the room.

"Just a rat," I murmured aloud. Something scraped against a hard surface and the hairs on the back of my neck prickled. Anyone else would have cut their losses and run, not me. Besides I wasn't going to spend a day washing my brother's smelly old socks. Aiming the flashlight toward the center again, I searched the area.

There it was, the old trunk covered in cobwebs. The one everyone talked about in hushed tones when they thought we kids weren't listening. We heard the fear in their voices and wondered what all the fuss was about.

Fishing the key out of my pocket, I walked toward the trunk, determined to solve the mystery that had put Uncle Joe in a sanitarian for most of his life. Trembling with excitement I jammed the key in the lock and pushed up the lid.

My imagination soared at the thought of finding a trunk full of gold or maybe a stack of baseball cards. When I saw what was inside, my heart sank.

A bunch of dolls, big ones, small ones, fat ones and a faded diary. My little sister would be in doll heaven if she could get her hands on them. Puzzled, I rummaged deeper. Nothing. Breathing in the smell of mothballs, I scratched my head and gagged.

I grabbed the diary, thinking maybe something important lay in between the pages. I started to close the chest when out the corner of my eye, one of the boy dolls winked at me!

The heavy lid fell down on my hand. "Arrggh!" Luckily, I didn't break the skin. Papa would have skinned me alive if I had needed stitches. Especially after he warned us to never go into the trunk, but at that moment I didn't care about anything except high-tailing back upstairs. I made it up those stairs two at a go and opened the underground room door.

"Boo!" Jim jumped out from behind the door.

I punched him in the stomach with as much force as I could.

He stumbled and rubbed his belly, a look of surprise in his blue eyes. "Ouch."

"That's for shutting the door on me," I said, and then I threw another punch underneath his chin.

He touched his jaw and glared at me. "What was that for?"

I grinned at him. "Nothing, it just felt good."

"You find anything?" Jim's eyes were shiny bright but as soon I showed him the diary his face fell.

"That's it?"

"Yep, except for some stupid old dolls."

"You sure?" he cocked his head to the side and gave me a suspicious look.

"Yep."

I could tell he wanted to say more, but Mama stood in the door waving her hands. "Jim, Randy come on in, it's almost dinnertime," Mama called.

We ran toward the house. He tried to outrun me, but his legs were too short. Jim's thirteen, a year older than me, but I can outrun, spit and whip him with one arm behind my back. I stood on the wrap-around porch, with a smile on my face. Jim frowned at me. "Mama's going to tan your hide if she knows you've been down the cellar."

"It was your idea." I shoved the book underneath my shirt.

"Nah, it wasn't." He slipped pass me and slammed the screen-door in my face.

That's just like Jim, at a hint of trouble he's never around.

I eased inside, hoping Mama wouldn't notice the bulk in my shirt.

Mama stood over the stove stirring something in the pot. She brushed back a wisp of her long, braided hair and glanced up at us. "Jim, you go tell your father it's time for dinner. He's out back. Randy, go upstairs and tell Uncle Joe. Then I want you both to wash your hands."

"Yes, ma'am," we said in unison.

I hurried to the bedroom I shared with Jim. I tried to put what I saw out of my mind. It had to be a mirage.

Feeling better, I tapped on Uncle Joe's opened door. He didn't answer. He doesn't talk much. I never heard him say one word to me other than "pass the salt." He sat by the window, rocking gently in Grandmother's rocking chair.

He turned his head and stared at me.

"Uncle Joe, Mama says its dinner time." He nodded and grinned at me with those big yellow teeth as I backed out of the room. Jim and I are scared of him. All of the kids in the neighborhood are, except for Susie, but she's only two. Uncle Joe had never laid a hand on me but there's something about his eyes. They look right through me.

"Randy," Mama called me from downstairs.

Relieved, I backed all the way out and peeked over the rail.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Did you wash your hands?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Wash them again. I know you, Randy. You're always sticking your hands into something."

"Aw, Mama."

"Don't you Mama me. Do as I say. We got a few minutes before it's time to eat."

I washed up quickly using the bathroom upstairs and walked back into my bedroom and lay across the bed. I opened the diary. My mind was still on treasure, so I flipped through the pages.

He kept writing about someone named the Trickster.

March 10,

Grandpa told me I needed to keep a diary. He said nobody was going to believe me when I tell them about the Trickster.

I should have never opened the trunk. The Trickster has gone too far. At first his pranks were small. He'd take Mama's purse and hide it or he'd leave sugar all over the kitchen floor, but today he pushed my brother Ben down the stairs! Everyone thought I did it because I was right next to Ben when he snooped up on him. Ben had to go to the hospital. I should have listened when Grandpa told me the story about the trunk. He told me it was cursed, and anyone that opened it would be played tricks on by the Trickster. The only way to stop the pranks was to lock him back inside, but I can't find the doggone key.

March 26,

Grandpa's sick. He went to the hospital. Doc Wilson said he'd been food poisoned. Mama made Daddy take me to see this doctor after I told them the Trickster did it. I told the doctor, too but I don't think he believed me, either. He wanted to put me somewhere I'd be safe. Daddy won't let him. He said no son of his was going to the nut-house. I'm not the one that should be locked away. Why won't they believe me?

April 1,

He did it again! He tried to burn the house down. Daddy got hurt bad, but I got the Trickster. I found the key and locked him inside. He'll never hurt anyone else. They're taking me away. The cops said they found an empty petrol bottle in my room. Mama's crying but at least he won't hurt anybody else. I don't know how long I will be gone. I made Ben promise not to let anyone open the trunk.

A gust of wind slammed my door shut. I sat straight up in the bed. It's only the wind. I shivered and slid the book under the pillow, then I went down the stairs. Jim was already at the table and so was Uncle Joe, Papa and little Susie. Breathing in the rich aroma of the cakes Mama had made, I sat down next to Uncle Joe.

"You children settle down. Your Papa's, going to say grace," Mama said placing the chicken soup in front of the table.

Papa bent his head and clasped his hands. I prayed he wouldn't be long while my stomach growled.

Finally, he raised his head and chuckled. "Everyone, let's eat."

My mouth watered at the smell, so I grabbed a piece cake, dipped it in the soup, and swallowed it whole.

"Slow down, son. You're not in a race," Papa said with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Leave the boy alone, Ben. He's still growing." Mama beamed at me. "You're going to be as tall as your daddy."

I felt a warm tingling feeling inside. Mama didn't usually give us compliment. That's when I noticed Uncle Joe barely touched his food. I don't know why I said it. I swear it slipped out. "Uncle Joe, who's the Trickster?" You'd have thought I'd lit one of Jim's fire crackers underneath Uncle Joe, the way everyone stared at me. Mama's face turned pale.

"Who told you?" Spit flew from his mouth. He bolted from his chair, grabbed me by the collar, and lifted me off the ground. "You've seen him. Answer me, boy!" He shook me so hard I could hear my teeth rattled.

Papa grabbed him and pulled him off me. I've never been so glad to feel wood against my feet. "Sarah, call the police, tell them Joe has lost it again."

Uncle Joe struggled in Papa's grasp his eyes wide with fear. "Let go of me, Ben. I have to save the boy."

Mama ran toward the phone and Jim followed. Papa dragged Uncle Joe, who was kicking and screaming for all he was worth, into the living room. I swallowed hard and wondered what I said to set him off. Susie gurgled and laughed as she pointed her stubby little fingers. My eyes trailed to where she was pointing.

In the corner near the china cabinet the same doll that winked at me was sitting upright. The head rotated around and stared at me with black button eyes. An evil smile blazed across its face, revealing razor sharp teeth. I knew then that everything Uncle Joe had said was true. Lucky for me, I still had the key in my pocket.

Ken

BEST PLANS

It was supposed to be easy. I would meet Bobo at the beach in the pretense that I would be an extra hand. The police officers who worked that area would make themselves scarce. There wouldn't be anything to worry about; the plan had been laid out with precision.

The knuckles of a backhand hit my cheekbone. My neck snapped to one side, and my handcuffed hands twisted in an effort to get free.

"I'll ask you again, who's your supplier?" The voice of my interrogator spoke lower than I had become accustomed to over the last two days. My body stiffened when someone from behind pulled my head back by the hair. The stench of my own urine rose from the damp concrete floor. Sitting in a chair with my hands fastened behind my back for two days made my body cry out for relief. My bruised torso ached, and my head felt like it would explode. Swollen to slits, my eyes could barely focus in the dim light.

"I don't know," I choked. My parched throat felt like hellfire.

"I will give you water if you give me the information I require." The tall silhouette of my torturer paced from side to side. I squeezed my eyelids closed in an attempt to muster up tears. No relief came to their dried out sockets.

"Please, I told you everything."

He moved in close to my face; I could smell garlic on his hot breath as he spoke.

"Do you think you can fool me? I am not that easily fooled, my friend. You must know who your supplier is, it doesn't make sense that you don't."

I said no more. I realized that whatever I told this man, he wouldn't believe. Another blow caught me in the mid-section causing my lungs to gasp for air. Relief came in the form of blackness.

=========================================================================

On the scallop dragger, I retched in agony. I discovered I would not get used to it after three horrible days of puking overboard. I was hired as an extra hand to shuck scallops. Since my pay was determined by the amount I shucked, no one cared that I didn't do my share. In fact, they made up for my lack of efficiency and earned more money for themselves. The knowing glares and empathic remarks from the fourteen other men aboard made me realize that fishing would not be my future career. Some probably looked at my attendance as an intrusion due to this specific fishery becoming almost obsolete. Though the price of scallops had increased dramatically over the years, the opportunity to find them had decreased substantially. Since 2008, quotas had become less and less, yet that didn't prevent their scarcity fifty years later.

Truthfully, it hadn't been my intention to make a career of fishing. I had other motives for being aboard the Little Princess that only the captain, Bobo, and I knew about.

After heaving up my breakfast for the third day in a row, I moved with unsteady legs toward the helm from where Bobo manipulated his large vessel with expertise.

"How much further is it to Crab Island?"

"it won't be 'til the night that we'll reach there, Chuck."

In the short time spent with these men, I soon discovered everything in a fisherman's eyes was either "her" or "she." I gazed at the blue emptiness of sea and sky before us. Seasickness made my stomach lurch again, and I rushed with stumbling awkwardness to do what I had become accustomed to.

By nightfall we finally reached the island where an outpost offered supplies. Bobo, I and two other men rowed ashore from our anchored vessel. Lights poured from a shanty on a hill near the island we were heading to. My legs felt like jelly when my feet hit the stationary structure that was mean to act as a wharf. I almost fell before I managed to grab a post to steady myself.

"Aye, you'll get used to these maneuvers in a while," Bobo said as he moored the rope to the same post.

I said nothing, but looked at him and shook my head. How did I get myself into this mess? I felt like a rag doll.

It amazed me that my legs didn't seem to have bones. After a few stretches and kick outs, I walked clumsily after the men toward the lit cabin where we replenished our supplies.

It took several loads before we completed our task. The other two men groaned and complained that we didn't need so many supplies. Unknown to my mates, some of the packages they carried were meant for me.

We rowed back to the larger vessel where we'd spend the rest of the night before continuing on our fishing trip. In the cud, I nestled into my bunk until sleep finally took me to oblivion.

Morning came fast though, and the voices of the crew prompted me awake. The boat's engine blared, smells of buttered bread and eggs wafted from the kitchen, and my stomach churned. The men took turns at breakfast and we continued on our journey.

I gazed at the dawn's early light. Bright red skies skewed with orange-outlined clouds put me in mind of the saying; "Red skies at night, sailor's delight. Red skies in the morning, sailors take warning." While I wondered if a storm would quake our journey and dreaded the possibility, a flashing light off in the distance caught my eyes.

A bullhorn blared once the vessel was in hearing distance. "Stand to, Little Princess. Make preparations for us to come aboard." The crew, unaware of any crime being committed, simply stopped working, and waited for the US vessel patrolling the Indian Ocean off the Horn of Africa.

My packages were found, and we were all placed under arrest and made to board their huge vessel as two of their men took control of our boat. Then the endless questioning begun.

====================================================================================

The water caused me to choke and sputter as I came to. I couldn't take much more of this torture. I licked my lips in an effort to catch the liquid running down my face.

"Give him some water," the man said, "if we send him back to Kenya in a coffin, we'll never live it down."

He turned and I could hear his footsteps walking away from me. "Bring him back to his cell. I'll go see what the captain has to say." A door creaked open then banged shut.

"It would have been easy, if you just told him who your supplier was, you fool." The man who had held me by my hair finally spoke. My wrists were freed from the handcuffs and I rubbed them. I shivered in the cold room. A glass of water appeared in front of me. "You're lucky he's letting you go back to your cell. Hopefully your captain will give him what he wants. How could you be so stupid to smuggle cocaine, anyway? Both your government and ours have high restrictions on that drug. I'm surprised there is even a market for it anymore. Do you know how many people it has killed? Millions, my friend. Millions."

In my desperation, I hoped my case wouldn’t end up in a Kenyan court. Who was the complainant anyway when caught with such contraband in international waters? I needed a good lawyer, but in the USS Hadley, such a possibility seemed, well, just a dream. Not knowing what my fate would become, I dozed off, dreaming of my fiancée who I’d left behind in Kenya after telling her I was going on a two week business trip to Cyprus.

Ted

TO BELIEVE OR NOT TO BELIEVE

It was supposed to be easy; at least that’s what they kept saying. Accept the Lord into your heart and Heaven awaits. Do not, and there’s that other place.

“Just believe, James.”

“Look at all the wonderful and beautiful things around you, then ask yourself, how could God not exist?”

“James, it’s easy, let go and accept Jesus Christ.”

But he couldn’t. The funny thing is he truly did want to believe; he wanted the comfort of believing in a just and merciful God waiting for him with open arms. He wanted to know he was part of something larger, something more than this little planet with its innumerable petty squabbles…both large and small.

He attended prayer meetings and services and cook-outs sponsored by his local Church; he talked to his Reverend and friends and even called a television evangelist on one of those late-late infomercials. Once, James convinced Reverend Roberts to let him stay in the Church overnight, hoping for some divine inspiration. But all he received was the willies from sitting in the dark with paintings of Jesus staring down at him.

Now here he sat in Reverend Roberts’ office, waiting for him to begin the “heart-to-heart” as he termed it. Behind his desk was an old photograph: a man standing with his arms crossed in front of a small white clapboard building. A simple wood cross adorned the doorway, and flowers (carnations, James thought) bloomed big and round on either side. James knew it was the first church built on these very grounds; he also knew the man in the picture was Reverend Roberts’s grandfather.

He noticed James staring at the picture. “Interesting photo, isn’t it? Whenever I look at it, I always think about how far we’ve come.”

Reverend Roberts' eyes looked inquisitorial as he waited for James to answer.

James shifted in the seat. He didn’t know what to say. The chair was hard metal with no padding and hurt his butt. He wondered if it was deliberate. “Yes, I guess we have come far.”

“Do you even know what I’m referring to?”

“Well, the Church, right?”

“Not our Church specifically, but Christianity as a whole.”

James said nothing, just sat in the chair trying not to squirm.

“How old are you now, James?”

“Twenty-four.”

“Do you know in your lifetime you’ve been deluged with things designed to pull you away from the faith?”

“No, I don’t know that.”

“Of course you do, think about the Internet. Look at all the websites where people condemn the word of God. Look at all the television shows featuring homosexuals or promiscuous sex, or movies designed to confuse us like Jurassic Park and Harry Potter.”

“Reverend, I never thought Harry Potter —”

“No, you haven’t but God has. Never in history has there been such an assault on His word from so many places. And that’s why we’ve come so far, that even in the face of all these lies and distortions our faith still flourishes.”

“That’s just it Reverend, some of these things aren’t lies, like dinosaurs. They did exist.”

Reverend Roberts nodded. “Maybe, but it’s the implication behind it. They want you to believe because dinosaurs existed, the Bible must be wrong.”

“Well, isn’t it?”

”Why, because the Bible doesn’t mention them?”

“So a Tyrannosaurus Rex was chasing Adam and Eve as they ran naked through the Garden of Eden?”

The Reverend’s mouth became a grim line. “That’s uncalled for, James. Show a little respect, if not for me then for where you are.”

James ran a hand across his brow. He thought it probably seemed impatient and annoyed to Reverend Roberts, but he hadn’t meant it that way. It was the knowledge neither was going to make any headway with the other — but then, deep down, he knew that already.

He met the Reverend’s eyes and knew he felt the same way, maybe had all along. “I know you think I’m being disrespectful, but I’m not. There’s a lot in the Bible that doesn’t make sense. From the very beginning it doesn’t, like the Bible says the world is maybe a few thousand years old, but what about all the proof it’s really millions?”

“It’s the word of God, James. Some of it is designed as metaphors, but in any case and whatever the logic, it is not for us to question His word.”

“And why not? Reverend, that’s what human beings do! If God didn’t want us to question things, he shouldn’t have made us so curious.” James stood up and began pacing the room, breathing heavily. “And who says it’s the word of God? Men do! Men are the ones who say that! How are we to know it’s from God? How are we to know it isn’t all just…made up?”

Suddenly he stopped, burying his face in his hands. Reverend Roberts turned away, eyes distant and dismayed. James returned to his seat. A film of sweat dampened his forehead. “I’m sorry. I just…I shouldn’t have yelled. But the more I learn the more doubts I have. I keep hearing to accept the Bible but how can I, how can anyone when there are so many unanswered questions?”

The Reverend leaned forward. “What you’re saying proves my point how easily false prophets can sway us from God’s true word. And you know the answer already, faith allows us to believe, it allows us to accept there are things we can’t and don’t need to understand. But when you persist in looking for answers elsewhere, you make it easy for those doubts to overwhelm you.”

“I know you think that Reverend, but I don’t see it that way. I see it as knowledge, you know? I’m trying to find out what I think is the truth, or as much of it as I can. How can you tell me I shouldn’t do that?”

“The fact we’re having this discussion is my answer,” Reverend Roberts softly replied.

James stared at his twisting and writhing hands. With an effort, he forced them to be still. Finally, he raised his head. “I’m sorry Reverend, I can’t believe in a religion that so freely practices ignorance and justifies things because it’s convenient.”

“I’m sorry too, James, for you.”

“Don’t be. I’m not sorry, not anymore.” He walked to the door, pausing with his hand on the knob. “I don’t believe in your version of God or anyone’s version really. But if your God does exist, I can tell you exactly what I’ll say if I meet Him.”

Reverend Roberts simply stared.

“I’ll tell Him why I didn’t believe. I’ll say it’s because I followed what He gave me: free will and a conscience to make up my own mind what I chose to believe. I looked for answers in what men call His Book but didn’t find any, so I went elsewhere. I haven’t found them yet and probably never will, but at least I’m brave enough to stick to my convictions.” James paused. “What do you think God will say?”

The sad look on Reverend Roberts face was gone. In its place was the expression of the fire-and-brimstone preacher, the one claiming, there is only one way to Heaven, and son, yours ain’t it. “James, I think He’ll say you’re in the wrong place.”

“I don’t. I think He’ll say, ‘I respect your courage, and your spirituality. Please, come in.’”

James stepped through the door, not bothering to close it behind him.

Jack

MY BOLD CONFESSION

I first became interested in the topic of acquaintance rape when I became a statistic--a victim. It was difficult for me to understand how I could have misread one of the men with whom I worked and thought I knew.

It was common practice for transportation employees where I worked to arrange free rides with the drivers. I asked for a ride and received the driver's permission the night my vacation began. He was a man in his sixties, over six feet tall with a large, broad-shouldered frame, and I had never so much as had a friendly cup of coffee with the guy before. Unfortunately, my innocent stopover in Voi, ended with the driver entering my room as I slept and forcefully entering my body.

His arms came around me just above and below my elbows, imprisoning my arms at my sides. He placed his head on top of mine, forcing it into the mattress. His knees dug into the backs of mine so I could only flex my feet up and down in fearful agitation. I could not defend myself. I could not get away despite my struggles. He fiercely whispered into my ear, "I'm going to get what I want, so you might as well hold still and enjoy it."

My mind would not accept what had happened. So, as a self-defense mechanism, I blocked this episode from my conscious mind for three years. Not one word about the rape escaped my lips. My sleep was tortured by nightmares of being overwhelmed and overpowered. I gained thirty kilos, developed ulcers, and had a multitude of female problems. Friends and relatives noticed a change in me, but none knew what my problem was or how to help me. I dragged my feelings of fear, shame, guilt and anger into the black abyss called depression. I hid from the pain in drugged slumber, rarely stepping outside my door. I became a hermit in my own body, floating through the days in a fog of denial.

Then one day, another older driver came to my home uninvited. I was alone and had just gotten to sleep when he rang the doorbell. In a panic, I screamed at him to go away, slammed the door, and collapsed into a fetal position. It took several hours of flashbacks, uncontrolled crying and shaking to figure out what had happened and why.

My attempt at suicide landed me in the hospital and started me down the long, difficult road to acknowledgment, resolution and, hopefully, recovery. During this time, I noticed a distinction was being made between Stranger Rape and Acquaintance Rape. I became aware of newspaper and magazine articles about Date Rape. I pondered, what the difference meant to the victims? How did it affect their recovery? Was my experience with acquaintance rape and my reaction typical?

In my quest for answers, I turned to my sister, Michele, a rape crisis counselor. She said the victims can be female or male, and the general legal definition is as follows: Rape is the coerced or forced penetration of the vagina or anus with the penis or any other object. Date or acquaintance rape occurs anytime someone known to the victim used force or coercion to gain sexual intercourse of any type. An ugly definition of an ugly crime.

My sister and others also believe it is because of the freedom of the sexual revolution that payment is expected for time and money spent on a date. Women of ALL ages are expected to be sexually active, and peer pressure is fierce. Often, even the victim doesn't call it rape. "Things just got out of hand," seems to be the attitude of victim and assailant alike.

Now, not only is the crime of rape committed more often, but in three cases out of five, the assailant is someone the victim knows. The rapist often sees himself as 'seducing' his victim. Strangely, in some convoluted reasoning, the victim is seen as the blackguard for labeling her attacker as a rapist. It is better to be a rapist than the raped.

I determined that acquaintance rape is on the increase because of the sexual revolution and, unlike stranger rape, it does have something to do with sex--as well as violence. According to experts, another reason acquaintance and date rape is escalating is because both males and females are presently more accepting of violence in their relationships and in general.

Authorities agree the dramatic increase in reported acquaintance rape cases indicate it is rampant and graphically on the rise. But too many still don't realize they are rape victims because the act was committed by someone they knew.

In checking whether my own reactions were typical, I found post-rape victims experience three phases of responses:

* First, the acute reaction. This may immediately follow the attack and may entail shock, anger, crying or extreme calm.

* Second, an outward adjustment. This is a pseudo-adjustment exhibiting denial, suppression, and rationalization because acquaintance rape is frequently unacknowledged and unreported.

* Third, integration or resolution. Often this occurs as a result of an event which reminds the victim of the rape. She experiences a flashback. This phase may start six months or several years after the assault.

Most victims have an extreme sense of vulnerability which restricts their ability to function. Victims may have recurrent nightmares, phobia, anxiety, depression and diminished self-esteem. This cluster of reactions is labeled Rape Trauma Syndrome and is likened to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

In addition, besides experiencing sleep and eating pattern disturbances, mood swings, and a constant attempt to block the thoughts of the assault from her mind, most Rape Trauma Syndrome victims report physical reactions in the body area that was the focus of the assailant's force. It is stressed that the major symptoms most victims experience are nightmares and phobias, including fear of sex.

If a victim previously had a psychological or physical condition, she would develop additional symptoms and would 'regress according to her vulnerability.' The victim who has not reported the rape and has not dealt with her feelings and reactions, has also burdened herself psychologically by her silence.

Rape-related stressors, like the assailant who is known, require extra coping tasks by the victim. This victim has to deal with different issues than the victim of stranger rape. When the assailant is known, the victim must learn a new way of predicting dangerous human situations or remain in a chronic fearful state of existence in relating to people, especially men.

To recover, the victim needs to make some kind of sense out of why the rape occurred, deal with a group to which she and the assailant already belong, and make the decision whether or not to press charges because of loyalty ties. Thirty-seven percent of victims said the issue of trust was most important to them in recovering from rape because of their feelings of being betrayed. Not only does the victim have to deal with the disgrace of being raped, she also has to deal with the stigma of being mentally ill.

Now that I realized my reactions to acquaintance rape were all too typical, including the fact that I did not report it to the police, I looked into the reasons rape victims don't file a report. I suspect the war stories I had heard about how rape victims are treated by the police and the court system also had a lot to do with it.

It has been theorized that if the victim perceives the police as able to provide a haven, she is more likely to report the rape. In addition, a victim is most apt to report stranger rape, but least apt to report date rape. If threatened with a weapon or seriously injured, a victim will more readily report the rape. Many victims report being beaten instead of being raped. In other words, the victims perceive physical violence as more socially acceptable than rape.

In studies, it has been discovered that the attitudes of both police and rapists are surprisingly similar:

1. Rape prevention is primarily the woman's responsibility

2. Rape is motivated by a desire for sex

3. Punishment for rape should not be severe

4. Victims precipitate rape through their appearance or behavior

5. A raped woman is a less desirable woman

6. Women should not resist during rape.

In this same study, it was found there are no uniform methods for labeling rape cases by police and they can vary from one department to another in the same precinct. The police have a tendency to doubt the credibility of women who:

A. are extremely obese

B. have seen psychiatrists

C. ARE 12 OR OLDER

D. receive welfare

If a police woman is present when a victim files a report, the case is more likely to be categorized as founded.

Indications are that legal reforms of police and court processes in other states have shown an increase in the accuracy of labeling cases and in convictions. Hence, the victims would feel more secure about reporting rapes if there was an obvious increase in convictions.

Research indicates that about a third of rape cases are acquaintance rapes, but the myth commonly believed is that 'true' rape involves strangers. People also believe that a woman's reluctance to report a rape indicates a fabricated rape report, even though it is estimated that only ten-to-thirty percent of all rapes are reported.

Acquaintance rape is a problem demanding public awareness. The long-range effects on the victims also places a vast financial burden on the public itself because of high, long-term medical expenses and the subsequent economic non-productivity of victims.

The myths about stranger versus acquaintance rape must be dispelled among victims, rapists and the legal system. We need an integration of reform laws to aid in convictions and reduce victim harassment. The statutes of limitation must reflect realistic victim symptomologic time frames. These responsibilities do not belong solely on the shoulders of the victim.

Men and women alike must be made aware of the rights of the other to say, 'No.' Forcing or coercing another in order to gain sexual intercourse of any type is an act that can and will lead to arrest and conviction, even if the assailant is an acquaintance.

Many years later, I still awaken each dark morning about three o'clock (the time the rape occurred), my feet agitated, flexing up and down in helpless, tortured pantomime of that repugnant assault. Even sleeping medications have no power to eradicate this recurrence. And when during those few nights when I manage to fall into deep sleep, I wake up with a scream. Its only after many minutes have passed that I realize am still alive.

Claire

NO MORE LONELY NIGHTS

I have a strange story to tell. Would you like to hear it?

You would?

Well, I'm warning you, you might not believe it.... Why don't you go and get a drink - tea or gin, whatever is your fancy? I'll wait right here for you, and when you're ready, I'll tell my tale.

* * *

It begins on a Sunday morning when I was lying in my bed, refusing to start the day. My sixteen-year-old daughter Rebecca banged on the door, as she did most days, and demanded life from me. You see, I'd given up on life several months before. Rebecca was made of stronger stuff. Weeks ago she'd picked herself up, and then got on with her life. I knew she still cried herself to sleep, but she always awoke fresh and ready for the day. I cried myself to sleep, and then kept on crying when I woke up.

Some background: my husband Jim was killed in a hit and run accident seven months before this particular Sunday. As with every long tenth of the month, I planned to spend the anniversary lying in bed, wishing the world away. Wishing me, too, was dead.

But Rebecca had other ideas. Bang, bang, went her fist on the door.

"Go away," I said dully. And then, realizing this wasn't a great way to talk to one's daughter, I added, "Please."

"No Mum. I'm not going to go away. Dad wouldn't have wanted me to go away."

I despised it when she used that argument, basically because I knew she was right. Jim would have hated what I'd become: a lifeless, spiritless, lonely woman who'd let not only her appearance go, but her entire life.

"Dad's not here," I reminded her, loudly.

"Well, duhhh," she said. "Mum, I'm going to bang on this door every five minutes until you open it."

"Fine," I said, covering my head with a pillow. Yes, she'd lost her father, but I'd lost my soul mate. I was having problems even existing without him.

Bang, bang.

I knew what she wanted. She wanted me to get up, gather together some of Jim's things, and take them along to the monthly car-boot sale at her school. She'd said a hundred times how I needed to let go and move on. She'd told me that hanging onto Jim's possessions was preventing me from doing this. When I asked her what made her the expert all of a sudden, she furiously held back her tears and thrust a fistful of money at me.

"I sold some of Dad's paintbrushes," she'd told me. I had been horrified - Jim's brushes were one of his most precious things, and when he'd given them to her it was like a coming-of-age gift. How could she have sold them?

"I don't want to paint anymore, and it has helped me, really it has. It was like saying goodbye to him."

Forgive me, I digress. Back to that Sunday morning.

Bang, bang, went my daughter's determined fist on the door. I lay there, wondering time and again how my grandmother had dealt with this situation. My grandmother had lost her husband, too. She'd been left with five children and a shop to run, when she was about the same age as I was. My mother tells me that my gran took it very badly and refused to live (just as I was), but that one day, she'd simply got up and carried on. Nobody ever knew what did it, and she wasn't around anymore to ask.

Bang, bang.

In the end, I realized Becky wasn't going to go away. I shocked myself by getting out of bed.

My daughter was sitting with her back to the door, fist raised over her head, ready to pound on it again. She fell into my room as I opened the door.

Looking at me upside down, she gave me a gentle smile. "Well done," she said.

* * *

An hour later, we entered the school field. I'd refused to shower and change, and wore my pajamas under my jeans. My hair looked like a crazy bird's nest and my shoes were the tattiest I could find. Becky ignored this; she knew she'd won and didn't want to completely tumble my pride. Who'd given her such wisdom? It must have been Jim.

I'd told her I was only coming for a look. I wasn't ready to part with Jim's clothes, some of which still smelt faintly of him; or his books, some of which still had folded-down corners. I used to open them and read over and over again the last words he would have read.

The car-boot sale was Becky and Jim's thing. They'd come here every month, searching for bargains and returning home grinning from ear to ear, eager to show me what they'd found. I'd never been, and to be here now made me long for him all over again.

Becky saw me hesitating, and tugged at my hand.

"Come and check out the CDs," she said.

I allowed myself to be led like a child to a stall, where teenagers sat behind hundreds of used compact discs. Becky soon fell into easy conversation with them and we both ignored the stares directed at 'the mad Mum' with her bird's nest hair.

My eyes wandered. Next door to the CD stall was a rickety table housing a bizarre collection of items: various old clocks, a mound of clothes, some china ornaments and odd bits of jewellery. Behind the stall sat a faded-looking woman with merry eyes. With a shock, I realized she was staring intently at me. I smiled uncertainly, not sure if I knew her, and then I wandered over.

"I'm sorry, do I know you from somewhere?"

"I don't think so," the woman replied. "Sorry if I was staring, but you have an awfully lost look in your eyes."

"I'm sorry?" I said, stunned.

"Forgive me, that was rude. Look, I've some books here, why don't you take a look?"

I did think she'd been rude, but despite myself, I browsed through her books. One of them seemed to stand out, as if to say, "Choose me, choose me!" I picked it up. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the woman smile, knowingly.

The book was heavy, and it looked very old. It had a faded leather cover and the word, Ways, printed in embossed lettering on the cover. There was nothing else written on it.

"Ways? What does that mean?"

The woman didn't answer, but continued to look at me.

Ways.... It was as if some of the words of the title had rubbed off. Ways of what? Ways to what?

"I think you'll really enjoy that book," the woman said.

I opened the front cover. Inside it was written,

What a long, strange journey it is

in faded gold lettering. I turned a couple of pages and read the first line of the story:

After the death of her husband, Lara lost the will to live.

I almost cried out. I looked up at the woman as if to say, How did you know?

She was watching me and I could see tears in her eyes. "Take it," she said. "Forget the money. One thing though, don't forget to write your name in the back."

I turned to the back page. Under the title, 'Past Owners' was a long list of names and dates. The first one was Margaret , 1912. Turning the pages backwards, I found the last: bertha , 2007.

"You're Bertha?" I asked.

"That's me."

"Why do I have to add my name?"

"It's a bit of a tradition, I think. I feel that if you don't add your name, you'll somehow break the chain. I'm sure you'll find the book very useful. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to be going. Bit of a slow day, today." She began to pack up her stall. I held the book close to my chest and went in search of Becky. I wanted to read it right away.

The rest of the day passed in a bit of a blur. When we got home, Becky insisted on making me sit with my feet up while she made lunch. She wasn't having me rushing back to my room just yet.

I relaxed in my favourite chair, with my new book on my lap. Ways. I stroked the cover, took a deep breath, then opened it.

At midnight, I was still reading. I couldn't stop. The story was incredible - moving, uplifting, sad, funny and timeless. The strangest thing of all was, I could relate so well to so much of it, that it seemed to have been written about me. The heroine, Lara, had lost her husband and was unable to get on with life. The story was about how she came back to reality, began to heal and move on, and how eventually she found a new love. It sounds trite, but it was the best story I'd ever read.

Becky had long since given up on me and gone to bed, depositing tissues, biscuits and beer on the table next to me as she left. She kissed me goodbye as she left for school the next day, and I barely noticed. At half-past ten I finished the book.

It was like saying farewell to a friend. I closed the cover and sighed deeply. Then, I smiled. I felt different. I felt really different. I felt uplifted, lighter in spirit and almost (dare I say it?) happy.

This was wrong - I wasn't supposed to be happy. I tried to bring back my familiar friends of misery and sorrow, but they seemed to have gone.

I laid Ways on my lap and looked around the room, realizing for the first time what Becky had been telling me for ages - the house was a mess. I'd not let her touch it, saying I'd clean it when I felt better. That had been going on for months....

* * *

I wish I'd had my camera ready when Becky got home from school. Her face was a picture. I watched her with unsuppressed delight as she took in the cleaned and tidied rooms, the fresh flowers on the table and the meal laid out for two.

"Mum," she said. "Are you feeling all right?"

After that, ever so slowly, I began to feel like myself again. I still had mountains of sorrow to climb inside me. I still thought of Jim every minute, but the thoughts were more comfortable in my head, as if I'd learned to have him there, but not worry about him too much.

I even began writing again. One day, while I was on chapter three of a new book, my friend Della came for a coffee. She'd recently lost her mother and seemed to carry the weight of her sadness with her. We sat and chatted about life and death and I told her about the book I'd read.

"Can I borrow it?" she asked. "I need a good uplifting read."

I handed her Ways, adding, "Be careful, it's hard to put down." We said our farewells and I went back to work.

The following day, while I was in the middle of a particularly difficult moment, in the plot of chapter four, I was interrupted by a hammering at the door.

I opened it to see Della in a terrible state. Her face was swollen and red, the whites of her eyes were bloodshot and she looked as if she'd not slept a wink.

"I've been up all night reading," she said. "That book, Ways, I thought you said it was uplifting? It was so terribly sad - I've never cried so much in my life!"

"What?"

In a rush, Della explained, "The story, it wasn't uplifting at all. It was so sad. The way she, Daniela, lost her mother - just like me - and couldn't cry about it, and then one day her mother's spirit came to visit her, and she just started weeping and couldn't stop.... Well, I started crying myself and I couldn't stop, either."

"I'm sorry," I said, feeling guilty and horribly confused. The story she described was nothing like the one I'd read....

"It's okay. The weird thing is, I needed to cry. I realized I haven't cried enough, and that was the reason I was still so sad. Now I've started I can't stop. The tears just keep coming!" Della sniffed and snorted and then burst out laughing. "I came to say thank you," she said. "I'm beginning to feel better. Listen, I hope you don't mind, but I've lent the book to my neighbour who's just lost her beloved son. I thought it might make her feel better. She says she'll drop it back to you directly herself. I hope you don't mind?"

"No, it's fine. Della, I'm a little conf...."

"Sorry hon, but I've got to dash. I'm doing the school run today." And off she went.

I closed the door, puzzled.

Becky arrived home from school later looking cross and frazzled. When I asked her what was wrong, she told me a great long story about best friends and broken alliances, boyfriends and betrayals. She asked for my advice and I gave it as best I could. Then, timidly, I suggested she might try Ways. An idea was forming in my head.

The next day, I was proved right. Della's neighbour, Carla, returned the book, and I wasn't at all surprised when she told me how comforting it had been to read about someone who'd lost a child that was dear to them, and how the book had helped her.

"Tell me," I said. "What was the lead character's name again? I've forgotten."

She looked at me oddly before replying, "Catherine."

I took the book and opened it. It still said,

After the death of her husband, Lara lost the will to live.

Thoughtfully, I closed it. When Becky arrived home, looking mournful and confused, I handed her the book. She took it doubtfully (it wasn't pink with drawings of cool girls on the front).

"You might be surprised," I said.

I wasn't at all shocked when a grinning Becky appeared for breakfast, wearing the same crumpled uniform she'd had on the day before.

"I've been reading all night. This book is awesome! But I'm surprised you enjoyed it, as it was all about teenagers and their problems. There's some great advice in there and I feel a whole heap better!"

"Tell me," I said. "What was the girl's name in it again? I've forgotten."

"Mum, you're still barmy as ever! It was Rachel."

* * *

Over the course of the next few weeks, I tried the book on everyone I knew who had problems. All of them said the book helped them, and all of them read about a different person. I couldn't explain it, nor did I want to. If it was magic, I simply accepted it. To examine it too much might have damaged it in some way. You might think this acceptance is strange, but after experiencing how much Ways helped me, I didn't want to somehow upset the book's charm by investigating it too thoroughly.

In the end, I ran out of people to lend it to. I remembered what Bertha had said, that I shouldn't forget to write my name in it. I turned to the back pages and wrote, Lina, 2008. I skim read some of the other names, wondering at their stories. One leapt out at me and I staggered, then sat down in shock. Beatrice, 1963. Beatrice was my grandmother....

My grandmother had read this book! As I tried to let this sink in, I remembered my mother's story about my gran - about how one day, she'd simply got up and carried on, leaving the weight of her grief behind. Now I knew why. I sat with the book on my lap, wondering about fate and destiny, and if we really had any choices in life, or if it was all preordained....

As I was closing the book, I noticed some words in embossed lettering inside the back cover.

Let the words free

I knew, then, that it was time to let the book go.

* * *

"I'm proud of you, Mum," Becky said.

We were standing behind our stall at the car-boot sale. The gates were about to open, to let in the hundreds of people who'd come and see what we had for sale. I looked at our arrangement proudly. Becky had done a great job of constructing a pole on which to hang Jim's clothes, and they flapped slowly in the breeze. Many of his books lined the table and some of his painting gear was laid out neatly next to them.

Becky and I had things to sell, too, and they sat amongst the bits and pieces that had belonged to Jim's life.

In front of everything, just waiting for the right person to come along, was Ways.

* * *

Well, there it is. I hope you enjoyed it, and I hope you were able to suspend your disbelief long enough to listen. If Ways ever finds you, it'll be because you need it. The book will tell you what you need to know, and I wish you well.

Share the wisdom - and don't forget to write your name in the back pages.

Sue

wow

2008-10-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

i rally need someone to share this lonely evening with.

dreams

2008-10-21T07:06:00.000-07:00

i dream of disappearing to a place and live 100 years with the one i will fall for.

me now

2008-10-20T08:14:00.000-07:00

am listening to music.

My views

2008-09-14T18:38:00.000-07:00

God never sought a PhD or Professorship.
1. He had only one major publication.
2. It was in Hebrew.
3. It had no references.
4. It wasn’t published in a refereed journal.
5. Some even doubt he wrote it by himself.
6. It may be true that he created the world, but what has he done since then?
7. His cooperative efforts have been quite limited.
8. The scientific community has had a hard time replicating his results.
9. He never applied to the ethics board for permission to use human subjects.
10. When one experiment went awry he tried to cover it by drowning his subjects.
11. When subjects didn’t behave as predicted, he deleted them from the sample.
12. He rarely came to class, just told students to read the book.
13. Some say he had his son teach the class.
14. He expelled his first two students for learning.
15. Although there were only 10 requirements, most of his students failed his tests.
16. His office hours were infrequent and usually held on a mountain top.
17. No record of working well with colleagues.

jotono

2008-09-14T18:33:00.000-07:00

Do you seek my equal? None is except myself.
I still remember one day at our rural home and my aunt had come visiting. I was twenty three then.