Here's some more mind games for you...if you can't/couldn't be bothered to do the spelling game for FREE RICE then how about NeoWORX flag/country identification game...do you know which country etc... I've just got 15/20 but considering the amount of travel I do (and the amount of time looking at the country-counter in the blog side-bar!) maybe I should have done better; however...some are VERY difficult!

How’s your spelling /vocabulary? At the weekend I was directed to a website that I enjoyed immensely…by testing your vocabulary - and it’s not easy. [freerice.com] It starts off easy-ish and gradually finds your level by progressively getting harder/easier if you get three in a row right or dropping a level or so each time you fail...and all the while you are providing rice to hungry people for free (endorsed by the United Nation World Food program: WFP) I provided 1000 grains and will return to do some more soon enough; I was level 42 and 43 (I think the range is from somewhere very low up to 50) I’ve added an image link to the Owsblog sidebar to encourage others to use it.

This could be construed as one of my "Acts of Kindness", as trumpeted on blogcatalog and also on YouTube although the actual 'official' day was yesterday (17-12-07)

Only Oliver...

Pax Quæritur Bello...Peace is sought through War: motto of The English Commonwealth (during the English Interregnum) "Peace is sought through War", heard that somewhere before? :-) 16th December was the day that Oliver Cromwell was given outright power as Lord Protector and the Commonwealth, in existence since only 1649, became a Protectorate. A constitution, the first in the history of the world, granted executive power to the Lord Protector of the "Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland". Is the jury still out over Oliver Cromwell? All time Top 10 Briton or genocidal war criminal?

Oslo oration's obvious ommission...

Al Gore, whilst collecting his Nobel Peace Prize [BBC] said some interesting things but failed to mention a very important and 'inconvenient truth'. He said:

"The Earth has a fever, and the fever is rising. The experts have told us it is not a passing affliction that will heal by itself"... ..."We are what is wrong, and we must make it right."

That is dead right...but not in the way he or 'the experts' mean. What he could have said, and been nearer the truth, were the words of Agent Smith during Morpheus' interrogation:

"The only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. Do you know what it is? A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet."

So in a way Gore is right, WE are what is wrong. Of course he wants to cry doom and gloom over "the climate impacts that might lie ahead"; there are two ways of looking at this: (a) climate change will happen anyway so let's learn to deal with it and survive the changes as long as possible rather than try to stop it (because we can't) or (b) climate change may not happen and we can stop it...so...let's target the easiest and most efficient way we can by targeting the main reason, that worryingly clear reason is amply illustrated HERE; we must reduce the population/stop population growth. World population has doubled in about 40 years and tripled in less than 80...our parents lifetimes...quadrupled in the last century...whichever way you read it the figures are ominous...the planet can't/won't sustain much more.

"In every land the truth, once known, has the power to set us free"

said Gore...but that truth, once known, is rather unpleasant and so are the various cures.

Obliterated or only oblivious...

Today marked the day, in 1979 when the World Health Organisation (WHO) certified the eradication of one orthopoxvirus: smallpox, it is the "only human infectious disease to have been completely eradicated from nature" - surely one of the great triumphs of modern science; however..."eradicated from Nature"...but not eradicated from evil Man: despite the wish to eradicate stocks it is still with us: not only in fiction, but also in fact (Nov 2007). The bio-terrorism threat is real; "preparedness" is available: Logical Images VisualDx.

Despite various other 'pox' affecting a range of animals - many can be passed to humans: zoonosis - we (mankind) are the only known hosts of the variola virus. It has killed billions, literally, and is thought to have been the cause of death of 300 - 500 million people in the last century before eradication alone.

Recorded instances of variolation (innoculation with variola - smallpox) began as early as the 10th century through intranasal insufflation of dried crusts of smallpox lesions...hmmm, nice...enjoying your sandwich? In 18th-century Europe, brought to England by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (oh yes!...not a commoner she) from her experiences in Turkey, the method consisted of subcutaneous injection of fluid from smallpox pustules or scabs (like some mustard on that sandwich?) Variolation caused a mild form of smallpox, but prevented more significant problems...like death. There was a certain amount of prejudice from the medical world despite Lady Mary having her daughter treated in front of 'physicians of the Royal Court'. Experiments followed on prisoners and then orphans (hahaha...imagine that today!) until finally acceptance followed the successful treatment of the two daughters of the Prince of Wales.

Religous powers were equally sceptical as they believed the 'providence of life should be in God's hands' (see image of Gentleman's Magazine 1750 - courtesy of the ILEJ, Internet Library of Early Journals click image to enlarge); they got even more irate when variolation became Satan's tools...or vaccination as we know it. Vaccination from vacca, the Latin for cow (cowpox...) throughout England there was a popular concept that dairy maids who had caught cowpox were thereafter immune to smallpox.

Despite Edward Jenner being the man famous for 'inventing' vaccination, there has been a growing recognition of Benjamin Jesty as the first to vaccinate against smallpox . "The breakthrough in vaccination came in 1774 with a Dorset farmer, Benjamin Jesty... [he would have been] aware of the rural 'myths' that people who had earlier caught the mild disease of cowpox did not catch the normally fatal disease of smallpox. Furthermore country people had noticed for some time that dairymaids caught the much milder cowpox from their cows but never smallpox. In fact dairymaids were renown for their pure complexions and Jesty’s milkmaids had previously caught cowpox, nursed family members with smallpox yet still had not caught smallpox.

Jesty became convinced that cowpox somehow protected against smallpox and during a smallpox outbreak in the summer of 1774 took his family to a farm where there was an outbreak of cowpox. He took infected pus from the udder of a cow and used the sharp point of a stocking needle to scratch his wife and his sons’ arms just below the elbow where he inserted the pus.

This was the first recorded vaccination and it took place not in the context of established medical procedure by medical experts but on a farm in rural Dorset." (IBMS Institute of BioMedical Science - history zone). The Jestys freely admitted that they were probably not the first with vaccination, but he was the "first person (known) that introduced the Cow Pox by inoculation"...that's their gravestone inscription. Also there are those none-too-happy that Jenner didn't give credit to previous work and 'much of his correspondence was deliberately destroyed leaving enough gaps to wonder how much he knew about Jesty’s experiment which was known about in medical circles.' Some go further, in 1995, Richard Horton, now editor of The Lancet) said:

"The limping truth is that Edward Jenner was a political opportunist who obtained priority in the discovery of vaccination (1796) through his reputation (he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1779 on the strength of his research on cuckoos) and aristocratic social standing (he received financial support from the Duke of Bedford and the lord mayor of London)."

Oooer...not happy at all. That said, it shouldn't lessen our appreciation of Jenner's accomplishments, indeed as early as 1801 he predicted eradication of smallpox. 'It was his relentless promotion and devoted research of vaccination that changed the way medicine was practiced' and ...

In science credit goes to the man who convinces the world, not the man to whom the idea first occurs. — Francis Galton

Outbreak of optimism...

Update: Thursday 6th December: Spoken like a true Statesman...NOT! Chavez is now truly losing the plot: today at a press conference - with the Army, Navy, Air Force and National Guard chiefs - designed to reinforce the point that he wasn't pressured into recognising the 'No' win said: "Fue una victoria de mierda y la nuestra una derrota de coraje"

"It was a shit victory and ours a courageous loss"!!!

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Update: Tuesday 4th December: Predictably, the abstention rate of 44% is causing some concern: what's clear is that while millions of Mr Chavez's supporters probably still back him, they were unconvinced by his proposed reforms to the (new!) Constitution"

Perhaps I made a mistake in the timing of my proposals, that could be, that we are not politically mature enough,"... "It's a challenge for us, we're going to convince those of our comrades who have doubts, those who have fears concerning socialism."

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Venezuela and the Latin American blogosphere is alight with far more optimism than pessimism over yesterday's very close defeat in the referendum for constitutional change. (some say TOO close!) The main emphasis for most is that at least 3 million voters from Chavez's re-election failed to show up to vote in the referendum: the following from Vcrisis:

"The result of the referendum lends itself to different readings, the most obvious being number of votes for and against the illegal, and now unpopular, reform: 4.379.392 in favor (a year ago 7.309.080 people voted for Chavez in the presidential race) and 4.504.354 against it. Ergo while the opposition, led by the student movement, managed to increase its numbers by some 200,000 (compared to votes cast for Manuel Rosales last December), officialdom, in spite of the huge advantage in terms of funds and media, saw 3 million of its supporters shunning the reform and sitting out the vote. Some chavistas have attributed this defeat to poor performance on behalf of Chavez´s government. Such candid admissions, to be applauded and encouraged by all of us, just reiterate what we have been saying all along."

More interestingly, because of the polls indicating a win for the 'No' camp, Chavez had tried to make this a definitive 'for me' or 'against me'...he even said:

"Those who vote NO are doing a favor to George W. Bush. Our real opponent, our real enemy is the US Empire. On Sunday we are going to deal another knockout blow to the American imperialism. Nobody should forget that it is the backdrop of the battle."

It seems that finally the Venezuelan public are recognising the difference between reality and rhetoric.

Outstanding observations...

The outstanding observations I speak of? That would be An Efflux Of Labour Effluvia posted today on The Huntsman.

"As the Rats emerge blinking in the sunlight from the sewer that is the Labour Party, the spectacle of Comrade Harman ripping into Comrade Brown like two ferrets in a sack will cheer everyone who despises Labour and all its rotten works. Let us hope it gets significantly worse before it gets better."

I was led there from Ian Dale's Diary: Top 50 New Labour Sleaze stories - first posted 18 months ago the list is now at 90 plus...probably a few more with all the latest news - but looking at the reams of seemingly endless lists of New Labour Sleaze it made me wonder why people still try to compare New Labour's constant and rank corruption with the 'original' Tory Sleaze which, quite honestly, pales into insignificance and would indeed probably be a distant memory had it not played a major role (no pun intended!) in costing them the 1997 election. Referring to The Huntsman again in the post Banana Republic News - with other links to "Labour’s sleazebaggery - it is deeply extensive, far too large for this blog but you can savour the rank putrefaction of their corruption" - [what a way with words!] we are reminded of that sleaze, which became many of the final nails in the last Conservative government's coffin. (the list is part way down but it's worth reading the whole post)

"Most of us were utterly repelled by the sleaze exhibited by individual MPs as the last Conservative Government put on the rictus that precedes rigor mortis. Many Tories must have stayed resolutely at home as a result and have stayed at home resolutely ever since."

Oh the IRONY! The World Cup qualifying draw has finished: England get a relatively 'easy looking' group except there's going to be a lot of miles - mainly a long, long way eastwards - to get through!...and with some old friends!

Group 6: Croatia, England, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Andorra...

Somebody tell Tony Henry he won't be singing this time :-)

Online ordeal...

Another Megan's Law? Not the legislation passed in California in 2004 that "provides the public with Internet access to detailed information on registered sex offenders" [Link] but possible new laws drafted from the online ordeal and subsequent suicide of 13 year old Megan Meier.

In The Observer, Caroline Davies reports today "Anguish for mother of suicide girl as 'cyber-tormentor' escapes the law": events of almost a year ago but that are now coming to a head and that could lead to a new development in law-making. Those accused of causing Megan's death cannot be tried under any current laws:

"...despite both police and FBI investigations, Megan's embittered parents have been told that [the woman they accuse] faces no charges. Cyberspace, it seems, has outpaced the law."

It is this situation that is causing a wave of 'virtual vigilantism' (equally bad IMHO) against 'the accused' - a neighbour - but also the start of a move to press for change.

"Last week Dardenne Prairie's board of aldermen unanimously passed a law making cyber-harassment a misdeamenour with a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and/or a $500 fine."

Ogling oriental oomph...

Views of the 5th China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition; I think there are also some cars at the show. (Image link: picture credit Dayoo Photo)

Update: 10a.m., 20/11/07: The presidents of Iran and Venezuela, whilst signing energy, finance and industry agreements, foresee the downfall of the "U.S. Empire" due to the weak dollar. Chavez called it a strategic alliance: here in El Universal: "...pronto no hablaremos de dólares, el dólar se hunde y con él se hunde el imperio de Estados Unidos, gracias a Dios y a las luchas de los pueblos. Hay que pedirle a Dios que acelere el fin del perverso imperio de EEUU". A rough translation of which is:

"Soon we won't talk in dollars, the dollar is in downfall and with it the US Empire, thanks to God and the efforts of our people. We should ask God to speed up the end of the perverse US Empire"

The news in English from China View: Venezuela and Iran to work against US: "they will defeat U.S. imperialism together, noting that the fall of the dollar is a prelude to the end of Washington's global dominance."
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Only the third OPEC summit in 47 years - the 2nd one was in Caracas in 2000. This had more than a few issues to discuss: the weak dollar and high oil price; energy security and internal divisions etc. Chavez used his opening speech to take another swipe at the USA suggesting what could happen if they committed “una locura”: "If the United States was mad enough to attack Iran or aggress Venezuela again the price of a barrel of oil could reach $150 or even $200," He added that "The basis of all aggression is oil. It is the underlying reason," and I think we know what and who he had in mind. He also suggested that due to their beneficial position they should do more on the political stage:

"Today, Opec stands strong. It is stronger than it has ever been in the past. Opec should set itself up as an active geopolitical agent."

Ecuador, rejoining OPEC at this summit and now governed by ‘Chavite/Chavista’ Rafael Correa agreed. Another thorn in the side was Iran's disagreement on which points OPEC should be concentrating: Iranian officials wanted the final statement to express concern about the weakness of the dollar. We know why! Chavez and Almadinejad are buddies and I wonder how far the 'alliance' would go if one or the other was really attacked. During last year's ominous outlook Chavez said,

"We will stand beside Iran in every time and occasion and under every circumstance."

Hosting the summit, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia was a voice of reason and hopefully a brake on what Chavez is trying to do:

"Those who want Opec to take advantage of its position are forgetting that Opec has always acted moderately and wisely. "Oil shouldn't be a tool for conflict; it should be a tool for development."

Off on a tangent...regarding oil prices, they are quick to defend who gets what from the price of a barrel: this graph shows clearly what is the take in the G7 countries. "In the UK, for example, the government receives substantially more from taxation than what OPEC gets from the sale of its oil." In fact that graph/figure doesn't include VAT which is added...in the UK's case clearly a tax on tax!

To digress even more, but remaining on the twin topics of Chavez and the UK (but not getting waylaid onto the hilarious hoohah of last week - that won't go away - with the Spanish King, which is now, amongst other things, a ringtone hit! ) last week saw what Venezuela Analysis called "London Hosts Most Representative European Conference To Date On Venezuela" hosted by Ken Livingstone with the following UK representatives: Diane Abbott MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, George Galloway MP. Hahahahahahahahah...a wonderful joke...if it were not serious. Red Ken hopes to help Chavez with Caracas' transport/traffic problems, a noble aim, however he says:

"As we meet Venezuela is debating a new series of constitutional reforms to strengthen democratic participation. I particularly welcome plans to transform the capital, Caracas."

I cannot believe Livingstone is that naive so there must be other reasons why he is ignoring what is really happening in Venezuela. The reforms are anything but "strengthening democratic participation! The following from Vdebate.org: "In fact, Mr. Chavez's rewrite would complete his transformation into an autocrat. It would lengthen his presidential term from six to seven years and remove the current limit of two terms, allowing him to serve indefinitely. He would have broad powers to seize property, to dispose of Venezuela's foreign exchange reserves, to impose central government rule on local jurisdictions and to declare indefinite states of emergency under which due process and freedom of information would be suspended."

Organic orchestral oompah...

Britain awaits the Vienna Vegetable Orchestra reports Laura Clout in the Daily Telegraph: "They give the phrase 'playing with your food' a whole new meaning"


...founded in 1998, the 11-strong group carve their produce before every show,They prefer organic produce and use highly sensitive microphones to pick up the subtlest crunch of onion skin or squeak of lettuce leaves." (picture link), and the best bit? They make soup afterwards :-)

Online outlet...

Many who read this won't have seen what I'm on about as it refers to BBC Online content for those connecting from a non-UK country. "What's changing on the BBC Website?"

You will have noticed that the BBC website features a limited amount of advertising when viewed from outside the UK.

That's the only alteration - the content of the site remains unchanged and continues to feature the same high quality journalism and entertainment that the BBC has always pioneered. We've introduced advertising to visitors outside of the UK because the new revenue created will allow us to further improve our journalism, our programmes and our website in the years ahead.

Impartiality is of the utmost importance to us at the BBC and for this reason advertising will be clearly separated from editorial content. Advertising will not have any bearing on the news, information or programme content or create the impression of endorsement by the BBC.

We guarantee that you will continue to receive the same high-quality independent content that has made the BBC website one of the most popular news and entertainment sites in the world.

Then there's a list of FAQ's and finally this general information:

BBC Worldwide Limited is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The company exists to maximise the value of the BBC's assets for the benefit of the licence payer and invest in public service programming in return for rights. The company has six core businesses: Global Channels, Global TV Sales, Magazines, Content & Production, Home Entertainment and Digital Media.

Now to be fair, in principle there is nothing wrong with this; most people that use the BBC from another country would not be contributing to it via 'taxes' (the Licence Fee) apart from expats etc, of course...but my concern is that if the BBC is receiving large amounts of money from commercial companies, at some stage there is sure to be a problem with impartial editing despite the assurance that "advertising will not have any bearing on the news, information or programme content or create the impression of endorsement by the BBC"...or their "guarantee that you will continue to receive the same high-quality independent content"...am I being unfair? Can we trust Auntie?

Operation Orchard oblivion...

Has this been forgotten, or disregarded? Why is there almost no news; why are there no ripples in the world pond re the Israeli bombing of Syrian 'nuclear' material from North Korea and other infrastructure in September this year? Last month in the Spectator James Forsyth and Douglas Davis reported how it came "So close to war"... World War Three. This was alluded to 'by a very senior British ministerial source' whom told The Spectator 'If people had known how close we came to world war three that day there’d have been mass panic.'

"The scale of the potential threat — and the intelligence methods that were used to follow the transfer — explain the dense mist of official secrecy that shrouds the event. There have been no official briefings, no winks or nudges, from any of the scores of people who must have been involved in the preparation, analysis, decision making and execution of the operation. Even when Israelis now offer a firm ‘no comment’, it is strictly off the record."

"The secrecy is itself significant." I'll say so: the silence is deafening.

Opiparous onions...

Wonderful, sumptious and health giving onions: something we all knew but that continues to get more confirmation. The BBC reports Institute of Food research that shows eating a meal rich in compounds called flavonoids (in this case quercetin - found in onions, apples tea and red wine and even higher levels in the less-frequently eaten capers or lovage) reduces some early signs of heart disease. Worth noting that seperate research shows the absorption of quercetin from onions is twice that from tea and more than three times that from apples.

The US National Onion Association reports that studies have shown that quercetin protects against cataracts, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

"In addition, onions contain a variety of other naturally occurring chemicals known as organosulfur compounds that have been linked to lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels."

Also, as the British Onions site tells us, new scientific research "has discovered the humble onion could be just what the doctor ordered to give our brains a boost. The research findings could prove valuable in the fight against aging and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, while also providing protection from the effects of modern life." (The fantastic pictures in this post are taken from their image gallery)

Apart from all that we know that onions are low in calories but pack a punch in the flavour stakes and can be added to almost any savoury meal, someone once said that every meal began with peeling an onion. They are also sodium, fat, and cholesterol free, and provide dietary fibre, plus vitamins C and B6, potassium, and other key nutrients. Try raw onion on it's own with olive oil (and vinegar) and a pinch of salt as dressing - that plus a sliced apple plus maybe a chunk of strong, hard cheese and a glass or two of red wine and you can feel the benefit: a meal fit for a king!! If you're not keen on the strong flavour then try sweet onions: they still taste like an onion, but be much sweeter and milder. If however you're not keen on that either then you can just read about them: Ode to the Onion.

Octactinal orthopaedic operation...

Update, a.m. 08/11/07: So far, so good..."She has withstood the operation, she is safe and doing well," said Dr Sharan Patil, the consultant orthopaedic surgeon who led the 36-stong team that operated on Lakshmi.
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Good luck tommorrow Lakshmi Tatma. She's a two-year-old girl - named after the Hindu goddess of wealth who has four arms - and will undergo a 40-hour operation tomorrow as doctors try to give her a chance at a normal life: she was born with four arms and four legs. [DT Link]

Out of order, overbearing oligarchy...

Chavez has become what he claims to oppose. Today I am strongly tempted to join what would be my first political demonstration in years...many, many years. This afternoon, in front of the Venezuelan Consulate in Barcelona those Venezuelans against the changes to their country's Constitution will gather to show their displeasure: I hope it is well attended although only a small internet campaign has been evident.

The numerous changes to the Constitution were approved yesterday; The Devils' Excrement reports:

"Thus, it was a very dark day today, in which one of the most sordid processes in the country’s democratic history was completed. The man that reached power by being critical of decisions being made by politicians in smoke filed rooms, has single handedly imposed his illegal will and staged the final needed coup on the country’s Constitution, so that he can impose his dictatorial and autocratic rule on all Venezuelans."

Nicely put. Venezuela's national assembly gave its final approval to a number of constitutional reforms that strengthens to almost limitless the powers of President Hugo Chavez. The changes were approved by 160 of the 167 members of the assembly….only 96%...somebody’s for the chop! These changes will become law if a December referendum approves them; this is what the protests were about this week when Venezuelan troops used tear gas and water cannon against protesters against the planned reforms and wanting more time to understand any changes before a referendum. This strong-armed response was possibly due to the successful march last week when pro-Chavez demonstrators failed to upset the students march.

The main change is abolishing presidential term limits, but far more ominous is the fact that President Chavez is also proposing to "bypass legal controls on the executive during a state of emergency"; also he will change the country's internal boundaries making regional terriotories with governors all appointed by the president, something that will no doubt be supported by the thousands of local "communal councils" that will be given more power over what happens in their districts and who in turn will no doubt be supported by party faithful, armed militias.

"...a 1 million-strong civilian militia for a "war of resistance" against the United States."

It seems almost natural then that he would also wish an increase in presidential control over the central bank, something also in the approved reforms.

Changing tack a little, Chavez's anti-US rhetoric extends to all walks of life: he wants his people to know more about their history and heros, a noble aim in fact, something taht can be done by etaching history; however he describes it as breaking "the dictatorship of Hollywood", using this new film factory to make movies that better reflect the values and beliefs he is promoting through his socialist revolution....or propaganda as it's called. "More money is going to one film then we've had for all our films for years," says veteran director Alfredo Anzola. He is supportive of some of the government's ideas, but he is sceptical about Cinema City's role.

"I feel sure they want to make good films. What I don't like is that they'll only be the films they want to make. We fought for years to make films that were decided by the film community."

One of the first films could be Beauty and the Beast...sorry about that, uncalled for personal insults won't help...Naomi Campbell was there to attend a rally promoting state programs for single mothers; being an active member of Nelson Mandela Children's Fund she also expressed the hope that Chavez and Mandela could meet. However on arrival she told press: "I'm not going to be political. Thank you very much." Next day she was in a different mood when she said:

"Estoy maravillada, en las 24 horas que llevó aquí presente, de ver todo el amor que se refleja en los programas sociales que se extienden especialmente hacia las mujeres y los niños en este país"

Translated: "I've been here for 24 hours and I'm amazed to see the love and encouragement for the social programs that you have here for women and children in Venezuela," These days you can't be invited to Venezuela and not be political dear.

Ocean's oldest...

Or at least the oldest we know about! "A clam dredged up off the coast of Iceland is thought to have been the longest-lived animal discovered." [BBC link] Scientists said the mollusc, an ocean quahog clam, was aged between 405 and 410 years and could offer insights into the secrets of longevity.

"When this animal was a juvenile, King James I replaced Queen Elizabeth I as English monarch, Shakespeare was writing his greatest plays Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Macbeth and Giordano Bruno was burnt at the stake for espousing the view that the Sun rather than the Earth was the centre of the universe."

[Bangor University] What concerns me is that the Bangor University spokesman said that they had received money from the Help The Aged (UK charity) to fund part of the research; now I know that, in simple terms, the work is investigating what makes us grow old but surely Help the Aged should be doing more 'current' work..i.e. helping the aged!

OK…I’ve left it for a week (mainly due to not being online) but now I can post about the finale to the great 2007 Rugby World Cup. Firstly credit to Argentina for their supreme performance against France (for the 2nd time)…the second time was so much more a complete, rounded display of tough rugby, absorbing long periods of French pressure in the first half going in at 17-3 up and then a masterful display of heroic defence and massive work-rate leading to some wonderful tries; good post and comments here on Green and Gold Rugby “French dicked”!

“But an extra thanks for highlighting just where the future of rugby is; rediscovering the 'joie de vivre' that has always made rugby great. Forgotten under pressure by Australia, New Zealand and France. Pushed to new levels by Argentina, Tonga and Fiji.”

Or as Baldinio says here:

"The passsing, the tackling, the turnovers, the punch-ups!Who said that the bronze medal wasn't important, who said that this was a match too far for the team in celestial blue?Argentina played with a style and panache all the way through this tournament from that rain soaked Friday back in September when they shocked the hosts at the Stade De France. Last night they were playing at the Parc De Princes, the bear-pit of French rugby and they made the bears look all cuddly and non-threatening, that five minute spell just before half time when they defended their own line against wave after wave of French attacking moves..."

Now the final: what an occasion…again I couldn’t breath partly due to the excitement but also partly due to the stress of 12 hours on a plane, no luggage, credit cards swiped and worst of all I was trembling from what I can only assume was ‘a bad pint’ :-) South Africa won; they were easily the best team in the tournament and the only unbeaten one; both teams in the final gave their all and the South Africans stood up when it counted. The last score was a penalty in minute 61; I don’t think anyone begrudges them their win…fantastic, all consuming defence and domination in the lineout were the main reasons for the win and Matlock deserved to be MOTM. Jake White, the South African coach, said what we all agree with and history has shown it again and again.

"I've always said defence wins World Cup. History is an amazing thing and it just keeps repeating itself,"

SI picture link; another RWC 2007 final summary on the IRB's official site here:

Reigning champions England came into the match on the back of four impressive victories after a poor start to the tournament but were unable to find a way through a disciplined Springboks outfit who were miserly in defence, dominated the line-outs and kicked five penalties.

However, this graciousness doesn’t mean I’m not going to slag off the ref…NOT the video ref and Cueto’s possible touchdown…he made a call that could have been controversial either way, he took a bit too long but after the heat of the moment has been shown to have made the right decision (millimetres!) No, I’m on about Irish/French Alain: as usual he was generally OK but in my opinion made several crucial wrong calls: firstly Moody (trip on Butch James) and possibly even Flood (push on Montgomery) should have been yellow carded – rules are rules….that could have changed the game, as could the following:

First half, the first SA penalty: Tait slipped and was adjudged to be holding on; the first and clearest offence was in fact a 100% clear and blatant penalty AGAINST Steyn – over the top and lying on top, no attempt to move and trying to play the ball on the ground – no doubt whatsoever.

Another poor decision was when the South African front row popped up and the Boks pulled (not pushed) the scrum round; two offences that would be a free kick to England but the decision was given as a scrum to SA for the scrum going 90º - ridiculous.

Second half: fourth SA Penalty: blatant offside and obstruction from Van de Linde, should have been an England penalty; however SA release the ball down the blind and Corry is penalised at the tackle (rightly)

Fifth SA Penalty: (minute 61) minor and harshly adjudged obstruction against England – if the ref was consistent I would have no problem; however I was frustrated to say the least, when two much worse and more blatant offences by the Boks, in easily kickable positions, went unpunished.

Between minute 62 (when the ball sailed through to make the score 15 - 6) and minute 68 there were 3 or 4 occasions when offences by South Africa should have been penalised, all in their own half (two almost in front of the posts) that went unpunished: one was one of the aforementioned obstructions, then a high and dangerous tackle on Paul Sackey; then Butch James lies over the ball on the England side and helps the ball back…the correct decision would have been a penalty in front of the posts but all the happened was a South African turnover. That 6 minute period could and should have changed the game more than the video-ref call.

All this may sound like whinging sour grapes…and it is (click on image)…however I must insist that this is against referee calls and not the Boks; in fact I’m a fan of SA rugby and all my dad’s family have lived there for nigh on 60 years and those who may have heard me speak (in English) may even note a Highveld twang (which in fact is a North London blended with South Africa, Australia, Canada, Venezuela, Somerset and Spain!!!)…they won, it’s over, well done.

Moving on quickly!...Nadir of the tournament: being crushed and humiliated 36 – 0 against South Africa!

High points: England’s unexpected run into and past the Quarter Finals; Argentina’s two wins against France; Georgia vs. Ireland, how they deserved to win that game, outplaying the men in green in every position; Japan vs. Fiji – what an exciting finish – about 85 minutes before the ball went out!; Portugal singing (thanks for the heads-up Baldinio) and their try against New Zealand; American winger scoring after showing SA speed-merchant Habana a ‘clean pair of heels’ (thanks for the heads-up Kenji); Tonga all-but pipping SA at the post – what a difference a bounce can make! Wales vs. Fiji! …and many more…

Osborne's Oliphant...

"The mix of light, texture, mass, stress, force, velocity and acceleration are all captured in a visually dramatic moment in time." (Picture link)

Overjoyed...

Final - England v South Africa

Ref: Alain Rolland (IRE) TJ 1: Joel Jutge (FRA) TJ 2: Paul Honiss (NZL) 4: Alan Lewis (IRE) 5: Steve Walsh (NZL) (reserve referee) TMO: Stuart Dickinson (AUS)

Well posting re the weekend rugby was delayed: my hands were shaking too much to be able to use a keyboard; not sure if that was nerves or alcohol poisoning!...better late than never I suppose: I've only just recovered from Saturday night when England beat hosts France to progress to the 2007 Rugby World Cup Final. France captain Raphael Ibanez said,

"It came down to very little,"..."It's hard to swallow but that's sport. Well done, England."

The Aussie press refrained from any sarcastic comments, I wonder if they're secretly hoping we win to excuse their own loss...two examples: blonde chick newsreader on video here on ABC and written report on Livenews. However that doesn't mean I won't post a couple of images that I was sent last week: thanks for the heads-up go to Kenji for the Aussie Whine and the NZ Choker, sorry lads. Back to the winners:

"What a brilliant day, a fantastic week," England captain Phil Vickery told ITV television. "To beat France in France in a World Cup semi-final is a huge effort from everyone."

Well, one of the key improvements is the likes of Vickery not giving away stupid penalties all the time (perhaps the games on the bench allowed this to sink in) Simon Shaw was another serial offeneder (penalties/yellow cards) but he too has seen the light: in good time too because South Africa have more than enough kicking power to score from anywhere in the half...or beyond! However, another great all-round performance and superb defensive display from the whole team put England through, albeit still as underdogs if one looks at England's recent record against the Springboks who yesterday won their semi-final that, for the first half an hour, looked anybody's game but which soon changed after a series of mistakes from a tired Argentina, allowed South Africa to win convincingly: a classic final beckons.

Mick Donohoe writing from Paris for the Rugby News Service thinks the opposing fullbacks will have a key role. "Wearing the number 15 jersey for their respective teams, England's Jason Robinson and South Africa's Percy Montgomery are match winners but in their own unique ways". To be honest their game plan, when they humiliated and overtly outplayed England only last month, was high kicks galore...so Mick may have a point!

Ominous overtones...

Artwork by Claudio Muñoz

In Venezuela a leaked draft education plan has confirmed what some already feared:
"VENEZUELAN parents can have any schooling they like for their children—so long as it's red. That is the message from President Hugo Chávez and his elder brother Adán, a Marxist physics teacher who is the education minister."

(Picture link to the original 11/10/07 Economist article)

Overreacting overreactions...

Is this fair? Celtic have been fined, quite rightly, £25,000 (should have been more) for the disgraceful incident last week when a fan ran on to the pitch and appeared to hit the AC Milan Goalie (Dida). What I find odd is that Dida has been banned for two matches??!!! Presumably for his overreaction after chasing the fan; hang on a minute though...this is what footballers do every game of every week. Is the ban because of the long delay - him getting stretchered off and replaced etc? If so then perhaps football has finally taken a turn for the better and the whinging, wanker pansies that call themselves sportsmen can start to behave as they should...but...what happens the 10 or 15 times in every game I see when a player goes down screaming and shouting (literally) and is often treated, sometimes stretchered-off, sometimes replaced etc...and nothing happens?

Oldie's oblectation occasions oblatrated objurgation

British author Doris Lessing has been awarded this year's Nobel Prize for Literature; congratulations and I'm sure she's over the moon...although probably not too happy to know that she is now the oldest person (87 years old) to have received this prize, the oldest prior recipient being Theodor Mommsen who was 85....and he died the next year (1903, still at 85). The Nobel Website announces Lessing's award thus:

"that epicist of the female experience, who with scepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilisation to scrutiny".

As always there are critics: "American literary critic Harold Bloom called this week's academy decision "pure political correctness."

"Although Ms. Lessing at the beginning of her writing career had a few admirable qualities, I find her work for the past 15 years quite unreadable ...fourth-rate science fiction,"

He (Bloom) told The Associated Press....not called a critic for nothing then! [Link]

The year I was born saw what was probably her defining work (perhaps that's what Bloom meant with his 'PC' comment): in 1962 "The Golden Notebook," became, and still is, a feminist classic. That theme continues today, Lessing's The Cleft (2007) is sci-fi fiction revolving around the result of the introduction of men to a mythical world of only women...What use are men?...She said men were a "haphazard species" who always have to be looked after and died "much too easy". [BBC Link] She said, from the same link, when asked if she thought it was men who waged war,

"We like to think we are motherly and kind and that we are not going to go to war, but it's not true, is it?"

On the war point, Nobel himself surprised everyone when, at his death, his Will revealed what we all know today re the Nobel Foundation and the various prizes.

"When Alfred Nobel's will was made known after his death in San Remo on 10 December 1896, and when it was disclosed that he had established a special peace prize, this immediately created a great international sensation. The name Nobel was connected with explosives and with inventions useful to the art of making war, but certainly not with questions related to peace."

" [He] had a clear view of what was happening in international politics during the second half of the 19th century. His own activity as an industrialist was to the utmost degree, international and it was vitally necessary for him to follow this development carefully. Important portions of his inventions and business activity were connected with conditions which affected war and peace." Philanthropy on a massive scale, not common in that day and age. "Nobel's will was hardly longer than one ordinary page. After listing bequests to relatives and other people close to him, Nobel declared that his entire remaining estate should be used to endow 'prizes to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit to mankind.' His will attracted attention throughout the world. It was unusual at that time to donate large sums of money for scientific and charitable purposes.' From Nobel's Life and Philosophy.
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objurgation n. - an earnest denunciation, rebuke, or scolding; harsh criticism
oblatrate n. - to snarl at, inveigh against
oblectation n. - delight, pleasure

Only one...

Update Oct 6th, 11pm BST + 1 more or less: Les Bleus l'ont fait, incroyable exploit du XV de France!...Gratuitous swearing breaks out on Owsblog: for FUCK'S SAKE, could a day of rugby go more unexpectedly than this? Unbelievable...more so than earlier: I actually believed, in my heart of hearts, that England would do it; what I didn't believe was that the best prepared and most awesome NZ side would fold against 'the other' French team, the one that can appear unexpectedly at any time: did the black and grey's lose it or did the navy blue's win it? It is absolutely incomprehensible to me that this AB side have performed worse than any other in a World Cup:

New Zealand's failure to reach the semi-final for the first time means this is the least successful World Cup campaign in their history.

Neither the All Black's or Les Bleu showed up today; fickle fate did...all bets are off!!

RESULT: France 20 : 18 New Zealand

P.S. There are some great comments on that AB Telegraph link, naturally almost all got it wrong: especially about half-way down: Nick Gough (oh so right!) and Alan Peck (oh so wrong!...hahaha)...thing is, after England, I wanted the All Black's to win the World Cup! (OK, OK...that is unless Argentina can go all the way...except against England!)

P.P.S. What a fantastic picture: Chabal obviously hyped and well unimpressed with the haka.

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Update Oct 6th, Full Time...I'm breathing again but only just: YEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSS!!! A couple of heart-stopping moments but it's all over: a great and strong forward display with JW kicking us through despite a couple of misses; a great team performance overall.

RESULT: England 12 : 10 Australia

Bring on the All Blacks...if they can handle France this time round.
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Half Time and I can hardly breath...it took over half an hour for the Wallabies golden and impressive three-quarter line to score a try...

Anyway...the post title...our own golden boy...Only one...Jonny Wilkinson, there's only one Jonny Wilkinson: he's just reached the all-time RWC record points scored beating Gavin Hasting's 227 points (I seem to remember Gavin got 5 tries against Cote D'Ivoire once or something similar...but they all count!)

Also, obviously, he is by far and away the highest scoring England player but what surprised me was his total points is about 100 points more than DOUBLE the second highest (Paul Grayson on 400)

All we need now is a few more games to pip Welsh Wizard Neil Jenkin's all time rugby test points record; this includes Lion's tests for both Jenkins and Wilko but even without those they are number 1 and 2.

COME ON ENGLAND!!!!

Original orbit occasions overflight order...

Today is the 50th anniversary of the first human-made object successfully orbiting the Earth. "Sputnik I changed the world,"..."it changed history." A great victory for the Soviets although, as Astroprof tells us, it was not Korolev's original choice for the first man-made object to be put into Earth orbit...and a great wake-up call to the USA. Space historian Howard McCurdy of American University says Sputnik... stoked fears of a nuclear attack, because "if you can fly a satellite over the United States, you can drop a warhead on New York City." This resulted in a total reorientation of priorities in the United States and the establishment of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as a focal point for space activities writes Dr Roger D Launius National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution calling the Sputnik launch a 'force for world peace' because when it overflew the United States and other nations of the world the Soviet satellite established the overwhelmingly critical principle of ‘overflight’ in space: simply put this principle was...

"the ability to send reconnaissance and other satellites over a foreign nation for any non-lethal purpose free from the fear of attack on them."..."Orbiting reconnaissance satellites served more than virtually any other technology as a stabilising influence in the Cold War."

However that was then and this is now: these days there’s nothing to jolt politicians into action, although apparently a 'few space enthusiasts are confident that America will return to the moon soon.' Alan Bean, one the dozen people who have actually walked on the moon put it well:

"I don't see us doing a heck of a lot, until someone threatens us."

Incredibly, even though that first orbit was 50 years ago...nearly 30 years ago NASA killed the successful Apollo program and at that time astronauts were still exploring the moon's craters and plains. "Two rockets ready to carry crews to the lunar surface were left to rust after NASA cancelled moon trips." Then came the shuttle (first launch 1981)

"Though a marvel of engineering, in its 100-plus flights the shuttle has only gone around and around the Earth. It can't do anything else."

This is why, we can assume, they attract such little interest. Most interest is on Mars and beyond, but NASA administrator Michael Griffin argues that 'NASA needs to test equipment and procedures on the moon before undertaking a trip to Mars. On the moon, "we're going to learn things that we'd be silly to skip," he says, calling a moon base "an enormous risk-reduction" tool.' You have to agree with him; I've never understood why they stopped the moon missions; I cannot accept the excuses of expense although a majority of Americans thought the Apollo program wasn't worth the cost (as well as boredom?...having 'won' the race etc) Public support for human space exploration is, and always has been, "a mile wide and an inch deep" says Launius but the other thing, as far as I can see, it's the one thing that lends credibility to the moon-landing hoax accusations because, as far as politicians are concerned, when has the cost ever mattered?

Ows's odd October opinion...

What a mouth-watering set of quarter-finals: I have to be honest and say that only one team looks out of place...and I sincerely hope that Argentina give them what for!

Australia v England (ref: Alain Rolland, Ireland)

New Zealand v France (ref: Wayne Barnes, England)

Argentina v Scotland (ref: Joel Jutge, France)

South Africa v Fiji (ref: Alan Lewis, Ireland)

It's a tough one to predict but New Zealand won't fall for the 'good' French side that tends to appear occasionally and I also think South Africa, after getting a run for their money, will be too strong for the Fijians (I hope not though!) That only leaves a resurgent England overpowering the golden and talented Wallabies who always seem to have a fantastic set three-quarters no matter who retires/gets injured/whatever...anyway, a tight game but far more tries than in the final 4 years ago. I haven't forgotten what I promised when I commented on my post slagging off England last month! So...semi-final predictions:

England vs. New Zealand (stunning display puts England through)

South Africa vs. Argentina (brusingly tough and bloody encounter sees Argentina win by 5)

So...an England vs. Argentina Final looks a great prospect... what are you laughing at?

Opposing oversizing of offspring...

It seems Chavez, the much maligned (and why not!) President of Venezuela has said something I am totally in agreement with; he was complaining of the current trend for plastic surgery (now rife throughout Europe and the Americas) being spread to 'minors' in Venezuela; here, as in other Latinamerican countries, the quinceañera has a big birthday celebration, a bit like the 18th or even 21st birthday we tend to celebrate elsewhere; now the 'in' gift is a boob job!

"I am calling on your conscience, fathers of this country, mothers of this country, they are our sons, they are our daughters,"

...Chavez said. Well done Hugo; of course he did manage to get in the now customary anti-West, anti-consumerism and anti-USA jibe:

"Chavez complained about the new fad of giving the plastic surgery operation at 15 -when Latin Americans celebrate a girl's coming-of-age - during a diatribe against what he says are Western-imposed consumerist icons such as Barbie dolls."

Still, for once I agree with the sentiment although I suspect he needs to take a better look at what goes on closer to home (roadside and magazine ads, telly-novelas, 'normal TV' etc where the ample, scantily dressed Latin-lovely form is constantly displayed)...anyway, I digress: There is one sentence from the Reuters link that I'm not quite sure about: I'm not sure whether they are paraphrasing what Chavez said or adding a caveat just in case people get the wrong idea:

While breast implants are advertised on TV and banks offer special credit lines for such operations, if girls do get the enlargements they are not expected to become sexually active afterward.

Seems odd, anyway, they'd probably seen this image and thought girls should be aware of the dangers. I was going to put three pictures of the good, the bad, and the ugly (breast implants) but to be honest the images were sickening! (young girls take note!)

I know it's no joke but I'm afraid I can't help myself: see gratuitous boob photo by clicking HERE...Stop it! Now!!

Optimistic opening...

Well I still seem to be posting about teams that play in red and white - England, Georgia and now Arsenal - the mighty Arse! (club link through badge) Things have been going so well that I thought I'd risk a mention - touch wood, fingers crossed: the news that the new stadium is helping push Arsenal to the top of the richest clubs league helps things...but of course there are both Russian and American billionaires circling with 21% - and reports that an increase to 25% is possible - and 12% respectively. Of course the loyal fan base helps, witness the 59,000 showing up for the CL game compared to the 25,000 that bothered to see Chelsea squeeze a draw with minnows Rosenborg (stick knife in and twist...I just know all this is going to come back to bite me..in the arse!)

However, as is clear, the financial results are only half the story: on the field the results are even better; the fact that they are playing so well, something most people didn't think would happen and saying that they needed some big guns (OK, OK!) some major signings etc. Well the club seem to think they have with MD Keith Edelman telling BBC Radio 5live that "These results demonstrate we really don't need any outside investment," adding:

"We secured all the players we wanted in the summer and manager Arsene Wenger did not spend his budget."

A really young side suddenly looking good, a fact that boy-wonder Francesc puts down to, amongst other things, being liberated of TH14 (that doesn't mean we don't think he was a demi-God for Arsenal!)

"Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas says Thierry Henry's departure has given the team the freedom to play without fear."

...the comeback to whip the evil Spuds, the fantastic result against Sevilla in the Champions League (I must admit that I thought 1-0 or a 1-1 or 0-0 draw would be the outcome), then the thrashing of poor Derby all make for a 10 days...now all this is sure to be me putting my foot in it...cue losing in the Carling Cup tomorrow or the headlines at the weekend...will it be "Hammers outgunned" or "Young Guns hammered"?

Whatever...the future's bright...but there is a dark side...

Oh oh!...

This World Cup just keeps getting better. "This was one of the most dramatic nights in the history of World Cup rugby as Georgia so nearly - and how it would have been deserved - produced the sport's greatest ever upset, losing narrowly 14-10 to Ireland in Bordeaux and having countless chances to win it." [Telegraph link] "

Georgia, the former Soviet Republic, has Europe's highest point, Mount Elbrus, and they climbed the highest mountain yesterday. A win for Georgia - and they should have, could have won - would have sent shock waves not just through rugby but through the sporting world."

The Georgian rugby team have lived up to the originator of their five cross flag, being both brilliant and splendid. The first mention of the five-cross design dates back to the middle of the XIVth century, when an unknown Franciscan monk wrote that the kingdom's flag was 'a white-colored cloth with five red crosses.' In prior centuries, Georgian kings had marched into battle brandishing a simpler flag, similar to the 'St. George's cross' [...], a single red cross, on a white background. According to a vexillological history written by the Georgian scholar Giorgi Gabeskiria, the four extra crosses were likely added during the reign of Giorgi V (also known as "the Brilliant" or "the Splendid"), who drove out the Mongols. Around that time, Georgians founded several monasteries in the Holy Land and became widely known for their piety. The new design was ostensibly fashioned after the Jerusalem cross, a symbol used by crusaders there and adopted as a testament to Georgia's righteous reputation."

Overtly outplayed...

*Update Saturday 15th, BBC online coverage:
22 mins: DROP-GOAL New Zealand 12-3 Portugal: Moments like these are why a lot of us watch sport...Portugal swing the ball wide...[giving] Goncalo Malheiro the chance to drop through the posts. They're over the moon, and the crowd gives them a standing ovation.

48 mins: TRY : Portugal tap and go from a penalty and embark on a series of drives...the try - scored by replacement Rui Cordeiro - is awarded and the crowd go bananas. A superb effort from Los Lobos.

The final score matters not: Portugal got into good positions and scored from them!
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Crushed and humiliated...words in every paper and online news source. The South African number 9 du Preez was superb and led his team to a resounding victory over England. This article from the Times, by David Hands, says it all [link]

Here is a list of the teams in the Rugby World Cup finals that have played one or two games and have scored i.e. they have NOT played a game in which they have failed to score a single point: South Africa, Tonga, USA, Samoa, Australia, Wales, Fiji, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, Scotland, Italy, Romania, Portugal, Argentina, Ireland, France, Namibia, Georgia. This includes minnows that have surpassed - by a long, long way - what was expected of them; and they have been entertaining despite the odds stacked against them (Namibia vs. Ireland would stand out if I had to pick a number one).

This is a list of the teams that have played one or two games and in one of the games have failed to score: England

Now, that list seems a bit short...and I have to admit that had England played well but were robbed, or played well and had bad luck , or...or... ANYTHING...FUCK! I wouldn't mind betting the minnow of minnows Portugal manage to get at least one score against the mighty All Black's tomorrow. [*see update]

I celebrated my 45th birthday in August; I can remember being at Twickenham when I was 5 and 6 years old; I went to nearly every home international when I lived in the UK, I went to so many England games I couldn't really tell you how many; what I can tell you is that in all the games I went to...in all the games I saw on TV, in all the games I've EVER read about...I have never, never, never EVER, watched a game in which England did not have A SINGLE CHANCE TO SCORE...NOT ONE. We could have scraped a penalty but they kicked for touch. Please, somebody tell me I've been dreaming...please.

I can tell you something else...you probably know; South Africa didn't play that well...NO, THEY DIDN'T...mistakes galore and not even a real game plan except high kicks; they can play a lot better...and yet they kept us out and ripped us apart; historically it's not England's worst loss by a long way BUT it is England's worst performance, it really was and the only solace is that I'm trying to kid myself that they should go through the group and do an 'Italy football team' (Italy's rugby team always get my support)...anyway Italian football...i.e. play shit, go through, play shit...get to the final...and win...OK, I've been drinking...I need to ease the pain somehow!

One-off opus overbooked...

"We're going to need a bigger stadium"! Promoters say that around 20 million people (!!!) have registered for tickets for the November reunion concert of Led Zeppelin. Registration for the tickets (125 quid each) will be finished by midday on Monday and afterwards tickets will be allocated by public ballot to deter touts. (Nice one!) Incredible to think of that many people registering; especially when you think the band split up in 1980! "Profits from the concert will go towards scholarships in Ertegun's [*] name in UK, the USA and Turkey, the country of his birth."

*Music mogul Ahmet Ertegun, who co-founded Atlantic Records and signed Led Zeppelin in 1968.

Osama's omission...

Well, it seems that I have now been banned from the Radio Five Live Message Boards. No warning, no pre-mod, not (apparent/obvious) breaking of house rules. By coincidence when I was banned I was intending to answer Iron Naz and trying to educate him as to the Taleban's abuses in Afghanistan.

It began with comments on Osama Bin Laden's newest video release [Al Jazeera Link] where they report that

"The mistakes of Brezhnev are being repeated by Bush," Bin Laden said on the tape, in a reference to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan which began in 1979."

Now in reality there is probably some truth in that. One version of the full transcript can be found HERE. OBL says that Democracy has been guilty of much killing and genocide the gist being that converting to Islam would solve all our problems: "And peace be upon he who follows the Guidance." Haha...so much peace...or is that 'pieces'?

"Don’t be turned away from Islam by the terrible situation of the Muslims today, for our rulers in general abandoned Islam many decades ago, but our forefathers were the leaders and pioneers of the world for many centuries, when they held firmly to Islam."

"Our leaders abandoned Islam..." do you think he means the Islamic leaders of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Pakistan etc....or the leaders of the Taleban? (No prizes for guessing). In the BBC article they quoted the following phrase:"You permitted Bush to complete his first term, and stranger still, chose him for a second term, which gave him a clear mandate from you... to continue to murder our people in Iraq and Afghanistan", which was what lead me to state that the Taleban themselves had been guilty of hundreds of thousands of deaths something disputed by Naz:

This is the thread [link] : my message 11 was removed (I reposted just the first couple of paragraphs in message 12), responding to Iron Naz:

Naz: "that is absolute, unsubstantiated nonsense. You need to stop getting your facts of hundreds of thousands killed by the taliban, from ridiculous right wing sources.The BBC really need to ask themselves why they are attracting people to this site who clearly hold right wing extreme views and are prepared to use baseless "facts" to try and back up their ridiculous claims."

Span Ows: Rightwing sources? [You can see the sources quoted below] Extreme views? Baseless? Your reply astounds me: OK, known deaths are fact, they weren’t however all just dragged out in the street, for instance there’s the infant survival rate now that the mothers are actually allowed care: just from women being able to get medical/pre or post natal care there have been hundreds of thousands less deaths…

http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=655792007

Afghan infant deaths fall by 40,000 a year since ousting of Taleban

The researchers "found improvements in virtually all aspects of care in almost every province," the public health ministry and World Bank said in a joint statement on the findings

However that is the non-execution/torture type of causing death – all the links add details of such abuses and even GENOCIDE:

http://www.hazara.net/taliban/taliban.html

"The policy of the Taliban is to exterminate the Hazaras"

Maulawi Mohammed Hanif, Taliban Commander Announcing their policy to a crowd of 300 people summoned to a mosque [after killing 15,000 Hazaras people in a day]

"Hazaras are not Muslim. You can kill them. It is not a sin."

[I think it was the above quote that may have upset the moderators...]

http://www.hrw.org/reports/2001/afghanistan/afghan101-04.htm#P176_25561

MASSACRE AT ROBATAK PASS, MAY 2000
In May 2000, Taliban forces summarily executed a group of civilian detainees near the Robatak pass, which lies along the road connecting the towns of Tashkurgan and Pul-i Khumri. Until a systematic forensic investigation is carried out, the precise number of those killed cannot be known, but Human Rights Watch has obtained confirmation of thirty-one bodies at the execution site, twenty-six of which have been identified as the bodies of Ismaili Shia Hazara civilians from Baghlan province. Their remains were found to the northeast of the Robatak pass, in an area known as Hazara Mazari, on the border between Baghlan and Samangan provinces. The area was controlled by the Taliban at the time of the executions. There are reported to be as many as three other gravesites near the pass.

All of those who have been identified were detained for four months before being killed; many of them were tortured before they were killed.

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~irgeo/suffering.html

Since the emergence of the Taleban in Afghanistan in 1994, it is clear that men and boys have been the target of severe civil rights abuses, including widespread killings directed at civilian men. While Afghan women have had their rights to education and employment curtailed and in a number of cases have been killed, it is clear that it is men who have been selectively targeted for widespread detention, torture, and execution.


http://news.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA110081995?open&of=ENG-313

In recent months, dozens of prisoners have been executed or subjected to amputations by Islamic courts established in areas under the control of the Taleban, an armed political grouping, in Afghanistan. At least three men have had hands and feet amputated by doctors on charges of theft. In addition, 22 bodies have been discovered in a mass grave in Charasyab in March 1995 which are believed to have been those of prisoners killed by Taleban members….

…In one case where three men had a hand and foot amputated as a punishment, doctors were reported to have carried out the punishment and it is likely that this has happened in other cases. There is no information about a medical role in executions.


According to information obtained by Amnesty International, Islamic courts have been established in Taleban-controlled areas. These could be dealing with as many as a dozen cases every day in sessions that can be as short as a few minutes.

…dozens every day – just how many criminals were there?

http://www.hazara.net/taliban/genocide/afshar/afshar.html

For the next 24 hours they killed, raped, set fire to homes, and took young boys and girls as captives. By the time the news was broadcast in Kabul and internationally the following day, some 700 people were estimated to have been killed or to have disappeared. One year later, when parts of the district were retaken by Hezb-e-Wahdat forces, several mass graves were unearthed containing a further 58 bodies..."

http://www.amnesty.org/ailib/aireport/ar99/asa11.htm

Tens of thousands of women effectively remained prisoners in their homes under Taleban edicts. Several thousand civilians, including possible prisoners of conscience, were taken prisoner. Almost all the detainees were reportedly tortured or ill-treated. Thousands of people were deliberately and systematically killed; thousands of others remained missing.

http://www.rawa.org/channel4.htm

Inside Afghanistan: Behind the veil, BBC News, 27 June, 2001

An undercover documentary film about the Taleban movement in Afghanistan has shown shocking footage of mass executions, and an insight into the oppression suffered by Afghan women.

http://www.hazara.net/taliban/genocide/bamyan/bamyan.html

Mass Killing during the Military Operation of Taliban:…During their search they arrested and killed any male members of Hazara above thirteen. Arrested people were taken to desert and then assassinated.

Other points of note:

The ban on women working has thrown tens of thousands of families into destitution, because many women (app 40,000 widows in Kabul only) in Afghanistan are war widows and the sole source of support for their families.

http://www.handsoffcain.info/bancadati/schedastato.php?idstato=9000006&idcontinente=23

In 2002, for the first time in decades, no executions were carried out and just one death sentence was issued. In 2003, for the second year running, there were no executions. Afghanistan carried out its first execution since the fall of the Taliban on April 20, 2004, shooting dead Abdullah Shah, a former military commander convicted of more than 20 murders.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/655AB518-EC39-4226-A8AD-126B048536D4.htm

According to the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), 60 to 80 per cent of marriages in Afghanistan are forced, some of them involving girls as young as six years old.

Subjected to sexual and psychological abuse along with violence in their marital home, many girls run away. And when they come in contact with Afghanistan's criminal justice system, instead of receiving any protection, they are seen as offenders and convicted.

Not only are women penalised disproportionately for crimes, but they are punished on evidentiary standards that discriminate against them. Moreover, some of the customary laws also allow for them to be used as barter for settling other disputes, debts and feuds.

"In the restorative practice of the justice in Afghanistan, women who are regarded as the property of men, are often used as valuable commodities in the settlement of crimes and disputes" UNODC said.

"Rape may be treated as adultery and punished accordingly if a settlement cannot be reached between the two families concerned."

But, as the UNODC report says, being in prison for moral crimes is only part of the problem.

Other women are dealt with outside the formal justice system, a threat that still awaits the prisoners when they step out of jail.

Shukria Noori, the national project co-ordinator for social reintegration of prisoners, says that women may be "threatened, violated and even killed".

P.S. I was banned on Friday 7th, before posting this - under my new name :-)

S.O.