Advice from Roméo Dallaire, now a Canadian senator, but a former "betrayee", to Martin Agwai, the Nigerian general given the task of stopping the bloodshed in Darfur. picked by rambler 1 year ago

For several days after Syria complained that Israeli aircraft had penetrated its airspace, neither country wanted to talk about what had happened. ... and that is not very typical. A good sign, or brinkmanship? What do you think? picked by rambler 1 year ago

... and we know it's not the first time, and probably not the last, either. picked by rambler 1 year ago

Apparently ...a new Japanese camera is said to automatically weed out pictures when a person isn't smiling.
How about overweight people? Ugly people? picked by rambler 1 year ago

No, it's not a story about eating or drinking habits in the navy. Instead, a very interesting (but controversial) new source for fuel, from the oceans (and permafrost areas on land), discussed in my favourite all-round magazine ... The Economist. picked by rambler 1 year ago

Here is update on AutumnLotus' earlier post. The find seems shrouded in secrecy and mystery... picked by rambler 1 year ago

More than 90 per cent of Australians are too tired, too cold or too busy to exercise, says this article.
Not the image that I have of the sport-crazy inhabitants of that sunny country... picked by rambler 1 year ago

Colombian mobile telephone users are being duped by criminals who pose as phone operators and instruct them to turn off their handsets just long enough to demand ransom from their families. picked by rambler 1 year ago

Colombian mobile telephone users are being duped by criminals who pose as phone operators and instruct them to turn off their handsets just long enough to demand ransom from their families. picked by rambler 1 year ago

Colombian mobile telephone users are being duped by criminals who pose as phone operators and instruct them to turn off their handsets just long enough to demand ransom from their families. picked by rambler 1 year ago

Never too old to learn ... again. picked by rambler 1 year ago

Never too old to learn ... again.
(Picture not of Piquet.) picked by rambler 1 year ago

Never too old to learn ... again.
(Picture not of Piquet.) picked by rambler 1 year ago

Wife missing? "Oh well, since my $250 cash for property tax is also gone, I guess she left me... again." picked by rambler 1 year ago

This posting was inspired by reading This one by super, as well as by the July 2007 issue of National Geographic, one of my favourite mags and worth every subscription cent. picked by rambler 1 year ago

Found this interesting story on this link posted earlier today. picked by rambler 1 year ago

A story about some religious tolerance in Islamic Iran ... perhaps it will make us think just a little different about the people in that country (even if their leaders sometimes appear to have lost the plot). picked by rambler 1 year ago

Abdi Mahad says he misses school in Mogadishu, but is much happier sleeping outside a city where peace talks have attracted enough mortar blasts and gunshots to send 10,000 people fleeing in the past week alone.
(Photo not from Somalia.) picked by rambler 1 year ago

Norwegian Princess Martha Louise announced on Tuesday that she is clairvoyant and wants to help people by teaching them how to talk to angels. Yes, really. picked by rambler 1 year ago

Even in South Africa, crime sometimes has a humourous aspect... picked by rambler 1 year ago

Even in South Africa, crime sometimes has a comic face... picked by rambler 1 year ago

Whether you want to resolve a friendly argument over how a saying or phrase originated or whether you just enjoy words, you'll probably find something here to interest you.
(Or if, like me, you need some phrase to sound clever, or you need to find out what some other clever person meant...) picked by rambler 1 year ago

UK firm Tullow Oil has announced the discovery of 600 million barrels of light oil offshore from Ghana.
Exciting times for this country, of course. Lots of time and money still needs to flow before we'll see the actual benefits, though. And my main concern would be to try and avoid the regional strife and environmental problems encountered in countries like Nigeria. picked by rambler 1 year ago

Three-century-old manuscripts by Isaac Newton .... exhibited this week for the first time -- lay bare the little-known religious intensity of a man many consider history's greatest scientist. picked by rambler 1 year ago

... but please don't try this at home, however bad your eyesight! picked by rambler 1 year ago