₦airaland Forum

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I prefer livestation www.livestation.com anytime

snakova: why is it that libya had to release those bulgarian nurses that infected babies wit HIV? The fact that the powerful sergei lavrov is involved in this saga is a cause for great concern. Do u think cos of ur useless numbers u can witstand a blitzkreig? Chechnya was far mor determined but how did it end up:a russian puppet. It may nt result in all out war but a few punitive expeditions could prove very costly 4 naija. Ignore russia at ur own peril. They r d only reason d west has nt put down syria's Assad.

Bolstered by 16 Russian warships, Assad nixes dialogue with “Western puppets”
DEBKAfile Special Report
January 6, 2013, 3:57 PM (GMT+02:00)
With a buildup of 16 Russian warships carrying thousands of marines on the Syrian coast “to deter the West from deploying ground forces in Syria” - and remain until Easter, Syrian Bashar Assad could afford to brazen it out Sunday, Jan. 6, in his first public speech in seven months. Syria no longer takes dictation from anyone, he said. Citizens must defend their country against “a war fought by a handful of Syrians and many foreigners.” He rejected dialogue with the opposition as “puppets fabricated by the West.”


http://m.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/23/syria-crisis-russian-military-presence
Russian military presence in Syria poses challenge to US-led intervention

The Guardian (UK)
Russian military advisers are manning some of Syria’s more sophisticated air defences – something that would complicate any future US-led intervention, the Guardian has learned.

The advisers have been deployed with new surface-to-air systems and upgrades of old systems, which Moscow has supplied to the Assad regime since the Syrian revolution broke out 21 months ago.

The depth and complexity of Syria’s anti-aircraft defences mean that any direct western campaign, in support of a no-fly zone or in the form of punitive air strikes against the leadership, would be costly, protracted and risky. The possibility of Russian military casualties in such a campaign could have unpredictable geopolitical consequences.

Meanwhile, near-daily atrocities have kept western governments under pressure to act. A Syrian government air strike on a town near the central city of Hama on Sunday killed dozens of civilians queueing for bread, according to human rights activists.

Amateur footage from Halfaya showed mangled human remains strewn along a street where people had been blown off scooters and out of cars. One video showed a boy with his feet blown off. Piles of corpses could be seen beneath rubble outside a two-storey building the cameraman described as a bakery. It was unclear how many bodies were in the smoking ruins.

Human Rights Watch has previously accused the regime of targeting bakeries. The group warned the Assad regime that such targeted bombing of civilians represented war crimes. However, in the face of a Russian veto at the UN security council, the international criminal court has not had a mandate to investigate the atrocities committed by either side. The UN has put the death toll at more than 40,000 as the war continues to escalate.

Turkish officials, who accurately predicted the Syrian regime would use Scud missiles after several warplanes were shot down by rebels, also believe President Bashar al-Assad has twice come close to using chemical weapons including sarin, the nerve gas. First, after the bombing of the regime’s Damascus security headquarters in July, which killed the president’s brother in law, Assef Shawkat, and then last month, after opposition forces made significant gains.

The Turks and western officials say there are signs Assad sees chemical weapons as another step in the escalation of force, rather than a Rubicon-crossing gamble that could end his regime. The US, UK, France and Turkey have warned Syria that its use of sucmh weapons would trigger military retribution. But any such a response would be fraught with difficulties.

Air strikes against chemical weapon depots would potentially disperse lethal gases over a vast area, triggering a humanitarian disaster. US and allied special forces have been trained to seize the air bases where the warheads are kept, but it is unclear what the next step would be. It would be physically impossible to fly the hundreds of warheads out of the country, while it would take thousands of troops to guard the arsenal for what could be many months. In the interim, those western troops could easily become the target of Islamist groups fighting the government in Damascus.

Any air strikes against regime targets, in response to chemical weapon use, or any attempt to create a no-fly zone to stop further bombing of refugee camps, would require the suppression of Syria’s formidable defences. Those have been bolstered significantly since Israeli strikes on an alleged nuclear reactor site at al-Kibar in 2007 exposed holes, and again since the outbreak of the Syrian uprising in March 2011.

[b]The upgrades were supplied by Moscow, which sees them as a bulwark against western-imposed regime change and protection of a longstanding investment in Syria. The country includes Russia’s biggest electronic eavesdropping post outside its territory, in Latakia, and its toehold on the Mediterranean, a small naval base at Tartus.

Russian security and defence officials, who are notoriously loth to publicly comment on their operations abroad, have repeatedly denied providing explicit support for the Assad regime.

Over the weekend, the head of Russia’s ground forces air defence, Major General Alexander Leonov, told the Ekho Moskvy radio station: “Syria’s air-defence system is a no-nonsense force. As a result, no one has ever used serious air combat power against it.”

That “no-nonsense” force, the air defence command, comprises two divisions and an estimated 50,000 troops – twice the size of Muammar Gaddafi’s force – with thousands of anti-aircraft guns and more than 130 anti-aircraft missile batteries.[/b]


According to Jeremy Binnie, the editor of Jane’s Terrorism and Security Monitor, recent Russian deliveries include Buk-M2 and Pantsyr-S1 (known to Nato as SA-22) mobile missile launch and radar systems. Reports of the shipment of the modern long-range S-300 have not been confirmed, and the Syrian armed forces did not show off any S-300 missiles in a military display this year. It is possible they have been delivered but are not yet operational.

Guy Ben-Ari, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies, said: “They don’t just sell the equipment. They also help man the crews and train the crews. Sometimes there is just no domestic capacity to run these systems, and that is the case in Syria where Syrian crews are not capable of using the equipment to its full capacity.”

Sources familiar with the Moscow-Damascus defence relationship confirmed the presence of Russian air-defence crews inside Syria. Their deployment would be a consideration when western contingency plans for Syria were being considered, they said.

Such a dense, layered and overlapping air-defence system would require a huge air campaign, heavily reliant on thousands of precision-guided missiles. The UK, France and other American allies in Europe used up their stocks of such weapons in Libya and although details are classified there have been reports that they have not yet returned to pre-Libya levels.


“We know they pretty much ran out of them at the end of Libya. Given the budgetary constraints the Europeans are operating with, and in an era where every euro spent on defence is very heavily scrutinised, it is a hard sell to restock on this stuff,” Ben-Ari said. “And it would not be enough to be at Libya levels. You would need far more for Syria.”

A Syrian air campaign would also require stealth aircraft and a great amount of signals intelligence, satellite imagery and aerial reconnaissance, all of which are US specialities. For all those reasons, Washington would not be able to “lead from behind” as it did in Libya.

The Obama administration has so far been extremely wary of getting enmeshed in another Middle East war, particularly with the knowledge that the long-running Iranian nuclear crisis could trigger a conflict in the Gulf at any time. With the resignation of CIA director David Petraeus last month, the administration arguably lost its most powerful advocate of Syrian intervention.

John Kerry, the nominee for secretary of state, has advocated greater support for the rebels, but stopped short of calling for direct US or Nato involvement. With no new secretary of defence yet nominated, it could take several months for the new team to recalibrate its approach.

The robust Syrian defences, combined with Damascus’s hand-in-glove relationship with Moscow, and the fragmented nature of the opposition, help explain why a US-led intervention – predicted as imminent for more than a year by advocates and opponents alike – has so far failed to materialise, and why there is little appetite for such a move in Washington and most other western capitals, barring a major, verifiable use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime.

Pest Control, Not Pest Eradication. Else Business Will End Abruptly.

Also experienced same. He called himself engineer Adekunle. Chief Engineer Scammer Adekunle i guess. I just dropped the call

swtchicgurl: pls i need more details.... did u buy the suzuki new? how much was it? and what model?

Pour as much water as you like on the engine during engine wash with no part covered, car will start "one hand". A/C always on, fuel economy fantastic.

Suzuki is rugged. I changed from toyota to suzuki and i can tell you authoritatively that, cost of maintenance is almost zero. It has a lot of in-built fail-safe mechanisms. Its my 1st,2nd and 3rd choice anyday. lol.

Elmos: That you bought your in slow traffic situation does not indicate it only happen in the such situation alone. I did experience same foul smelling pillow that I did buy from a mattress store in Ikotun Egbe when I had my first son about fourteen years ago. Initially, I did not know where the odour was coming from until I isolated everything around it, when I did discover it, I ripped it open and yours sincerely, what I saw was an eye sore,I did try to return it to the place I initially bought it from but could not for I time contingencies, I nevertheless learn that those old mattress that our brother from the north do go around our communities are what they normally cut into pieces and pack in a neat and clean clothing and re-sold for new pillow. Please next time you want to buy such thing make sure you put you olfactory lobe into action.

The packaging and labeling (HONEYMOON PILLOW HP) was superb, honestly, i mistook it for a standard factory made pillow. You could see the shock in my eyes when i cut it open.

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I just bought two pillows from an aboki, got home, took off the nice plastic wrappings and then PERCEIVED a nasty smell, not what i expected of a new product.

Became curious, took a razor blade and cut it open.

What i saw was undecipherable, pieces of very old and dirty foam.

Ouch!!! The Stench. I guess the very old and dirty foam was taken from the dustbin.

I am dump-folded. I have just been swindled of my hard earned cash and what about the health hazard posed by such a product.

LAGOS BUYERS BEWARE!!!

This article summarizes the dangers of plastic bottle containers, which we typically assume are safe to eat and drink from. I will be informing you about the symbols found on containers, which identify the different types of poisons leached from them -- from arsenic to petroleum. Plainly labeled on the underside of plastic containers is a number indicating the type of plastic used.

"#1" or "PET" - P.E.T.

"PET", sometimes distinguished by a #1 stamp, stands for polyethylene terephthalate. It releases a chemical named antimony trioxide (Sb2O3). This chemical toxin has been cited many times as a serious health concern, yet these concerns have been discarded by governments, who have claimed that not enough of this chemical is present to cause problems.

It is well known that antimony trioxide leaches into drinks bottled with P.E.T. plastics, and the longer the shelf life, the more toxic the drinks become. According to studies in Canada, typical ground water contains about two parts per trillion (ppt) of antimony, but freshly bottled water has averages at around 160 ppt, raising to 630 ppt within 6 months. Throughout Europe, the average for bottled water contains 350ppt, yet in Germany, PET water that had been bottled for 6 months contains a huge 700 ppt. Antimony is very similar to arsenic. In small amounts, antimony poisoning causes headaches, dizziness, and depression. Larger doses produce violent and frequent vomiting, and may lead to death within a few days. Another compound leached by P.E.T. plastics is antimony pentafluoride (SbF5), which reacts with many different compounds. These plastics are produced using hydrogen fluoride, and the chemicals are so toxic during the manufacturing stage that even a small amount in contact with skin can be fatal.

This type of plastic is made using benzene.

"#2" - H.D.P.E.

H.D.P.E. is identified by a #2 stamp. "HDPE" stands for 'high density poly-ethylene', which is a thermoplastic made from petroleum. Can you possibly feel safe drinking from bottles that have petroleum seeping into the drinks they contain? Petroleum is the cause of various brain diseases and many cancers.

In America, the industry friendly F.D.A. usually embraces the intake of synthetic chemicals unless they are publicly proven beyond doubt to be dangerous. Only a minimal amount of testing ever takes place, until a large number of problems are uncovered in workshops and factories. Petroleum toxicity is known to cause learning difficulties in children, trigger asthma, cause obesity, as well as infertility.

"PVC", #3 - P.V.C.

P.V.C., identified with "PVC" or #3, is one of the most hazardous products ever designed for consumers. Poisonous chemicals are released throughout the life cycle of P.V.C., including mercury, dioxins, and phthalates. When people burn P.V.C. products, they release dioxins, the most potent synthetic chemicals ever discovered, which can cause health problems including cancers, respiratory, and reproductive problems. They cripple the immune system for years. The noticeable smell from a new car or shower curtain is the result of toxic P.V.C. fumes.

In July 2005, the European Parliament banned the use of P.V.C. toys, although they are still legal in America. This same material is used in drinking bottles, and therefore, toxins are inside most bottled drinks. Factory workers who work with these materials face long-term health risks, including angiosarcoma of the liver, lung cancer, brain cancer, lymphomas, leukemia, and liver cirrhosis. Firefighters also often face similar risks after extinguishing P.V.C. fires, which release hydrogen chloride gas, which forms deadly hydrochloric acid when inhaled, according to besafenet.com.

Not recyclable due to its toxic properties, P.V.C. is deadly and dangerous. It is known to leach its poisonous chemicals into drink containers.

"#4" - L.D.P.E.

L.D.P.E. is the acronym for Low Density Polyethylene. It is virtually identical to H.D.P.E. (reference "#2" above).

"#5" - Polystyrene

This is one of the safer plastics, but since it is manufactured with benzene and petroleum, we recommend avoiding it. Styrene is itself a carcinogen.

"#7" - Other

The "other" literally means unspecified and uncategorized. This plastic could be made from anything, so always avoid these plastics.

B.P.A. (unlabeled)

Consumer awareness groups have been on the news in recent years decrying the bi-phenol-A (B.P.A.) found in plastics; especially in regard to plastics used for the drinks of children and infants. B.P.A. is a chemical which is known to leach out of plastics, disrupting the hormones, as well as causing brain damage, cancer, diabetes and heart problems. The great majority of plastic bottles contain B.P.A., which some manufacturers claim does not leach into the drinks. However, a Harvard University study has shown that drinking from B.P.A. infused bottles increases B.P.A. urine levels by a massive 70%. Imagine the level if an infant were given formula from one of these containers 6-7 times a day, every day, as is normal. This toxin is found in all clear, hard plastic bottles. Cloudy plastics do not contain B.P.A.. Thus, almost all plastic drink containers contain B.P.A., but milk jugs do not.

The F.D.A. has maintained that B.P.A. is safe after having consulted with B.P.A.-industry lobbyists to determine its safety.

Epilogue

Make sure to know what you, and your family, are taking into your bodies. The information gathered on recycling symbols, and numbers was gathered from http://www.earthodyssey.com/symbols.html. We recommend against the use of plastics for the storage of food and drinks, because one extra chemical might be all that is required to push a body into a cancerous state, or some other horrible condition, in the future. It's time for us to stop playing Russian Roulette with our health.

A village council in the state of Bihar this week prohibited unmarried women and girls from using mobile phones, saying that they promote extramarital affairs and unsanctioned marriages and erode the moral fabric of society. Married women will be allowed to use them only indoors and in the presence of a relative.

http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20121205/08294221238/indian-village-bans-unmarried-women-girls-using-mobile-phones.shtml

Source : http://rt.com/news/mayan-doomsday-hysteria-998/

Doomsday hysteria has gripped Russia and some of its neighbors. Travel agencies are selling tours to either heaven or hell and people are stocking up on food and fuel. Officials are publicly denying the apocalypse, hoping to calm the hype.

Those awaiting Doomsday have three weeks to finish their preparations before the date of the much publicized apocalypse allegedly predicted by Mayan calendar, that is going to happen on December 21, 2012.

Thousands of people across Russia keep stocking up their back rooms and balconies with food, fuel and other supplies they might need when disaster strikes. Some are even moving outside of cities because of the widely spread rumors that cities would be impossible to survive in after an apocalypse on Earth.

According to one of the most popular scenarios, on December 21 the sun is going to line up with the center of our Milky Way galaxy which will cause an entire blackout on Earth and a wave of different natural disasters.

Doomsday merchandize offered in Russia and Ukraine include survival kits. In the Siberian city of Tomsk such items for “meeting the end of the world” include ID cards, notepads, canned fish, a bottle of vodka, rope, a piece of soap, among other items. The packages are said to be popular among customers, more than 1,000 kits have been already sold, the company says.

Ukrainian entrepreneurs also offer a version of a doomsday kit. Just like Tomsk package, the Ukrainian one also includes alcohol: champagne for ladies and vodka for gentlemen. The rest of the kit consist of jack-knife, two-minute noodles, shampoo, soap, rope, matches and condoms.
Marina Mendelson wedding agency sells Last Day sets in Tomsk. (RIA Novosti / Yakov Andreev)
Marina Mendelson wedding agency sells Last Day sets in Tomsk. (RIA Novosti / Yakov Andreev)
Not all doom and gloom

An apocalypse kit is not the only way for the entrepreneurial minded to cash in on the end of the world hype.

One Ukrainian enterprise is selling tours to heaven and hell for December 21 promising full return of money in case of “not getting to heaven or hell.” A trip to heaven would cost about $15, while trip to the underworld is more expensive at around $18. The agency explains difference in price by saying that Hell should be more fun.

While Ukrainian trips are even said by the firm behind to be just for fun, some individuals in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod offered far more expensive doomsday fair – one being a salvation trip in an arc. An internet ad offered seats in the arc for just 80,000-150,000 rubles, which is approximately $2,600-5,000.

Bars and nightclubs are getting ready for apocalypse day in their own way announcing theme parties and inventing special cocktails like “Total Recall” – an extremely alcoholic drink that makes you “recall your entire life.”

But doomsday hysteria isn’t isolated to just the former soviet Republic. In France authorities had to ban access to a mountain that doomsday theorists believe will be the only safe spot during the apocalypse on December 21.

At the birthplace of Mayan calendar, Mexico and Guatemala agencies offer tours “The end of the world with Maya” and “The world of Maya 2012.”
Pictures advertizing tickets to heaven sold for $15. Images taken from pokupon.ua
Pictures advertizing tickets to heaven sold for $15. Images taken from pokupon.ua
Russian officials cancel apocalypse

Meanwhile, in Russia rapidly growing doomsday hype has sparked a negative reaction from authorities.

Russia`s Emergency Ministry is not expecting any global cataclysms in the near future, the head of EMERCOM Vladimir Puchkov said on Friday, adding that those worried are free to call the Ministry hotline to talk about their concerns.

Another senior official took a more emotional stance about doomsday speculations. Russia`s Chief Medical Officer of Health Gennady Onishenko lashed out at those publicizing the apocalypse warning that they would end up in court.

“This directly influences people`s health. When they depress you and say that in less than one month everything is going to end, there are many people, who believe this,” he said.

Russian State Duma deputies wrote an open letter urging media to stop speculating about the doomsday. The deputy head of the Duma committee on Science and Technology publicly promised that no apocalypse is happening on December 21.

“In our committee there are academics and scientists, and with all responsibility we state that there will be no doomsday. Who made that up and circulates this around?” he asked.
Mayan legacy

The speculations about December 21, 2012, doomsday are prompted by the Mayan calendar ending on this very day.

The Mayan civilization reached its height from 300 AD to 900 AD was based in modern day Mexico and Central America. Mayans were good astronomers and created very precise calendars.

Their Long Count calendar begins in 3,114 BC, measuring time in 394-year periods known as Baktuns. The thirteenth Baktun ends around Dec 21, 2012, which first produced rumors about the end of the world.

Despite numerous scientists and Mayan descendants denying the connection between the end of the calendar and the end of the world the rumors quickly got out of control causing public hysteria.

It is not known why this particular end of the world theory became so popular. Over two dozen doomsday predictions have failed to materialize since the beginning of the 20th century.

­

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vabrida: oNlY tHe AlMiGhTy KnOw WeTiN jOnAtHaN gO dOn BuRy UnDeRgRoUnD tOdAy SeF

e still dey pain you say you never chop.

Those whose shall endure to the end shall be saved.

deor03: Black Man has lost it. We have debased ourselves to the level that anything goes.

Can you imagine the Citizens of Estonia signing a petition that their president should appear on NTA !!

Apart from those that have access to internet + Cable TV, how will Mr President appearing on British TV improve our lives !

Even , If we made a mistake to elect this guy, then we use democratically accepted mean to replace him not ridiculing him and ourselves.

Besides, with the level of intelligence displayed in Nairaland ( if it's an acceptable population sample of middle class Nigeria), i think we deserve the government we have in Nigeria.

The Black man is the second class citizen of the world. Imaging where we would be without those white guys ... inside bush eating banana like monkey

saintneo: Nonsense petition.

I am not interested in any 'hard-talk' with a foreign media organisation be is BBC, VOA, CNN, France24(france vingt-quatre), AL Jazerra, FoxNews, SkyNews, RussianTV, CCTV, et al. They are all signs of re-colonialism. Instead we should works towards improving our journalism and media so as to make it credible and independent of the government. Moreover, BBC is a biased media organisation; it does not project a balanced political view. Given the biased news we get from BBC World already, how about BBC Hausa used in spreading false propaganda in the northern part of Nigeria.

Any 'hard-talk' should be organised by a Nigerian media organisation. It can be NTA, AIT, Silverbird, Channels, Minaj, et al.

[size=68pt]NO[/size]

There is nothing like freedom, people are only influenced to believe they are free.

With Balabolka http://www.cross-plus-a.com/balabolka.htm advance free text to speech software, why on earth should i use this, and above all pay. Try something that has not been done before.

chatdare: Thanks very much my brother,plz I will like to knw d cost of their programme and d one suitable for me in regards to my qualification.

The Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA)
http://www.bcs.org/content/conCertification/102
SFIA
The Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) is the UK government backed high-level IT skills standard. It describes the typical roles in IT and the skills needed to fulfil them. SFIA provides a solid foundation for organisations when setting standards of professionalism in IT.

Careers and skills
http://www.bcs.org/category/5672

Get more on cost from here
http://www.bcs.org/category/9319

Go for the best

The Chartered Institute for IT

http://www.bcs.org/category/9319

Overview of Higher Education Qualifications
Higher Education Qualifications are the essential qualifications for a career in computing and information technology (IT).
Whether you seek greater job recognition, promotion or a new career direction, you'll find Higher Education Qualifications are internationally recognised, flexible and suited to the needs of the IT industry.

Successful completion of the highest level of the examinations gives you a route to postgraduate study at many universities.

Postgraduate study
http://www.bcs.org/category/9327
Successful completion of the highest level of Higher Education Qualifications gives you a route to postgraduate study.

The universities listed below recognise the BCS Professional Graduate Diploma in IT (incorporating a pass at the associated Professional Project) as an acceptable qualification for entry* on to an MSc course in an IT/computer science-related subject.


Hope this helps

https://www.insideautoafrica.com/images/news/longestbus.jpg
Credit:Thisdays Newspaper

Germany is rolling out a mammoth 98-foot-long form of public transportation
The city of Dresden, Germany will soon be getting a monstrous addition to its public transportation system that can only be described as a train on wheels. Designed by Fraunhofer IVI and the Technical University Dresden, the three-section Autotram Extra Grand bus is 98 feet long and can carry 256 passengers, but doesn't require any special training for its driver.

Said to be as easily manoeuvrable as a commonly sized bus, the Autotram Extra Grand makes use of a computer system to aid its driver with turning. The system's primary purpose is to ensure that the rear section of the bus precisely follows the front and middle sections at all times.

In addition to the sophisticated guidance system, the bus incorporates green technology in the form of a hybrid gas and electric engine that can travel five miles operating purely on battery power, reports Today in Tech.
The Autoram Extra Grand will hit the streets of Dresden in October after completing safety testing outside of the city.

Its makers say that they've already received inquiries from other cities around the world about getting their own versions of the bus, since it costs much less to put into operation and maintain than commuter rail systems, yet still carries a massive amount of passengers.

...

...

Leads to a Chartered status in IT and provides a route to postgraduate study at UK universities.

Doyin Akinlade, a Lagos TV producer, who claimed to be privy to the circumstances leading to her arrest, spoke to YNaija saying that “the LASTMA authorities, for some unexplained reasons are trying to pin the alleged crime on Yinka Johnson whose car was not even moving at the time Hammed Balogun was hit. She did not even see the man being hit.”

He agreed that the banker violated the law by driving against traffic but he insisted that it was not true that she hit the official. He also noted that there was no sign of impact on her car but the said Danfo had its windscreen broken.

She was at the scene with another man who was also in his car."He said that lastma officials were in the process of towing Yinka's car when the late Mr Balogun started fighting with the owner of the other car".And a hard punch from the man in the second car threw the late Mr Balogun into the expressway,where he was crushed by a danfo bus.

Yinka Johnson is a of mother three, including a two month old baby who is reported to be held with her in detention.

Get all the intriguing details from www.bcs.org

See how it equates with other academic awards . . .

See how it equates with other academic awards . . .