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[Maid tortured as nails hammered inside her body]

A word of caution for anyone going out to the middle east for work. Sick b**tards.

Fom independent.ie
http://www.independent.ie/world-news/asia-pacific/maid-tortured-as-nails-hammered-inside-her-body-2313660.html

Maid tortured as nails hammered inside her body

A Sri Lankan maid returned from her job in Saudi Arabia with 24 nails inside her body -- after being tortured by the family who employed her.

LG Ariyawathi's body is riddled with needles and nails, which are scheduled to be removed today, a doctor confirmed yesterday.

Ms Ariyawathi (49) returned to Sri Lanka last Saturday from Saudi Arabia and was hospitalised the next day with severe pain. She told a local newspaper that her employers tortured her with the nails as punishment.

"They (employer and his family) did not allow me even to rest. The woman at the house had heated the nails and then the man inserted them into my body," Ms Ariyawathi was quoted as saying in the 'Lakbima', a newspaper published in local Sinhalese language.

She told the paper that she went to Saudi Arabia in March and was paid only two months' salary, with her employer withholding three months' salary to buy a ticket to send her home.

Dr HKK Satharasinghe of Kamburupitiya hospital said X-rays showed Ms Ariyawathi had 24 nails and needles in her body. The nails range from 1-2 inches.

Her initial puncture wounds had healed over, the doctor said. However, she found it difficult to walk because she had two nails in her knee and two in her ankles. Another needle was in her forehead, and the rest were in hands, he said.

The 24 nails are "inside the body due to torture meted out by her Saudi employer," Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, deputy minister of economic development, said.

Mr Abeywardena said the government would "report about this matter to the Saudi government and provide her adequate compensation".

It is understood that Ms Ariyawathi had been too afraid to complain about the abuse to Saudi authorities, fearing her employers might not let her return home.

About 1.5 million Sri Lankans work abroad, nearly 400,000 of them in Saudi Arabia alone

Went to Ballyhaunis, and shit roads, so great location to have the Connacht Centre of Excellence, (btw its well away now with ground works)...

Anyways i arrived at the game with 40mins to throw only to see a mountain of loose grass on the pitch and 2 lads racking it off and a lad on a tractor lawnmower, i was disgusted, they knew a few weeks ago and decent to cut the pitch on the day of the game, what a bunch of ignorant w**kers. The nets had holes in them the size of a beach ball, and the goal area had a massive hole in one. I dont think ive ever even seen this happen for a club game never mind a Connacht final and on our Conncht Councils Secretary backyard. I was worried for the Players safety as there was a light shower before the game.

Anyway the game started and so did the sliding, it was like watching the winter olmypics or Blades of Glory, lots of near misses ensued until David maye collided with another player and had to go off with shoulder injury.
It was basically a war of attrition, Paul McTiernan did well 1st half, as did francis quinn but most players guilty of carrying into tackles etc, conditions dictated the game as both teams gave away lots of possession, Galway had a young, fit, fast side but lacked quality in score taking, some bad wides a 2 one/one with our keeper with Farrell saving both comfortably, Galway went into a 3-0 lead with no13 +10 looking danegerous. We eventually got to grips and Maye got a free and point from play, Fabio creataro got great score after our best move. It was tight to the end of the half, and Galway lead 5-4 at HT.

Second half with Sligo with the wind, we lost our shape completey, playing 10 in our own half with Galways 6 backs marking 2 men, It took our management a while to see this, but we ended up not even looking like scoring, and Galway pulling ahead to 7-4. I thought u21 final all over again, but Holy God our management got the message out. Also Stenson got taken off, ive been to 3 junior matches now and he is one of the worst intercounty players ive ever seen, how he made the 30 for mayo i'll never know.

Sligo were 7-4 down with 15 mins left but finan and McGoldrick were immense, these two lads in poor conditions, looked so neat and tidy on the ball and got great scores, David rooney and F Quinn were outstanding too, and we started to dominat and get scores from play but none gimmes, we pulled 8-7 ahead and Galway got great equalisers, but our dug deep and got another great score to win it 0-9 to 0-8.

Lastly our management named the 2 Gilsenans in the team despite them being in USA, its poor that they didnt know this, Dessie Sloyan was ringing around last night for players as a result of this. I want to give great credit to the players who turned up at the last minutes notice and gave there all and excelled as no20,21 and 18 were excellent.  The players showed loads of guts and heart and determination, Sligo football is on a roll, it kinda pissing off to think we should be u21 champs aswell.

Galway 5-17 New York 1-3 FT

Got this from HS, nothing other source to go on as the lads here dont seem to go to galway matches, so apologies if wrong.

It was as expected, NY had to come over because galway arent allowed play away from home, we play them next and for the 3rd or 4th yr concevitly away.

Im sure Mulhern was at it this evening, Ive heard rumours James Connolly our FB just got injured, cruciate, he is some loss if true, Liam Kennedy is still touch and go and thats to 2 top class minors out of the FB line straight away. I still Sligo have a serious team and will be very hard beat but injuires like the above are a disaster as we dont have the back up.

Should be interesting as you really cant go on the CML but it seemed even enough to me, leitrim would be my dark horses tbh. Mayo and Galway will always be there or thereabouts as usual but are beatable. Roscommon if that was there best 15 against us havent a hope but i doubt it was, so havent a clue about them.

Any thoughts lads?

Im fairly confident of a win, but we are missing McGee and Marren only has a slight chance of making bench.

Im guessing it will be Greene, Donovan, McGuire, Harrison, J Davey, Quinn, Cawley, Taylor, Gilmartin, Costello, Brehony, Gaughan, Coen, Sweeney, Kelly.

Its a fast team with plenty of pace and Croke Park should suit us. I didnt see Antrim in the NFL. Cunningham will punish us from frees so we need to stay disciplined. Looking forward to it.

Its only the lower hogan open as expected. Hope a good crowd from Sligo travel but wont hold my breath. Hopefully we will keep the momentum going, and as far as im concerned this game will be a way more acccurate barometer of where we are at than any of the League games i was at as the opposition was poor except for Cavan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpWG4FMRfQM&feature=related

Worth a thread on its own so more people see it, credit AFR, Kamara is a legend...

From Sligogaa.ie

Longford a new addition, welcome to Connacht.

Round 1.Mar.20th Saturday Venue Referee Time
Mayo Roscommon Ballyhaunis R McBrien (L) 5.00pm
Sligo Leitrim Tubbercurry L Devenney (M) 5.00pm
Galway Longford Dunmore D Harrington (M) 5.00pm
Round 2 Mar 27th Saturday
Galway Sligo Tuam J Hughes (M) 5.00pm
Leitrim Roscommon Carrick-on-Shannon T J Keaveney (S) 5.00pm
Mayo Longford Charlestown B Kinneevey (G) 5.00pm
Round 3 Apr 3rd Saturday
Mayo Galway Ballinrobe B Sammin (L) 5.00pm
Roscommon Sligo Boyle J Henry (G) 5.00pm
Leitrim Longford Ballinamore M Parker (R ) 5.00pm
Round 4. Apr 10th Saturday
Galway Leitrim Ballinasloe R Gurren (M) 5.30pm
Sligo Mayo Enniscrone S. Regan (R ) 5.30pm
Roscommon Longford Tarmonbarry D Henry (S) 5.30pm
Round 5 Apr.17th Saturday
Roscommon Galway Hyde Park M Leyden (L) 5.30pm
Leitrim Mayo Carrick-on-Shannon M Breheny(R ) 5.30pm
Sligo Longford Coola V Hardiman (R ) 5.30pm

O'Gara letter to Editor: Why I refuse to be scapegoated by Kevin Myers


Friday February 19 2010

I HAVE to reply to the scurrilous article by Kevin Myers (Irish Independent, February 16), although it takes a lot for me, as a professional sportsman, to react to a newspaper article.

However, rugby is my place of work and whether it's with Munster, Ireland or the Lions, I take my work very seriously.

I do not accept being castigated by a journalist who I suspect knows nothing about rugby but somehow appoints himself as an 'expert'. This falls well short of the journalistic standards I would expect from one of our main national newspapers.

Ireland was well beaten last Saturday by a French team that was better on the day. I am but one of that Irish team and I'm well known for taking my share of responsibility, regardless of the outcome of any game.

I know only too well the build-up to Saturday's game __ and indeed to other recent internationals __ in relation to my position.

I am well able to analyse any game of rugby and would often be accused by those whom I most trust of being my own harshest critic. However, in relation to last Saturday, I will not be scapegoated by Mr Myers or any journalist who wants to write in that fashion.

Any article needs to be balanced and I would suggest to you, Mr Editor, that that is the least you should demand from your journalists, whether freelance or otherwise.

Ronan O'Gara
ROCHESTOWN, CORK

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/kevin-myers/kevin-myers-its-an-irish-characteristic-we-are-comfortable--with-failure-its-a-familiar-condition-and-it-suits-us-2064681.html

Having read both I can see where Myers is coming from but he does go over the top. How can you criticise a several triple crown winning team and grand slam champs so heavily? If any team had a winners mentality its this group. I do think we self destructed in the 1st half but sure it happens. Im sure our lads will come good again. O Gara shouldnt respond to this IMO, whilst Myers was unfair in some of his comments and kinda right in others, its just his opinion and its a pity a man like OGara lets it get to him.

Division 3 teams,

Sligo,
Roscommon,
Wexford,
Fermanagh,
Louth,
Cavan,
Offaly,
Antrim.

Should be interesting, first up for us a tough away day in Belfast. I think we are better than last yr so Im optimistic for Sligo, will be disappointed if we dont get promoted. 4 home games aswell so cant complain. Cant wait.

  what a clown.

From the telegraph
By Ben Leach

Wednesday November 25 2009

Kim Jong-il, the North Korean leader, has banned the World Cup from being shown in his country – unless they win.

The Supreme Leader has ordered state-run television not to broadcast live games, and to only screen highlights of North Korea's victories.

The ruling means that 99pc of the country's 29 million population will not be able to find out who wins the competition unless the 350-1, outsiders win it.

Games between other nations will be banned from the airwaves, while any highlights of North Korea's matches will be heavily edited to ensure that they look like the better team.

All advertising in the stadiums will also be blurred out – along with opposition fans, The Sun newspaper reported.

Mike Breen, author of highly-respected book Kim Jong-il: North Korea's Dear Leader, said: "Like everything else there, the regime will have complete control over the World Cup.

"North Korea will not pay for the TV rights, which means they will not be able to screen live games on state television. They are more likely to get footage from South Korea and then it will be heavily edited to suit the regime.

"Only the ruling elite with access to other satellite channels will be able to watch games involving other countries.

"The majority of the population will have to make do with very one-sided highlights packages hours, and possibly even days, after the game. Any loss will either be ignored or given the smallest of mentions.

"Once North Korea are knocked out, I would be amazed if there were any mention of the World Cup at all."

It is the first time that North Korea has qualified for the World Cup in 44 years.

The last time they qualified was in England in 1966 when they pulled off one of the biggest shocks by beating Italy 1-0 to reach the quarter finals.

Hard to believe her background, caught some of this programme on tv, interesting life story all the same. Can never understand why women choose to be call girls, but materialism and money is so important to them. I know some are forced but this woman was heading for a good job.



THE employers of a research scientist who unmasked herself as a call girl-turned-popular author are standing by her, saying that her past had nothing to do with her present job.

After much digging by journalists and fans it emerged that 'Belle de Jour' is Brooke Magnanti, a petite, blonde thirty-something who works as a specialist in developmental neurotoxicology and cancer epidemiology in a hospital research group in Bristol, south west England.

A month ago she revealed her secret to her colleagues at the Bristol Initiative for Research of Child Health, who were "amazingly kind and supportive".

Dr Magnanti, who is based at St Michael's Hospital in Bristol and employed by the University of Bristol, unmasked herself as the literary world's best-kept secret after admitting in her online blog that she felt "worse" about her writing than about her life as a prostitute.

Barry Taylor, a university spokesman, said: "This aspect of her past bears no relevance to her role at the university."

Dr Magnanti was a PhD student working on her thesis at Sheffield University when she decided that prostitution would be a quick, easy and relatively painless way to earn some cash.

For 14 months from October 2003 she recorded her sexual encounters in her online blog with a frankness, humour and style that won her many admirers and led to a six-figure book deal.

Sceptics

It inspired the ITV drama, 'The Secret Diary of a Call Girl', starring Billie Piper, the former pop star and 'Doctor Who' actress. Dr Magnanti said it was a relief to emerge from the shadows of anonymity that had meant that she could not even go to her own book launch.

Ms Magnanti wrote: "It feels so much better on this side. Not to have to tell lies, hide things from the people I care about -- to be able to defend what my experience of sex work is like to all the sceptics and doubters."

She said she took advantage of the opportunity presented by a "perfect storm of feelings and circumstances".

She is believed to have decided to out herself after reporters from a UK newspaper turned up at the hospital she works at.

Realising that the game was up she approached the 'Sunday Times' and gave an interview to India Knight, who had previously suggested her book was fiction and written by a man.

Dr Magnanti bears a close resemblance to the French actress Catherine Deneuve, who starred in the 1967 film from which she borrowed her pen name. (© The Times, London)

- Simon de Bruxelles in London

Irish Independent

A Brazilian bricklayer reportedly killed in a car crash shocked his mourning family by showing up alive at his funeral.

Relatives of Ademir Jorge Goncalves, 59, had identified him as the victim of a car crash in Parana state in southern Brazil, police said.

As is customary in Brazil, the funeral was held the following day, which happened to be the holiday of Finados, when Brazilians visit cemeteries to honour the dead.

What family members did not know was that Goncalves had spent the night at a truck stop talking with friends over drinks of a sugarcane liquor known as cachaca, his niece Rosa Sampaio said. He did not get word about his own funeral until it was already happening.

A police spokesman in the town of Santo Antonio da Platina said Goncalves rushed to the funeral to let family members know he was not dead.

"The corpse was badly disfigured, but dressed in similar clothing," said the police spokesman, who talked on condition of anonymity. "People are afraid to look for very long when they identify bodies, and I think that is what happened in this case."

Ms Sampaio said some family members were not sure the body was Goncalves. "My two uncles and I had doubts about the identification," she told O Globo newspaper. "But an aunt and four of his friends identified the body, so what were we to do? We went ahead with the funeral."

The police spokesman confirmed there were doubts: "His mom looked at the body in the casket and thought something was strange. She looked and looked and couldn't believe it was her son. Before long, the walking dead appeared at the funeral. It was a relief."

The body was correctly identified later, the police spokesman said, and has already been buried in another state. He declined to release the actual victim's name.

This is fantastic, jees what a great service to fans of this club, any chance clubs in Sligo would do it. All our Div3 NFL should streamed live for ex pats in 2010. Hint Hint. Would be great for me. I did well last yr seeing the County but for a Club to be doing this shows great vision. Fair play to all involved. Forward thinking is something we need more of. Hopefully there will come a day when i can watch all Sligo and St Molaise gaels games on the net. No sign of me getting home in the next 15 yrs with the economy.





Sunday's Kerry SFC final between Dr Crokes and South Kerry will be streamed live on the website of the Killarney club.

Dr Crokes will look to Colm "Gooch" Cooper for inspiration as they attempt to get the better of Declan O'Sullivan and South Kerry at Fitzgerald Stadium.

Crokes started to offer live streaming coverage earlier this year and will continue that service for today's big game in order to cater for the many Killarney natives now living and working away from these shores.

Club PRO John Keogh told the Irish Examiner: "The first day we did it was a County League game in September and we had 1117 hits and next Sunday will be our sixth game.

"I think we're the first club who have done it and so far we're delighted with the result and the feedback we've got so far. Time will tell if it will catch on."

Roscommon v Leitrim

Sligo or Mayo v Galway

Great, here we go again

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8285216.stm

That drive at the end is unreal, fair play to him.

From independant.ie.....is this guy getting ahead of himself or what?

Scientist Ray Kurzweil claims humans could become immortal in as little as 20 years' time through nanotechnology and an increased understanding of how the body works.

The 61-year-old American, who has predicted new technologies arriving before, says our understanding of genes and computer technology is accelerating at an incredible rate.

He says theoretically, at the rate our understanding is increasing, nanotechnologies capable of replacing many of our vital organs could be available in 20 years time.

Mr Kurzweil adds that although his claims may seem far-fetched, artificial pancreases and neural implants are already available.

Mr Kurzweil calls his theory the Law of Accelerating Returns. Writing in The Sun, Mr Kurzweil said: "I and many other scientists now believe that in around 20 years we will have the means to reprogramme our bodies' stone-age software so we can halt, then reverse, ageing. Then nanotechnology will let us live for ever.

"Ultimately, nanobots will replace blood cells and do their work thousands of times more effectively.

"Within 25 years we will be able to do an Olympic sprint for 15 minutes without taking a breath, or go scuba-diving for four hours without oxygen.

"Heart-attack victims – who haven't taken advantage of widely available bionic hearts – will calmly drive to the doctors for a minor operation as their blood bots keep them alive.

"Nanotechnology will extend our mental capacities to such an extent we will be able to write books within minutes.

"If we want to go into virtual-reality mode, nanobots will shut down brain signals and take us wherever we want to go. Virtual sex will become commonplace. And in our daily lives, hologram like figures will pop in our brain to explain what is happening.

"So we can look forward to a world where humans become cyborgs, with artificial limbs and organs."

http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/video-journalist-mauled-after-entering-lions-enclosure-1884407.html

Scary and stupid,

Seen this on another forum, sadly got some devasting news last week about my 59 yr old Dad, has got this, more tests this week to know severity and obviously we are all on tender hooks.

Prostate Cancer is the biggest killer of men in Ireland and most other countries. There is about a 10:1 chance of getting the Cancer, but it should not kill.

Men, and to a certain extent, the medical community, share a responsibility to ensure Prostate Cancer as a killer, becomes a thing of the past.

Men tend to ignore little aches and pains, but in the case of pain in the abdomen area, ignoring the pain could be fatal.
The fact is that by having the GP give us a check for an enlarged Prostate, the number of men killed each year by Prostate Cancer, would be reduced dramatically. Early detection of this disease, normally results in the Cancer being confined to the Prostate, which could mean an operation would be all the treatment required.

So who are we talking about?
Well, men above the age of forty are at risk. Above the age of fifty, and the risk increases.

How to reduce the risk
Get checked annually and you increase the chance of survival, in the event that you might be the unlucky one in ten.
Respond to the symptoms by going to the doctor as soon as possible.

The symptoms are these
• A need to urinate frequently, especially at night.
• Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine.
• Weak or interrupted flow of urine.
• Painful or burning urination.
• Difficulty in having an erection.
• Painful ejaculation.
• Blood in urine or semen. or
• Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs.

It must be noted that the symptoms above do not necessarily mean Prostate Cancer, but do indicate a problem "down there", which needs to be dealt with.

Find out more www.cancer.ie/prostate

[Dog catches two trains in search of owner]

Maybe there already a good news thread but this certainly warmed my heart, Im pissed off with all the negativity, bad news always been reported, theres alot of good in this World and its time we equally focused on that. I suggest we post good news stories on here, or if there was another already..

Dog catches two trains in search of owner

A dog which had been left at home when his owner went on holiday decided to set off on in search of her - by catching the train 31 miles to Stansted Airport.

Diesel, a Staffordshire bull terrier, was being looked after by a friend of his owner when he disappeared during an evening walk in Tottenham, North London.

Nothing was seen of the one-year-old dog until the following day when CCTV cameras picked him up travelling - on his own - on the Stansted Express rail service.

Shocked security staff collared Diesel as he hopped off the train at the airport and started making his way towards the terminal building.

Animal wardens kept Diesel - who had no collar or passport - overnight before using the microchip in his neck to reunite him with his relieved owner Sarah Chapman, 29.

To reach Stansted, the intrepid pet had to board two trains and walk a mile between stations.

Miss Chapman, of Tottenham, had been on a four-day visit to see her mother in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, at the time and described her pet's escapade as a "mystery".

She said: "He's never done anything like this before. He's never even been on a train before. How his collar came off is a mystery.

"I always spend a lot of time with him so I think he probably came looking for me.

"He has come with me to Clacton in the car before and we pass through Stansted on the way.

"It sounds funny but maybe he was coming to see where I was."

It is believed that Diesel caught an overground train from White Hart Lane to Seven Sisters two and half miles away, before scampering a mile to Tottenham Hale station.

From there the Stansted Express train would have taken him straight to the airport in 35 minutes.

Miss Chapman, an unemployed administrator, said she had been impressed with Diesel's navigation skills.

She said: "I was frantic with worry when my friend called to say he had run off after a fox and couldn't be found.

"Nobody knows where he was overnight, but the security guards said they caught him on camera at Bishop's Stortford station, the stop before Stansted.

"Apparently he was sitting waiting on his own by the doors and then got off at Stansted."

Uttlesford District Council animal warden Sue Knight said Diesel's adventure underlined the importance of micro-chipping pets.

She said: "Diesel's a lovely dog and it was a bit sad to see him go.

"Obviously it's great that we were able to reunite him with his owner, and only because she'd been mindful enough to get him microchipped.

"Hopefully this will serve as a stark demonstration to dog owners of just how useful having your pet microchipped can be."

A spokesman for National Express East Anglia, which runs the Stansted Express service, said they were delighted with the outcome of Diesel's escapade.

He said: "We're pleased that Diesel's adventure ended happily for all concerned and that our team at the airport were able to play their part in reuniting him with his owner."

Toughest draw, lets see what our boys are made of, step up to the plate lads. Follow Longfords lead.

Tough draw, seen tipp first hand against down and looked impressive.

We are missing Harrison, no CHB, CHF or FF can we solve these issues for the next day.

Id say it will be in Thurles, Id say a decent Sligo support will be there. Good draw for both teams and is a 50/50 game with tipp at home favourites.

what i said after div3 final:
Congrats to Tipp Aswell. Some very good young players, no3, 6, 10, 9, 13 and 15 all impressed me. But div3 is shite too by the looks of things so we'll wont be far away from top next yr.

Tipp played 2 man ff line, they havent the ruthlessness of galway no one the standard of meehan to worry about but are better balanced than us. Physical enough side to, I remember theyre corner backs being weak and slow, if we select coen and kelly we will do damage, there FB is good and held there line togther.