Global Warming: Cold Spring 2011 In The Washington DC Metro Area

It is looking like Spring 2011 is going to be amongst one of the
coldest on record. After a warm spell last week, many people were
looking forward to a warm start.

Instead, it has been unseasonably cold in the Washington Dc Metro
area, with temperatures regularly getting close to freezing at night.

Yesterday,and today, they are calling for snow late at night, with
equally low temperatures.

It has also been raining. The cold weather and rain, make it rather
less interesting for area residents and tourists to go out and enjoy
the annual Cherry Blossom festival in downtown Washington DC.

Temperatures today will be in the high thirties, and lows will
continue to be in the forties through the weekend.

This must be hard to explain for Global Warming advocates.

End Game for Laurent Gbagbo, Ble Goude and Muammar Qaddafi Families

With a lot of uncertainty hanging over the Middle East, a new era is
dawning in the world, what many have dubbed a New World order that
will define much of the way we live and interact in the 21st century.

In the Arab World, rebels have been found wanting in their bid to oust
strongman, Muammar al Qaddafi. Under cover of an internationally
sanctioned No-Fly zone, the rebels fighting Qaddafi loyalists made
significant gains last week, only to lose ground quickly when faced
with heavy artillery.

The Qaddafi family is proving tenacious, and is now pushing west, to
the rebel stronghold of Benghazi. It seems the only way to stop him
would be to have the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court
examine allegations of terrorism, especially the 1988 bombing of a
PanAm flight over the Scottish village of Lockerbie.

A key prosecution witness to this case could be the Foreign Minister
of Libya, who is an insider and former head of Libya's secret
services. He defected yesterday, the 30th of March 2011, and flew from
Tunisia to London on a private flight. He is still being debriefed by
British Intelligence.

Further South in Africa, Forces loyal to president elect in Cote
d'Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara have been making gains as they advance to
the economic capital, Abidjan. The capital of the country,
Yamossoukro, has fallen, and just Abijan and a small area around it
remain under the control of Mr Gbagbo.

Laurent Gbagbo, his wife Simone Gbagbo and Ble Goude, leader of the
populist Jeune Patriots (Young Patriots) have been slammed with
international travel bans. They also may be exposed to indictment from
the ICC.

The time when people could cling on to power, and stifle progress of
countries is now in the past. The American president has made it clear
these despots MUST leave power.

Barack Obama will prevail in Libya and Cote d'Ivoire.

Tsunami in Cameroon: Possible Scenarios and Emergency Preparedness.

Cameroon has a major fault line, which makes the country to be exposed
to the effects of a major earthquake.

This fault, named by Geologists The Cameroon Fault Line, starts far
and deep in the Atlantic Ocean, close to Sao Tome and Principe. It
then heads Northeast, with outcroppings from some active volcanos
forming islands like Bioko (Malabo) and hundreds of smaller islands.

The Fault Line hits the continent around Bota, a suburb of Limbe in
Cameroon. From there, mount Cameroon rises majestically, and this very
active volcanic formation runs northeast, through Mount Kupe,
Manenguba, and through the Western Highlands.

It is not until in the vicinity of Lake Chad, that it comes to an end.

It is a lot of territory which is thus exposed to volcanic activity in
Cameroon by proven geologic methods.

The world and especially the Japanese are still trying to mitigate the
disaster wrought upon the nation by an earthquake and resultant
Tsunami on March 11 2011.

An earthquake that struck on the 12th of January 2010 caught the
people of Haiti unprepared. Reconstruction efforts are still ongoing.

Cameroonians should seize this moment to analyze a scenario where a
Tsunami could be triggered in the Atlantic ocean by geologic activity
along the Cameroon Fault Line.

Many areas of Limbe are low-lying, from Down Beach to as far as Church Street.

Due to the steep grade that leads to Mount Cameroon, many
neighborhoods and towns close to the ocean are high above ground. In
the event of a Tsunami, this could be a life-saver for many.

A quick look at building practices in coastal areas shows a major
danger to which thousands of familes are exposed to. Their homes are
very close to the sea, with very little difference in altitude. Even a
small increase in the sea level would quickly overwhelm such
communities.

No artificial barriers that could withstand an onslaught from a Tsunami exist.

It is well known by Oceanographers that Tsunami waves travel very
fast. Prevention has to include an early warning system. There is a
global project by the US Geological Survey that monitors oceans for
seismic activity, and generates a warning if Tsunamis are detected.

If danger is sensed off the coast, it does not make a difference if
there is no mechanism to convey important information to the
population in harm's way. An early warning is a must for a city like
Douala. When millions of people live close to the coastline in a
volcanic region, it is the government's sole responsibility to assure
their safety.

This is a pressing call, for those in administrative and other
positions of responsibility to take necessary measure, so that when
mother nature does its thing, we are not found wanting.
A word to the wise...

Lukewarm preparation for Cameroon's presidential election.

With only months to go, Cameroonians are yet to see serious activity
pick up on the campaign trail.

Many of the established political parties are yet to launch their
platforms, and head out to meet voters.

What Cameroonians have been treated to so far has been one off events,
widely reported by the media (including on this blog) by lone
individuals.

Many of the heavyweights like Fru Ndi have been around long enough
with no tangible results to show, or have been discredited in the
public eye.

The upcoming presidential elections look like they might swallow all
minor political parties, making them part of a potpourri of a giant
national coalition, headed by the ruling CPDM.

So far, this promises to be the trend. Paul Biya, who has headed the
country for 36 years seems to expect this. He is lying low, very low
for now, so that he does not catch the eye of sharp tongued and witted
progressives like Kah Walla of Cameroon O Bosso and Hon. Ayah Paul
Abine, a parliamentarian who has spent his entire career begging for a
road to his constituency, so he does not have to drive through
Nigeria.

There is some momentum for change sweeping across. the Arab world,
Cameroonians must ride that wave of change, so that Biya may be
flushed out by the end of this year from the presidency.

Cameroonians deserve a leader who feels their pain, and communes with them.

Kah Walla or Ayah Paul would do a better job.

Leonardo di Caprio and Clint Eastwood in Marshal, Virginia?

With Belvoir Road in Marshal, VA closed, and a slew of caravans camped
outside of a farm on the road, it looks like the set of the new Clint
Eastwood flick has moved from downtown DC to the West of Virginia.

Lover's of the silver screen have been tracking the new production,
shooting in the DC Metro area. But exact locations have been kept
under wraps. It looks like some scenes are being shot in a
picturesque farm in Marshal, VA.

It is horse country, with vast open fields, and lush green meadows. It
will provide the perfect backdrop, for the subject matter of this
movie - a tragic story of greed and sorrow.

Tracking Rebecca Black HATE: Why the Anger?

Along with the many cute videos Youtube.com has brought us, it also mirrors the contagious angst that exists in human society.

Browsing the net the other day, I stumbled on this video by a teen in the USA. What caught my eye was the amount of dislikes and spiteful comments for the video, and interestingly, all of that can be tracked in real time!

From the start to the end of the video, you will likely have maybe one hundred dislikes added! It is amazing to behold.

One can only wonder if there can be such a tracker for politicians, so that we see their standing going down or up in real time, as their policies gain favor or gets dumped by the people.

Here is the video. You be the judge.

Paul Biya Making Cameroon a Failed State? Dangers ahead.

Last weekend, in the night of Friday, breaking Saturday, just before
the stroke of midnight, Cameroonians found just how much insecurity
has taken a grip of their fatherland.

The economic capital, Douala, which is the main maritime gateway to
the Central African Republic in addition to Cameroon itself, was laid
to siege by an armed gang.

Interestingly, the stretch of Bonaberi, Douala that was held up for
over three hours, is one of the the most policed in Central Africa.
From the entrance of western entry of Douala to the Rond Point Deido
roundabout, there are innumerable roadblocks and checkpoints, manned
by Gendarmes, Police, Soldiers, and council workers. When confronted
by this armed gang, not even a single shot was fired by them in
retaliation. They melted into thin air, as the armed marauders wrecked
havoc in the very heart of Cameroon's most populated city, Douala.

This attack is eerily similar to the one that happened in Limbe in
2008. Armed men got to the seaside town, fired a few shots into the
air, and the whole city was under their command within a few minutes.
For over five hours, the men terrorized the population of Limbe,
sacked banks, and fired on unarmed civilians like they were having a
shooting practice.

The one who is head of the Cameroon Armed forces, who swore to defend
the citizens of Cameroon, since 1982 - Paul Biya failed to even
mention this event. It was like nothing happened. Like has been
reported a million times, he does not give a damn what happens to any
Cameroonian. He would rather be in Switzerland, basking on the shores
of Lake Geneva. There were no hard words directed at the terrorists,
no promise of making Cameroon's coast secure, in short, to Paul Biya,
it was a non event. Those who lost their lives had just their families
to mourn their passing away.

Despite warnings from the private press, police and soldiers did not
beef up security in Douala. But they had more than enough manpower to
beat up, and brutalize unarmed Cameroonians who want to feel safe
within their Country. Kah Walla, a hard working Cameroonian lady,
widely respected worldwide is one such victim, together with Lapiro de
Mbanga, a populist musician who has been jailed by Paul Biya for
singing out to the masses.

This last outing, where Cameroonians are killed in their sleep and
Paul Biya does not even come to speak out against this aggression
shows a shameful lack of leadership on Paul Biya's part. He should
review the oath he took when he was sworn in as president.

In Mvomeka, the village of the president, Paul Biya, he has built an
airport that can safely handle aircraft as big as a Boeing 737 with
Intercontinental capability.

If he hears shots close to Mvomeka, it will be only a matter of
minutes before he will be aloft, headed for Switzerland, where his
children live a peaceful and luxurious life. Ordinary Cameroonians
will not have that same level of safety. They don't have access to
aircraft. They have nowhere to go.

For the second time, Cameroonians have been exposed to heavily armed
assailants and those paid by the state to protect them ran away from
the scene, abandoning unarmed civilians to be massacred.

There are all the ingredients of a failed state here. A leader who
sends young promising Cameroonians, like Liutenant Mahamat into harm's
way without proper equipment, a poorly organized military like that of
Guinea when Dadis Camara seized power, an absentee president who does
not address a full blown terrorism attack visited upon his people.

Who would blame any Cameroonian who buys a Kalachnikov to defend
himself and his property? Who would blame a taximan, when he mocks a
policeman for blocking the road to get a bribe to free passage, who
would blame Kah Walla, for getting fed up with the lack of leadership
that has left Cameroon rudderless, just so that Paul Biya should have
money to buy a multi million dollar home in Switzerland.

There is no longer a place for aged despots who cling on to power,
even though their citizens are being murdered en masse. Paul Biya
should do Cameroonians a favor, he should resign and go in peace. His
continued quest to stay on even though he has had 36 years to effect
change only gives fodder to those who will want him to turn up infront
of the ICC in The Hague.

May the souls of those who lost their lives because of Paul Biya rest
in Perfect Peace.

An Instruction to Dictators in Africa: Paul Biya, Laurent Gbagbo should learn from LIBYA

When the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution creating
a "No Fly" zone over Libya, the consequences went farther than Tripoli
and Benghazi. It was a message that rather than being a passive force
where atrocities and mass murders are committed worldwide, the United
Nations and International community have come of age.

Time was when these strongmen would massacre their populations, and
detain anyone who questioned their decisions.

Now, the whole world is watching the every move of these African
Dictators. They have lost legitimacy, and cannot use thuggish force to
put down peaceful protest.

Paul Biya modified the constitution of Cameroon to run yet again as
president of the country. Cameroonians have pointed out, that since
1975, he has had the opportunity to effect positive change. One more
term would bring no change whatsoever to the livelihood of
Cameroonians. They are ready to move forward.

Over in Cote d'Ivoire, president Alassane Ouattara has been patiently
waiting for Laurent Gbagbo to hand over power to no avail.

Once more, the International community are implementing measures to
make sure there is a peaceful hand over of power. The window is
rapidly closing for Gbagbo to leave honorably. He may even stand trial
in the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Back to Cameroon, famed artist Lapiro De Mbanga will soon be free,
after three years in detention. Paul Biya has convened the artist to
make his liberation conditional. Lapiro has made it clear he will not
accept a conditional liberation.

It is so sad that one of Cameroon's musical icons should be jailed
because of justified peaceful protests against the ineffective head of
regime, Paul Biya.

Paul Biya and Laurent Gbagbo, should take a close look at Muammar
Qaddafi. When you cling to power for too long, you stifle the progress
of your people or political Party. The same thing is happening in the
SDF in Cameroon, where the Chairman who has clung to his post for 20
years in a recent interview could not say whether he will run for the
presidential elections!

A newer generation is coming up, Kah Walla is leading the charge in
Cameroon. Paul Biya is well advised to retire quietly, just like he
sent four generals to retirement last week.

WAR in LIBYA: UN Security Council Votes for a "No Fly" Zone over Libya

The United Nation Security Council has just passed a unanimous
decision to implement a "No Fly" zone over Libya. This is in a bid to
prevent Muamar Qaddafi's forces from regaining control over rebel
stronghold, Benghazi.
Expect bombing of Libyan military facilities within 24hours.
More on this as news breaks.

Lessons for Cameroon from the Japanese Earthquake: Cue from Kah Walla

Japan suffered one of the worst natural disasters ever documented in human history on the 11th of March 2011. As the extent of the human and material loss mounted, a very different narrative emerged, it was the story of the Japanese people and their dignity in the face of massive loss.

The magnitude 9 earthquake that occurred off the coast of northeast Japan unleashed a killer Tsunami.Whole villages and waterfront communities were swept into the sea. The death toll now stands at 4300 on the 16th of March 2011, and is still rising.

The incredible story of the resilience of the Japanese people starts with the earthquake itself. As it shook structures like toy fixtures in a playground, you could see no one panicking. In shops, workers tried hard to hold on to shelves so that customers do not get hurt. No one ran outside, presumable aware after years of drills that it may be more dangerous outside in a city during an earthquake. Objects may fall from street signs or balconies and shatter a human skull.



Next came the story being reported in some of the hardest hit areas. These are stories of people in shelters, who have nothing to hang unto, but when supplies arrive at their location, calmly form lines to get food and water. There is no scramble, there is no rush, there is no shoving, there is no fighting, just human beings recognizing their predicament and lifting each other in a way that their cumulative strength shows the power of a united community and country.

Further down the line, there is the disaster at the Fukushima Nuclear Reactor. In the aftermath of the earthquake, power was lost in vast swaths of Northeastern Japan. This particular reactor is about 140 miles north of the capital city of Tokyo. There are multiple redundancies in nuclear reactors due to the dangers inherent in the radioctivity of the fuel used in the reactor core. In the absence of grid power, the systems are designed such that a backup generator fires up and keeps the plant going. If that also fails, then there are banks of batteries that will still keep the plant running for a few hours, buying time for grid power or the generators to come back online. Those are three layers of protection, each one meticulously maintained with surgical precision.



As fate would have it, two of those layers of redudancy failed, leaving the nuclear reactor to have its vital systems run on batteries. They could last only so long, and when they got depleted, and chain of events led to the nuclear reactor at Fukushima overheating, and a series of explosions ensued. What happened next is simply extraordinary.


Knowing full well that there background radiation levels were very high and unsafe for humans, workers returned to the nuclear power plant to avert further leakage of radioactive material into the environment. Their action prevented a nuclear meltdown as was the case in Chernobyl in April 1986. While the United States issued an advisory for its citizens in Japan to give a 50 mile radius berth to Fukushima, Japanese scientists headed into the belly of the beast - the site of the reactor- to contain the damage.




A reporter for NPR in the United States reported that vending machines were strewn everywhere, in streets, on lawns, in bushes, but no one had broken into them under the pretext of getting much needed water or other supplies. It is a very humbling story of human restraint, discipline, and selflessness from the people who brought us the Toyota Prius, and the Wii. It is one we all stand to learn from.




So what lessons can we draw from this picture of Japan under crises. Let's start by having a cursory look at recent event in Cameroon. The oil-rich nation has had the same ruler since 1975. That was when Paul Biya became Prime Minister of the country, and later president in 1982. So, for 36 years, the country has had the same ruler which gives us a basis to evaluate his achievements. Youth organizer and pro democracy advocate Kah Walla did just that and found that the plight of the average Cameroonian is much worse compared to when Biya became head of government.




Furthermore,the world has changed drastically since 1975, and a leader who never visits with the people he rules will no doubt never care about their plight. Observers noted Mr Biya is more frequent in his Lakeside home in Geneva than in Cholera ravaged Bafoussam or Maroua.



Extra judicial killings of innocent Cameroonians like the "Bepanda Nine" and of investigative journalist Bibi Ngota highlighted the dangers of speaking your mind under Biya's regime. These roadblocks didn't deter Kah Walla, who is the first ever female presidential candidate in Cameroon. She felt things had come to a head and someone had to stand up to Paul Biya who was holding back development of the country and the emancipation of women along with failing to stop female genital mutilation, in a bid to tighten his stranglehold on power.

On February 23rd 2011, something marvelous happened in Cameroon. Kowing full well they were exposing themselves to thugs and live amunition, Kah Walla and some Cameroonians of good will on that day decided to face Biya. It was a small action, but the repercussion will one day come to haunt Paul and Chantal Biya, and they unleashed their thugs who mercilessly brutalized the youths and Kah Walla.



Where a dictator is glorified, such as when the national squad wins a soccer tournament, tons of money is invested and the best manpower, in this case a French coach is brought in. But the people need infrastructural development. It can be argued that bringing in an expatriate to run the country, even for two years will see a vast improvement in the quality of life of Cameroonians. If it works in soccer, then it should work in administration.


It is a shame the action of Kah Walla failed to gain traction, but with Hon Ayah Paul Abine, Louis Tobie Mbida, Jean Jacques Ekindi, Chief Mila Assoute and other opposition figures coming together, Cameroonians may just be able to stand a chance when presidential elections come up this year. The discredited opposition should be thrown into the dustbin of history, an be very quickly forgotten. They are in league with Biya and his thugs.


Looking at the level of discourse in some Cameroonian fora, it is clear the nation still has a very very long way to go. Hopefully Paul Biya would NOT be making this journey with Cameroonians whom he abandoned and despoilt of their glorious future.

Cameroonians will take a lesson from the Japanese. Kah Walla O Bosso!

Plural of Prius is "PRII", what will be the Plural of Nissan LEAF?

Toyota did a poll and after more than a million entries, the Plural of the popular Toyota Prius hybrid vehicle was voted by 25% of participants to be Prii. Toyota announced with pomp on multiple platforms the findings.


So one wonders, what will be the plural of the all electric Nissan LEAF? LEAVES, or LEAFS?
This is new territory here. We are waiting for the poll. Charlie Sheen may weigh in on this one.

How to survive a Tsunami.

Japan has just been hit by a very big 8.9 earthquake, triggering devastating Tsunamis, huge waves that sweep across the sea and land, leaving a lot of damage and loss of life in their wake.

March 11th 2011 Tsunami: Japan

But how does one survive a Tsunami?

1. Be alert. If you live in an area prone to earthquakes and there is a water body nearby, you have to move to higher ground once there is an earthquake. Tsunamis follow earthquakes, so, that is your early warning system.

2. Stay tuned to your local emergency services. They will be getting reports from people advising on conditions in different areas, and so they are best placed to inform the population of the safest places to go to.

3. If you are driving a car, don't try to go to low-lying areas or panic and drive faster than is necessary. You don't want to cause a crash when people are evacuating.

4. Cars will float if the doors are closed. This is true for most modern small and mid sized cars. Roll up your car window and stay inside until you feel you can open up the door and quickly get to safety.



5. Inform others you know if there is an earthquake. Some people may not be aware a tremor has occurred, so do make the call.

6. Beware of aftershocks. These are smaller tremors that occur for days and even weeks after a major earthquake. They too may trigger a tsunami.

These are just some of the tips that may potentially save you from injury if you happen to be in a Tsunami. I hope you enjoyed reading.

Japan Tsunami steals light from Libyan anti-Qaddafi Uprising

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Libyan strongman Muammar Qaddafi who is facing a popular uprising from the East of his country may get a break as a huge Tsunami hits Japan.

Images coming from Japan shows a 4 meter wave sweeping inland, leaving damage to life and property in its wake. The unprecedented occurred about 2:46 PM local time northeast of the Japanese capital Tokyo.

Whereas protesters in Libya who planned a "Day of Rage" in have seen the intense media coverage they have had in the last two weeks overtaken by the tragic events in Japan. There are also concerns regarding statements from Qaddafi's son Saif al Islam about a large scale military offensive against Civilian-Held positions.






Global stock markets are also jittery as uncertainty looms over instability in the Middle East, and now Asia. There is also a major crisis involving many African countries over the disputed presidency of the Cote d'Ivoire, pitting incumbent Laurent Gbagbo and the presumed winner of last November's UN sanctioned presidential election Alassane Ouattara. Cote d'Ivoire is the world's largest producer of cocoa beans.


Most financial and global risk analysts will be paying very close attention to the New York Stock Exchange as it opens Friday, March 11th 2011.


More on the ongoing evacuation and rescue mission in Japan as they happen.

YEN slides following 8.9 Earthquake and Tsunami.

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Following a massive earthquake that struck Japan at about 2:46 local time, Asian Stock Markets have had a rapid decline and especially the Japanese Yen, relative to other currencies like the US Dollar.







According to the US Geological Survey, the epicenter of the earthquake is about 231 miles northeast of Tokyo. Shortly after it struck, television footage showed cars and some buildings being washed by huge waves into the sea.


Friday, March 11 is also the day the has been dubbed the "Day of Rage" in Libya, where protests threaten to topple the 41 year old Qaddafi regime.


There will be a lot of uncertainty  in the financial markets, and a lot of attention will be paid to the New York Stock Exchange when it opens up for business Friday morning.

Massive 8.9 Earthquake Hits JAPAN

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One of the strongest earthquakes on record has hit Japan.  It is reported that the earthquake that hit the Northeastern part of Japan triggered Tsunamis. Waves as high as 4 metres were reported and television footage showed cars, buses, trucks and even buildings being washed into sea.





Naoto Gan, the Japanese prime minister has called for an emergency meeting to coordinate response to the disaster.
A Tsunami alert has been issued for vast areas of the Pacific including hawaii, Taiwan, Malaysia and other countries.


More information as we get news out of Japan.

Cameroon Bans Twitter: Paul Biya against freedoms

The African Nation of Cameroon has banned access to Twitter. This was
confirmed by a tweet from Internet service provider MTN Cameroon.

Bouba Kaele, a spokesman for MTN Cameroon said on a tweet on the 09th
of March 2011, that due to demands from authorities, his company was
blocking access to the popular Twitter Service.

Paul Biya, who leads the regime that has been in place since 29 years
displays the same characteristics as other regimes that have fallen in
the Maghreb.

There is widespread corruption, and Biya has no clear successor just
like Hosni Mubarak of Egypt.

Furthermore, the country's first female presidential candidate, Kah
Walla was brutalized by Biya sponsored thugs on the 23rd of February
2011.

Paul Biya has also been under scrutiny for investing millions of
dollars in foreign real estate especially in Geneva, Switzerland. A
pro Democracy group, CODE found one such residences and posted videos
on Youtube.

This latest move to ban access to Twitter all over Cameroon by Paul
and Chantal Biya just goes to prove once more the repression that
Cameroonians have had to endure for the last 29 years under Paul Biya.

Muammar Qaddafi defiant in the face of International Pressure.

Libyan strongman Col. Muammar Qaddafi is resisting calls from his
countrymen to resign as leader.

He has ruled the nation of 6 million for the past 41 years. Together
with his family, wealth generated from oil revenue has been invested
in diverse endeavors, yet the average Libyan feels left out of the
economic prosperity the country should have been enjoying.

People also want more freedoms, the kind of freedom the Colonel's son
Saif Al Islam enjoyed when he was a student in the London School of
economics, or when any of his other children are in Europe or the USA.

But the aging leader is refusing to give up his stranglehold on the
political and economic life of his people.

A ragtag rebellion has been organized in the East of the country and
seems headed to the capital city of Tripoli. Desertions are being
recorded daily amongst the senior ranks of the Qaddafi inner circle.

In the last few hours, violence has escalated between African
mercenaries and Libyan civilians trying to remove Qaddafi from power.

There have been calls for the establishment of a "No Fly" zone to
protect civilians from bombardment by Qaddafi's elite security force.

As the mounting death toll causes concern worldwide, the African
Union, the European Union and some world powers like the USA are
working to have the United Nations pass a resolution calling for a "No
Fly" Zone.

With every passing day, lives are unnecessarily lost as Qaddafi tries
against all odds to prolong his 41 year rule over the Libyan people.

As of this writing, it is being reported that the despot is in a hotel
granting interviews in camera to some Western journalists. We will
know what the outcome of this trip to meet the press is, especially as
news that Qaddafi had been shot spread over the last few hours.

More on this in another post soon...

What is the Best Oil for your Car Engine?

If you own a car, you may have heard the saying thayt the heart of the
car is its engine. It is the single most important component. Without
a running engine, the a car becomes nothing but a paperweight that
will rust with time.

Engine oil provides lubrication for the moving parts in your car's
engine. All lubrication oils are not created equal. There are two main
types, Synthetic oil and Regular oils (also known as Dino oil).

Regular engine oil is derived form the heavier distillates from
refining crude oil. The oil is the most commonly available and is
quite cheap. It does a pretty good job, but has to be replaced every
3000 miles or every 6 months for best performance of your engine. It
is not recommended by some high performance engine manufacturers
because of its characteristics under high stress conditions these
engines may have to operate in.

The other major type of oil is the Synthetic Oil. These is completely
created in a laboratory as its name suggests. It is the oil of choice
for some high end manufacturers like Mercedes Benz and BMW. It brings
out the best of the motor it is called to lubricate. Engines with
synthetic oil run much quieter and smoother in my experience. The most
famous of these include Mobil1. These oils can be run in the engine
for much longer too, so instead of changing the oil every 3000 miles,
you may have to go 5000 miles between oil changes. The engine is also
cleaner inside too with less sludge accumulation.

So whatever way you choose to go, the cheaper regular engine oil, or
the higher performance synthetic oil, you will get to enjoy your car
if you follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

International Women's Day 2011: Women Honored Worldwide

Once more, it is the 08th of March, the International Women's Day.

Since 1911, the day has been one when the plight and achievements of
women has been celebrated. The significance was not much initially, as
the day was timidly observed in Germany.

But over time, the day has grown in importance and scope. In the 1940s
and 1950s, it was mostly celebrated in Eastern Bloc countries as the
International Day of the Working Woman. The 1960s and 1970s saw many
women join the workforce in different capacities, and the day became
popular even in Western Countries like the USA.

1977 saw the UN General Assembly voting to adopt the 08th of March as
the International Women's Day. This is what really popularized the
celebration of women on this day.

In different parts of the world, the day is marked in various ways.
Some have seminars and other events that showcase the achievement of
women in industry, politics and business.

In sub Saharan Africa, it is mostly a day where women are honored by
men. They get together and pretty much party with other women. It is a
very important day both economically as well as politically.

Women's groups showcase their activities, educate the public on what
they do, and they get the full attention of the media. In recent
years, it is a tradition to get a special fabric design, which women
wear as a uniform on this day.

It is also a day that women leave the kitchen, and can be said to be
an official day off for the sub Saharan women.

In the United States, president Barack Obama designated the month of
March "Women's History Month". Celebrations for the day included
Congressional hearings broadcast live on C-SPAN which focused on the
difficulties women still face in some parts of the world.

Congressmen were briefed on mass rapes carried out by the LURD's
Resistance Army in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and how this has
affected the spread of HIV/AIDS.

All in all, the International Women's Day 2011 was a success across
the globe, and shows the growing role women have come to play not only
in the home, but in society.

What to do in Case of a Serious Car Accident

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No one leaves their home with the intention of getting in a car crash. It is one of those things that happen, and is aptly named, an "accident". But there is more involved in a car accident than may be immediately apparent. There is the condition of the vehicle you are driving, the road, weather conditions such as heavy rain or snow, and of course, other users like pedestrians or drivers who are all players when a car crash occurs. Any of these could be a factor. If blame is placed on you, you could see your insurance rate rise and over the course of years, it could add up to a lot of money. so here are some few tips to observe when you or someone you know is involved in a car crash.


1. Secure the area. Many people have lost their lives or been disabled when they are involved in a minor fender bender, then stepped out of their vehicle or loiter around just to see on oncoming vehicle plough into them. Be safe. Move out of harm's way.


2. Assist other persons in danger. Help other injured parties who may not be able to get to safety on their own to do so. When everyone is in a safe area, then you can move to the next step which is:


3. Call emergency services. This may be the police, fire or ambulance services. A dispatcher who takes the call will help you determine what service may be appropriate for your situation.


4. Give your statement to the police. NEVER ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY.  The police will collect statements from involved parties and witnesses. Don't discuss the accident with anyone, even bystanders.


5. Call your insurance company and alert them. Most insurance agents  will furnish you with an insurance card that you are required to have in the vehicle at all times it is operated. Have this handy as emergency phone numbers for your insurance agent will be found on the card.


6. If you are intimidated by the prospect of navigating through the Insurance claims and legal process on your own, get a good lawyer. Check your local library and other groups, even your local Church. Some lawyers will offer their services for free -pro bono- to needy people. Be proactive. You can also check online for other guides or advice on how to get help in your specific States or locality.

FACEBOOK clashes with GOOGLE and AMAZON.COM

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The battle for online content domination took a new turn last week when online giant Facebook of Tunisia and Egypt revolutionary fame decided to take on Internet behemoths, Google and Amazon.

The bone of contention is a seamless operation that takes place behind the scenes and has been honed to a level that, most Internet users don't realize the billions of dollars that change hands when they simply use the internet. 


Think of when you visit a web page including this one. On the right, you will see some adverts. These are served by Google and each time a visitor to this web page clicks on one of them, the advertiser pays Google a very small amount of money. Now, the interesting part is that Google uses its computers to scan all the words on this page, and serves ads relevant to the subject matter of the article. These are targeted ads. For example, if this were an article about the famous Cameroonian soccer star Samuel Eto, you might see soccer gear from Adidas or Nike advertised on this page. You get the drift.


Because ads served by Google are targeted and not just random, they are highly effective, and advertisers prefer to spend their money on companies that can advertise their products effectively. They don't have to pay a huge flat fee  for example, as they would if they were using a billboard. They only pay when someone clicks on the ads, and then, the amount they have to pay is considerably less.

So Google has been making a lot of money using this strategy, making it one of the most successful companies ever.


Enter Facebook, with a rapidly growing number of users. They too quickly realized the money is to be made only when you have a real human being accessing the Internet. If no one turns on their computers, Google cannot serve ads and thus, cannot make money. So, they knew with their huge number of subscribers, they could leverage this mass, and leave a huge dent in Google's checkbook.


Now, they are entering the fray of online ads, and have  published a list of websites that they have approved to serve ads on Facebook. It remains to be seen how good these ads will be. Google had so much success because its ads were relevant and heightened the Internet user's experience, rather than take away from it. People fear poor quality ads from newer companies with little experience may disrupt Facebook.


The next few days will tell and there will certainly be feedback from Facebook's users. It will be interesting.

Illegal Arms Trade in Cameroon: Who is hiding behind the GUN?

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 Local media in the West African nation, Cameroon, are reporting that a huge lot of 30 containers of arms have been seized in the Eastern Region of the country.


According to a reputed local paper, "Le Messager", official sources speaking on condition of anonymity are quoted as saying the huge shipment of heavy artillery was destined for Cote d'Ivoire. 


It should be recalled that the Cote d'Ivoire is currently embroiled in a partisan clashes following presidential elections late last year, with two candidates installing themselves as president. In recent days, fighting has spread mostly to the east and north of the country, with major escalation imminent.


Back in Cameroon, the reports filtering out of Bertoua, the regional capital of the East Region, according to Le Messager indicates that the trailers transporting the arms in shipping containers had the republic of Chad as their provenance, and were headed for the port city of Douala, from whence they would have been shipped to Cote d'Ivoire. The containers were marked as a United Nations shipment.


This weapons seizure is similar to another that recently occurred in neighboring Nigeria. In October 2010, authorities in Lagos Nigeria seized 13 containers full of heavy miltary ordinance from Iran.


With such events occurring at a disturbing rate, one can only wonder if some obscure hand is planning something big in the Central African Sub region, or if these are long established arms trade routes that are just coming to light.
It had better be the latter, for Africa can certainly be better off with one less conflict.

CAMAIR CO Rolls out "The Star of CAMEROON"

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 Cameroon's reinvented National Carrier, CAMAIR CO has just had its first jet painted in its new livery. The Boeing 767-33A formerly registered as TJ-CAC is scheduled to have it maiden flight on the 28th of MArch 2011.


Expectations are high and the new general manager had been working with the 330 staff to get a smooth and hitch free launch of operations.

It is understood that in short order, the fleet of the airline will grow to 4 aircraft.

Maintenance will be done by Lufthansa in Germany.

Here is what the 737 looks like in new Camair Co livery.

Living with disruptive technology: The World in the 21st Century

The Internet has been around for quite sometime, but it is in the last
5 years that its spread has really picked up speed.

The reduction of the cost of access, means millions of people in
poorer parts of the came online, and newer applications made the
online experience richer for those in the West.

However, this democratization of information access, and increasingly,
reporting of events raises some serious concerns.

Not so long ago, if you wanted information, you turned to CNN or the
BBC. Monopoly of coverage of events worldwide by these outlets meant
history was recorded and analyzed from the perspective of the West.
The entry barrier to news creation and propagation have now been
virtually erased. You just need an internet connection and you are in.

Google and other websites offer free web hosting services, for people
to record the world they way they see it. Photographs can be stored
online forever, and linked to articles.

You no longer need to be tied to a specific source of information. You
actually become part of the story.

You just need to take a look at popular websites like the Huffington
Post, where some of the most popular features are the comments
section, where people interact and offer their opinions on various
topics.

The major powers have a problem in their hands with this new
disruptive technologies. It has become really difficult to rally
support for simple humanitarian tasks, which just a few years ago
would have been moot.

In Libya, which is seeing an uprising that seeks to eject strongman
Muammar al Qaddafi, it has proven tricky to get an International
coalition to aid the protestors pushing from the east of the country
toward the capital, Tripoli.

The Libyan government has blocked access to the internet, and puts the
spin on the uprising that started in Benghazi - saying thay are allied
to Al-Queada, and Osama Bin Laden.

Conflicting accounts from the Libyan government and the protestors
overfloods the airwaves and makes it impossible to make heads or tails
of the situation in the country. The international coalition the USA
wants to constitute to aid the Libyans has not taken root because it
is hard to choose which side to believe.

A similar situation is taking place in Cote d'Ivoire. Alassane
Ouattara, widely believed to have won the UN supervised election has
been holed in a hotel in Abidjan, while the incumbent refuses to cede
power. In the past, it would have been a swift and clean operation to
dispatch Mr Laurent Gbagbo, the incumbent, into exile, and have Mr
Ouattara installed as president just as the people of the country
wish. But there has been a lot of controversy, with both camps
producing images of atrocities they claim the other committed.

The only places where the UN seems to have been successful for the
past year have been areas where there is some paucity of information.
South Sudan is a success story that in part may be attributed to the
lack of bloggers and sketchy internet access in the country. It would
have been another long and messy story had there been a big and noisy
debate online about the merits of splitting up the country.

Since then, the International Community has been bogged down whenever
it came to taking humanitarian action, because there is not only good
intentions that are needed, but good and decisive collective action,
taking into account all points of views, but not limiting action
because of a few dissenters.

The world powers need to step up and decide what is reliable and
credible information when they have to decide on important
humanitarian and security issues.

The way forward may not yet be clear to all, important lessons will be
learned from Cote D'Ivoire and Libya.

Fru Ndi tries to distance self from Paul Biya

Cameroon's former opposition leader, John Fru Ndi, who has grown very
close to the autocratic Paul Biya has tried to explain to a very
suspicious Cameroonian public that he has no secret arrangements with
Paul Biya.

Over the space of three months beginning late 2010, Fru Ndi and Paul
Biya met thrice in three different Regions and on three separate
occasions. This brought to light a deep held belief that there was a
more stronger bond, maybe financial between the two men. Fru Ndi
immediately became a black sheep, and was seen as irrelevant as the
discussions in Cameroonian online forums heated up with imminent
presidential elections.

After Fru Ndi's last visit, he embarked on the 18th of February 2011
on a nationwide campaign, not against incumbent, Paul Biya, but
strangely, ELECAM, the national electoral observatory.

Many wonder why someone who calls himself an opposition party leader
would have nothing to criticize against the incumbent Paul Biya's
policies for 29 years.

Another suspicious item was the funding for Fru Ndi's trip. It is not
yet time for the presidential election, but Fru Ndi could afford to
tour the country. Many wonder who is paying for the trip.

Finally, former First Vice President of the SDF Pierre Kwemo, a major
power house in the West Region of Cameroon has been completely
demonized by Fru Ndi, with suggestions that Kwemo joined the SDF for
pecuniary gain.

All these petty activity taking place at the top level of the SDF has
completely reversed the gains made in recent months by the party.

New progressive faces like Joshua Ossih have been silenced, while the
party shifted into reverse gear.

What most Cameroonians understand and see for themselves is that there
is a clear Paul Biya - Fru Ndi Alliance and there is occult financial
dealings between the two. This is what will ultimately sound the death
knell for the SDF.

Paul Biya and Fru Ndi display the same heavy handedness of other
autocratic demented despots like Hosni Mubarak or Col Muammar Qaddafi.

Time for change has come. "Time Is Now"

New World Order taking shape: Africa on Back Burner

The Arab world is roiled in an unprecedented crises. Autocratic despots who have used the natural resources of their countries as bargaining chips to cling on to power are now facing the awakening of the masses they effectively controlled in the dark ages when information was the privy of the privileged few.

Recent weeks have seen various regimes in the arab world suddenly having to deal with popular uprisings. These came as a surprise to many, including scholars and other luminaries of think tanks like the Bilderberg Group, the Council on Foreign Relations, or the Trilateral Commission.

Western governments had to react rapidly , and soon, information and total control of unfolding events was in the hands of the masses. That was good news. The Internet played a pivotal role, with tools like Facebook and Twitter used to organize peaceful protests against dictators.

However, not all popular uprisings are created equal. In countries that have populations that yearn the newly acquired freedom of the Tunisians for example, lack of coordination by peaceful protestors because of poor telecommunications infrastructure can often lead to violent repression of the people by the ruling class. This is evident in Yemen, Cote d'Ivoire and Cameroon.

But if you go further South, in Cote d'Ivoire for example, incumbent Laurent Gbagbo who lost presidential elections to economist Alassane Quattara, is still sitting tight, irrespective of calls by the United Nations, International Observers and an uprising by his people. The reason may be, the wind of change that is blowing in the Maghreb, attracting all the focus of global security analysts, diplomats and the media.

Since the beginning of March 2011, there has been talk of a very tense atmosphere in Saudi Arabia, Iran, and other countries in the Middle East that have had the same ruling elite for many decades. While the world's leading economic and military powers try to make sense of the unfolding situation in the Arab countries, other despots in sub saharan Africa like Laurent Gbagbo in Cote d'Ivoire, and Paul Biya in Cameroon lie low and take advantage of the situation to consolidate their power.

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It is essential that while the New World Order falls into place, Africans stand up and take their rightful place in the global community of nations. This can only come as a result of countries having leaders who have a popular mandate, and who understand that they serve at the pleasure of the citizens of their country. Those who hold on tight to power like Muammar al Qaddafi in Libya and Laurent Gbagbo in Cote d'Ivoire or Paul Biya in Cameroon also seem to be those with the least enviable achievements, given the resources at their disposal. The oppressed masses will be heard, time is on their side.

Qaddafi's "Umbrella Car" exposed!

Everyone has the vivid memory of Libya's despot, Muammar al Qaddafi in a scene reminiscent of "Singing in The Rain" lashing out at the world like he is accustomed to, from an equally surreal backdrop. But the question on most people's minds was, "what's that vehicle he is sitting in?".

I am happy to report that after a bit of sleuthing, I may have satisfied my curiosity and would like to share what information I have.

Precedent Golf Cart with Curtis Industries Enclosure: Similar to Qaddafi's "Umbrella Car"

Turns out the car the "Brother Leader" is rolling in is actually a golf cart - Made in the USA. But the most important detail is the enclosure which is modular and may be fitted on many different models of golf carts.

The golf cart in question seems to be made by a company called Club Car based in Augusta, Georgia. They have a whole range of models and seem to be toward the higher end of the spectrum, as golf carts go - a sort of Rolls Royce of the golf cart world.

More interesting though is the "Brother Leader's" hardtop on his ride. It seems to be made by another US manufacturer, called Curtis Industries, based in Worcester, MA. They manufacture enclosures for small machinery to protect the operator from the elements.

So, certainly without wanting any role in the unfolding drama in the arab world, this two successful US companies will soon be thrust into the limelight.

Here is what a complete gas version of the ride looks like in a free and more hospitable environment.

I hope you did enjoy reading this, now to the next mystery, I wonder if the umbrella Qaddafi had was made in China or ...

How Long Will Libya's Qaddafi last??

Libya's strongman and despot who is now holed up in Tripoli, has the
whole world against him. Since February 2011, the people he has
oppressed for 41 years seemed to have woken up as one man and now are
ask for his departure as leader of Libya.

But, geographically, to his west, there is recently liberated
Tunisia, and to his East, his country men asking for his ouster after
41 years of autocratic rule. The South of Tripoli has mostly
uninhabitable and inhospitable desert. So, Tripoli is essentially
under siege, with Col. Muammar al Qaddafi and his family trying to
whip up support even as defections start reaching his inner circle.

Supplies will soon run low, and Tripoli cannot be an island unto
itself for too long in a modern world. The Libyans, have strongly said
they want their country to remain united, hence, they will seek to
break the current siege and smoke out the Qaddafi family from their
hiding hole.

The international community is documenting atrocities committed by
mercenaries hired by the Qaddafis, and irrespective of the outcome,
Muammar Qaddafi will have to face charges in front of the
International Criminal Court in the Haque, Netherlands.

Calls have also been made to bring further charges for the 1988
Lockerbie bombings in Scotland, widely believed to have been planned
by Qaddafi.

Whatever the outcome, Qaddafi's time to leave power has come. Any
atrocities he commits hence will be akin to giving fodder to
prosecutors, and will only make his defense in the ICC more
difficult.

He should follow in the footsteps of Ben Ali of Tunisia and Egypt's
Hosni Mubarak, step down now, only, his scenario will be closer to
that of his erstwhile protege, Charles Taylor of "Blood Diamond" fame.

Fru Ndi drops out of Presidential Debate in Cameroon

With the presidential elections to be held, around November 2011 fast
approaching in Cameroon, pressure has been mounting on incumbent
despot, Paul Biya to resign. John Fru Ndi, who led the push to multi
party politics 20 years ago stands accused of using the same heavy
handed techniques like the man he once planned to beat at the ballot.

But a new development seems to have sprung that has rendered Fru Ndi
absolutely irrelevant in the upcoming presidential elections. Over the
last 5 months, Cameroonians have seen an unprecedented rapprochement
between the ruling regime's Paul Biya, and Ni Fru Ndi. This is viewed
as very suspicious, and shortly after their numerous meetings, Fru Ndi
embarked two weeks ago on a national tour, not to rally forces against
Paul Biya, but against ELECAM, the monitoring body.

Why would an "opposition" candidate lead his party and followers in a
blind chase? Many Cameroonians lost their lives while being led by Fru
Ndi against Paul Biya, when he launched his party, and also during the
"Operation Villes Mortes" If Fru Ndi is getting pecuniary rewards as
is highly suspected from Paul Biya and is misleading millions of
Cameroonians, then he is doing a great disservice to Cameroon.

A cursory look at the raging debates taking place in Cameroonian
online fora thankfully shows no one
Is giving anu serious thought to Fru Ndi. He is now in the same
status as Paul Biya, an old scornful despot who needs to be sidelined,
so that the SDF can be reinvented, and seek a fresh mandate from the
people.

The regional leader of the SDF for the East Region was summarily fired
without due process. Many other shortcomings have compounded over the
years to weaken the SDF and its leader, to the point that they are no
longer taken seriously by active users of the Cameroonian blogosphere.

The real opposition in Cameroon is now represented by Kah Walla, Brice
Nitcheu, Hon. Nintcheu, Tobie Mbida, Chief Ayah Paul Abine and others
who are mounting pressure on Biya to retire to his exqusite Chateau on
lake Geneva in Switzerland.

Biya and Fru Ndi belong to the past, a few paragraphs in the history
books. The next glorious chapters of Cameroon's history will be
written by a new breed of politicians and activists, some of whom were
mercilessly beaten by Biya sponsored thugs on the 23rd of February,
while Fru Ndi failed to condemn the acts of aggression.

Making money with Youtube from Cameroon and Nigeria

Many people visit Youtube to watch interesting videos. But do you
ever wonder who the people who put this videos up are? Do you know you
can actually strike it big and make lots of money with Google and
Youtube just by providing content, that is something interesting.

Chances are, if you think something is interesting to you, someone
next door or at the other end of the world may find that interesting
too.

Last year, my channel on Youtube had about 400.000 views. About that
time, I got invitations from Google to monetize about 3 videos. In
other words, Google will display ads relevant to the subject matter in
the videos and I will get part of the proceeds if there is a sale.

I accepted and never thought much about it. Instead, I worked on what
I felt passionate about, and saw my audience increase in size and
scope.

And this is not just any homogeneous group. It is mostly
intellectuals, professionals, and successful entrepreneurs in the
30-50 year old age group, a prime target for marketers.

So when my counter on Google Insight showed me on the 1st of March
2011 that I had reached 1million views, I was elated.

As an afterthought, I went to my Google account to see what if I had
made any money. I was blown away! There was a nice amount sitting
right there.

The money had started growing just over the past three months. Which
prompts me to write this to anyone with a cheap camera that can take
digital pictures or record short videos. There is money to be made out
there.

Here are some tips:

1. Always have your camera on you with a charged battery and empty
memory card. You don't want to have a dead camera battery or full
memory card when things get interesting

2 Shoot outdoors. Many interesting things happen outside and at times,
it may be something in the background that makes a video interesting.

3 A short description of your video gives it a context. Even self
evident videos can get some help with a short description.

4 Tags: Tags are used by search engines to locate your video. Make
sure you have appropriate tags, and use related tags, so that your
video is easy to find. Make sure you have more than three tags, and
try to be reasonable with the number you use. You don't want the
search engines getting confused and making your video less relevant
when they present results to queries.

5. Watch your views grow and make adjustments as necessary.

Remember, there is an acute shortage of videos from Cameroon, Chad,
Nigeria. Posting random videos of markets or street scenes from these
countries is a sure winner for the fortunate Youtuber.

Good luck and enjoy your success.

Understanding Qaddafi's mindset...

Libyan strongman, Col. Muammar al Quadaffi lives in a world all his own. He is not delusional, he is not a "mad dog" like President Ronald Reagan labeled him, he is just a relic from the past, a dinosaur, thrust in the full headlights of a bright and shiny new century. His main failing is not noticing change and riding the bandwagon when it came into town a long time ago.

There was a time when Africa was known as the "dark continent". Its peoples, were dark skinned, and depictions of what it looked like were done in black and white hand drawings by explorers. Owing to its rugged terrain, and difficult access, Africa still seems to trail the rest of the world in many respects, even though most of the continent gained independence from colonial powers roughly half a century ago.

Administering the affairs of an impoverished African village is difficult enough on any given day. When the colonial powers left, administrative units that went further than most tribesmen had ever been were left to be administered by the newly minted local authorities. This was too much for them, and so, to survive, they needed the technical expertise of those who had lived under such structured societies -the technical advisers were also known as "Cooperants" in Francophone Sub Saharan Africa.

Some early African administrators tried to break loose from this noose around their neck, and paid dearly. Patrice Lumumba of the Congo comes to mind. Others quickly understood the game and played along. These were the Idi Amins.

So, it is in this context, with no clear indication of what side will be left standing at the end of the day that Col. Muamar al Qaddafi seized power in 1969. A quick learner, he scoured the history books on ways to make his reign a dynasty, much in the same way as other like minded despots such as Idi Amin of Uganda, or Hastings Kamuzu Banda of Malawi who proclaimed themselves "President for Life", or the Central African Republics megalomaniac and alleged cannibal, Jean Bedel Bokassa.

Qaddafi's unique flavor of eternal power was to make the people think he had given them power, he split up Libya in small councils to make them manageable. None of those could get too strong, none of those could give birth to any one individual who may be allowed to grow in stature, and influence to get to the point where they may rival the leader. He termed his new creation the Jamahiriya - a "State of the Masses". Officially, he holds no office, so cannot be challenged in democratic elections. Using a combination of oil money, a keen eye for trends and seeing opportunity by understanding and mastering how Sub-Saharan Africans think, he was able to extend his influence first, in the Arab World, where he met reasonable fellows with their feet on the ground, which made him quickly leave their company to forage South of Libya, where the word "accountability" only exists in dictionaries.

In Africa, South of the Sahara, Libya's Qaddafi found that he could influence officials, right up to Presidents with liquid cash, guns and  vehicles. Many of the coups and wars that were fought in Africa from the 70s until as recently as the buffoon Dadis Camara of Guinea who had a short stint as president of his country, but escaped to Morocco with a bullet lodged in this head after an uprising. Charles Taylor, currently on trial for war crimes in the Hague had the Col. as his benefactor, and so did many others. With his growing influence, he increasingly saw himself able to rally votes on important issues not only in the African Union, but increasingly in the United Nations. This was a cause for alarm, for as votes in the U.N. go, Mali as a sovereign state had the same power as Norway, a much wealthier and powerful nation. Col. Qaddafi was playing with fire by influencing the leaders of poor nations.

So when protests broke out in Tunisia, then Egypt, he was quick to engage the Libyans in rhetoric. Saying things of no real consequence, trying to assuage impatient Libyan youths. What had transpired from those heady days, 41 years ago when he took over power to the present day is the nightmare of any despot. The people had found a way to get information about the outside world. They had seen a person that Qaddafi proclaimed was their brother - Barack Obama, become president of the United States. They knew there was a better world out there, now, they wanted out.

Qaddafi's sons knew it is too late also. The cat had bolted from the bag. Saif al-Islam, the heir apparent scrambled to the TV station in Tripoli and in a rambling video that looks like what a used car salesman would make in his bedroom to paste on YOUTUBE, half begged, and threatened the people to leave the streets. Needless to say, his call was not heeded and once more, Qaddafi the father had to step in to try his hand at the rhetoric that had proven so successful with his sub Saharan puppets. He made a surreal 23 second speech under an umbrella in dark alley. Not reassuring.

With every new development, he tried to put the spin on it. That is easy when you are painting pictures in the minds of some hungry tribal warlord who just wants an SUV and some guns to return to his fiefdom and kill or amputate the limbs of those who dare question him. Such people do not have the resources to verify the Colonel's claims, and even egg him on, provided he supplies them with cash and guns.

Now, with the full glare of the world's media scrutinizing his every move, his every utterance, down to the tiniest detail, Libya's Muammar al Qaddafi seems to be at his Alamo, his last stand and he is prepared to have those around him die for his selfish purposes. But this is where there is some misunderstanding. Autocratic African despots like him don't like to die. They would rather see others go to their certain deaths, and then cowardly seek to preserve their lives. That is what needs to be told to those around him.

Idi Amin escaped Uganda in 1979 to live a life of relative luxury in Saudi Arabia, feeding on bananas until he died in 2003. His first stop as he fled his country was naturally Libya.

Charles Taylor funded his 1997 presidential campaign with money from Libya, and survived the civil war in Liberia even though he sent so many of his countrymen, including child soldiers to their premature deaths.

Dadis Camara of Guinea gave the world a brief lesson in buffoonery before being retired with a bullet in his head. Ben Ali wisely fled Tunisia, and Hosni Mubarak of Egypt just disappeared from public life. But Col Qaddafi is more than just a pariah, he is radioactive, and no country will accept him in their jail. What to do with him is an enigma that will surely keep many diplomats and Think-Tanks sleepless at night.

After this rather lengthy look at this megalomaniac who is a relic of a time long forgotten, I may have sounded at times incoherent but I hope that if you take anything away, it is that Qaddafi WILL seek to preserve his life, and the only thing that made him tick, was his corrupt use of oil money on less enlightened but no less brutal tribal warlords who are slowly coming to the realization that the world is still a village, just a bigger one where people demand the same basic rights as they do in the dusty jigger filled streets in some forgotten part of Africa, and most importantly, that "accountability" is actually more than just a random word in a book they never bothered  to read.