Saddam Hussein is executed...

Click to Play

Saddam Hussein is executed for war crimes. Saddam Hussein struggled briefly, after American military guards handed him over to Iraqi executioners. But as his final moments approached, he grew calm. He clutched a Quran as he was led to the gallows, and in one final moment of defiance, refused to have a hood pulled over his head, before facing the same fate he was accused of inflicting on countless thousands during a quarter-century of ruthless power. May he rest in peace.

This is the last episode of "Can you repeat that please?" for this year. 2006 was a year which brought us much missery from around the world. The wars in Iraq and Darfur are far from over. North Korea and Iran are posing a serious threat to the world with their nuclear programs. And there were so many individuals who committed horendous crimes. I hope for every one that 2007 will bring us far better news. I will be there to report on it, starting Tuesday 2 January 2007.

Have a very, very fantastic new year, and see you later. Love, Jenifer. bloomjenifer@yahoo.co.uk

Trial Playboy Indonesia's editor closed to public...

Click to Play

Saddam Likely to Be Hanged Before New Year.

50 Unpaid Child Laborers Freed in India. Twelve-year-old Bhola worked more than 15 hours a day for two years, without being paid, or allowed to visit his parents. On Thursday, a local non-governmental organization freed him and 49 other such children.

Islamic Hardliners Outraged as Trial of Playboy Indonesia's Editor Is Closed to the Public. The trial of Playboy Indonesia's editor-in-chief was closed to the public Thursday, angering dozens of Islamic hard-liners, who threatened to break down the courtroom doors, if they are not granted access to the proceedings. The picture says it all. The red cover, on the left, is Playboy Indonesia. Need I say more?

Those were the headlines for today. According to the article I read on the Playboy Indonesia's editor, and just have a look at their one and only cover which I reproduced as the tumbnail for this entry, Playboy Indonesia was a much watered down version from the American one, or for that matter, any western country's edition. No nudety at all. The article continued saying that, although illegal, porn movies on VCD and DVD are openly on sale in many places in Indonesia, and many magazines published are sexually for more graphically then Playboy Indonesia ever would be. The problem here is that Playboy is seen as one of Westerns great icons, representing in this case everything what is rejectable. Indonesia is home to the largest Muslim population on earth, and most of them are practizing their religion in a moderate manner. There are however hardliners who are seriously trying to go back to the basics. For all those people who are so opposed to sexy looking girls I have one question. Where do babies come from in Indonesia? Are they bought in a supermarket, or were they preceded by some serious sex between husband and wife? Don't tell me that I can't be proud of my body. And not everything that comes from the West equals bad influence.

And I'm afraid that Saddam is going to die very, very soon. His lawyer made a very reasonable request to all countries in the world by requesting that Saddam would not be handed over to the Iraqi authorities. He is, so argued the lawyer, a prisoner of war, and should not be handed over to his enemies. My best guess is that the Americans will hand him over, as soon as they can, and get it over with. But I think, that hanging Saddam would be a very, very big mistake. That could be the prelude to a very serious, filled with much violence, period. Hanging Saddam could make living and working in major cities around the world dangerous.

But as usual, I don't care whatever you do, and for whatever reason, as long as you don't forget: love a soldier. Love, Jenifer. bloomjenifer@yahoo.co.uk

It's not our fault...

Click to Play

Murders are up in New York, and other big cities. After many years of decline, the number of murders climbed this year in New York, and many other major U.S. cities, reaching their highest levels in a decade in some places. Among the reasons given: gangs, drugs, the easy availability of illegal guns, a disturbing tendency among young people to pull guns when they do not get the respect they demand, and, in Houston at least, an influx of Hurricane Katrina evacuees.

Earthquake Knocks Out Communication Systems in Taiwan. Telephone lines and Internet service went dead across much of Asia on Wednesday, after two powerful earthquakes damaged undersea cables, used by several countries to route calls and online traffic. That explains my problems with the internet.

Airline Blames Poor Lighting for Jet Mishap Involving British PM Blair. British Airways blamed poor lighting at Miami International Airport, for a commercial jet overshooting a runway, with British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his family aboard, but airport officials said Wednesday that the lights were fine. There has to be an easier way to kill your prime minister.

Those were the headlines for today. Perhaps you thought: Jenifer, you are lazy, and unreliable, because my blog entry for yesterday was only posted this morning. Then I have to remind you that I'm working in Thailand, and internet traffic to the States came to an almost standstill. Everything was produced according to schedule, but the uploading was impossible. Due to a stupid earthquake in Taiwan. And they promised us that we will have problems for the next couple of weeks. So now you know. How to explain this murder attack on Prime Minister Tony Blair? Miami International Airport says there was nothing wrong with their lights and still a very dangerous situation developed when a plane, with Tony Blair and family on board, over shot the runway. I asume the pilot was not drunk. America is a friendly country to the U.K. We know however that people are calling for Mr. Blair to resign as soon as possible. These calls come from within his own country. Could this have been something far more sinister then we are being told?

But as usual, I don't care whatever you do, for whatever reason, as long as you don't forget: Love a soldier. Love, Jenifer. bloomjenifer@yahoo.co.uk

Is Saddam going to die any time soon?

Click to Play

One: Oil Pipeline Blast Kills at Least 260 in Nigeria.

Two: Former U.S. president Gerald Ford dies at age 93.

Three: According to Spanish Doctor: Fidel Castro Does Not Have Cancer.

And... Four: Appeals Court Upholds Saddam Hussein's Death Sentence. Official says the death sentence will go ahead within 30 days even without ratification by Iraq's leaders. That can't be right. He's still in court for a different case, for which he might be sentenced to death as well.

Those were the headlines for today. How stupid can one be? Don't they know that it is NOT a good idea to vandalize a pipeline which transport petrol. Don't they know that stealing petrol is very, very wrong? Don't they know that petrol, and the gasses coming with it, can explode when there is only one little spark? 260 petrol thiefs died. Hope that the surviving people there did learn their lessons. If you want something buy it. Don't steal it. Gerald Ford died, age 93. He was the president who had to take over from Richard Nixon, and my guess is that is the only thing most people know of him. May he rest in peace. People in Iraq believe in swift justice. They promised to execute Saddam within 30 days, and they don't care that the poor man is still in court defending himself against other serious crimes. I personally think that all court cases should be concluded, and sentences handed over, before executing him. That should buy him some extra time.

But, as usual, I don't care whatever you do, for whatever reason, as long as you don't forget: love a soldier. Love, Jenifer Bloom. bloomjenifer@yahoo.co.uk.