Very, very painful! Don't know a better way to torture a dev.

.

DaRapture:

Well from my limited understanding of the situation, the low numbers are due to a deliberate effort by the gov. to maintain active force numbers at between 70K and 80K. This is most likely do to an unwillingness to invest the necessary funds to maintain an active force of the appropriate numbers needed.

This show of lack of willingness to invest the properly needed funds in the military is also shown in the fact of that most of the force still uses AK's as their standard rifle, they purchased crap Chinese knockoff fighter jets instead of Russian, American or Euro among other Chinese junk, and American and Eastern European Cold War and WW2 error jalopies.

I agree with you on that. I don't see these guys buying a B2- stealth bomber or an F-14|-15. You by any chance a Military brat?

DaRapture:

So are you telling me that the Nigerian military doesn't offer mechanical, engineering, medical, electrical, and other skills courses?

I suppose they do. I think they have a university kinda school(NDA maybe, not sure). I don't think it solves the problem else, we should have a higher number of ground forces.

Dpeacemaker101: These are men and women who have chosen to protect us, so stop the trash talking.

Please show me where exactly I talked trash about the brave guys at the war front and I will apologize for it.

isaco: Learn how to appreciate. Most of dis people who are condeming jtf can not even kill fly. Jtf is working, yet some fools are abusing them. Do you think is easy to face gun men? Boko haram who are ready to die. Jtf well done!Learn how to appreciate. Most of dis people who are condeming jtf can not even kill fly. Jtf is working, yet some fools are abusing them. Do you think is easy to face gun men? Boko haram who are ready to die. Jtf well done!

Bros how far na? Didn't you read my previous post where I commended them? And by fools I suppose you think I'm among them, I never condemned anybody.

P.S: I can't even kill a chicken, yeah so you are right. I can't stand to be on the other side of a gun. But you do realise we are humans, push us hard enough and we will retaliate!

Bullets are not confined to the scene of a gun fight. It doesn't just drop if it didn't hit it's intended target. The "innocents" I'm concerned about are those who are hit by those kinda bullets, someone in his house, a woman looking for a child she couldn't find, anybody caught in the cross fire!

DaRapture:

LOL, you're totally fooling yourself if you seriously think that that is why most of the folks in the US military have joined. Nah, most joined for the free education, and because THERE ARE NO FREAKING JOBS LEFT!! You gotta do what you gotta do, and if you're facing being out on the streets, on welfare, and loaded with debt, then risking your life for a couple of years in the military starts to look damn good to a lot of people.

That's why the majority of the nation's military is filled with poor, under educated, and previously unemployed people from the back country woods, and ghettos of the nation. You think these people join because they're gong ho to go die in the desert to make some politicians richer? Hell no; they do it because they are willing to risk death, in order to obtain the benefits in which the service offers, and get up out of the dead end lives they've been dealt.

My point exactly! The gov't has something to offer those who are ready to put in the time. What does the Nigerian gov't have to offer?

ekwah:

Won't you fight for peace to reign?

There was a time when I would, fight for peace that is (e.g joining the Armed Forces). Yeah well, those were "optimistic" times. I'll still fight for peace for Nigeria but not on a battle field. I think I can do that from the Internet! I'm a realist about Nigeria's condition.

I'm just sorry for all those who lost anyone to preventable/avoidable disasters in Nigeria, may God strengthen you guys. I'm all for a better Nigeria, but I don't see that happening. Not even in the distant future!

DaRapture:

One major problem is that the nations ground forces are severely undermanned. There's only 75,000 personal in the entire Nigerian active military. That's waaay undermanned for a nation as big as Nigeria, and with like 160Mill people, especially considering that it has forces stationed in Sudan and other West African nations, a militant group running wild in the North and another currently calm one in the South East oil and gas region. That nation should have a ground force of at least 100,000 alone in active duty easy. I wonder why they are so content on keeping their military numbers so low.

I can understand being a Soldier in US or UK, at least I know I'm fighting for freedom for my unborn kids(if IED no tear my leg for Black hawk Down remake or Fallujah) or the very least freedom for my neighbour and a better chance for 'em in the pursuit of happiness. Let's face it, there is nothing to fight for in Nigeria. Not for me anyways.

And if you must quote me, abeg use sense and don't start any blind patriotism here.

To quote Coldplay, "I'm gonna buy a gun and start a war, if you can tell me something worth fighting for".

I just pray no innocent person was killed/hurt. I still get shivers down my spine from a video I watched of those goats killing handicapped ppl. Anyhow know how that went(any gov't response or just anything)?

All else aside, good work!

Excuzeme:

Your post am afraid to say, does not even portray you as a Christian?
Why?
First, Christians are followers of Christ and Christ NEVER RETALIATED, when attacked.
Remember that "Peter drew his sword, to defend Christ, by cutting-off one ear of an "attacker" but Christ admonished him and "REPLACED the EAR"!

Read your statement above and tell me how hat compares with the account above?
That is why l said you are NOT qualified to call yourself a Christian, you bring disrepute to Christ's name.

But then, l feel for you....and people who have suffered the death of a loved one from the Boko Haram terrorist.
TWO WRONGS CANT MAKE A SINGLE RIGHT! You will just be another terrorist if you slit their throat!

TO MUSLIM AGAINST TERROR GROUP: What l think we should do is this:
-Granted, these people volunteering to protect the churches can be infiltrated by BH members.
They themselves should know this and expect that Christians will be wary of them.

-They should now put methods and process in place to verify thoe who want to participate. This is just fine-tuning he original idea.
_Dont just walk up to a church and say you want to "protect".
-Organize yourself first, get an "organisation" going, identify "leaders".
-Vet those who want to join. (background checks)
-Design Vests and number them serially. Distribute these to those who want to participate.
-Design I.D cards with pictures and even better, finger prints/biometrics (simple ones)
-Have a database of Volunteers.Pass these to Govt Security Agencies.

Dont rush things even though you meant well. The situation is volatile and delicate.

-Do everything within your power to breed TRUST, there is so much distrust already.
-Be very open and upfront with your activities. Start on a small scale first. Ask Govt to give you Soldiers to lead the team.
Like Two "armed" Soldiers leading a Team of 20 Volunteers

-Identify the church each team is going to FIRST, liaise with their Leaders very well, breed their trust and confidence and tell them what to expect. let them tell you were they need you. Dont go beyond that point 'cos you will still be under watch and some suspicions, no matter your good intentions.

I want to believe your intentions are genuine though you should expect "suspicions" for now.
This is what we have been asking the "muslim Spiritual fathers" in the North to do, all the while: Condemn the terrorist act, speak out against it, show positive effort to eradicate it.
TOGETHER, WE ARE STRONGER THAN ALL BOKO HARAM,....TOGETHER WE CAN RENDER THEN USELESS and DEFEAT THEM.

I urge Christians to "show magnanimity" but at the same time, REMAIN VIGILANT!

I'll give you a hug if I can. #u-have-plenty-sense-kinda-hug.

All ye trolls can learn from this human. Instead of looking for someone to lash out at or worse creativity versus criticism come up with ideas that can help the situation at hand. Er'one has stupid things to say but the difference between a wise person and a foolish person is that the wise know not to say those stupid things(at least most times). Think before you grab that keyboard to type anything!

The surest albeit slowest way to break people that have stood the test of time is "divide and conquer". What do you think will happen? "Muslims" bomb "Xtians", "Xtians" retaliate and bomb "Muslims", you think the people in power gives a rat behind what happens to either of us? When we should be fighting the gov't for our rights we are busy killing one another!

On another note, how hard is it really for the FG to stamp those roaches out? I believe it's all gov't machinations. I'm open to facts that prove otherwise.

Very easy to say beauty is only skin deep (yeah it truly is) and when faced with such decisions ourselves we bail. Have you guys ever seen a Hollywood romantic movie with ugly Romeo and beautiful Juliet or the roles reversed(me I haven't sha)?

@OP, So help you God!

P.S: Please stop crying about your parents. Man up!

There is a tide in the affairs of men, which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune but omitted, and the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and mesires. On such a full sea are we now afloat and we must take the current when it serves or lose the ventures before us. - One Tree Hill(but I think it belongs to one of W. Shakespeare's novel, maybe Julius Ceaser)

crusifis:
AND ONLY THOSE WITH NORTHERN USER NAME, KEEPS OBJECTING THIS MOVE

That name abi? What with the tales of the two Farouqs already, I might even change it sef(kidding ). I'm not against the move, I'm just saying we should think about the side effects of such action. It's not like U.S has ever "won" any war they went into. U.S is like the biggest hypocrite in the world, they keep policing other states while their buddy Isreal keeps using Gazans(not like they are all innocent either) for target practice.

I'm for anything that will solve this crisis without leaving a long term negative side effect. I believe this is our battle and we must fight it ourselves, their self imposed "democracy" hasn't solved the problems of the nations they occupy.

I know talk is cheap but I will gladly accept to be sacrificed if it'll make peace reign in Nigeria, but who I'm I kidding, life itself is a battle.

P.S: It's more of an Arab name.

crusifis:
u sound like a boko haram sympathizer. i believe our security system is compromised, so the best thing is for a neutral security system (usa) to be involved.and get dis shit out of ur country once and for aall

U couldn't be more wrong. Like he said, be careful what you wish for. Why didn't America go into Rwanda during the genocide(or the numerous genocides), well cus America has no financial or national interest there. Hell, they can't even have a military base there. Why were they so quick to remove Ghadaffi, actually the guy's time was due and they wanted Libya(there's this black thing there they call oil). Nobody is doing anything about Bashar Al Assad and he has killed as much people as the Libyan dude did, well they control him already.

I'm all for strong military actions against those imps. I mean it's someone's relative they kill any time they strike. I just hope the yankees won't leave an Afghanistan when they leave, if they decide to leave.

BTW I doubt he is a BH sympathizer.

My facts on the Holy Crusades are a bit sketchy. Muslims will be quick to claim Christians massacred 'em, but from my research so I far I believe na dem dey go find trouble by waylaying pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for Pilgrimage. If anyone has a good resource please point me to it. BTW I'm a Muslim and I believe justice must be served(except under duress , I no fit die o ). Sorry for the digression.

edicolove:

While I wouldn't want to join in the insults and war of words, I do have a simple question for you:

Are the terrorism and destruction that are going on in Afghan, Iraq, Sudan, Palestine, India by muslim groups also caused by Nigerian politicians? Because I see a clear pattern here. These killings and destructions have been on since the sixties. BH only increased the frequency and sophistication. So you have to do more to convince us here that it is not a fundamental characteristic of Islam as a religion.

I read the Qur'an and I know how it is trying to deduce it's meaning. The Qur'an is for the intelligent, no pun nor insults intended. It's this same grey areas that
ppl use to further their cause(s). I mean, you watched that Iron Man movie where Don Cheadle was asked to read a line from his report and the presiding judge wanted to put the wieght of his case just on that line alone. There is something called context and you miss that when you try to deduce the meaning of a line of the Qur'an(even ur school books sef, or your work stuffs) without knowing what goes before or after it. C'mon, you won't be a fair judge if you passed out judgement on someone without hearing his side of the story(and investigating properly).

There is even a verse of the Qur'an if taken outta context seems to curse those who pray, meanwhile what it actually means in context is that there is a curse on those who pray mindlessly.

You prolly heard all that before. There is even a verse which says when u kill an inncocent person, it's like u've killed er'one. U prolly heard that before too.

IMHO, I think the problem is the Northerners/Arabs. I believe they are easily compelled to fight, I know it sounds "puuf" but c'mon you think the Egyptians would have ousted Mubarak if they were Nigerians or the Tunisians will have removed Bin Ali if they were Nigerians? We all know how the subsidy ish went.

Then I also think there is widespread illiteracy and poverty, so much so that anyone will do anything for money or for a better tomorrow.

The cabals er'where, U.S included just exploit these to foment trouble. In the end, it's about money and power which you can only get from oil. Why is that it is only oil rich nations that have a "terror" problem, granted they have crazy leaders too.

Fact that one bears a Muslim name or is born into a Muslim home doesn't make one a Muslim(except you want to go into technicalities).

The wars you mentioned above are just being fought by people who want their land back. At least not in a dirty way like Isreal.

We can go all year and argue about what is right or wrong. What we need are solutions. Anybody can analyse.

acidtalk: You people should stop putting up threads on the front page that are likely to distabilize the country.

Boko Haram Doesn't represent Islam and are not fighting for the interest of muslims. Even Christians who are none sentimental know this fact.

Boko haram is more of a political implanted miscreants to distabilize the nature in order to attract self pity and easy means to divide Nigeria when the need arises.

+1

@Maasoap if what you say is true, then I have to raise the stupidity level of Nigerian politicians. IMHO, I doubt it had anything to do with the crash even if that is true. And please people should stop saying the plane was hovering in Iju. The only reason a plane has to hover is if it is awaiting clearance for landing from the control tower and until it gets it, it will be placed in a a holding pattern probably along with other planes around the airport (You will even be able to see them in the air). All these is medicine after death anyways. I just pray God gives those who lost anybody in the crash the strength to bear the lose.

@maasoap, thanks for the hindsight.

I know Nigerian diplomats er' Cabals are stupid, but this is beyond them. They can't shut down the airspace for the "First Lady", I meant "Her Royal Blunder". Besides, this isn't the first time such "Cabals" will fly in. So why are we just hearing the issue of an airspace being shut down. Nigerians are just looking for whoever they can blame the ill fated crash on. And if a plane were to hover, it will do so on the final approach, that is when it is just around the airport and not about 4 nautical miles away from it. And we already have with good reason to believe that the said plane had some major engineering faults.

If you want to peddle a rumour at least make sure it is sound. You can take a cue from U.S, they are very good at it.

May the souls of the departed rest in peace.(And maybe haunt those bastards that killed them). Amen!

Same with Selenium. You simulate a visitors experience. Too much work!

Learnt a lot from this thread. I use unittest for my Python code. And if u have to test code which are dependent, u can always mock the object. Seeing as this is about tests, anybody ever used Selenuim to automate browser tests? IMHO, I think it is more work than is actually needed.

While I'm not really good at this stuff. I think collaborative filtering makes sense, u know inversion and all.

@knotty Nice report, you remind me of Teju Cole, a US based Nigerian writer. He reports news that way also, using metaphors( I don't even know which is which) and all that.

As for the news, sad story. I hope justice is served and RIP to those who (lemme try my own Teju Cole) bought a one way ticket to the great beyond.

NOTICE: To trolls, I mean no disrespect, really sorry about those who died.

@OP, easy on the "hacker". Shot u an email already.

Different problems require different tools but I hope this helps you clear up some stuffs a little.

http://www.readwriteweb.com/hack/2012/01/infographic-php-vs-python-vs-r.php

Good work Dr.

NOTE: He didn't invent. Don't those Vanguard guys watch American movies.

Hello guys, I just wanted to list some free Computer Science resources I use.

1. Opencourseware by MIT

It contains lecture notes, video and audio files for almost all the lectures in the departments in MIT(Best engineering university in the world

http://ocw.mit.edu

2. OpenClassroom by Standford

Some selected subjects are treated.

http://openclassroom.stanford.edu


The one below contains topics/subjects presented using slideshows and videos and runs for a stated time and is kinda fun coz there is a forum where you get to

collaborate with fellow students and discuss the lectures, solve problems, submit assignments on a deadline etecetera. I shoulda posted it earlier but kinda

forgot

The parent link is at http://www.coursera.org

It addresses a good number of Computer Science topics such as Machine Learning, Algorithm Design, Computer Vision etcetera.

Registration for some topics may be inactive because the topics has "ran it's course" if you will but the videos and forum is still there for those who would want to browse through.

I recommended the "PHP5 for dummies" because I read that cover to cover

Seconded! While I haven't really read this book in particular, I can vouch for the dummies series(I have read a few) cos I think it's well suited for er' beginners.

I buy your idea. Please suggest books you have read and if possible rate it. You should be able to do this if you have read all the books you recommended.

@nicekeno I don't mean to be forward and I'm sorry if I'm wrong. I think you intended a pun in the above quote. I suggested and rated only a book which I know is appropriate for her level(coz I used it, s'matter of fact still do albeit seldom).

I just don't want us confusing the OP with books we recommend. Like I said before, I'm sorry if no pun was intended.

Also guys, I know we are all trying to help. However, I have found out/noticed something in me and a couple others when learning a language/tech. Whenever people have a wide array of recommended books or resources, they do not really follow one(I know I don't, at least in my noob years), they just move from one to another, hence not really learning anything(I speak for myself and about 20 guys I know who do the same).

I suggest we only recommend books(maybe the *good* ones we read when we were in her shoes) that will help a beginner and she can pick from the oft-repeated/recommended book(s). We can even rank them on a scale(say 1 - 10 being from best to worst) and then hopefully the one with the highest will be the best.

Personally, I recommend "Beginning PHP and MySQL from Novice to Professional" and I give it a resounding 1. If you can really study and master the concept, you will be well on your way to becoming a good developer.

NOTE: We can even have a library of recommended PHP books for noobs in this forum.

I hope you guys get my idea.

Please @OP, Since you seem to be a beginner in web programming, I wouldn't advice you opening that PHP Master book. It's like learning to fly before you know how to walk. Most experienced devs will say it's not hard, that's cos they are "experienced" so the light bulbs just clicks. I'll advice you use beginning PHP and MySQL from Novice to Professional. And study it, don't just read. Write every code you have to, don't copy and paste.

All the best!