No sooner that I wrote about a warm and dry winter expected in Canada because of El Nino that we had our first snow fall in the season.Yesterday, there was a snow squall with significant accumulation on roof tops and patches of grass. Today, there are still patches of snow on the ground, although most of it melted since the ground is not frozen yet.It felt like the dead of winter in January, but it was only October 13. This is very unusual for this time of the year. The CBC called it "historic", and the magnitude of it in the Niagara penninsula was huge. The town of Fort Erie had 30 cm of snow causing it to was shut down, including schools and business. Power was also disrupted for up to 155,000 customers.

Thanks to El Nino, most of Canada is expected to have a warm dry winter.I guess we would not need the Canadians For Global Warming movement that much this year.

NATO's commander in Afghanistan, General David Richards, says that the country is at a tipping point and that as many as 70% of Afghans could switch allegiance to the Taliban.

Note that the UK's defence secretary has stated before that the presence of foreign troops in Afghanistan has energized the Taliban.

Read the details in this BBC article.

This is a classic example of a 419 advance fee fraud email.What makes this interesting is the attempt to use flowery language, but coming out to be funny. Things like "humblelity". Another interesting aspect is the number of spelling errors ("rexpert", "surprice", ...etc).

----- Original Message ----From: joy koma <joy_koma39@hotmail.fr>To: joy_koma39@hotmail.frSent: Saturday, October 7, 2006 9:08:05 AMSubject: FROM JOY KOMAFrom Joy KomaDearest One,With due rexpert and humblelity writing you. And i know that my mail willcome to you as a surprice. I have a proposal for you,this however is notmandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honour against your will.Your profile that i saw in internet pushed me to send you this mail, I am joy Koma, 22 years old and the only Duaghter of my parents Mr and Mrs Ahmed Koma.My father was a highly reputable business man (a cocoa merchant) whooperated in the capital of Ivory coast during his days. It is sad to saythat he passed away mysteriously in France during one of his business tripsabroad on 12th.August 2002.Though his sudden death was linked or rathersuspected to have been master minded by an uncle of his who travelled withhim at that time. But God knows the truth!My mother died when I was just 6 years old Since then my father took us so pecial. Before his death on 12th.August 2002, he told me about a box he oncealed the sum of six million, five hundred thousand United StateDollars.(US D$6.5) deposited in one of the security company's here inAbidjan Ivory Coast West Africa, which he disguised and declared the box to ontain family valuables instead of money, by this way the company does not now the true content of the box.The deposit document which I have in my possession carries my late father's ame as the depositor, while I'm the next of kin on the same document.I am just 22 years old and a university undergraduate and really don't know what to do. This is because I have suffered a lot of set backs as a result of incessant political crisis here in Ivory coast. The death of my father actually brought sorrow to my life.Sir, I am in a sincerly desire of your humble assistance in this regards.Your suggestions and ideas will be highly regarded.Now permit me to ask these few questions:-1. Can you honestly help me as your Doughter?2. Can I completely trust you?3. What percentage of the total amount in question will be good for youafter the money is in your account?Please, Consider this and get back to me as soon as possible.Thank you so much,My Best regards,JOY

Another example of a "winning the lottery scam email".

An analysis on the BBC lists the bitter options facing the Bush administration as on what to do with the Iraq quagmire.

• There are four distinct wars in Iraq:
• Islamist jihadists against the USA
• Nationalist militants against the USA
• Shia militants against Sunnis
• Sunni militants against Shia
• The options so are are:
• Withdraw. This will only cause the violence to escalate, and perhaps a full scale civil ware.
• Increase the troops in Iraq. Public support may be limited and Congress may not approve the budget.
• Threaten to leave, in order to pressure the Iraqi government. That may not work, and the insurgents will see it as a victory.
• Negotiate with the insurgents. Unlikely.
• Divide Iraq into 3 autonomous states. This will cause all the conspiracy theorists who said this will happen be proven right.
• Continue what is being done today. Seems not to have worked, so why would it work in the future.

Read the details on the BBC. 

In the words of a farmer, the most profound man in Iraq, who are the foreign fighters?

Most Profound Man in Iraq — an unidentified farmer in a fairly remote area who, after being asked by Reconnaissance Marines if he had seen any foreign fighters in the area replied "Yes, you."

Another telling quote about high ranking visitors:

VIPs demand briefs and "battlefield" tours (we take them to quiet sections of Fallujah, which is plenty scary for them). Our briefs and commentary seem to have no effect on their preconceived notions of what's going on in Iraq. Their trips allow them to say that they've been to Fallujah, which gives them an unfortunate degree of credibility in perpetuating their fantasies about the insurgency here.

Another fake lottery winning scam email.

From: teresa allan <teresa_allan2008@hotmail.com> From: Mrs. Teresa Allan.Euro, Afro, Amrican, SweepstakeLottery Headquarters: 1a, BexonCourt Carlton Nottingham shireNottingham NG4 1SQEssex United KingdomCustomer Service: 580 NCA 85914Ref: EAASL/941OYI/03Batch: 12/25/DC34Dear CONGRATULATIONS!!We happily announce to you the draw of the Euro-Afro- American Sweepstake Lottery International programs held on the Monday 2nd of october 2006 in Essex United Kingdom. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: B9564 75604545 188 with! Serial number 97560 drew the winning: 02/07/22/33/38/44/, which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category.You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of 820,000.00 (Eight Hundred and Twenty Thousand Pounds) in cash credited to file KPC/9080118308/02.This is from a total cash prize of M1100,000,00, shared amongst the first One Hundred and thirty (130) lucky winners in this category world-wide.Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our Afrobooklet representative office in Africa as indicated in your play coupon. In view of this, your 820,000.00 Pounds (Eight Hundred and Twenty Thousand Pounds) would be released to you by our paying Bank in South Africa.Our African agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him. All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site through computer draws system and extracted from over 10,000,00 companies.This promotion takes place annually. For security reasons, you areadvised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize.This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements. Please be warned. To file for your claim, please contact our corresponding agent in South Africa immediately you read this message for quick and urgent release of your fund, contact information is as follows: -MR.johnson upper (Esq.)e-mail:johnson_upper@yahoo.caTel:+27 83 42 40 412Please be informed that all winning must be claimed on or before 15th october 2006. To avoid unnecessary delays and complications, please quote your reference/batch numbers in any correspondences with our designated agents or us.Congratulations once more from all members and staffs of this program that has successfully won this competition. Thank you for being part of our promotional lottery Program.Sincerely,Mrs. Teresa Allan.United Kingdom Zonal Co-coordinator.Mr. Alexandra DavisUnited Kingdom zonal Secretary General.

Desert truffles are an unusual desert crop related to European truffles, found in France and Italy. It can be found in North Africa from Morocco to Egypt, and in Syria, and Arabia.

Names and History

Its classical name is Kama' كمأ - كمأة but today is known as faqa' فقع or by the local variants zubaydi زبيدي -khalasi خلاسي in Arabia, to terfas in Egypt, and terfezia in Morocco.

They have been said to be served for Pharoahs, as well as Fatimid rules from the Muqattam mountain.

It has been known to Arabs for millenia, since the prophet is reported to have said: "Kama' is from manna, and its water is a cure for the [diseases of the] eye". 

Here is another sample of fake lottery winning.

CONTACT FOR YOUR PRIZE YOU WONMICROSOFT / LOTTO NL INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION PROGRAM Date: 2nd Octoberber, 2006 Ref Nr: AMC/231-ILGI0431/06Batch Number: EOS/15/096/TVFSSerial Number 472-9768-79Lucky Number:8-66-97-22-65-55Ticket Number: 20511465463-7655 Dear Email Bearer, CONSOLATION PRIZE WINNING NOTICE!!! Europe/America private international e-games organizers and Co-sponsors, MICROSOFT / LOTTO NL, officially bring to your notice of the final draw result of September-2006 MICROSOFT / LOTTO NL wheel E-game which was conducted at our international corporate office complex in The Netherlands . Most recently this foundation set up the NEW LOTTERY SCHEME to give out prizes based on COMPUTER BALLOT SYSTEM. By doing this the foundation seek to encourage the use of Internet for academic and business pursuits. It major aim is to promote music, theatre, art and literature projects in the social and political arena with a focus on health, as well as science, research, and higher education. We wish to congratulate and inform you on the selection of your email ticket number which was selected among the 10 lucky consolation prize winners. Your email ID identified with ticket No. 8-66-97-22-65-55 and was selected by our E-games Random Selection System (ERSS) with entries from the 50,000 different email addresses enrolled for the E-game. Your email ID was included among the 50,000 different email addresses submitted by our partner international email provider companies. You have won a consolation cash prize of $1,000 000.00 (One million Dollars Only). The MICROSOFT / LOTTO NL Group have approved a payout of your consolation cash prize which will be remunerated directly to you by the official Payment Agency Board. Our DUE PROCESS UNIT (DPU) will render to you complete assistance and provide additional information and processes for the claims of your consolation prize. For due processing of your winning claim, please contact the International Remittance Department Information Officer Mr. M Bruijne who has been assigned to assist you. Contact Person:NAME: Mr. M Bruijne E-mail: bigestlottonl@aim.comTel: +31-649-304-315Fax: +31-847-539-161 You are advised to provide him with the following information: Names:Phone/Fax number:Nationality:Ref Number: Batch Number: Ticket Number: Once again congratulations from all our staffs on your consolation prize winning, we hope you will partake in our forth coming MICROSOFT / LOTTO NL Email-games. Regards, Wendy Witkamp(Mrs.). (Group Coordinator) NB: In accordance with the MICROSOFT / LOTTO NL E-games policy and regulations, this notification is dispatched directly to only the lucky consolation prize Winners. This notification also contains information that is proprietary,privileged or confidential or otherwise legally exempt from disclosure. If you are not the right recipient whose email address attached to the lucky numbers along with the winning informations you are not authorized to read, print, retain, copy or disseminate this notice or any part of it.

It seems many people fall for this king of scam, otherwise the fraudsters would not have kept trying.