ohhh_yeah

***safety wink***

@@Ant

Not everyday that you hear a story that exhibits forgiveness like this. Iranian killer's execution halted at last minute by victim's parents When he felt the noose around his neck, Balal must have thought he was about to take his last breath. Minutes earlier, crowds had watched as guards pushed him towards the gallows for what was meant to be yet another public execution in the Islamic republic of Iran. Seven years ago Balal, who is in his 20s, stabbed 18-year-old Abdollah Hosseinzadeh during a street brawl in the small town of Royan, in the northern province of Mazandaran. In a literal application of qisas, the sharia law of retribution, the victim's family were to participate in Balal's punishment by pushing the chair on which he stood. But what happened next marked a rarity in public executions in Iran, which puts more people to death than any other country apart from China. The victim's mother approached, slapped the convict in the face and then decided to forgive her son's killer. The victim's father removed the noose and Balal's life was spared. Photographs taken by Arash Khamooshi, of the semi-official Isna news agency, show what followed. Balal's mother hugged the grieving mother of the man her son had killed. The two women sobbed in each other's arms – one because she had lost her son, the other because hers had been saved. The action by Hosseinzadeh's mother was all the more extraordinary as it emerged that this was not the first son she had lost. Her younger child Amirhossein was killed in a motorbike accident at the age of 11. "My 18-year-old son Abdollah was taking a stroll in the bazaar with his friends when Balal shoved him," said the victim's father, Abdolghani Hosseinzadeh, according to Isna. "Abdollah was offended and kicked him but at this time the murderer took an ordinary kitchen knife out of his socks." Hosseinzadeh Sr has come to the conclusion that Balal did not kill his son deliberately. "Balal was inexperienced and didn't know how to handle a knife. He was naive." According to the father, Balal escaped the scene of the stabbing but was later arrested by the police. It took six years for a court to hand down a death sentence, and the victim's family deferred the execution a number of times. A date for execution was set just before the Persian new year, Nowruz, but the victim's family did not approve of the timing. Hosseinzadeh said a dream prompted the change of heart. "Three days ago my wife saw my elder son in a dream telling her that they are in a good place, and for her not to retaliate … This calmed my wife and we decided to think more until the day of the execution." Many Iranian public figures, including the popular TV sport presenter Adel Ferdosipour, had called on the couple, who have a daughter, to forgive the killer. Although they did so, Balal will not necessarily be freed. Under Iranian law the victim's family have a say only in the act of execution, not any jail sentence. In recent years Iran has faced criticism from human rights activists for its high rate of executions. The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, accused Hassan Rouhani of doing too little to improve Iran's human rights, especially reining in its staggering use of capital punishment. As of last week, 199 executions are believed to have been carried out in Iran this year, according to Amnesty, a rate of almost two a day. Last year Iran and Iraq were responsible for two-thirds of the world's executions, excluding China. At least 369 executions were officially acknowledged by the Iranian authorities in 2013, but Amnesty said hundreds more people were put to death in secret, taking the actual number close to 700. Iran is particularly criticised for its public executions, which have attracted children among the crowds in the past. Iranian photographers are often allowed to document them. Bahareh Davis, of Amnesty International, welcomed the news that Balal had been spared death. "It is of course welcome news that the family of the victim have spared this young man's life," she said. "However, qisas regulations in Iran mean that people who are sentenced to death under this system of punishment are effectively prevented from seeking a pardon or commutation of their sentences from the authorities – contrary to Iran's international obligations." She added: "It's deeply disturbing that the death penalty continues to be seen as a solution to crime in Iran. Not only is the death penalty the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment with no special deterrent impact, but public displays of killing also perpetuate a culture of acceptance of violence. "Public executions are degrading and incompatible with human dignity of those executed. In addition, all those who watch public executions – which regrettably often includes children – are brutalised by the experience." In October last year an Iranian prisoner who survived an attempted execution and was revived in the morgue was spared another attempt, though his family said he had lost mental stability and remained in jail. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/16/iran-parents-halt-killer-execution

The IDF tweets that last night, it told the Red Cross to evacuate civilians from the Beit Hanoun shelter between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and both UNRWA and the Red Cross got the message. The military says that this morning, Hamas fired at IDF troops from a populated area near the shelter, and also prevented the evacuation of civilians from the area. It adds that earlier today, “several rockets launched from Gaza toward Israel fell short and hit Beit Hanoun.”

Sounds to me like he was sold on this team by getting to play next to Liverpool's new signing. "I played with Remy for France (youth) a number of times, and I like playing with him so much because he gives so many assists for strikers,” said Riviere. “Remy is like a (Hatem) Ben Arfa and (Yohan) Cabaye together, a mix. He is a very good player.” “Playing for France is one of the reasons I moved here." “So many French players have been selected for France after moving here, so I am hoping for the same." “It’s a great club to be noticed, so it’s a very good club for my career." “It should also be nice to have the French players around to help me settle and adapt.”

Even better. They have a game titled, "Silly Slots" and the logo looks similar to this.

This is the company behind FruityKing. http://www.probability.co.uk/ If there was a choice between having the FruityKing logo and the Probability logo I know which I would opt for.

Ashley will be telling Charnley to monitor this situation I am sure. Shakhtar’s Romanian coach Mircea Lucescu has blamed British-based agent Kia Joorabchian for persuading the players not to return to Ukraine. “It is necessary to explain what happened,” he said on Shakhtar’s website. “It is not the players’ desire, it’s their agents’ work. A few hours before the kickoff of the match against Lyonnais, Kia showed up. And after the game, at two in the morning, he took our players away. The very talented ones: Teixeira, Douglas, Fred. The rest are not so important. “He wanted to do the same to Adriano, Ilsinho, Marlos and Taison. But they refused. His goal is to make the players free agents, just to make money. This is wrong. This is his alibi. He wants to make use of the situation in the country and get the players for free. But they have contracts. Ferreyra has another agent. But he also expects to capitalise on the situation.”

Think I am smitten with a certain manager. Klopp about Hummels to Manchester United: “If that’s not a bullshit story, I’ll eat a broom stick”

Phillip Jones has mentioned the company he works for being the new kit sponsor. "Yes, Newcastle United, we are willing to pay a record breaking figure." http://www.winnersports.co.uk/newcastle-united-to-get-a-fruity-new-shirt-sponsor-74795 In a years time will we see the Wonga ditched?

Barcelona have lost the plot. They have announced the transfer of Jeremy Mathieu. Signed the 30 year old to a four year contract with a further year option. Valencia receive twenty million euros and Barcelona slapped a fifty million buyout clause in his new contract. Valencia must be laughing all of the way to the bank.

Had a few tokes earlier and decided I want empanadas tomorrow night. Went with three different fillings. First one I made consists of spinach, sauteed mushrooms, caramelized onions, and roasted garlic. Second one has baked potatoes, crumbled bacon, and smoked black pepper white cheddar cheese. Last of all I have a beef and boiled egg combo. When I awake I will have to make the dough or go buy some puff pastry. Wish I had a blast chiller. Tired but do not want to put my sheet pans in the fridge yet.

Second division club, Deportivo Lugo. Non-alcohol beer sponsor. They have a total of nine kits for next season.

With five more appearances.

Fat Sam's team getting destroyed right now against the mighty Wellington Phoenix. 2-nil.

Why would the club extend his contract when he still has a year left and they already want to get rid?

Long-serving Jonas Gutierrez, meanwhile, has not been seen on Tyneside since the start of pre-season training. The Gazette understands that Gutierrez – who spent the second half of last season on loan at Norwich City – has been told to find another club. The 31-year-old has a year left on his St James’s Park deal. However, Gutierrez – who has made 195 career appearances for Newcastle – is close to triggering a clause in his contract which would entitle him to a contract extension. And he has almost certainly kicked his last ball for United, though the club has made no comment on his situation.

You can get that down to 1:44. Get back out there.

Noticed the players were wearing something under their kits. Was that heart monitors I saw or a GPS system? If it was GPS, is there a website to view the information collected? I am sure there is confidential reasons why they would not release them during the regular season.

Watching on beIN Sports currently. They did not skip away for any advert.

Bloke on the left is the one who set up the online donation page. £28,000 collected so far.

Does all of the cost of these Brazucas he is kicking into the stands count against that number? Never seen a player do this at an unveiling.