The power brokers in Jonathan Presidency

THERE are many definitions of politics. One of them is the art or science of determining who gets what, where and when. In any government, there are men and women who have the ears of the ruler and can influence allocation of resources, appointments, projects and day-to-day decisions of the administration. Such people are known as power brokers.

The power brokers in Jonathan’s Presidency

Under President Goodluck Jonathan, a number of men and women have clearly emerged as power brokers. Some of these personalities played crucial roles in getting President Jonathan elected and are wielding enormous powers of influence in the polity today.
Notable personalities of influence in Jonathan’s administration include First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan; Vice President Namadi Sambo; Senate President David Mark; Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Petroleum Minister, Mrs Deziani Allison-Madueke; Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Governors Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo and Peter Obi of Anambra.
Others include Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; PDP’s acting National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje; House of Representatives Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal; Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim; Mr. Femi Otedola; and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi among others.
Patience Jonathan
From the outset, Dame Jonathan has remained a pillar of sorts to the President. She was in the thick and thin of the presidential campaigns. She crisscrossed all parts of the country, wooing the electorate for her husband. She has also remained very visible as First Lady. Unarguably, she is one of the greatest power brokers around Jonathan. Many who want patronage from government go through her. With her matrimonial bond to the President, she is said to have not only helped Jonathan at the home front, but also influenced some government decisions, especially appointments.
Mrs. Jonathan is said to have been the driving force in the decamping of Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State from the Progressive Peoples Alliance, PPA to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Her imprint is large in the politics of Abia State and it would not be surprising if her influence through her husband’s power expands to other neighbouring states, particularly Cross River State. She presently has very close relationships with Obioma, the wife of Governor Liyel Imoke.
Vice-President Namadi Sambo
Regarded as a loyal deputy, Namadi damned the consequences to work for the success of his joint presidential ticket with Jonathan at a time a section of the North where he hails from opposed Jonathan and wanted power to return to the North.
As a measure of his influence, President Jonathan recently dissolved the boards of statutory bodies such as agencies and parastatals, and appointed Sambo to head a committee of five to select new members for the more than 400 boards.
Other members of the powerful committee are Senate President David Mark, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, PDP acting National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, who is the secretary.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Arguably, Okonjo-Iweala is one of the most powerful female power brokers in government.
She is practically in-charge of President Jonathan’s economic agenda. Aside being the Finance and Co-ordinating minister of the economy, she heads the Economic Management Team, which has as members, business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru and two others.
Regarded as defacto prime minister, Okonjo-Iweal as heads a 15_member Economic Implementation Team.
Other new members of the economic team are Managing Director of Access bank, Mr. Aigboje Aig_Imoukhuede and the President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Kola Jamodu, Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Allison_Madueke; Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Adesina Akinwunmi; Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga; Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen; Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu; Minister of State (Finance) Yerima Lawal Ngama and Minister of State (Health) Mohammed Ali Pate.
There are also Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Professor Nwanze Okidigbe; Special Adviser to the President on Monitoring and Evaluation, Professor Sylvester Monye; Director General, Budget Office, Bright Okogwu and the Director General Bureau of Public Enterprises, Bola Onogoruwa.
David Mark
Senator David Mark was said to have been a stabilizing factor in the difficult and teething days of the Jonathan presidency last year. Early in the week, he reportedly convinced his fellow senators against passing no confidence vote on President Jonathan over the rising wave of insecurity in the country occasioned by the Boko Haram insurgency. Having been in the Senate since 1999, a record four terms, Mark is now Nigeria’s longest serving Senate President.
Willy_nilly as Senate President, Senator Mark has been shaping the character of the Jonathan administration through his consideration of the administration’s legislative proposals.
As chairman of the Senate committee on the whole, he has led the screening of the administration’s most prominent appointments, notably ministers. So far, Senator Mark, who has not blocked any nomination, is said to be highly regarded by the President, hence hie has been appointed into the committee of Famous Five.
Olusegun Obasanjo
Since 1999, Obasanjo has remained a major factor in Nigerian and Aso Rock politics. He played decisive roles in getting Jonathan nominated as running mate to late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, his swearing as acting president when Yar’Adua became terminally ill and now as elected president. He backed Jonathan during the bitter debates on whether or not Jonathan should be elected because of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP zoning formula. Obasanjo play crucial roles in those appointed ministers especially from the South-West.
As the political godfather of the sitting President, Obasanjo would of course not be easily discountenanced even if his voting power was almost inconsequential to the President’s election victory. Jonathan, obviously, is not primed to go against his political benefactor yet.
Deziani Allison Madueke
The Petroleum minister is said to be one of those who calls the shots at the Presidency. She is one of the very few ministers who got reappointed into their portfolios after the May 29, 2011 inauguration. She is also a key player in the Economic Team led by Okonjo-Iweala. Allison-Madueke also played defining roles during the electioneering camapigns.


Sanusi Lamido
The controversial CBN governor has been known to dish out monetary promises that had kept the government, investors and the citizenry on their toes since he came on board two years ago.
Since his appoinment, he has remained a key player in Jonathan’s economic rejuvenation programme.
Rotimi Amaechi
The Rivers State governor, aside massing a lot of votes for Jonathan at the presidential polls, is a second term governor of one of the richest states in the country. He has now emerged as chairman of the Governors Forum and could rally the 36 state governors to buy into President Jonathan’s programmes and policies as exemplified by the governors’ initial opposition to the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF).
Femi Otedola
The business magnate has remained a great pillar and loyalist of President Jonathan. The president had travelled with him on most occasions since coming on board. The rapport between them is getting smoother and rubbing off on the policies of President Jonathan.
Dangote, Ibrahim
Unarguably, Aliko Dangote and Jimoh Ibrahim could pass for Nigeria’s leading business mogul now. The president met with them and other business leaders in Lagos shortly after his re-election to look at government’s business policies. Given their business empires and their rating in the business community, they are playing crucial roles in reshaping the economy.
Bukola Saraki
The out-gone chairman of the governors’ forum and now senator backed Jonathan ferociously at the polls after losing out in the preliminary battle for the PDP as a consensus Northern candidate. He had played key roles in the presidency through nomination of ministers and is still recognised and respected’ in the presidency.
Godswill Akpabio
The governor of one of Nigeria’s richest states was on the driving seat for the election of President Jonathan. He contributed a number of foot soldiers, who fanned out to get the job done. He is now a second term governor and hails from the President’s South_South geo_political zone. The current thinking, it was gathered, is that ‘the good music’ should play on and the outcome_ a major role for Akpabio in Jonathan’s government.
Peter Obi
Although he is of the opposition All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Governor Obi is the chairman of the South_East governors forum and vice chairman of the NGF. He also alongside the Ohanaeze rallied the South_East and Ndigbo, to vote Jonathan at the last elections.
Oronto DouglasBarrister Oronto Douglas, renowned environmentalist, lawyer and civil activist is unarguably one of the President’s closest advisers. He did underground and open campaigns for Jonathan’s election last April.Since about 2004 when he crossed the Rubicon from activism towards public service he has consistently been near to offer advise to Dr. Jonathan.
Though he entered government as a commissioner for information and strategy under the Dipreye Alamieyeisia administration, he resigned when the later was impeached and though he was reportedly invited by Governor Jonathan to remain in office, he declined but remained very supportive of the Jonathan administration helping behind the scene.
He is playing a role in laying strategic blueprints and measuring key parameters that would define the Jonathan legacy.

Rep. Bachmann accuses Obama administration of ‘strategic blunders’ in US war against terrorism

WASHINGTON — Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann is accusing the Obama administration of committing “strategic blunders” that have hampered U.S. efforts to combat terrorism.

Bachmann concedes that President Barack Obama achieved a “tactical” success in bringing down al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and in taking out some of his cohorts in drone attacks.

But she tells NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Obama “is allowing the ACLU to run the CIA,” complaining that it was wrong to ban waterboarding.

Bachmann argued in Saturday night’s foreign policy debate for reinstituting waterboarding. She said the intelligence community has been deprived of the ability it once had to get vital information from detainees in the war against terrorism. The Minnesota congresswoman said Gauntanamo isn’t a long-term solution and that “we have no jails for terrorists.”

Canada will join negotiations on Pacific trade zone

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Sunday that recent decisions south of the border against Canadian interests are a result of the current "political season," rather than a change in U.S. policy towards Canada.

Harper made the remarks as he headed into a lunchtime meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama at the APEC summit in Hawaii Sunday.

CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife tweeted that the two leaders held their meeting at a picnic table outside the summit. Images from the scene show the two leaders with jackets off and sleeves rolled up, chatting easily with big smiles on their faces.

However, official statements about the meeting indicated that the two leaders covered serious ground during their talk, including the recent decision by the U.S. State Department to delay the $7 billion Keystone pipeline deal.

After Harper headed into the lunch meeting, Fife tweeted: "PM Harper to tell Obama Canada will sell oil to China if keystone pipeline not approved."

Before the meeting, Harper told reporters that decisions deemed unfavourable to Canadian interests, such as the Keystone delay and so-called "Buy American" budget provisions, are not final.

A budget proposal Obama put forward last week also includes a $5.50 "passenger inspection fee" for Canadian travellers to the United States.

"Remember, not all these things are final decisions," Harper said. "I think Canadians would be wrong to interpret any of these decisions as against Canada.

"This is simply the political season in the United States and decisions are being made for domestic political reasons that often have little or nothing to do with what other countries may think."

In a statement, Obama's press secretary said the president used the meeting with Harper to discuss the recent developments in the Keystone pipeline issue.

"The President underscored his support for the State Department's announcement regarding the need to seek additional information about the Keystone XL Pipeline proposal to ensure that all questions are properly addressed and all the potential impacts are properly understood," the statement said.

Obama also outlined the importance of the two countries working together "to enhance economic competitiveness, create sustainable economic growth and jobs."

The president also extended an invitation to Harper to visit Washington in December.

In an appearance on CTV's Question Period, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said the year-long delay in the Keystone pipeline is "a disappointment" that will force Canada to look across the Pacific for customers for oil.

"We've got to go where the trade is," he said from the APEC summit. "We're here at APEC. We have great friends in the Asia-Pacific community. ... This is a tremendous opportunity in the long-term and medium-term for Canada."

Flaherty said the pipeline delay will hurt the United States economically because it will erase "thousands and thousands of high-paying jobs, largely union jobs."

And he added that Canada will explore other avenues.

"The process is already moving forward," he said. "The sooner we can increasingly access markets in Asia the better."

The unexpected opportunity to raise some key issues privately with Obama came about because Mexican President Felipe Calderon cancelled his appearance at the APEC summit after the death of his interior minister in a helicopter crash.

Harper and Obama crossed paths Saturday night at the official opening dinner for the APEC summit as the president welcomed the various world leaders to his home state.

Obama asked whether the Harpers' two children had come for the meetings, but Harper's wife Laureen said "we wanted them to be away from all of this."

In advance of his special meeting with Obama, Harper met Saturday with American business leaders who were in Hawaii for an Asia Pacific business summit. They included executives from FedEx, Time Warner, Walmart Asian, Johnson and Johnson and Cargill.

The head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, who was also at the table, described the gathering as a meeting with family.

"We value the extraordinary relationship we have between the United States and Canada," Tom Donahue said. "We have a list of issues that will consume a lot of discussion."

Donahue cited the economy, the oilsands, and even the Keystone pipeline as matters to be raised.

The Harper-Obama sitdown came only days after the U.S. State department ordered TransCanada to reroute its proposed pipeline and subject it to further environmental assessment, which will delay the $7-billion project at least another year.

The 2,700-kilometre pipeline would bring crude from the new oilsands expansions in northern Alberta to be turned into gasoline and other fuels in Texas, the hub of the American refining industry.

Canada has lobbied hard for an expanded pipeline to be built, saying it would provide jobs and economic benefit to both countries.

But opposition in the U.S. has been vocal, including high profile environmental protests. The rerouting and subsequent assessments allow Obama to delay making a controversial political decision on whether to allow the pipeline to be built.

Harper said he was "disappointed" by the delay, but said the project is far from over.

"We have already indicated of course that we are disappointed," Harper said. "Nonetheless, I remain optimistic that the project will eventually go ahead because it makes eminent sense."

During his news conference, Harper also expressed Canada's willingness to join a new trade sub-group that Canada has so far been excluded from.

Harper said Canada now hopes to join the Trans Pacific Partnership, and can meet all membership criteria, "so it is something that we are interested in moving forward on."

The Harper government had opposed the requirement that Canada show a willingness to consider dropping supply management policies for certain industries.

Harper said Sunday that while "all matters are on the table" during negotiations to join the group, Canada will seek to defend and promote our specific interests in every single sector of the economy."

The visit to Hawaii has been fruitful for the Canadian delegation. The prime minister's Sunday session with Obama will be his fifth bilateral discussion of the weekend, including one with Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Critical meeting with Obama

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S. President Barack Obama will hold a key bilateral meeting Sunday afternoon following the APEC summit in Hawaii, at a critical juncture in the Canada-U.S. relationship.

It was uncertain whether Harper would score some coveted face time with Obama after the North American leaders’ summit — to be held this weekend in Honolulu with Mexican President Felipe Calderon — was cancelled due to the tragic death of a Mexican minister in a helicopter crash in that country.

A helicopter crash Friday, in bad weather, approximately 70 kilometres south of Mexico City killed Interior Minister Francisco Blake Mora, and other Mexican government officials.

In a statement, Harper said he was profoundly saddened to learn of the death and that he and his wife Laureen “offer their heartfelt condolences to the families of Secretary Mora and the other officials killed today, to Mexican President Felipe Calderon, and to all citizens of Mexico.”

The accident, while a huge blow to Mexico, threatened to scrap any private meeting time Harper might have had with Obama this weekend, as the prime minister looks to address a growing number of irritants in the cross-border relationship.

The Obama administration’s decision on Thursday to delay a final ruling on the Keystone XL oilsands pipeline until after the November 2012 presidential election is just the latest in a series of prickly issues in the threadbare Canada-U.S. relationship.

The U.S. president held bilateral talks with a number of global leaders on the sidelines of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting, which wraps up Sunday.

Obama is slated to hold tete-a-tetes with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda. Harper originally didn’t have a separate bilateral meeting planned with Obama before the so-called Three Amigos summit was cancelled.

Harper will need a deft diplomatic touch to address a growing number of cross-border issues that are sparking more questions about the strength of Canada-U.S. ties.

The U.S. government’s decision to examine rerouting the Keystone XL pipeline — which would carry up to 830,000 barrels of oil per day from northern Alberta to refineries on the Gulf Coast of Texas — could postpone a final ruling for 12 to 18 months, and potentially longer if a new environmental assessment is needed.

Canada and the U.S. are also looking to finalize the Beyond the Border initiative, a bilateral trade and security agreement designed to better co-ordinate intelligence-sharing at the border and streamline cross-border trade.

The Harper government originally said the plan would be ready by the end of summer, but details still haven’t been unveiled.

Also, Canadians and Mexicans travelling by air or boat to the United States now face a new $5.50 surcharge implemented this month by the U.S government — which Harper has attacked as a bad policy designed to bail the U.S. out of a huge debt on the backs of Canadians and other visitors.

There has also been some tension between Canada and the U.S. in recent weeks after the White House included new Buy American provisions in Obama’s $447-billion job creation bill that could prevent Canadian companies from bidding on billions of dollars of infrastructure contracts.





“Perhaps the Harper government has failed to convince the Americans to go in the direction they wanted,” said Christopher Sands, a specialist in Canada-U.S. relations at the Hudson Institute, a think-tank in Washington D.C.

“There’s something in the air here where the Obama administration, as it heads into re-election, is in a couple of its significant gestures sending a signal that the way that Washington views things hasn’t changed,” he added.

“And that ought to be frustrating to the Harper government, I would think, because they put a lot of effort into not only telling the Canadians things had changed, but building these bilateral things.”

On the Keystone XL, Sands argues the White House simply “messed up” and is now in a serious jam over an issue that threatens to derail Obama’s re-election hopes.

Environmentalists were looking for an issue to grasp on to, he said, and the pipeline seems to offer something for several green groups because there are concerns about land, air, water and climate change.

“It’s just a sign of how badly the president is concerned about his re-election hopes, that he can’t afford to upset his constituency,” Sands said. “The delay we’re now stuck with is because the president mishandled the file.”

Harper and other Pacific Rim leaders are in Honolulu for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting, where the 21-member group — including Canada, the United States, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea and Russia — will work towards greater economic integration in the region and eliminating trade barriers.

APEC’s partners account for more than 80 per cent of Canada’s total trade in merchandise and more than half of global gross domestic product. Two-way trade between Canada and APEC economies totalled more than $650 billion in 2010, compared to roughly $375 billion in 1994.

The Conservative government’s main objectives for the APEC summit include: promoting Canada’s international trade agenda and advancing regional economic integration; championing Canadian commercial interests in the region and showcasing the country to world leaders and senior executives from APEC economies; and advancing Canadian foreign policy goals such as emergency preparedness and open governance.

British spies halted Gaddafi attack

Britain's intelligence agencies thwarted a deadly attack on the leadership of the anti-Gaddafi rebels in Libya, Foreign Secretary William Hague has disclosed.

The agencies were able to warn the National Transitional Council in Benghazi of the danger after discovering details of the planned attack by Muammar Gaddafi's former regime, Mr Hague said.

He said the agencies - which include the Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, and the electronic "listening" agency GCHQ - had played a key role in the conflict which brought Gaddafi's 42-year dictatorship to an end.

"Throughout the conflict in Libya, the agencies used their global capabilities to provide insight into the intentions of pro-Gaddafi forces and to understand the progress of the battles around Brega, Misrata and finally Tripoli," he said.

"They worked to identify key political figures, develop contacts with the emerging opposition and provide political and military intelligence. Most importantly, they saved lives.

"For example the Gaddafi regime tried to attack the National Transitional Council in Benghazi, and to kill some of the Western representatives in Libya. The agencies obtained firm intelligence, were able to warn the NTC of the threat, and the attacks were prevented."

Mr Hague was delivering a rare public speech on the work of the intelligence agencies, which he described as "vital assets" with a "fundamental and indispensable role" in keeping the nation safe.

The disclosure of the agencies' involvement in Libya comes amid criticism that MI6 had been too close to the former Gaddafi regime and was involved in the extraordinary rendition of anti-Gaddafi activists.

Speaking at the Foreign Office, Mr Hague acknowledged Britain's standing in the world had been damaged by allegations that MI5 and MI6 officers had been complicit in the extradition and torture of terrorist suspects. But while he said the Government was determined to tackle the issue, he strongly defended controversial proposals for secret court hearings in civil cases when evidence involving sensitive intelligence material was being discussed.

He said that it was essential the agencies were able to protect their sources and their methods if they were to carry out their work effectively. "A blend of people, technology and partnerships give us an intelligence edge. If our techniques come to light, adversaries benefit and are able to switch techniques and communications resulting in a loss of knowledge about their plans," he said.

Where is Libya going?

Although Gaddafi’s departure was swift and violent when it finally came, the dictator’s demise was long coming. What remains is a Libya in turmoil, as rebels in some part of the country have turned on each other to settle personal scores.

The National Transition Council, in many ways the country’s de-facto leadership since the start of a revolution, has set an eight month target for elections - meaning the if all goes well it will be the first democratic election the nation has seen since 1972.

This will be no easy task however, demanding courage and patience from leaders like Mahmoud Jibril. The country has only begun to rebuild and restart after a devastating year, and important income as that from oil is slow in recovery due to massive damage to infrastructure.

Insistence that the elections would give fair trial to the government loyalists the rebels fought to topple, is an important maneuver that will help deflate grudges and retaliation from this group. Some would-be Libyan politicians are positive to this, although the matter is far from settled.

To ban any political parties from standing, would make the next election another flawed story. Fears of regime loyalists returning to old ways should be abated by introducing laws which limit power of the executive and the implementation of a sufficient check and balance system which will not allow ultimate power to any one institution, party or individual.

New leaders will also have to struggle with the volatile society they wish to lead, which includes getting young rebels back to school, and organizing a system to control and collect the plethora of firearms that are now in the hands of countless former revolutionary forces spread around the country.

Ian Martin, UN envoy to Libya said that the country “is coming from nowhere in terms of useful electoral experience,” and he is right. The country has no electoral lists, no electoral districts and few people in the country – which has been undemocratic for the better part of the past 40 years - even understand the concept of a political party or running for office.

There is no doubt that much is still to be done, and in order to succeed the interim leadership will need great support from its citizens. This however, should hopefully be the smallest issue, as scenes from other newly democratic Arab states such as Tunisia tells us that the Arab Spring have dealt people newfound confidence in elected governments and the power of their own voice.

Such celebratory voting will in part aid the process of an election, but the challenges to Libya’s electoral infrastructure is by far the greatest amongst the Arab Spring siblings.

Gaddafi's son to remain in Niger

Moscow : Saadi Gaddafi, the son of slain Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, will remain in Niger until the UN lifts a ban on his freedom of movement, Niger's foreign minister has said.

"We are obliged to respect this resolution. He (Saadi) is here, he cannot travel. Until that resolution is revised, he will stay in Niger," Foreign Minister Bazoum Mohamed told state television Tuesday.

Saadi, 38, fled Libya for Niger in September together with other members of his family after rebel forces established control over most of the country in August. He was granted asylum on humanitarian grounds in Niger.

Interpol has issued an arrest warrant for Saadi at the request of Libya's transitional authorities.

Libya has called on Niger to revise its "unjustified position" because such statements, according to Tripoli, "do not help build relations based on mutual respect".

Muammar Gaddafi was killed Oct 20. In September, Interpol put the ousted Libyan leader and his other son, Seif al-Islam, as well as his intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi, on a wanted list.

Baba Ramdev compares Congress leaders to Gaddafi

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev is finding characteristics of Muammar Gaddafi in various leaders of Congress party.
"They (Congress leaders) all have the same characteristics as Gaddafi's. If they continue to have the same attitude, the day is not far when they will also experience the same end as Gaddafi, Ramdev told the media here.
Ramdev said the Congress party was responsible for various graft scams and said it was unwilling to draft an effective Lokpal Bill to fight corruption.

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"Why are they not making an efficient Lokpal Bill to fight corruption? Why do they not take any strong steps to make the existing system effective, transparent and accountable? Why are they not taking steps against the corrupt policies, whether it is about injustice to farmers or in the field of education and health," he added.
He challenged Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi to undertake revolutionary changes in the country.
"If Rahul Gandhi holds an important position in the Congress party, then why does he not take any action towards changing the election process?" he asked.

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Can President Goodluck Jonathan Do It | Newsflavor

Can President Goodluck Jonathan Do It | Newsflavor

From a group, the Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum (YRLF) came yesterday a damning verdict on President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration: it has no policy thrust.

The forum said Jonathan appears not to have solution to the nation’s myriad of problems.

It said the sad reality were indications that the people’s expectations will never be met going by what it called diminishing policies in state affairs.

Read more: http://newsflavor.com/politics/us-politics/can-president-goodluck-jonathan-do-it/#ixzz1SrKxdWN9

Is Obama Guilty?

Is Obama Guilty?

Osama Bin Laden, responsible for the 9/11 attacks, has finally been killed! On Sunday night, Barrack Obama confirmed he was killed in a fire fight in Pakistan. As soon as this news was released, it was on news all over the world, and Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard giving a live speech regarding his death.

After the death of Osama Bin Landen a conference meeting was held and Obama Said

“Tonight I can report to the American people and to the world, that the United States has conducted an operation that has killed Osama bin Laden — the leader of al-Qaeda and a terrorist who is responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children”

BUT NOW

President Barack Obama has been accused of crimes against humanity for ordering the assassination of terrorist Osama Bin Laden and his death at the hands of US Navy Seals. Isn’t this priceless. The irony of these charges is not lost at Jihad Watch that ponders such charges are brought against an individual who has so misdiagnosed Islamic jihad.

A Spanish lawyer has formally accused Barack Obama of crimes against humanity for ordering the assassination of Osama bin Laden.

Daniel Fiol lodged a written complaint at the International Criminal Court accusing the US president of breaching the Geneva Convention.

In his written complaint, the Majorca-based lawyer said bin Laden should have been “pursued, arrested, tried and convicted” on behalf of “the victims of some terrible and appalling atrocities”. The killing of bin Laden was even worse as it took place in foreign territory, Pakistan, without the permission of that government, he said.

Just curious, wasn’t it the LEFT that wanted the United States to join the International Criminal Court, especially when they liked war crimes being brought against former President Bush and VP Cheney. However, the shoe is on the other foot now, I wonder how the LEFT feels now? One World order, eh? I wonder how “The One” and the Left think of these war crime accusations?

What do you think?

Obama is Guilty

Obama is Guilty

Osama Bin Laden, responsible for the 9/11 attacks, has finally been killed! On Sunday night, Barrack Obama confirmed he was killed in a fire fight in Pakistan. As soon as this news was released, it was on news all over the world, and Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard giving a live speech regarding his death.

After the death of Osama Bin Landen a conference meeting was held and Obama Said

“Tonight I can report to the American people and to the world, that the United States has conducted an operation that has killed Osama bin Laden — the leader of al-Qaeda and a terrorist who is responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children”

BUT NOW

President Barack Obama has been accused of crimes against humanity for ordering the assassination of terrorist Osama Bin Laden and his death at the hands of US Navy Seals. Isn’t this priceless. The irony of these charges is not lost at Jihad Watch that ponders such charges are brought against an individual who has so misdiagnosed Islamic jihad.

A Spanish lawyer has formally accused Barack Obama of crimes against humanity for ordering the assassination of Osama bin Laden.

Daniel Fiol lodged a written complaint at the International Criminal Court accusing the US president of breaching the Geneva Convention.

In his written complaint, the Majorca-based lawyer said bin Laden should have been “pursued, arrested, tried and convicted” on behalf of “the victims of some terrible and appalling atrocities”. The killing of bin Laden was even worse as it took place in foreign territory, Pakistan, without the permission of that government, he said.

Just curious, wasn’t it the LEFT that wanted the United States to join the International Criminal Court, especially when they liked war crimes being brought against former President Bush and VP Cheney. However, the shoe is on the other foot now, I wonder how the LEFT feels now? One World order, eh? I wonder how “The One” and the Left think of these war crime accusations?

What do you think?

Celebration of an Icon Nelson Mandela Birthday

Celebration of an Icon Nelson Mandela Birthday

President Wife

President Wife

Obama History Questioned

Obama History Questioned

Is Rudy Guliani Ready

Is Rudy Guliani Ready

Hacking Scandal

Hacking Scandal

Scandal

Scandal

Hacking Scandal

Hacking Scandal

Obama B-day

Obama B-day

Nigeria Security

Nigeria Security

President Wife

President Wife

President Barack Obama Began to Publish Personal Tweets This Month on His Campaign's Twitter Feed

President Barack Obama Began to Publish Personal Tweets This Month on His Campaign's Twitter Feed

Obama Hunts for Debt Deal

Obama Hunts for Debt Deal

Romney Lambastes Obama in Hampton

Romney Lambastes Obama in Hampton

Bomb Blast in Maduguri Killed Seven Soldiers

Bomb Blast in Maduguri Killed Seven Soldiers

Obama B-day

Obama B-day

Facebook Fires Employee On Insider Trading Allegations

 
Facebook allegedly terminated an employee over allegations that he bought the company’s stock on the secondary market.

Michael Brown, manager of Corporate Development at Facebook, bought the shares back in September 2010, according to a report from TechCrunch.


A source told TechCrunch that Brown was terminated for violating Facebook’s policy that prohibits buying and selling of Facebook shares on secondary exchanges.

Such secondary exchanges offer investors a chance to buy and sell tough-to-trade assets like those of private companies like Facebook. Investors are buying up such shares through through companies like SecondMarket.

The sellers of privately held shares are usually former employees or early investors who are looking to cash out. And, of course, there are plenty of other investors eager to take those shares off their hands.
(Check out my colleague’s Steven Bertoni piece on SecondMarket creator Barry Silbert in the June 7 issue of Forbes where he notes that connecting buyers and sellers in the shares of privately-held tech companies was the company’s fastest-growing market.)
The secondary trading arena is getting extra attention these days in light of the SEC’s recent interest. In December, there were reports that the SEC was asking Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Zynga for information related to trading activity of its private shares.
Facebook’s shares are particularly hot these days for obvious reasons including Goldman’s investment in the social networking company. Goldman Sachs investment in Facebook valued the company at roughly $50 billion. The firm invested $450 million of its own money and was planning to offer Facebook shares to high net-worth individuals investors

It’s been a bit of a bumpy ride since that news broke. There have been perceived conflicts of interest and regulatory concerns.

Right off the bat, Goldman feared that it’s deal with Mark Zuckerberg’s company was becoming too public. Regulators prohibit private offerings from being publicly  promoted and Goldman was nervous that all the hype around its Facebook offering would be questioned by the SEC.

As a result of that and other concerns, Goldman pulled the offer away from U.S. investors and offered it instead to foreign investors only who are not subject to the same restrictions.

So, if the allegations about Brown buying and selling trades on the secondary market are true, then it will come as no surprise that Facebook fired him for it.

The TechCrunch story says Brown bought the shares back in September-that’s before the Goldman deal was announced. That may not matter if Facebook’s ban on trading secondary-market shares was in already in effect.

Regardless, the last thing Goldman and Facebook need before a potential IPO are their own insiders’ drawing more negative attention to the deal.

Ford Folks Shuffles Riches

By FESTUS UR
4 April, 2011

Picture: William Clay Ford Sr.
The headline out of Ford Motor’s annual proxy statement, released Friday afternoon, is no doubt that the company paid chief executive Alan Mulally and executive chairman William C. Ford Jr. each $26.5 million in 2010.

That’s in addition to the big stock payouts Ford made to the two men last month as a reward for the automaker’s turnaround — $56.5 million in Ford shares for Mulally and $42.4 million for Bill Ford Jr.
Just as interesting, though, is the fact that elder members of the Ford family appear to be reducing their personal stakes in the company by selling or giving shares to other family members.

The Ford family owns less than 2% of the company’s shares, but controls 40% of the voting power through a special class of stock. There are 71 million Class B shares, about three-fourths of which are held in a voting trust. The rest are held by individual family members. The family has a pact that Class B shares put up for sale will first be offered to other family members.

It would appear that’s what has happened recently. Patriarch William Clay Ford, the last surviving grandchild of Henry Ford, owned 9.5 million Class B shares, or 13.3% of the total, as of Feb. 1, 2010. But a year later, his stake is down to 6.7 million shares, or 9.5%. Bill Ford Sr.’s current stake, including an estimated 26.3 million common shares, is worth about $500 million.

Meanwhile, his son Bill Ford Jr., the company’s executive chairman, has increased his Class B holdings to 6.9%, from 5.8% a year ago. (He also owns 14.7 million common shares)
The largest owner of Class B stock is Lynn Alandt, a cousin of Bill Ford Jr., who owns 7.4 million shares, or 10.5% of outstanding Class B shares.

Also divesting Class B shares in the past year is another cousin, Eleanor Ford Sullivan, who reduced her Class B holdings to 3.6 million shares, or 5.1%, from 7.9% a year ago.

Some Class B shares are going to various trusts, perhaps for younger generations, according to the proxy. Trustee David Hempstead, a Ford family attorney, now controls 7.3 million shares, or 10.3% of the Class B shares, up from 8.64% a year ago.

Hempstead was not available for comment, and a Ford Motor spokesman did not immediately return a phone call.

How To Easily Share Your Wireless Connection in Ubuntu 9.10

Ubuntu users are adept at fishing for tutorials and how-tos. Between the official Ubuntu help page , the Ubuntu Forums and MakeUseOf Ubuntu Bible, almost any problem can be solved. Almost.
Recently I tried setting up the laptop computer in my office to share its wireless Internet connection via Ethernet. That might be a little confusing, so allow me to expand. I work for a carbon neutral computer repair company so I regularly have people’s computers at my house. I work on these computers in my office, where I don’t have a wired connection to the Internet. I do however have a wireless connection and a Ubuntu laptop on my work desk that connects to the Internet.
What I wanted to do was plug my client’s computers into my laptop and have them access the Internet. When I tried to search for how to share your wireless connection in this way, I mainly found a series of cryptic instructions ““ often revolving around the excellent Firestarter firewall ““ none of which worked for me on Ubuntu 9.10.
But don’t worry ““ there is a simple way to do this, and I figured it out accidently while following all the various sets of instructions I found. As a service to the Ubuntu community,  here is a simple step-by-step guide on how to share your wireless connection via your ethernet port in Ubuntu.

Step 1: Edit Network Connections

On your top panel, beside your clock and your system icons, you’ll see your network indicator. When you’re connected to wireless, it features bars telling you the stength of your network connection. Right-click this, then click “Edit Connections.”

Step 2: Edit The Ethernet Settings

In the window you just opened, make sure you’re looking at the “Wired” tab. Then select the “Auto eth0” connection and click “Edit.”
Alternatively you can create a new connection by clicking “Add” but I found it simplest to just change the default. Just be sure to remember that you changed this setting in case you ever want to use your Ethernet port to access the Internet again, because you will have to change it back to do so.

Step 3: Set To Share

Here’s where stuff starts to look confusing, but don’t panic: it’s not that bad. Click the “IPv4 Settings” tab. Beside the word “Method:” there is a drop-down menu that allows you to pick the manner in which your Ethernet device connects to the network. Select the “Shared to other computers” setting.
Restart your computer. Assuming everything applied correctly, you should now be able to connect any computer to the Internet via your laptop’s Ethernet port.

Conclusion

That’s certainly quite a bit easier than the methods I found by searching for how to share your wireless connection. So why did my exploration of the forums and the numerous other resources available to Ubuntu users not point this out? Well, as far as I can tell, network sharing’s only been this easy since the release of Ubuntu 9.10. No one’s asked for help regarding this since, so there’s no new information on the forum, or the wikis, or the various Ubuntu blogs about it.
This shows that there is a limit to what you can learn about using an operating system from forums. Sharing a network connection is far easier now than it was 6 months ago, but because no one is asking for help on the forums I couldn’t find any evidence that doing so is easier now – I saw only the cryptic instructions of yesteryear.
Know that I don’t mean to criticize the excellent Ubuntu community for their lack of support; on the contrary that community is the main reason I use Ubuntu. I just think this is a good example of a relatively simple task you can’t really learn by searching the forum.
What do you think? Is there a better way for the Ubuntu community to make finding tutorials like this easy to find? If so, what is it? Let’s discuss this in the comments.

7 Things That Are Easier To Do In Ubuntu Than In Windows

When the average computer user hears about Ubuntu or Linux, the word “difficult” comes to mind. This is understandable: learning a new operating system is never without its challenges, and in many ways Ubuntu is far from perfect. I’d like to say that using Ubuntu is actually easier and better than using Windows.
This doesn’t mean you’ll experience it that way if you’ve used Windows for a long time: at a certain your habits begin to feel like conventional wisdom, and any system that doesn’t match your current habits will seem difficult.

If you’re a MakeUseOf reader, however, you’re undoubtedly a fan of free software. Most of the very best free software is open source. If you’re a Windows user who primarily uses free software, Ubuntu’s going to feel more comfortable to you than Windows once you get used to it. And once you do get used to it, you’ll realize that in some ways Ubuntu is simply better than Windows in terms of ease of use.
Don’t believe me? Here are some examples.

Finding & Installing Software

There’s a misconception out there that installing software on Ubuntu, or any Linux platform, requires a PhD  in Computer Science. Nothing could be further than the truth; in fact, I’d argue installing software on Ubuntu is a great deal easier than installing software on Windows.
Let’s examine the typical installation scenario for Windows users. Pretend there’s a person named Sally, and that Sally wants to install VLC Media Player. Sally Googles the name of the program, finds a webpage related to it, browses that page until she finds a download for Windows before finally downloading an executable file.
Assuming Sally is pretty tech-savvy, she verifies that the site she downloaded from is a proper place; if not, it could come from anywhere and be infected with any number of spyware, trojans and/or AOL toolbars. Once the file has finished downloading, Sally double-clicks the executable she just downloaded, tells Windows it’s okay to install the program, then follows the series of prompts and clicks “next” several times.
Now let’s pretend Sally is an Ubuntu user. To install VLC, all she needs to do is click “Applications,” then “Ubuntu Software Center” then search for “VLC“, double-click VLC and click the “Install” button at the bottom of the description. She’ll enter her password and then Ubuntu will download and install VLC for you, letting Sally know when it’s done.

Best of all: because the software is all coming from one place, and not some random website, you know with complete certainty that the file doesn’t include any spyware or trojans.
In my opinion, Ubuntu’s method of installing software is far simpler than Windows when compared side by side. The main reason people new to Ubuntu have trouble installing software is because they try to apply the Windows method to Ubuntu, searching the web for programs to download instead of consulting the Ubuntu Software Center first. Packages found online could indeed be very hard to install, but considering the Ubuntu Software Center gives you access to thousands of programs there’s very little reason to ever bother with it.

Initial Setup

When I first install a computer, there are certain things I want installed right away: codecs for all my music and movies, Flash for my web browser, Java, and something capable of opening RAR files. On Windows, ensuring I have all of these things means going through the process above for all software mentioned individually. On Ubuntu, all I need to do is install a single package: Ubuntu Restricted Extras. To install Ubuntu Restricted Extras I simply open up the Ubuntu Software Center, search for “Restricted” and find the package.

Click the install button, and with that simple step my computer is pretty much ready to go.
It should be added that on Windows systems I usually have to install a PDF Reader and a photo editor before I can really use the system, but Ubuntu comes with a PDF called Evince Reader and a photo editor called The Gimp by default.

Installing Drivers

This point is perhaps less relevant for users of Windows 7, which offers pretty good driver management through Windows Update, but it needs to be said that managing drivers on Ubuntu is a breeze. Since Ubuntu is upgraded every 6 months, if you use the latest version you probably won’t need to install a single driver to use your computer. If  you do, it will be because the drivers you need are proprietary and as such cannot be included with Ubuntu for legal reasons.
Don’t worry, though: Ubuntu comes with a built-in program for downloading such proprietary drivers for your system. The first time your computer boots Ubuntu, it will inform you of any drivers you need, and install them for you with the click of a button.
I fix Windows PCs professionally, and wish XP had a similar feature. If my client has his or her driver CD it’s not too bad, but if not I’ve little recourse but to download the drivers the annoying Windows way, as described in the “Installing Software” section.

Using The Menu

While we’re talking about installing software on Windows compared to Ubuntu I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out my Windows pet peeve. When I install a program on Windows, it is added to the Start Menu. Where is the program added? In a folder named for the company that made the software.

This is infuriating to me, because knowing which program made the software doesn’t tell me what the program in question does. There are so many sub-menus that I frequently don’t know where to begin. Compare this mess to Ubuntu’s menu, which arranges programs by what they do:

Only five sub-menus, and all with a certain logic to them.
To be fair, the Start menu in Vista/Windows 7 is a little better than this in that I can search for a program. This means I can avoid ever looking at the terrible menu ever again. But this seems more like working around the issue instead of repairing it.

Changing Your Theme

Changing your color scheme on Windows is easy, but if you want to customize beyond changing the palette some work is in order. I use a custom theme on my Windows XP system, but installing it was anything but easy. I needed to hack a certain DLL to achieve this, something I should probably highlight in a future tutorial.

I’ll never need to write a tutorial explaining how to do this on Ubuntu, however, because it’s dead simple. Just click “System,” then “Preferences,” then “Appearance.” You’ll be shown a number of quality themes, and switching to any one is as easy as clicking it. If these themes aren’t enough for you, head over to Gnome-Look and find something that suits you. Installing the theme is as simple as dragging the downloaded package to your “Appearance“ window.
I should make a confession here: I’ve never attempted to do this in Windows 7. By the looks of Karl’s article about the top 5 Windows 7 themes, customization is now Ubuntu-like in Windows 7. Good to hear!

Getting Updates

When it comes to updates, Windows is a jungle. Adobe, Apple, Google and many more companies will all install their own update managers to your computer, most of which will bother you every time you boot your computer asking you to update various products.
On Ubuntu, there is only one update manager. This means keeping all your software up to date is simple, and that you don’t have 30,000 programs bothering you every time you boot your machine.

Sharing Your Wireless Connection Via Ethernet

I wrote an article about sharing your wireless connection in Ubuntu. Since then I’ve switched the computer on my desk to Windows, and I cannot for the life of me figure out a way to achieve the same thing. Maybe you commenters can help me out, but every configuration I’ve used to share my wireless Internet connection via Ethernet in Windows resulted in my wireless not working anymore.
So I’m going to go ahead and say this is easier to do in Ubuntu, half because it’s true and half because I think this will cause one of you guys to recommend a Windows method that works for me.

Conclusion

In many ways, Ubuntu is easier to use than Windows. Does this mean Ubuntu is superior to Windows? Of course not, and I wouldn’t suggest so. You should use whatever operating system works best for you.
All I wanted to do was challenge the conception that Windows is easier to use in every aspect. Ubuntu has become easier to use every year, and I think even inspired a few of the changes in Windows 7 (I’d love to see a Windows 7 ad in which a Linux developer claims Windows 7 was his idea, because unlike the people in those silly advertisements the Linux developer would probably be right.) This isn’t a bad thing: competition makes everything better. Whenever new improvements are introduced to the operating system market, eventually everyone wins.
Please also note that most of the things described here are true of other Linux distributions as well, and the only reason I left these distributions out is that saying “before you install Linux you must choose from the thousands of distributions out there” hardly helps the argument that Linux is easy to use. For the vast majority of new Linux users Ubuntu is an excellent starting point, and that’s why I’m highlighting it here.
What do you guys think? Do these things sound easier to do on Ubuntu than Windows to you? Can you think of anything else easier in one operating system than another? We have a comments section, so comment!

Why Are There So Many Versions of Ubuntu? [Technology Explained]

I talk about Ubuntu here at Festusur.blogspot.com; I have also publish 7 things easier to do in Ubuntu than in Windows immediately.  And I stick to the claims made in that article: in many ways Ubuntu is easier to use than Windows.
But in some ways Ubuntu can be downright confusing; particularly when you’re first getting started. There are many different numbered Ubuntu versions, such at 9.04, 9.10, and 10.04. And there are many downloads that play off Ubuntu, including Xubuntu and Kubuntu.

If this confuses you, you should just stick with the default download offered over at Ubuntu.com. If you want to learn more about the different Ubuntu versions, however, keep reading.

What The Numbers Mean

The first thing that might seem confusing is numbered Ubuntu versions. The most recent version of Ubuntu is 9.10, but at the end of this month comes 10.04. Many people see these seemingly random numbers and question why “9.10″ and “10.04″ aren’t simply numbered version “9″ and “10.”
There’s a very simple reason, actually: these aren’t version numbers, they’re dates. “10.04,” the Ubuntu version to be released this month, is so named because it is the fourth month of 2010 – 10.04. New versions of Ubuntu come out every six months, and the number structure always refers to the year and month of release. In October of this year, for example, will come 10.10.
And the alliterative animal names attached to the releases? Don’t let these names confuse you. They are kind of fun, so community members use them, but they’re largely intended to be used internally so don’t panic if you’re not sure what name goes with what number.

Flavors

So that’s what the numbers behind every version of Ubuntu mean, but why are there seemingly so many different names for the operating system? Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu…the list goes on and on.
Well, Ubuntu’s not alone in this regard. Windows 7, for example, has many different versions: Home Basic, Home Premium and Ultimate, to name a few. Ubuntu being a free operating system, however, its different versions aren’t set apart by arbitrary inclusions of features on a tiered pay scale; rather, the different versions are essentially different bundles of free software built around the Ubuntu core.
They are akin to different flavors of the same ice cream; all are delicious, but some people prefer one to another. Ubuntu seeks to cater to all those preferences, so they offer several flavors.

“Normal” Ubuntu

When people talk about Ubuntu, they are probably referring to the project consistently released as “Ubuntu.” This operating system uses the Gnome Desktop, which is considered the most popular desktop today.

Ubuntu is probably the best operating system for new Ubuntu users to explore, as it is the most polished and complete. If you’re not sure what you want, get this. Perhaps in time you’ll want to try another version of Ubuntu, perhaps not. Either way, Ubuntu is the place to start.
Download Ubuntu here.

Kubuntu

Ubuntu is based on Gnome; Kubuntu is based on KDE. It’s a rough analogy, but KDE is Windows-like while Gnome has more in common with OSX; that is, Gnome is designed to be user friendly by limiting the number of (largely useless) configuration options, while KDE is designed to be as configurable as possible. Which philosophy you prefer is ultimately a matter of preference, but if you’re confused by the difference just stick with Ubuntu for now.

Otherwise, you can get Kubuntu here.

Xubuntu

Based on the lightweight XFCE desktop, Xubuntu is intended for use with computers too old to run Ubuntu or Kubuntu competently. In many ways you’ll find it similar to Ubuntu, just with fewer of the bells and whistles that come along with Gnome. This lack of bells and whistles can be a feature if you’re using an older computer, however, which is why you might want to try out Xubuntu.

Download Xubuntu here.

Edubuntu

It’s Ubuntu, but with a number of tools intended to make education easier. You’ll find educational games as well as tools for tracking progress in the classroom. Like the rest of Ubuntu, this is completely free to use on as many computers as you like, so if you work at a school, look into Edubuntu to find out how it can help your school.
Download Edubuntu here.

Netbook Remix

It’s like “normal” Ubuntu, but tweaked for Netbooks. Ubuntu Netbook Remix features many of the programs you’re used to in Ubuntu, but made easier to use on the small screen. This is achieved by the user interface you see here and a few other tweaks (the most useful of which ensures every program opens maximized in order to best make use of the limited screen space.)
Download Ubuntu Netbook Remix here.

Server Edition

Like the name implies, this is the Ubuntu version for servers. You’ll get no GUI but you will have access to the vast Ubuntu repositories, which will give advanced users more than enough to build a killer server operating system. Consider this as for advanced users only.
Download Ubuntu Server here.

Other Official Versions

This list isn’t exhausting, of course; there are a number of other Ubuntu versions, official and unofficial alike. For information about other official distributions check here, and an exhaustive list of unofficial distributions can be found here. All are legal, of course, because Ubuntu is completely open source, meaning anyone can create their own Ubuntu version.

Conclusion

I fear this article may have added to the confusion about the different Ubuntu versions, but I hope that it’s been helpful. Like any open source project, Ubuntu can be altered to serve any purpose. Ubuntu’s been altered more than most, but that only means it’s known as a product easier adapted to any purpose. That Ubuntu itself is an adapted version of Debian only goes to further show how amazing the open souce ecosystem is.
What about you? Which Ubuntu flavor do you prefer? Are you excited about the impending release of Ubuntu 10.04? Or are you just angry because I used the words “open source” instead of the ambiguous “free software”?  Whatever your reason, if you comment I’m happy.

How To Make Your Own Ethernet Cables

I always wanted to write about hardware based articles. I didn’t necessarily mean that newest type of hard drives or the best MP3 players out there, like the blog Gizmodo does, but tips on all aspects of computers whether it is web based, software based, or hardware based.
I wanted to present to you, our lovely readers, with accessible and useful tips on hacking your hardware, to hopefully extend your expertise or rouse your interest in something else. Thus, for my first hardware article, it is only proper for me to pick a topic that many people would be familiar with, based on technology that most people, if not every one of our readers, would have in their homes: Ethernet cables.

Now you might be wondering why you would ever need to know how to make your own Ethernet cables. Well, let me ask you this: when you look at your Ethernet cable, is it spooled in coils, because it is much too long? Has the little tab on top ever fallen off, and rendered your cable useless? Does your cable look completely fine, but for some strange reason, just does not work? Well, then this article might be useful to you.

Many of these cables are sold everywhere, so knowing how to make an Ethernet cable is a necessary skill.

Materials:

1. A pair of scissors
2. An Ethernet crimping tool – not very expensive. I looked it up online, and you can find some for under ten dollars, although most are around the 15-20 dollar range.
3. Ethernet Connector - These aren’t very expensive either. A bag of fifty goes for about nine bucks on Amazon.
4. Either a spool of cat5e cable, or an existing Ethernet cable- On Froogle, I’ve seen 100ft spools of Cat5e cable go for as little as $3.
Optional: Wirecutters. I just use scissors.

First, if you’re simply shortening your cable, you should cut your cable to however long you need it to be, plus two or three inches extra, in case you mess up. If you are making an entirely new cable from a spool, then cut your cable with a margin of about four to six inches. If you’re just replacing the  connector, then just cut the connector off.
Now that you have a clean, cut wire, you need to make an incision about one inch down. You can use a wire cutter that is especially made to cut Ethernet wires, but I prefer to just use a pair of scissors. Be very careful not to nick any of the wires inside, though, or you will need to cut the entire thing off and start again. Make a few shallow incisions all the way around, and then pull the rubber casing apart; this is the safest way to cut the casing off without damaging the inside wires.

As you can see,  the casing contains four sets of two twisted wires, one solid color and one striped color. After you pull the casing entirely off, untwist the wires from each other, and straighten them out as best you can with just your fingers. Using a tool at this point would be too risky, because you wouldn’t want to risk damaging the inside wires.

In the picture above, you can see the order that the wires need to be arranged in. If you can’t tell distinctly from the picture, the order should be from left to right, white/orange, orange, white/green, blue, white/blue, green, white/brown, brown. Fan the wires out and make sure they are as straight as possible, and then line them up so that the wires lie flat next to each other, maintaining the order you arranged them in. Place your thumb firmly over the lined up wires, effectively pinning them in order, in place.
At this point, if the tips of the wires are not even with each other, snip them so that the tips form a straight line, but be careful not to cut too much. You’ll need a bit of excess wire to push into the connector, as you will see later.

Now, pick up your connector, and make sure that the flat side is facing upwards. If you look at the connector, you can see that there is a distinct slot for each wire at the very tip of the connector. Keeping your thumb very firmly over the wires, push the wires into the connector, being very careful not to let the wires slip out of order, or become misaligned.
Keep pushing the wires in until the tips are touching the top edge of the connector. Look through the tip of the connector, and if you can see the copper innards of every wire, then you’ve pushed the wires in far enough. Otherwise, you can try to adjust the misaligned wire using a pair of tweezers or pliers, or take the entire bunch out and try again.

Once you’ve made sure that all the wires are properly fitted into the connector, plug the connector to the matching hole in the Ethernet crimper. Squeeze down as hard as possible, and you should hear a bit of plastic cracking. Most Ethernet crimpers have a spring that, when triggered by squeezing, does not release until enough pressure is applied. Otherwise, just squeeze as hard as you can for about 10-20 seconds, and then consider your Ethernet crimped.

Now, you are pretty much finished constructing your Ethernet cord. The last step is to test it. If you have a Net Tool, then you can test whether the Ethernet is wired correctly using the Net Tool.  In the picture, all of the lines are parallel and unbroken, except for the last one, and this denotes a correctly wired and working Ethernet. If one or more of the wires are crossed with other wires, then you probably arranged the colored wires in the wrong order before pushing them into the connector, or the wires rearranged themselves while you were attaching the connector. If one or more of the lines are broken, then of of your colored wires is either damaged, or not pushed far enough into the connector.
If you don’t happen to have a Net Tool, the easiest way for you to test your new Ethernet cable is to plug it in where you would normally plug in the Ethernet cable to get a wired internet connection. Check whether your internet connects, and if it doesn’t, then you’ll need to snip the head off and try again. Otherwise, browse a bit, and celebrate, because you’ve just made your first Ethernet Cable! (by the way, if you’re making an entire new cable from scratch, you’ll need to put a connector on the other end using these same instructions, before you’re allowed to celebrate)
Perhaps you found this article enlightening, and thought that it might be an interesting weekend project to try. Perhaps you think this is just useless knowledge that will never be put into use. Either way, we would love to know what you think of these hardware articles, and what you’d like to see from us in the future. Leave us your comments, and tell us where to go from here!