Truly I believe that the segregation of the xeses here causes some of the problems. I know that those who live in The Sandbox believe otherwise, but there is something to be said for growing up - unsegregated - and learning how to deal with members of the opposite xes. I just don't buy this concept that it keeps the girls chaste and that it keeps men from thinking about what normal men think about [and yes, I am well aware that normal girls think about "things" too!]. I mean. Come on. How else do you explain all of the blackmail, arrests for "khulwa," and rape. Not that rape doesn't happen in other countries, but... The segregation causes other social issues, as well. Young men have no idea how to interact with young women and vice versa. Certain social graces go completely by the wayside. Because the culture does not allow young people to know any differently. My opinion. I have no factual data to back my claims up. I am simply stating what, to me, are general observations.
What is this? Who makes fun of rape? "Honeytrap rape." Is that supposed to be funny? Is there something comical about the violent crime of committing rape? No. I think not. "Police arrested two men and a woman who were involved in the rape of a man who was then blackmailed into paying cash to the trio..." [You read that correctly. "The rape of a man..."] "The man developed a relationship with the woman over the phone, which led to the pair going on a date... The man was, however, met by two huge men instead of the woman and taken to an apartment where he was filmed being raped by the men." Anyone care to play guess the nationality? And was this some form of punishment by the two men of the "rapee" for having a telephone relationship with the woman? Doesn't the woman have to accept some responsibility for her part in this, too? Do these kinds of things happen in societies that are not segregated? [Yes. Of course I know that rape happens. But not like that.] [Oh - and there are two crimes, there. Rape AND blackmail. Someone tell me how often blackmail is reported anywhere else in the world, outside of the Middle East.]
Tell me where else in the world, again, outside of the Middle East, where "khulwa" is a crime. Another couple has been "detained" in The Sandbox for carrying on an illicit relationship. "The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice [CPVPV] detained... a man and a woman residing together... on charges of 'khulwa.' The man [guess the nationality!]... claimed the Asian woman with whom he was sharing the flat was his wife, but investigations... provide that to be untrue and that their relationship was illicit." How did the couple get caught? Did the CPVPV just happen to be there? Did someone report them? Interesting, isn't it, that the CPVPV catch so many couples in "khulwa?" The same article has a one-line report about how the CPVPV "also detained a young man for attempting to lure a minor." What is that? Attempting to lure a minor? And how did it happen? Did the young man offer candy to the minor and say "come with me?" Was the minor a boy or a girl? And what was the young man's nationality? Seems to be important enough to report it when it is any nationality other than Saudi.
The attempted kidnapping of a young girl is reported here and here. The CPVPV were there and managed to foil "an attempt by four youths to kidnap a girl." What, exactly, were the four youths intentions, I wonder. Two of the youths have been detained. How long before they "confess" and tell the CPVPV who their other two accomplices are [if they haven't, already]? "The gang... attempted to grab a girl... after repeated attempts to convince her to get into their car. The four drove at walking pace alongside the girl and reportedly showered her with lewd remarks, but when they were met with a firm refusal the driver got out of the car [you're doing it wrong - dumbass] and grabbed the girl... and tried to force her into the vehicle." The CPVPV were nearby and the girl was released. I'm guessing the "gang" had intentions of more than just offering the girl a ride home, but who knows. Thankfully nothing happened and two of the "gang" members are in custody, probably singing like pigeons as they make their confessions. No nationality of any of the "gang" members or of the girl is mentioned.
What makes me think that the above-mentioned "gang" is going to confess? Criminals always confess to their crimes in The Sandbox. Like this Yemeni man. He has confessed to being responsible for "a number of crimes." To put that in a little bit of perspective, read this: "Police in Tanuma are conficent that they have put an end to a sweries of house and school burglaries in the region with the arrest of a Yemeni who has confessed to a number of the crimes. Police in the area had been working intensely to catch several thieves responsible for the burglaries, and believe they can now close the case following the detention of the Yemeni man on Tuesday." [Emphasis, mine.] Anyone else see just a teeny, tiny little inconsistency there? Anyone else think that the "series of house and school burglaries in the region" is going to stop now that ONE Yemeni man has been arrested? Um-hmm. Anyone curious as to how confessions are obtained? A caterpillar in the same cell as the detainee. That does it every time. Just ask William Sampson.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Saudis on a Plane
Unbelievable. Just unbelievable. And you wonder why people look at you funny. It is stuff like this [well, amongst a plethora of other "stuff"] that gives the world cause to ridicule. Completely senseless.
All I can say is that I have never had the dubious pleasure of flying Saudia and mostly likely never will. Cannot imagine that I would book a flight with them to go anywhere...
"Muhammad, is there a woman sitting beside you?" Thought for sure I was going to have to applaud some woman for becoming Saudi's second pilot [one of the Prince's has a "Captain" on his staff that is Saudi Arabia's first woman pilot; I think she's a flight engineer though and not really a Captain even though she calls herself a Captain]. But noooo. Of course not. It was a question "asked by the Saudia flight attendant when he saw a woman entering the airplane." The man, Abdullah Al-Maghlouth, who wrote the article says that "In 15 minutes, I changed my seat four times when the number of women entering the airplane kept increasing." Apparently the Saudia flight attendants do not know how to handle seeing "a woman sitting next to a man they think is a stranger." Imagine if there were ever a REAL emergency how they'd react. I shudder at the mere thought.
The Saudia flight attendants "immediately volunteer to find another seat for the woman even if she has not complained. At one point they separated a man from his wife and placed a strange woman next to him." Tell me this is not a LFZ... "The greater the number of women in the plane, the bigger the mess." Which is exactly why women should not be allowed to travel without a mahram [male, relative, companion]. As long as she has her handler with her there is no problem, right? Problem solved. [Yes. Of course I mean that sarcastically!]
"On one of my trips... I could not help laughing at the comedy that unfolded inside the aircraft. An Indian engineer sitting next to me described it as a funny movie." I bet he did. A funny movie - old movie - as in black and white. Apparently the "comedy" did not end there. One of the male passengers "kept asking a female flight attendant [they are not Saudis, these female flight attendants] a question every time she passed him." Finally a male flight attendant addressed one of the man's many questions and told him that "she had jumped out of the plane in order to escape his questions." [Read: Thinly veiled advances. No pun intended.] When one male passenger asked the female passenger sitting next to him if he could read her newspaper and when she finally gave it to him, he wrote his phone number on it for her. Yeah. That would do it for most women. You simply write your phone number down and women will allrace to the nearest phone booth to call you immediately enter it in their mobiles and put you on speed dial. Not.
Mr. Al-Maghlouth says, "I am sure the kind of scenes I described happen only aboard our flights. It has become a studio for comic movies that has not yet been discovered and invested in despite the fact that these scenes make us laugh but at the same time show how ignorant our people are. Changing seats, chaos and harassing women on a bus are not the characteristics of a civilized society. Then what about on an airplane?" BAM! He nails it!!! [Emphasis, mine.]
All I can say is that I have never had the dubious pleasure of flying Saudia and mostly likely never will. Cannot imagine that I would book a flight with them to go anywhere...
"Muhammad, is there a woman sitting beside you?" Thought for sure I was going to have to applaud some woman for becoming Saudi's second pilot [one of the Prince's has a "Captain" on his staff that is Saudi Arabia's first woman pilot; I think she's a flight engineer though and not really a Captain even though she calls herself a Captain]. But noooo. Of course not. It was a question "asked by the Saudia flight attendant when he saw a woman entering the airplane." The man, Abdullah Al-Maghlouth, who wrote the article says that "In 15 minutes, I changed my seat four times when the number of women entering the airplane kept increasing." Apparently the Saudia flight attendants do not know how to handle seeing "a woman sitting next to a man they think is a stranger." Imagine if there were ever a REAL emergency how they'd react. I shudder at the mere thought.
The Saudia flight attendants "immediately volunteer to find another seat for the woman even if she has not complained. At one point they separated a man from his wife and placed a strange woman next to him." Tell me this is not a LFZ... "The greater the number of women in the plane, the bigger the mess." Which is exactly why women should not be allowed to travel without a mahram [male, relative, companion]. As long as she has her handler with her there is no problem, right? Problem solved. [Yes. Of course I mean that sarcastically!]
"On one of my trips... I could not help laughing at the comedy that unfolded inside the aircraft. An Indian engineer sitting next to me described it as a funny movie." I bet he did. A funny movie - old movie - as in black and white. Apparently the "comedy" did not end there. One of the male passengers "kept asking a female flight attendant [they are not Saudis, these female flight attendants] a question every time she passed him." Finally a male flight attendant addressed one of the man's many questions and told him that "she had jumped out of the plane in order to escape his questions." [Read: Thinly veiled advances. No pun intended.] When one male passenger asked the female passenger sitting next to him if he could read her newspaper and when she finally gave it to him, he wrote his phone number on it for her. Yeah. That would do it for most women. You simply write your phone number down and women will all
Mr. Al-Maghlouth says, "I am sure the kind of scenes I described happen only aboard our flights. It has become a studio for comic movies that has not yet been discovered and invested in despite the fact that these scenes make us laugh but at the same time show how ignorant our people are. Changing seats, chaos and harassing women on a bus are not the characteristics of a civilized society. Then what about on an airplane?" BAM! He nails it!!! [Emphasis, mine.]
Doing What I Said I Would Never Do
Yesterday we took The Kids out for their morning jaunt through the compound - like we always do. When we got back I said, "I'm going to run up to the Commissary to get steak for dinner tonight, and I'll run by the cleaners while I'm there." DH is happy with that; The Kids are happy with that. DH is having steak; The Kids are having steak. [A Brazilian cut sirloin - regular steak portion size - costs all of $3.00. American beef, on the other hand, regular steak portion size is about $25.00.] I don't eat it. Beside the point.
I had my "uniform" on - bike shorts, tank top, walking sandals. Couldn't be bothered to change clothes - and going to the Commissary early in the morning - like six o'clock - dressed like that is one thing. Going there later, when there are people out and about is another. That would be dressed inappropriately - which isn't to say that I haven't done it - I have, on occasion - but you feel as though you are being violated - raped - with the eyes of so many strangers [men and women] on you if you are dressed like that. So, instead, I threw my black bag on. Only did a couple of snaps in the front - could care less that it is blowing open and you can see my bare legs, and pink tank-top. Deal with it.
Mistake to go when I did. Nine-thirty must be "break" time because there was almost no parking and the Commissary was full. Great. I need like five items and the place is packed. One of the things I do when I go in the morning - if we've not had breakfast, here, yet - is get warm bread with labna [unsweetened yogurt]. Not as good as cheese bread but close. DH and I really like it. So, I go in to the Commissary and head for the bakery to order my bread - there are a dozen young women all gathered in a group, blocking the entire aisle waiting for their bread - not a single one of them could be bothered to move aside - they were standing in such a way that no one could get through with their carts. Just rude. I said, "Excuse me" and started plowing through. I know I hit one of them and as far as I'm concerned she deserved it. Get out of the way!
Ordered my bread, raced through the aisles picking up the few items that I needed. Got myself all in a tizzy and worked up because lately it has been about impossible to get anything good there. It is supposed to be a convenience for those of us on the compound and it has been anything but. Fine if you are shopping for rice - they have thirty different brands - of WHITE rice! The meat selection has been awful; there has been no hamburger - the packs that I cook for The Kids food, there has been no good bread - just crappy white "Sunbeam" style bread. They quit carrying Delta bread for many months - then it was back - now it is gone again. And, no Bounty papertowels in forever. Why? WHY!?! Those brands you have on the shelves are worthless. Takes half a roll to wipe up a spill. They get all soggy and tear apart in your hand. May as well try to use tissue paper or Kleenex.
Not like I can just jump in my car and run downtown. No. It could never be that convenient. Just so much that is not there - at the Commissary - lately. There is no consistency. If you buy something one day - next week it won't be there and it likely won't be there for months. People "hoard" things here. You almost have to. Like frozen juice. Grab it while you can - grab a dozen cans. Same with chips. Grab a half dozen bags. Whoever does the ordering just doesn't seem to get that some items are quick sell-outs and that more of whatever that item was should be procured.
For as much computer information they surely can obtain via the cash registers - a data base of what is being sold - I would find it hard to believe they are used for anything other than the accounting system, i.e., how much money each cash register should have in it at the end of the day. Someone certainly isn't going through the information and saying, "Looks like Lime Chips are sold out. Better order some more." Nope. Doesn't happen like that, here. Lime Chips are sold out and gone - they get replaced with pretzels which sit on the shelf until they go stale. Whatever.
I've turned into someone I didn't want to turn into. A conformer. I knew I had things to do yesterday that required staying dressed in my bike shorts and tank top - The Baby got a haircut! I couldn't be bothered with taking time to change clothes just to run to the store, quickly, and the cleaners. So I threw on the big black bag to cover up. No. I didn't have to wear it. We are allowed to go to the Commissary dressed in street clothes - but it is very, very uncomfortable to be in with the masses, here, if you are dressed in what is essentially exercise attire. I don't like all eyes on me that way - and yes, more men than women [aren't men NOT supposed to look? that doesn't stop them!] The big black bag does have its advantages, I guess. At a gathering of women last week one of them said that she used to wear her black bag over her pajamas in the morning when she went to town to go grocery shopping. It isn't like anyone would ever know the difference, right?
I had my "uniform" on - bike shorts, tank top, walking sandals. Couldn't be bothered to change clothes - and going to the Commissary early in the morning - like six o'clock - dressed like that is one thing. Going there later, when there are people out and about is another. That would be dressed inappropriately - which isn't to say that I haven't done it - I have, on occasion - but you feel as though you are being violated - raped - with the eyes of so many strangers [men and women] on you if you are dressed like that. So, instead, I threw my black bag on. Only did a couple of snaps in the front - could care less that it is blowing open and you can see my bare legs, and pink tank-top. Deal with it.
Mistake to go when I did. Nine-thirty must be "break" time because there was almost no parking and the Commissary was full. Great. I need like five items and the place is packed. One of the things I do when I go in the morning - if we've not had breakfast, here, yet - is get warm bread with labna [unsweetened yogurt]. Not as good as cheese bread but close. DH and I really like it. So, I go in to the Commissary and head for the bakery to order my bread - there are a dozen young women all gathered in a group, blocking the entire aisle waiting for their bread - not a single one of them could be bothered to move aside - they were standing in such a way that no one could get through with their carts. Just rude. I said, "Excuse me" and started plowing through. I know I hit one of them and as far as I'm concerned she deserved it. Get out of the way!
Ordered my bread, raced through the aisles picking up the few items that I needed. Got myself all in a tizzy and worked up because lately it has been about impossible to get anything good there. It is supposed to be a convenience for those of us on the compound and it has been anything but. Fine if you are shopping for rice - they have thirty different brands - of WHITE rice! The meat selection has been awful; there has been no hamburger - the packs that I cook for The Kids food, there has been no good bread - just crappy white "Sunbeam" style bread. They quit carrying Delta bread for many months - then it was back - now it is gone again. And, no Bounty papertowels in forever. Why? WHY!?! Those brands you have on the shelves are worthless. Takes half a roll to wipe up a spill. They get all soggy and tear apart in your hand. May as well try to use tissue paper or Kleenex.
Not like I can just jump in my car and run downtown. No. It could never be that convenient. Just so much that is not there - at the Commissary - lately. There is no consistency. If you buy something one day - next week it won't be there and it likely won't be there for months. People "hoard" things here. You almost have to. Like frozen juice. Grab it while you can - grab a dozen cans. Same with chips. Grab a half dozen bags. Whoever does the ordering just doesn't seem to get that some items are quick sell-outs and that more of whatever that item was should be procured.
For as much computer information they surely can obtain via the cash registers - a data base of what is being sold - I would find it hard to believe they are used for anything other than the accounting system, i.e., how much money each cash register should have in it at the end of the day. Someone certainly isn't going through the information and saying, "Looks like Lime Chips are sold out. Better order some more." Nope. Doesn't happen like that, here. Lime Chips are sold out and gone - they get replaced with pretzels which sit on the shelf until they go stale. Whatever.
I've turned into someone I didn't want to turn into. A conformer. I knew I had things to do yesterday that required staying dressed in my bike shorts and tank top - The Baby got a haircut! I couldn't be bothered with taking time to change clothes just to run to the store, quickly, and the cleaners. So I threw on the big black bag to cover up. No. I didn't have to wear it. We are allowed to go to the Commissary dressed in street clothes - but it is very, very uncomfortable to be in with the masses, here, if you are dressed in what is essentially exercise attire. I don't like all eyes on me that way - and yes, more men than women [aren't men NOT supposed to look? that doesn't stop them!] The big black bag does have its advantages, I guess. At a gathering of women last week one of them said that she used to wear her black bag over her pajamas in the morning when she went to town to go grocery shopping. It isn't like anyone would ever know the difference, right?
Up To 33
A Saudi man was beheaded yesterday after being convicted of murder. Last year 102 people lost their heads. That means, by the end of June of this year, the total has to be at 51 to keep up. If they execute the the six men who raped the woman a few weeks ago they might be able to stay on target. The crimes punishable by beheading, or execution, are: rape, murder, apostasy, armed robbery and drug trafficking.
You're doing it wrong. You've missed the point on this one. Four students have been sentenced "to cleaning duties in exchange for a suspension of their prison sentence after being charged with the destruction and misuse of school property." The idea is a good one. That, I don't disagree with. But the fact that the judge has determined that "the duties be conducted outside of school hours to spare the quartet any embarrassment on the part of fellow students" is wrong. A good dose of humility would go a long, long way in The Sandbox. The boys would genuinely learn a lesson. This way? Not so much. Oh, and three hours for four weeks? Big deal. Make them give up an entire Thursday - and make them start work when the other cleaners start - early in the morning. Just my opinion...
Has anyone on this side of the world ever wondered why there are so many obese women and why there are so many cases of diabetes, here? It is attitudes like this. Instead of encouraging women to exercise it is discouraged. For more reasons than just the fact that women's clubs would "open the way for practices that lack modesty and decency. They would lead towards removing the abaya and wearing clothes that reveal parts that should be covered... They would lead to the Westernization of society." Gimme' a break.
For all my posts on PCRC and the fact that the traffic police are not allowed to do their job, when they finally do try to do it, what happens? They get beat up. "Two officers entered [a] busy bank to call drivers who had parked their cars improperly outside." [Read: The cars were parked on the sidewalk directly in front of the bank's entrance.] "The bank manager, sick of overcrowding at the bank, lashed out at the officers accusing them of not doing their job." So - when they finally do try to do their job, instead of thanking them, you lash out at them? Dumbass. "The war of words grew worse and the two men began physically fighting. They were then taken to hospital for treatment and the manager was arrested." Good. I hope he gets punished. And, kudos to the two officers who were actually trying to do their job.
You're doing it wrong. You've missed the point on this one. Four students have been sentenced "to cleaning duties in exchange for a suspension of their prison sentence after being charged with the destruction and misuse of school property." The idea is a good one. That, I don't disagree with. But the fact that the judge has determined that "the duties be conducted outside of school hours to spare the quartet any embarrassment on the part of fellow students" is wrong. A good dose of humility would go a long, long way in The Sandbox. The boys would genuinely learn a lesson. This way? Not so much. Oh, and three hours for four weeks? Big deal. Make them give up an entire Thursday - and make them start work when the other cleaners start - early in the morning. Just my opinion...
Has anyone on this side of the world ever wondered why there are so many obese women and why there are so many cases of diabetes, here? It is attitudes like this. Instead of encouraging women to exercise it is discouraged. For more reasons than just the fact that women's clubs would "open the way for practices that lack modesty and decency. They would lead towards removing the abaya and wearing clothes that reveal parts that should be covered... They would lead to the Westernization of society." Gimme' a break.
For all my posts on PCRC and the fact that the traffic police are not allowed to do their job, when they finally do try to do it, what happens? They get beat up. "Two officers entered [a] busy bank to call drivers who had parked their cars improperly outside." [Read: The cars were parked on the sidewalk directly in front of the bank's entrance.] "The bank manager, sick of overcrowding at the bank, lashed out at the officers accusing them of not doing their job." So - when they finally do try to do their job, instead of thanking them, you lash out at them? Dumbass. "The war of words grew worse and the two men began physically fighting. They were then taken to hospital for treatment and the manager was arrested." Good. I hope he gets punished. And, kudos to the two officers who were actually trying to do their job.
Monday, May 18, 2009
This WILL make you ill!
[Mom - Do not read this post. Very bad language. Animals involved.]
Can barely read it myself. NOT for the weak. Makes me just want to... To To TO - I don't know what. But something. How pigs are being killed in Egypt. There is a big difference between how the male pigs are killed and the female pigs are killed - oh, and the babies. Do not click here if you can't handle it. Be warned. Apparently there is a video somewhere. I won't be finding it. I am pretty sure I cannot watch it. Tell me again... How peaceful and kind... I swear, if just one more person tries to ram that propaganda down my throat I am going to have to choke them. [No. I'd rather hit them with a tire iron and let them slowly bleed. Or pour poison on top of them and then bury them in a ditch.] Wake up! Sheeples out there in la la land. Sheeples, I tell you. Oh, and where is PETA? Too busy trying to get that thug Vick to come be their newest spokesman. [I'm telling you - let me loose with him in a room for ten minutes. I don't care what he's been doing in prison to bulk up and keep in shape. Your money NEEDS to be on me. I can and WOULD win any match with that scumthugdogkillingfuckinglowlifepieceofshit! Just let me at him. Ten minutes. That's all I want.]
[Saw this at WZ's place, the man who scours the bowels of the internet so we don't have to, first.]
Can barely read it myself. NOT for the weak. Makes me just want to... To To TO - I don't know what. But something. How pigs are being killed in Egypt. There is a big difference between how the male pigs are killed and the female pigs are killed - oh, and the babies. Do not click here if you can't handle it. Be warned. Apparently there is a video somewhere. I won't be finding it. I am pretty sure I cannot watch it. Tell me again... How peaceful and kind... I swear, if just one more person tries to ram that propaganda down my throat I am going to have to choke them. [No. I'd rather hit them with a tire iron and let them slowly bleed. Or pour poison on top of them and then bury them in a ditch.] Wake up! Sheeples out there in la la land. Sheeples, I tell you. Oh, and where is PETA? Too busy trying to get that thug Vick to come be their newest spokesman. [I'm telling you - let me loose with him in a room for ten minutes. I don't care what he's been doing in prison to bulk up and keep in shape. Your money NEEDS to be on me. I can and WOULD win any match with that scumthugdogkillingfuckinglowlifepieceofshit! Just let me at him. Ten minutes. That's all I want.]
[Saw this at WZ's place, the man who scours the bowels of the internet so we don't have to, first.]
Just Another Maid...
How often have I used that title? More than a few times.
But what the heck. It is, after all, just anothermaid disposable worker. "...a housemaid whose body was found lying in the street... died from injuries suffered while trying to escape from her employer's house." Why? Does anyone ever question why it is that they try to escape? I know - more money at another house or something. It is never the original employer's fault. We all know that. "A police spokesman said that the woman had attempted to descend from a high story using a rope she made out of bed sheets..." She wanted out desperately, if you ask me. "...three friends who were waiting for her... took her to their place of residence where she died the next morning. They subsequently discarded her body in the street..." Interesting. Someone saw all of this - the three friends [who, by the way, will be in big, big trouble and will probably be found to be responsible for the maid's death]? Perhaps that is the employer's story [and by story, I mean as in fiction!] and that is what the employer reported to cover his or her own ass. Nothing to see here, folks. Move along.
Whoa. Two disposables in one day. [There probably are more than that every day - they just aren't reported.] The body of an Asian woman was discovered in a "suspicious bag emitting foul odors." Doesn't appear to have been a worker. Just another "over-stayer."
Apparently the mayors who were visiting from the States last week had a nice time and "expressed admiration of the movement of construction boom in the Kingdom in general." Did anyone take any notice of the fact that there are no OSHA guidelines? Did anyone bother to ask how many on the job injuries happen? Yeah. Probably not. "They said the boom will contribute to a clear breakthrough in the Saudi economy in the coming period, helping the diversification of sources of income and leading to further cooperation in economic fields between the Kingdom and the United States." Huh? How so? What does that mean? Someone try to translate that for me. "... the diversification of sources of income..." Money laundering?
A woman, an Arab national [but not Saudi] has been held on "witchcraft charges." Authorities are clamping down on this. I recently got an e-mail with a link to a story that says that the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice is going to be doing all they can to eradicate these practices. [Thanks, Joseph! I knew I'd be able to work it in here at some point.]
A man who did not want to see his daughter become a spinster has married her off to her cousin for SR50 [$13.40]. The article doesn't say how old the woman is - she is a teacher - at least we know she isn't a grade-school student. And, they lived happily ever after...
But what the heck. It is, after all, just another
Whoa. Two disposables in one day. [There probably are more than that every day - they just aren't reported.] The body of an Asian woman was discovered in a "suspicious bag emitting foul odors." Doesn't appear to have been a worker. Just another "over-stayer."
Apparently the mayors who were visiting from the States last week had a nice time and "expressed admiration of the movement of construction boom in the Kingdom in general." Did anyone take any notice of the fact that there are no OSHA guidelines? Did anyone bother to ask how many on the job injuries happen? Yeah. Probably not. "They said the boom will contribute to a clear breakthrough in the Saudi economy in the coming period, helping the diversification of sources of income and leading to further cooperation in economic fields between the Kingdom and the United States." Huh? How so? What does that mean? Someone try to translate that for me. "... the diversification of sources of income..." Money laundering?
A woman, an Arab national [but not Saudi] has been held on "witchcraft charges." Authorities are clamping down on this. I recently got an e-mail with a link to a story that says that the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice is going to be doing all they can to eradicate these practices. [Thanks, Joseph! I knew I'd be able to work it in here at some point.]
A man who did not want to see his daughter become a spinster has married her off to her cousin for SR50 [$13.40]. The article doesn't say how old the woman is - she is a teacher - at least we know she isn't a grade-school student. And, they lived happily ever after...
Commenting
Have gotten a lot of "spam" lately. More so than usual. It's is not like I get inundated with comments and as they get held in in moderation I can easily delete them. They are comments like, "I like your blog. Visit mine at http://spectaclesforprettyunicorns." Stuff like that - stuff that has absolutely nothing to do with my blog and comments that have absolutely nothing to do with my posts. I'm glad I can control it by simply checking them off and clicking "reject."
And "Anonymous" comments, too. Must be pushing somebody's buttons with some of my posts. I think I've been pretty "liberal" about posting "Anonymous" comments - even if they disagree with my point of view. Provided they are respectful and are not attacking me, I don't mind getting a comment that sees something from outside what I see. Really, I don't. A few have even gone so far as to say, "I know you won't publish my comment, but..." and I do publish the comment - everyone has the right to their own opinion - I don't expect every single person who comes here to agree with my opinion.
I draw the line at the "Anonymous" comments that say, "Why do you bother living here? Just go home." Or, "Hi. Why are you still here if you hate it so much?" Comments like that. [Oh - and for the record, I have never said that "I hate it here." So quit trying to read something into what I say that I haven't said.] Those comments are not going to be published. You choose to hide behind "Anonymous," that is your prerogative, but it is mine to simply click "reject." What argument are you trying to make? What is your point with comments like that?
There will come a day and a time when I can say certain things that I have never said on this blog; that will answer many of the comments like those, above, but which cannot be answered at this time. Believe me, I do have some strong opinions in that regard, but it would simply be inappropriate for me to voice them here, right now.
Check back in five years [or buy the book when I write it and it gets published!]. I will make it very clear why and how it is we ended up here and I can assure you that I will not be going out of my way to spare hurting anyone's feelings. It likely will not be very politically correct, either. Until then, "Anonymous," unless you have something constructive to add to a post on my blog, your questions will go unanswered. And unpublished. As I have said before in posts similar to this one about commenting, you want to start your own site and call it "I hate Sabra" that is fine by me - you are just not going to have a forum to spew inanely, here. Apparently my presence in The Sandbox is quite bothersome to some "Anonymous" commenters. Wonder why that is...
Here is one of the spam's that I got yesterday and only posted so that I could "copy, cut and delete" it:
Spam! And, "Anonymous." Get your own sites.
And "Anonymous" comments, too. Must be pushing somebody's buttons with some of my posts. I think I've been pretty "liberal" about posting "Anonymous" comments - even if they disagree with my point of view. Provided they are respectful and are not attacking me, I don't mind getting a comment that sees something from outside what I see. Really, I don't. A few have even gone so far as to say, "I know you won't publish my comment, but..." and I do publish the comment - everyone has the right to their own opinion - I don't expect every single person who comes here to agree with my opinion.
I draw the line at the "Anonymous" comments that say, "Why do you bother living here? Just go home." Or, "Hi. Why are you still here if you hate it so much?" Comments like that. [Oh - and for the record, I have never said that "I hate it here." So quit trying to read something into what I say that I haven't said.] Those comments are not going to be published. You choose to hide behind "Anonymous," that is your prerogative, but it is mine to simply click "reject." What argument are you trying to make? What is your point with comments like that?
There will come a day and a time when I can say certain things that I have never said on this blog; that will answer many of the comments like those, above, but which cannot be answered at this time. Believe me, I do have some strong opinions in that regard, but it would simply be inappropriate for me to voice them here, right now.
Check back in five years [or buy the book when I write it and it gets published!]. I will make it very clear why and how it is we ended up here and I can assure you that I will not be going out of my way to spare hurting anyone's feelings. It likely will not be very politically correct, either. Until then, "Anonymous," unless you have something constructive to add to a post on my blog, your questions will go unanswered. And unpublished. As I have said before in posts similar to this one about commenting, you want to start your own site and call it "I hate Sabra" that is fine by me - you are just not going to have a forum to spew inanely, here. Apparently my presence in The Sandbox is quite bothersome to some "Anonymous" commenters. Wonder why that is...
Here is one of the spam's that I got yesterday and only posted so that I could "copy, cut and delete" it:
Hello,You want to click to their site? Do so at your own risk. Disclosure: I in NO WAY endorse that organization or any others that try to make it through comment moderation, that I consider to be spam. Quite frankly, I don't care if it is in French, German or Pig-Latin. No. You are not posting here. "Bye." Yourself. Trust me - you're only getting posted as an example of what is NOT going to get posted here. You won't make it through again.
We present our site
www.islam-documents.org(which is the improvment of the other islam-documents.com, based in Tunisia). [There is such a thing as improvement? Really. Please share... Emphasis, all mine. Misspelling and grammar that is incorrect? All theirs.]
There is thousands of texts (around 15 000) about the origins of islam, with a critical, humanist [come again? "humanist," you said? That is funny!], and scientist view (and even ironical). It is now the bigger "sourcebook" on that subject, with often unpublished documents: Muhammad biographies (SIRA), the main books of traditions (HADITH) , muslim chronicles (TABARI...), companions biographies (TABAQAT), quranic verses, quranic commentaries (TAFSIR) [just whatIwe need; thanks a whole lot - go pound sand].
A new version is now available, improved and corrected: around 3500 pages. We are working for a new version published every year [Well, I guess some contribution is better than none?!! Snort.].
All is in french. so sorry. but you need to read it to understand muslim thinking and acts. [French. German. Italian. Farsi. All are a different language to me. Won't read any of it. Going to go wash my hair. Later on I might reorganize my spice cabinet or rotate my sock drawer. Have way better things to do with my time. Thank you very much.]
Bye. Take care.
Spam! And, "Anonymous." Get your own sites.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
What Aren't We Being Told? And, Why?
There is a whole lot more to this story than we've been allowed to know. I don't know what - perhaps I've only seen small parts of it and someone else knows?
A couple of weeks ago a little 3-year-old boy was abducted by armed men from his family's house in San Bernardino. [Cute, cute little boy! Luv the long curls.] The boy has been found and reunited with his Mom - for which I am glad - but what is the rest of the story? The child was "found wandering the streets" in the border town of Mexicali in Mexico. [Who cut his hair?!!] Did anyone honestly think the story was going to have a happy ending? I didn't. San Bernardino County Sheriff Rod Hoops said, "I've been doing this for 30 years. I'm not saying it doesn't happen... but the odds of finding him safe and alive - the odds of finding him alive - went down every day."
The little boy's mother and investigators boarded a plane to go to Calexico on Friday. "FBI agents crossed the border and handed immigration paperwork for the boy, who holds dual U.S. and Mexican citizenship." Umm. No. Let's call a spade a spade, here. He is an "anchor baby," and I don't believe that the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution ever intended for scads of illegal immigrants to cross into the United States to have children that would automatically become citizens. That is not how it works. That is how many people want it to work. You were born to illegal immigrants - your being born in the United States does not make you any less illegal. The Supreme Court is still out on that, though. Far too busy deciding whether or not a caterpillar in an inmate's cell constitutes t0rture. T0rture... Go here to see what t0rture is! [More on that, here.] Then tell me... I digress...
The story is a bit "sticky." There was a mountain of paperwork involved because this was a "cross-border incident." And the Mom? She couldn't cross the border because she IS an illegal immigrant. But that is okay. That isn't breaking any law or anything, right? NO! It is NOT okay. What is wrong with law enforcement officers in the United States? Are you not supposed to be upholding the laws that have been enacted?!! Yes. You are! But you don't. You're hands are tied. We do not fault you - our law enforcement officers - we understand that you want to do your job but that you are not allowed to do so. We, as tax payers, spend ginormous amounts of money that we shouldn't have to with so many illegal immigrants taking advantage of all the "free" services in our Country. Those services are not free! Someone pays for them. I know. I know. We're going to let everyone stay - make them all citizens - and they'll all vote for dhimmicrats in the next election - so everything is just hunky dorey, right?
The Sheriff "declined to comment on Millan's immigration status, but stressed that Briant [the little boy] is an American citizen." No. He isn't. He is a Mexican citizen. "He was born in a hospital in San Bernardino and he has every right to be here." No. He doesn't. Other countries get this right. You think that just any woman in Saudi can have a baby and that baby becomes a Saudi citizen? Hell no. Even the children of Saudi women who do not marry Saudi men are not allowed to become Saudi citizens. Other countries get it. The United States doesn't. We've got a Supreme Court full of namby-pansy-ass liberals who want to rewrite the laws of the United States and shred the United States Constitution faster than a Bible is shredded in Saudi Arabia! [Oh, yes. They are.]
And a liberal media who wants to tell us that the parents are not suspects. Calling B.S. How much did all of this cost in tax dollars?!? The investigation, the bribes paid to Mexican officials to facilitate the paperwork, the flights to and from... A lot. Hey? Want me to just send a check for my portion? Our taxes just keep going up and up. Enough is enough! As if California doesn't have enough of a financial problem - it is fiscally insolvent. Best thing that could happen is if Mexico took it back or it slid into the Pacific [take Nancy with you! And Dianne, too!]. Brought on by its own incompetence and through no fault of mine! The investigation is ongoing. Great. More tax dollars. At the federal and local level. "...the Spanish-speaking kidnappers were from Mexico and may have had ties to organized crime there." Yeah. Tell me again the parents aren't suspects. Perhaps not in their own child's abduction - but they've obviously done something. Hmmph. For starters, they are here illegally, remember?
A couple of weeks ago a little 3-year-old boy was abducted by armed men from his family's house in San Bernardino. [Cute, cute little boy! Luv the long curls.] The boy has been found and reunited with his Mom - for which I am glad - but what is the rest of the story? The child was "found wandering the streets" in the border town of Mexicali in Mexico. [Who cut his hair?!!] Did anyone honestly think the story was going to have a happy ending? I didn't. San Bernardino County Sheriff Rod Hoops said, "I've been doing this for 30 years. I'm not saying it doesn't happen... but the odds of finding him safe and alive - the odds of finding him alive - went down every day."
The little boy's mother and investigators boarded a plane to go to Calexico on Friday. "FBI agents crossed the border and handed immigration paperwork for the boy, who holds dual U.S. and Mexican citizenship." Umm. No. Let's call a spade a spade, here. He is an "anchor baby," and I don't believe that the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution ever intended for scads of illegal immigrants to cross into the United States to have children that would automatically become citizens. That is not how it works. That is how many people want it to work. You were born to illegal immigrants - your being born in the United States does not make you any less illegal. The Supreme Court is still out on that, though. Far too busy deciding whether or not a caterpillar in an inmate's cell constitutes t0rture. T0rture... Go here to see what t0rture is! [More on that, here.] Then tell me... I digress...
The story is a bit "sticky." There was a mountain of paperwork involved because this was a "cross-border incident." And the Mom? She couldn't cross the border because she IS an illegal immigrant. But that is okay. That isn't breaking any law or anything, right? NO! It is NOT okay. What is wrong with law enforcement officers in the United States? Are you not supposed to be upholding the laws that have been enacted?!! Yes. You are! But you don't. You're hands are tied. We do not fault you - our law enforcement officers - we understand that you want to do your job but that you are not allowed to do so. We, as tax payers, spend ginormous amounts of money that we shouldn't have to with so many illegal immigrants taking advantage of all the "free" services in our Country. Those services are not free! Someone pays for them. I know. I know. We're going to let everyone stay - make them all citizens - and they'll all vote for dhimmicrats in the next election - so everything is just hunky dorey, right?
The Sheriff "declined to comment on Millan's immigration status, but stressed that Briant [the little boy] is an American citizen." No. He isn't. He is a Mexican citizen. "He was born in a hospital in San Bernardino and he has every right to be here." No. He doesn't. Other countries get this right. You think that just any woman in Saudi can have a baby and that baby becomes a Saudi citizen? Hell no. Even the children of Saudi women who do not marry Saudi men are not allowed to become Saudi citizens. Other countries get it. The United States doesn't. We've got a Supreme Court full of namby-pansy-ass liberals who want to rewrite the laws of the United States and shred the United States Constitution faster than a Bible is shredded in Saudi Arabia! [Oh, yes. They are.]
And a liberal media who wants to tell us that the parents are not suspects. Calling B.S. How much did all of this cost in tax dollars?!? The investigation, the bribes paid to Mexican officials to facilitate the paperwork, the flights to and from... A lot. Hey? Want me to just send a check for my portion? Our taxes just keep going up and up. Enough is enough! As if California doesn't have enough of a financial problem - it is fiscally insolvent. Best thing that could happen is if Mexico took it back or it slid into the Pacific [take Nancy with you! And Dianne, too!]. Brought on by its own incompetence and through no fault of mine! The investigation is ongoing. Great. More tax dollars. At the federal and local level. "...the Spanish-speaking kidnappers were from Mexico and may have had ties to organized crime there." Yeah. Tell me again the parents aren't suspects. Perhaps not in their own child's abduction - but they've obviously done something. Hmmph. For starters, they are here illegally, remember?
Taking Time to Smell the Flowers...
For a country that is bland and blah - taupe, gray - sand and dust - credit must be given where it is due - to the many, many imported laborers who work as groundsmen and gardeners, here on our compound, to keep it green and colorful.
I did not do well with the camera to get the flowers on these trees. For a couple of weeks now, we've seen the flowers that have fallen off them on the ground and it was only just a few days ago I realized they were coming from the tip-top of these trees. Why? Because the gardeners spend so much time shaping the trees, but can only reach so high with their ladders - so only the very tops of the trees have the blooms [cannot tell you what kind of tree it is - do not know]:
No idea what the name of this tree is, either. This is the one in our back yard - in a pot - perhaps it should be in the ground. I suspect it is going to get big. Really, really big. We have one "clump" of white flowers on it. They smell "clean." A soapy kind of clean - or maybe more like citronella. The tree is strange. It loses every single leaf it has when it starts to get cold [relative term, I know] and then completely comes back to life in the spring with new green leaves - glossy and waxy - and now, big clumps of flowers.
This is the same kind of tree - what our little tree is going to grow up to be:
Every single day we walk by this hibiscus. And I say, "Will you look at that! How come that hibiscus has so many flowers on it - and more buds - and ours only has a couple of buds and every once in a while a bloom?" DH has gotten so that he mimics me when we walk past this bush in the morning as we are out and about with The Kids:
Hibiscus has no smell - and is nothing I would even give much thought to if it wasn't for the pop of color it generates. Not particularly gorgeous, but striking in a sea of green and tan and beige and gray and taupe.
I would never in a million years put orange and fuchsia bougainvillea together - but I think this just looks so pretty - makes my white bougainvillea look pretty bland - thankfully I've put some color into mine with the theblue purple jacquemontia to give it some color - along with the camel foot. Simply beautiful:
And, this, yellow lantana. We have pink. I do like the yellow. From what I understand, lantana is very slow growing. I'm not even going to bother putting more in. I'll just have to live with the pink we have.
More yellow... The cactus we walk by every morning. For two weeks I've been saying, "Take a picture of that cactus!" Finally:
Flowers - the flora - we see every day on our morning walks. Sharing. Sometimes I'm good that way.
I did not do well with the camera to get the flowers on these trees. For a couple of weeks now, we've seen the flowers that have fallen off them on the ground and it was only just a few days ago I realized they were coming from the tip-top of these trees. Why? Because the gardeners spend so much time shaping the trees, but can only reach so high with their ladders - so only the very tops of the trees have the blooms [cannot tell you what kind of tree it is - do not know]:
No idea what the name of this tree is, either. This is the one in our back yard - in a pot - perhaps it should be in the ground. I suspect it is going to get big. Really, really big. We have one "clump" of white flowers on it. They smell "clean." A soapy kind of clean - or maybe more like citronella. The tree is strange. It loses every single leaf it has when it starts to get cold [relative term, I know] and then completely comes back to life in the spring with new green leaves - glossy and waxy - and now, big clumps of flowers.
This is the same kind of tree - what our little tree is going to grow up to be:
Every single day we walk by this hibiscus. And I say, "Will you look at that! How come that hibiscus has so many flowers on it - and more buds - and ours only has a couple of buds and every once in a while a bloom?" DH has gotten so that he mimics me when we walk past this bush in the morning as we are out and about with The Kids:
Hibiscus has no smell - and is nothing I would even give much thought to if it wasn't for the pop of color it generates. Not particularly gorgeous, but striking in a sea of green and tan and beige and gray and taupe.I would never in a million years put orange and fuchsia bougainvillea together - but I think this just looks so pretty - makes my white bougainvillea look pretty bland - thankfully I've put some color into mine with the the
And, this, yellow lantana. We have pink. I do like the yellow. From what I understand, lantana is very slow growing. I'm not even going to bother putting more in. I'll just have to live with the pink we have.
More yellow... The cactus we walk by every morning. For two weeks I've been saying, "Take a picture of that cactus!" Finally:
Flowers - the flora - we see every day on our morning walks. Sharing. Sometimes I'm good that way.Nothing to do with Nothing
Well, unless you are a victim or a family-member of one of the victims. Oddly interesting, though. Eight women killed in one county in New York. Chautauqua County.
I was born in Westfield, New York, where one of the women was found in her house back in 1990 - long after I had moved away. My parents were living in Westfield, then, and my Mom's parents - my grandparents - lived there for most of their entire lives. My sister got married there, that year, so we were all there for a few weeks that summer. Rebecca Nicholson's body was found inside her home on December 13, 1990. Westfield is one of those very small, sleepy little towns where if you drive through it and blink you have missed it. Everybody knows everybody. That a body was found inside a home - with a bullet hole in it - had to have been much fodder for the corner diner, there. My cousin is a member of the police force in Westfield and years ago, my Dad's father, my grandfather, was the Chief of Police in Westfield. Wonder what Cousin B would have to say about the murder. Had to have been a big deal. Things like murder just don't happen in teeny, tiny little communities like Westfield. I'd be willing to bet that if it was a random murder - and when is it ever really just random - that the woman's doors were all unlocked. That is the kind of village Westfield is, or was. [I don't think Westfield is big enough to qualify as a town - it is a village.]
That eight women have been seven women have been murdered and one is missing - she has never been found - all coming from a little county in New York [population approximately 140,000 TOTAL for the entire county] that most people have never even heard of is just odd.
I was born in Westfield, New York, where one of the women was found in her house back in 1990 - long after I had moved away. My parents were living in Westfield, then, and my Mom's parents - my grandparents - lived there for most of their entire lives. My sister got married there, that year, so we were all there for a few weeks that summer. Rebecca Nicholson's body was found inside her home on December 13, 1990. Westfield is one of those very small, sleepy little towns where if you drive through it and blink you have missed it. Everybody knows everybody. That a body was found inside a home - with a bullet hole in it - had to have been much fodder for the corner diner, there. My cousin is a member of the police force in Westfield and years ago, my Dad's father, my grandfather, was the Chief of Police in Westfield. Wonder what Cousin B would have to say about the murder. Had to have been a big deal. Things like murder just don't happen in teeny, tiny little communities like Westfield. I'd be willing to bet that if it was a random murder - and when is it ever really just random - that the woman's doors were all unlocked. That is the kind of village Westfield is, or was. [I don't think Westfield is big enough to qualify as a town - it is a village.]
That eight women have been seven women have been murdered and one is missing - she has never been found - all coming from a little county in New York [population approximately 140,000 TOTAL for the entire county] that most people have never even heard of is just odd.
We're Just Smarter Than That
The loan thing. From a few days ago.
I found an escrow company that will help us.
Sent an e-mail to the family members telling them to contact the company - gave them the phone number and the e-mail - and said that we would have to make sure that the home equity loan was taken care of [even though we were originally told that there was NOTHING but the mortgage - no other liens or encumbrances of any kind] so that we'd be in second lien position - or we couldn't possibly help. Told them we wanted the mortgage statements and that they'd have to sign a release so we could get the information as to what is really owed, and we wanted social security numbers and an authorization to get a credit report from all three agencies. Well! How could I? Who do I think I am? [They are not going to do a loan this way. Their choice. Because we are not doing a loan any other way.] Man-oh-man. I am now on their "S-list" and at the top of it!
They actually thought that we were going to just send them a check, directly, for five times more than what you are allowed to "gift" someone without paying taxes, and think that they would take care of writing up a Promissory Note for us and record it and do all of the necessary legalities. Yeah. Right. You have got to be kidding! Do you think that DH and I are just country bumpkins who fell off a cabbage truck, yesterday? [No offense to country bumpkins.]
Supposedly the money was needed immediately - like last week, if not sooner. Must have it as soon as possible. Send it by Federal Express. [Okay. Sure thing.] The house was appraised at $1,300,000. a few years ago. They only owe X-amount, so they say, and have lots and lots of equity. Oh, really? Then go get a bank to give you the money. You can't, though. Why? How about far too many mortgages on the property - home equity lines, etc., some bad business decisions that you now have judgments against the house, and one of you - who is perfectly able - isn't even working!
Nope. No can do. You are going to have to lose the house, along with the lifestyle to which you have become accustomed. Not our problem. You never should have bought it in the first place. But you are so much wiser than anyone else in the family when it comes to real estate and investments and business decisions. We have heard so for years. In fact, I remember when you told DH he didn't know anything about real estate and you accused me of failing math when I asked for a calculator when you were trying to get us to go in on a "great deal" many years ago [that we said no - wisely - to]. Your numbers didn't add up then - when I needed the calculator - and your numbers don't add up now. Deal.
We are bad family members. And now, we will probably never get another Christmas card from them again. Our bad.
I found an escrow company that will help us.
Sent an e-mail to the family members telling them to contact the company - gave them the phone number and the e-mail - and said that we would have to make sure that the home equity loan was taken care of [even though we were originally told that there was NOTHING but the mortgage - no other liens or encumbrances of any kind] so that we'd be in second lien position - or we couldn't possibly help. Told them we wanted the mortgage statements and that they'd have to sign a release so we could get the information as to what is really owed, and we wanted social security numbers and an authorization to get a credit report from all three agencies. Well! How could I? Who do I think I am? [They are not going to do a loan this way. Their choice. Because we are not doing a loan any other way.] Man-oh-man. I am now on their "S-list" and at the top of it!
They actually thought that we were going to just send them a check, directly, for five times more than what you are allowed to "gift" someone without paying taxes, and think that they would take care of writing up a Promissory Note for us and record it and do all of the necessary legalities. Yeah. Right. You have got to be kidding! Do you think that DH and I are just country bumpkins who fell off a cabbage truck, yesterday? [No offense to country bumpkins.]
Supposedly the money was needed immediately - like last week, if not sooner. Must have it as soon as possible. Send it by Federal Express. [Okay. Sure thing.] The house was appraised at $1,300,000. a few years ago. They only owe X-amount, so they say, and have lots and lots of equity. Oh, really? Then go get a bank to give you the money. You can't, though. Why? How about far too many mortgages on the property - home equity lines, etc., some bad business decisions that you now have judgments against the house, and one of you - who is perfectly able - isn't even working!
Nope. No can do. You are going to have to lose the house, along with the lifestyle to which you have become accustomed. Not our problem. You never should have bought it in the first place. But you are so much wiser than anyone else in the family when it comes to real estate and investments and business decisions. We have heard so for years. In fact, I remember when you told DH he didn't know anything about real estate and you accused me of failing math when I asked for a calculator when you were trying to get us to go in on a "great deal" many years ago [that we said no - wisely - to]. Your numbers didn't add up then - when I needed the calculator - and your numbers don't add up now. Deal.
We are bad family members. And now, we will probably never get another Christmas card from them again. Our bad.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Watch This - Get Pissed!
Here's the thing. Some reporting agency in Amsterdam, "Website 101tv" which I have never heard of until today, set out to do a story to show - what else - discrimination against women in burkas, or abeyas and head-covering face veils.
What they did was have a woman wearing Western attire drop a bag of oranges and then filmed everyone racing to help her pick them up. Then, they did the same thing to a woman attired head-to-toe in black and filmed that, claiming that NO ONE stopped to help her. [Egad! If it couldn't get any sappier, you hear her - the woman dressed in head-to-toe black - crying! WhatTHEf^ck?!? You drop a bag of oranges and cry because no one will help you pick them up? Who does that!!!] What they didn't know was that someone filmed them filming this ridiculous piece of propaganda.
Dishonesty, thy name is... "He says there was no manipulation." [Spit!] "They sometimes make up their own reality." [Understatement, that!] They should have put it in, but it's because they're inexperienced and forgot." [How convenient.] "No, we hear about this story and change it." [Change it?!! Stage it, you mean.]
Vying for sympathy for the women who CHOOSE to dress in head-to-toe black and trying to show the world that they are treated differently than others. Utter fail.
The guy that published it got fired. He got caught filming a bold-faced lie. Good. Hope it is a long time before he has a job again. Asshole.
I swiped this from BNI's website and I hope she understands why I'm not linking her. Thanks, BNI!
What they did was have a woman wearing Western attire drop a bag of oranges and then filmed everyone racing to help her pick them up. Then, they did the same thing to a woman attired head-to-toe in black and filmed that, claiming that NO ONE stopped to help her. [Egad! If it couldn't get any sappier, you hear her - the woman dressed in head-to-toe black - crying! WhatTHEf^ck?!? You drop a bag of oranges and cry because no one will help you pick them up? Who does that!!!] What they didn't know was that someone filmed them filming this ridiculous piece of propaganda.
Dishonesty, thy name is... "He says there was no manipulation." [Spit!] "They sometimes make up their own reality." [Understatement, that!] They should have put it in, but it's because they're inexperienced and forgot." [How convenient.] "No, we hear about this story and change it." [Change it?!! Stage it, you mean.]
Vying for sympathy for the women who CHOOSE to dress in head-to-toe black and trying to show the world that they are treated differently than others. Utter fail.
The guy that published it got fired. He got caught filming a bold-faced lie. Good. Hope it is a long time before he has a job again. Asshole.
I swiped this from BNI's website and I hope she understands why I'm not linking her. Thanks, BNI!
1 out of 5
Pretty startling statistic, if you ask me. One out of five children here in The Sandbox have been xesually abused. What are statistics for xesual abuse in other parts of the world? The United States? Maybe I'll research it later. I won't be working, today. Dust storm. And it is a nasty one! "A study carried out by Dr. Ali Al-Zahrani of Edinburgh University has shown that 22 percent of children in the Kingdom are exposed to xesual abuse." What?!! So, tell us again, how abuse doesn't happen here, and how this country is so far superior blah, blah, blah...
Oh, and keeping your mentally handicapped son in a cage is just wrong. Just wrong.
It is "Monday" here in The Sandbox. Not a lot going on in the news after the weekend.
I'm more interested in watching Nancy Pelosi self-implode with her statement that the CIA routinely gave false information to members of congress. This is going to be too much fun. We're gonna need popcorn for this. Big buckets of it. If she goes down - and she won't, without a fight - she is going to take a lot of people with her. Thank goodness for the blogsphere. We know most of this is not going to be covered by any outlets other than Fox [and I am soooo thankful that we have Fox News, here!].
Oh, and keeping your mentally handicapped son in a cage is just wrong. Just wrong.
It is "Monday" here in The Sandbox. Not a lot going on in the news after the weekend.
I'm more interested in watching Nancy Pelosi self-implode with her statement that the CIA routinely gave false information to members of congress. This is going to be too much fun. We're gonna need popcorn for this. Big buckets of it. If she goes down - and she won't, without a fight - she is going to take a lot of people with her. Thank goodness for the blogsphere. We know most of this is not going to be covered by any outlets other than Fox [and I am soooo thankful that we have Fox News, here!].
Friday, May 15, 2009
Cry Me A River...
Guess I am just not feeling very sympathetic about things on this side of the world, lately. Don't have a whole lot of sympathy for this tale of woe. Again, one of those "You made your bed, now you lie in it" kind of thing.
A 38-year-old Saudi woman, Kauther Mohammed Ali Uthman married a Pakistani national who is not quite twice as old as she is about ten years ago. She became his second wife [dumbass!], and because he was a charity worker she thought "he is a good man and would take care of me in an Islamic way." [How's that working out for you, now?] They had two sons and it was all good. Or not. He basically wiped out her bank account and when it was empty he quit coming around to visit. "Her husband, Abdul Qayoom, has not visited his family for the past 15 months, during which Uthman gave birth to their daughter." Quick! Anyone see just a small problem with that statement? Pregnancy - a normal one, that is - usually only lasts for 9 months - and yet, she's not seen her husband in 15 months, but now has a daughter? I thought only the men here were allowed to have more than one wife. Are women allowed to have more than one husband? [Snicker.]
The woman goes on to whine about her sons not having residency permits and how they could be deported to their father's country. I don't know all the legalities of this - but apparently if a Saudi woman marries a non-Saudi then her children are not naturally born citizens of this country - or something like that. No matter. It is all going to be one big mess for her. You married him - you knew he wasn't a Saudi - you know how it works here. Put your big girl panties on and deal with it.
A 38-year-old Saudi woman, Kauther Mohammed Ali Uthman married a Pakistani national who is not quite twice as old as she is about ten years ago. She became his second wife [dumbass!], and because he was a charity worker she thought "he is a good man and would take care of me in an Islamic way." [How's that working out for you, now?] They had two sons and it was all good. Or not. He basically wiped out her bank account and when it was empty he quit coming around to visit. "Her husband, Abdul Qayoom, has not visited his family for the past 15 months, during which Uthman gave birth to their daughter." Quick! Anyone see just a small problem with that statement? Pregnancy - a normal one, that is - usually only lasts for 9 months - and yet, she's not seen her husband in 15 months, but now has a daughter? I thought only the men here were allowed to have more than one wife. Are women allowed to have more than one husband? [Snicker.]
The woman goes on to whine about her sons not having residency permits and how they could be deported to their father's country. I don't know all the legalities of this - but apparently if a Saudi woman marries a non-Saudi then her children are not naturally born citizens of this country - or something like that. No matter. It is all going to be one big mess for her. You married him - you knew he wasn't a Saudi - you know how it works here. Put your big girl panties on and deal with it.
Rest Houses - Not What You Might Think
Interesting. A rest house. Doesn't that conjure up a mental picture of something peaceful and quiet? Well that is NOT what a "rest house" is. "'For families only' is a sentence that men in the Kingdom hear and see everywhere, causing restrictions in their leisure options." [Which, by the way, is just how it is in this society, here in The Sandbox, and it doesn't seem to bother people, much. You know, the old "You made your bed now you lie in it" kind of thing? I find it hard to offer any sympathy for your complaints when you do nothing to change the status quo.] So what is there for young men to do when they aren't hanging out at the malls or throwing rocks at stray cats? They are "making their transition from the streets... toward private rest houses, as an option for pursuing leisure activities at their own will and convenience." Apparently this whole "rest houses" thing is a "recent phenomenon" and "has come to light after a number of young Saudi housewives have expressed worry about where their husbands vanish off to, often abandoning their domestic responsibilities." [Just what might those "domestic responsibilities" be? What Saudi household doesn't have maids to take care of the "domestic responsibilities?"]
One man, Amro Bin Mohammed, who is a 31-year-old teacher in Jeddah, says "My friends and I hang out daily at a rest house, where we are able to live a part of our life without any rules or restrictions." Oh, really? Rules and restrictions that you don't seem to have a problem with being enforced on the rest of us, though, right? What makes you so special? Urrgh! His wife, Rawan Anwar is whining that "all domestic responsibilities have consequently fallen to her, and Amro does not even care about her or their children." [Calling B.S. on the domestic responsibilities thing. It is my blog. I can if I want to.]
"The phenomenon of such private rest houses has been prevalent for the past couple of years, and the venues normally consist of courtyards, gardens and a swimming pool." Sounds relatively normal, to me. Although after working all day - for those of them that have jobs - and having worked in an all male enviornment [because there is NO mingling of males and females, here], why you would choose to go hang out with even more men is worth questioning. No. There is more too it than that. Abdullah Mohammed, the principal of a public high school says, "In the absence of effective alternatives... they still provide the only way for many young Saudi men... to have a good time. We need alternatives like public libraries that are open to all, public gardens and parks in all neighborhoods, sports clubs for men and women [Can't have them for women! They might play basketball and all that jumping around will cause them to lose their virginity. Remember?], museums, cinemas and creative theaters for everyone..." Well the cinema idea has been tossed around recently and it was pretty much shot down, so you are not going to have that anytime in the foreseeable future. I think we all know that a public library where young men can go and sit and read is not the kind of "activity" they are looking for when they say they are headed to a "rest house." Ut-uh.
The article says, "Having harmless fun with friends is not, in itself, much of a problem. However, many point to the growing tendency for some groups of young men to watch p0rn0graphy and take drugs in the vicinity of such rest houses." Bingo. Told you they weren't reading books! "On a more serious note, some criminals are taking advantage of the privacy such venues afford and making them into a haven for criminal activity like prostitution and terr0rism." Hmmph. Who would have guessed?!?
One man, Amro Bin Mohammed, who is a 31-year-old teacher in Jeddah, says "My friends and I hang out daily at a rest house, where we are able to live a part of our life without any rules or restrictions." Oh, really? Rules and restrictions that you don't seem to have a problem with being enforced on the rest of us, though, right? What makes you so special? Urrgh! His wife, Rawan Anwar is whining that "all domestic responsibilities have consequently fallen to her, and Amro does not even care about her or their children." [Calling B.S. on the domestic responsibilities thing. It is my blog. I can if I want to.]
"The phenomenon of such private rest houses has been prevalent for the past couple of years, and the venues normally consist of courtyards, gardens and a swimming pool." Sounds relatively normal, to me. Although after working all day - for those of them that have jobs - and having worked in an all male enviornment [because there is NO mingling of males and females, here], why you would choose to go hang out with even more men is worth questioning. No. There is more too it than that. Abdullah Mohammed, the principal of a public high school says, "In the absence of effective alternatives... they still provide the only way for many young Saudi men... to have a good time. We need alternatives like public libraries that are open to all, public gardens and parks in all neighborhoods, sports clubs for men and women [Can't have them for women! They might play basketball and all that jumping around will cause them to lose their virginity. Remember?], museums, cinemas and creative theaters for everyone..." Well the cinema idea has been tossed around recently and it was pretty much shot down, so you are not going to have that anytime in the foreseeable future. I think we all know that a public library where young men can go and sit and read is not the kind of "activity" they are looking for when they say they are headed to a "rest house." Ut-uh.
The article says, "Having harmless fun with friends is not, in itself, much of a problem. However, many point to the growing tendency for some groups of young men to watch p0rn0graphy and take drugs in the vicinity of such rest houses." Bingo. Told you they weren't reading books! "On a more serious note, some criminals are taking advantage of the privacy such venues afford and making them into a haven for criminal activity like prostitution and terr0rism." Hmmph. Who would have guessed?!?
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Thugs in Thobes
Tits!*
Yesterday, going off-camp, we were at a stoplight and I saw a cat - large, dirty white, mangy looking cat - sitting in the middle of the road divider - a huge culvert [?]. The cat blended in well with the tan, beige dirt and cement landscape. I pointed it out to the other women in the car with me, "Ohhh. Look at the poor cat." [Usually I have cat food with me for just these occasions, but yesterday I didn't. Unfortunately, for the poor cat.] It was skinny. I felt bad for the poor cat. There are a gazillion of them around because no one has ever given taking care of the situation of stray and feral cats any consideration whatsoever, here.
Anyway - I'm in the middle of the back seat and seat-belted in and do not have my black bag on - just a nice brown sundress and sandals - going to a little get together at a private home - didn't even think to grab the black bag. I see three teenagers getting ready to cross the street to my left. They are dressed in their native attire - long white dress - a thobe. Two of the three of them had ghutras on, as well. The one without had long - incredibly greasy looking - black hair. The tall skinny one - who had his ghutra tied in a knot [kewl, dude!] pointed to the cat and the greasy-haired thug picked up a rock - a fist size rock - and threw it at the cat! OH NO YOU DID NOT JUST DO THAT! I watched the whole thing. [Thankfully, the cats here know - oh, they know - that people are NOT your friends and the cat ran off as the rock was hurled right at him - and thankfully, greasy-haired thug's aim just wasn't that good. He missed the cat. Still. That is NOT the point.]
I was trying to get the window down [why, Mr. Driver do you have the child-safety lock on!] and couldn't - and yes, I would have screamed and yelled at him. At the same time I was taking my seatbelt off and was about to crawl over the woman sitting next to me to jump out of the car - to do what? I don't know. Throw a rock at the greasy-haired thug? One of the women in the car with me was yelling at me, "No. You can't do anything about it. Just leave it alone. You're going to get us arrested." It happened that the light turned green and we pulled away, but I so wanted to do something about it. And would have - if I could only have gotten the window down or gotten out of the vehicle quickly enough.
Respect for animals and other living things? So many of the boys and young men, here, have none of that. Yes. I know that that is true for boys and young men in all countries. In any other country though, I would have been driving my own vehicle and would have been dialing 911 on my cell phone calling the police to have the twerp arrested for cruelty to animals. I would have followed him and waited for the police to make sure he got in trouble. Here? If I would have called the police I would just get laughed at. And, as I wasn't properly attired to be out and about, I probably would have ended up in trouble. Still. Pissed me off. What I wouldn't give to be able to slap the greasy-haired thobed thug upside the head with a brick...
*tits: terr0r!sts-in-training
Yesterday, going off-camp, we were at a stoplight and I saw a cat - large, dirty white, mangy looking cat - sitting in the middle of the road divider - a huge culvert [?]. The cat blended in well with the tan, beige dirt and cement landscape. I pointed it out to the other women in the car with me, "Ohhh. Look at the poor cat." [Usually I have cat food with me for just these occasions, but yesterday I didn't. Unfortunately, for the poor cat.] It was skinny. I felt bad for the poor cat. There are a gazillion of them around because no one has ever given taking care of the situation of stray and feral cats any consideration whatsoever, here.
Anyway - I'm in the middle of the back seat and seat-belted in and do not have my black bag on - just a nice brown sundress and sandals - going to a little get together at a private home - didn't even think to grab the black bag. I see three teenagers getting ready to cross the street to my left. They are dressed in their native attire - long white dress - a thobe. Two of the three of them had ghutras on, as well. The one without had long - incredibly greasy looking - black hair. The tall skinny one - who had his ghutra tied in a knot [kewl, dude!] pointed to the cat and the greasy-haired thug picked up a rock - a fist size rock - and threw it at the cat! OH NO YOU DID NOT JUST DO THAT! I watched the whole thing. [Thankfully, the cats here know - oh, they know - that people are NOT your friends and the cat ran off as the rock was hurled right at him - and thankfully, greasy-haired thug's aim just wasn't that good. He missed the cat. Still. That is NOT the point.]
I was trying to get the window down [why, Mr. Driver do you have the child-safety lock on!] and couldn't - and yes, I would have screamed and yelled at him. At the same time I was taking my seatbelt off and was about to crawl over the woman sitting next to me to jump out of the car - to do what? I don't know. Throw a rock at the greasy-haired thug? One of the women in the car with me was yelling at me, "No. You can't do anything about it. Just leave it alone. You're going to get us arrested." It happened that the light turned green and we pulled away, but I so wanted to do something about it. And would have - if I could only have gotten the window down or gotten out of the vehicle quickly enough.
Respect for animals and other living things? So many of the boys and young men, here, have none of that. Yes. I know that that is true for boys and young men in all countries. In any other country though, I would have been driving my own vehicle and would have been dialing 911 on my cell phone calling the police to have the twerp arrested for cruelty to animals. I would have followed him and waited for the police to make sure he got in trouble. Here? If I would have called the police I would just get laughed at. And, as I wasn't properly attired to be out and about, I probably would have ended up in trouble. Still. Pissed me off. What I wouldn't give to be able to slap the greasy-haired thobed thug upside the head with a brick...
*tits: terr0r!sts-in-training
Women are also at fault.
Well, of course they are. I've said this all along on the issue of blackmailing. And cases of women blackmailing men, here, are just to numerous to bother to post on. It is a common "crime." But, this. File under: You just can't make this stuff up. Or, under: Only in Saudi Arabia.
"The grand mufti has warned girls of sweet-talking young men, which could lead to their being blackmailed." That a statement like that is even published in a paper gives you an idea as to the mindset in this part of the world... "He urged the girls to resist whatever these young men may try and to report them to the authorities." Well, they get reported all right. Often, I might add. And as I have said in the past, I don't think that the men should be taking all of the blame.
The article says, "There are girls who are more dangerous than men and who will use all their feminine wiles to lure and entrap men and take advantage of them in order to satisfy their financial desires and needs. Such blackmailing is very common, especially if the man has a family. Some men have important stressful jobs that do not allow them the extra hassle of blackmail." Yep. That's what it says. "Some men have important stressful jobs that do not allow them the extra hassle of blackmail." So, then, men that do not have important stressful jobs can take the extra hassle of blackmail? Is that what you are saying? How about the many men here who don't have a job at all? Blackmailing them would be okay? They have nothing else to do [but throw rocks at stray cats and harass women at the malls] so a little "extra hassle of blackmail" would be a welcome break in the monotony of their lives, right?
"Women are not innocent and they must be held responsible for the consequences of their actions." Well, we can agree on that point, I guess. But this: "I do not think that girls are unaware of the consequences of forbidden relations with men. Girls are raised in a society that warns them against strange men and any relations with them. If any man asks a strange woman in the street what time it is, she will walk away, assuming the worst motives on his part." [Emphasis, mine.] Laugh out loud. DOES EVERYONE HERE THINK THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE THING ON THE MINDS OF MEN IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD?!? This society has done this to its members. No one else can be blamed for it.
"The grand mufti has warned girls of sweet-talking young men, which could lead to their being blackmailed." That a statement like that is even published in a paper gives you an idea as to the mindset in this part of the world... "He urged the girls to resist whatever these young men may try and to report them to the authorities." Well, they get reported all right. Often, I might add. And as I have said in the past, I don't think that the men should be taking all of the blame.
The article says, "There are girls who are more dangerous than men and who will use all their feminine wiles to lure and entrap men and take advantage of them in order to satisfy their financial desires and needs. Such blackmailing is very common, especially if the man has a family. Some men have important stressful jobs that do not allow them the extra hassle of blackmail." Yep. That's what it says. "Some men have important stressful jobs that do not allow them the extra hassle of blackmail." So, then, men that do not have important stressful jobs can take the extra hassle of blackmail? Is that what you are saying? How about the many men here who don't have a job at all? Blackmailing them would be okay? They have nothing else to do [but throw rocks at stray cats and harass women at the malls] so a little "extra hassle of blackmail" would be a welcome break in the monotony of their lives, right?
"Women are not innocent and they must be held responsible for the consequences of their actions." Well, we can agree on that point, I guess. But this: "I do not think that girls are unaware of the consequences of forbidden relations with men. Girls are raised in a society that warns them against strange men and any relations with them. If any man asks a strange woman in the street what time it is, she will walk away, assuming the worst motives on his part." [Emphasis, mine.] Laugh out loud. DOES EVERYONE HERE THINK THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE THING ON THE MINDS OF MEN IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD?!? This society has done this to its members. No one else can be blamed for it.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Should You Loan Money to Family?
Yes. And, no. I think that that is what family is for. Well, not just that. Obviously.
What do you do when a family member asks you for money? A lot of money. More than would be allowed as a "gift" insofar as Uncle Sam sees it. And it would not be a gift. It would be a loan. Is it right to require specific payback terms? Say, immediate payment upon selling of any property? Is it right to state that a lien against the property will be placed to guarantee said payment? This is the kind of stuff that hurts families, if you ask me.
You want to help. You don't want to see family members digging themselves deeper into financial ruin. But when you don't have family members who can bail you out in said situation what do you do? If you are not working, no bank is going to give someone a loan, right?
Very sticky stuff. We're dealing with it right now. And it is not making us very "loved" by a couple of family members. I'm pretty sure we're on their "S-List" at this point. Yet, they still want money from us. A lot of money.
It's one thing to say, "Hey, we're a little strapped right now. Could you loan us a few hundred bucks until payday?" Or, something like that. It is quite another when family members have purchased a home that they never should have - big, expensive [very expensive!] house on 7 acres in San Diego. They are unable to make their payments at this point and for some reason have decided that we are supposed to "save" them. Uhh. No. I don't think so. And I'm sticking to my guns and if we do loan them money I want a lien on the property. I'm the bad guy. What would you do?
What do you do when a family member asks you for money? A lot of money. More than would be allowed as a "gift" insofar as Uncle Sam sees it. And it would not be a gift. It would be a loan. Is it right to require specific payback terms? Say, immediate payment upon selling of any property? Is it right to state that a lien against the property will be placed to guarantee said payment? This is the kind of stuff that hurts families, if you ask me.
You want to help. You don't want to see family members digging themselves deeper into financial ruin. But when you don't have family members who can bail you out in said situation what do you do? If you are not working, no bank is going to give someone a loan, right?
Very sticky stuff. We're dealing with it right now. And it is not making us very "loved" by a couple of family members. I'm pretty sure we're on their "S-List" at this point. Yet, they still want money from us. A lot of money.
It's one thing to say, "Hey, we're a little strapped right now. Could you loan us a few hundred bucks until payday?" Or, something like that. It is quite another when family members have purchased a home that they never should have - big, expensive [very expensive!] house on 7 acres in San Diego. They are unable to make their payments at this point and for some reason have decided that we are supposed to "save" them. Uhh. No. I don't think so. And I'm sticking to my guns and if we do loan them money I want a lien on the property. I'm the bad guy. What would you do?
No Shirt, No Shoes? No Service.
Oops. Wait. Make that "No dress? No service."
"You're NOT wearing that, are you?"
There is a new "trend," here. "The Bermuda Youth (dressed in over-the-knee-shorts) is but a picture symbolized by the current generation of youth who made it an official dress they use while roaming trade malls and public parks." Hmm. I have not seen any of youth at any of the "trade malls" in the Eastern Province. I saw quite a few young men at the mall the other day and I would say only a few were not dressed in traditional clothing - most had their thobe and ghutra on - a few had jeans on. Did not see one pair of Bermuda shorts, though. Even on our compound I see very few local young men, or boys, wearing shorts. Guess it is a problem somewhere over here - I just haven't seen it.
According to the article, "They also wear this dress when following up their paper works at the government departments or traveling. An official at the Saudi Arabian Airlines once prevented a young man dressed in Bermuda to board his Riyadh-bound plane on the grounds he was not properly dressed. Some youths dressed in Bermudas were prevented from entering hospitals even during time of emergency." Because of "this fast spreading fashion among young men, calls have been made to draft a new law" which will dictate what you can and can't wear. As if this country doesn't have enough to be concerned about.
It is like a law in one State [which one?] that says your pants must cover your underwear in response to young men trying to emulate thugs by wearing their pants much farther down on their body than they were intended to be worn. Who cares if those young men want to look ridiculous - the ones wearing their pants down around their thighs instead of around their waist. No matter. Now, it is a problem, here, too.
A teacher at the Scholarly Institute for Islamic Studies in Jeddah "described the tight trousers and sleeveless open shirts as 'contrary to men's ethics.'" Huh? And, someone tell me what a "sleeveless open shirt" is. I know I haven't seen one of those, here. "Sleeveless open shirt." The teacher, Sheikh Saleh Al-Shamrani, says "Very often we are confused between men and women because of the dress they wear." [Emphasis, mine.] Excuse me? "He called for punishing such kind of men because they drifted away from the natural instinct."
A local writer, Maram Makkawi, "supports the drafting of a law to set measures for the socially acceptable dress." Hey. I'm wearing a black bag over my clothes when I leave the compound. That is as far as I am willing to go. Ms. Makkawi "objected to the shirts carrying xesually explicit language..." and says, something really confusing about harassment: "The 'low waist' worn by men would imply xesual harassment to the other xes. 'Rather they could imply harassment by men to men which is easier in our society.'" I've read that several times now, and I have no idea what she is saying. Something about men harassing men is "easy?" Is she implying that certain xesual behavior is acceptable?
"You're NOT wearing that, are you?"
There is a new "trend," here. "The Bermuda Youth (dressed in over-the-knee-shorts) is but a picture symbolized by the current generation of youth who made it an official dress they use while roaming trade malls and public parks." Hmm. I have not seen any of youth at any of the "trade malls" in the Eastern Province. I saw quite a few young men at the mall the other day and I would say only a few were not dressed in traditional clothing - most had their thobe and ghutra on - a few had jeans on. Did not see one pair of Bermuda shorts, though. Even on our compound I see very few local young men, or boys, wearing shorts. Guess it is a problem somewhere over here - I just haven't seen it.
According to the article, "They also wear this dress when following up their paper works at the government departments or traveling. An official at the Saudi Arabian Airlines once prevented a young man dressed in Bermuda to board his Riyadh-bound plane on the grounds he was not properly dressed. Some youths dressed in Bermudas were prevented from entering hospitals even during time of emergency." Because of "this fast spreading fashion among young men, calls have been made to draft a new law" which will dictate what you can and can't wear. As if this country doesn't have enough to be concerned about.
It is like a law in one State [which one?] that says your pants must cover your underwear in response to young men trying to emulate thugs by wearing their pants much farther down on their body than they were intended to be worn. Who cares if those young men want to look ridiculous - the ones wearing their pants down around their thighs instead of around their waist. No matter. Now, it is a problem, here, too.
A teacher at the Scholarly Institute for Islamic Studies in Jeddah "described the tight trousers and sleeveless open shirts as 'contrary to men's ethics.'" Huh? And, someone tell me what a "sleeveless open shirt" is. I know I haven't seen one of those, here. "Sleeveless open shirt." The teacher, Sheikh Saleh Al-Shamrani, says "Very often we are confused between men and women because of the dress they wear." [Emphasis, mine.] Excuse me? "He called for punishing such kind of men because they drifted away from the natural instinct."
A local writer, Maram Makkawi, "supports the drafting of a law to set measures for the socially acceptable dress." Hey. I'm wearing a black bag over my clothes when I leave the compound. That is as far as I am willing to go. Ms. Makkawi "objected to the shirts carrying xesually explicit language..." and says, something really confusing about harassment: "The 'low waist' worn by men would imply xesual harassment to the other xes. 'Rather they could imply harassment by men to men which is easier in our society.'" I've read that several times now, and I have no idea what she is saying. Something about men harassing men is "easy?" Is she implying that certain xesual behavior is acceptable?
Is it just me?
Probably. Day after day after day after day... We go over the same things. "Please do not tie the trash bag to the trash can." "Please do not put The Kids' tables this way." [The Boy's table is on the left; The Baby's table is on the right. Has to do with how much room they both need - and that our table - the one DH and I eat at - is in that same small space... The Boy's table is big; The Baby's table is small. How difficult is that?!?] "Please remember to put the shower curtain liner back inside the tub when you are done cleaning it." [Too many times both DH and I have NOT checked to make sure the liner is on the inside as we turn the water on to warm up before getting in the shower and the bathroom floors end up flooded.]
Every morning as I am doing my kitchen work - unloading the dishwasher, etc., as I reach for the trash can - there it is - the bag is tied, again. NO. Just stop it. First of all, the trash really doesn't need to be emptied twice a day. If there is only a third of a can - don't bother taking it. Yes. It goes out in the morning - when it is full, or almost full. But by the time Inom is ready to leave at 11:00, he grabs the can again - at most it has coffee grounds in it, ashtrays that have been emptied, and possibly a few used paper towels. I appreciate that he thinks he is doing me a favor. I'm using two trash bags a day this way - and it really does not have to be emptied as often as it is. One time. That's all. And DON'T TIE THAT BAG TO THE CAN AGAIN!
As I was standing in the kitchen at the sink earlier - the semi-full trash bag was already out, but I hadn't put a new bag in yet - Inom immediately grabbed it to put a new bag in and right in front of me started to tie it on. [It isn't really a "tie" so much as a foldover to make it tight.] STOP RIGHT THERE! Do not put the bag in that way. I asked you not to do it that way last week, I asked you not to do it that way yesterday, and now, I'm done asking you. I am telling you. Don't do it. Do you understand? "Yes, Madam." Anyone want to bet that tomorrow he ties the trash bag to the trash can? Ooh. Just annoys me.
And, then, I realize how thankful I need to be that I have someone who really does make my life easier by doing as much work for me as he does. I suspect he believes that my way of doing things is not the right way and that in his mind he believes he can "teach" me how things should be done. [Ha! Guess again. I don't think so.] I am thankful that I have household help. I realize that it is part of our lifestyle here and that when we return to the States I am not going to have a houseboy four days a week to clean up after us. I will likely have a once-a-week housekeeper like we did before we moved here, but I won't have someone who tidies things up for me four days a week. Man-oh-man have I gotten spoiled with his help. I don't even pick The Kids' toys up any more. I know that Inom will take care of it for me. So I am going to really try to quit being so nit-picky about things and just appreciate the fact that I have someone who comes and does the work that I don't want to do. It is going to mean biting my tongue but I need to do it. And, I'm going to have to put post-its in both bathrooms so that DH and I remember to check the shower curtain liner to make sure it is inside the tub before turning on the water...
I'm going to lunch today - at a friend's house who lives off our compound. I asked yesterday for her address so that I can tell the cab driver. She said, "Oh, no. I am sending my driver to pick you up." How cool is that? So, for all the moaning and griping I do about not being able to drive - and at this point - some six years later - I don't mind that I can't drive here, for the most part - when someone else gets to be responsible for it - pick me up at my door; drop me off at my door. With a driver - you never have to worry about finding a parking place - they drop you off at whatever door at the mall you want to go in - or in front of the stores and shops downtown - and they worry about the parking. Then they follow you and they carry your packages for you. They unload the trunk of the car for you when you're done shopping.
Yep. I just need to quit allowing all the little annoying things bother me. So what that Inom ties the trash bag. I'm going to let him. And so what that I can't just get in my truck and drive downtown. I'm going to let the drivers take care of that. We'll see how long I can go without becoming frustrated over some of "the little annoying things." Should we start a pool? Two days? A week? Ten o'clock this morning???
Every morning as I am doing my kitchen work - unloading the dishwasher, etc., as I reach for the trash can - there it is - the bag is tied, again. NO. Just stop it. First of all, the trash really doesn't need to be emptied twice a day. If there is only a third of a can - don't bother taking it. Yes. It goes out in the morning - when it is full, or almost full. But by the time Inom is ready to leave at 11:00, he grabs the can again - at most it has coffee grounds in it, ashtrays that have been emptied, and possibly a few used paper towels. I appreciate that he thinks he is doing me a favor. I'm using two trash bags a day this way - and it really does not have to be emptied as often as it is. One time. That's all. And DON'T TIE THAT BAG TO THE CAN AGAIN!
As I was standing in the kitchen at the sink earlier - the semi-full trash bag was already out, but I hadn't put a new bag in yet - Inom immediately grabbed it to put a new bag in and right in front of me started to tie it on. [It isn't really a "tie" so much as a foldover to make it tight.] STOP RIGHT THERE! Do not put the bag in that way. I asked you not to do it that way last week, I asked you not to do it that way yesterday, and now, I'm done asking you. I am telling you. Don't do it. Do you understand? "Yes, Madam." Anyone want to bet that tomorrow he ties the trash bag to the trash can? Ooh. Just annoys me.
And, then, I realize how thankful I need to be that I have someone who really does make my life easier by doing as much work for me as he does. I suspect he believes that my way of doing things is not the right way and that in his mind he believes he can "teach" me how things should be done. [Ha! Guess again. I don't think so.] I am thankful that I have household help. I realize that it is part of our lifestyle here and that when we return to the States I am not going to have a houseboy four days a week to clean up after us. I will likely have a once-a-week housekeeper like we did before we moved here, but I won't have someone who tidies things up for me four days a week. Man-oh-man have I gotten spoiled with his help. I don't even pick The Kids' toys up any more. I know that Inom will take care of it for me. So I am going to really try to quit being so nit-picky about things and just appreciate the fact that I have someone who comes and does the work that I don't want to do. It is going to mean biting my tongue but I need to do it. And, I'm going to have to put post-its in both bathrooms so that DH and I remember to check the shower curtain liner to make sure it is inside the tub before turning on the water...
I'm going to lunch today - at a friend's house who lives off our compound. I asked yesterday for her address so that I can tell the cab driver. She said, "Oh, no. I am sending my driver to pick you up." How cool is that? So, for all the moaning and griping I do about not being able to drive - and at this point - some six years later - I don't mind that I can't drive here, for the most part - when someone else gets to be responsible for it - pick me up at my door; drop me off at my door. With a driver - you never have to worry about finding a parking place - they drop you off at whatever door at the mall you want to go in - or in front of the stores and shops downtown - and they worry about the parking. Then they follow you and they carry your packages for you. They unload the trunk of the car for you when you're done shopping.
Yep. I just need to quit allowing all the little annoying things bother me. So what that Inom ties the trash bag. I'm going to let him. And so what that I can't just get in my truck and drive downtown. I'm going to let the drivers take care of that. We'll see how long I can go without becoming frustrated over some of "the little annoying things." Should we start a pool? Two days? A week? Ten o'clock this morning???
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
There Really Is NO Toilet Paper At The Mall!
In order to see it with my own two eyes... I went to the...
Had to search for the Ladies Room - since I've never been in one, there - had no idea where it was. Look at the signs. Really not much difference between the two, is there? See? This is why it was so confusing for me when I ended up in the men's room at the McDonald's on the Causeway many years ago. [I think you can enlarge it by simply clicking on the picture.]
Not a very good photo of the signs. I'll try again for better pictures another time...There are fourteen stalls...
11 holes in the floor.
3 toilets.
Not a single roll of toilet paper in any of the fourteen stalls. Not one. Each and every holder was empty. Not a single two-ply sheet of tissue [or a single-ply sheet of tissue] in the entire restroom. Sheryl Crow would be so proud.
There are a fourteen sinks - and soap ONLY at the ends of the counter [who designed this?]. NO paper towels, either. Just four blow dryers [next to the soap dispensers].
Genius. Simply genius, I tell you.Oh, and the view, standing, waiting outside for the bus. Lovely, isn't it?
KIKA is going out of business. IKEA went in, almost right next door. Who was the marketing person in charge of this? Brilliant, move. KIKA was way, way overpriced for not the best quality, if you ask me. People here seem to just luv, luv, luv IKEA. I don't get it. But, to each his own, I guess.
Lazy, lazy people. Lone shopping carts. People just can't be bothered to return them to the stores. That would be far too much work.
I don't know who "A.Z.K" is - or if it stands for something - but everyone should have initials like these on the back of their five-year old dented Suburban, don't 'cha think? Way cool. Impressive. [Snort.] [Is the "period" missing after the K? Sure looks like it is.]
What is really sad, though, is that someone has enough time on her hands to go to the mall to check out the ladies room just to see for herself that there really is NO toilet paper; and then took the time to inspect each stall, count the stalls, make a note of how many holes in the floor there are... Okay. So I made the trip specifically to be able to post this report. It was productive, though. I got a really cute top at GAP and a gorgeous blue silk dress at Massimo Dutti to wear on our cruise.Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. Is this investigative journalism at its best? Or, what!
Shoe Is On the Other Foot
Wonder how it feels. Sixty Saudis have gone unpaid for five months. Here's the thing. Someone is stepping up to the plate and helping them. What about the scads of imported workers that go unpaid? Does anyone step up to the plate to help them? No. Never. They get bounced around the system and then deported. I am not faulting the Saudi Electric Company for offering help to the 60 Saudis "whose employer, a local contracted company, has failed to pay their salaries," but it would be good if someone - anyone - cared about the gazillion imported workers whose plight is the same. Mr. Al-Saqqa said "that the contracted company in question was being paid promptly for its work." What is the "contracted company?" How come no one can publish the name of these companies who see fit NOT to pay their workers? A little shame and humility would go a long way in rectifying matters.
This is a good thing. I hope it works. "The Kingdom's Saudization program received a boost with the recent graduation of 300 young Saudis who completed a six-month extensive training program..." The graduates will work in the construction field doing welding, electrical work, carpentry, painting, plumbing and scaffolding. The CEO of the [unnamed] construction company that initiated the training program and hired the graduates is likely going to be in for a heck of a rude awakening. I applaud the men for going through the training, but I'd be willing to bet that they don't last six months "on the job." It is hot outside and these jobs are physically demanding. I don't see young men, here, being able to handle the working conditions. [I was at the mall yesterday - more on that later - and there were a lot - A LOT - of young men milling about. What are they doing at the mall at ten o'clock in the morning? How come they aren't at work? Those men were not the men who just graduated from this six-month training program, and they were at the mall because it is air-conditioned and it is too hot to be outside!] And, I see it being too costly for the construction company - they will have to pay Saudis far more than imported workers are paid. The bottom line is going to be profit. If there is no profit, what is the point of having a company? It would be interesting to see how many of the workers are still on the job in six months... Yeah. Good luck with that.
The purpose of this? To waste taxpayers money. If I was a taxpayer from one of the ten cities who sent delegates [mayors and businessmen] here, to The Sandbox, "to familiarize themselves with social, cultural and economic aspects of Saudi Arabia" I would be livid. Absolutely furious. Someone tell me exactly why mayors and businessmen need "to familiarize themselves with social, cultural and economic aspects" of this country in order to run their own damn cities and towns! Wow. It is no wonder the United States is being run into the ground. How much this did waste cost? [I know a round-trip business class ticket from here to North Carolina costs about $3,700.00. If ten people traveled - that is $37,000 just for airline tickets!!!] No mention of what cities and towns were represented. Does anyone know? Unbelievable. UPDATE: Commenter, Linda, sent me this link from The News & Observer [I would be canceling our subscription to this paper if we still lived in Raleigh - for reasons far beyond this one article]. It says, "Mayor Bell plans to visit Saudi Arabia next month. Its government will pick up his expenses." Its government. Its as in Saudia Arabia's, or its as in Durham's? Not one hundred percent clear on that. The best part of the entire page is the one lone comment left by "Araleighreader," who has not started drinking the Kool-aid! He [she?] says, "'Bell said he was not sure how he was chosen for the trip.' Perhaps he made the top ten list of Dhimmi politicians..." [Read the entire comment.] Spot on Araleighreader! And, thanks, Linda!
This is a good thing. I hope it works. "The Kingdom's Saudization program received a boost with the recent graduation of 300 young Saudis who completed a six-month extensive training program..." The graduates will work in the construction field doing welding, electrical work, carpentry, painting, plumbing and scaffolding. The CEO of the [unnamed] construction company that initiated the training program and hired the graduates is likely going to be in for a heck of a rude awakening. I applaud the men for going through the training, but I'd be willing to bet that they don't last six months "on the job." It is hot outside and these jobs are physically demanding. I don't see young men, here, being able to handle the working conditions. [I was at the mall yesterday - more on that later - and there were a lot - A LOT - of young men milling about. What are they doing at the mall at ten o'clock in the morning? How come they aren't at work? Those men were not the men who just graduated from this six-month training program, and they were at the mall because it is air-conditioned and it is too hot to be outside!] And, I see it being too costly for the construction company - they will have to pay Saudis far more than imported workers are paid. The bottom line is going to be profit. If there is no profit, what is the point of having a company? It would be interesting to see how many of the workers are still on the job in six months... Yeah. Good luck with that.
The purpose of this? To waste taxpayers money. If I was a taxpayer from one of the ten cities who sent delegates [mayors and businessmen] here, to The Sandbox, "to familiarize themselves with social, cultural and economic aspects of Saudi Arabia" I would be livid. Absolutely furious. Someone tell me exactly why mayors and businessmen need "to familiarize themselves with social, cultural and economic aspects" of this country in order to run their own damn cities and towns! Wow. It is no wonder the United States is being run into the ground. How much this did waste cost? [I know a round-trip business class ticket from here to North Carolina costs about $3,700.00. If ten people traveled - that is $37,000 just for airline tickets!!!] No mention of what cities and towns were represented. Does anyone know? Unbelievable. UPDATE: Commenter, Linda, sent me this link from The News & Observer [I would be canceling our subscription to this paper if we still lived in Raleigh - for reasons far beyond this one article]. It says, "Mayor Bell plans to visit Saudi Arabia next month. Its government will pick up his expenses." Its government. Its as in Saudia Arabia's, or its as in Durham's? Not one hundred percent clear on that. The best part of the entire page is the one lone comment left by "Araleighreader," who has not started drinking the Kool-aid! He [she?] says, "'Bell said he was not sure how he was chosen for the trip.' Perhaps he made the top ten list of Dhimmi politicians..." [Read the entire comment.] Spot on Araleighreader! And, thanks, Linda!
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