Monday, August 30, 2010
Geico Little Piggy Commercial
This is dedicated to my sister Martha. We drove all over the hills of Virginia going "Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"
Allstate Mayhem - Teenaged Girl Commercial
Alex, stay away from emotionally compromised teenaged girls.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Islam-inspired comic superheroes fight for peace By Naif Al-Mutawa, Special to CNN
Islam-inspired comic superheroes fight for peace By Naif Al-Mutawa, Special to CNN
August 22, 2010 11:52 a.m. EDT
Editor's note: TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to "Ideas worth spreading," which it makes available through talks posted on its website. Naif Al-Mutawa, who was trained as a clinical psychologist, created a comic series called "THE 99," with superheroes based on Islamic archetypes. The series is coming to television in the U.S. and THE 99 heroes will be in a joint comic book this fall with Superman and other Justice League heroes.
(CNN) -- Fifteen years ago I walked out of a mosque in silent protest of the imam's sermon. Outside, the heat of the desert sun could hardly match the fire of the rhetoric being spewed forth inside.
The imam was railing against the foreign enemies of Islam and the sinners within. With every genocidal rant came an "amen" from the congregation. Some regrettably came from the heart. Others came from those on autopilot putting in their "time" at the mosque to fulfill their quota of good deeds. Still others were a tradeoff: penance for their sins, an economy of convenience that was born long before Islam and long sold as the path to heaven of other faiths.
It was not the first time I had heard terrible notions of fear and hate peddled in the name of my religion. But that day was different. That day I felt complicit. I had reached a point of intellectual critical mass where my love for my religion overwhelmed my sitting in silence any longer. As I stood up, I stared at the imam to make sure he knew that at least one person would no longer accept the recipe of his revenge.
Islam and Christianity were born in the same neighborhood under similar conditions 600 years apart.
Christianity came about at a time when harsh rulers subjugated their people, making already difficult lives nearly impossible. The people responded to the message of Jesus as they did 600 years later to the message of Mohammad. Both Christianity and Islam offered simple messages to the poor: Live by the rules and your rewards will come later.
TED.com: How Arab cultures are borrowing from western pop culture
Islam came of age at a time of open warfare between what was loosely called Arabia and the occupying Roman Byzantine Empires. It was a religion for the willing believer, further steeled by the Christian Crusades of the 11th and 12th centuries and the Medieval, Papal and Spanish Inquisitions.
Many imams today are still preaching in the rhetoric of the seventh century without regard to contemporary reality. But unlike Jesus and Mohammad, they preach not of future rewards for living a just life as Allah promised. Instead, they offer their rewards to those who devote themselves to the genocide of those who they have anointed our enemies. They prefer not to leave Judgment Day to Allah, instead they substitute themselves as a sort of lower trial court.
We are now in the Muslim month of Ramadan, a time of dawn to dusk fasting intended to teach Muslims about patience, humility, and spirituality. During Ramadan, more than a billion Muslims will congregate at their mosques.
TED.com: Comics provide a window into our world
It is finally time that all of us became more accountable for that which our children will be hearing; tiny differences setting us apart rather than celebrating those positive things that bind all good people together. If we allow small-minded men to spout fear and hate in the name of our religion, we will enable them to brainwash another generation as they did our own. And soon, the next generation will fall into a pit of dissonance. To sit by silently makes us all complicit.
As the father of five sons, I worry about who they're going to be using as role models.
I worry because all around me, even within my extended family, I see religion being manipulated. As a psychologist, I worry for the world in general, but worry about the perception of how people see themselves in my part of the world. Now, I'm a clinical psychologist. I'm licensed in New York state. I trained at Bellevue Hospital's survivors of political torture program. And I heard one too many stories of people growing up to idolize their leadership, only to end up being tortured by their heroes. And torture's a terrible enough thing as it is, but when it's done by your hero, that just breaks you in so many ways.
I left Bellevue, went to business school and started the comic book series "THE 99." THE 99 references the 99 attributes of Allah in the Koran, things like generosity and mercy and foresight and wisdom.
TED.com: Comics of bygone New York
Fifteen hundred years after the birth of Christ, men representing the Catholic Church poured hot lead down the throats of Muslims and Jews to get them to accept Jesus as their Savior. Fourteen hundred years after Gabriel conveyed God's message to Muhammad through the Qur'an, a tiny minority of self-aggrandizing Muslims are using the lead of bullets to kill untold numbers in an unspeakable insult to name of Islam.
Today, through THE 99, this proud Muslim is using the lead of his pencil to take a stand. For all our sakes, I hope the pencil really is mightier than the sword.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Naif Al-Mutawa.
--- end ---
Go Naif! :)
August 22, 2010 11:52 a.m. EDT
Editor's note: TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to "Ideas worth spreading," which it makes available through talks posted on its website. Naif Al-Mutawa, who was trained as a clinical psychologist, created a comic series called "THE 99," with superheroes based on Islamic archetypes. The series is coming to television in the U.S. and THE 99 heroes will be in a joint comic book this fall with Superman and other Justice League heroes.
(CNN) -- Fifteen years ago I walked out of a mosque in silent protest of the imam's sermon. Outside, the heat of the desert sun could hardly match the fire of the rhetoric being spewed forth inside.
The imam was railing against the foreign enemies of Islam and the sinners within. With every genocidal rant came an "amen" from the congregation. Some regrettably came from the heart. Others came from those on autopilot putting in their "time" at the mosque to fulfill their quota of good deeds. Still others were a tradeoff: penance for their sins, an economy of convenience that was born long before Islam and long sold as the path to heaven of other faiths.
It was not the first time I had heard terrible notions of fear and hate peddled in the name of my religion. But that day was different. That day I felt complicit. I had reached a point of intellectual critical mass where my love for my religion overwhelmed my sitting in silence any longer. As I stood up, I stared at the imam to make sure he knew that at least one person would no longer accept the recipe of his revenge.
Islam and Christianity were born in the same neighborhood under similar conditions 600 years apart.
Christianity came about at a time when harsh rulers subjugated their people, making already difficult lives nearly impossible. The people responded to the message of Jesus as they did 600 years later to the message of Mohammad. Both Christianity and Islam offered simple messages to the poor: Live by the rules and your rewards will come later.
TED.com: How Arab cultures are borrowing from western pop culture
Islam came of age at a time of open warfare between what was loosely called Arabia and the occupying Roman Byzantine Empires. It was a religion for the willing believer, further steeled by the Christian Crusades of the 11th and 12th centuries and the Medieval, Papal and Spanish Inquisitions.
Many imams today are still preaching in the rhetoric of the seventh century without regard to contemporary reality. But unlike Jesus and Mohammad, they preach not of future rewards for living a just life as Allah promised. Instead, they offer their rewards to those who devote themselves to the genocide of those who they have anointed our enemies. They prefer not to leave Judgment Day to Allah, instead they substitute themselves as a sort of lower trial court.
We are now in the Muslim month of Ramadan, a time of dawn to dusk fasting intended to teach Muslims about patience, humility, and spirituality. During Ramadan, more than a billion Muslims will congregate at their mosques.
TED.com: Comics provide a window into our world
It is finally time that all of us became more accountable for that which our children will be hearing; tiny differences setting us apart rather than celebrating those positive things that bind all good people together. If we allow small-minded men to spout fear and hate in the name of our religion, we will enable them to brainwash another generation as they did our own. And soon, the next generation will fall into a pit of dissonance. To sit by silently makes us all complicit.
As the father of five sons, I worry about who they're going to be using as role models.
I worry because all around me, even within my extended family, I see religion being manipulated. As a psychologist, I worry for the world in general, but worry about the perception of how people see themselves in my part of the world. Now, I'm a clinical psychologist. I'm licensed in New York state. I trained at Bellevue Hospital's survivors of political torture program. And I heard one too many stories of people growing up to idolize their leadership, only to end up being tortured by their heroes. And torture's a terrible enough thing as it is, but when it's done by your hero, that just breaks you in so many ways.
I left Bellevue, went to business school and started the comic book series "THE 99." THE 99 references the 99 attributes of Allah in the Koran, things like generosity and mercy and foresight and wisdom.
TED.com: Comics of bygone New York
Fifteen hundred years after the birth of Christ, men representing the Catholic Church poured hot lead down the throats of Muslims and Jews to get them to accept Jesus as their Savior. Fourteen hundred years after Gabriel conveyed God's message to Muhammad through the Qur'an, a tiny minority of self-aggrandizing Muslims are using the lead of bullets to kill untold numbers in an unspeakable insult to name of Islam.
Today, through THE 99, this proud Muslim is using the lead of his pencil to take a stand. For all our sakes, I hope the pencil really is mightier than the sword.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Naif Al-Mutawa.
--- end ---
Go Naif! :)
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
What I DON'T need
This is the new rave: every skinny, overly athletic (this does not pertain to me) white girl should have one. It wasn't that long ago when all every woman in America wanted was the ass of a 14 year old girl. And now.... alls they want is some junk in the trunk.
Baby got back!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Damn Sexy Eyes
My family took pictures on the beach and I couldn't open my eyes. I looked link an anglo-Chinese woman. They have been very sensitive to light lately and I wanted to go back to the doctor to have my peepers checked.
I went to a highly-recommended opthamologist here in Virginia yesterday who told me that I can never wear contact lenses again - or risk blindness. Apparently, the viral infection diagnosed in Kuwait was karatitis brought on my lense irritation. I'm back to glasses and I hate it. My eyes are back to being damaged again (after wearing contacts for the past few weeks), so I have to wait a few months before they can even consider me for lasic (oh gee - another trip to the States! Wouldn't that be awful? hmmmm)
The doc actually mentioned the "B" word (combo distance and reading glasses). oooooh noooooo, I'm not THAT old and I'm not even going to discuss it. (Not going to mention that dirty word on my blog neither.) Told her to talk to the hand. Bring on the reading glasses, but those other kind - aint gonna happen. Not now. Not later. Nooooooo. Next, I'll be tying my hair up in a bun and going grey (again, never going to happen). Not this girl.
Ok, so I know that I'm a walking pity-party. My sister is a graceful creature who immediately looks at any situation from a unique and interesting perspective, "So, you're telling me that God saved you from becoming blind today...." She then went on to tell me again and again how good I look in glasses (good call on the pair, The Romanian!) She has been making me feel much better and in her generous way has offered to help. "It's my thing..." and continues making dinner for the house full of neighborhood boys she enjoys being surrogate mom to. Yup, I'm blessed in many many ways and I know that. Mashallah.
I know I'm looking at it the wrong way and wallowing perhaps in self-pity, but my whole life people have commented on how pretty my (boobs) eyes are and now I feel like I'm carrying an imperfection. It is a very stupid perception and I've got to get over myself. I hope they can do the lasic. It would be nice to open my eyes in the morning and see what's around me! That would be a new experience. 'Look! There's the clock! There's my big bottle of Flaxseed and Omega vitamins....'
I went to a highly-recommended opthamologist here in Virginia yesterday who told me that I can never wear contact lenses again - or risk blindness. Apparently, the viral infection diagnosed in Kuwait was karatitis brought on my lense irritation. I'm back to glasses and I hate it. My eyes are back to being damaged again (after wearing contacts for the past few weeks), so I have to wait a few months before they can even consider me for lasic (oh gee - another trip to the States! Wouldn't that be awful? hmmmm)
The doc actually mentioned the "B" word (combo distance and reading glasses). oooooh noooooo, I'm not THAT old and I'm not even going to discuss it. (Not going to mention that dirty word on my blog neither.) Told her to talk to the hand. Bring on the reading glasses, but those other kind - aint gonna happen. Not now. Not later. Nooooooo. Next, I'll be tying my hair up in a bun and going grey (again, never going to happen). Not this girl.
Ok, so I know that I'm a walking pity-party. My sister is a graceful creature who immediately looks at any situation from a unique and interesting perspective, "So, you're telling me that God saved you from becoming blind today...." She then went on to tell me again and again how good I look in glasses (good call on the pair, The Romanian!) She has been making me feel much better and in her generous way has offered to help. "It's my thing..." and continues making dinner for the house full of neighborhood boys she enjoys being surrogate mom to. Yup, I'm blessed in many many ways and I know that. Mashallah.
I know I'm looking at it the wrong way and wallowing perhaps in self-pity, but my whole life people have commented on how pretty my (boobs) eyes are and now I feel like I'm carrying an imperfection. It is a very stupid perception and I've got to get over myself. I hope they can do the lasic. It would be nice to open my eyes in the morning and see what's around me! That would be a new experience. 'Look! There's the clock! There's my big bottle of Flaxseed and Omega vitamins....'
Sunday, August 08, 2010
Where I spent part of my summer vacation
Cool, right. Jealous? ;)
This morning, I saw dolphins playing in the surf in front of the house. Yesterday, we saw wild horses on the beach. There is a lighthouse within walking distance and I can see it shining through my bedroom window at night.
Saturday, August 07, 2010
Proud Aunt!
This is my nephew's football combine video.
I can't believe he's such a man now. Just 16 years ago, he was a loaf of bread in my arms - and now this. He's turning 16 next month and just got his first car. Mashallah, you make me proud boyyyyyy.
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Request to Kuwaiti Women
Kuwaitia friends:
This just in from a reader who needs quotes from Kuwait. If you are willing to help, write to her at the address below.
"I'm writing a feature about the fittest cities in the GCC for Shape magazine and wanted to get a quote from a Kuwaiti woman about what they love about their city (fitness focused - e.g "I love the numerous swimming pools as they have great facilities and are inexpensive..." or something about the parks, or the health food stores... basically one sentence highlighting a positive health benefit to the city.
If you'd be willing to be featured, I'd need your full name, age, job title and a picture.
I hope you can help and don't mind the unsolicited request - sadly I don't have any friends in Kuwait I could pester :-)
Sunday, August 01, 2010
We'll miss you, Nanda
Fernanda and her husband
My friend, Nanda, passed away yesterday of cancer. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in Kuwait in February 2009, and thought she had it beat at one point, until the discovery that it had spread to her brain. She was a lovely lovely person, full of life and energy. She was one of the few people I know who never had a bad word about anyone; always found (and brought out) the good in others. She was an angel on Earth and now she's moved Home. She died in her home country, Brazil yesterday afternoon.
Nanda had a message to me and other females I know: Get regular mammograms and breast exams!
I will miss your smile, your laughter, and your grace, girl. I will never forget you. You brightened my world and I am a better person for knowing you.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Leaving Tomorrow Night
I hate travelling. As much as I travel, you would think that I love it, but I don't. I hate the whole airport/airline experience. Once I get somewhere (like home) I am usually ok. I travel alone a lot and I don't like that at all. Some people are good at it, but not me. In Kuwait, I HATE how, as you line up to go through security and customs, people invade your personal space. BACK OFF! There is no reason you have to attach yourself to my back side... we will all get through the line. I can feel you breathing... EW. One time (THE one and only time) I flew on Kuwait scAirways and dude behind me had his stinky bare feet propped up on my arm rest all the way. I kept pokin him with stuff, but I think either A) he liked it or 2) he was used to it people poking him with stuff.
So I'm back on another plane tomorrow night, racking up the air miles: United - the Contractor Express. I hope I'll sleep this time and that there isn't some fat guy sitting next to me, invading my seated personal space (I can dream, right?). I snore like a mofo and I just don't give a damn. United probably has me profiled somehow and is putting me next to passengers who won't easily be frightened by the noises I emit. Other passengers won't even make eye contact with me when we are disembarking - I'm THAT scary - and I don't care. I don't know if I start talking in tongues or what.
Oh snap - I saw "Snakes on a Plane" the other night and it scared the bejezus out of me. Who THOUGHT to write that kind of movie? What kind of deviant?! Ya know that's all I'm going to be thinking about (snoring like a mofo).
The Romanian is leaving 2 days after me and she might not be back until Christmas. WTF!!! What am I s'posed to dooooo? She's like (the young) Zsa Zsa Gabor, summering in Italy. Slapperella will be back and forth for her job; she's got some cool places to go this year like Russia and Turkey (biotch). I'm telling her stories about how she might be sold into white slavery (oh wait, maybe that was a discussion I had to scare my friend's daughter - never mind). Anyways Slapps, they won't get as much for damaged goods so you don't have to worry! I can see it, "Aye! So now whet's yer fekkin plan? Right. So, yer ginna haf to do be'er than that, lads." ... and then they'll toss her back. Tee hee. "Ta! Now where ere me shooooooes?"
And speaking of "doin be'er than that...." I'm feeling kind of blue. Persons who should have stopped by to say goodbye or just to spend a little time with me before I go, haven't (you know who you are - and THANKS). It was a disappointment, but alas not a surprise. A wise friend has repeatedly told me to lower my expectations so that if something happens, you will be pleasantly surprised. If not, no loss. Well.... my expectations have been staring up at me, waving hello from the big-hole-to-China they've been dug into for a while now. They couldn't get much lower. (Bring me a fortune cookie and an order of kung pao shrimp on your way back.)
P.F. Changs: Too salty or just right? What do you think of their service? I've notice it has registered on the "you're starting to piss me off" scale lately.
I watched "He's Just Not Into You" last night which was kind of a stupid, but apres peau to the paragraph which refers to feeling blue. If a man really cares about you, he'll be with you.
I'm going out with the crazy girls tonight for sushi and that will be fun. I know I am guaranteed good laughs. I hope it isn't all polite conversation. That would just be a waste of my time. If someone doesn't say "BJ" (full term), then I will. I swear. Don't even get me started... and NO, Ms. LOL, I will not sugar coat it. BJ BJ BJ....
Completely new subject of conversation that is not related whatsoever to the previous paragraph....
So I have a few days in DC - where I hope to meet up with a man I haven't seen since 1991. He's only going to be there for a few days and we said we might get together, so I hope that happens. I've seen his photo - still damn good looking.
I'll be on the Outer Banks with the fam for the first week in August. My mom is coming this time and I really look forward to it. I know she is going to love it. She loves the sea and it has been so hot in Washington - I hope that the weather will be better out there and it won't be humid as it has been in other years.
Everybody I know makes fun of me because I refuse to throw away my banana clips. I love how humidity is no problem with banana clips. I LOVE banana clips. I love how my hair looks in banana clips. A few years ago, I made the tremendous mistake of asking my sister how I looked one day (what the fuuuuu was I thinking?!) and she said, "You look great... (pause)... but ... wait a minute... is that a BANANA CLIP you're wearing? Those things went out in like, the 80's. Where did you GET it?" ... and then I made the tremendous mistake of repeating the anecdotal little story to Slaperella who has proceeded to buy me banana clips where ever/when ever she can find them (yes, they DO still make them!!!). Banana clips are making a comeback. Just like wrap dresses and cork heels. You scoffed at me for those too, didn't you, biotches?
I might meet up with a few girlfriends from Kentucky (who don't make fun of my 80's fashion sense, by the way!). One of them is a grandmother (I HATE that I have friends who are grandmothers!). Ok, she was a teenaged bride, but still. The other is a single mom and I don't think she realizes that she's drop-dead gorgeous; she'll be outstanding man-bait. I'm planning to meet up with other friends I haven't kept in touch with too like my former room mate, Trish, and a former colleage turned friend-for-life, Jaime. I need to call all the old friends in other states too, but I have a really bad problem of not calling people.
I know it is a huge character flaw, but I don't like getting on the phone. I don't know why. People think I'm avoiding them, but I just have this knee-jerk reaction to making calls. It gets much worse when I get to Virginia. I get in the house and I become brain-dead. I jsut want to sit around and stare at my family and catch up. There are very few people in my world that I actually call. Isn't that stupid? If you're going to have a phobia, have a good one, not a stupid one.
I have a dilema, people. I have a stray cat named "Limpy" that has been living on my terrace for the past almost-year. She is a lovely cat and I have gotten to be friends with her. She's injured - has been since I first saw her when she was too wild to grab. Just recently, she has allowed me to pet her. Her injuries seem to be either from a car accident, or more likely, from being caught in the engine of a car. One of her pupils doesn't dialate correctly and her leg is torn up so badly that I think it needs to be removed. It is basically one open, festering wound that heals, opens, heals, opens. I feed her and try to make her comfortable. I'm very very very allergic to cats. I can't keep her in the house and every time I pet her (I'm the only human she will allow to get close to her), I have to make sure that I wash my hands really thoroughly. Ok, so my dilema is this: Neither of the shelters will take her. PAWS is loosing their property soon and AFL's shelter (as everybody knows) isn't opened yet. I am travelling tomorrow, so I can't take her to the vet now, nor be around for her recovery (and I haven't figured out how I would handle that either with allergies). She shouldn't be euthanized - she's a gentle cat who gets along just fine on 3 legs. She's also safe out in my garden where big mean cats don't dare to enter. She probably won't do well with other animals (even other cats) around. Its a dilema. I will worry about her during my trip, but my friend who is staying at my place will make sure she's fed and has water. I will probably have her leg amputated when I get back. (For 7kd, I could have her put down, but I could never do that in good conscience and I would never sleep again. Plus, God would get me.)
And yes, I have become the "weird cat lady of the neighborhood". My neighbors would never guess I'm allergic. One of the cats (Petunia) walks me to my car every morning. 3 cats wait for me outside the house every day at 5:00 when I get home from work. If they are scrounging in the trash cans, they stop what they are doing and run to greet me. Seriously people, isn't that a blessing? The 3 of them are so close - they are like a little family. The big brother protects the 2 girls. How could I possibly kill one of them? (Now, some of the kids in my neighborhood are a completely different story...)
So I'm back on another plane tomorrow night, racking up the air miles: United - the Contractor Express. I hope I'll sleep this time and that there isn't some fat guy sitting next to me, invading my seated personal space (I can dream, right?). I snore like a mofo and I just don't give a damn. United probably has me profiled somehow and is putting me next to passengers who won't easily be frightened by the noises I emit. Other passengers won't even make eye contact with me when we are disembarking - I'm THAT scary - and I don't care. I don't know if I start talking in tongues or what.
Oh snap - I saw "Snakes on a Plane" the other night and it scared the bejezus out of me. Who THOUGHT to write that kind of movie? What kind of deviant?! Ya know that's all I'm going to be thinking about (snoring like a mofo).
The Romanian is leaving 2 days after me and she might not be back until Christmas. WTF!!! What am I s'posed to dooooo? She's like (the young) Zsa Zsa Gabor, summering in Italy. Slapperella will be back and forth for her job; she's got some cool places to go this year like Russia and Turkey (biotch). I'm telling her stories about how she might be sold into white slavery (oh wait, maybe that was a discussion I had to scare my friend's daughter - never mind). Anyways Slapps, they won't get as much for damaged goods so you don't have to worry! I can see it, "Aye! So now whet's yer fekkin plan? Right. So, yer ginna haf to do be'er than that, lads." ... and then they'll toss her back. Tee hee. "Ta! Now where ere me shooooooes?"
And speaking of "doin be'er than that...." I'm feeling kind of blue. Persons who should have stopped by to say goodbye or just to spend a little time with me before I go, haven't (you know who you are - and THANKS). It was a disappointment, but alas not a surprise. A wise friend has repeatedly told me to lower my expectations so that if something happens, you will be pleasantly surprised. If not, no loss. Well.... my expectations have been staring up at me, waving hello from the big-hole-to-China they've been dug into for a while now. They couldn't get much lower. (Bring me a fortune cookie and an order of kung pao shrimp on your way back.)
P.F. Changs: Too salty or just right? What do you think of their service? I've notice it has registered on the "you're starting to piss me off" scale lately.
I watched "He's Just Not Into You" last night which was kind of a stupid, but apres peau to the paragraph which refers to feeling blue. If a man really cares about you, he'll be with you.
I'm going out with the crazy girls tonight for sushi and that will be fun. I know I am guaranteed good laughs. I hope it isn't all polite conversation. That would just be a waste of my time. If someone doesn't say "BJ" (full term), then I will. I swear. Don't even get me started... and NO, Ms. LOL, I will not sugar coat it. BJ BJ BJ....
Completely new subject of conversation that is not related whatsoever to the previous paragraph....
So I have a few days in DC - where I hope to meet up with a man I haven't seen since 1991. He's only going to be there for a few days and we said we might get together, so I hope that happens. I've seen his photo - still damn good looking.
I'll be on the Outer Banks with the fam for the first week in August. My mom is coming this time and I really look forward to it. I know she is going to love it. She loves the sea and it has been so hot in Washington - I hope that the weather will be better out there and it won't be humid as it has been in other years.
Everybody I know makes fun of me because I refuse to throw away my banana clips. I love how humidity is no problem with banana clips. I LOVE banana clips. I love how my hair looks in banana clips. A few years ago, I made the tremendous mistake of asking my sister how I looked one day (what the fuuuuu was I thinking?!) and she said, "You look great... (pause)... but ... wait a minute... is that a BANANA CLIP you're wearing? Those things went out in like, the 80's. Where did you GET it?" ... and then I made the tremendous mistake of repeating the anecdotal little story to Slaperella who has proceeded to buy me banana clips where ever/when ever she can find them (yes, they DO still make them!!!). Banana clips are making a comeback. Just like wrap dresses and cork heels. You scoffed at me for those too, didn't you, biotches?
I might meet up with a few girlfriends from Kentucky (who don't make fun of my 80's fashion sense, by the way!). One of them is a grandmother (I HATE that I have friends who are grandmothers!). Ok, she was a teenaged bride, but still. The other is a single mom and I don't think she realizes that she's drop-dead gorgeous; she'll be outstanding man-bait. I'm planning to meet up with other friends I haven't kept in touch with too like my former room mate, Trish, and a former colleage turned friend-for-life, Jaime. I need to call all the old friends in other states too, but I have a really bad problem of not calling people.
I know it is a huge character flaw, but I don't like getting on the phone. I don't know why. People think I'm avoiding them, but I just have this knee-jerk reaction to making calls. It gets much worse when I get to Virginia. I get in the house and I become brain-dead. I jsut want to sit around and stare at my family and catch up. There are very few people in my world that I actually call. Isn't that stupid? If you're going to have a phobia, have a good one, not a stupid one.
I have a dilema, people. I have a stray cat named "Limpy" that has been living on my terrace for the past almost-year. She is a lovely cat and I have gotten to be friends with her. She's injured - has been since I first saw her when she was too wild to grab. Just recently, she has allowed me to pet her. Her injuries seem to be either from a car accident, or more likely, from being caught in the engine of a car. One of her pupils doesn't dialate correctly and her leg is torn up so badly that I think it needs to be removed. It is basically one open, festering wound that heals, opens, heals, opens. I feed her and try to make her comfortable. I'm very very very allergic to cats. I can't keep her in the house and every time I pet her (I'm the only human she will allow to get close to her), I have to make sure that I wash my hands really thoroughly. Ok, so my dilema is this: Neither of the shelters will take her. PAWS is loosing their property soon and AFL's shelter (as everybody knows) isn't opened yet. I am travelling tomorrow, so I can't take her to the vet now, nor be around for her recovery (and I haven't figured out how I would handle that either with allergies). She shouldn't be euthanized - she's a gentle cat who gets along just fine on 3 legs. She's also safe out in my garden where big mean cats don't dare to enter. She probably won't do well with other animals (even other cats) around. Its a dilema. I will worry about her during my trip, but my friend who is staying at my place will make sure she's fed and has water. I will probably have her leg amputated when I get back. (For 7kd, I could have her put down, but I could never do that in good conscience and I would never sleep again. Plus, God would get me.)
And yes, I have become the "weird cat lady of the neighborhood". My neighbors would never guess I'm allergic. One of the cats (Petunia) walks me to my car every morning. 3 cats wait for me outside the house every day at 5:00 when I get home from work. If they are scrounging in the trash cans, they stop what they are doing and run to greet me. Seriously people, isn't that a blessing? The 3 of them are so close - they are like a little family. The big brother protects the 2 girls. How could I possibly kill one of them? (Now, some of the kids in my neighborhood are a completely different story...)
Monday, July 26, 2010
Alleging the murderer is the "victim"
Kuwaiti lawyer BADER AL-NASSAR has proposed a defense that his Egyptian client, murderer Atallah Mohammed is innocent -- he was incited to kill his wife, Norhaisa Andaw.
I do not agree with honor killings - ever. However, in this part of the world, men sometimes get away with it. It usually involves walking in on a wife in a compromising position with another man. It does NOT usually involve the public exchange of conversation between two members of the opposite sex, and then later stabbing the victim.
Atallah is being charged with repeatedly stabbing his Filipina wife in front of a number of co-workers. Atallah had a long history of abuse to his wife (according to papers). Atallah, upon seeing his wife in a discussion with a male person (regardless of who he was; they were having a conversation, not having sex), went into a rage, followed his wife into the salon where she worked, and stabbed her. He then fled the scene (so fast, he lost one of his shoes).
Lawyer BADER AL-NASSAR told the Arab Times it is his client who is the victim. (Full story) If his client was the "victim" why did he run? Why didn't he take a legal course of action - or wait for the police to arrive and then turn himself in? Had Atallah wanted to divorce his wife for adultery, he could have gone to court, put the evidence before a judge, and divorced her. LEGALLY. He chose to murder her in front of colleagues/friends.
This defense, Mr. BADER AL-NASSAR, sets a dangerous precedence, does it not? Have a fight with your wife and kill her. Is that what you are trying to say? I find it disgusting that any lawyer would stoop to such low levels that he would even propose a defense like that. I would wonder how many female clients such a lawyer would have after this case.
I do not agree with honor killings - ever. However, in this part of the world, men sometimes get away with it. It usually involves walking in on a wife in a compromising position with another man. It does NOT usually involve the public exchange of conversation between two members of the opposite sex, and then later stabbing the victim.
Atallah is being charged with repeatedly stabbing his Filipina wife in front of a number of co-workers. Atallah had a long history of abuse to his wife (according to papers). Atallah, upon seeing his wife in a discussion with a male person (regardless of who he was; they were having a conversation, not having sex), went into a rage, followed his wife into the salon where she worked, and stabbed her. He then fled the scene (so fast, he lost one of his shoes).
Lawyer BADER AL-NASSAR told the Arab Times it is his client who is the victim. (Full story) If his client was the "victim" why did he run? Why didn't he take a legal course of action - or wait for the police to arrive and then turn himself in? Had Atallah wanted to divorce his wife for adultery, he could have gone to court, put the evidence before a judge, and divorced her. LEGALLY. He chose to murder her in front of colleagues/friends.
This defense, Mr. BADER AL-NASSAR, sets a dangerous precedence, does it not? Have a fight with your wife and kill her. Is that what you are trying to say? I find it disgusting that any lawyer would stoop to such low levels that he would even propose a defense like that. I would wonder how many female clients such a lawyer would have after this case.
Article on Freedom of Speech in Kuwait
Interesting article on dwindling freedom of speech in Kuwait.
Operation Roll Back Kuwaiti Freedom
This wealthy Gulf monarchy used to be a bright spot for freedom of speech in the Middle East. No longer.
BY PRIYANKA MOTAPARTHY
Foreign Policy (online)
JULY 21, 2010
"In a region where reprisals against journalists who fail to toe the government line may include imprisonment and torture, Kuwait has been a welcome exception. The country consistently ranks as having the freest media in the Arab world, in both Reporters Without Borders' and Freedom House's indices of press freedom. With a population of only around 3 million, it has more than 15 daily newspapers that publish editorials and columns from local politicians, activists, academics, and analysts. But Kuwait's relatively liberal media and public dialogue is just that: relative. It's also in decline.
More - Go to Link
Thanks Ahmed El Adly via Ziad Al-Duaij. Freedom to express...
Operation Roll Back Kuwaiti Freedom
This wealthy Gulf monarchy used to be a bright spot for freedom of speech in the Middle East. No longer.
BY PRIYANKA MOTAPARTHY
Foreign Policy (online)
JULY 21, 2010
"In a region where reprisals against journalists who fail to toe the government line may include imprisonment and torture, Kuwait has been a welcome exception. The country consistently ranks as having the freest media in the Arab world, in both Reporters Without Borders' and Freedom House's indices of press freedom. With a population of only around 3 million, it has more than 15 daily newspapers that publish editorials and columns from local politicians, activists, academics, and analysts. But Kuwait's relatively liberal media and public dialogue is just that: relative. It's also in decline.
More - Go to Link
Thanks Ahmed El Adly via Ziad Al-Duaij. Freedom to express...
Justice for Woman Tortured and Murdered in Kuwait
These stories always make me sick, but it is even worse when things happen and then the criminals aren't punished. I hope the Kuwaiti authorities will treat her with the same dignity and respect they would give had she been a female Kuwaiti citizen, tortured, and then murdered by running over her with a car, and dumped in Kabd. Well, that is already untrue because had she been Kuwaitia, it would be all over the news and people would be furious.
Join this group on Facebook in support of justice: Justice for Asria Samad Abdul (OFW murdered in Kuwait).
Equal justice under the law!
- - -
This sent by a reader:
"Recently, the Kuwaiti Appeals Court reduced the sentence of a Kuwaiti woman who beat her Asian maid to death from 15 to 7 years. The woman beat her maid with wooden and iron objects and then dumped her in a bathtub where she suffered for 10 hours until dying, yet the Appeals Court reduced the woman’s charge to merely “beating that led to death”.
http://www.migrant-rights.org/"
Join this group on Facebook in support of justice: Justice for Asria Samad Abdul (OFW murdered in Kuwait).
Equal justice under the law!
- - -
This sent by a reader:
"Recently, the Kuwaiti Appeals Court reduced the sentence of a Kuwaiti woman who beat her Asian maid to death from 15 to 7 years. The woman beat her maid with wooden and iron objects and then dumped her in a bathtub where she suffered for 10 hours until dying, yet the Appeals Court reduced the woman’s charge to merely “beating that led to death”.
http://www.migrant-rights.org/"
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Pre-Ramadan Pandemonium!
It's starting early this year....
Western people - beware! This is one of the scariest times of the year in Kuwait! It used to be the week before Ramadan, but it has been extended out to almost 3 weeks (like in the US where they put out the Christmas stuff in October...). People are starting to stock up on food early for Ramadan. Dudes, how much CAN you eat? (Gluttony: the anti-Ramadan)
I was in Rumaithiya co-op last week and I was nearly run down by people collecting discounted food items. I couldn't get out of the parking lot (although I gotta say, Rumaithiya co-op has some of the most polite drivers I've ever seen.)
Has it really come to this in Kuwait? Why not shop out in Shuwaikh if you want really good deals?
If you really want to have the crap scared out of ya, go to the grocery store the night before Ramadan. Wear something padded. Prepare for your personal space to be invaded. It aint pretty.
Ok, and the other scariest time of the year is the week before Eid. Let me just say THANK GOD I MOVED OUT OF SALMIYA! I still don't understand why people can't buy clothes way before Eid or buy over the internet. Granted, it is almost a cultural event to Kuwaitis to go out shopping with the family for Eid, but it has become so commercial that is it really a fun thing to do anymore? I could see how years ago clothes would have been tailor-made, but now - what a farce. The items are all way overpriced and everybody knows where everybody else bought the garment and for how much. What about being unique?
One more thing, let me complain for a minute (or way more) about this year's closure of many Ramadan tents due to the Jahra wedding tent fire. The psycho biotch SET FIRE to the Jahra tent using gasoline. It isn't like that is an every-day occurrance. Do the authorities believe that people are going to run around lighting tents on fire across the country?
(I have given this subject pause as my friends at The Palms tell me they won't have a tent this year. RRRR. They had the best food at the best price in Kuwait. That's just 100% sucky!)
Further, in order to get a permit for ONE GUY to play oud at a Ramadan tent, you need Super Wastah. The amount of paperwork to get a permit is staggering.
When was Kuwait formally annexed by Saudi Arabia?
Ramadan used to be fun/a joyous occassion in Kuwait. Now it sucks. It doesn't have to be that way.
Of note - Sakura has a buffet all month long (sushi) at a good price, and if you can get a table there, Ayam Zaman at the Crowne Plaza is pretty (if not slightly overpriced) during the month. Most hotels will gouge you with Ramadan fixed prices. I won't be here for most of Ramadan, but when I get back, I think I'm just going to go to small restaurants where you can order ala carte.
BTW - if you think you can order pizza or other delivery food during the day; think again. They don't deliver until after sunset and then there is a long wait. The best place for non-fasters is The Sultan Center's hot food counter. If you see Kuwaiti people (men in particular) there buying food at noon, point/whisper/and snicker cause ya just know they aint fastin.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Beit Dickson: New Kuwaiti Restaurant
Mario's World blog has a review of a new Kuwaiti restaurant, Beit Dickson, in Salmiya. I received a flyer for it when I was at Rumaithiya co-op parking lot. The place looks amazing and I'm dying to go.
Mario's Blog Source
Prank calling Beit Dickson:
(Briddish accent) 'Hellooooooo! May I speak to Um Saud?'
Minu?
Um Saud my dear chap. Mrs. Dickson.
Eh?
What about Colonel Dickson, is he in?
Mario's Blog Source
Prank calling Beit Dickson:
(Briddish accent) 'Hellooooooo! May I speak to Um Saud?'
Minu?
Um Saud my dear chap. Mrs. Dickson.
Eh?
What about Colonel Dickson, is he in?
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Writers?
The American Business Council has a magazine, The Correspondent. It is issued quarterly and they are looking for writers. You won't get paid, but it is an opportunity for all you narcisists to see your name in print (make yo mama proud!) and it looks good on a resume. The mag has a good distribution base and well, just damn sexy formatting.
"Correspondent Magazine (Summer 2010 issue) in the form of ads and articles.
The Deadline to submit any articles or advertisements would be Monday, July 26h, 2010.
Interviews - we will send you 7 or 8 questions to be answered, let us know if you are interested, 2 pages with pictures
Volunteer section - tell us about any reputable volunteer organization in Kuwait (one to 2 pages, complete with pictures, ie: Girl Scouts)
Americana section - one or 2 pages in pictures, short essay about your area of the USA (poetry also accepted)..
Kuwait section - some significant area, building, or ministry in Kuwait - one or 2 pages with pictures
Travel section - anywhere in the world - one or 2 pages complete with pictures
Special Events - any special event in your business and//or organization - one or 2 pages complete with pictures
Special Features - law, education, health, etc - one or 2 pages, complete with pictures
Note: Articles will be free of charge (no payment to authors).
We'll be distributing it to a wide range of readers which would include Ministries, Kwt Oil companies, Embassies, Banks, Schools, Hospitals, Hotels, US companies, Kuwaiti Companies, etc.
Thank you in advance for your support.
American Business Council – Kuwait
americanbusinesscouncil@gmail.com
Website: www.abckw.org "
"Correspondent Magazine (Summer 2010 issue) in the form of ads and articles.
The Deadline to submit any articles or advertisements would be Monday, July 26h, 2010.
Interviews - we will send you 7 or 8 questions to be answered, let us know if you are interested, 2 pages with pictures
Volunteer section - tell us about any reputable volunteer organization in Kuwait (one to 2 pages, complete with pictures, ie: Girl Scouts)
Americana section - one or 2 pages in pictures, short essay about your area of the USA (poetry also accepted)..
Kuwait section - some significant area, building, or ministry in Kuwait - one or 2 pages with pictures
Travel section - anywhere in the world - one or 2 pages complete with pictures
Special Events - any special event in your business and//or organization - one or 2 pages complete with pictures
Special Features - law, education, health, etc - one or 2 pages, complete with pictures
Note: Articles will be free of charge (no payment to authors).
We'll be distributing it to a wide range of readers which would include Ministries, Kwt Oil companies, Embassies, Banks, Schools, Hospitals, Hotels, US companies, Kuwaiti Companies, etc.
Thank you in advance for your support.
American Business Council – Kuwait
americanbusinesscouncil@gmail.com
Website: www.abckw.org "
Monday, July 19, 2010
Errands completed - feeling major accomplishment
I have been driving around with several pairs of shoes that need to be re-heeled, some clothes I shoulda taken to the tailor, and a roll of film that I have been meaning to develop since before I bought a digital camera (so yas know how long that has been).
Today, I completed all the errands.
I want you to know that it is all thanks to Juju's Cupcakes and my renewed lease on life.
Today, I completed all the errands.
I want you to know that it is all thanks to Juju's Cupcakes and my renewed lease on life.
God doesn't want me to have cupcakes
Several days ago, I was sitting alone and the Devil was sitting on my shoulder, whispering something in my ear about birthday cake. You know - the typical American vanilla sheet kind. Damn the Devil! I got it in my head that I had to have some; but where the Hell do you find that kind of birthday cake in Kuwait? It's not the same here. Yeah, I guess the closest I could come would be La Baguette's cake, but it is still FRENCH style baking (everything is light and fluffy and airy and oooo la la).
So I determined that the next best thing (short of baking - which I am not in the mood for) would be cupakes.
Being the lazyass that I am, I figured I could do this from the comfort of my sofa; and got online to 6alabat.com. Usually 6alabat doesn't let me down; good food for decent prices. (The only time they have let me down is refunding money on KNET orders.) .... that is.... until I ordered from J's Bakery. O...M....G what a RIP.
What I am picturing are 12 (I ate a few to test) rock-hard, stale MINI (they never mentioned that on the menu) cupcakes, 2 bags of kettle corn (all the kernels were broken and the bags were tiny), and 2 itty-bitty bite sized (1" square) brownies. The total price was 5.600. Holy shyt! I could have fed 2 people full meals on that. I can't remember how much the cupcakes were, but I distinctly remember the popcorn was .500 fils per bag (the size of my hand) and each brownie (1" square) was .900 fils. I thought that they had jipped me on the brownie: it appeared that there was only 1 in the pack, but on closer inspection, there were 2 - making a total of 2". Can we all say RIP OFF?
Fekit. I took them home and ate Juju cupcake mush. I had frosting all over me. They were great even in their mushed state.
So I determined that the next best thing (short of baking - which I am not in the mood for) would be cupakes.
Being the lazyass that I am, I figured I could do this from the comfort of my sofa; and got online to 6alabat.com. Usually 6alabat doesn't let me down; good food for decent prices. (The only time they have let me down is refunding money on KNET orders.) .... that is.... until I ordered from J's Bakery. O...M....G what a RIP.
What I am picturing are 12 (I ate a few to test) rock-hard, stale MINI (they never mentioned that on the menu) cupcakes, 2 bags of kettle corn (all the kernels were broken and the bags were tiny), and 2 itty-bitty bite sized (1" square) brownies. The total price was 5.600. Holy shyt! I could have fed 2 people full meals on that. I can't remember how much the cupcakes were, but I distinctly remember the popcorn was .500 fils per bag (the size of my hand) and each brownie (1" square) was .900 fils. I thought that they had jipped me on the brownie: it appeared that there was only 1 in the pack, but on closer inspection, there were 2 - making a total of 2". Can we all say RIP OFF?I called J's Bakery. Response: "Ooooooh". Yeah. okay. Whatever. Once burned...
So, my cupcake craving had now become a mission. That's IT. It's on like donkey kong. I got online and started researching f-ing cupcakes in Kuwait. I remembered that I had seen a place in Fanar and Mark's blog mentioned Juju's Cupcakes. Hmmm. Worth a shot.
I first sent them an e-mail requesting an order of a dozen fresh cupcakes for pick up. Email bounced back. Snap. Not a good sign. So, I went to Fanar at 5 pm in cynical mode; fully expecting all their cupcakes to be stale and hard. I raised an eyebrow at the cupcake dude, skeptically and I bought one just to test. OMG good! Their packaging says "Yummy" and it is really a statement of truth. I was so not disappointed. Flavor of the day was tirimasu and they had bite-sized samples (same size as I got from J's bakery) to try. I bought an assortment to try including carot cake, red velvet, chocolate with a cream center.
Cool! So I was ready to bounce home and get cupcake busy.... when Slaps called me. She has just returned from Beirut with a new obsession: sheesha. WTF?! Sheesha? I know when she gets immersed in something, there is no talking her out of it, so I agreed to meet her at Awtar Libnan at Marina.
I didn't want to leave my cupcakes in the car, I brought them with me into the restaurant (and guarded them really carefully like a vulture).
Sheesha mission accomplished, we walked back to the valet. I held onto the Juju's cute little pink box by the handle.... walking... and we're walking... and... SPLAT! The handle broke. I remember that feeling... I was 6. Every time I walked out of the ice cream parlor in Wickford, Rhode Island, and reached for the door handle my ice cream would drop on the floor and I would cry. (Why my mother could never open the door for me will remain a mystery.) Same feeling. My bottom lip immediately jutted out. I stared at the box on the ground. The valet guys laughed. Slaps laughed. 'IT'S NOT FUNNY!!!' It was horrific.
Fekit. I took them home and ate Juju cupcake mush. I had frosting all over me. They were great even in their mushed state.If you ever HAVE to have a cupcake, Juju's is FAAAAABULOUS (just make sure to hold the box from the bottom). Juju honey, change your boxes: They're cute, but they destroy precious cargo.
Their numbers are 2572-2999 and 2495-7899. Go Juju, go Juju....
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