by Natasha Tynes | Nov 21, 2004 | Shutterbug, Tidbits
For those who read the news item I posted earlier about the Saudi crackdown on mobile phones with a built-in camera, hereis a very amusing update.
Saudi bride roughs up guest for photographing her with camera phone
RIYADH (AFP) – An enraged Saudi bride badly beat up a female wedding guest who had photographed her with a camera-equipped mobile phone, a newspaper reported.
After spotting the woman taking the picture in the all-female section of the party in the western city of Taif, the bride "beat her severely, destroyed her mobile phone and pulled her by her hair in front of all the guests," the Al-Jazirah daily said.
The bride then ripped off the woman’s veil and announced through a microphone the woman’s motives, before receiving a round of applause "for being vigilant". She then tidied up her appearance and proceeded with the celebration.
Camera-equipped mobile phones are ostensibly banned in the conservative kingdom, where men and women celebrate weddings separately, leaving women at liberty to discard the all-covering black cloaks and veil that are obligatory in the presence of men.
Earlier this month, four ministries appealed to King Fahd to lift the ban, arguing that such technology had become a "fait accompli like television and the internet."
Now, this is hilarious. This story keeps getting better and better!
by Natasha Tynes | Nov 21, 2004 | Food and Drink
I had never tasted, seen or made a meatloaf before. I only knew of this all-American dish from the musician that bears its name. Last night, though, things changed. Last night, I saw, tasted and made a meatloaf for the very first time.
We followed a recipe called “Mom’s slightly more upscale Meatloaf” from the Kitchen Survival Guide. The result was wonderful, with Jeff confirming that the meat loaf we made indeed looked, smelled and tasted just as it should. I’m so pleased. This makes a wonderful addition to my humble list of “five-dishes-I-know-how-to-prepare.”
Now we have some leftovers, which I understand will make for a tasty "at work" sandwich. Well, this is definitely something to look forward to later today.
by Natasha Tynes | Nov 20, 2004 | Political mayhem
I just read this article about one woman’s travel experience on a plane with “14 Middle Eastern men” who were acting suspiciously (Thanks Tania). The article is a bit long but worth it if you have the time. Reading the alarming details of her story I completely understood why she felt her life was in danger. But were these men really up to something? Who knows!!
On June 29, 2004, at 12:28 pm, I flew on Northwest Airlines flight #327 from Detroit to Los Angeles with my husband and our young son. Also on our flight were 14 Middle Eastern men between the ages of approximately 20 and 50 years old. What I experienced during that flight has caused me to question whether the United States of America can realistically uphold the civil liberties of every individual, even non-citizens, and protect its citizens from terrorist threats … more
Source: [Womens Wall Street]
by Natasha Tynes | Nov 19, 2004 | Doha affairs, Shutterbug
Question: What do you do in Doha on your day off when bored out of your skull? Answer: Go to the zoo!
And that’s exactly what we did Wednesday. Joined by Amal, we three embarked on a mini-trip to examine the offerings of Qatar’s national zoo. We really had a good time, as the weather was exceptionally beautiful and we all longed for an outing in the open-air, where you could see green and smell the grass.
What fascinated me the most at the zoo was the elephants, particularly this lovely Indian one, all dressed up and looking proud. The colorful and skillful drawings on this (we believe) Indian elephant were really something else. She (assuming it was a she) looked like a bride on her wedding night, very elegant, very flirtatious and very happy.
Other species that caught my attention were the graceful zebras, the remarkable giraffes, the active baboons and some of the small peculiar little creatures kept inside.[Click here or the photo album for the menagerie.]
If you end up in this part of the world, a visit to the zoo is definitely worth your money and time. We had a wonderful time and will likely make it back again.
RIYADH (AFP) – An enraged Saudi bride badly beat up a female wedding guest who had photographed her with a camera-equipped mobile phone, a newspaper reported. 