So I decided it was time to break out the didge for Cora the other day.

It may have been my delivery, but for whatever reason, after a single low blast on my didgeridoo, Cora is now terrified by the ugly thing. As soon as she spots it standing in the corner of a room, she shrieks in horror and runs to the first available adult.

On the bright side, I now have a quick to assemble, portable safety gate.  I like to think of it more as my Virtual Fence that actually works.

We'll see what happens with this. It's the Cora website. I'm relearning this LJ thing. Bear with me, please.

...
http://imcorawatchmegrow.shutterfly.com/
...

Ok. The hyperlink came up fine. But I was not able to easily add the photos, I think I need a change.

LJ has been good to me, don't get me wrong. But the thing is, I'm spread a little thin. I've got facebook, myspace, shutterfly, flickr, hotmail, google-everything, and then some. I am sensing the urge to make some fairly regular online uploads, and I'm not happy with needing yet another storage site. That basically means, no needing to post a photo using TWO different photo sites.

Ideas, from any of my 2-3 readers, for a free, user-friendly method of doing this? I think a blog that allows image uploading would be nice -- Is that you I hear whispering, Google?

C

My buddy went to Rik's Kountry Kitchen last weekend - our normal Friday morning greasy spoon. Komfort food. As a tribute to either their gustatory genre, or the reason we are all here, Rik named the breakfast combos petroleum-related names like, "The Gashouse" and "Tanker." Steve got his normal - "The Rig," which is toast, grilled tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms, beef bacon, and two eggs - your way.

When he went to the register clutching 30 riyals, the price it's been for 3 years, the clerk asked for another 5.

"35? I thought it was 30?"

"Yes, sorry. It's now 35. Egg surcharge." His face was emotionless.

Turns out Saudi Arabia has ditched all their eggs. Bird flu epidemic. Where do Qatar's eggs come from? Mostly Saudi. So now, we gotta roll em in from India and Lebanon.

He gazed upon the wall with trepidation. Instead of mud bricks, this wall was made of bricks of paper. Dozens of varieties, colors, types. "Does it really matter which one?" he thought. And after minutes of soul searching, he pulled the closest 5 pack out. Mellow earth tones and the Doha landmarks decorating the boxes won him over.

"Finally, a box of tissues by my bedside," he thought as he pulled out a box and ripped open the perferated top. He christened the first one with a long hard honk. But something was wrong. He let the piece linger, sniffed it, and let out an even louder sneeze. His lungs started to burn. He looked on the box, and in small letters, "Oud Scented" was written at the bottom. "Oud" being the Arabic term for incense, and one of the few words he knew, he cursed his lack of observation. 5 boxes of tissues at his fingertips, each of the thousand sheets holding the ability to wreak havoc on his mucus membranes and thus canceling out all inherent value in themselves.

It mattered after all.

I wonder if a previous incident of each rule necessitated said rule. For example, did some Shmoe try to start his own Driver's Ed school out of his garage so they instituted #8 - "Establishment of new driving schools is not allowed unless obtaining permission from the licensing authorities." ??

I especially like #46 & #53




Updated Qatar Traffic Laws
Decree No. 19 of 2007


Article No. # Violations Fines (QR)
1 Driving a vehicle in the opposite road direction. QR6,000
2 Parking outside the specified areas or returning the vehicle when using motorways. QR6,000
3 Jumping a light at intersections or disobeying a police who organises traffic. QR6,000
4 Driving an unregistered vehicle. QR3,000
5 Driving a vehicle with unlicensed number plates. QR3,000
6 Changing or replacing a vital part before obtaining a written permission. QR3,000
7 Car rental companies, car shows, and car repair workshops are not allowed to work before obtaining permissions from the licensing authorities. QR3,000
8 Establishment of new driving schools is not allowed unless obtaining permission from the licensing authorities. QR3,000
9 Overtaking and not complying with the right side of the road while driving passengers’ vehicles, inter alia, buses, trucks, trailers and other equipment. QR3,000
10 Using vehicles or allow others to use them for personal purposes other than the legitimate purposes stated in the registration or license. QR3,000
11 Driving with a driving license that is judicially or administratively confiscated. QR3,000
12 Driving a vehicle that produces smoke or bad smell or makes noises or emits flammable substances. QR3,000
13 Driving any kinds of vehicles on prohibited roads. QR3,000
14 Impermissible driving of a loaded vehicle higher than 4.2 meters or wider than 2.6 meters. QR3,000
15 Driving a vehicle with an expired vehicle license. QR1,500
16 Making any change in the shape or colour or information of the number plates or replacing or lending them. QR1,500
17 Driving a vehicle with an expired driving license. QR1,500
18 Returning a vehicle at junctions and public roads is prohibited unless it is a necessity and for short distances not far than 20 meters after using indictors and making sure that the road is vacant and if necessary the driver can seek the help and guidance of others. QR1,500
19 Driving manual or automatic motorbikes without tightly holding their handlebars by both hands is only permitted for applying the indicators and it is forbidden to catch at another vehicle while driving or lifting one tyre up from the ground or carrying or pushing or picking objects which could block off traffic or cause danger to vehicles or passengers. QR1,500
20 Driving with a vehicle’s license that is judicially or administratively confiscated. QR1,500
21 Loading a vehicle in a way that causes danger to the vehicle and the public. QR1,500
22 Fixing number plates or advertisements or other police-specific signs or devices on the vehicle, or an act of making the police-specific devices unclear or ineffective or perplexing. QR1,000
23 Not removing the vehicle from the accident’s site to the nearest parking after non-casualty accident if it is possible to move it and report to the police immediately. QR1,000
24 Applying police-specific warning devices or light alarms, inter alia, police vehicles, ambulances, or civil defence vehicles etc. QR1,000
25 Applying glass shade over the vehicle. QR1,000
26 Applying red lights at the front of the vehicle. QR1,000
27 Impermissible vehicle loading of more than one meter in the front or two meters in the rear. Red signs or lights must be fixed on both sides of the loaded items. QR1,000
28 Exceeding maximum speed limit except for those who transfer patients or casualties in a critical condition while precautionary and warning devices must be used, and the driver must slow down at junctions for safety. From QR500 to QR1,000
29 Not returning the vehicle’s number plates to the licensing authority in the case of cancellation, or not reporting immediately to the authority the missing or damage of one or both of the number plates. QR500
30 Using unlicensed commercial number plates. QR500
31 Using the commercial number plates for purposes other than their real purposes. QR500
32 Allowing someone other than the owner or an agent or whoever may be to drive the commercial or under-test number plate’s vehicle. QR500
33 Not returning the commercial or under-test or temporary entry number plates when cancelled. QR500
34 Applying drawings or writings on any parts of the vehicle or using the vehicle for advertisement with a microphone, or fixing boards or models. QR500
35 Not reporting to the licensing authorities in writing about property transfer within (3 days). QR500
36 Not reporting to the licensing authorities about any changes in the vehicle owner’s name, nationality, ID, place of residence, or address within (10 days). QR500
37 Not informing the Traffic Department in the case of missing or damage of the vehicle’s license. QR500
38 Not carrying the license while driving a vehicle or refraining from giving the license to the police. QR500
39 Impermissible transfer of the driving license from the owner to others, or using such license illegally for achieving personal interests. QR500
40 Not complying with the right side of the road’s lane in the following cases:
1- turning to enter another road on the right side.
2- when another vehicle is coming from the opposite direction.
3- another vehicle is overtaking beside.
4- vision is unclear enough. QR500
41 Driving across or on road line(s) if the road is divided into two lanes marked by continued lines. QR500
42 Sudden change in road direction without using indicators or providing enough space in a dangerous way that may affects people and traffic. QR500
43 Driving a vehicle on a prohibited road unless obtaining a written permission. QR500
44 Not fastening the seat belt while driving on roads for both the driver and the front passenger. QR500
45 Talking over the mobile phone or applying other devices or getting involved in watching a vehicle’s TV. QR500
46 Getting busy with watching a TV inside the vehicle while driving. QR500
47 Placing infants under ten years old on the front seats. QR500
48 Non-compliance with road signs in the pedestrian walkways. QR500
49 Block off or not leaving the way to official convoys. QR500
50 Not leaving enough space, while driving, between the vehicle and other front vehicles. QR500
51 Overtaking another vehicle from the right side. QR500
52 Increasing speed while another vehicle is overtaking beside and not comply with the right side of the road to let other vehicles overtake smoothly. QR500
53 Not allowing on duty police, ambulances, or civil defence vehicles to pass; or an act of racing them. QR500
54 Refraining from providing the police traffic with the correct information in the case of accidents. QR500
55 Applying front or rear brighter lights during improper weather conditions. QR500
56 Leaving a vehicle without red lights or back reflectors on a dark road during night or bad weather that affects vision. QR500
57 Blocking off traffic by moving a vehicle at intersection even if having traffic priority. QR500
58 Prohibited parking at the disabled parking areas. QR500
59 Leaving the vehicle on the road without a driver and without taking safety precautions to avoid accidents and illegal use by others, or leaving the vehicle with the switch key inside. QR500
60 Leaving a vehicle on the road in a way that might causes traffic problems or accidents. QR500
61 Blocking roads off or causing danger to property and people by leaving vehicles, animals, or objects on the road. QR500
62 Transporting people in a vehicle that has no seats or not passengers-specific. QR500
63 Driving a vehicle without sticker for showing the license’s date of expiry at a clear place on the vehicle. QR300
64 Driving school’s teachers who violate article No. (33) QR300
65 Not reporting to the Traffic Department or its nearest branch the missing or damage of the driving license. QR300
66 Cyclists must drive on the right side of the road’s lane in a queue in the case that there is no bicycles-specific lanes while motorbikes must drive on vehicles-specific lanes. It is prohibited to transfer passengers by a motorbike unless it is equipped with another suitable vehicle. Both cyclists and motorcyclists must wear helmets while driving. QR300
67 Not slowing a vehicle down when driving near pedestrian crossings, populated places, or blocking off traffic by unjustifiable slowing down or applying a sudden brake. QR300
68 Driving a vehicle without a horn. QR300
69 Applying the vehicle’s horn unjustifiably. QR300
70 Applying musical or pneumatic horn. QR300
71 Driving a vehicle without front, rear or number plates’ lights between sunrise to sunset. QR300
72 Applying brighter lights closer to the front vehicle. QR300
73 Not giving priority to vehicles coming from the left side at roundabouts. QR300
74 Not giving priority to vehicles coming from the left side at intersections that have no traffic signals. QR300
75 Not giving priority to vehicles coming from paved road intersection with unpaved counterpart. QR300
76 Not making sure that the opposite main road is empty while entering from local road. QR300
77 Stopping at prohibited parking areas. QR300
78 Blocking off or causing traffic jam at the parking areas. QR500
79 Using a vehicle to transport more than the licensed number of passengers. QR300
80 Not writing weight or number of passengers on the 3-tons or more vehicles. QR300
81 Pedestrians who do not take precautionary measure while crossing the road. QR200
82 Applying unnecessary precautionary devices by emergency vehicles drivers. QR200
83 Leaving the vehicle at a parking lane without adjusting the brighter light to the right side. QR200
84 Pedestrians who walk along the road or on bicycle-specific lanes while pedestrians’ walkways available but if such walkways are unavailable pedestrians must walk on the extreme left side of the road lane in the opposite direction. QR200

Traffic Violation Point System
Violators of traffic rules will be given negative points as follows:

No.# Violations Points
1 Jumping a light at intersections. 6
2 Driving in the opposite direction. 6
3 Driving under alcohol effects. 6
4 Exceeding the maximum speed limit. 4
5 Driving recklessly and dangerously. 4
6 Driving with defective brakes. 4
7 Driving with inappropriate license. 3
8 Driving with stripped or invalid license. 3
9 Violating norms of public morality. 3
10 Driving an unregistered vehicle. 3
11 Driving a vehicle without number plates. 3
12 Impermissible changing of number plates. 3
13 Providing wrong information to pass the technical inspection. 3
14 Using a vehicle or allow others to use it for personal purposes other than the legitimate purposes stated in the registration or the license. 3
15 Blocking traffic off deliberately. 3
16 Driving a vehicle without a proper silencer. 3
17 Driving a polluting vehicle. 3
18 Driving a vehicle that can make noises or emits massive smoke or bad smell or produces flammable substance. 3
19 Driving a vehicle which drops loads that can endanger the public safety 3
20 Driving on the embankment. 3
21 Making a wrong U-turn. 3
22 Changing a vital part of the vehicle without obtaining a written permission from the authorities. 3
23 Transferring the driving license to someone who has no driving license. 2
24 Driving a vehicle with unclear number plates. 2
25 Driving with only one number plate, or changing their shape or details. 1
26 Refraining from giving the driving license to the police traffic. 1
27 Trucks violating the load conditions. 1
28 Trucks violating the width, length or weight regulations. 1
29 Driving a technically unsafe vehicle. 1
30 Applying lights, horns, microphones or other machines illegally. 1
31 Disobeying traffic signals. 1

This is what the US State Dept. says about driving in Qatar. We Bad!!!


TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Qatar is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance. Short-term visitors may drive in Qatar on a valid U.S. driver’s license. New residents should obtain a Qatari driver’s license upon arrival.

Traffic accidents are Qatar’s leading cause of death. Safety regulations in Qatar are not consistent with U.S. standards, and informal rules of the road and local customs often prove frustrating for first-time visitors. The combination of Qatar’s extensive use of roundabouts, many road construction projects and the high speeds at which many drivers travel can prove challenging. Despite aggressive driving on Qatar’s roads, drivers should avoid altercations or arguments over traffic incidents, particularly with Qatari citizens who, if insulted, have filed complaints with local police that resulted in the arrest and overnight detention of U.S. citizens. Drivers can be held liable for injuries to other persons involved in a vehicular accident, and local police have detained U.S. citizens overnight until the extent of the person’s injuries were known. The rate of automobile accidents due to driver error and excessive speed is higher than in the United States. In rural areas, poor lighting, wandering camels and un-shouldered roads are other hazards.

Cool New Mac User tip: Apple+Shift+4 --- Variable size screenshots - get saved to your desktop.


Qatar:


Doha:


Gettin' closer:


My Hood:


My flat:

Can you see my lawn chair on the roof? Me neither.


(Here's the Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/62862778@N00/)

AAaah, Yemen. Know what the Romans called it? Arabia Felix. Or, Happy Arabia. And happy we were to be there. The place has mirth in abundance. It pours from the dagger souks, the distended cheeks of 16 year old khat-addicts, and the smoothy stalls complete with smiling Saddam Hussein posters.

Yemen is beyond compare. All of Old Sana'a is a World Heritage site. The whole thing.

And no, it's not dangerous to foreigners. Unless maybe you are American. Or at least SAY you are American. And if you wander into tribal gunfights like we almost did.

But just don't do these things in Yemen, and you should be fine.

Invite me to dinner this summer and I'll show you pics that will blow your mind.


Where did I stay, you ask? Here. http://arabiafelix.free.fr/chambres.php I HIGHLY recommend it. GREAT hummus and mutabel.

I'm going to try to meet this guy when I go to Yemen in two weeks.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0512/p01s02-wome.html

So here was a line in our morning bulletin, tucked between reminders of 12th grade dress policy and the 3rd grade field trip to the zoo:


"The President of Finland may be visiting TLCS today. It is not likely that this would occur before Period 5. We will let you know when this is confirmed."


Sure enough, after lunch, security guards were posted everywhere. Kids were being escorted through the halls. Teachers paced the halls anxiously, whispering, "they're coming" at my door. All this, as I tried to get my two 12th graders to write in their journals about poetic devices. One kid didn't get one word in; his eye was on the door the whole time.

She didn't come to my room, but I saw the entourage down the hallway. How do you enter, "Distraction - President of Finland in school" into the gradebook as a reasonable excuse for little classwork accomplished?