The MtvSM tradition continues:
I’m off tonight to Dubai for a quick meeting tomorrow morning. Back tomorrow afternoon.
Until then, ANY and ALL problems in the world, this site, fights, wars and attacks on every religion in the world is directly due to:
MALIK
You’ve just got 24 hours or so guys, so have at ‘im!!!
see ya 😉
Comments
Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
LOL! Yes, tell me something I do not know! I am responsible for any and all of it. I was the muse who secretly told the jurors to NOT convict Michael Jackson. I figure if two multi-million dollar out of court settlements didnt teach him not to sleep in beds with little boys nothing would.
As if I dont get attacked enough here anyway. Well, we know Emirate women are good looking, hope you are taking your camera with you Mahmood!
And oh, since the limelight(or something) is on me at the moment, I found a good blog I think people should check out. Have fun.
[url]http://www.sabbah.biz/mt/[/url]
And oh, to kick things off in the right way, for purification, instead of the Zoroastorian bulls urine cocktail, I suggest the following “A man once said to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): “I have plenty of property, a large family, a great deal of money, and I am a gracious host to my guests. Tell me how to conduct my life and how to spend (my money).” The Prophet replied: “Give (regular charity) out of your property, for truly it is a purifier, and be kind to your relatives and acknowledge the rights of the poor, neighbors and (those in need who seek your help).”
Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Volume 3, Number 3″
[Modified by: Malik (celticview) on June 14, 2005 08:18 AM]
Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
It is MALIK’s fault that I can’t find any words to FLAME and INSULT him right now. Consider yourself lucky… For now…….!!!!!!!!!!
Re: Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
[quote]It is MALIK’s fault that I can’t find any words to FLAME and INSULT him right now. Consider yourself lucky… For now…….!!!!!!!!!! [/quote]
Well, let me give you some motivation. I suggest since you have spent so much time in the Middle East that you use some of those colourful curses that you learned there, Arabs are known for them. These always seem to be the first things you learn in any language, and given your time in the area, I am sure you know lots of them. LOL! If your memory fails you maybe you can consult all of your Arabic friends on it. Good luck!
Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
GO F%$^ YOURSELF MALIK.
sorry asswipe that was in English… Opps… Me bad.
[Modified by: sagnutty (sagnutty) on June 14, 2005 01:35 PM]
[Modified by: sagnutty (sagnutty) on June 14, 2005 02:23 PM]
Re: Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
[quote]GO F*** YOURSELF MALIK[/quote].
Now, Now! That is not Arabic. Try again!
Re: Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
[quote]sorry asswipe that was in English… Opps… Me bad.[/quote]
Wow, all of your time in the Middle East, and all of your “Arab friends” and that is the best you can come up with? Well, I’ll give you a freebie, a clean one. You could say to me “Inta Homar.” Ask your “Arab mates” what that means.
Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
Facts are facts Malik. I have spent more time than you ever will in the region. I am sorry you have such a hard time with this. If you would like I will be back in the area in November and I will be happy to show you around. I will deliver you in person to the all seeing all knowing MahaMahmoodski’s office. BTW Mahmood has GREAT coffee in his office. Get your things in order apply, for a Saudi visa and I will drive you over as well. I know a great shawarma stand in Dhahran/Khobar. I am trying to get DIB to take a well deserved trip back home at the same time. So why not be like NIKE and JUST DO IT Malik ole boy and load up the wife and kids and take a little holiday in Bahrain?
IT IS YOU FAULT I NEVER PICKED UP ARABIC!! Seriously though I wish I would have picked it up.
Re: Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
[quote]Facts are facts Malik. I have spent more time than you ever will in the region. I am sorry you have such a hard time with this. If you would like I will be back in the area in November and I will be happy to show you around. I will deliver you in person to the all seeing all knowing MahaMahmoodski’s office. BTW Mahmood has GREAT coffee in his office. Get your things in order apply, for a Saudi visa and I will drive you over as well. I know a great shawarma stand in Dhahran/Khobar. I am trying to get DIB to take a well deserved trip back home at the same time. So why not be like NIKE and JUST DO IT Malik ole boy and load up the wife and kids and take a little holiday in Bahrain?
IT IS YOU FAULT I NEVER PICKED UP ARABIC!! Seriously though I wish I would have picked it up. [/quote]
Yes, yes, “you have spent more time than I ever will in the region.” You have told me this many times. It might or might not be the case. I dont know you from Adam, nor do you know me. As to having a hard time with it, I dont think so. I would be rather ashamed to say that I have spent so much time in a given area and cannot even speak the basics of the language. What I can tell you is that for all of your hot air and blather the fact that you claim to have spent so much time in the area and cannot put one sentence together doesnt speak well of you. An intelligent person would pick it up naturally. If I picked it up, and “havent spent as much time as you” in the area, what is your excuse? You could take me to the Kabba and it wouldnt change anything. I could care less if you could tell me how much the thread count is on Mahmood’s pillows. Doesnt mean a thing. What tells me what you are all about is your overwhelming, urge, maybe need, to curse and carry on otherwise.
Dhahran/Khobar eh? LOL! Know any place outside where the western ex-pats work? Care to give an account of your time in Sana’a? How about wondering around in the Mawyah district? Camping in the Atlas? Nope? Didnt think so. Give me a break Sagnutty. If you had spent as much time in the area as you claim you could at least tell me what a “homar” is. As to picking it up, if you spend so much time in the area just have all of the Arabs you know speak Arabic to you. The basics are not hard. It is a common courtesy and respect issue. Trust me, the suprise you get when Arabs see their language coming out of a westerners mouth it is worth it. I have found that in the souk, the fact that I can argue the price in their own language, often gets me a better than can be expected price. Try it sometime, if all else fails, take a class.
Lets do another one your “Arab friends” can tell you about. And since you started out rude, I guess I will ratchet it up a bit(not nearly as much as you have however). How about “boos tizee”? LOL! Yes, it is certainly MY fault that you have spent years in an area and cannot even ask where the loo is.
Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
It is obvious Malik you have a problem with anyone who has been in the region that is an American Infidel. The only one to blame for this is yourself. Did you learn about Islam in Jail? I thought someone mentioned that. You sound like a jailhouse convert.
Re: Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
[quote]It is obvious Malik you have a problem with anyone who has been in the region that is an American Infidel. The only one to blame for this is yourself. Did you learn about Islam in Jail? I thought someone mentioned that. You sound like a jailhouse convert. [/quote]
Not at all. One of my best friends is a Brit who has lived in Riyadh for going on 15 years now. He is a Christian. I have an issue with Sagnutty because of his constant cursing, and the fact that although he claims to have been in the Middle East for years, he doesnt speak a word of Arabic. Kind of like the immigrants who come to the US and dont learn English.
I believe it was Sagnutty who made the comment about jail. I didnt learn about Islam in jail, nor did I convert in jail. Just to let you know, a jail house Islamic conversion for a white guy would probably be a death sentence from other white inmates. Jail house conversions to Islam are an African-American exprience. I learned about Islam on my own and converted in England. You say “you sound like a jailhouse concert.” I guess that means you know enough of them to be sure as to what one sounds like? Do tell!
Re: Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
Oh well, Mahmoodski, another good intention shot to hell.
Steve The American
Re(1): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
[quote]Oh well, Mahmoodski, another good intention shot to hell.
Steve The American [/quote]
We could complain about the weather. It is over 90 F at the moment, I and when I get off work tonight I still have some things I want to do in the yard. Going to be a hot one. By the way, since you live in the Metro DC area I will suggest a good restaurant here if you want some good Middle Eastern food. There is a place in Vienna called “Al Nakheel”(The Palms). It is owned by a Lebanese Christian family. They make the best shawarma outside of the Middle East. They have been around for a long time, although at a different location. It also happens to be the butcher where Prince Bandr gets all of his meat when they are here. Another good place is “The Lebanese Butcher” owned by a guy named “Kheder”. He had a small shop and butchery for years and now opened a small cafe next to it. Very good food, although the fact that they play nothing but Fairouz in the cafe gets a bit annoying. Don’t get me wrong, I love Fairouz, but Lebanon has a lot more to offer in the way of music, and it doesn’t have to be Nawal al Zoghby either. The third one I would recommend is Jerusalem Cafe. It is in the Mount of Olives shopping center next to Jebel Zeitung Market. I think it is Columbia Pike, not sure, but it is like two miles east from Bailey’s Crossroads, right up the street from the mosque there. All you can eat buffet on Fridays. It is packed after Friday prayers. There is Alif Layla wa Layla(One Thousand and One Nights). It is in the back of Sully Plaza on Route 50 near Centerville Road. It is owned by a Christian Palestinian family. They have great food, and have shisha and alcohol. It is quite the hangout on Friday and Saturday nights with the booze and the belly dancer they have come in. You could come and hang out with the Saudi and Middle Eastern diplomats that are regulars there, getting drunk every weekend. Last, but not least, Momma Aisha’s in DC. It is off Connecticut Avenue. It is kind of an upscale, fancy Arabic place. The food is great, but I think it is the only Arabic food place I have ever ate at and left hungry. I think they decided to be upscale they had to adopt French cuisine portions.
Anyway, Bilafia.
Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
…
By the ONE TRUE GOD whose name is RAMATHOTHEP and who PISSES on the OTHER GODS who have BOOKS full of SQUIGGLY OR BLOCKY SCRIPT with no VOWELS:
I blame Malik (and sagnutty, who should know better 🙁 ) for starting a flamewar on a thread in his honor.
Jeesh people.
Re: Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
Blah. My ability to log in sucks.
That one was me, Folks 😀
Re: Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
[quote] And oh, to kick things off in the right way, for purification, instead of the Zoroastorian bulls urine cocktail, I suggest the following[/quote]
I suggest:
Bughari Volume 7, Book 71, Number 590:
Narrated Anas:
The climate of Medina did not suit some people, so the [b]Prophet ordered them to follow his shepherd, i.e. his camels, and drink their milk and urine (as a medicine).[/b] So they followed the shepherd that is the camels and drank their milk and urine till their bodies became healthy. Then they killed the shepherd and drove away the camels. When the news reached the Prophet he sent some people in their pursuit. When they were brought, he cut their hands and feet and their eyes were branded with heated pieces of iron.
See also:
Bukhari Volume 8, Book 82, Number 794.
Sahih Muslim, Book 16, Number 4131
For the exact same story – Mohammed commands the drinking of urine for health.
Hmm. Seems like the Zoroastrians aren’t the ONLY ones, Malik. It’s -your- fault. (keeping with the tone of today’s post :D)
Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
No Ethan it is ALL MALIK’s fault. I didn’t do it. Malik did. Every last damn thing that happens to anyone any place is his fault, until Mahmood comes back and lets him off the hook. Flame wars, inability to log in, cars that won’t start, spouses who don’t have dinner ready when you get home, etc etc etc. It doesn’t matter. It is Malik’s fault. It is Maliks fault that you have not been a SCAPEGOAT yet too. He’s been a good sport about it so far.
Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
“Malik”? That’s his Muslim name but he’ll always be Skeeter to me.
Re: Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
Yeah sure, it’s Malik’s fault, but who do I blame for Malik?
Re(1): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
Who ever is the next SCAPEGOAT gets blamed for Malik!!!!
Sagnutty
Re(2): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
Well, Malik, you are right about it being hot in DC, although the hot is hotter here because we are in $%#& swampland that generates all that suffocating humidity.
I just might try that Arabic place called “The Palms”, mostly because I am sick and tired of all the fast food I’ve been chowing down on. If it’s good enough for my good buddy Bandar, it’s good enough for me, I say. I’m in a loose group of friends that does a group dinner once a month. I’ve been looking for something unusual. We already did a sort of Arabic thing over at Marrakesh on New York Ave that was Middle Eastern in a touristy way, but fun.
I need a new food to snack on. Maybe shawarmas is the answer.
You know, actually, I wouldn’t mind taking them to a Saudi restaurant if there is such a thing. I kinda liked lamb (?) tossed on piles of rice with whatever that red sauce was they put on that. You got a name for that dish, Malik?
I just might go try that Alif Layla wa Layla because I think I know where it is and it sounds like it has a lot of character. Also, I know a girl who lives out that way. I’m looking for something exotic to tickle the senses of my friends but not so exotic we’re barfing our guts out later.
Thanks for the tips.
Steve The American
Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
MALIK!!!!!!!! You are to blame for unseasonal cool weather that has set upon New England and the HEAT in NYC. Stop playing GOD with the weather. Payback.. Payback… Payback….
Re(3): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
[quote]I need a new food to snack on. Maybe shawarmas is the answer.[/quote]
Steve be careful with the Shawarmas. Or you will wind up like me and start having a dozen at a time sent in via DHL. Which of course is MALIK’S fault that my DHL bill was $300.00 this month.
Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
Malik, clearly it is your fault that the weather in Maryland is so awful, and will be tomorrow too. You should be ashamed!! You could at least make it rain, although then the traffic congestion would be your fault. AS IF IT ISN’T ALREADY!
Re(1): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
Malik, it is definitely -your- fault that English isn’t the universal language of the world and that Arabic has no vowels. 😛
Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
Perhaps Malik is the cause of all the ills of the world, but America supports him therefore America is to blame.
Steve
Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
but please play nice.. as the object of this game is getting us closer to each other and have fun eh?
Re(3): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
I do realize that Arabic is an abjad, Malik. My linguistic skills are not so poor.
Abjads, like Arabic, Syriac, Mandaean, Hebrew are primitive scripts – not as primitive as the Chinese logographic, but close. It wasn’t until the modern era that vowels were introduced commonly, which leads to the whole ‘the Koran can be read in seven different ways’ verse.
Interestingly enough, its not even a logical abjad, like Tolkein’s Tengwar – there are initial medial and final forms of letters, which adds needless complexity. Sure, it makes for pretty calligraphy, but give me something fully vocalized, and I’ll give you progress.
Re(3): He’s off the hook!
[quote]You learning from North Africans or Egyptians? LOL! [/quote]
It’s your fault he uses el 😛
And it’s your fault that Classical Arabic is not enforced in every Muslim nation as it should be.
Re(4): He’s off the hook!
It is not El Malik’s fault ANYMORE. He has been let off the hook by the all seeing all knowing MahaMahmoodski. As such Malik, no matter how much we would like to blame him, cannot be help liable for this.
Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
It is Malik’s fault that the Bolivian president resigned (for the third time this year) and congress finally accepted his resignation, and now we have our ex president of the judicial courts as our new president! It is Malik’s fault last week the whole country of Bolivia was up in arms, and all the roads were blocked, and no food could get anywhere. It is Malik’s fault there are so many corrupt people in government here. AND (MOST IMPORTANTLY) it is Malik’s fault that the schools were shut down and now I have to put up with 4 noisy and restless kids all day long! I hope you are happy Malik!!!
Re: Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
…AND…it is Malik’s fault that I forgot to log in!!!
P!
Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
Lets try something a little more light-hearted!
[i]Mr Malik!
Throughout the past few minutes I have been reading that you are the cause for many many problems, in fact it seems that you are the cause for all the problems. Since I am the kind of person who has very big problems (See following paragraph) and my problems fall into the category of “all problems”, I have come to the logical conclusion that you are at fault. Detailed below are my VERY important problems.
Where I am, it is raining. I havent seen the sun all day! I have exams to revise for! I have to pack up an move out of college and then move in and unpack in 5 weeks! My phone is about to run out of credit! The battery in my camera is about to run out! My rubber/eraser has broken in half! My printer is running out of ink so I have to refill the cartriges myself (saves money) and risk killing it! I bought the wrong size tissues from the supermarket and now I have to live with it!
I hope you have realised that these problems and all other possible problems are entirley your fault (somehow).
Sincerly
Chrisamillion[/i]
Re(4): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
[quote]Abjads, like Arabic, Syriac, Mandaean, Hebrew are primitive scripts [/quote]-
In the case of Arabic and Hebrew I would contend that the reason they remained this way is due to religious factors. Other languages and scripts have evolved through the ages, whereas Arabic, and to a lessor extent Hebrew, have stayed the same due to the use of the language in a liturgical fashion. Hebrew, until the 1900’s, was a dead language and had to be revived as it almost exclusive use was in religious matters.
But many such scripts, especially Semetic ones, are the same, like Amharic(which looks a lot like Hebrew).
[quote]Interestingly enough, its not even a logical abjad, like Tolkein’s Tengwar – there are initial medial and final forms of letters, which adds needless complexity. Sure, it makes for pretty calligraphy, but give me something fully vocalized, and I’ll give you progress. [/quote]
It was the language of higher learning and science for hundreds of years, so it works just fine, not to mention Arabic is where our current system of numerals comes from. As to being hard to learn, I don’t think it is THAT bad. Russian, Mandarin Chinese I think are pretty comparable. I have been told by many polyglots who learned English as a third or fourth language that English is one of the hardest languages to learn. One of the reasons often cited is the use of letters for no real reason. Take “knife” for instance, why have the k, or e? Neither are pronounced so they are a waste. In Arabic, or German for that matter, if there is a letter in a word, 99 times out of 100 it is pronounced. The other reason cited is the fact that in English you have many words, spelled and pronounced exactly the same, but with completely different meanings.
Re(4): He’s off the hook!
[quote]It’s your fault he uses el
And it’s your fault that Classical Arabic is not enforced in every Muslim nation as it should be. [/quote]
I like the various dialects. It does make it interesting. I always cite the “ish loanak” phrase that Kuwaits often use. “What colour are you?” I love the differences in the language. I love the fact that, and I am getting better at this, that the second someone opens their mouth in Arabic you can tell where they are from. I love the fact that when my wife spends time with her Palestinian and Jordanian friends she comes back saying “shu” as in “Shu hada?” To which my response is “Ish bik? Inti Phalisteenia?”
What I dont like is that I can be talking to someone in Arabic and have to revert to English because neither one of us are familiar with a word in Arabic that the other is using. I would like to see something happen like is the case with Germany where everyone knows Hoch Deutsch(High German) and speaks it with people they do not know and only revert to dialect with people they are sure understand it.
It seems that there is a common useage coming about in Arabic, it happens to be the Egyptian useage and dialect. This is due to the influence of Egyptian media. Like in other languages I speak there are accents that I find pleasing, in Arabic the Egyptian isnt one of them. I, personally, like the Yemeni accent. I have been considering taking some Farsi classes. There is a huge Farsi speaking community here, including family friends, so it might be interesting.
Re: Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
[quote]Malik, my angel, why would you recommend saying “You donkey!” (Inta Homar) to people. That’s not going to do cross-cultural relationships much good, now, is it? [/quote]
I was telling Sagnutty that is what he could call me if he wished. Bad words are always the terms people seem to learn at the begining it would seem. It was my turn for “everything to be my fault.” I wanted for him to have a way to express that! LOL!
[quote]And is sagnutty really like the immigrants in the USA who don’t learn English because he hasn’t learnt Arabic in the Middle East? I think non-Arabic speakers who come to the Middle East have a much better chance of learning Arabic if they live in countries like Egypt or Lebanon than they do in the GCC countries.
[/quote]
I agree with your commentary on Saudi and the GCC. The issue there is that most westerners live in compounds(in Saudi) and do not interact with anyone outside of English. Much of this is due to the fact that workers in Saudi come from all over the place and English is the only language that seems to be common amoungst them. It does seem to be most common the Gulf, but this area has the highest concentration of foreign workers. I have found that people in the area will often want to speak English, to practice or to show off their “western pedigree.” They also do not expect that any foreigner could have a half way decent command of Arabic. Countless times I have responded to someone greeting me in English with Arabic only to have stunned silence for a few seconds, or even asking me “huh?” until they realise I am speaking to them in their own language, then they catch on and we go from there. I didnt really know how this felt until I was in a store once talking to my wife in Arabic and a white lady walked up to me and started speaking to me in Arabic. I was caught off guard, I expected English from her, when Arabic came my mind had to switch and realise that she wasnt speaking English to me. I suddenly knew what people experienced when I started speaking Arabic to them. Turns out she was married to a Jordian.
[quote]Before coming to Arabia 12 years ago I lived in Japan, Spain and Finland and in all three countries I was invited to local friends’ houses. In all my 12 years here I have only been to a local’s house once – and that was a Kuwaiti Christian (his family had moved from Palestine some 60 years before and received citizenship) who invited me round for dinner and to meet his family. [/quote]
At lot of this has to do with local and religious custom. If you are single you will find you might get less invitations to places than if you were a couple. When we traveled in the Middle East we often get invites to dinner and such. I think a fair amount of it was the novelty factor, an American married to a Saudi lady.
[quote]It is easy to criticise the millions and millions of foreigners who come to work in the Gulf Countries and never learn to speak Arabic well, but when do we have the chance? I spent one year in Japan and by the end I was able to give a taxi driver directions, order a meal in a restaurant, buy groceries from the local market and engage in basic small talk about the weather etc. To accomplish the same task in Arabia I would need to learn Urdu, Hindi, Tagalog and Malayalam, but probably never need to use Arabic.
[/quote]
That is sad. I think that may change in the future when many of these countries are forced to use their own people for jobs that they consider the more menial types. In Saudis you are actually starting to see Saudis do jobs that were once considered only fit for foreigners.
Re(2): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
You would have had a car, a nice car, a fine car, a car all the girls would admire, were it not for Malik.
Steve The American
Re(3): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
[quote]You would have had a car, a nice car, a fine car, a car all the girls would admire, were it not for Malik.
Steve The American
[/quote]
I’ll admit to stealing the women. I have been known to be a womaniser, all before I got married and certainly before I converted to Islam, of course. As to the car, I like SUVs better and dont have room in the garage for another. So that one isnt me. lol
Re: Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
Chrisamillion,
That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Wait until you see the mess Malik has made of your car.
Steve
Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
[i]posted in wrong place[/i]
Malik’s fault….no doubt there!
[Modified by: chrisamillion (chrisamillion) on June 15, 2005 06:04 AM]
[Modified by: chrisamillion (chrisamillion) on June 15, 2005 06:47 AM]
Re(1): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
I just looked out the window…and its gone. Now, one might argue that I never had a car, but I think that steve has hit the nail on the head….Malik…where’s my car!
Re(5): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
[quote] It was the language of higher learning and science for hundreds of years, so it works just fine, not to mention Arabic is where our current system of numerals comes from. [/quote]
Actually basic Arabic science was translated from the Greek, which remained the West’s [i]lingua scientia[/i] along with Latin. Arabic Numerals are actually from many if the Indian languages, imported through the jihad against India.
[quote]
Russian, Mandarin Chinese I think are pretty comparable.
[/quote]
Except that Russian is far easier to learn scriptically. Chinese is not.
And I was talking about the script of a language, not the language itself. The major advatage of English is that it lends itself of neologisms far more handily than any other language. Neologisms extend langauge and meaning – and thus progress. A language that eschews importing or neologisms, like French, is bad 😛
Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
Malik, my angel, why would you recommend saying “You donkey!” (Inta Homar) to people. That’s not going to do cross-cultural relationships much good, now, is it?
And is sagnutty really like the immigrants in the USA who don’t learn English because he hasn’t learnt Arabic in the Middle East? I think non-Arabic speakers who come to the Middle East have a much better chance of learning Arabic if they live in countries like Egypt or Lebanon than they do in the GCC countries. [url=”http://www.arabview.com/articles.asp?article=440″]As the Saudi writer Lubna Hussein points out:[/url][quote]There is limited interaction between Saudis and non-Saudis. In most other countries the national dialect is picked up through conversing with a whole array of people ranging from shopkeepers to administrators. We have a unique situation here in which the vast majority of people expats interact with are either expats themselves or “educatedâ€? Saudis who speak in perfect English. It is therefore feasible to function unhindered without ever speaking a word of Arabic…How is it that many expats have successfully been able to gain knowledge of a whole host of other languages and cultures, but cannot gain access to ours? Surely this shows a willingness on their part to blend in when the situation is more conducive to their enthusiasm and the people more receptive to their friendly overtures. Why then is this not achievable here?[/quote]Before coming to Arabia 12 years ago I lived in Japan, Spain and Finland and in all three countries I was invited to local friends’ houses. In all my 12 years here I have only been to a local’s house once – and that was a Kuwaiti Christian (his family had moved from Palestine some 60 years before and received citizenship) who invited me round for dinner and to meet his family.
It is easy to criticise the millions and millions of foreigners who come to work in the Gulf Countries and never learn to speak Arabic well, but when do we have the chance? I spent one year in Japan and by the end I was able to give a taxi driver directions, order a meal in a restaurant, buy groceries from the local market and engage in basic small talk about the weather etc. To accomplish the same task in Arabia I would need to learn Urdu, Hindi, Tagalog and Malayalam, but probably never need to use Arabic.
He’s off the hook!
Phew! Man that was rough. I am glad that you sorted out your differences though 😉
Malik, thanks for being a good sport 😀
Re(3): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
[quote]Well, Malik, you are right about it being hot in DC, although the hot is hotter here because we are in $%#& swampland that generates all that suffocating humidity. [/quote]
Yeah, I love the Metro DC area, but I HATE the humidity. It isn’t as bad as other places however. I have been places in the Middle East and the Subcontinent where it is 20 degrees hotter and the humidity 15% higher. A real nightmare.
[quote]I just might try that Arabic place called “The Palms”, mostly because I am sick and tired of all the fast food I’ve been chowing down on. If it’s good enough for my good buddy Bandar, it’s good enough for me, I say. I’m in a loose group of friends that does a group dinner once a month. I’ve been looking for something unusual. We already did a sort of Arabic thing over at Marrakesh on New York Ave that was Middle Eastern in a touristy way, but fun. [/quote]
There is also a place called “Casablanca” here in Alexandria. It is Morroccan, of course, and they do belly dancing on the weekends, although I wasnt impressed with the food at all
[quote]I need a new food to snack on. Maybe shawarmas is the answer. [/quote]
It is pretty healthy as well. I also order mine with lamb, without tahina, but with garlic sauce instead.
[quote]You know, actually, I wouldn’t mind taking them to a Saudi restaurant if there is such a thing. I kinda liked lamb (?) tossed on piles of rice with whatever that red sauce was they put on that. You got a name for that dish, Malik? [/quote]
Funny you mention that. My wife, sister-in-law and I have talked about opening such a thing. I have never heard of such a thing in the USA. In the US, well anywhere really, when they talk about “Arabic food” they generally are talking about Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian food, all of the stuff from the Shams area. There is some difference between Saudi/Khaleejee food and this type of food. We had talked about opening a really nice place, the type of place you could bring your business clients to, with an adjoining coffee room for shisha and the like. I think it would be a great idea. We had talked about what would be on the menu, it would be interesting considering my mother in law is part Indonesian, so it could be a pretty varied menu.
As to the dish you talk about, that is just a usual Arabic dish, one would have to know the spices involved to really say. Sounds like what I know as “ruz bukhari” and the sauce is called “edam”. This is just a generic term for any red sauce.
[quote]I just might go try that Alif Layla wa Layla because I think I know where it is and it sounds like it has a lot of character. Also, I know a girl who lives out that way. I’m looking for something exotic to tickle the senses of my friends but not so exotic we’re barfing our guts out later.
Thanks for the tips.
Steve The American [/quote]
Well, you could barf your guts out there as they sell liquer, but there seems to be much more going on there so you wouldnt have to get that way. I enjoy going to places like that. You get the people who dont know better who act “high” after smoking the shisha, like there is something more than double apple flavoured tobbaco in it!
Re(2): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
[quote]Malik, it is definitely -your- fault that English isn’t the universal language of the world and that Arabic has no vowels. [/quote]
But Ethan, Arabic has vowels, you just dont see them written. Those are some of those little marks above and below the Arabic words when fully written out, which is usually just in religious texts. Maybe it is your fault that English needs to have vowels written all of the time? Those funny little marks above and below the words have names, dolma, shedda, sekkun, fatha, ect.
English pretty much is the language of the world, especially from a technical and science point of view.
Re(1): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
[quote]Yeah sure, it’s Malik’s fault, but who do I blame for Malik? [/quote]
My moms coming here after the baby is born…..talk to her about it! LOL!
Re: He’s off the hook!
[quote]Phew! Man that was rough. I am glad that you sorted out your differences though
Malik, thanks for being a good sport [/quote]
The pleasure was all mine, and I got to teach Sagnutty some Arabic, although not the best kind. Hey, if he comes to Bahrain this year it is your duty to teach him a few sentences in Arabic. LOL!
Re(1): He’s off the hook!
Kahba
Khra
ataye
weld el kahb
Re(3): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
It’s “Dhamma” which substitutes for the “u” or “o” (rather than dolma)
and I would right the substitution for “a” as fat’ha otherwise non-Arabic speakers would pronounce it wrong.
Re(2): He’s off the hook!
[quote]Kahba
Khra
ataye
weld el kahb [/quote]
Where did you get the “el” from? You learning from North Africans or Egyptians? LOL! Well, at least you got a few of the “important” words down. If you start speaking using the hard “g” sound of the Egyptians you really will statrt bugging me! LOL!
[Modified by: Malik (celticview) on June 15, 2005 07:18 AM]
Re(3): He’s off the hook!
Algeria (el oued)was the “genesis” for those few gems Malik. I had to dig them out of my notes that are burried the vault from hell. ie my brain!
Sagnutty
Re(4): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
[quote]It’s “Dhamma” which substitutes for the “u” or “o” (rather than dolma)
and I would right the substitution for “a” as fat’ha otherwise non-Arabic speakers would pronounce it wrong. [/quote]
Very right. Transliteration is not one of my high points, especially when I am not sitting and thinking about it. “Dolma” looks more like the food than the diacritical mark. I do better than As’ad over at the Angry Arab site who has been transliterating literally recently. This is fine for Arabic speaks, but leaves others lost. He was talking about “fath”. Many people had no clue he was talking about the Palestinian Fatah.
Question for you Mahmood, onto the food issue covered here. Is there a dish that is distinctivly Bahraini? I find that what some consider a distintive dish to their area often tends to be a twist on item from somewhere else. My wife’s family makes foul, a dish Egyptians are known for, but they puree it, and then light charcoal and place it in foil will with olive oil and cover the beans to produce a great smokey flavour. There is also a family dish called “seleeg” serve with a kusburough salata, I love it, and I am told it comes from Yemen.
I have never known any Bahrainis so I do not know how the food is different from other areas there.
Re(4): He’s off the hook!
[quote]Algeria (el oued)was the “genesis” for those few gems Malik. I had to dig them out of my notes that are burried the vault from hell. ie my brain!
Sagnutty [/quote]
See, I always knew it was the bad words that people held unto. I used to know a fair amount of Irish at one point, why? I dont know. Now I dont remember much more than “poig me thoin.” LOL!
Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
This one is easy. Its your fault Malik that Steve thinks Im a liberal.
billT
Re(4): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
Aren’t you living in the Gulf somewhere? I would think that shipping shawarmas to the Middle East would be like shipping coals to Newcastle or sand to the Sahara.
Steve
Re(5): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
[quote]Aren’t you living in the Gulf somewhere? I would think that shipping shawarmas to the Middle East would be like shipping coals to Newcastle or sand to the Sahara. [/quote]
There was a Saudi here in the US who once sent his private jet to Paris to pick up his daughters favourite ice cream. Must be nice to have other people’s money to waste like that eh?
Re(5): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
Steve
I am in the US but my mind is in Bahrain. Until I see the current temperature and then I am glad to be here. Can’t wait to go back to Bahrain though. This Shawarma shipping thing is tough on the wallet.
Bonsaimark
Re(6): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
Excuse me Malik but how is it wasting other peoples money if he is sending HIS private JET???
Let’s see. His JET.. His pilot for whom he pays… His daughter, who wants that ice cream for which he is willing to pay hmmmmm. Slightly Jacksonesque? Perhaps.. Elvis like? You bet… Wasting? I think so to a degree but it is HIS money. Or is there more to the story? Or is it just the fact he is a Saudi Prince that has a bee in you bonnet? Do you mean that the daughter was wasting dear ole Dad’s money?
You must think I am a nut for flying some Shawarma in too.. Well I am, and I never claimed to be sane anyway. But it is MY MONEY and MY DHL account.
Bonsaimark
Re(6): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
[quote]Steve
I am in the US but my mind is in Bahrain. Until I see the current temperature and then I am glad to be here. Can’t wait to go back to Bahrain though. This Shawarma shipping thing is tough on the wallet.
Bonsaimark [/quote]
Try “An-Nakheel” in Vienna Bonsaimark. Was it you or DIB that is in the Northern Viriginia area? I forget, but the shawarma there is the best outside the Middle East.
Re(7): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
[quote]Excuse me Malik but how is it wasting other peoples money if he is sending HIS private JET???
Let’s see. His JET.. His pilot for whom he pays… His daughter, who wants that ice cream for which he is willing to pay hmmmmm. Slightly Jacksonesque? Perhaps.. Elvis like? You bet… Wasting? I think so to a degree but it is HIS money. Or is there more to the story? Or is it just the fact he is a Saudi Prince that has a bee in you bonnet? Do you mean that the daughter was wasting dear ole Dad’s money?
You must think I am a nut for flying some Shawarma in too.. Well I am, and I never claimed to be sane anyway. But it is MY MONEY and MY DHL account.
Bonsaimark [/quote]
Excuse me for interupting your rant, but the man was a Saudi prince and it isnt HIS money, it belongs to the people of Saudi Arabia, who see far too little of it. So the people of Saudi paid the tens of thousands of dollars it cost for that ice cream, not the prince. Whatever you choose to do with YOUR money is your choice, naff or not, but the fact that this man indulged his daughters ice cream fetish on the people’s money whilst his people are going without in Saudi is sickening.
I have paid $300 for a 1/4 tola bottle of Oud that I liked, so I have no problem with spending money for things I want. But it is MY money. Big difference.
Re(8): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
How do you know that the Prince in question hasn’t made money on his own? You are assuming the worst of him are you not?
Re(9): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
[quote]How do you know that the Prince in question hasn’t made money on his own? You are assuming the worst of him are you not? [/quote]
All of the money the royal family has, directly or indirectly, has come from the people of Saudi Arabia. Every Prince, and there are thousands of them, receive a monthly stipend from the state. Depending on the level of the price, this can be anywhere from some $30,000 a month to hundreds of thousands of dollars a month. None of these families had two pennies to rub together until the founding of the Kleptocracy State of Saudi Arabia and the discovery of oil. Any money, therefore, is based on investments or other schemes that comes from the people’s money.
Much of the money made by the princes in Saudi are based on business dealings, that we here in the West, would call fraudulent and involve massive kick back schemes and the like. It is said that for every business deal done in Saudi a minimum of 5% of the money goes to such kickbacks to the prince who uses his power to allow the deal to go through. Prince Bandar, here in the DC area, is known as “Mr. 20%” for his habit of charging much much more.
This wouldnt bother me accept the average wage for the family in Saudi Arabia has dropped massively the last twenty years whilst the montly stipend for the members of the royal family has only grown. They use their position to solely benefit themselves. Look at any council, business or the like in the Kingdom and it is filled with a member of the royal family or someone who requires the “wasta” from a member for their wealth and status. They support the radical religious elements to keep the attention of the people focused outside of Saudi, instead of where it should be, at their evil thieving ways.
This also bothers me because my family has been directly impacted by the greed and theft that these people do on a daily basis. Meanwhile there are places in Saudi where raw sewage runs in the street and people are left begging in front of stores.
So if you wonder why I get upset when a person who should be helping the people spends thousands of their money on ice cream, there you have it.
Re(7): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
You mean that place on Maple Ave in West Vienna? Been there, done that and spent two hours worshiping the Toilet Gods afterwards. Good luck to you there! I will stick to the airlifted shawarma thank you very much.
Re(8): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
[quote]You mean that place on Maple Ave in West Vienna? Been there, done that and spent two hours worshiping the Toilet Gods afterwards. Good luck to you there! I will stick to the airlifted shawarma thank you very much. [/quote]
Really? We have been eating there for years and never had any sort of issue with them. Prince Bandr, royal eejit himself, buys his halal meat from there. How about Kheder’s “Lebanese Butcher” in Falls Church? He has opened a cafe now and his shawarma is pretty good as well.
Re(9): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
Next time I am in the DC area I will check out the place in Falls Church. The big problem is after you have had real shawarma in the Gulf nothing Stateside compares.
Re(10): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
[quote]Next time I am in the DC area I will check out the place in Falls Church. The big problem is after you have had real shawarma in the Gulf nothing Stateside compares. [/quote]
That is the truth, no argument there.
Re(10): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
[quote]Meanwhile there are places in Saudi where raw sewage runs in the street and people are left begging in front of stores. [/quote]
If there’s nothing else in the universe that I agree with Malik on – it is this.
The Al-Saud family is some of the worst kind of assholes that have ever breathed air. What should happen is that Saudi Arabia should be wiped clean of these shit-brained inbred moneywhores and their fortunes given toward making their country into some place governed by law, not by the personality cult politics of seventh century tribal Arabs.
Re(12): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
The hypocracy of the Saudi royals sickens me.
But what sickens me worse is the hypocracy -wthin- hypocracy that is Saudi society.
There may be nice Saudis (and there are more than a few, if a lot of them are like Muttawa, the blogger), but their entire culture is based on the idea that any social advances beyond Jihad that Islam made are null and void. AND THAT PISSES ME OFF.
Re(11): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
[quote]If there’s nothing else in the universe that I agree with Malik on – it is this.
The Al-Saud family is some of the worst kind of assholes that have ever breathed air. What should happen is that Saudi Arabia should be wiped clean of these shit-brained inbred moneywhores and their fortunes given toward making their country into some place governed by law, not by the personality cult politics of seventh century tribal Arabs. [/quote]
Here Here! But it is funny, the royal family themselves are far from seventh century types. They use this to their advantage, but many of them are as “western” as can be. Spending Ramdans in Europe, so they can eat, drink and fornacate to their hearts content, trolling the USA for willing American women. Lebanon is a favourite destination for those Saudis with money. Go to any club downtown, stay late, and you’ll see the drunk Saudi men going home with the women they can, those who go freely, and others who require pay. I must be fair, this is hardly a Saudi thing, you see men from all over the gulf there doing the same thing.
The Saudi royal family needs to go. It is in the best interest of the Saudis, Islam, and the world.
Re(1): Mahmood’s Den Scapegoat of the Moment > Malik
Where is the best shwarma place in Khobar, Dhahran??? I live here and am desperate for the best??? ! Something better than Baba Habbas. By the way , Have you tried the Kan Restaurant? A real dive with the best Chiken Kebabs and Turkish Bread? Yum, all for about 3 dollars American.
Sleepy in Saudi