Blasphemy: I Love the UAE (Oman was even better)

People reacted unusually to my vacation destination: Where? What’s that? Aren’t you afraid? Isn’t that near Iraq?

No, fear never struck me until I was there. The scariest thing about being in the Middle East was poetically my own fellow Americans. Knowing that a lot of them would just as soon bomb the shit out of any country not deemed 'worthy' made me feel vulnerable and angry at a goodly percentage of our country.

My experience in UAE and Oman were compounded by spam forwarded by one of my aunts in good ol' Madison County, Indiana. It read "Boycott this 'Christmas' Stamp" and went something along the lines of how dare our government print a Christmas (this was the first clue of ignorance; I believe Eid is the season between the end of Ramadan through Mohammed's death) stamp (in print since 2001) for people who don't even believe in Jesus Christ (false--next clue) and how if everyone just banded together and refused to buy the stamp (so impactful--yet another clue)--all 41 cents worth--it would be a noble cause. Having just purchased a sheet of Eid stamps myself, and being in a Muslim country, I couldn't help firing off a reply to all. And so now a large portion of my ear-infected waking time is absorbed with how I should reply to the reply to my reply. I deleted some responses without looking at them, but I did read my aunt's which seems to be blaming hateful people who want to poison our children with paint, those who have recently become citizens who seem to have less rights than other citizens, all non-Christians, international aid, and greedy foreign companies for job loss. Shew!

I guess she didn't take me up on my suggestion to voice her concerns to her legislator, because her intended path of action is still to boycott the stamp.

So, really the ONLY scary part of being in the Muslim world was knowing that I am stymied as to how to address a major portion of my own country who has forgotten how to love thy neighbor.

And that, my friends, pretty much sums up my analysis of my trip. More later on how Mohammed is not too down with women and the schools of the UAE.

Speaking of nut cases . . .

Following a truth finding expetition today that discovered that the email contending that Nancy Pelosi is a "nut case" was in fact false, I also found that Cindy Sheehan has decided to take on Pelosi at the ballot box. She's running for Congress against the Speaker. Well, that ought to bring a level of decorum and sanity to the House. Our relatives are certainly lining up to vote for her, no?

Someone please tell me that Colbert has covered this earth-shattering event.

Rocky Mountain High

Colorado has a new state song (well, co-state song) “Rocky Mountain High” by John Denver. Wikipedia has already taken note of the change. What did we ever do without that website?


This was DHP’s favorite song as a child. Well, this and the entire soundtrack of Grease. So, evidently I was to live in Colorado, or become a pink lady. Seems I chose right.

Na Zdarovia

When you raise your glass of piva or vodka, this is what you say before you bid da zvedanya and wrap up in your long fur coat and hat to walk down the ulitsa or head out for a coffee or tea, 'green or black?' at the PECTOPAH--or restaurant--to enjoy your ikra--and boy is that sevruga yum-my!

On a serious note, we can all realize that perestroika must have been difficult as a transition, but it is another reality check to be reminded that it is still in a difficult transition phase--how could it be expected to go from black market to capitalism and imbue trust overnight--impossible. Some people were handed businesses and although others were purchased, the Grand Canyon between haves and have nots grows immeasurably wide. On one hand, an oil magnate--on the other, someone who was hoping to retire right about the time reforms hit. It's one saving grace that most people were probably given their apartments and no longer have to pay rent--at $300/month salary for a state-employed dentist, I don't think progess has hit the majority of the 150 million residents. But someone must be buying the suburban (3 beltways in Moscow) high-rise luxury condos, which sell for $500/sq. ft. A mystery remaining to be solved....

All this from someone who had the 5-star tour.....imagine what it would really be like to see the real Russia. Go, St. Petersburg!

JeepBoy's Christmas Craft

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More christmas-hating and satan worshiping, and a movie recommendation

So, I went looking on the internets tonight for a good old peace sign wreath because I’m not crafty enough to make my own and I came up with some fantastic blogs on the subject instead. Looks like I’ll have to make one at the next craft day. This will be my first holiday decoration (other than a poinsettia) put up since days of the LEON related theme (love the Hot Pants!).

This is my most favorite blog that includes a rant on the christmas-hating, devil worshiping liberals down in Pagosa Springs. The Top 10 Conservative Idiots, No. 270.
“Okay, where are we so far... liberals trying to ruin Christmas, check. Peace symbols = devil worship, check. Animated penguins making children gay, check. iPods helping the terrorists, check. As you can see, conservatives have really got some great ideas for winning back Congress in 2008. Oh yes, they're in touch with the mainstream. They've got their finger on America's pulse, you might say.”
The review of Happy Feet is actually my favorite part.

I was also going to write a rant of the “Peace. Love. The Gap.” ad, but I couldn’t possible top this one. "Peace Love The Gap": Everything that's wrong with this country in 30 seconds.

I watched my most favorite movie today, Harold and Maude. If you have never seen it, that needs to be corrected. If you haven’t seen it in a while, add it to your netflix, you will find new things you never knew were there.

Oh Jesus . . .

Let the anti-christmas rant begin.
Subdivision bans Christmas wreath with peace sign.
While we're here, let's revistit Drag-Queen Bible Dolls.