G'day
This posting will be be kinda disjointed as I have several things to say without real solid transitions to connect them.
I was watching an ABC special on cops in LA and I thought it brought up some interesting points. This civil rights attorney was talking about how cops who work the South Eastern district are constantly harassing Blacks and Hispanics, asking to see their ID, pulling them over for their occupants not wearing seatbelts, part of a tail light being out, asking if the cell phones in their pockets are guns, etc. On the other hand, they are clearly not doing the same things in Beverly Hills and Malibu and as such this is racism. This clearly is, but at the same time when going into the heart of drug and gang country I can understand why you would want to do this as your life is in clear jeopardy. It seems the only real way to remedy this might be for there to be social pressure from the neighborhoods that the gang members are a part of that no, this is not ok and this is not the way we have to live. I don't know how you could go about doing this but it seems serious reform in the public education systems there, YMCAs for youths to hang out at after school, and better jobs might be a good start. I dunno, it's a tough issue and cops clearly can't get rid of it, only contain it. I feel bad for them, despite knowing that LAPD aren’t known for their light handed approach to law enforcement. The genuinely seemed like they were trying in the documentary but at the same time their entire neighborhoods were saying that they didn't ever meet a cop they liked or trusted, that they all had been harassed by them, etc.
On a much lighter note, I was watching a pretty old Adam Sandler flick called Big Daddy and got a real kick out of one of the exchanges. In this scene Adam Sandler has just arrived at his girlfriend's apartment and thinks he hears coming out of her bathroom. She denies there being anyone in there but he takes upon himself to look into it anyway. Upon investigating he discovers that it's a much older man, think mid 70s. These are not direct quotes by any means just as close as I can remember.
Adam: "Öh thank God, I was getting really paranoid there for a second."
Old Man: "Huh?"
Adam: "I thought you were screwing my girlfrien...ah never mind" *Relieved smile*
Old Man: "I am."
Adam: "What?!!"
Adam's girl: He's must more mature than you Adam and unlike you has GOALS in his life. He has already accomplished so much and wants to do so much more. He has a five year plan."
Adam: "What is it? DON'T DIE?!" (only Adam Sandler can deliver this line with enough fury, etc to make it humorous).
Anyway, I thought that was funny.
Picked out my new glasses, but won't pick them up until this upcoming Wednesday or Thursday. I'll post some pics at that time, of Ussama with cap. And Ussama with glasses.
I just finished a book that had been recommended by several of my friends called "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coehlo. I also shall recommend it, it's the story of a shepherd who makes a journey following his dream toward the Egyptian pyramids. It has a lot of, I think, good insight into life and an uplifting message. The only other novel that I can think of which speaks so clearly and insightfully into what makes the world tick in the form of a narrative is "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" Richard Bach. by I recommend you read both of these.
As for my job, I should be going in this week. Neil said he would call me upon returning to Dubai (his dates for returning here were February 4th/5th) and today is the sixth so I'm not worried about it yet. Besides I know he's not here because he wasn't on the last three shows they've put on :) He usually calls in the evening so perhaps he will after dinner. I'll give him until Tuesday, then ring him up myself I think.
Ah yes, so me and Hani had a grand old time going out to bars, drinking, dancing etc. I got loaded enough to where I thought I was a good dancer which means I probably shouldn't have driven anyone home but desperate times cause for desperate measures. Tuesday was just sitting back, and drinking at a real chill place. Wednesday we went to a place called Da Harem, which is not a brothel but a hella good club that played a lot of hip hop. They played "This is How We Do It" for God sakes so you know it was awesome. We paid a total of the equivalent $275 between us all to get a table, meaning all you can drink and some snacks. Fucking good time. It's funny though, on Thursday we tried to go to Trilogy and I was once again unable to go because they were being uber selective due to the more than 200 people waiting outside pushing to get in. This is the third time I've been unable to get into there, I'm starting to think it's an omen. A couple of the guys I was with made it in, several did not. We all bounced to Oxygen, a hip hop club on the other side of tow. On the other hand I bumped into Andrea, a brother of one of my good buds from Dubai Paul. She seemed to be doing well, said she was taking a year off between school and college to work at Global Village.
And that is that. Really fun weekend though I must say.
Here are the names which I've had too very painfully narrow down for my car:
Honey
Blanca
Adia
Maraudir
Thanks for all the awesome suggestions.
One thing, if you don't have an avatar I'd appreciate it if you signed off/initialed as to who you are when you comment. That'd be super.
Peace
I was watching an ABC special on cops in LA and I thought it brought up some interesting points. This civil rights attorney was talking about how cops who work the South Eastern district are constantly harassing Blacks and Hispanics, asking to see their ID, pulling them over for their occupants not wearing seatbelts, part of a tail light being out, asking if the cell phones in their pockets are guns, etc. On the other hand, they are clearly not doing the same things in Beverly Hills and Malibu and as such this is racism. This clearly is, but at the same time when going into the heart of drug and gang country I can understand why you would want to do this as your life is in clear jeopardy. It seems the only real way to remedy this might be for there to be social pressure from the neighborhoods that the gang members are a part of that no, this is not ok and this is not the way we have to live. I don't know how you could go about doing this but it seems serious reform in the public education systems there, YMCAs for youths to hang out at after school, and better jobs might be a good start. I dunno, it's a tough issue and cops clearly can't get rid of it, only contain it. I feel bad for them, despite knowing that LAPD aren’t known for their light handed approach to law enforcement. The genuinely seemed like they were trying in the documentary but at the same time their entire neighborhoods were saying that they didn't ever meet a cop they liked or trusted, that they all had been harassed by them, etc.
On a much lighter note, I was watching a pretty old Adam Sandler flick called Big Daddy and got a real kick out of one of the exchanges. In this scene Adam Sandler has just arrived at his girlfriend's apartment and thinks he hears coming out of her bathroom. She denies there being anyone in there but he takes upon himself to look into it anyway. Upon investigating he discovers that it's a much older man, think mid 70s. These are not direct quotes by any means just as close as I can remember.
Adam: "Öh thank God, I was getting really paranoid there for a second."
Old Man: "Huh?"
Adam: "I thought you were screwing my girlfrien...ah never mind" *Relieved smile*
Old Man: "I am."
Adam: "What?!!"
Adam's girl: He's must more mature than you Adam and unlike you has GOALS in his life. He has already accomplished so much and wants to do so much more. He has a five year plan."
Adam: "What is it? DON'T DIE?!" (only Adam Sandler can deliver this line with enough fury, etc to make it humorous).
Anyway, I thought that was funny.
Picked out my new glasses, but won't pick them up until this upcoming Wednesday or Thursday. I'll post some pics at that time, of Ussama with cap. And Ussama with glasses.
I just finished a book that had been recommended by several of my friends called "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coehlo. I also shall recommend it, it's the story of a shepherd who makes a journey following his dream toward the Egyptian pyramids. It has a lot of, I think, good insight into life and an uplifting message. The only other novel that I can think of which speaks so clearly and insightfully into what makes the world tick in the form of a narrative is "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" Richard Bach. by I recommend you read both of these.
As for my job, I should be going in this week. Neil said he would call me upon returning to Dubai (his dates for returning here were February 4th/5th) and today is the sixth so I'm not worried about it yet. Besides I know he's not here because he wasn't on the last three shows they've put on :) He usually calls in the evening so perhaps he will after dinner. I'll give him until Tuesday, then ring him up myself I think.
Ah yes, so me and Hani had a grand old time going out to bars, drinking, dancing etc. I got loaded enough to where I thought I was a good dancer which means I probably shouldn't have driven anyone home but desperate times cause for desperate measures. Tuesday was just sitting back, and drinking at a real chill place. Wednesday we went to a place called Da Harem, which is not a brothel but a hella good club that played a lot of hip hop. They played "This is How We Do It" for God sakes so you know it was awesome. We paid a total of the equivalent $275 between us all to get a table, meaning all you can drink and some snacks. Fucking good time. It's funny though, on Thursday we tried to go to Trilogy and I was once again unable to go because they were being uber selective due to the more than 200 people waiting outside pushing to get in. This is the third time I've been unable to get into there, I'm starting to think it's an omen. A couple of the guys I was with made it in, several did not. We all bounced to Oxygen, a hip hop club on the other side of tow. On the other hand I bumped into Andrea, a brother of one of my good buds from Dubai Paul. She seemed to be doing well, said she was taking a year off between school and college to work at Global Village.
And that is that. Really fun weekend though I must say.
Here are the names which I've had too very painfully narrow down for my car:
Honey
Blanca
Adia
Maraudir
Thanks for all the awesome suggestions.
One thing, if you don't have an avatar I'd appreciate it if you signed off/initialed as to who you are when you comment. That'd be super.
Peace