I don’t look as good as Roba when simpsonized (or at any time for that matter :-)) but I was bored and had nothing better to do. You can go and simpsonize yourself here.
From the Farm
My cousin Haidar owns a little farm here in Hofuf, and today he invited me and the boys to visit it. We spent a couple of hours there and it was a lot of fun. It really was a blast. Like most farms here, this one has its own swimming pool, so it was great having a chance to cool off in the water during the insane heat of noon. We also enjoyed climbing palm trees and eating delicious dates. My hometown is well-known for producing some of the world’s best dates and eating them fresh like that was awesome. Here is some pictures from the farm:
Obstacles Remain for Women Employment
The Government often talk about providing more work opportunities for women. However, talking about that is one thing and actually working to make it happen is quite another. Take for example this piece from Arab News today:
Working mothers who spend eight hours or more at work want daycare services at work due to the distress caused by being away from their babies and toddlers.
Now you would think this brilliant idea has occurred to these women just now, but a moment later you will learn that it’s been more than two years since the Ministry of Labor (MOL) issued a law stating that businesses with 50 or more women and at least 10 working mothers must pay for daycare services to children under six years of age. As for businesses with over 100 women, a staffed daycare facility must be provided on the premises.
The mentioned above law sounds good, except for one thing: it has not been implemented. Is it possible that because MOL could not implement its controversial law to employ women in lingerie shops that they are having a difficult time now convincing anyone to take them and their laws seriously? Maybe, but it is certainly not an acceptable excuse.
If MOL cannot even force their fellow government departments to implement the law, and considering the fact that most businesses here have no idea whatsoever about something called Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), I really doubt that we will see a practical solution for this problem any time soon.
P.S. As far as I know, the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Social Affairs are two different things. Why Arab News decided to join them together to create a ministry that doesn’t exist is beyond my comprehension.
Mobily Ads on Facebook
With more than 31,000 members in the Saudi Arabia network on Facebook, and probably more Saudis in other networks as well, Mobily have decided to use Flyers, one of two advertisement schemes available on the site, to promote one of the services.
It is true that I’m an unsatisfied customer of STC who can’t move to the other operators due to complicated reasons, but I have to say that I find Mobily way cooler than STC. I have always believed that young people can relate more to Mobily’s ads than to STC’s, and using Facebook is just another evidence on this. Oh yes, and don’t even get me started on how STC try to copycat Mobily every now and then.
Support Abdul-Rahman Seddiq
Fouad al-Farhan suggests making Thursday August 9, 2007 a day to support Abdul-Rahman Seddiq, one of the ten men who were unfairly arrested in February based on allegations linking them to terrorism. Seddiq, 67, has worked in different parts in the government and later retired and devoted most of his time to work as a consultant for several organizations and charities.
On Thursday, Fouad will visit Seddiq’s house in Jeddah along with his wife and kids to show their support to the man’s family, and invites all those who know Seddiq and believe that he is innocent to do the same.
If you were unable to make it, please consider supporting Abdul-Rahman Seddiq in any way that you see helpful. Here is some suggestions:
- Talk to your family and friends about Seddiq. Encourage them to read more about the case and ask them to support his cause.
- Write a letter of support and send it to Fouad (fouad at smartinfo.com.sa) and he will deliver it to the family.
- Use one of the banners posted here on your blog or website. You can also use them for your signature in forums.
- Contact the family directly using one of these numbers: Um Raed (his wife) 0504308644; Abdul-Qader (his brother) 0506613443; Anas (his son) 0555660954.
Fouad has written a long post in Arabic about Abdul-Rahman Seddiq. It would be great if someone could translate it or at least parts of it to post it here. I wish I had time to do that but I’m still busy and will be traveling on Thursday, so if someone would be kind enough to translate it I would be glad to publish it.
Photos from Aramco History
It is common knowledge that Saudi Aramco, the state-owned national oil company of Saudi Arabia and the largest oil corporation in the world, have played an important role in shaping the life and culture in the Eastern Province of the country. Established in the 1930s, the company has become an integral part of the history of the region. I was born in Hofuf, the closest city to the famous Ghawar oil field, one of the world’s largest conventional (land-based) fields. A large number of my family members and friends have worked for the company, and it is hard to find someone in the Eastern Province whose life has not been affected by Aramco in a way or another.
This is why that I follow with interest a website called Aramco ExPats. The website was founded in 2004 by Vicci Thompson and her son Rusty Swayne. Her husband Errol is a pilot in Saudi Aramco’s Aviation Department. Aramco ExPats is mainly targeted at former and current employees of the company to find information and to keep in touch with friends, but I found it also useful for anyone who is interested in taking a glimpse at the effect of such large organization, not only here but also in other parts of the world.
The section of the website that keeps me amazed is the Galleries. It is often updated with photos that date back to the inception of the company as well as some recent pictures of the different places in the EP, and I always find myself spending a long time looking at these photos trying to imagine what life looked like in that time.
UPDATE: Saudi Aramco celebrate their 75th anniversary next year, and they plan a series of celebrations to generate enthusiasm and excitement among its employees, retirees and friends worldwide. They also plan opening a world-class cultural center that will integrate the planned archive center and a major public library. “The 75th Anniversary Committee is searching for memorabilia and other artifacts from your past while working and/or living in Saudi Arabia,” the website said.
Wine from Saudi Govt among Blair Gifts
Alcohol is banned in Saudi Arabia, but according to this AP piece in the Washington Post, the government don’t seem to have a problem giving away a few bottles of fine wine as a gift to someone who earned it. Other notable gifts include an iPod from California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (cool!) and a tea set from Sri Lanka’s president (boring!) as well as a foal from French legislators which he donated to a local family.
Saudi Jeans 
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