Rejected Suitor Rapes Kuwaiti Woman
Al Watan staff
KUWAIT: A young Kuwaiti woman has filed a case against a man who raped her after she rejected his marriage proposal. The woman explained that the young man who asked to marry her had been found out to be a liar. Among other things, he lied about his nationality, claiming to be Kuwaiti when he was not. He also claimed to have huge sums of money when in fact he was not as well off as he initially claimed. After being rejected, the man reportedly waited outside her house and kidnapped her as she walked towards her car. He then drove her to a remote area and raped her.
What incredible courage this young woman has going public. What backing she must have from her family. This is, unfortunately, not a rare occurance. What on earth are these men thinking? Is he trying to ruin her chances of marrying anyone else? Is this rape a punishment?
Sand Relocation Program
As you are driving along, or stopped in the gridlock of school’s-out traffic, have you noticed the bags of something along the road?
AdventureMan was asking me what that was all about. I said I didn’t know, but I had seen a bunch in front of our place, too. I thought they were full of sand. In Seattle, it might be about getting ready for winter, like sand for when there is a freezing rain or heavy snowfall or something, but that is so not remotely possible in Kuwait.
AdventureMan thought they might be full of trash cleaned off the streets, but they are packed too solidly or it to be trash.
We finally figured it out – it is sand, sand and grit removed from the streets AND, more importantly, from the drains, so that when it rains, the drains will be clear and the water from the (Insh’allah) heavy rainfall will have a way to run back to the sea without puddling in lower areas, as it did several years ago when a couple people actually drowned in Kuwait.
Kudos for the ministry in charge, for anticipating the problem and getting the drains in top condition now, in case it rains. Which ministry, I wonder? Public Works? Highways?
AdventureMan speculated, as he is known to do – what do you think happens to these bags of sand? Are they used as sandbags somewhere? Are they dumped in the desert? What would happen if you could tag a grain of sand, the way you tag an animal, and you could track it through it’s lifetime, where would it take you?
He calls this the government Sand Relocation Project.
Sunrise Struggle
I wasn’t any struggle to be up for sunrise this morning; sunrise is getting later and later every morning. It seems to be very close to 6 a.m. now. But look how the sun has to struggle this morning to break through the murky horizon. Yesterday we had blue sky! Today the haze and murk are back, and the sun’s rays are dim and pallid.
Andorra, Smoking and Life Expectancy
This little illustration was part of an e-mail a friend sent this week, but it reminded me of a special I heard a couple weeks ago on BBC about Andorra.
Andorra has the highest life expectancy of any country in the world. When people try to figure out why, they think it must be because people are physically active there, all their lives. The elderly are encouraged to go to the gyms, prices are greatly subsidized for all citizens, like gyms and water aerobics classes and EVERYBODY stays fit.
They have the longest life expectancy in spite of the fact that many many of the Andorrans are also smokers. Go figure.
Hearts, Hands and Hope
Opportunities for you from Operation Hope – Kuwait:
Thank You all baking volunteers:
We at Operation HOPE want to express our thanks to all our baking volunteers for their beautifully packed and labeled donations. We appreciate your extra effort and work of excellence to support our mission. And a special thanks to Jaye Lynn and Emily Lester for manning the sales table!
Thank You all Tent clearance and inventory volunteers:
What a blessing when men, women and children, who represent multiple nations can come together for the good of mankind. Many hands did make for lighter work. As our tent was cleared, inventoried and then restocked. We are able to do what we do because of you.
Volunteers needed:
We are happy to announce our very first packing schedule for winter apparel for this year on Saturday October 18, 2008 from 7am to 10:30 am. At this time our goal is to pack 3000 bags each, with a set of thermal underclothing, pair of socks, pair of gloves and cap. Lend your help packing a few bags or all 3000 bags; but DO lend us your help. Please RSVP your commitment ASAP.
Flea market Saturday October 25, 2008:
Operation HOPE will have a Flea market at the OH head quarters (Rumaithiya, Block 9, Street 92, House 23) at 7am to 12 noon. We will be selling books, small appliances, electronics, gently used household items etc. All proceeds of the sale go to Operation Hope. We encourage you to spread the word around and bring in at least one friend with you.
Volunteers needed: to set up the items for the flea market, Friday, October 24, 2008 at 3 PM. Please RSVP your commitment to help as soon as possible.
Volunteers needed: to help at the Flea Market with sales and clean-up, Saturday, October 25th from 6:30 AM – 12:30 PM. Your RSVP is appreciated as soon as possible.
Laptop Needed:
The Operation HOPE administration has grown considerably and we require a mobile tool to keep on top of our busyness. We appreciate your consideration towards the contribution of a NEW laptop.
Sunrise October 14, 2008
Tomorrow is Blog Action Day: Poverty.
When I checked the temperature this morning a cold front had moved in! It is 73°F / 23°C! After yesterday’s humidity coated my windows, I had never dared to hope for a crisp, cool morning. Temperatures are supposed to be back up this afternoon, back into the low 100’s / 39°C.
The weather continues to play havok with my health. I am feeling a lot better, finally, but I sound like Typhoid Mary. (hack, cough, wheeze) (I am very good about covering my mouth.)
Here is the magnificent sunrise for today:
It’s a beautiful morning . . .GOOD morning, Kuwait!
Benefits of Ginger
As I bit into a piece of my friend’s freshly baked apple pie, I got a shock – a large slice of ginger. Not a bad shock – just an unexpected shock. When I think of apple pie, mostly I think of cinnamon – and there was cinnamon in this pie. The ginger was unexpected – and thrilling. It was novel, and it complemented the apples, and it was a fresh taste.
I’ve always loved ginger. When I was a little kid, it was ginger ale that would settle a troubled tummy. As I grew older, I learned about ginger beer, ginger tea, ginger pickles, ginger candy and ginger in Chinese foods and Indian foods. It’s always been a welcome taste to me.
My Chinese friend also tells me how healthy it is for me. I used to make my tea with powdered ginger; she taught me to sliver or grate fresh ginger for my tea.
Today, inspired by that slice of ginger in my friend’s apple pie, I decided to see what I could find on the health benefits of ginger. Ginger has a healing reputation in so many cultures – you would think there must be something to it.
There is a LOT of information out there. Most of what I read, I would be afraid to print here, afraid it might lead you to believe ginger can do more than it really can. Finally, I ended up at my old reliable friend Wikipedia, where I found more balance. Here is what I found about ginger, it’s uses, and health benefits – and warnings.
Regional uses
In Western cuisine, ginger is traditionally restricted to sweet foods, such as ginger ale, gingerbread, ginger snaps, ginger cake and ginger biscuits. A ginger-flavored liqueur called Canton is produced in Jarnac, France. Green ginger wine is a ginger flavored wine produced in the United Kingdom, traditionally sold in a green glass bottle. Ginger is also used as a spice added to hot coffee and tea.
In Arabic, ginger is called Zanjabil and in some parts of the Middle East ginger powder is used as a spice for coffee.
In India, ginger is called Aadu in Gujarati, “Shunti” in Kannada language[Karnataka], Allam in Telugu, Inji in Tamil and Malayalam, Alay in Marathi, “Aduwa” in Nepali, and Adrak in Hindi and Urdu. Fresh ginger is one of the main spices used for making pulse and lentil curries and other vegetable preparations.
It is used fresh to spice tea especially in winter. Also, ginger powder is used in certain food preparations that are made particularly for expecting women and feeding mothers, the most popular one being Katlu which is a mixture of gum resin, ghee, nuts and sugar.
In south India, ginger is used in the production of a candy called Inji-murappa (“ginger candy” from Tamil). This candy is mostly sold by vendors to bus passengers in bus stops and in small tea shops as a locally produced item. Candied or crystallized ginger (ginger cured with sugar) is also very famous around these parts. Additionally, in Tamil Nadu, especially in the Tanjore belt, a variety of ginger which is less spicy is used when tender to make fresh pickle with the combination of lemon juice or vinegar, salt and tender green chillies. This kind of pickle was generally made before the invention of refrigeration and stored for a maximum of 4-5 days. The pickle gains a mature flavor when the juices cook the ginger over the first 24 hours. Ginger is also added as a flavoring in tea.
In Japan, ginger is pickled to make beni shoga and gari or grated and used raw on tofu or noodles. It is also made into a candy called shoga no satozuke.
In Burma, ginger is used in a salad dish called gyin-tho, which consists of shredded ginger preserved in oil, and a variety of nuts and seeds.
Indonesia has a famous beverage that called Wedang Jahe, which is made from ginger and palm sugar; Indonesians also use ground ginger root, called jahe or djahe, as a frequent ingredient in local recipes.
In traditional Korean kimchi, ginger is finely minced and added to the ingredients of the spicy paste just before the fermenting process.
In South East Asia, the flower of a the Torch ginger (Etlingera eliator) is used in cooking. The unopened flower is known in the Malay language as Bunga Kantan, and is used in salads and also as garnish for sour-savoury soups, like Assam Laksa.
In the Ivory Coast, ginger is ground and mixed with orange, pineapple and lemon to produce a juice called Nyamanku.
In China, sliced or whole ginger root is often paired with savory dishes, such as fish. However, candied ginger is sometimes a component of Chinese candy boxes, and an herbal tea can also be prepared from ginger.
Medical uses
The medical form of ginger historically was called “Jamaica ginger”; it was classified as a stimulant and carminative, and used frequently for dyspepsia and colic. It was also frequently employed to disguise the taste of medicines.
Ginger is on the FDA’s ‘generally recognized as safe’ list, though it does interact with some medications, including warfarin. Ginger is contraindicated in people suffering from gallstones as the herb promotes the release of bile from the gallbladder.[4] Ginger may also decrease joint pain from arthritis, though studies on this have been inconsistent, and may have blood thinning and cholesterol lowering properties that may make it useful for treating heart disease.[5]
The characteristic odor and flavor of ginger root is caused by a mixture of zingerone, shoagoles and gingerols, volatile oils that compose about one to three percent of the weight of fresh ginger. In laboratory animals, the gingerols increase the motility of the gastrointestinal tract and have analgesic, sedative, antipyretic and antibacterial properties.[6]
Diarrhea
Ginger compounds are active against a form of diarrhea which is the leading cause of infant death in developing countries. Zingerone is likely to be the active constituent against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin-induced diarrhea.[7]
Nausea
Ginger has been found effective by multiple studies for treating nausea caused by seasickness, morning sickness and chemotherapy,[8] though ginger was not found superior over a placebo for post-operative nausea.
Folk medicinal uses
There are a variety of uses suggested for ginger. Tea brewed from ginger is a folk remedy for colds. Three to four leaves of Tulsi taken along with a piece of Ginger on an empty stomach is an effective cure for congestion, cough and cold. Ginger ale and ginger beer have been recommended as “stomach settlers” for generations in countries where the beverages are made, and ginger water was commonly used to avoid heat cramps in the US. Ginger has also been historically used to treat inflammation which several scientific studies support, though one arthritis trial showed ginger to be no better than a placebo or ibuprofen.[5] Research on rats suggests that ginger may be useful for treating diabetes.[9][10]
Local uses
In the West, powdered dried ginger root is made into capsules and sold in pharmacies for medicinal use.
In the United States, ginger is generally recognized as safe by the Food and Drug Administration, though it is not approved for the treatment or cure of any disease and is sold as an unregulated dietary supplement
In India, ginger is applied as a paste to the temples to relieve headache and consumed when suffering from a cold,people use ginger for making tea, in food etc.
In Burma, ginger and a local sweetener made from palm tree juice (Htan nyat) are boiled together and taken to prevent the flu
In China, a drink made with sliced ginger cooked in sweetened water or a cola is used as a folk medicine for common cold* In Indonesia, a type of ginger known as Jahe is used as a herbal preparation to reduce fatigue, reducing “winds” in the blood, prevent and cure rheumatism and controlling poor dietary habits
In Democratic Republic of the Congo, ginger is crushed and mixed with mango-tree sap to make Tangawisi juice, which is considered as a universal panacea
In the Philippines a traditional health drink called “salabat” is made for consumption with breakfast by boiling chopped ginger and adding sugar and is considered good for sore throat.
Reactions
Allergic reactions to ginger generally result in a rash and though generally recognized as safe, ginger can cause heartburn, bloating, gas, belching and nausea, particularly if taken in powdered form. Unchewed fresh ginger may result in intestinal blockage, and individuals who have had ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease or blocked intestines may react badly to large quantities of fresh ginger.[11] Ginger can also adversely affect individuals with gallstones.[5][11] There are also suggestions that ginger may affect blood pressure, clotting, and heart rhythms.[11]
I am still fighting off the Kuwaiti change-of-seasons cold, the sore throat, the cough, feeling tired. I am about to fix myself a cup of ginger tea – a few thin slices of ginger, hot water, sweetened by a little Yemeni honey (my own idea for getting well). Whether it has genuine benefits for my health or not – it tastes good!
Pollution Invading Kuwait Hospitals
Thanks to long time Kuwaiti-blogger Hilaliya who alerts us to this article from Al Watan.
Americans put this same granite in their kitchens, and are now paying to have their beautiful granite countertops radon tested – and pulled out. Imagine preparing food on countertops that emit radiation! Imagine inviting patients into a hospital emitting radiation! Some granites emit more radiation than others – these need to be radon tested.
Pollution is invading our hospitals
Dr. Essam Abdullatif AlـFulaij
It seems that we need an uprising at the Ministry of Health. Patients as well as doctors and staff are at risk because of the use of inappropriate construction materials which cause pollution. Despite the warnings of some engineers, the officials at the ministry neglected the issue and concealed the facts so as not to get involved.
In August 2008, Amar magazine published a report by engineer Fotouh AlـAsfour in which she strenuously rang the alarm over what is happening at our hospitals. She submitted the report to two former health ministers and the Ministry of Health”s Engineering Department, members of the Municipal Council and the Parliament but no action was taken.
In her report, Fotouh said: “Having designed and supervised the construction of hospitals and medical centers for the health sector, I know the standards and specifications for materials used in hospitals to protect patients, visitors and hospital staff from microbial contamination. The project to renew hospitals, which began several years ago, has largely contributed to the deterioration of health conditions of both citizens and residents and the mortality rate has increased due to the high level of pollution caused by microbial contaminated materials that were used in the modernization of these hospitals in the absence of proper guidance and control.”
She added: “The use of granite in hospitals is not recommend at all as it is the second biggest cause of lung cancer after smoking, as reported by the American Lung Association. Granite radiates “radon gas” and its impact is worse when using the kind produced by China. It is really strange that granite has been used to decorate the entrance and most wings at the Hussein Makki Jumaa Center for Cancer Treatment.”
Engineer Fotouh stressed the importance of urgent attention saying: “In conclusion, the main reason behind writing this report is not criticism or accusation, but to attract officials” attention to urgently deal with the issue. Reform is not costly and should not be postponed, because the price of further delay is the loss of more lives. A specialized committee must be formed to follow up the issue and replace these materials with medical materials, especially in the Operating Rooms, Intensive Care Units and premature babies wards, causalities, and then in other awards.”
We hope that the report will be considered by officials to protect our patients and hospital staff. It”s time to stop these deadly dangers that are even affecting doctors. The lives of human beings are precious.
Last updated on Friday 10/10/2008
Millions Lost Trillions
I used to finish my assignements early in grade school. Mostly I always had a book with me to read, but one teacher challenged me to write all the numbers to 1 million.
“Piece of cake” I thought. (Arrogant little brat!)
I learned my lesson. It took me forever. I wouldn’t give up, and I filled sheets and sheets of paper with numbers, all the way to one million.
It’s a lesson I won’t forget.
But a billion? A trillion? Those are numbers that boggle my mind. I can’t think that big.
So far, the losses are mostly on paper – they won’t be real losses until investors go to sell, or cash in.
It’s a huge demographic, the baby-boomers getting ready to retire – or as this article from the Washington Post states – maybe not so fast:
Retirement Savings Lose $2 Trillion in 15 Months
By Nancy Trejos
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 8, 2008; Page A01
The stock market’s prolonged tumble has wiped out about $2 trillion in Americans’ retirement savings in the past 15 months, a blow that could force workers to stay on the job longer than planned, rein in spending and possibly further stall an economy reliant on consumer dollars, Congress’s top budget analyst said yesterday.
For many Americans, pensions and 401(k) plans are their only form of savings. The dwindling of these assets — about a 20 percent decline overall — is another setback just as many people are grappling with higher gas and food prices, more credit card debt, declining home values and less access to loans.
You can read the entire article in the Washington Post, here.
Seven Day Warning: Blog Action Day October 15
Only one week to go! Today is Wednesday, October 8th – just one short, sweet week before Blog Action Day.
They sent this reminder today:
7 Days to Go – Have you Registered?
Hello Bloggers!
We’ve got just 7 days to go before Blog Action Day 2008 – and we want to make sure everyone who participated in 2007 has had a chance to register their blogs to post up on October 15th and join us once more in shaking the internet!
Register at: BlogActionDay.org
In 2008 we’re discussing Poverty and we’re all set for a huge year with thousands of bloggers registered to participate, including dozens of top bloggers like TechCrunch, LifeHacker and more!
Additionally we have members of both the Spanish and English parliaments planning on participating, a ton of great organisations including the United Nations Millenium Campaign, Friendster, MySpace, Kiva, BlogTV, Blog.de, and lots more.
Head over to BlogActionDay.org for all the updates and news!
We have a lot of material here in Kuwait. I see we already have a lot of Kuwait bloggers registered! Wooo HOOOO on Kuwait! 🙂
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