Maybe McCain

So, I took the political quiz at glassbooth and was matched with Obama, McCain and Guiliani, in that order.

Sadly, all three support the border fence, which I hate. 

However, in Vanity Fair there's this:

McCain had been asked how debate over the immigration bill was playing politically. "In the short term, it probably galvanizes our base," he said. "In the long term, if you alienate the Hispanics, you'll pay a heavy price." Then he added, unable to help himself, "By the way, I think the fence is least effective. But I'll build the goddamned fence if they want it."

Why?

New year new look. 

It's as simple as that really. 

I hope you like the new look and the layout changes. 

I hope you're not creeped out by having me watch you while you read...

If you like the way this looks, you should check out Nila's blog. 

Hairmixer Bandwagon

Everybody's doing it, so I thought I might as well get in on the action

What do you think of my new hair?

Try it yourself at Hairmixer.

Poor Iran

I have written here before about my new neighbor, Iran. I try not to criticize, of course, but today I read something that's just too much for me to stand.

Ahmadinejad outlawed "Summer Time." Meaning he cancelled Daylight Savings Time!!! He claims that it goes against Islamic teaching.

Turns out that the Iranian Parliament understands the real world, and overturned his decision and reinstated DST. You can read the short article here.

I searched for more information on the topic so I could help you to be more informed on the situation, but I couldn't find anything. I didn't really search that hard, though. I figure it's just as good to be reactionary as it is to be knowledgeable, right? That's what the presedential primaries have taught me.

If you've been reading for a while, you know how much I love Daylight Savings Time. I am currently counting the days until we get to set out clocks forward (48 days).

I have to stop writing now. I need to look for a tool that'll let me add a DST countdown timer on the blog.

Kurdish Food (Again)

Do you remember when I posted about Kurdish food a few weeks ago? If you do, then you also remember that I posted a picture of some tasty-looking tacos instead of anything Kurdish.

Funny thing is that I've been getting a lot of hits on my blog from people searching for "Kurdish Food." I feel a little guilty that they'd come all this way only to be greeted by Mexican food.

So, I've decided to make it right. Here's my recipe for Kurdish rice:

• Get some rice. You can use however much you like, I don't care. It's your choice.
• Boil some water and pour it on the rice. Use enough to cover the rice.
• Let that sit for thirty minutes and then drain the water.
• Put some oil in a pan (we use corn oil out here) and fry the rice up a little in it.
• Pour in the same amount of water as your original measure of rice.
• You can add cumin as you like.
• Let the rice cook until it's done.
• Serve and enjoy.

There ya go. Guilt alleviated.

God Will Make Your Faces Black

By Aram Qania

Sleep, sweet mother, sleep
In your poor Kurdistan sleep
I wish you could sleep in the depths of their eyes
Those who have for a long time wanted to sell Kurdistan

Be careful. Don’t let anyone steal your money
I wish you’d get more

Does this mother have martyred sons?
If yes, why does she live like this?
If not, I have the same question.
If not her sons, then her brothers
her brother’s sons
her sister’s sons

Anyway, terrible grief has visited her
Please, let’s help her
If her children aren’t martyrs, may the face of the earth be black

Coldest Winter in 30 Years!

Rumor on the street is that this has been the coldest winter in Kurdistan for 30 years. Luckily we've been spared the blizzard-like conditions that hit Iran last week, but we've been cold nonetheless.

The past few days, the wind has been brutal. It's driven temperatures well below zero (Fahrenheit--so well below zero Celsius!) We've kept fairly warm.

Today, though, is the warmest day in maybe 10 days. The high is about 42. Angie, however, is wrapped up in a blanket with a scarf turban on her head and threatening to run away.

I've been cold since November, so this is just more of the same for me. I spend my days dreaming of the eventual warm-up. I ask someone every day when the weather will get warmer. Word on the street is that I'll only have to wait until mid-February.

Nila takes it all in stride, but I expect her first words may be "I hate winter" since it's the thing she hears the most from her parents.

Except for maybe "I wish there was a Chipotle here...."

Two For Vanessa

These two links are posted here specifically for Vanessa because I know she will love them. If you think like Vanessa, then you will also enjoy them.

However, be warned that both contain off-color language and humor. If that's not your thing, I'd avoid them both.

The first is called Boobs, Injuries and Dr. Pepper. It's a personal blog and, according to the author "This is not a mommy blog. My kids aren't perfect & I cuss a lot. I think that disqualifies me from the mommy blog club." I found it when I was linked there from another site and I read this entry. (that one's for Sis!)

The second is an article from Cracked.com about products sold on television. I think it's the type of thing that will make Vanessa embarrass herself at work when she reads it and laughs at greater than work-appropriate volumes.

Like, I said, be warned of language.

The Kurdish Air Force (Part 2)

I found out recently that if you search for "Kurdish Air Force" over at google, I am the first return.

This is because the Kurdish people have no actual air force and only exists her at 13Months. I'm not sure how many people actually search for the phrase "Kurdish Air Force," but as I'm glad they find me here making light of the Turkish bombardment. This is the joke I made originally and I think it's still funny.

I am pretty sure now that I have written "Kurdish Air Force" so often, I will be able to extend my reign as the number one link for the "Kurdish Air Force."

Until such a time as the fine and brave people of  Southern Kurdistan learn how to fly planes and drink tea at the same time.