tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-260259812009-12-31T22:54:36.752+02:00A view of Jordanian life through the eyes of an American resident.Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09741697427725588177noreply@blogger.comBlogger178125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26025981.post-88402781057856819992007-10-30T08:24:00.001+02:002007-11-14T17:03:39.411+02:00

Alright folks, I'm finally taking the time to switch this blog over to Wordpress and thus, another domain. You can now find me at www.american-in-jordan.com (same address without the "blogspot" suffix).I started this blog on a whim and wasn't intending to be very serious with it. Thus Blogger seemed like the easy and free way to get things rolling. Come to think of it, I'm still not serious

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09741697427725588177noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26025981.post-4899848254224246862007-10-28T11:23:00.000+02:002007-10-28T11:26:54.376+02:00

Olivia Munn, one of the hosts of G4's Attack of the Show, makes a funny mistake when reading the teleprompter. At least she can laugh at herself.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09741697427725588177noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26025981.post-18665894894194123202007-10-27T09:09:00.000+02:002007-10-27T10:08:55.536+02:00

It's all the craze today. If you're not doing it, consider yourself square. Religious Arab Girl has invented the officially unofficial Blog About Your Favorite Blogger Day which happens to be today.Apparently I'm supposed to just list a single blogger, but I'm having a hard time choosing just one. Besides, everyone else is doing it so why can't I? (Does that sound like a Cranberries album

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09741697427725588177noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26025981.post-34676289896827024462007-10-25T06:53:00.000+02:002007-10-25T07:14:54.962+02:00

I stopped to have gas put in my car last night. I pulled up to the pump and told the attendant that I wanted 10JD worth of gas (which was all I happened to have in my pocket at the time).The next thing I know, the guy was putting the hose back into the pump and standing at my window waiting to be paid. As I handed him the 10JD, I glanced back at the pump and noticed that he had only put in 9JD.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09741697427725588177noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26025981.post-7100201387683951152007-10-21T08:30:00.000+02:002007-10-21T13:10:50.399+02:00

I took a couple friends to Petra this last week (my 15th trip) and was hiking off the beaten path when I happened upon a Bedouin lady and her table of wares. I was about to pass without a glance, as usual, when a certain piece of pottery – an oil lamp with a design of questionable nature – caught my eye.This was one of those train wreck/car accident moments. You know, the ones where you are

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09741697427725588177noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26025981.post-18589497445482340302007-10-15T16:17:00.000+02:002007-10-15T16:19:24.226+02:00

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09741697427725588177noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26025981.post-22997603641795273312007-10-13T19:55:00.000+02:002007-10-21T12:07:31.449+02:00

I just returned from a day at the Dead Sea with a simple but important insight: no man, and I repeat, no man (short of being on the Olympic swim team) should ever, ever, for any reason, wear a Speedo. If someone told you that you looked good in a Speedo, chances are they were lying to you.So in tribute to all those paunchy men with hairy backs who are sporting ever-so-skivvy swimwear, I give you

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09741697427725588177noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26025981.post-43243396856071660262007-10-12T06:55:00.000+02:002007-10-12T06:57:46.338+02:00

While scientifically today is the first day of Eid al-Fitr, the official posted government holiday is from Saturday, October 13 to Tuesday, October 16.This has been a public service announcement. Happy Eid.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09741697427725588177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26025981.post-26752405860902766432007-10-08T15:13:00.000+02:002007-10-08T15:22:00.621+02:00

Just wanted to promote a very talented local artist, Ala Dadan. Ala is a very talented graphic and web designer who lives in Jerash. I've not noticed much of Ala's work around town (or if I have, I didn't realize it), but local companies should be utilizing more of this artist's skills.Check out the portfolio and dig the groovy work.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09741697427725588177noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26025981.post-74187315854977580712007-10-04T14:46:00.000+02:002007-10-04T15:10:55.255+02:00

Iran MPs Want To Shut Down Benetton StoresA group of prominent MPs have called for the Italian clothing retailer Benetton to quit Iran, saying its fashions are a bad influence on female consumers...Female consumers? Benetton's fashions are a bad influence on people with fashion sense everywhere.Egypt Will Not Bow to Foreign PressurePresident Hosni Mubarak said Monday that Egypt will not bow to

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09741697427725588177noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26025981.post-47189228971934383722007-10-02T16:07:00.000+02:002007-10-02T16:33:22.830+02:00

The city-wide blanket advertising war is still in full force. The latest contenders are Orange and Zain. Most people, including yours truly, prefer the Orange campaign over Zain's tribute-to-the-80's color scheme. I wouldn't mind if Zain removed all of their ads save one: this hot young lady. I could stare at her all year and not get bored.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09741697427725588177noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26025981.post-70458184653006552952007-10-01T13:27:00.000+02:002007-10-02T06:51:14.605+02:00

Fun stuff. Listen for yourself (4.8 MB)...

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09741697427725588177noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26025981.post-89853609723817463732007-09-25T08:06:00.000+02:002007-09-25T08:38:47.472+02:00

Conspiracy theorists unite! The word on the Jordanian blog-o-sphere is one of concern and outrage towards those in government who would try to censor what is written in online publications. The biggest concern is the rumored development of a new, self-censorship plug-in for popular blogging software such as Wordpress, Live Journal and Blogger. Allegedly this plug-in will be released by

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09741697427725588177noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26025981.post-30969342526312092982007-09-24T16:42:00.000+02:002007-09-24T16:44:16.603+02:00

It seems like public opinion concerning Royal Jordanian’s (RJ) quality of service is waning. I fly RJ about 12-16 times each year simply for the convenience of being able to check-in early at the 7th Circle City Terminal and the frequent flyer miles. (I use the term "convenience" loosely, as there are times when the unmanaged crowding and massive chaos makes early check-in a real chore.)I’ve

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09741697427725588177noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26025981.post-36951115116886003922007-09-09T14:13:00.001+03:002007-09-09T14:37:33.490+03:00

That's the implied accusation that I received after reading a comment on the recent 7iber.com article, Jordan's ATV: The Untelevised Revolution.Many people have been anxiously awaiting the official launch of Jordan's first independent TV channel, ATV, a project over two years in the making. But after Jordan's Audio Visual Commission (AVC) halted the transmission of the press conference which was

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09741697427725588177noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26025981.post-76706660852540602952007-09-08T21:13:00.001+03:002007-09-09T11:47:20.231+03:00

As a result of public outcry against the Jordanian public medical system, an investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding the neglect and medical misconduct of the father of Jordanian blogger, Who-sane. But apparently the Ministry of Health officials responsible for the investigation have never taken a class on quality of service and customer support, as the investigation

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09741697427725588177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26025981.post-55768914381438299632007-09-06T11:57:00.000+03:002007-09-06T12:27:37.791+03:00

I'm noticing it more and more around my neighborhood... I was walking down the street late one evening to dump my trash bags in the dumpster when I noticed a Jeep Grand Cherokee with tinted windows parked in an unlit section of the street. The odd thing was that there was a sun shade in the windshield, even though there wasn't any sun to block out. I stared at the Jeep for a a good 20 seconds

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09741697427725588177noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26025981.post-18216293985119737792007-09-05T15:50:00.000+03:002007-09-05T16:05:20.610+03:00

The people have spoken and they are outraged at a quickly spreading story of appalling unprofessionalism and neglect at one of Jordan’s newest public hospitals. I hope government officials realize that when the people speak, they had better listen.The backlash (thus far)MindJad's ThoughtsJordan JournalsBakkouzMy Home Away from HomePalForceThe Arab Expats7aki FadiДншдЬSunni SisterCinnamon

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09741697427725588177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26025981.post-37466658296889126582007-08-30T15:30:00.000+03:002007-08-30T15:45:09.910+03:00

Tehran’s police are operating a three-stage process in implementing the new wave of a crackdown on dress deemed to be un-Islamic, which started with some intensity on July 23. First, women are given a verbal warning on the street. If the problem is not resolved there, they are taken to the police station for “guidance” and to sign a vow not to repeat the offence. Should this be unsuccessful,

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09741697427725588177noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26025981.post-62743791510570336122007-08-23T13:10:00.000+03:002007-08-23T13:38:37.619+03:00

Plans are underway to transfer the responsibility of handling Amman's transportation from the Public Transport Regulatory Commission (PTRC) over to the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM). This doesn't appear to be a voluntary action by the PTRC, so they're a bit pissed about it. According to the Jordan Times,A government plan to transfer powers of regulating the public transportation sector in

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09741697427725588177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26025981.post-18880716609545807812007-08-22T10:57:00.000+03:002007-08-22T11:04:52.157+03:00

Aside from the Black Eyed Peas' song, My Humps, my most loathed recent song is Girlfriend by Avril Lavigne. It's just so annoyingly bubblegum pop in the most sickly juvenile way. But even worse than the English version is the German version. It's just...wrong. If I ever encounter someone with the German version set as their mobile phone ring tone, we may have to throw down.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09741697427725588177noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26025981.post-27905867134588073062007-08-20T10:32:00.000+03:002007-08-20T10:32:32.019+03:00

I was noticing the other day that once a couple reaches the 20th anniversary, traditional gifts start to become pretty lavish. First it's china, followed by silver (25th), pearls (30th) and other precious stones. Eventually by the 50th anniversary, it's gold. The 60th is diamond and the 70th is platinum.But notice that things start to go downhill around 80 years of marriage. Oak, that's what

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09741697427725588177noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26025981.post-8623596823436516812007-08-19T18:00:00.001+03:002007-08-19T18:04:55.703+03:00

When I arrived in Heathrow a couple days ago, I collected my bags and marched over to the Information Desk to inquire about a buses.ME: I need to find the express bus to Gatwick. Where might that be?LIMEY AT THE COUNTER (with slight distain): What your asking for is a coach.ME: Whatever...I guess.LIMEY AT THE COUNTER: Follow that ramp down to the Central Bus Station.ME (with a cross look on my

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09741697427725588177noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26025981.post-41780970683728918122007-08-15T16:18:00.000+03:002007-08-15T16:32:45.333+03:00

I'll be heading to jolly ol' England for a couple of days. That means that you'll be hearing from me about as much as normal, which is hardly at all. Cheerio.

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09741697427725588177noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26025981.post-3189132874450173972007-08-12T08:49:00.001+03:002007-08-12T15:06:09.522+03:00

A Nigerian convert to Islam was jailed in Saudi Arabia after he helped a sick 63-year-old woman and was then accused by religious police of immoral behavior, a newspaper reported on Monday. Ibrahim Mohammad Lawal, a student of Islamic studies in Riyadh, took the woman, who is his neighbor, to the hospital after learning that she needed medical attention, Arab News said. After the woman returned

Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09741697427725588177noreply@blogger.com11