Recently LW roasted Aeryck because she felt offended. I know LW's ways and she does not like criticism. She has not had the easiest life and I'm quite sure she has seen evil in every sense. However, and this is my point, there is no need for thread posters to use blasphemy in support of her. I am not a Christian in the club of bible punchers as I have my own views, but I feel that some replies would not have been accepted in the JU of 3 or 4 years ago. My finger is pointed mainly in the...
I was thinking the other day about early inventors of products that play a great role in our lives today. Some names live on even if the name does not control the company. Put your thinking caps on, Joeusers, and add to my list. Robert Carrier invented the air conditioner. His name is on the best air conditioners you will find today. Thomas Edison invented many great things--The Edison cap lightbulb is still named after him. Are there others? We all know about A.G. Bell but does his fami...
I'm a collector of junk. I collect banknotes, tokens, model diecast cars and planes and old watches. E-bay is like heaven to me even though many people ask atrocious prices for their old stuff. Some sellers are pretty savvy and ask catalogue prices plus markup--others would try to sell a dollar note for ten bucks. As with all sites similar to this you use your judgement and knowledge to avoid buying a dud. You have to learn to read the language. "Scarce" could mean scarce in a town with popul...
My dog Gus is extremely fussy when it comes to eating so I decided to have a chat with him about his fussy habits. Me: Gus, you've become rather strange since the, er, operation. Gus: Wouldn't you be strange if you had your sex organs removed. Me: Well, I suppose I would but I don't go around spraying male hormones and urine everywhere. Gus: It's my right as a male dog guarding your house. Me: Well, I don't see what pissing on the bed has to do with guarding the house. Let's change the...
The words: "Non-Alcoholic beer " are enough to send any sane, dedicated beer drinker into a fit of coughing, strange facial expressions usually to do with the tongue--or a torrent of expletives one of which is usually the word "piss" Why is non-alcoholic beer so unpalatable and why can't they get the taste right? As Egypt is a Muslim country and that type of beer sells well here (in supermarkets), and as I am a real beer drinker, I decided to do a taste test. I chose 4 non-alcos and here a...
A Luddite is a person who rejects modern technology. I am very keen on modern technology and admire the the way modern minds have come up with ways to ease our lives. However, it seems that the easing of life is now taking on another dimension i.e. we oldies now have to acquire personal training to access information/follow instructions that a ten year old can do in ten seconds. Ask any teenager if he needs to read the handbook for a new phone, DVD player or PS3 and he shrugs and clicks, nod...
100 years is a long time and many Statesmen made their mark in the Twentieth Century. Who stands out the most? Who is regarded as a real Statesman--a man or woman who really made their mark on the World . It would be interesting to see who tops the list. There are no rules for there are people who stand out way above any others. However our list should consider those people who changed a country, influenced our World and stand head and shoulders above anyone else. I'm going to kick off wi...
In my four years at JU I have never encountered anyone as infuriating and as condescending as a certain Furry Canary. I suspect he has one or more aliases on JU. I am sorry that I have to mention him by pseudonym but I cannot for the life of me, understand why he is so domineering, so persistent or so certain that the World will bow down to him for being a superior person. This is a man who cannot put a banner to his name without a mistake (The Merchant would be appalled), and who scribbles a...
Squeaky Fromme was one of Charles Manson's misguided followers. She was , as I've read, immature and easily misled. She sought a god and found one in Manson. I met a girl the other day who reminded me of young Americans who are easily misled and end up more radical than the average flock member. I received a CV by fax and it was from an American girl living in the Middle East. She hailed from South Dakota so I shall not name her. I called her to arrange an interview as I felt she may be su...
I have been a JU blogger for four years or so and I shall continue to be a JU blogger. But, there are some articles I like to write about that are more "Africa oriented" and I wondered, JU permitting, whether I could ask Joeusers for some tips. Personally I find places like Blogspot oversubscribed and under-read. There's a Blogspot for everyone but that means hundreds of thousands of Blogspotters who drift with the wind. JU is far more selective, though I do miss some of the old Joeuser re...
Here is the June Food quiz. Remember no googling. 1. What are the main ingredients of custard? 2. What is a Granadilla? 3. Holland's best selling beer is...? 4. Which is rarest: Black truffle or white truffle? 5. Which famous English chef is famous for the F word? 6. Yorkshire pudding is served with......(meat). 7. New York's most famous chef is........? 8. Kitchen Confidential was written by....? 9. What is Foeie Gras and why is it controversial? 10. Which ingredient in bread mak...
I'm off to London on business this Thursday. It will hopefully be cooler than searing Cairo which is peaking in the mid-thirties at 8:00pm in the evening. When I return I'll post the JU Food and Drink Quiz for June. Who will be the June winner? Let's wait and see!
The Vespa scooter is very popular in Cairo. The little machine is designed (with maximum 250 cc), to take two passengers around town. However, have you ever seen a Vespa with an aircon and washing machine strapped to the back? The rider has to stand while negotiating Cairo's traffic and his load is, to say the least, unbalancing. What about an old Russian motorcycle with side-car and five persons aboard, plus 1 sheep, a crate of tomatoes and a bamboo cage full of chickens? It is not unusua...
I borrowed a friend's Volkswagen Beetle in 1966 and went for my test. It involved a run around the block and a stop in front of the licencing office--no reversing, no hills, no parking. I did not have to take a learner's licence as I had a motorcycle licence. I'm sure it was the easiest test in South Africa. But, I did know how to drive having done so since the age of 16 (illegally of course). We had a Hudson and I practised going in and out of the garage. Then we had a Volvo and I learnt lef...
Today I saw a bee and I spoke to it. Yes, I know I'm going senile but a bee is a VIP on my balcony. He arrived and sat on the shutter door and I decided to speak to it. "Hey bee," I said, " Could you perhaps visit my barren cucumber plants and my tomatoes?" Perhaps you can wriggle around a bit and get all that pollen into a frenzy and I'll get some damn fruit. Better still, get out there and call your buddies and tell them I'm only two floors up." The bee scratched his wings and buzzed off. H...