MADINAH, 4 August 2006 — A group of Saudi women has had to grapple with the problem of losing their hair over the stress caused by playing in the stock market, the daily Al-Madinah reported recently. Many of these ladies have resorted to seeking skin treatment after losing money in the recent decline in the local stock exchange. So if falling prices leads to failing follicles do rising prices lead to magnificent manes?
Young Suitors Need Not Apply: Father
MADINAH, 4 August 2006 — A Saudi father recently approved the marriage of his 17-year-old daughter to a 72-year-old man after banning men closer to the young lady’s age from even thinking about proposing to her, the daily Al-Madinah reported yesterday. He said that old men are more mature and respectful of women, and said marriages of his other two daughters fell apart after their young husbands abused them. Well, one thing is certain: The young lady will certainly be able to outrun her hubby if she ever needs to.
Ship of the Desert Save Family of Six
YANBU, 4 August 2006 — A family of six was probably never happier at the sight of a group of wandering camels than they were when their car got bogged down in the sand 70 kilometers away from the nearest sign of civilization, or water, the daily Al-Madinah reported yesterday. After spending a few hours trying to get the family car unstuck, the father realized that, with only a little bit of water, the family was in real danger of perishing from dehydration in the Saudi summer heat. After walking to the top of a nearby hill, the man saw a herd of camels. He managed to use a couple of them to tow the car out of the sand.
Quixotically, Woman Charged Traffic Fines
JEDDAH, 4 August 2006 — The wife of Ismail Al-Fantoukh was more than a little taken aback recently when she went to get a new passport, the daily Al-Jazirah reported yesterday. The official at the government office told her that she owed back traffic fines that had to be paid before she could get a passport renewal. The woman was a little perplexed by the indifference of the passport official when she pointed out to him that women aren’t allowed to drive cars. Nevertheless, her husband paid the penalties, thinking it would probably be useless to try to defeat this bureaucratic windmill.
