tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83638883418511718232011-11-28T04:37:53.198+04:00This is a blog that describes my nomadic life in all its gory glory and detail.Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.comBlogger901100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-34711172890555171892011-01-06T18:07:00.001+04:002011-01-06T18:07:37.023+04:00

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-10661596815028115502010-12-19T10:39:00.001+04:002010-12-19T10:52:06.951+04:00

Just announcing the formation of my own travel agency!If you want to check it out and book airline tickets, cruises, hotel rooms, car rentals, etc., just follow this link! Any questions, feel free to email me!

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-14908242338889441502010-09-24T08:15:00.004+04:002010-09-24T08:20:57.027+04:00

South Africa's democracy is at risk -- an unconstitutional new secrecy Bill is in Parliament and a Media Tribunal could be endorsed by the ANC Council this week, muzzling the media and threatening our freedoms. Only a massive citizens' outcry could push the ANC to reverse the proposals -- sign the urgent petition now: South Africa's democracy is at risk -- a draconian and unconstitutional new

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-87103279299333919852010-08-28T23:11:00.004+04:002010-08-28T23:21:29.871+04:00

There is currently a global campaign to nominate the New 7 Natural Wonders of the World. Have your say now!The top seven locations will become the New 7 Natural Wonders of the World. Being nominated as one of the final seven will mean more eco-tourism money as well as ensuring conservation of these pristine locations. When you vote, please include Bu Tinah, Kilimanjaro, Table Mountain, and

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-72757488519743236052010-07-04T08:12:00.001+04:002010-07-04T08:14:59.191+04:00

I loved these motivational words and I hope you do as well.

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-45884263398681528442010-06-27T21:46:00.006+04:002010-06-28T11:23:29.633+04:00

Yesterday it was the turn of the Americans to have a disappointing day on the pitch. Taking their cue, today it was the turn of England.There were so many things lacking about the English performance today that I hardly know where to begin. Let's list them:1. The defending was atrocious. Each of the four German goals either involved an egregious breakdown in defense or an English defender beaten

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-38977477778217315102010-06-27T11:24:00.005+04:002010-06-27T21:46:33.001+04:00

So my good buddy, Limey, and I have had a discussion over the past few days about FIFA taxes and the World Cup. What spawned this discussion was an article on BBC about the taxes FIFA pays (or does not pay.) With his permission, I am posting our edited comments.Dear Mick, While I've loved the world cup since I was a little kid but after reading the attached article I am reminded that ignorance is

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-489901915703391962010-06-20T17:16:00.010+04:002010-06-28T16:08:05.364+04:00

Ever since the explosion of Deepwater Horizon and subsequent oil spill, I have been glued to news reports about the progress being made to contain the spill, plug the leak, drill a relief well, and clean up the mess. Coincidentally, I was recently reading Collapse by Jared Diamond (which is an excellent book.)In this book, Diamond is discussing Chevron and some of the reasons the company has

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-86171203555105688782010-06-17T20:20:00.010+04:002010-06-27T12:04:31.508+04:00

I am huge football/soccer fan. I love going to matches and watching on television. I am disgusted with the coverage of the World Cup because of the vuvuzela. Why I am disgusted may surprise you.The beginning of my disgust started last year during the Confederations Cup when Japanese broadcasters complained about the use of the vuvuzela and how it was irritating their listeners. Sepp Blatter,

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-65719716127885395672010-04-04T14:53:00.005+04:002010-04-05T09:00:41.810+04:00

I received an e-mail this morning that had me cracking up. Kids do say the darnedest thingsThe innocence of kids....very cute.............JACK (age 3)was watching his Mom breast-feeding his new baby sister. After a while he asked: 'Mom why have you got two? Is one for hot and one for cold milk?'MELANIE (age 5)asked her Granny how old she was. Granny replied she was so old she didn't remember any

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-22282405116700363392010-04-04T14:08:00.009+04:002010-04-05T09:00:02.836+04:00

As I read through the newspaper late last week, I started thinking about two seemingly unrelated articles detailing events in Europe and Islam and how they are somehow related.The first article I read dealt with the recent passing of a bill in Serbia's Parliament that apologizes for the slaughter of 8,000 Bosnian Muslims by the Serbian Army and para-military forces outside of Srebrenica. This

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-75427774701632439702010-04-02T20:45:00.004+04:002010-04-02T20:50:41.596+04:00

When Barack Obama arrived in Washington last year, there was limitless optimism. I remember watching a Jib-Jab.com original that accurately illustrated the hopes the rest of the world had for his administration. Afterall, Obama was replacing one of the most devisive Presidents in American history and promised change on myriad issues.While Barack has already delivered on many of the promises he

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-61800127711854391122010-03-16T15:10:00.005+04:002010-03-16T15:12:49.429+04:00

I thought this was one of the funniest bumper stickers I have seen recently!

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-72331736420225323662010-02-10T08:58:00.011+04:002010-02-10T09:45:43.017+04:00

This Senate Bill is designed to overhaul the current American penal system. Since its introduction in March 2009, the bill has garnered the bi-partisan support of 35 Senators and a broad array of organizations from across the political spectrum, including Human Rights Watch, American Jail Association, Prison Fellowship, American Society of Criminology, the Criminal Justice Section of the

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-25442343509310996692009-12-28T11:28:00.010+04:002009-12-28T12:00:01.845+04:00

Many of this blog's readers do not understand nor follow American football (I'm not talking about soccer). They have one of the greatest players in American football history (Peyton Manning) and have been a model of success for the past decade or so.This season, which only has one game remaining, they had gone through 14 games (there are 16 in a season) undefeated. They had not lost a single

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-37897126906654427092009-11-09T12:02:00.004+04:002009-11-09T12:18:22.182+04:00

Ever wanted to know more about snails? Me either! But one of my former students loves the creatures!She loves them so much that she has created a web page devoted to snails! Feel free to support her and her new project...publicizing snails! Her website is here! Happy reading!Cheers,Nomadic Richard

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-70158489076581455002009-10-31T16:33:00.005+04:002009-10-31T16:59:22.407+04:00

Yesterday afternoon, I managed to watch ‘This Is It’ in Abu Dhabi’s Marina Mall. I was eagerly anticipating the show, and had been since the previous weekend, when I had purchased tickets. As I entered the theatre listening to some of Michael Jackson’s classics I was filled with a sense of nostalgia. The man was, quite simply, the most talented artist to ever grace the stage. Being a child of the

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-58168272066265260272009-10-16T12:33:00.003+04:002009-10-16T12:38:56.631+04:00

I received an email about a month ago that I had full intentions of sharing. It was a true story from a man who had a major impact on my life as a student at Howard University. "Dean" Keene was one of the first people I met upon arriving at Howard. Over the years, I had many interactions with him. None of them were ever negative. Even though he was very busy, he always took time to speak

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-41120494478994138672009-09-13T18:48:00.002+04:002009-09-13T18:53:38.505+04:00

$5.37. That's what the kid behind the counter at Taco Bell said to me.. I dug into my pocket and pulled out some lint and two dimes and something that used to be a Jolly Rancher. Having already handed the kid a five-spot, I started to head back out to the truck to grab some change when the kid with the Elmo hairdo said the harshest thing anyone has ever said to me. He said, "It's OK. I'll just

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-26508376804996044552009-09-11T00:24:00.005+04:002009-09-11T01:11:48.062+04:00

I have watched President Obama's speech and have to comment.First, I just called my Congressman and Senators (from the UAE) to let them know that I support health care reform that includes a public option. You can use this site to get the phone numbers for both of your Senators and your Representative. I urge you to do the same or write a letter/e-mail to them. We need to let our voices be

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-48307245078672529752009-08-31T17:01:00.003+04:002009-08-31T17:20:10.733+04:00

This just blew my mind. I was watching the BBC earlier this afternoon when I saw a report on racism in Russia. The story led off with the candidacy of an African immigrant who is running for political office. This was followed up with an astounding statistic.According to the BBC, 60% of all Africans living in Moscow have been attacked in racially motivated attacks. SIXTY PERCENT! These are

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-4375627412403867362009-08-28T11:54:00.003+04:002009-08-28T12:02:45.180+04:00

So one of my former students sent me a message about this website that creates diapers......for chickens. That's right folks, chicken diapers. If you ever wanted to have chickens running around your house laying eggs and are tired of the chickens defecating on your carpet, then this website is definitely for you! If you have never had this desire, please disregard this post

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-18700049472145097942009-08-28T11:39:00.004+04:002009-08-28T11:53:37.840+04:00

Hi Blog Readers!I just made a loan to someone in Uganda using a revolutionary new website called Kiva. You can find the link under causes I support.You can go to Kiva's website and lend to someone across the globe who needs a loan for their business - like raising goats, selling vegetables at market or making bricks. Each loan has a picture of the entrepreneur, a description of their business

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-55527997010283072442009-08-27T19:06:00.004+04:002009-08-27T21:09:25.623+04:00

I just read this article and started sobbing. This love story is very moving and deserves to be shared. I have posted the first two paragraphs of the article but in the interest of giving full credit to the author and the site, I have posted the link below. Enjoy!Nomadic RichardDreams were her gift. Every morning, she'd wake up and tell her husband, Al, how she'd dreamed about angels or

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-84190732840069531002009-08-26T21:02:00.007+04:002009-08-26T22:54:04.321+04:00

During the Democratic Primaries and the General Election campaign last year, the need for progressive reform within the United States became clear. What became equally clear was that, finally, we as a nation had woken up and realized that we did not want more of the same. As such, we elected Barack Obama to elect and implement this progressive agenda. The majority of the people who supported

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-67787968732723371532009-08-21T09:20:00.008+04:002009-08-21T09:48:34.801+04:00

Over the past several months, I have engaged in a debate, at times fierce, with friends over what should happen to Michael Vick. For those that do not know, Mr. Vick was convicted of running a dog fighting ring. He personally killed dogs that were not deemed to be championship material. Dogs were summarily drowned, electrocuted, etc. Dog fighting is illegal in the USA. Vick was convicted and

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-25771747665079061852009-08-17T21:35:00.004+04:002009-08-17T22:31:04.181+04:00

Have you ever had a really good day? I'm sure you have. Have you ever had a really great day while all of those around you have had a horrible day?Spare a thought for Charles Coventry. Who is he? Until yesterday, he was a man very few people had heard of. Charles Coventry is a Zimbabwean cricketer. Yesterday, he came in to bat at number 3 against Bangladesh in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. He

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-51119628477613127082009-05-31T13:43:00.002+04:002009-05-31T13:49:53.591+04:00

Here are some updates on my previous blogs.Delara Darabi was executed in what was a complete travesty of justice. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8030437.stmMy colleague is back here at work. It is such a tragedy that he lost his wife.Jacob Zuma is still President of South Africa and the world has not ended! So relax South Africans, you will be ok. Plus the Bulls just won the Super 14!

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-10517984190237384412009-05-31T13:35:00.002+04:002009-05-31T13:42:56.382+04:00

In 1999, when I was at Howard University, Alex, one of my best friends, and I decided to host our own radio show. It was on the AM Howard University student radio station. For several months we did a morning show. We called it the Mick and Limey show since I have Irish ancestry and he has English roots. It was a hilarious exercise that ended when we became sick of waking up before 6am each

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-81327122214574341542009-05-10T09:08:00.007+04:002009-05-10T12:45:07.884+04:00

Last night at 00h59, I was awakened by my telephone. I normally sleep through phone calls as my phone is on silent. However, this one awakened me.I looked at the phone. It was one of the teachers from my school, who is a dear colleague, and very good friend, Lutfi. Mr. Lutfi is a coruscating educator who has really excelled this year. He proceeded to inform me that he was at the airport about

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-80684690639340269822009-05-09T12:52:00.010+04:002009-05-10T13:06:20.502+04:00

I am sitting here at the moment watching Al-Jazeera. Unlike BBC and CNN, Al-Jazeera is covering the inauguration of Jacob Zuma as the fourth President of South Africa (third elected) of post-apartheid South Africa.While I am sure my good friend Hlengani is not a man of his word, since he has not emigrated from South Africa as he promised to do if Zuma was ever elected, I am sure he, like many,

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-21046512617249224622009-04-18T21:31:00.007+04:002009-04-18T21:59:37.046+04:00

While researching the case of the American journalist who has been accused of spying by the Iranian government, Roxana Saberi, I came across the case of Delara Darabi. Rarely has a case moved me the way this one has.Delara Darabi was only 17 at the time. Her boyfriend broke into a home and committed a murder. Delara was apparently with him and as an accomplice to the robbery was sentenced to

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-19661992284049475922009-04-13T07:21:00.001+04:002009-04-13T07:23:40.330+04:00

'...I have learned the secret of being content...' Philippians 4:12Sometimes contentment means: 1) Learning to be happy with less. Ahard-charging executive decided to spend a few days in a monastery.'I hope your stay is a blessed one,' said the monk who showed him to hiscell. 'If you need anything let us know. We'll teach you how to livewithout it.' Happiness isn't getting what you want, it's

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-78522208222428491252009-04-09T12:08:00.009+04:002009-04-09T12:17:32.970+04:00

We had a lot of stormy weather last week here in the Gulf. The storms triggered sand storms here and a bit of rain. But in Dubai, there was a lot of rain as well lightning. Below are some of the pics of the lightning that struck the Burj Dubai Tower, the tallest building in the world.I hope you enjoy these amazing photographs!Cheers,Nomadic Richard

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-44323114182368554452009-04-09T10:49:00.004+04:002009-04-09T10:58:56.201+04:00

Irish LentAn Irishman moves into a tiny hamlet in County Kerry, walks into the pub and promptly orders three beers. The bartender raises his eyebrows, but serves the man three beers, which he drinks quietly at a table, alone.An hour later, the man has finished the three beers and orders three more. This happens yet again. The next evening the man again orders and drinks three beers at a time,

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-14498717045086139322009-04-07T13:24:00.009+04:002009-04-07T14:08:20.547+04:00

Okay this will show hold old I actually am. I generally hate video games and have not owned a single video game console since the original Nintendo came out. In fact, I still have that game console somewhere in my Mom's attic! It is rare that I get into a game and really enjoy playing it.Despite this aversion for video games, and my feeling that day spent gaming is an otiose day, I love Pac-Man!

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-66460378439746428732009-04-06T14:41:00.003+04:002009-04-07T11:18:16.005+04:00

Over this past weekend, I listened to Barack Obama address a European audience and say that a missile defense shield was necessary as long as Iran was pursuing a nuclear energy programme. I was extremely disappointed by this feckless statement and the the fear-mongering this statment pandered to. It was very reminiscent of Obama's predecessor and as illogical as many of Bush's ill-timed thought

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-48890418366223288522009-03-30T13:51:00.023+04:002009-03-30T14:15:06.782+04:00

I have been asked recently what a sandstorm is like. For those that want an idea of what a sandstorm is like, here it is.While the sandstorms here in Al-Ain are not quite this bad, they are insidious. The sky is blotted out. The sun is virtually invisible and everything is just covered in dust...including this keyboard I'm typing on. Enjoy the pics.

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-49677513082755840932009-03-28T08:08:00.010+04:002009-03-31T20:48:33.447+04:00

Robert Mugabe...a name synonomous with feckless and corrupt despotism, is at it again. According to the Times, he and his wife recently purchased a luxury apartment, valued at almost US$6m in Hong Kong. Why does this enrage me?In addition, the President's wife, Grace Mugabe, has recently embarked on a spending spree. She reportedly spent over $80k on marble statues in Vietnam and $12k on a

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-13792330657595668152009-03-28T07:41:00.004+04:002009-03-28T17:09:19.734+04:00

I received this message from my Mom. No telling where she found it...enjoy.As Ben Franklin said:In wine there is wisdom,In beer there is freedom,In water there is bacteria.In a number of carefully controlled trials, Scientists have demonstrated that if we drink 1 liter of water each day, at the end of the year we would have absorbed more than 1 kilo of Escherichia coli, (E. Coli) - bacteria

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-19053348631282331842009-03-12T13:48:00.011+04:002009-03-27T17:48:11.020+04:00

While I was student at Howard, one of my best friends and I decided to host a radio show. It was called the Mick and Limey show. He is a Limey...since he has English citizenship (as well as Jamaican and Canadian.) I was the Mick since my ancestors (at least some of them) are Irish. Though few would have understood the name of our show, I have always been proud of the fact that I have roots in

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-78137616495000190832009-03-07T06:53:00.003+04:002009-03-14T14:57:58.860+04:00

Okay so here is your chance to help us get Africa on the map and increase tourism money to countries on the continent. There is a competition to nominate the new 7 Natural Wonders of the World. You have to vote. The competition runs through July and then finalists will be selected. Please vote. I voted for 7 sites I had been to in Lesotho, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe/Zambia (I bet

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-67929842424483621322009-03-06T11:15:00.012+04:002009-03-27T17:49:59.272+04:00

I first read about the attack on the bus carrying both match officials and the Sri Lankan cricket team on cricinfo.com. It is probably the website I spend the most time on due to the fact that cricket matches take a long time and cricinfo.com provides it's viewers with ball-by-ball updates of matches in progress. I therefore logged onto cricinfo to check the score of the Pakistan-Sri Lanka match

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-9896528954410181772009-03-06T11:12:00.010+04:002009-03-27T17:50:28.137+04:00

Please note that this is an article I submitted for publication in January of 2007. It was not published. I recently came across it and decided to publish it on my blog even though it is slightly outdated. - Nomadic RichardHugo Chavez is one of the most devisive leaders on the world stage today. World opinion (if not Venezuelan opinion) is split. Chavez is the object of intense loathing on the

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-36547869293542939512009-03-06T09:45:00.001+04:002009-03-14T14:55:42.431+04:00

http://www.arnehoel.com/HTML/people.htmlThis guy has taken some amazing artistic photographs. My Mom found this site and I thought I would share.Nomadic Richard

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-72044309874366745812009-03-06T09:42:00.000+04:002009-03-14T15:02:15.089+04:00

I always loved this song by Billy Joel. I dig this video.http://yeli.us/Flash/Fire.htmlEnjoy,Nomadic Richard

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-21102431979728549992009-03-03T13:27:00.001+04:002009-03-14T15:00:40.246+04:00

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-23654718553062472682009-02-27T18:20:00.004+04:002009-03-14T14:59:27.933+04:00

I saw this article in early January. I think this is an excellent article that bears reading.- Nomadic RichardOn death row, Nigerian draws the hangedBy KATY POWNALL Associated Press WriterLAGOS, Nigeria (AP) - The doomed man's eyes stare blankly ahead as he shuffles down a dark corridor, spreading a hush through the death-row cells. The hangman pushes a black hood over the convict's head and

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-16993299193524698842009-02-27T15:18:00.003+04:002009-02-27T15:31:29.654+04:00

You may have already heard that the Continuing Resolution for 2009 budgets just $340 million for the Peace Corps- just a $9 million increase over the 2008 budget. This increase will result in hundreds of fewer spots in the Peace Corps due to costly new security procedures worldwide. I am emailing you to contact President Obama today to increase this number to $425 million to fulfill his campaign

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-17567122593417154242009-02-25T21:34:00.009+04:002009-02-25T21:53:39.033+04:00

Julius Malema meets with Nelson Mandela.He asks him, "Mr President, how did you run such an efficient government? Are there any tips you can give to me?""Well," says Mandela, "the most important thing is to surround yourself with intelligent people." Malema frowns. "But how do I know the people around me are really intelligent?"Mandela takes a sip of tea. "Oh, that's easy. You just ask them to

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-30997279039738802962009-02-24T11:59:00.011+04:002009-02-25T21:33:30.402+04:00

Within weeks of my arrival in South African in January 2002, I became ill. My childhood asthma, which has dissipated as I grew older, returned with a vengence. During the medical briefing on Monday of week 6, the Peace Corps doctor heard me coughing and decided I needed to go to Pretoria. After that meeting, I was whisked away and taken for medical tests.It was a great week and broke the monotony

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-51665011196153182792009-02-23T14:48:00.005+04:002009-02-23T14:59:27.602+04:00

What do Cliff Cornell, Blake Ivey, Robin Long, Benjamin Lewis, Andre Shepard, Tony Anderson, Benjamin Lewis, Ehren Watada, Suzanne Swift, Augstin Aguayo, Jeremy Hinzman, and Brandon Hughey have in common? Who are these people? These soldiers all had the courage to resist.During the Vietnam War between 50,000-125,000 Americans moved to Canada because they were opposed to the Vietnam War. Of these

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-57874620504385581942009-02-20T17:43:00.004+04:002009-02-20T18:00:43.204+04:00

Hey Everyone,This message is for everyone but I am asking the Americans who read this blog to take action. Most of you know that I hold Peace Corps dear to my heart. Under President George W. Bush, the programme was initially extended, post 9/11 but more recently funding has been cut, necessitating a potential drop in the number of PCVs sent overseas each year. Both my father, who is supposed to

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-22160953943170612952009-02-19T21:49:00.005+04:002009-02-19T21:58:46.021+04:00

I would really like to know the thoughts of the readers of this blog on this cartoon. It was published in the New York Post. How do you interpret this?Regards,Nomadic Richard

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-54694813759045096302009-02-19T19:55:00.004+04:002009-02-19T20:04:20.692+04:00

Dear Readers, Zimbabwe is beyond a state of crisis. Zimbabwe was once one of the most promising countries in Africa with a thriving agriculture industry, one of the region’s highest literacy rates and a robust healthcare system. Today, Zimbabwe is a land of devastation. 28 years of increasingly dictatorial rule by President Robert Mugabe have led to hyperinflation, food shortages and a

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-81370032296543631802009-02-15T12:14:00.005+04:002009-02-15T20:56:43.846+04:00

My sophomore year at Howard University, I roomed with Jason Champion. He has recently began to publish some of his poetry. I think he is brilliant! As much as this blog is social commentary, his blog is social commentary that is also artistic. I love it. You can check it out for yourself on his website listed below. http://speaksbeliefs.wordpress.com/Enjoy the poetry and social commentary!

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-91599046543015709872009-02-12T08:57:00.006+04:002009-02-15T12:21:44.298+04:00

On Friday, 19 December 2008, a bell tolled from inside the grounds of Her Majesty's Prison in St. Kitts. The macabre sound marked the death of Charles Laplace. The bell marked the beginning of one man's boycott of St. Kitts....mine. Before I begin, I want to say that I am hypocritical. I am American. We do have capital punishment in the United States. Capital punishment is legal in 38 states plus

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-59535723835370643042009-02-11T08:59:00.005+04:002009-02-11T09:29:27.219+04:00

Here are a few pictures of two Spanish cyclists (and I) who I hosted in my flat last month. They are bicycling from Nepal to South Africa and then back to Spain! Amazing people. They are currently in Yemen and will cross into Djibouti and Ethiopia next.Cheers, Nomadic Richard

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-8415243377119832992009-02-11T08:41:00.006+04:002009-03-23T13:51:47.696+04:00

I do not generally like Henry Louis Gates Jr. Thus, I was pleasantly surprised to find how much I enjoyed reading this balanced assessment of Lincoln. I am keen to actually read this book after reading his comments here.Enjoy,Nomadic RichardWas Lincoln a Racist?The Great Emancipator was far more complicated than the mythical hero we have come to revere.By: Henry Louis Gates Jr. Posted: February 9

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-15523684744230103222009-02-11T08:32:00.010+04:002009-03-23T13:54:00.320+04:00

I just read this article after a friend sent it to me. I think that if nothing else, Barack Obama's election has forced Americans to confront race and racism head on and try to work through our societal issues in a cathartic manner that can only be beneficial to America. Enjoy reading.Cheers,Nomadic RichardGeorgian recalls rooming with Michelle ObamaBy BRIAN FEAGANSPublishedon: 04/13/08 http://

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-80670168773838810652009-02-11T08:28:00.003+04:002009-02-11T08:32:25.867+04:00

Blowing your nose to alleviate stuffiness may be second nature, but some people argue it does no good, reversing the flow of mucus into the sinuses and slowing the drainage.Counterintuitive, perhaps, but research shows it to be true. To test the notion, Dr. J. Owen Hendley and other pediatric infectious disease researchers at the University of Virginia conducted CT scans and other measurements as

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-18412490461712818092009-02-08T09:29:00.005+04:002009-02-08T09:51:11.619+04:00

I'm a huge cricket fan and passionate supporter of the West Indies! Since I became a cricket fan in the late 90s, this is easily the proudest moment! YES YES YES!!!What's happened to West Indies?Vaneisa BakshFebruary 8, 2009http://content-gulf.cricinfo.com/wiveng2009/content/current/story/389730.htmlWhen coach John Dyson uttered the pre-combat words, it had struck me that he must have been trying

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-87166580943543065692009-02-06T11:09:00.004+04:002009-02-06T11:32:11.975+04:00

Dear Readers of this Blog,I apologize in advance for the length of this blog. If you are reading this it is because you found your way to this site somehow. If you know me at all, you will appreciate what a watershed time in my life my Howard University experience was for me. Looking back on Howard, a big part of who I am today is because of my Howard experience.Pursuant to this, you may also

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-35395705290029730382009-01-11T22:18:00.007+04:002009-01-11T23:18:15.644+04:00

27 December marked the 1-year anniversary of the Bhutto's assassination in Rawalpindi as she left an election rally. The world has changed quite a bit since 27 December 2006. George Bush will no longer be American President in a few days; Pervez Musharraf is no longer in Pakistan; yet one thing is clear: the world is a lesser place because Benazir Bhutto is no longer with us. As evidenced by the

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-53323038665907200072009-01-11T16:18:00.005+04:002009-01-11T17:42:48.014+04:00

As I have traveled the world, there have been numerous opportunities for me to sit back and think about what it means to be American. Though I have lived overseas continuously since 2002, no matter where I go, I am defined by Americanness. For six years, people have asked me about George Bush, Iraq, September 11th, and why Americans don't play football or cricket. Now I am being asked about

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-37642000107121825502009-01-07T12:16:00.008+04:002009-01-07T12:44:55.496+04:00

I am not even going to pretend that this was something I knew a lot about several months ago. I basically just thought that Somali Piracy was yet another example of the lawlessness that existed within the debacle of perhaps the world's most failed state. However, someone made a comment on an earlier post on this blog which caught my eye and forced me to do some research. The results are

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-29164390871114210242009-01-06T12:16:00.008+04:002009-01-06T12:33:35.414+04:00

Greener Grass... Its important in life to reach out, to strive for greater achievements, to go for that greener grass that is on the other side of the fence.But one also must be careful because...Sometimes you can reach too far !But when you find yourself over-extended and you're stuck in a situation that you can't get out of,there is one thing you should always remember.......Your government....

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-39702964944529673862009-01-06T12:14:00.001+04:002009-01-06T12:15:42.026+04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWiXy55OHyYI enjoyed this review of 2008. Hope you do too!Cheers,Nomadic Richard

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-26369486952644118352009-01-01T17:22:00.002+04:002009-01-01T17:30:57.533+04:00

You know perhaps the best New Year's Resolution I ever made was in 2008. I vowed that I was going to make a list of people who influenced my life and helped me get to where I am today. Then, I was going to track them all down and contact them. The list was not extremely long and I have been successful in tracking down most of the people on it. In the month of December alone, I tracked down

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-63846204778607311992009-01-01T17:16:00.003+04:002009-01-01T17:19:54.809+04:00

To all of those that read this blog, I want to say Happy New Year. I was going to do a serious year in review, but decided that I want to start off 2009 on a light note and with a good laugh. I love jib-jab productions and this one was no exception...so without further adieu...So Long 2008...Happy New Year!May this year be better than the last and may you realize your goals and dreams!Cheers,

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-28402964066673456352008-12-29T14:33:00.004+04:002008-12-29T14:36:19.807+04:00

My buddy Alex sent this to me and correctly stated, "You can't make this stuff up!" True indeed!America's CIA has found a novel way to gain information from fickle Afghan warlords - supplying sex-enhancing drug Viagra, a US media report says. The Washington Post said it was one of a number of enticements being used. In one case, a 60-year-old warlord with four wives was given four pills and four

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-73537173514180037542008-12-29T09:35:00.012+04:002008-12-29T12:30:58.532+04:00

My good friend, who goes by the alias 'The Cat', advised me not to write this and offend "the choosen people." I cannot not write this. I was working on a post about Somalian Pirates and another about Cricket, but this weekend kind of changed all that and my focus.I am a fan of the underdog. I love the NCAA basketball tournament each March where almost annually, a small unknown school beats a

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-42623934911705015382008-12-18T19:42:00.004+04:002008-12-23T09:43:12.040+04:00

These pictures were taken last week in Muscat. Yes, I walked around the capital of Oman dressed in traditional Omani attire.

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-49281617450701412832008-12-18T07:07:00.000+04:002008-12-18T07:08:26.234+04:00

"I'm not afraid of dying... I just don't want to be there when it happens" Woody Allen

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-24713784418315485252008-12-16T09:00:00.001+04:002008-12-16T20:17:21.813+04:00

I received this email from my Mom and thought it was poignant. Personally I like ducks as they are much better tempered than eagles, but metaphorically speaking, I'd rather be an eagle!Richard the NomadDuck Or An Eagle? Harvey Mackay, tells a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point. He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-67280476141697753802008-12-11T11:46:00.004+04:002008-12-16T08:57:23.437+04:00

On Saturday, 13 December 2008, it will have been three years since Tookie Williams execution. Let we forget.http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/12/13/national/main1121576.shtmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Williamshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzqZr3jjPAw&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNIqALA546Q&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Er7y2Pvpss&feature=relatedRIP

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-53481847550264240052008-12-10T21:59:00.002+04:002008-12-10T22:01:58.226+04:00

I heard this song the other day and loved it! Figured I would post the lyrics and the wikipedia link to find the history of it.Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of '99... Wear Sunscreen If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-50312241888177406252008-12-02T19:25:00.003+04:002008-12-02T20:01:21.059+04:00

This are a couple of the pics from yesterday's Emirati Day celebration at my school. Ali is the math co-teacher that works for the same company I do. Mr. Mostapha is in the middle. He is a science teacher. I'm on the right.Cheers,Richard the Nomad

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-42396148160821552372008-11-26T09:53:00.004+04:002008-11-26T10:27:37.649+04:00

Please note: Please read the two posts below before reading this one as they form the crux of this debate.My ViewI have many random thoughts on this issue. So let me just put them out in no particular order.1. Let me just say that after reading my father's views again, I do disagree with him on some points. I understand his background and make-up lead him to take a very Christian view of the

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-67710337240872469212008-11-26T09:44:00.002+04:002008-11-26T09:53:22.585+04:00

Subject: Re: Fw: Be Scared California Be VERY SCAREDI don't believe for one minute that the disasters in California are the result of God being angry at the homosexual marriages or punishing the people of California for the decision of "four activist judges." That is just plain crazy. In a similar vein neither do I agree with the words of Jerry Farwell that 9-11 was because of our nation

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-53771572322110891072008-11-26T09:26:00.002+04:002008-11-26T09:43:38.918+04:00

My Comments:I usually do not post hate speech and summarily dismiss these types of conversations. However, I received this email from an unlikely source: my father. He then wrote an excellent rebuttal. Considering he is an ordained Christian minister, I found it interesting and asked him if I could post it here. He agreed. So thanks Dad! I am going to post these unedited. However, just know

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-11333557583023999882008-10-28T08:55:00.004+04:002008-10-28T09:03:38.322+04:00

As I sit here and watch Al-Jazeera International (which is in English), I am horrified. I'm watching a story about how Western countries have pledged over $4,000,000,000 (billion) in aid to Georgia. I do not have a problem with Georgia and feel for this country that has been overtly bullied and attacked by Russia. However, in an attempt to be fully objective, (which admittedly, I sometimes

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-55354721381361658022008-10-10T19:16:00.001+04:002008-10-10T19:19:40.936+04:00

I just came across this pic a few days ago and I had forgotten about it. Good grief...my hair was long! Modiege was not even in school either! Just thought I'd share!

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-63321022958486463752008-10-10T18:09:00.004+04:002008-10-10T18:54:03.476+04:00

Wow! It's been a while since I wrote on this. I'm trying to make a few changes that I hope you enjoy. All-in-all, life is good. I'm happy that Ramadan is over and that Eid-Al-Fitr has also ended. I'm back at work and we are working normal hours. Today, I had an interesting day. I received a call at 12h43. I was in Al-Ain mall goofing off. One of the "local" teachers I work with, asked me to come

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-61483014980475001502008-09-13T14:50:00.003+04:002008-09-13T15:06:28.592+04:00

I came across the State of Alaska Fiscal year 2009 Request for Federal Approprations. Why is this important? John McCain has said that he wants to cut pork out of Washington, which is a catchy phrase that has some credence. Sarah Palin has been labelled as a conservative who wants to eliminate pork. McCain has sighted his elimination of a $3,000,000 request from the State of Montana to study the

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-76611832035278084512008-09-13T13:22:00.005+04:002008-09-14T16:35:18.215+04:00

Last December while white-water rafting on the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe, I heard a joke. The joke went something like, "Thabo Mbeki, Robert Mugabe, Tony Blair, and boy scout were all on a plane. The pilot came to the back of the plane and said that the plane was going down but there were only four parachutes. He took one, wished the others good luck and jumped out. Tony Blair said, 'I am the

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-1314716933941259832008-08-28T20:18:00.004+04:002008-08-28T20:35:38.056+04:00

I'm sitting at my school right now here in Al-Ain waiting for the bus to arrive to take me back to my flat. I'm so glad the weekend is here. I'm tired. I'm happy though because I had a really productive week with my teachers. I actually think that the English teachers are competent and understand the problems facing the school better than I have been led to believe. I'm not sure though. I shall

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-34845477807140165442008-08-28T20:16:00.002+04:002008-08-28T20:18:30.732+04:00

Did you know that 3.5 million tonnes of waste each year in the United States is from dirty diapers and it is estimated that approximately 1.4% of US landfills are comprised of dirty diapers? Furthermore, 250,000 trees are cut down annually in the United States to provide the filling for diapers. Use cloth diapers.

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-13007256610517491812008-08-28T19:48:00.003+04:002008-08-28T20:15:31.850+04:00

As I sat here watching coverage of the Democratic National Convention (DNC), I'm struck by how ridiculous the 4th Estate has become. Pundits are analysing the comments as they are made without really knowing how they will play. What I was struck by was how little Americans make decisions on who to vote for based on real issues. The issues in this election (in no particular order) are quite

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8363888341851171823.post-38515584681226465162008-08-27T22:43:00.000+04:002008-08-27T22:50:33.159+04:00

Okay I'm trying this out. I just figured out how to change the language from Arabic to English so now I know what I'm actually typing. Today, I'm still feeling a bit punky but I'm going to be fine b/c tomorrow is my last day of work before the weekend. I had a weird day at work that was very fulfilling. We began working as usual but after about an hour of the training session, the principal

Richard the Nomadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17831528859205590623noreply@blogger.com0