During my time in Saudi I saw some pretty sad things along with some awfully strange things. Here are three unusual ones which stand out. ??????????????????????????? Imagine a 72 seat school bus full (142) of Pakistanis (Third Country Nationals, TCN's) that had no brakes or battery. This juggernaut had to be pushed started (by hand), and I saw it all, LMAO. Fortunately there were no SERIOUS injuries. Sadly no video camera was on hand... Imagine a trio of TCN's stripping the floors of a 10 story high rise. They had an industrial buffer w/stripper pad and a mixture of gasoline and paint thinner to remove the finish on the tile. Fortunately, the windows on the 4th story where they were working had been knocked out earlier or they would have been dead long before they decided to start the buffer. The flash of the magneto ignited the fumes causing a flash explosion which SURPRISED the cleaning crew and yes they jumped. Miracously no serious injuries thanks to a dumpster situated below the window which was full of garbage. What I'd have given for a video camera. This story did made it to the Dhahran news... On a trip to the King Fahd Royal Zoo we were walking thru the reptile house and stopped in front of the King Cobra tank/cage. A (very foolish) TCN was tasked with demonstrating the lethality of the snake. His duty was to descend a ladder with a balloon on the end of a stick and entice the cobra into striking. Preparation in situation such as this is a must. First, the balloon was'nt inflated and he had to blow it up while down on the floor with this snake. Second, his assistant for some reason took the ladder out and left the area with it! Thirdly while blowing up the balloon he was so nervous he accidentally let go and it flew all around the tank/cage scaring the snake back into it's pot. The handlers cries were answered and a rope with knots? was lowered for his escape. Chuckle, no cameras were allowed at any of the kings facilities... ///////////////////////////////// Be Thankful this Thanksgiving. The Lords Prayer Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come Thy will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses As we forgive those who trespass against us; Lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, And the power, And the glory, Forevever Amen Happy Thanksgiving Bone
