The Off Topic Topic

[Ideologue]

Egypt is dark brown, though, and it's a huge (the hugest) part of Araby.

Anyway, are you sure "negligible" is what the gray means, vs. no data?

[Ideologue]

Helps explain why Somalis are so fucking cranky.

I hope there's a part in Captain Phillips where Tom Hanks rubs it for Skeletor that his wife can experience pleasure and therefore actually have human feelings for him.

[Admiral Yi]

Rubs it for Skeletor?

[Sheilbh]

Egypt is dark brown, though, and it's a huge (the hugest) part of Araby.

Yeah. But it is also the oldest and the bit with a most coherent independent identity.

But I'd suggest it's part of probably pre-existing Nile valley culture. Which is why many Copts still do it. The only FGM in the Arab Middle East is in Yemen (which has historic relations with East Africa) and the Kurds. It's very uncommon in Iran, Afghanistan or Pakistan.

I've no idea why but it does seem strikingly common along the Nile in Muslim and non-Muslim countries (Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia) and it's striking that Yemen has the practice is the one with a very old relationship with East Africa. It's also amazing that strip of Africa is joined in it.

Anyway, are you sure "negligible" is what the gray means, vs. no data?

According to NGOs and UNICEF in the field there's just no evidence that it's a problem in those countries. I've read that in Morocco there's some, mainly in the south (which is the more African part) but nationwide it's negligible.

[PDH]

There are a lot of nasty genital mutilations out there.  Read up on subincision, for instance.  Culture might be the thing that binds us together, but it can be fucked up beyond belief too - the problem is that for those within it, it seems natural.

[Ed Anger]

Ok. I started watching the snake handler show. Thanks Seedy. 

[DGuller]

Seems like a rude thing to ask someone about.

The proper thing to do is to check while she's looking away.

[Ideologue]

Rubs it for Skeletor?

Rubs it in.

But you missed your opportunity: "Freudian slip, Ide?  SO THIN."

[jimmy olsen]

Homeless man finds $40,000 and turns it into police.

Online fundraiser raised $150,000 to reward him.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/04/glen-james-gets-huge-reward_n_4045720.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000010

[CountDeMoney]

Getting used to bifocals is more difficult than at first anticipated.....

My eye doc said I need them for contacts if I expect to read in them.  I refused.  He said he'd be there for me when I'm ready, just like all his other patients in denial.

It'll rather suddenly catch up with you, like it did around a year ago for me, now I need reading glasses and even had to use them for doing some fairly rough and ready mechanicking the other day. 

Yeah, it does.  One night I picked up a book and couldn't focus up close;  thought something was wrong with me or that I was having a reaction to medication or something.  Turns out I'm just old.

[CountDeMoney]

Ask her if she still has a clitoris.

My Anthropology prof told us we should think of that as a good thing, as it elevate's the woman's status in muslim society.

And you said, "No argument there!  Clits are Slut Buttons anyway!"

[Tamas]

How do you call, in English, the silly tourist souvenirs you can buy, like fridge magnets with the town on it and such, and where would I go to find locally relevant ones in the UK? Gift shops?

[Grey Fox]

Not sure there's a word but yeah a gift shops around any touristy area will have those things, gift shops of any museum or the airport.

[mongers]

How do you call, in English, the silly tourist souvenirs you can buy, like fridge magnets with the town on it and such, and where would I go to find locally relevant ones in the UK? Gift shops?

knickknack.

I don't know, Tamas, where are you in the UK? 

If in London, they're everywhere around Tafalgar square.

If out of the smoke, maybe try the gift shops of national trust properties or English heritage sites.

[Sheilbh]

How do you call, in English, the silly tourist souvenirs you can buy, like fridge magnets with the town on it and such, and where would I go to find locally relevant ones in the UK? Gift shops?

Gift shop works. As Mongers says either London (near any train station, the Strand, Leicester Square) or a touristy site.