Job Discussion Forums

[johnslat]

May I interrupt this thread to wish long-time poster (and fellow Aquarian) scot47 a Most Happy Birthday?

I'm sure that all of us who have had the immense pleasure of reading scot47's posts over the years will agree wholeheartedly that this horoscope suits him so very well:

"Being an Aquarius born on February 16th, your personality is characterized by innate charm and impulsiveness. Throughout your life, you have noticed people seem to gravitate to your personality. While your warmth and friendliness does play a role, you may be surprised to realize that many people are drawn to your mystery. Your impulsive nature may play a role in your enigma persona, as you are always exploring new interests and situations. At times, you are even blown away by your spontaneous, fast-paced way of living!

February 16 Element
Your sign's paired element is air and in fact, you are the only zodiac sign with a fixed connection to the element. Much like a strong wind, air's influence drives a stubborn and determined quality to your personality. When paired with your natural curiosity, the influence of air allows you to work tirelessly to gain understanding and knowledge from new situations. The continued embrace of air's positive qualities will become a strong asset, as long as you make an effort to avoid air's negative qualities; the influence of stagnant air can cause bouts of social and emotional distance.

February 16 Planetary Influence
The Aquarius is ruled by the planet Uranus, but as you were born in the third Decan, or part, of the sign, you are also subject to the planetary influence of Venus. While Uranus, the planet of deviation, is responsible for your freedom seeking and original qualities, it is the power of Venus that is reflected in your social and sensitive nature. Your unique combination of planetary influences makes you more of a natural romantic than the other Aquarius Decans. In your close relationships, you are sensitive, affectionate and unconditionally loving. In your romantic endeavors, you display the same passion, but your impulsive nature leaves many relationships short-lived. While your restlessness will always be a challenge, take refuge in the fact that it will bring you many worthwhile and exciting experiences.

February 16 Career
Determined, warm and original, your natural abilities will create a variety of career options for you to consider. You may choose to take your warmth and passion for people into humanitarian careers, such as teaching or education. Similarly, your need for excitement may take you into careers like advertising, journalism or media. If you feel your charms would be most useful when shared with an audience, you may take to the world of entertainment, much like Ice T, who was also born on February 16th. In whichever career you choose, adopt the passion and dedication to greatness of John McEnroe, another of your celebrity birthday,"


The stars and planets are never wrong.

Regards,
John

[grahamb]

… as opposed to the stars and stripes, John?

[grahamb]

And long may my compatriot continue to add pepper to Dave's!

[johnslat]

Dear grahamb,

A British perspective:

"You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else." - Winston Churchill



Regards,
John

[veiledsentiments]

Happy Birthday to my favorite grumpy Scotsman!!

VS

[grahamb]

Here's tae us, wha's like us?

[Xie Lin]

Happy Birthday, Scot, and many more!

.

[trapezius]

I went to the US Consulate in Jeddah last week to apply for a visa, and the first employee I encountered who interacted with me was a young Saudi girl, barely 25 years old. Her job is to ask for each visa applicant's passport, application form confirmation page, appointment confirmation page, fold both sheets in half length-wise, put them inside the passport, and then hand it back to the applicant.

[cmp45]

[SENTINEL33]

[veiledsentiments]

Well Sentinel,

In this case, you would be completely wrong. Trap - who has been here on Dave's for a very long time - is of sub-continental heritage and grew up in Saudi Arabia. He is one of our best, and most accurate, describers of the country that we have here.

He got his degree(s) in the US... and has mentioned that his wife is British. At the moment he is planning to add another advanced degree to his repertoire and is likely going back to the US.

So, if you are going to get all suspicious about any poster's knowledge of the country or culture, Trap isn't one that you should worry about.

VS

[rollingk]

Sentinel,

I live in Qassim, a very conservative area of KSA, and I'm 100% sure some of the women I interact with at the help desks on various floors of a private hospital I use here are Saudis. I know because I have asked a Saudi doctor about this as well as the military officers I teach. Also, and importantly, I have no reason to lie.

About "linguistic shadings": Why why why would anyone care to be suspicious about such a thing anyway? During a discussion with a coworker at my new job, I was told that there were simply too many linguistic markings in my discourse for me to be "only American". What a load (perhaps, a bunch?) of nonsense. I'm an American Southerner, but not the oft quoted "gun in the truck, baby in the trailer" type. Over-generalization and suspicion are intellectual weaknesses, and when they are coupled, lands one into a, shall we say, trailer park of the mind.

[SENTINEL33]

Many thanks to VS and rollingk for their comments putting me on the right track vis a vis trapezius. As I said in my posting, no malice was intended neither then nor now.