Posted on 03/19/2008 6:23:36 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
Dubai (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The Gulf States are racing for the tallest building and Saudi Arabia is planning an incredible mile-high skyscraper in the city of Jeddah for the “modest” sum of US$ 10 billion. News about the plan was reported by Middle East Economic Digest but a veil of secrecy covers the whole project, including the names of the building companies involved.
Kuwait has also unveiled a plan to build a 1,001-metre tower. Its height is a reference to the classic work of Arabic literature, One Thousand and One Nights.
The monumental tower will rise in the city of Subbiya on the northern border with Iraq and be completed by 2030.
A mosque, a church and a synagogue will be built near the top of the tower to signify the unity of the three monotheistic religions.
Such monumental projects are possible thanks to the rise in oil prices.
But whilst as building the planned towers might be engineering masterpieces, there are those who have doubts about their usefulness.
“These new projects push architecture and engineering to new limits, though it's also possible to create buildings and landmarks that aren't that high, but are viable and, most important, beautiful,” Allan Chamberlin, an Australian Dubai-based architect, told Agence France Presse.
In an environmentally-conscious age, many Gulf States have adopted laws requiring builders to meet high environmental standards in new mega-buildings. But Chamberlin still asks: “Do we really need to build it?”
“A mosque, a church, and a synagogue..... all walk into a bar.”
Sounds like a bad joke.
WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE LUTHERAN AIR IS NOW
OPERATING IN MINNYSOTA. ALSO SERVING VISCONSIN, NORT AND
SOUT DAKOTA.
If you are travelin soon, consider Lutran (Lutheran) Air, da no-frills airline. You’re all in da same boat on Lutran Air, where flyin is a upliftin experience.
Dere is no first class on any Lutran Air flight. Meals are potluck. Rows 1-6, bring rolls; 7-15, bring a salad; 16-21, a main dish, and 22-30, a dessert. Basses and tenors please sit in da rear of da aircraft.
Everyone is responsible for his or her own baggage. All fares are by free will offering and da plane will not land ‘til da budget is met. Pay attention to your flight attendant, who will acquaint you wit da safety system aboard dis Lutran Air
Okay den, listen up. I’m only gonna say dis vonce. In da event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, I am frankly going to be real surprised and so vill Captain Olson, because we fly right around two tousand feet; so loss of cabin pressure would probably mean da Second Coming or someting of dat nature, and I wouldn’t bodar wit doze liddle masks on da rubber tubes. You’re gonna have bigger tings to worry about den dat. Just stuff doze back up in dair little holes. Probably da masks fell out because of turbulence which, to be honest wit you, we’re going to have quite a bit of at two tousand feet, sort a like driving across a plowed field, but after a while you get used to it.
In da event of a water landing, I’d say forget it. Start saying da Lord’s
Prayer and just hope you get to da part about forgive us our sins as we forgive doze who sin against us, which some people say “trespass against us,” which isn’t right, but what can you do? Da use of cell phones on da plane is strictly forbidden, not because day may confuse da plane’s navigation system, which is seat of da pants all da way. No, it’s because cell phones are a pain in da wazoo, and if God meant you to use a cell phone, He would have put your mout on da side of your head.
We start lunch right about noon and it’s buffet style with da coffee pot up front. Den we’ll have da hymn sing; hymnals are in da seat pocket in front of you. Don’t take yours wit you when you go or I am going to be real upset and I am not kiddin!
Right now I’ll say Grace:
“Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest and let deze gifts to us be blessed.
Fadar, Son, and Holy Ghost, may we land in Dulut or pretty close.”
Amen
Is that the one with Ali Baba and the 40 thieves?
Bttt
Is this what these Arabs do with our oil money? Have contests to see who can build the tallest building? LOL
Dubai and Jordan had a showdown on who could build the tallest flagpole for the largest flag. Dubai originally built the tallest in the world, but then Jordan cashed in and built a bigger one, and they still hold the title.
Yep.
It wasn’t written entirely Arab authors though, the Persians had their share too. Also some Greek and Babylonian influence, I think.
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