1. The Change That Has Come About Among the Saudis.
In the once tax-free petro state, which offered its citizens cradle-to-grave welfare, jobs like
cooking, cleaning and working at gas stations have largely been the preserve of foreign workers,
who far outnumber the Saudis. But the Saudis are increasingly taking on such "low status" jobs in a
new age of austerity when gas is no longer cheaper than water, with the government trimming oil
funded subsidies to tackle sluggish economic growth and high unemployment.
The three resultant happenings are worth noting:-
(a) Cultural attitudes to work are changing amid a major retooling of Saudi Arabia's lagging
economy.
(b) The government's push to replace foreigners with Saudi workers(A policy called 'Saudisation')
as well as a back-breaking 'expat levy' has triggered off an exodus of expats, holding 70% of
the jobs.
(c) A few businesses implementing 'Saudisation' complain of a high rate of attrition and a
displaced sense of entitlement among the more expensive Saudi workers.
We'll have to see as to how this is gonna affect the Keralites working there and the flow of their
remittances into our country!
2. Should Milk Go in a Cup of Tea First or.....?
A poll published in Britain reveals that most of its citizens believe that it should be poured in at
the end rather than the beginning. The YouGov Omnibus survey found that 79% favoured adding
milk last, with 20% disagreeing. The split was more marked across the generations, with 96% of
18-24 year-olds believing it should be added first, compared to 32% of over 65 year olds!
It also had its class connotations, with the aristocracy showing off their expensive china cups by
adding boiling water first - a practice that would repeatedly shatter cheaper vessels.
To let you into my personal preference - without boasting of expensive china - I pour the milk last.
It gives me a fair idea as to how much of it is really needed.
Tailpiece.
Why does this always happen in Tamilnadu, when its leader is seriously ill or on his/her passing away? Many do self immolation and I'm surprised that 21 party workers have died, unable to bear the shock of Karunanidhi's illness and hospitalisation.
It's my firm belief that the gentleman has lived his life well and provided political leadership all this while, has attained the ripe old age of 94 years and must be allowed to go away peacefully rather than go through the misery of a hospital bed.
But I suppose the emotional bonds between him and his party men overwhelm practical wisdom.
In the once tax-free petro state, which offered its citizens cradle-to-grave welfare, jobs like
cooking, cleaning and working at gas stations have largely been the preserve of foreign workers,
who far outnumber the Saudis. But the Saudis are increasingly taking on such "low status" jobs in a
new age of austerity when gas is no longer cheaper than water, with the government trimming oil
funded subsidies to tackle sluggish economic growth and high unemployment.
The three resultant happenings are worth noting:-
(a) Cultural attitudes to work are changing amid a major retooling of Saudi Arabia's lagging
economy.
(b) The government's push to replace foreigners with Saudi workers(A policy called 'Saudisation')
as well as a back-breaking 'expat levy' has triggered off an exodus of expats, holding 70% of
the jobs.
(c) A few businesses implementing 'Saudisation' complain of a high rate of attrition and a
displaced sense of entitlement among the more expensive Saudi workers.
We'll have to see as to how this is gonna affect the Keralites working there and the flow of their
remittances into our country!
2. Should Milk Go in a Cup of Tea First or.....?
A poll published in Britain reveals that most of its citizens believe that it should be poured in at
the end rather than the beginning. The YouGov Omnibus survey found that 79% favoured adding
milk last, with 20% disagreeing. The split was more marked across the generations, with 96% of
18-24 year-olds believing it should be added first, compared to 32% of over 65 year olds!
It also had its class connotations, with the aristocracy showing off their expensive china cups by
adding boiling water first - a practice that would repeatedly shatter cheaper vessels.
To let you into my personal preference - without boasting of expensive china - I pour the milk last.
It gives me a fair idea as to how much of it is really needed.
Tailpiece.
Why does this always happen in Tamilnadu, when its leader is seriously ill or on his/her passing away? Many do self immolation and I'm surprised that 21 party workers have died, unable to bear the shock of Karunanidhi's illness and hospitalisation.
It's my firm belief that the gentleman has lived his life well and provided political leadership all this while, has attained the ripe old age of 94 years and must be allowed to go away peacefully rather than go through the misery of a hospital bed.
But I suppose the emotional bonds between him and his party men overwhelm practical wisdom.
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