Let’s Hear It For The Girls
March 8 is International Women’s Day – a day set aside worldwide to celebrate the social, economic, political and cultural achievements of women. Here in Bahrain, we have our own Women’s Day, on December 1, when many companies and organisations honour outstanding female contributions. But that’s no reason not to have two bites of the cherry, particularly at a time when women the world over seem to be under greater pressure than ever amidst allegations of sexual misconduct at the highest levels, gender pay gaps and the erosion of hard-fought rights on reproductive health. So, I’d urge all our readers to use March 8 as an opportunity celebrate their female friends, colleagues, sisters and themselves – whether it’s a girly night out or a small gift for the hard-working woman who does your cleaning and ironing – mark the day. And make sure your daughters know why. Check out womanthismonth.com to see celebrations around the world.
I Think I’m A Guy
Apparently PepsiCo is looking at launching a range of snacks aimed specifically at women. The company’s chief executive Indra Nooyi told US podcast Freakonomics Radio: “What a lot of the young guys [do when they] eat their chips, they love their Doritos and they lick their fingers with great glee. And when they reach the bottom of the bag, they pour the little broken pieces into their mouth because they don’t want to lose that taste of the flavour and the broken chips in the bottom.
“Women, I think, would love to do the same but they don’t; they don’t like to crunch too loudly in public, and, you know, they don’t lick their fingers generously and they don’t like to pour the little broken pieces and the flavour into their mouth.” Yep, that’s it, according to PepsiCo, I’m a bloke!
This Is Not A Love Song
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha penned a love song, Diamond Heart, to mark Valentine’s Day, the fourth he has composed since coming to power in 2014. Reportedly sung by an army officer, its chorus urges Thais to “Make your heart like a genuine diamond, don’t be defeated by anything.” I’m smiling as I imagine other world leaders following suit – perhaps I Don’t Wanna Go To Brussels from Theresa May, sang in the style of Elvis Costello, or When a Man Doesn’t Love Women from Donald Trump, sang in the style of Percy Sledge.
Going Out With A Bang
Huge congratulations to the ladies of Bahrain’s women’s shooting team who took both gold and bronze medals in the 25m pistol finals at the recent Arab Women Sports Tournament in Sharjah. Mouza Ali, who dedicated this big win to her homeland, scored a convincing 21 points, followed by her peer, Ayesha Al Buraiki, who claimed the silver with 17 points. Their nearest rival was Salma Al Hosani, from the UAE, who took bronze with eight points. The Bahrain team also triumphed in the 10m air pistol category.
Weird World
I love the story from Reuters of two men who caused a commotion at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics by turning up dressed as US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and put on a show of unity in the stands before being swiftly shown the door by security staff.
“We’re getting along great,” said the Kim lookalike, who declined to give his name. “We wanted to surprise everyone and bring world peace and then we’re being escorted out by security guards, which I think is really unfair. Doesn’t everyone want peace?”
Shame the real leaders don’t have the same sense of humour.
Word of the Month
Lunting
It’s an old word that I think needs to be revived.
Walking while smoking a pipe. Of course.
