Random Thoughts

 

          

 While visiting Dubai, we noticed there is a pork shop in every supermarket with a sign "for non-muslims". In fact once we walked right into the shop without noticing the sign because it was in the corner and small. I know that the authorities in Dubai, or in the UAE in general, caters these foods as well as liquor for the expatriates who account for the majority of its population and that would probably make life easier for them being away from home. On the other hand, people coming to work in a muslim country should abide by the rules and regulations of this country. They have to be prepared to live without certain luxuries they used to have at home in sacrifice for having a well-paid job.

 

2 days later and still no news about the whereabouts of the Van Gogh painting.

Here are some facts about the robbery: 

2) The painting is placed in a special room with railings and the painting was attached with strings connected to movement censors that would give an alarm if the painting was moved, unfortunately, the censors were not working.

Truth is, the painting is probably safe now in the basement of an art collector who appreciates this kind of artwork and would give it the attention and care that it deserves, Who knows may be the painting would 'mysteriously' appear after a year or two AGAIN in the garbage in some other country.

   On August 21^st,, ‘Vase with Flowers’, the Van Gogh painting was stolen from Mahmoud Khalil museum in Cairo. The sad thing about the whole incident is that this painting is probably the most expensive thing in the whole museum, valued at 50 million dollars, yet it was neglected in the sense that it was left unguarded which gave a chance for the thieves to grab it & flee.  This is the second time this unfortunate painting is stolen, the first time circumstances is still a mystery since it was found 2 years later in KUWAIT & no perpetrators were found. There was a question about its authenticity, which was then confirmed to be the original Van Gogh.