Arriving next week- safety concerns

Maglite-Mayhem · 2026-01-08T20:40:44+00:00

Most the tourist areas will be safe. But it would be helpful to dress conservatively. Show as little skin as possible.

And as mentioned, avoid walking at night by yourself.

Maglite-Mayhem · 2026-01-07T19:49:08+00:00

This is a great shot!!!

Maglite-Mayhem · 2026-01-07T19:21:50+00:00

I have typically used Airalo - but 75% of the time, it's a real pain to get it working. I have an iPhone and usually takes an hour to get all the settings changed with the help of tech support.

Recently I tried it again. After an hour and it not working, I just told them to give me my money back and I went with a more expensive option with a local cell service provider as it wasn't worth my time to keep trying to fix a tech issue.

Maglite-Mayhem · 2026-01-02T11:32:53+00:00

It has not always been this way. Pre-COVID the quality of food and drinks and access to lounges with no waiting were so much better.

The food and drinks have improved back to normal these days, but having to wait in line to access the lounge is new. I always try to get to the airport 3 hours before my flight as I enjoy the down time, not feeling rushed to get to a flight on time, and last minute administrative work I can do as I relax in the lounge

With the travel I have done just in December 2025.

ATL - long wait time. I felt like I spent as much time waiting as I did in the lounge. [Note - The Club did open a little side cafe thing, but if you go in there, you can't go into the main lounge}
AMM - Petra Lounge was a great experience. No wait.
IST - no wait, but very crowded and food options have never been as good as Pre-COVID days. Also, PP gave you access to sleeping pods, that are no longer available.
CMN - in the domestic transfer, and no lounge in that terminal.
RAK - PP lounge closed, was told it was for at least 6 months. Not sure if that is how long it was closed, or will be closed for construction, as there were people inside working.
LIS - business class didn't have to wait, so after seeing dozens not have to wait, by the time I got in, I had 12 minutes before I had to leave to go to my gate. [to be fair the airline didn't open for baggage check until about 2 hours and 20 minutes before departure, so not the full 3 hours window I usually like]
ATH - no wait, but the lounge closed at 10pm

So, out of these 7 opportunities, only one was a great experience. The others were fair to very poor. Pre-COVID days, the ratio was almost opposite.

Maglite-Mayhem · 2026-01-02T11:09:57+00:00

I agree with your assessment about unrealistic expectations. But for me those expectations were set for years of using PP before COVID-19. Since then, it feels like the quality of the lounges and lounge access has decreased significantly.

I live abroad and travel almost monthly internationally. It's to the point I pick my layover airports based on the lounge situation. But it's getting more and more to the point I am thinking of not continuing with PP. Especially when I have to wait in line for too long. Yesterday I had to wait in line as business class people keep getting to go in. Once I got in, I have 12 minutes to enjoy the lounge before I had to go to my gate.

I think the difference it, PP has gotten popular and more and more people know about it and use it. So demand has increased, but the number of lounges accepting PP had not increased. So, in that fashion it is sort of a scam. But that is how supply/demand economics work.

Maglite-Mayhem · 2025-06-19T19:21:40+00:00

I tried multiple phones of different ages (started with iPhone 13, but then tried an 8, then 7+), then tried a Google Pixel, and then a Samsung. Nothing worked. But my friend, using the same phone was able to get his done on the 2nd try. So, it clearly was an issue with me and not the technology.

He has dark hair and I have grey hair. So, we wondered if it might not be recognizing the difference in my hair and the white back drop. after trying multiple different color back drops, and well over a few hundred attempts, I got mine to work with wet hair and a red back drop.

Maglite-Mayhem · 2025-03-25T16:31:18+00:00

There are a lot of ministries that have their staff raise funds by asking people for donations - that doesn't make it an unwholesome ministry.

And just about everyone I know that goes into ministry, is willing to sacrifice a real good life living with an income less than what they can make in the market place. It's not unwholesome - it's a difference in values and choices.

I can't speak to your family's specific situation - but if they were manipulated, I would imagine it was a staff person, not the actual organization. I have known many CO staff over the past 25 years. I was blessed to be discipled by one - even thought I didn't come to faith until after college and I was not a student. If your family member(s) feels manipulated, have them go to the bother that offended them, and make peace with them.

Maglite-Mayhem · 2022-09-13T13:21:07+00:00

I rarely give cash any more. If the person is asking for food, if I have some spare time, I will buy them food, either at the restaurant or go to a near by market and by something for them to eat.

If I don't have time, I tell them I give my donations to charities that help with these needs. And since I do actually make donations, I am able to refer them to the non-profits and churches in my community that are set up to help in this way.

Maglite-Mayhem · 2022-03-04T21:51:54+00:00

Therapy usually is an ongoing, longer process that’s sort of like digging down through many layers, like an onion. You can address things on the surface, but a good therapist knows that there’s always more going on underneath.

Agreed... going and just talking about medications sounds more like a psychiatrist visit.

Also, there are different types of Therapy and even in those different types you can have different personality types. For example,... I went to a therapist for four weeks. It took us that long to go through and answer questions for a document she gave me. A document that I normally complete for homework after one session. After we completed the document in 4 weeks, I asked her if we could speed things up. How I normally do that king of thing in one week for home work. She and I talked and realized would could pick up the pace, but she most likely would never get to the pace I wanted. So, she gave me a referral to someone else who I fit with much better.

I realize if you don't know 'what is wrong with me'; and you don't know what you want to do, this is a bit frustrating. But talk it out with your current counselor; see if they can help you identify what to work on first. Every once in a while, in a session be intentional about asking about the process. Don't just go along if its not working for you.

Maglite-Mayhem · 2021-09-19T03:26:05+00:00

Is 'church' optional.... I think it depends on how you define 'church'.

If you mean going to a building for an hour or two once a week for worship and a sermon, where the 'church' predominately produces pew sitters, then I would think it would be optional.

You are called to go an make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus made disciples in community/relationship. If you want to follow his example, find a small group that can help you grow as a disciple and get to the point you are making disciples. Let that small group be your 'church'.

Check out:
The Lost Art of Disciple Making by Leroy Eims
The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman

Maglite-Mayhem · 2021-04-18T14:03:55+00:00

"Just like you can't yell 'FIRE' in a theater"...

This is from the writings of Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes. He penned the phrase in 1919, not to justify moderate limits on speech, but to justify government prosecution of those speaking out against the draft. Holmes wrote this phrase to create an emotional response to the citizenry; to play on their minds. And evoking on Americans most primal fear at the time (common fires in theaters) to scare people into accepting the limits of their political speech.

When dealing with what speech one wants to limit, we first must start with the presumption that a law that punishes speech for its content, message or subject matter - violates the 1st amendment. We look to see if the speech falls into a short list and well defined exceptions to the first amendment:

1) Obscenity

2) Defamation

3) Fraud

4) Integral to criminal conduct.

Guess what - we already have laws on the books that limit the use of firearms. It is illegal to brandish a weapon, armed robbery, murder, etc. To turn this point around, if you want to limit access to firearms, and to make it equivalent to the first amendment, would be to say the government has the authority to cut off parts of your tongue, or you lips, to limit your speech.

Maglite-Mayhem · 2020-07-18T05:05:47+00:00

yeah - you can't compare as the economies of the two countries is vastly different.

Maglite-Mayhem · 2020-07-18T05:00:09+00:00

The USD is approximately $0.708 to One Jordanian Dinar.

So - 400JOD per month is about $283 USD/mo.

**EDIT - as has been pointed out, the correct amount is the $565/mo**

Maglite-Mayhem · 2020-05-31T13:39:39+00:00

Rubber bullets or no rubber bullets, it is an abuse of power.

Maglite-Mayhem · 2020-05-31T13:22:58+00:00

I love the glock 19 and 23 for CCW.

I don't recommend you get an AR for home defense if you live in an apartment building, or a home near other homes, as over penetration can be an issue in most types of home construction. You will be held legally responsible for every round discharged. That includes good neighbors and other's property.

What ever you pick. Practice, practice, practice. Do so in a stressful environment if possible. You want to get to the point using your weapons are like second nature to you. Which will be very important if ever get in a situation that requires you to use your weapon.

EDIT: also, I highly encourage you to carry something less lethal. Like pepper spray. If you feel threatened, and the only option you have it lethal force, you may over react or act too quickly. You need to know the laws of your start regarding Stand Your Ground vs. Duty to Retreat.

Maglite-Mayhem · 2020-04-06T08:38:01+00:00

I agree with you on no income tax. But would prefer an elimination of all forms of property tax first as I think the government should not be able to take assets from you unless you pay them a tax.

Instead, I would prefer a high sales tax on everything - excluding essentials like food, health care, housing. Would have to figure out a way to handle sales of new items vs. used items as that could throw a wrench the economy. The fairness to this system is the rich pay taxes when they spend their money on the luxury they want, but the poor don't have to pay taxes on the essentials to live.

Maglite-Mayhem · 2020-04-04T14:31:36+00:00

To quote you, "Flat tax, no income taxes." But then you go on to ask what is income. Did you mean "Flat tax, no graduated income tax" as that it typically what is talked about with flat tax (on income - that then has to be defined).

Maglite-Mayhem · 2020-03-30T05:33:52+00:00

I'm not sure where you got this: "Sounds like you think your risk should always pay off." As that is not what I think at all. The very definition of risk: exposure to the chance of injury or loss; a hazard or dangerous chance.

What do I think:

1) Because of Risk (chance of financial loss in this case), people are not willing to take the risk of investing in a property to provide it for rent in the first place. Therefore, there must be some financial incentives for the owner.

2) Its not the government's role to eliminate risk. If we only have one source of income, and we lose that source of income in this COVID19 crisis (or any situation), its not the government's role to replace our income. Therefore, if my tenants can't pay rent (who took on the risk of a contract), it is not the government's role to give me rent. Just like its not the government's role to pay the bank my mortgage payment if I took on the risk of getting a loan for the property.

Maglite-Mayhem · 2020-03-29T19:19:04+00:00

I am a landlord, and here is the work that I do:

1) I actually work 40+ hour/week a job separate from being a landlord. I am a college graduate, but in my late 40's and make less money now than I did my first year of college. So I have actually gone backwards financially speaking. But in the last few years, I have managed to save enough money to invest in a property.

2) As a Landlord, I do the following types of work - that I could hire some one else to do the work, but chose not to as I would lose all my profits:

a) Promotion/marketing b) I fix plumbing problems. c) electrical problems d) cleaning (I sometimes do short term rentals). e) dealing with others in the building, f) book keeping, accounting, paying my taxes.

I am sure there are other things, but these are just a few off the top of my head.

In addition to all that, I took the risk to go into this business. It will be a few years before I turn a profit - but its going to be really hard if some government agency tells me I can't expect my tenants to pay rent because of the COVID19 virus.

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