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(BBC) Weird Qat is bad for Yemen's economy and public health, great in Scrabble   (news.bbc.co.uk) divider line 53
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LordJiro 2008-08-03 05:38:50 AM  
In Yemen, do they have Qaturday?

 
Do you know the way to Mordor 2008-08-03 05:46:08 AM  
Damn, Lord Jiro, you beat me to it!!!

///Anyway, I thought maybe these qat chewers could benefit from eating Chinese food, then then could be CAT chewers instead!

 
gravyhand 2008-08-03 05:47:39 AM  
I tried qat a couple of times in Ethiopia last winter and I wish every day were Qaturday.

It's really not a lot more potent than a few cups of Arabic coffee. Am going to try to get my hands on some powdered qat here in Cairo this weekend.

 
Grigor_Chuk 2008-08-03 05:52:52 AM  
LordJiro: In Yemen, do they have Qaturday?

Yes they do.

i334.photobucket.com

 
PersistantRash 2008-08-03 05:59:04 AM  
gravyhand: I tried qat a couple of times in Ethiopia last winter and I wish every day were Qaturday.

It's really not a lot more potent than a few cups of Arabic coffee. Am going to try to get my hands on some powdered qat here in Cairo this weekend.


What does it taste like?
and "tastes like qat" does not count as answer

 
skywatcher135 2008-08-03 05:59:26 AM  
Will be using this in current games of Scrab.

Thanks.

 
Stoutpants [TotalFark] 2008-08-03 06:11:01 AM  
So a lot of the drug smuggling that goes through UPS is actually Qat. (or Khat) You typically see it in shipments coming from Great Britain where it's not illegal.

The more you know....

 
Tezcat 2008-08-03 06:11:12 AM  
PersistantRash: gravyhand: I tried qat a couple of times in Ethiopia last winter and I wish every day were Qaturday.

It's really not a lot more potent than a few cups of Arabic coffee. Am going to try to get my hands on some powdered qat here in Cairo this weekend.

What does it taste like?
and "tastes like qat" does not count as answer


It tastes and feels like chewing on a shrub.

Then after a while you become hyperactive and everyones new best friend.

 
Donnchadha [TotalFark] 2008-08-03 06:14:25 AM  
FTA:To say qat is popular in Yemen would be a massive under-statement, practically everybody in this country chews qat, two thirds of men and a third of women.

Assuming Yemen's population is 50:50 by gender, then 2/3 men + 1/3 women is only half the population. How is that "practically everybody"?

Must be that New MathTM.

 
Bonzo_1116 2008-08-03 06:27:25 AM  
Donnchadha: FTA:To say qat is popular in Yemen would be a massive under-statement, practically everybody in this country chews qat, two thirds of men and a third of women.

Assuming Yemen's population is 50:50 by gender, then 2/3 men + 1/3 women is only half the population. How is that "practically everybody"?

Must be that New MathTM.


Well, it being Yemen I'd bet that the people out on the street seen by the reporter were almost all men. Men with nothing better to do all day but sit around, chew qat, and get interviewed by BBC fluff reporters.

Do they have qat-spitoons there---or do youswallow it?

 
pinch_harmonics 2008-08-03 06:30:01 AM  
That's a farking shiatty article. What's the scientific name of the plant? What's the active ingredient? Is it (physically) addictive?

 
uttertosh 2008-08-03 06:36:04 AM  
pinch_harmonics: That's a farking shiatty article. What's the scientific name of the plant? What's the active ingredient? Is it (physically) addictive?

wiki. learns it.

 
thewebdiggity 2008-08-03 06:50:15 AM  
*golf clap*
Thank you, BNL. Best Scrabble advice evar

 
astinkywind 2008-08-03 07:01:32 AM  
I love to use qat in scrabble another good one is suq.

 
Danger Avoid Death 2008-08-03 07:12:47 AM  
astinkywind: I love to use qat in scrabble another good one is suq.

Stimulating rule variation there. Is that an end of game thing? Or does it come into play on a challenge or something?

 
geetus 2008-08-03 07:19:37 AM  
When I was in high school, they handed out anti-drug pamphlets for each type of drug - pot, acid, coke, meth, and KHAT. My friends and I got a really big kick out of that one. We told our teachers we were going to get together and do some khat after school, possibly at a khat den.

This is the second time I've ever heard that term.

 
uconnn 2008-08-03 07:37:51 AM  
+12

 
No Such Agency 2008-08-03 08:03:36 AM  
Danger Avoid Death:
astinkywind: I love to use qat in scrabble another good one is suq.

Stimulating rule variation there. Is that an end of game thing? Or does it come into play on a challenge or something?


I don't even try to win Scrabble anymore. I am chronically unlucky AND not very good at it. I just try to use the word "eft"* in every single game.

* "the larval stage of a salamander or newt"

 
Danger Avoid Death 2008-08-03 08:12:19 AM  
No Such Agency: Danger Avoid Death:
astinkywind: I love to use qat in scrabble another good one is suq.

Stimulating rule variation there. Is that an end of game thing? Or does it come into play on a challenge or something?

I don't even try to win Scrabble anymore. I am chronically unlucky AND not very good at it. I just try to use the word "eft"* in every single game.

* "the larval stage of a salamander or newt"


A newt? I hope you got better.

 
themadtupper 2008-08-03 08:35:20 AM  
astinkywind: I love to use qat in scrabble another good one is suq.

qwerty, sheqalim, faqir


/qindarka

 
gutmanz 2008-08-03 08:58:15 AM  
As an avid Scrabble player, I approve of this headline. Alternate spelling: kat. Qi is also allowed now too.

 
detroitdoesntsuckthatbad 2008-08-03 09:01:51 AM  
But does it taste like grandma?

 
NRG 2008-08-03 09:09:49 AM  
gravyhand - Not even the powdered stuff is easy to find here in Cairo - your best bet is the Yemeni student center in Dokiee. I don't know how they do it, but they seem to always have ample supply.

 
captivity 2008-08-03 09:16:24 AM  
this article sounds so farking pretentious and imperialist it makes me cranky

 
Marquis de Sod [TotalFark] 2008-08-03 09:22:24 AM  
Legalize it!

Oh yeah, and legalize khat too.

 
LaExpat [TotalFark] 2008-08-03 09:22:33 AM  
Im going to chew some qat, wash it down with some absinthe all whilst smoking my hookah and listening to the Olivia Tremor Control.

 
MythRender 2008-08-03 09:31:14 AM  
LaExpat: Im going to chew some qat, wash it down with some absinthe all whilst smoking my hookah and listening to the Olivia Tremor Control.

After that, you'll get a kick out of any reply!

 
Ecaps [TotalFark] 2008-08-03 09:36:44 AM  
Is it anything like betel nut?

 
Feldspar Q. Walrustitty 2008-08-03 09:38:54 AM  
They can't get rid of it. They tried once.

But the Qat came back.
It wouldn't stay away...

 
grahambhg 2008-08-03 09:49:38 AM  
What? no jesus on the qat?

 
onomatopoetic 2008-08-03 10:00:43 AM  
img257.imageshack.us


I mostly use the word "eft". Mostly.

 
TripSixes 2008-08-03 10:27:32 AM  
How many xu per ounce of qat?

 
api021778 2008-08-03 10:32:59 AM  
www.biyokulule.com

 
m0llusk [TotalFark] 2008-08-03 10:34:38 AM  
Is there any proof that qat is hurting development or productivity? With the right management Zombies can be great workers. Yemen is behind, but that whole area is the same and has been developing at more or less the same rate that all countries develop. Even in China the whole process of development is slower than most admit, and the "give them cigarettes instead" strategy is turning out to be a massive health problem on a scale totally unlike the complications of qat chewing.

What this article reveals is a judgemental way of looking at the situation that deliberately undervalues peace and liberty.

 
ltomberry 2008-08-03 10:37:15 AM  
It would appear subby listened to the alphabet song off the Barenaked Ladies' Snacktime album.

 
HomoHabilis 2008-08-03 11:18:57 AM  
img410.imageshack.us

/always wondered where that saying came from

 
Qatmandu 2008-08-03 11:40:03 AM  
I'm getting a kick from these replies.

 
Grigor_Chuk 2008-08-03 11:53:42 AM  
onomatopoetic: I mostly use the word "eft". Mostly.

Win!

 
PJMurphy 2008-08-03 01:06:51 PM  
I wonder how long it will be before some biochemist extracts the active ingredient. Perhaps it can be made into a white powder, which can be insufflated or injected. This way, the inefficiencies of actually chewing a natural product can be eliminated.

What a novel concept. Why has nobody tried this before? I'll bet it would work really well......

 
Victoly 2008-08-03 01:09:45 PM  
starbulletin.com

 
gnudutch 2008-08-03 01:38:33 PM  
those guys look totally ripped!
garden time bye

 
theorellior 2008-08-03 01:48:19 PM  
That's a lot of shrubbery in those guys' cheeks.

 
Oznog 2008-08-03 01:50:27 PM  
www.theage.com.au
I double-dare you- say Qat again!
...do they speak English in Qat?

 
Metaluna Mutant 2008-08-03 03:22:12 PM  
HIGHEST SCORING WORDS
2 Letter Words
AX 9 EX 9 JO 9 OX 9 XI 9 XU 9 BY 7 HM 7 MY 7

3 Letter Words
JIZ 19 ZAX 19 ZEK 16 FEZ 15 FIZ 15 PYX 15 WIZ 15 BEZ 14 BIZ 14 COZ 14 CUZ 14 KEX 14 ZAP 14 ZIP 14

4 Letter Words
QUIZ 22 JEEZ 20 FOZY 19 HAZY 19 JAZz 19 WHIZ 19 CHEZ 18 COZY 18 JEUX 18 JINX 18 JOKY 18 MAZY 18 QOPH 18 ZYME 18

5 Letter Words

JAZzY 23 JACKY 21 JIFFY 21 JUNKY 21 QUAKY 21 ZAPPY 21 ZAXES 21 ZINKY 21 ZIPPY 21 FURZY 20 HAFIZ 20 QUACK 20 QUAFF 20 QUICK 20 QUIFF 20 WOOZY 20 BOOZY 19 COZEY 19 CRAZY 19 ENZYM 19 FUZzY 19 HAMZA 19 JAMMY 19 JEMMY 19 JERKY 19 JIMMY 19 JIMPY 19 JOKEY 19 JUMPY 19 KUDZU 19 KYLIX 19 QOPHS 19 WHIZz 19 ZILCH 19 ZINCY 19 ZYMES 19

6 Letter Words
MUZJIK 28 QUEAZY 27 EXEQUY 25 FROWZY 24 MUZHIK 24 QUARTZ 24 QUEZAL 24 WHEEZY 24 ZINCKY 24 BLOWZY 23 HAMZAH 23 SCHIZY 23 ZEBECK 23 ZEPHYR 23

7 Letter Words
MUZJIKS 79 BEZIQUE 77 CAZIQUE 77 JUKEBOX 77 MEZQUIT 77 KOLHOZY 76 SOVKHOZ 76 ZINKIFY 76 ZOMBIFY 76 ASPHYXY 75 JAZzILY 75 JEZEBEL 75 MUZHIKS 75 PACKWAX 75 QUETZAL 75 QUEZALS 75 QUICKLY 75 QUIZzED 75 SQUEEZE 75 SQUIFFY 75 ZYMURGY 75

/playing scrabble on my phone during lunch

 
MuToiD_MaN [TotalFark] 2008-08-03 03:51:06 PM  
Wiki says 40% of the country's water supply is going to the irrigation of this thing? Fourty per cent, like almost half. To growing drugs instead of food.

 
Aernis 2008-08-03 06:33:05 PM  
Metaluna Mutant: HIGHEST SCORING WORDS
2 Letter Words
AX 9 EX 9 JO 9 OX 9 XI 9 XU 9 BY 7 HM 7 MY 7

3 Letter Words
JIZ 19 ZAX 19 ZEK 16 FEZ 15 FIZ 15 PYX 15 WIZ 15 BEZ 14 BIZ 14 COZ 14 CUZ 14 KEX 14 ZAP 14 ZIP 14

4 Letter Words
QUIZ 22 JEEZ 20 FOZY 19 HAZY 19 JAZz 19 WHIZ 19 CHEZ 18 COZY 18 JEUX 18 JINX 18 JOKY 18 MAZY 18 QOPH 18 ZYME 18

5 Letter Words

JAZzY 23 JACKY 21 JIFFY 21 JUNKY 21 QUAKY 21 ZAPPY 21 ZAXES 21 ZINKY 21 ZIPPY 21 FURZY 20 HAFIZ 20 QUACK 20 QUAFF 20 QUICK 20 QUIFF 20 WOOZY 20 BOOZY 19 COZEY 19 CRAZY 19 ENZYM 19 FUZzY 19 HAMZA 19 JAMMY 19 JEMMY 19 JERKY 19 JIMMY 19 JIMPY 19 JOKEY 19 JUMPY 19 KUDZU 19 KYLIX 19 QOPHS 19 WHIZz 19 ZILCH 19 ZINCY 19 ZYMES 19

6 Letter Words
MUZJIK 28 QUEAZY 27 EXEQUY 25 FROWZY 24 MUZHIK 24 QUARTZ 24 QUEZAL 24 WHEEZY 24 ZINCKY 24 BLOWZY 23 HAMZAH 23 SCHIZY 23 ZEBECK 23 ZEPHYR 23

7 Letter Words
MUZJIKS 79 BEZIQUE 77 CAZIQUE 77 JUKEBOX 77 MEZQUIT 77 KOLHOZY 76 SOVKHOZ 76 ZINKIFY 76 ZOMBIFY 76 ASPHYXY 75 JAZzILY 75 JEZEBEL 75 MUZHIKS 75 PACKWAX 75 QUETZAL 75 QUEZALS 75 QUICKLY 75 QUIZzED 75 SQUEEZE 75 SQUIFFY 75 ZYMURGY 75

/playing scrabble on my phone during lunch


you forgot ZA and QI, which were approved last year I think

 
Wonko Fortytwo 2008-08-03 06:42:39 PM  
Use "ZA" and "QI" in a sentence.

 
Wonko Fortytwo 2008-08-03 06:47:42 PM  
Oh yeah, ahem: "You don't know qat!"

Thank you.

 
Hector Remarkable 2008-08-03 06:54:23 PM  
So, basically it's like Cocaine Lite, and Yemen is simply a nation of addicts.

 
cr0sh 2008-08-03 10:16:56 PM  
That's a pretty good word for Scrabble, but it also sounds like something you wouldn't find in your agreed upon dictionary (unless you are using a Yemenese (?) dictionary, I suppose).

The best word I ever came up with (and I know that it isn't that great, overall, but play it on the right squares and you can score pretty big!), was "fajita". Also it is one likely to be agreed upon as an actual defined word (whereas the use of of the word "qat" would likely get you blankly stared at).

/what?
//quit staring at me...

 
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