# So , I Wrote a Note to the King **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 2, 2006, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-wrote-a-note-to-the-king/367008 "2006-08-02T11:47:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-wrote-a-note-to-the-king/367008/21 "2006-08-03T15:58:53Z")
We don’t do Danish here anymore since that cartoon thing. Maybe I could get some bagels with lox? ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-wrote-a-note-to-the-king/367008/22 "2006-08-03T17:15:01Z")
[QUOTE=Paul in Saudi] We are now owed two months’ pay. Our support personnel have not been paid in eight months. [/QUOTE] eight months work with no pay? Huh? I can justify your waiting 2 months-- if its a temporary delay and the salary is high enough that it’s worth waiting for, and _you are sure that you will eventually receive it_. But who works for 8 months straight with no pay? It sounds like the company has no intention of paying, ever. That’s slavery. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-wrote-a-note-to-the-king/367008/23 "2006-08-03T17:17:38Z")
Yep, in many cultures, not paying someone for eight months is considered wrong. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-wrote-a-note-to-the-king/367008/24 "2006-08-03T17:40:47Z")
For this OP, we really need a “bowing” emoticon. Not for bowing to the King, but for the guts of Paul. Kudos, dude. 🆒 Keep us posted. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-wrote-a-note-to-the-king/367008/25 "2006-08-03T17:48:53Z")
**Paul in Saudi** wins the “Comic Understatement of the Year” award. So, **Paul in Saudi** , you’ll be having breakfast with the King? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/45deac/32.png) [@Evil\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_One)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-wrote-a-note-to-the-king/367008/26 "2006-08-03T19:21:22Z")
When you get your audience with him excllaim in a loud voice: “THIS is Abbdullah?! I was expected Absullah the butcher, the wrestler from the 70’s!” ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-wrote-a-note-to-the-king/367008/27 "2006-08-03T19:47:44Z")
Don 't be surprised if you get back a signed picture and a form letter saying: "Dear Paul, Thank you for the letter. It is always a great thrill to hear from my fans. As you must realize, I get thousads of letters from my fans every week with special requests. It is unfortunate that I am unable to answer each one individually and am unable to fufill every request. But I do sincerely appreciate each and every letter I get and I do try to read each one personally. Enclosed please find an autographed 8x10 photo of me. You Are Humbly Mine, King Abdullah" _Not trying to make light of your situation, god luck resolving it._ ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-wrote-a-note-to-the-king/367008/28 "2006-08-03T20:01:57Z")
[QUOTE=Evil One] When you get your audience with him excllaim in a loud voice: “THIS is Abbdullah?! I was expected Absullah the butcher, the wrestler from the 70’s!” [/QUOTE] You can meet him, and eat at his restaurant, which is located in Atlanta, GA. Think he does ribs and chinese food. I plan to go there sometime… ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-wrote-a-note-to-the-king/367008/29 "2006-08-21T16:50:27Z")
After two weeks, I have no reply, so I drove over to the Palace. I just got back. I went over to the royal palace this evening to see the King. I had been told tonight was the public audience. Drove up and the young corporal had me park. I got out and explained to him what I wanted. He called his boss and told me to go inside to see the Captain. I had a chance to say hello to the young royal guards. They seemed a cut or two above the usual trooper. They wore gray-green uniforms with zippered vertical slit pockets. Looked German. They carried German-looking 9mm SMGs, made of polymer, boxy looking with a plastic magazine mounted on the top. Through the smoked plastic I could see the rounds. I went in to see the Captain, who turned out to be a very impressive specimen of a colonel. We had tea with mint. We ate dates. He told me to come back tomorrow. So I will. I had been misinformed about the public audience. I thought you would like to know. ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-wrote-a-note-to-the-king/367008/30 "2006-08-21T16:54:37Z")
I’d just been wondering if you’d heard anything. Too bad you didn’t get an immediate audience. Do you think there’s a hope that tomorrow is more than tea and dates? GT ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-wrote-a-note-to-the-king/367008/31 "2006-08-21T17:23:59Z")
I only have second-hand experience with Saudi culture, but I always thought that “come back tomorrow” was sort of like “I can’t fix it, but I have a cousin who knows someone”. A polite way of saying “I hate to tell you no.” ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-wrote-a-note-to-the-king/367008/32 "2006-08-21T17:24:06Z")
I can’t wait for further updates on this matter. How fascinating that you can just have a meeting with a king and all that jazz. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-wrote-a-note-to-the-king/367008/33 "2006-08-21T17:30:19Z")
[QUOTE=Paul in Saudi] Through the smoked plastic I could see the rounds. [/QUOTE] Woo Hoo, high fashion penetrates the magazine world! Do the call them iClips? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-wrote-a-note-to-the-king/367008/34 "2006-08-21T17:35:44Z")
[Breakfast with the King](http://www.bigislandgrinds.com/wp-content/images/IMG_1165.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-wrote-a-note-to-the-king/367008/35 "2006-08-21T17:36:33Z")
I hate to be a pessimist, but “Come back tomorrow” could mean “Today _is_ the day to audience with the King, but there’s no way in hell we’re letting you in. Come back tomorrow when we can arrest you with fewer witnesses.” ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-wrote-a-note-to-the-king/367008/36 "2006-08-21T17:56:19Z")
Man, I am \*\*so \*\* bookmarking this thread! ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-wrote-a-note-to-the-king/367008/37 "2006-08-21T18:28:41Z")
[QUOTE=if6was9] I hate to be a pessimist, but “Come back tomorrow” could mean “Today _is_ the day to audience with the King, but there’s no way in hell we’re letting you in. Come back tomorrow when we can arrest you with fewer witnesses.” [/QUOTE] Would tomorrow with the colonel be considered a ‘second date’? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-wrote-a-note-to-the-king/367008/38 "2006-08-21T20:42:46Z")
[QUOTE=Count Blucher] Would tomorrow with the colonel be considered a ‘second date’? 😃 [/QUOTE] BOO! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-wrote-a-note-to-the-king/367008/39 "2006-08-21T22:43:59Z")
Hey, the company I work for just got a contract to do some work for King Abdullah. Tell him Revtim from South Florida says “Whazzup Dullahmeister!” Actually, it was only his chief of security who visited us, and I didn’t even meet him. And of course I’m not known as Revtim in my workplace. Maybe don’t even mention me, that might be best. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-wrote-a-note-to-the-king/367008/40 "2006-08-22T00:42:20Z")
Hmmm… considering that in Saudi, just about any native entity that does any sort of serious business has as one of its principals a relative or in-law of the al-Sauds, this is either exactly the way to get action, or guaranteed to help none. Much success to you, **Paul**. Oh, and… > [@](#): > > German-looking 9mm SMGs, made of polymer, boxy looking with a plastic magazine mounted on the top. Through the smoked plastic I could see the rounds. Sounds more like a [P90](http://world.guns.ru/smg/smg13-e.htm). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-wrote-a-note-to-the-king/367008.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-i-wrote-a-note-to-the-king/367008.md?page=3)