Jordan's King and Queen. An "inside" view of the couple (she/he does not want to be quoted):
"His wife is more intelligent and better educated, and that is probably why he leaves some of the heavy lifting to her. However, her work experience upon graduating from the American University in Cairo but prior to marrying Prince Trekkie consisted of being a teller for Citibank and an administrative assistant to a man who owned an Apple Computer dealership in Jordan. All told, she has only a couple years' legitimate work experience--and only at a very junior level--and this has now qualified her to claim executive-level financial services and IT experience, serve on the boards of NGOs such as FINCA, mingle with real movers and shakers at Davos and Sun Valley, lecture us all on YouTube, and solicit for various international awards that make her feel like the superstar she wishes she really were. I know a woman who worked with her at Citibank, in a more senior capacity to her. This was back when now Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Suhair al-Ali was the top executive at Citibank in Jordan. The woman I know told me Queen YouTube routinely snubbed their morning greetings to her and that she was a snob even before she married into the royal family. One can only imagine how full of herself she is now. You may have noticed that there are very few photographs of the queen from her days as a single gal. Perhaps it's because she wasn't born looking as she does now. She was average looking, with a large nose, frizzy hair, and a heavier physique. It takes stringent dieting, oodles of plastic surgery and medical procedures, and hours and hours with designers and stylists to create the effect. As you have outed her, she retains western PR firms to keep her image polished and to solicit all those awards, win those online "most beautiful" polls at Hello, and keep real news of what happens under her family's rule in Jordan tamped down. It is even rumored that the Jordanian Royal Family took over this site () several years ago, after it began veering toward the political by some of the more informed members, so that they could use it as a propaganda tool and silence their critics. Rumor has it that the members who go by the screen names Veram98 and Shelley are actually Queen YouTube and Princess Sarvath, respectively. Have a look at it and see what you think. To me, it seems there may be some merit to the rumors. Those two are much too informed, the moderators of the Jordanian section of the forum seem to have the inside track and to clamp down on any hint of criticism of the family (test it if you wish!), while the rest of the forum is more like the usual Internet free for all. Have you heard much about the mental illnesses within the family? This is so rarely written about among the current generation, but it is widely known that the late King Hussein's father had to abdicate after just a year as king due to what was then called schizophrenia but is now believed to have been bipolar disorder. Also, King Talal was married to a first cousin, making for a risky genetic stew. It is widely known that his eldest son, Prince Muhammad, was too mentally ill to become king, and so it fell to the late King Hussein. I've also been told by somewhat credible sources that Queen Noor had her husband and biological children on antidepressants (the latter from a very young age); that Prince Hassan suffers from untreated depression, cries easily and often, and cannot hold his liquor; that Princess Sarvath has both an untreated bipolar disorder (her mother had it) and suffers from a personality disorder that causes her to lash out sometimes physically at others (which partially explains her unpopularity); that King Playstation is a compulsive gambler; and that Queen YouTube battles anorexia, sometimes living for days at a time on apples alone. I know it is taboo to address these things in the Arab world, but I suspect the mental illnesses within the family account for a good deal of what we see that looks so "off." There are just so many inconsistencies, hypocrisies, and excesses in this family. You may blog about some of these things if you wish, but please, please disguise my writing and maintain my confidentiality."

Queen Youtube is out of control--literally, as Joe Biden would say. A well-known blogger in the US received this letter from Queen Youtube's office in Amman, Jordan. She allowed me to cite it in full (but she does not want her name mentioned):
Nina M. [rhc.jo]
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 9:36 AM
Subject: Blog, Queen Rania and some laughs
Dear ...,
Greetings from the Office of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah. I hope this finds you in good health and that you don't mind me contacting you so randomly. Someone alerted me to your blog...and I thought this might interest you and your readers. Being as connected to 2.0 life as you are, most of you probably already know that on Saturday YouTube hosted its first ever live streaming event. It was a pretty cool variety show, and one of my favorite parts was when they awarded Queen Rania the first ever YouTube Visionary Award because of her dedication to breaking down stereotypes. The Queen accepted the award via taped message, in a very non-traditional format. I thought you might like to be amongst the first to see this, so here's the link -Enjoy! All my best, Nina"

Queen Youtube...tweeting

Maryam sent me recent tweets by Queen Youtube. Look how insightful and amusing: "Just had lovely casual lunch with President Sarkozy & Carla at their holiday retreat..Nice to see him so well and relaxed..Such natural surroundings only infuse him with more passion & focus 4 advancement of his people. Carla of course, is gorgeous, inside & out." I follow Larry King on Twitter but not Queen Youtube.

Queen Youtube versus Angry Arab. I really really would rather read the phone book. Or I would really really rather read the manual of the space shuttle. Or I would really really rather read the directions to hell. Queen Youtube is keeping a diary in New York City: and if there is somebody who writes in cliches that we abandon in our early teens, it is her: "The great thing about having jetlag in New York is that I'm up so early I get the best of the morning—the crisp, fresh, sunny starts that make you feel like you can take on the day ahead with gusto." And then she tells me this: "Can't help but wonder if the average New Yorker is counting the hours until the U.N. General Assembly and everything else that's happening around it are over so they can get their city back." I don't know about New Yorkers, but I live in California, and I can't wait until you get the hell out of the US so I don't get subjected to your silly and vapid diaries. And then: "So, I'm in NY this week wearing a couple of hats." Oh, you think that you are funny now? Am I suppsed to laugh here or chuckle or smile? Because I did not. I just cringed. Also, you may wear the Tarbush for all I care. And then: "It's something we're very interested in, in the Arab world." We? In the Arab world? You think that you and King PlayStation speak on behalf of the Arab people? I wish to escort you down any street you select in any Arab country and let you hear what people REALLY think of you and your PlayStation husband. Here, she is dazzling the White Man with her knowledge of architecture (like Adonis will dazzle the White Man at Columbia University with his knowledge of music, especially Ms. Yo-Yo Ma): "the awesome and inspiring architecture of Gotham Hall." Wow? How many staffers it took for you to come up with "awesome and inspiring" adjectives for architecture? Did you just have to say that to sound artistically literate? And here you are supposed to feel that she is a great mom: "My husband told me that Hashem, my 3-year-old, has been coughing all night and has a temperature, and my stomach lurched with guilt for not being there to cuddle and soothe him. Why do they always get sick when I'm away? It kills me." I don't know why they get sick, but it could be excitement. If you were my mother, I would get sick to my stomach when you are around, but different kids react differently to differnt situation. But don't worry o British-titled Queen Youtube. King PlayStation is with them, and I am sure his promotion to the Wii will keep all family members busy. (thanks Ramiz)

Queen Youtube

Queen Youtube selects a Likudnik:  "Gamliel was elected from among some 5,000 candidates for the role by a committee headed by Jordan's Queen Rania." (thanks Mohammad)

Queen Youtube of Jordan

It is a sign of nervousness on the part of the ruling couple of Jordan that Queen Youtube did not show up at Davos this year. We know how much she loves Davos.  How she loves to read with her newly acquired British accent what her Harvard-graduated speech writers write for her.  Yes, the Queen of Jordan can read.  You heard it here first.  And just as First Ladies in the US are required by the sexist society here to adopt a non-controversial cause, she will now adopt a non-controversial cause. She plans to campaign against runny nose.

Queen youtube: let them drink juice

" Queen YouTube.

"The king insists that he has handled these demonstrations with gentle diplomacy. Queen Rania, he says, suggested he take a lenient approach with the protesters. “I said to take the weapons away. I was coordinating with all the commanders about how the first demonstrations should be handled, and Rania said, ‘You know what you should do? Hand out water and juice to all the demonstrators—have the police hand them water.’ That was a good idea, and I called them and said, ‘Rania’s idea is to do this.’ And the police did it. That was the flavor of the demonstrations.” "" (thanks Ben)

I bet you my toes that Queen Youtube does not know what dystopia mean before she read it in the piece prepeared for her

Jordanians are wondering where there King is, and there are a lot of rumors about his health.  Dissident Layth Shubaylat wrote an open letter to the prime minister about that.  Today, the Queen youtube returned from her long vacation and tried to feign concern for Gaza.

Queen Youtube went silent

As you know, Queen Youtube of Jordan uttered a few words about Tunisia on Twitter (only that "we are watching developments in Tunisia") before she was silenced by a large number of angry Arabs who wrote her back, mockingly.  They urged her to watch developments in Jordan.   She has not tweeted about Egypt.  How cute.

Queen Youtube

I have deliberately avoided commenting on the TV ad that Queen Youtube has taped for UNRWA regarding Gaza relief. I am afraid that I will express myself in obscenities. Let her tape a TV ad about her government's training and arming of Dahlan gangs.

Queen Youtube

Queen Youtube wrote (or had somebody write, to be more accurate in her case) a little piece about Gaza. It was what you expect from this pathetic personality: full of cheesiness and mawkish sappiness.

Queen YouTube

Queen YouTube of Jordan should tweet this: to my friends in Davos.  We have not been able to join you.  We are terrified that we may be overthrown and dragged through the streets.  But we think about you always, when we are not thinking about our safety.  

Queen Youtube

I read that Queen Youtube is now twitting. She said that she finds her husband "cool." Oh, yeah. If by cool you mean boring and a puppet.

Queen Youtube

For those who asked, Queen Youtube of Jordan is still missing.  She was last seen tweeting.  If you happen to see her, please report to the Police station in Davos.

Queen Youtube: I bet she is not in Davos this year

I bet that Queen Youtube of Jordan won't try to be cute on Twitter anymore.  But I am looking forward to reading her tweets from exile.

Queen Youtube

Jordanian Queen Youtube told a German magazine that she does not care what is over the head: that she only cares what is inside the head. But in her case, I would care about what is over the head. There is not much inside there.

King PlayStation and Queen Youtube

"EXCLUSIVE/ CPE / August 27, 2010 - Porto-Vecchio (FRA) Day 1: The Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan arrives at the airport in Figari Corsica. Arrival Airport Figari (Corsica) by private plane, from of Jordan, Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan, comes to discover the gift from her husband. King Abdullah II of Jordan, bid for the 40 years of his wife, Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan sumptuous cruise in Corsica on a luxurious yacht of 83 meters, the OMEGA. It is with her family that the Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan come to Corsica. The program for this cruise, visit to Corsica! Bonifacio, Sardinia Islands Budelli, via Porto Vecchio, Bastia and Calvi, Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan, Corsica discovered with amazement, with her children." (thanks anonymous)

"Jordan's Queen Rania will accept an award from Internet video-sharing website YouTube for her efforts to help prevent Muslims and Arabs from being stereotyped, her office said on Thursday." Yes, as soon as Queen youtube started posting her tedious and boring commentaries, racism and prejudice ended in the West, once and for all. Queen: go check on your husband, King PlayStation: he may have run out of games already. (thanks Seham)

Queen Youtube

"In the wake of King Abdullah's dismissal of the government in Jordan this month, the latest Arab Wag in the spotlight is Queen Rania. Last week she was the subject of an unprecedented attack by a group of Jordanian tribal figures complaining about the ruling family and widespread corruption. According to the statement, the queen and "her sycophants and the power centres that surround her" are dividing Jordanians and "stealing from the country and the people"...Queen Rania in particular, a regular "frow" (front row) fixture at fashion shows in Paris and Milan and Giorgio Armani's "muse" is well known for her fashion credentials and her Tatler-like lifestyle. Feted in the west, Rania is queen of one of the poorest countries in the region." (thanks Cynthia)

Queen Youtube at AUC

A student from AUC sent me this (he/she let me cite from it): "I am unfortunately a student at AUC, and they sent me this email about a "speech" (I use the term loosely for her highness). As you see they are pre-selecting the questions, and in another email about the speech they mentioned that you have to bring your ID and undergo a security check (conducted by...state security of course) to be able to recieve tickets to the "speech." That is the last thing any logical creature would want to do, but I thought you would find it interesting, I laughed when I first saw it. You can post any of this email you want, it you want.
____________

Deadline for Questions for HM Queen Rania Al Abdullah EXTENDED!On Sunday, February 28th, 2010, in Bassily Auditorium, Her Majesty Queen Rania will give a keynote speech on civic engagement. From the meaning of citizenship to the value of selflessness, Her Majesty will discuss how and why civic engagement is a critical component of Arab life. Afterwards, Her Majesty will be taking questions from the audience. In anticipation for our upcoming Her Majesty’s lecture we are accepting questions to be asked to Her Majesty after Her Majesty's lecture. We are asking the AUC student body to submit any questions they have for Her Majesty The Queen, which are relevant and related to the topic of Her Majesty's lecture. Please keep this in mind when submitting questions. We will select a maximum of four or five of the pre-approved questions from students. Questions that have been selected will be asked, with the announcer mentioning the name of the student during the question and answer session. If you would like to submit a question, please make it brief (maximum of 30 words) and email it to The Gerhart Center at gerhartcenter@aucegypt.edu. Please make sure you note in the subject of the email: QUESTIONS FOR HER MAJESTY QUEEN RANIA EVENT. Please include your full name, your year of graduation, and your major in the email, along with your question. Without this information, we will not be able to attribute your question to you. The deadline for submitting questions has been extended to Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 3:30 pm. Best Regards, The Gerhart Center"