This Just In: The Phoenix Area Is Full Of Ha-BOOBS

As some of you may have seen in the last couple of weeks, we've been hit by a couple of massive dust storms here in the Phoenix area.  It's a regular occurrence that the city gets hit by a "wall of dirt" during the Summer months.  Some of these dust storms can be up to a mile high, and 40-50 miles across.

During this Summer season, meteorologists and news outlets have used the word "haboob" when referring to the larger of these events.  A haboob is defined as:

"A strong wind that occurs along the southern edges of the Sahara in The Sudan and is associated with large sandstorms and dust storms and may be accompanied by thunderstorms. It usually lasts about three hours, is most common during the summer, and may blow from any direction. A haboob may transport huge quantities of sand or dust, which move as a dense wall that can reach a height of 900 metres (about 3,000 feet). The term haboob is taken from the Arabic word habb meaning wind."

Since "haboob" has it's roots in the Middle East, the use of the word is pissing off a lot of 'Mur'Kins here in Arizona.  For the record, Arizona, the Phoenix area especially, is deeply rooted within the Republican party.  A large portion of the population is xenophobic, Islamaphobic and generally doesn't like the idea of "foreigners" tinkering with their way of life.

That being said, the Arizona Republic has received a number of letters complaining of the word's usage.  Sadly, they have printed many of them.  What an embarrassment to this state.  Don Yonts of Gilbert, AZ, wrote:

"While other countries in the world may call them that, this is the United States    Even more, this is Arizona, not some Middle Eastern nation. I am insulted that local TV news crews are now calling this kind of storm a haboob. How do they think our soldiers feel coming back to Arizona and hearing some Middle Eastern term that is clearly an Arizona phenomenon."

Diane Robinson of Wickenburg, takes it one step further, saying:

"Excuse me, Mr. Weatherman!

Who gave you the right to use the word "haboob" in describing our recent dust storm?

While you may think there are similarities, don't forget that in these parts our dust is mixed with the whoop of the Indian's dance, the progression of the cattle herd and warning of the rattlesnake as it lifts its head to strike.

We have our own culture, too, sir, and we don't take kindly to being robbed of it."

Oh, yes.  Think of "the Indians".  I love how someone by the name of "Robinson" is claiming how the "Indian's dance" is part of her culture.  She's not even politically correct in referring to the local Native American tribes that have been forced to open casinos to provide for their people.  And she's the one being robbed.

Never mind the fact that these dust storms occur during what everyone here refers to our "Monsoon Season".  By the way, "monsoon" is an Arabic word.  So are sugar, alcohol, soda, tuna, algebra and adobe (one of the prevalent styles of homes here in the area).  Oh, and our entire number system originated in the Middle East.  If not for our Arabic speaking forefathers, we would still be using Roman numerals.

In other Phoenix area news, we're expecting a high temperature of CVI today with a XXX to XL percent chance of rain tomorrow.

I am so disgusted with this fucking state.