Monday, November 12, 2007

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Dubai Media Blah

Ajman - Croc shock

Lighthearted report about a crocodile spotted in Ajman

or

Seven die as partially completed bridge collapses


Report on the death of 6 workman in Dubai Marina

As Editor, what story would you put on your front page?

7 Days plumped for the croc.

Enough said.

Monday, August 13, 2007

Party Tunes

Iraqi party spolied by DJ

Dubai ruler Sheik al-Maktoum threw a celebration
for the Iraqi soccer team after its recent
Asian Cup win. However, for poor Iraqis,
nothing ever goes quite to plan. They
were welcomed with Iraq's Saddam Hussein-era
national anthem, Ardulfurataini Watan, rather
than current one, prompting many of the players
to walk out.

FYI: After Saddam's overthrow, Iraqi authorities
selected "Mawtini," a popular Arab folk tune, to
replace the old anthem which glorified the Baath party.
http://david.national-anthems.net/iq'.htm

FYI 2: Sheik al-Maktoum gave the team $5.45m.
The team has been given $10,000 each in Iraq.

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

spot the injustice of it all

In what civilised society does a 15 year old girl who was clearly forced into prostitution face prosecution herself?

Dubai - A man who brought a 15-year-old girl into the UAE after claiming he could get her a job before forcing her into prostitution, was jailed for six months at the Court of First Instance yesterday.

The 35-year-old Iraqi expat will be deported after serving his sentence. The teenager, who is also from Iraq, said she had left her home country as her family were struggling financially and she thought she would be able to help them.
She told the court that the man tricked her into becoming a prostitute in the UAE and claimed that he abused her as he acted as her pimp.
After the repeated abuse became too much she went to police who arrested the man. The youngster faces separate charges relating to prostitution in the Minors’ Court.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

like they care

Live Earth's BBC1 audience peaked at 3.1m. This
year's Eurovision got 10.9m.

Thursday, June 21, 2007

TV news-crews get special training

Alan Johnston has now spent 100 days as a
hostage in Gaza. TV news networks are taking
no chance with other British foreign
correspondents. News hounds are being hurriedly
sent on Kidnapping Training courses.

And what are they told to do in the event
of being kidnapped?


"Tell them absolutely anything they want."

and why not...............

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

the ultimate F1

Quote Promotional Code 5967476a for serious discounts


Monday, March 12, 2007

more pictures that changed the world

1962. A soldier shot by a sniper hangs onto a priest in his last moments.

1966. U.S. troops in South Vietnam are dragging a dead Vietkong soldier.

1972. After South Vietnam planes accidentally drop a bomb on a town.

1980. A kid in Uganda about to die of hunger, and a missionaire.

2002. Soldiers and villagers in Iran are digging graves for the victims of the earthquake. A kid holds his father's pants before he is buried.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

pictures that changed the world

1963. Thich Quang Duc, the Buddhist priest in Southern Vietnam , burns himself to death protesting the government's torture policy against priests. Thich Quang Dug never made a sound or moved while he was burning.

February 1, 1968. South Vietnam police chief Nguyen Ngoc Loan shots a young man, whom he suspects to be a Viet Kong soldier.


1975. A woman and a girl falling down after the fire escape collapses.


1989. A young man in China stands before the tanks during protests for democratic reforms.


2003. An Iraqi prisoner of war tries to calm down his child.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

a joke

The Cork


Two young terrorists are in a locker room taking a shower after their
bomb making class in Leeds , when one notices the other has a huge cork
stuck in his arse.

If you do not mind me saying," stated the second, "that cork looks very
uncomfortable. Why don't you take it out?"

I regret I cannot", lamented the first youth. "It is permanently stuck in
my arse."

"I do not understand," said the other.

The first man says, "I was walking along the Headrow And I tripped
over an oil lamp. There was a puff of smoke, and then a huge old man in
Union Jack attire with a white beard and Akubra hat came boiling out. He
said, "I am Ozzie, the Genie. I can grant you one wish."

I said, "No shit?"

Monday, February 05, 2007

who's a naughty boy? don't do it again!

"A British man yesterday pleaded guilty to molesting a Dubai Airport employee by slapping him on the buttocks - three times. The trial, which started yesterday, heard that the 30-year-old British visitor, AJ, who is charged with molestation and consuming alcohol"

This will be the FREE alcohol that the man was plied with on his Emirates flight would it?

It appears that alcohol consumption illegal in Dubai without a liquor license.

A work colleague of mine was jailed for 30 days for consumption only last year.

Yet they give the stuff away not only on flights into the UAE, but also to the fairer sex in just about every licensed establishment in Dubai.

Check out "Ladies Nights" in Time Out Dubai for your free booze sessions.

Just don't EVER put a foot, or indeed a hand out of place whilst you are in any way under the influence of alcohol in Dubai or the chances are you WILL be banged up.

The 7days story is highlighted to warn you of the dangers of consuming alcohol in Dubai without a liquor licence. A liquor license that is only available to residents.

AJ probably deserves punishment for smacking someone; be it on the arse or face, it's still pretty much assault; but whether he deserves to be charged with consuming alcohol is another matter all together.

Sunday, January 07, 2007

that's not entertainment

Where has all of the famous DSF Family entertainment gone?

During my time here in Dubai one of the highlights of the year for our friends and family has always been visiting the public parks during the Shopping Festival.

We have seen some wonderful shows in the parks over the years including Casper, Aladdin, Pinocchio, Jungle Book and Treasure Island to name but a few!


These shows used to cost us just 10 Dirhams to go and see and so were an affordable way for many of Dubai's residents to see quality professional entertainment that would other wise have been out of their reach.

This year, not only is the Global Village charging its visitors to browse round the market stalls but the public parks have no entertainment shows on offer.Is it a sign of the times in Dubai, that the Snow White pantomime that was staged in the Madinat theatre over the Festive season had tickets priced at 135 Durhams compered to the DSF Snow White show in Safa Park a few years ago that cost just AED 10 to go and see.....?

The average cost of the Quidam tickets, the Cirque Du Soleil show , is AED 375; completely pricing out around 80% of Dubai's population.

Ali Baba, a show being staged in the (laughingly entitled) "Community Theatre" has an average ticket price of 265 Dirhams.

This is London West End prices for a community theatre audience.


Dubai used to have a slogan "The City That Cares"; Come on Dubai Municipality; show us you still care!