Dare A Difference

reBlog from Chadi Abou Nohra, : Fake Plastic Souks

2010-05-26T09:28:00.002+04:00

Re-blogged from Alexander McNabb's 'Fake Plastic Souks'

I'm told that the al-emarati blog, although it looked as if it hosted several bloggers, was all the work of one man, a person who many bloggers will know as A Blessing in Tragedy. Sure enough, it certainly seemed that way stylistically, veering between interesting comment and bilious ranting. You'd start to worry about the stability of someone capable of that range in commentary rather than fiction.Chadi Abou Nohra, , Fake Plastic Souks, May 2010

You should read the whole article.

The Man who sold the world

2010-04-27T11:26:00.002+04:00

The ruler of Dubai is off to pull another coup d'etat.

Dubai ruler 'serious' about 2020 Olympics

Hats off to this brilliant group of overpriced strategists that came up with this idea of hosting the 2020 Olympics in Dubai. Whether Dubai eventually makes a bid to win or simply use it as a leverage to attract and regain investor(s) confidence to bail them out of the mess they knowingly got themselves into, could be anyone's guess.

Personally, I would prefer Dubai demonstrating its seriousness rather than the flip side but like they say in this day & age, achievement 'by hook or by crook' is the name of the game between winners & losers.

And so begins one man's tale in this continuing episode known as 'survival of the fittest'.

'It's nice to have a vision but it's even nicer to bear it into fruition' - Notre Dame

Two bomshells

2010-01-05T08:17:00.004+04:00

The first, early December 2009
The second, early January 2010

Motivation: Power & legal tender

Under ordinary circumstances, I would have bought all this (leaning false bravado) talk about Arabian gesture of generosity that so many ignorant asses vehemently amplify but these aren't ordinary circumstances. They stopped being ordinary, the day Dubai beamed to the whole world, seeking a postponement on their loan payments. I wonder where were those so-called Arabian (you watch my back, I watch yours) gestures of brotherhood & generosity then?

Right now, it looks like someone, all along, had a gun pointed at someone with the biggest smile in the world, all set finger on the trigger when pulled had a bang banner popping out instead of lead.

So much for Russian Roulette.

And it worked too, like a charm!

Dubai's latest flashy icon, the 150+ tower just got rebaptized BK in a frenzied game of Russian Roulette.

So much for all those hokey gestures of brotherhood & generosity.

Mohammed bin Rashid may have put Dubai on the map but it came at a price tag and all the more for wrong reasons.

The moral. Gone are all those glorious days when brotherhood was the rule of the day. Now, it's mostly a world where (a) dog eat dog is the order of the day.

Venus versus Phallic

2009-10-23T09:27:00.003+04:00

Three captures of The Yas Marina Hotel, Abu-Dhabi, courtesy The Plastic Poet at the UAE Community Blog

I wonder what the owner & designer had in mind when this project was still on the drawing board!

Calvin's theory

2009-05-31T08:00:00.002+04:00

To sum up the homo sapien state of mind in this day & age;

Cyber bullying update

2009-05-25T10:24:00.003+04:00

American Thinker's take on Megan's case;

Rant for the day

2009-05-20T10:17:00.006+04:00

Somebody ought to tell this dude to STFU!

In continuation to my earlier labels (iPhone-related), personally I think Apple should just stick to their ideas of developing screwed-up crappy software.

Oh, and while they're at it, to leave the hardware stuff to the pros!

And if they don't like what I just said, they can stick it where the (insert a /classy/ expletive(s) here) and enjoy!

Curiosity & glitch

2009-05-20T07:35:00.003+04:00

So, what's with all the signal losses that my wife experiences with her iPhone 3G, that in spite of having placed a turbo-sim beneath her carrier sim?

It's a temporary technical glitch, she tells me in her amateur geekish tone.

So, is that good or is that bad?

Good (according to her) especially now that her iPhone is jailbroken whereby it allows her to mod the device through various 3rd-party apps that Apple doesn't allow, at least legally, it doesn't.

Whatever that is supposed to mean.

Alrighty, here's a clearer picture!

And I'm all ears, Babe;

Say you have a set of wheels that can do zero-to-60 in 5 secs.

Say someone comes up with a mod that'd enable you to log twice in 5 secs.

Would you try it out?

Well, it depends.

Depends on what?

Depends on whether or not I have a death wish.

Fcukin' A!

Yeah, I would give it a shot.

Of course you would.

And then rollback to factory default.

So what was the purpose of this exercise?

A curious mind and the ability to explore.

I think it's boredom.

P.S.: This was a conversation in relation to a glitch ;)

Saadiyat in a limbo?

2009-05-19T12:37:00.005+04:00

Shades of gray are starting to emerge courtesy this report;

If this trend continues, life could never be the same in LaLa Land!

Baha'i Children

2009-05-19T09:57:00.006+04:00

Jemma's sister, a Baha'i convert recently visited the Lotus Temple in India.

She sent us the following picture, which now adorns her sister's iPhone desktop;

I too find this picture motivating; devotionally-speaking that is!

Smiles for Megan :)

2009-05-19T08:06:00.004+04:00

Here's hoping the jury comes out with a worthy verdict allowing Megan to finally rest in peace!

I thought it would be worthwhile to put up this (midwest) Christian band's video, appropriately titled 'Daylight', that also appears on Megan's MySpace page;

Amen

Tolls of War

2009-05-13T11:14:00.004+04:00

Innocence & uncertainty

CNN Video

And her only fault was being at the wrong place at the wrong time

Camel jockeys

2009-05-06T14:13:00.004+04:00

Remember, all those under-aged kids that were used as Camel jockeys by the royalty here?

Well, it seems they will get their due after all!

Reimbursement of a pittance, per se!

And who said there was no justice in this world?

Trigger Happy?

2009-05-05T08:26:00.005+04:00

Worst places to blog

Or in other words, one word out of line and I'll slam the Disney door shut on your a$$!

3G Woes

2009-05-05T07:41:00.003+04:00

Isn't the WWDC more than a month away?

And to add further insult to injury, the UAE's Etisalad has discovered an ingenious way to deplete their stock of iPhones.

This, after we signed up for an expensive data plan early last month. Well, that can be revoked after paying close to an equivalent of 100 bucks for cancellation.

Further setbacks observed with the 3G are but not limited to the frequency of dropped calls, signal losses followed by the deathly 'No Service' messages.

I wonder if all these glitches are attributed to the increase in subscribers thus affecting telco payloads or these are just crappy devices to begin with?

RePost

2009-05-05T07:35:00.002+04:00

Down with a stomach bug and in mood to actually put my thoughts into words.

So here's, To or not to, re-posted courtesy American Thinker.

Notre Dame

2009-05-02T07:35:00.007+04:00

I would have gone along if Notre Dame had chosen Joe Biden but seriously, Obama?

And so continues my beef with my former Alma Mater.

Silence & Denial

2009-04-27T12:20:00.005+04:00

I think I read it in 'Dude, where's my country' by Michael Moore and I recall writing about it here few weeks ago.

And it went something like this:

Keep repeating the same thing over & over again and it eventually turns into a truth!

I guess the authorities here are using Mikey's line in a reverse order when they refuse to ignore all that's been written all over the electronic media about the torture gig.

What's really depressing with their silence is that it signifies their acceptance.

In remembrance

2009-04-26T07:55:00.004+04:00

The Brady Bill didn't do much to discourage Dylan & Harris when they embarked on a rampage at Columbine on April 20th, ten years ago.

John Grisham's modified adaptation in 'Runaway Jury' didn't do much either.

And the credit goes to the all-too powerful Gun lobby in our country where even a moron like Charlton Heston had the nerve in proclaiming 'from my cold dead hands' at an NRA rally.

But times, they will be a changing but the price we will continue to pay until that eventuality is appalling to contemplate.

Late-posted in memory of all those innocent lives lost due to no fault of their own!

Repurcussions of bullying

2009-04-24T13:57:00.004+04:00

Three years ago, there was this case about Megan Meier that grabbed national attention.

A similar case that prompted a victim to resort to extremities is now in the news.

As a parent, I wonder what's the remedy to offset a similar predicament, be that with our own kids or all those kids out there that are bullied beyond repair?

I suppose getting further involved and keeping a close tab and looking for clues, any clues should be a fair approach.

I don't know, I just felt like posting this one and hope it creates awareness any which way it can.

Not to be forgotten

2009-04-23T07:50:00.005+04:00

The thirteenth anniversary of the Chernobyl gig is 3 days away and Jemma's family has the proof (superficial & hidden) that they were in the vicinity when all hell broke loose. Well, actually they were in neighboring Belarus, as part of the Catholic Church's delegation that were in Minsk during that week.

As of this writing, I have no clue why the hell I'm writing this post because that incident occurred a long time ago and none nor any of its fall backs have yet to hit our side of the family. Maybe, the speed at which the US Government evacuated its citizens from the vicinity and the care, treatment and support that was afforded to us was the reason for no repercussions, long or short-term. However, I wish I could say the same about all those citizens of Ukraine and the neighboring countries that were exposed to the radiation and are still suffering from exposure, lack of treatment and major-league incompetence of all those involved.

Meanwhile, we continue to thank our stars for escaping the wrath that resulted from ignorance & sheer incompetence.

Oh, now I remember, this feed and the Lenin reference took me back to the Chernobyl disaster neighborhood.

No deal, says Google

2009-04-21T08:02:00.003+04:00

We just breezed through a fine example of 'The ability to speak foolishly' a line coined by the Late Justice Felix Frankfurter of the US Supreme Court.

I'm referring to the recent round-one session between the Dubai Police Chief, the Doha Center and Youtube (aka Google) who were asked to trim down their repo for the UAE.

The Chief spoke foolishly, the Center presented its case, and Google backed-off.

Case closed or rather shoved on the back burner, well at least for now.

Jinxed iPhone

2009-04-17T10:23:00.004+04:00

Jemma's itchy fingers to update her iPhone to IPSW 2.2.1, which in turn upgraded her baseband to 02.30.03 and then jacked up the bootloader to 6.02.

And I'm friggin short by AED 250 for a turbo sim to get her iPhone 3G in working condition.

A further catch is that we have to wait until after June to dump the turbo sim and get the lush device working without a glitch after IPSW 3.0 is released.

Why me, Darlin'?

Darwin versus Android

2009-04-14T08:03:00.003+04:00

Just felt like posting about this longwaytogo overpriced Darwinized' device!

Neither image appeals but it all depends what's in the box;

Courtesy: Gizmodo

On the other hand, HTC's G1 on Android is not a bad idea!

Power Broker

2009-04-13T12:09:00.003+04:00

While the whole region is infected with overwhelming narcissism, it's refreshing to see the Qataris invest a small amount of time, energy, and resources in the field of ethics.

Whether it's a whitewash or that something worthwhile would be derived in the short or long run, time alone will tell.

But, for now, their initiative is commendable, as it could play a major role in their new role, as a power house of this region!

Unless of course some one else has a change of heart - I know fat chance! But still they would not qualify for the power role!

ND & BO

2009-04-11T08:28:00.003+04:00

A Spiritual Friday

2009-04-10T14:12:00.004+04:00

Angels and Devils on a spiritual Friday and in part to get our kids motivated to watch their likes, and also the Italian journey we had to forego due to the earthquake, and also the subsequent trip to Prague;

So many 'ands', I know but in a way they're all interconnected on this spiritual Friday.

Where to play?

2009-04-07T10:15:00.004+04:00

Below's a screen shot of 'Where to play in Dubai?'

That's a new app, free-of-charge, on App Store

How about if they aired the real sleaze-ridden (hidden) places for privileged iPhone users?

I bet, there'd be a massive inflow of tourists seeking fun & play while basking under the sun!

Italian Spoiler

2009-04-07T08:08:00.004+04:00

We had plans to spend Easter Sunday in Italy and then hop over to Prague for a few days for our kids cultural exchange program.

But now that the earth moved, Jemma suddenly developed a phobia about touching base in Italy and wants to stay back and make-do the best with what we have.

And this spoiler had to occur now when our kids were looking forward to our first visit to Prague.

Broke already?

2009-04-04T18:33:00.005+04:00

Close to 18 months that we've been here, this is the first time we've received a (payment) reminder on our cell phone.

I suppose things are really bad here financially that prompts a Government-owned phone company to send out a reminder for under ten bucks, that too for a cell subscription that's just under two weeks old.

Maybe, this one's a first sign of what people say when they say 'things are gonna get worse'!

Gone in 60 secs?

2009-04-04T15:00:00.002+04:00

Play, pause, skip!

Wait, didn't I hear 3rd party apps in there?

And dude, you bet you'll get it right the day the Eff puts its foot down.

And yay to Jay!

Intense Debate

2009-04-04T08:51:00.004+04:00

While browing iPhone forums for Jemma's 3G, I couldn't help but laugh my heart out at the following conversation;

Seems like these kids really know how to have fun while being serious and helping out people who've bricked or screwed up their iPhones with 3.0 Beta

Manipulative Art

2009-04-02T12:53:00.002+04:00

Yesterday was April 1st and one that peaked was all that transpired in the following image;

Run for cover - LOL

iPod for HM

2009-04-02T09:01:00.004+04:00

I'm strapped for time!

But under no circumstances would I miss out posting about an iPod gifted to the Queen of England by our CiC.

An iPod? No seriously?

Google Classic

2009-04-01T10:18:00.002+04:00

No, this is no 4/1 joke;

Reposted courtesy Gizmodo

Only Q?

2009-03-31T08:41:00.002+04:00

Some interesting questions (of our interest) that were asked online

"Why do the taxpayers have to assume the majority of the risk on clearing the toxic assets?"

anna banana, San Diego, CA

"President Obama, If the Banking system is receiving money from the goverment at 0 percent, Can you tell me why our interest rates on our credit cards went up 1 percent?"

Hlfpint, Bloomington, MN

"Why isn't there a program for home owners who are paying their mortages on time? Why are we being punished for paying our bills on time?"

Ray, Graytown, Ohio

Will there be any answers?

Gunfight in Marina Corral

2009-03-31T07:44:00.004+04:00

Wyatt Earp was in town

And the dude still sent down
Law of the land says
Anything's doable
So long it has Wyatt's approval
And so it got done
In a lawless land
With Wyatt still in town

Earth what?

2009-03-29T08:52:00.005+04:00

Even Google's smitten by it!

Marc Sheppard's take on globally cooling the planet by switching off for an hour while rummaging and rape (of the planet) continues unhindered every other second, minute, hour, day, and night.

Or better put, try and fix what you've deliberately hurt without demonstrating restraint in the first place.

This gig is getting funnier with each new passing year.

Pro-Life!

2009-03-26T11:21:00.004+04:00

Totally disappointed with this piece of news coming out of my Alma Mater.

My hat-tip to Bishop John D'Arcy.

3/17 for Paddy

2009-03-17T19:59:00.002+04:00

Take: Shawarma Style

2009-03-17T19:12:00.003+04:00

Dubai's predicament on 'to be or not to be', as eloquently belted out by the Shawarma Mayor.

While the whole world talks about Dubai and their intention to cover themselves with a veil, I wonder why the local media rags like Gulf News & Khaleej Times haven't written about it?

No Great Shakes

2009-03-17T18:10:00.005+04:00

An Emirati family (good friends of ours) accepted our invitation for dinner at our house last night.

Pleasantries exchanged.

Comfy settings and Jemma drops the bomb!

Jem: We've been reading & hearing a lot about a draft law on enforcing disciplinary behavior in Dubai, what's with that? (Jemma's attorney mind considers it to be a draft because it's not hit the mainstream media, as yet).

Emaratiyah: Guys, this really does not apply to you.

Jem: How so? From what I've been reading, it's a law applicable to all (citizens & residents), no? Or am I missing something out of the woodwork?

Emaratiyah: Actually, this stuff has always been in place but never enforced. So, take this purely as a reminder. Having said that, it applies more so towards the rogue generation of teeny boppers (citizens & residents) that feel they can do anything and get away with it.

Jem: Does this reminder imply we'd be seeing moral police in malls, clubs & other socializing venues?

Emaratiyah: No, nothing like that. Dubai will continue its liberal policy but with a watchful eye.

And so I had to step in and change the topic before it went any deeper beyond those lines.

That was a relief because I could actually hear Jemma *sigh* - whatever that was supposed to mean.

And so continues our cat & mouse game of trying to determine and decipher the governing factor that prompted the authorities in Dubai to announce a draft law of acceptable behavior in town.

Caption this

2009-03-16T19:26:00.002+04:00

Re-posted courtesy Shawarma Mayor (ZIP)

'Who sat me down near the exit sign? I thought I was in for 4 years'

Creativity

2009-03-16T18:21:00.003+04:00

This worldwide recession is definitely an eye-opener.

I guess it's being there is what matters most these days and the demo here is quite optimally optic, don't you say?

Take this case of a woman that put up a webpage to help her husband find a job. Although, I doubt he'd be interested in taking up one up thousands of miles away from the West Coast.

But still, what intrigues me is her ingenious way that grabbed CNN's attention.

And who said talent was rare these days?

Hey Dude?

2009-03-16T07:50:00.003+04:00

'A lie repeated over a period of time eventually becomes the truth'

Michael Moore coined it in his 'Dude, where's my country' when he went a gung-ho at Bush & Co., post 9/11 fall-outs.

Look, don't get me wrong.

I'm no fan of this dude in spite of his Irish or Catholic roots but this one's a home run.

And to the curious minded, this line's a fact no matter who debunks it!

Ethical Doldrums!

2009-03-15T09:29:00.003+04:00

Everybody is talking about the enforcement of a decency code in Dubai while one of the Emirates newspapers writes about attractive offers.

One thing's for sure, it'll be fun to see if any Moral Poh-leece would be policing the streets similar to Saudi Arabia.

Cheerleader

2009-01-21T08:03:00.002+04:00

I guess, it's noble to rejoice when you fire away but God forbid you're fired-upon;

Now, that's construed as disproportionate.

Shoe dude update

2009-01-19T19:33:00.003+04:00

I was under the impression that the Iraqi dude that hurled shoes at Bush was a national, if not a regional hero for his brave act live on prime time.

Even Ethel Fenig - a conservative blogger over at American Thinker - wrote that Mr. Shoe had received many proposals amongst them an over-ambitious Egyptian dudette that wanted her 15-minutes of fame & popularity.

From the look of recent news, it appears the tables have turned all of a sudden, as the second wave of Mr. Shoe news just hit mainstream media.

The Huffington Post now reports that Mr. Shoe is seeking asylum in Switzerland while ignoring all those countries in the region that cheered him on first sight.

Now that's a total sign of disrespect towards all those that considered him a Hero. It's also some form of cowardice, his intention I mean for sliding into the limelight.

1300 = Victory?

2009-01-19T12:12:00.005+04:00

This is a first.

Personally, I would have preferred a war crimes tribunal to judge his funky rear.

But for now, I'll settle for a Nobel, if there's one for absurdity, per se.

Gaza war 'great victory' for Palestinians: Haniya

Bravo, well done.

Nation, power & nonviolence

2009-01-19T10:52:00.004+04:00

MKG / MLK

I thought of linking The Nation's recent article 'The Power of Nonviolence' in case no one had access to this brilliant article.

No matter how severe a conflict involving various parties, resorting to hate-mongering and violence is definitely not the right way to up the ante unless that is a prime objective of a phantom under guise.

Read on to be enlightened.

Do it right

2009-01-18T08:40:00.002+04:00

How it all gets done;

Practice in reality <.!.>

First draft

2009-01-18T07:59:00.003+04:00

Say you have a dude standing across the fence you claim to be yours.

Say you don't like this dude.

And each day you stand on your dilapidated side of the fence and yell at him to leave.

Well-bunkered dude across the fence has no intention to leave.

This goes on, and on, and on.

One fine day, you decide it's time to get physical.

Dude across stands with a bazooka not yelling 'bring it on'.

What do you do?

Shoe-acide news

2009-01-17T07:34:00.004+04:00

The first sign of shoe-acide hero quaking in his Floersheims.

Wasn't this guy considered a hero?

I wonder what this brief-moment-of history dude is thinking as of now?

Don't know about others but I, for one, wouldn't want to be in his shoes now.

And that's final.

What is freedom?

2009-01-16T14:05:00.002+04:00

A sneak preview of what America affords you;

Ability to speak foolishly
Freedom
Free speech

I wonder what holocaust deniers would make of that disgraceful Young Lady?

Boys

2009-01-16T10:28:00.004+04:00

The Boy in the striped Pajamas

Courtesy; Kyle-Anne Shiver

Word update

2009-01-15T21:50:00.003+04:00

Ethel Fenig presents an interesting take on the much talked-about word of these days.

Click for enlightenment.

Word of the day

2009-01-15T20:14:00.005+04:00

Disproportionate

And it's gonzo translation for anyone afflicted with reality-distortion/dyslexically-leaning/weak-minded syndrome;

If you want a translation, luckily I speak fluent Pentagon. So what “disproportionate” means is—well, imagine that you’re watching some little hanger-on who tags along with you get his ass whipped by a bully, and you say, “That’s inappropriate!” I mean, instead of actually helping him. That’s what “disproportionate” means from the Pentagon: “We’re not going to lift a finger to help you, but hey, we’re with you in spirit, little buddy!”

The War Nerd

What makes a serial killer?

2009-01-15T13:50:00.003+04:00

Focus on this screenie;

Thank God, I'm not into both - LOL

Bestial Wail

2009-01-15T13:44:00.003+04:00

The bestial wail part takes the cake, here;

Everything else, oh well, is just colored bubbles <..>

More battlefield updates

2009-01-14T08:37:00.003+04:00

I think it was the summer of 2006 when it was predicted that all new wars would be simultaneously fought along two parallel lines;

First, the kind of on-field carnage we are exposed to through bloody images of carnage courtesy of a soul-less media.

Second, the internet kind fueled by propaganda & distortion of facts.

Both have achieved their objectives having reached full-circle, which is now evident in a bottled fusion of raw emotions & foul-mouthing alliances.

In other words, we're just one-step away from bringing on chills bar frills.

Battlefield rules

2009-01-14T08:09:00.002+04:00

Also, in continuation to the one-post down, there's lies a hint to the current showdown in the region.

If only, those involved bothered to put two-and-two together instead of applying battlefield rules for a worthless strip of land that'll remain back long after we've called it a day.

*sigh*

Right!

Now, let's get back to our bitch-whine-&-complaining.

Beyond belief

2009-01-14T07:57:00.005+04:00

Seadragon, a relapsed Notre Dame Alma Mater has this to say about his new-found beliefs;

Personally, I think he's a weirdo but the caricature to a certain extent does make a point, IMHO, especially in these times that are a testing!

How does one stay safe?

2009-01-13T08:51:00.004+04:00

The answer is depicted in the unlimited creative imagination sent over by my The Notre Dame fraternity. The note attached to this image said;

'Bro, stay safe'!

In other words, it boils down to 'aim + please = refrain from getting ass kicked'!

Yeah right?

The Boss

2009-01-12T16:49:00.003+04:00

B&B

2009-01-12T12:06:00.004+04:00

Following image sums up the current situation in this region

Just bow wow; woof woof.

In other words; just bark no bite

Bow wow; woof woof

E-Age

2009-01-06T14:00:00.003+04:00

While a war is being fought with guns, missiles, bombs and a shitload of cocktail recipes for destruction;

Another one is being fought right here in our own neighborhood through a new-age weaponry called computers;

Welcome to this new-generation disbursement of disinformation in this so-called electronic age.

Welcome to the Internet, a new battlefield in The Art of War.

Welcome to hell.

Failures

2008-12-06T07:58:00.005+04:00

Major Intel Failures in recent times;

Nine Eleven

Beslan
Seven July
Eleven July
Mumbai Siege

While all spooks were getting laid dead-drunk as a door nail, innocent people were caught in the crossfire in a war with these extremist assholes with guns & bombs.

Seven-plus years and we have yet to take this war on terror to those that continue to terrorize innocents all across the globe.

Or like a wise old man at Notre Dame used to say 'It's all a relationship of convenience, Son. It's all about money and it's got nothing to do with convictions or for that matter who'd blink first'.

Maybe he's right.

Marker

2008-12-03T18:05:00.004+04:00

Now that markers have been put out, courtesy of this piece of recent news, let's see how the intel community and security agencies deal with it before such an act comes to pass.

If there's anything we should have learnt after 9/11, the year 2013 will hold the key for prevention.

Meanwhile, it's not a bad idea after all for taking this continuous war on terror into the backyards of all those that threaten us and our allies.

Jumping the Gun

2008-12-03T15:52:00.005+04:00

I wonder what JFK meant when he uttered the following line during the Cuban Missile Crisis;

'The thing has begun. Why doesn't someone gets the word and jumps the gun'

Could it (if applied) offset the chance of a major terror attack?

Could it (if applied) provide the solution aka preemptive strike?

IRS Scam

2008-11-20T12:56:00.009+04:00

After the get-rich quickie scams, it looks like those Afro scammers have come up with an ingenious idea, as evidenced in the following two images;

These landed in our fax this morning, and I kept wondering to myself, why the fug would the IRS want my banking details? They never did in the past, so why now?

I went back and took another look at this form at the IRS site and lo and behold and fuckin' presto, this link says it all!

Metaphorically speaking, I must have woken up with my head in the gutter this morning. So, I filled-in the blanks along with the banking information and sent it out.

Tough luck to you fuckers! Think twice if you think you can scam an American whose radar is as sharp as a razor.

Happy hacking.

Dr. Ron Paul

2008-09-23T09:15:00.002+04:00

The moment of truth;

Best part of the interview is Dr. Paul's response to Wolf when asked who would he support in November?

Neither!

US Embassy - Yemen

2008-09-17T12:49:00.003+04:00

Friends and co-workers always ask us 'Why is it so difficult to get a US visa?' or 'Why is there so much added security at your Consulates & Embassies?'

This CNN feed is the reason why?

Personally, I don't advocate a fortress atmosphere when it comes to our Consulates and Embassies but in this day and age, this rule justifies an added security measure to prevent innocent loss of lives.

If we don't, we'd end up with numerous Marine Barracks' scenarios courtesy of weirdos on the loose.

New World Order

2008-08-21T22:13:00.004+04:00

While scanning articles online, I bumped into an interesting piece that appeared on Pravda today.

If I read right from what the Russians are saying about freezing all military cooperation with NATO, it sounds pretty much like;

All bets are off

And they're damn straight in saying so, thanks to Bush & Condi along with our ever growing list of neocon gangbangers.

Told you so!

Here's to the new world order.

War Nerd

2008-08-20T07:56:00.003+04:00

Having had the opportunity to sit back & relax, it somehow helped tone down my rhetoric against the recent events in Eastern Europe.

When this whole conflict exploded 'disproportionately', as humorously defined by Gary Brecher, over at The Exiled; a Mark Ames underground gonzo journal with a substantial readership (myself & Jemma included), I was constantly banging on the drums that it's a conflict we should win to push forward democracy.

But not any more.

First, this isn't a conflict where democracy is the question but rather an issue where satellite states from the former Warsaw Pact are seeking attention from the West.

Second, if I had any authority, I'd haul Saakashvilli's rear end into an International Court and have him prosecuted for war crimes and crimes against the human race.

Third, I'd commence an impeachment process against Bush & Rice for dragging the US into an unwanted conflict.

Meanwhile, two essays helped me see this whole conflict from a different angle:

Any one remotely interested can read them here and here.

Check Mate?

2008-08-16T18:06:00.003+04:00

Almost everybody I know. Wait, make that almost everybody whose words I take seriously are of the opinion that the fucking morons in Georgia went trigger happy in Ossetia.

End result? Got their asses kicked big time by the humongous Russians on the other side.

And they fucking deserved it, the Georgians that is and by that I don't mean the common people of Georgia but Shashlik Saakasvilli and his gang. But things don't turn out the way one wants them to be, do they, and that's because Shashlik Saakasvilli is probably well-bunkered with a promise from the neocons that they've got his back.

But for how long, this one's going to last remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, the Poles have just signed a death warrant with the neocons and the stupid Ukrainians are next in tow.

But four months down the road, what's to come, now that sounds like fun. Maybe, these are signs of another upcoming Bolshevik revolution to keep these morons in check?

Or maybe this time the Russians will simply fire and forget and we can't do shit?

iP 3G

2008-07-12T08:31:00.004+04:00

Did Apple / Steve Jobs snub the UAE market, which in turn prompted the authorities here to write this defensive article about the iP 3G?

Review Spoiler

2008-07-04T10:02:00.004+04:00

I am not much into movies but now and especially after reading Jeffrey Tucker's article over at LRC, I'm inclined to rent and watch 'I am Legend'.

That, in spite of Jeffrey's spoiler in this label.

All Clear

2008-06-22T08:11:00.003+04:00

So, now that the terror threat has been decimated, we can all head back to the malls, ice rink and have a whale of a time courtesy of the summer surprise.

Except that our kids are eager to get on a plane to see their grandma & grandpa, friends & families and spend the summer on the East Coast and the Midwest.

How lucky for them while we are stuck here for just over a month to experience the scorching heat with their catchy phrase 'be careful' ringing in our ears all the time.

And why the hell not, for we have got King Kong and The Hulk watching our backs.

Utopian Warmth

2008-06-19T08:23:00.003+04:00

We are halfway through our second year in the Emirates and have yet to experience real wet weather although it did rain a bit the day President Bush was in town early this year.

And then it went away, and returned in teenie droplets and went away never to return again.

That was a good luck charm, echo our kids and joining them we say 'he ought to be here more often' to bring us respite from the utopian heat.

While the rest of the world soaks, the place is dry, damned, and doomed as hell.

Global warming, at its peak, in boomtown Utopia.

2003 versus 2008

2008-06-18T07:51:00.003+04:00

IM DISASTER

2008-05-05T11:55:00.003+04:00

The Mad wags the Dog

May Day

2008-05-01T08:02:00.000+04:00

It's strange that May Day or Labor Day is a normal working day here in the Emirates.

Ah well, this is not a democracy, they're not a member of ILO (maybe just for a namesake), nor do these people give a damn about labor issues.

So, that is why, Labor Day is a normal day here in the Emirates.

Whoever is lucky enough - Happy Labor Day to you guys.

Trolls & Free Speech

2008-04-06T10:38:00.004+04:00

Richard Spencer over at Taki Mag has put forward some valid points on trolls and free speech.

The best line of this label is the following 'I’d advise those commenters I’ve banned to go exercise their First-Amendment rights over at Stormfront.'

Jemma tells me that in this day and age when we all advocate free speech, there also comes the burden when we have to practice to some extent self-censorship.

Her logic; to avoid putting one's own foot in their mouth and two refrain from taking the jackass route. Aren't both of these the one and same thing?

That apart, she's also not a big fan of Justice Felix Frankfurter and our Supreme Court's ridiculous ruling(s) at times.

I am, though.

Up the ante

2008-04-01T08:22:00.003+04:00

Global Research Psyops at its best, and all of it within a span of two days;

First, on March 29th, Israel sees a dwindling chance of a gangbang.

Two days later, March 31st, their initial threat assessment gone awry.

And now, we are back in helter-skelter mode, thanks to journalism at its best.

Mirror Block

2008-03-20T13:32:00.004+04:00

A great way to get going, as this Holy Week progresses!

A second door was shut close this morning!

Must be a sign that all is not well in paradise!

What’s happening here?

2008-03-18T16:40:00.002+04:00

Lately, I’ve been experiencing a lot of hostility in Dubai coupled with a lot of spooky cloak and dagger stuff.

What is this?

An early sign of things going down in a hand basket or what?

Censorship in UAE

2008-03-11T16:36:00.004+04:00

At the moment of this writing, one of our favorite blogs that Jemma and I are used to, now stands blocked by the UAE Telecom company 'Etisalat'.

Highly recommended, our association with this blog goes back to our days in the States when we were pondering our move to the United Arab Emirates.

The reasons for this block are still cloudy but one thing's for sure, it's not a good sign for a country that is aiming for the sky.

Mises & Lew

2008-02-21T23:03:00.003+04:00

Jemma and I have been out of the loop for a few days and there's already an economically influenced war talk, over at the Mises' blog.

I wonder, what's new at Lew's blog?

This is one of the reasons, I keep telling her that we need to be (actively) wired while we're on the move at our respective jobs.

Now, I'm really eager to know the batting score.

Eye-opener

2008-02-14T21:17:00.003+04:00

Where are we headed before this year end?

There's an interesting synopsis, over at Lew Rockwell's blog.

Compared to some articles that eventually endorse, this one serves more so as an eye-opener, leaving the door open to do as 'I' please.

In other words, there's still time to make a difference but it all depends on our average Joe's & Jane's.

It all depends, which way they, we, and I will lean.

Does any one know of a time machine, where I can move forward, view, experience and then roll back to make a difference?

Iranian Bourse

2008-02-14T13:41:00.004+04:00

Those cloak and dagger spooks at Global Research predict the opening of the Iranian Bourse on February 27th.

Does this mean, their gang bang theory will bear fruition?

Or is this another weirdo theory of theirs to keep the public on edge?

Time will tell.

Dumb

2008-02-13T14:25:00.003+04:00

Who would have expected an organization such as Global Research to allow publication of such material?

And then, I'm asked 'why don't I take stuff that's posted on Global Research seriously?'.

What's that, seriously?

It's no joke when they say that Canadians are usually dumb but not this dumb to flaunt a resume online.

Why, oh Canada?

Recycling in the UAE

2008-02-07T21:22:00.000+04:00

An interesting article at the Ludwig von Mises Institute's forum prompted me to write this post.

It's appropriately titled The Recycling Myth.

It's nearing a year, since we have moved to the UAE but we have yet to see an active recycling program in this country.

Although, I've been told that the Government here is keen to have this program up and running in full swing.

So, what's keeping them from enforcing this program?

I believe, after the US, the only country that diligently follows the recycling program is New Zealand.

For Google Geeks

2008-02-01T18:34:00.001+04:00

It seems like Google's losing it!

In spite of being logged in, opening a new window CTRL + N can really be a moment of truth, thanks to Google's ever alert spyware buster.

Here's the proof:

An urgent message message to all the geeks at Google Labs.

Guys:

Not everyone based in the Arab world speaks, understands, and writes Arabic. So, would you please roll back the Arabic, as a default page and instead slap a language drop down on your home page. That way, people could select whatever language they prefer to log on instead of your wise-choice Arabic.

You guys ought to do this, like yesterday, because not everyone that blogs is a 100% geek like you!

Honestly,

50% Geek Blogger

Dumb Arrogance

2008-01-30T14:00:00.000+04:00

I've just experienced my first share of dumb & arrogant Shams behavior, courtesy of a restaurant in Deira.

At the offices of a business client, I was invited to stay back and have a quick brunch of zaatar, a herb coated Arabic bread. To our astonishment, the restaurant delivered a cheese coated bread, which was alright with my client (who had one) but I'm very specific about cheese due to food allergies. Having called the restaurant that they had made a mistake with our order, they had it picked up while we went back to work under the impression, we'd get the right order, second time around.

Guess what?

Wrong as in wrong can be.

After waiting 20 minutes for our replacement, we got floored with another surprise!

It was the same cheese bread but with zaatar sprinkled over it!

Is that dumb or is that dumb?

Or is that plain arrogance with a touch of dumb? I've heard pretty much about these guys but this one's way too much.

From all the Arabic joints that we've visited, the Lebanese take the cake for rendering excellent service with a smile. No wonder, they have a steady flow of customers and refill business while their neighbors wish it was them.

At the rate they're going, I doubt they ever will.

Care & Exploit

2008-01-28T07:55:00.000+04:00

Dubai Cares ties up with Microsoft to provide digital technology to the needy.

That's a first.

How's that possible, I wonder, without basic education?

Unless, Dubai Cares and Bill Gates intend to target specific students with a higher than normal IQ for their own benefits.

But then, it's no longer associated with Care but more so Exploitation.

Well, anything is possible in this competitive, survival of the fittest day and age.

I kinda dig this vision, but with an emboldened capped NOT.

George versus America

2008-01-22T20:54:00.000+04:00

I think one has to travel outside the United States to truly understand how unpopular, Americans are, outside the US continent. Not that we've faced major problems. On the contrary, we've been welcomed to every place here in town.

A recent experience came in the form of criticism and mockery against President Bush when he recently visited the United Arab Emirates, as part of his Middle East tour. To add insult to injury, the city was practically shutdown, as a security measure.

As far as I can recall, it's a first for any Head of State's visit, anywhere!

I guess, people all over the world fail to understand that Bush is not America, nor America all Bush.

I believe there's a dire need of a field trip for the people of this region to see and experience this and many other facts for themselves.

RERA

2008-01-22T16:19:00.000+04:00

All tenancy agreements are to be ratified by RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Authority).

Does this mean, unscrupulous landlords and real estate agencies are about to be reined in?

Or is this another way of scamming the general public?

Or is this another way of generating income for the Dubai Government to compensate their loss in the ongoing stock market slide?

Or I'm just being negative about this whole thing.

Or whatever.

Women in KSA

2008-01-22T09:05:00.000+04:00

The Gulf News reported on its front page today about the Saudis easing restrictions on women.

Well, it's about time these guys dragged themselves out of their cooped-up shells and see what the real world looks like.

Meanwhile, I ponder whether it's a fact or just a sham?

At the risk of not sounding too negative, I keep my fingers crossed and hope it's a fact.

Is that a first sign of victory on the horizon?

Blue this day

2008-01-21T18:18:00.000+04:00

Not at all an interesting day but alright for today.

Rumor has it that January 21st is the most depressing day of the year.

That could be the reason for the winter blues of this day.

Not exactly a great way to start this blog but what the heck, that's life.

And that's it, I guess, for today.