Why (almost) ignore local bloggers?

In Blogosphere in today's Gulf News Apple's recently announced iPhone seem to be the topic of the day. Keefieboy was chosen, which is all well and good since it was a funny post, but after that it was all non-Middle East bloggers. One post from a guy in Utah, then there's David Pogue with the New York Times, and John Naughton writes for The Guardian in the UK, as far as I know.

Now I'm not saying that Gulf News should necessarily only link to local/regional sites, but why pick so much non-local/regional material when there's plenty from right here that they could have picked up? Anyone know how we can ask Adam Flinter? Or is this not an issue for you?

[cross-posted to Emiratesmac.com]

Bob Dylan said it best

KUWAIT CITY - A court has convicted a member of Kuwait's ruling family for drug trafficking and it condemned him to death, according to a ruling obtained Monday.

Read it here

Makes one wonder and others shiver in their timbers.

The Gulf Cup

Is anyone here going to watch the best sporting event in the region, which is taking place in Abu Dhabi staring on the 17th?

Hard Luck everyone in the UAE as Oman is going to get the Gulf Cup.

Sale-o-holic

I am not capable of resisting a sale. Well not any sale, I mean I can’t resist a clothing store that’s on sale. It’s not that I cannot afford to purchase outfits on normal price – actually if you look at it most of the stuff on sale hardly has any real reductions anyways. So it’s got nothing to do with the price. It’s just a psychological thing. When I go to a store that’s not on sale I somehow feel the prices are always preposterous, knowing that they really aren’t any different when on sales. Sale = MUST BUY. As simple as that. So it’s just me. I can’t resist clothes on sale. Period.

My parents sometimes – ok that’s an understatement – <>always – pester me about the amount of money I waste on (as if! Money is never wasted on apparel!! But whose to tell them!). My dad threatens to burn them all from time to time. So sales are just a way to do away with at least some of the guilt...I’m such a good daughter.

Whenever I go shopping – which mostly during sales – I will always be the one with the largest pile of purchases. It’s got everything to do with the fact that I do not venture in a store if I am not loaded. I hate window shopping. I would not be able to sleep if I saw something I really wanted and dint have the mulas to buy it. So I don’t torture myself by walking in a store without adequate funds.

Actually I was quite normal before Dahling. She’s to blame for my sale addiction. Life ruiner. Lol.
Must get the damn boots before the sale is over! Dan doesn’t seem to understand the importance of me acquiring these boots. Men are so thick. Dahling and I spent months looking for these babies!!! But will a man ever understand the importance!??!?!

High and low we searched!! Damn! MUST GET BOOTS. Any sponsors?

Metroblogging Dubai

The Dubai Metroblog is sadly somewhat inactive at the moment. Several of the authors have left Dubai and can no longer contribute.

As a result we are keen to get new authors. You can read more about Metroblogging on Wikipedia, but in brief it's an international network of over fifty city blogs. While the main focus is generally on daily life in each city, Metroblog has an impressive track record covering major events such as the Kashmir earthquake and London bombings.



Anyone who would like to become a member is very welcome.

MapOcitAe Version 1.30

It has been almost 6 weeks since I updated my pet project site MapOcitae, last week I decided to redesign the site from the ground up and this time to utilize some of the better practices in developing Ruby on Rails (RoR) applications.

Having tackled the tougher issues in the previous release (which weren’t a lot anyway), this redesign took me about a week worth of effort thanks to the very effective RoR framework.

Here is a breakdown of major changes in this release:

• A simpler design that looks presentable on almost any resolution regardless of the user has an HD screen or not



• All the fancy AJAX stuff has been removed (for now) in favor of a more streamlined interface



• Once all issues in this release are ironed out, I will introduce the AJAX stuff again but the web app this time will degrade gracefully when users have JavaScript turned off



• Though not included in this release, MapOcitae now integrates with del.icio.us and flickr nicely. This will open other areas to explore in this site



• Unfortunately due to changes in the database structure, all member information (about 28) and all markers (about 54) have not been ported to the new site. The markers might still make it, but as for members they will have to re-register again

If type writers could type...

The following text appears at the bottom of the Import Goods Declaration form provided by JAFZA for clearing import shipments:

"This form must be submitted typed by a type writer"

Huh?! :-)

Burj Al Arabi - Taking the piss!

If you haven't been there already, then this post is worth visiting. The words and graphics are just hilarious!!!

http://dubaiconsumermirror.blogspot.com/2007/01/sing-along-this-burj-is-my-burj-that.html

Enjoy!

Connectivity

Many people in the UAE are reporting problems connecting to www.livejournal.com, www.myspace.com, www.youtube.com etc.

When connecting to the internet through broadband in the UAE you either use the transparent proxy or you set a proxy, there are subtle differences between both of these, such as when www.playboy.com was unblocked on the transparent proxy but not on the direct proxy.

To use the transparent proxy your internet settings must not classify any proxy to use.
To use the normal proxy, you must go to (on Internet Explorer 7) Tools>internet options>connections>LAN settings and input proxy1.emirates.net.ae with port 8080.

Using the transparent proxy, you will experience problems (for whatever reasons) connecting to those sites. Using the normal proxy it works fine.

If you have any problems setting the normal proxy, please contact me and I’d be glad to help.

Blocked again?

Anyone else getting DNS errors for You Tube and My Space this morning? It doesnt look good...

A Sad & Bizarre Story (for all involved)

...death, injury, wild behavior, fame and misfortune, a young "podigy golfer" is arrested for drunkenness in Dubai Marina and later ends up dead while causing injury to others. Read the story. Khaleej Times is given as the source but no sign of this news in the Khaleej Times online. Could it be a hoax or is it just hot off the press?

Whew! Vista is now verrrry secure

US National Security Agency, the gang that is better known for eavesdropping on telephone calls has helped make Windows VISTA more secure. Should we be scared?

And it pleases me no end to see that good ole MS couldnt hack it on its own and had to get outside help :)

Dubai the 'Sudden City'

Looks like Jan is the month for Dubtown to dance across global headlines, the City that Scares has hit the mark once again. The National Geographic story shows Dubai in a positive light, but some of the related photos do paint a rather nasty picture - Look at this one Photo - 17

This is all rather too sudden for me though :D

"Looking for Mammon in the Muslim World"

Interesting reading in Slate magazine. It's a reporter going walk-about in Dubai and other places in the UAE.

Cartman wants an iPhone

In tribute to all Mac users in the UAE who are probably going insane with desire for Apple's new iPhone:



(Click here to watch it on the actual YouTube site).