31 January, 2006

Omani journalists : bunch of lazy useless cowards :: Pizza Queen

Link: Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita: Omani journalists : bunch of lazy useless cowards

Thoughtful post by the ever thought provoking Pizza Queen. Read the whole thing.

Eagle's Eye: Camel jockeys in Emirates

Link: Central Chronicle--Opinion

Updates from the UAE Web

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The Internet Magazine on what's happening in the local UAE Internet
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Issue 1

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Email orbuae@gmail.com.

CONTENTS
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NEWS
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1. ORB-UAE Creative Yahoogroup now on RYZE.com!
2. Comprehensive list of UAE Recruitment firms and sites launched on Dubai Expats Yahoogroup
3. Grapeshisha UAE e-Newsletter - January Issue out and new website launched
4. Download the updated UAE Web of Life Internet Guide

REGULARS
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1. Cool UAE Blog of the Week
2. Best UAE Group of the Week

INTERVIEW
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Interview with a UAE Web Resident Omair Aasim, Creator of SearchingDubai.com

Want to feature your UAE website, online service, blog, forum, ezine etc. here? Got some online news to share? Want to send us your rants and raves? Email us at orbuae@gmail.com

Read it here.

30 January, 2006

Naomi linked with Dubai royalty

From the New York Post Page Six column today:

January 30, 2006 -- MAN-eating catwalk queen Naomi Campbell has another victim in her claws: the Prince of Dubai. The two are vacationing in Sweden...

more here

The issue of comment moderation

Jeff Jarven, in the Media Guardian, considers the challenge of "interactivity" - ie publishing something, such as a blog, where other people are able to comment:

Q: Should you moderate interactivity?

A: If you want to. But don't think that you can tidy up comments any better than you can tidy up the world. I would kill the worst, most spiteful and off-topic comments and let the rest speak for themselves.


I would say this is probably what most of us do, it is certainly what I try to do. Plus there are certain comments that have to be deleted for UAE-specific legal reasons.

Q: Shouldn't technology help with moderation?

A: You wish. But people can still outsmart machines.


I wish too, pretty often ;)

Media industry focused blogs

A number of UAE media and PR-related blogs are cropping up, here are some for those interested:

Communicate Magazine blog
Dubai Media Observer
Marketing, Advertising, Creativity
The Viral Idea

If anyone finds any others, or would like to compile a list for other UAE fields (sport/IT/property/finance) please do have a go.

29 January, 2006

Emirates Western Force go down to Crusaders

Headline of the day: Link

28 January, 2006

Two Versions of Google - .com and .cn

lgf: Two Versions of Google

The differences are striking.

MV Doulos - Books Books Books

Got a chance to visit "The Floating Book Fair" as they call MV Doulos.

Wonderful classics, fantastic books for the children (especially), books on religion, hobbies, dictionaries & books books books so many books. :-))

But, not many fiction books or the bestsellers (at least, I did not see them), except a few John Grisham books.

As the word spread, there were hordes of people, visiting the ship which is docked at the Mina Port in Abu Dhabi. The crew was helpful, ready with a smile on their face as they answered our queries. The ship will be here in Abu Dhabi till 03 Feb & then off it goes to Sharjah & the next port of call will be Doha. That is what the crew told us.

I would highly recommend people to take this opportunity to visit MV Doulos
& rediscover the joys of reading once again....

Stupid prank with a painful – yet oddly stupid as well – ending

WARNING: WANTON VIOLENCE IS CONTAINED ON THIS VIDEO

Totally off topic but you guys and girls have to see how stupid this guy is. Judge for your self.....

Stupid Prank

NOTE: edited by samuraisam, uaecommunity is not the place to post violent/stupid video's, it is upto someone else to judge whether or not to delete this, please, in the future place a disclaimer if the content is NSFW (Not safe for work) or contains violence, sexual references, drug references, or in someway goes against the moral values of the UAE.

Ban Brokeback Mountain in the UAE?

I have been reading articles in 7days recently about whether the movie "Brokeback Mountain" should be released to cinemas here. Here and here are some letters sent in by readers. After chewing on it for a while, here's my two cents. If the movie makes it to the cinemas here in the UAE then I am going to go watch it. Anyone who wants to come and blow up the cinema is welcome to do so. And if people don't want to see this movie, then that's fine with me...there are at least 8 other movies playing in any cinema that you are welcome to watch. If the movie doesn't make it to the cinemas here, then I am going to get it on DVD. As an expat living in a Muslim country, I can understand why this movie would cause a stir if it was filmed here (images of people squatting at Deira City Centre come to mind). However, what I don't appreciate are the numerous people who feel that this country would go straight to hell if this movie was screened here. What is wrong with you all? It is just a movie. After reading the letters in 7days, I was really appalled at the ignorance of some people:

"As Muslims, we should not be scared of gay people. I am trying to learn to hate the sin and not necessarily the person. After all their lifestyle often involves abuse of any and all substances as well as sexual experiences.
I guess many of them have been born into a system of abuse and perpetuate the same cycle of along to their victims. They regularly contract strange diseases that are further mutated by their abundant substance abuse.
Often they evolve in to paedophiles (majority have had homosexual experiences). They are outcast by their own people and exist only in the "politically correct" illusion of the free society that must tolerate them as a result of their precious value system.
I think the true fear and disgust amongst Muslims is that the West would rather embrace and glorify this putrid, hedonistic, terminally ill group of people rather than us.
If "Brokeback" is such an invaluable piece of art, then go to the closest travel agent, buy yourself a ticket, fly back to your "free country" and indulge. Then return for the crime free, luxurious environment. I guess I still hate them... "

Wasim, UAE



Mr Wasim, I wonder which outdated encyclopedia you're reading to get your facts. But just to save you some time, I'm going to explain the facts above which I've highlighted in bold:
1) I cordially invite you to my house, where you will find me in perfect health, physically and mentally, and with no needle marks on my arms or anywhere else. So pardon me for pointing out that myself and other people don't indulge in any substance abuse. Although, I must admit that I am addicted to Cadbury's Hot Chocolate Drink.
2) I was not 'born into a system of abuse'. I am what I am because that is how I came into this world. I was not spanked, caned, whipped, or slapped when I was a child. This is how I was made - accept it. And no, I don't have any victims - I'm not a vampire in case you didn't know.
3) If you want to see terminally ill people, then there are institutes you can go to where you can see just how different life is for a terminally ill person. Don't ever make that sort of comparison to anyone again.

27 January, 2006

Reader's Digest Announces expansion to UAE

Reader's Digest Announces Expansion to UAE

Reader's Digest discovers an untapped market.

Friday blog bites :: Emirates Today

Your weekly ration of Emirates Today blog bites is up. Click the link and then go to page 04.

Dubai Marina Market

Every Friday until April 28th, there's an open air market along the Dubai Marina Walk. It’s happening now as I post, and already the place is starting to fill up.

It’s a fun atmosphere, especially later in the afternoon and into the evening. The place gets so crowded that it’s sometimes hard to move.

All sorts of products are for sale – ornaments, clothing, jewellery, painting, photographs.

If shopping isn’t your thing, then sitting on one of the benches or at one of the restaurants and watching the crowds is also great entertainment.

The kids love the fountain!It’s so good to see the marina complex filled with life.

Super Bowl Bleg

I got an email from an American from Pittsburgh who will be in Dubai during the Super Bowl. He is wondering if there is any Steelers fan groups that will be watching the game. Also, is the game on any channel other than Orbit ESPN? Thanks