Just when you think the West as a society has reached an all time low with its reality shows you see something like this where we are definitely outdone by of all people the oh so prim and proper Japanese ... not for squeamish people!!
Hope he won a prize!!!!
Now the next one is funny - but I see plenty of chance for major mishaps which could get you seriously sued!!
17 July 2007
16 July 2007
Time to go blogging ... again!
Just to test if the blogger thing still works and to test some of the Picasaweb functionality - photo of my cat after we picked him up in the street - genuine Persian but has fallen victim to the Not a cute kitty anymore - therefore out the door!
Dubai syndrome. Animals are not very high on people's appreciation lists round here.
07 August 2006
Lebanon - no bravery ... only sadness
Was listening to my James Blunt CD in the car it struck me that the words of this song is really applicable to the current situation in Lebanon and its neighbour - and it is applicable to both sides - nice one oh mighty leaders of our world, hope you are really proud of the bravery you are showing in order to advance your own political, economical and religious agendas but remember the people on the ground, knows in Blunt's words 'Only sadness'.
There are children standing here,
Arms outstretched into the sky,
Tears drying on their face.
He has been here.
Brothers lie in shallow graves.
Fathers lost without a trace.
A nation blind to their disgrace,
Since he's been here.
And I see no bravery,
No bravery in your eyes anymore.
Only sadness.
Houses burnt beyond repair.
The smell of death is in the air.
A woman weeping in despair says,
He has been here.
Tracer lighting up the sky.
It's another families‚ turn to die.
A child afraid to even cry out says,
He has been here.
And I see no bravery,
No bravery in your eyes anymore.
Only sadness.
There are children standing here,
Arms outstretched into the sky,
But no one asks the question why,
He has been here.
Old men kneel and accept their fate.
Wives and daughters cut and raped.
A generation drenched in hate.
Yes, he has been here.
And I see no bravery,
No bravery in your eyes anymore.
Only sadness.
There are children standing here,
Arms outstretched into the sky,
Tears drying on their face.
He has been here.
Brothers lie in shallow graves.
Fathers lost without a trace.
A nation blind to their disgrace,
Since he's been here.
And I see no bravery,
No bravery in your eyes anymore.
Only sadness.
Houses burnt beyond repair.
The smell of death is in the air.
A woman weeping in despair says,
He has been here.
Tracer lighting up the sky.
It's another families‚ turn to die.
A child afraid to even cry out says,
He has been here.
And I see no bravery,
No bravery in your eyes anymore.
Only sadness.
There are children standing here,
Arms outstretched into the sky,
But no one asks the question why,
He has been here.
Old men kneel and accept their fate.
Wives and daughters cut and raped.
A generation drenched in hate.
Yes, he has been here.
And I see no bravery,
No bravery in your eyes anymore.
Only sadness.
05 August 2006
Only in Dubai ...
Thought I saw everything in Dubai till this afternoon - 12:45 comming from Dubai side over the Garhoud bridge, direction Jebel Ali on out beloved Sheik Zahed Road.
As usual at that time of the day lots of traffic and the normal road works just before the bridge helps to create the normal confussion and bottleneck with the normal culprits in Sunny's and Landcruisers (maybe all car manufacturers should include an Introduction to driving course with their cars) weaving from lane to lane, when we where overtaken by a policeman on his bike, blue lights flashing. First though that crossed my mind that if there was an accident up ahead it would just stuff up the traffic completely - little did I know.
Just as I got off the bridge this scene out a Hollywood movie played it off in front off me
- Picture this - just the traffic gets released from the bottleneck that is the bridge and everybody is jockeying to get into position - as close as possible to the car in front, in the normal Dubai tradition when the Policeman mentioned earlier stop in the left hand lane - and proceeds to stop all five (or is it six) lanes of the high way to allow 2 female pedestrians standing on the middle lane of SZ to be able to cross. What happened next was like a slow motions replay - screeching tyres, smoke and cars swerving all over the road, glass flying and the net effect - a three car pile-up, a few thousand Dirhams damage, major traffic jam and a funny looking cop.
To the policeman - what were you thinking!!! But on the other hand - you where on hand to take the traffic accident details right there and then, no waiting for those involved - good work! By the way, did you fine the pedestrians for crossing a highway - sorry - stupid question.
As usual at that time of the day lots of traffic and the normal road works just before the bridge helps to create the normal confussion and bottleneck with the normal culprits in Sunny's and Landcruisers (maybe all car manufacturers should include an Introduction to driving course with their cars) weaving from lane to lane, when we where overtaken by a policeman on his bike, blue lights flashing. First though that crossed my mind that if there was an accident up ahead it would just stuff up the traffic completely - little did I know.
Just as I got off the bridge this scene out a Hollywood movie played it off in front off me
- Picture this - just the traffic gets released from the bottleneck that is the bridge and everybody is jockeying to get into position - as close as possible to the car in front, in the normal Dubai tradition when the Policeman mentioned earlier stop in the left hand lane - and proceeds to stop all five (or is it six) lanes of the high way to allow 2 female pedestrians standing on the middle lane of SZ to be able to cross. What happened next was like a slow motions replay - screeching tyres, smoke and cars swerving all over the road, glass flying and the net effect - a three car pile-up, a few thousand Dirhams damage, major traffic jam and a funny looking cop.
To the policeman - what were you thinking!!! But on the other hand - you where on hand to take the traffic accident details right there and then, no waiting for those involved - good work! By the way, did you fine the pedestrians for crossing a highway - sorry - stupid question.
All I can say is - Only in Dubai!
03 July 2006
Back to house arrest
Yep - that time of the year - everybody that can afford it is fast leaving the UAE for the summer months, the rest of us is just surviving, minimizing the time we need to spend running from our houses to out cars to our offices and back again as its just too damn hot (hmm that is a catchy tune) . Nobody can actually believe the effect of 40C with a high humidity as we experience here.
So what happens here during summer - most of the expat wifes who are not working has moved of home, the left over husbands :) - I know- is just struggling to work and back, wipping the sweat from their brows and waiting for tjaila time so that they can take a taxi to the pub for a bit of re-hydration.
The building is continuing - workers can now rest(for a shorter peiod) during the middle of the day. Problem is - midnight it is still above 30 Celcius with humidity thatwould make a statue sweat - so the rest period is just so much help .... .
For the first few years I was quite impressed with the Summer Surprises - this year - buy more than AED200 and get a voucher to take part in a draw (Do I hear you ask about gambling) and no real discounts as previous.
Anyway - the family is gone, I have the villa to myself and it is really boring! Showtime ( a local Satelite provider) is showing the same series of Charmed now for at least the third time since I moved here... guys - I am paying good money for your sports deficient, world cup deficient (actually entertainment deficient) channels and this is the best you can show on the prime time 7-8 slot??!!
Anyway - traffic is slightly better, service stills sucks - weird how you can buy something from an electronics shop for more then $200US and the salesperson never speaks directly to you? WTF??? Hint to the people managers at these stores - we are spending good money to keep your business going, the lowest salary will get you a body who is not really an asset- employ people who have some sort of a personality at least!
The political games in organizations here far exceeds what I was used to back home - why? Just struck me - because of the competitive enviroment and the type of people who is attracted to this environment (where we are all just temps) causes people to climb over others even easier than in the corporate dogfights back home as it is everyone for himself - the mighty money god RULES!
Weird place - a can of coke will be US25c while a hambuger can be up to $5 at McDonalds? Cars are just as or even cheaper than in the US, roads are wide with lots of lanes and you still have some idiot in a Nissan Sunny insisting on be traveling at 80Km/h in the seconds fastest lane while talking on his mobile, oblivious of the cars flashing past him on either side! It would be funny if it was not so tragic! And then when he wakes up at his exit he will just cut accross 4 lanes to exit the highway - once again oblivious to the chaos he leaves in his wake.
So what happens here during summer - most of the expat wifes who are not working has moved of home, the left over husbands :) - I know- is just struggling to work and back, wipping the sweat from their brows and waiting for tjaila time so that they can take a taxi to the pub for a bit of re-hydration.
The building is continuing - workers can now rest(for a shorter peiod) during the middle of the day. Problem is - midnight it is still above 30 Celcius with humidity thatwould make a statue sweat - so the rest period is just so much help .... .
For the first few years I was quite impressed with the Summer Surprises - this year - buy more than AED200 and get a voucher to take part in a draw (Do I hear you ask about gambling) and no real discounts as previous.
Anyway - the family is gone, I have the villa to myself and it is really boring! Showtime ( a local Satelite provider) is showing the same series of Charmed now for at least the third time since I moved here... guys - I am paying good money for your sports deficient, world cup deficient (actually entertainment deficient) channels and this is the best you can show on the prime time 7-8 slot??!!
Anyway - traffic is slightly better, service stills sucks - weird how you can buy something from an electronics shop for more then $200US and the salesperson never speaks directly to you? WTF??? Hint to the people managers at these stores - we are spending good money to keep your business going, the lowest salary will get you a body who is not really an asset- employ people who have some sort of a personality at least!
The political games in organizations here far exceeds what I was used to back home - why? Just struck me - because of the competitive enviroment and the type of people who is attracted to this environment (where we are all just temps) causes people to climb over others even easier than in the corporate dogfights back home as it is everyone for himself - the mighty money god RULES!
Weird place - a can of coke will be US25c while a hambuger can be up to $5 at McDonalds? Cars are just as or even cheaper than in the US, roads are wide with lots of lanes and you still have some idiot in a Nissan Sunny insisting on be traveling at 80Km/h in the seconds fastest lane while talking on his mobile, oblivious of the cars flashing past him on either side! It would be funny if it was not so tragic! And then when he wakes up at his exit he will just cut accross 4 lanes to exit the highway - once again oblivious to the chaos he leaves in his wake.
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