Banning Minibuses? October 22, 2009

How Lame! LOL. I can’t help it.
The government, RTA, the cops all seem to miss the point.
Why is the Minibus a ticking time bomb which seems to blow up on the road ever so often?

UAE police say: “Common Sense. Right? They are dangerous when over crowded.” and then they want to find a solution to this problem.

Public say: Okay. The buses are fairly light and designed to carry less passengers but how can accidents take place if the bus is light weight? LOL. The light weight issue is a downside to travelling in these buses but not an accident creator! – “Common sense. Catch hold of the drivers. Curb their speed. Fine them. Confiscate the licenses of these drivers.”

Living here for the past 3 years and having interacted with many a public, most of them complain that the bus drivers are superfast. Reaching employees from Sharjah to Sheikh Zayed Road in 1 hour? Reaching from Bur Juman to Internet City in half an hour? Don’t these drivers have to answer their employers about the fines?

A Lebanese co-traveller once got her husband to complain about our bus drivers tendency to over speed. He was reprimanded, but got to drive the bus. And he’d sneer at the Lebanese woman when she’d come in, muttering in Urdu under his breath.

What do you say?

For more, refer to this article in The National.

I must add, that at some point in their pondering, the cops got the point about speeding, licensing et al.

Bravo, Charlie Sheen! September 13, 2009

US Government was behind 9/11 attacks…..

You may find the video here

Now need I say why?

Your Say: Youth Activities November 26, 2008

Do you think there are enough youth-focused outdoor activities?

{Parents are being urged to get their children out of the house and out of the malls to play in the natural environment.

Distracted by entertainment in malls and computer games, the country’s young could be losing a vital link with nature, said Ali Saqar al Suweidi, president of the Emirates Marine Environmental Group.

The group is campaigning to encourage parents and teachers to ensure the natural world is part of all children’s upbringing and education, especially awareness of the UAE’s marine habitats.

Do you think there are enough youth-focused outdoor activities? 

In what ways do kids currently interact with nature?

What additional nature activities would you like to see available for children?}

My Say: What am I hearing? LOL Outdoor Activities? What outdoors? LOL Natural Environment? What’s Natural about the environment? Oh now I get it. 

This is an open advertisement by the President of Emirates Marine Environmental Group. It indirectly suggests that now parents and schools should take their kids to the aquarium to be more familiar with the “natural environment” and whether parents can afford it or not kids will be paying extra for “awareness”.  After all, the rich sheikhs of Dubai will want to cover up the costs of their fancy monuments. The monuments have been built to show off Dubai’s glitz.  Had they been for education, they would have been located in more accessiblity friendly places than a collosal mall which doesn’t have adequate roads or parking surrounding it.  

I’m trying to answer all the questions here (not trying to be peevish).  LOL

UAE is a mess of little roads, lots of traffic, freak show drivers, that make it impossible for one to simply go for a stroll in the evenings. So forget about letting the kids out.  

The only outdoors in UAE are the beaches which are slowly being poluted. Where do we see groups of kids occupying space with cricket bats in hand, running between the stumps? As of now, the maximum I’ve seen “toddlers : nature” is at beaches building sandcastles and digging wells or learning to swim.

Kids should be able to cycle freely, swim, play sports, and simply breathe fresh air freely without causing parents much concern. There’s so much more to life than The Simpsons and One Tree Hill and Nintendo and The Dubai Mall.

(The questions in this “Your Say” were hilarious. I’ve tried to be extremely serious. Write in your opinions in the Comment Area.  Thanks!)

Your Say: National ID Card November 15, 2008

Are you happy to register for an ID card or do you think they are unnecessary? Do you think the scheme will improve security in the Emirates?

{Companies whose foreign employees do not register for identity cards could face penalties similar to those on firms that employ illegal immigrants. Are you happy to register for an ID card or do you think they are unnecessary? Do you think the scheme will improve security in the Emirates?}

My Say: It is just another expense . If the government thinks its necessary for national security, why aren’t they meting the service to all: the nationals and the expats free of cost or for a nominal fee? (The fee right now is anything but nominal)  Also, as per the amount of security measures UAE has taken to gather details about every individual livin within the country, the national ID isn’t necessary at all. All they need is to enter a person’s name into their system and all information will be provided. Take for instance the Driver’s License or the Labor Card which are as good as a  ”national ID”.

Please Leave Your Say in the Comment Area. Thanks!

Your Say: Consumer Confidence November 13, 2008

Consumer confidence is slowing, so should the authorities loosen credit? 

{Consumer confidence remains high, but is slowing, which means shoppers are keeping their wallets closed.}

My Say: No. I think the authorities must not loosen credit. Its no point. They should help consumers by firstly lessening the prices of basic commodities. Secondly, they should invent a pricing system, by which all commodities are sold at the same price in all parts of UAE. 

Is it easy to explain why a Pepsi can costs AED 1 from a vending machine. AED 2 in a cafeteria on Sheikh Zayed Road and AED 5 in a Deli in a remote area in Al Quoz?

Please Leave Your Say in the Comment Area. Thanks!

Your Say: November 13, 2008

The National carries several interesting “Your View” stories, everday.

Readers are encouraged to publish their comments/ have their say. Though, I tried posting a comment several times, I received an error page. Also, I noticed that on 90% of these “your say” stories, there are absolutely no comments. (Its not like the National has no online readers – LOL) 

One more thing that is quite ridiculous. The paper encourages the public to have its say. But - *Your message will be reviewed before being published - marks very distinctly, the level of censorship in the UAE. {You can’t really have your say until they think your say is ‘fine’}

So I’m thinking of having their discussions on my blog. I think it’ll be a great experience and an equally great chance to know what the locals and expats really think.

Check out my first post on Your Say: 

Your Say: Consumer Confidence