Taking house hunters for a ride
After scanning advertisements for property that fits my budget, I immediately call the listed agents, only to be told that the advertised property is no longer available.
I must have made over 30 different calls, with the same response.
Twice, the advertisement mentioned the exact address of the property, but when I contacted the agent, he said it was gone but suggested another more expensive one.
It turned out to be the same address as advertised. Here's where a two-bedroom apartment becomes a one bedroom in reality.
Is there no check on this?
From Ms Mariam Neyazi
Dubai
Short changed
All the hypermarkets and shopping malls must consciously donate Dh1 million each year to charity.
Reason? Even if they have 10 customers each day, who each leave a change of 19fils when visiting a hypermarket, the total change at the end of the year amounts to Dh6,93,500.
Discount centres on the other hand hardly ever return the change of 0.25fils, on the pretext of a shortage of coins. This adds up to a total of Dh9,12,500 each year.
It's no surprise then that more and more hypermarkets are turning into big malls.
From Ms Rakhee Sandeep Varyani
Dubai
'Donkey' on a new car
Our car was autographed by a donkey recently. It all began when my husband, a few close friends and I went shopping to a popular mall.
Being a Thursday, it was difficult to find parking space. After having found one finally, we proceeded into the mall.
On our return, we found the word "donkey" scratched on our brand new car. It broke our hearts, and all we could do was pray the culprit sees some sense.
From Ms Daisy Lobo
Dubai
Unconvincing
Recently, while in the parking lot of my building, two men approached me for financial help, stating that they were from a neighbouring country and needed the money for petrol.
Suddenly, I remembered a Gulf News report warning residents of such deceivers. I didn't help them.
I don't understand why they had to come to the parking lot of a building if they had really run out of petrol!
From Mr N. S. Masoud
Dubai
Useful tool
I want to thank Gulf News for launching GNAds4U, especially the property section.
It is so useful for overseas buyers to keep a tab on the current market rates and also provides a vast variety of property options to choose from, especially with so many realtors.
From Ms Zara Ahmad
Canada
Reckless drivers
The Abu Dhabi traffic police department is going all out to make roads safer. But what about drivers who show complete disregard for pedestrians trying to cross roads?
Such drivers think pedestrians have a target painted on them and actually aim and hoot at pedestrians who try to cross legally at pedestrian crossings.
The police should start fining such violators who ignore crossings.
From Ms Minette Van Der Bijl
UAE
Sky-high compass
Burj Dubai is now visible from almost all places in Dubai and Sharjah.
It would be great to use the landmark as a compass to help walkers and drivers find way by fixing the directions in big letters.
Though we know where the skyscraper is, we seldom know where exactly we stand. Let this building be useful to all.
From Mr Mohammad Shamsheer
Dubai
Leak proof
Although most people enjoy the rainy weather, a growing number of people are still concerned about leaking homes.
It is evident that homes across Dubai were not built to withstand rainstorms.
Thus, a few droplets of rain can lead to frustration and worries.
Perhaps the architects should concentrate on the interiors and building leak proof homes, instead of beautifying the exteriors.
Otherwise, the weather forecast should forewarn people of expected rain. This way at least, if need be, the buckets can be ready.
From Ms Chun Myung Kim
Dubai
Reduce call rates
Why can't etisalat reduce the rates for international calls ("RAK grocer arrested over internet calls", Gulf News, January 27)?
The low-income group is compelled to find alternate and cheaper ways to make calls, the internet being one such example.
I urge the concerned authorities at etisalat to consider this request, as then people would not have to resort to illegal activities.
From Mr Hussain Mirshad
Dubai
Develop the Philippines
I request President Gloria Arroyo to make the Philippines as competitive as Dubai in terms of infrastructure, education and discipline ("Arroyo arrives on two-day visit", Gulf News, January 27).
From Ms Bedista Makati
Dubai
Put to better use
President Gloria Arroyo should seize the opportunity to transform the excess greenback liquidity in the Philippines economy to the best use, instead of wasting this resource on her extravagant foreign junkets, together with her massive entourage.
From Mr Greg
Dubai
Economic crisis
I do not think President Gloria Arroyo can help us improve our working conditions.
I don't know exactly what she was doing here in the UAE, but my concern is how she is going to control the worsening economic crisis in Philippines.
From A Reader
Abu Dhabi
Name withheld by request
Competitive pay scale
President Gloria Arroyo of the Philippines should work in providing good jobs for Filipinos in their home country so they don't have to leave their families behind to find decent jobs abroad.
From Mr Gretchen
Dubai
Full name withheld by request
Chess legend
It was a sad moment for the chess fraternity that recently lost Bobby Fischer, a great chess player ("Former chess champion Bobby Fischer dies", Gulf News, January 18).
Ironically, his premature death at 64 equals the squares of the chessboard. Fischer was instrumental in changing various rules from the governing body of chess.
Directly or indirectly, he benefited the next generation of chess players and revolutionised the game with his unique, innovative and flawless style. He was a genius, no doubt, but had health problems that went unnoticed and unattended.
From Ms Yasmin Banu
Abu Dhabi
Need for options
Rather than fining pedestrians for seeking a safe place to cross, the local police need to be looking at alternatives and should be fining the drivers who do not stop at designated zebra crossings ("Abu Dhabi police fine 748 jaywalkers", Gulf News, January 23).
There seems to be no point in using designated crossings if the drivers are reckless. The police need to concentrate more on the offenders who speed, and pay no regard to pedestrians, especially at designated crossings.
I have personally experienced cars that come zooming round the corner with no concern for people waiting to cross. These issues need to be addressed.
From A Reader
Abu Dhabi
Name withheld by request
Learn to empathise
Congratulations Nicholas Coates on your recent article ("O to be in England now that January's there", Gulf News, January 23). I served in many areas during my service career, and in particular Northern Ireland during its worst period.
Our allies, the Americans, never missed an opportunity to find fault in the way we carried out our duties while they raised money for the Irish Republic Army (IRA).
Following September 11, when the US found terrorism on home soil, US money for IRA guns ran out. It takes trouble on your own doorstep to understand what it means, and only then can you empathise with the suffering of others.
From Ms Terry Vaughan
Sharjah
Too many stars
Gulf News seems to be going overboard with stargazing. First we had a pullout forecast. While Friday magazine continues with astrology predictions, complete with a contact address of the astrologer, Tabloid chewed it to the bones at the start of the year.
To top it off, we now have star forecasts for Bollywood actors! Is Gulf News so devoid of news reports that it needs to gaze into the future?
From Mr Raman Kutty
Dubai
Behind the mess
The Aussies won the first match of this series through their skill, but India put up a strong fight in the second test, and if not for wrong umpiring decisions, Australia would undoubtedly have lost the match ("Australia beat India to equal world record", Gulf News, January 6).
Australia is arguably the best in world cricket at this stage, with excellent skills and techniques, but they are not invincible, as they seem to believe. I also believe that the racism charges against Harbhajan Singh were brought up to divert the world's attention from the terrible umpiring. But their plan has backfired since cricket fans have started linking these two issues.
As a grade 10 student, I have been part of many active debates about the recent cricketing chaos in my classroom. If young fans like us can unearth the reality behind this mess, I wonder why those in charge have not voiced their concerns.
From A Reader
Sharjah
Name withheld by request
Annulment is key
This is perhaps the most troubled series ever played in the entire history of the game ("Hogg collateral damage for India", Gulf News, January 9).
If Harbhajan Singh is not acquitted, the tour might be called off and the remaining one-day internationals with Australia and Sri Lanka, cancelled. The Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) coffers are full and they should be prepared to pay the fines for their decision.
If Australian bowler Brad Hogg is acquitted, the Australian team will face charges for 'framing' Singh, and umpire Mike Proctor will be found guilty of wrongful conduct. If Hogg is acquitted, but Singh is not, then Indians the world over will scream for Proctor's head and the tour will surely be called off.
On the other hand, if Hogg is found guilty, the Aussies will protest and appeal. This mess will only get messier. The BCCI cannot settle the matter amicably because too much is at stake.
I think the only solution is for the International Cricket Council (ICC) to annul the Sydney Test. The only fall out will be the removal of umpire Steve Bucknor from the Perth Test — he deserved to be removed any way, because of the extremely poor standard of umpiring skills he displayed during the match.
From Mr Anup Kumar Das
Dubai
Horrible treatment
After such a stunning Test win at Perth, when it was time to celebrate, consolidate and encourage the Indian team to go for the kill in the fourth Test, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that they were dropping Sourav Ganguly for the triangular one-day series in Australia ("India drop Ganguly for Australia tri series", Gulf News, January 20).
Ganguly scored more than 1,200 runs in 2007 in his come back bid, and was second only to Sachin Tendulkar in the number of runs scored. He is the most consistent batsman in the Indian team at present. The reason provided by the BCCI for his omission was absolutely ridiculous.
Lack of fielding ability and age factor? This was not an issue just a couple of months ago. A man with such vast experience, a huge number of runs to his credit, and part of the best opening pair along with Tendulkar in one-day internationals, Ganguly should have had a guaranteed place on the team.
He has changed the face of Indian cricket and has given so much to the game — he does not deserve the horrible treatment he has been receiving from the so-called selection committee. They are accountable to the fuming Indian public for their decision to leave out Ganguly.
From Mr Sumanta Kumar Banerjee
Dubai
Sorry state
The selection of the Indian team for the upcoming tri series in Australia comes as a surprise, even for a novice ("India drop Ganguly for Australia tri series", Gulf News, January 20). Dropping Sourav Ganguly is ridiculous — he has given nothing but tremendous performances since his recent come back.
Leaving out V. V. S. Laxman — a man whose batting inspires nightmares from the Aussies, and not picking the great fielder Mohammad Kaif, is unacceptable. If batsman Suresh Raina can be picked for his domestic performance, I think everyone will agree that Kaif has done better for the team and is part of its future.
He is a consistent batsman and superb fielder — an asset to Indian cricket. The team selection has been a sorry state of affairs, and will eventually lead to a disaster for the Indian cricket team.
From Mr Wazi Naseem
Dubai
