Behind the scene on nature's fury
Hurricane Katrina has proved once again there is no human answer to nature's fury.
But perhaps most of all there was shame, a deep collective national disbelief that the sole superpower could not or at least had not responded faster and more forcefully to a disaster that had been among its own government's worst-case possibilities for years.
What is sad and puzzling is that when you switch onto any television channel, all you could see is coloured people affected.
No whites around at all. Did they drive off quite early in their sports utility vehicles to much safer pastures?
From Mr S.V. Pratap
Dubai
Meaningless term
In her letter ("Not the only protest", Gulf News, August 29) Mrs Turner addresses Cindy Sheehan as an "extremist" and the anti-war groups as "insurgent-type groups and groupies".
Her attitude clearly reflects the kind of hatred the American press and leaders have succeeded in inducing into the minds of citizens.
If a harmless mother peacefully protesting her son's death can be termed as an "extremist", no wonder those who are actively resisting the occupying armies could be termed as "terrorists".
The words "terrorist" and "terrorism" lose all meaning.
From Mr S.O. Areef
Abu Dhabi
Bound to Iraq
Mr Baldwin's letter ("Meeting point", Gulf News, Online, August 30) misses the point.
When Sheehan met President George W. Bush soon after the death of her son Casey in Iraq, Bush still had some credibility.
Now Bush is accused of being a liar, so it is no surprise Sheehan feels cheated and demands another meeting considering the change of circumstances.
If Bush really believes in his cause then he should send his family to fight the cause in Iraq.
And for that matter, why doesn't Mrs Turner send her family to Iraq?
From Mr S. Malik
Stratford, East London, England
Worth dying for
Sheehan wants to know why her son had to die in the war in Iraq.
If she was really wanting to know of the sacrifice her son made, then she should go to Iraq and look at the mass graves being dug nearly every day.
She should talk to the surviving Kurds who suffered in the gas attack and ask the Iraqis who lost their loved ones under Saddam Hussain's brutal rule if her son's death was worth it.
I think the answers will surprise her.
From Mr M. Rodricks
Auckland, New Zealand
It keeps me down
I find it difficult to believe the internet service has been restored to previous levels as claimed by Etisalat.
Just try surfing on various global sites at different times of the day and you will see a significant difference.
I am from North America and I visit sites based there and in the evening is quite frustrating.
In the early morning, when many Dubai residents are asleep, I can surf these North American sites with ease.
Dubai has grown at an unprecedented rate but I believe Etisalat has not kept up with demand.
From A Reader
Dubai
Name withheld by request
Blocked sites
Google and Altavista offer a great free service to translate web pages online using the URL.
However, Etisalat has blocked these sites for unknown reasons.
Although I have contacted them about the blockage, they only responded that they are blocked because of a policy.
Reference sites: <http://babelfish.altavista.com> and <http://www.google.com/language_tools?hl=en>.
Is Etisalat offering any alternatives?
From A Reader
Dubai
Name withheld by request
The management of eCompany replies:
The websites mentioned are not blocked.
However, the online translator option on the websites in question are blocked since some customers might abuse this option to access some blocked websites (pornography, gambling, etc) because this bypasses the UAE proxy server.
The customer can visit other Arabic online translator web sites like <www.ajeeb.com>.
Heavy load
It is a sorry state of affairs when the University of Southern Queensland in Dubai has to close down (Gulf News, August 28).
But even more unfortunate is the plight of its students who have to bear the consequences.
The university has closed due to problems between itself, its main campus in Australia, and Knowledge Village.
However, no mention is made about those students who have paid fees for the year amounting to more than Dh25,000 each.
But then how can it compensate for students' efforts in studying, attending examinations and submitting assignments?
From Mr B. Nelson
Dubai
Getting to know more
The UAE Government should build the largest and best international library in the region either at Knowledge Village or Academic City.
It should contain books, periodicals and other media from the region and major centres of academic, literary and cultural excellence including Europe, the Americas and Asia.
Dubai offers almost everything a resident or student needs but not a world-class library.
It would be a valuable resource and help establish Dubai's credentials as not just a centre of trade and tourism but also that of culture and learning.
From Mr S. Khan
Dubai
Holidays
I refer to the letter "School break" (Gulf News, August 31). What about a 10-day break for winter or Christmas holiday?
As the school that my children are in is on the UK curricula and they get December 25 off, how can everybody travel to their country to celebrate Christmas and return the same day and still be expected to write examinations on December 26?
No one celebrates the festive season on December 29.
What happened to the report on minimum school days of 174, winter or Christmas break for 14 days (December 20-January 3)? Spring or Easter holiday for 14 days (March 31-April 15) and semester breaks, two days after each semester?
From A Reader
Dubai
Name withheld by request
Gold rates vary
I bought jewellery from ARY on August 30. It charged me gold price at Dh49 per gram plus making charges.
I checked the gold prices in Gulf News, Business section on August 31, where the previous (August 30) rate quoted was Dh48.50.
Since I had bought gold worth more than Dh6,300, I felt cheated by the ARY.
I called ARY and was told that on August 30, the morning rate was Dh49 and after 5.30pm it dropped down to Dh48.50.
Since I purchased it around 4pm, I was charged Dh49. He also told me that Gulf News quotes evening rates.
Gulf News should publish gold and jewellery rates to show both evening and morning rates.
From Mr A.A. Awan
Dubai
Editor's note:
The rates are issued twice a day by the Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group, at 9.30am and 4.30pm, depending on international price movements.
Gulf News publishes the latest rates possible that is, the 4
