Blogosphere October 28

Two big fish made a splash in the UAE this week. First, we have Christina Aguilera's much talked-about concert. The Grammy-winning pop sensation was in Abu Dhabi's Emirates Palace for a packed concert on Friday.

Fan Ria from Dubai wrote in her blog (insearchofmike.blogspot.com) that, aside from Christina's impressive voice, she was fascinated with the costume changes.

"There were like three costume changes only — but Christina Aguilera changed the mood each time with an accessory, like a sailor cap or a feather Moulan [sic] Rouge tail so it worked," she wrote.

Elsewhere in the UAE, another popular fish was making headlines around the world. "World to Dubai Atlantis: Release Sammy the shark," says a blogger from animalrescueblog.org, echoing reports in the Times online and The International Fund for Animal Welfare.

"It seems the only ‘incredible wonder' is why the developers haven't come to their senses and returned Sammy to the ocean where she belongs... The world is taking notice, there's even a Facebook group calling for her release... at this point, we're hopeful the developers come to their senses and arrange for Sammy to be released... as beautiful a sight as she may be," the blogger wrote.

In Dubai, the Jumeirah Beach Residence gets some kudos from a blogger (dubaithoughts.blogspot.com) who is of the opinion that although the development "has taken a lot of stick for the high density accommodation" it redeems itself through open spaces, water features and landscaping.

But then the blogger continues: "But of course it wouldn't truly be Dubai unless the completed work was constantly dug up. Inevitably the holescaping gangs are out in force in the completed areas, digging them up again."

Speaking of constant digging, a student midwife from Bridgton is doing some digging of her own. The kind that deals with "ridiculously scary-looking needles" that is. Anyone not afraid of needles, tell me this doesn't interest you.

Anyway, the student midwife (www.studentmidwifetales.blog-spot.com) says she is grateful to a friend and classmate for helping her get through a class on how to draw blood.

"Indeed, I got the vein, first time, and when I clicked the vacutainer tube into place, I watched in astonishment as blood quickly began to flow into it. Deep crimson vein-blood... and the flushed cheeks of success!" she wrote.