Blogosphere: August 21, 2007

Gulf News web editor Adam Flinter plunges headlong into the blogosphere to find out what bloggers from the Middle East and beyond have on their minds.

Pick of the week:

Rabble rousing
Something that those of us who drive on Dubai's roads are well aware of is highlighted in today's Gulf News, and that's the danger of builders' rubble on the roads. It causes accidents, it causes damage to cars.
Most common is concrete spillage, making rough areas on an otherwise smooth bitumen road surface. Some of them are more than a nuisance, they're dangerous for roadholding. As reported in the story, it's quite common for serious damage to be caused when cars hit material that has fallen from trucks — pipes, planks, bricks and other large pieces of debris.
We all know the problem and we all know the answer.
The answer is to enforce the law, to police the construction industry, to check on the trucks. Stop overloading, remove leaking concrete tankers.
It isn't happening. Like so many other problems, the laws are in place but they are not enforced.
It's not only Dubai that has this problem of laws not being enforced, it happens all over the world.
And there really is no excuse.
dubaithoughts.blogspot.com/

Colour my Salik
Next time you walk around in a parking lot, take a quick glance at the parked cars with all the Salik tags on them.
Doesn't the view remind you of something like this?
I mean, seriously guys .. why does all the tags HAVE to be in that pale orange colour? Is there any functional need for the sticker to be spotted a mile away? Why not have it in transparent or black colour? If it was up to me, black would've been ideal. Because once you paste it on the windshield, the sticker will virtually disappear. OK, here is an idea. Since everyone really REALLY hates Salik now, maybe RTA should consider giving Salik a makeover ... perhaps it would ease on some of the flak they've been getting in the press everyday.
So, RTA, here it goes:
Why not re-introduce Salik tags in a wild range of colours. Giving our stylish drivers the chance to customise their Salik tags in a colour that matches their ride, their mood and their personality?
With almost ALL cars in Dubai mostly white and silver; black, white and grey tags will be flying off shelves. Red, blue and their shades can be available.
dubaiconsumermirror.blogspot.com/

Still working
I must admit Salik definitely has cleared up the roads from Garhoud bridge upto Shaikh Zayed Road. I don't know about others if they have faced any traffic situation on this route, but until now all the times that I have driven up there I could count the number of cars on my fingers! I never thought I'd see the day when SZR would have smooth flowing traffic. Traffic? You can hardly call this traffic!! There's no traffic even on weekends! I remember when it used to be so bad that I'd think twice of taking that route! I don't go towards SZR all that often, but if now whenever I need to, I don't mind paying Dh4 for Salik. I have peace of mind and don't have to worry about the hundreds of cars on all lanes, jammed bumper to bumper, trying to get to the office or home. This is where you save the most time!
clayfuture.blogspot.com/

Income…expenditure
I'm not really a victim of repeat SMSs, but this is getting slighltly amusing. HHIE wants to know about my "income and expenditure".
These SMSs appear every few days with longer phrases each time.
Apparently information about my "income and expenditure" will be for the betterment of society. I really don't think so. If "income and expenditure" is worth the spend on your SMSs, please send an accountant my way soon.
desperateprincessdubai.blogspot.com/

Courage
I went to the gym after work today, and VH1 (one of the music channels) was on the television.
One of the music videos that was shown (and I have no idea what song it was for, since I was plugged into my iPod) flashed a photo from the Tiananmen Square incident in 1989, of the lone protestor standing in front of the tanks. One of those very iconic images, which everyone is familiar with.
It made me think though: How much courage and belief in your convictions does it take for someone to stand in front of a moving column of tanks?
dragongirl76.blogspot.com/

Chill!
In case you are wondering what's the link between England's ruler and England's favourite food, look no further than Dubai, England's official favourite long-haul tourist destination. A recent radio ad of a UAE telecoms operator used the tune of God Save the Queen with the following lyrics: "Why don't you read our lips, we love our fish & chips our fish & chips..." And oh, yes! This offended a handful of Dubai Brits ... leading du, the offender, to undo what I thought to be a highly creative campaign. A word of friendly advice to my English friends in Dubai. Chill out lads. It's 47 (degrees) out there! And in any case, the Premier League kicked off yesterday.
dubaigreek.blogspot.com/