200 Posts

This is my 200th post, who would have thought there were that many things to ramble on about since May 2006.

Black box system for cars to hit market soon

The system, which includes a video capturing system and data analysis software, will be available on the market in mid-March according to the manufacturers.

The black box, which is placed at the windshield of a car, starts shooting from the minute the car is switched on. It keeps shooting video as long as the car is moving, but does not record data, except if there is a collision.
7days

Death by stoning case goes to Supreme Court

The Federal Supreme Court is looking into the case of a Pakistani man who was found guilty of having illicit affairs with his four stepdaughters and sentenced to death by stoning.

The four girls were sentenced to 80 lashes each. The sentences have already been carried out.

They were charged with "allowing" their stepfather to sleep with them. The girls reportedly gave birth to more than 10 children by the man. One of them was eight months pregnant when they were arrested in 2005, according to police officials.The girls aged between 21 and 26 told the judge their stepfather used to threaten them with a knife, forcing them to surrender.
7days

So they were raped then?

Road Safety

The National Consultative Council (NCC) yesterday approved a set of recommendations, including introduction of traffic safety as a subject in both public and private school curricula in an attempt to cut down on car accidents like the one show.
7days

UAE football team

Emirates Today: The UAE football team has made it to the final against Oman. The Police are warning drivers to obey road rules as some fans behave improperly when celebrating. On Saturday when the UAE won the semi-final, some drivers jumped red lights and drove in the wrong direction. Three people died and nine other were injured in seven traffic accidents.

Nice car tastefully done with safety in mind...

Foggy Day

It was particularly foggy on the way to work yesterday morning, the usual idiots were driving in the outside lane at 20kph with no lights and their hazard on, carnage was inevitable. One such unfortunate person was the owner of this Chrysler Sebring, normally a big car, now the size of a Mini.
Photos from my phone are not the best

Parking Tickets

Finally after many weeks the Police decide to ticket the inconsiderate people who park on the pavement outside my office. They're a pain as they cause chaos trying to get on and off the pavement and block the road while doing so. I understand the difficulty of trying to find a car space, theres cant be more than 600 below the building and another 200 behind it.
Photo by Wael

The pikeys are in town

Why go to the expense of getting mirrored windows or installing reflective film or even putting up curtains, when you can just glue tin foil on... classy as you like. The Springs really is turning into a council estate.

New game

I've heard of a new game where certain people are trying to get the highest speed on a speed camera (radar) and then their photo in the newspaper. This photo of a car doing 214 kph on what I think is Beach Road which has a 70 kph limit, is probably the winner so far, the brave individual has no number plate either, hopefully they'll lock him up when if they catch him.
Photo from Emirates Today

Desert flowers

What are these things growing in the desert? My dog likes to pee on them. They're not mushrooms by the way.

Driving violations

Apparently these are some of the new driving violation fines and points for Dubai. How does the system work, you ask? Well apparently its a bit like Bruce Forsyth's game shows... What do points make... prizes. You can probably double your points during DSF too. Now if only there was some way to implement them the roads would be empty. By Ross

Dead Bently

If you can afford a Bently Sport, you can afford another one, just dont get a gold one this time. Perhaps spend some money on driving lessons too.
Photo from Wael

Dead Flamingos

It appears that someone is shooting the Flamingos that live in the lake in the desert near my house, this was one of 3 dead ones in the sand. Why would you shoot a Flamingo you sick monkey?

Nice paint work

How to drastically reduce the value of your Porsche. Ferdinand Porsche would turn in his grave if he saw this dodgy paint job. Another example of 'having money does not bring good taste.' Its the UAE flag if you couldn't tell.
Photo by JP

Truck Drivers

EmiratesToday: One in five road deaths last year were caused by truck drivers, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said. The main reason behind the fatal accidents was the fact that many truck drivers were using old and worn out tyres. Overloading was cited by the authority as another reason for the deadly crashes.

Another reason is that they all drive like loons.

They're cooking cats

7days: Stray cats are being served up for supper in some Dubai labour camps. The cats are caught in Satwa and brought into the camps as pets then boiled or fried by the workers before being eaten. Some workers have been complaining because "they hate the smell of it." The Dubai Municipality said "Eating stray cats and dogs is certainly a health hazard."

Only in Dubai

Where else in the world could you afford to customize 3 trucks just to display Sony mobile phones, as part of your Ad campaign, then drive them around all day.

Arse of the week 17

This arse parked between 2 pillars across 3 spaces so there was no room for anyone else, what a selfish arse.

Hows my driving?

Saw this sign on the back of a truck, it's a mobile number to call if the driver's not driving safely, my guess is that its the drivers mobile number so you can tell him who you are, what car your driving and he can then crash into you.

Safety first

When you really need to get your mattress home in a hurry, stick it on the roof and drive in the fast lane... arse.
Photo from 7days

Shopping

Shopping can be hard work, nice there was a bed in Debenhams so I could have a nap.

Doug's 40th

Doug was 40 over the weekend (actually about a month ago but his party was this weekend) His wife had a catered barbecue party for him, Mexican if you couldn't guess from the photo. Food was good.

Shampooch

My dog Clyde is a bit hairy, he sheds all the time so I booked him in to get shampooched. When the van turned up I didn't know if they were going to groom my dog or solve mysteries.

All the grooming is done in the van, so no mess in my house, he looks tidy now.

JP jumps

He's some very amature footage of my house mate taking a jump at Ski Dubai. Its not going to break any records, but a valiant attempt none the less.

On the slope

Went snowboarding at the weekend, JP hassles some woman to take a photo, then decides he wants me and Ross to be on the slope rather than the flat, not easy on a snowboard so Im being propped up.

Buckaroo (again)

After being out on the lash JP required around 18 hours of sleep to get rid of the hangover, then fell asleep on the sofa. He was snoring so I played buckaroo, then sent the dog in to lick his face and wake him up... lightweight.

Camel in the pits

This poor camel fell in a hole in Khor Fakkan and broke its leg. I wonder whats for dinner tonight?
Photo from 7days

Fortune Tower

Fortune Tower in Dubai Marina on fire, unfortunately 4 people died and 50+ were injured, glad I live in a villa.
Photo from 7days

Flasher’s pants ‘just fell down’

7days: A man exposed himself to an eight-year-old girl by accident when his trousers fell down, he claims. The 36-year-old Indian man was cleaning in a building in the Refa area when he allegedly exposed himself to the girl, who was also Indian. He asked her to touch him, but she refused, the Dubai Court of First Instance heard. The man denied the charges yesterday, telling the court: “I was wearing old pants and the belt was also weak - it came off while I was working and my pants just fell down.” The trial was adjourned until next month so the accused can be given a lawyer.

Car repair

A man trying to repair a car after an accident on Al Khail Road using nothing more than water and Miracle Grow ™, he proved to be unsuccessful.
Photo from 7days

Runaway crocodile spreads terror

Ras Al Khaimah: A 1m long runaway baby crocodile created panic among residents of Al Rams area. The owner said it escaped from its pool in to the sea but was later caught and returned.

He said his small pet appears big in the pictures and that may have added to the fear in the people. Such exotic pets can be bought in shops, he claimed adding that a number of residents keep crocodiles, some of them five-meter-long, in their farms. Dr Saif Al Qais, a marine biology professor at the UAE University, said the crocodile is a protected species under the Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

He said the UAE is member of CITES and crocodiles sold in the country are the smuggled ones. He said investigations and information gathered showed that many pet shops are selling CITES listed animals and their products. (Gulf News)

Wedding Tent

Went for a barbecue at Kerry's on Friday night, directions involved taking a different route to avoid a wedding tent that had been put up across the road... only in the Middle East.

How to ruin a Ferrari

Why would you cover your Ferrari in crappy Autotrader graphics? At least it wasn't an Aston Martin they used.

Fireworks

Here's a video of the fireworks from New Years Eve, commentary's not the best, just a few drunks shouting.

New Years Eve

Annah quite wisely booked the Meat Co. for New Years Eve, the food wasn't the best but it was a set menu, the drinks however were great, as was the company and the fireworks over the Burj Al Arab at the end. The que's for the taxis were unreal, at least 300 people waiting and no taxis, well done for planning that Dubai Transport.

Thanks for arranging it Annah.

Buckaroo

Over the Christmas holidays met up with my friends Sarah and Gordon from Abu Dhabi, Gordon was a bit tired and maybe a little drunk so we played Buckaroo on him... you had to be there.

Comedy value

Shop in London selling shoes funnily enough, comedy value 3/10

Man bag

Man with womans handbag in a stolen shopping basket... Londoners

Home for Christmas

Had a smashing time in the UK, the weather was a pleasant 14C in London, but got down to -4C in the North East. Went on the Millennium Wheel, saw a crappy 3 wheeler, had a good breakfast, sat in many pubs with open fires and went in the hills near my parents house, not the highlights but the only times I remembered to take my camera.

More bus drivers

Dont know how this one happened there was only a wrecked bus and no other vehicle, looks bad for anyone sat in the back.

Bus drivers

This loon came round the slip road and hit the side of a truck, easy to do, they are small after all, not 50 foot long or anything

Dopey driver

Truck drivers really need a driving lesson or 2, this idiot didn't slow down for the roundabout and couldn't make the corner.

The drive to the airport

My taxi ride to the airport was quite entertaining, there were many crashes as it had been raining that morning, most funny was the smashed up police 4x4's, there were 3 of them but I was laughing so much when I took the photo I only managed to snap 1.

Off Roading

JP got a new 4x4 and Jeep invited him to take it on an off road driving day.

Picnic

Something I haven't seen since I left Abu Dhabi, people having a picnic in the middle of a roundabout... classy.

Nasty crash

Just before Christmas I heard there was a particularly bad crash on SZR, here are the photos from the newspaper, apparently a Pakistani driven workers bus 14 seater or so, was driving in the fast lane and collided with another bus, broke the barrier turned on its side, then a van crash into it along with numerous cars.

Outcome: 9 dead, 50 injured.

The Police need to ban those buses from the fast lanes and limit their speed to 80 kph.

Rain in Sharjah

Apparently while I've been away its been raining a lot, especially in Sharjah. I do like the way people still think they can drive through it, even though its 2 feet deep.

Holiday

Been on holiday in the UK for a few weeks so got a backlog of stuff to post, I'll get round to it soon.

Trucks

Drivers of trucks over here are renown for being some of the worst in the world, here another example to prove that.
Photo from Wael