Cars and Cats

Opening up the latest issue of Al Ain Times, I am happy to say that the improvements continue. I was particularly pleased that they covered the issue of those reckless and downright dangerous road pests, the fast-lane-full-beamers. You know the ones, they come up right behind you in the fast lane (and sometimes the middle and slow lane) and flash their headlights at full beam so you can't see a damn thing behind you. Well, it turns out some moron decided to do that on Thursday night as he was driving through the Diwan underpass and it all went horribly wrong.

Reading on to page 6, there's an article about the inhumane treatment of cats that's going on in Al Ain. I've always been an ardent animal activist in a land where animals are often treated like vermin or as toys which can be tortured and killed for a few moments of pleasure. I've written on this blog about the disgusting state of pet shops here, the lack of care of animals on sale that most of the time shouldn't even be in the country in the first place. Well done, Al Ain Times for highlighting this issue. BUT...

Why were these crucial 'public issue' pieces only published in the English section???!!!

Al Ain Times pat on the back

In the past I've been a little critical of our local paper The Al Ain Times, especially the English section. I know they read this blog and that's why I give them feedback here.

Anyway, I'm delighted to say that the latest issue is a huge improvement! The English section actually has quite a lot of news in it this time and not so much of the 'health advice' filler stuff.
I got an e mail from the paper and I'm sure they won't mind me reproducing it here:

Good afternoon,

Just read through your input on our paper and I must say OUCH!!

We do appreciate your feedback on the paper and we are happy to understand better what our readers would like to see.

We would like to point out that none of our articles are pasted from the internet - it is unfortunate that they seem that way.

Feel free to contact us anytime with your comments. This email address is open to all - just please write the word feedback in the subject line.

Thank you and best regards,

Al Ain Times

Al Ain Times Whine

Divide and rule.

Our local newspaper loves to do this with one half in English and the other half in Arabic. While this week's English section tells us about the latest Harry Potter saga, the Arabic section tells us that Emirati university professors are going to get a 25% pay rise. Why does the editor at our local rag think that I don't want to know this?

Al Ain Times, are you two different newspapers? Don't you think the readers of the English section might be interested in some real news rather than cut and pasted health advice from the internet?

Al Ain Times. It's good for lining the cat litter tray.

Where's Al AinTimes?

I haven't seen it around town this week, so I went online to take a peek at the latest issue and the website's down.

Anyone have any info on this?

World money laundering experts meet in Al Ain

"About 14 Arab countries
and three Western nations
gathered in Al Ain for the
Middle East and North Africa
Financial Action Task Force
(MENAFATF) 4th Plenary
Meeting and Typologies
Workshop to talk about on
how they would combat
issues of money laundering,
drugs and terrorism while still
maintaining cooperation and
solidarity among them"

From Al Ain Times, 18th-20th November, page 3.

That's cleared that up then. Reading that headline, I had a wonderful image in my mind of various international 'Most Wanteds' gathering over coffee and dates to discuss the best way to turn filthy funds into clean cash. Now that would be a scoop for Al Ain Times....

Al Ain Taxi in Al Ain Times

Miranda from Al Ain Times has been hounding me for the past few weeks. Her colleague, Lucky Mae has also sent me a few e mails as well. Miranda has promised to protect my anonymity and not let the paper's photographer come within miles of the interview. So who shall I go with?

I'm still not sure if I'm going to do this...advice anyone?

Al Ain: The one about the tourists..

The latest issue of Al Ain Times announces that 'Al Ain emerges as popular destination for Eid holidays'. Of course, the hotels are making the most of this by charging more than double normal room rates similar to what you'd pay in Dubai most of the year. They must be rubbing their hands with glee.

So Al Ain is a tourist destination. I can just imagine one of the UK's holiday shows covering it. Where would they start? Ok, how about seeing the 'real Arabia'? Did you go to Dubai and not see any Arabs? Well, come to Al Ain and you'll get to see the Arabs you're yearning for.

I think a good presenters for this particular episode would be Torvill and Dean, the famous british skating duo. They could arrive at Al Ain Mall and do a report on the Ice Rink. Pretending to the rink staff that they've never skated before they could hobble onto the ice, clinging on to one of those metal zimmer frames and wobble around a bit. Suddenly, on the first beat of some Arabic pop, Jane could launch herself into a triple axel while the camera crew film the crowds reaction. That would make good TV.

According to the Al Ain Times, it appears that people are coming to Al Ain for it's beauty and to get away from the hussle and bussle of city life. Going in the other direction are Al Ain residents heading to the coast for some decent shopping and some beachlife.
As I've said before, what we really need in Al Ain are some decent shops. I've got nothing against the shops we all ready have but its a choice issue here. Why is it that our only big supermarket here is Carrefour? Yes, I know we have Megamart but it's hardly 'mega'. We had Spinneys up until 2003/4 which, although a little expensive, stocked some decent lines. Anyone who goes to the malls in the evenings will know there is no shortage of people willing to say masalama to their dirhams. So lets have more choice in what to spend them on!!

As for beachlife, how about Al Ain Beach? We've got the sand, we just need the sea..

For a moment I thought I'd found fame!

I opened up the latest edition of Al Ain Times to see the words 'Al Ain Taxi'. Sadly, they're not talking about me...

Extra Extra!

Al Ain Times published its first issue today. Did anyone get to read it?

No articles by The Taxi this week though.

You heard it here first

Al Ain is going to have its own newspaper. The first issue is expected in May and it will be called the Al Ain Times.