Monday, April 9, 2007
XBox 360 Qwerty Keyboard Rumors
Earlier today, Gamespot made mention of an upcoming QWERTY keyboard add-on for the Xbox 360 controller. Since that time, the post was yanked, but Engadget posted some rather slick looking images of what the controller could might look like.There were rumors as far back as 2005 that Microsoft would release such a device, but those never came to fruition. However, with the recent announcements about integration to Windows Live Messenger in the console’s upcoming Spring 07 Dashboard Update, now seems like the right time.
[Via Technabob]
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Trucks Banned From Using The BB Bridge
Lorries, tankers and other heavy vehicles have been banned from using Dubai’s Business Bay Crossing.The order by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is intended to ensure the safety of drivers and keep traffic moving in both directions between Bur Dubai and Deira.
The ban applies to any vehicle weighing 2.5 tonnes or more and will be in force 24 hours a day as well as on all holidays.
It differs from the lorry bans on other crossings, which are lifted at certain times.
Maitha Mohammed bin Adai, Chief Executive Officer of the Traffic and Roads Agency at the RTA, called on lorry drivers and firms that owned heavy vehicles to obey the ban, which applies to the crossing and the roads leading to it. Salahaldin Al Marzoki, of the Traffic and Roads Agency, said the opening of the fourth crossing on the creek had helped to reduce traffic jams on the other three.
There was, therefore, no justification for a lorry or tanker driver using the Business Bay Crossing. Any accident involving a heavy vehicle will cause massive damage, he said.
Bin Adai said work on another crossing, the Floating Bridge, had reached a key phase – the development of roads and interchanges on either side of the creek. He said: “This is one of a series of vital projects being undertaken to upgrade roads and crossings.” “The project is in line with RTA’s strategy and its continual efforts to keep pace with the construction boom and the emirate’s social and economic development, and to meet the needs of Dubai’s growing population.” The sixlane Floating Bridge is being built half a kilometre south of the Al Maktoum Bridge. It will link the area around Deira City Centre and the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club with a new intersection on Riyadh Street between Dubai Courts and Creek Park. The bridge will be constructed using 20-metre-wide hollow concrete blocks that will float on water. Work began at the end of last year and the project will cost Dh127 million.
[Via Emirates Today]
Burj Dubai Towers With Storeys
Burj Dubai, already the tallest structure in the Middle East and Europe, has set a new global record for having more floors than any other building in the world.
Currently at 120 storeys and 422.5 metres high, the iconic building developed by Emaar Properties is also one of the five tallest structures in the world.
Height-wise, the tower is now taller than the Empire State Building (381 metres) in New York City and the John Hancock Centre (344 metres) in Chicago – two of only five completed buildings in the world that have 100 storeys or more.
So far 304,800 cubic metres of reinforced concrete and 59,200 tonnes of reinforcing steel have been used in the construction of Burj Dubai.
“Burj Dubai is setting a new record with every passing day – in terms of height and the number of storeys,” said Mohamed Ali Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties.
“This is the accomplishment of teamwork, with the world’s best in engineering, construction and design services working together to create a new landmark not only for the UAE, but for the world,” he said.
Burj Dubai, designed by Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, is being constructed by high-rise experts, South Korea’s Samsung Corporation.Turner Construction International is the project and construction manager of the tower.
When completed, Burj Dubai will be the tallest building in the world in all four categories recognised by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). It ranks buildings on the basis of spire height, the highest occupied floor, roof height and pinnacle height.
Burj Dubai forms the epicentre of Downtown Burj Dubai, a Dh73 billion mixeduse project featuring residences, commercial space, hospitality projects and several retail outlets.
[Via Emirates Today]
A Catalogue of Errors Made a Man’s Life Hell
A patient claims a doctor’s incompetence has turned his life into a nightmare.
Abu Mohammed went to a hospital in Dubai for treatment to remove stones in his left kidney – and ended up losing the organ and being infected with hepatitis.
He had been suffering from severe pain and a medical examination revealed the presence of kidney stones. His doctor said the procedure to break them down was simple and would not take long.
But hours after the procedure Mohammed, the Syrian who works for a private company, woke up in agony.
“I felt severe pain that no human can stand,” he said.
“Blood was oozing from my side – it stained my clothes and the bed covers. This continued for three days.
“The doctor reassured me that loss of blood was normal after the treatment. He told me to drink lots of water and take my medicine regularly, and said I could leave the state-run hospital.” But the pain and the flow of blood continued, and a day later Mohammed had to return for treatment to break down blood clots. He stayed in the hospital for 11 days enduring severe pain and growing weaker due to the loss of blood.
A further examination was then carried out and Mohammed was shocked to learn an artery entering the kidney had been cut during the original procedure.
“The doctor was greatly embarrassed and promised to correct the error,” he said. “He did his best to find a solution to the severed artery, using a blood-clotting agent to help repair the cut.” Mohammed was then sent home. But he again experienced intense pain and started bleeding heavily.
“My wife fainted when she saw blood oozing,” he said.
He had another operation and the doctor assured him he could continue his normal life. But two years later, Mohammed felt acute pain and visited a private hospital in Sharjah. It was then he received the worst news yet.
“The kidney consultant told me I was living with only one kidney,” said Mohammed. “The left kidney had contracted and hardened and was a real threat to the other one.” The doctor decided to remove the kidney, which he said was working at only four per cent efficiency. The surgery cost him Dh20,000.
And his ordeal did not end there – he was later diagnosed with hepatitis caused by the use of contaminated blood when he received transfusions at the government hospital.
He cannot have treatment for this condition as the drugs would affect the performance of his kidney.
“My life is hell,” Mohammed said.
[Via Emirates Today]
Abu Mohammed went to a hospital in Dubai for treatment to remove stones in his left kidney – and ended up losing the organ and being infected with hepatitis.
He had been suffering from severe pain and a medical examination revealed the presence of kidney stones. His doctor said the procedure to break them down was simple and would not take long.
But hours after the procedure Mohammed, the Syrian who works for a private company, woke up in agony.
“I felt severe pain that no human can stand,” he said.
“Blood was oozing from my side – it stained my clothes and the bed covers. This continued for three days.
“The doctor reassured me that loss of blood was normal after the treatment. He told me to drink lots of water and take my medicine regularly, and said I could leave the state-run hospital.” But the pain and the flow of blood continued, and a day later Mohammed had to return for treatment to break down blood clots. He stayed in the hospital for 11 days enduring severe pain and growing weaker due to the loss of blood.
A further examination was then carried out and Mohammed was shocked to learn an artery entering the kidney had been cut during the original procedure.
“The doctor was greatly embarrassed and promised to correct the error,” he said. “He did his best to find a solution to the severed artery, using a blood-clotting agent to help repair the cut.” Mohammed was then sent home. But he again experienced intense pain and started bleeding heavily.
“My wife fainted when she saw blood oozing,” he said.
He had another operation and the doctor assured him he could continue his normal life. But two years later, Mohammed felt acute pain and visited a private hospital in Sharjah. It was then he received the worst news yet.
“The kidney consultant told me I was living with only one kidney,” said Mohammed. “The left kidney had contracted and hardened and was a real threat to the other one.” The doctor decided to remove the kidney, which he said was working at only four per cent efficiency. The surgery cost him Dh20,000.
And his ordeal did not end there – he was later diagnosed with hepatitis caused by the use of contaminated blood when he received transfusions at the government hospital.
He cannot have treatment for this condition as the drugs would affect the performance of his kidney.
“My life is hell,” Mohammed said.
[Via Emirates Today]
Liquids To Be Restricted On Board
Passengers may have to give up liquids, pastes and gels under the government’s new safety rules covering hand luggage, Emirates airline conveyed yesterday.
Any drink, pastes, gels and lotions in containers larger than 100ml will have to be handed over before boarding. This restriction will apply to all fluids as well as aerosol sprays and creams.
The regulations, which are in line with the recommendations from the International Civil Aviation Organisation, are being introduced.
The new hand baggage restrictions apply to passengers boarding in Australia, China, the EU, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Japan, the Maldives, Mauritius, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland and the United States.
Some carry-on duty-free items could be confiscated during transit desk security checks in any airport in any of these countries. Because of this restriction, Dubai Duty Free has introduced a service that allows passengers to have goods placed in the aircraft hold at the departure gate.
Airline baggage tags are attached to these items and passengers are able to collect them at their final destination along with their checked baggage.
Liquids, gels, lotions and substances of a similar consistency that passengers wish to carry on to an aircraft must be placed in transparent resealable plastic bag with a capacity of no more than one litre.
These bags must be held separately from hand luggage so that they can be presented for visual inspection. And each passenger may have only one bag.
Fluids in bottles or canisters larger than 100ml will not be accepted – even if the container is only partly filled.
The security measures have been introduced to safeguard passengers from the possibility of explosives being smug gled on board an aircraft in liquid form.
[Via Emirates Today]
Any drink, pastes, gels and lotions in containers larger than 100ml will have to be handed over before boarding. This restriction will apply to all fluids as well as aerosol sprays and creams.
The regulations, which are in line with the recommendations from the International Civil Aviation Organisation, are being introduced.
The new hand baggage restrictions apply to passengers boarding in Australia, China, the EU, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Japan, the Maldives, Mauritius, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland and the United States.
Some carry-on duty-free items could be confiscated during transit desk security checks in any airport in any of these countries. Because of this restriction, Dubai Duty Free has introduced a service that allows passengers to have goods placed in the aircraft hold at the departure gate.
Airline baggage tags are attached to these items and passengers are able to collect them at their final destination along with their checked baggage.
Liquids, gels, lotions and substances of a similar consistency that passengers wish to carry on to an aircraft must be placed in transparent resealable plastic bag with a capacity of no more than one litre.
These bags must be held separately from hand luggage so that they can be presented for visual inspection. And each passenger may have only one bag.
Fluids in bottles or canisters larger than 100ml will not be accepted – even if the container is only partly filled.
The security measures have been introduced to safeguard passengers from the possibility of explosives being smug gled on board an aircraft in liquid form.
[Via Emirates Today]
Open-Door Jet Caper Lands Man In Cuffs
Dubai Police have arrested a troublesome passenger who caused panic among 300 odd passengers of an Emirates flight during the landing phase of a six-hour non-stop flight.
Emirates airline officials have confirmed a passenger, who during the landing opened the door of EK040 from Birmingham to Dubai on Thursday, has been detained by the Dubai Police for interrogation as part of its investigation into the strange and unprecedented incident in the aviation history of the UAE.
However, Emirates officials have categorically ruled out that the incident was part of a hijacking bid.
None of the 307 passengers on board were injured in the incident that caused a 30minute delay for passengers to disembark.
“While taxiing to the terminal building after landing at the Dubai International Airport on Thursday, an aircraft door on flight EK040 from Birmingham was opened by a passenger.This caused the emergency inflatable slides to automatically activate,” said Sarah Shaughnessy, the official spokesperson of Emirates.
Read More...
Emirates airline officials have confirmed a passenger, who during the landing opened the door of EK040 from Birmingham to Dubai on Thursday, has been detained by the Dubai Police for interrogation as part of its investigation into the strange and unprecedented incident in the aviation history of the UAE.
However, Emirates officials have categorically ruled out that the incident was part of a hijacking bid.
None of the 307 passengers on board were injured in the incident that caused a 30minute delay for passengers to disembark.
“While taxiing to the terminal building after landing at the Dubai International Airport on Thursday, an aircraft door on flight EK040 from Birmingham was opened by a passenger.This caused the emergency inflatable slides to automatically activate,” said Sarah Shaughnessy, the official spokesperson of Emirates.
Read More...
Friday, April 6, 2007
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Microsoft BOB
It turns out that the folks over in Redmond might have a sense of humor after all. I was working on getting my new install of Vista Ultimate up and running on my machine this weekend, and stumbled across this awesome easter egg.
It turns out that there’s an entire functional copy of the 1995 Microsoft BOB operating system hidden inside of Windows Vista. BOB was supposed to be an easy-to-use interface for Windows 3.2, complete with fuzzy animated characters (who eventually led to “Clippy” the paper clip in Microsoft Office.)
Here’s how I managed to activate it:
First, you need to make sure you have full administrative permissions on your machine. Then, go to the Start menu and enter “W.0.w.B.0.b.” (note that those are Zeros not Os) while holding down the Alt key. Then, set your system time zone to “Cairo”. The next time you reboot, type in the same phrase backwards and you’ll be in the Windows Bob environment, complete with all of the original features. Once BOB is activated you can set your clock back to your regular time zone.
Surprisingly, the new version of BOB has been updated to include integration with Outlook 2007, so you can actually see your calendar entries and e-mails in the BOB organizer. Post back and let me know which character is your favorite. Personally, I like Scuzz the Rat.
[Via Technabob]
The Rolling Bridge
The idea behind a Rolling Bridge is just fantastic to say the least, I’ve never seen a bridge that could roll itself and become a circle, so this is surely a “new thing in town”, more exactly in London (UK) but I think this could become a great addition to the City of Water also known as Venice (Italy).
The rolling bridge measures 12 meters and is composed by 8 steel and timber sections, that I suppose measure 1,5 meters each and are almost symmetric. As you can see on the image the bridge is suppose to curl and become a big wheel.
Rather than a conventional opening bridge mechanism, consisting of a single rigid element that lifts to let boats pass, the Rolling Bridge gets out of the way by curling up until its two ends touch.
[Via The Uber Review]
Monday, April 2, 2007
April Fools
I saw this on so many blogs today...i totall agree with 2:48AM when he says newspaper shouldnt participate in April's Fool Day...i bet many people will take advantage of this...ok it is funny and nice but not in a newspaper...
The New Showtime Arabia revealed today 1 April
Apart from the big news that Showtime Arabia has won the rights to the English Premier League, there have been sweeping changes in the look of the station and its channels as of today, 1 April.
The new channels have been branded Showcinema, Showmovies, Showkids, Showsports and Showseries…. etc.
Three new Showsports channels replace the previous Sportsnet channels, and should provide Showtime with a leap in subscribers just before the next football season starts in August.
Showtime Arabia promoted it’s new look, through teaser promos for the past couple of weeks, as the network continues to gain marketshare in spite of the free-to-air challenge of MBC Group channels which follow a similar formula in Western entertainment programming.
ART, losers of the Premier League rights, are yet to announce any major shift in strategy to cope with the potential fall-out next season.
Without a doubt, there will be plenty of football-associated sponsors, like Snickers and Pepsi who will move to Showtime.
[Via Ad Blog Arabia]
The new channels have been branded Showcinema, Showmovies, Showkids, Showsports and Showseries…. etc.
Three new Showsports channels replace the previous Sportsnet channels, and should provide Showtime with a leap in subscribers just before the next football season starts in August.
Showtime Arabia promoted it’s new look, through teaser promos for the past couple of weeks, as the network continues to gain marketshare in spite of the free-to-air challenge of MBC Group channels which follow a similar formula in Western entertainment programming.
ART, losers of the Premier League rights, are yet to announce any major shift in strategy to cope with the potential fall-out next season.
Without a doubt, there will be plenty of football-associated sponsors, like Snickers and Pepsi who will move to Showtime.
[Via Ad Blog Arabia]
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Eddie Griffin Crashes a Ferrari Enzo
Watch Eddie Griffin (from Malcolm & Eddie) crash an Enzo:
[Via 2:48am]It's Not a Book, It's a Pillow
If you've ever awakened with the imprint of a book on your face, you probably wish you'd fallen asleep on one of these pillows that looks exactly like a way-thick textbook. Put one of these pillow/books on your desk and the boss might just think you're bookish enough to forgive you for sleeping on the job. You'd better be well-heeled for this pillow, though, it'll set you back $102.
[Via Gizmodo]
[Via Gizmodo]
Faith In GPS Sends £96k Mercedes Downstream
So far, over-dependence on GPS devices has resulted in more inconvenience than actual danger, but things took a turn for the worse earlier this month when a U.K. woman sent her £96k Mercedes SL500 flying into a river, trusting the car's optimistic GPS guidance instead of the road signs warning of impending doom. Matters were made worse as the river was swollen from recent heavy rains, which caused the vehicle to be swept some 200 meters downstream before the woman was able to escape. While she emerged unscathed, the car unfortunately wasn't quite so lucky, remaining stuck in the river for a week after the incident and now believed to be a complete write-off.
[Via Engadget]
[Via Engadget]
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
We Need Them...
ok you will notice that am really bored...i was going through wikipedia and now am searching the keyword "saudi" in the Time Magazine site...i found this article named "The Devil We Know" by Peter Beinart...to be honest i didnt really understand what he wanted to say, am not into politics at all but i found this interesting sentence...
"The U.S. can't completely distance itself from the Saudis--in our weakened position, we need their help."
if anyone understand the main idea behind this article then please tell me...
"The U.S. can't completely distance itself from the Saudis--in our weakened position, we need their help."
if anyone understand the main idea behind this article then please tell me...
Starbucks
i also searched starbucks...well nothing interesting except that i found out that starbucks is planning to open its largest branch here in dubai and its planned to open in the center of Mall of Arabia...
The First McDonald's
Whenever i get bored, i open Wikipedia and start typing anything that comes to my mind...this time it was McDonald's and actually found some interesting stuff...here they are...
"The business began in 1940, with a restaurant opened by siblings Dick and Mac McDonald in San Bernardino, California. Their introduction of the "Speedee Service System" in 1948 established the principles of the modern fast-food restaurant. The present corporation dates its founding to the opening of a franchised restaurant by Ray Kroc, in Des Plaines, Illinois on April 15, 1955, the ninth McDonald's restaurant overall. Kroc later purchased the McDonald brothers' equity in the company and led its worldwide expansion."
Revenue: $20.460 Billion USD (2005)
Net income: $2.602 Billion USD (2005)
Employees: 447,000 (2005)
I thought that they make more money than that...another interesting thing i found was a picture of the first McDonald's...looks kind of cool...
"The business began in 1940, with a restaurant opened by siblings Dick and Mac McDonald in San Bernardino, California. Their introduction of the "Speedee Service System" in 1948 established the principles of the modern fast-food restaurant. The present corporation dates its founding to the opening of a franchised restaurant by Ray Kroc, in Des Plaines, Illinois on April 15, 1955, the ninth McDonald's restaurant overall. Kroc later purchased the McDonald brothers' equity in the company and led its worldwide expansion."
Revenue: $20.460 Billion USD (2005)
Net income: $2.602 Billion USD (2005)
Employees: 447,000 (2005)
I thought that they make more money than that...another interesting thing i found was a picture of the first McDonald's...looks kind of cool...
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Car Accidents in the UAE
- Men recponsible for 92% of deaths.
- Drivers from the age group 18 to 27 have been held responsible for 37% of deaths.
- Last year's death average was one every 28 hours.
- Pakistani drivers were responsible for 25.6% of deaths, Indian drivers caused 20% followed closely by UAE nationals at 19%.
- The number of accidents in 2006 was 243,386...an increase of 61% compared to 2005.
- In these 312 people were killed while 1,812 were injured.
- Fatal accidents at night made up 45 per cent of the total number of fatalities.
- Private vehicles caused 1,164 accidents killing 167 people.
- Heavy trucks were responsible for 128 accidents causing 32 deaths.
- Light trucks were responsible for 133 accidents and 25 deaths.
- Emirates Road continues to remain the most dangerous road, topping the list with 128 accidents in which 40 people were killed.
- Sheikh Zayed Road stood second with 122 accidents although the death toll here increased to 45.
- Al Khail Road followed closely with 34 accidents and nine deaths.
- Dubai-Al Ain Road recorded 33 accidents and nine deaths.
- Sheikh Rashid Road had 29 accidents and six deaths.
- Al Ittihad Road had 24 accidents and seven deaths.
[Via Emirates Today]
Crazy Buliding In Singapore
Singapore is building this crazy housing block with four towers kind of hanging off the sides of another, central tower.The 153 meter tall tower will be located at the intersection of Scotts Road and Cairnhill Road, in close proximity to Orchard Road, Singapore’s famous shopping and lifestyle street. With 20,000m² of built floor area, the building will provide 68 high-end apartment units with panoramic views. The design strategically maneuvers within the highly regulated building environment to maximize the full potential of the site: Four individual apartment towers are vertically offset from one another and suspended from a central core.
[Via Boing Boing]
Congrats Itti
as most of u know the day b4 yesterday the saudi team alittihad played against alahli and won 3-0...here are the links of the goals...enjoy
First goal
Second goal
Third goal
First goal
Second goal
Third goal
Review: 300
yesterday i watched the movie 300...it was a good as i expected and i would rate it as 9/10what i like in the movie:
the graphics, the actors, the music and the best thing was the fight scenes.
what i hate about the movie:
too many weird creatures that r not needed at all.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Prison Break's third season to get a new name?
FOX has officially announced today that Prison Break would be back for a third season. But many sources say that the show will get a major overhaul, including a possible change in the show's title.
The FOX's press release announcing the renewal gives nothing about what Season 3 may hold. But series creator Paul T. Scheuring has been giving many hints, including at least one that may have fans shake on their seat hoping that the creator changes his mind.No matter what, Prison Break was never intended to be a long-running series. At first, people behind the show though it could last three seasons being laid out as follows: Season 1 = in prison, Season 2 = on the run, Season 3 = back in prison; but that the best plan was surely only two season.
However good ratings have made FOX order a third season. With how they mapped the second season, which includes wrapping up most (if not all) of the storylines, Prison Break needs to reinvent itself and here is how they plan to do it.
Read More...
The FOX's press release announcing the renewal gives nothing about what Season 3 may hold. But series creator Paul T. Scheuring has been giving many hints, including at least one that may have fans shake on their seat hoping that the creator changes his mind.No matter what, Prison Break was never intended to be a long-running series. At first, people behind the show though it could last three seasons being laid out as follows: Season 1 = in prison, Season 2 = on the run, Season 3 = back in prison; but that the best plan was surely only two season.
However good ratings have made FOX order a third season. With how they mapped the second season, which includes wrapping up most (if not all) of the storylines, Prison Break needs to reinvent itself and here is how they plan to do it.
Read More...
The People of Saudi Arabia
These are TV commercials airing in the United States, paid for by the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington.
The theme is “The People of Saudi Arabia: Allies Against Terrorism”.
[Via Ad Blog Arabia]
The theme is “The People of Saudi Arabia: Allies Against Terrorism”.
[Via Ad Blog Arabia]
Ctrl + Z
This ad is also the winner of the Print category Grand Prix in Dubai Lynx Awards...it deserves it...
in case u dont know: Ctrl+Z = Undo
Saudi Arabia Did it at Lynx...
TV/Cinema Category:
Gold: GPS - Abdul Latif Jameel - Toyota Land Cruiser.
Print Category:
Silver: Smoke Detector - Goody - Hot Sauce.
Direct Straw - Pepsi International - Diet 7Up.
Bronze: Pool - Pepsi International - Pepsi.
Dots - Henkel Arabia - Persil.
Outdoor Category:
Gold: Pool - Pepsi International - Pepsi.
Direct Category:
Bronze: Gillette M3Power - Al Naghi Proctor & Gamble - Shaving Razor.
For the full winners list visit Dubai Lynx...
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