Beggars and Cell Phone Peddlers Try to Take Advantage of Ramadan

Sharjah police arrested 120 beggars, and 40 illegal cell phone peddlers this Ramadan season.
Begging is illegal in the UAE, and beggars often beg in residential areas, ringing doorbells and going from door to door, which can be quite a nuisance for many residents.
Ninety of the beggars were caught during the last three weeks of Ramadan, and they were all between 40 and 50 years of age.
The beggars have now been detained as they are all illegal residents, and will be shipped off to their respective countries.
Meanwhile, illegal cell phone peddlers tried to sell their ill-gotten goods not just in residential, commercial, and industrial areas, but also mosques.
Three of the cell phone dealers were also found selling pornography in residential areas.
The crackdowns were the result of a campaign carried out by the authorities to root out illegal immigrants and residents carrying out illegal activities.
It seems like the beggars were looking to take full advantage of the spirit of the season, hoping that they’d be able to make lots of money off of people’s charitable emotions during the month.
The cell phone peddlers on the other hand, didn’t spare even mosques in their pursuits for illegal gains.
Hopefully now though, they’ll take this Ramadan as a lesson in virtue, and not repeat their mistakes once they’re back in their home countries!

Source: gulfnews.com

New Flamingo Breeding Colony Discovered in Abu Dhabi

A team of biologists from the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) recently discovered a breeding colony of flamingos somewhere in the west side of the emirate.
A total of 1,954 flamingo nests were found in the colony, with at least 224 of them currently in use. The rest had already been used, or were abandoned because of a storm in the area.
The EAD team has put the number of flamingos at 18,000, the highest that has ever been recorded in the country.
This is such an important discovery because the birds have only bred twice before in the UAE’s history, once as long as a decade ago.
EAD's biologists were aware of the site’s existence since 2005, after it was located via satellite, and have kept an eye on it since.
The usual number of flamingos during summer time is around 10, 000, so this is a significant jump.
The EAD will be monitoring the area, just to make sure everything’s running smoothly, and also to determine future conservation needs.
The UAE has a diverse array of wildlife, much of which is unfortunately in danger because of increased expansion and development.
Here’s wishing the EAD team lots of luck in their endeavours, as well as lots more flamingo sightings!

Source: gulfnews.com

For more details go to: http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Environment/10348625.html

MizzPinkx Thought Bubbles - On Housework and Staying Positive

One of my pet peeves is doing housework.
I know it sounds lazy and spoilt, but it’s something you get quite used to when living in Gulf countries. House help, whether full or part time, is available readily and easily, and doesn’t involve breaking the bank.
I honestly don't know anyone there who does all their housework themselves.
Cooking, a bit of cleaning, picking up things, sure, but not full on, top to bottom, cleaning the entire house, kind of work.
And when I do have to do it, it leaves me feeling vaguely irritated and annoyed for the rest of the day afterwards. Now that I’m back in Ottawa, I’m finding it particularly hard to break out of my previous luxury filled habits. Not that I have significantly better habits when I’m here, but you know what I mean.
Then again, maybe I just need to remain positive about the whole thing, and hope that one day, I’ll be one of those people who like doing housework. Or more realistically, at least be able to do it without getting into a foul mood.
After all, if a 107 year old woman can set her sights on getting married for a 23rd time (see post below) and start over again, why can’t I just learn to clean a bathroom without getting ticked off?
Which reminds me, I have a suitcase to unpack.
More later, take care, and keep reading!
xOxOxO
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107 Year Old Wants to Say "I do" for 23rd Time

On a lighter note, a 107 year old woman in Malaysia is all set for her 23rd marriage.
This, despite her being currently married to a man who’s 70 years her junior.
Wook Kundor, as she is called, says that she wants to remarry because she fears her husband will go off in search of another, much younger woman.
She says he is currently in drug rehab, and worries that once he gets out, he’ll take full advantage of his improved health.
The only problem is, women generally outlive men, so it might be rather difficult for her to find someone her own age. No harm in trying though, because it seems like she hasn't lost her zest for life, or men, for that matter!

Source: gulfnews.com

18 Die in Stampede in Karachi

In yet some other sad news, at least 18 women and girls died yesterday in a stampede in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi.
The women were gathered in a small building with a tight passageway to collect rations of flour when some of them panicked because of the place becoming increasingly crowded. The ensuing stampede resulted in the casualties. Some of those killed, died because they suffocated in the cramped conditions.
In a country that has been rocked with political and financial instability, such an incident is tragic, but not new.
Pakistan’s government needs to step up and take responsibility before incidents like this become the norm. How much more will it take for the government to shape up?
Innocent civilian lives are lost without anyone being held accountable, and it’s high time that changes. Let’s hope this tragedy was the last in a long line, and not just an indicator of more to come.

Source: gulfnews.com

R.I.P Patrick Swayze

Hollywood actor, Patrick Swayze, who shot to fame with his performance in the movie, Dirty Dancing, passed away yesterday.
He was battling pancreatic cancer, and was 57 years old.
Swayze passed away in L.A with his family by his side. He was battling with the disease since March 2008, and kept working even though he knew the cancer was incurable.
Here’s wishing his family and loved ones lots of strength and courage to get through this tough time.

Source: gulfnews.com

Dog Fight!

When Gerard Butler and his pooch, Lolita, went for a walk recently, the actor’s pug ended up getting attacked by a greyhound. That’s the story according to Butler anyway.
The owners of the greyhound however, insist that's not what happened.

They say Butler’s pug attacked their dog first, and when they told the actor he should have had her on a leash, Butler responded by behaving rather badly.
He not only cussed them out, but also proceeded to hit their dog on the head.
The greyhound’s owners then called the police to file harassment charges against Butler, but by then Butler was nowhere to be found.
Now, now, Gerard, just because your dog was attacked by another one, is no reason for you to behave like one too.

Source: OK! Magazine, UK

Yikes!

Lindsay Lohan had her house broken into last week.
The good news is she didn’t lose any expensive items.
The bad news is, the burglars made off with some items of a “highly personal nature”.
That really is bad news for us, because if some of the tapes and photos are made public, we’re not only going to be subjected to their contents, but will also have to bear the ensuing publicity this will garner for Miss Lohan.
For those of us already sick of seeing her in the tabloids for reasons spanning from her whacked out behaviour to her off and on again girlfriend, DJ Samantha Ronson, this just may be too much to stomach.
Let’s hope the burglars keep the tapes to themselves, using them only to blackmail Lindsay and extort some cash from her.

Source: OK! Magazine, UK

Dumb Doug

Former reality TV star and Paris Hilton’s ex boyfriend, Doug Reinhardt, seems to be very keen on winning back his lady love.
It is reported the two flew off to Hawaii to spend some time together recently, and Reinhardt pampered Paris with everything from luxurious accommodations to pricey gift items.
The only problem is, he can’t afford it.
Apparently, Reinhardt is trying extremely hard to get himself a part on MTV reality show, The Hills. The producers however, don’t share his enthusiasm, and are responding by ignoring all his phone calls and pleas.
Cast members of the show were seen (and heard) making fun of Reinhardt for being so desperate that he’s resorted to “begging” the producers for a role so he can make money to shower his beloved princess with expensive goodies.
Ever heard of self respect, Doug?

And if she doesn’t love you for who you are, she’s not worth loving anyway. Next time, try to find a woman who loves you for you, and not the things you can buy her.

Source: OK! Magazine, UK

Another One

Megan Fox let another one rip recently when she informed everyone that she would "never" make a tape like the kind Paris Hilton is notorious for.
Here’s part of what she said, “Everything you say gets judged, everything you do gets judged. Literally all I have left are my private parts and I don't want to share them with the world. I'd like to keep them private. That's why they're called that!”
Errr, why, thank you Megan, how very thoughtful of you. That’s just what we wanted to hear??
Megan also explained why she doesn’t want to be caught on tape doing certain things, and no, it’s not just because of how indecent that’ll be. Her reasons are best not mentioned here, but if you want to know go to: http://perezhilton.com/2009-09-10-never-say-never-megan

Enjoy??

Sources: perezhilton.com