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Gulf News deputy web editor Florence Pia G. Yu plunges headlong into the blogosphere to find out what bloggers from the Middle East and beyond have on their minds.
Star blog
Blanket ban
It's hard to figure out what to make of du's announcement to block all non-suitable-for-the-UAE websites. The decision brings du into line with TRA guidelines and stops a two-tier system of internet access — unfiltered in the work free zones and new freehold residential areas, and heavily censored for the rest — but it certainly stains Dubai's live-and-let-live attitude to expat living.
For media companies based in Dubai Media City, previously home to open access, there will be concerns over press freedom. For residents owning homes in expat communities, they will question why du now needs to be concerned with what they browse online in the privacy of their own home.
Blocking websites is symbolic, it is an annoyance but it may not be of much use in upholding values.
http://19thfloordubai.blogspot.com
Censorship reports
According to the OpenNet Initiative: "Access to internet content in Jordan remains largely unfettered, with filtering selectively applied to only a small number of sites.
However, media laws and regulations encourage some measure of self-censorship in cyberspace, and citizens have reportedly been questioned and arrested for web content they have authored."
Personally, I think there is a lot less internet freedom these days than there was five years ago in Jordan. To me, it is not just the official channels though. It's also society at large, which most Western-based reports do not take into consideration.
http://andfaraway.net/blog
Modern antiques
I have been in Dubai for a few days now and it is delightful and overwhelming all at once. I started my first day at the Ibn Battuta mall, which was named after the 14th century explorer.
There was a sign at the mall that you could only find in Dubai — the sort of oxymoron that typifies the real and the ersatz living side by side. The proprietor of a small cart offering lanterns and other trinkets proudly proclaimed himself to be selling "modern antiques".
And I think that's the best shorthand for Dubai that I've seen so far — seeking to look and feel ancient, yet so proud to embody a futuristic urbanity.
http://themerica.org/blog
My mad cat
For the past few days, J and I have been desperately trying to rehome our cat. He's an outdoor cat that has to stay in because he doesn't play well with others. He's aggressive and one of my neighbours has finally had enough.
Apparently, my cat has been bullying his cat for at least six months. Said neighbour did not bother to tell me until said neighbour was at his wit's end.
Anyway, J spent all day yesterday "cat proofing" our garden. The cat can't get out. So, J and I didn't sleep. We listened to the cat howling for hours. Why do we love this monstrous being? Does he really want to be with us?
My answer is simply no. He'd rather be outside brutalising other innocent animals. I talked to the vet. He basically said, put him down. Put him down. Something I would never consider back home.
At home, I would bring him to a nice no-kill shelter. I would feel OK about giving him to people who would take care of him. Here in the UAE my choices are: 1. Death 2. Abandon him somewhere 3. Death 4. Adoption 5. Death.
http://20six.co.uk/awblogger
Hack in the box
I was able to attend the Hack in the Box show in Dubai. One of the standout talks was the second day keynote by Jeremiah Grossman. In his talk he presented evidence as to how the security industry is failing to keep up with the torrent of vulnerabilities written every year.
I would liken the vulnerabilities being written to the river flowing into the pond, and our find a bug, fix a bug, security industry to the man with a bucket. Continuing to do this is insane. It is obvious that we are likely keyed in to fixing the wrong problems and tracking the wrong metrics.
http://loquens-caesu.blogspot.com
Roads are getting ridiculous!
Lately, I have been wasting huge amounts of time driving around town looking for roads that are not blocked due to all the demolition and roadwork. What were once simple tasks or errands that took a few minutes now take much, much longer.
The other day I drove to the coffee shop and in the few minutes that I was at the shop all the nearby roads were closed to traffic. I drove down one street only to get to the end and find it closed. I had to figure out how to turn around to go back where I started.
Of course a long line of cars behind me were in the same predicament; all of us trying to sort ourselves out. Just when you thought you had figured out a through road you would find yourself at an impasse and have to back-up or turn around once again.
What should have taken me a few minutes ended up taking me an hour-and-a-half. I need a four-wheel drive.
Or maybe a helicopter.
http://khadijateri.blogspot.com
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