dubai_phil

Again, it is about a Cultural clash. Westerners walk into them all the time because they see things in the way they are "programmed to" (By that I mean their upbringing, education, values etc) A simplistic example is that all of you are born with a ticking clock in your heads. Get qualified, get job, get wife, 2.4 kids, mortgage, save for pension, die. That clock drives every decision and approach you make to life. Compare that simplistic view to one where "you don't die" the entire belief system crumbles away, the clock doesn't exist, your decisions and judgements are then brought into chaos. You are all supposed to be PC, but imagine a "no death" scenario, how does that compute? No death simply means "If I am good this is a stepping stone to something more and better" (extreme example ok) So, go to a business meeting with an Arab - he'll likely not be there, time isn't important in the way it is to "the West". Honour & Integrity have different meanings, so when the Iranians say "We have no interest in building Nuclear Weapons" you know full well that what they mean is "We want to anhilate Israel and then everyone else and do things OUR way, no interest in Building Weapons our only interest is USING them". Ain't no lie ain't disingenious is just how it is to them. Now for all their failings the Israelis understand this as in many ways they think the same way, so the "Problem will not be solved until ONE of Islam, Christianity or the Jewish Faith "Win". Co-existence is useless, you will be assimilated. World War 3 has been going on for years and until the nutters on all THREE sides are wiped out it will keep rumbling on. The religions CAN live in harmony, great examples are Syria and Egypt who have a whole host of secular legislation (Hell, even Iraq WAS secular under Saddam), just the leaders can't cope with people being content

Lots of people love Egypt and the Red Sea resorts for the Sun and the "sense of being somewhere different". Trouble is in Aug/early Sept it will be roasting. Also because you will go all inclusive you get a package tour version of this region. I've not been to Hurghada but have been to Aqaba & Sharm Al Sheikh and to be honest, would have preferred Magalluf. If you want a beach and 36C or more every day with a fake belly dancer or two and a lot of Russians.... BUT if it was a part of an Egyptian TOUR that took in Cairo, The Pyramids, the Cairo Museum, a Nile Cruise and The Valley of the Kings then it would be bearable. Take Ecrefuryl from a local chemist out there though, Immodium won't hack it Personally I really love the real Egypt and hate the Red Sea resorts

Shame you are tied to the 4 hour flight thingy but with kids that is understandable Stayed here once. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g227947-d250773-Reviews-Vila_Gale_Marina_Hotel-Vilamoura_Algarve.html The Ex wife wanted to sit on the beach every other day(about a 3 minute walk) I wanted to play golf & eat drink & sleep and bumble around exploring in a rental car. Was a perfectly average hotel with perfectly average facilities and in a perfectly perfect location. Don't normally like package tour type hotels but this one was ok. Hell I even managed to spend a few hours sitting by the pool. The marina in the evenings has all the restaurants you could want with kids and the rental car gets you away from the masses. But for a REAL holiday http://www.asiawebdirect.com/vietnam/hoi-an/beach-front/swiss_belhotel-golden-sand-resort-and-spa/ Book a tour and follow the Top Gear route, but this hotel & beach are simply stunning the town is simply a MUST see. But to get there from UK involves at least two plane changes via Hong Kong or somewhere so not one for the kids yet

A businessman's thought process.... Hmm We had (I guess) about 10,000 ST holders last year We had 51,000 fans at Wembley with thousands more clamouring for tickets We will walk this league We sold out quite a few times last season Pah, who needs ST holders? we'll be full up most games anyway

The Israelis seem to be scoring more own goals than the Jap footie team at the moment. 600 Turks on a ship. Easy answer Viking, it was done to ensure that it provoked this reaction. In the same way that the assassination in Dubai can also be laid at the feet of people who did it to embarrass Mossad or the Government. Or not of course. One thing that is always clear when it comes to those arrogant sods. Nothing is ever as it seems. We had a visitor over from Rhode Island when I was in a Multi National. He spent 3 days here and was truly shocked when he read our newspapers - he suddenly understood how utterly biased the US media was. In his own words "He never had the chance to understand that there were two sides to the argument" Meanwhile, it amazes me that they STILL don't understand how to solve the "Peace Process". It starts with Rule 1 - You can NEVER tell anyone from the Middle East what to do. The minute you tell (or order) them to do something they will do the opposite. Sooooo Just tell them NOT to have peace, tell them all to do the exact opposite of what you WANT them to do - case solved, Simples

A couple of observations. Why should the club offer FREE credit? They COULD have cut a deal with a finance company to charge a small fee to help thise with real issues I don't buy some of these "I'm so broke because of the recession" stuff. Going to a football match is 30 quid every other week. If finances are THAT tight should you really be going to football? Not saying that you don't deserve to, but are your life/family priorities in the right place? Worrying that 1) There was a delay and 2) The Ticket Office seem to have had no idea on why there is no payment plan. From a distance it looks a very "Singular" decision made without a great deal of consultation. Won't help the "Worried about NC's ego theorists" A number of fans seemed to have gained access to SMS whilst having defaulted on their payment plans. Shows that the IT systems are not up to standard. Also shows why the club should have looked for outsourcing opportunities. Not so sure defaulters from a loan company would have enjoyed so much liberties Did EVERY season ticket holder actually go to EVERY game last year? Many times the ST's were factored into the attendance and yet the stadium seemed empty. Maybe you'll save money. But then you won't have your own seat... By August we will still be moaning but many will have got the bug again and will be looking forwards to the new season, where there is a will there will be a way. Overall? Stupid decision made worse by being made too late. Perhaps NC didn't find the right page in his "How to Run a Football Club instead of a Bank" Handbook. Should have been annoucned BEFORE the end of the season. Conspiracy theory? Worrying if we are doing it to save costs or get extra cash in. The price has increased. Were they REALLY banking on CCC revenues this season

Peralada Wine Spa near Gerona Spain. Close enough to drive to the Costa, Pyrennees (sp?) Golf courses all around, great local towns to explore and a Casino with a really good restaurant for dressing up posh. Oh and LOTS of really good wine http://www.google.ae/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4SMSN_enAE371AE371&q=golf+peralada+wine+spa&revid=2091848679&ei=Mc8ETLHAE4vX4gbI1_XLDg&sa=X&oi=revisions_inline&resnum=0&ct=broad-revision&cd=1&ved=0CD4Q1QIoAA

A sad mess and shows the dangers of allowing a Stadium to be owned by "A.N. Other entity" RBS seem to be a pain to deal with at the moment as they are terrified of Public Opinion believing that they may have sold something off for a pound less than they could have got for it in case Public Opinion slates the management (after all you lot own RBS to an extent) There but for the grace of God went us. But at least Ruddy Cheeks made sure we had a stadium of our own and thank fook we managed to keep hold of it during the dark days. Brinkmanship has happened in almost every admin in football CP is different as the land value is worth far more in London as Housing/Commercial. Don't like them or the area of London but they don't deserve this and it is NOT right, fair or equitable that the CHEATS are still going. Sheff Wednesday's fans must be biting their finger nails and hoping though. Expect their forums are full of it today

Not everyone will read the Mirror or get Sky. Cringeworthy in most cases, but many are funny and some are very well put together so here is the link to the Mirror's Top 50 adverts which will bring a smirk to some and a meh to others. Shame the Carlsberg & Graham Taylor have been removed but Meerkats make up for it http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/blogs/football-banter/World-Cup-2010-adverts-Watch-the-50-best-and-worst-Nos-10-1-including-Little-Britain-Robinho-Pepsi-BP-and-that-Nike-ad-starring-Wayne-Rooney-Cristiano-Ronaldo-Didier-Drogba-and-more-article441601.html enjoy

Oh did I post THAT link, oops. I'm sure I was posting the link to the World Cup adverts hehehe Meanwhile For a little light relief after the heady Diana Storrie, here's what i honestly truthfully really meant to link http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/blogs/football-banter/World-Cup-2010-adverts-Watch-the-50-best-and-worst-Nos-10-1-including-Little-Britain-Robinho-Pepsi-BP-and-that-Nike-ad-starring-Wayne-Rooney-Cristiano-Ronaldo-Didier-Drogba-and-more-article441601.html Oh, damn did it again, how do you get a spell checker on here, I seem to have forgotten how to spell story properly

Not as bad as Gout You don't hit that with meds the minute it starts it can last for 10 days or more. The plug just hurts like hell for a micro-second in comparison. (And no I don't drink Port, the 3 times I've had it has been from an allergy to something in Salami)

I was browsing the press today, something I don't normally do, but there was a link to the Top 50 World Cup Adverts in the Mirror that caused some merriment down here. I stumbled on a lovely bit of unsubstantiated conspiracy theory rubbish in The Sun and dismissed it with that whole - another moron tries to make publicity for himself out of another human's suffering when suddenly I had an image of a Kiddies drawing book. See what this thread has done. You sit there happily and then an image of a Join The Dots book stares out at you. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...d-to-arms.html In the words of Francis Urquart. The left side of the brain may think that sir but I couldn't possibly comment. Must take less caffeine

Yes. My youngest used to "go round to play" with a lad from his school when he was about 7, normal 4 bed villa nothing flash. Then one afternoon turned up the house was empty & the maid said "they gone". Only found out in the press the next day that the guy had run a futures ponzi in Sharjah on Metal Prices and had taken the local banks for US$2 BILLION. He washed up in UK and they rammed the treaty submission in faster than Theo can lose the ball, the bloke cleared off to Brazil as fast as you could say Rent Ronnie's old place. Meanwhile 'Arry coming down here? Swapping CL football for BSQ level. The average lifespan of a foreign coach in the UAE Premier League is around 3 months. Good to have a dream, the locals love their football and if they cannot afford a toy to play with in England these days then investing in their own leagues is their only real choice left. Which is a polite way of saying...... :smt046 Although.... With a No Tax regime down here..... nope won't go there either lol

Well FFS what else is there to do down here apart from learn or bumble off and gatecrash big events? Oh as an aside, clever work by the plant who decided to let off a firecracker so that the dumb Israeli's would shoot up a bunch of aid volunteers. I digress. I must apologise, seems in the aftermath I forgot to tell the story of my singing along at a private Stranglers unplugged gig for about 15 mates in his villa garden, but I think I managed to remember the Michelle Wie & Curry House story. Nice to see the Torygraph agreed with our verdict on Rod's gig the other week. Did tell y'all it would be worth the trip! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopreviews/7789786/Rod-Stewart-at-the-O2-Arena-review.html

Oops sorry, I assume nobody else is likely to open the link then or should I have just inserted the whole into quotes

Dalek's love for Hoddle though has become more of a cartoon these days - you just know it is coming. Scooby was just wrong. I don't often believe it is fair to out people on here but he did deserve it. It wasn't as if he actually argued his pro-Lowe case eloquently. Just one of those posters of those dark days

Lol at the comment by Matt Paul. His LLS conspiracy theory was as far off the mark as the Paul Allen story. BUT In hindsight, there WAS a time when this place was like the Spanish Inquisition. Anyone attempting anything BUT abuse of Lowe got the web equivalent of being burnt at the stake. Having lost many of the Klingons, at least these days we can have a sensible debate and there are only a few posters to resort to aggression to respond. Niceness hasn't broken out but we are seeing two sides logically put forward to all the issues that affect us in our NEW era moving forwards

Anyone remember the names of the PR agency Lowe hired who then posted on here? lol

or Mike Wilde... Even Andrew Cowen was known to pop on occassionally. Now, I wonder what name NC uses?...............

A badly missed poster, kept us up to date with the Academy team, and some on here gave him real nasty stick when they kids had to play last year. FFS it wasn't HIS fault they all spent every spare moment they had allegedly on the p1ss. Oops sorry, wasn't HIS fault Rupert picked the team last year

They can't afford me :cool: Anyway, hopefully my days are numbered. Two & a half years battling red tape down here and our business is finally getting off the ground and we are gonna save the planet. Yep, you can all see me as a tree hugger I can tell. meanwhile, oh how we miss those heady days of Saintlee, SaintDavid & Life Long Cherry Pip and his appalling spelling. I mean we haven't had a decent (Saints related) takeover thread for what seems like ages. And dear old Um Pahars, he of the myopic glasses and the I'm always right opinion. And whatever happened to FF? Surely he has plenty of time on his hands these days, Chap in The Chapel, Roger Moore Scores or whatever they were called

Tend to agree, although under Capello we do seem to have added a resilience. I think we could actually grind out results and give ourselves a chance. BUT the real problem as I see it is the lack of "magic" we are a team of "solid footballers" or extra effort players. Where is the defense splitting pass and the skill to create something out of nothing in the blink of an eye. We may get the pass to say Walcott, but the clinical finish from that point on? Don't see it myself, which is where I think we'll come unstuck again. Mind you other teams have ground out WC wins in the past. We're England, it is our destiny to be "unlucky semi-final losers" or knocked out on Penalties in the Quarters so we can say IF ONLY for another 4 years

Perhaps it would be a better use of our bored brain power to reverse the OP. Look forwards and discuss how far we had gone during season 2010/11. Remember all that kerfuffle about the ST prices? ha that showed everyone when they really were 125 quid. How we loved the new shirt, how we worried about Morgan possibly leaving only for him to be replaced by one of the new stars from the World Cup (insert name as appropriate) How bored we were with football having wrapped up the title by Easter and again the rows with Wembley for only giving us 55,000 seats at the JPT Relieved that AP turned down the Liverpool & Inter jobs and how finally Rickie got his chance to play for England and showed how we would have beaten North Korea in the final if only Capello had taken him instead of muppet Heskey. How we laughed at the skates getting minus 27 points and how much we took the p!ss out of nickh for not believing, and of course the complete shock that Alps SS & MOG had their own epiphany moments when we were 6-0 up at half time away to Swindon. How we'll look back at summer 2010 and think how ridiculous it was to have been a happy clapper in those far flung days

AND they served 6X when I went there for a meeting last summer - good shout

I shouldn't. After all, it never happened. It's just photoshop But thinking about falling DC-10's reminded me of an urban legend The handover crew decided to do a full power engine run up in the taxi holding area on a brand new neever flown A340-600. The alarms sounded so they removed the circuit breaker yadda yadda yadda