CAT

The cat (Felis catus), also known as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from other felines, is a small predatory carnivorous species of crepuscular mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and its ability to hunt vermin, snakes and scorpions. It has been associated with humans for at least 9,500 years.



A skilled predator, the cat is known to hunt over 1,000 species for food. It can be trained to obey simple commands. Individual cats have also been known to learn on their own to manipulate simple mechanisms, such as doorknobs. Cats use a variety of vocalizations and types of body language for communication, including meowing, purring, hissing, growling, squeaking, chirping, clicking, and grunting. Cats may be the most popular pet in the world, with over 600 million in homes all over the world. They are also bred and shown as registered pedigree pets. This hobby is known as the "cat fancy".

Until recently the cat was commonly believed to have been domesticated in ancient Egypt, where it was a cult animal. However a 2007 study found that the lines of descent of all house cats probably run through as few as five self-domesticating African Wildcats (Felis silvestris lybica) circa 8000 BC, in the Near East - Wikipedia.

Until the early 2000s, the cats in the United Arab Emirates have had no threats to it's existance whatsoever. However, the arrival of migrants from the mainstream Asia Pacific Archipelago as housemaids and salesgirls in to the United Arab Emirates was the beginning of the end of the entire cat species in the country. The cats used to vanish into thin air overnight finding their way into the stomach of the said migrants, whose salaries at that time ranged from AED.350 to 800 a month at the most. Naturally they had to eat something, and why not their staple food, the cats.

Things have now changed, and as everyone knows, a majority of the said migrants now command a basic salary of Dhs.2500 or more per month. No doubt, vis-à-vis their life style, their eating habits too have changed. They now eat chicken; much the relief of the cats in the United Arab Emirates.

Reveling and frolicking through the piles of garbage littered all over a congested Satwa neighbourhood (Satwa in Dubai is the new capital of the said Asia Pacific Archipelago - a fertile ground for stray cats to survive), the cats have come of age. One can find them in all colours and shapes; much to the chagrin of the Dubai Municipality, who launched a stray cat elimination drive some weeks ago.

Alternatively, the authorities should launch a cost cutting measure asking the employers to reduce the salaries of the migrants from the Asia Pacific Archipelago, and the cats would, once again, disappear into thin air, overnight, without much effort from the civic authorities in the country.

In the United Arab Emirates, we should either have cats or the migrants from the Asia Pacific Archipelago, who too use a variety of vocalizations and types of body language for communication, including meowing, purring, hissing, growling, squeaking, chirping, clicking, and grunting. How you madaaam, pine ?

But what of the Egyptians, as until recently the cat was commonly believed to have been domesticated in ancient Egypt, where it was a cult animal ?

Driving Licences in UAE

Driving Licences In UAE.

Don't drink and drive. The blood alcohol limit is 0.0 and the penalty if caught is jail and or a DHS 20000 fine. Catch taxis or hire a chauffeur home.
It is great.

The roads here are excellent, but it is the mix of drivers that causes problems. People driving slowly on an eight lane highway can cause as many problems as speeding cars. However, many people drive very fast and at times recklessly, take care.

Lots of money, big powerful cars, many nationalities and young inexperienced drivers all combined, you can only imagine it till you see them in action, then it is terrifying.

Seat belts MUST be worn and there are heavy fines for not wearing them though the law seems to be ignored by many ignorant drivers. especially those with children standing on the front and back seats of their cars.

Read More on Driving Licences in UAE

President Obama

Barack Obama, 44th president of the United States - Nov 5, 2008,
Los Angeles Times



As expected, the moment the polls closed in California, Oregon and Washington state, network projections declared that Barack Obama would win all three.

And with those three, based on such calls, the senator from Illinois passed the 270-electoral-vote mark needed to win the presidency.

Not only will he be the nation's first biracial president, he also will be the first native of Hawaii to move into the White House.

He is the first sitting senator to claim the ultimate political prize since John Kennedy in 1960 (as would have been John McCain).

There is one trend that continues -- Obama will be the fourth straight president with an Ivy League educational pedigree.

Congratulations, Obama, on your victory in the presidential elections in the USA, and wishing you every success during your presidency. We are proud of you, Obama, sorry, Mr. President.

Barack Obama Makes History!

"Democracy, Liberty, Opportunity &
Unyielding Hope" - The Victory Speech, by Barack Obama

Kerala Tips

UAE ID CARDS

UAE - November 2008 - National Identity Card in the UAE - The Official Portal of Dubai Government

Introduction - Instead of having multiple identity cards like driving licences, work permits, employee cards, passports, e-cards, the UAE Federal Government created a single national identity card in April 2006, with in-built smart features including biometrics and advanced ID features that will eventually eliminate the need to carry multiple cards. At a later date, it can be used as a travel document within the GCC.

Emirates Identity Authority(EIDA), a federal government organization, has already rolled out the first phase and second phase of the national identity card, as part of a comprehensive three year plan to provide National ID cards to three categories: UAE nationals, GCC citizens living in UAE and other UAE residents.

Note - Registration is currently open for UAE nationals, GCC citizens working or residing in the UAE, expatriate government staff and professionals (anyone with a degree) in the private sector. EIDA has announced a deadline of December 31st 2008 for all of the above categories.

For registering your family, you must ensure that your child has his/her own passport. Maids/domestic staff in your household are not included and separate dates will be announced for their registration later.

Criteria & Validity - You must be either a UAE national, a GCC citizen working or residing in the UAE, or a UAE resident and above 15 years of age. The card is valid for lifetime for nationals (with renewal every five years) and validity for other residents depends on the validity of the visa. However, the same card can be used, once the residence visa is renewed.

Comments on the subject (with no pun intended in reference to the UAE ID card, for which we have already applied at a card issuing centre in Umm Al Quwain on November 3, 2008)....

It would be ideal if India too introduced a similar ID card as the one introduced in the United Arab Emirates, however, with a validity of 5 years, and renewable thereafter.

Considering a 1.2 Billion strong population in India, if the government charged each body a sum of Rs.1.00 each, a whooping Rs.1.2 Billion can be generated. That, however, is peanuts and a waste of time. Therefore, it would be better if the charges are levied as follows:-

Let's divide the 1.2 Billion strong population into two categories, i.e. 70% wealthy, and the rest 30% below the poverty line. The wealthy shall have to pay Rs.500.00 each for the ID card, and those below the lousy poverty line shall pay Rs.10.00 each. That's generating something like Rs. 420,000,000,000.00 from the wealthy, and Rs.3,600,000,000.00 from the poor respectively. Add that two figures, and we have a princely sum of Rs.423,600,000,000.00 (Rs.423.6 Billion) or USD 10,085,714,285.00 (USD 10.08 Billion).

And once that money is generated, the government of India will not fool around and pull the wool over our eyes through their henchmen, chamchas, and village officers, but instead, use it to eradicate poverty in India over the next 5 years. We would then have the people of Hindustan or Bharath below the poverty line having an upgraded status, i.e. "wealthy", which would mean that when the cards issued now are up for renewal after 5 years, the government of India would be in an enviable position of raising a mind-boggling sum of Rs.600,000,000,000.00 (Rs.600 Billion) or USD.14,285,714,285.00 (USD 14,2 Billion).

Howzat for a calculation ?

As you can see, our webmaster is a genious, and hence, you shalt not hesitate to vote for him when he is ready to contest an election in India in the not too distant future.

Further thoughts from our Webmaster on the proposed Indian ID Card:

In spite of the categorization as above for the Indian ID Card, and the charges envisaged against them, i.e. Rs.500.00 each for the "wealthy" and Rs.10.00 each for "people below the poverty line", a further categorization amongst the wealthy and the ID card fee structure for them can be made as follows:-

For the "wealthy"

Businessmen/women, Rs.10,000 each
Filmstars (not film actors), Rs.10,000 each
Sports personalities (cricketers only), Rs.10,000 each
Cabinet Ministers and their family members, Rs.5,000 each
Retired Ministers and their family members, Rs.3,000 each
Politicians in general and their family members, Rs.2,000 each
People who are or were employed in foreign countries as Managers, and their family members, Rs.1,500 each.

For "people below the poverty line"

Those who do not own any land in India can be exempted from making any payment, and the ID card shall be issued to them on a free of charge basis. This is no big deal since the monies generated from the further categorized category of "wealthy" would adequately compensate for that.

Notes - It must be noted that the people who are lucky to work as Managers (although most of these cretins cannot read or spell their own names right) in the United Arab Emirates and elsewhere in the world enjoy a lifestyle envied by people like our webmaster. To elaborate, a mediocre manager's perks in the U.A.E. translate to:

A basic salary (AED.13,000 or above per month), plus company provided accommodation, the registration costs thereof; electricity and water bill payments. A company provided car with petrol expenses. Comprehensive medical insurance cover for the Manager and his/her spouse. Payment of school fee for a maximum of three children. Yearly air-tickets for the Manager and family. Visa expenses for the family. Yearly bonus equivalent to 3 months' pay. Frequent, fully paid travel across the world in the name of business trips, and seminars. U.A.E. Natinal ID card fee payment for Manager and wife/husband. (Our webmaster fails to understand why the company pays for the wife's ID card - are the wives of managers contributing anything to the company's coffers? ). Grapevine has it that the companies will also provide puppies to the Managers and their wives to fondle when nothing else is to hand.

As one can see, with income as shown above, these managers find themselves in the best of all possible worlds, and therefore, it goes without saying that they can afford to pay a sum of Rs.1,500 each for the Indian ID card; much to the relief and amusement of the "people below the poverty line".

Our webmaster especially hates these top managers' frequent utterance of "only for the managers" slogan (what the heck, the sack and firing too?, which they eventually face if the target is not met, forecast not achieved, or the bottom line does not show up as expected by the Board of Directors or the company owners. The company owners and the Board of Directors, wake up and read your financials regularly, in order not to go bust along with the current financial crises across the globe). Therefore, their ID fee is raised to 1,500 each, as they can afford to pay from the monies they looted from their employers.

Upon recalculation of the funds generated based on the "further categorization" of "wealthy" above, the Government of India should look no further for paradise on earth. Paradise is exclusively for all Indians to enjoy, right there in India. Indiar is Paradise and no longer British.

Crackdown on illegal workers

196 firms caught employing illegal workers - October 22, 2008 -
Construction Week Online

Nearly 200 companies have been caught hiring illegal workers this year.
The Ministry of Labour’s acting director general Humaid bin Demas was reported saying that 196 firms had been referred to the public prosecution and the crackdown would continue.

He also said that the majority had been found guilty and that fines had reached tens of millions of dirhams.

He added that tough measures will continue to be taken against violators to ensure a safe society and a stable labour market in which workers' rights are protected.
Last week, a Dubai court jailed a manager and fined his company more than six million dirhams for hiring 95 illegal workers.

The companies caught so far in 2008 were employing 612 illegal people in total and those workers will be deported.

Employers who employ illegal workers face a fine of US $27,000 (AED100,000) per person plus a minimum two months jail term.

Village Officers

Those Corrupt Village Officers in Kerala.

Village offices in Kerala - Corruption, fraud and cheating

Following our ordeal with our local Village Officer, I wrote a letter to the then CM of Kerala, which elicited no action. The letter is reproduced below:

The Lady Village Officer at Omalloor, Pathanamthitta Dist., Kerala, has a penchant for cash. This was clearly visible at that office when I visited them in August, 2003, to pay Tax arrears (karam) on some of my properties at Omalloor, and when my mother visited that office during the last week of September, 2003, to have my newly purchased property to be made in my name and to pay the tax.

The village officer preaches that she is a very upright officer in front of everybody, but behind the door, on an individual basis, she collects huge sums as bribe in the name of Onam celebration, Independent Day Celebration etc. She cheated money out me and my mother. We are not the only victims. Her victims are especially the poor people. She will demand documents of trivial nature to harass the people, making them go round and round, for several days, and finally end up paying the demanded money to her to get things done.

I am not writing this to vent my anger over the ordeal she made me go through or that of my mother's bad experience as stated above, but the authorities must know the goings on in these village offices.

The notoriety of the said Village Officer is well known in the circles at Omalloor, but no one seems to talk about it, but instead undergo the harassment meted out to them in patience. There must be an end to it. I would have done something about it when I visited Kerala in August, 2003, as I said, however, I did not have the time to take this lady to tasks. On my next visit to India, and should I have a requirement at Omalloor Village Office, and if I find this lady gracing the occasion asking me money, then I will give her the run for her money, and that is a promise, your Hon. Chief Minister.

How could an alien Village Officer posted at my very native town, Omalloor, dare play games with me and the people in the neighborhood, especially the poor who are short on cash?

More on the subject…

Madam Village Officer, wherever you are currently practicing your trade, we will find you to answer to our questions sooner or later.

During my visit to Kerala in 2007, I saw another lady gracing the occasion as Village Officer at Omalloor Village Office, and I was told that she is an upright officer. Good for her.

However, I was told that a new Village Officer has been posted at Omalloor Village Office sometime in September/October, 2008, and he is a bigger evil than the one I encountered at that office in 2003. This fellow seems to be a chameleon of sorts in that he visits the houses in the Village after having received any application for service from any given person to check on his capacity to pay his bribes.

More about that guy will be revealed once known. So, please be tuned....