Isn’t this what so much of our lives is about? For good or (often) ill. Gaining attention? Personally. As a group. As a community. The city and the emirate of Abu Dhabi, it strikes me, are ready for their close-up. In the sense that they would like to be known, recognized by the Average Joe […]

[Read more →]

Guy from news side came over late in the shift tonight and said, “What happens to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix if it rains?” We figured it was a rhetorical question. It doesn’t rain in Abu Dhabi, and it definitely doesn’t rain in November. I mean, it could, but it doesn’t. But the news guy […]

[Read more →]

Another big milestone on the slow (oh-so-slow) slog to Not Summer here in Abu Dhabi. I was able to jog, outdoors, for the first time since …

[Read more →]

When a person leaves the U.S. states that border Mexico … well, one of your first issues in your new home is “where do I get my enchilada fix?” This can be an issue in areas as close to Mexico as, say, Oregon and Utah … but it becomes a major issue in distant lands […]

[Read more →]

Allen Iverson, new point guard for Besiktas of Istanbul in the Turkish League. Certainly, the former MVP would prefer to be in the NBA. But after a couple of rocky seasons filled with a lot of off-the-court issues, he was not offered a job in The League, and it’s not as if he had a […]

[Read more →]

I may have remarked upon this before: How casual most people in this country are about getting rid of their trash … anywhere they please. Where do you dispose of wrappers, bags, papers, in the UAE? Out your window. Or at your feet. You just drop it and forget about it. This hit home for […]

[Read more →]

Sometimes we “experts” in the world of sports journalism get one wrong. Way wrong. Russell Westbrook is a recent example. He is the second-best player for the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team with Kevin Durant and a huge upside. Some of us same experts now believe OKC could finish the season with a better record […]

[Read more →]

The National is an unusual newspaper. Located in a country near the northeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, in a thriving city (Abu Dhabi) that attracts lots of expatriates. One that is written in English, a language that is native to only a fraction of the people who live here. The paper attracts an eclectic […]

[Read more →]

No matter how the midterm elections go, back in the U.S. today, we can’t complain about the outcome. We did not vote. We have explanations … but not excuses.

[Read more →]

Talking about the weather is dreary, especially when it’s weather nowhere near where you happen to be sitting. But I have complained so often about the six months of summer here … that I have to speak up for the conditions of Friday. It was … perfect.

[Read more →]