We should have a new journalism catchphrase. Similar to “if it bleeds, it leads” and “the definition of news is man bites dog …” The new one? “A monkey makes every story better.” Take, for instance, our latest sensational True Crime story here in the UAE. Under the web headline: “Man walking pet monkey kills […]

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This has to be something everyone who follows the Lakers has been saying the past few weeks, but really, honest, I was thinking it in the summer of 2011: Mike Brown as Lakers coach? What an awful idea! Today, he became a bad idea, but in the rear-view mirror.

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This guy has been on the job for about three weeks now. Work is going on — water lines, I believe — below the bus turnout on the offramp from Airport Road, about 100 yards from the front door of the apartment, in Abu Dhabi. And to help drivers grasp that they would not be […]

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In 35-plus years of print journalism, I have worked for perhaps a dozen editors and experienced both ends (and the middle) of the good/competent/awful spectrum. Wayne Sargent, however, was easily the most colorful of those dozen. But also one of the best. I am reminded of Wayne because he died last week at the age […]

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For the first time in my life, I will not be voting in a U.S. presidential election. I am not proud of that, but here are the mitigating factors:

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I have written before about the caretaker/super/handyman here at our aging, low-rise apartment complex near Airport Road, here in Abu Dhabi. That would be Mr. Mohammed. He seems to have first made an appearance under that name, in this blog, nearly three years ago. If you followed the link, go past the Tiger and Frank […]

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In terms of global visibility, the biggest day on the calendar in Abu Dhabi is when the Formula One grand prix is contested here. As it was today. At no other time do so many influential people congregate in the UAE capital. Eleven heads of state (including King Juan Carlos of Spain, etc.), as well […]

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Final score from the L.A. Coliseum. Oregon winning, USC losing. In football. Not basketball. A Pac-12 result that ought to leave Lane Kiffin and the Trojans reconsidering, oh, everything about how they approach the game of football. And playing against Oregon. First off? I don’t like football of this sort. The pinball/video game version, where […]

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This team has to be better than this, doesn’t it? I can envision Los Angeles Lakers fans saying that, back in SoCal. This 0-3 thing on a team with Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Steve Nash and Pau Gasol … it can’t be what they really are about. Can it? I was so impressed by Mitch […]

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Gather round, kids! The old newspaperman is going to tell you about the bad ol’ days way, way back in time. About 15, 20 years ago. Ancient history, that is. Back when Serious Editors thought this internet thing was never going to amount to much. Back when editors had to carefully consider what story he/she […]

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