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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We were paying attention, here in Abu Dhabi, when Sandy struck New York. Emiratis may not know a lot about the U.S. (but probably more than Americans know about the UAE) … but they know that New York is a big deal. They are more likely to go to Paris or London or Munich, in […]

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As the east coast of the United States braced for the onset of megastorm Hurricane Sandy, we had our own impressive — if ultimately harmless — storm roll onto these shores. In no way was this weather front the crisis Sandy posed to New York and New Jersey, but it was interesting in that it […]

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At 9 p.m., it was an almost-balmy 82. The humidity was a little too high for it to be pleasant, but the notion of doing some exercise outside lured me to the rubberized running track around Khalifa University, 100 yards from my door … and it was there that I got a bit of a […]

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At The National, one of the ways in which we mark the holiday season … is to run stories reminding everyone it is not legal to slaughter animals in your home. Health concerns are cited, as well as the 500-dirham fine (about $130). If the campaigns were entirely successful, presumably the government wouldn’t issue announcements […]

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This is a grand occasion, here in the UAE, and we should have observed it with greater fanfare. The Turning on of the Water Heater. Note the date:

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No, not the Uefa Champions League. You thought I was going to go there, right? Not the Asian Champions League … not anyone’s champions league. My favorite annual soccer competition is … the Europa League! And here is why:

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I am trying to figure this out. Have I always hated to fly? Or do I hate it incrementally more, year by year, day by day? Other questions I am pondering:

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This is one of those “I wish I had thought of that!” situations. Well, aside from the fact that I am not a cartoonist, and all. Clark Kent quits the Daily Planet is the headline on the Jim Romenesko site, and includes the outline of an actual edition of the DC Comic.

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Back to B-Town! Don’t really need an occasion to visit Barcelona, but we have one: The 50th anniversary of the wedding of Leah’s parents. We went west from the UAE and they came east from Los Angeles … And it involved one major surprise:

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