i'm digging a hole and putting my money.

The ATM fraud has sent shockwaves to all the bank who are all reviewing their machines after the Central Bank has intervened.
What worries me is why Banks wait for something like this to happen and don't constantly upgrade their machines?

Now my main concern is not ATM's but Credit card frauds, what are they doing about it? Drive by Sheikh Zayed Road and a new Platinum Credit card is the new offer from RAKBANK and today morning I saw a large display in Dubai Islamic Bank too of a similar promotion.
Some years back my photo was added onto my Standard Chartered and CitiBank credit cards which made me feel secure if i lost it.
Firstly your signature can be forged, your PIN is known to you; so cash cannot be withdrawn, however purchases can be made. If you have a photo-ID credit card; there's a good chance the Thief cannot use it.
Why don't ALL banks implement this? What's wrong?
Many banks send an SMS notification immediately as you make a credit card purchase which is a very good idea, however the message is sent after the transaction is made right? So how would it help if your card was stolen or someone had your Credit-card information?

Secondly I would recommend, adding Finger/Thumb print scanners to Visa/ Master Card machines for further security, or even more to ATMs?

At a time when the term e-banking seems outdated, which many of us never used ! it's a scary thought to put your money in a bank with e-banking facilities, someone in Russia could drain out your account and leave your penniless, how secure is e-banking really?
The Credit card is not secure as it is and many people have lost money becoz of it, can we trust e-banking?

Banks claiming to have a 128-bit encryption and all sorts of security, but Microsoft and some of the world's most protected highly encrypted servers such as Pentagon have been hit too, so these banks are peanuts for these intellectual hackers.

Here's some pointers to help you.

BAT Mobile in Dubai

I Spotted Batman whizzing past Satwa in a Kandoora and Gatra Aggal, wonder what he's doing in Dubai?
This super mobile has two shovels on the bonnet,
Two petrol tanks on the sides,
4x4 guard in front,
and a guard and spare tire at the back (like the Cayenne !)

Unfortunately we missed the back of this, but I promise more pics are I get them.

If you are attacked in Dubai at night- Do not worry, BatMan will come to your rescue, the streets of Dubai are safer to live now.
Unfortunately with the new 15 year old vehicles ban, we will have to wait for his new ride

Arab drivers

Arabs boast of being the best drivers poking fun at other communities specifically Indians (well so do I) but what's ironic is that they think they "know" to drive" because they have better cars.

But you don't become a better driver by overtaking someone or jumping a signal or pushing the meter to the max, it's about control and being a safe driver.

A safe driver ensures he doesn't trouble others, exactly not an Arab drivers characterstic !

Infact Locals must drive well to set an example to others because this is their country.

A friend of mine once said, if you buy a vehicle from an Arab they only thing working would be the indicators- becasue they never use them !

I myself have lost 2 friends in Road accidents, one lost his legs.

You don't see Europeans or Asians dying in accidents as much as young Arabs because they don't drive so roughly.

Come on guys, drive safely please.

Check out some statistics here

Naji is home

Finally Naji Al Nuami has been released, a reason for UAE to celebrate. The whole UAE prayed for this guy...........
I'd read somewhere his wedding is to be in September, good luck man !

Only in Sharjah

This is on Al Wahda Street. Free Italian Suit, with Shirt !
Wow this beats all those offers at DSF !

Arla Foods Ban

It's been 3 months now since the protests have died down on the Prophet Mohammed's cartoons, but SuperMarkets such as Talal Supermarket have continued the ban, see this image of what's displayed at the entrance. I saw a similar message in Maya Lala's in Satwa saying we do not sell any Danish products.
Serves the Danes right I guess, Those cartoons will be remembered for years. It had no losses on the paper becasue locals will still read it, but what about the others affected by their ignorance and arrogance.

Welcome to Dubai

Something interesting emailed to me, whoever write this- must be applauded !

Welcome to Dubai :
- If your road map is more than a few weeks old, throw it out and get a new one. If you are in Al Rashidiya and your map is one day old, then it is already obsolete.
- Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere. Dubai has its own version of traffic rules, which can be summarized as "Hold on and pray!"
-There is no such thing as a dangerous high-speed chase in Dubai.
- Everyone drives like that. The morning rush hour is from 5AM to noon. The evening rush hour is from 1PM to 10PM. Wednesday's rush hour starts Tuesday morning.
-If you slow down at a yellow light, you will be rear-ended and then given a ticket by the Dubai Police.
- If you are the first one at the intersection, when the light turns green ignore the car honking behind you and count to five to avoid crashing into one of the cars running the red light in cross-traffic.
- Construction on all main roads is a way of life and a permanent form of entertainment.
- All unfamiliar sights are explained by the phrase, "Oh, we must be in Sharjah!"
- Car horns are actually toys for big boys.
- Anyone in a Land Cruiser or Mercedes with tinted windows has the right of way.
- Most roads mysteriously change names as you cross intersections.
- To ask directions, you must have knowledge of Urdu.
- A trip across town will take a minimum of four hours, although Sheik Zayed Road has an unposted minimum speed of 150 kph.
- It is sobering to realize that local Arabs are taught how to drive by Pakistanis.
- The minimum acceptable speed on the Emirates Road is 160 kph. Anything less is considered downright sissy.

- Al Khail Road is Dubai's daily version of NASCAR.

You got mail

Today morning at the Al Wasl Post office a pretty petit British hottie was arguing with the officials who refused to give her another Post box as paper work was already done and they could not cancel it from their Systems.
Reason: She couldn't reach it ! It was too high !

Poor Sweetie, had to cancel it, and pay for a new one.