Dubai. The empire in the desert. Dubai is a city of incredible technical and engineering achievement. About 40% of the entire city was built in just the last decade. Commercial hubs, man-made islands, mega-highways, mega-malls, and the world's tallest building, have all been built not on oil riches, but on the dreams of Sheik Mohammed. His vision was to create a commercial epicenter that would be the envy of the world. However, with the economic downturn in 2008 and a default on a $60 billion loan in 2009, many are left wondering what is this capitalistic dream and what is raw reality.
Dubai's extravagant offerings are intended only for the rich and super-rich, but there is always another side of town. Locals only make up about 5% of the total population. The people who built and maintain this city are largely from elsewhere. The workers came to find work, and they brought their food and their culture along with them. This is what Anthony Bourdain seeks out as he and his No Reservation crew visit Dubai this Monday at 9pm, Texas Time. Only on The Travel Channel.
Timothy Braun
August 6, 2010
Austin, TX
Five Easy Pieces (a quintet of other matters on my mind).
1.) The new Arcade Fire album is fantastic and is great to run to. Got the old National album “Alligator” on the same day. Great week for my love affair with music.
2.) Sharron Angle is among the stupidest people in politics. I though Michelle Bachmann was bad, but Angle’s comments on how the media should only ask question that make her look good is brainless.
3.) It is hard for me to think of the word “brainless” without ol’ Former Half-Term Governor Palin coming to mind. After Politfact.com called her a liar for, well, lying about Obama’s potential to allow the Bush tax cuts for the rich to expire, she fired back at the fact checking website on her facebook page with more made up trash. The Former Half-Term Gov claims this will be the greatest increase of taxes in American history. No, even if Obama allows the tax cuts to expire that honor still goes to Reagan. The issue that the Former Half-Term Governor has is that no matter how much she wants 2+2 to equal 5, it will always be 4.
4.) The report out of Colts camp is that Tony Ugoh has been penciled into the LG position and all I want to know is what the HELL took so long? When he was at Arkansas I could have told you he was a better fit at sweeping guard. This is a telegram to the rest of the league: the Colts are committed to sprinkle in more power running plays this year. More evidence to this is the dumping of pass catching TE Tom Santi for the rookie C/RT/TE/HB Brody Eldridge. While I am at it, watch out for new DE Jerry Hughes. I’ve heard the Colts have a three DE zone blitz package I am dying to see.
5.) Thinking about writing an essay on my dog.
1 comments:
If this were Facebook I would click the like button for your fifth Easy Piece of this post.
Just finished reading The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (narrated by a dog who feels he will be reincarnated in his next life as a human) which has only further ignited my love of dogs.
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