Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has legalized car pooling by launching website Sharekni  "a share your car service."

The move aims to give people a way to legally car-pool in Dubai and encourages motorists to share rides and cut traffic congestion.

Here is what the RTA says about car pooling:

What is Sharekni?

Carpooling is the shared use of a car especially for commuting to work and often by people who each have a car but travel together to save cost, to reduce driving stress, and to promote other socio-environmental benefits.

 
Present situation
 

Presently, the high demand on Private Cars and low usage of Group Transport (7%) is causing traffic congestion. The present rate of private car ownership in Dubai is as high as 541 cars for each 1000 person with an average number of passengers in each car as low as 1.3 people. The annual increase of traffic expenses is 4.3 billion AED and the expected increase in Dubai population is 296% by the year 2020 and that will bring the expected number of private cars in Dubai is 1.5m car by the year 2020. All of these facts have direct impact on traffic congestion in Dubai .

 
The Ten objectives of Carpooling:

1. Reducing overall traffic congestion on the roads of Dubai
2. Reduce peak hour congestion
3. Reducing single occupancy car trips in Dubai by implementing car pooling system.
4. Promoting alternative modes of transport.
5. Improve parking in areas that are experiencing parking congestion
6. Save money by sharing the cost of driving one car.
7. Reduce number of cars in the road.
8. Reduce pollution and carbon dioxide emissions.
9. Reduces driving-related stress for participants
10. Provide social connections in the society.

 
RTA announces the legality of carpooling in the Emirate of Dubai. Every one is encouraged to carpool through the Sharekni system. By offering shared ride you will directly contribute to reducing traffic in Dubai and participate in the development of the city.
 

You can visit their website here if you want to share you car with other people.

But do they really think that by legalizing a share your car service will really ease traffic congestions in Dubai? I don't think so. Car pooling has been a practice here in Dubai ever before they legalised it and Dubai car rental is very easy to find here where others use the car to get passengers and earn from it. If you have a dubai driving license or an international license, car hire in Dubai is just everywhere.

And the question is, what if the person riding with us is a friend and they are not registered? Hmmm…let's see.

Dubai public transportation is getting worst each day in Dubai. If you don't have your own car, waiting for Dubai taxi or Dubai bus will really make your day in a bad mood.

Last May, I started my driving lessons at Dubai Driving Centre. Usually it will take you after a month to start your classes and couple more months or even a year to finish it but in my case, my classes started the day after I opened my file, they have the normal classes and the VIP classes. Obviously I have taken the VIP classes so I can  get my driving license as early as possible ( I'm fed up from waiting for 1-2 hours for taxi).

Obtaining a Dubai driving license

Obtaining a driving license in Dubai, you need to be a resident of the United Arab Emirates, with a residence visa issued in Dubai. If you are a resident of Dubai but have a visa issued in another emirate, then you need to obtain a transferal form allowing you to obtain your driver's license from Dubai. The minimum age for obtaining a drivers license is 18 years. 

Students can decide whether they wish to take driving classes using a manual or automatic vehicle, and normal classes or VIP classes. The cost for driving lessons will differ from institute to institute but normally. For my class, it costs me Dhs 125 per  class. Driving classes last for a duration of 30/class. The number of lessons required by a student will depend on the student's experience with a car, but students who have no experience will need around 40 classes, while students with experience only need 20 classes. Just do the math if you are taking up 40 classes for VIP.

After a month, I had my road test which was conducted by a Road and Transport Authority or RTA inspector/examiner. You will be given a few minutes to prove that you are eligible to have a license. Sad to say I failed. So I was advised to take another 7 classes before my next road test.

The day came for my 2nd road test, this time I passed. Whew! At last in few month I can finally have my own car.

But if you’re here on a short stay or vacation and you have your international license, car hire in Dubai may be a great option for you by simply looking for Dubai car rental companies.

This morning,the Filipinos boxing champion Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao had once again proved himself as Philippines boxing pride by knocking out David "Dangerous" Diaz for the WBC Lightweight title in Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

I was not able to watch the fight as I have to leave early for work. So when my friend called to tell me that Manny had won the fight, I searched the internet for the fights video. And while searching I came across this name Guerrero saying that he can't see it going past five rounds and  he will knock Pacquiao out.  

Did he really said that? Yes in an FitzHitz interview Guerrero says, "I'd knock him out in five rounds,". "He hasn't fought a left-hander like me who can punch and break down his style piece by piece. "No question, I think he's the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. He's beaten the best and he deserves all the credit he's been given. But I still think I'd get him out of there within five rounds."

So who is this guy saying that he will knock Manny out?

Robert Joseph "The Ghost" Guerrero is a pro since 2001 and a two-time belt-holder at 126 pounds, the southpaw this week announced his intention to relinquish the IBF featherweight championship and move up in weight to pursue big fights at 130 and 135 — or even 140. 

After an impressive amateur career begun at a very young age, Guerrero turned professional, at the age of 18, on May 22, 2001 with a four-round unanimous decision win against Alejandro Cruz. After several impressive wins and only a single draw later, Guerrero won the WBC NABF Featherweight title against Cesar Figueroa on December 9, 2004. Defending his NABF title twice, Guerrero was seen as a rising, premier prospect, until meeting Gamaliel Diaz in a bout televised on ShoBox, on the Showtime channel, on December 12, 2005. A surprisingly aggressive Diaz upset Guerrero, winning by split decision and taking the NABF belt in the process.

Guerrero rebounded from his first loss by defeating Sandros Marcos via third-round technical knock-out, setting up a rematch against Diaz, again on Showtime. Guerrero came out aggressive, knocking down Diaz in the first round, and eventually knocking out Diaz early in the sixth round. The win set him up to face IBF champion Eric Aiken.

In his first world championship fight on September 2, 2006, Guerrero shined as he defeated Aiken by eight-round technical knockout in Los Angeles. Guerrero used inside fighting, neutralizing Aiken's power, and eventually making Aiken quit on his stool after the eighth round to earn his first world title belt.

Guerrero lost the belt in his next fight in a mandatory defense to unheralded Orlando Salido in Las Vegas. Salido dominated the majority of the bout and pulled off an upset decision win with scores of 115-113, 117-111, 118-110. However, Salido would subsequently be stripped of the IBF title after testing positive for steroids, thus vacating the belt; the result of the bout would also be changed to a twelve-round no decision by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

The IBF subsequently gave Guerrero the shot at the vacant featherweight title, which he won by ninth-round technical knockout in Copenhagen, Denmark on February 23, 2007, against local Spend Abazi.

Guerrero's first defense of his second title was to be against Rocky Juarez (27-3, 19 KOs); however, Juarez chose to meet WBC Super Featherweight Champion Juan Manuel Márquez in a money fight instead. Guerrero's first defense was scheduled to be against Martin Honorio (24-3-1) on November 3, 2007, and was televised on Showtime, on the undercard of the Marquez-Juarez match. Guerrero was unable to attend the final press conference before the match after his wife was diagnosed with leukemia. Guerrero defeated Honorio in a first round knock-out.

On February 29, 2008, Guerrero defeated Jason Litzau via an eighth round knock out. Guerrero then vacated the title to move up in weight.

Well, Guerrero can say what he wants. If he is really dying  to knock Manny out I guess he had already started his training after todays fight…hehehe…

Mabuhay ka Manny!!!

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers voted Thursday to relax rules for naming Web sites.

At its meeting in Paris, ICANN, a not-for-profit organization that oversees the naming scheme for Web sites, voted to accept a proposal that will allow companies to purchase new top-level domain names ending in whatever they like.

So, for example, instead of being restricted to sites ending in .com or .org., eBay could have a site that ends in .ebay, or New York City could end its Web site with .nyc.

The new naming process will begin in 2009. The first suffixes will likely be given to businesses and other major organizations. Countries are expected to keep their specific suffixes, but as in the example above cities could also get individualized URLs, such as .london or .chicago.

In an effort to deter cybersquatters, the organization is likely to charge a hefty price for the new names. Some experts estimate the new domain names could cost anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 or more. ICANN plans to give companies with trademarked names priority for their names.

The group also voted to open public comment on a proposal that would allow countries to use non-English script. For example, companies could use Chinese or Arabic script to identify their web sites.

Paul Twomey, the chief executive of ICANN, told the BBC earlier this week that allowing the new naming conventions would create new "real estate" on the Internet. But some experts worry that it could unleash a gold rush mentality. While trademarked names will only be available to those trademark holders, there are loads of common words that people could want to register, such as .sex.

The suffix .xxx was rejected by ICANN last year, but it could also prove to be a popular suffix under the more relaxed policy. Still, Twomey told Agence France Press that the organization will still try to block or reject any domain name it deems inappropriate for security or moral reasons.

Source: Cnet.com
 

It's Thursday today and there are many people asking me whether it is true that there will be a hurricane heading Dubai this Friday and Saturday.

I too had received the email and after reading it, I searched the internet to see I can find other details about it but I found nothing. I also look into Dubai online information guide for further information.

This is the bogus email I received..

Hurricane coming from the Indian Ocean hit the island within the Arabic Tuesday evening (and God knows)

Riyadh:-

The U.S. Navy expected the arrival of the hurricane to the Sultanate of Oman and then to the Saudi capital Riyadh where it will be at it's most power. The anticipated Hurricane will be directed towards the Arabian Peninsula until it reaches Riyadh and the eastern region, and expectations that the ratio of rain to hit Riyadh 70 mm especially south of it, God willing. On the other hand, warned meteorology person Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Awad that there is a hurricane coming from the Indian Ocean approaching from the Arab Gulf states including Saudi Arabia. He added in his statement to "Al-Riyadh news letter:" There are three possibilities for the path of the hurricane around the Kingdom in the way to the North between the Riyadh region and among eastern region, and second bath to be derailed over the waters of the Arabian Gulf and the deepening Ras Tanura until after the strike many of the Areas bordering the waters of the Arabian Gulf from the West, the third possibility to beat the Sultanate of Oman and then go strongly to the UAE and south-west Pakistan.

According to the forecasts site (Weather), which is one of the most powerful positions in the weather news in the world:

DUBAI: Heavy rains with strong winds may be accompanied by thunderstorms and hail on Friday and Saturday.

Abu Dhabi: Heavy rains with strong winds may be accompanied by thunderstorms and hail on Friday.

Doha: Heavy rains with strong winds may be accompanied by thunderstorms and hail on Friday and Saturday ..

Manama: Heavy rains with strong winds may be accompanied by thunderstorms and hail on Saturday.

As I am also confused whether this is true or not, I checked again today and I found out that Dubai Meteorology office had confirmed that the email received was a hoax.

Dubai residents will not need to worry about this as Met office already announced that the weather will only be for hazy, humid and sunny days with average daily temperatures of 37 degree Celsius.

Enjoy your weekend!!!

As what I usually do after getting up from bed in the morning, I went straight to my computer to check my sites ranking in search engines. But instead of doing it, I got curious of the link my fellow SEO Philippine member captainbryane sent me on YM. And I am sure that this article have made Filipinos proud all over the world that is why it is worth spreading the news.

Aside from this uplifting post created by the South East Asian Bloggers United I am sharing with you here the article written by Abdullah Al-Maghlooth of Arabnews.com. titled Imagine a world without Filipinos.

"Muhammad Al-Maghrabi became handicapped and shut down his flower and gifts shop business in Jeddah after his Filipino workers insisted on leaving and returning home. He says: “When they left, I felt as if I had lost my arms. I was so sad that I lost my appetite.”

Al-Maghrabi then flew to Manila to look for two other Filipino workers to replace the ones who had left. Previously, he had tried workers of different nationalities but they did not impress him. “There is no comparison between Filipinos and others,” he says. Whenever I see Filipinos working in the Kingdom, I wonder what our life would be without them.

Saudi Arabia has the largest number of Filipino workers — 1,019,577 — outside the Philippines. In 2006 alone, the Kingdom recruited more than 223,000 workers from the Philippines and their numbers are still increasing. Filipinos not only play an important and effective role in the Kingdom, they also perform different jobs in countries across the world, including working as sailors. They are known for their professionalism and the quality of their work.

Nobody here can think of a life without Filipinos, who make up around 20 percent of the world’s seafarers. There are 1.2 million Filipino sailors.

So if Filipinos decided one day to stop working or go on strike for any reason, who would transport oil, food and heavy equipment across the world? We can only imagine the disaster that would happen.

What makes Filipinos unique is their ability to speak very good English and the technical training they receive in the early stages of their education. There are several specialized training institutes in the Philippines, including those specializing in engineering and road maintenance. This training background makes them highly competent in these vital areas.

When speaking about the Philippines, we should not forget Filipino nurses. They are some 23 percent of the world’s total number of nurses. The Philippines is home to over 190 accredited nursing colleges and institutes, from which some 9,000 nurses graduate each year. Many of them work abroad in countries such as the US, the UK, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Singapore.

Cathy Ann, a 35-year-old Filipino nurse who has been working in the Kingdom for the last five years and before that in Singapore, said she does not feel homesick abroad because “I am surrounded by my compatriots everywhere.” Ann thinks that early training allows Filipinos to excel in nursing and other vocations. She started learning this profession at the age of four as her aunt, a nurse, used to take her to hospital and ask her to watch the work. “She used to kiss me whenever I learned a new thing. At the age of 11, I could do a lot. I began doing things like measuring my grandfather’s blood pressure and giving my mother her insulin injections,” she said.

This type of early education system is lacking in the Kingdom. Many of our children reach the university stage without learning anything except boredom.

The Philippines, which you can barely see on the map, is a very effective country thanks to its people. It has the ability to influence the entire world economy.

We should pay respect to Filipino workers, not only by employing them but also by learning from their valuable experiences.

We should learn and educate our children on how to operate and maintain ships and oil tankers, as well as planning and nursing and how to achieve perfection in our work. This is a must so that we do not become like Muhammad Al-Maghrabi who lost his interest and appetite when Filipino workers left his flower shop.

We have to remember that we are very much dependent on the Filipinos around us. We could die a slow death if they chose to leave us."

I am Proud to be a Filipino!

Have you heard someone who was seriously ill and got healed by hand gestures or by just a wave of a hand?  All of us have been through an any kind of sickness whether it is serious or not. And do you know that there is a way of getting well or healed without the use of medicines?

A colleague of mine came to me and showed me his blog. He asked me how he can improve the design and make his blog SEO friendly and that was where I found out about Pranic Healing.

So what is it?

Pranic healing as what pranic healer Mr. Stephen Co said,"an ancient science and art of healing that uses the energy from the sun, air and the food we eat to heal physical and emotional problems". 

Heres a definition I got from the internet. Pranic healing is an ancient science and art of healing that utilizes prana (or chi/qi/ki) or life energy and the chakras or energy centers to heal diseased energy levels. The healing process involves the manipulation of the patient's chakras, ki and aura. It has also been called medical qigong (ki kung or ki healing),psychic healing, vitalic healing, therapeutic touch, laying of the hand, magnet healing, faith healing, and charismatic healing.

What is Prana?

Prana or Ki is that life energy which keeps the body alive and healthy. In Greek it is called 'pneuma', in Polynesian 'mana', and in Hebrew 'ruah', which means 'breath of life'. The healer projects prana or life energy or 'the breath of life' to the patient, thereby, healing the patient. It is through this process that this so-called 'miraculous healing' is accomplished.
 

Pranic healing is based on two laws: The law of self-recovery and the law of prana or life energy. These laws are quite obvious but strangely they are usually the least noticed or least remembered by most people. It is through these basic laws that rapid or miraculous healing occurs.

1. Law of Self-Recovery:
In general, the body is capable of healing itself at a certain rate. If a person has a wound or burn, the body will heal itself and recover within a few days to a week. In other words, even if you do not apply antibiotic on the wound or burn, the body will repair or heal itself. At the present moment, there is no medicine available for the treatment of viral infection. But even if a person has cough or cold due to viral infection, the body will recover generally in one or two weeks without medication.

2. Law of Life Energy:
For life to exist, the body must have prana, chi or life energy. The healing process can be accelerated by increasing life energy on the affected part(s) and on the entire body.

Pranic healing  can also heal stress, depressions, arthritis, coughs and colds, headaches, cravings, brain injuries and many more. It is like acupuncture without needles.