I was having trouble coming up with an article. The image above comes from a NYT story http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/business/global/02berry.html?ref=technology regarding the use of devices and how things CAN NOT be monitored in countries such as Dubai and Saudi Arabia. I took a trip to Dubai about a year and a half ago and I was shocked by this new rule. Dubai for those of you who do not know is the city of dreams. Anything that you have ever wanted or dreamed of is pretty much here (within reason it is still a strict Muslim country) This City is the supposed to be the place to be, the place to see and most imporantly a business hub. Now my question is How in the world you can conduct business without email or texts messages.
This city has been constucted over night and is fascinating. Fun facts of Dubai are the following:
1. Foreigners constitute about 80% of the Dubai population.
2. Latest survey showed that Dubai’s population has crossed the figure of 1.3 million.
3. The Dubai Emirates Mall is servicing foreigners to ski indoors during shopping.
4. Al Maktoum Dynasty has been the ruling family in Dubai since 1833.
5. Amazingly, you will not see street addresses in Dubai.
6. One of the most speedily developing cities in the world is Dubai.
7. Dubai government doesn’t levy any kind of personal or income taxes on its citizens.
8. After completion, the Burj Dubai will break all the previous records of tallest building and tallest man-made structures in the world.
9. In Dubai, 1 out of 5 persons purchase 5 pieces of gold jewelry every year.
10. Dubai is also building the man made islands; it would be the first one of its kind. They named them Palm Islands.
11. Dubai is a part of United Arab Emirates (UAE).
12. Dubai’s average annual precipitation is just 13 cm.
13. Monetary unit of Dubai is the dirham (Dh).
14. The world’s largest horses are here in Dubai.
15. Dubai is listed in the countries having highest per capita incomes in the world.
Now how in the world can all this be happening and yet women account for 1-2% of the UAE’s high executive positions, 20% hold administration positions, 35% are in the national workforce, and 80% are classified as household workers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_the_United_Arab_Emirates).
Another story that happened recently was the election of the new Iranian President. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_presidential_election,_2009#Censorship This story made national headlines through places like Twitter and Facebook.
Blocking of communications (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_presidential_election,_2009#Blocking_of_communications)
Mobile phone communications were interrupted in Tehran on election day and the BBC has stated that "heavy electronic jamming" was being used to halt their broadcasts. On 23 May 2009, the Iranian government temporarily blocked access to Facebook across the country. Gulfnews.com reported that this move was a response to the use of Facebook by candidates running against Ahmadinejad. PC World reported that Mousavi's Facebook page had more than 6,600 supporters. Access was restored by 26 May 2009.
I am looking forward to sharing my final project with everyone and share some interesting Social Media Data.
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