A number of staff have left, there's a new editor who rumour has it doesn't have a clue, editorially they're pretty much avoiding anything interesting, they've lost distribution in Emaar, they're back down to 6days...
And Project X is launching soon. Though no doubt it will be crap too.
So what to think? Did the Russian-bitch-scandal and Arab press whingeing over a few punctuation marks in the infamous Presidential interview finally rip the balls off Dubai's best antidote to the Toady?
116 comments:
No-one seems to mention the fact that the new editor of 6days was of course unceremoniously sacked by X (and he wasn't even the editor of that project).
It's a shame to see the paper struggling though. Even the letters page has become a parody of itself.
I think the fact he held a (fairly junior) position at Associated Newspapers must have something to do with his appointment.
I agree it's a shame though. 7days did a great job of opening up the press here. It seems that process is now being reversed.
Will anyone ever get to the bottom of the alleged dirty tricks campaign against 7days? Sadly, I think not. But you have to feel sorry for them - I thought the AN link would make such shenanigans impossible - international best practice etc!
Of course, if ET management spent more time focusing on making the paper the best it could be, then they could beat 7days in a fair fight. If AMG want to be a player on a global stage, this is hardly the way to go about it.
Friend of mine who works at 7days says the editor is hopeless, and universally despised.
If they get this sorted out, she says, then they'll be back with a bang as the staff know what they are doing.
From what I gather it wasn't just AMG attacking 7days, although I think it's fair to say they were heavily involved. Pretty much the whole Arabic-language press got stuck in - and even Gulf News ran an editorial accusing a 'certain tabloid' of being funded by foreign powers looking to blacken the image of the UAE. After the AN deal 7days was a real threat commercially, so the competition went for the old "offending the religion/culture" angle, against which there's no real defence, however hard you try.
When did Gulf News run this editorial? I don't remember reading that (although to be fair I don't always read them). I remember them reproducing an article from the arabic press by the protaganist in chief (who I understand still writes columns attacking the english language press)
http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/11/28/10085615.html
"It seems that some local and international powers are doing their best to promote lies about labour conditions in the country and even use international organisations for this purpose."
Much of this article is clearly aimed at 7days. Worryingly, the guy that wrote it claims to be a professor.
Actually that should read:
http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/11/28/10085615.html
Sorry guys, for some reason it won't let me post the entire link. You need to add 15.html to the end
'Dr Mohammad Abdullah Al Mutawa is a professor of sociology at the UAE University, Al Ain.'
A world-reknowned seat of learning.
He gets to call himself 'Dr' because he's read the Koran. Whoopie do.
This is an opinion piece and not an editorial.
That's why I don't remember it.
It is well known that the UAE treats all residents in a fair and humanitarian way, since they all came to the country by their own will and approval to carry out a certain job, which is specified in their contracts.
Their labour contracts guarantee their full rights, including salaries, housing and the right to a decent life. They also receive airfare for their departure trip upon the expiry of their contracts.
Sorry, Dr al Mutawa - blatantly not true. Not all residents are treated well, whether the government likes it or not. The UAE's human rights abuse record is very poor, which has been well-documented (sometimes even by infidel foreign media). And let's not forget: this isn't solely the abuse of Asian construction workers. In the West, the withholding of passports is seen as a violation on civil rights - yes, Gulf News, you know you're guilty.
The government is trying to address the issue, but that doesn't take away from the fact the issue is there in the first place.
7days has struggled sinve Tony Metcalf was forced out, the new editor is by all accounts very unpopular. It's hard to see where they can go from here. New man at the top? Someone the staffers actually like?
What is Ali Khaled's role in 7days at the moment. Is he still managing editor?
Yes, I gather he still is, though the new guy's in charge. Not sure it's fair to blame him entirely though. The ads are way down on last last year, so clearly they've been hit financially. Maybe they don't feel they can afford another scare?
My immediate superior was pleasantly surprised to receive the CV of one of their senior editorial staffers a couple of weeks back.
Rats, the lot of them!
If 7Days is backed by Abu Dhabi, why isn't that enough to overcome the "problems" they have run into in Dubai?
Re CVs: well who could blame them for wanting to jump ship? It's not their fault DubGovInc decided to start meddling.
On the brightside, if that tittle-tat thing mentioned in an earlier entry is true (the letter) how great if Associated gets pissed off enough to take the battle to the UK press? I for one would love to see Dubai try to fight that one.
I'm missing something here - which ex-Xer is the new Ed at 7days?
As to X's launch - it's going to be a twice-weekly freesheet. Two years in the making and this is what they've managed to produce, talk about an exercise in waste and futility...
I don't think Abu Dhabi has the power to force private companies to advertise in a newspaper. Plus the Arabic papers seem to have been quite succesful at painting 7days as the ringleader of the ungrateful expats. It might not be a democracy, but the government still has to keep the local population happy.
to anonymous: no, AUH can't persuade them to advertise, but can they persuade their brethren down the highway that this is akin to throwing their toys out of the pram?
Neal Sawyer is the 'ex-Xer' now editor at 6days. Hated at Gulf News.
sacked for incompetence and no people skills from an unlaunched paper (that takes some doing) wonder if he confessed that in interview. Poor 7 days on the road to ruin...
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What's with Dxb and hiring the same hacks who've been sacked for sheer incompetency in their previous jobs...
Thought Motivate, ITP and KT were the front runners in that aspect, but it seems 6Days is fast catching up.
Also, rumour has it that NS wasn't the only one who was sent packing from Xpress - several members of the old team were. And somehow, instinct tells me that Xpress will bear the same fate as that of Emirates Toady - all the fireworks, but no entertainment.
I know of one business journalist who was fired from ITP, Gulf News and 7days in the space of less than a year. The last I heard he'd gone to Concept Media, where he's made a less than impressive first impression, if one of the final installments of the Spin is to be believed. But there is definitely something about this place that allows people to bounce from one distaster to the next. I remember a certain person who left the sinking ship of the dreadful society mag he'd created, only to be allowed to launch a daily paper. Crazy.
You're talking about Mark Johnson. He didn't get the sack from 6days as I'm pretty sure he was freelance. He did go on his holidays and got told not to come back as they had hired someone though!
and someone else is slagging young jason leavy. now, he came up with the idea for hot 100. hmmm, that hasn't been a commercial success. and the toady is clearly on the road to success since he jumped from that particular ship to get a top job in the UK.
When was the toady ever on the road to success?
It has been a huge success... in making the other papers appear edgy. But that doesn't seem to have stopped Abdul Latif being named CEO of the year - for services to the media industry! Wonders will never cease.
Who the hell nominated Abdul Latif and which set of awards was it that he won that category in?
nice to see that there's a JL fan out there; didn't know his mum read this blog....
Who nominated Abullatif? None of his staff
Fair enough. The Toady was never on the road to success - how could it be given its ownership. But it has clearly got worse since Leavy left. The Gulf News never changed, and 7Days was better until it got censored. But, anyway, it's always only been Metro. The controversial fact remains that, general production/spelling/everything issues aside, the KT was for years the only paper that dared to probe. That's gone now, too.
I agree - the KT actually ran some good investigative pieces last year over dodgy local companies and so on, and their business writing wasn't bad at all. Such a shame it was always seen as inferior or worse (just look at the horrific opinion pieces).
Is KT merging with ET or not? How has new DubGovInc ownership & board role affect things?
It's hard not to snigger when I read "business journalist" and UAE in the same context... Man, that must be a sweet job: Scan press release. OCR. Done! A good day's work.
I think you'll find that GN has been pushing things a lot further than it used to...but it knows where to draw the line.
KT's stories were born out the vendetta of a madman, and look what's happened to it as a result. A real, shame.
7days didn't know how to be progressive, and look at it now. It looks like it may even become another part of Dubai inc.
Gulf News is far, far from perfect, but take a look. It is 10 times more questioning than it was a couple of years ago. Especially when it comes to some of its local writers questioning the policies of the government.
Slow and steady is the way to go in terms of change.
dxbhack - it seems things have changed at KT.
But more worrying are the rumours that 6days may be bought out by AMG.
The two admitted to having a meeting, but if you read the story in Arabian Business...you can see their alibi is pretty poor.
I agree that KT had some great stories, albeit buried in bad Englsih and appalling layout, but I'm not sure how anyone can say that "7days didn't know how to be progressive". Since it launched 7days has, almost single handedly, transformed the UAE's media scene. Before they came along many people didn't even know labour camps existed. Now, crazy Al Ain professors aside, it's an accepted fact that they endure terrible conditions. The problem is 7days built up a lot of bad feeling by doing it, and are now paying the price. I think the idea that GN will somehow pick up that mantle is laughable. The sad fact is, we're largely back to square one and it's difficult to see how anyone will risk changing that after 7days was hit financially.
The problem was 7days thought it could be 'balls out' the whole way and stick two fingers up at the establishment. Sadly, it was always inevitable that it would eventually run into trouble. That's what I mean by not being progressive.
GN is now regularly doing stories about the poor treatment of labourers, about maid abuse, criticising the police etc.
While GN is not as bold as 7days, take a look around the market now and see which papers are making any criticisms of the UAE.
We are not back to square one, 7days helped push things a lot, and unfortunately it has paid a price for being too bold and not knowing when to take a strategic step back to avoid the heat.
I doubt GN will be like 7days was, but if you read it, you will see it carries stories the other papers don't (it also carries a lot of crap, like a double page spread on winning a design award and stories about Swiss women and lost dogs!!!)
While I thought 7days was terrible in the very early days (badly edited wire copy etc) it picked up noticeably after about a year. Mind you, it still had its faults, including one of the worst columnists I have ever read.
I thought the Associated Newspapers buy-in would have given financial backing, stability, international muscle and some editorial acumen / checks and balances. Perhaps the dust will settle and AN will be able to get on with its job? Or have I got a really bad case of the rose-tinted glasses?
soldmysoul...Mustafa is now at ET :-)
May be worth reading this:
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8780
Anonymous @ 10.59 - Associated Newspapers can't sell off 7days to AMG, surely. It would be like selling off part of the national culture to Dubai. Oh, hold on.... *remembering Louvre, Guggenheim, Madame Tussauds, Liverpool FC* .... Yikes.
For the good of all that is sane and honest and untainted by DubInc advertorials, STAND FIRM, ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS.
Perhaps we should start a Save 7Days Campaign?
I saw an ad in ET.
Abdullatif won the award at the 'World CEO Forum'
Of course the fact the event was held in Dubai and he was a speaker had nothing to do with Abdullatif's deserving victory
Nor the fact that it was organised in Dubai and 70% of all the speakers were from the UAE, and there were no serious CEOs there...(not even serious CEOs from the UAE)
A look at their website is quite amusing.
Sounds like a prestigious award!!
Good idea. SAVE 7DAYS. They need a new editor pronto who isn't 'universally despised' and to be left alone by the AMG parasites. Job done.
Anon at 13.29 and 14.16...apparently even b4 MJ was hired at Concept, the staff there received calls from the folks at 6Days warning them against MJ. Apparently the man is well hated...I wonder why..
MJ may be 'hated' but he needs to take lessons from the 6days editor it woud appear as I hear from an inside source that the staff have never seen anything like this Neal Sawyer character b4.
Ask them if they have inquired about his recent traffic altercation with an important dish dash
Who had the altercation? MJ or NS?
it is getting confusing all these abbreviations...
do you mean NS instead of MJ?
Who the hell is MJ?
I love that thread!
6days staff have got to be posting on here...
HAS ANYONE GOT ANY IDEA WHERE THE SOCIETY DUBAI POST HAS GONE TO? There was a lot of fur flying - I wonder if this blog has already been 'got at' ????
Does anyone care? This thread is utterly fascinating.
to Anonymous: well, there was a lot of snarling, mostly from (I guess) Motivate staffers, defending their "daring and voyeuristic" magazine Society Dubai. It was amusing.
...but not nearly as amusing as the 'laying bare' of the editor of 6days. Hated at GN, then sacked. Hated at 6days, then...
Time to start packing, methinks!
This blog is the talk of Dubai media, the talk of the town. When is Campaign comig out?Those guys live for sh1t like this.
perhaps the campaign people are behind this blog?
That might be true, if Neal Sawyer is a plant working for Campaign. But all the noises (and there are a lot of them) coming out of 6days is that Sawyer is an absolute catastrophe, hated by the entire staff.
Bye, bye, 6days. I'm not being sarcastic when I say that you will be missed.
if he was that much of a negative in journalism here, I'm surprised he didn't become a rising star in PR (wasn'r he at Wallis or MS&L?). After all, PR seems to be a retirement ground for faded hacks these days.
Wallis. He couldn't hack it there, either.
Tried to post earlier but it crashed; just wanted to see something; MJ made a guy at GN cry, JL made a girl at the Toady cry, who has NS reduced to tears so far...?
have I missed something? why the death knell for 7Days? Associated will bail out its new acquisition, I'm sure.
i still can't get over frank 'western standards' kane moving to amg.
lest we forget: http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1806159,00.html
I worked with Sawyer at X and he was a muppet. How he got an editorial job, I will never know.
Excellent point, anonymous @ 21.53. I remember the fuss over Kane's comments, mainly because there are plenty of journalists trying to operate properly in Dubai, but all are stifled.
I'm sure it must have been hugely frustrating for him while ITP tried to get Arabian Business Standard off the ground. But reappearing at AMG is a career move I can't fathom, and certainly one that's inconsistent with his comments in the Guardian.
I'm sure the CEO of the Year promised him free rein, budgets, staff and new launches... where have we heard that before? Unless the rumours are true and AMG / Dubai Holding is buying the Financial Timrs.
If we're going to take potshots at people we should get our facts right. MJ resigned from ITP after 6 months - NOT fired. As someone else pointed out, he WAS freelance at 6days and stopped when he launched his own online news service.
As a former colleague, MJ was one of the bravest journos Dubai was lucky to have. He often took aim at the business community, but never in an undignified or gratuitous way.
And he wasn't fired from Concept. He didn't even want to work with them, but running the mags was a condition of Concept supporting MJ's online venture. You only have to look at the crap quality of RetailME and Millionaire to see what MJ was up against.
The incompetent Indian management also failed MJ on all their commitments to his website and then deserted him when he faced a visa issue - as many in Dubai are aware that good journos are often targeted by the authorities.
Those of us who want to see Dubai become a serious city should stop pissing on people like MJ and start looking at why it's so hard to attract and keep good talent here.
Good of you to join us, Mark!
You weren't fired from Concept, but the antipathy of the staff there towards you meant that you were effectively cut off at the knees, so powerless, and had to go before others jacked it in as they couldn't work with you and your 'drama queen' ways.
Sawyer is about to find out the same thing at 6days. He's lost the staff completely with his attitude (my word, you should hear some of the stories!) and there's no way back for him now. He might not actually get fired, but he is finished at 6days.
In the last year and a half we have lost a lot of our media quality.
So those of you who obviously have axes to grind with the people you have worked with - here's a list of how 'dingey Dubai' has lost its media mojo -
SHUT DOWN: Campaign
SHUT DOWN: 'The Editors' radio show
GONE: Rich Dean, journalist
GONE: Jason Leavey, journalist
GONE: Tim Burrowes, journalist
GONE: Lizzy Drachman, journalist
GONE: Mark Johnson, journalist
GONE: Tony Metcalf, journalist
GONE: Steve Marney, City 7 MD
GONE: David Weston, journalist
You have to ask, what is it about Dubai? But the answer is that we all really know exactly what it is.....
MJ must have been a pretty important guy to get so much space on here.
Does anyone know whatever happened to Micheal Stent former mng editor at 'Guff Noose' - they seem to be looking again...
Thought I should throw in my tuppence worth here.
RE MJ at Concept. I was working there until recently and Johnson's 'crime' was that he tried to manage a team that had never been managed before and they hated it.
He also tried to bring in structure like monthly editorial meetings and flatplans, but both the editors Shalini ('Darth') Seth and Alex ('not my problem') Hill hated being made accountable.
You only had to look at the December issue of Millionaire - the content pages numbering bares no relation to the actual pages. Millionaire editor Seth has also gone through 4 staff in the past 10 months and she can't stand working with non Indians.
Also, Hill created a huge problem for Concept because he treated a freelancer - Ruth Edwards - badly and then tried to wash his hands of it she threatened to sue over payment until Johnson resolved the case.
We shouldn't forget that Concept also had an illfated attempt to produce Emirates Evening Post which ended in disaster. and CEO Fernandez is doing the interview rounds to try and create a 'personality' around his rise to success. The stories read like he joined Concept and rose through the ranks to buy it out. what the articles don't tell you is that he bought it from his uncle and that many of the staff are related him one way or another.
Good to know nepotism is alive and well in Dubai!
What happened to Eudore Chand? Where is he now?
I have to agree with Anon on Concept quality - I worked with Seth at the Toady and she really is a misery. She struggles to work with most people and my friends at 'No Concept' say she reduces her ed asst to tears on a regular basis.
'No Concept's' managers are aware of the Seth problem but are afraid to deal with it because the Dutch owners of the Millionaire franchise take a dim view of making editorial changes in the first year- so, despite her appalling editorial skills she's safe for now.
Seth also sacked Sarah Zafar Taylor (just before Christmas), a British Indian journalist apparently because she was intimidated by Taylor's glamour and confidence
Anon @ 13.09 - lol, you might as well have signed off with "kind regards, Mark" ha ha ha....
JL and MJ, contributors to dubai's media mojo... interesting...
re Michael stent, he was let go almost two years ago; I don't think they're actually looking for anyone to replace him, I think Abdul Hamid is more than happy running the show himself with about 5 'assistant' editors to "support" him...
We've had JL and MJ on here so surprised we haven't had a comment from someone 'close' to Neil Sawyer defending his sacking from X and denying his imminent departure from 6days.
This 'blogette' is obviously a textbook example of what happens in a country where press freedom is strangled...the 'media' turns on its own and devours itself from within.
Shame more blogs weren't dedicated to the UAE's still dubious human rights issues - labourers rights, maids abuse, monopolies, VOIP bans and suicidal driving habits.
As an 'old' hack this blog really makes me laugh.
In my days as a reporter in London we lived in mortal fear of our editors. They were tough, aggressive, nasty no-nonsense creatures who would throw poor copy in your face and tell you to learn what real news is. We feared them, but respected thier insistence on dishing up quality stories - and you got fired if you didn't perform.
Seems to me Dubai simply isn't ready for 'real' managers and, from your inane newspapers it seems any 'story' is good as long as it shows Dubai in the 'right' hue.
Suggest you all go back to your schools and re-learn what journalism really is.
Hmm... not sure I agree. The original subject of the comments here is being savaged because he is (allegedly) such an unpleasant and useless editor and pretty much the same goes for Mark Johnson, and I can vouch for that.
No one else is getting 'devoured' really...
Oh dear. What value is there in a comment claiming to 'vouch' for anything while you remain 'anonymous'.
Principals, surely! We're free to say anything if we remain anon.
Is it not simply sad and unpleasant to insult your former colleagues with such abandon? What would they say of you?
These guys, Sawyer, Leavey and Johnson were not the first to come and go, and will doubtless be the last.
Whether you agree or not, smacks of the fact you just don't like people who strive to achieve more than you.
It says more about Dubai really that these attacks you are making can go unchecked.
What has the 7days editor done to offend you so much?
So, to bring this string back to its original point - Is 7days really going to be shut down?
If so it will be another blow for us here. How are we to know the truth of things if journalists are not free to write about the negative as well as the positive?
Seems like it's time to head back to the real world...
Silverpen. Says that on your passport does it?
Also, learn how to spell 'principles' - spelling is a must for journalists. Especially 'old' hacks who seem, frankly, a bit baffled by this computer malarkey...
Lol. Point taken Anon. Oops, having a go at me now.
You're quite right, typing is a bit of a strain these days.
Will leave you young 'uns to it.
Be nice.
Anon @ 18.18
If you're going, take call centre worker Silverpen with you. And Johnson. And Sawyer.
Teach the former to spell as well. Principles! Surely?
Seth is a joke. She was a joke at ET and this being Dubai her incompetence was rewarded with an editor's post.She has no subbing, writing or managerial talent which is pretty evident when you pick up a copy of her magazine.
'These guys, Sawyer, Leavey and Johnson were not the first to come and go, and will doubtless be the last.'
Silverpen - let's not lump these three together. Leavey and Johnson, despite their many faults, actually have some talent. Sawyer, certainly at X, had nothing to offer bar the incompetence and hideous personal skills that got him the sack - and not a shred of talent on display.
PS It's Leavy.
Hi Jason.
This thread is absolutely cracking me up! Lol to Anon @ 22.23! Ha ha ha
OMG! This is hilarious. Here's my two-bit...
For someone who asked, Eudore Chand is still very much at Toady. Vigyan Arya (remember him?! ex-tabloid ed) is now deputy news ed there. Their etc magazine shut down, and ed Rachel is now being made News Editor (egads!!) and Arya is fighting dirty to stop this.
Now, what;s the story with Harper's Bazaar and their Editor? Anyone with gossip?
What is the story with Bazaar? Sounds interesting. Does anyone know if there's any truth in Communicate's claim Grazia could face the axe if circulation doesn't pick up? I thought two-digit circulation figures were pretty much par for the course in women's glossies here.
the story about Grazia facing the chop has been doing the rounds for about 6 months now.
As these things go, I actually quite like Grazia. They've got one or two decent columnists now. Communicate used to regularly speculate about the high-profile publication I used to work on. They were miles off every time.
OHMIGOD! "A mountain of ambition and a molehill of talent" was how one director of ITP described JLevy. Apparently, he annoyed junior members of the Time Out team for around a year while putting together a TO Dubai guide...which then had to be re-written/re-edited by someone else. As a result many of he freelancer contributors he had commisioned were left with spike fees, as their content was in the wrong style/by then out of date. Not sure how many cried, but...
Yes, I remember the horror of the Time Out guide... the team were pulling their hair out as it got later and later, and almost all of it had been rewritten by press time. Apparently, it was handed over as "almost complete" - a complete load of crap.
Does anyone have any idea what has happened to Matt Brown at 7Days? He was pretty fearless.
Or Lizzie Millar? now she was a gem.
Matt Brown is at Bloomberg, if I recall.
lol matt 'woman hater' brown is apparently struggling at Bloomie too. But what's happened to his buddyboy phil fenton? Anyone know where he's gone?
Is it true that Metcalf was also sacked and left the madhouse of dubai?
Think Phil Fenton is still at 7Days, though I don't know for sure. Metcalf has left 7Days (hence his replacement, and this thread) but not sure if he's still in Dubai, or what he's up to.
Anyone else able to shed light on this?
While he would no doubt object to being called Matt Brown's "buddyboy", I can confirm that Philip Fenton has left 7days. He was also by far the most talented person I have ever worked with.
A source "close to" Philip Fenton
Where's Fenton gone to?
Matt Brown left 7DAYS to go to Bloomberg. Philip Fenton left 7DAYS to tend his window boxes.
Tony Metcalf is still at 7DAYS in an 'upstairs' role.
Lizzy Millar was last sighted at City7 TV.
Mark Johnson was last sighted signing on.
Lezzie Millar is still in gainful employment? Ye gawds! As for Phillip Fenton, isn't he combining his gardening leave with the occasional stint as a magican? Or is that a different Phil Fenton Show advertised on the radio recently?
lol. 'close to' Phil Fenton. Didn't know your ego could write, but welcome phil - how are the window boxes of PR. lol.
Last I heard Mr Fenton had set up a media consultancy with his old buddy from ITP...Richard Brown. Apparently, this man has quite a history. This is an unconfirmed report, so get calling your sources to confirm the information
Ah yes, Richard Brown. Favours the finer things in life, like other people's cars and spending time at HH Pleasure in Dubai. Allegedly.
Oh lordie, Richard Brown, with his fetish for 'laydeez of the night', is back in town? Hold onto your hats - now we're up for some real entertainment!
I last heard that Phil Fenton is doing PR for an organic farm in Abu Dhabi. Don't laugh.
Eh! What? Is what journalism in Dubai has been crushed to - a lot of bitchin' and backstabbing by low paid, disgruntled hacks who couldn't get a decent job back home?
Fenton, Brown, et al...who cares? There's a great stretch of beach here go chill out on it, do some surfin' or better still WRITE something worth readin'.
Examine your lives!
Because journos don't bitch and backstab elsewhere? It's a sign that things are looking up!!
yes - thank you to this blog for giving us somewhere to air our frustrations!!!
'Frustrations' being the operative...
I'm a journalist working in the UK with some contacts within the media in Dubai and have just stumbled across this discussion. And I have to say, it's fantastic. To read a bunch of journos chucking each other's names onto a public forum and scratching their eyes out is great entertainment and a kind of poetic justice. Some of the names mentioned I know well through my contacts whereas others I'm not familiar with (although I feel I know them all well now). Keep up the good work, you've just won another reader and I'll share any snippets that come my way in the future. I just thank the good Lord above that I'm not an Ed, Deputy Ed or some kind of assistant or CEO in Dubai nor have a giant moustache because you lot are truly vicious!!!
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