20 September 2007

@#%$#^!#%

As if we didn't have enough reason to hate Batelco already!

Mobile callers face extra cost
CHARGES are being brought in for Batelco mobile phone customers who use its directory enquiry service. From Monday, all calls made from Batelco mobiles to either 181 or 188 will cost 160 fils, the company said yesterday.

Customers will then receive the requested number by text message. Batelco says it will donate 10 fils from every request to charity, while calls from residential, public pay phones and business fixed line phones will remain off charge.

Mobile customers with sight-impairments will be given 10 free calls to directory enquiries every billing cycle.

First of all, 160 fils?! ONE SIXTY BLOODY FILS? It's cheaper to call international! I'm not against them charging the regular rate for directory services but come on, don't push it! (FYI, regular per minute rate ranges somewhere between 25 and 45 fils depending on your package).

Oh, and to ensure continuation of the "friendly" image of the company, they donte 10 fils from each call to charity?

Aha.

So essentialy, you're keeping 94% of a new overpriced charge and trying to show your benevolence by giving charity a measly 6%?

Oh wait, it doesn't stop there! They're giving "sight-impaired" customers 10 whole free enquiries! Sight-impaired? What the @#%$ is a sight-impaired customer? Blind people? Those who wear glasses? And how the HELL do they know which customers are sight impaired? Are we supposed to go to a Batelco office and explain how sight-impaired we are to get the offer? How is this even relevant to directory enquiries?

MTC, Zain, whatever the hell you're called now, here I come!

**Ahh, venting feels so good**

Anyway, more from todays news and how our lovely GDN newspaper loves to turn an almost useless event into a full blown high speed chase, Bahraini style!

Chase drama over driver drinking water
POLICE gave chase after a Bahraini driver threw a water bottle at their car when he was caught drinking it while driving during fasting hours yesterday.

"The 40-year-old was spotted drinking water while driving in Hamad Town by the police patrol," said a Public Prosecution spokesman. "They tried to pull him over, but he threw the water bottle at their car and tried to escape by speeding away. They eventually caught up with him and were able to pull him over."

During questioning, it was found out that his car was not registered or insured. His case was transferred to the Public Prosecution, where he denied drinking water in the car. He has been detained for a week on charges of breaking Ramadan rules and assaulting police. His case will also be transferred to the Traffic Prosecution for driving an unregistered and uninsured car.

Wow. I wonder why they don't broadcast these chases on Btv! Imagine watching your daily Ramadan show in the afternoon, only to have it interrupted by live video footage of the chase; the guy throwing the bottle out of his car at the cops, the high-speed chase through the Soug Wagif traffic, vegtable stands falling and kids almost getting run over; very indian-movie-esque...

Anyway; more on the tension piling up just 100 miles away from us, in the glorious nation of Iran. They seem to be all over the news now - Article 1:

'Amateur' France rapped by Tehran
TEHRAN: Iran lashed out again yesterday at France's warning of a possible war against Tehran over its nuclear drive, saying its comments were the result of "amateurs" working in European politics.

Oh great, lets make more enemies, yipeeeee. This isn't going to end well. Anyhow, article 2:

WE WILL BOMB ISRAEL
TEHRAN: Iran will bomb Israel if attacked, it declared yesterday. Tehran has drawn up plans to bomb the Jewish state should it attack the Islamic republic, said Mohammed Alavi, deputy commander of air force.

I understand the Iranians are fond of taunting the US and Israel, but now it's getting a a bit too direct for my liking. I can smell armed conflict, it's so bloody close. And it seems that the Iranians aren't the only stubborn ones here, take a look here:

Iran's Ahmadinejad denied Trade Center visit
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been denied a request to visit the World Trade Center site of the September 11 attacks, New York police said on Wednesday.

Ahmadinejad, who regularly accuses the United States of arrogance in his speeches, had asked to visit the site while in New York for the United Nations General Assembly this month. "The site is closed to visitors because of construction there," police spokesman Paul Browne said in a statement. "Requests for the Iranian president to visit the immediate area would also be opposed by the NYPD on security grounds."

Police said they were unsure why Ahmadinejad wanted to visit.

What are you guys worried about? Him blowing it up again? There's nothing there! I dunno, todays news is kinda getting me down. Lets try and look at something more fun:

Someone tries to sell Belgium on eBay
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Hidden among the porcelain fox hounds and Burberry tablecloths on sale at eBay.be this week was an unusual item: "For Sale: Belgium, a Kingdom in three parts ... free premium: the king and his court (costs not included)."

The advertisement was placed on Saturday, offering free delivery, but pointing out that the country was coming secondhand and that potential buyers would have to take on over $300 billion (euro220 billion) in national debt.

However, eBay decided to pull the add Tuesday after receiving a bid of euro 10 million ($14 million). "We decided to take it down, just to avoid confusion," he told APTN.

That's pretty cool. Anybody wanna buy Bahrain? Bidding starts at $10. Anyway, before I go, i'll leave you with one last article to get your blood boiling:

Man refuses £2 million lottery win
A German pensioner who won £2 million on the lottery refused the cash because he didn’t know what to do with it. The 70-year-old man from Hameln, Lower Saxony, went to the HQ of the German lottery association in Hanover after finding out about his win and told them he did not want the money.

He said he had only bought the lottery ticket out of a habit because his late wife had been a passionate player. Lottery officials said they were trying to persuade him to keep the money.

WHAT?! He just REFUSED?! You don't refuse that kind of money! That's like my life dream, and he just throws it away.. I don't care if you were 110 years old and didn't know what to do with it; you can BUY people to find creative ways to spend it for you!

AAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHHHH!

I'm never reading a newspaper again.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey man.. i totally feel what you're saying. The news these days is either totally pathetic for this day and age or unbelievably depressing!! I'm quite lazy, so i can't be bothered to write my feelings down, but i do get some satisfaction/stress relief from reading your comments. Thanks for blogging!!

Dr. Shale bin Agnon said...

That is where I want to be when I am 70.

Hey, it costs €1 to make a directory inquiry here, and if they offer to put you through directly, say no, because they add their own premium to every second of your call after that, and it is really high. That is not as annoying as yours though. I hate when people try to give to charity on my behalf.

Anonymous said...

Dont worry about the Iranians they will be crushed beneath the boot of military might. They are foolish by turning their confrontation with the US into a multi-lateral one. But then again psycho boy did come from the squalors of Tehran, cant expect any genius there.

In any case, a weak Iran combined with a weak Iraq is only a good thing. It means that the GCC together with our American friends can dominate the region. Oil for security, fair deal...

Princess Ambiguous said...

All I could think about whilst reading this is "ham etha7ik wa ham ebaki!"

Also am going to track down that old guy and marry him, a couple of millions would do me just fine right now!

Desert-Roses said...

oh damn, ur mind is complicated....

You think even more than I do!!! good I found someone does... :p

and about the ONE SIXTY BLOODY FILS!!thats why I wanna live in Eygpt sometimes.. LOOOL
But your worse, I thought Kuwait is the most expensive...but when I heard bout Bahrain ...oh my condolences!!

Seroo said...

again, no sports news. Chelsea lost their coach, you could have at least mentioned that.

Ammaro said...

Seroo ya seroooooo! I'm not into sports :p just for your info ya3ni.

Bs you know what, next time I start putting news together, i'll put in a sports section just for you, hows that?

Islander said...

How much do you think one could get off selling Bahrain on ebay?
i'd love to try.. tho i think the price would have dropped after removing bahrain map... if only we were a bit faster, damn it!

Manutdfanatic said...

Chelsea lost their coach???

Damn, I knew I'd been slow on the news front lately, but not to this extent! Whoah!

Ammar, read more books. I came across your tag on Shale's blog; come on, I'm sure you can do better than a directory/guide/whatever it was!

Anonymous said...

sweet review, I have thoroughly enjoyed this walk through the press. is Batelco pretty much a telphone monopoly in Bahrain? And about the guy who refused the money, well that doesn't change much for people like you and me, does it ;) we still have to play to even be considered within the opportunity cost of the situation. and how sweet of him to remember his dear late wife.

Anonymous said...

Man you seem a bit unhappy in this post!!??? Do you really think they’ll change!

Like for me the drinking and driving guy was simply not able to hold his thirst in the hot weather! Ok punish him be not 1 week!

About Iran; I lived there for 1 year, for strange reason they do like making enemies! I mean the government not the people!

USA; Well they are as stupid and stubborn as you described!

The last 2 stories were really funny! I wish the newspapers here would talk about such interesting funny stuff! Cyprus is boring!

Again thanks man for the news! ;)

Frieda said...

"German pensioner who won £2 million on the lottery refused the cash because he didn’t know what to do with it."

He could have taken it and given it away to charities...dahh!!

thanks for visiting my blog, you got a nice spot here yourself!

Unknown said...

The world has gone mad!

Ammaro said...

sunshine; im sure we could make at least $20. Take into account the eBay listing charges for around $2 and you're looking at a net profit of around $18 at least

manutd; what directory/guide? If you mean this review, it's just something I do every now and then, with a humorous look at what's going on. Read some of my previous posts.

so be it; thanks. Batelco isn't a full monopoly for all telecom services, as there is another cellular provider. They do control the directory services, all land lines, and pretty much the only 'real' ADSL internet service so far, so you can say we're being screwed royally. As for the guy, I know we wouldn't have got the money instead, but it just gets on my nerves thinking if I was in his situation :p

nora; the unhappiness and stress I face in my job I try to channel here :p You think Cyprus is boring? Wanna switch?

frieda; silly isn't it?

n; yes, a long long time ago...

Manutdfanatic said...

I was referring to your comment on Shale's post, "Book Lines".

Of course this wasn't a directory/guide-do I really come across as THAT stupid? :P