Mind Speaks
Expatriates benefit country in many ways
The headline Expats using business loophole to stay in UAE after retirement (July 31) may convey a negative impression about the expatriate community, but this phenomenon is beneficial for the country.
Many expatriates who have been in this country for a long time consider it to be their home with their families and children wanting to settle here. They are ready to invest their lifetime of savings in this country. They feel that the UAE is a safe country to live.
This is the case in most developed countries that encourage expatriates to invest in return for residence visas.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
Letters to the Editorial/The National:
Expats using business loophole to stay in UAE after retirement
Stopping speeders
Stopping speeders
The move by Abu Dhabi Police to remove the discount on traffic tickets will give more strength to reinforce the traffic safety plan drawn up by the Abu Dhabi municipality and the Urban Planning Council (‘Abu Dhabi Police to stop discount on traffic fine’, Gulf News, July 25). It should also reduce accidents and traffic deaths. The method of giving a discount on traffic fines, especially speeding fines, was not welcomed by many as people remain relaxed even when fined. A system that could be introduced to gain more control on speeding may be to have a fine system that raises the fines with each ticket.
From Mr Ramesh Menon
Abu Dhabi
Letters to Editor / Gulf News on:
Abu Dhabi Police to stop discount on traffic fine
Investor visa is a future option
Although a quick look of the heading may give a negative outlook to the whole scenario, this phenomenon is productive and positive for the continued growth of the country. Expatriates who have been in this country for a long time consider it as their own home, with family and children willing to settle here. They are ready to invest their life time savings here. More than everything, all without fail regard UAE as a safe country to live and work. Then, why not, if they have valuable expertise to pass on to the next generation and finances to contribute to the growth of the country. This is the case with most of the developed countries as they too encourage investor visas.
Letters to the Editor/The National:
Expats using business loophole to stay in UAE after retirement
Petrol prices should flow
Petrol prices should flow
I am very happy that fuel prices will be reduced by 15 fils per litre in August (UAE petrol prices to fall for first time in five months, July 28).
As a consumer, it is refreshing to note that this critical item will be cheaper, especially at a time that many daily consumables are becoming more expensive.
My hope is that this discount is reflected in the cost of other products. Lower prices would be a great relief to many in society.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
Letters to the Editor/The National :
UAE petrol prices to fall for first time in five months
Mind Speaks: E-volution to excessiveness
E-volution to excessiveness
It was lying idle for quite some time. To be fair to that time limit, it has remained not in use for more than 5 years now. During its days, it was a king on its own merit.
You must be wondering, what I am talking about?
It is nothing but a 1 GB Desktop, I assembled and used for a long time. It had some of the best features handpicked and assembled including the high end hard disk, memory cards, a good resolution graphic card and monitor.
Today, I thought, I find time to re-assemble it once again. It used to be a hobby once upon a time to assemble PCs of choice.
Dissecting it into pieces brought again lot of memories.
What significantly stood out was the floppy disk option it had.
Suddenly, I thought about the 1980s, when all the computing work was done using an 8 inch floppy diskette. It was big and fragile and could handle about 500 KB of data. Imagine those days the accounting activities were more manual and some used Lotus 123. Both sides of the floppy diskettes were used and it writes data into the diskette with a loud noise! Those were also the days the data was stored only in floppy disks.
Years passed and then the 5 1/4 inch floppy diskettes arrive with more data space, at times up to 1200 KB (1.2 MB).
Then the 3½ inch compact floppy disks with 1.44 MB space arrived.
There has been no dearth in terms of storage options with hard disks coming out with bigger in terms of storage space and smaller in terms of physical size.
Now USB storage disks come in small size with 2 TB size even.
Life goes on and what used to be once an integral part of my professional and personal computing activities have now become redundant and retired.
What next? Everything is in unclear and remains suspense as in the cloud!
Remain Green.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
30th July 2016
Moral education will help nation
Moral education will help nation
I applaud the decision described in Pupils to be given moral education (July 28).
This is a great move. Children who are taught the essential values of life – including ethics, personal and community growth, culture and heritage, civic education, and rights and responsibilities – from a young age will become engaged and involved with the realities of daily life.
A sense of attachment and belonging will grow in them as these values are instilled and as they learn more about them on a regular basis.
I suggest that they also include an element of health, safety and environment education into the curriculum.
Discipline in these three areas will help produce a committed generation who will be a source of pride for their nation and make their leaders’ vision a reality.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
Letters on @TheNationalUAE :
Moral education to be introduced to UAE school curriculums
Solar Impulse flight was a big achievement
The touchdown of Solar Impulse 2 was a proud moment for Abu Dhabi, the UAE and the energy industry worldwide (Solar Impulse 2 lands in Abu Dhabi, completing first zero-fuel flight around the world, July 25).
Congratulations to Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg and the entire team for the success of this amazing journey of 40,000 kilometres without fuel.
The world has changed vastly since the beginning of this journey, in terms of energy outlook and utilisation.
Even if one takes a UAE-only perspective, there has been a lot of change. We have new ministries and departments to harmonise energy production and produce better outcomes. The UAE is setting a trend.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
On the news:
Solar Impulse 2 lands in Abu Dhabi completing first zero-fuel flight around the world
Mind Speaks: Education
Mind Speaks: Education
For Some, school and education is still a set of long hurdles. However, there is no easy way to learning!
Mind Speaks : Life As I See
Life As I See
I was scanning my archives for a set of old photos and suddenly this particular photo came up. It was from a recent series of click that I had made while visiting a village close to Whitefield in Bangalore. The house reminded me of my college days in Madras. A one bed room sharing accommodation that me and my friends took. It was a very small facility with bathroom, kitchen, our beds, study everything combined and congested into the small space that was available. Even with all the limitations, it was a luxury for us and of course many. Life during that time, we made it as lively as possible. During class time we studied, but during evenings we did not miss out on any enjoyment opportunities that either came on our way or we created. Cycling, biking, movies, long rides… so many things done during those days where brought back with one look at this house in a totally dilapidated condition. It was serious business as well as fun to meet our limited budget and stay outside the hostel and live a life King Size, as the famous tobacco ad during those time promoted!
Life goes on!
ClicksandWrites 
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