Go Patriots!

Sadly, I didn't stay up to watch the game (kickoff was 12:30 am). What's even worse is that my buddy Nate who's visiting is a Chargers fan, having grown up in San Diego. But instead I played the responsible adult who knew he had to be up at 6 am the next day.

Plus I knew the Patriots would win, anyway.

So with my buddy in town and classes starting I've got kind of a filler piece today. Oh, don't worry, it's still interesting, we're going to try and catch up with all of the Dubai news that we missed over our two week snow-filled adventure home.

The first story is just outright bizarre.

This doesn't fall into "The World's Biggest ____" category, but more "The World's Weirdest". Dubai is now straight-up copying already established cities. Like, street-by-street recreations.

Yep, Lyon-Dubai City will be a clone of Lyon, France built right here in Dubai. It plans to open in 2012.

Hmmm, to the best of my knowledge something like this has never been done before - which sounds right up Dubai's alley - but somehow I kind of wonder if this will really happen. I think this falls under the phenomenon I like to call the Hydropolis Equation.

But who knows, maybe they'll prove me wrong.

Second we have another "first" - the world's first fashion island.

No, I'm not kidding. I couldn't make this up.

On January 8th Dubai Infinity Holdings announced Isla Moda, the world’s first dedicated fashion island. I assume somewhere in the world, perhaps in the Mediterranean, there's an island that's primarily about fashion, but not dedicated to fashion.

But don't worry, this one is fully dedicated to only fashion.

As you can assume, Isla Moda will be part of the artificial islands out in the Gulf known as The World.

Isla Moda will combine a fashion resort, themed residential villas, haute couture boutiques and luxury hospitality facilities in a drive to establish Dubai as a global fashion hub.

How about that?

Next we find out that Dubai is launching DubaiSat-1, its first civilian observation satellite, later this year.

Oooh, welcome to the 1950s, Dubai!

The article has lots of great jingoistic quotes from the Emiratis in charge that I'll spare you. Boy, they have some national pride, let me tell you. I will, however, point out that Satrec Initiative is building the satellite, which is being launched by International Space Company (ISC) Kosmotras and controlled at a ground station erected by ViaSat.

Interestingly enough Satrec Initiative is a South Korean firm, ISC Kosmotras a Russian firm and ViaSat from the States.

Good for them.

Next we focus on shopping - more Dubai's speed.

the 2008 Dubai Shopping Festival will run from January 24 to February 24. Forty malls and 4000 shops will participate in the sales and discounts.

More than 100 different and exciting events (none named) will take place during the 32 days.

Lastly, it's almost time for Tiger!

Yes, the Dubai Desert Classic golf tournament starts soon - January 28 - and runs until February 3rd. And since Mr. Woods is contractually obligated to show up three times out of four (see Tiger Tiger Woods, Y'all) I bet we'll see a Tiger Woods around town soon.