• June 2008
In recent years, tea has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity. There's nothing better than a hot cuppa to relax the body and restore the soul after a long day, as Kim O'Hare reports... [more...] • May 2008
If Britain’s most senior police forensics expert has his way, primary school children could be required to submit DNA samples to be kept on file for all time. The proposal hasn't gone down well with civil liberty campaigners... [more...]Website of the Month • May 2008
This month's weblink of the month is right here - a fantastic YouTube video of the amazing Chinese State Circus performing scenes from Tchaikovsky's evergreen ballet Swan Lake. [more...]Birthstone of the Month • May 2008
Rhodochrosite is the stone of love and balance. Usually rose pink, it can come in various shades - from a light pink, sometimes with an orange tint - to a colour that’s nearly red with white banding... [more...] • May 2008
UK experts have developed a chocolate bar that can help save your life. To fend off heart disease, new research recommends eating this cocoa-rich chocolate every day. Cocoa contains high levels of antioxidants called flavenoids, but when you turn it into chocolate these compounds can be destroyed... [more...] • April 2008
Unlike a lot of the special days we regularly observe, the origins of April Fools’ Day is a bit of a mystery. Also called All Fools’ Day, no-one seems to know when the first fools’ day took place. It seems to be a reasonable assumption that it was originally observed as some sort of spring ritual. [more...] • April 2008
On 1st April 1980 the BBC reported that Big Ben, in order to keep up with the times, was going to be given a digital readout. We remember this wind-up - and others - in this month's technology column.
[more...]Birthstone of the Month • April 2008
The stones of the Zodiac sign of Aries are diamond, garnet, red jasper, carnelian, red tiger-eye and finally heliotrope - which we are featuring this month. Heliotrope is also known as bloodstone. [more...] • April 2008
Are we out of ice? Well not really, but we soon could be. British researchers recently reported that an iceberg about the size of Dubai, and about 70 storeys high, has broken away from an Antarctic ice shelf. [more...] • April 2008
There is a technological breakthrough on the horizon that could be the biggest thing since the silicon chip or fibre optics. A material called graphene has the potential to almost triple the speed of electricity in the best semiconductors. [more...] • April 2008
Something about this just doesn't seem fair. Scientists are testing a plan to train fish to catch themselves by swimming into a net when they hear a tone that signals feeding time. [more...] • March 2008
Transport officials in London have reversed a decision to ban a poster displaying a 16th-century painting of the goddess Venus from the city's Underground train system because it was too sexual.
[more...] • March 2008
The Kennedy family is arguably the closest thing the Americans have to a Royal Family. Ever since John F Kennedy emerged on the political scene in the early 60s, Americans developed an insatiable thirst for all things Kennedy. [more...] • March 2008
As more and more people take up genealogy as a hobby, some are turning to genetics labs to help them answer that all-important question: "Where do I come from?" Aidan Goldstraw reports. [more...] • March 2008
The March hare is perhaps the month's most notable character. The phrase "mad as a March hare" refers to the creatures' exuberant courtship displays in the Spring, which were mistaken for mental imbalance...
[more...] • March 2008
Like them or not, mobile phones have changed our lives forever. We use them to make calls, send texts and pictures. But even the humblest mobile phone has hidden depths - here are four things you may not know about your faithful friend... [more...]Website of the Month • March 2008
Website of the Month is a tour de force showing off the skills of the imaginative web developer. HEMA is a Dutch department store and they have an online store with a difference... [more...] • March 2008
We all know what great exercise cycling can be, but for those of us in less than tip-top fitness, returning to two wheels after so many years on four can be rather more of a strain on the system than we remember. [more...] • February 2008
Like songbirds returning to the garden in spring, Valentine's Day is approaching and shoppers will soon be returning to the mall . But what to get that special person on your list? Kim O'Hare offers up a few tips to help you avoid disaster. [more...] • February 2008
Aside from February marking the advent of Valentine's Day, this particular February is special for another reason - 2008 is a leap year, which means those people born on February 29th will actually be able to celebrate their birthdays on the actual date of their birth. [more...] • February 2008
Feeling grave about your life? Here's the latest therapy to really brighten your day. Why not have yourself nailed into a coffin and have dirt sprinkled on while your very own funeral dirge drones in the background? [more...]Website of the Month • February 2008
Does your cat look like Adolf Hitler? Do you wake up in a cold sweat every night wondering if he's going to up and invade Poland?
[more...] • February 2008
The stones for the Zodiac sign of Aquarius are amethyst, aquamarine, falcon-eye, jade, lapis, onyx, sapphire, turquoise and blue topaz. This month, Birgit E. Schürenberg casts her eye on jade... [more...] • January 2008
If you've overindulged in party spirits and wake up on New Year's Day feeling like death, UAEasy.com editor Jo Finzi has some timely advice on what to do (and what not to do) to make yourself feel a bit better... [more...] • January 2008
Martin Smith looks like a cross between Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan as he plays his solo. But Smith isn't really a guitarist, and he isn't in a band. He's a 34-year-old accountant, and his guitar isn't really a guitar. It's a plastic replica controller, connected to what is perhaps the hottest video game around...
[more...] • January 2008
Reading a book is not as simple as it used to be. The book has been elevated or some would say fallen prey to the latest technology trend known as ARG's, Alternate Reality Games which combine Robert Ludlum style mystery, with interactive role playing and virtual reality. [more...] • December 2007
Apple's revolutionary iPhone finally made it to the UK last month and is now available in the UAE - albeit in a somewhat unofficial guise. UAEasy.com brings you hot news about the must-have Christmas gift for 2007. [more...]Website of the month • December 2007
Now you can improve your word power and help feed some of the world's poorest people. Freerice.com contains an addictive little word game which could have you at your computer screen for longer than you imagine! [more...] • December 2007
There is growing concern worldwide that some parents may have unwittingly brought a killer into their homes - a killer disguised as a friend. The killer takes the form of bright and shiny toys, many of which bear brand names we thought we could trust - brand names like Fisher Price and Mattel. [more...] • December 2007
The Tokyo Motor Show, one of the largest auto shows in the world is under way in Japan and automakers are rolling out their concept cars, providing a glimpse at the type of vehicles we might be driving in the future. Kim O'Hare reports... [more...] • December 2007
Julian Beever is an English artist famous for his art on pavements around the world. His amazingly-detailed work brings an amazing three-dimensional illusion to the long tradition of pavement art. UAEasy.com takes a look at some of his work... [more...]Birth Stone of the Month • November 2007
The stones of the zodiac sign of Scorpio are topaz, red tourmaline, haematite, citrine, garnet, agate and amethyst. For this Birgit E. Schürenberg singles out Haematite. [more...] • November 2007
Wherever you live in the world, and whatever your religion, the last few months of the year feature some of the most important religious celebrations. Even if you don’t adhere to a specific faith, you’ll see signs of the celebration all around. [more...] • October 2007
Get in the mood for Halloween with UAEasy.com's collection of some of the weirdest, spookiest, grossest yet tastiest ever recipes! Kim O'Hare is your chef... [more...]Web link of the month • September 2007
As the world continues to worry about the consequences of climate change, a British farmer working in Portugal has come up with an ingenious idea to reverse the effects of global warming... [more...] • September 2007
Last week a German handed in a package to Egypt's embassy in Berlin. It contained a part of carving belonging to the ancient Pharaohs, and he included a note that said his stepfather had suffered a "curse of the Pharaohs" for stealing it. [more...] • September 2007
Following our successful Stone of the Month feature, Birgit E. Schürenberg now turns her attention to stones associated with particular star signs. This month, she takes a look at Virgo... [more...]Stone of the Month • August 2007
August’s olive-coloured birthstone makes fabulous and exciting jewellery. Another name for the peridot is chrysolite a golden yellow variety – from the Greek for golden stone. Peridots are also known as olivines. [more...]Web link of the month • August 2007
We've all had that sort of day at school - when you think you'd like nothing better than to push down a big plunger and see the place reduced to heap of rubble... [more...] • August 2007
The only thing constant about the internet is change. The latest fad to sweep the world is Facebook - a form of social networking that is enjoying a phenomenal growth in popularity. [more...]Website of the Month • July 2007
Stone of the Month • July 2007
Although the expression "ruby red" conjures up a particular image, the colour of rubies actually ranges from an orangey tone to a deep shade that's almost purple. [more...] • July 2007
Jo Finzi emerges from the mudbath at Glastonbury to give her own impressions of another memorable festival. Don't forget your wellies! [more...]Website of the Month • June 2007
Do you miss Mr Shifter? Truth is, many classic ads have outlived the TV programmes they were shown around. Now there's a chance to see these classics on the web... [more...] • June 2007
How did a group of pensioners end up with a huge hit record? It all started with an idea by documentary maker Tim Samuels... [more...]Stone of the Month • June 2007
Pearls are said to be the world's oldest known gem. For centuries they were considered the most valuable - so valuable in fact that the Roman General Vitellius reputedly financed an entire military campaign with just one of his mother's pearl earrings. [more...]Website of the Month • May 2007
Adults and children, men and women. We all do it. At least several times a day. But it's not considered polite to do it in company... [more...] • May 2007
A Chinese schoolboy who climbed over a fence into a crocodile enclosure at a holiday resort and taunted the creatures was dragged into the water and eaten. [more...]Stone of the Month • May 2007
The glittering green emerald is actually a member of the beryl family. Its shades of green vary from light and lustrous to deep and mysterious. The emerald’s deep colour is due to the presence of chromium. In jewellery, the "emerald cut" was created to avoid chipping the corners of the stone, and to help enhance its colour. [more...] • May 2007
Are you ready to go on a carbon diet? It’s now a proven fact that the average person produces about 10 tonnes of carbon dioxide, and the figures here in the UAE are probably far worse than that. [more...] • May 2007
Want to know what kind of a political system you're living in? Here's the not-too-serious UAEasy.com guide to finding out, with a little help from our bovine friends... [more...] • May 2007
Dubai's only organic cafe and supermarket chain has announced a major step in its ongoing campaign to help the environment. [more...] • April 2007
If you've not had enough of the usual Easter trappings by now, those clever Japanese chaps have launched a robot chick that will flap its tiny wings and cheep when you stroke it. It's called Yume Hiyoko - or dream chick. [more...] • April 2007
Easter is April's eggstravaganza, so it's time to focus on eggs. Last month, the extent of a giant egg swindle was revealed. Leading supermarkets in Britain reeled under the shock that they’d been shelling out far too much for fake organic and free-range eggs.
[more...]Website of the Month • April 2007
Are you sitting comfortably at your office computer? We thought so. We've got a web site suggestion that might put all that workplace slacking in some perspective... [more...]Stone of the Month • April 2007
The diamond is known as the “King of Crystals". The word diamond is derived from adamas, which means invincible in ancient Greek. The Greeks also believed that the fire in a diamond reflected the flame of love. [more...] • March 2007
This month's whackiest story has to be the case of the office chair, set alight somewhere in the north of England. The Times even saw fit to apologise to its readers for its lack of coverage of this earth shattering event, then devoted an entire page to it... [more...] • March 2007
If you’ve experienced Sheikh Zayed Road lately, you won’t be surprised to learn that the most dangerous thing on the roads is the drivers – not the cars. Jo Finzi reports on a breakthrough which could make pile-ups a thing of the past... [more...] • March 2007
After months of anticipation, Microsoft has unveiled it’s much hyped Windows Vista. So what’s all the fuss about? What can Vista do for you? Kim O'Hare finds out... [more...] • March 2007
Remember the Y2K fiasco a few years back? We were told of doom and gloom as the millennium approached. Everyone was expecting a catastrophic meltdown as computers around the world tried to cope with the rollover from 1999 to 2000. Well we seem to be facing the same sort of scenario all over again, but this time we can blame George Bush. [more...]Website of the Month • March 2007
As it's UK Mother's Day this month, we've been searching for a website that makes it easy to order your flowers online. We came up with a real winner - http://www.bunches.co.uk have a selection of Mother's Day bouquets starting at £9.99 (around Dhs70). [more...] • February 2007
Had a Valentine's proposal which wasn't exactly welcome? Relax. The UAEasy.com team has found exactly the right way to fend off your would-be Romeo. Only, it's not exactly polite... [more...] • February 2007
Italian scientists are determined to remove and preserve together the remains of a couple buried 5,000 to 6,000 years ago. The remains were found with their arms still wrapped around each other in an enduring embrace.
[more...] • February 2007
As Valentine's Day approaches, users should keep a wary eye on any romantic messages received by e-mail. They could contain malicious code and computer crashing viruses. [more...] • February 2007
If the love of your life is also a Beatles lover, there's really only one gift to go for this Valentine's Day. Aidan Goldstraw lends an ear to Love, George Martin's radical re-working of the Fab Four's material as the soundtrack to a spectacular Las Vegas show... [more...] • February 2007
The existence of the heart was well known to the Greeks, who gave it the name kardia, still surviving in modern words such as cardiac and tachycardia. Aristotle believed that the heart was the seat of the soul and the centre of man. [more...] • February 2007
With the unsavoury subject of hanging fresh in everyone's minds this month, the book A Very English Hangman by Leonora Klein, seems strangely topical.
It tells the sometimes-unlikely tale of Albert Pierrepoint, England's last hangman.
[more...] • February 2007
A recent study has proved that music really is good for you, especially if you break into song. According to findings published in the Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, people who sing in harmony regularly are happier and healthier. [more...] • February 2007
Little is known about the original Valentine, pope for 30 or 40 days in 827. But some of his namesakes have been rather more memorable. Kim O'Hare introduces you to some notable Valentines... [more...]