A guide for film enthusiasts wishing to film from the UAE’s skies.

Its Dubai 2016, and although we do not have flying cars and hover boards (at least, not real ones), we do have flight drones, and lots of them. While most people who own high-end models of drone aircraft do so for professional use, an increasing number of people have purchased the machines simply as toys. What many of them do not know (including a large number of film production companies in Dubai) is that drone usage with a camera within the UAE is illegal, without the correct permissions and permits.

Recently The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has asked light air sports enthusiasts, including drone enthusiasts, to fly their aircraft only in accredited clubs approved by the authority to address safety and security issues. Most notably, the GCAA also warned drone hobbyists against equipping their vehicles with laser devices, cameras and other projection devices. Doing so could result in your equipment being confiscated by the police with a hefty fine. So what are the basic rules?

Well all flying should take place within the visual line of sight of the user and not above 400 ft from ground level without the use of visual aids, such as binoculars and within the aircraft’s operational range.

Fly only during daytime and in good weather conditions and do not under any circumstances fly within five kilometers from any airports, helipads, landing areas or manned aircraft. Do not fly near any buildings, houses, private properties or persons and finally, unless you have approval do not fly for commercial purposes.

For filmmakers, film and media production companies in Dubai and other commercial users, drone pilots should get a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA). This letter can be obtained after registration, pre-assessment and prior approval from the Dubai Film and TV Commission (DFTC).

It is essential to note that throughout the UAE there are laws pertaining to drone flying and not just Dubai, so you need to check with the corresponding emirate before taking off. Each emirate may have slightly different rules and regulations. Because this is a relatively new area of interest, local rules and laws may for a while be in a state of flux and subject to change; therefore it is essential to check with the DFCT and the DCAA before you start filming with your drone.

Earning Above Average Google AdSense Revenue takes research,patients and skill. Creating original content that uses top paying keywords is one of the most important skills you will need to acquire.

Top Paying Keywords can be researched using the Google Keyword Research Tool. This powerful tool will help determine the top paying and searched keywords related to what you are looking for. With this Keyword tool you will also have a good idea on Advertiser Competition, Cost Per Click and Search Volume.

If you let Google AdSense choose what Google Ads will be placed on your site or blog these keywords will be the key to the content chosen.

Research

To earn above average Google AdSense Revenue you must understand how the whole process works. It this section rules apply with or without AdSense posted.

Basically the key to fame on line is based on the amount of traffic you can steer to your blog or website. People have many theories on how this should be accomplished but there are some things that are a MUST.

Create content that has value, something your target audience would appreciate reading. If they feel a sales pitch or a scam then you will lose them for good.

Article sites are OK to use but don’t overdue it. This practice does not really help your ranking. The search engines are smart and do not favour duplicate content.

Keyword are words of value and carry high search numbers. Let’s say in this case we chose “AdSense Software” we could type this in using the Google keyword tool and piling together a list of keywords we can use in our content.

Whenever I greet Charlie I always get the same response. “So how are you today Charlie?”, to which he replies, “Well, every day above ground is a good day!” Without even realizing it Charlie is practicing a fundamental principle of well being. It’s often referred to as an “attitude of gratitude”.

Whether you realize it or not we all create our own reality from our predominate thoughts. Your reality can either be pleasant or not so pleasant. If your thoughts are centered around not having what you want rather then having your setting yourself up for disappointment and ultimate failure.

Why?

It’s a basic law of the universe that like attracts like. It can either work for you or against you. Charlie figures that being alive rather than being six feet under pushing daisies is definitely a good thing. He has a great appreciation for life that comes with age and he’s grateful for every day he’s still around to enjoy it.

Be grateful for where your at in your life right now. By doing so you begin to attract more of what’s good about your life. Of course, you should always be continually striving to want more and desire greater things in life. That’s what makes us distinctly human and drives us to advance ourselves. Just be deliberate in your intent and always have a strong sense of appreciation. Focus on and expect more of what’s working and empowering in your life rather than what’s wrong with it.

It took me a long time to truly understand why an “attitude of gratitude” was so important in helping me manifest the reality I desired. To the extent that you accept the present and develop a deep sense of appreciation for where your at right now you begin to raise your vibration and your level of well being. Only then are you able to move on to bigger and better things in your life.

To your prosperity,

Mike Manjin

Just 30 minutes north of Victoria, high atop the Malahat Mountain, sits a world renowned resort. “Aerie”, by definition, is the nest of a large bird, such as an eagle, built on a cliff or other high place. A member of Relais & Châteaux, The Aerie Resort is an exclusive Mediterranean-style resort offering 29 luxurious rooms and suites, fine dining, conference and spa facilities to guests year round. This spectacular resort is nestled high above a massive ocean fjord (Saanich Inlet) and perched on the side of Vancouver Island’s coastal mountains.

The resort is surrounded by 85 acres of fabulous gardens and majestic mountainsides, the natural habitat of bald eagles. The Aerie’s exquisite setting, personal elegance and awe-inspiring vistas are simply unforgettable. Its unique location, innovative programs and emphasis on top quality service has established it as one of the finest resorts in the world.

The Aerie has managed to combine the warmth and charm of old world hospitality with very high standards of service excellence. The Aerie has blended intimacy and sophistication to make it a perfect spot for a romantic getaway or a relaxing vacation.

The awards and recognition go on and on and justifiably so. The Aerie has been the recipient of the coveted AAA Four Diamond Awards for the past five years. The Aerie was voted the Number 1 “Top North American Resort” and ranked 34th overall in the “100 Best in the World” in Conde Nast Traveler Magazine’s prestigious 2002 Readers’ Choice Awards.

The splendor of the Malahat inspired the resort’s owner, Maria Schuster, and her family, to design a breathtaking mansion that is reminiscent of those in Southern Europe.

My first visit to the Aerie was years ago, not too long after it had first opened. My wife and I were on a camping trip at Rathtrevor Beach in Parksville when we noticed the signs for the resort and pulled in. We wandered into the resort wearing our dusty shorts and T-shirts from our back-to-nature weekend, but were greeted warmly and asked if we’d like to come into the dining room for lunch. Too embarrassed to enter in our grubs, we said we had just dropped in for a peek. So they asked us if we wanted to look around. They told us to check out any of the rooms with open doors and to enjoy our visit! We were flabbergasted by the sincere hospitality of the staff and thoroughly enjoyed our first self-guided tour.

1. You need to plan out your wheel of life.

This sounds counter-intuitive. I know. You say: “I’m just here to learn English, why do I need to work out the wheel of life?”

The fact is learning English is quite easy if you think about it. You just need to learn the basic unit sounds of English, listen to English frequently, find out some friends from other countries to talk with, and attending English class.

But you just can’t do it. And it is because you have too much happening in your life. You have your kid going to school. You have a business of 20 people that you need to take care of and you need to complete your charity projects by next month. That is the reason why, you can’t find your time to study English.

That is why you need to work out the wheel of life to get yourself balanced in all aspects of your life, and then you have more time to focus on the most important things in your life.

2. What is your wheel of life?

You need to draw a big circle on your paper. Divide the circle into 8 pieces (like 8 slides of pizza). Then you need to determine what are those slides in your life. If your life can be classified into 8 categories of importance, what would they be? It can be friends, family, work, charity, investment, sharing knowledge, study, and networking.

After that you need to work out the goal you want to achieve for each category within one year. Why do you want to achieve that goal? Is the goal compelling enough for you? And your action plan for this goal?

3. Relate to learning English:

When you’re working out your wheel of life, if your English is not good yet, you can do it in your own language. You can write down on paper or on a whiteboard. Then you can explain the whole diagram to your partner or your teacher. And the key factor here is pretending that your partner or teacher only speaks English and don’t understand any other languages, so you need to talk to him/her in English.

You may say that: “This is impossible because I know a little English”. You can use your phone and go to Google translate. Whatever the words that you don’t know, you can search for it in Google translate, and you must speak English. Because the goal here is when you go overseas to an English speaking country, you want to talk and have a conversation with the locals. That is why you need to start there (beginning with the end in mind). You need to talk English frequently until it becomes a habit.

In summary, one of the most effective way to learn English is to determine your wheel of life, and explain to your partner, in that way, not only your English is getting better, but also it helps you to fee up your time to focus on the most important things in your life.

The Pitfalls of Self-Comparison

Do you base your happiness on how you stack up against a neighbor, a coworker, a sibling, a friend or a celebrity? It is easy to think that if you had her body, her house, her knowledge, her husband, her job, her beauty, her intelligence, her personality or her money, that you’d be happy. But, that kind of thinking is a trap! When we compare ourselves with others, we presuppose that there is one right way to “be.” There isn’t. Everyone has great qualities. Everyone has great worth. And, everyone is different.

Another pitfall of this kind of thinking is that it makes comparing self with others a yardstick for self-esteem. If all of our worth is focused outside us, our self-esteem will rise and fall as external circumstances change. If we struggle with illness or aging and someone younger, richer, prettier or smarter moves in next door, suddenly we feel worthless. And, that’s an unhappy way to live.

The truth is that there will always be someone who is better than we are in almost every area of life, just as there will always be someone who isn’t up to our level. So, we can’t compare ourselves with others without becoming either arrogant or insecure. You started life with a personalized package of gifts and challenges. No one else has lived your life, so, no one else can be compared with you – and visa versa.

Good Comparisons

If you occasionally compare yourself to others, it can be a good thing. As long as you don’t connect such comparisons with self-worth, this can inspire you to reach further and achieve more. This type of positive self-comparison motivates and drives your ambition. However, when self-comparison becomes frequent, and even obsessive, it can destroy your peace of mind.

Four Steps to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

The good news is that stopping the destructive side of the comparison game is not hard. And, the more often you practice the following steps, the easier it gets.

Step 1 – Become Aware of Self-Comparison

This is an important step. As I said earlier some self-comparisons can be good, but most of the time they are not.

Step 2 – Isolate Good Comparisons from Bad

Exchange envy for admiration.

Step 3 – Celebrate Your Uniqueness

Your value as a woman has little to do with what you look like or what you possess. When you compare yourself to someone else, you are denying your own wonderful gifts and talents. Everyone has worth, but the source of that worth is as different as each individual.

Step 4 – Compare Yourself to Yourself

I am always striving to do something better than I did before. I take the lessons learned and combine them with qualities I admire in others and strive for a new personal best. I use my past success and failures as my yardstick, and don’t berate myself. I am in competition with myself, and no one else.

Remember to compare yourself with yourself first. And, when you self-compare yourself with others, start by admiring their achievements and strengths. Think in terms of awe, inspiration, motivation and respect. Feelings like jealousy, hatred, resentfulness, rivalry and spite feed negativity and depression. Let go of such inner darkness and you will have room to embrace the light!

With the price of gold hovering near 67 times the price of silver, a logical deduction must be that silver is much more abundant, and easy to acquire than silver. To the contrary, evidence proves otherwise. In fact there is very little silver to be found anywhere.

Known Above Ground Silver Holdings in Ounces

Silver ETF SLV 295,313,780

US Eagles Minted 240,418,077

COMEX Warehouses 114,102,049

Estimated Private Bullion (non eagles or maples) 120,000,000

Central Fund of Canada 75,209,103

LBMA Estimated stocks 75,000,000

Canadian Maples Minted 21,303,000

Silver ETF ZKB – SWISS 7,397,885

BMG Bullion Fund 5,033,609

Total 953,777,503

There is nearly twice as much gold as there is silver in the form of investment grade above ground bullion and coins, and that ignores that fact that 52 percent of the worlds gold is kept in jewelry. While there is an 953 million ounces of above ground silver, there is an estimated 1,803 million ounces of above ground gold in bullion form.

It is important to note a few structural differences in the holdings of gold and silver as well. Approximately half of the above ground gold bullion is held by governments. There are no known silver reserves held by governments. While governments have historically sold their gold to finance their budgets and keep the gold price contained there is no similar readily available entity that could sell silver bullion. Precious metals investors often hold onto their precious metals for time periods measured in years, decades, and lifetimes. Most private investors will not sell their bullion for a 10 percent or possibly even a 100 percent gain. Therefore, even if there are nearly 1 billion ounces of silver in existence, the question remains on how much of that is actually for sale at anywhere near today’s prices.

The implied dollar value of all the silver bullion is tiny compared to gold, or other assets. In fact, measured in dollar value, silver is 1/127th of gold. Many investment funds have more than the silver market of $16.88 billion however gold is more readily available to purchase in larger dollar amounts. Silver may be one of the most neglected and unloved assets of this century. Perhaps, the reason why silver is so cheap is ironically because it is too rare to be invested in by asset managers. Or is it?

What is integrity? Integrity is like an iceberg. We can easily see the visible part above the waterline, but the larger part is below the water. And colliding with either can sink a person, an organization, or an entire nation.

The visible parts of the iceberg – let’s call them written ethics – include laws, regulations, and corporate ethics guides. Violating these can get you fired, fined, or thrown in jail.

Written ethics rules are usually pretty much black and white – if there are gray areas it’s because people want them to be gray. A consulting contract meets ethics standards if a true, externally validated service is performed. Otherwise it’s a bribe. That’s why ethical companies scrutinize consulting contracts, and don’t allow payments to government officials and their relatives.

In my global marketing and logistics courses we have passionate discussion concerning the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Many believe that the FCPA creates a disadvantage for US companies. But the playing field is leveling when competitive economies join the United Nations bribery convention. New regulations – as strict as FCPA – were adopted by 38 countries, including 34 OECD members. A recently adopted UK bribery bill is stricter than the FCPA, and prohibits any bribery, not just government officials.

While cultures and ethical standards evolve over time, the worst happens when individuals, organizations, cultures, and entire societies lose their moral compass. Witch burnings, the great inquisition, slavery, and genocide were the result of a collective moral collapse.

At times, the iceberg above the water line may be shrouded in fog. Then, individuals and organizations believe that they are untouchable, that bribes are a reward for getting elected, or a legitimate cost of doing business. The Mayor and City Council President of Detroit created what is now alleged to be a “criminal enterprise” demanding bribes from contractors. For Siemens (not related), bribes became a cost line item, meticulously accounted for in good German fashion – even with a budget.

The problem with corruption is that it’s a slippery slope. Corruption can create a short-term advantage. Years ago, I lost a deal with the Nigerian Central Bank to a competitor who was willing to pay the right people. But the corruption did not end with the contract award; more bribes were needed to pass acceptance tests, free up currency for payment, etc. In the end, corrupt business in usually bad business.

The fog may never lift, but don’t count on it.

While reading an article on Alexis Muller Pellerin, described as a rising star of the real estate world, I have also discovered his grandfather, Claude Muller, retired property developer in Cannes. I managed to find the book published by Hélène Constanty in 2015 “Razzia sur la Riviera” (Raid on the French Riviera). When you mention the real estate industry on the Côte d’Azur, you immediately think of collusion with local elected officials, bribes, corruption, yachts and stories of suitcases filled with bills. In this book, the description of this universe is worse than you could ever imagine!

There are several definitions for offenders. Offenders who flout the law in need of money, assets, etc., and offenders who flout the law for more and more profit. The wealthiest sitting on their fortune, searching by all means – lawful or not, to accumulate more and more. Petty crimes which directly result from megalomaniac desires of men in their wild silk three-piece suits. The golden organized crime of various businesses, sharing a common practice: tax evasion.

The case of Claude Muller ideally depicts the profiles of the ravenous meat-heating shark. Indeed, tax evasion and property fraud punctuated the career path of this real estate star.

Commissions paid on accounts in Switzerland and Lichtenstein

As a real estate developer and broker, Claude Muller prospered in the 1980s. He got along with local public figures and maintained influential relations in Cannes and Antibes. He was known for his imposing bearing, had the gift of the gab and maintained an exceptional network. Three useful qualities that enabled him to attract wealthy customers, especially from the Gulf. Claude Muller was a repatriated “pied-noir” from Algeria, fluent in Arabic.

While conducting businesses with his wealthy clients, he took the opportunity to initiate a tax evasion scheme. This scheme was tried and tested but efficient. Claude Muller implemented an invoicing system to the benefit of the Arabic princes he worked for – the main part of his customers, while collecting a real fortune for his services. His fraud system was the following: he worked with a Geneva attorney Baudouin Dunand, who founded customized real estate companies (SCI) in order to receive money of the financial transactions of the sold villas. These SCI were always established in countries known for applying confidentiality policies in terms of client identity, such as Lichtenstein and Switzerland. The wealthy investors transferred the funds on the SCI founded by attorney Baudouin Dunand, and once all providers and suppliers, who had worked on the construction site, were paid, Dunand transferred the remaining sums on a bank account held by Claude Muller. Then, the sums received by the real estate developer were enormous. Thanks to the SCI which served as a support structure for transferring money of each real estate transaction, Muller accumulated a real fortune. As for the Geneva attorney who assisted Claude Muller in these tax frauds, he is known to be the administrator of a number of offshore companies – essential parts of a broader tax evasion scheme.

Incarcerated in Grasse for fraud

In addition to the tax fraud, Claude Muller was also linked to other swindles such as town planning, privileges and real estate frauds, while being clever enough not to face the legal consequences. In 1982, he bought the sumptuous property called “Le Grand Jardin” on the island of Sainte-Marguerite. Spread on two hectares and composed of two 17th century mansions, it is the only private property of the island. With a very skillful trick, the property was exempt of the French fortune tax; Claude Miller claimed it had been bought for professional purpose. Indeed, indicted by the civil, criminal and administrative courts, he explained he bought the property for his business of real estate broker, with the intention to resell it. And during the 25 years he owned the property, the mansion was indeed for sale, but at price three times higher than its actual value. A clear message for potential buyers: “Move along, there is nothing to see here.”

Claude Muller was also involved in several fraud and swindles in Cannes and Antibes. The real estate developer did not always manage to flee from justice.

Indeed, on December 8, 1992, he was indicted for alleged forgery and fraud. Once again with his partner in crime Baudouin Dunand, he swindled the head of the government of Qatar of 13 million francs on the construction price of his property. Claude Muller was incarcerated at the Grasse jail, where he stayed three months before being freed with judicial review.

My research led to the undesirable Russian businessman Arcadi Gaydamak, involved in arms trafficking of the Angolagate and Clearstream cases, and subpoenaed in fraud cases linked to Claude Muller.

The passion of real estate seems to be handed over to the next generation of the Muller Family because Alexis Muller Pellerin, Claude Muller’s grandson, has also become a real estate developer. The young man aspires to big projects and especially when it comes to investment. We hope the name of this future major player of the real estate market will not be linked to sordid stories of money and tax evasion, and hope greed will not corrupt his intentions, as it used to be with his grandfather.

Used above ground swimming pools can be a great alternative. In fact, 20 percent of our installs are used swimming pools. However, there are several things to be aware of when pursuing this endeavor. I do not recommend any pool more than 5 years old because of rust issues. Any older than that, be careful. Do not consider a pool that is buried in the side of a hill or has a lot of backfill around it. It may look good from the outside but believe me, every part of that pool that is in contact with dirt and moisture is subject to rust and corrosion. Look for a swimming pool that is completely on top of the ground (no backfill).

The parts of the pool that are affected by rust would include the bottom wall channel, foot plates, hardware and the bottom edge of the pool wall. The second area of concern is the skimmer and return. Again, look for rust, corrosion and cracks in the skimmer and wall. Light surface rust can be sanded off in this area and painted but any corrosion that goes through the metal is not good. Plan on buying a new liner and plastic liner coping. Gaskets for the skimmer and return will need to be replaced as well. The liner will shrink when the pool is drained and become brittle along with the plastic coping that goes over the liner on top of the wall for protection. I would also look at the filter and hoses during operation for cracks and leaks. Check the water and see how it looks while the filter is running if it is green and murky there might be filter issues. If it has a sand filter, plan on getting new sand and finally, never consider a pool that is not assembled because there is always a good possibility that something will be missing. Good luck!

To see step by step photos of pool installations and remodeling projects feel free to visit our website.