F for Fake: Another Look

Both images generated at Images Graphics.

And here's the error level analysis output for the first picture.

And for the second.

You can see the pattern on the sign differs from the rest of the pictures.

Having an Identity Crisis?

Not sure who you are?

Well, the staff here at Suq Al Mal are continuously on the look-out for ways to help.

And  so we recommend this site as you attempt to address that question.

Of course, under our long standing policy, we don't make recommendations before thoroughly testing them in our state-of-the-art laboratory.  In keeping with this blog's policy, we don't use animals in the process. 

Rather Abu Arqala himself served as the test subject using some of the deathless prose from previous posts at Suq Al Mal.  

For the first time ever, we are able to report the results that on an informal basis AA is a male, but on a formal basis a weak male - with the explanation that he may be "European".   

Quel dommage! 

Though it wasn't immediately clear if that was an "old" or a "new" European.

Real or Fake? AMENDED

Dave Roberts published this picture over at TheGulfBlog.

And as you'll see there was some question about whether the picture was doctored.

Here's an interesting article analyzing a picture from Victoria's Secret showing how various tools are used to catch manipulations in pictures.

One of the tools that's available on the net is here.

I've had some outside technical help and am revising my earlier comment that the picture can't be analyzed on the Error Level Analysis site.  The problem was not the jpg format but the extraneous "bits" after the jpg in the link location.  Once removed, ELA performed an analysis.

Here's the results page.

While I am told this is not conclusive, you'll notice there are some areas on the sign where there is not random "noise" and this can be an indication of modification.  You'll notice these are  black.  Also something may have been done with the horizon above. 

Bahrain Tops Arab World in UN E- Government Survey

According to Dubai's Gulf News, Bahrain tops all Arab countries in electronic government readiness in the United Nations  E-Government Survey.  The Kingdom is also #3 in Asia and #13 in the world. 

The UN Report doesn't seem to have been posted yet on the UN's Public Administration Program website.

Here's the list as per GN.

1. Bahrain (13 globally – 42 in 2008)
2. UAE (49 - 32)
3. Kuwait (50 - 57)
4. Jordan (51 - 50)
5. Saudi Arabia (58 - 70)
6. Qatar (62 - 53)
7. Tunisia (66 - 124)
8. Oman (82 - 84)
9. Egypt (86 - 79)
10. Lebanon (93 - 74)
11. Libya (114 - 120)
12. Morocco (126- 140)
13. Algeria (131 - 121)
14. Syria (133 - 119)
15. Iraq (136 - 151)
16. Sudan (154 - 161)
17. Mauritania (157 - 168)
18. Yemen (164 - 164)
19. Somalia (184 - 183)

Adeem Investments Kuwait - Still Hard at Work

Still hard at work improving the website in order to "better serve you".

Since at least 18 November.

It's quite a task apparently.  But well worth the wait, I'm sure.

HE Al Mansouri Denies Erroneous News Reports

As reported by the official news agency of the United Arab Emirates, HE Sultan AlManouri has denied earlier erroneous news reports, which apparently do not include the one that AA quoted earlier today.

"Minister of Economy Sultan Al Mansouri affirmed today that Dubai's debts issue has a local specialty and is being handled by the competent government agencies on contrary to what a foreign news agency has quoted him today saying that ''Dubai, whose debts are matured in 2010, could receive more assistance either from the federal government or emirate of Abu Dhabi."

''A massive media campaign is being waged against the UAE with the aim of distorting facts and misleading the public opinion about the economic reality in the country, the minister said astonishingly.

''This campaign will not touch the economic reputation of the UAE and its vibrant national economy which has proven its merit in handling and managing diverse global economic challenges and changes,''he stressed.

And he noted:

''The UAE is always keen to deal with all situations and circumstances with high transparency and scientifically and well-studied method based on accurate analysis using international state-of-the-art standards to ensure delivery of best aspired results,''he concluded.

AA for one stands corrected, but only mildly astonished.

Ride Into the Future: TED Sixth Sense

Incredible India!

Ride Into the Past: The Glorious Past Indeed!

And made like a gun so the slogan goes.  

Ride into the past.