[11:26:29] Toms: more about the almanac, because to me it always meant “book of reference” – but we’re both right -
[11:26:40] Toms: From Wikipedia: “An almanac (also spelled almanack) is an annual publication containing tabular information in a particular field or fields often arranged according to the calendar. Astronomical data and various statistics are also found in almanacs, such as the times of the rising and setting of the sun and moon, eclipses, hours of full tide, stated festivals of churches, terms of courts, lists of all types, timelines, and more. The word almanac comes from the Arabic المناخ al-manaakh, meaning “the climate”.” and “Currently published almanacs such as Whitaker’s Almanack have expanded their scope and contents beyond that of their historical counterparts. Modern almanacs include a comprehensive presentation of statististical and descriptive data covering the entire world. Contents also include discussions of topical developments and a summary of recent historical events. Other currently published almanacs (ca. 2006) include Information Please Almanac, World Almanac and Book of Facts, and The Old Farmer’s Almanac.”
[11:27:44] Darrel: yes, but I don’t know if we can directly translate it… I also thought about that… but how can we verify the translation?
[11:29:13] Toms: but didn’t you directly translate to climate? I think that’s valid.
[11:29:38] Darrel: no… it’s in the book
[11:29:46] Toms: but should have both meanings – the reference to climate (as in ‘world climate’) and the other meaning as ‘book of data’
[11:31:01] Darrel: yes, I totally agree… but I didn’t want to get caught up in the linguistics… but either we can add this to the post, or as a comment… either/or…
[11:31:35] Toms: I make a comment
[11:31:52] Darrel: good idea…
[11:32:06] Toms: pasting in this chat conversation maybe..
[11:32:26] Darrel: hehehee… i don’t know… hmm… I’ll look back…
[11:33:43] Darrel: the other thing about Almanacs is that they are prescriptive / predictive… we use them in Canada to know which weekends will be sunny… for example if you’re planning your wedding…
[11:33:54] Toms: ah – there is something in germany we call the 100year-calendar, telling how the wether was on a certain day over the last 100years
[11:35:09] Darrel: exactly… and for crying out loud, they’re usually right…
[11:35:56] Darrel: The book is really a “primer” for the region… it seems to introduce Western concepts to the Arabic World… things missing that allow for their type of Architecture and Urbanism to exist…

And the original article by Mike Davis in the New Left Review against Dubai:
http://newleftreview.org/?page=article&view=2635

Further Reading from Dysturb:

There is the previous post of Dysturb by Thomas:
http://www.dysturb.net/2007/instant-city-the-rise-of-dubai/
And another post by Claudia:
http://www.dysturb.net/2007/what-i-have-achieved-for-dubai-is-only-10-of-my-vision-for-it/