Author: Mark

It seems the ministry has banned the use of DSLR cameras (pictured above) in public places, streets and malls. You can take pictures with regular camera’s and camera phones but not with DSLR’s? That’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard.

I mean seriously whats the difference between a DSLR and Point & Shoot? Both can take pictures and both can have zoom lenses. Why ban the use of DSLR’s in public and not Point & Shoot cameras? I am not saying they should ban P&S cameras I’m just trying to highlight how ridiculous this new law is.

Maybe if someone from the ministry takes a few moments to go to flickr.com and search for the word Kuwait they can see exactly the kind of talented work they will be killing with this law. Maybe then they will realize how big a mistake this is.

You can read more about this on Kuwait Times [Here]

Some great photos. [Link]

I think they did a much better job when compared to the Caribou staff but McDonalds are still winning this contest. [YouTube]

Note: Video really kicks in at the 3:20 mark

This sounds like an interesting and different event to go to:

“Winter Story From The Land Of Northern Lights” by a Finnish Puppet Theater

This performance tells a story of a girl and a reindeer who were both born on the night of the shooting star. This story is about friendship and courage. The performance is mostly without words and accompanied by beautiful music.

To find out what happened to the girl and the reindeer, who they met and what they experienced, get your tickets now at Radisson Blu Hotel – Viking Club reception.

For booking call 25673888 or 65718000
The ticket price is KD6
The shows will be on the 25th, 26th and 27th of November from 7:00pm to 8:00pm.

For more details head to the Radisson Blu Kuwait Facebook page. [Link]

Bu Ziyad from q80economics emailed me to tell me that foreign magazines are currently banned from being imported into Kuwait. It seems a magazine slipped in with a revealing photo and so the sole distributor for foreign magazines in Kuwait is being punished by banning them from importing magazines. By punishing them everyone in Kuwait is getting punished as well. They are now hoping they will be allowed to resume the import of magazines again after Eid.

Personally I’m glad I have an iPad and the Zinio app so I don’t have to deal with issues like this.

The blog Q8geeks spotted the above job opening. I really don’t want to know what this job involves… [Link]

After releasing the iPhone and iPad application the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have launched the BlackBerry version. You can download it for free by visiting their website [Here]

According to KUNA an Android version is in the works. [Link]

A reader shared a link to pictures of the making of the Kiswah (the cloth that covers the Kaaba) which I hadn’t seen before. You can check out those pictures by clicking [Here]

Here is also bit of info I found on Wikipedia on the Kiswah:

Every year the old Kiswa is removed, cut into small pieces and gifted to certain individuals, visiting foreign Muslim dignitaries and organizations. Some of them sell their share as souvenirs of Haj. Earlier Umar bin al-Khattab would cut it in to pieces and distribute them among the pilgrims who used them as shelter from the heat of Makkah. The present cost of making the kiswa amounts to SR 17 million [U.S. dollar = 3.75 riyals]. The cover is 658 sq. metres long and is made of 670 kgs of pure silk. For embroidery 15 kilos of gold threads are used. It consists of 47 pieces of cloth and each piece is 14 Mts. long and 101 cms broad. The kiswa is wrapped around the Kaaba and fixed to the ground with copper rings. [Source]

Thanks t-num

CNN has an article up on adventurer Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje who back in 1885 took pictures and sound recordings of Mecca. Thats 125 years ago! The photos and sound clips are currently being exhibited in Dubai until December 6th so if you’re there or planning to visit Dubai soon this is a great exhibition to check out. For now though you can check out some pictures and a sound clipping on the CNN website [Here]

Update: The Buz Fairy posted a video made up of pictures taken back in 1953. You can check those out by clicking [Here]

Last month I posted about how Americana is bringing Red Lobster to Kuwait. Well I just found out the first location is scheduled to open up in April 2011. No word on when Oliver Garden will be opening up yet.

I was checking out the Desert Biking Club of Kuwait website and spotted two pictures which looked strange. One of the pictures is above while the other below, is that a river in Jahra?

Update: Below is a picture of this “river” taken by Ammar Alothman

Beat Diabetes – Join the Walk is the first ever walkathon to be organized by Landmark Group in Kuwait (under the patronage of the Ministry of Health and Dasman Diabetes Institute). The walkathon will start at the Yacht Club and end at the Green Island on November 27th. To register you need to pass by any Landmark Group outlet (Centrepoint, Max, Home Centre and New Look stores).

Date: Saturday, 27 November, 2010
Kit Collection: 8.00 am
Walk Time: 9.00 am
Venue: Yacht Club to Green Island

Participation is free and everybody is invited.

If any cops are watching this I think it might be easy to catch this guy since his username on YouTube is 6025176 and I am taking a wild guess here but that could actually be his phone number. [YouTube]

965 Malls is an interesting new blog that’s basically about all the malls in Kuwait. They post information on the latest shop offers, activities taking place at malls and random tidbits like who shut down, who’s opening up and even about internal mall quarrels. It’s interesting stuff. [Link]

The first professional Kuwaiti racing driver Khaled Al Mudhaf is participating in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge this Saturday and Sunday. I found out about him recently and think what he’s doing is very cool. The GT3 Cup Challenge is the biggest motor sport challenge in the Middle East and Khaled will be representing Kuwait with his black Porsche pictured above. The two rounds of the race will be shown live on Abu Dhabi Sports Channel on both free-to-air Channel 2 and Channel 6. Round 1 will be shown tomorrow (Saturday) at 15:25 while Round 2 will be broadcasted at 14:45 on Sunday. I wish him the best of luck.

For more information here is the GT3 Cup Facebook page [Link]