Author: Mark

These new sneakers from Nike to commorate the 2008 Olympics look very very comfortable. But at 130€, they aren’t cheap. [Link]

Who knew there were so many different kinds of ice cubes. The one pictured above is called the Orchid Ice and actually contains an orchid flower inside. When you get to the page just click “next” on the top to flip between the different ice cubes. [Link]

A 60 meter wide crater that is 20 meters deep and has been burning since the 1950’s. In some of the shots it really does look like a doorway to hell. Creepy. [Link]

This corner is just ridiculous! [YouTube]

A bunch of interesting and funny tree illustrations. [Link]

Cinemagic’s screening of The Kite Runner has been postponed till next week due to bad weather.

I watched Iron Man late last night and its way better than both Spiderman and The Hulk. Its as good as the last Batman and even better than Transformers. Robert Downey Jr. was really great, not as good as Christian Bale but then again, nobody is. Can’t wait for the sequel.

I just got two tickets for tonights special showing of Iron Man here in Lebanon. The movie premiers in the States on the 2nd of May but somehow its showing here in Lebanon before. I guess its like how Star Wars premiered in Kuwait before the rest of the world.

A friend at work just sent me two pictures to my phone, one picture (on the left) he shot while going into the baqala, the second picture (on the right) when he was coming out. The weather here in Beirut on the other hand is perfect as can be seen in the picture below.

From Cinemagic:

Cinemagic is delighted to announce the return of our weekly screening program. Screenings will continue to take place at our new location in Old Salmiya, above LG Electronics.

This week, we will be screening “The Kite Runner“.

Based one on of the most acclaimed novels in recent memory, ‘The Kite Runner’ is a profoundly emotional tale of friendship, family, devastating mistakes and redeeming love. In a divided country on the verge of war, two childhood friends, Amir and Hassan, are about to be torn apart forever. It’s a glorious afternoon in Kabul and the skies are bursting with the exhilarating joy of a kite-fighting tournament. But in the aftermath of the day’s victory, one boy’s fearful act of betrayal will mark their lives forever and set in motion an epic quest for redemption. Now, after 20 years of living in America, Amir returns to a perilous Afghanistan under the Taliban’s iron-fisted rule to face the secrets that still haunt him and take one last daring chance to set things right.

For its part, Cinemagic Kuwait, is organizing these events as part of its efforts to contribute to the development of an internationally competitive Kuwaiti audio-visual production industry, partly by bringing the filmmakers and audiences together and by Increasing the public’s interest in – and appreciation for – the art of filmmaking.

As always, attendance is free of charge (but seating is limited). Snacks and refreshments will be served. The Kite Runner screening will take place on Thursday, May 1st, at 7 p.m.

This story totally surprised me. I was talking to my brother today when he mentioned that last month a flash mob here in Beirut replicated “Frozen Grand Central” except in a mall. Over 200 people participated and although I think the Grand Central freeze was nicer I am totally surprised that a flash mob exists in Lebanon. Someone should setup a flash mob group for Kuwait. [YouTube]

I am starting to sound like an old beat up record. Tomorrow I am leaving to Beirut for work and I will be there for 10 days. I am staying at a different hotel this time around, one with better Internet access and one thats also in a better location. I think I have two more trips before the summer and then things should get back to normal.

As most of you might have noticed I have a new sponsor on the blog, Gulf Insurance Company. They’ve basically launched a new service where people can just log into their website and sign up for one of their insurance plans, here is their press release with more info:

GIC unveils its online insurance services
Gulf Insurance Company (GIC) … Kuwait’s most preferred insurance solutions provider is proud to announce its online range of individual insurance products via: www.clickgic.com

GIC’s valued customers can now simply login and insure their vehicles, Jet Ski’s, yachts, pleasure boats, domestic servants and travel insurance including family members and pay for such services online by K-Net, Visa or MasterCard in a fully secure environment.

Once the policy is purchased, GIC will send a policy confirmation email to the customer along with an SMS to the customer’s mobile phone advising policy number. The customer will have access to his policy and check information of the same any time by logging on www.clickgic.com and by keying in policy number and civil ID number for prompt display of all policy information.

Customers have the option of collecting their policies themselves from any of GIC’s 15 branches or request for a free delivery of the policy within 24 hours to the location of their choice in Kuwait. Customers however can print the motor comprehensive, domestic helpers and travel insurance policies directly from the comfort of their homes or offices.

GIC is currently offering its online customers a special discount of 10% on the Motor and Marine Third Party Liability policy premiums.

Simply log on to www.clickgic.com and see for yourselves GIC’s distinct wide ranging products and services and the ease and convenience of its use!

Anyway the reason for this post is that GIC want your feedback on their website. So if you have any comments on their website just leave it below.

I got my Nokia E61i last July so its been with me for nearly 10 months and through this time its been really abused. Whats surprised me the most is how well its held up. It must be the metal casing because I’ve dropped it soo many times, had it slammed into the wall and really not much has happened. Now I did manage to crack the screen slightly when I accidentally dropped the phone from nearly two stories high but thats really superficial compared to the damage that would have inflicted lets say an iPhone.

Yesterday I managed to inflict more damage to the phone after dropping it for like the millionth time. Basically the phone stopped charging when plugged in. The new version of the phone isn’t going to be out for a few months and I didn’t want to get another phone so I decided to pass by the doctor in Khalid Bin Waleed street in Sharq to see if he could fix my phone.

The doctor is a popular guy in Sharq who is an expert in repairing phones. He has a small shop in the same building as the store “My Phone” except his store is in the back side. I showed him my phone and told him what was wrong an he quickly opened it up, checked the phone’s board and found the culprit. A tiny resistor was missing and he could replace it for just KD4 (probably cheaper if I haggled). I told him to go ahead and it took him just another 5 minutes to unsolder a resistor from another broken Nokia phone and then solder it onto my phone and voilà, my phone started charging again.

It’s like a drive through phone repair shop. Since the guy is very nice and a real pro I figured I would help send business his way. So if you need to repair a phone, just pass by the doctor, the store is called Life Style (don’t ask) and his phone number is 4455692.

The new Grand Theft Auto is already out in some places and probably the most important question people are going to ask is which version is better, the PS3 or the 360? Kotaku tried both versions and have gone ahead and compared the two and the results seem very close. I’ve been wanting to get a PS3 for a while now but it looks like there isn’t a game out yet that makes it worth getting over my 360. [Link]

Update: Game Center in Rihab Complex in Hawalli are selling Grand Theft Auto IV for KD25