Category: Information

Remember a months back when we informed Fasttelco users that their personal information was being leaked by their ISP.

Well, their official response by their Marketing Manager, Ali Dervasi, was that our post is “propaganda” to further our “history of hostility against FASTtelco“.

Sorry to burst your conspiracy bubble .. but we don’t carry any ill will towards any companies, just their services (or lack thereof). As for our ‘propaganda’ post .. In addition to FTs users experiencing the issue (and posting screenshots), Google themselves confirmed that there was a problem. And our “history of hostility” is a direct result of FT’s poor service, which isn’t limited to the following: blocking sites, high prices, false advertising, security issues and all-around shitty ads.

FT needs to take a step back and reevaluate their services (and prices) before pointing fingers at its users. The other ISPs have stepped up their services and offerings (except for UCC, they are terrible). Reading reviews on blogs and through word-of-mouth, end customers are more aware of the alternatives available. Until FT fixes its issues, I continue using (and recommending) الخمطة بربع.

Link to original article [here]

Posted by K.

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.

The phase two of Avenues has opened up, I think the launch was two days ago. Anyway only three stores are currently open in that section plus the food court which had McDonalds and the other chains have now moved to phase two along with a couple of new ones.

Proud to be Kuwaiti is a foundation that was formed to recognize and encourage the youth of Kuwait to depend on themselves and establish their own business by giving their skills and talent a chance to shine. A ton of already established and new local businesses will be coming together in one place on April 30th at the Arraya Ballroom for a large exhibition including 6alabat.com, Q8Flowers.com, Burger Boutique, J’s Bakery, Slider Station, Munch, LoFat, Choowy Goowy, Thouq, Truth or Dare, Extreme Sports, Pink Moon and a lot more.

For more information on the event you can visit the Proud to be Kuwaiti website www.p2bk.com

Update: I was just informed that Burger Boutique, Slider Station and
Falafel & Co., are not participating in this event even though they are listed. It seems the organizers are placing companies without their consent. I also noticed LUSH on the list, I don’t know how that is the case since LUSH is not a local company, its an international franchise.

I came back to Kuwait last night and I have to say I was pretty disappointed with Jordan. The country is very poor which I found very shocking since I was expecting it to be something of a combination of Lebanon and Kuwait. The King and Queen seem very sophisticated and down to earth which is why its even more confusing why things are the way they are there. The Jordanian people are extremely nice, reminded me a lot of the hospitality of Bahraini people. Things I missed and would like to try the next time I am there: the falafels at Hashem, the burger at Lebnani and the Blouzaat store.

The 2nd annual boat show is going to take place from the 29th of April till May 3rd. The following watercraft brands will be on display at the show:

Aicon – Al Mazrooei Craft – Al Waleed Boats – Atlantis – Azimut – Benetti – Bertram – Cabo – Campion – Centurion – Cigarette – Concept Boat – Couach – Donzi – Duretti – Fairline – Ferretti – Fountain – Gulf Craft – Hareb Marine – Hatteras – Hurricane – Itama – Larson – Maritimo – Moomba – Palm Marine – Pershing – Persuit – Polar – Princess – Pursuit – Regal – Riva – Rivarama – Robalo – Sea Master – Seabob – Sea-doo – Sealine – SeaRay – Shiraa Al Khaleej – Silver Craft – Waverunner – Wellcraft – Yamaha Boats

The event will be held at Kout Mall but they still haven’t emailed me the ticket prices or from what time to what time the show will be open. Once they do I will update this post. For pictures of last years boat show click [Here]

I got the following in my email today:

Dear All, Shashati.tv is proud to announce the commencement of pre-production on the first musical short film from Kuwait. We’re looking for actors & actresses to play the following roles:

ZAID: A sarcastic, lovable slob. Mid 20’s, chubby but good looking, charming, creative. ZAINA: A lovable, overbearing, pretty, attractive health freak. Also Mid-20’s. COUNSELOR: An obsessive compulsive marriage counselor with ADD. Early to mid 30’s (but we will audition younger people for the role).

We will also be auditioning for the following non-speaking roles:

POLICEMAN (Male, Age not important) DANCING COFFEE BARISTA (Male, Age not important) HOMELESS PERSON (Male, Age not important)

We are also looking for several EXTRAS (both male & female).

Please note the following:
(1) All applicants MUST be fluent in English, as that is the language of the film. (2) Applicants for the three main roles should be able (and willing) to sing, or at least hold a note. (3) Applicants for the three main roles should also be able (and willing) to dance. (4) This is a PAID production, which means that all those working on the film (including extras) will be given daily compensation. (5) This audition is open to people of all ages and nationalities.

—————————————

Upon attending the casting session, all applicants must provide the following:

(1) Release form (provided by us at the session) to be filled in by the applicant. (2) 2 head shots/photos of any size. (3) A copy of your civil i.d.

—————————————–

The session will take place at Cinemagic’s head office on Salem Al Mubarak Street. The session will be open between the hours of 3 – 7 p.m. on Monday, April 21st.

Please contact us for more information on:

+965 799 6100/ 400
[email protected]

Some people the storm is going to hit at 2PM others are saying at 4.

Nataly should actually be writing this post but since she doesn’t post much anymore I am going to post about it. We passed by LUSH tonight in Central Plaza which opened not too long ago and the place honestly makes The Body Shop feel like McDonalds. They have some really cool soaps that all smell amazingly good and are very natural and handmade. You buy the soaps per gram and although the prices aren’t cheap its kinda understandable why they cost this much. Although there isn’t anything else in Central Plaza to check out its worth passing by just for LUSH. [Link]

I was looking for an ATM machine today morning when I stumbled up this new Alghanim branch in Kuwait City. Its in the mall underneath the new KFH building next to Ahli Bank. The design is very similar to the branch in the Avenues which I’ve mentioned before I really liked. I guess this is their new look which is pretty cool.

What the fuck is going on outside. Suddenly there was super strength wind like a hurricane and its still happening. Fucking DUST STORM WITH RAIN, FUCK. Never seen anything like this before!!

A reader called Mohammad just emailed me this map of the Kuwait City Metro which he scanned from the latest issue of MEED. It looks like there will be a subway station near my home which is pretty cool. The metro is supposed to be completed by 2014.

Here is the larger version of the map. [Picture]

Although Totally Fish has been open in Marina Crescent for two years now I never passed by to try it. It was one of those places I kept hearing negative stuff about mostly that it was too expensive and that the food wasn’t really good. But last night I felt like having seafood and decided to pass by Totally Fish since it was nearby.

I was with Nat and we ended up ordering Salmon Croquette and Prawns Cake for appetizer while for the main course she had a Salmon dish while I had Balloul. The appetizers were pretty ordinary and we wouldn’t order them again. We also didn’t like our main courses that much, Nats salmon had too many flavors, none of which was Salmon while my Balloul was just really forgettable. The biggest surprise was the fact that the prices weren’t expensive at all. The Salmon Croquette was around KD1.500, while the Prawns Cake around KD2.500. The Salmon was for KD6.750 while the Balloul was KD6.500. The portions were also surprisingly big.

Even though we didn’t enjoy any of the dishes I am still going to go back. Its common to order the wrong dishes the first time at a place and since their location is good, the staff friendly and the prices very reasonable, they are worth a second visit.

As some of you might have read on SomeContrast, Mishary posted pictures and information about the availability of new gasoline and diesel introduced at the Bayan Station. The prices are 120fils for pink gasoline and 100fils for orange diesel.

I initially thought that this would be a step-up from the current green gasoline, ultra (98 octane). It turns out that someone (insert big name) requested that Kuwait should introduce Euro-Spec petrol (environmentally friendly); and KNPC agreed. Afterwards KNPC realized that their refineries are not ready for producing Euro-Spec petrol, so they imported it from the Q8 system in Europe; hence the higher costs.

The pink gasoline (Ultra-Euro) is 95 octane (lower than green) and the orange diesel is most likely the same as the Kuwaiti garden variety. The only unproven benefit if used on our engines is lower emissions.

Link to SomeContrast. [Here]
Link to Al-Watan (arabic article). [Here]

Posted by K.

It’s been a long time since I’ve posted about Cinemagic’s weekly film screening so in case you don’t know about it, here is the latest film they will be showing:

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 “Children of Men”. The Screening will take place on Thursday, April 10th, at 7:30 p.m.

Y Tu Mamá También and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban director Alfonso Cuarón returns to the helm to tell this futuristic tale in which society is without hope since humankind lost its ability to procreate. The year is 2027, and women can no longer give birth. The youngest inhabitant of the planet has just died at the age of 18, and all hope for humanity has been lost. As civilization descends into chaos, a dying world finds one last chance for survival in the form of a woman who has become inexplicably pregnant. Now, as warring nationalistic sects clash and British leaders try to maintain their totalitarian stronghold on the country, a disillusioned bureaucrat (Clive Owen) is brought back into the fold of activism by his guerrilla ex-wife (Julianne Moore). Reluctantly, he takes on the daunting task of escorting Kee (Claire-Hope Ashitey), the refugee who represents humankind’s last hope for survival, out of harm’s way and into the care of a mysterious organization known as The Human Project. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Charlie Hunnam, and Michael Caine co-star in this adaptation of author P.D. James’s gripping 1992 novel.

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.