Category: Information

Recently Marina Mall has become extremely cluttered with ads and it seems things will just get worse. A few days ago “ads 2 blog” posted Marina Mall was going to install a fog screen where ads would run on it. Now today ads 2 blog posted that Marina Mall is also launching a Sky Billboard which will fly around inside the mall displaying ads!

On the bright side, Avenues is opening up on the 20th of this month which is just three days away.

This years Dog Show will be held once again at the British Embassy Gardens on Friday 16th of March 2007. Last year it was a lot of fun for so we will for sure be going back this year. In last years show Geo won second place in the Best Puppy category and this year we are hoping to win in other categories including Best Tail Wagger, Most Adorable Dog and Most Obedient. These competitions aren’t anything serious its all just a lot of fun. If you have a dog you should try and make it this year. For more information click [Here]

Here is my post of last years event.

Thanks Stallion for reminding me

I have posted about Campaign ME numerous times before since its my favorite regional advertising publication. Last week the Campaign ME advertising awards got canceled and no explanation was given which sucked since my agency was tipped as being “Creative Agency of the Year”. Rumors then started flying around that the publication was going to close down and it seems the rumors are true.

I just read an article on mediaME which shed more light into this story. It seems Haymarket, a UK based firm that holds the license for Campaign ME, has pulled the license from IITP the current publishing house of Campaign ME.

It really sucks that they did that. Campaign ME, you will be missed.

I found this movie trailer on K.thekuwaiti’s blog. Its a movie made in Kuwait and from the looks of the trailer it looks pretty cool. Although the plot is really cliche, “six kids have the adventure of their lifetime” the fact that its about six Kuwaiti kids in Kuwait makes it special.

There is another movie I heard that was good called “Shabab Cool”. I was told it was about street racing in Kuwait and that it got banned from the movies here.

By the way, the movie Sharq is directed by Erik Sandoval. The only Sandoval I know is Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Star. I wonder if he is related to her?

On my way back to my car after leaving The ONE I spotted the new Burger Company location. Its not bad but looks small. Its located next to the large parking lot outside The ONE.

Have you gotten your loved one a Shani today?

Thanks to K.theKuwaiti for reminding me its Shani Day today.

I always enjoy bazars so I will most probably be going to this one. This Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday the annual Autism Charity Bazar will be held in Kuwait City. Its for a good cause so if you can make it do so. Its from 10AM to 1PM and then again from 5PM to 9PM.

Here is a scan of the flyer which also includes a map:
Front of flyer
Back of flyer

Teachers
Do you have a first degree?
Are you CELTA qualified (or equivalent)?
Have you got 2+ years of TEFL experience?
Are you a native English speaker?

If so:
Please send your CV to
[email protected]

I just got the following email from a reader:

AbdulAziz wrote:
I’m a frequent visitor of your how shall I put it colorful site in both topics and presentation. I was shocked to see the topic about the Harley crash … I was the first to witness the accident the guy was right in front of me when he flipped due to bad judgment by the lady merging onto the street …. However, I called the emergency service 777 … just wana share my disappointing experience with them … it took 6 tones for them to answer keep in mind it should not take more then 1….. once they answered I Said guys a bike just flipped come over and make it quick on Khaleej Road opposite Hard Rock café…. They acknowledged and took my name incase it was a prank call …. They called back 8 minutes later and asked me if he needed an AMBULANCE …. Why the hell was I calling u …. After I emphized that he did they hanged up and called 10 mins later …. They asked where he was and said that they are at the place but there was no accident … I said again please check … they called and hanged up for about 15mins just double checking ….. anyways I got pissed and starting raising my voice …. Apparently they were at the HARD COOK restaurant and not Hard Rock.

Just wanted to share this with you … hopefully none of us would need their services.

Placed order with Papa Johns at 8:30. Promised would be delivered within 45 minutes. Called back at 9:20 telling them pizza hadn’t arrived yet, they told me within 10 minutes. Called back at 9:35 telling them pizza hadn’t arrived yet, they told me they will check on it and get back to me. Called back at 9:45 telling them pizza hasn’t arrived yet even though I called twice. They transfered me to manager who told me he will call back in 2 minutes. Its been 5 minutes and no call back yet and I need to leave the house.

update: called back at 9:55, spoke to manager again told him he had told me he would call me back in 2 minutes and he hadn’t. He told me he spoke to Salmiya branch manager and he is probably trying to call me now and he is getting a busy tone. I told him no I have call waiting if he was trying to call me I would know. I told him I need to know when my pizza will get here because I need to leave. He was like if you have to leave I can’t do anything about it. So I was like then cancel my order, he was like fine. What the hell, what lame customer service is that.

Then a few minutes later I get a phone call from the Salmiya branch manager telling me my pizza will be late. I told him why didn’t you call me half an hour ago when the call center manager told me you would call me. He was like I had to call the driver. I was like you need 30 minutes to do that? I was like anyway I canceled my order. He was like ok and I closed the phone.

I would never order from them again. Why?
– They should have been apologetic instead of blaming it on traffic
– Its Thursday night and they know there is traffic so why tell me 45 minutes in the first place
– After my first call they should have called the driver and found out how long he needed
– After they told me they would call me back they should have called me back
– At the very least they should have offered me the pizza for free, its been over an hour and a half and the pizza is going to be cold anyway
– The two managers I spoke to were not friendly enough

A while back I posted about a good web space provider and today I decide d I would post about a good domain name provider. Although most hosts nowadays provide you with a free domain once you sign up, I for example have around 30 domains for a whole bunch of various sites of mine so I need a good domain provider where I could manage my domains and not pay an arm and a leg every time a domain renewal comes up.

For the longest time I had been using Directnic for my domain management and purchases. I started using them back in 2000 when they first launched. They were one of the first companies to offer domains for only $15 a year (before that domains cost a lot more). I never had any kind of problem with them but they also never really expanded their services. Six years later there are now many other sites that offer domains for much cheaper then $15 a year and with more features, so I decided to find another domain manager.

My first two options that came up were Joker.com and GoDaddy.com. For some reason I always had a negative impression about Joker plus they sell domains at 12$ a year while GoDaddy is $9 a year, so I went with GoDaddy. After transferring one domain name to them I realized GoDaddy really sucked. Their domain management interface was just awful and unintuitive. Not only that but whatever you wanted to do, buy a new domain name, transfer an old domain name, whatever you want to do they always seem to be trying to sell you stuff. I really hated how pushy they were.

I hated my experience with GoDaddy and I had only one domain there, I started looking for another domain provider and I found NameCheap. I have now been using NameCheap for a few months and I have transferred nearly all my domains there. The interface is fast, simple and practical to use. Their prices are also cheap, they sell domains for $8.88 and they have had this offer now for a couple of months where if you register or transfer a domain name they give you WhoisGuard for free. WhoisGuard keeps your domains anonymous which is pretty handy.

My experience with Directnic was great and I never had any bad experience with them. Customer service was always prompt and helpful but in the end of the day they weren’t offering me much for my money. The WhoisGuard option isn’t even available with them. GoDaddy was just a total diaster and I would never recommend them to anyone. NameCheap is now my new domain manager and I really like them a lot. I haven’t contacted customer service yet about any issues so I don’t know if that department is any good but everything else has just been working out flawlessly and the site is the quickest of the bunch to load. I would definitely recommend them.

I got this in my email today:

We’ve experienced some turbulence. Now you can fly comfortably for less. British Airways is offering dramatic price reductions on flights to the UK and North America. Book now and secure a great deal, on us! Travel in World Traveller to the UK from as little as KD 90* or to North America from KD155*. What’s more you can also get 15% off hotels and car hire at https://ba.com/middleeastoffers Book online now at https://ba.com/middleeastoffers to secure great deals before someone else does. Offer ends 23 February 2007. Alternatively contact British Airways Kuwait 802 777.

Yours sincerely
Shaun Davis
Executive Club Director Asia & the Pacific

*This offer is subject to change without prior notice. Prices quoted are after discount and exclude tax, surcharges and service fees. This offer is valid for travel between 3 February 2007 and 12 June 2007. All flights are via London Heathrow. Tickets purchased online must be paid for immediately. British Airways Holidays discount are only available online at ba.com. Further terms and conditions apply. For a list of destinations and terms and conditions log on to https://ba.com/middleeastoffers

Just saw the new license plates live, it looks kinda boring.

I was on the Gulf Road yesterday driving towards Salmiya when I saw a bright flash light go off around a 100 meters in front of me. The speed camera just before the gas station and Texas Chicken was installed again over the weekend…

The DailyStar newspaper, Kuwait edition is now online. [Link]