Category: Information

Ok, this is a strange turn of events. Flickr is now no longer blocked by Fasttelco!

I just called FT now to find out why Flickr was blocked. According to the technical support person I spoke to, “Flickr is blocked because it contains links to adult content”.

So for FT users you have to continue using the following IP to access the site: https://68.142.214.24/

Since I just got the Nano I figured I should post an update on my experience with U Shop We Ship so far. I first posted about them back in March and have been using them since. Right after my first package got delievered by USWS I stopped using Aramex because the difference is night and day.

I have received 9 packages so far all via USWS and all without any problems. Other USWS users who have been posting in the forum also have been experiencing the same great service. The online payment system makes life extremely easy, and their shipping is very fast. Currently for a limited time they are shipping packages to Kuwait the same day they arrive to your US mailbox at no extra charge. Thats the coolest thing and I hope it they keep it like that. Another cool thing is the minute your package arrives in the mailbox you get an SMS telling you the package has arrived int he mailbox and whats in the package. For example I got an SMS a few days ago telling me an iPod Nano has arrived to my mailbox. This is a lot more practical compared to Aramex who would just state that I received a package from Amazon. You also get another SMS once the package ships from the mailbox and they even include the tracking number. Finally, their phoneline has NEVER been busy so far (4724673) and the customer support girl is always very helpful and cheerful.

Anyway if you haven’t signed up yet now is a good time since they have the shipping everyday offer going. [Link]

They are opening a branch in Salmiya near the gas station on the Gulf Road near where ShowBiz used to be. This means they will finally start delivering in my area.

This article I am linking to talks about the art of one carry on and gives tips on how to travel light. Its in response to Marzouqs British Airways post on how they recently decreased their baggage weight limit from 32KG down to 23KG. Jazeera Airways travellers have already mastered the technique of light travel since Jazeera allows only 20KG of baggage weight. [Link]

I figured this is a good time to post this link since many people are travelling. Seat Guru is the ultimate source for airplane seating, in-flight amenities and airline information.

Say you are flying with KLM on their 747 jet and you reserved seat row 30A and want to know if you made the right decision. With Seat Guru you would know you didn’t since they have that seat marked as “Be aware”. On the other hand seat 35C is marked as a “Good seat”. Flying Lufthansa on their Airbus A340? Lucky you since you will have internet access plus if you are seated in either business or first class you get your own power port.

Very helpful info. [Link]

The blog is only a month old but already has some cool hacks including my favorite the audiophile cabinet. [Link]

I have seen a whole bunch of different devices but this one beats them all. Best of all its very affordable. [Link]

Just loaded up the Watani Online page and noticed a banner stating WOL now supports Firefox. Finally! [Link]

zMacShop just emailed me a list of prices of some of their products.
Here they are:

iPod Video 60GB – KD130 KD138
iPod Video 30GB – KD115
iPod Nano 4GB – KD85
iPod Nano 2GB – KD75
iPod Nano 1GB – KD55

MacBook Pro 17inch – KD975
MacBook Pro 15inch (2.16Ghz) – KD890
MacBook White (2Ghz) – KD490

Holla posted this link in the forum and I am going to try it today. I have a huge blindspot with the Wrangler on the left side so hopefully with this new “revelation” no more blindspot. [Link]

My MacBooks temperature usually hovers around 53 degrees to 67 degrees Celsius which really isn’t that bad. Nats PowerBook used to get way hotter. I don’t know what all the fuss is about…

I don’t usually have postive things to say about Mac & More but today I passed by them and turned out they had 2 Black MacBooks. They were already sold to clients and they were busy installing software on them but atleast Nat was able to see in person how the black MacBook looked like. She told her PowerBook and was considering either the 2ghz white MacBook, the 2ghz black Macbook or the 1.8ghz MacBook Pro. The prices between the three were very close, $1300, $1500 and $1800.

Well the blackbook turned out to be pretty boring. It just looks like an ordinary computer which wasn’t very exciting. This instantly took the black book out of the picture and Nats options were either the 2ghz $1300 white MacBook or the $1800 1.8ghz MacBook Pro. $500 difference for a larger screen… not worth it. So I just placed an order for the white book.

Something funny happened while at the Mac store. One employee saw me taking a picture of the black book and he asked me if I had a problem. I thought that was weird cuz the correct question would have been why are you taking a picture? Anyway I replied back asking him if he had a problem. He was like no he was wondering if I had a problem because I was taking pictures. I asked him why is that a problem? He was like no. I was like o..k.. weird.

The cheapest Big Mac is in China, where it costs $1.30, compared with $4.93 in Switzerland which is the most expensive. Kuwait is not on the chart but a Big Mac here costs $2.76. [Link]

The past week I have been driving to work using the Gulf Road. On my way I kept spotting this group of American looking people on the side of the road (on the side going towards Salmiya) with their GMC’s parked up on the side walk and a little shade setup. I thought maybe they were shooting a TV commercial but then I noticed that everyday they would move a bit. First time I saw them they were in front of Burj al Hamam restaurant, then I saw them near Fridays and just now on my way back from the beach I saw them near Marina Mall. So, I decided to u-turn and stop and ask them what they were doing.

I park the car and open my window and a guy comes towards me, I ask him if he minds telling me what they are doing since I keep seeing them in a different spot every day. The guy replies back to me with an Australian accent that they are installing fiber optic cables. I thank him and drive off.

So mystery solved, now if you see the SUVs parked on the side of the road you know why they are there.

update: a reader mentioned the following article related to fiber optics in Kuwait. Looks like we might be getting some good stuff. [Link]