Category: Kuwait

There’s got to be a safer way of doing this. [YouTube]

Spotted this place on the Gulf Road opposite KFC near Safir Hotel. The reason I think Fuddruckers is opening up there because the color scheme is similar to the new Fuddruckers that’s opening soon in Lebanon (check picture below). If it is the new Fuddruckers it looks pretty big.

Note: The building to the right of what I think is the new Fudds is going to be a new Lebanese Restaurant. Below is a picture of how it currently looks like.

This has to be one of the strangest parking lot accidents I have seen. BlogLaish has more pictures you can check them out over [Here]

Yes another frozen yogurt place is opening up. I spotted the above hoarding in Phase II of Avenues. It’s a good location since other than two Pinkberry’s, Napket and IKEA they really don’t have much competition there.

Earlier today I tweeted that one of my sources told me that they were canceling the download caps and it looks like it’s true. Taken from the KUNA website:

In a move that would please all internet users in Kuwait, Minister Information and Minister of Communications Salem Al-Uthayna announced Thursday that his ministry issued new regulations obliging internet providers to cut the cost of internet subscription and remove the download limits on users.

The Minister said that the ministry officials have held intensive meetings with internet providers to review the cost and quality of the services provided to internet users in Kuwait. “The internet has become a cornerstone in development, economy and everyday life in Kuwait,” Al-Uthayna said.

Following this meeting, the ministry obliged internet providers to upgrade the quality of their services and to cut prices as of next month. The minister vowed to start new stage of close monitoring and accountability for internet providers to make sure to protect the rights of subscribers. [source]

Finally some great news although I do hope that means everyone in Kuwait will get fiber optics or else I’m still stuck with my phone lines max speed which is just 2Mbps…

I can’t believe I forgot to post about this ahead of time but the Worldwide Finals of Imagine Cup 2011 were held yesterday in New York and a team from Kuwait where there competing in the software category. They came up with this idea which they wanted to present to the Ministry of Interior in hopes of having it implemented so we could get a lot of day to day problems solved. I previously posted about them and their idea [Here] if you want to read more on it.

I was just checking the results page and it doesn’t seem they won. Even though I think they must have gained a lot of experience competing at an international level and I’m sure they’re going to be coming back with even more motivation. I really hope the Ministry of Information will still help them bring their idea to life, since it’s an idea that will help make Kuwait a better place. Here is a page from the Imagine Cup 2011 yearbook which has details about the Kuwait team, their project and their intentions. [Yearbook Page]

Picture by @ahamshay

There is a pretty strange/interesting post on Gizmodo by one of their senior reporters about when he lived in Kuwait for a short period right after the 1990 invasion. It’s strange because it’s so random and interesting because it’s a story about his yellow Sony Walkman and his tapes. I always wanted a yellow Walkman but never got one and sadly it’s too late to get one now. I wonder why Sony hasn’t released a yellow waterproof mp3 player yet. Anyway check out his post [Here]

Just spotted a bunch of really old ads on Bloglaish which I hadn’t seen before. I didn’t even know Tikka had a logo before the “I Like it Spicy” guy. [Link]

Chocolate and Chocolate posted about a new pizza place that’s opening up called The Upper Crust Pizzeria. It’s a Boston based franchise from what I’ve read so maybe someone who’s studied in Boston could tell us if it’s any good. They don’t say where they’re opening but based on the picture they’ve posted (check above) it looks like the Bidaa area. It’s opening up in Abu al Hasaniya’s “The Village”.

The other pizza place that’s opening up is the Lebanese chain Margherita which is opening up in Arabella.

Looks like pizza’s are the next big thing.

Update: A third pizza place is opening called Homeslice in Shaab.

Someone get me some popcorn:

Member of Parliament (MP) Dr. Daifallah BuRamiah expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the Ministry of Communication, adding that giving the internet companies the chance to manipulate prices is unaffordable. BuRamiah said, “The ministry has become a playground for some influential traders and those who rob public funds.” He added claiming that the ministry turned a blind eye to the improper practices of some companies in order to gain political loyalty at the expense of public funds.

MP BuRamiah said that the ministry’s insistence on keeping internet services monopolized by a small number of companies indicates that the ministry is supporting some companies against the subscribers in order to satisfy some greedy traders and influential people. BuRamiah noted that he would direct parliamentary questions to the Minister of Communication to inquire about the number of internet companies, their owners, the fees, and also about the reasons behind not allowing foreign companies to enter the local market. He also warned the minister of neglecting his questions, which will in turn reveal the facts about those who rob public funds.

[Source]

I’m a huge Entertainment City fan although a lot of people think it’s pretty crap. It’s not. It just need’s a bit of TLC which for some odd reason it’s not getting. Anyway this Ramadan they’re reducing the ticket price from KD3.5 per person down to just KD1. This mean’s spending a day at Entertainment City will be cheaper than visiting the Kuwait Towers. [Source]

Photo by Ahmed Al Bather
Thanks Burhan

Looks like the ISP’s vs MOC situation is going to get a bit more interesting in the coming few days.

MP Al-Barrak announced that he will reveal soon a contract between an individual and a company that proves the current violations committed by internet service providers that aim to erode freedom of internet access. The MP stressed that the formation of a governmental committee to probe this issue was rather an attempt to hide it.

[Source]

Spotted by a friend at Kaifan Coop.

[YouTube]

Ansam passed me this link to local artist Mohammed Alturki who uploaded a video showing how to create a Moleskine cover art. I noticed he had other interesting tutorials in his YouTube channel which you can watch [Here]

Just found out about this by mistake and thought it was worth sharing. I’m kinda surprised I hadn’t heard of this before.

Pavilion of Kuwait
With its exhibition hall buried approximately 20 feet under a marble dome, the pavilion was designed as a sculpture with flexible wooden arms that open and close to resemble a palm leaf. Through this design, the people of Kuwait expressed their history and life as follows: When the arms are closed like a seashell, it represents the protection of the Kuwaiti people. When the arms are halfway open it resembles a tent, which is a house for the Bedouin people to protect them from the desert storms. When the arms are fully opened, as shown in the photograph, it acts as a ship’s sail which explains Kuwaiti’s lives as traders and explorers of the sea before their blessing with oil. The building is made of poured concrete steel reinforced wooden arms which also provided shade during Seville’s hot summer days.

Inside the pavilion you could see a six minute video of the Kuwaiti people before the Gulf War, art, scale models of ships used for fishing and trading before the discovery of oil, and scenes of their Bedouin life. [source]

This architecture structure was built as part of the 1992 Universal Exposition in Seville, Spain. You can check out some pictures of it [Here]

Corbis has some pictures as well which you can view [Here]