Twenty years ago, I, along with my oldest friend (@nibaq) and my sister (@rampurple), decided to launch a blog together called qhate.com. To give you an idea of how long ago that was, none of the social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter existed back then. Gmail wasn’t even born yet; some of you reading this weren’t born yet either.
After launching Qhate, the blog quickly turned into a war blog covering life in Kuwait during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The blog gave the world a glimpse into our lives during those uncertain and sometimes scary times. If you want to check it out, the blog is still up; it’s a time capsule.
When the war ended, we decided to stop that blog and start different solo projects; mine eventually became 248AM.
I’m incredibly thankful for all the benefits the blog has gotten me over the years, including the relationships I have formed, the memorable experiences I’ve had, and the financial benefits it has provided. (Insert all the cheesy hashtags here)
So thank you for all your support.
Note: It’s so weird that I published this post on Instagram first. When I initially started Instagram it was meant to support the blog but now the blog feels like it’s the Instagram accounts backup.
41 replies on “20 Years of Blogging”
Congratulations Mark! I find this blog better than social media ngl
I fondly remember qhate. It was quite the sensation with western media back in gulf war 2. Does Rita have her own blog now?
yeah the media loved it back then and we were featured in all the big ones like NY Times, USA Today, CNN, etc..
Nope she doesn’t blog just tweets and instagrams
Congrats! Surprisingly, tomorrow is Facebook launch date is tomorrow February 4, 2004!
Congrats! Is there a significance behind 2:48 am?
None at all, it was just a domain I had left over from a university project that I decided to use as a blog name
Lol nice
Happy 20 years mark, hoping to see another 20 years of blogging.
Question, when is Kuwestions going to come back?
Soon, turns out the database I have was outdated and not the most current so just waiting for my host to send over the latest database. Site is all ready just need to upload the db when I get it
Congratulations Mark! you’ve been outstanding, keep it up.
Way to go mark.
Thank you.
Thank you for continuing to be the one-stop-shop on everything Kuwait!
Great work Mark I’ve been reading since ~2007. Continue to read for nostalgia sake even since I left Kuwait.
Always wondered why this blog is called 248am?
Been following this blog all through school, university, multiple relationships etc.
Heck I don’t live in Kuwait any longer, but still continue to visit this page.
20 years of listening to your whining UGH
Censoring you since 2003
That is very very true. You were pre Musk Twitter
congratulations Mark, happy 20th.
We (my family) love you Mark. You are part and parcel of our daily chores. Daily visit to your website is must.
i remember your blogs 20 years back when i was in school in kuwait , still following your blog daily. one of the best blogs which covers update on everything happening around kuwait.
I always appreciated the idea of having a good old blog where writing thrives. It sucks in a way that social media has and continues to take over. I personally will always enjoy a good blog. Keep it up!
Oh my god !! time goes by so fast man, I wish you and everyone you love happiness . keep it up 👌
Thank you Mark, I Truly appreciate your non-biased style of writing, the reviews, the kuwestions, the classifieds, each section so well administrated, the amount of useful info in here should lead as an example to many of the local news press.
Once again thank you and may this log.
CONGRATULATIONS! THIS NEEDS TO BE CELEBRATED!
Thank you everyone, on instagram I would have hearted all your comments individually but I don’t have that option here.
I realize that the blog’s ad revenue is not your primary income, but nonetheless are you not cannibalizing site visits by cross posting on instagram?
I don’t have any data to verify that really but I’m assuming yes.
Although I started reading the blog ’08 onward, when I went to Uni in and missed Kuwait. Now it has become a ritual to open a tab as soon as I start work day and open 248am.
Thanks for these years of getting us through govt. procedures, deals, product review and all other good stuff man. Wishing you another 20 years ahead. Cheers!
Congratulations on reaching this milestone Mark. Your blog has been part of my daily routine for over 20 years. I can’t tell you how ignorant I would be about the happenings in Kuwait if not for your information and coverage.
Thank you.
20 years, oh god…you remember we use to have that bloggers meet-up in Pizza Hut Salmiya (if I remember the location correctly) Crazy!!!
Starbucks! I wonder if I have a post somewhere let me check, ok here we go https://248am.com/mark/kuwait/the-meetup/
I was hooked on this blog from very early on. From the time Bazaar magazine said bloggers are not a threat.
lol what? When did they say that?
Yes my comment is confusing. It was back in 2005. I was an avid reader of Bazaar magazine. I stumbled upon your blog during that time because of something they had written and you posted about – I thought to myself, I like this blog after reading that post. I been reading ever since.
https://248am.com/mark/kuwait/bazaar-magazine-knows-shit/
Hahahaha I totally forgot about that!
Oh and there’s a follow up
https://248am.com/mark/kuwait/editor-of-bazaar/
This is super awkward cuz I know him now lol
Does Arab Times still publish your posts? 😂
This is coming from a follower who started checking your posts on a daily basis since 2006, the year when I moved to Kuwait. Kudos to the quality of content and to the cultural value of your posts that have never decreased since inception.
I’m a long time reader of your blog. Please keep up the good work. We really appreciate the quality and consistency.
Also, please dont let Instagram detract from this. Many of us don’t do social media and prefer the good old blog and browser.
i’m trying but its so hard
Ten years since I left Kuwait, but I’m still connected and reading mark248am1.wpenginepowered.com brings back nostalgic memories. My son introduced me to this very interesting site and I must say I’m addicted, we miss Kuwait, specially the excellent food outlets