2:48AM - Entertaining Kuwait since 2003

Back in 2018 I picked up a 12.9″ iPad Pro and I’ve been using it daily ever since. It’s my watch YouTube while in bed display and when I travel it’s my watch my shows and movies on the plane display. I also use it for my Apple News+ magazine subscriptions, and I think that’s about it.

A couple of days ago I made an impulse buy, I ended up buying the new M4 iPad Pro 13″. I wasn’t planning to, my wife didn’t want her 12.9″ iPad Pro and instead wanted to take my iPad Mini, so I figured I could sell both her iPad Pro and mine and get a new one instead. It was just a thought and I started price browsing when I spotted the 11″ iPad Pro on WiBi for KD275 and it was a lot cheaper than I was expecting it to cost. I then checked the price of the 13 Pro and it was KD335 so I was like I’m just going to get it now and then sell my other 2 iPads later.

Now I’m kinda regretting it. There really isn’t anything different between the two based on my very basic requirements. I thought maybe the screen would be a huge difference since the new iPad Pro’s have OLED displays but unless I have the two iPad’s side by side I barely could notice the difference. Then I figured the new iPad would be much lighter, but again unless you’ve got two in each hand, you’re not going to notice.

One thing I do notice, but also requires my other iPad next to me is the thickness. Holding the iPad without the case does feel substantially nicer on the new iPad because it’s thinner and slightly lighter. So one benefit but I don’t use my iPad enough in that position for it to make any difference for me.

A second positive with the new iPad is the Smart Folio case, the regular thin Apple case that covers the back and front. The case now allows you to adjust the viewing angle to one that works best for you while the previous case on my older iPad just had one position.

So basically what I want to say is if you already have an older iPad Pro, the newest one isn’t that different. In my case it’s not different at all since I just watch YouTube on it 99% of the time. So I definitely regret buying it.

If you’re interested in picking up a used iPad Pro 12.9″, check the classifieds section in the next couple of days since I’ll be listing both there.

I’ve known about this event for weeks but couldn’t share details until now. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve wanted to go to a monster truck show, and it’s finally going to happen!

The Hot Wheels Monster Trucks show is coming to Kuwait next month to perform 4 shows over 4 days from October 23 to 26. The event will be taking place at the Basel Salem Alsabah Club and is it brought to you by Blast Off Events and Live Nation.

Tickets will start at 15KD and will be available later today on Eventat.com and LiveNation.me

If you want a preview, check out @hotwheelsmonstertruckslive

Update: I replaced the main photo with the official poster now that it’s launched.

The third season of Winter Wonderland is around the corner, and this year brings a few changes.

Last year, Winter Wonderland opened its doors in October, but this year the opening is being pushed back to November when the weather is expected to be more agreeable.

The 2024/2025 season will be shorter, as the park is scheduled to close at the end of February, just before Ramadan begins.

Last year, one of the main complaints was the late weekend opening hours (3:30 PM). This year, I’ve been told the park will open earlier, though no specific time has been shared.

There will also be a few new rides this year.

Many will be delighted to know that ticket prices are being reduced.

Finally, a new addition this year is the TEC loyalty program (above). TEC quietly launched this feature in their app, allowing you to collect points with every purchase at any TEC project. These points can then be redeemed for tickets or game credits at the park.

To stay posted on Winter Wonderland, you can follow their account @wwlkuwait or @tecq8

If you want to see the construction progress of the park, the vlogger @mohamedalwazzan lives across the street and tends to post videos anytime major work is taking place.

I never got the chance to see Michael Jackson live, but this might be the next best thing. Michael Lives Forever is a mega tribute concert, with faithful reproductions of his iconic costumes and choreography. This isn’t just a random tribute show, this is the longest-running and most successful Michael Jackson tribute show in the world. Like properly legit.

After watching a couple of videos of the show, it looks like from where I’ll be sitting, I wouldn’t be able to tell it wasn’t the real Michael Jackson performing. The show was actually conceived, choreographed, and brought to life by Lavelle Smith Jr., the renowned choreographer who worked directly with Michael Jackson for over 25 years. The show has toured around the world and has been seen by over a millions fans to date.

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Blast Off Events are the ones bringing Michael Lives Forever to Kuwait and the show is taking place on October 25 at the JACC National Theater. Tickets start from just 5KD and are available on jacc-kw.com. For more information head over to @blastoff.events

Sahel in English just launched an hour ago. To activate the English language you need to first update the software to the latest version. Then once you are in the app click on the menu icon in the top corner, and then the 3rd menu option with the circular icon and select English.

First impression, it seems buggy? For example, I went to the “Vehicle registration renewal” section under services, and when I click the list to see my cars, I can’t see any of them, I just get a blank white page.

On the main profile page, if I click on Ministry of Interior and then on Driving License, the “kind” of license is listed in Arabic and when I click on it, I don’t see the expiry date but it shows in the Arabic version.

Let me know if you find any other bugs.

Qudra is a Kuwait-based freelance marketplace that links freelancers with clients. Their platform is designed to easily connect talent in Kuwait and the MENA region with clients in need of various services, such as graphic design, digital marketing, interior design and more. The app offers tools like secure payments, direct communication, and comprehensive freelancer profiles, making it easier for clients to find the right match for their projects.

For freelancers, Qudra offers you a space to showcase your skills to a relevant audience. I’ve also heard too many stories of freelancers completing work only to have clients take it without paying. With Qudra, your payment is secured before you start, and once the project is completed, the funds get released to you.

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Qudra offers numerous benefits to clients seeking freelance services. It simplifies the hiring process by providing you access to a diverse pool of local talent with a wide range of skills. Alternatively, you can post a job listing with a specific budget and have freelancers reach out to you.

Whether you’re looking to hire or showcase your skills, Qudra makes the process seamless and efficient, revolutionizing the growth of Kuwait’s freelance economy.

To find out more or to download the app, head over to Qudra.app

The first episode of The Penguin is out and it’s great, I’m hooked. Also the latest episode of Industry was amazing, the season just keeps on getting better and I don’t want it to end. I also realized I stopped season 2 of Lord of the Rings mid way through episode 2 and haven’t gone back to it yet. It was such a slow episode along with a slow episode 1 that I don’t think I have the patience for it.

Last night I started watching the second season of Monsters on Netflix, The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. Only watched the first episode but I really like it. I remember the story when it was happening in real life back in the early 90s since I was in Canada and it was on the news and papers often back then. The first episode had a Milli Vanilli soundtrack which I loved since I was a huge fan back in the 90s.

Let me know in the comments what you recently watched or planning to watch.

Movies at the Cinemas
The movies below are now showing at the local cinemas:

New This Week:
Bagman (6.0)
Never Let Go (5.7)
The Wild Robot (8.2)

Other Movies Showing:
Bad Genius (7.4)
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (7.3)
Classified (3.6)
Despicable Me 4 (6.4)
Inside Out 2 (7.9)
It Ends with Us (7.2)
Ozi: Voice of the Forest (4.4)
Reagan (6.5)
Speak No Evil (6.6)
Transformers One (7.8)
Trap (7.2)
Weekend in Taipei (5.9)

The numbers in brackets refer to the IMDB rating at the time of publishing.

The official Sahel account just announced that the English version of the app is launching soon. They didn’t share a date, just that it’s coming soon.

According to a source involved in the project, the app had English built into the software a couple of years ago, but the launch was delayed because several entities within Sahel had not finished adapting to English and the related data. This caused the rollout of the English version to take longer than expected.

To stay posted on the launch, follow @sahelkw

Pinkfong and Baby Shark are coming to Kuwait for a one of a kind concert experience.

The Baby Shark live shows offer a unique musical experience and are ideal for fans of all ages. Pinkfong have performed in over 200 countries and engaged over 1.5 millions around the world. Children can sing along to the songs and meet the characters.

The show, organized by Blue Panda Production, will take place from October 3 to 5 at the Gulf Cooperation Council Joint Program Production Institution Theater in Salmiya (Google Maps).

Here’s some exclusive information: you can book a meet-and-greet with the band after every show, directly at the venue.

So join Pinkfong and Baby Shark as they take you on a musical adventure. Tickets start at 10KD and are available on Eventat. For more information, check @bluepandaproduction

I recently found out the price of Ozempic in the US and it’s over 8x more expensive than Kuwait which is crazy. So I decided to check the prices around the world and Kuwait seems to be pretty good when compared to places like the US or the UAE. Oddly, I think Kuwait is the only country where you don’t need a prescription for it.

Here is a list comparing the price of Ozempic in Kuwait vs other countries:

Australia: KD 26
Bahrain: KD 33
Canada: KD 45
Denmark: KD 37
Egypt: KD 76
France: KD 25
Germany: KD 32
Japan: KD 52
Kuwait: KD 35
Netherlands: KD 32
Qatar: KD 67
Saudi Arabia: KD 31
Sweden: KD 30
Switzerland: KD 44
UAE: KD 95
UK: KD 28
USA: KD 295 (yup, not a typo)

Auto World Show is a car show that’s more than just a car show. Last year was their first year and they had a bunch of different things happening during the week including talks, sim and RC racing, stunt shows, a 4×4 proving ground and more. This year they’re back again for the second year running and the show starts from today and will last till September 28th.

All the major car brands will be there including the major European ones as well as most of the Chinese brands. I went to it last year and I didn’t find it interesting at all since there wasn’t any car I hadn’t seen before, but I’ll be going to it again this year just for fun.

The show is being held at the Mishref Fair Grounds and is from 10AM to 10PM. For more info, here is a link to their website.

Beak is a local fried chicken concept that launched in 2017, and one of the things they pride themselves with is the fact that their chicken is locally sourced, organically fed and never frozen.

Before opening, the partners made a decision to prioritize quality which is why they chose to source fresh chicken rather than using frozen ones. Essentially, as a customer, you’re getting chicken straight from the farm directly to your table, always fresh and never frozen.

Another thing that makes Beak special is their love for limited-time-only items. They’re constantly innovating and releasing new items, with the Mini Fillet being their current LTO sandwich.

Beak currently have two locations, a dine-in location in Al-Masayel, as well as a pick-up location in Hawally. They’re also available on all the popular delivery platforms including Talabat, Deliveroo, Cari and Jahez. So if you’re craving some fried chicken, check them out @beak.kw

Yesterday the Ministry of Interior announced they’ll be installing new intelligent AI-powered traffic cameras. The new cameras are meant to automatically detect seat belt violations, and drivers using their phones while driving. This isn’t the first time the MOI announced automated monitoring. Back in January 2023, the MOI announced they were installing new smart cameras that could detect both those violations, but that never materialized for some reason.

Although not much information was shared yesterday regarding the new cameras, based on some research I did there are a couple of companies that provide these traffic cameras, including Acusensus and VITRONIC. VITRONIC recently installed AI cameras in the UAE and have a Middle East office so it’s very probable those are the ones we are getting.

No matter which brand we are getting, they all work similarly:

• The traffic cameras capture high-resolution images of approaching vehicles.

• Artificial intelligence (AI) software filters the images to detect possible mobile phone use, or failure to wear a seatbelt by the driver and front seat passenger.

• If AI does not see a potential violation, it will reject the image.

• If AI detects a driver who may be using a phone or not wearing their seatbelt, it flags the image for further review.

• Images which are flagged for potential violations are then checked and verified by an officer.

So AI won’t be issuing tickets automatically, violations will still be double checked by a real person which is good news. These new AI cameras are also really effective. In Australia they trialed a similar AI traffic camera and in the first month alone, 1,500 drivers and 225 passengers were caught not wearing seatbelts, and almost 1,200 drivers were caught using their mobile phones.

Not sure how bad seatbelt violations are, but I’m really hoping this will stop people using their phones while driving since they’re the most annoying drivers.

I’m a huge fan of the way the Cybertruck looks. There is at least one in Kuwait since I’ve seen it park next to my office but there’s now another one and it’s for sale.

The local car dealer AlSarraf Motors has a Cybertruck in stock with 0 mileage available and it’s priced at KD62,000. In comparison, back in July a Cybertruck with just 500miles sold for around KD36,600 on bringatrailer.com. Add around 600KD for shipping plus 5% for customs and it would obviously be cheaper to get one directly from the states. But, if money is no object and you want a Cybertruck right now, this is your only option.

I spent most of this week rewatching old Denzel Washington films. I don’t think I have a #1 favorite actor, but if I did he’d most likely be in one of the top 3 spots. I managed to watch, Man on Fire, American Gangster, Flight, and both The Equalizer 2 and 3. All really great films.

The new series The Penguin comes out tomorrow on MAX and I’m REALLY looking forward to it.

Let me know in the comments what you recently watched or planning to watch.

Movies at the Cinemas
The movies below are now showing at the local cinemas:

New This Week:
Bad Genius (7.4)
Classified (N/A)
Diamonds Are Forever (classic) (6.5)
Reagan (6.5)
Transformers One (7.8)
Weekend in Taipei (N/A)

Other Movies Showing:
AfrAId (6.3)
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (7.3)
Blink Twice (6.9)
Despicable Me 4 (6.4)
Harold and the Purple Crayon (5.7)
Hounds of War (6.1)
Inside Out 2 (7.9)
It Ends with Us (7.2)
Lee (6.5)
Ozi: Voice of the Forest (4.4)
Speak No Evil (6.6)
Subservience (4.6)
The Cleanup Crew (4.3)
Trap (7.2)
Unit 234 (6.9)
Wake Up (6.0)

The numbers in brackets refer to the IMDB rating at the time of publishing.