2:48AM - Entertaining Kuwait since 2003

Tonight I passed by a shop called Pro-Hobbies in Dajeej. I needed some paint for my Tamiya crawler and the Tamiya dealer had run out so they recommended I pass by Pro-Hobbies instead. It was my first time there and the place turned out to be really cool. While Tamiya specializes in on and off road electric cars and buggies, Pro-Hobbies specializes in helicopters and nitro powered race buggies.

While there I also got to check out the KHR-1 Robot. I had seen this robot before on YouTube playing football so it was very exciting to see the robot live. They aren’t selling them yet, they just got one to try it out and see if there is a market for it. The robot costs around KD400 which isn’t cheap but the way it moves is just incredible. It’s fully programmable and is driven by 19 servos (motors) which explains the hefty price tag considering a single servo usually costs around KD12. I took a video of the robot which you can see below. It was running out of batteries and the floor was slippery but you can still see how cool it is.

[YouTube]

If you want to pass by the store they’re located in the mall behind Showtime in Dajeej. Here is a link to the [Map]. They have a website but it’s still under construction. [Link]

I was at a place in Dajeej today and noticed the buttons outside the lift pointed left and right instead of the usual up or down. At first I thought it was just on that floor but it was the same on every floor. Reminded me of the picture below which I took outside the Kuwait airport a few years ago.

This Halloween I am going to dress up as Donald Draper. [YouTube]

Early in the year I decided I was going to start buying all my iPhone apps instead of illegally downloading them. Problem I faced was the fact that I couldn’t download some of my favorite apps because they were only for the US based users. The apps I couldn’t download were the Amazon and eBay ones and both of which don’t cost a thing, they’re free. But, since my credit card is Kuwaiti based I have to purchase all my applications from the Kuwaiti iTunes store which didn’t have those two apps. Recently CNN released an iPhone application and again it was only available to US based customers so I looked for a way to download these apps and I found one.

To download applications from the US based iTunes store all you need to do is get a US based iTunes gift voucher. I found a website online where you could buy a $15 cards for $18 and have the code emailed to you. The website uses PayPal so its safe and unlike some other websites this one sells legit cards so you know your account won’t get shut down by Apple later. Here is the [Link]

Once you get a US iTunes card just go to the US iTunes store and click on Redeem Code. Then create a new account and under the credit card option choose “none”. And that’s it, you can now download US only iPhone apps. As a bonus you can also download songs and movies as well.

Update: If you just want to download some free US only applications like the ebay and amazon apps, a reader just posted that you don’t even need to buy a voucher for that. Just go to the US app store and click on a free app, then create a new account like above with a US mailing address and for credit card choose none.

Just a recap for those of you who don’t know my “Healthier Lifestyle” series of posts. I used to have junk food every single day but then I found out I had acid reflux as a result. I then decided to permanently stop having fried or junk food and since then I’ve dropped around 5KG in weight and most importantly, I feel and am healthier. I don’t miss fried or junk food and have actually found great alternatives instead and this is why I decided to create these healthier lifestyle series of posts so I could share these alternatives with everyone.

In this post I will be talking about Napket which is located on the first floor of Avenues Phase II. They’ve got a pasta and salad station plus a ready made sandwiches section. I haven’t tried their salads or pastas just their sandwiches and my favorite is called “The NY Thing”. The sandwich contains bacon, chicken, turkey, eggs, tomato and lettuce. Since it’s ready made its perfect to have during my lunch break because it doesn’t take time to prepare. The bread used for the sandwich is really delicious. I don’t know what it is exactly but it’s got a slightly sweet flavor to it.

The sandwich isn’t cheap though, at KD3.750 its on the expensive side but the service is great and the location and restaurant atmosphere is amazing so it kinda makes up for it. The sandwich is also filling so you don’t need a side order with it. I highly recommend it.

Other options:
Nando’s
Macaroni Grill
Salad Creations

Found this sign today. Glad the hungging issue is being addressed.

In March 2009 a small town in Iceland was filled with speakers. The Seydisfjordur village was turned into an extraordinary sound-system for a week. Sounds by Richard Fearless ( Death in Vegas ) Mum, Bob Dylan, Toumani Diabate, Roberto Goyeneche, Murcof, Federico Cabral, Guillemots, etc.

Good idea but no Radiohead or Nine Inch Nails? [YouTube]

This has to be the coolest optical trick ever. After trying it out everything around me was wobbly and bendy. Very trippy.

Visit the link and try it out. [Link]

The creator of Grendizer will be holding a lecture this month here in Kuwait. I found the following on the blog electronish:

Go Nagai, is a Japanese manga artist and a prolific author of science fiction, fantasy and horror. He made his professional debut in 1967 with Meakashi Polikichi, but is best known for creating the seminal works UFO Grendizer, Cutie Honey and Mazinger Z in the 1970’s.”

Mr. Go Nagai will visit the middle east in October, he will be visiting Jordan, Kuwait and Egypt!! I’m glad to be nominated to be one of the coordination team members for this event. The event will be held on two days the 10th and the 11th of Oct. ‘09. The 10th will be exclusive for VIP “LIMITED SEATS”, to have the opportunity in attending the VIP event you should register with Mr. Wael Abdulsamad ‘cos you need to pass a certain contest/draw managed by him under the supervision of the Embassy of Japan. For the second day, 11th of Oct., the event will be for PUBLIC, everyone can attend. So you don’t have to contact Mr. Wael Abdulsamad for a registration to attend the second event. However, the attendance will be taken in a FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED basis, the capacity of the hall will be approximately 330-350. Anyhow, more details will be announced during Aug. and Sep., so if you’re really concerned just contact The Embassy of Japan in Kuwait or email Mr. Wael Abdulsamad ([email protected]) for further information.

Special thanks to the Embassy of Japan in Kuwait for hosting this event and for the opportunity in meeting Mr. Go Nagai in JAPAN KUWAIT!

36 skaters create a real life video game. [YouTube]

There was an ad in the paper for this new electronics shop that was opening today in Hawalli called Best. According to the ad the store was going to sell Lenova netbooks for KD50, iPod Nano’s for KD20, an 8MP digital camera for KD10 and microwaves for just KD1. The result? An enormous mob gathered around the store waiting for it to open. But, probably due to the fact there was no way on earth they would be able to control the crowd, the store never opened. Check out the pictures and get more info [Here]

Update: Here is a video taken by M.Bahraini. That’s A LOT of people! [YouTube]

I spotted this goatse outside a money exchange shop at the Avenues. If you don’t know what goatse is then you are lucky.

Update: A safe for work goatse album on flickr [Link]

Q8Sultana posted about a Mirror House located in Qadsiya a few years back and now the owner has a website up with a ton of pictures and information on the house.

The house belongs to Lidia Qattan, an Italian lady who got married to a Kuwaiti (Pioneer artist/painter, Khalifa Al-Qattan), and has been living in Kuwait for decades. She has decorated her entire house, inside and outside, with pieces of mirrors. – Q8Sultana

Lidia’s website has pictures of every room and every angle of the house from the outside and inside. You can tell she put a lot of effort into fulfilling her dream of a “Mirror House” and it’s really one of a kind. Check out her website for more pictures and details. [Link]

I previously posted the first episode of The Chef’s Table but it seems since then two more episodes have come out. The one above is episode 3 and it looks like it was shot at eight6 Bistro in the Avenues. I guess the restaurant has opened already although I didn’t notice it this past weekend. [YouTube]

Note: The chef in the video is Ahmed Al Bader, the owner of Burger Hub and Prime & Toast.

Update: Don’t know how I missed this but the YouTube video description says eight6 Bistro is opening on Thursday, October 1st in Phase Two of Avenues.

This is a pretty cool video thats currently making the rounds on the internet. Shot in one take by students at a university in Montreal, Canada. [YouTube]