2:48AM - Entertaining Kuwait since 2003

I just found this incredible book about Kuwait dating back to 1975. It has a ton of great pictures which I will scan every now and then and post over here. The caption under the picture above reads:

Kuwait also enjoys some of the more sophisticated pleasures of the West, and even the Far West. Here, for example, is a drive-in cinema in the open air not far from the city. In order to enable you to watch a film in comfort without moving from your seat, two large “pumps” introduce into your car the sound track of the film being shown and the air-conditioning which is essential at the height of the summer. All you have to do is to watch.

It sucks that no one has invented the time machine yet!

A blog reader that goes by the nickname Komsomol posted the following observation in the forum:

I find it hilarious that there is catch phrase words used by Kuwait newspapers and journalists. The result is usually hilarious hyperbolic headlines.

Any criticism for example is always “slammed”:
MP slams government
Kuwait slams Israel’s inhuman practices
MP Dr Ali Al-Hajri slammed the government’s silence towards the statements made by the Minister of Commerce and Industry Ahmed Baqer
Al-Harbi slams commerce minister
Iranian paper slams MoI’s Farsi language channel plan
Clerics slam German magazine
MP slams govt’s incapability
Officials slammed for frequently traveling on ministry’s expense
MP slams govt over disorganized food distribution for Kuwaitis
MP slams education minister
MP Al-Mulaifi slams premier
MP slams Al-Sabeeh

Anything great is always either “hailed”, “praised” or deemed a ‘success’:
Al-Sabeeh meeting hailed
Kuwait reform process hailed
Eight-digit phone system ‘success‘
WHO praises Kuwait for its efforts to combat smoking
Kuwait praises women’s role

In the cabinet and parliament they only ‘grill’:
Al-Sabeeh may resign if grilled in parliament
Al-Sabeeh grilling proposal
Move to grill premier
Call for grilling
Al-Hajji among ministers expected to be grilled

Any Country ties are always “deep tied” or “deeply rooted”:
Kuwait-Yemen ties ‘deeply rooted,’ says ambassador
Kuwait, Turkey affirm deep ties
Kuwait, Bahrain affirm deep-rooted relations

I think the grilling ones sound hilarious! [Link]

A reader called Camil sent me the pictures below of the new Mercedes F700 in Dubai. The car looks extremely ugly but I have yet to see an environmentally friendly car that didn’t, actually the Tesla is pretty cool but thats like the only one that is. Click continue to check out more pictures or download the hires shots compressed into one zip file from [Here]

I love the new look, always preferred Pepsi over Coke and now I have one more reason why. The video below is what Pepsi sent out to 25 influential people but if you want to simple take a look at the new logo and bottle designs click [Here]

I heard about this earlier in the week and a reader called Aadel just sent me pictures of it. Early Friday morning a Ferrari was involved in a high speed crash on the Gulf Road, I don’t know what caused the crash but judging by the pictures the car got thorn torn up into pieces and then caught fire. You can check out more pictures by clicking on continue below.

According to The Avenue’s website Arby’s is opening there! They have a list of all the restaurants that are open and opening at The Avenue’s and Arby’s is on that list!! Just go to their website, click on restaurants and then on the burger picture. [Link]

I just got an email from a reader called Nawaf saying that The Cheesecake Factory will be opening up at The Avenues phase III. The owners will be both a Kuwaiti and a Saudi, the Saudi being the same owner as The Cheesecake Factory in Saudi Arabia. I hope this turns out to be true although I doubt it since according to The Cheesecake Factory website:

Franchise Information
Thank you for your interest in The Cheesecake Factory. Our full-service restaurants are Company owned and operated. We currently do not offer franchises or joint venture opportunities and have no plans to do so in the future.

Also under locations on the website it doesn’t list Saudi Arabia although. I am guessing because the Saudi branch isn’t a “full-service” restaurant but just an outlet that sells only cheesecakes its not listed on their website? Here is a picture of one of the Saudi Branches. [Picture]

Update: I emailed The Cheesecake Factory asking about their Saudi and Kuwait branch and I got the following generic response:

Thank you for your interest in The Cheesecake Factory.

We are flattered that you feel that our brand would be a success in Kuwait. Our plan at this time however, is to focus on growing our brand within the continental United States and Hawaii, rather than other markets. We wish you the best of luck with your endeavors and hope that you will have an opportunity to dine with us again sometime soon!

Thank you for contacting us and have a wonderful day!

Reporters without Borders just released the 2008 Worldwide Press Freedom Index and Kuwait came first among Arab countries ahead of both Lebanon and UAE. It isn’t really a surprise since the top spot is usually always a fight between Kuwait and Lebanon but when Kuwait wins it always feels more impressive. [Link]

via

I don’t know why the sudden influx in Lebanese restaurants but there are three new places that are opening up. BuzBerry posted about the new one in Avenues called Leil Nhar, I think thats even open already. There are two more I know of also opening up. Abdul Wahab a famous Lebanese restaurant is opening in place of Fuddruckers on the Gulf Road. I actually can’t believe they shut down that Fudds, they were the first restaurant to open up on the Gulf Road. Another new Lebanese restaurant thats opening is Karam. They’re also really famous in Lebanon and they’re opening up next to Hard Rock Cafe.

What we need is an influx of fast food joints. We need the following please: Wendy’s, A&W, Jack in the Box, White Castle, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Arby’s, Cheese Cake Factory, In-N-Out and Taco Bell. Thank you!

Name: Laylat Al Ro3b / Night of Horrors
Date: Thursday October 30th (This Thursday)
Time: 6 PM – 10 PM
Entrance Fee: 3 KD
Location: AUK, American University of Kuwait Salmiya ,Salem Al Mubarak Street, Opposite to Plaza Complex

Entrance Fee Includes:
Haunted House
Water Fight
Costume Contest

Other Activities:
Mask Making
Face Painting
Fortune Teller
Fire Performance
Laser Show
and much much more!

Here is a link to a jpg they sent me with the event details. [Event Flier]

According to Alhamour.com; Bassam Al-Ghanim has submitted his official resignation as the Chairman of the Gulf Bank. Gulf Bank still has not announced his replacement, but they expect it to be someone from the Al-Ghanim family. This is a result of the Gulf Bank Shipwreck; which has resulted in a total loss of US$ 1.2bn (KD 313 mm), an amount that represents 70% of Gulf Bank’s Tier 1 & 2 Equity.

Update: Kutayba Al-Ghanim is the new Chairman of Gulf Bank.

Posted by K.

Legendary Kuwaiti actor Ali Al-Mufidi passed away today morning in Jordan. He originally used to work in television before he moved to acting and quickly rose to fame after staring in the popular show Darb Al Zalag.

Here is a link to YouTube where you can over 200 clips of him. [Ali Al-Mufdi on YouTube]

He will be missed.

There was a demonstration taking place on my way to work today this morning in front of the house of parliament. At first I assumed it had something to do with the current financial instability but looking at the banners now I think the demonstration was related to the naturalization of the Bedouins Bedoun’s. Here is the larger size of the picture above. [Picture]

Picture taken by ads2blog

Found this short film on YouTube, skip to the second minute since thats when the movie actually starts. The clip above is [Part 1], here is the link to [Part 2] and [Part 3]. Kinda makes me want to film my own B-rated horror with a cheesy title like Escape from Salmiya or The Shawerma Zombie. Anyone want to help me with the script?

I am standing in front of the main Gulf Bank building in Kuwait City and I can count 12 money truck parked in front of it. There are also a ton of security guards (probably the money truck drivers) all standing on the side of the building waiting. I can’t tell if they are moving money in our about to get ready to move money out but my uneducated guess is they are probably getting ready to move money to their branches around Kuwait. I took a picture which I will post here once I get back home.

update: Just added the picture to the post