Categories
Kuwait Music

Only in Kuwait

I really am not anti RKFM its just that they really suck. Today I was listening to VOA when they went into a commercial break. So, I decided to switch channels and see what else is on, I get to RKFM and they had the new Jessica Simpson song on (i think its jessica simpson) and I like it (don’t ask why) so I kept the station and listened to it. I figured it was like some latest hits hour or something and I figured let me stay tuned in to see whats “cool” and “hip” with the youngies hehe. So anyway, the song ends and what song comes up next? ACE of FUCKING BASE! They have this one song like a decade old and its not the first time I heard it play on RKFM. I mean what the fuck, Ace of base?!? Just when for 1 second you think RKFM is getting decent they put Ace of Base or New Kids on the Block and ruin everything. I think Kuwait is the only country that still put Ace of Base on the radio, seriously.




Categories
Music News

Smashing Pumpkins Half Back Together

The first of Billy Corgan’s former bandmates has rejoined the fold following the surprise announcement that Corgan intends to reunite his platinum-selling alternative-rock group the Smashing Pumpkins. Jimmy Chamberlin said on Friday that he is eager to make music with Corgan again. His position is no surprise, since he drummed with Corgan in the short-lived band Zwan, as well as performing on several tracks for the Great Pumpkin’s first solo album, “The Future Embrace,” released last Tuesday.

But the status of former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha and bassist D’Arcy Wretzky remains a mystery.

“All I can say is that the Smashing Pumpkins are Billy, James, myself and D’Arcy,” Chamberlin said. “In an ideal world, that’s what it will end up being. The hope is that everybody will come to the table, but I can only speak for myself in saying that I’m in, and I’m excited.”

Chamberlin said he has not spoken to Wretzky since she left the band in August 1999. He communicates with Iha by e-mail, and though they have not discussed the Pumpkins reunion, “I intend to reach out to him.”

The drummer said he and Corgan have been talking about reforming the band “for some time,” but he doesn’t know whether the singer and songwriter has spoken to Iha and Wretzky, or if Corgan simply “opened the door” for them to return when he placed two full-page advertisements last week in the Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune.

“It’s still all very new, and I don’t know if anybody really knows what’s going on,” Chamberlin said. “We really haven’t sat down at the table and figured out the nuts and bolts.”




Categories
Events Kuwait

FOR SINGLES ONLY

The first of its kind singles gathering party in Kuwait will take place this Friday the 8th July at Bazerkan restaurant at the Shiik Flamingo resort. For more information & reservation please, call 9389387 or email [email protected]

Last day for reservations is Tuesday (ie TODAY). [Source]




Categories
Geek Kuwait Technology

TANDBERG Video Conferencing

Today I was able to check out a TANDBERG video conferencing setup. Its such a cool system, we had 2 huge ass plasmas built into the wall and a videocamera built in between them. The system video conferences at various connection speeds but we were using 384kb/sec. The TANDBERG system is also a very secure system I was told (the US defence department uses it!), so its perfect for talking business no matter how confidential the matter might be. The guy who was showing me the video conferencing system used a Marantz RC9500 remote control (drool!!) to control the whole thing including rotating the camera and zooming in and out. With a click of a button we connected to an office in Oslo which was closed but we were able to pan the camera around over there and check out the office. While checking out the Oslo office he also connected to a roof top cam on their companies head office in Japan and then connected to the conference room located in the same building we were in. So in total we were connected to 3 places on the same screen, very cool. The guy also told me that you could connect a laptop to the system and do a power point presentation or play Quake and they could all watch you. I don’t know how much a system like this costs, I should have asked him but I know I can’t afford the Marantz remote yet alone the two plasma screens and the TANDBERG system.. sucks!!




Categories
Information Interesting Kuwait

Kuwait Fund for Future Generations

In 1976 the government established the Reserve Fund for Future Generations, into which it placed an initial US$7 billion. It resolved to invest 10 percent of its revenues annually in the reserve fund. Money from the fund, along with other government revenues, was invested in overseas property and industry. In the 1970s, most of these funds were invested in the United States and in Western Europe: in German firms (such as Hoechst and DaimlerBenz , in each of which Kuwait owned 25 percent), in property, and in most of the United States Fortune Five Hundred firms. In the 1980s, Kuwait began diversifying its overseas investments, placing more investments in Japanese firms. By the late 1980s, Kuwait was earning more from these overseas investments than it was from the direct sale of oil: in 1987 foreign investments generated US$6.3 billion, oil US$5.4 billion. The Financial Times of London estimated Kuwait’s overseas investments in early 1990 at more than US$100 billion, most of it in the Reserve Fund for Future Generations.

The Iraqi invasion proved the importance of these investment revenues. With oil revenues suspended, the government and population in exile relied exclusively on investment revenues, including sales of investments for sustenance, for their share of ongoing coalition expenses and for postwar reconstruction and repair of the vital oil industry. While these funds were depleted to $40-$50 billion after the war, they currently are estimated around $80 billion.




Categories
Design Links

Career Opportunities

Landor – Dubai
Senior Designer – Branded Environments
Will initiate and develop design concepts and solutions. Will work with design team in fulfilling client needs under the direction of Design Director. Candidates must have a BFA or equivalent education and 5-7 years experience. Good communication and presentation skills. Ability to travel, prioritize and meet deadlines. Proficient in Mac and numerous graphics and design software.

Apply Here [Link]

—————-

Fitch – Doha
Client Manager
A new Client Manager is urgently required in Doha, Qatar. Fitch’s studio in Qatar is growing rapidly and seeks a Client Manager with 2-3 years experience in project management and a desire for a new challenge. Not only is the work exciting and varied but the role comes with the added bonus of a tax-free salary and a generous living allowance.

Please reply with your cv to: Lucy Salter, Fitch, 121 – 141 Westbourne Terrace, London, W2 6JR or by e-mail: [email protected]

Apply Here [Link]




Categories
Events Links Music

Live 8 Online… LIVE!

You can watch and listen to the Live 8 concerts online from the AOL music website. I am currently waiting for Audioslave to come on stage in Berlin. [Link]

Update: Other shows to look out for, Pet Shop Boys in Moscow, Pink Floyd and Velvet Revolver in London and Placebo in Paris.

Update 2: WOW, Audioslave are playing acoustic version of Sound Gardens “Black Hole Sun”. I hope they play some Rage Against the Machine songs!!

Update 3: They just started playing a Rage Against the Machine song!!!!!!




Categories
Interesting News

Michael Jackson in Bahrain

Pop star Michael Jackson began a vacation at a prince’s palace in the tiny Gulf kingdom of Bahrain, his first trip overseas after being acquitted of child molestation charges, an official close to the royal circle said Thursday.

Jackson arrived with his three children on a private plane from Europe on Wednesday night for an indefinite stay, said an official. Jackson was found not guilty of child molestation in a California court on June 13.

He chose Bahrain because of his brother Jermaine’s first hand experience visiting the kingdom, the official said. “He’s come here to retreat and relax and enjoy the calmness of Bahrain,” the official said, adding that no other member of the Jackson family accompanied the pop star.

Another official said Jackson was a guest of Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the king’s son, in one of the royal palaces. Sheikh Abdullah, believed to be in his early 30s, is a friend of Jackson’s brother Jermaine. He described the visit as “very very private.” Jermaine Jackson has close links with Bahrain’s royal circle. In January, he and Sheikh Abdullah announced plans to launch a charity theme song written by the royal.

[Source]

Update: Michael Jackson + Video Game fans, check this out.




Categories
Food & Drinks Kuwait

Fried Maki

Yesterday I discovered fried maki at Kei and its great! Why didn’t anyone tell me about it before? I am not a professional sushi eater so I don’t feel comfortable eating raw fish but fried is something I much more agreeable with. I had the Crispy Rolls and Prawn Tempura Maki and they were the best maki I have ever had. I would definitely recommend fried maki to any amateur sushi person.

Click here for Quick Sushi Places Reviews




Categories
Gossip & Rumors

Britney Spears Plans to get Naked

Pregnant pop superstar Britney Spears is reportedly planning to pose naked for Vanity Fair – emulating Demi Moor’s famous spread for the magazine.

The shoot will take place in August (05), when Spears is seven months pregnant with her first child, alongside husband Kevin Federline – reports US magazine Life & Style.




Categories
Information Interesting Kuwait

Take a Tour Around Kuwait

After checking out the Google Sightseeing website, I decided to make a collective of landmarks around Kuwait. I found a couple, if you guys can help me in finding some more it would be cool. This is what I have found:

Amir’s House
Baseball Fields
Bayan Palace
Entertainment City
Funky Circles
Green Island
Kuwait International Airport
Kuwait Towers
Kuwait University
Liberation Tower
Quarter Mile Race Track
Seif Palace
Shaab Leisure Park
Sheraton Roundabout
Souk Sharq




Categories
Information Interesting Internet Links

Travel the World with Google Maps

The other day I posted about how you can check out Kuwait using Google Maps, well I found a site that will take you sightseeing around the world using Google Maps, ever wanted to visit Disney Land, Buckingham Palace, or the Colosseum? What Google Sightseeing have done is find these and more famous landmarks using the satellite maps and then given us the links to them. I just sent them the Kuwait Towers link for them to add. Check out Google Sightseeing. [Link]

Update: This one is dedicated to Maryam, the Space Shuttle [Link]




Categories
Food & Drinks Kuwait Reviews

Review: Baba Taher Restuarant

Over 10 years ago, me and my family went to this restaurant called Baba Taher. None of us had heard about it before but one my dads clients who was Iranian recommended it to us. He told us Baba Taher was one of the best Iranian restaurants in town and with that in mind we decided to check it out. We were expecting a lavish restaurant in a nice building but when we got to the location we were like WTF? The location turned out to be bad but the food turned out to be extremely good, 10 years later and I am still going back.

Baba Taher is located in a rundown probably soon to be demolished building in Kuwait City, near Arraya Centre opposite the fire station. Once you go up to the mezzanine floor and enter the restaurant, things get better. The place is clean and comfortable but nothing fancy, but then again its not a fancy place anyway, its more like a family owned business.

baba taher

When you first sit down they bring you a freshly baked basket of Irani bread and a plate which includes slices of white cheese, a large white onion cut in half and some greenery (probably mint or something). I just love having Irani bread with white cheese and onions. The main menu includes soup, salads, appetizers, plat du jour, grills, a handful of traditional plates and dessert. I usually only have the grills and dessert but Nat sometimes has the salad.

baba taher kebab

I haven’t try that much from their menu, I have been ordering the same plate for years now, Kebab with rice. Its the best, its juicy, it smells good, it tastes good, and the meat is sooooo soft. I also used to hate rice until I started having it at Baba Taher, its wonderful. They use Basmeti or something similar I guess and its usually white except for a small amount of yellow colored rice. The 2 Kebab sticks and the large portion of rice are enough to fill you. Incase you have enough room for dessert, Baba Taher has a special ice cream called Falooda. Falooda looks like very thin noodles chopped up and tastes like nothing I know of. Its very refreshing and they provide you with lime and rose water syrup if you need more flavor.

The place doesn’t except Knet nor Visa card so make sure you bring cash, and don’t worry, you won’t be needing a lot of it. Baba Taher is very affordable, the plate of Kebab with rice costs KD2.500, the Falooda dessert costs only 500 fils. When me and Nat visit our bill comes out to be around KD8 with tip. The only downside to Baba Taher is the service, its very cold. I have been visiting for a long time now and I don’t know anyone’s name and they don’t know mine. Every time I visit they welcome me with the same cold “hello nod”. The waiters are very quiet, very cold, and they look grumpy most of the time. The service is basically unemotional and slow at times. That drops them a point and thats why they get a total score of 4 out of 5. If you are interested to find out where exactly they are located you can call them on 2456140 or 2456241.




Categories
Music Personal

Whats on my playlist?

blue ipod mini

Beck – Guero
Coldplay – Live 2003
Coldplay – Parachutes
Coldplay – X&Y
Dave Navarro – Trust No One
Foo Fighters – Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters – One By One
Foo Fighters – The Colour and the Shape
Foo Fighters – There Is Nothing Left to Lose
Garbage – BeautifulGarbage
Garbage – Bleed Like Me
Garbage – Garbage
Garbage – Version 2.0
Incubus – Morning View
Pearl Jam – Binaural
Pearl Jam – Live – 29-5-00 Wembley Arena
Pearl Jam – Live on Two Legs
Pearl Jam – No Code
Pearl Jam – Riot Act
Pearl Jam – Vitalogy
Pearl Jam – Vs.
Pearl Jam – Yield
Placebo – Black Market Music
Placebo – Without You I’m Nothing
Sonic Youth – Sonic Nurse
The White Stripes – Get Behind Me Satan




Categories
Food & Drinks Information Kuwait

Picture of Fake Hungry Bunny

This is the picture of the fake Hungry Bunny that I spoke about a few days ago thats opening on the 4th ring road. As you can see, although they are using a similar typeface and color scheme as the official Hungry Bunny, the main visual of the bunny rabbit is different.