Search: “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.

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.

Just passed by the Apple Store in Muthana Complex called Solize. I got some Mac prices which surprisingly turned out to be pretty good. Not cheaper then the States but pretty close specially if you consider shipping and customs. Here are the prices:

Power Mac G5 1.8ghz = KD555
Power Mac G5 Dual 1.8ghz = KD654
Power Mac G5 Dual 2.0ghz = KD731
Power Mac G5 Dual 2.3ghz = KD930
Power Mac G5 Dual 2.5ghz = KD1040
Power Mac G5 Dual 2.7ghz = KD1117

Mac mini 1.2ghz = KD190
Mac mini 1.4ghz = KD228

iMac 17inch G5 1.6ghz = KD600
iMac 17inch G5 1.8ghz = KD690
Both come with a free HP printer and scanner

Powerbook 15inch G4 1.67ghz (SuperDrive) = KD768

Apple Display 20inch = KD258
Apple Display 30inch = KD1175 (FUCKING HUGE BTW!)

iPod mini 4GB = KD72
iPod mini 6GB = KD90

For more information call Mohammed the salesman on 7923875 or on the shop number 2493196.

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

Was playing around with Google maps when I decided to check out Kuwait. It’s amazing! I didn’t think they would have Kuwait but they do. Now for some reason half of Salmiya is NOT available on Google and that half includes my house but a lot of other landmarks are available to spy on from above. Check out the Kuwait Towers and the Amirs house! [Link]

Update: Here is the link for an overhead shot of the airport. [Link]

I was on my way to lunch in Nibaq’s car when he noticed what looked like a large TV screen outside the Kuwaiti Stock Exchange. So, after lunch we decided to drive by it and there it was, a huge ass TV screen right outside. The location of it is really terrible though, there is a large tree right in front of it and I was only able to see the screen by climbing out of his sun roof and having him park his car right underneath it. They should seriously remove the tree or else this thing is useless.

Seems like an interesting site, haven’t had time to fully check it though. They recently setup a forum where photographers can share pictures and tips.[Link]

Just read this article in Arab Times where they are talking about building a rail system in Kuwait in preparation for the major traffic congestion we will be facing in the upcoming future. Now the cool thing in the article is they are proposing the futuristic Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) to connect major buildings. It was the first time I had heard about it so I did a bit of research and this thing is like super cool. Its like mini trains that hold around 4 people for example, and if you are say at the main NBK branch in Kuwait City and you want to go to Souk Sharq for lunch, instead of taking the car you just hop into one of these tiny air conditioned capsules and tell it to go to Souk Sharq and it will take you. This system just requires major buildings to be connected via tracks and you no longer need to your car to travel from your building to another down the street. Here is a link with more information on PRT. [Link]

We are in The Onion!

KUWAIT CITY—In light of the country’s recent decision to allow women to vote and hold public office, observers around the world have noted that Kuwait appears to have discovered the fairer sex. “The boys in Kuwait are really taking notice of how much the girls have changed over the country’s long political winter,” said Fouad Ajami, an expert in Arab affairs. “They’re no longer shyly avoiding women they’re not related to or clumsily shooting them for not wearing veils in public.” Ajami added that he was not entirely surprised by Kuwait’s discovery, given its long history of teasing women, calling them names, and stoning them to death for being unclean.

[via]

I was just flipping through Bayt.com to see if I could find anything interesting and I did. Seems Best Buy is opening or someone copied their logo. Check this.

Update: Nevermind, turns out someone copied the logo and name..

Found 3 pictures of Chips on my Moblogging from Kuwait site, here they are:

Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3

I just got this email today, amazing people, this is what I call customer service. Its good to know companies are starting to care about their customers!

Dear Mark,

Apologies for the bad experience you’ve had watching Star Wars Episode III at our theaters. As per the instructions of the General Manager, Mr. Alan Hall, and since you’ve already paid to watch Star Wars again, we have voided the transaction as per the attached proof.

In addition, we would like to grant you a 5-KD voucher – good for two tickets, available to you ONLINE. the next time you decide to go to our theaters. Instead of selecting K-NET like you did last time, just select Virtual Coupon when it comes to selecting your Payment Method.

Hope with this, we can make you forget about the bad experience you’ve had, and get you to go to our theaters more often.

In the future, should you face any further trouble, please feel free to contact us, and we’ll be more than glad to help.

Once again, we apologize for the unfortunate experience you’ve had and we thank you for bringing that up to us.

Regards,

Yaser Behbehani
IT Manager
KNCC

The InKuwait.com websites provide information about living in Kuwait plus activities and events for its citizens. If you know more of these websites leave a comment of the URL and I will add it to the list.

www.LebaneseInKuwait.com
www.CanadiansInKuwait.com
www.IndiansInKuwait.com

As you know the other day I was contacted by Kuwait Cinema regarding my terrible movie experience. Well after the last phonecall where a guy from Kuwait Cinema wanted me to call him before I went to the movies so he could get me the free tickets, I sent another email to the general manager explaining how this wasn’t very convenient for me and he replied. Below I posted the email I sent to the GM and the email he sent back:

Mark to Alan

hi thank you Alan for your email and phone call. Its good to know that KNCC does care about their customers even though they have a monopoly on the market.

I do have 1 more minor issue though. Santhosh called me and told me about my 2 free tickets. He was very nice and all and told me to call before I go to the movies next time so that he can get me the tickets. I was wondering would you be able to credit the 2 tickets into my account instead of me having to call santhosh the next time I go. The reason for this is I would like to choose the seats myself and calling santhosh for the tickets and hoping he answers just before i go to the movies is a bit of a hassel.

If its not possible its ok.

thanks

And this is the email I just received from the general manager today:

Alan to Me

Mark

I have arranged for this to be done. We do care, very much, as to what our customers feel and experience.

Please let me know what your next movie is like.

Alan

As you can see he was very proffesional. I am now 100% satisfied with their actions regarding the incident.

I was checking out Missundaztoood’s website and saw his her Only in Kuwait list. I found the list funny and it reminded me of an incident I witnessed recently. Me and Nat were walking in Salmiya around 2 weeks ago when we spotted this car with a lady in it outside a shoestore. She honked the horn and the salesman came out. She told him something and he went back into the shop and came out 2 mintues later with 2 pairs of shoes. She tried them on in the car and then gave them back to the guy and drove down a few meters to another shop and honked again.

The lady was drive by shoe shopping, I had never seen that before!