Search: “kuwait”

I love watches so when the owner of Q8 Chrono emailed me the link to his site I quickly went to check it out. It’s kinda like Q8car.com except for watches or at least thats the kind of site I hope it turns into. The site lists a lot of new watches and also around 20 used watches (which is my favorite section). There is a pretty decent used watches market in Kuwait but all the stores that sell them are scattered around Kuwait. Having them all online on one site would be pretty practical. The site is still being worked on and the owner still has many things he wants to implement but for now you can check the site by going to Q8chrono.com

I hope the used section gets updated often and there should be a way of contacting the site if I want to sell a watch or maybe an automated form? I also just realized the used watches section is 2 pages long, you need to click on older entries at the bottom to get to the second page. Not very practical, he should ditch wordpress and set up a proper e-commerce site.

Update: Ok found the contact information, it was on the main page but there should be a link to the contact info on every page.

I was emailed the following:

Throughout the coming months there is going to be an eventful calendar of activities at different Starbucks locations. Ranging from insightful and inspiring photography exhibitions, to fun live music performances and gigs and many other more art forms to be included and surprises to be later announced.

Each weekend the photography exhibitions will take place in 3 Starbucks stores across Kuwait so choose the closest to you and come encourage young creative youth in Kuwait and spend a great weekend at Starbucks..

The schedule of events and locations are to be found for reference below:

6 -7 March
Starbucks Al Bidaa:
Ammar Al Othman & Samar Al Bader

Starbucks Behbehani Villa – behind Church – Kuwait City:
Saleh El Gaith & BaderAl Ajeel

Starbucks Mishref Coop:
Abdula Al Foudary & Nawaf Al Saleh

13-14 March
Starbucks Avenues (by Fountain):
Maha Al Asaker & Jarrah Al Boloshi

Starbucks Kuwait Free Zone:
Saleh El Gaith & Bader Al Ajeel

Starbucks Palms Spa & Resort:
Samar Al Bader & Sherifa Ben Ali

20-21 March
Starbucks Al Bidaa:
Maha Al Asaker & Jarrah Al Boloshi

Starbucks Salem Al Mubarak – Opposite Al Fanar:
Bader Al Ajeel & Ammar Al Othman

Starbucks Hilton Al Mangaf:
Abdulla Al Foudary & Nawaf Al Saleh

27-28 March
Starbucks Behbehani Villa – behind Church – Kuwait City:
Sherifa Ben Ali & Maha Al Asaker

Starbucks Palms & Spa Resort:
Jarrah El Boloshi & Saleh Al Gaith

Starbucks Marina Mall:
Ammar Al Othman & Abdulla Al Foudary

For more information visit their Facebook group [Here]

Thanks Maha!

Someone emailed me about an exhibition thats taking place in Kuwait for a “digital artist” called Anwar Ghader. So I googled him to check out his work when I found a cool post on Projekt Cyan showing how in under 10 minutes you can replicate one of his work. I really dislike how some people take a picture, apply a few Photoshop filters and then call it art. That’s not art, what I posted the other day is art. So if you want to find out how to create your own digital art like Anwar click [Here]

Update: Just so there is no miscommunication. The reason I don’t call Anwar’s work art is not because it was easy to create or because it is ugly or anything of that sort. Its because of the way the work was created. If I take an image and using the software Rasterbator I create something nice, does that make me an artist? If I use Obama Icon Me to create a cool looking poster, does that make me an artist? So why is it art when Anwar (or any other person) uses live trace to create the work?

A reader yesterday emailed me a link to a website of a Kuwaiti illustrator called Ahmed Al-Refaie. I checked out his work and was blown away so I emailed Ahmed and asking him if he could tell us a bit about himself and his illustrations and this is what he had to say:

Currently, Im about to graduate from Kuwait University “English Literature”. I don’t like it, but certain circumstances forced me to since there was no Graphic Design in KU. My name is Ahmed Al-Refaie (22) (Kuwaiti, although that does not matter, an artist is an artist no matter the origin ), my art is called vector art. I’m self-taught, never attended any art related classes. When I was 10, I started sketching, beginning of high-school I began graphic design, but this current style you see all around my website started in early 2006. Usually my art was varied in style and that is what I think of as a corrupted aspect of an artist. So I made and refined my own style. My website does not include my old works. For more technical details, I use a mouse, keyboard and Photoshop CS3 ( I always get the question “do you use a tablet?” ), just a good ol’ Apple mighty mouse. I was a bit into 3D using 3D Max but quickly lost interest as there are many giants in that field, its just not for me. That said, my work is completely raw, no pictures, filters, I do however reference body gestures (sometimes) but the image used is removed and I recreate the whole thing.

I think the guy is extremely talented and I think its about time KU setup a design department. There are a lot of talented young people and it would be sad to see them all taking random majors like English Literature or cooking just because they don’t have design.

Here is a link to his deviantART gallery [Link]
Here is a link to his personal website [Link]

Yesterday I posted about how disappointing the Teshkeel Comics theme park looks like and today I found a post on another blog about the Cartoon Network theme park which already opened and looks pretty cool. I can’t seem to figure out where its located though. You can check out pictures of the Cartoon Network on the blog P0ach by following this [Link]

I passed by Schlotzsky’s for lunch today and I left confused. I used to like this one kind of turkey sandwich back when I used to have Schlotzsky’s in Lebanon but I couldn’t find that sandwich on the menu here. In fact, from a total of around 8 sandwiches, 5 were turkey and from those 5, 4 were practically exactly the same. Other than their names they all seemed to have the exact same ingredients. I ended up going with a small original turkey sandwich, it was good, better than the sandwiches at Quiznos but not as good as the one I used to have. I need to go back and try the other turkey sandwiches until I find one similar to the one I used to have. Price for the sandwich was KD1.100. They’re located across from Al-Raya in Kuwait City.

Update: They deliver.. 22320777 (Thanks Nibaq!)

She’s mine… she’s mine; Fisticuffs in row over ‘veiled’ wives

KUWAIT CITY, Feb 25: Jahra securitymen on Wednesday apprehended a Kuwaiti and an unidentified man for engaging in a fistfight at a shopping complex in the area. According to security sources, the Kuwaiti and his wife — a veiled woman — went inside the shopping complex on Wednesday. They were later separated as they went from one shop to the other then the Kuwaiti noticed another veiled woman, who was standing near an unidentified man. Thinking she is his wife, the Kuwaiti called the woman, but the man standing beside her suddenly went berserk, claiming the woman is his wife.

A heated argument between the two men escalated in a fistfight and they used some items in the commercial complex to hit each other. The security officers in the complex and some passersby interfered and tried to calm both men. After receiving information about the incident, Jahra securitymen rushed to the complex and referred the men to North Jahra Police Station for interrogation.

By Mezyed Al-Saeedi
Special to the Arab Times

Thanks Nibaq!

[YouTube]

This fire happened on Wednesday and resulted in two dead woman and 64 injured. What I found shocking is this:

Relatives of the women initially blocked firefighters from entering the wedding hall, an action that some suggest may have contributed to the disaster. According to an eyewitness, when firemen first arrived at the scene, they were prevented from entering the hall by some men (apparently relatives of some of the women inside) on the grounds that it was an all-women place. “You can’t get in,” they shouted.

According to eyewitnesses, the hall was filled with smoke at first, which frightened the guests. They panicked and a stampede broke out when flames began to engulf the area.

Witnesses added that what aggravated the situation was the fact that many women who were trying to flee the scene, stopped to put on their veils and head covers. They also said that the hall accommodated 220 women and children. [Kuwait Times]

Thanks Kuwait Black Market!

I thought this project was canceled but I guess its still on. Kuwait is planning to build the tallest skyscraper in the world, one thats around 30% taller than the current tallest skyscraper, Burj Dubai. [Link]

Thanks DJ

There is a digital art showcase that’s being held at The Exhibition for the next two days. Here is the information I received by email:

Ugly, But Beautiful
Date: February 26-28
Time: 4PM-12AM
Location: The Exhibition

Beauty is something rational, everyone has their own taste of it. Ugliness, on the other hand, is one’s own opinion.

When you look at an image that is full of beauty and structure, you find it beautiful because you are living a structured life. You rarely see things placed randomly, as a result you say an image is ugly without knowing that ugliness has its own beauty.

That is why we can say something is ugly, but beautiful at the same time.

‘Ugly, But Beautiful’ is Remon Yousef’s means of making you see how ugliness can have its own beauty.

Remon Yousef, a Lebanese graphic designer currently working in Kuwait, will be showcasing his artwork to the public for three days only.

All artworks are for sale.

I am at the Beirut Airport waiting for my flight back to Kuwait. I think its been 10 days exactly since I left and I can’t wait to get back although I am soooo going to miss the beautiful skies here…

Note: The picture above is of Jounieh.

Breathtaking photos of random people at work. Makes me want to go out and take pictures of people working in Kuwait. [Link]

via

From The Exhibition:

My Q8
Date: February 24th
Time: 6PM-10PM
Location: The Exhibition

As you all know, February 25th and 26th are days for celebrating.

Come and join us in celebrating Kuwait’s National and Liberation Days at The Exhibition! We’re all here to show our love of Kuwait.

‘My Q8’ is night where these talented photographers and poets can display their beautiful and personal photographs and poems at The Exhibition.

They want to make you see what Kuwait means to them and they will be doing that by expressing their love of this country the best way they can: through their art and poetry!

Artists and poets will be donating a percentage of their profits to various charities.

I got the following in my email:

Campus Activities Board, a university funded organization at the American University of Kuwait is creating a charity carnival to help children in need. Whether they have down syndrome or autism, are orphans or in foster care, or are disabled– this day is for them.

All the money from the tickets and all donations will be spent in buying toys and gifts for the children that were not able to attend. The week after the event will be to take volunteers and go to five of the centers here in Kuwait.

The Charity Carnival will include:
Carnival Games
Raffle
Art Corner
Prizes
Face painting
Pony Ride
Bouncy Castle
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory room with movie
Free Candy
Toys
and much more

People are invited to bring friends and family to enjoy this day!

Tickets will be sold at the American University of Kuwait from in the liberal arts lobby from:

Saturday, February 21, 2009
From 11:00 to 6:00

Ticket Prices:
3 KD for adults
1 KD for children

Tickets will also be sold at the door!
If you want to volunteer for this event contact: [email protected]

They also have a facebook account which you can check [Here]

They’re big. I think that summarizes my experience with the Beats. As I said in my first impression I would post about the Beats after my experience with them traveling so here it is. Basically they are extremely comfortable, they sound amazing and the noise reduction is pretty impressive. The biggest and only problem I have with the Beats is the size. They barely fit into my messenger bag! If I had my backpack it wouldn’t be such a problem but I am now mostly traveling with my messenger bag and the Beats are too big to fit comfortably in them.

While on the plane watching an episode of Boston Legal on my iPod, a guy sitting across me in the isle tapped my shoulder. Turned out he had the Bose QuietComfort 3 and wanted to know if the headphones I had on my head had noise reduction. I gave him the headphones to try on and according to him the Beats had better noise reduction than the QuietComfort 3 which actually impressed me since I am not a big fan of Bose. He also commented on the fact how the Beats fit around the ear giving a perfect seal while the Bose fit over the ear. He thinks thats why they offer better noise reduction which makes sense.

Anyway although I really love these headphones I highly doubt I will end up buying them. I need travel headphones and although these are very comfortable they just aren’t practical to lug around because of their size. If only they folded down flatter…

Amazon is currently offering a $50 discount on the Beats by Dre. Click here to check it out. [Amazon Link]