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During the Gulf War I had to leave the majority of my toys behind here in Kuwait because we had to flee the country. That incident scarred me for life I think because I seemed to have developed some kind of psychological issue where I am trying to buy back every toy I had. I spend most of my days flipping through pages of vintages toys and eBay looking for stuff I used to have and then hopefully buying them. So now I have decided to share the toys with you whenever I find any. Today I am gonna start with this “Le Chalet Suisse” toy. It was amazing, its like a classy version of Lego. Its using pieces of real wood and you can build various types of wooden chalets with them. There is no sticking or clicking, the pieces of the wood are shaped in a way that they would fit together and you just stack them up.

I was able to find it online brandnew for only $78. [Link]

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.

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]

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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]

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!!!!!!

First time I noticed this. Was browsing images.google when I noticed this logo on top. I don’t know whats up with google and me. Last time it was showing me everything in piglatin!

Update: Tivo-Guy gave me this link to Google Arabic

Remember I posted about the new large TV screen outside the Kuwait Stock Exchange and how there was a large palm tree blocking the view. Rampurple just messaged me that “KSE have removed the trees”.

Someone went and scanned a LadyBird book for kids on how the computer works. The book is from 1971, really interesting. [Link]

A9.com has done a minor cleanup to their starting page, they also fixed up their Maps page. While maps.google.com shows you satellite images of countries, maps.a9.com is pictures from the ground of store fronts. Of course not all the cities are available and its only US cities but its still really cool. Using maps.a9 I was able to show Nat every shop I passed by when I was in New York on vacation. Shops which I had forgotten their names I was able to find by maps.a9. Try it out. [Link]

You guys know the movie The Terminal right? So you probably know that its based on a true story right? Well did you know the guy is STILL living in the airport? [Link]

I just read this article below and I think its ridiculous, how could David Beckham not have the rights to a tattoo located on his own body??

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David Beckham is facing a legal battle over who owns the right to his tattoos, because body artist Louis Malloy fears the British soccer star is making money from his designs.

Malloy designed and inked nine of Beckham’s tattoos, including the famous guardian angel on his upper back, and is determined to sue should the Real Madrid ace use the images in an advertising campaign.

The 42-year-old claims Beckham, who is married to ex-Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, tried to force him to sign a confidentiality agreement, but he refused.

Malloy says, “I was contacted recently and told they wanted to use some of them in a campaign. I said we’d have to draw up a license agreement but then it got too complicated. So I said, ‘I own the copyright, they are my intellectual property, I drew them, I didn’t copy them from other sources.’

“They still think they’re the owners of the images but if they use them without my permission I’d sue. There’s no doubt about it.” [Source]

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]

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.

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.

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.

Just yesterday I posted about the end of the Sub Club here in Kuwait but when I went to Sbarro for lunch they gave me their own version! Its only valid at Sbarro, Hardees, KFC and Baskin Robbins.. but the Fashionway branch. Order anything over KD1.200 from these 4 restaurants and they will give you a sticker. After 4 stickers you get your choice of either a Hardees or KFC combo for free! Offer valid till August 10th.

Ever wanted to know how long can you keep the ketchup in the fridge or when does your Pepsi go bad? This site has a pretty comprehensive list of Food and Household products and how long they last. The most surprising thing is mayonaise, according to the site:

Mayonnaise
Unopened: Indefinitely
Opened: 2 to 3 months from “purchase by” date (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

For some reason I though mayonnaise goes bad very quickly, this is why I usually throw out the jar after the first use. Actually, anything that has been in my fridge for more then a week gets thrown out, unless its in the freezer. [Link]

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]