Block Youtube again?

Kuwait : Attorney Mubarak Al-Tasha says he is surprised the Ministry of Communications has failed to block the Internet website the ‘YouTube’ because some videos posted on this site demean Islam, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily.
Al-Tasha added in the event of the Internet Service Provider (ISP) failing to take necessary action there was no other way but to file a lawsuit against the ministry. I am amazed that people wants to block this site for a couple of videos and never mention the positive side of things. wake up people.

MOC Post Office Blues

I never knew that sending a package outside Kuwait would set me back 2 hours of wasted efforts. I headed this morning to the MOC office at the Sheraton round about to send a small package of parts back to my supplier to the US.Upon arrival I circled the building for 25 minutes trying got find a parking place, although there are parking spots available within the ministry compound, I was told that these are only for employees. WTF 25 cars and no customer parking. So I decided to go to the main office in Shuwaikh, parking was easy to find. Upon entering the `building, the clerk told me to my amazement, that this facility does not process packages and I should go back to Kuwait city. Rants… Traffic back again trying to find that elusive parking spot another 15 minutes and lady luck smiled. I parked and entered the building. There were 15 people inside the building all standing in a corner eating sweets and not even acknowledging my existence. A lady came to me after an excruciating 10 minutes, she asked how she could help. I showed her the package and explained the need to send it to the US registered. No problem you need to go home and cover it with white paper and write your return address. I started loosing it, I explained it took me an hour to find a parking place and no way she is sending me home again, can’t you fix it here? She consented and called Babu, I explained to him what needs to be done. Babu called his assistant and both worked on covering my box, took them 20 minutes. In the meantime I was looking around and noticed that all the employees disappeared. The office is in a bad condition, paint peeling all over the ceiling, an old metal detector machine gathering dust, really a depressing place to work at. Babu gave me the package at last, got it registered and walked out with a sigh of relief, hoping that my ordeal was over, or is it? Only time will tell if the package will reach its destination and I bet you there will be no way of tracking it. For how long will people endure with such services, I guess the last time someone maintained this building was in the early 90’s.

Kuwait 2008 Crime & Safety Report

This is an extract of a report from OSAC.

The Department of State rates Kuwait as low threat for crime. The incidence of crime in Kuwait City remains low. Of particular concern is an alarming number of incidents involving persons impersonating police officers and then assaulting victims, who are primarily third-country nationals (TCNs) and who are more susceptible to intimidation. Violent crime is primarily confined within the TCN community, which comprises the majority of the manual labor force in Kuwait: approximately two-thirds of Kuwait’s residents.Incidents of harassment and road rage, although infrequent, do occur and appear to be on the rise. Females have reported being occasionally accosted or harassed by Arab or South Asian males, particularly while driving alone in the early morning or late night hours. I for one question the accuracy of this report, read it and give your feed back. Click here.

What the heck is wrong with the weather?

Today my wife and I decided to take a ride on the Harleys, big mistake, the temperature at 7:30am was on the rise and registered 38 degrees in my car. I thought it might get cooler when we rode, however I did not expect it to hit 42 degrees. I bumped into Marzook in Marina around 9:30, he was hastily heading for his KTM and heading home. After breakfast and meeting up with the rest of the gang, we headed for a quick ride on the Gulf direction free zone, my wife was dizzy riding, around 11:30 we had to stop for some water at Starbucks and decided to call it a day and headed home on the fourth. Damn this heat for how long do we have to suffer.

Fixed line numbers in Kuwait will change to 8 digits

Starting the 17th of October 2008, all mobile and fixed line numbers in Kuwait will change to 8 digits.All mobile and will change from 7 digits to 8 on the Introduction fixed line numbers digits 17th of October 2008.

Please click on the pictures below to review full details.

MOI Installs New Cameras

MOI installs in car cameras: The Interior Ministry has put in use new advanced digital cameras fixed in patrol cars on experimental basis to monitor the streets for traffic violations and traffic crimes committed by motorists, reports Al-Qabas daily quoting knowledgeable security sources.It has been reported these cameras, which are linked to the Operations Control Room, can take pictures from all directions.

El Superbeasto vs Nightster (You be the judge)

Superbeasto hits the road!

Today was one of the first outings with Kuwait HOG, the weather was great at 8:00am, however by 11:30am I was cooking under the helmet. We decided to head home, but I did manage to take some shots & videos of wife on the Nightrain.

Thumbs Up Tristar

Tri-Star is getting serious in attracting new and seasoned riders through their new website, although the site is at its infancy stages, it is a great effort from a local dealer in Kuwait, I like their events corner and their technical articles. Great Job guys keep it up. Link

Kuwait takes 3rd place in car death accident.

Based on Al-Watan Daily"Kuwait ranks third in the number of deaths caused due to road accidents and statistics show that an average of 124 accidents take place every day in the country," Chairman of Traffic Safety Society and Member of High Council for Traffic Bader Al-Matar as saying. Speaking at a press conference held at the Council Center in Al-Shuwaikh Tuesday, Al-Matar said a total of 45,376 accidents took place in 2003, averaging 124 accidents per day and killing 372 people. "In 2004, 55,000 traffic accidents took place and caused death of 400 people," he said, adding 32.5 percent cases were reported in Capital Governorate, followed by Hawalli with 27 percent accidents. In 2005, 57,000 traffic accidents were reported, out of which 30 percent were reported in Capital Governorate, followed by Hawalli with 25 percent. As many as 455 people died in road accidents in 2005.

We should really be proud of this achievement and really should strive to take first spot next year! Kidding aside. What the hell is beeing done to bring people awareness to a level of responsability, to understand that cars are not missiles to be given to teenagers to show their driving capabilities on the Gulf Road. When will the government establish a race course allowing speed hungry youth to unfold their talents. When will they spend money on a shock and awe campaign in the media uncovering the dangers of speeding, I guess the answer is never, life is cheap and wasta is cheaper.

Meanwhile drive safe, wear a helmet and always look in your mirrors you never know you might be the next victim.

Sarouna El-Muzainy

I recieved this email this morning, actually Saroona is a boy that has undergone a sex change. Or that could be prank, you be the judge.

Aramex improved service

It seems that Aramex has improved their delivery service, my items were shipped from my US box on the 25th and arrived into Kuwait on the 28th thats 3 days only!! This is a great achievement. Keep up the good service Aramex.

Mall of Kuwait

It seems that Kuwait is trying to catch up with Dubai, unfortunately there no skying slopes.... Located between the two main highways linking Kuwait City to the south, the Mall of Kuwait in the Sabahiya area will have a massive retail area of 150,000 square meters. Designed to capture the imagination of the nation, it will be surrounded by gardens, water bodies and some of the most extensive leisure and dining facilities.

Kuwait Bike Show 2007

Today was a great riding day, we woke up at 7:30, warmed up the bikes and headed up on the 50 Highway to Subhan, exit on the 40 to Ahmadi down to Starbucks Hilton, Mocca and Latte for one hour, back up Fahaheel, my wife got the hang of her Night Train, 140 KM/H racing me up to Messila. We picked up the kids and headed to Sharq Water Front to attend the Bike Show organised by HD. A good turned out lots of competitors from Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi and of course Kuwait. Lunch with the gang then watched the award ceremony. Overall great week end.I will be posting the picture from the show in the upcoming days.

Kuwait 4th Bike Show 2007 Location: Souq Sharq

Best Custom - Must have a Harley engine & frame
Best Softail - FX
Best Softail - FL
Best Dyna
Best Spotster
Best Touring
Best V-Rod
Best Paint Job

Salhiya Bomb Threat

Now if you think Kuwait lacks excitement in Summer, think again, today at 13:00, around 6 police officers from the Ministry of Interior, showed up into our offices in Al-Sahab Tower and ordered us to vacate the premises, once outside we were surrounded by 7 police cars, yellow tape around the building, bomb squad, sniffer dogs you name it. And I thought this would be a calm summer, no place is safe anymore on earth, from your favorite vacation spot to your daily work desk. I hope this is an isolated case. Update 16:26 it was a false alarm as expected, good thing too... Link