Al Tahalof Youtube Channel

To watch the rest of the videos, click here!



Thanks Dana :-)

IVR - Again

I received another email today about something I posted some time ago regarding Zain's IVR. Wonder if its true!


Thanks Zona ;-)

Chicken Nuggets, The Term

My coworker asked me... what would be a good definition for "Chicken Nuggets" in Kuwait. Below is what I came up with.... any additions/suggestions?

The term “Chicken Nuggets” refers to a group of Kuwaiti people who uses English as their mother language. Those people cannot say a full sentence in Arabic without having to switch to English at least once per sentence. In most cases those Chicken Nuggets went to private schools and/or studied abroad in the States/Europe. In rare cases there are those who would just adapt to the group by the surroundings or for the sake of being “in”. Some see it as a phenomena, others see it as an evolution.

UPDATE on Déjà Vu

Earlier today I posted two videos under the title Déjà Vu. I was not so happy about Oqsim being somehow the copy of Obama's I Pledge campaign.

On Oqsim blog they mention that they got inspired by "I Pledge" Campaign!

Thank you Aurous.

Domino Effect!

OK... so maybe I am in a posting mood these days! I am not sure its gonna stay this way but anyhow I had a loooooooooooooooooooong day yesterday!

I left home around 7:40ishAM and went to work... stayed there till around 4:10PM. I called a few guy friends to ask them about the procedure to take when I need to get my car fixed, specially when its a case against an unknown person....

So I went to the police station at around 4:30PM to report the hit-and-run and the investigator wasnt there. I was asked to come after an hour or so. I called a friend of mine and we decided to meet for coffee... I went to Soug Sharg -the closest to where I was- to kill that hour. I first went to Debenhams, got to the makeup section and an older man (in his late 50s-early 60s maybe) wispered something to me... something like "follow me... " and I could not understand a word he said. I figured maybe he talked to me by mistake thinking I am his daughter or something.. The guy started to follow me, as I was holding a couple of pieces of clothes he would stand few meters away from me and wait! I decided to leave immediately.

At the cashier my friend called and asked me to meet at the cafe. The cashiers started to whisper things about that freaky man who was follwing me and asked if I knew him cuz he was waiting for me AGAIN! I told them that I did not know the guy! So an employee of Debenhams walked me to my car (WTG Al Shaya) *phew*

At the cafe, I ordered something to drink till it was time to go to the police station again... I went in and there were few cases ahead of me... Many of you are propably wondering why I went alone without a male relative! Well, its because I dont have brothers and we have some sort of family health issue and I felt it was selfish for me to ask someone to come with me while they have something more important to worry about....

When it was my turn to go in the investigator's office, he wasnt really paying attention... his eyes were locked up the TV screen hanged on the wall! It pissed me off! Apparently some important match/scores were on and he was more interested in that than in listening to me! He even asked if I was parked far away, which I was, so he was like "hmmm did you take a picture of it?" and "Can I just trust your description of the accident!?" And thats what he did! He did not even bother to look at the damaged part!! VIVA LA SYSTEM! LOL

By the time I got back home it was around 7:30PM... which is almost exactly 12 hours later... and thats when I had time to eat "lunch"!

Déjà Vu

I saw this video on buzberry this morning....
What do you guys think! "Oqsim" copied it!!



and our version...

UPDATE:

They mention on their blog that they got inspired by Obama's "I Pledge".. I will prepare a post for that ;-)

Vintage Ads

Accident!

As I was driving North on Gulf Road earlier this afternoon... A white car was swerving between cars.. the driver was a total idiot/maniac and was recklessly driving. Suddenly his car hit another on the same road, but he just sped off! A total hit and run in the day light! Nice! I was able to spot his plate numbers and it was too late for me to stop and aid the other car, so I just called 777...

First time the line got disconnected after ringing more than four times..
I redialed and finally I got an answer... a very "helpful" lady!

777: Hello, how can I help you?
Me: Hello.. I hope all is well, I was driving on Gulf Rd between............ (I told her the story)
777: And?
Me: Nothing, I am just reporting an accident that I witnessed and I have the plate numbers?
777: What do you want me to do with the plate number?
Me: Excuse me?
777: The people involved in the accident should go to the police station!
Me: It was a hit and run!!!!
777: Sorry, but I cant take the plate number and I cant do anything about it
Me: OK! Thanks!!!
777: You're welcome

HUH!!!!!

The Police!

I was driving to Taiba Clinic with my sister and two cops were doing their random checks.. he stopped me, and I had my driver's license ready for him

Cop: la7tha la7tha hehehe gabl ma ta36eeni el leesan... entay kentay rab6a 7zaamich wela shifteeni o khiftay o reba6teeh hehehe (hehehe were you wearing your seatbelt the whole time or did you just put it on when you saw me? hehehe)
Ansam: La kent labseta wila chan fih alarm (No I was wearing it before I saw you, otherwise the alarm would've been on!)
Cop: el alarm ye7en wela ye6en? hehehe (what sound does the alarm make?)
Ansam: na3am? (excuse me?)
Cop: shfeeki khayfa yalla etfathelay hehehehe ma3a essalama (why are you nervouse... go ahead hehehe bye)

WTH!

Interesting

I saw this city cruiser/scooter in Kuwait City.... Interesting, isn't it? I laughed so hard with my sister because the driver was wearing Kuwaiti custom full with the head gear (ghetra/head cloth+ ogal/head band)!

Do you know what this is all about?

Oh and by the way... the Arabic writing translates to "dont make traffic jams an issue/problem!"

Caste System!

I was out with my friend, Joanne, when she said something about the caste system.... IN KUWAIT!

Ansam: What? Caste system in Kuwait? Really??
Jo: Uh huh!!!!!
Ansam: You think?
Jo: YEAH! Come on... Sunnis? Shiites? Social classes?
Ansam: Its not THAT bad
Jo: Yes it is
Ansam: Not really!?
Jo: Would your parents let you marry someone outside your social class or marry someone with different religious beliefs or sectors!?
Ansam: Well.... if you put it this way.. hmmm
Jo: You see?!! You DO have caste system in Kuwait!
Ansam: Its everywhere but its not that bad in here in Kuwait! We dont have the outcastes - "untouchables"!!!!
Jo: BEDOUNS!!! They are not allowed to travel or go to school or even work!!!!
Ansam (silent)
Jo: See!! There you go!


What do you all think? Do we have "Caste System*" in Kuwait?

*I studied about the caste system back in college in one of my anthropology classes, you can click on it above to learn more.

The Paper Dump

"Ever thrown away a brochure, a leaflet, or a take-away menu thinking you wouldn’t need it again and ended up regretting it later on? The Paper Dump is exactly what the name suggests: a place where scraps of paper can be stored digitally so that you or anybody else can resort to them for or reference or information"

I am loving this idea a lot ;-)

What Do You Think?

Thanks Powder!

Re: Signs

More than a year ago I blogged about Signs in Kuwait.

I wrote this:


"Gulf Road changes first to Blajat Street and then to "Cooperative Road"!! OK so, why Cooperative and not Al Ta'awon? Cooperative Road sounds funny to me!! And why not Khaleej Road!?!!? I mean worldwide the street names wont get translated into other languages!! Its a name! I dont say my name in Breeze in English! I am still Ansam, in all languages!!!"

Guess what? With the new construction in Al Beda'a area, I saw a new sign with "Al Ta'awon" (I cant remember how they spelled it) instead of Cooperative!!!! I will try to snap a pic when I pass by the new sign :-) and I was thrilled cuz I really wanted it to change!!! YAY for me!

Click here for my last year "Signs" post

Blocking Youtube!

I think this is the dumbest decision ever made when it comes to blocking offensive sites... whats next? Blogs!!! Limewire!!!

Man this is ridiculous... no, no, no... its is ridiculously sad! Who comes up with such decisions! Isnt youtube also full of videos supporting Islam, Muslims, and Arabs! Why take the negative part?!?! Was it because of the Quranic verses read in melodic background? The video was removed for God's sake? You only need to report offensive videos and your voice will sure be heard!

I am hating this SO MUCH! Ughhhhhhhhh!


UPDATE: They canceled! Its not blocked... YAY

Gulf Region Facing Tsunami Threat

I read this earlier today on Intlxpatr's blog.

Expert warns of powerful earthquakes in Strait of Hormuz

Al Watan staff

KUWAIT: A leading Kuwaiti expert on earthquakes has warned that the Gulf region may face a devastating earthquake that could measure 7.0 on the Richter scale and cause a devastating tsunami.

Dr. Feryal BuRabee said the prospect of such an eventuality is great, particularly since repeated earthquakes have been reported in the Hormuz Strait.

Stressing that such a forecast must be taken seriously; the expert said the shallowness of the area where the earthquakes took place makes the possibility of repeat earthquake very likely.

"Though there were no huge losses from the 6.0 degree earthquake that took place on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008, experts should realize that such a sequential order of earthquakes began since early August and still continues to date," said BuRabee.

She recalled that an earthquake measuring 5.7, which is part of this sequential order of quakes, took place on Sept. 17.


To read the full article, click here.

IVR - Zain

I dont know if this is true, but that picture above is of ZAIN's (formerly MTC) IVR Man:

“The mobile has been switched off, or out of the coverage area. Please try later”


He has been the IVR for the longest time ever! Ever wondered how he looked like? LOL :-P

Can anyone confirm this?

Serivce Charge is NOT Illegal

Yes.. You read it right, service charge in restaurants in Kuwait is NOT illegal! I called 135 earlier today myself and inquired about it. He explained that a service charge around 10-15% charge is not illegal, in fact its an exchange of service for them to provide you with table, bread, butter, and sometimes water.. that kinda service when you DINE IN the restaurant!

Reason I called them up is because I kept receiving this email that has been circulating around, and also a facebook message about it.

So just to clarify things... its legal :-)

Official Noor Ban

So now that thttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifhey are out of ideas and real problems to discuss *sarcasm* they are banning all kind of school bags, stationary, and equipment that has Noor and Mohannad pictures on'em! Yeah and all other stuff with "famous" celebrities on'em! No student is allowed to enter the school with'em!

Way to go on having this piece of news in the front page! BIG news huh? Go figure!


Click here for original article.

Outdoor Harrods café and downtown Kuwait

All I gotta say... "THIS IS LANDAN!!! Not jeleeb shyookh!" :-P

As received by email
Thanks Dan-Dana


***********************


Harrods café? Not in our back yard, say wealthy neighbours

Robert Mendick, Chief Reporter
13.08.08

Millionaire residents of Knightsbridge are threatening legal action against Harrods, claiming its new outdoor café has made their neighbourhood resemble 'downtown Kuwait'.

Protesters including bankers, aristocrats and international businessmen gathered outside the department store to demonstrate their anger over the opening of Ladurée cafe at its rear three weeks ago.
They claim it has led to traffic gridlock and noise as well as helping to attract prostitutes, drug dealers and beggars to the area.
The pavement outside the café has been widened by several feet to accommodate customers paying £15 for a club sandwich - but in the process it has narrowed the road, causing mayhem, say the objectors.
Farih Tabbah, a Jordanian businessmen who is orchestrating the protest, said he would meet lawyers this week in a bid to overturn planning permission for the café, which was granted by Kensington and Chelsea council. He plans to seek a judicial review in the hope of having Ladurée shut down.
Mr Tabbah, 56, who lives in a £5 million house in Walton Place, opposite the café, said: 'It's worse than Piccadilly Circus - it's more like downtown Kuwait. They have taken away part of the road and all they have done is increase the traffic. The result is the biggest gridlock in central London. The traffic is at a standstill from 5pm. I cannot even sit in my own garden because of the noise.'
In two hours outside the café the Evening Standard witnessed near-permanent gridlock, with cars parked illegally on street corners, and a constant queue for tables at Ladurée. Many of the high-performance cars going past had numberplates from Kuwait, Qatar and United Arab Emirates.
Faisal Naif, 23, from Qatar, a passenger in a Lamborghini which went by at least four times, said: 'What can I say? I cannot make the engine quieter.'
Martin Diggle, 46, a fund manager who lives opposite Mr Tabbah, said: 'It is blighting the area. My children get woken up at night by the noise. I have even seen fistfights caused by road rage. It is an absolute farce.'
Actress Helen Forbes-Watt, 52, whose husband was a chief economist at the UN, said: 'The noise is driving us mad. It's like living in the middle of Brands Hatch. It starts at 5pm and goes on until 11pm. I rang Harrods and they told me they have 28 restaurants inside the building.'
A petition circulated by Mr Tabbah claims the cafés in the area are attracting 'street buskers... beggars and drunkards... prostitutes and drug dealers' and even 'salesmen selling pornographic materials and other illegal merchandise'.
The café, at the corner of Hans Road and Basil Street, was given permission to run for five years to have 25 tables and 100 chairs, and to have the pavement widened. It is a branch of a famous Paris chain. The manager, who refused to give his name, said: 'You should talk to Harrods. We are just operating the concession for them. But we are really sorry for the noise it is causing in the neighbourhood.'
Harrods' owner Mohamed Fayed spoke with Mr Tabbah yesterday to say the store was doing all it could to minimise noise and other disruption. A Harrods spokeswoman said: 'Mr Fayed always likes to reassure residents personally where appropriate and will contact them personally. Our managing director has also spoken to Mr Tabbah and sought to reassure him we take his concerns seriously. Obviously this is a new venture and we are always open to discussion about how to manage it effectively. But we have planning permission to extend the pavement and this is a very busy time for Harrods. Many of our Middle Eastern customers choose to come at this time of year.'

She denied the café had encouraged prostitution or drug dealing.


UPDATE
Original Article