By Meshary Al-Ruwaih
* He would be arrogant, still likable and has many friends.
* He would be lazy, but has a lot of potential that could be realised only if he works hard.
* While raised properly, he would be spoiled and lacking some manners.
* He would be rich, yet has no plans of how to sustain his income.
* He would be spiritual, yet maintains playful lifestyle.
* He would love women, a lot, still shows his woman no sign of respect.
* He would live an incoherent life, mismanage his affairs, and always say to himself "everything will sort itself out".
* He would borrow money to buy a nice car, trendy clothes, and then cry at his mounting debts and ask his uncle to pay them.
* Finally he would live in a beautiful house from the outside, ugly from the inside and has neither electricity nor water.
Poor guy, I don't know if he's going to make it through life.
Taken from here.
Now the question that needs to be asked is, what if Kuwait was a girl?
2006-08-30
2006-08-28
2006-08-27
Villas in Kuwait - Is Size Important?
Land is very expensive in Kuwait. The goverment distrbutes land to Kuwaiti citizens and a loan to build a house. The land allocation given was for a long long time was 1,000 meters squared. A few years later, the land area was reduced to 750 meters squared, then down to 500 meters squared, then 350 meters squared.
On a related note, Kuwait ‘to build’ 68,000 homes to ease shortage.
Maybe one day, we might be allocated land that is 3 meters by 20 meters and need to build houses like these.
On a related note, Kuwait ‘to build’ 68,000 homes to ease shortage.
Maybe one day, we might be allocated land that is 3 meters by 20 meters and need to build houses like these.
2006-08-26
NOO - not the iPod
A suspicious package found in an aircraft washroom on a flight from Chicago on Tuesday afternoon brought out Ottawa police canine and bomb-disposal units.
It turned out to be an iPod. You can expect iPod being banned on flights and will need to settle for 70s hits from the airplanes armrest radio.
The full article is here.
It turned out to be an iPod. You can expect iPod being banned on flights and will need to settle for 70s hits from the airplanes armrest radio.
The full article is here.
Want to know what happened to your 200KD?
Do you want to know what happened to your 200 KD that is being distributed to all Kuwaitis? Go here and enter your Civil ID number.
I just went and what I got was:
I just went and what I got was:
2006-08-25
If you ever go to Starbucks...
If you ever go to Starbucks, ask for the "short cappuccino". According to this BBC article, it is a better coffee and it is not advertised or put on the menu because Starbucks does not make as much money as the other items on the menu. Try it out and tell me what you think.
Writing Fiction - Part III
Writing Fiction - Part I is here.
Writing Fiction - Part II is here.
What structure must you follow in writing your fiction? There are no hard and fast rules, a lot of talented authors just sit down in with their feather quill, biro pen or word processor and produce masterpieces. A lot of successful stories follow a standard structure. Carolyn Wheat defines it as the Four-Arc System for Organizing your Novel.
Basically, the structure starts off with a Ten Minute Hook, which is an opening scene that is similar to a very short story and gets the reader's attention. It is like a quick look in the book's world and sets the tone for what is coming. I noticed this is also done in movies. It could be a scene from the past or a different location and makes you wonder what this has to do with the overall story, it becomes clearer as the story unfolds and reaches its climax.
The book is divided into four parts or Arcs with each Arc having a specific purpose.
The First Arc sets up the problem, the event that gets the story started. The book characters are introduced here. The characters' needs, quirks and conflicts are also established. The subplot is started. No flashbacks are allowed in the first Arc, the reader is only told what he must know. You end the First Arc one with a crisis, a scene that changes everything and sends the main character pursuing a new goal.
The Second Arc. Flashbacks are allowed here but only to emphasize the present. The main character takes one step forward and two steps back towards his goal. Each gain leads to a bigger loss. The subplot deepens. Character conflicts start and grow. A deadline is set where all would be lost if not reached on time.
Arc Two ends with feelings of desperation and helplessness. The character changes his approach from reactive to proactive, from emotionally detached to passionately involved. The character can only move forward with full force.
The Third Arc has a quicker pace. Sentences are shorter and action packed. The story moves into overdrive. Events come together; subplots are resolved in the end. The character's need to reach his goals increases greatly with every step forward. The deadline gets closer and closer. The character is challenged and learns and grows from his experience for the ultimate confrontation.
The Third Arc ends with a crisis, either the lowest point possible or a life and death confrontation to solve the problem.
The Fourth Arc is the grand finale, the confrontation between good and evil and only one will remain standing. Subplots are resolved and support the main plot. The character undergoes internal and external transformation. Something he might not have done at the beginning of the story, he would do now after learning from his experiences and becoming a better person inside and outside. Introduce an ending situation that brings the story to a full circle with the beginning if possible.
Looking back at the Arc structure described here, I can recognize a lot of excellent books and Television episodes that follow that same pattern. I especailly like the part where when Evil has been vanquished, the last scene shows that Evil still exists, weakened, defeated but starting again in a full circle just like the start of the plot.
Writing Fiction - Part II is here.
What structure must you follow in writing your fiction? There are no hard and fast rules, a lot of talented authors just sit down in with their feather quill, biro pen or word processor and produce masterpieces. A lot of successful stories follow a standard structure. Carolyn Wheat defines it as the Four-Arc System for Organizing your Novel.
Basically, the structure starts off with a Ten Minute Hook, which is an opening scene that is similar to a very short story and gets the reader's attention. It is like a quick look in the book's world and sets the tone for what is coming. I noticed this is also done in movies. It could be a scene from the past or a different location and makes you wonder what this has to do with the overall story, it becomes clearer as the story unfolds and reaches its climax.
The book is divided into four parts or Arcs with each Arc having a specific purpose.
The First Arc sets up the problem, the event that gets the story started. The book characters are introduced here. The characters' needs, quirks and conflicts are also established. The subplot is started. No flashbacks are allowed in the first Arc, the reader is only told what he must know. You end the First Arc one with a crisis, a scene that changes everything and sends the main character pursuing a new goal.
The Second Arc. Flashbacks are allowed here but only to emphasize the present. The main character takes one step forward and two steps back towards his goal. Each gain leads to a bigger loss. The subplot deepens. Character conflicts start and grow. A deadline is set where all would be lost if not reached on time.
Arc Two ends with feelings of desperation and helplessness. The character changes his approach from reactive to proactive, from emotionally detached to passionately involved. The character can only move forward with full force.
The Third Arc has a quicker pace. Sentences are shorter and action packed. The story moves into overdrive. Events come together; subplots are resolved in the end. The character's need to reach his goals increases greatly with every step forward. The deadline gets closer and closer. The character is challenged and learns and grows from his experience for the ultimate confrontation.
The Third Arc ends with a crisis, either the lowest point possible or a life and death confrontation to solve the problem.
The Fourth Arc is the grand finale, the confrontation between good and evil and only one will remain standing. Subplots are resolved and support the main plot. The character undergoes internal and external transformation. Something he might not have done at the beginning of the story, he would do now after learning from his experiences and becoming a better person inside and outside. Introduce an ending situation that brings the story to a full circle with the beginning if possible.
Looking back at the Arc structure described here, I can recognize a lot of excellent books and Television episodes that follow that same pattern. I especailly like the part where when Evil has been vanquished, the last scene shows that Evil still exists, weakened, defeated but starting again in a full circle just like the start of the plot.
a Million Thank you's
Have you been good to yourself today? Have you been nice to someone? Have you done a job well? Have you been reading my blog every day ? Well you deserve a Million Thank you's.
2006-08-24
Doctors on TV
Doctors on TV are extremely professional. I love watching these hospital shows on TV like ER, especially when someone goes to surgery. The level of professionalism is amazing. Those surgeon doctors hold the life of their patient in their hands as they fix the patient's open insides. The cleanliness in the operating room is also incredible, to avoid infecting the patient, surgical robes and instruments are used once and then thrown away. The room is irradiated and gassed prior to surgery to ensure that any evil microorganism is destroyed and will not affect the patient under the knife.
Too bad this is Television; the real world is slightly different.
Too bad this is Television; the real world is slightly different.
Writing Fiction - Part II
Writing Fiction - Part I is here.
The setting for your fiction work needs to be interesting. It could be be a peaceful idyllic place where the order of things has been disturbed by a brutal event like a murder, or it could be a bad corrupt world where wrongs happen in every dark corner. You need to take the reader into this new world and have him wanting to return again and again. Do not fill him with details and lose the point of the book which is solving the crime but make him familiar gradually with this new perspective on the hero's world.
Good advice from Carolyn Wheat is "Write what you love", deconstruct the books you read. What did you like in this book? Was it the new world you discovered? Was it the obscure scientific fact that made what was on first sight impossible, possible and plausible? was it the protagonist's overcoming his human failings and succeeding?
Think from the criminal's perspective. What made him commit the crime? how did he plan for it? how did he cover himself? did he get the right guy? is he an insider or outsider to the protagonist's world? Is he still active and commiting more crimes? Once that is clear you can shape your story from the protagonist's view.
The event that the story revolves around does not need to be a crime, it could be a heart broken and the girl's way of getting revenge and finding her prince charming all at the same time. It could be someone righting a wrong in a corrupt world.
The setting for your fiction work needs to be interesting. It could be be a peaceful idyllic place where the order of things has been disturbed by a brutal event like a murder, or it could be a bad corrupt world where wrongs happen in every dark corner. You need to take the reader into this new world and have him wanting to return again and again. Do not fill him with details and lose the point of the book which is solving the crime but make him familiar gradually with this new perspective on the hero's world.
Good advice from Carolyn Wheat is "Write what you love", deconstruct the books you read. What did you like in this book? Was it the new world you discovered? Was it the obscure scientific fact that made what was on first sight impossible, possible and plausible? was it the protagonist's overcoming his human failings and succeeding?
Think from the criminal's perspective. What made him commit the crime? how did he plan for it? how did he cover himself? did he get the right guy? is he an insider or outsider to the protagonist's world? Is he still active and commiting more crimes? Once that is clear you can shape your story from the protagonist's view.
The event that the story revolves around does not need to be a crime, it could be a heart broken and the girl's way of getting revenge and finding her prince charming all at the same time. It could be someone righting a wrong in a corrupt world.
Tangled up in Blue
Bob Dylan, I think, is an acquired taste, he is not much of a singer but a great composer. He has got great songs that a lot of people covered. Usually, when you hear a cover, the original is much better. In Bob's case, the people covering him sound better than him. Take a listen, which version of the classic "Tangled up in Blue" is better?
Covered by KT Tunstall
The Original Bob Dylan
Covered by KT Tunstall
The Original Bob Dylan
2006-08-22
Writing Fiction - Part I
When something interests me, I live it, I dream it, I Google it, I surround myself with books about it. Among my multitude of current interests is about how to write captivating fiction. Another interest is ruby on rails, but that deserves another ultra nerdy post.
I got my hands on different books about how to write fiction. I can easily produce a short mediocre fictional story, but it is different when an expert helps you deconstruct a story and guides you into building a better one. Imagine visiting a museum with masterpieces hanging on the walls. You can appreciate the Artist's skills and mastery, but with an art expert or guide by your side, the history of the painting, what the artist felt at the time, what the use of colors mean, why are the brush strokes bold or scattered, all the little nuances that affect you subliminally, when appreciating art, are revealed.
I just finished reading the first few pages of "How to Write Killer Fiction" by Carolyn Wheat and already I began noticing things about fiction books and movies I have seen.
One of the things mentioned is that the protagonist is seldom a Superman; he is always imperfect with bad flaws and major weaknesses and even worse off than everyone around him. He has big problems, and is thrown in a situation where he needs to overcome his problems and solve the mystery at the same time. You end up rooting for the hero, wanting this miserable underdog to succeed, clenching your teeth when he goes into a potential fatal situation known to you but unknown to him and cheering for him when he manages to escape from the jaws of death and solving the mystery in one fell swoop.
I will sign off with the first lines of Carolyn's book:
THE BEST ADVICE on writing I've ever seen came from a fictional character. Seymour Glass, J.D. Salinger's cryptic antihero, tells his brother, Buddy, an aspiring writer: "You think of the book you'd most like to be reading, and then you site down and shamelessly write it."
I got my hands on different books about how to write fiction. I can easily produce a short mediocre fictional story, but it is different when an expert helps you deconstruct a story and guides you into building a better one. Imagine visiting a museum with masterpieces hanging on the walls. You can appreciate the Artist's skills and mastery, but with an art expert or guide by your side, the history of the painting, what the artist felt at the time, what the use of colors mean, why are the brush strokes bold or scattered, all the little nuances that affect you subliminally, when appreciating art, are revealed.
I just finished reading the first few pages of "How to Write Killer Fiction" by Carolyn Wheat and already I began noticing things about fiction books and movies I have seen.
One of the things mentioned is that the protagonist is seldom a Superman; he is always imperfect with bad flaws and major weaknesses and even worse off than everyone around him. He has big problems, and is thrown in a situation where he needs to overcome his problems and solve the mystery at the same time. You end up rooting for the hero, wanting this miserable underdog to succeed, clenching your teeth when he goes into a potential fatal situation known to you but unknown to him and cheering for him when he manages to escape from the jaws of death and solving the mystery in one fell swoop.
I will sign off with the first lines of Carolyn's book:
THE BEST ADVICE on writing I've ever seen came from a fictional character. Seymour Glass, J.D. Salinger's cryptic antihero, tells his brother, Buddy, an aspiring writer: "You think of the book you'd most like to be reading, and then you site down and shamelessly write it."
2006-08-21
2006-08-19
Ya Ghali suing Ya Ali
Remember Ya Ghali by our very own Kuwaiti group Guitara?
Well it was "borrowed" for a Hindi movie and renamed Ya Ali and is now a mega hit.
The Guitara guys are pissed off and now are taking legal action.
Kuwait-based Guitara band - backed by a Saudi prince - is all set to take legal action against the makers of Ya Ali for lifting their tune.
Bollywood has done it again. Lifting a tune, that is. But this time over, along with the success of the song, they have also earned the wrath of the Prince of the Saudi Arabian royal family who owns the company that has produced the original Arabic song Ya Ghali, which apparently has been plagiarised to come up with the Gangster chartbuster, Ya Ali.
You can be the judge and jury, here is the original Guitara song - Ya Ghali
Here is the Hindi version, Ya Ali
Rip off or innocent creativity?
I think they sound very similar, but the indian video is much better, it has a heart broken singer, pretty lady, guns and police chases. The Guitara video is more like fixing your car in Shuweikh il Sina3iya.
Well it was "borrowed" for a Hindi movie and renamed Ya Ali and is now a mega hit.
The Guitara guys are pissed off and now are taking legal action.
Kuwait-based Guitara band - backed by a Saudi prince - is all set to take legal action against the makers of Ya Ali for lifting their tune.
Bollywood has done it again. Lifting a tune, that is. But this time over, along with the success of the song, they have also earned the wrath of the Prince of the Saudi Arabian royal family who owns the company that has produced the original Arabic song Ya Ghali, which apparently has been plagiarised to come up with the Gangster chartbuster, Ya Ali.
You can be the judge and jury, here is the original Guitara song - Ya Ghali
Here is the Hindi version, Ya Ali
Rip off or innocent creativity?
I think they sound very similar, but the indian video is much better, it has a heart broken singer, pretty lady, guns and police chases. The Guitara video is more like fixing your car in Shuweikh il Sina3iya.
2006-08-18
The Kuwait Towers
The Kuwait Towers are a Kuwaiti Landmark. The Towers are located on the Water Front. Built in 1979 these three towers have a dual function as both entertainment facilities and water reservoirs.
The largest tower has two spheres, the upper is a revolving observation deck with cafeteria and the lower sphere has 3 restaurants in the top part and a one million gallon water reservoir in the bottom.
The middle sized tower has another one million gallon water reservoir in the sphere and lastly the thin tower has 96 concealed spotlights which illuminate the other two towers and the surrounding area.
Dimensions
height of tower (1): 185 m
height of tower (2): 145.80 m
The Kuwait Towers under construction:
Satellite image of the Kuwait Towers:
The Kuwait Towers in its full completed glory:
The largest tower has two spheres, the upper is a revolving observation deck with cafeteria and the lower sphere has 3 restaurants in the top part and a one million gallon water reservoir in the bottom.
The middle sized tower has another one million gallon water reservoir in the sphere and lastly the thin tower has 96 concealed spotlights which illuminate the other two towers and the surrounding area.
Dimensions
height of tower (1): 185 m
height of tower (2): 145.80 m
The Kuwait Towers under construction:
Satellite image of the Kuwait Towers:
The Kuwait Towers in its full completed glory:
Position Available
Qualifications
If you feel the above describes you, then you can apply for a mission to Mars.
- Must be between 25 and 50
- Able to live in confined spaces for 700 days
- Must be healthy
- Good command of English and Russian
- University Graduate
- IT or Engineering Proffesional
- Living quarters will be provided
If you feel the above describes you, then you can apply for a mission to Mars.
Angry German Kid
A lot of home made videos are being viewed all over the net and have gained popularity based on weirdness. One of them was a fat guy singing Numa Numa, another was another fat boy showing his star wars light saber moves and a third was an angry german kid screaming at his screen and banging on his keyboard. Someone combined all these videos and put them together in a hilarious montage. Enjoy.
2006-08-17
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2006-08-16
Attention all Gadget Freaks
I admit, I love gadgets, and I always buy the latest as soon as it is out. For those of you who like gadgets here are some cool gadgets as compiled by Forbes Magazine.
Enjoy, and get your credit cards ready for some buying.
Enjoy, and get your credit cards ready for some buying.
2006-08-15
Important Announcement - youtube.com is down
You tube is back online, sorry for the inconvenience. :-)
We interrupt our regular blogging to bring you this important announcement, youtube.com, the popular video sharing site is down. Rumor on the net is it has crashed and they are frantically putting it back together again.
We interrupt our regular blogging to bring you this important announcement, youtube.com, the popular video sharing site is down. Rumor on the net is it has crashed and they are frantically putting it back together again.
Fun Things to do with Money
Got a little extra English Pound Notes, here are some fun things to with it:
The Shepherd and the Stranger
Once upon a time there was a shepherd looking after his sheep on the edge of a deserted road. Suddenly a brand new BMW screeches to a halt next to him.
The driver, a young man dressed in a Brioni suit, Cerrutti shoes, Ray-Ban glasses, and a YSL tie gets out and asks the shepherd: - "If I guess how many sheep you have, will you give me one of them?"
The shepherd looks at the young man, then looks at the sheep grazing and says: - "All right".
The young man parks the car, connects his Toshiba notebook and the mobile, enters a NASA site, scans the ground using his GPS, opens a data base and 60 Excel tables filled with algorithms, then prints a 150-pages report on his high-tech mini-printer. He then turns to the shepherd and says: - "You have exactly 1586 sheep"
The shepherd answers: - "That's correct, you can take your sheep."
The young man takes a sheep and puts in the back of his BMW. The shepherd looks at him and asks: - "If I guess your profession, will you return my animal to me?"
The young man answers: - "Yes, why not."
The shepherd says: - "You are a consultant "
"How did you know?" asks the young man.
"Very simple", answers the shepherd:
"First, you come here without being called.
Second, you charge me a sheep to tell me something I already knew.
Third, you do not understand anything about what I do, because you took my dog!"
The driver, a young man dressed in a Brioni suit, Cerrutti shoes, Ray-Ban glasses, and a YSL tie gets out and asks the shepherd: - "If I guess how many sheep you have, will you give me one of them?"
The shepherd looks at the young man, then looks at the sheep grazing and says: - "All right".
The young man parks the car, connects his Toshiba notebook and the mobile, enters a NASA site, scans the ground using his GPS, opens a data base and 60 Excel tables filled with algorithms, then prints a 150-pages report on his high-tech mini-printer. He then turns to the shepherd and says: - "You have exactly 1586 sheep"
The shepherd answers: - "That's correct, you can take your sheep."
The young man takes a sheep and puts in the back of his BMW. The shepherd looks at him and asks: - "If I guess your profession, will you return my animal to me?"
The young man answers: - "Yes, why not."
The shepherd says: - "You are a consultant "
"How did you know?" asks the young man.
"Very simple", answers the shepherd:
"First, you come here without being called.
Second, you charge me a sheep to tell me something I already knew.
Third, you do not understand anything about what I do, because you took my dog!"
2006-08-14
Thailand plans 1 free laptop per child
BANGKOK, Thailand - Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has announced that an ambitious project to provide low-cost laptop computers to all of Thailand's millions of elementary school students will begin in October.
I think this is an excellent idea, we should do the same in Kuwait. Our kids in Kuwait are very technology aware. They know all the ins and outs of their mobiles, understand how to set up an Internet connection and are Playstation game masters. Giving them a laptop will add to their technical skills. It is much better having light laptop bags to take to school instead of the 20 kg backpacks they haul around and end up with bent spines by the time they graduate. All their educational materials will be online or distributed as CD ROMs that they can load onto their laptops.
I also want to be very bold and allow laptops in exams with wireless Internet connections. That will help challenge teachers to teach kids how to understand, think and be creative instead of measuring their ability to memorize and recite endless pages of information that they will forget as soon as they finish their finals.
I think this is an excellent idea, we should do the same in Kuwait. Our kids in Kuwait are very technology aware. They know all the ins and outs of their mobiles, understand how to set up an Internet connection and are Playstation game masters. Giving them a laptop will add to their technical skills. It is much better having light laptop bags to take to school instead of the 20 kg backpacks they haul around and end up with bent spines by the time they graduate. All their educational materials will be online or distributed as CD ROMs that they can load onto their laptops.
I also want to be very bold and allow laptops in exams with wireless Internet connections. That will help challenge teachers to teach kids how to understand, think and be creative instead of measuring their ability to memorize and recite endless pages of information that they will forget as soon as they finish their finals.
2006-08-12
With a little luck
With a little luck we can help it out
We can make this whole damn thing work out.
With a little love we can lay it down
Can't you feel the town exploding.
There is no end to what we can do together
There is no end.
(complete lyrics)
U.N. Security Council votes to stop Lebanon war
We can make this whole damn thing work out.
With a little love we can lay it down
Can't you feel the town exploding.
There is no end to what we can do together
There is no end.
(complete lyrics)
U.N. Security Council votes to stop Lebanon war
Too much is never enough.
There are a lot of things where too much is never enough.
For some people it is money,
some people need speed,
others it is louder sound,
and others look for more and more fame.
For me it is screen space. I need a big desktop for my screen. I can never have enough desktop space for all my different open windows.
Maybe I need to fix something like this in my house.
For some people it is money,
some people need speed,
others it is louder sound,
and others look for more and more fame.
For me it is screen space. I need a big desktop for my screen. I can never have enough desktop space for all my different open windows.
Maybe I need to fix something like this in my house.
What you cannot bring with you when you fly
You all heard the news about those crazies that wanted to blow up airplanes flying between the UK and USA. Well the immediate consequence is that you are not allowed to carry essentials like iPods, Cafe Lattes, cell phones, laptop computers, etc. This is very sad. Long flights are extremely boring and now without your entertainment electronics and liquid essentials they will get more boring.
I predict, other airlines and flight routes will follow suit and start banning these liquid and electronic items.
Resurect the Titanic, I want to float instead of fly.
I predict, other airlines and flight routes will follow suit and start banning these liquid and electronic items.
Resurect the Titanic, I want to float instead of fly.
2006-08-11
2006-08-10
Eighties Videos
Remember the Eighties? Remember groups like Duran Duran, Eurythmics, Spandau Ballet and Freeez? Remember the wild hair styles and inventive videos?
Well if you don't remember, or are trying to forget the Eighties, here are 1,500 Eighties Music Videos.
Enjoy.
Well if you don't remember, or are trying to forget the Eighties, here are 1,500 Eighties Music Videos.
Enjoy.
Quick Talking Brit
For those of you still vacationing and you get approached while walking on a high street by a smartly dressed quick talking Brit, careful you might end up handing over all your prized possessions. Have a look at this video and you will know what I mean:
There is a technique to all of this and how to make it happen, you can read more about it here.
One last note, I am not responsible if you get beaten up trying this trick on a stranger in the street.
There is a technique to all of this and how to make it happen, you can read more about it here.
One last note, I am not responsible if you get beaten up trying this trick on a stranger in the street.
2006-08-09
2006-08-08
2006-08-05
Top 1000 songs of the last 30 years
Is your iPod feeling empty? is your iPod feeling sad? does it need music to brighten up its lonely life? Well here is a treat for you hard working ipod.
Here are the Top 1000 songs of the last 30 years.
The MP3 files are disguised as JPG files and you need to rename them after you download them.
Enjoy the music.
PS
After you download the file as music.JPG, you need to rename it to music.MP3
If you don't see the .JPG extension, you might have the file extensions hidden in windows, so you need to go to the menu of your folder and do Tools -> Folder Options, then select the View tab, scroll down till you find "Hide extension for known file types" and unselect it.
Thanks DR for pointing this out to me.
Here are the Top 1000 songs of the last 30 years.
The MP3 files are disguised as JPG files and you need to rename them after you download them.
Enjoy the music.
PS
After you download the file as music.JPG, you need to rename it to music.MP3
If you don't see the .JPG extension, you might have the file extensions hidden in windows, so you need to go to the menu of your folder and do Tools -> Folder Options, then select the View tab, scroll down till you find "Hide extension for known file types" and unselect it.
Thanks DR for pointing this out to me.
2006-08-04
Useless Facts but Interesting
- That Eskimos use refrigerators to keep food FROM freezing?
- The sentence "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." Uses every letter in the alphabet. (developed by Western Union to test telex/twx communications)
- In every episode of Seinfeld there is a Superman somewhere.
- A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why.
- The only 15 letter word that can be spelled without repeating a letter is uncopyrightable.
-
- Did you know that there are coffee flavored PEZ?
- The airplane Buddy Holly died in was the "American Pie." (Thus the name of the Don McLean song.)
- Nutmeg is extremely poisonous if injected intravenously.
- Only one person in two billion will live to be 116 or older.
- The name Wendy was made up for the book "Peter Pan."
-
- Thirty-five percent of the people who use personal ads for dating are already married.
- There is an average of 178 sesame seeds on a McDonald's Big Mac bun.
- The world's termites outweigh the world's humans 10 to 1.
- Pound for pound, hamburgers cost more than new cars.
- The 3 most valuable brand names on earth: Marlboro, Coca-Cola, and Budweiser, in that order.
- When Heinz ketchup leaves the bottle, it travels at a rate of 25 miles per year.
- It's possible to lead a cow upstairs...but not downstairs.
- Humans are the only primates that don't have pigment in the palms of their hands.
- Ten percent of the Russian government's income comes from the sale of vodka.
- Ninety percent of New York City cabbies are recently arrived immigrants.
- On average, 100 people choke to death on ballpoint pens every year.
- Average age of top GM executives in 1994: 49.8 years.
- Elephants can't jump. Every other mammal can.
- The cigarette lighter was invented before the match.
- Five Jell-O flavors that flopped: celery, coffee, cola, apple, and chocolate.
- Internationally, Baywatch is the most popular TV show in history.
2006-08-03
Papa John's Pizza in Kuwait
I went to Papa John's Pizza in Salmiyah, Kuwait. I read some good reccomendations on the different blogs about it, and I was driving around and saw a sign that said Baba Jones in Arabic, I thought it might have been a brand knockoff, but there it was in smaller letters, Papa John's Pizza. So I parked my car and walked in.
The place was relatively clean, there was one customer in front of me asking a lot about Papa John's like their working time, where they deliver, what ingredients they use, having each picture on the menu explained to him, how their call center operated, everything and anythnig except placing an order.
I waited politely behind him. Another Papa John's Pizzarista (is that the right word?) apeared and I gave him my order. The other guy was still interogating the first Pizzarista. They told me to wait 10 minutes for my Pizza to be ready.
I managed to get a few pictures from my Camera phone when everyones' back was turned.
Above is the preparation area where they make the dough. The pizza dough is actually tossed in the air. I wanted to take a picture of the dough being tossed but I was afraid the tosser might not catch it and then I would be eating pizza with a special blend of herbs and spices courtesy of the floor.
To my right is the cashier area where they take your dough (or Dinars).
The Pizza dough is taken next to the ingredients area where the different goodies are put on it.
Notice the Pizza ingredients highlighted in Capital letters, this helps the Pizzarista quickly follow what he needs to put on the Pizza according to the order received.
The Pizza took 20 minutes to prepare and then I got the pizza and rushed back home to eat it.
Here is the closed box.
Here is the Pizza, notice the yellow round plastic thingie on the side?
Well, that is Papa John's garlic sauce, very potent, do not use it if you plan on meeting other people later.
Now after wolfing down that Pizza, I need some coffee, so I am going out and getting some of this:
Don't Mess With Old Ladies
An older lady gets pulled over for speeding...
Older Woman: Is there a problem, Officer?
Officer: Ma'am, you were speeding.
Older Woman: Oh, I see.
Officer: Can I see your license please?
Older Woman: I'd give it to you but I don't have one.
Officer: Don't have one?
Older Woman: Lost it, 4 years ago for drunk driving.
Officer: I see...Can I see your vehicle registration papers please.
Older Woman: I can't do that.
Officer: Why not?
Older Woman: I stole this car.
Officer: Stole it?
Older Woman: Yes, and I killed and hacked up the owner.
Officer: You what?
Older Woman: His body parts are in plastic bags in the trunk if you want to see
The Officer looks at the woman and slowly backs away to his car and calls for back up. Within minutes 5 police cars circle the car. A senior officer slowly approaches the car, clasping his half drawn gun.
Officer 2: Ma'am, could you step out of your vehicle please!
The woman steps out of her vehicle.
Older woman: Is there a problem sir?
Officer 2: One of my officers told me that you have stolen this car and murdered the owner.
Older Woman:Murdered the owner?
Officer 2:Yes, could you please open the trunk of your car, please.
The woman opens the trunk, revealing nothing but an empty trunk.
Officer 2: Is this your car, ma'am?
Older Woman: Yes, here are the registration papers.
The officer is quite stunned.
Officer 2:One of my officers claims that you do not have a driving license.
The woman digs into her handbag and pulls out a clutch purse and hands it to the officer. The officer examines the license. He looks quite puzzled.
Officer 2: Thank you ma'am, one of my officers told me you didn't have a license,that you stole this car, and that you murdered and hacked up theowner.
Older Woman: Bet the liar told you I was speeding, too.
Don't Mess With Old Ladies
Older Woman: Is there a problem, Officer?
Officer: Ma'am, you were speeding.
Older Woman: Oh, I see.
Officer: Can I see your license please?
Older Woman: I'd give it to you but I don't have one.
Officer: Don't have one?
Older Woman: Lost it, 4 years ago for drunk driving.
Officer: I see...Can I see your vehicle registration papers please.
Older Woman: I can't do that.
Officer: Why not?
Older Woman: I stole this car.
Officer: Stole it?
Older Woman: Yes, and I killed and hacked up the owner.
Officer: You what?
Older Woman: His body parts are in plastic bags in the trunk if you want to see
The Officer looks at the woman and slowly backs away to his car and calls for back up. Within minutes 5 police cars circle the car. A senior officer slowly approaches the car, clasping his half drawn gun.
Officer 2: Ma'am, could you step out of your vehicle please!
The woman steps out of her vehicle.
Older woman: Is there a problem sir?
Officer 2: One of my officers told me that you have stolen this car and murdered the owner.
Older Woman:Murdered the owner?
Officer 2:Yes, could you please open the trunk of your car, please.
The woman opens the trunk, revealing nothing but an empty trunk.
Officer 2: Is this your car, ma'am?
Older Woman: Yes, here are the registration papers.
The officer is quite stunned.
Officer 2:One of my officers claims that you do not have a driving license.
The woman digs into her handbag and pulls out a clutch purse and hands it to the officer. The officer examines the license. He looks quite puzzled.
Officer 2: Thank you ma'am, one of my officers told me you didn't have a license,that you stole this car, and that you murdered and hacked up theowner.
Older Woman: Bet the liar told you I was speeding, too.
Don't Mess With Old Ladies
2006-08-02
Blue Boulevard (post.a.no.secret)
It is August, the start of a new month, the peak of summer, and not forgetting, the time to submit to Papillona's wishes/ tag of post.a.no.secret.
So here is my contribution (click on the pic to get a bigger version),
the rules of the tag are,
1. Post it on your blog or just email it to Papillona.
2. Link it to post.a.no.secret.
3. Revealing your identity is optional
Be careful not to share any information you wouldn't want the world to see
No list from Papillona:
NO I won't fix any of the secrets you send.
NO I wont post pictures of real people.
So here is my contribution (click on the pic to get a bigger version),
the rules of the tag are,
1. Post it on your blog or just email it to Papillona.
2. Link it to post.a.no.secret.
3. Revealing your identity is optional
Be careful not to share any information you wouldn't want the world to see
No list from Papillona:
NO I won't fix any of the secrets you send.
NO I wont post pictures of real people.
2006-08-01
Maximizing your Salad Bar
A lot of restaurants like Pizza hut have salad bars. The bowl they give you is microscopic and you are only allowed to visit the salad bar once.
Here are some techniques in making the most out of the single salad bar visit.
I am going to try this at Le Nôtre.
Maximizing your salad bar can be found here.
Here are some techniques in making the most out of the single salad bar visit.
I am going to try this at Le Nôtre.
Maximizing your salad bar can be found here.
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