I dream of the day a chicken can cross the road without being questioned.
2011-11-06
2011-11-03
How to Talk Like a Consultant and be paid $1000 plus daily
If you want to be a consultant, you don't need any skills except maybe make a few powerpoint presentations. You also need to learn the lingo. Be sure to wear a suit and tie at all times and pepper your speech with these choice words and phrases:
Moving forward,
Righstizing,
Rationalize,
Touching base,
Syndicate,
First to market,
Synergy,
Think outside the box,
Ping,
Low hanging fruits,
Apples and Oranges,
Cloud,
Bandwidth,
Facetime,
Let's take this offline,
FTE,
Work smarter not harder,
Quick wins,
Efficiency,
Deliverables,
80 20 rule,
Leverage
Lever,
Core values,
Alignment,
sea change,
gentle reminder,
It does not matter if you don't know what these terms mean, the more you use them, the higher you can charge for your daily rate.
Now if you will excuse me, I need to think out of the box for some low hanging fruits that I need to synergize and syndicate for some quick wins.
2011-10-15
2011-10-06
2011-10-03
Full Service Pump
Full service pumps are a great idea, you get to fill your car from either sides but why is the hose going round the cars to the wrong side ? Only in Kuwait.
2011-09-24
2011-09-23
2011-09-16
Paco Raabane Perfume Pyramid
Check out the latest and greatest in Kuwait, the Paco Raabane Perfume Pyramid now at the 360 Mall.
Notice the shoe throwing shield around it, to prevent any mischief from the delinquent kids.
2011-09-13
2011-09-09
2011-09-03
Only in The United Arab Emirates
Ford Raptor with 6 doors, can be found only in Abu Dhabi, The United Arab Emirates.
2011-08-26
The Rules of the Avenues
Avenues have a new set of rules not allowing you to use their names for nefarious purposes.
Here is their announcement:
For those who can't read Arabic, allow me to translate it for you:
1st RULE: You do not talk about Avenues.
2nd RULE: You DO NOT talk about Avenues.
3rd RULE: If someone says "stop" or goes limp, taps out the shopping is over.
4th RULE: Only two guys to a shop.
5th RULE: One shop at a time.
6th RULE: No shirts, no shoes, no entry.
7th RULE: Shopping will go on as long as they have to.
8th RULE: If this is your first night at Avenues, you HAVE to shop.
Here is their announcement:
For those who can't read Arabic, allow me to translate it for you:
1st RULE: You do not talk about Avenues.
2nd RULE: You DO NOT talk about Avenues.
3rd RULE: If someone says "stop" or goes limp, taps out the shopping is over.
4th RULE: Only two guys to a shop.
5th RULE: One shop at a time.
6th RULE: No shirts, no shoes, no entry.
7th RULE: Shopping will go on as long as they have to.
8th RULE: If this is your first night at Avenues, you HAVE to shop.
2011-08-04
Kuwait: The class of 1990
On August 2, 1990, the Iraqi army invaded the emirate of Kuwait, which Saddam Hussein, the then Iraqi president, had declared Iraq's 19th province. At the end of the school year of 1990, students in an international school in Kuwait said their final farewells as they headed off for the summer holidays. Many of them would never meet again. Twenty years on, Al Jazeera's Nashwa Nasreldin returns to Kuwait to find out what happened to her friends and the school during the war that separated them.
It is 47:46 minutes long but very touching.
It is 47:46 minutes long but very touching.
2011-07-28
2011-07-27
2011-07-20
Wife Jumps Forward, Son Steps Back
Rupert Murdoch while being interrogated concerning his involvement in Phone Hacking by the different media assets he owned was attacked by a foam pie wielding protestor.
What is interesting to see is how his son is startled and pushes away from his Father but his Chinese born, volleyball athlete wife, Wendi Deng, jumps ahead towards the protestor and smacks him right in the face.
Wife Scores,
Son Fails.
What is interesting to see is how his son is startled and pushes away from his Father but his Chinese born, volleyball athlete wife, Wendi Deng, jumps ahead towards the protestor and smacks him right in the face.
Wife Scores,
Son Fails.
2011-07-17
Kuwaiti TV Ads in the 1980s
Here are a few TV ads that where constantly broadcast on Kuwait TV in the 80s.
Americana Cake
Pizza Italia
Dalal Oil
Americana Cake
Pizza Italia
Dalal Oil
2011-07-16
How to Write with Style by Kurt Vonnegut
Here is a great piece from Kurt Vonnegut about writing, it has gems such as:
William Shakespeare and James Joyce, wrote sentences which were almost childlike when their subjects were most profound. "To be or not to be?" asks Shakespeare's Hamlet. The longest word is three letters long.
The whole article can be found here.
In summary, the key points made are:
1. Find a subject you care about.
2. Do not ramble, though
3. Keep it simple
4. Have guts to cut
5. Sound like yourself
6. Say what you mean
7. Pity the readers
And here is a little ad from Amazon with one of Kurt's well known book, Slaughterhouse Five
William Shakespeare and James Joyce, wrote sentences which were almost childlike when their subjects were most profound. "To be or not to be?" asks Shakespeare's Hamlet. The longest word is three letters long.
The whole article can be found here.
In summary, the key points made are:
1. Find a subject you care about.
2. Do not ramble, though
3. Keep it simple
4. Have guts to cut
5. Sound like yourself
6. Say what you mean
7. Pity the readers
And here is a little ad from Amazon with one of Kurt's well known book, Slaughterhouse Five
2011-06-29
2011-06-09
2011-05-23
2011-05-09
2011-05-07
The Girl With Many Eyes
One day in the park
I had quite a surprise,
I met a girl
who had many eyes.
She was really quite pretty
(and also quite shocking!)
and I noticed she had a mouth
so we ended up talking.
We talked about flowers,
and her poetry classes,
and the problems she'd have
if she ever wore glasses.
It's great to know a girl
who has so many eyes,
but you really get wet
when she breaks down and cries.
I think this was written by Tim Burton
2011-05-06
2011-05-05
2011-05-03
Whatever happened to free will?
David Norris: Whatever happened to free will?
Thompson: We actually tried free will before. After taking you from hunting and gathering to the height of the Roman empire, we stepped back to see how you'd do on your own. You gave us the dark ages for five centuries until finally we decided we should come back in. The Chairman thought that maybe we just needed to do a better job with teaching you how to ride a bike before taking the training wheels off again. So we gave you raised hopes, enlightment, scientific revolution. For six hundred years we taught you to control your impulses with reason. Then in nineteen ten, we stepped back. Within fifty years you'd brought us world war one, the depression, fascism, the holocaust and capped it off by bringing the entire planet to the brink of destruction in the Cuba missile crisis. At that point the decision was taken to step back in again before you did something that even we couldn't fix.
Quote from The Adjustment Bureau
Thompson: We actually tried free will before. After taking you from hunting and gathering to the height of the Roman empire, we stepped back to see how you'd do on your own. You gave us the dark ages for five centuries until finally we decided we should come back in. The Chairman thought that maybe we just needed to do a better job with teaching you how to ride a bike before taking the training wheels off again. So we gave you raised hopes, enlightment, scientific revolution. For six hundred years we taught you to control your impulses with reason. Then in nineteen ten, we stepped back. Within fifty years you'd brought us world war one, the depression, fascism, the holocaust and capped it off by bringing the entire planet to the brink of destruction in the Cuba missile crisis. At that point the decision was taken to step back in again before you did something that even we couldn't fix.
Quote from The Adjustment Bureau
2011-04-17
2011-04-15
Storytelling
Here are two links that talk about story structure, you can read them here:
Elements of Story Structure
Tension makes your story interesting.
Elements of Story Structure
Tension makes your story interesting.
2011-04-09
2011-04-02
2011-03-23
How to Write a Manifesto
Today, we write a manifesto
Today, our second sentence starts with the first word of the first sentence.
We write a short sentence.
Then a shorter one.
Then a really long one that doesn't make any sense but is immediately followed by
One.
Word.
Sentences.
Then we make our point even more clearer
By using fragmented prepositional phrases.
By repeating that first preposition.
By doing it a total of three times.
And then we have a really long sentence that builds up excitement from our overarching concept that is summed up in a word that makes absolutely no sense.
Source.
Today, our second sentence starts with the first word of the first sentence.
We write a short sentence.
Then a shorter one.
Then a really long one that doesn't make any sense but is immediately followed by
One.
Word.
Sentences.
Then we make our point even more clearer
By using fragmented prepositional phrases.
By repeating that first preposition.
By doing it a total of three times.
And then we have a really long sentence that builds up excitement from our overarching concept that is summed up in a word that makes absolutely no sense.
Source.
2011-03-11
Google Japan Person Finder
If you lost someone in Japan, you might be able to find them using the Google person finder.
2011-03-09
2011-03-02
2011-02-28
Inspirational Images
Check out this inspirational images here.
I know, it's a short post, just like a tweet. Speaking of tweets, be sure to follow me on twitter @donveto.
I know, it's a short post, just like a tweet. Speaking of tweets, be sure to follow me on twitter @donveto.
2011-02-26
2011-02-22
Fastelco New Ad
The cool people at FASTtelco asked me what I thought about their new ad, so I am posting it here and want to know what you think:
How to Write a Novel in Twelve Weeks
A great plan on How to Write a Novel in Twelve Weeks, can be found here.
Here is the text of the post, just in case it disappears:
PLAN TO SUCCEED. TEN STEPS TO SUCCESS. WRITE THAT NOVEL IN TWELVE WEEKS
There are times when writing your first novel can seem like trying to push an ocean uphill. But it doesn't have to be like that. Novelizations of TV shows and movies are often written in as little as twelve weeks or even less. So, how can these people bang out novels in such a short time when for everyone else writing one seems like all the labours of Hercules rolled into one?
The answer's all down to planning. And here's where I'm going to show you how you can use planing to turn novel writing into a far simpler task than you might have thought possible.
1. First decide on your genre.
2. Select your favourite book or movie from that genre.
3. Quickly scribble down a synopsis for that book or movie. Don't put any great care into it. Do three drafts, aiming to end up with a synopsis of half-a-page to a full-page in length.
4. Now have a sit down. Without putting too much thought into it, think of the main characters and settings in that synopsis and how you'd like to change them. Maybe you'd like to turn that island into a city, or that man into a woman, or that doctor into an astronaut. Go with your first instinct. When it comes to these things it's often right.
5. Go back to the synopsis you wrote, replacing the original settings and characters with the settings and characters you've decided to use. You should find the story immediately starts to become a noticeably different beast when you do this. Again, take no great time or care over it. Again, do three drafts. Again, you're looking for a synopsis of around a page.
6. Armed with this new synopsis, devote more thought to the main characters, writing a short biography for each of them. Who are they? Where are they from? What do they do for a living? What have they done in the past to get to where they are when we first meet them? Why are they unhappy? What do they want, both in life in general and in the story? What obstacles stand in their way? How do they get on with the people around them? Imagine them talking to people, dealing with things, just living their lives. Also write a potted history for the main settings, so you have a sense of the book's background.
7. Now that you have a clear idea as to what your characters and settings are about, have a lie down, close your eyes and run through the story in your head, as though you're watching it on a cinema screen. Don't go into too much detail - or you'll be at it forever - but enough to develop a firm idea of what happens. Do this three times, scribbling down notes as you go along of anything you might forget.
8. Get yourself a pack of standard size index cards from any stationers. On the cards, scribble a one or two sentence summary of every scene in the book, using one card per scene. Once you've done this, read through what you've written, adding any extra scenes that occur to you, chopping out any you no longer need and changing their order if necessary. Three or four run-throughs should be enough to have the whole of the main story planned out.
Now you've got the main story planned out, think about what the other characters are getting up to when your central character isn't around. Use index cards to plan out their scenes and insert them into the main story where they're needed.
Read through your pile of index cards to make sure the story all fits together and, if it does, you now have everything you need to start writing your novel.
9. Start to write the novel but don't start at the beginning. That's the most complicated part of the book, where you're having to juggle several balls to introduce the characters and the set-up. Therefore leave it till you've written the rest of the novel. The same with the ending. Leave that till last, so you have something to look forward to. Start at the point where the characters have already been introduced, and use the index cards to guide you. Stick to that plan like glue, only changing any plot points if you really have to. Remember, it's changing the plot that eats up writing time.
Don't write the whole book before revising anything. Instead, do three drafts of each scene before moving on to the next one because things are much easier to do if you break them down into bite-sized chunks. Aim to write a thousand words a day. Write the first draft of each scene with the idea in your head that it's going to be the one you show the world. It isn't but it does focus the mind wonderfully on what you're doing.
10. Now that the novel's written, go through it one more time to tidy it all up, and then start to look for a publisher.
Here is the text of the post, just in case it disappears:
PLAN TO SUCCEED. TEN STEPS TO SUCCESS. WRITE THAT NOVEL IN TWELVE WEEKS
There are times when writing your first novel can seem like trying to push an ocean uphill. But it doesn't have to be like that. Novelizations of TV shows and movies are often written in as little as twelve weeks or even less. So, how can these people bang out novels in such a short time when for everyone else writing one seems like all the labours of Hercules rolled into one?
The answer's all down to planning. And here's where I'm going to show you how you can use planing to turn novel writing into a far simpler task than you might have thought possible.
1. First decide on your genre.
2. Select your favourite book or movie from that genre.
3. Quickly scribble down a synopsis for that book or movie. Don't put any great care into it. Do three drafts, aiming to end up with a synopsis of half-a-page to a full-page in length.
4. Now have a sit down. Without putting too much thought into it, think of the main characters and settings in that synopsis and how you'd like to change them. Maybe you'd like to turn that island into a city, or that man into a woman, or that doctor into an astronaut. Go with your first instinct. When it comes to these things it's often right.
5. Go back to the synopsis you wrote, replacing the original settings and characters with the settings and characters you've decided to use. You should find the story immediately starts to become a noticeably different beast when you do this. Again, take no great time or care over it. Again, do three drafts. Again, you're looking for a synopsis of around a page.
6. Armed with this new synopsis, devote more thought to the main characters, writing a short biography for each of them. Who are they? Where are they from? What do they do for a living? What have they done in the past to get to where they are when we first meet them? Why are they unhappy? What do they want, both in life in general and in the story? What obstacles stand in their way? How do they get on with the people around them? Imagine them talking to people, dealing with things, just living their lives. Also write a potted history for the main settings, so you have a sense of the book's background.
7. Now that you have a clear idea as to what your characters and settings are about, have a lie down, close your eyes and run through the story in your head, as though you're watching it on a cinema screen. Don't go into too much detail - or you'll be at it forever - but enough to develop a firm idea of what happens. Do this three times, scribbling down notes as you go along of anything you might forget.
8. Get yourself a pack of standard size index cards from any stationers. On the cards, scribble a one or two sentence summary of every scene in the book, using one card per scene. Once you've done this, read through what you've written, adding any extra scenes that occur to you, chopping out any you no longer need and changing their order if necessary. Three or four run-throughs should be enough to have the whole of the main story planned out.
Now you've got the main story planned out, think about what the other characters are getting up to when your central character isn't around. Use index cards to plan out their scenes and insert them into the main story where they're needed.
Read through your pile of index cards to make sure the story all fits together and, if it does, you now have everything you need to start writing your novel.
9. Start to write the novel but don't start at the beginning. That's the most complicated part of the book, where you're having to juggle several balls to introduce the characters and the set-up. Therefore leave it till you've written the rest of the novel. The same with the ending. Leave that till last, so you have something to look forward to. Start at the point where the characters have already been introduced, and use the index cards to guide you. Stick to that plan like glue, only changing any plot points if you really have to. Remember, it's changing the plot that eats up writing time.
Don't write the whole book before revising anything. Instead, do three drafts of each scene before moving on to the next one because things are much easier to do if you break them down into bite-sized chunks. Aim to write a thousand words a day. Write the first draft of each scene with the idea in your head that it's going to be the one you show the world. It isn't but it does focus the mind wonderfully on what you're doing.
10. Now that the novel's written, go through it one more time to tidy it all up, and then start to look for a publisher.
2011-02-12
Sand Art - Arabs versus Ukraine
If you follow Arabs got talent, you all saw Shayma from Oman do some very nice sand art and got voted and applauded by the judges.
I liked her art, but have a look at Kseniya Simonova from Ukraine got Talent and her Sand Art attempts here:
Now that is amazing.
I liked her art, but have a look at Kseniya Simonova from Ukraine got Talent and her Sand Art attempts here:
Now that is amazing.
2011-01-30
2011-01-21
Arabs Got Talent Tonight
Arabs got Talent is a new show on MBC 4, tongiht at 9pm Kuwait time. Today is the second episode. I really enjoyed the show last time and am going to watch it tonight.
I especially liked watchnig and tweeting about it and reading other people's tweets.
Arabs got talent is on twitter too and you can follow them on @got_talent_ar
YOu can also follow me on twitter here @donveto
See you tonight, same time, same place.
2011-01-19
Learning to Fly
2011-01-17
1.5 Tons of Gold
How much is 1.5 tons of gold worth ? Well according to Wolfram Alpha, it is worth almost 17 million KD, $59.53 Million USD.
Why am I curious about Gold? Because this is the exact same amount that Madame Ex President Wife of Tunisia Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, or retired Hairdresser Ms. Leïla Trabelsi, took with her just before she left Tunis, according to Le Monde Paper and here is another article from Business Insider.
Where do I sign to get a retirement plan like that ?
Why am I curious about Gold? Because this is the exact same amount that Madame Ex President Wife of Tunisia Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, or retired Hairdresser Ms. Leïla Trabelsi, took with her just before she left Tunis, according to Le Monde Paper and here is another article from Business Insider.
Where do I sign to get a retirement plan like that ?
2011-01-15
2011-01-13
2011-01-10
Earth must prepare for close encounter with Aliens, says scientists
Recent headlines from different web sites and newspapers stated that
100 tons of dead sardines were found in Brazil over the weekend.
500 small birds dropped to their deaths in Baton Rouge.
3,000 red-winged blackbirds died in Arkansas
and many more, there is even a map for it
View Mass Animal Deaths in a larger map
now this news item from the Guardian themselves saying that Earth must prepare for close encounter with Aliens.
They go on to say:
World governments should prepare a coordinated action plan in case Earth is contacted by aliens, according to scientists.
They argue that a branch of the UN must be given responsibility for "supra-Earth affairs" and formulate a plan for how to deal with extraterrestrials, should they appear.
I think you can see the how these events are connected.
More on the Alfockalypse of 2011.
100 tons of dead sardines were found in Brazil over the weekend.
500 small birds dropped to their deaths in Baton Rouge.
3,000 red-winged blackbirds died in Arkansas
and many more, there is even a map for it
View Mass Animal Deaths in a larger map
now this news item from the Guardian themselves saying that Earth must prepare for close encounter with Aliens.
They go on to say:
World governments should prepare a coordinated action plan in case Earth is contacted by aliens, according to scientists.
They argue that a branch of the UN must be given responsibility for "supra-Earth affairs" and formulate a plan for how to deal with extraterrestrials, should they appear.
I think you can see the how these events are connected.
More on the Alfockalypse of 2011.
2011-01-09
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