Buckeye 23

Technical Problems

2009-06-05T22:00:00.003-04:00

Sorry guys, I just found out that there is a problem with commenting. Will find a solution soon...

NEW HOME: http://buckeye23.wordpress.com !

Body Of Lies: The Apple Conspiracy

2009-06-04T23:26:00.004-04:00

I'm sick of it. I hate my Mac. There, I said it. 8 months ago, I was unable to wait any longer to take the Apple plunge. I couldn't have been more wrong. I'm not generally the type of person that goes with the flow, but I admit that I did in going with Apple. I heard all kinds of crazy things about it: how you don't get viruses, how Mac OS X rocks, and how productive it is. Well you know what, those are all lies. They make you believe in them. They make you fall for it. Once they get you, you are officially under their command. They work with some psychological aspects that make you think: "yeah, this is actually pretty good." Then you start saying crazy things like: "Macs are the best" and "I'm never going back to Windows". Well you know what, I can't wait to use Windows again. Allow me to decipher those claims of Apple:

1. You never get viruses on Macs: Hell yeah you won't. Not when you can't download any program you want. Not when you are restricted to the crappy Mac softwares. How in the world are you getting viruses when all you can use is stupid iTunes and iShit.

2. Macs are more productive: I've got news for you: they're not. You can't run any program you want on Macs, now can you? Just last quarter I was unable to use a program my University was using because I have a Mac. You can't listen to .ram audio files. All your files have to be in a Mac-accepted extension. What the hell?! Where's the productivity in that?

3. Mac OS X Rocks: It can rock my A**. When I click the green "Maximize screen" button, my window barely increases an inch in width. WTF?! Why is it called "maximize" then? Why is there a plus sign on it? Using the stupid Mac OS X, I have to resize my window by manually pressing and holding the bottom left corner and dragging. So much for being called an innovative company! And hey Mac: where's the freedom? Why can't I edit my music file info without having to use iTunes?!

Constraints, constraints, constraints. How can you be productive?

Can't wait for Win7...

Newest Addiction

2009-06-04T22:15:00.001-04:00

Drag Me To Hell: Review

2009-06-01T00:01:00.002-04:00

I went to watch Drag Me To Hell yesterday, and I cam out very pleased. Many people say that horror movies lack a formidable story and good choreography (I am one of you), but this movie really turns the tide. I had very low expectations for the movie going in (since it's a horror movie), but was surprised at how well this movie was made. I especially liked the story and the ending, the movie always seemed to surprise me. My only criticism is concerning the acting. It wasn't bad, but could've been better. I highly recommend watching this movie.

Final Score: 4/5

Facebook Server Problems?

2009-05-30T19:20:00.002-04:00

What's up with Facebook? Everytime I login, there seems to be a problem. It seems like there is something wrong with their server. It's been ridiculously slow, and often freezes. I confirmed similar problems with a friend. Hmmm...

Aspercreme

2009-05-27T21:45:00.003-04:00

After straining my calf muscle a week ago (which should be no surprise to the people who know me), I decided NOT to take care of it. That is why I went out today, with my strained calf muscle, to play basketball. Surprisingly (sarcasm), I ended up hurting myself pretty badly. I pulled the calf muscle furthermore which prevented me from walking properly. Now I'm not that stupid, so I decided to take care of it this time. I just got this creme (do you write creme as "creme" or "cream" ? hmm) today which turned out to be a pretty good pain reliever. The nice thing about it is that it has a sort of sponge applicator (the same kind of sponge you use for cleaning your shoes), which you can apply with directly onto your muscle. This, I think, is a very smart idea as I always tend to squeeze out more than I need with regular creams. Now I can't play for 2 weeks. Nice...

Update: I just woke up earlier this morning with a VERY painful burning sensation on my calf muscles. The back of the creme does point out that this might happen, but that it will go away. It did go away, but it was harshly painful!

SKLZ Pro Mini Hoop

2009-05-16T12:08:00.003-04:00

I wanted this for a long time now. I think it's so much fun. While I was at Dick's Sporting Goods, I found this package which had the item I wanted! I never thought they would make a "pro-like" finishing to a miniature basket; but they did. Now the cool thing about this is that it actually has a spring on the rim, so you can slam dunk all you want! It's amazing. Another great thing about this product is how it's packaged. It's very easy to assemble, and you have all the parts you need included in the box. Very nice.

I would highly recommend it to anyone. It's such a great time killer, and you actually have fun! You can check the manufacturer's website [Here]. They have other stuff for other sports too!

Investment Dar & Aston Martin

2009-05-12T20:58:00.002-04:00

I just stumbled upon an interesting post from Autoblog. It is basically about Investment Dar, and how they are trying to sell 20-30% of their share in Aston Martin. While it might not be news to many of you, but I just found out by reading this article that Investment Dar, a Kuwaiti firm, owns part of Aston Martin!

Good Morning!

2009-05-04T11:31:00.002-04:00

Today in history:

1006 Birth of Abd-Allah Ansari.

1494 Christopher Columbus land in Jamaica.

1715 French manufacturer debuts first folding umbrella (Paris).

1871 1st baseball league game.

1976 KISS perform their first concert.

2002 Barry Bonds hits his 400th home run as a Giant.

Panamera: Hit or Miss?

2009-05-03T12:27:00.006-04:00

We've all heard about the Porsche Panamera. Dubbed as the "car of 2009" by Car Magazine, will it really live up to the Porsche brand? I personally think it will. I especially like the interior which looks very luxurious yet very comfy at the same time. Porsche are trying to cover all bases starting with the legendary 911 and ending with the Cayenne. Now it's bridging the gap with the new Panamera. So what do you think, a Hit or a Miss for Porsche?

* Photos courtesy of Serious Wheels.

HX1 Carrying Case

2009-05-02T18:40:00.004-04:00

I just came back from the Sony Style shop here in Columbus, OH. I was looking for a carrying case for my HX1. To my surprise, they didn't have any carrying cases for the HX1. The official Sony website indicates 3 carrying cases for the HX1. One of which they did have, but was way too big. The other two were not available! Hmm...

BMW X1 Concept

2009-04-30T00:12:00.003-04:00

I just found out about this interesting new SUV (or Crossover) from BMW. This might be the result of me being a huge BMW fan, but I really think this car looks nice. Two things I don't like though: Different colored skirt and bumper, and the rear headlights could do some tweaking.

You can check out the Concept's page [Here]

Pontiac Done?

2009-04-28T23:40:00.005-04:00

Is Pontiac really done? I just read in an article that GM will announce the end of the Pontiac Brand on Monday. Not big news for Kuwait, as we don't have Pontiacs, but the situation in the States doesn't seem to get any better, especially for GM. What next? The end of GMC? Now that will affect Kuwait a bit, as I know many people like GMC's vehicles. This might seem a little too "overstretched", but don't you think if some main automotive brands start relocating to the Middle East (where there's still a market) then we would benefit a lot from it? I think the Gulf countries should pounce on that idea and start to take advantage of it. (Although the idea seems to be a little to distant in my imagination). Who knows?

Update: WOW! I feel smart now ;p ... Qatar is eyeing Porsche now!! [Link]

Sony Cybershot DSC HX1 - Review

2009-04-27T21:44:00.013-04:00

Ok, so i've had the camera for a couple of days now and would like to share some thoughts about it. First off, let me tell you that all photos in this post are taken by the Intelligent Auto Scene Mode. Also, this review doesn't include any specs, as you can find these at Sony's official website. I got the camera from Sony Style store in Columbus, OH for $499.99 (Plus around $30 tax).

Ergonomics

I really like the design of the camera. The grip is very tight and comfortable. The nice thing about this mega-zoom, is it is actually smaller than you would expect. Now I'm not saying you can carry it in your pocket, but it is considerably smaller than regular mega-zooms and dSLR's.

Panoramic Mode

Now here is the interesting part. Panoramic mode is STUNNING. It is amazing. Unfortunately, its brilliance is hindered a little under low light conditions. None-the-less, this feature delivers stunning photos. I imagine taking panoramic photos in different stadiums and arenas. The photos will be breath-taking. Here is an example of a panoramic photo.

(Click on HERE for bigger view)

Zooming

Zooming is amazing on this camera. With the autofocus button (half shutter down), a 20x zoomed photo is as clear as a 4x zoomed photo. The zoom range is very long at 20x max. Really neat for a mega-zoom.

4x Zoom

12x Zoom

20x Zoom

Performance

I really like the speed of the HX1. It is very fast between shots. My only concern is that it takes around 3 seconds to start up once you open the camera. Other than that, it is very snappy. I'm not sure if it's because of the "mechanical shutter", but it's really done a good job. I always felt that speed between shots was an aspect Sony should work on, and thankfully they did.

Macro

Now I know that macro is a setting that is usually made manually, but I'm not a pro, and so I continued using the intelligent scene mode. The camera does take pretty good macro shots. You can also tweak the contrast so you would get excellent flower shots.

Overall, I would highly recommend this camera. I definitely like the Intelligent Scene mode, as it will automatically detect the type of shot and accommodate to the conditions in a split second in order to ensure that you take those fast shots before they're gone. I like the build of this camera. It feels rugged, yet comfortable in the hand. The mechanical shutter does deliver exceptional speed. HD Video mode, which I didn't cover, is as good as it sounds at 1080 HD. Minor things: Love the articulating screen on the back, package surprisingly doesn't come with a memory stick, optical view finder is a very nice touch.

Swine Flu

2009-04-27T12:10:00.002-04:00

I recently heard about this Swine Flu from a friend. I "googled" it and found out that it's actually a developing story. It is only recently (and by recently I mean a few days ago) discovered in humans. The source of this flu is supposedly from occasional contact with pigs and being around them. It is currently detected in Mexico and now in Southern American states. Read more about the Swine Flu [Here].

Finally!

2009-04-25T13:22:00.008-04:00

I have finally purchased the Sony Cybershot DSC HX1. I'm currently fiddling with it, but so far I found out that it doesn't come with a memory stick. I got it from the Sony Style store for $499.99 (Plus $30 tax). More to come soon...

UPDATE:

Ok, so i've had some time to snap hundreds of shots, and so

far I'm impressed. I only tried the panoramic function once, and it looked decent. Now the only problem I faced was with low lighting. It wasn't much of a problem, but I think I should take more time and try to shoot some more under low light. The only bad thing I can think of at the moment i

s the fact that a memory stick is not included with the camera. A little disappointing, I know, almost all electronics include at least a 256MB memory stick. So I had to pass buy Best Buy to get one. Anyways, the only thing I still didn't try yet is the HD movie mode. Here are some pictures that I've taken so far (Keep in mind that I'm not a pro, but suggestions as to how I could improve my photography skills are more than welcome).

MP4-24 & M3

2009-04-22T23:24:00.003-04:00

So what have I been up to? Well, let's just say I became a car freak suddenly. I used to have memorized all car models back when I was 12 years old, and for some reason, I'm back! The weird thing is, I never loved F1 racing, but now I do. I'm looking forward to watching some races on TV. I've decided to be a Mclaren guy, simply because of Lewis Hamilton. I think he is one of the best drivers. Plus I like their new car (the MP4-24) pictured below.

As far as street-legal cars go, I've been going crazy over the BMW, and especially the M's. The M3 is a beast. I could confidently say that I have watched every single video of an M3 on Youtube! I really want an M3!

KAUST

2009-04-13T12:00:00.003-04:00

I just found out about this university (which I believe is fairly new) in Saudi Arabia. I think this university has a pretty decent potential. The campus looks great (from photos). I got a flyer today at OSU which invites all students to admit to this university where they will receive a full scholarship for their studies here at OSU then get full coverage for their master's studies at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). I think this is really good for the gulf countries. Many good universities are opening up, and it's become an alternative to studying at foreign countries. I know many parents who don't allow their kids to study abroad, and they feel that their future has been destroyed because of the limited choices they have. Not anymore. I just hope a DECENT university opens up in Kuwait...

Parks and Recreation

2009-04-05T00:40:00.002-04:00

I'm really looking forward to this new show called "Parks and Recreation". The cast looks pretty good with Amy Poehler and Rashida Jones. Interestingly, this show is from the makers of The Office and SNL, so the potential in this show is pretty high. Hope it lives up to it. The series premiere is on April 9th.

$799.77

2009-03-29T22:55:00.003-04:00

I was looking for an alternative to the Cybershot HX1 (Just in case it gets really bad reviews once it is released) when I found this. Is Amazon really selling the Canon Powershot G9 for $799.77?! You can also see from the snapshot that the G10 is selling for $409.88. Weird.

On another note, if anyone has ever used/owned a Powershot G9 or G10, your comments are highly appreciated. Thanks!

Hampton Inn on 35th St.

2009-03-26T11:45:00.002-04:00

This is why I always like to choose Hampton Inn as my hotel wherever I go. I just came back from NYC (although it was fun, I must admit that NYC is not my type of city), where I stayed for 5 nights at Hampton Inn. Let me start by saying that the location is amazing. It is not right in the middle of the action (Times Square), but located precisely within a 5 minute walk. It had a very convenient location as we (me and my friend) were able to commute to and fro our hotel very easily to places like Times Square, Madison Square Garden, and Rockefeller. Now I must say that this is not your typical 5 or 4 star hotel. No. It's more of a 3.5 star hotel. The management and cleanliness, though, would earn 4 stars easily. The only difference is that some amenities aren't provided here that you would typically find in a Sheraton (such as a swimming pool). Nonetheless, this hotel provided free Wi-Fi, breakfast (which I never got to try), and a small gym room. Also I must note something that surprised me, which is that there was no fridge in our room for some reason. I highly recommend this hotel for people who want to be very close to the action, go easy on their wallets, and want a comfy stay.

Miss March & I Love You, Man - Reviews

2009-03-21T22:14:00.003-04:00

Ok, double posting time. I've watched pretty decent comedy movies as of late, so I only hope that these two movies are good too. Miss March was a very witty idea with a new plot. Basically, the guy gets into a coma the day he was supposed to get laid. The humor continues from that point on. It was a very good comedy film. I laughed so hard. I Love You, Man stars Rashida Jones from The Office. I didn't think she looked attractive on The Office, but she sure did in this movie. The laughs didn't stop in this movie either, although if I were to choose the better movie, it would be Miss March by a hair. Two very good movies, Must-Sees.

Spring Break

2009-03-16T22:28:00.003-04:00

While everyone is flooding to the beaches of the world for a crazy spring break, I decided to lay back a little. Ok, that was a lie (although I'm still not going to any beach). I still haven't decided what to do with my spring break, and it starts tomorrow for me! I already bought tickets for a Cavalier's (basketball) game in Cleveland, but that is like for 1 day. I would really like to drive to a nearby state, but I'm not feeling like researching stuff! I might just end up staying put in Columbus...

* Photo courtesy of MarsW. Check out her Flickr Page [Here].

Laish Il Tifilsif?

2009-03-16T22:20:00.003-04:00

American's have their way of irritating everybody. I personally think that they are "falsafchiyeen" zyada 3an il lzoom. Allow me to clarify:

Why do you use feet when everyone else in the World uses meters?

Why do you use miles per hour when everyone else uses Kilometers per hour?

Why do you use pounds when everyone else uses Kilograms?

Why do you use the fahrenheit scale when everyone else uses the celsius scale?

Those are a couple of questions brought up by the fact that I just failed my Finals because of conversions between scales.

Me Want!

2009-03-12T12:39:00.002-04:00

This is meant to be. I lost my last point and shoot camera (Casio Exillim Z1000) around 3 months ago, and it's time to get a new one. Unfortunately, the HX-1 isn't available till late April. Still though, I think this camera has exactly what I want. I'm not a professional photographer, so I don't want a dSLR, yet I want something with stronger capabilities than a compact point and shoot. Along with Panorama and HD video recording capabilities, there is no reason for not getting this (except that its price is a little too much at $499).

April 29th, my calendar is marked.

Safari Mystery

2009-03-10T18:53:00.002-04:00

For the past two days, I haven't been able to use the internet because my computer won't let me. Everything was fine with the laptop, when suddenly it stopped letting me get on the internet. The connection was established with the router, and I have a wireless signal, but Safari itself won't open up the homepage. Somehow, miraculously, everything is back to normal, and I can connect to the internet. Weird...

Watchmen (Verdict: Sucks Big Time)

2009-03-08T00:25:00.001-05:00

I just watched one of the worst movies of the year (even possibly of all time). I wasn't even expecting much out of this movie, and it still sucked. It was very very bad. I wouldn't recommend watching it. A waste of time, really.

Let It Rock

2009-02-28T15:34:00.001-05:00

I just can't get this song out of my head! It is very good --> Let It Rock - Kevin Rudolf feat. Lil Wayne.

Joined The Masses

2009-02-27T15:57:00.002-05:00

I know everyone pretty much knows everything about the ipod Touch (probably even have one). In this post, I am just going to blog my personal opinion and experience so far.

What I like: Huge touch screen - Fast and very intuitive web surfing - Youtube App - Other Apps (although I have yet to download any)

What I dislike: Back cover is fingerprint magnet - space between screen and outline on the edges.

Overall: I'm loving it! The web surfing is very quick and easy, plus I have yet to add apps (which i'm most psyched about). Oh, and this is my FIRST touch screen gadget :-)

Elite 1

2009-02-24T17:21:00.003-05:00

I finally found the right shoe. I purchased a pair of hyperdunks a couple of months ago, but my feet never got used to them. This shoe (Jumpman Elite 1) however, which is actually my first Jordans, is very comfortable and tight. From my experience with basketball shoes, you always have to sacrifice one for the other (comfort or tight grasp on the foot). This shoe though is definitely an exception. I'm really liking it. (To the people who are thinking: "how the hell does anyone buy such shoes, then this post is probably not for you ;p)

Carbon Fiber Machinery

2009-02-17T22:51:00.002-05:00

I just love powerful machines coated with carbon fiber. Last time I had a Lenovo, it was a thinkpad. As far as I recall, i was smashing it with my shoe after it stopped working completely and no one in Hawalli was able to fix it. I think this is different. I know I just recently got a macbook, but I don't think it will be long before I change my notebook. The problems I've been having with the Macbook is its weight and the fact that the software I use works on PC only. Yes this notebook is 3 inches bigger, but it is carbon fiber coated and I think is even lighter than the macbook! I also like the fact that it has an HDMI port (which my macbook doesn't) and an option of adding a blu ray player. Now while I'm probably not changing very soon, I'm really loving this machine.

The Lonely Island

2009-02-12T23:21:00.003-05:00

They are amazing. I heard about this group from a friend a week ago, and now I just can't stop listening to their music/parodies. If for some reason you still don't know these guys, then you should go kill yourself. Seriously, see for yourself:

J***ed In My Pants (Already 24 Million Views)
I'm On A Boat (My Personal Favorite)

*Material Contains Mature Content, Be Advised. Enjoy!

You Know You're In College When...

2009-02-10T16:38:00.002-05:00

...You use a hanger to rip open your envelopes!

Smell Of Stink

2009-02-08T12:06:00.003-05:00

Hey everyone (or anyone). I know my blog has been stinking as of late, and I'm looking to change that. I still haven't found my missing camera. So i've decided to take pictures with my phone camera and just post that here. I know it won't be that clear, but it's better than nothing.

Gran Torino - Review

2009-01-25T12:12:00.003-05:00

What need I say about this film? It is definitely one of the best since The Dark Knight. It is amazing. I liked how it was humorous but never got out of the line of the story's plot. Make no mistake this is a drama, but you will enjoy a couple of laughs here and there throughout the movie. To sum it all up: Clint Eastwood is stellar. GO SEE THE MOVIE!

Traffic Laws

2009-01-20T11:03:00.002-05:00

We keep hearing everywhere we go how America is civilized, and have laws that everyone abides by. We also hear that they have the best well-thought rules and regulations. Let me tell you now that their traffic regulations and laws are utterly stupid. Anyone who has ever come to the states knows that we in Kuwait have better traffic laws (although we don't follow them). I just wanted to point this out since everyone keeps comparing Kuwait to other countries and it always comes out to be on the negative side.

Apple Customer Service Revised

2009-01-10T12:11:00.005-05:00

So I had more problems on my Beats Headphones. I went back to the Apple store with a smile on my face because I knew I was dealing with the best customer service (considering what they did last time I had problems with the headphones). Apparently I was mistaken. Apple told me that I should contact Monster (the company that made the headphones) and tell them that I have problems with my headphones. WTF?? I mean it's an agreement between Apple and Monster, why should I be the one who contacts Monster? Now I'm stuck with a pair of headphones that don't work! Apple should've kept the headphones with them and they contact Monster and work out whatever they have to do, and then Apple would call me when I have a pair of working headphones. This is crap.

A couple of Things

2009-01-01T15:20:00.002-05:00

First of all: How the hell do people use Zain e-go?? It SUCKS!! I've been using it for two weeks here in Kuwait, and it is so bad. I know that there has been a problem with the internet lately, but that's not the only problem. The device (e-go) is very sensitive and you have to keep on disconnecting it and reconnecting it to your laptop (that's if it didn't disconnect by itself. Anyways, bottom line: it sucks.

* * *

Second: I'm being delivered back to Ohio to continue my University journey. Expecting a lot now that I have been accustomed to the place. And yes, I can't wait for the snow there!

* * *

Lastly, I am in serious need of a digital camera. I'm pretty much looking at all sorts of cameras right now (I must admit: I don't exactly know what I want). I want to dive into the SLR stuff and become a photographing enthusiast, but then again, I'm not sure if I'm going to give it a lot of time. I also don't know if I need a digital camera or video cam. Yup, that's how much I'm lost!

Later,,

Proudly Stated by TSC

2008-12-30T04:58:00.005-05:00

Apparently The Sultan Center doesn't give a s*** about the whole "boycott Danish products" deal. I was at the Sultan Center in Salmiya, and saw a huge selection of Danish cheeses "proudly" marked with a label that says "Danish Cheese" along with Denmark's flag. WTF??!!

* Sorry, but I didn't have a camera with me to snap a pic.

Looking Forward

2008-12-28T05:33:00.004-05:00

My vacation is almost over now. I've got around 5 days left and then i'm boarding a 14 hour flight back to the states. Not that I'm not happy i'm going back, it's just that this time i'm staying for 5-6 months before coming back again to Kuwait. The good news is that I'm planning on getting a car there (finally), so I'm expecting to get more fun out of my days there in Ohio. Road trips is the first thing on the top of my head that i'm looking forward to. Other than that, I'm also planning on getting involved in a club or something, just to get more involved in the University. For now, I'm eating as much Kuwaiti (national) food as I can before the 2nd of Jan. Later,,

On another note, I'm currently addicted to Flickr! I just type in anything that comes to mind, and tons of great photos come up. It's amazing!

Crossover Request

2008-12-24T07:29:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone! It's not going to be long before i'm leaving this country yet again for another quarter of university. Anyways, i'm planning on getting a car once I get there in Columbus and need anyone's opinion or experience with a crossover vehicle (small SUV). I'm pretty much going to decide between the Foord Edge, Nissan Murano, and the VW Tiguan. Please drop a comment if you have an experience with any of these cars. Thanks!

Updating

2008-12-21T02:25:00.003-05:00

Where do I begin? Back to Kuwait and HATING the internet. Isn't anyone dying of the slow speeds other than me? Is there something wrong with the internet? I expected Kuwait to be warmer, but it surprised me. Anyways, I lost my camera as usual. I think I lost it at ATL's airport, will check with security on my way back. Will try to update on a regular basis from now on hopefully. Later...

XXX Vitamin Water

2008-11-29T23:39:00.003-05:00

This is one of many labels from Glaceau's Vitamin Water. Vitamin Water is very widespread and popular here in Ohio, and I personally like it. I also like their funny writings on their labels (one of many is of XXX, shown above). I think XXX's label is by far the funniest!

Apple Pie Mystery

2008-11-29T11:11:00.003-05:00

Me and my friend went last night to Johnny Rockets, and we were smacked with very bad news. Apparently, the FAMOUS Johnny Rockets Apple Pie (which I think is amazing) is gone for good. No more Apple Pie! Forever! Can anyone confirm from any other branch? (The branch I went to was at Lennox in Columbus, OH).

Widescreen

2008-11-25T12:07:00.002-05:00

Youtube has officially gone widescreen as of earlier today. This is really cool. Wish they would have every video with an option to be viewed in HD too. Well, this is still pretty nice.

Apple's Customer Service

2008-11-17T19:59:00.004-05:00

While it was hard getting accustomed to my new Mac, I am beginning to like Apple a little, mainly because of their customer service. I purchase Beats by Dre a month ago, and the arc broke recently. I took the headphones to Apple, with a speech prepared in order to convince them to switch the headphones for me. Apparently though, I didn't need any speech. I talked to a representative and he simply went back to the storage room and got me brand new headphones! Who does that?! Apple does though...

Subway

2008-11-10T14:55:00.003-05:00

I am in love with Subway. It is amazing and healthy. I've been eating junk food since I got here (columbus, OH), and now i'm feeling the effects. That's why I have decided to fulfill my fast food cravings at Subway! Their subs are amazing, and healthy. What more can you ask for? Plus, you really feel full after eating there. It's just perfect. I was doing some research for the origin of the name (Subway). I always thought it had something to do with subways somehow. Turns out it's not. The origin of the franchise was actually an interesting story. Anyways, Think fresh. Eat fresh. ;)

Old Movies Reviewed

2008-11-06T12:39:00.004-05:00

I am downloading like crazy now. There are many movies that I missed which have become relatively old. Two of these movies are The Bank Job, and Get Smart.

The Bank Job

I remember Cinescape (Kuwait) were viewing this movie, and now I realize how stupid that was. The whole point of robbery is based on the first seen (which is obviously cut), and the pictures that are being stolen (which also were probably cut). So what's the point. I really enjoyed watching this movie. I felt like it had that difference and originality that separated it from other robbery movies. Final Score: 8/10

Get Smart

I used to hate Steve Carrell. I hated his movie The 40 Year Old Virgin (although i know many will disagree with me on that). That's until I started watching The Office. I realized that he was a pretty damn funny guy. I decided to download and watch this movie solely because of the fact that Steve Carrell acts in it, and it was worth it. I liked the idea of the movie, and although the twist in the movie wasn't that unexpected, it is still a comedy movie which doesn't require that. I laughed a lot in this one, and I guess that's the point of a comedy. Final Score: 9/10

Beats By Dre

2008-11-02T17:10:00.003-05:00

When I saw these headphones a year ago, I knew I was going to get them. Two weeks ago, I went out to the Apple store here in Columbus and got them. They are amazing. I'm in love with them. They truly provide crisp sounds. You can really notice the greatest sounds when you have songs with strong Bass. I'm loving them. The only problem I have with them, is that when the volume level is a little above average, everyone beside you can hear what you are listening to. When I got the headphones, I didn't realize that since no one was with me, but then I realized it when my friend told me about the problem. Still though, I love them! I also liked the way the headphones were packaged. Really nice. (pictured below).

Quarantine & Max Payne

2008-10-29T11:40:00.004-04:00

Ok, I know i suck a little when it comes to posting on a regular basis. Anyways, I would just like to update you guys (whoever reads this blog anyway) of two movies which you should absolutely avoid watching any time in your life. The first is Quarantine. This movie absolutely has no beginning, no end, and no middle. The plot is just lost in the mix. The movie is horrible. Really horrible. It's not bad because it's a repeated story (actually that would've been better). It is bad because the story simply sucks (as if there is one). Anyway, just don't go to this one.

Another one is Max Payne. Now some might disagree with me on this one. But honestly, what kind of stupid movie was this? The acting was horrible (especially Ludacris), and Mark Wahlberg was very disappointing. To add to that, the story had nothing original at all. It's just pure lameness. People who liked the video game would appreciate this game, but once you think about the movie itself, you will realize it was bad.

Next up on my list are Body of Lies and Pride and Glory. Those two should be a lot better. Reviews coming soon...

Dunkin Beats Starbucks

2008-10-20T09:42:00.003-04:00

Dunkin Beats Starbucks is the new campaign from Dunkin' Donuts to show everyone that Starbucks Coffee sucks. And that is exactly why i'm posting about this. Not a big fan of Dunkin' Donuts myself, but it's about time people realized that Starbucks Coffee is overhyped.

Apple Sucks

2008-10-16T13:58:00.002-04:00

I don't care what all of you say. My message is simple and clear: Apple sucks. They have managed to lure everyone to their systems through good marketing. I am a victim too. I don't care what people say about Apple, it's all not true. It is NOT an easy system to use. Everyone goes crazy about how it is much sleeker and easier than a PC. It is NOT. I just got my mac around 3 weeks ago, and i've never felt the "Apple feeling" which is overhyped. To me, Windows is much easier to use. Say what ever you want, I will not change my opinion. I demand simple tasks from a computer, and i'm frankly not getting them from my Mac. Mac lacks a decent Bittorrent client. Oh, and Transmission does suck. Allow me to elaborate: I have a decent wireless connection. My friend has his HP, and I stupidly went with a Mac. We both tried to download the same torrent file. The download on the HP reached speeds of 500KB/s while my speeds reached a max of 100KB/s. Actually, the average download speed was around 30KB/s. It is also not consistent. Furthermore, the iTunes is dumb on the Mac. It doesn't realize that it's adding multiples of the same file onto the library. A message should appear telling me that there are multiples of the same file.

Simply put, i'm not in control of my Mac. It is in control of me. I wish i went with a Vaio instead :( ... now i'm planning on selling my macbook and getting a Vaio.

So just a message to Steve Jobs: instead of mastering the art of marketing, you should be mastering the art of actually making decent software. I mean, no hate to all of you Apple fans. Yes the Apple is safer to use (no viruses), and blab all you want about it being more productive (which i disagree with because technically there are more software for Windows than there are on Mac). I never thought I would ever be writing this post. I really need help understanding this machine because honestly, i'm not getting what i thought i would from it.

The Art Of Procrastination, Mastered.

2008-10-16T12:27:00.002-04:00

Yup. It's really tough to deal with procrastination. It's by far one of my biggest problems. I have a Lab due for tomorrow (which my TA wouldn't help me with because she just doesn't reply to my emails). Its been a long week for me. Midterms, homeworks, quizzes...etc. I'm looking forward to the weekend though. Here are some of the stuff i have planned out for the weekend:

Watch Body Of Lies - this has to be one of the best movies. I am dying to watch this.
Watch Sexdrive - This should probably crack me up a little.
Watch Max Payne - Mark Wahlberg is Legit.
Watch OSU beat the spartans - this should be a good game.
Play Basketball
Play soccer

So yeah! Pretty much it's all just movies and sports. The weekend i've been waiting for!

Not Impressed.

2008-10-14T13:44:00.003-04:00

Aside from the glossiness that accompanies a glass finishing from corner to corner (and the glass trackpad), i'm really not that impressed with today's Apple event. No Hi Def (Blu Ray)?? Are they kidding me? A sony Vaio 13.1" has Blu Ray now. This is just stupid. At least put it as an optional upgrade. Really not impressed :(.

Photo courtesy of Engadget.

Catching Up

2008-10-09T09:21:00.006-04:00

I sincerely apologize for the hiatus everyone. I have finally managed to hook up my camera with my Mac (finally). So here are some pics of random stuff i've been up to here in Columbus!

It's Waaaay better than fast food. It's Wendy's! (not really) But it's still good for fast food, and i'm liking it.

A science museum in Cleveland, Ohio. Very fascinating and cool stuff in there!

I'm really feeling at home right now, and trying to get more acquainted with the place. The people here are great! Everyone's friendly and social. The above picture is of a football game being watched on a projection by hundreds (but the shot obviously doesn't show that). This is where the Buckeyes beat the Badgers by 3pts! Very good game.

Torrent Issue

2008-10-04T13:28:00.003-04:00

This issue is really bothering me. I am looking for a decent torrent program for Mac. I first tried Transmission, but it sucked. It didn't reach high speeds for some reason. Then I tried BitTorrent. It was downloading at decent speeds, but after my download reached around 60%, it gave me an error message and deleted all partially downloaded files! That really got me angry. Anyways, please anyone who knows a good torrent application, please drop a comment. Thank you in advance :)

ps: I remember there was BitComet for Mac, but I can't find it. Anyone know anything regarding that?

The Good, The Bad, and The Awesome!

2008-10-01T08:32:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone! I know most of my posts are boring and meaningless for the last couple of weeks. I am just overwhelmed with university-related stuff. Anyways, the best thing i've been doing since i got here was try restaurants! Here are the rests. that i can remember right now with their corresponding ratings:

Wendy's: Good (I will post a separate entry about that).
White Castle: Bad (Fries was amazing though)
Red Lobster: OK (I remember it used to be better)
Olive Garden: Good (ate there twice so far and both times it was good)
Morton's: Awesome (the best restaurant i've dined in so far!)
Pizza Hut: Bad (Yes it was a delivery, but the cheese to tomato sauce was way off)
Taco Bell: Good (could've been better, but still good)
Cheesecake Factory: Good (Another restaurant that used to be even better)
Brio: Good (A very nice place if you're craving Italian)
P.F. Chang's: OK (The shrimp was the only thing above average)
Johnny Rockets: Awesome (as always!)

Those are the places i could really remember at the moment. Anyways, the next rest. i want to try is RED ROBIN. It was recommended by Angelo, and everyone here says it's great!

3eedkum Imbarak

2008-09-29T15:05:00.000-04:00

3eedkum imbarak oo kil 3am wintaw ib 5air...from Columbus, OH ;)

White Castle

2008-09-25T12:39:00.005-04:00

I have decided that today's Futoor will be at White Castle (yes, it's been that kind of ramadan). Will update this post later tonight (if i can) with my thoughts of the place. (No, never been to white castle before).

Update: So getting to white castle was interesting. I went there walking for around 15mins. Anyways, I ordered 5 cheeseburger sliders and they weren't that good. The bun itself was actually very soggy, and the piece of meat was very small and thin. In other words, you're pretty much eating soggy bread and 2 pickles! The good part though, is that their fries is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!! It is VERY good. Crispy with just the exact amount of salt needed. Would go there again to try a different slider, and more importantly get some fries!

Mrs. Fields' Cookies

2008-09-23T22:12:00.002-04:00

Hi everyone. Until I get a new camera (hopefully a powershot g9), i will be posting a photo for everyday. So today the picture is of Mrs. Fields' Cookies which are by the way amazing. They are really good, and they are my su7oor pretty much! Sun sets here in Ohio at around 7:40, so I really get to eat one meal a day. It's pretty hard to be fasting here. Anyways, tomorrow's my first day of University! Looking forward to that, and will tell you everything about it tomorrow.

Switched!

2008-09-22T22:52:00.002-04:00

I know, I know. It's been around 10 days since i've last posted. I'm sorry. I was overwhelmed with University related stuff, plus i don't have a wireless connection set up at my place till now (yup, i'm using someone's unsecured wireless connection :P).

* * * *

I switched! I've finally switched to Mac! So far it's been great (although i'm frustrated as to why some applications canot be maximized to whole screen view). I'm in love with the keyboard. It's amazing. I got the Black Macbook with 2.4GHz and 2GB RAM (i might upgrade to 4GB). I promise, seriously this time, to post on a daily basis. So keep in touch!

yup, this is my first post from my Mac!

Rihteous Kill & Don Pablo's

2008-09-15T09:24:00.003-04:00

So i went to watch this movie yesterday at AMC Theaters here in Ohio (allah i3een illi bil kwait, i think you will get this movie after 4 months). I was expecting alot from this movie since the cast included De Niro, Al Pacine and 50 Cent (for some reason). The movie was pretty good. The story/plot wasn't that impressive, but the acting covered it pretty well. I would recommend you go watch the movie, it's worth it. Final Score: 3.5/5

Olentangy, Aladdin, Chase, At&t and Cleveland

2008-09-13T17:13:00.005-04:00

Yeah, as the title suggests, i've been pretty much all over the place here in Ohio! Yesterday i got an apartment at Olentangy, and so far the staff have been great with helping us. I also got some furniture for the apartment.

Later on yesterday, i went to eat at Aladdin for fu6oor. It was across the street from Olentangy. It is basically an oriental/Lebanese restaurant. It was OK i guess. I really don't know how good it was 'cuz i was fasting so pretty much any food was OK for me!

I also went to Chase and opened up a bank account. I heard it's a great bank, and it's the most known bank here in Columbus.

Later on i went to At&t and got a mobile number with an individual wireless plan. So yeah, it was a LONG day indeed, but then again, it's better so i don't feel very hungry during the day since i'm busy doing stuff.

* * * * *

I am just back from Cleveland. I went there by car and it was so much fun. I like road trips really, although this one wasn't very distant. I honestly didn't get to see Cleveland a lot, but it seems like a nice place. It was also raining heavily over there and we (me and my father) weren't able to see everything very clearly. Anyways, i will definitly go there again once i get the chance, probably to see a basketball game. In the meantime though, i'm getting prepared for the USC / OSU football game tonight. Catch you guys later!

Blogging From Columbus, OH

2008-09-11T22:21:00.002-04:00

WOW! I am in Columbus, Ohio. I'm still not acquainted to saying that. Ok, where should i start? Well, I HATE INDIANS. Seriously, i'm not being racial or anything but the stereotype regarding their smell is true. My flight from Kuwait to London was filled with Indians and the plane smelled like shit. Plus, Indians take 10seconds to make them selfs feeling at home. A minute after i boarded the flight, everyone was barefoot, already asking for pillows and blankets, and letting their children loose in the plane. It was hectic. My flight from London to NY was much better. One of the flight attendants turned out to be a relative of mine, so we got automatically upgraded to First Class! I used was6a, I don't care. It was shit back there. BITE ME!

Now i'm in Ohio state university. I'm staying in Holiday Inn till i get an apartment. I attended orientation today, and honestly it was 6hrs of boredom. Anyway, i encourage everyone to come to Colombus. It is a really nice place. Nice people, and a great campus...you can't miss it! Anyhow, i'm pretty much exhausted now and need some sleep. Sorry for no photos, i'm using my father's laptop and i don't want to download the camera software on there. I will wait till i get a personal laptop. Hope i get back to posting on a daily basis. See you tomorrow!

btw: it's around 15 degrees here, bas kint ba7irkom :P

One More Day

2008-09-07T18:53:00.002-04:00

Ok. So that's it i guess. One more day for me and i'm out of here. Really excited and at the same time kinda wishing i could stay. I guess i just have mixed feelings. Anyways, just thought I would post about everything that's gonna go on tomorrow:

1. 9:35am - Flight to London
2. (sometime) - London to New York
***Stay at New York for the night***
3. (Sometime the next day) - New York to Ohio!

Yes, i am going on Kuwait Airways so i'm preparing myself mentally for some bad service. Inner state flight from New York to Ohio is via Delta Airways. Anyhow, i'm not gonna take a laptop with me, but my father is. So i'll blog if i can, but if i can't inshalla i'll blog from New York.

Now I just got to write down what i got to do for my last day...

So to all my fellow blogger: Adios! Talk to you from New York inshalla :)

3 Days Left: PS3 Issue

2008-09-06T09:27:00.002-04:00

I can't believe i've got only 3 days till the big day! I didn't pack anything yet and didn't get anything for the trip! So basically i'm running late. I got a couple of things i should do before i leave. Anyways, i'm planning on taking my PS3 with me to Ohio. I don't do partying so i thought i would spend time playing video games while everyone is out there getting drunk. So i'm thinking of just putting my PS3 in my big suitcase. Does anyone know if that's a problem with the US rules? Should i take it in a separate box? This is the only thing i'm really thinking about right now :P

Zain, Cinescape & Oldies

2008-09-03T08:26:00.002-04:00

Ok. There are ton of posts about Arab companies that have completely copied logos of American companies. But this is different. Both Zain and Cinescape are Arab companies. Now most of you might think that the logo is different, but allow me to elaborate. Both logos use same colors. Both logos have the same abstract. Both logos have the same idea: space-like galaxy or soemthing. Why? 5li9aw il designs ya3ni? Seriously it's stupid...oo i think both came out at a relatively close period of time!

* * * * *

On another note: i know you've read millions of posts regarding the stupid movies we get here in Kuwait through Cinescape. Well, it doesn't bother to read another then. I was just checking the movies coming soon, and checking at the same time their release date worldwide. Here are the movies and their release dates in the US. Keep in mind that they are coming soon here:

1. Sydney White: 21 Sept. 2007

2. The Hunting Party: 14 Sept. 2007

3. Mirror Wars: 1 Sept. 2005 !!! (that's even older than i expected before i wrote the post!!)

4. Baby Mama: 25 Apr. 2008

5. Blood Chocolate: 26 Jan 2007

6. Untraceable: 25 Jan 2008

...and these are COMING SOON!!

6 more days and i'm out .... 7amdilla!

La Liga Week 1 Frenzy

2008-09-03T07:17:00.003-04:00

The first week of the La Liga has passed, and most people are disappointed. This is because most people are either Real Madrid fans or Barcelona Fans. Good news is, I hate both teams, and my team (Valencia) crushed Mallorca! Now i really don't know what's best: Valencia winning or Madrid & Barcelona losing. This is really good...

Oh, and i really think losing Robinho is a very stupid move by Real Madrid

Let's Rock

2008-09-03T07:10:00.003-04:00

Yes, the event is obviously centered on the ipods, but what is the chance of new Macbooks or Macbook pros being revealed? I think the possibility is very low, but then again...the slightest of possibilities is a possibility.

Seven More Days

2008-09-02T14:02:00.005-04:00

Pressure, pressure, pressure. Next tuesday i'm off to Ohio. That is good news and bad news. Well good news, for obvious reasons, i'll be at last living the college life. Bad news is, actually are, i didn't fully pack to see if i need any thing, there is a math placement test online that i still didn't take, and i have yet to find a place to stay at in columbus! I'm just feeling the pressure mounting right now. Oh, and i promise my readers that i will be taking pictures of every thing i do and post about it here. So let the countdown begin: 7 days left...

The picture above is of Scott's Laboratory in the Mechanical Engineering Building.

رمضان كريم

2008-08-31T16:24:00.001-04:00

Orbit Sucks

2008-08-30T17:49:00.002-04:00

A couple of months back i was so happy about what Orbit was doing. They were bringing in new channels and everything was perfect. Lately though, things have flipped 180 degrees. We no longer have Jazeera Sport +1 and +2, and Orbit ESPN has been changed for a crappy channel by the name of EXTREME SPORTS. So I called up the customer service at Orbit to see what's going on. I told him that we have lost JSC +1 and JSC +2, so he told me that Jazeera refused to continue their contract with Orbit. Then I asked him about ESPN (which should be one of the core channels of Orbit) and he said the same thing that they refused to continue the contract with Orbit. WTF??!! ESPN??!! I mean come on...ESPN is like only on Orbit. So I told him that some other channels have been missing and he told me to restart the decoder after 10mins. 10mins later, the channels are still missing. Thank God i've only got 10 more days here.

Cinescape, Julia & A Stupid Guy

2008-08-26T05:11:00.003-04:00

((Please read the last story itha malkom 5ilg tigron kil shay))

This is probably the first time i write about three different things in one post, but this all happened yesterday, so bear with me.

1. The Cinescape Story: I was out with my friend to Al Fanar. We had nothing to do so we decided to book two tickets for the movie "Julia" at 9.30. Anyways, it was around 8.45 when a friend called and said that he is coming to meet us. So when he got here we went to book an extra ticket for him. Problem is, the ticket system was completely down. Nothing was working. The "manager" (who shouldn't really be one) was of no help. He was just sitting behind his desk doing nothing. In the end we made up a story and got my friend into the theater with us.

2. The Julia Story: I don't want to say alot about this. The movie simply sucked. It was very slowly paced and the story was completely un-original. It simply sucked big time.

3. The Stupid Guy Story: Ok, this is the most important of stories. Half way through the movie, i left since the movie sucked. My friends stayed inside the theater. I was going down the escalator (at Fanar), and infront of me were two buffed up guys wearing X-small shirts. Infront of them were two girls (actually they might be women). Anyways, the two girls weren't of the type that provokes a guy to bother them or anything. They didn't have all that crazy make-up on them or their hair done as if they were going to a 3irs. Anyways, one of the buffed up guys outstretched his leg and tried to touch one of the girls' "behind" (i think he slightly did)! So the girl noticed, and rushed down the escalator and stood on the side to avoid him. This is just plain stupid. I mean, in some cases some guys blame the girls for wearing flashy clothes, but these two girls weren't. Walla 7aram.

Abu Riad Min Addo

2008-08-23T16:03:00.003-04:00

I got the "Abu Riad Min Addo" DVD from Virgin at Lebanon last week. I used to watch the show on Future TV, and it's one of my favorite shows. I think it's very funny. So anyways, i got the DVD and wasn't expecting much of a story to the movie. And that's exactly what it is. Although there is a funny twist, this movie is just for laughs, and it's pretty funny. I recommend it especially to people who watch the show.

No More Fudds??

2008-08-23T16:00:00.002-04:00

I was out with a friend an hour ago...we were planning to have dinner at Fuddruckers. Apparently though, Fuddruckers has close for some reason. There are big "X"s on the windows made with tape. I don't know what the issue is. Does anyone know?

How Would You Change The E71?

2008-08-23T10:06:00.002-04:00

I found this question as a post on ENGADGET. My answer:

1. I would get the white model.
2. I would completely change the OS.
3. Improve battery life.
4. KEEP THE KEYBOARD!!

The New Generation

2008-08-19T17:12:00.003-04:00

Archos have just recently announced the new generation of their portable media players, the Archos 5 and Archos 7. I believe that Archos is the king of portable media and this new generation is certainly breath taking...the only reason i went with an iPod last year was because it had many accessories, but speaking in terms of the player itself, i think the Archos beats the iPod. Problem is, it doesn't get the hype the iPod gets. ARCHOS [Link] ... I WANT ONE!

Tropic Thunder - Reviewed

2008-08-19T16:38:00.003-04:00

Easily one of the funniest movies in a while, this fast paced, action packed movie-making of a movie (you'll understand when you see the movie) is nothing short of a great flick. It's been a while since a new comedy movie has taken a new funny twist rather than just repeating the same jokes. This movie is the type that is, well, stupidly funny. Like Superhero Movie but a thousand times better. It's REALLY funny. You should go out and see it. The only bad thing about it is that it's cut in Kuwait Cinemas in weird parts of the movie! Other than that, it's Amazing. Final Score - 9/10

Lebanon Trip - Summarized

2008-08-19T06:02:00.005-04:00

Hello fellow bloggers :) i'm back! It's been a while i know, but i really wasn't feeling like blogging in Lebanon. Anyways, i didn't record everything that happened there in chronlogical order, but here is almost all i did there (the purpose of this trip was to see part of my family there before going to university):

1. 7allab remains the best place to go in Tripoli :P ... Although the service has become a little worse, the sweets remain the best! I also tried a Snickers Latte there which wasn't that bad.
2. Roadster Diner I feel like this restaurant could really succeed in Kuwait. It's between Chilli's and Diva's. Something of everything, you know? I tried the Classic Burger 220 there and it was amazing.
3. Yes i did hear the Explosion that happened in Tripoli since i was there and allah Yir7amhom.
4. Bikaasifreen (Pronounced: B3a9ifreen) was amazing. I was sleeping there everyday and the weather was perect. It's a place up in the mountains at an altitude of around 1000 meters. It's really cool.
5. The Road Trip was good. We kept on refueling with Chips and chocolate every now and then :P ... Coming back (yesterday) we were a bit lat on schedule.
6. Gas for the Car in Lebanon is scorchingly expensive. Our car was Toyota Prado, refueling it in Kuwait costs around 10KD...while in lebanon it costs 300,000LL (60KD)!!!

One last thing, mali 5ilg i post the pictures (i only got 2 anyways of the Classic 220 burger, and a picture of the roadtrip) 'cuz i'm in a really bad mood (my lost wallet).

Lost Wallet

2008-08-19T05:59:00.003-04:00

I just came back to Kuwait yesterday at 11pm, and i just found out today that i lost my wallet. The feeling really sucks, i don't want to do anything now. The two most important things in there are my credit card and Civil ID. Damn it!

UPDATE i just found my wallet :P

And The Journey Begins...

2008-08-03T16:29:00.002-04:00

In around 5 hours, i will begin a two day road trip to Lebanon. This is (i think) the fourth time i go to Lebanon by car, so i know pretty much what's in store. Anyway, as for the blog, i think i'm going to take a short break because i doubt i will have time to blog. I will snap pictures though for blogging later on. Catch you guys later!

The Dark Knight: The Hype - Reviewed

2008-08-02T16:27:00.002-04:00

Unlike many other movies out there, this film lives up to all the hype and "buzz" it's getting. From the much talked about Joker, to the beautifully crafted story, everything about this movies seems to be perfect. I would just like to point out something which actually made the movie much better in my eyes: the story, unlike other superhero movie stories, is very realistic and sensible. There is so much reason to this movie, and it's not the typical superhero-saves-the-day-in-the-end storyline. Something else i'd like to point out: yes it is the best superhero/marvel movie, but no it's not the best movie ever made like IMDB claim.

New FM Station

2008-08-01T11:26:00.004-04:00

Kuwait has apparently got a new FM radio station. It's on wave 98.40MHz on FM. It plays both english and arabic music. Don't really know what it's called though, just heard about it. Currently listening to it, although the clarity is very weak. It's still under testing though.

Smartlink For Free

2008-07-31T05:34:00.002-04:00

i am not sure if this is for a limited time, but it seems Starbucks' Smartlink connection is now for free. Really uncharacteristic of Starbucks!

On Apple Rumors Regarding Notebook Updates

2008-07-30T07:14:00.005-04:00

Back since the days of my old blog (around six months ago) up till now, i have been waiting for serious Apple upgrades for the MacBook & the MacBook Pro. I have always delayed my purchase of an Apple notebook due to imminent upgrades. I had to hold back earlier this year because of looming upgrades in February. I was disappointed really with the upgrades. Yes the OS is enough to make it a great deal, but the MB/MBP was lacking essential aspects of a notebook.Now, rumors are circulating again, and pics are leaking on several sites about upcoming upgrades in both the Macbook and Macbook Pro lines. Furthermore, the long-talked-about dream of a Macbook tablet is also awaited. Anyways, on GIZMODO, they are hinting on a glass trackpad with a screen under it. While that is a bit too transcendent, it could be true. Apple have always been known of packing their products with new innovations. While those new innovations are cool and all, the question i propose is this: Why is Apple over-looking essentials of a notebook in today's market? I mean, how long is it going to take Apple to put Blu Ray slots in those notebooks? Hell, the 13.3 incher from Sony (the Z) has a Blu Ray drive in it! Come on now Apple.

I was just reading Macrumors [Link to Article] a while ago, and it seems the new notebooks aren't coming till the end of September! That is pretty late for me. Yes I have waited a lot, but i can't wait any longer 'cuz i need a new notebook for University and i need at least 2weeks to get used to a Mac. This is disappointing.

Skateboard Speakers

2008-07-27T18:23:00.001-04:00

This is one of the things that are really cool. I really want one, it would be perfect for my dorm room! Basically, it's an ipod-skateboard-shelf-speaker. Really cool.

Ups & Downs In The Blogosphere

2008-07-27T16:36:00.004-04:00

Summer vacation could be an excuse, but some bloggers that i personally check on a relatively daily bases have stopped blogging! The last time Marzouq blogged was July 16. The last time Outkasty posted was June 14. Furthermore, Angelo's blog has been shut down, and honestly Mark's blog is beginning to lose its touch (no offense Mark). On the other note though, some cool bloggers i'm checking out (and are my top five for this month [just created this "list" while i'm writing this :P] ) are:

PS: bloggers listed in random order.

Jeans

2008-07-26T07:06:00.002-04:00

A few days back i was looking for a classic regular pair of jeans (nothing fancy and nothing torn). It was then that i realized that torn jeans have become the norm. I searched several stores for a regular fit and they didn't have any. I tried G-Star Raw, but most of their jeans are tight on the legs (exactly what you see the majority wearing today). Also, i personally felt that their jeans are overpriced. Not trying to be frugal or anything, but for 55KD, i could get two pants! Anyway i tried GAS at Fanar, but the salesman broke it down honestly to me saying that they actually don't have regular pants! Finally i got to ZARA, and the day was saved. They actually have several regular fit classical jeans, so I picked one up for around 20KD.

Sick Military Dude

2008-07-24T07:37:00.002-04:00

I can't believe what i ust witnessed a few minutes ago. I was returning home and on the way there was huge traffic. Anyways, on the side, there were two cars that suddenly stopped. One man in military clothes (Kuwaiti) came out and headed to the car behind him (it was a white mini bus). The man headed towards the mini bus and started punching the indian-dude real hard. I really don't know what's wrong with this guy. It seems he thinks he has the authority to just go out and punch any guy since he is not Kuwaiti! Now i am not taking sides. I really don't know what happened initially, the Indian driver might have made a mistake or something, but what i'm saying is there is no reason what so ever to go punching Indians just 'cuz you are a military officer. This is sick!

Unfortunately i didn't take a pic. Sorry guys.

My Hunt For a Digital Camera Begins...

2008-07-22T10:43:00.004-04:00

42 days separate me from OHIO! I can't wait. I want to get the perfect digital camera to capture everything I see (and blog it). I will probably be getting the camera once i get there since they probably have better deals there (plus the warranty). I currently have the Casio Exillim EX-Z1000. It has been a good camera, but i need something better now. I heard alot about Canon being the best in terms of Digital Cameras. I have checked the Canon cameras, and from the specs point of view, they look excellent. I am not sure though if I should get the Powershot G9 or the EOS Rebel XSi. Honestly, i really don't know what's the advantage of an SLR - or what is an SLR for that matter (assuming they are better due to the higher prices). I will continue to do my research on this. For the mean time, the G9 and the Rebel XSi are on my list. If you own any of the two (or any other Canon camera), please tell me your thoughts. Also, if you recommend a certain Camera other than the two I have mentioned, i'll check it out. Thanks for the help!

Blogging From E71

2008-07-22T06:07:00.001-04:00

Finally! I have managed to get online on my E71 and blog. Nothing to say though!

Stupid Message

2008-07-20T17:10:00.004-04:00

I have recieved from several friends a forwarded message more than once now, and thought i would post about it. The forwarded message pretty much says that you either forward the message to 18 friends (or something like that) or hotmail will shut-down your account. Apparently everyone is believing this (although this is not the first email of its kind). Anyway, to all of you out there, hotmail is not closing your accounts. And if for some reason they do close your account, then i guess it's not worth to have an account with them anyways for doing that. There's always G-Mail (i've always wanted to have a gmail account...)

PS: i'm really liking the Hotmail GIF i found and put above on this post :D

Number 50

2008-07-19T18:31:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone! This is post #50! I have posted 50 times in three months, and while i know that's a little disappointing, i thank everyone who took the time to read and comment on my blog. I promise to post more often inshalla in the coming days. Also, in an attempt to make this blog more about me (and answering the suggestion of a personal friend), i will be posting more about what's going on in my life. Again, i thank you all!

E71 Reviewed

2008-07-17T11:55:00.004-04:00

After around five days of fiddling around with my E71, i have finally decided to post my thoughts about various aspects of this phone. Most of you won't be reading the whole post, so i put sub titles in bold.

The Exterior

the physical shape of the phone is to some its weakness and to some is its strength. I'm on the side who believes this phone is well-rounded. The phone is well curved on the edges, and i especially like the QWERTY. I also value a phone that looks slick and not cheap, and this one is far from cheap looking. The only downside is the back cover of the battery is a fingerprint magnet. So often the back looks dirty. Still good though.

The Interface

if there is one thing that you must point out in the phone that could use some upgrading, it is the interace. It is sleek. It is clean, but it can be a bit more user friendly. That is just my opinion. I mean, everyone should learn from other people's success. iPhone is getting the major hype because it can be completely customized with widgets. The E71 could use some of that.

Global Racing: Raging Thunder (Game)

This game comes pre-downloaded on the device (you just need to install it). It is so addictive and very nice. I like the fact that Nokia went ahead and put a racing game on this device to take advantage of the horizontal screen. Very nice. - I just have to point out that one time i ws playing the game and the whole phone got jammed and i had to remove the entire battery and reboot the thing.

Why The Z Beats The Air

2008-07-16T16:54:00.004-04:00

The Vaios are out and they are nothing short of amazing. Here is why the Sony Vaio Z beats the hell out of the Macbook Air. Ok so lets start out by discarding the fact that the Air's thinness is its weak point. The Sony Vaio proved a couple of days ago that with a couple of centimeters of more thickness, it could add that tube on the end of the notebook that will give it the crown for the sleekest sexiest notebook. Add to that carbon fiber behind the LCD, and we've got a winner! Anyway, i know no one will comment on this post, so i will make it short. Here is why im loving the Z:

Tube-Like speakers with the power button.

Carbon fiber casing.

Macbook-style keyboard.

Discrete graphics.

Blu Ray Drive.

13.3 inch screen.

I LOVE THIS MACHINE!!

Vaio. Redefined.

2008-07-14T15:57:00.006-04:00

It seems Sony will reveal their new Montevina based notebooks soon. Very soon. In hours. Keep checking Sony Style. I have always loved Sony and especially their laptops (although a little over-priced). On the other hand, it is rumored that new macbooks and Macbook Pros are also coming soon. This will be interesting...

UPDATE: Sony actually used "my" title: "Vaio. Redefined". I just picked that title randomly, and now they have it on their site! I'm a genius. (go with me :P).

anyways, the new Vaios are out there for pre-order and they are nothing short of amazing. I'm simply lost now 'cuz the OS is still windows. Why can't we have Mac OS X on Vaios?

You can check the new Vaios HERE, my favorite two are the SR and the Z series (the SR series goes up to 2.80GHz and it's a 13.3incher!!!!).

Eddie Murphy in Eddie Murphy in Meet Dave - Review

2008-07-14T15:51:00.002-04:00

When I watched the trailer for this movie, i was very excited. I went today to watch this movie, and it was a cool movie. I must admit it wasn't up to my expectations, but it was good enough to be a "good" movie. There were a couple of times when i laughed so hard, yet there were scenes which i felt were unnecessary. Anyways, overall a pretty decent movie. 3.5/5

Finally...The E71

2008-07-13T07:37:00.006-04:00

Yup, i've got it like everyone did. After four days of searching and looking, i finally got it. Don't want to make this post very long 'cuz there's a lot to say. Most important, the phone is pretty sweet. I honestly never thought of getting a Nokia ever, but i actually did. I don't want to talk much, i want to let the pictures do that. I must say though, i'm loving the big screen (compared to my old phone - check pics). I am, on the other hand, still getting used to the QWERTY. Never really used a phone where the "number zero" is next to the "number nine". I am still adding my contacts since my contact list was saved on my old phone rather than on the SIM card itself. I've tried a couple of things so far, nothing much though. I personally like the feature of changing modes. Anyway, here are the pics:

Quest For E71 Starts Very Badly

2008-07-12T14:26:00.003-04:00

I admit it. I am after the Nokia E71. Yes Mark's review is a big part of it, but also because the Blackberry Bold is obviously not coming any time soon. Also, the E71 package (GPS, WiFi, 3MP, and QWERTY) for 128KD is a pretty good deal. So I went this morning looking for the phone everywhere (Eureka, Al Ghanim Electronics, and all the other shops in Hawalli) but apparently it has gone extinct in Kuwait! Then I decided to go to Al Ghanim again, and luckily the dude has heard of something by the name of "E71". Unfortunately though, the phone is out of stock. Anyway, so i put my number with the guy and told him to call me once they get it (He said it will take 2 days max.). So i go back home with no phone. Later at around 8pm, i decided to call Al Ghanim Electronics myself (in case they forgot to call me), and the guy on the phone tells me it's available! So i hopped in the car quickly and drove to Al Ghanim - Hawalli branch. Like an idiot, i was told that no they don't have the phone yet! So after getting very angry and showing it to the salesman (and sweating after getting insanely mad), i decided to take the number of the salesman there so i would annoy him every once in a while with my calls to check if the phone arrives. What service they got, eh?! Will keep you posted...

iPhone 3G in Kuwait - When?

2008-07-11T07:44:00.003-04:00

While everyone is going crazy over the Nokia E71 here in Kuwait, i on the other hand am waiting for the iPhone 3G be in stores. I need a phone right now, and can't wait more than 2 weeks. When is the iPhone 3G coming to Kuwait??