Kuwait & Formula 1: Old news for some... New for me!!!

April 12, 2007

Kuwait plans a race track

The surge of interest in motorsport in the Middle East has resulted in a number of race tracks and proposed race tracks in Bahrain, Dubai and Qatar. Abu Dhabi has also jumped on the bandwagon and now Kuwait says it wants to join the party. The country used to run major rally events in the 1980s in the Middle East Rally Championship but when the country was invaded by Iraq in 1989 the activities stopped. There was a brief revival of rallying in 1995 and 1996 but since then the country has sunk into inertia. That is about to change. Ahmad Al-Dawoud Al-Sabah, a member of the Kuwait ruling family, that has ruled the country since 1752, has established the Kuwait Motor Sports Club (KMSC) and has been granting the sporting power for the country by the FIA, following an agreement with the Kuwait International Automobile Club.The aim now is to raise the finance to construct an international level circuit.

From --- http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns19010.html

April 15, 2008

Berger Looking to Kuwait

Toro Rosso co-owner Gerhard Berger is this week in Kuwait, the Middle Eastern state, to explore establishing a Kuwaiti Formula One team, according to local reports.

Less than a month after Red Bull magnate Dietrich Mateschitz declared that his 50 percent share of the Faenza based squad is for sale, the Arab Times newspaper reveals that Berger was invited by Anwar Bukhamseen, the wealthy president of the Kuwait International Automobile Club.

"I see great potential, and I am hopeful that one day we can develop a team," Berger said in a news conference on Monday.

The Austrian will reportedly make more visits to Kuwait, which borders Iraq and has the world's fifth largest oil reserves, in the next few months.

He said it is more important for Kuwait to buy into a team than to build a circuit and bid to host a Grand Prix. 

"If there is a team in the country, you are in action every 14 days," he said, adding that his talks are only in the initial stages.

"There is a chance for development. I am expecting to meet more Kuwaiti businessmen who are willing to be part of this project to develop motorsport in Kuwait," Berger added.

From --- http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/080415103846.shtml

First automated motorcycle wash opens in U.S.

This looks like a great idea with the bike season already on the go :) More information and Press Release Here.

Video: An old, yet interesting Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Interview

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Part 4:

Lebanese Designed Supercar!!!

"The desire to take on Ferrari has birthed at least one iconic car (GT40) and launched an entire brand (Lamborghini), and for David Frem, a 25-year-old Lebanese design student, the ambition to chase after Italy's prancing horse has created this: the Frem F1.

After three years of design and fabrication, Frem has created the F1 prototype as a steppingstone to the production version, aptly titled the F2, which is slated to appear at the Detroit Auto Show this January.

The F1 is currently powered by a Volkswagen-sourced 2.0-liter four-pot and mated to an Audi gearbox (DSG?), good for a claimed top speed of 124 mph -- assuming it doesn't undress itself in the process. But if the world's first Lebanese supercar has any chance of catching up to Italy's finest, it had better be packing twice as many cylinders and a bit more refinement."

Great start... being on a budget this guy can work quite well with what he has.... not great on specs or looks.. but i have to give the guy some credit for trying.... Waiting to see the F2 he will apparently unveil in January :)

From --- http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/19/lebanons-first-supercar-the-frem-f1-coming-to-detroit-auto-sh/

Playstation Home

I stumbled upon this video on YouTube... Apparently this upcoming PS3 application will be a free download from the PS3 Store and will be available sometime around Q4 2008. Looks good :)

Start of the New Seasons!!!

Prison Break is already out and here are the release dates for some more TV Shows :)

Heroes - September 22

How I Met Your Mother - September 22

Grey's Anatomy - September 25

American Dad - September 28

Family Guy - September 28

Numb3rs - October 11

30 Rock - October 30

Lost - January 1 2009 (Est.)

For more visit - http://epguides.com/

Google's New Phone

I'm hoping that this phone is going to be something worth waiting for... Also hoping they don't lock it like Apple did with both the iphone and the iphone 3G (I know they can be unlocked and I do have the 3G from Italy that works fine with all networks, but why the pay the premium to get the phone from Italy for a legally unlocked one? and why the headache of unlocking?)... Google leave it as an Unlocked phone and spare us and the hackers all the trouble!!!

Funny Indian Advert

This is a pretty funny Award-Winning Indian advert for Glycodin

Face Your Manga!!!

This is a new phenomenon I have been noticing on Facebook where people have been putting up Manga (Cartoonish) avatars on their profile pictures. For all of you who are interested in doing so, here is the link....

Link - http://www.faceyourmanga.com/

Kuwait ISP Ratings

According to http://www.speedtest.net these are the current ratings and speeds for Kuwait's variety of Internet Service Providers.

CNN: Collider Triggers End-of-World Fears

Now after the Y2K Phenomena or whatever you may call it.... Are we going for another Doomsday event scare? We shouldn't be afraid of a black hole gobbling up the world when the long-bearded guys in short Dishdashas are already doing a great job of destroying it for us.

Link - CNN: Collider Triggers End-of-World Fears

Perplex City

Browsing through the search for second life images I accidentally stumbled upon Perplex City. For those of you who like puzzles and mysteries then this is for YOU!!! Described on the website as "A city obsessed with puzzles and ciphers. A game that blurs the boundaries between fiction and reality. Begin an incredible, immersive adventure that spills out into the real world. Interrogate suspects over the phone, search police files for evidence, decipher coded emails and check newspapers for clues - working with tens of thousands of players around the world." The first season of the game actually gave away 100,000 British Pounds to the winner. Unfortunately the second season is on hold until further notice.

Link - Perplex City

Second Life

I noticed that many people here in Kuwait are joining an online community called Second Life so I decided to join in too. My view is that this is an exciting way to create one's virtual self and a great way to communicate and get to know people around the world in a safe, virtual environment. The fact that it takes the mind to an alternate reality also subsides some of the stress from work these days... Oh, and it's cool that they got real happenings such as the vote for Obama '08.

Link - Second Life

MTV Cribs: Arab-American Style

I'm just not going to be bothered to put an explanation on this one LoL. Watch it and judge yourself :) Now if we had a MTV Cribs: Kuwaiti Edition... Hmmm???

MasterQarth

This video is a bit old but still goes with current happenings in Kuwait. Funny way to put backward ideology to film though :)

Toilet Restaurant in Taiwan

I would really, really like to see this open here in Kuwait. This restaurant has a bathroom decor, with colorful toilet seat being the standard chairs at the restaurant. It also serves food in plates and bowls shaped like western loo seats and Japanese “squat” toilets!!! Customers sits by a tables converted from a bathtub with a glass cover while looking at a wall decorated with neon-lit faucets and urinals turned into lamps. All that needs to be added is a Hamam Arabee for those floor seated gatherings :)

Kuwait orders 150 Dodge Charger police cars

Well... I guess this might be an omen in disguise... All we have to do is wait a few years (4yrs Max) and we won't have to speed away from police... They'll all just start breaking down

Link - http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/03/kuwait-orders-150-dodge-charger-police-cars/