Fusla & Fusla

Gewgel

2011-11-04T12:39:00.000-07:00

"Google Buzz is going away, but your posts are yours to keep"

Dear GoogleI have 3 words for you: Consolidate, Focus and Grow up

MF

e7em..testing

2009-12-26T08:23:00.000-08:00

check 1 2, check

Richard III: An Arab Tragedy

2007-02-07T22:05:00.000-08:00

The Culture Project/Sulayman Al-Bassam Theatre, directed by Sulayman Al-Bassam.
Following the international success of The Al-Hamlet Summit, the Sulayman Al-Bassam Theatre Company returns to the UK with a new Arabic version of Richard III, specially commissioned for the Complete Works Festival.
Set in the contemporary Arab world, this production of Richard III unfolds within the hothouse, feudal atmosphere of desert palaces in an oil-rich kingdom. In this world of tribal allegiances, family in-fighting and absolute power, the questions of leadership, religion and foreign intervention that are at the heart of Shakespeare's play, take on powerful new meanings in a modern Arab-Islamic context.
The production is a window into the often misunderstood world of the Arabian Gulf in all its richness: its social customs, musical heritage and some of its darker mystical rituals.
Performed in Arabic with English surtitles, with a company of actors from across the Arab World, accompanied by a live Arab musical score.
Richard III - an Arab tragedy runs at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from 8 - 17 February 2007, for 12 performances only.

Source: http://www.rsc.org.uk/WhatsOn/3575.aspx

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Check out my e-album

2007-01-18T15:16:00.000-08:00

Its been a while, its been crazy and I'm planning a trip fo a lifetime, will post about it once I return (Fingers crossed)
In the meantime, check out my new online photo album and please comment ( be very harsh)

Mama Fusla's online album

Verk, movies and randomania

2006-11-26T04:24:00.000-08:00

It has been a while indeed,,,

Been working for 3 weeks straight without 1 day off except a few hrs on a Friday.
10AM-10PM then break from 10PM-12AM and 12AM-3AM….
Every time I decided not to work late, I get tempted by the clarity I get past midnight. Somehow after a long day of meetings and day to day mumbo, everything comes together and my mind is finally ready to spill ideas, quickly answer e-mails and write lengthy memos & reports effortlessly...In most cases, I enjoy it and feel some adrenaline pumping (Strange)

Been out on the boat a few times, again with my laptop and huge latte and enjoying the lovely weather. Isn’t it a blessing? Where else in the world is the weather this time of year so kind?
Hope all of you peeps who love to complain about the weather are out there on your bikes, in your running shoes or simply taking a stroll in what feels like the birth of spring.
I tried to have most of my meetings outdoors, the thing is the person/s I’m meeting end up being too comfy and the 1hr meeting becomes 2hrs, I then have to lie and pretend like I have another meeting and move elsewhere to another café, why aren’t we allowed to be blunt enough to say. “It was really nice meeting with your and now will you excuse me, I have to get back to work, maybe we can have another chat some other time”. Would that count as proper business behavior?
You can inform someone the meeting is over if it’s in the office, but rude if you’re meeting in a café? There is a very thin line between business etiquettes and business pressure I suppose!

I have been meeting interesting people, there is a mentally challenged person who pops everyday and asks me my name and if I’m married or single. The stalker in progress has followed my friend to her car the other day, even though I think he’s harmless.

Still trying to figure out what to do for New Years, Beirut, Goa, Bahrain or Stay Home?

Tempted to cut my hair but instead I darkened it!

Very slowly reading SABIRIYA: Damascus Bitter Sweet by Ulfat Idilbi
(Since it’s a quick read, I wanted to finish it to go back to reading Maaluf but I haven’t gotten into it yet)

Managed to watch a few movies and here is my 2 rupees
Snatch: Yup..I iz a late boomer…I enjoyed it though can’t pinpoint exactly what it is that appealed to me the most, well except for ‘Zi Germans’ Lines. Freckles has downloaded it for me to use as phone ring.
Just Friends: Some parts were funny, the rest was all weird. Why do they try too hard these days? Besides, the Before & After movies are so juvenile! Is it so much to ask for Substance?
BORAT: emmm the most graphic and offensive movie of the year. Funny? Sometimes but most of all revolting. I truly am disappointed in Sacha, how could he allow such a full character like Borat to be on the same level as JackAss or Tom Green. Overkill and over hyped.
Yes, we saw your movie and we hope you Execute too. Chinqui?
CLICK: ra7at 3alaik ya bu Walken! Too bad man and Adam Sandler, go do another one of your pissed off movies with that constipated look of yours instead and let the big boys do their thang..
5Fingers: Mr. Rick James once said ‘What did the 5 fingers say to the face’?
Answer: ‘SLAPPPPPPPP’ which is what the producers deserve for financing this movie.
Black Dahlia. 2 words ‘NICE COSTUMES’

This post made my massage effect ware off, oh well..back to verk!

Khappy Khalloween

2006-11-01T05:05:00.000-08:00

Do’s & Don’ts of Halloween:
-Do be original, fangs and togas is like so dark ages!
-Do be original, fangs and togas is dark ages!
-Ladies, you have 364 other days to be sexy. No nurses, Catwomen, no Maids!
-If you’re gonna dress up very controversial like a Suicide bomber or an aborted fetus then please calculate the risks
-Get into character at least 1 week ahead of practice. Explain to your colleagues and staff that you’re on some experimental drugs with bad side effects
-Try to be as offensive as possible, if you’re not black pretend to be. A Taliban woman in a Muslim party is absolutely fabulous or the drunken Texan in an all American partry, even better a Nazi or a KKK member.
-Go all out, if your character requires a certain smell then spray it on, or if you need to bring a side kick such as a Goat or a child.

Last Minute costume ideas:

- Wear a 70s vintage floral dress and throw on an abaya, large Jacki O shades or larger and a big shoulder length wig and you can be Ala Marta Fabulous [See picture]

- The Saddam out-of-the-hatch look is always in. Don’t forget the santa beard and the hangover look.

-Put on a butt crack-revealling low waist pants, skanky highheels, a bling boob exposing party top, a belly ring and an aboriginal lower back tattoo, slicked peroxide blonde hair and huge cheap grade zirconia hoops for the ultimate Dubai Euro Trashstir

- For the latest Clown fish triple decker mo7ajababe look: Wear leggings, 3/4pants and a ruffled skirt and wrap a scarf and a blingy belt, long sleeved blouse and wear a bustier, layer up necklaces and plenty of rings and bangels. Generously apply foundation 3 times lighter than your skin tone, battered wife black eye make up, make fake moles and apply fake eyelashes,
rainbow colored eye shadows, green eye lenses and glitter on tooth. Layer up the matching sequence head scarfs with tassles and separate with elongated sponge to create the Alien head effect. Wrap around exposing darker neck and chandelier earrings. Sprinkle with confetti for added effect.

Mu7ajaBabe (Tune not stolen from Timberlake's sexy back)

I’m wearing a sexy 7jab
Them other girls just wear niqab
Their all like Ninjas wearing a garbage bag
I wear all rainbow colors not just Black
Take em to the mall

You’re in a daze
When you smell the bukhoor
Baby you’re my slave
I mite just take your numba if you behave
It aint easy being a tripple decker babe

3eed Video

2006-10-25T01:47:00.000-07:00

عيدكم مبارك
A lil sumthin sumthin
Enjoy ;)

Lover's Leap

2006-10-17T14:36:00.000-07:00

Just like Steve Irwin, Dan Osman died doing the thing he loved and ironically not whilst doing something dangerous but it was simply not his lucky day. A tribute to all who dedicate their whole lives to the work they love..

WATCH LOVERS LEAP

Part 3: Turk Gone Wild

2006-10-16T14:32:00.000-07:00

Finally, My 1st YouTube Video! Dedicated to Fuzzy!~

In the spirit of serious dance moves and grooves, I've uplodaded a memorable clip from Cesme, Turkey when Amunki & I went to visit the one and only Donkey Island [The Island with 40 donkeys..Google it if you must]
Lost amongst the Turkish teenagers with serious horomonal embalances, it turns out that we had our live entertainment onboard who was putting on a show of showing off to the boat next to us..

Its not very clear but this kid can shake it, has to have a few ribs missing to be able to move and get down n boogy like that!!

Dance Videos Part.2

2006-10-16T04:59:00.000-07:00

Watch 'Days Go By' by Dirty Vegas

* I love how he turns 90 degrees at a time at 1st when he's in the suite....

absolutley flawless!

Nothing can come close

2006-10-15T08:58:00.000-07:00

As I was driving back from work at 5, I listened to 'Familiar Feeling' by Moloko and remembered the familiar feeling of listening to this song after so long, I watched the sun set to the song and quickly was reminded by how great this group is and recollected the post after attending their Concert in Cesme, Turkey.
Click It

I love the video to this song because of its details. From the Bruce Lee poster in her bedroom, scrubbing her dance shoes, you can hear it. Turkey.
Them going to the stairs, her singing in the toilet. The setting seems real enough to grab. Their costumes in the ballroom, the way they danced.
With such elegance in dress and voice, Rosin breaks into a Kung Fu Dance...Classic!

Enjoy the clip!

The Indigenous Language of Khoosh

2006-10-14T15:03:00.000-07:00

WATCH THE BUG & BALDY VIDEO

I found this funny clip from U-Turn showing the ingenious of the one and only Bug & Baldy duo as they strike again with another racy skit that plays on words and mocks the ass kissing lingo which our culture has been so accustomed to..

I won't say anymore and I wanna know if any1 enjoyed it as much as I did, heck I even transcribed it on my blog and made mom say "il la3ab Ma Khoosh" and "is7ab ya 6al 3amar" over a game of Russian hand following iftar.

Hint: If you didn't find this hilariously funny and witty then the chances of us becoming friends are close to nil..

ٍSubtitles

We have been blessed with Democracy for years
And for generations our communication skills has helped us in practicing that democracy
Where everyone is entitled to express his or her honest opinion
Our opinions as harsh as they may be are always expressed freely and are usually tolerated
I don't know why the rest of the world thinks of us as seventh world countries
Is it because of our human rights violations?
Well..
Well..
I have only one thing to say about that matter
As one of our great leaders said..
"Show me humans and I will show you rights"
If you like this then wait till you see
The Dark Room

Connecting Through culture, Celebrating Diversity

Script

يا طال خوش
لا يا عاد لا يا مو خوش
والله غشمر
لا يا عاد طال عمرك
لا يا حبيب ما يصير خوش
غشمر يا طال خوش
لا يا عاد طال عمر ما يصير أم خير
لا شلون ها؟ ماكو خوش
هه...لاااااا عاد عاد عود خوش ما عاد
شوف عاد يا عاد هذول
ما عاد يصير الا طال عمر أمرك
لا والله ماكو خوش
هه خوش
خوش هازا هازاك
هازا ال يهال
يهال يركظون
لا لا لا لا اسمع يا طال عمر
لا لا يا طال خوش
يهال يغشمرون طال عمرك
لا الحين

Connecting Through culture, Celebrating Mo KhoOoOosh!

Sharmania

2006-10-07T15:57:00.000-07:00

* After many failed attempts of attaching colorful photos to this post, I decided to post it regardless as the topic is becoming outdated..So hope its not too dull.

It’s been a while since I’ve written anything. Lately, every opportunity I have, a moment spared from work or Ramadanian social functions, I shy away with Amin Maalouf’s novel “The Rock of Tanios” compelling story about the feudal struggles in the Levant and the political conflict between the European powers and the Middle East in the Early 1800s.
But the main reason why I was away is because I treated myself to an end of summer 4 day vacation to Sharm Al Sheikh that soon became 7days and before I knew it, 11 very adventurous, indulgent, stress relieving fun packed days.

I did go to Sharm with the intention of chillaxing and possibly exploring the underwater life that I have been hearing of. I found the diving center recommended by an extremely helpful and most generous blogger friend. I then decided to do my Advanced Open Water since I’ll be diving anyways. There was some studying involved, a not so threatening text book with plenty of pictures and diagrams; very tourist friendly.
Hopping onto the dive boats, we were greeted by the captain and his crew, the dive instructors and met all the fellow divers from all over Europe. A bunch of homophobic almost hooligan looking Brits in their mid 40s were a joyous bunch who kept the boat trips spontaneously entertaining.
I did my Deep Dive, felt great..I was supposed to write my name in backwards and compare the times in which it took me to write in deep water to that on surface. The Difference was irrelevant however, I was supposed to recognize and write down on my instructors pad the mystery item which he got out of his BCD. It was green as a lime, the shape of a lemon and had details of a tomato. Apparently in 30Meter plus, colors look different, even if you cut yourself you would bleed green! Weird no?

Personally, wasn’t impressed with the fish as much as the corals, I saw the most beautiful of Gregorian corals, soft corals etc.
The schools were small in size except for the hundreds of Jack fish and ……… But we saw the odd giant Moray snapping its mouth in a repetitively that it began to look more humorous than threatening, one even decided to show off its muscles, crawled out of its small cave in the corals and gracefully maneuvered in the shallow like a model parading on a catwalk. But I always found them a bit sly and perhaps vain.

My 1st deep dive was as if a scene from “The Abyss” with all the flash lights of the fellow divers radiating blue beams. It took me a while to adjust signaling from using the hand to using the flash light. We saw lionfish covered in intrinsic tattoo like markings. It spooked me a bit to not know what was around me except if I flash a light at it, we were advised against overusing the flashlight in fear it would chase the fish away, we were warned against over kicking with our fins cos that would create silt and worsen the visibility (as if before that we could see clearly?)
We saw a blue spotted stingray hovering in the bottom but unfortunately, no octopus was spotted.

After 4 days of diving in Dunraven, Tiran and Ras Katy, I decided to take my Nitrox test, I’ve been wanting to dive with Enriched Air for a long time. A score of 86% was sufficient enough to have me diving with Nitrox…yey.

There were some technicalities to it, like complicated dive planning and having to analyze my air whenever I had to dive but once I was down there, I felt the difference. Each breath would feel like 2 of regular Air, the air would last longer and can go deeper. Once I was out of the water, I realized that I didn’t feel as tired and dry mouthed as other dives, I didn’t take my regular nap instead, I joked and chatted up almost everyone on board including the old captain.

I’ve seen some funky looking fish worth noting like The Crocodile fish, what an amazing looking fish. Looks like a mutant fish with crocodile jaw. Its camouflage flesh disguising it amongst the reef rocks.

After extending the trip, I thought of getting more than just Nitrox Certificate but wanted to perfect my hovering by doing a peak performance Buoyancy specialty, my instructor asked me to do a few simple tricks under water like inhale and rise, exhale and sink, cross my legs as if I were in a Diwanya and grab my fins and float like a genie over his masters lamp.

For the finale, we decided to go to one of the worlds most spectacular wrecks ever. The Thistlegorm which was a British war vessel which was sunk in 1941 after being attacked from the air, It was carrying war supplies such as motor bikes, train carriages, rifles and trucks.

We were up at 5:00a.m rushed to the still closed breakfast room and begged the still sleepy waiter to spare us some orange juice, croissants and Danish. At 6, the bus arrived with the rest of divers, exhausted, disgruntled from diving and late night partying in Pasha or other Bars in Ni3ma Bay.

Boarding the so called “Faster boat” which will take us 2 hours to get to the Wreck in Saab Ali, it didn’t take my friend and myself time to figure out that the rest of the divers on board are professionals with their high tech equipment that we’ve never scene before, special underwater cameras and handicaps, huge flashlights, head lamps and elegant wetsuits in all shapes & colors with florescent trimmings. Some even had their laptops to analyze the filming between dives; we later learned these guys made documentaries for Discovery channel and the like. Needless to say, they were a boring bunch and we quickly missed our dive boat with its colorful crew and its rowdy British geezers.

The 1st dive we went all around it and through the propeller and over the rudder. I hovered near the front tip of the ship [Bow] and alligned myself perpendicular like the cliché scene from The Titanic and looked down, I immediately felt height vertigo. Such a bizarre feeling at 20+ meters under water. I then kicked my fins as though to fall off the front of the ship and dove head down and watched the height of the ship upside down, freefalling gracefully.

The second dive was more challenging, we penetrated the wreck and went inside one floor to the other, from Captains cabin, his toilet where the bathtub and wash basin remained preserved as if awaiting their master’s return. We saw Cruiser bikes 6 or 8 of them parked aligned to one another same went for the riffles and machine guns, ammunition, rail way engine.
The Army truck, the anti aircraft on the front, the guns, the unexploded cartons of shells reading 1929 as year manufactured.
Even an airplane wing was spotted.
This beautifully eroded wreck is home to a bouquet of marine life. Jack fish, groupers and snappers, Surgeon fish, Rabbit fish and also Nudibranches, Jacks and even schools of Barracuda.
5 meters away from the starboard, our dive leader signaled to me to look towards the blue and I quickly turned, I first thought it was a large Tune as it became clearer that it wasn’t, in fact it was a 130Meter grey reef shark and behind it an equal size partner, I was excited yet mesmerized by the seen. Then something slightly larger and darker hovered beneath them. It was a Guitar shark, what a graceful creature. With the front looking like ray and a flexible body with swift fins and flawless movements.

Not one reef shark but two and a 2meter Guitar Shark, in the same time, so close, and so visible...

Certainly my lucky day and the highlight of my trip…

Hey Mr. DJ

2006-09-10T14:27:00.000-07:00

Dear Mr. Paul Van Dyke,

I have just recently found your latest release The Politics of Dancing Vol2 somewhere in my room and I opened it from its extremly elegant cover and played it on my way to the Chalet. I'm not a fan of your German/Euro Techno however I still invested in your CDs for the sake of 2 or 3 songs that in most cases well worth buying the whole CD. As I was skipping from one track to the next in search for that special song all the way to #15, I realized I had found it after the first 10 seconds. Nothing - Holden & Thompson. The beat was as powerful as the melody, the anime-esque vocals were sensually sensational but the play with the equilizer and the vacuum effect brings it all together so gracefully. Well Done!

Today, I came home from a long day at work with the CD in my hand and quickly plugged it into my laptop, lazing in bed, I watched the screen eagerly to play song #15 and there you were..You popped just like a pop up, admiring your photo I clicked on play CD aaaaaand pops another window asking me to enter my e-mail and password. The surprise began to ware off and now aggitation is taking place. I clicked on 'No &%$( code' and was redirected to your royal houseness's homepage. To cut a long story short, the code was accepted and pop you go again and as I click on the list of songs..#15 and guess what #15 didn't play, infact none of the songs were playing. The CD was useless & will not play on my laptop because most probably one of your clever producers decide to spend your money on a fancy hightech CD that will simply not play...

You know something Mr. Van Dyke, perhaps 7 years ago..I would have had the tolerance to wait and fix the CD glitch, perhaps 7 years ago I wouldn't have the patience to write a letter like this but would delightedly wait until your music has graced my presence. That same me stood a long line that went around 1 block in the freezing winter cold in Manhattan's Twilo. That same me flew to Beirut to attend your BIEL concert which truly sucked in every sense of the word. But we still lingered and mingled with the Sleezy Lebaneesi excuse for ravers in the cheap excuse for a VIP room and jammed to your beats in spite of the empty hall, the lame crowd and the bad sound systems. (Why on earth would you allow the silly promoters idea of having a VIP room in the middle of a bloody RAVE?! Doesn't it defeat the whole purpose of a rave?

So I'm gonna say goodbye to all the #15s on your top selling compilations cos unfortunetly these days are over and I simply don't have the previllage of time and the patience to wait.

Sorry, but I want my money back Mr. Van Dyke..

I'm sure you understand

Yours

Mama Fusla

Autumn Nostalgia

2006-09-06T16:09:00.000-07:00

After 2 weeks wasted between the Department of Immigration, Labour and Philipino Embassy. I'm I have been inspired to migrate, change careers and settle for a much simpler life.. Like a bird migrating in Autumn, I wish to spread my wings and fly away... But where to?

HAI!
I wanna wake up at sunrise in my Ryokan [Traditional Japanese family run Inn] Sipping on Gyokoro or Genmatcha and having my Mungo Pancakes [red bean]..contemplating the beauty of the autumn leaves and making a prayer before I leave to assend Mt. Fuji to make it there by noon....once I'm there I'll go to the temple, meet a monk and sip some more tea in the warmth of the spiritual setting. Take a few photos and begin my descend...
But wait? Why don't I spend the night gazing at the stars....I might just do that!

[Watashi wa mata anata ni aitai to omoimasu]

I hope to see you again

Steve Irwin: A hunter to be rememered

2006-09-04T04:02:00.001-07:00

Steve Irwin 44, AKA "Crocadile hunter" died this morning when a stingray off the Barrier reef stung him in the heart while he was filming "Ocean's Deadliest"
What a freak accident! What are the chances of getting stung my a stingray and for the barb to go from underneath his ribcage and bullseye into the heart! Besides, he's a reptlies guy, what on earth was he thinking when going to the Great Barrier reef? It's a whole different ballgame downunder!

A tribute to the man who made is jump, who made us laugh, brought excitement into our home screens as he got us so close to Planet's most dangerous animals...

Steve we love you
Rest in peace..

Movie Time

2006-08-29T15:05:00.000-07:00

After a humorous debate with a family friend on what movie to watch tonight, I ended up playing The Notebook based on popular demand [I was shooting for “Friends with money”]
The movie has an animated beginning, I quickly fell in love with the heroin, as for the hero, I wasn’t convinced with his casting at first but again, he grows on you by the scene.
As the story develops, I found myself wanting to stay in the story within the story, eagerly waiting the moments of retrospection of the epic love story.

I noticed a lot of symbolism in the movie like the choice of clothing, colors and hairstyles as well the dynamic use of scenic setting, were depicting the state of turmoil the two were struggling with. [The family friend would argue and accuse me of looking to deep into it, the Irony is that we're both Literature majors]
So as the plot thickens, my interest began to shift on the lives of the aged lovers, how the devoted Noah challenged his beloved’s irreversible dementia disorder in order to hang onto the thinnest threat of the divine unity they shared over 3 decades ago. [Even the choice of the name of the hero Noah, rebuilding his house to get his lady who's the only thing that's left to him after he lost the closest 2 people he knew, His Father & Best Friend, not to mention losing Alie once before]

Those scenes of the aged lovers are very emotionally charged, the acting is heartbreaking and oh so original.
Before the end, I found myself so drawn into the movie, every sense was captured and towards the last minutes I fought the urge to sob and just released a few tears.. [ok maybe a few more]

2 thumbs up without hesitation
This adaptation of the novel was sensational and heart warming….

I should definetly give romances more chances next time..

UPDATE

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Do not Waste your time or money on "FRIENDS WITH MONEY"

Slow start, no progression not even a climax! Forget about unwinding of a plot cos there is no one. Yes it is an indie-movie and I appreciate the effort that's put into this however a Good cast/acting never guarantees a good movie and surely not with a loose stagnant story such as this.

Though it is worth mentioning that the director managed to capture the rut in routine wether by highlighting the pathetic life Jennifer Aniston (The Single pothead Maid) or by zooming into the lives of the couples and their different problems that are created in the routine vacuum where nothing really happens, where the serious elements of what makes or breaks a relationship such as communication is overshadowed by the material standards they set for themselves to compensate for what truly lacks in their lives..

Which gets me thinking why I never ever seek any material thing with passion. I'm sure I'm missing on something, I hear my friends saying things like "Finally, I got the PDA I ordered" or "I got myself one of those limited handbags"..at one point I felt materially attached to my Camera but thats about it, and even that has faded with time..I know its a blessing but exactly how much am I missing here?

What is the one thing that you really really want to get your hands on and what's your most valuable posession would be the hardest to give up?

* Think of it as an Eid wishlist!

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LAST WEEKEND's MENU UPDATE

Asparagus Frittata with Edam and Some funky swiss cheese

4KGSerloin Roast stuffed with garlic & roasted Baby Carrots, shallots & potatoes (To be honest it was rather dry, because I kept on opening and checking on it and the hot air got in and spoilt the 2hr roast) I've never been the roaster more of a BBQer..15KD wasted! yullah fidwa..

Again Garlic/Lemon/Yoghurt Grilled chicken & Wild Rice Risotto with Tomato sauce (Daqqoos)

The Rissotto was boiled in the bonemass of the Roast (Beef STOCK) which gave it the rich flavor and texture that worked well with the wild rice that sometimes comes out dry, not this time!

Again Goat cheese & Pesto Pizza (I made 2 thin and 1 deeppan based on popular demand, the deeppan was hiddious, the dough is made for skinny pizza..though they delightedly ate it all)

Cooking by the sea

2006-08-27T01:26:00.000-07:00

This past holiday's menu was the following:

Caramelized onion & vegetable Frittata
Shrimp cakes with mango chutney

BBQed Chicken in garlic & yoghurt marinade

Indian vegetable curry

Zesty Lamb skewers with onions & green peppers
spaghetti aux fruits de mer

Grilled Goat Cheese & Caramelized Capsicum sandwichesa

Excellent long weekend, I spent a quality time with the family, Cooked for everyone yet managed to do some watersports..
A much needed break by far better than my last attempt of a getaway..

Energy Boosters much needed

2006-08-21T14:20:00.001-07:00

I seem to have lost my energy somewhere along working outdoors, and between latenight working hours and stopping my vitamins or maybe all the routine and useless visits to Immigaration and social affairs & labour departments!
Its really beginning to get to me, how on earth do they claim the existance of an e-government when The Social Affairs & Labour still relies on the general public to transport their files from one floor to another to get a bloody stamp!
The place is infested with messengers that lack the basic human qualities of being able to stand in line and not smoke, ash and put their ciggies out on the floor, undress women with their invading stares and push and shove their bodies into elevators in herds like sheep without the simplest regard for the elderly or the disabled. The place is a dump and a disgrace, even if it was a department for animal affairs, the same would be said!

As a young Kuwaiti trying to make it in the business world, I feel like an alien in these places, unfortunetly visiting these horrendous pits is a part of my job and I personally have to be there to get the ball moving..
I'm surprised how our economy is boombing with these poor practice standards in the public sectors..
I know many people who would jump and say "If you're not apt for it, go work in a Bank" but inspite of these deterring factors I'm happy that I do what I do and these obsticles won't stop me, but I bite my nails everytime someone says something like "I established my Company's branch in Dubai in just 2hrs and its been 3months since I've applied for a branch in Kuwait"
If only we had a serious intention in the so called "ISLA7 Iqtisadi", we will witness an economical leap that will surpass not only the G.C.C. but the middle east as a whole..

Back to my lack of Energy, I have in a plastic bottle, what you see in the image below: a hornet in honey full of enzymes enough to boost a tranquilized elephant, the only thing is that the expiry date is not printed on the bottom, from what I know Honey doesn't spoil, but what about the Hornet! I don't have any intention of tasting the Hornet although my brother has dared me, perhaps I'll take a bite of the leg just for the sake of the dare..or should I consult my GP 1st?
What the heck, I'll have a sip for breakfast, what will happen can't be worse than a whole day wasted in Shu'ooon!

Astaghfor allah wil7imdillah 3ala kil khair o ni3ma

ليلة وطن Help Lebanon

2006-08-08T13:54:00.000-07:00

(click on picture to view in bigger size)

ندعوكم للمشاركة معنا في هذا الحفل الخيري الذي يحييه الفنان اللبناني شربل روحانا والذي يعود ريعه لجهود إغاثة النازحين في لبنان 13-14 أغسطس شيراتون الكويت تباع التذاكر لدى فيرجن - مرينا مول أو من خلال المجموعة على الأرقام التالية

9421333

9256555

9021040
Fund Raising Concert [Sharbal Al Rohana]For Lebanon Refugees in Sheraton Kuwait

Sun 13th & Mon 14th/August

Charity Sale 5:30PM

Concert 7:30 [Door Closing]

Tickets Sold in Virgin Megastore [Marina Mall] or purchased directly from Wafa Members, CALL 9421333-9256555-9021040

انا الدنيا بعدك ليست تكفينا

2006-07-29T11:32:00.000-07:00

The people of Lebanon need each and every one of you. Everyone can help, YOU CAN HELP!

Log onto WAFA [faithlebanon]

Summer special/2 Vetos for the price of 1 humanity

2006-07-19T14:28:00.000-07:00

Shmunkey Vetos Stem Cell bill

Let me get this straight, if extracting stem cells from discarded embroys is considered murder then what do you call the blood baths in Babyulon, Jerusalem & now Lebanon? ..............................Collateral?
The Bush Adminstrations view on the relativity of human life is a scary and shameful thing!
Shame on anyone who entertains this dangerous notion..

Bush Vetoes Stem Cell Bill As Promised
U.S. Vetoes Ceasefire, Peace in Gaza, LebanonArab League Mourns ‘Peace Process’ as ‘Dead’
Don't Veto, Mr. President

* Angry Kuwaiti hackers descend on Israeli websites <-i7na shako?
Why do we have to suffer for poor internet connection? Its like 2 Israeli Soldiers get kidnapped and a whole country goes to war!
Same bloody thing..

b7ibak ya libnan

2006-07-13T15:44:00.000-07:00

July 14th What a rough day, here is how it went:
Flite to beirut got cancelled, therefore stuck in KUWAIT!
My friend's wedding is cancelled
My friends stuck in and out Beirut, spent hrs trying to get a hold of everyone and make sure they're ok
Cancelled my lunch in Ibqa3 valley...[Funny how I'm subconciously attracted to areas of conflict]
More phone calls and enjoying propaganda on MANARA T.V., trying to find balanced news on Guardian, HaaretzDaily & KTV [didn't get that far]
Enjoying New Kuwaiti government & Parliment progress [as well as regress, funny how some MPS are so eager to start work b4 they've warmed up their butts in their new office chairs [When does Cancoon season begin?]
Chilling on the pool at home with a family friend and trying to find some gallow humor in all of this mess
Wondering why on earth are ppl FWDing rumors when they know they're RUMORS?
Sadended by the death of the two Kuwaitis as well as the civillians
Trying to figure out how long will it take b4 Lebanon will economically recover from this crisis [Who will reinvest now? The regional community has only began reinvesting in Lebanon's economy]
Contemplating investing in Lebanon's real estate market and taking full advantage of this turmoil, feeling guilty about the notion and feeling stupid that I can't afford any investements at this point.
Sympathising with the lebanese people trying to come back home and reunite with their families but can't because of their fear of being arrested upon point of entry in Syria [xlisted due to past civil war complications]
Feeling stuffy about what's going on and reserving my opinion on the situation in lebanon while inclined to make one, it's beyond frustrating. If everyone is benifiting of what's going on: Israel, Hizballah, U.S. and eventually Syria & Iran where does Lebanon fall into this?
Couldn't help but admire Hassan Nasrallah's drive, perhaps Dr. Phill has something to do with it?
Questioning how Syrians will be able to perform their happy dance while trying to regroup for what's coming next.
Dusting off Dejavous of Gulf War II
Dealing with withdrawl symptoms of world cup
Tried to not let this get the best of me but as u can see it already has..
on a final note, b7ibak ya libnan...ma tistahil but shit happens, perhaps this is all for the best..
July 15
Woke up feeling stuffier than the day b4, a brunch & trip to the mall lifted me up for a bit
Didn't go to work, did everything on phone since I'm no mood to recieve clients or deal with staff bull. My mind is still occupied with the potential Pandora's Box [The so called Fight against Axis of Evil.
Coming to terms with the Shock and hating the Awe
Went to the airport to recieve a friend and saw familys greeting their loved one with flowers, national songs and folk youdling, put a smile on my face while I was buying some nice swimsuits
More chillout on the pool with my laptop, finding reasons to get frustrated and getting myself busy worrying about petty things to divert attention from what's really bothering me.
More calls to my friends and making sure they're fine.
Went to the airport to recieve family
Slept like a baby [finally]
July 16
More swimming
Did some grilling [Juicy Burgers with lots of onions and tabasco]
Swam some more
Recieved a funny msg from my lebanese friend who's Mountain wedding was cancelled due to the situation, it said "Brief update, I began my metamorphosis from Scarecrow to bride" Thought to myself..That's the spirit
Followed up on news and realized my assumptions were not just random conspiracy theories. The situation in Lebanon isn't a result of Hizballah's agenda, its a well thought of move that will benifit more than 1 Agenda, Israel finally found a reason to do what's been intending to do for sometime now to reinstate Its presence in the region and power over Mideast security, create more opportunities for bargaining with U.N. and big brother, remap their boarders & finally get rid of the threat posed by occupiers of southern lebanon. Syria the pimp/whimp will have its opportunity to impose themselves as cruicial factor in Lebanon's security, contrary to what the rest of the world wants to believe, specially in the Arab World. Bush Administration's fight against terrorism & Fight against axis of Evil is now a priority hence building a stronger case against North Korea & Iran's contraversial nuclear projects while sustaining the support of the American republicans and avoiding scrutiny of general public whose children are fighting for Iraq's freedom. The U.S. will then be able to protect its Investment's in region without starting a solo war on Iran and being subjected to global scrutiny for waging yet another war in the region. Where does Lebanon, Saudi Arabia & Egypt fall into this?
Perhaps I'll dream of another conclusion tonight....

a href="http://beirutspring.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-you-can-help.html">

KUWAIT ELECTORAL UPDATE

2006-06-28T14:44:00.001-07:00

Since I've been so busy and haven't had the time to get involved in the mumbo jumbo of the 06 Elections.
I decided to vote for the name behind the birth of the Fusla, the man behind the renaissance...

I VOTE FOR KAKOO-ALI

What's Love got to do with it?

2006-06-20T14:25:00.000-07:00

What is up with PEPSI!!
What the hell were they thinking?
Christina & Elissa? Together..doing what? National Anthem? U kiddin me?
Not only do we have to deal with crappy playin but stinky ads too...
Da Da Da, I don't love you don't love me? O ba3dain..Somethin's missing, where is the catch? & what is Elissa doin with her hair? It ain't a shampoo ad now is it?

Elissa..Christina...Pepsi bloody Marketing people, if you're out there...
"What's love got to do with it????????????"
& here is a song for you....

Blah Blah Blah, I don't get u u don't get me....Blah Blah Blah...

DiMamasticated

2006-06-11T07:51:00.001-07:00

Here is a cute FWD about Martha[old hag/felon] Vs. Maxine [old hag with sum wisdom]

Martha's Way* Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.
*Maxine's Way * Just suck the ice cream out of the bottom of the cone, for Pete's sake! You are probably lying on the couch with your feet up eating it, anyway!
To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.
Buy Hungry Jack mashed potato mix, keep it in the pantry for up to a year.
When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead and there won't be any white mess on the outside of the cake.
Go to the bakery! They'll even decorate it for you.
If you accidentally oversalt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato and it will absorb the excess salt for an instant "fix-me-up."
If you oversalt a dish while you are cooking, that's too bad. Please recite with me the real woman's motto: "I made it and you will eat it and I don't care how bad it tastes!"
Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.
Celery? Never heard of it!
Brush some beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful glossy finish. The Mrs. Smith frozen pie directions do not include brushing egg whites over the crust so I don't.
Cure for headaches: take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.
Take a lime, mix it with tequila, chill and drink!
If you have a problem opening jars, try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.
Go ask that very cute neighbor if he can open it for you.
Don't throw out all that leftover wine. Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now Mama Fusla's top 10 Tips:

When you get a paper cut on your hand , rub with a peeled potato, the starch will clog the cut and give instant relief, also you can have your pet lick it off.
To clean stains, sprinkle with sparkling water/Soda and apply some Baking Soda on it, let it sit for 20mins and then rinse. Baking Soda also removes unwanted odors from say Thermoses and Coolers. (Specially if they're new or had liquid sitting in them for a while)
In order to protect new pans, simmer with oil for a few hours to give extra coating (Allah e3afi Tefal.com)
If all you have is sneekers and you're stuck in a "Wet Situation", rub a candle wax on the air holes of the sneekers so the water will slide right off it. (dry feet guranteed but not stinky feet)
If you get stung by Jelly Fish, piss in a cup and use cotton balls to dab on it, otherwise Vinegar and Lemon work too but not as well. (If you're prone to Jelly Fish bites, rub a thick layer of Baby Oil Gel or Petoleum Jelly, I find Baby Johnsonn's Aloe Vera Gel to work best)
When Grilling Lobster, always dip in water 1st to keep from overcooking.
If you're grilling with wooden Skewers, dip in water 1st to prevent burning.
If you're on a diet and want to cut down on carbs, use Saj bread as oppose to soft Tortia because the Calorie count and Yeast level is lower. (Yeast retains water in the body making you look like a bouy)
If your cat acts up, play some Chopin or Mozart to calm them down.
When your baby acts up (or ur partner) rub their ear lobes gently with your index and thumb.

Reading Suggestion:

How to Clean Absolutely Everything: The Right Way, the Lazy Way and the Green Way

by Barty Phillips

D + L [Dine & Lounge]: Let the Summer Feasting Begin

2006-05-27T00:18:00.000-07:00

Finally, Back into some cookin action..
From 3 Amazing Cookbooks, 3 Thai Recipes..
All you need is Fresh fish & Groceries, A beach, a shovel, a metal rack and some Candles.
Dig hole in the ground, with shovel, stack coal and add grilling rack, place wok on 1 corner, fish in foil, lamb chops and Chinese vegies on another.

The Menu:

Smoked Sole on wok [Greentea/Sugar & long grained Rice] (Sauce: Spring Onion and Spicy Mango puree)
Balool in Thai Chili Paste[Grilled]
Spicy Lamb Chops with Oyster Mushroom
Vegetable stir fry [Bean Sprouts, Bamboo shoots, Oyster mushrooms & Thai chili, Sesame oil, Oyster Sauce, Light Soya]
Potato wedges with Spring onions and garlic, individually wraped and grilled over open fire.

Dessert (Bought)
Bredz:

Mini Rasberry & Strawberry Tarts
Mini Milk & White Chocolate Cheese Cake
Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chip Cookies
Mini Pecan Pie

Attention Sushi Snobs

2006-05-23T10:40:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the world of ingenious advertising

Now note the chopstick savvy Kuwaiti taking the piss at the “unrefined” guy using his hands.
I can’t decide if the creator of this ad is simply an idiot or a smartass taking the piss at everyone who might laugh at this ad.

You might wonder why?

COS JAPANESE PPL EAT SUSHI WITH THEIR HANDS, NEVER CHOPSTIX!!!!

The Woodoo That U Doo

2006-05-15T14:47:00.000-07:00

A special Woodoo, just fo u..Foo!
[Preferred by Most Trendiests of Muzlims]

Dumb Butlers Part II

2006-05-14T04:04:00.000-07:00

Mama: What's for dinner?

Butler: Lenny Tel Soup, Tomato Soloba, kagin Chimp & Blakned God

Mama: Forget about Lenny, I'll just have God and a chimp on the side, thanks.

Can you guess the menu?

Dumb Butlers-Dead Pets

2006-05-09T03:49:00.000-07:00

There is so much going on, after endlessly trying to Feng Shui my room. I’ve decided to finally add the last element, a bloody pet, or two. Apparently live animals bring good luck to your living space, pairs of anything will bring good fortune to the relationship side of the room which is the SW corner as I recall.
So I went to Shaab theme park with my brothers and bought two gold fish: Cheech & Chong.

2 weeks later Chong passed away when I was out of the country, the forensics report indicates the following possible causes of fatality.
a. Overfed by butler
b. Infrared rays exposure [The fish bowl is situated on the desk between my bed and my desk, could the funky red light from the remote control has fried their brains as it made its way to the remote eye?]
c. Bordom from watching too much BBCfood
d. Bird Flu!!

2 weeks after that, cheech dies too.
So much luck for the personal relationship department baby! I’ve got 2 dead fish in less than a month, beat that for luck! Oh yeah, It’s raining men, hallelujah!

2 months before that I had given up my Pomeranian & Pekinese cos no 1 was spending enough times with them, if you can’t take care of a dog, its time to give em up, besides they were too hairy to be taken outside to the beach for ex.
I’m not into toy dogs anyways; I like a dog that is big, huggable, smart and fast! If I’ve learnt anything from the past 20 yrs in which I’ve had dogs, don’t ever ever buy a Pekinese, they’re dumb hamsters that think they’re dogs, bread to be stupid and slurpy and simple stinky! Don’t matter how many times you brush their teeth, heck..I even bought him puppy mentos from Harrods petstore! Silly dimwit he was, miss him though.

Anyways, should I buy the Doberman I had in mind or stick with the cat plan..the sphinx cat I always thought would make a great companion. But again, Doberman’s are sharp and god damn sexy! They way they sit, their attentiveness and loyalty to you!
Thanks to the straightpoop and others, I’ve got a bunch of amazing breeders in Europe, I just have to push the button on the Doberman and the plug on the Sphinx.

So what if it dies, it won’t be the 1st time I loose a dog..

1. My hound dog went blind, ramming every wall into the house before he had a heart attack. 2.The shitsu had a severe irritable bowl syndrome
3.The K9s, 1 rammed by a car and 1 shot by allies post gulf war [YOU BASTARDS!]
4.The Lab escaped and never came back..[He was oh so pretty, drove 3 hrs into English countryside to pick him up from Breeder, Champion Pedegree but dumb as hell]

I’m the professional murderer slash pet owner..
With a team of houseboys/butlers so skilled to the point of overfeeding the pets, Microwaving SUSHI! And putting a PERFUME BOTLLE IN THE FREEZER~[thinking it was a popsicle]
I say I have a great chance of killing my next puppy within the 1st month….

Eye Candy

2006-04-30T13:02:00.000-07:00

1st of all... >>> GO HERE >>>>

NOW: They're not only sexy..,,
but they're also oh so smart!

Scarlet Johanson

Olivier Martinez

Natalie Portman

Johnny Depp

The Stars I luv to Hate! [3x3]

2006-04-22T07:07:00.000-07:00

Three reasons why I dislike these three actors:

Tom Cruise

1. I can’t take him seriously: looks like he’s about to burst out laughing
2. He’s too tiny & animated
3. Too emotional: jumping on Opera’s couch reminds me of Rick James stomping Charlie Murphy’s couch [Dave Chappelle Show] “I F**ked Yo Couch Nigga”
Keanu Reeves
1. Who on earth is called Keanu? Sounds like a name for a animation heroin!
2. Keanu will always be Ted from Bill & Ted’s not so excellent adventures!
3. He’s more feminine looking than I am!
Denzel Washington
1. His Stock Rolls!: too much of the good guy who saves the day!
2. T.W.S. [Tiger woods syndrome]: The only time he stopped believing he was white was in MALCOM X!
3. Simply Kaifi!

Di Damn Wedda!

2006-04-18T02:41:00.000-07:00

Seriously
What is up with the weather?
سرايات They Say! [Sarrayat: Sara Who? Sara when? Sara WHYYY!?]
Surely we're going into summer and that's change of weather we're experience, all respected and understood. I have no problems with Dust, Humidity, rain, overcast, hail and gust all in one day. My main problem is no1 seems to know. That's simply unacceptable since the Beach & Island season has officially started!
I rememeber when I lived in the U.S. we'd know exactly when it was gonna snow, how long was it gonna snow and how many feet it was.
After failed attempts on counting on accuweather, MOI, Weather underground & Kuwait Airport's website I've come to wonder: Is there such a thing as reliable weather forecast in this country? Why does everything have to be a damn secret? Even the bloody weather is a secret!
Luckily, I've been previllaged last 2 Summers with a secret واسطة [Wasta]in Airport's Civil Aviation Weather station. Well I used to get the real deal, latest reports accurate up to the hour. I remember the guy would tell me when to get off the island and head back to the city and we'd miss the storm if we stick with his forecast. That worked 95% of the time. That guy was good. The problem is if you need to get through to him..it will take you at least 30mins waiting time. Anyways, if you manage to get through all you need is to pop the magic question:

حنكبّر؟ ولا مشحنكبرشي؟

[to Kubbar or not to Kubbar]

Note: Photo by Nasa

RIP

2006-01-17T01:27:00.000-08:00

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

يا ايتها النفس المطمئنة ارجعي الى ربك راضية مرضية فأدخلي في عـبادي وادخلي جنتي

صدق الله العـظيم

Amir of Kuwait

Shaikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

(1926-2006)
R.I.P

Sudoko cocoo

2006-01-08T13:51:00.000-08:00

Since I'm so busy, thought I'd keep you busy too...

I've picked up a Sudoko box and was able to go through a few sheets, it really is fun but I've got a long long way to become 'Samurai'.
Here is how Sudoko Can Save Your Life!

Fuslat Google

2005-12-26T04:54:00.000-08:00

What do you think of Google's Doodle series for Winter The Holidays...

Save the Souq

2005-12-18T14:08:00.000-08:00

Dear Fusla Enthusiasts,

Here is a lil somethin somein sumin until my next inspiration..

The Birth of the Fusla Crew [ A project in process]

Untruely mine..

D-Mama

Holly FuslaZ

2005-12-02T13:18:00.000-08:00

The Reverse Evolution

Shoota Fingar

You know not of my room's air

Mama Zamanha Gayya

a la Marta Fabulous

Today's solution to road rage

Poundin di wheeli

2005-11-08T01:50:00.000-08:00

Fello Fuslites:

I do appologies for not posting anything for sometime now, I wake up every morning wishin that God has granted me the gift I so badly need, A CLONE of me to make things easier but I soon question that idea..Aren't I already a Fusla one too Many?

Summer, Ramadan, Eid etc. Have taking their toll on businesses all over this country, everything has slowed down especially when its related to any government body.
Coming back from vacation with a rejuvinated spirit, clearer mind; driven by an eagerness to work, I'm already begining to feel the depleation from after only 1 day of work. I was 1st inclined to blame it all on the 'System', to scrutanize every person, establishment or even mail server I had to deal with in the past 2 weeks, but after contemplating with a friend on the phone I began to realize that these short trips are no longer doing the trick. My last real getaway was last year when I took two weeks off in Summer 2004. Of course, I do not have the luxury of taking one of those anytime soon, even if I did, where would I go and what would I do? A spa retreat? or a High-impact multi-activity adventure? Or an Ecofriendy tour in the wild? I keep gazing at my 3 Itenraries for (Iran, Jordan & Syria) and can't help wondering, why is it that everytime I plan to explore the mideast something terrible happens? Iran & Syria out of question for the time being, Jordan...Oh well, maybe now is a safe time to go since the security has been hyped up and the prices have dropped.
Or should I just work my butt off and burn myself out until newyear's?
What do you do when having fun isn't as much fun as it used to be?
What do you do when work doesn't pump you up anymore?
What if all you wanna do is get away, but from what?...you don't know!
How do you know if its that time when you should strech out the shrinks sofa and listen to yourself talk?

No Complaints, life is good al7imdilla but when it's too hectic you tend to overlook the good!

It's Good To Be Home

2005-11-06T13:47:00.000-08:00

A Zen Saying: Sit quietly, doing nothing, spring comes, and the grass grows by itself.

MTC-HAMMER

2005-10-25T12:20:00.001-07:00

You got to pray just to make it today

I say we pray...Praaaaay

Filippino or Malay...Praaay

You got to....Praaaay

Straight or gay..Just Praaay

You've got to Pray....

Day By Day...Praay

Acha hay?

*Mamamunki collaberation

3ali in da diwanya...

2005-10-23T17:57:00.000-07:00

Me iz 3ali Gi
Not Kazakhistani?
nor Britani?
I z Kuaaaighty
The Dishdasha MC

A Pimped out da ddy

lgaymat Junkie
A Giddo baby

Ain't no Geizi!

I drive a Benzi

*Wick It wick it*

Like Beryani
Or Marag shebzi

I chew miswachi

wear flipflops naydi
In dis kakooli
smell like 3oodi
Too damn sexy
For di Tele
Now Dat iz me
Happy to be
KTV FREE

3ali was his name... boyakashKha is his game...

Conversations with a reincarnation calculator

2005-10-22T18:24:00.000-07:00

Your Birthdate -- Its Meaning for Past Life and Present:
This life's birthdate reveals that you were male in your last earthly incarnation.You were born somewhere near the territory of modern Central Africa in approximately 825.Your profession was handicraftsman, mechanic.
Your brief psychological profile from your past life:
Seeker of truth and wisdom. You could have seen your future lives. Others perceived you as an idealist illuminating paths to the future. You knew this was true and awaited this incarnation for fulfillment.
The lesson, that your last past life brings to the present and how you will use it:
You fulfill this life's lesson by helping old folks and children. You came to this life to learn to care about the weak and helpless. Your growth during this lifetime is astounding, as your compassion and generosity flourish, so will you be greatly rewarded.

Use your lessons well ... and you will be greeted with uncommon success in an uncommon hour...

-A mechanic/Handicraftsman..(okaaay!)
-I was male! (no kidding?)
-800s (Why not?)
-Central Africa? (That's HOT)
-Idealist/illuminating paths to the future (I'll tell you 1 thing, these damn niggaz must be hittin dat crack pipe ageian! what about the other guys? what did they perceive?)
-Reincarnated to Fulfill? (The fusla, that's a given)
-Helping kids and Children (I don't see much of those, all I see are my friends and they're neither Innocent or mature and btw, does avoiding them count as helping?)
-Care for week and helpless (I do care though I don't help much, well not anymore..though I do understand the importance of caring in general now does that count?)
-Astounding growth? (Mentally:No growth, financially: not quite, hair: stopped growing all together, its safe to say the only growth is social)
-Compassion and generosity flourish (I am compassionate to everyone that's missing the essence of the FUSLA

-will be greatly rewarded (Don't tell me I have to come back for this one)

Oh and last but not least, the calculator's advice:

Use your lessons well ... and you will be greeted with uncommon success in an uncommon hour...
(Oh shit, that uncommon hour must be the next time round, I iz comin back..& This time I better be reincarnated back into badass me cos I simply rock and your calculator stinks...I'm out! *mumble* Mechanicmya$$..)

Give it a go

Saddama Drama : The Gay Trials

2005-10-19T09:22:00.000-07:00

From BBC:

Saddam appeared, cool calm and collected as usual with an ultra hip kishafabulous look Tsa die fooo! Wearing a dark fall Armani suit, with the shirt neck open giving an airy mass murderer/dictator feeling and swank as he shows off his Cell-f-tan, he tucked his Quran well under his arms like Sarah Jessica Parker holding her designer Alligator clutch!

As the well reputed Baghdad Diva, Saddam could not resist mocking the judge, court and everything they stood for, here is a glimpse of the action:

"Who are you? What does this court want?" he asked, adding: "Have you ever been a judge before?"
What he really meant was…

Great, a Friggin Kurd Judge! What’s more important than my Reiki appointment? Have you ever been to visit the zoo? SING IT EVERYONE….

Have you ever been to visit the zoo?

A happy place for me and you;And what did you see? And what did you do?

Did the lion roar when you went to the zoo?

Have you ever been to visit the zoo?The monkeys will play games with you!

If you make a face, then they'll make one, too,Oh, those silly monkeys down at the zoo

Have you ever been to visit the zoo?A happy place for me and you;And what did you see?

And what did you do?Did you hop, hop, hop, like the big kangaroo?

Then he continues:
"What is based on injustice is unjust ... I do not respond to this so-called court, with all due respect."

What he really said was:
Its unjust that I have to stare at your ugly infidel faces, I do not respond to unfashionably boring shenanigan and where in hell is the champagne n o'dourves.

"I preserve my constitutional rights as the president of Iraq. I do not recognise the body that has authorised you and I don't recognise this aggression.

What he really said was:
I preserve my right to tell you to talk to the hand cos the face ain’t listening biaaaaaaaatch!

“I’ve been brought here since 2:00 am, I've been here since the morning. You know me and you are Iraqi, and you know I don’t get tired”

But what he really said was:
“Like oh ma gad, this suit screams GET ME OFF, like can I get to powder my nose and freshen up before the next shoot?”
“I know you. You know me..what you say you show me how that hot KurdASSoyours…..Baby you know I don’t get tired”

Only the Baghdad Queen can pull it all off, the celebrity status, Sense of humor, Charm & Wit! the chic fashion, Hair, dental hygene & bling...Oh and of course The PLAYA HATER!

..That's HOT

Bottom line

SADDAM IS HOT!!!

& Paris would vouch for that........

But what would Bruno Say?

'VASSAAAAP'

Stamp-ede?

2005-10-16T11:57:00.000-07:00

Bored and going through SNOPES.COM and the urban legends, I came across a new American stamp that commerates Eid Holidays. Check it out yourself (Click Here)
What do you think about THAT?
1. Couldn't give a rat's ass
2. Yeah cool (Next Blog)
3. Finally, some recognition of our religious holidays in the US of A!

I think they could have done a better job on the art work and perhaps used something like the stamp I proposed..

Mama Xpozed!

2005-10-15T15:51:00.000-07:00

TAG or TAGGING, lets look the the definition 1st. So the 100list was up next but I was tagged yet again by the lovely Catch-22 before I got to it, but I have a feeling that by now, you guys heard enough jazz about me..So lets take a break after this one!

Anyways...Lets do this..

Seven things I plan to do:

1-Become a tycoon in my field
2-Summit K2, Mt. Blanc or Everest
3-Seek Higher education & learn New Languages
4-Voulanteer more
5-Write Book or Make movie or Make music Video
6-Take a Culinary course in Europe
7-Go to Burning man and thenThrow a rave in the desert

Seven things I can do:

1-I can build things out of wood (sheds, chairs, tables, boxes)

2-Host great parties

3-Hike 12kms with 20kgs on my back
4-Knit

5-Bullshit my way out of anything

6-Powder Clay Pigeons

7-Give great massages

Seven things I can't do:

1-Speak a 3rd language

2-Remember names

3-Make dessert

4-Arrive early

5-Live without seafood (Specially Sushi)

6-Consistently connect spiritually

7-Lie

Seven things I say most often:

1- Hey Baby wussup?

2- La La La

3- Aham Shay

4- Yabeela

5- WTF

6- Its 4:20

7- Oh and of course ....‘Fusla’

Seven people I want to pass this tag to:
1- Amunki
2- Loulz
3-McArabian

4-Purgatory
5-Tata Botata
6-raf
7- Shewrites

Tagagagagged!

2005-10-13T09:55:00.000-07:00

Finally, I've been Tagged by the lovely Catch-22, I thought he'd never ask!

1. Last movie you saw?
The Italian Job
2. What book are you reading?
Muhammad: A biography of the Prophet, Karen Armstrong
3. Favorite board game?
Scrabble
4. Favorite magazine?
National Geographic
5. Favorite smell?
Perfumes: Stella McCartney, Aged Dihin 3ood, Henna on Hands, Granma’s chay 7aleeb, Bukhoor
6. Favorite food?
Cuisine: Japanese (Torrrrro) & Of course all other seafood (Lobster Of course) I love Chestnuts, Chocolate Soufflés, Yams, Goose liver pate in Port wine & Fig Chutney, Lulu Icecream (God Bless KDD)
7. Favorite sound?
Ocean, Airplane engines roar, My granny’s voice (RIP)
8. Worst feeling in the world?
Shame, loss
9. What is the first thing you think of when you wake up?
Is it day or night?
10. Favorite fast food place? Mickey Ds
11. Future child's name?
Girl: Jawa, Zain, Fay Boy: Ghazi, Faisal & Fahad
12. Finish this statement. If I had a lot of money:
I would go to the moon, buy an Island and turn it into a conservatory, Build a temple in my granny’s name, Buy a huge yacht and throw amazing parties. Adopt a shit load of Asian babies, Seek higher education. Hire someone to blog for me.
13. Do you drive fast?
Unfortunetly…
14. Do you sleep with a stuffed animal?
Nah, its been a while!
15. Storms, cool or scary?
That's Hot!
16. What was your first car?
LandRover Discovery
17. Favorite drink?
Appletini & Green Tea
18. Finish this statement, "If I had the time I would...":
Rearrange my room & office, scan all my photos and back them up, go to Japan and learn Japanese, go backpacking for 1 year, learn to sail and do it for months, go to Film School, Volunteer more often and spend time getting to know my neighbors.
19. Do you eat the stems on broccoli?
Bring it on, there isn’t much that I don’t eat.
20. If you could dye your hair any color, what would be your choice?
Blonde though I doubt that I could get away with it!
21. Name all the different cities/ towns you have lived in?
Kuwait, London, Bath, Boulder, CT.
22. Half empty or half full?
Some Ice and it will be Purrrfect!
23. Favorite sports to watch?
Winter Olympics, Figure Skating, Synchronized diving
24. One nice thing about the person who tagged you?
Has great taste in modern design and perhaps, other things as well, I’m yet to find out.
25. Morning person, or night owl?
Summer, Morning, Winter Night owl.
26. Over easy, or sunny side-up?
Shitake & Emental ommlette (2yolks3 whites) but if I had to choose, over easy!
27. Favorite place to relax?
Chalet
28. Favorite pie?
Girs E3gaili, Kuwaiti sponge cake (Saffron infused)

I Am now going to tag Amunki, & McArabian (Hope it doesn't hurt)
This wasn't as much fun as I thought, reading ppl's tags is more fun than actually doing them. I've actually compiled a 100 random things about me, If I get more encouragement, I will start it and "Fuslafy" people into writing 100 random & unique things about themselves, there is no format or standards..You make up the questions & answer them..Isn't the whole point is getting to know one another? Spread the Fusla...Hava Nagila Hava..

Fusla, Fusla-Art or FuslaFart!

2005-10-12T06:11:00.000-07:00

Right: Divine Bride Entraptured (A Series of Brides by Kimiko Yoshida/Self-portraits)

Left: Shout (Conceptual Photography By Latvian conceptual photographer Gordin Misha)

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

What Do YOU see?

Right:

Left: Abelam

Nobel 6eeze Prize

2005-10-07T05:01:00.000-07:00

Watching BBCW, I came across some very interesting news. Mohamed El Baradei, Director of Int. Attomic Energy Agency has won the 2005' Nobel PEACE prize.
To make this hideous matter more hideous..The BBCW reporter that's commenting on the news said something like this, "though his efforts and the agency's were not quite succeful with Iran & China"!
emmm...As oppose to success in Iraq?
This is another case of 'Norwegians gone on Crack', let me not remind you of their 1994 screw up with Fatlips, Yasser Arafat

I wonder who might be next? I wouldn't be surprised if it was Husni Mubarak, Qhadafi, Bashar Al Asad?
If the crazy Norwegians wanna give Arabs Nobel prizes, let it be of any other catagory other than "PEACE" Aiight..

RamaDAMN I'm nostalgic!

2005-10-05T15:10:00.000-07:00

A fellow bloggoid called Bo JAIJ has posted a question "What will you miss most in Ramadan?"
So ppl r like Cigs, Coffee, Food, Blah blah blah..
I answered quite differently cos
A. I like to be different
B. In this case I did feel different than the rest..
C. I have a fever which has altered my perception slightly..

Nuffsaid..
Here is my posted comment..I figured if I am going to write lengthy comments in other ppl's blogs then why not write in my own!, specially if Its personal and lengthy..

What I miss the most this Ramadan is the good old fashioned Ramadan. Where we played in the 7oosh of granma's house as she prepared her heavenly Ramadan recipes for the house and neighbours. The smell of cooking in the house mixed with bukhoor, When the neighbours brought the food themselves and not with the driver in a Benz! I miss the harrisa when it came old metal pot with a lid & plenty of Cinnamon/sugar topping. I miss grandpa's stories about sea adventures to india, pearl diving and him complaining about Granma as we watch him Dunk his Tictak salty biscuits in his lipton tea istikana! I miss '7assooon il mal3oon' & '3algam'
I miss old Kuwait when we saw our cousins everyday, played without nannies running after us and wipping our noses, I miss gergai3an without nannies when Kids knew the simple lines of 'wees wees, kil baytkom ja3amees'. I miss the ritual of buying Eid clothes that include brand new white Socks!
I miss Eid when none of the family travelled, we got lots of cash and went to Toys r us and il 7adeeqa il sha3bya, where we ate fresh grilled Chabda (Liver)and played Gilayliba.

I don't know about you but I miss a lot this Ramadan.

****************************************************
So here is some more fever blabber, complaints and some hefty dose of Nostalgia..

Amunki and me were watching Conan O'Brien and we were food fetishing over traditional snacking etc. Then I thought "Yabeela Khobiz Irani (Khameer) with Jibin Glass" and she goes "YEEEEEEEZZzzz"
Of course, I suggested we had some Iranian Bread with Processed Cheese!
I called the houseboy and it turns out to be that he baked fresh Iranian bread at 3PM. Yey I thought, Amani Perking with as much excite as me. "Don't 4get the Tea and the Cheese please" I told him..

"Fantastic" we thought as we waited for the midnight snacks to arrive ie. si7oor!
The house boy walks into my room with a tray that has Glass Cheese, Honey, a padded Iranian Bread bag that traps the heat (Modern mans best invention since Sliced Toast, though I still miss the Bread in Newspapers cos you can eat your bread and read the news at the same time)
Anyways..Amunki and I begin to lather our bread with the cheese, fill up our Tea Istikana's (Tiny glasses for Tea) and we begin dipping the rolled cheesy Iranian bread into the tea..Dunk and Munch, Dunk and Munch..laugh at Conan, laugh at ourselves as if we were too old ladies stranded in a Tent somewhere during a cold stormy winter night in the desert, warming up by a fire, wearing our Bedouin coats "Farwa" (Coats made of Sheepwool)!

Our ancestors enjoyed the simple indulgance Amani and I are enjoying, They didn't have Starbucks and Chocolate bar to satisfy their cravings, nor did they have the luxury of Bread Talk that made mini "Gers E3gaili" which is conveniently individually wrapped!! (Saffaron infused Traditional Kuwaiti Cupcakes)
My Late greatgrandmother (Obviously late, it would be weird if she was still alive) anyways, my greatgranma made amazing "Girs E3gaili" and she was as blind as a BAT!

These were the days...and those were the women!

A tribute to all great things our beloved Kuwait has lost..

A tribute too all great Ramadans of the past..

Kil 3am wintaw ib khair...

My Top 10 list of Motion Picure Soundtracks

2005-10-04T14:49:00.000-07:00

1. Animatrix
2. Leon: The professional
3. The Aviator
4. Requim of a Dream
5. Dead Presidents
6. Grease
7. Philadelphia
8. Lord of the rings
9. Baraka
10.Dancer in the Dark

Confessions & Anti-inspiring fever blabber...

2005-10-04T13:23:00.000-07:00

RamaDAMN I have a cold, my 1st day ain’t goin too well. A high fever, too much Samboosa and Bad T.V. This lethal combination of unfortunate events is making me sick to my stomach. Plus, I’ve been feeling guilty about something (Don’t go too far, I’m just really angry at a relative of mine that it scares me, I don’t normally get this angry at any1) What bothers me most is that it’s the 1st day of Ramadan, the least day I should feel angry about anyone or anything..

So, inspired by a book Amunki has leant me called ‘Stoned, Naked, and Looking in My Neighbor's Window : The Best Confessions from GroupHug.us’ I tried to log onto grouphug.us in order to confess only to find that it was blocked by ISP (Hmm I wonder why!) fortunately to my burdened-by-a-confession self, the ISP didn’t catch up on notproud.com which works just as good while breaking down the categories such as:

1.Pride 2.Envy
3.Sloth
4.Gluttony
5.Greed
6.Lust
7.Anger
8.Misc.

Of course I choose #7 and confessed my anger.
Mine was simple, boring and straight to the point unlike many juicy and weird confessions you find online.
I surely felt lighter after this quick confession.

Wooops, sneeze #40 in less than an hr. I’ve managed to perfect the Quadro-Sneeze, Making each sneeze identical to the other with the equal interval and of course at the same pitch. That takes skill.

Things you don’t wanna hear when you’re under the weather..
1. You sound Terrible!!!! (Laa Wallah? and I just thought of joining the Notre Damn Choir)
2. How does the food taste? (How would I know, all my buds are off, I can’t smell therefore I can’t tastes!)
3. Wanna go sheesha smoking? (why not skip through that and fix myself a voice box since I’m most probably gonna need it!)
4. Lets go clubbing
(Unless its Vamps and Goblins Ball, I can’t go anywhere with this swollen face and puffy red eyes)
Is it normal for eyebrows to hurt? And your skull to make weird sounds when you press it. How about feeling cold, then hot, then cold again, then hot, hotter, colder and now hot again in less than 1min?

Wow, I’ve coughed so much that I’m beginning to see Stars when I cough hard!
Oxygen deprivation baby…
What are the chances of syncranizing my coughs with my sneezes to perhaps produce a musical master piece such as STOMP? Who would watch me do it live? And How much would they pay for it, can I quit my job and do this fulltime? Which freak show would hire me?
Does that mean I will have to be sick the whole time?

Hmm..I'm starting to feel Amunki is right! Maybe someone is spraying something in the air!

Confessions of a Fever Blabber

Kuwait....A Trip

2005-09-27T16:09:00.000-07:00

Some photos I took sumtime in 2002

1. Kuwait Tower's toilets (inside)
2. Mu6la3 Ridge
3. Kuwait Towers again
4. Bobyan Bridge

[Postcards form my Fuslafied perception]

Let the pics speak of the "Fusla"

2005-09-26T15:53:00.000-07:00

This has been 1 one of the best b.day's of my life! Beirut was truly an amazing Fusla! The Fusla Crew, the rest of the Fuslawski's we rondevouxed with! Larger than life, it was funpacked weekend in Liban Du Fusla!

1. Entry Le Fusla
2. Chauffeur Du Fusla
3. Fuslafied Cake

Chung Chiu/ Dong Bei Style!

2005-09-19T03:34:00.000-07:00

Last night, my Chinese Chiropractor Dr. Ji invited me over for a Chinese dinner at her house to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Chinese festival which was celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th moon, around the time of the autumn equinox. Many referred to it simply as the "15th of 8th. In the Western calendar, the day of the festival usually occurred sometime between the 2ndweek of September and the 2nd week of October.

I was riding with Miss L, my friend, being followed by another friend. Mr. N and both cars were following our driver to Dr. Ji’s house which was situated in the nurse’s homes in Al Sabah Hospital!
There is a line up of 70s building with colorful Mosaic columns and round stairways and of course, falling apart balconies. The whole streets around the building was dug up like as if creating a mass grave, exposed pipes, sewage halls, man halls in badly lit areas and lots of dirt. We even saw a stray dog! (All within the premises of the hospital)
"Great" I thought out loud to the bedazzled Miss L and Mr. N. The driver fled back to our house as the 3 of us stood there amidst the rubble!
In a fair distance, an image appeared in the shadows and then into the light of debris flying. Dr. Ji to the rescue......
As always, she shook my hand and complimented me by saying “You real beauty”, She always says that whenever she comes over for my physio at home! (I had a busted back and she used to do acupuncture and massage a miracle Dr. who saved from surgery!)
We go up the claustrophobic elevator: Mr. N, barely fitting in, was admiring the curse word carving onto the petroleum colored elevator which rattled and shook to the 1st floor.
We followed Dr. Ji in an open balcony like floor and through doors decorated with Chinese Calligraphy on communist red paper that's frilled and withered by the Kuwaiti harsh and merciless weather.
Inside Dr. Ji's very humble apartment stood 3 Chinese men in White T-Shirts, unified in clothing, posture but not quite the size. Mr. Lee was short and wore black reading specs; Mr. Chef was tall, slim and suffering from a 12 hr Jetlag on his way back to Kuwait from Beijing. Then the chubby guy we’ll call Mr. C.

The 3 of us were 50mins late which was perfect, we had no wait time and were seated immediately around a home made wooden table with uneven planks and on a collage of chairs, plastic, wood and benches. It was a proper seated dinner, we all had plastic plates, plastic round containers the kind they serve chic peas in from the local chic pea guy! Sachets of plastic knife/fork/spoon/Salt/Pepper/Napkin were lying perfectly on the left side of plate. A Styrofoam glass was on the right side. We were served juices, 7up and water and we had a 10 minute introductory to the menu that it is Northern Chinese ("Dong Bei”) Mr. N, Miss L and I waited in anguish to attack this Chinese feast! Dr. Ji made a toast to “Happy Feasting” (Too bad Styrofoam doesn’t ring)
The menu consisted of:

Tofu noodles with carrots, cucumbers in Chili/vinegardressing
Chicken and tofu in onion and garlic broth
Flat/Glass noodles with oyster mushrooms and onions
Lamb shanks in potato and tomato broth
Sautéed Cabbage and Tree ear mushroom
Seaweed in black eyed peas in sesame oil dressing
Deep friend Chan3ad (Local Fish) in garlic
Side of Chinese steamed buns

Yeah, they went out of their way. They all prepared this meal for us, it took them hours to do and every dish was exquisitely interesting and the flavors complimented each other, in spite of the humble setting and presentation, it was a Royal Chinese feast! Or as they say, Dong Bei Cai!
Mr. N engaged in small talk ranging from Hsuan-t'ung to the 8 different Chinese cuisines.
Miss L kept busy by giggling away and nudging me from underneath the plastic table cloth (We were watching Chinese T.V. and an ad for men’s underwear came on, it was hilarious I have to admit)
It was a lovely dinner followed by authentic Chinese tea, more giggles and meanings lost in translation. The Perfect Saturday evening...

Wishing all in this Mid-Autumn festival a prosperous life, full of laughter, full bellies and high speed internet….

Mama's Birthday!

2005-09-14T01:43:00.000-07:00

Since last year's b.day I didn't want to celebrate because my father was in the hospital though my friends still threw me a great surprise party and one of them came all the way from Dubai! This year I want to have a birthday celebration away from home..With only a few friends. Being in Kuwait I will end up celebrating with EVERYONE! This time its gotta be cosy! But that doesn't meant its not gonna be WILD!

My b.day weekend and the options are as follows:

Oman, Muscat: Yup, I wanted to Chedi it! Go to this amazing hotel and stay with 5 friends from Kuwait and an another of my friends living in Muscat. I wanna have a fab gourmet dinner, go out for a bit and the next day wake up to a killer beach and pool. The Chilled way.....
Beirut, Lebanon: None of my friends can say no to that, nor can I to be honest. Amazing food, night scene and people!hmm, The party way...
Sharm Al Shaikh, Egypt: Well, It would be the best option since I wanna dive (its been a while and I'm all rusty) Nice people, laid back scene. The Active way...
Dubai, Emirates: Last option, friends, friends and more friends..Fake sandy beaches (hmm) Nightlife (Ok!) cosy and comfy. The Usual Way.......

With so many options and so little time I must think what is the most important factor in celebrating a birthday?

Friends? Comfort? Ambience? Beach..hell yeah! View? Akeediz...

So Beirut? I know I was there in July but what can I do? Its not like the Maldieves is a "Fashkha" Away now is it? Ok Monot, Fasten your seat belt..the Fusla Crew is coming to you!

Note: The 1st photo saying "Mama Fusla" was a sand drawing that A-munki did in an Ashtray in our hotel, when we went to PVD (Paul Van Dyke) Concert last year. The 2nd photo was taken from a wall in Monot! (I think) and yes indeed, we shall be Raji3ooon!

From Yiddish To Yodish

2005-09-06T03:03:00.000-07:00

Yodish is the upside down/Reveresed language that Jedi Master Yoda speaks! You can practice that if you're really bored with your friends!

Here's How:

1. Take the first two or three words of a sentence, and just add them to the end. For example: 'You will find the hottie you are looking for ' turns into 'Find the hottie you are looking for, you will.'

2. Rearranging the negative in a sentences works very well. For example: 'I will not slap you silly' turns into 'Slap you silly, I will not.' Avoiding contractions will help in this -- 'I can't shake my booty' turns into ' Shake my booty, I can not.'

3. Adding a 'hmmmm...' at the end of an altered question. For example, 'Do you know where I can get a beer?' turns into 'Know where I can get a beer, do you? Hmmm...?'

4. Adding a 'yes' to an altered statement. For example: ' You are here to annoy me' turns into 'Here to annoy me you are... yes...'

May The Schwartz be with you!

Meid that's Made In Kuwait

2005-09-05T05:41:00.000-07:00

Today's Lunch:
Grilled 'Meid' stuffed with sauteed onions and arabic spice and glazed with date paste, yup. Old Kuwaiti trick, the juices from the Dates help retain the flavour and oil of the fish as well as protect it from the grill! Not to mention the instant twist of sweetness it adds!

This is my favorite meal while on the beach in Chalet, because once you're done eating, you go jump right in the water to wash up because Grilled 'Meid' is a messy messy thing! You will be getting your hands dirty, beginners have been sceen getting up to elbows and eyebrows all messy! It's not going to come with a fancy Christofle Fish Fork! You will be using all your hands, always have a slice of lemmon to squeeze (Yummmmmmmmm) For side, a green salad and a bowl of '3aish mashkhool' (Steamed Rice) and some 'marag' (Fish Curry) can go very well with it.

For the the ultimate saddating effect, have a few 'Bir7is' (Half/Ripe Dates) and chase with 'Liban' (Yoghurt drink)! Now enjoy a 4 hr drive to la la land! Ayabaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Time to doze off!

Long live Kuwaiti fish, it is the best in the world!

I thought I'd share this useful Glossary of Kuwaiti names of fish:

The main commercial fish species belong to 14 families, and the catches vary seasonally. The prime species caught by gillnets are Pampus argenteus (zobaidy; silver pomfret), Tenualosa ilisha (suboor; hilsa shad), Pomadasys kaakan (nagroor; grunt sp.), and Liza species (maid and beyah; mullets). The gargoor catches include Epinephelus coioides (hamoor; grouper sp.), Acanthopagrus latus (shaem; seabream sp.), Lutjanus malabaricus (hamrah; snapper sp.) and Otolithes ruber (newaiby; tigertooth croaker). Zobaidy and suboor stocks are shared with Iran and Iraq; hamoor and hamrah are thought to be stocks common with countries of the whole northern Gulf; while newaiby, shaem and maid stocks are localized.

Note: Courtesy of FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS

The Dish on Yiddish

2005-09-04T13:32:00.000-07:00

I’ve always been fascinated by this onomatopoeic language that’s spoken all over the world, I used to listen to Yiddish Folk & Gypsy music online and many more, you can also find Yiddish Tango if one wished. Perhaps my love for violen explains my attraction to Yiddish music: there is something very special about this language which is a hybrid of Hebrew and Medieval German (Germanic).
Today, I found myself looking up more on this musical language and I learned of “Yinglish” which is a word that’s both English & Yeddish. My friends and I use common Yiddish words like Feklempt & Shmuck, its quite amazing how there is a Yiddish word for every type of character/personality. A very wide array of ones discribing mainly Jewish Stock Characters. Anyways I found some funny Yiddish words today, time to notch yup my Vocab and here is my favorite top 20 Yiddish and Yinglish expressions:

1. Alrightnik: (Yinglish) somebody who's done OK for themselves financially, i.e. nouveau riche.
2. Beryiah: (berr-yah) a baleboosteh squared; a regular Martha Stewart. A homemaker who puts the rest of us to shame.
3. Bissel: (bis-sel) A little. "Give me a bissel lox on my bagel, would you, darling?" A biselleh is even less.
4. Boorivka: (burr-if-kah) literally, a blueberry. Colloquially used to refer to a large, dark mole. "That Robert Redford is so handsome, but oi! All those boorivkas!"
5. Bubbellah: (the "u" is pronounced like the "oo" in book) an affectionate way of refering to someone, much like "darling" or "sweetheart." Bubbies call their grandchildren "bubbellah." Close friends and long-time business partners might call each other "bubbellah," or boubbie, for short. (pronounced like "bookie" vs. the shorter "u" in Bubby, below.)
6. Chai kock: (impolite) literally, human doo-doo. Something that is worthless, beneath consideration. "She's divorcing me and she thinks she's going to get the house and half my money!? She'll get chai kock from me!"
7. Chazzer: (khaz-zeh) a pig or anyone who behaves like one, either in their eating, financial or personal grooming habits. "Oi! What a chazzer! I don't think he's bathed in a week." "No wonder that chazzer went out of business. He kept all the profits and paid his employees bupkis."
8. Emmes: (em-mess) truth. Used often in the context of "I swear it's true" or "Really? Is that true? "Barbra Streisand was at that bar mitzvah I went to last week." "Emmes?" "Emmes!"
9. Farklempt(All Time Favorite): all choked up, overwrought (all "clamped up" emotionally)
10. Glitsch: (Oh, come on! This is practically English!) A bug in the ointment; an error in calculation; a screw-up that makes your plans go awry. A glitch, for G-d's sake! 11. Feh!: A visceral expression of disgust, either physical or emotional.
12. Kockamayme: (kock-a-may-mee): ridiculous, silly, crazy. "Afghanistan for vacation!? You and your kockamayme ideas!"
13. Kish mier en toochis: Kiss my butt!
14. Klutz: It's practically English! A clumsy, uncoordinated person. "That klutz took up skiiing? He'll be lucky if he doesn't kill himself!"
15. Nayfish: a weak, pathetic, ineffectual person of little or no consequence. A human doormat. Nebish: a nothing, a nobody. Woody Allen, the early years.
16. Nisht gut: Not good. "How ya doin'?" "Oi! Nisht gut!"
17. Oi! Gevalt! - Ach! Heaven forbid!
18. Shiksa: a non-Jewish woman. A "Shiksa Goddess" is a blond beauty, the type of woman who instills a deep longing in dark, short, swarthy Jewish men, (probably because she is the polar opposite of his mother.) Grace Kelly was the quintessential "Shiksa Goddess."
19. Shmaltz: literally, chicken fat or rendered cooking fat. Also, thick, insincere praise; over-the-top, overdone, glitzy theatrics; gross sentimentality. Something shmaltzy is kitschy, overblown, overdone, rather tasteless, unctuous. "Madame X" with Lana Turner, is the classic shmaltzy movie. Cher's costumes are rather shmaltzy.
20. Shnook: a gullible fool, a patsy, someone easy to take advantage of, a con man's mark. (Yinglish)

My next facinations will be in "Viennese" and then "Papuan/Pidgin English"....

Baghdad Bridge Stampede

2005-08-31T02:05:00.000-07:00

I have no idea how the death tolls of the Baghdad Bridge Stampede rose from
186-420 in less that 1 minute! This is like the gates to hell have opened and people are trying to rush out crushing and killing each other with the weight of their bare bodies!
Here is the Reuters Article

Regardless of the religio/political reasons behind this stampede, I'm simply devastated at the numbers of ppl dying in Iraq over most of the time worthless reasons. Every time there is a world catastrophe of some sort, we become obsessed to find out if any of our loved ones have been killed or even hurt. How do the people in Baghdad for example wake up and go to work, school or playground knowing that on an at least weekly base a friend, relative, neighbor or playmate will be hurt and even Killed! How does one go on?

Lord! CNN just announced 635...

D+L (Dine & Lounge): Part III The Seafood Feast Continues

2005-08-30T11:29:00.000-07:00

Squid, Caviar & Vodka are the main ingredients for tonight's starters

Inspired by two things: A wonderful dish I always have at Nobu's & Ubon's (London & NY)

and 2ndly by the presentation and dedication of Chef & friend Equalizer on his Gastronomicablog.
The Inspirational Dish's name is: "Toro Tartar with Caviar"

Toro is "Fatty Tuna Belly" also known as "Chutoro".
A small piece of Tuna Stomach sits in a pool of Wasabi & Tartar sauce (minced capers, dill pickles, onions or shallots, olives, lemon juice or vinegar, ginger and seasonings) covered with a spoonful of luscious Beluga Caviar and topped by a berry-like seedy, mild in sweetness fruit. As I recollected the taste this fabulous orgy of mouth-watering ingredients: I sort of came up with my own version.

Chilled Tartar& Vodka soup with a sauteed Baby Calamri stuffed with Beluga Caviar and pinned together with a tooth pick and sprinkled with Parsley.
Chilled Tartar& Vodka soup with a sauteed Baby Calamri stuffed with Beluga Caviar and pinned together with a tooth pick and sprinkled with Parsley.
Finished of with a Haiku..

Things to do when you wake up in the middle of the night!

2005-08-29T20:10:00.000-07:00

For the past week or so, I've been getting up right before sunrise and continue to stay up until 6 or so. I think my body now got used to waking up at this time. It really is quite annoying because even if I sleep later, I wake up late and tired as well! Weird things happen to your body when you stop working out! But hang on, I kindda did work out yesterday, I was at the chalet all day Wake&Knee boarding, I even Kayaked! Anyways, I've compiled a list of things to do when you're up before everyone else:

Watch "Curb Your Enthusiasm" (My facination with this series requires a complete blog entry)
Watch BBCfood, Discovery, Civ, Paramount
Hi5
Blog reading
Munch!

Hang on, as I write this..I am realizing that this series (Curb your enthusiasm) is the reason why I get up in the middle of the night! I am so addicted to that show that I can't get enough of it, even during my sleep I crave it! heh, why waste time sleeping when you can watch Larry David make an ass out of himself? I can overrelate and overidentify with this show! (Is overrelate a word?, oh well..now it is)

My life is like a "Seinfeld" Show, the people I know are just as bizzare and even as static as the stock characters on that show! Somedays I feel like Jerry, overanalyzing, being cynical and anally retentive! Others as funny and bubbly as Elain, many days I'm as Akward as George, as Clumsy as Kramer, as malliscious as Newman!

Now time to bring an end to this random blog entry by listing things I'd rather do when I wake up before everyone:

Read! It's been so difficult to read anything more than 4 pages lately, I can't seem to concetrate or get lost in literature the way I used to. Need bring back the habit again!
Meditate and do Yoga on a mountain or hilltop in spreads of green or snow.
Meditate quitely in the Zen Gardens, temples to the bells gongs of prayer.
Walk on the side of an easy river, sit on a rock and dip my toes in the running water. Look for fishies and trail a floating leaf with my gitty eyes out of site.

Aaaah, life is more beautiful when we cease to be insatiable....

Lunar Lunacy

2005-08-21T14:46:00.000-07:00

I Have an Unhealthy obsession with the moon..
Atleast once a day, I gaze in the sky looking for it.
I'm sure one of my past lives I was a moon worshiping Pagan priestess that guarded a moon worshiping temple!
At this point its 93% Illuminated ie. FullMoon!(Curtosey of WearherUnderground)
Whenever its full, I try to figure out the face or the rabbit, sometimes I see other things, the child, the old lady and the flower, in this case 93% neither!

To understand the bases of this obsession, I must first identify how the moon makes me feel, let me list them..
1. Awake
2. Agittated
3. Excited
4. Mischievous
5. Strong
As much as I love the sun and daytime, The Moon draws me in the utmost devine way!

Gaza Pullout

2005-08-17T02:16:00.000-07:00

6 out of 9 Settlements, according to CNN & Washington post have now been evacuated.
Lets hope this pullout isn't a Media haux or some sort of Israelli propaganda!
From what I see on T.V. and online, thousands of Military personel are pulling out (Unarmed) to the screams, cusses and prayers of the Israelli Settlers. Some even set up fires.
Now on Dubai T.V. a correspondant is saying that these settlements will be secured by both Military and Civil security forces! If that's the case, why pullout in the 1st place?
A Hamas spokesperson considers this a victory!
Will this be the beginning of all pullouts?
I'm very skeptical, it sounds too good to be true!

Random Lyrics of the day..

2005-08-08T00:58:00.000-07:00

Nitin Sawhney "Street Guru" (Part 1) lyrics
They've incorporated their culture and their values in the city and they've enriched the cityBoth like, from uh, you know a work ethic. You know the restaurants and the music and it's really a diverse cityI mean you walk through the Vany Oven yu-you know you go through Korean neighborhoods,Old Jewish neighborhoods, Arab big neighborhoods, uh, Pakistani-Indian neighborhoods.It's incredible. The intensity... I think yeah, development has pushed us away from other people.You know, a lot of times people are rude because they want like immediate access or immediate information.You know some things in life can't be immediate, sometimes you gotta wait and let things happenPeople are like increasingly rude. Like I'll say someone will get in a cab, we'll say I'll get em there in 5 minutes.And they'll say, It should only take 3. Now who gives a shit if it takes 5 minutes or 3 minutes, who cares?At the end of your life nobody's gonna put on your tomb stone "shit I got in a cab in fi-seven minutes instead of three".It doesn't matter technology has made us slaves of the time.Naw, a lot of people that are really have technical jobs they're slaves to time.Time's the essences of life it seems like. And they're basically like losing itThey're losing the essence of their life because, you know, their life is like just going away and,Their not enjoying it because their so engrossed in efficiency and productivity and shit like that.It's almost sad. They all come here from somewhere else like seeking their fame and fortune or,Their tap jobs and they're and caree-you know, in their in their industries.They get very engrossed in it and they into these you know these cell phones and computersAnd I think the real important things in life are you know, people and your family.I think you don't realize that, a lot of people don't realize that until they're older.I think there's going to be a backlash against technology.

Random Everything

2005-06-27T03:28:00.000-07:00

What is a Punjama?
Its a cross between a Pajama & a Punjabi

What is a Fuslagi?
A person who becomes a Hailigi when he/she is Fasil

What is a Fusla7chi?
A person who comes over only to endulge in any sort of Fusla!

What do you do with this 8 year old?

2005-06-07T02:49:00.000-07:00

He thinks Subway is Cliche
Asks what the word "Rhetorical" means
Likes his lobster drizzled with butter only after its grilled!
Attempts to explain to you what hypnosis by suggestion is
Doesn't like Fig chutney with his Fois Grais
Takes a hair sample off your friends chest in order to clone him into a "Ferocious Chihuahua"
Enjoys watching BBC food
Walks into a BBQ and asks to be served "Rum" and if that's not available then"Wine is just fine"

'Blog' the hot term

2004-12-04T03:29:00.000-08:00

'Blog' Tops Online Dictionary List By Robin ArnfieldNewsFactor NetworkDecember 2, 2004 12:33PM "Blog" -- short for "Weblog" -- was the most-frequently requested definition at Merriam-Webster's online dictionary site, the publisher says. The recent U.S. presidential campaign, which prompted wide use of blogs to discuss the issues, helped spur interest.

This takes me to the next point:
The split between pronounciation specially in Kuwait, Blog vs. B-log.

*This post is intended for the sole purpose of updating my blog on bloggers lists of updated blogs.

Di Mama ob Di Pusla

KNCC dilema

2004-11-02T02:08:00.000-08:00

It isn't KNCC's 1st time to decide to close their cinemas in the last 10days of ramadan.
AKA العشر الاواخر
It might be more cost effective for them to close their facilities rather than adjust their schedules, maybe their yearly maintenance takes place during the slow months.
I doubt very much that their reasons are in observance of the last ten days of the holly month. After all, it is a business, not a religious institute.

anywho Why go to the cinema if you can watch a movie on the lawn projected on a 4x4 screen with a bunch of friends at the charge of 5 k.d.

Ramadaniat

2004-10-16T19:35:00.000-07:00

Ramadan issues

The art of making هريسه can I ever perfect it?

Now I know why granny had great triceps, 'Harisa' beating has kept her upper
half in shape for years. To beat or to blend? Blending harisa kills the texture and makes it soggy, all the parts of the Harisa will taste the same where as beating it will
maintain the difference in flavor between meat and lentil base.

I tried making a stencil with the shape of a crescent and stars to sprinkle the cinnamon and icing sugar dust ontop but that was a flop. Will try it again, anyways we've always been the Adam's Family in the neighbourhood, must give the ladies something to talk about when they run into each other in their morning shopping sprees in the جمعيه for علك البان

قطايف بالجوز

without fat and sugar, how can you be so yummy? How can you be so yummy? What alternative cheeses could I use? for instance, will اشقوان work?

Gourmet تمريه

If I added Cashew, will it get soggy?

تشريبه

Looks simple but is really hard to retain the flavor, صبار و بصل mix with carrot juice to flavor, but something is still missing. Cinnamon stick? Please don't tell me that evil thing called عداني

there is no title 2

2004-08-29T07:15:00.001-07:00

I've recieved two very interesting e-mails, an invitation from Marie-Helen Parent, head of a scientific/religious cult of the Raelians to inform me of a protest against Bush.
I've interviewed this lady over three years ago, when they were in the Media for their connections with the "Clonning" Industry. Interesting to see how they've evolved..Now they offer their "book" for free in Muslim countries.

I wonder what Haroun Yahya would say about that?

the 2nd e-mail was very creative spam...

cheat discipline below forty yellow doing evening handwriting making. run grade
colour free lose occasion, somewhere was climbing save wall marry learn argument
height!
practical difficulty 0RIGINAL S0FTWARES AT VERY CHEAAP PRIICE where laugh
instead mountain

(THE LINK TO THE SITE USED TO BE HERE)

ears wont neighbor stopping carefully consequence knowing. note south resolved
cousin their tea tie gentlemen leave, beginning horse unless sense built"
grandma professor bridge smooth character thursday another silent move sit.
their wood saying remember pray service,
climbed promised parents luckily game pale changed. land rising else greatest
name? rich surprise laughter nine walked? pale name season destroy!
set hard mischievous tongue some longer food! tired doing maam spirits standing
minutes achieve away. die pretty silent them to-morrow whom. seems nervous
cousin clean one bring,
occurring dead head mountain relative mentioned" step those manners arrived
circumstances reached surprised sandwich begin, walked especially truly forward
down spent complete usual surprised. meet did first special delicious art after
leave hurried commit

Borat's dead mom's rug

2004-08-29T06:29:00.000-07:00

Borats visit to Kuwait has caused such a stir. Some people got upset with me for not inviting them over, some were upset cos I hosted a pervert, racialistic anti-semit, sexist TV personality and others simply refuse to believe that he was even in the country...

I'm not sure if he'd want to come back to Kuwait after all of this...specially that he did not get so lucky here...

We'll see, I mite meet him in Dubai for the weekend..

Borat's weekend in Kuwait

2004-08-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

My good ol mate Borat paid me a surprise visit this weekend. Here is a glimps of the action:

Wednesday 8pm phone rings:

Borat: Jagshemash, is this di mama, Its Borat, I make it di surprise visit.
Mama Fusla: wussup home boy, wuchu doin in Kuwait?
Borat: I come to buy camel for camel business
Mama Fusla:...
Borat: No only joking, I come to do story about Kazakhistani workers in Iraq. You like Iraqi man? I have friend "Abbas" maybe he like to do you.
Mama Fusla: Do me a favor, shut up and come over. we're all hanging out at chalet.
Borat: I come with my friends, Good bye.
Mama Fusla: Ciao.
---End call---

2 hrs later Borat walks in wearing blue/grey suit, grey shirt and
grey tie.
Mama Fusla: I see you made it, plz make yourselves comfortable.
Borat gives me (high 5)
Borat: Jagshemash, How are you Mama? I want to make sheet, where is toilet?
Mama Fusla: Its inside

20 mins later, a very relieved Borat walks back in wearing green colored swimming briefs.

Borat: I take good sheet.
Mama Fusla: That's great news. Nice briefs.
Borat: Thank you, I am ready to swim. Wut do you call it? shal?
Mama Fusla: Chalet.
Borat: I buy gift for your chalet.
I look into the gift bag
Mama Fusla: Nice Carpet.
Borat: yes, Its from my mother, she make it.
Mama Fusla: Please thank her for this wondeful gift.
Borat: can not, she is dead.
Mama Fusla: I'm really sorry.
Borat: No its ok, my wife is dead also.
Mama Fusla: oh my.
Borat: Don't worry, I get another wife.

Attempting to change the subject I persume:
Mama Fusla: Do you plan to do anything in Kuwait? Sight Seeing maybe?

Borat: Yes I want, How if I want to make it the sex with Arab lady, beautiful lady with maybe big what you say? tits? How can I do that?
Mama Fusla: I'm sure you do, but 1st you have to be a gentleman.
Borat: Yes, maybe your Kuwaiti friend teach me.

So I make the mistake of introducing Borat to a few friends:

Borat: Jagshemash, I have it the blue ball, I must make it the sex with Arab Woman, how I must be like Gentleman? Plz show me.
Kuwaiti: You have to 1st become "Shay Shay" so the girls would like you.
Borat: Wut is that thing? it will hurt?

Kuwaiti Guy briefs Borat on how to become from El Shay Shay. an hr Later, Borat comes out with a big smile on his face.

Mama Fusla: Haa Borat, wut did you learn?
Borat: Excuse me lady, but you look familiar, St. Tropez? Summer 2002?
Mama Fusla: hahaha, no Courchevel 2003.

Borat: I will be back, 1st I must move my Harley.
Kuwaiti: you can park it behind my Jaguar *wink wink*

Borat now goes into the pool, eyes one of my female friends with premediated mischef on his face and moves in like an Aligator.

Borat: Hey lady, I look for Arab Wife, will you marry me?
Kuwaitia: aha.
Borat: you no like it? maybe you are lesbian.
Kuwaitia: aha.
Borat: Same like Khazakhistani lady.

Borat jumps out of pool and approaches me, annoyed and disappointed he exclaimed.
Borat: I try to be Shay Shay but Kuwaiti lady is Lesbian, what I can do?
Mama Fusla: Perhaps I introduced you to the wrong people, you do not need to learn how to be a Kuwaiti Shay Shay, you needed to learn how to be a Kuwaiti Lesbian.

A few hrs later, a very drunken Borat climbs into a "wanait" and heads back to the City and the next day to Iraq.

-------------------------------------THE END-------------------------------------

Memoirs of a Local Tourist...

2004-08-25T02:41:00.000-07:00

Now that I’ve been praying all week to the Gods and Goddesses of Weather, Inspiration and Partying. I couldn’t wait until the weekend to see if my prayers have been answered or not, so I decided to start it early.
Woke up yesterday Tuesday 10.30 am, a bit woozy, a bit too lazy to go to work.
“f it” I thought, I’m going to FAILAKA A.K.A. Ikaros.

I board the boat by 1pm

“Dihna” I think to myself, what a delightfully smooth day for cruising. 10 mins later, I begin to smell something quite funky! One of the Engines begins smoking.
Turn around I shall not….Failaka I must pursue.

We can see the island but we can’t seem to get there, an hr has passed, the engine is still smoking and I’ve personally finished all the Costa sandwiches I had bought earlier. It was hot, like you have your face against a hairdryer on high-speed; unbearable as it may be, I still got a killer tan.

The people at Failaka informed me of 2 Marinas on the Island. The main one where the Ferry goes and a 2nd smaller one near the Bait Banya Resort. “Great” I thought, we have options in docking as well. Little did I know that the docks at main Marina where rusty, old and not boat friendly at all! It was made for the ferry to bark and disembark cars, cargo and people. We climbed onto what’s left of the rusted ramp and met with the Motel crew, a driver and a greeter.

We climb into a mini van from late 80s with no A/C. We get off at the main street “Share3 Il Wanasa” which actually translates into FUN ST. The heat was no fun I tell you this. Finally we arrive into compound of Cute little Kuwaiti homes laid in Grid. The little steps before you enter main door, patio in the middle “7oosh”. Houses with names like “Bait bo destoor”, “Sa3eeed of Sa3ad” and “Bo 6ershi” are a common site and of significance as well. “Bo 6ershi” has been leased for a year by a Kuwaiti family that specializes in making 6ershi.

The insides of these mini-Kuwaiti homes replicate the old houses with mini shaded courtyard, diwanya with “3areesh” humble furniture, L-shaped sofa, small stereo and TV can be found in Diwanya, bedroom and master room. A pantry consisting of a mini fridge, kettle and sink. All rooms are equipped with A/C and electricity outlets, that’s about it. 3 bedrooms run for about a 70 K.D. the 2bedrooms go for 60KD. There are rooms available, the one that sleeps three goes for about 25K.D.

The killer attraction isn’t the beach, cos the Motel isn’t directly on the beach which is 5 mins walk. They have a pool to die for, beautiful pool with a hutstyle bar overlooking. This place calls for a true night of Fusla! I can see it, the DJ booth, the bar, the dancing..
Overwhelmed by the potential of the place I decide to leave.

Back on the crappy overheated van where I felt like a tourist, I remembered all my travel experiences in which I had to settle for the lowest end means of transportation. It’s a strange feeling to feel like a tourist in your own home but also refreshing.

My thoughts distracted by the crackle of the van and squeaky break pads as we pulled into once again, the old Marina. We board my Smokey boat and head back to the city.

20 mins go by of easing it out on the engine at 5knots/hr. All of a sudden the Gods were no longer happy with us, the waves rose at 3-4ft if not higher. “esheel o yeshdakh” as they say, throwing us off balance, my friend became seasick. “Shit” I thought, we must have offended the Gods. 1st the smoky engine and now the storm out of nowhere. I pick up TIME magazine presume reading, pretending like nothing is happening, No my friend isn’t being sea sick, no the engine isn’t smoking and surely the sea condition is slick as silk and by all means; “Dihna”.

An hr later, say around 5pm we are back into a more different Marina, that of our current century. We quickly get off as if the boat was on fire. I had to my friends house and quickly take a shower to cool off and back at another Marina to dock on another boat: “Dinner under the stars” kind of thing as my friend promised, the night of Dalag eshail(of course the supposed star is not visible to Kuwait) but isn’t it the thought that counts?

Yesterday, I’ve endured over 14 hrs of sea, maybe I’ve pissed the sea and weather gods off at 1st, but by the end of the day…I was blessed by a boat that wasn’t rocking like a cradle, smoking like a bong or overheating like a Solarium. I was finally chilling with a cool crowd…Salutes my friends

I will leave you with a Haiku about yesterday and one for the weekend:

Heat and wave attack
from Ikaros to my host
Tonite, we are stars

Today is the day
That The weekend comes to life
May God help us all

........Midweek Prayer

2004-08-23T02:22:00.000-07:00

May Oceanus, the God of water bless us with a excellent sea condition making the Gulf Waters (Dihna) ie. Smooth for Skiing & Clear for Diving..

May one of the Muses decend from heaven to bring inspiration to a museless nation so that we may have a weekend filled with Art & Culture..

May the party underworld God Dionysus (o shillita) bless us with their presence this upcoming weekend so that we may be merry..

May Terpsichore, Muse of dancing come down and teach the rythemless bastards of the night the art of shaking booty...

May Aphrodite bless us with her beauty and spread the love everlasting..

Note: Inspired by Mosan Mosan

I am an involentary Office Potato

2004-08-21T00:28:00.000-07:00

This Saturday will be different, I have a plan to do something. I will explain why my Saturdays are so boring…

Saturday to me spell a number of things:

Being tired after a crazy weekend
Being bored
Calling everyone to make sure they have survived last weekend
Questioning what I’m doing in this office, country, continent and planet.
Calling a dear friend to bitch and complain about one thing or another but most of the time it’s about my job.
Planning my next weekend
Promise to quit coffee and do more Yoga.

Everyone in Kuwait complains about their jobs, about having a crude boss or routine job or long hours. My situation is a bit different; I do not have a boss. No one tells me what to do and or when to do it. My boss chooses to simply ignore me, leaving me a victim of my own mind to sit and try to innovate ways to kill 10hrs/day.

This is what I do from 8-6 everyday:
News, news and more news, Google everything and everything Google.
Chat on msn, chatterbox and bulletin boards.
Spend 1 hr reading coffee and drinking newspapers.
Send out 1 e-mail a day regarding work, total time from conception of e-mail topic to clicking send varies from 1-5mins (Summing up my productivity rate for the day)
Chat with friends on the phone, discuss following topics:
Why my job is boring
Why her job is boring
Why our lives are boring
Get bored of conversation and then hang up.
Play text twist
Surf conspiracy theory websites like Rense.com and come up with my own conspiracy of the day on why Internet was down, or why there is a dust storm.
Stare at the books in my office about starting own business for dummies and business plan made easy books.
Delete junk mail, open letters of invitations from startup companies, recruiters and consultants from Dubai and Lebanon that want to steel even more business from Kuwait, throw away junk mail and feel guilty about not recycling.
Google combinations of random words like: +green, +nipple, +communist, link results to conspiracy theory and then dismiss feeling not-so-lucky!
Search Bayt.com and other failed regional headhunter websites and check if a new feature like “cool & unconventional jobs near you” option has been added or not.
Blog the living lights out of me.
Thank the stars for internet.

I really can win an Oscar for the role of “The woman who convinced the world she was working”.
Another 3 months of this and I will be out of here, my 1 yr will be done. I would have paid my debt to society. I will be able to impress the next employer with that 1 yr experience. 1 year would have passed for working in a bureaucratic dung-den with insecure power-hungry greedy manipulative Novo Riche Kuwaiti dimwits.
I look forward to NOTblogging from my next job or blogging strictly for work related purposes. Blogging to me represents being bored at work. Hating your job is underrated, it is a horrible experience to wake up feeling enslaved by a system, feel unproductive and replaceable. Also earning money for doing nothing is nasty business and insanely addictive.

2day however will be different
I've already outlined a story line for my Documentary Film
Began outlining my fesability study for the business that I've been thinking about for over 2 years now.

I have learned 1 thing from being alive which is to always be cynical and negative, skim through all the posibilities of shit going down and then look at all the ways of making things less shitty, living each day at and always end up with a positive thought.

My positive thought for the day is: Not all Saturdays will be this shitty, I have experienced a good Saturday before and I will sure as hell experience one to come..

Asians bring home GOLD for Double Trap

2004-08-18T01:17:00.000-07:00

40 yr old sharp double trap shooter Ahmed al-Maktoum Scored a wonderful 189. Multitalented sportsman, national winner in squash. Ahmed is a true example of a profound shooter with patience and graceful shooting techniques. I've seen him shoot a disk with the Riffle turned upside down and rested on his left shoulder above his head. He has inspired many youngsters in the Gulf to take shooting professionally.

34 yr old Indian army major Rajyavardhan Rathore won Silver for a score of 179.
Bronze winner Zheng Wang of China had fell one point behind Rathore scoring 178.
Congratulations to all three countries, its great to see all three winners from Asia.

Good luck to Abdullah Al Turgi in the skeet competition.

Warning Archeologists crossing

2004-08-17T02:53:00.000-07:00

The Bahraini Excavation team to dig up Sabiya for Dilmun remains.

Good luck to them finding anything underneath the rubble of abandoned 5 star camps. (by that I mean camps with developed modern toilets built out of cement) today, Sabiya is home to left over toilets, both Arabic & English. I will try and find a photo I took 2 yrs ago which depicts the beauty of ceramic WC's in our beloved northern desert!

Ode to Sabiya, the gate to what used to be the DMZ, Bobyan Bridge, home of Jaber's Sanctuary, and camels who spend their days playing chicken (crossing highways for cheap thrills)and rubber burning holigans who get off at scaring camels!

Al Mudhaf ranks 6 in Trap

2004-08-16T03:13:00.000-07:00

Khaled's Day 1 & 2 of Trap qualifications showed possibility of Bronze medal for 26 yr old who has won 1st place in 2002 World Shooting Championship held in Finland and 2nd place winner in World Cup 2002 in Germany.

Day 1 was looking good with 25,25 and 23. Day 2 looked promising with two rounds of 24 and 25. That totals in 123 score of in Qualifications. Same scores of Bronze winner Austrailian Adam Vella and 4th place shooter Ahmed Al Maktoum. Al Mudhaf still held a chance until the final round scoring a low 20 which put him in 6th place at a final score of 120.

Others worth mentioning like Bronze (Sydney 2000) , Silver (Seoul, world cup 2001), Bronze (Doha, World Cup Final 2001) Double Trap shooter Fheid Al Dehani who will begin competing tomorrow morning along with Mishfi Al Mutairi.

Congratulations to Russian, Alexei Alipov for the almost flawless 149.

Now the big question! Where the hell is the Kuwaiti Women’s team? I thought they have been training to compete in Athens? Or was the club too busy focusing on the male shooters? I hope someone has an answer to my question..

links:
A list of Athletes in the Kuwaiti Deligation of Athens2004

Kuwaiti Shooters

Full Schedule of shooting

My Maki is better than urs..

2004-08-15T03:27:00.001-07:00

Once a month, I receive a phone call from a friend who puts me on the fone with a waiter/ess of the local Sushi den and asks me to dictate the ingredients of my Fuslafied Maki.
Unfortunetly, the world of Maki Making in Kuwait is extremely bureaucratic and is overwhelmed by disabling rules and regulations. To have your Maki popularized over the sushi chef's wall you will need a minimum of 5 requests. To have your Maki printed on the menu is a whole new story; the secret Maki association of Kuwaiti Sushi bar junkies meets once a month to discuss the eligible Makis, in their Maki Torturing Dungeons, blind folded Maki Junkies test and taste the Makis in question, the handpicked few Maki recipes finally make their way on the Menu.

So to make a long story short, make my Maki famous and order it at all the sushi places so that it can become famous and I Mama Fusla will then eventually be making my way into the sushi infested stomachs of the young Kuwaiti generation and thus I will control the world!

Dedicated to the guy who only calls me for Sushi!

Toro Mama Fusla Maki
Tuna, Asparagus, Crème Cheese and Avocado (outside) sprinkles of Tobiko

Sake Mama Fusla Maki
Salmon, Asparagus, Crème Cheese and Avocado (outside) sprinkles of Tobiko

*Both Makis to be served with Japanese Spicy Mayo & Unagi or Teryaki Sauce.
*You will love the devine juxtatexture of the asparagus with the creme cheese vs. Tobiko. for 1st timers, eat at own discretion...recorded cases show 1st timers more vulnrable to public displays of excietment. If you have a bamboo-up-your-ass image that you wish to maintain, then stay at home and keep your hands off my Maki.

Cannabis extract shrinks brain tumours

2004-08-15T01:15:00.000-07:00

05:00 15 August 04

NewScientist.com news service

Cannabis extracts may shrink brain tumours and other cancers by blocking the growth of the blood vessels which feed them, suggests a new study.
An active component of the street drug has previously been shown to improve brain tumours in rats. But now Manuel Guzmán at Complutense University, Spain, and colleagues have demonstrated how the cannabis extracts block a key chemical needed for tumours to sprout blood vessels – a process called angiogenesis.

Retrospection to ease post vacation blues: Part I

2004-08-10T03:10:00.000-07:00

24.July.2004

Finally arrived into Cesme, a peninsula on the Aegean Sea, west of Izmir. I drove a crumbling stick shift fiat from Kusadasi, past Izmir and across the bridge to Cesme. An 80 KM drive into the sunset. The $10 discount we got on the rent-a-wreck was not only for the duct-taped side mirror but for missing a complete stereo! We had a portable radio which doesn't work when car is mobile, my friend had to hold the antenna out of the window so we could listen to a static-disturbed Nina Sky song.

The beautiful mountains of Izmir, the windmills, farms, the sun dissolving beyond Chios and finally...Cesme the city of fountains!

Small winding roads between fishermen's houses, pensions and carpet shops, a few hamams, the harbour and the many tourists boats. Cesme has strong westerly winds, attracting surfers, windsurfers and kiteboarders from all over the region. The local policeman complains that the summers disturb the peace of this quite town, students from all over Turkey come to catch some waves. I've come to Turkey for 1 reason...Moloko

The night of the concert was hectic, we had to catch the last Auto-Gar (minibus) to Kum Beach, 6 KM from city sq. Little did we know that Mustafa Sandal will be singing in the sq. for a VW promotion and over 7000 were going to cram the streets. So we ran in our dresses across the concert, I pushed and shoved my way into and out of the crowd at the bottom of Cesme Castle! (It isn't like me to do something like this, but I flew all the way from Beirut for this concert, nothing in the world is going to stop me from gettin my 1st dose of Rosin & Co.)

The Autogar driver couldn't believe that me and my friend came all the way for Moloko, many people found it hard to believe, including myself!

Kum beach (Sand beach) was packed with Turks that looked like they've just arrived from planet Moloko! I've been to many concerts before, Tokyo, London & NY but nothing is like this one, people were extremly fashionable, everything vintage/80s/moloko was their motto.

A temp lounge was built on the beach as a VIP are. +6ft supermodels gave out florecent little key chains with "80s" on them, foldable 3rd glasses which came inneat paper packets that went around the neck.

DJ U.F.U.K, the #1 DJ in Turkey played some good sets for opening (pronounced Ufuq as in Horizon, not You Fuck) Following 2 hrs of U.F.U.K, the crowd gathered closer to stage, the nifty crowds with their Tinis left the VIP area to welcome Moloko for the 2nd time to their country.

Rosin came crawlling on stage wearing a vintage dress with fox fur around her neck, you can hear her and see her shadows as she repeats "Feeling, feeling....feeling" she'd pause and do it again until she jumped on stage and began singing "Familiar Feeling", people were so feeling her and jumping and jamming to the base. Crowned with a WWI-like helmet. (Yes the same helmet she's beeing touring the world with) They followed by"Time is now" & "Sing it Back" blow by blow they drove the crowd in a frenzy and induced more halucinations then already existed by doing their redo of the acidtronica, asking everyone "Where is the what?", "Day for night", at closing, I couldn't contain my excitement when they played "Cannot Contain this". Every man in the crowd thought Rosin was singing to him "I want you". Finally, they killed me slowly with "Forever More".

Interrupted by trays of gourmet o'derves,(sun dried tomato quiche and mini chocolate mouse with white sauce) cortesy of Winston ciggerettes commemerating their 100th year into the lung cancer industry. Security guards left us uneasy as they crammed themselves into the "mosh pit" busting drunken turks and dope dealers. Rosin at one point, wrapped a Shall (Hijab) around her head, uncovering her eyes only..singing "Forever More" to a bouqet or roses which she cradled like a baby. Driving the muslim crowd into more cheers, of course I was screaming on the top of my head "Old school, more old school" which did not go further than the barracades infront of the stage and of course blew the ear drums of the blonde infront of me.

All in all, Rosin Murphey and the Moloko Crew..Rocked my world that night!

p.s. This blog is dedicated to the Haiku Priestess and my travel buddy -A

War on Tourism

2004-08-09T22:49:00.000-07:00

Woke up this morning to VOA news to hear about the hotel blasts in Turkey. Funny, 20 days ago I was in the same area the explosions took place "Sultanhamet" which lies in the Asian side of Istanbul. Home of the Blue Mosque, Aya Sofya and the famous Pensions where backpackers linger.
I was having dinner with a friend just round the corner from our Pension in Mimar Mehmet Aga the night of 21st/July and we heard an some gunshots, most of the turks and Europeans acted indifferent. We later learned about the drunken"kurdish"Turk who shot a man for flirting with his woman! According to my Turkish friends, this never happened in a very long time. Apparently that area was very dangerous and housed many gangs, prostitutes and drug dealers but the gov has cleaned it up in the last two years.

It’s sad to see Turkey hit twice in less than 6 months. In this summer I witnessed two incidents of "War on Tourism", Israel's air strike of militant camp southern Beirut July 20th. 2004.
My heart goes to Athens.

2004-08-08T03:36:00.000-07:00

Must Saki with my Sake

Apparently, you do not need more than the following ingredients to making some Saki.
I wonder if they sell Campden tablets in Kuwait! Perhaps regular sulphur dioxide will work instead.

Fusla & Fusla winelab will be opened sometime this week, winetasting or poisioning if you wish will be available for Fuslazoids shortly.

Ingredients:

rice
grape concentrate
hot water
corn sugar or honey
yeast energizer
Campden
sherry yeast

Kuwait interrogates mosques Imams

2004-08-08T01:47:00.000-07:00

Kuwait interrogates mosques Imamson the question of al-Jihad in
IraqKuwait-Iraq Politics

The Kuwaiti security authorities addressed a memorandum to the attorney general demanding investigation with several mosques Imams under the accusation of " provoking for Jihad " and embracing a " disbelieving thinking." Several months ago, the attorney general in Kuwait investigated Sheikh Hamid al-Alia, the former secretary general of the Kuwaiti al-Salafeyah movement -- one of the groups of the Salafe trend -- on accusations of provocation and training on violence. A matter which al-Ali strongly denied in the investigations.This comes at a time, when the security forces in Kuwaiti intensified its campaign in search of new wanted persons during which it detained four persons involved with groups adopting the thinking of al-Qaida organization.Kuwaiti press sources quoted security sources as saying that " total number of trained and organized persons of such Salafi thinking and of al-Qaida organization philosophy reached 24, noting that those are led by Imams of certain mosques who provoke for Jihad," the sources did not specify any of the names of those Imams.
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S.F. Man Says Beheading Video Is a Hoax

2004-08-07T23:06:00.000-07:00

San Francisco Man Says Video That Purportedly Shows Him Being Decapitated Is a Hoax
The Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO Aug. 7, 2004 — An aspiring politician and video game designer who faked his own beheading by Iraqi militants set off a short-lived media frenzy Saturday after media around the world began showing his homemade video of the gruesome hoax.
Benjamin Vanderford, 22, said he posted the 55-second clip, which shows a knife sawing against his neck, on an online file-sharing network in May. It circulated in cyberspace before crossing over to major media, airing on Arab television.
"It was part of a stunt, but no one noticed it up until now," Vanderford told The Associated Press after being awoken at his San Francisco apartment early Saturday and informed that much of the world was suddenly under the impression he had been decapitated.
Shrugging and taking a drink from a diet soda, Vanderford said he originally made the video as a way to draw attention to his campaign for a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He filmed the footage at a friend's house, using fake blood.
When his political aspirations waned, he decided to distribute the footage on Kazaa, which is used to trade millions of audio, video and software files daily, "to just make a statement on these type of videos and how easily they can be faked."

EVEN A FROG WILL KICK THE BBC

2004-07-12T06:51:00.000-07:00

Persian Journal
---------------
Ashley O'Dell and Rhonda Roland Shearer
Jul 8, 2004, 23:56
On June 27, 2004, the BBC reported on an Iranian woman who gave birth to a frog. Their story originated from the Persian paper Etemaad.

The BBC published a photo of a frog with the caption "Tests are being carried out on the frog."

This photo has since been replaced with a map of Iran due to our complaint.

The pairing of this photo and caption implies that the frog in the photo is the Iranian woman's "frog child." It also implied that tests are being carried out on this very frog. However, we discovered that the frog in the photo is not even native to Iran.

David Dickey of the American Museum of Natural History identified the frog in the BBC photo as a Chinese Gliding Frog, Polypedates dennysi, found only in southern China. He noted that students remembered seeing this species at the museum's current frog exhibition. Dickey called the
frog child story "the worst, most ridiculous example" of bad journalism he had ever seen.

Dickey recommended speaking to the world expert on Chinese frogs, Kraig Adler, Professor of Biology and Vice Provost for Life Sciences at Cornell University.
Dr. Adler told us that the frog child storis "biologically impossible."

Madcow cometics

2004-07-10T06:47:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON July 9, 2004 — The government told cosmetics makers Friday they can no longer use brain and spinal cord tissue from older cattle in lipstick, hair sprays and other products.

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Chandler Al Kuwaiti

2004-07-10T03:41:00.000-07:00

NYTimes-On Tuesday, the Queens man who said he was a sultan and called himself Chandler Sabah al Sabah Dantata of Kuwait, will be sentenced in State Supreme Court in Manhattan to up to 15 years in prison for scheming to defraud two women out of more than $100,000. The man, a United States citizen who was born Benjamin Maybanks, told the women that he was a diplomat who could not access his vast fortune because of turbulence in the Middle East. He wondered, could they help him out of a jam? And they did.
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Mama Badrya’s Spicy Chai

2004-07-10T03:15:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

1 ½ cup half-fat fresh milk
1 ½ cup boiling water
4 tea bags
2 inch cinnamon stick
1 tbsp ground cardamom
1/2 tbsp whole cardamom
1 pinch saffron
1 slice ginger

Strong:
Pour milk into saucepan, infuse with saffron, cinnamon, ginger and cardamom. Simmer on low heat, when it begins to steam, add 2 teabags (without tag) cover and cook on low heat for 2 minutes.
In an insulated pot or thermos, place 2 new teabags inside to thermos and add boiling water, strain the milk into the thermos and let sit for 10 minutes before serving. Add sugar or honey to taste.

Weak:
Follow the same instructions but without adding the tea bags to the cooking milk, instead add only 2 to the thermos.

Suggestion: Keep warm in Qori (copper teapot) over Diwwa (Arabian grill/trey with coal/wood) dip only freshly home-made Darabeel (Whole Wheat Flour cigars with cinnamon), muffle in woolen Bisht (Arabian wide fitting coat)

Healing properties:

1. Big Mama’s Chai has catalyzed numerous Spiritual quests and guided many lost souls.
2. Fights depression and insures instant deep sleep.
3. Most commonly used to fight flu: by Adding more Ginger and use honey instead of sugar.

Warning: this recipe may cause a temporary but highly addictive euphoric state of satisfaction; stimulate high levels of aromatic pleasure increase metabolism of endorphins and serotonin.

The information contained in this recipe is subject to change without notice.
Copyright © 1910-2004 Badrya Inc. All rights reserved.
Badrya Inc. Nomadic productions by Fusla & Fusla.

Jump Jimmy Jump

2004-07-07T05:38:00.001-07:00

Pitch invader angry with Figo

LISBON - The Spanish man who invaded the pitch in the final minutes of the Euro 2004 final between Portugal and Greece on Sunday said he was motivated by lingering anger over Portuguese star Luis Figo's transfer from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000.

"I did it for fame, but with a cause. Figo is a sell-out," the 29-year-old from Barcelona who goes by the name "Jimmy Jump" said.

The man raced across the pitch at the Stadium of Light here and threw a Barcelona scarf into Figo's face before he hurled him- self against the back of the Portuguese net.

He was carried off the pitch by police and charged with public order offences.

A court in Lisbon on Monday released him without setting bail terms until a trial date is set.

The Spaniard has targeted other high-profile events before, most recently at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Figo has routinely faced protests by Barcelona fans since his $56 million transfer from Barcelona to arch-rivals Real Madrid four years ago. - Sapa-AFP
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Jump to his website @

once again, there is something very genuine about this guy...

Cassini brings home some action-FINALLY!

2004-07-06T00:28:00.000-07:00

scientists have found that a methane cloud near Titan's south pole is made of unusually large particles, suggesting something is brewing below.

Al Jazeera

2004-07-05T06:11:00.000-07:00

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) - Al-Jazeera is considering selling its shares to the public, according to a report Sunday.

Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Arab satellite channel gained notoriety outside of the Middle East with its coverage of the most recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

State-sponsored Al-Jazeera came into prominence for its broadcasts of messages believed to come from Osama bin Laden.

"I can confirm that the board of directors has commissioned a study into the viability of turning Al-Jazeera into a private enterprise by inviting investors," Reuters quoted a spokesperson for the state-sponsored Arabic satellite channel as saying. "This could entail a flotation at some stage."

Al-Jazeera's chief news editor, Ahmed El Sheikh, told the German newspaper Handelsblatt that the Qatar-based news channel's shares would be sold on the Doha stock exchange in two to three years, according to Reuters.

El Sheikh also reportedly told the paper that Al-Jazeera was still not profitable but aimed to be so before the IPO.

Al-Jazeera was launched in 1996 and has more than 30 bureaus around the world, according to its Web site.

The channel is planning to extend its coverage, El Sheikh reportedly said, with a documentary channel in the next three to four months, and next year, an English channel and a channel aimed at children.

A spokesperson for Al-Jazeera could not be reached for comment Sunday to confirm the reports.

Insecticide can sparks flat fire

2004-07-04T23:06:00.000-07:00

KUWAIT CITY: Two Indian women were killed and another seriously injured when a fire broke out in their fourth floor apartment in Salmiya. Alerted by the Operations Room of the Interior Ministry securitymen from Salmiya Police Station and firemen rushed to the spot and put out the fire. All the furniture in the apartment was gutted. A witness said an insecticide can, which was being used by one of the women, exploded when she accidentally sprayed a TV. The two corpses were referred to Forensics while the injured woman was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Mubarak Hospital.

- By Mansour Sultan; Special to the Arab Times

Life is a Bento Box

2004-07-03T07:35:00.000-07:00

Office Blogging

2004-07-03T07:30:00.000-07:00

Songs I must download, maybe you should too..

Title: A Chicken Ain't Nothin' But a Bird
Artist:Cab Calloway
Album:Are You Hep to the Jive?
Composer:Wallace
label:Columbia/Legacy

Title:I Like You
Artist: Rene Marie
Album: How Can I Keep From Singing?
Composer: Marie
label: MaxJazz

Testing

2004-06-28T23:22:00.000-07:00

Check McFusla 1
Calling All Fuslas OVER!