Mister Ian's Weblog

Month: October 2008

  • Dead Tanks in Kuwait

    This image is from The Big Picture, The Earth From Above I hope Yann Arthus-Bertrand doesn’t mind me using his copyrighted image in a reduced size in this post. His photos are awesome, and it must have been hard to get permission to take some of them. In Kuwait private ownership of aircraft isn’t allowed as far as I know it so how would he do it?

    I’m not sure I want to go there considering all the depleted uranium that was used in the first Gulf War. And it makes me think how much depleted uranium dust is in the air in Kuwait particularly in the dust storms that we had for so much of this year.

    Here is where the photo was taken.

    View Larger Map

  • Vaguely Escherian

    Vaguely Escherian

    Or should I call it Lines and Glass?

    From the summer. Nothing much going on here in Kuwait as it is the work week now. I tried it in black and white but it wasn’t too interesting. Perhaps if I spent a lot of time on the black and white, but this version with colours over the top is fun. Reminds me vaguely of Escher

  • Lebanon

    I’ll be there in less than two weeks!

    downtown Beirut

    Go here for some information and great photos.

  • 10 Things We Can Do to Contribute to Internal, Interpersonal and Organizational Peace

    1. Spend some time each day quietly reflecting on how we would like to relate to ourselves and others.
    2. Remember that all human beings have the same needs.
    3. Check our intention to see if we are as interested in others getting their needs met as our own.
    4. When asking someone to do something, check first to see if we are making a request or a demand.
    5. Instead of saying what we DON’T want someone to do, say what we DO want the person to do.
    6. Instead of saying what we want someone to BE, say what action we’d like the person to take that we hope will help the person be that way.
    7. Before agreeing or disagreeing with anyone’s opinions, try to tune in to what the person is feeling and needing.
    8. Instead of saying "No," say what need of ours prevents us from saying "Yes."
    9. If we are feeling upset, think about what need of ours is not being met, and what we could do to meet it, instead of thinking about what’s wrong with others or ourselves.
    10. Instead of praising someone who did something we like, express our gratitude by telling the person what need of ours that action met.

    The Center for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC) would like there to be a critical mass of people using Nonviolent Communication language so all people will get their needs met and resolve their conflicts peacefully.

    2001, revised 2004 Gary Baran & CNVC. The right to freely duplicate this document is hereby granted.

  • Drug Resistant TB

    When you come to the gulf to work you get an X-ray for TB. We think TB is no big deal. Wrong. Click here to find out more. Note there are some depressing images.

  • Sakura

    sakura

     

    We have not dined out much since returning to Kuwait from vacation. Generally it is too expensive and the quality is OK but not super. Prices keep going up and up of course.

    Here is tonight’s dinner for four at Sakura.

    1 Shitake Mushroom 2.950
    2 Sushi & Sashimi Platter 1/2 12.950
    1 Rainbow Roll 1/2 1.975
    1 Exotic Maki 1/2 3.225
    4 Miso Soup 1/2 5.000
    1 Steam Rick 1/2 0.750
    Sub total 26.850
    Cover Charge 15% 4.030
    TOTAL 30.880

    That’s 116 US dollars at today’s exchange rate. The 1/2s are because before 8:00 p.m. the Sushi and rolls are half price and fortunately they gave the rice and soup also at half price. If not half price it would have cost nearly 60 KD. That’s too much!

    <

    p>Also take note of the 15% cover charge which is common here. I don’t know if it goes to the staff or not, but then it makes a dilemma if you should tip or not. In believe tipping is not generally done and if so is not a percentage of the bill but rather a nominal amount of 250 or 500 fils (1000 fils equals 1 Kuwait Dinar). Of course I stand to be corrected on this.