Kuwait, Here I Come

• Picture taken from Khalid Al-Masoud. Full credit goes to him.

Yup, I’ll be leaving the United States and going back to Kuwait for the summer. I haven’t been to Kuwait for more than 18 months. I would have missed the faces of my mother and father if I didn’t have their pictures with me, but still, I miss them so much and cannot wait to be with them again. Even though I love the life of independency, I cannot wait to return to the life of simple luxury I had in Kuwait; you know, like you don’t have to worry about your dinner, laundry, and cleaning the bathroom and stuff.

My flight is tomorrow’s night and I should arrive to Heathrow International Airport around noon. Now, the biggest dilemma is that I have to wait a freaking fucking 10 hours before my next flight to K-Town. Seriously, what’s the deal British Airways? I’ll probably spend my time sleeping in the Quite Room they have in the airport. According to the itinerary, my total flight duration is 25 hours and 15 minutes. That means I’ll be spending a whole day just traveling around. Aghh, you would think since we live in 21st Century, we would have invented teleport pods by now. I’ll be arriving to Kuwait on Wednesday in the early morning.

Finally, I’d like to mention that I’d be able to continue blogging this time around since my big brother has installed Internet wireless service around the house (remember, I live in South Surra), so you will not be missing a thing. Right now, let’s just hope everything goes smoothly and that my flights would be delays-free.

The French Way Of Life

I have expressed several times in my blog about my fascination regarding France and the French people. As a matter of fact, when I come across the Travel section in any bookstore I visit, I always scan the bookshelves for France’s travel guides. Sometimes however, I think I’m more fascinated with the French than France in general. Throughout my readings regarding the French, and watching the countless French movies, they are certain charms and habits that you cannot help but to notice. Not to be positively or negativity stereotypical, I condense my thoughts as follow:

• The People of Paradoxes

Ask mostly anyone which country they consider the most “European,” and they’ll probably answer France. Thomas Jefferson knew France well, dubbing it “every man’s second fatherland.” Why, in view of these tributes, does one hear unflattering things about the French: that they’re rude, unfriendly, impatient, and even promiscuous? Every visitor shares this bewilderment, and I shall reserve my judgment until I go there and meet them myself.

• L’esprit Critique

You’ll spot the characteristic shrug of the shoulders, which is the Frenchman’s reaction to all startling news. Some might call it cynicism, but a better phrase is the one the French use themselves: l’esprit critique. It’s not something negative; it’s simply the way the French use their common sense. A Frenchman can’t describe something without adding his own judgment of value, that is, he wants to know if it’s good or bad for him.

• The Cold Treatment

French indifference and coldness to outsiders is really another virtue seen from the wrong end. If a Frenchman seems cold to outsiders, it’s because he reserves his affections for his family and close friends. Family life in France is one of the closest in Europe: it affords the French the small pleasures (like the evening meal), which they value above all else. Apparently, The French consider instant friendliness a sign of insincerity. Thus, a sign of banjour might be a rare expression (among the French and the outsiders) than you might think.

• In Unity We Trust

For all their individualism and eccentricity, the French still have bonds, which keep them together as a nation. One is pride in their nation and its language. France is, after all, the oldest unified country in Europe of any size. For centuries, the French language dominated European diplomacy and royal courts. Another bond that unifies them is the Frenchman’s respect for intellectual distinction in general. The French probably read more than any other people. The leading intellectual figures of the day receive the same media coverage that movie stars, politicians, or sports heroes do in the U.S. However, this also means that sometimes the French lose sight of a problem in the endless analysis of its details, especially when the experts disagree.

Conclusion?

If you were seeking a conclusive statement after reading all of that, then I’m sorry to tell you that I don’t have one. I cannot deduce something that I didn’t have the chance to essentially investigate and observe. However, I can firmly assert that I have at least scratched the surface of the French way of life. In the end, I invite you to watch this movie and experience a little taste of my all time favorite city, Paris. It might lighten up your weekend.

MacBook Is Thin Enough!

The Secret Of Mona Lisa’s Smile

For hundreds of years, art critics have mused over why the Mona Lisa’s smile seems so mysterious. Now the Harvard neurobiologist Margaret Livingstone has a fascinating answer: It’s because Da Vinci painted her face in colors that play tricks on the eye.

Livingstone’s work has long examined the way that different cells in the visual system process different types of information, such as form, color, depth and movement. When she analyzed the Mona Lisa, she found that Da Vinci painted her smile almost completely in low spatial frequencies, and these are best picked up in your peripheral vision. The result, as she notes on her web site, is a nifty illusion:

These three images — [pictured above!] — show her face filtered to show selectively lowest (left) low (middle) and high (right) spatial frequencies.

So when you look at her eyes or the background, you see a smile like the one on the left, or in the middle, and you think she is smiling. But when you look directly at her mouth, it looks more like the panel on the right, and her smile seems to vanish. The fact that the degree of her smile varies so much with gaze angle makes her expression dynamic, and the fact that her smile vanishes when you look directly at it, makes it seem elusive.

Interesting, yes?

KFC Colonel Sanders Is So Kawaii!

The wildfire success of Kentucky Fried Chicken in Japan is the stuff that makes business textbook writers giddy. An all-American institution was successfully turned into a staple of Japanese fast food thanks to cultural awareness, adaptation, and clever marketing. Among the things done in KFC’s eastward expansion was to position the chain’s founder, Colonel Sanders, as something of a mascot figure. Many Japanese KFC branches still have a life-size statue replica of the Colonel somewhere on the premises.

However, things got a little bit outlandish in the very youthful district of Akihabara. Many KFC owners started to dress the all-time American Colonel into a very otaku-oriented maid uniform. However, for those of you who aren’t into cross-dressing, rest assured, as the KFC headquarters in America told the Akihabara branch to stop dressing Colonel Sanders in a maid costume apparently, so he has been returned to his original self. Although, there’s something really attracting in that maid uniform. You know you shouldn’t be gawking at it, but it’s just so bizarrely compelling that you can’t turn away…

• For more pictures, click HERE.

CD Review: Leona Lewis – Spirit

Soon after her X Factor win last year, Leona Lewis was whisked to the States to work with several top producers on her debut album, Spirit. And oh boy, what a debut album, but more importantly, what a strong voice does Leona possess. Spirit is a very well rounded album and totally demonstrates Leona’s capabilities. It’s not balled-heavy but it definitely offers a stunning range of musical flavors.

“Bleeding Love” is my favorite track in this album, and it’s actually Leona’s first single. It’s totally amazing and without question, the best single ever released by an X Factor contestant - although that’s not a bar set especially high. Half ballad and half not, and the bass-free production makes it an incredibly catchy song. “Take A Bow” is the song that really demonstrates Leona’s range and rhythm. It has a little bit of Mariah’s touch but Leona’s smartly makes it her own. “Better In Time” is also a standout track! It has the same vive as Bleeding Love; very catchy melody and chorus that blends beautifully with the piano and strings. “I Will Be” is more like a pop-rock song but Leona’s voice nicely overshadows the instruments and she takes the center stage with the lyrics. “Footprints In The Sand” is among the slowest track in the album but it won’t drive you to sleep at all. It is very beautiful and very Whitney Huston; it’s quite uplifting. In the end, I wouldn’t hesitate recommending this album to anyone who loves music generally. However, if you are a big fan of Carey and Huston, then this album is definitely for you.

Definite Downloads

1- Bleeding Love
2- Take A Bow
3- Better In Time
4- I Will Be
5- Footprints In The Sand

~Rating~

Pieter Bruegel Artwork

An informative documentary on the European master painter Pieter Bruegel. The level of detail in his paintings has always astounded me and this episode pointed out some details that I had not been aware of. Something nice and laid back to start off your Wednesday for those who live in Kuwait, or simply to anyone who appreciates fine art.

 

Frenzy Masturbation!

Now just before you shy red after reading the title, or switch to another blog or inform the government to regulate my blog (good luck on that by the way), I ask you to hold your horses. First, we cannot deny that masturbation has tremendous benefits for the health, especially for men. For example, masturbating four times a week can reduce the chance of getting prostrate cancer by 25%. However, there are sometimes when little habits can go overboard.

I was reading a novel called “The Average American Male” that tells a story about your average American male (duh!) and in one of the chapters, the protagonist of the story has masturbated 4 times just before he went on a date. Now, I realize this is a fiction; however, after reading the readers’ reviews and how they confirmed the reality of the novel, I thought this is the real deal: that American guys masturbate more than 4 times a day.

In order to feed the social psychologist in me, I ventured into a quest to find the real answer, and who is a better person to ask than your beloved American colleague. I started with James, who is famous for being a total playboy in the psychology department in my university.

Me: Say James, you do date a lot of women don’t you?

James flashed his white teeth, brushed his golden blond hair, adjusted his fitted t-shirt that was so tight on his 2% body fat frame, and displayed his cheek dimples. He was brimming with confidence.

James: Yes, I declare that I am guilty at charge.

Me: Well, I was reading this novel, and in one of the chapters, the protagonist undergoes frenzy masturbation four times just before he went on a date. Do you confirm that’s a regular habit you commit yourself?

James didn’t take too much time thinking. With a big grin on his face, he answered.

James: I can definitely assert that I often masturbate 4 times a day but I never did it that many times before I went on a date. I think you gave me an idea for a great challenge to beat my friend.

Although I didn’t get the exact answer I wanted to hear, but it was a positive start.

Me: Gee, thanks James.

James: No problem, my average looking friend.

Unsatisfied with the results that I obtained, I thought that I should ask my nerdy friend (and lab partner) Andrew if he can chip his two cents to the subject. You don’t know, looks can be deceiving, I thought.

Me: Say Andrew, how often do you jerk off on a daily basis?

Andrew squirted his iced mocha all over the place.

Andrew: Say what?

Me: Oh sorry. How often do you ejaculate on a daily basis?

Andrew: I understood it the first time you idiot. What kinda question is that?

I explained thoroughly to Andrew my story. He looked at me bitterly.

Andrew: How should I know? I rarely get out of the lab that I cannot even afford to wonder on my own fantasies. Although…

Andrew suddenly grew excited.

Andrew: Once I was alone in the lab, I masturbated on a refractive lens and inspected it under the microscope. Dude, it’s so cool. I finally got to see my boys alive and kicking.

I revolted. Picturing him doing that made me punch his face until he fainted. A single uppercut punch was enough to do that.

I wondered in the food court, trying to achieve some results for my hypothesis. I noticed a bunch of my female friends sitting in one of the tables. Even though my question deals with men, I thought I should ask them the same question and if they masturbate that often. Filled with confidence, I hippity hopped toward them with my burning question.

Me: Hi girls!

All: Hi Angelo!

Me: Say girls, I’m kinda conducing a survey in social psychology and I was wondering how often do you…

I couldn’t ask the question. They are girls, and you don’t ask this kind of question to girls. My integrity as a gentleman would be diminished. I thought to ask them a different innocent question.

Me: Do you go shopping on weekends?

Audrey, the leader of the group, raised from her chair looked at me with raging fire burning in her eyes.

Audrey: What kinda sexist question is that? What, do you think just because we are girls, all we care about shopping and sales? Men are such pigs.

Me: But I…

Audrey: And you know what? Thank God we love shopping. At least we get to work our bodies and burn some calories. All you men do is just jerking off like 4 times a day. You suck.

Audrey, all angered and agitated, left the table with her friends to the nearby junk store and bought dozens of double chocolate brownie to ease her stress. Despite I was declared a pig, she kind of answered my question in her ravishing, ultra feminist rant.

I halted my search for the day and decided to give it a rest for a while. Shortly after, my Kuwaiti friend called me over the cellphone and we started exchanging stories. I told him what I was doing that day. He made his hyper Kuwaiti laugh and without any hesitation, he replayed:

“Yam3aowad (I have no idea how translate that word to English), I masturbate like 5 times alone just when I take a shower”.

Utter silence ensued…

Review: Professor Layton And The Curious Village

A quick glance at game’s box art ultimately tells the story - brain-teasing games are clearly the flavor of the month on the Nintendo DS, but unfortunately, for every fun title like Brain Training, there are a slew of mediocre brain teasing titles that are vying for your gaming dollar. Thankfully, Professor Layton and the Curious Village falls into the first category. What is most surprising about Professor Layton and the Curious Village is the seamlessly divine marriage that it portrays with its clever balance between story and gameplay. As you start playing the game you’ll quickly find that this title is so much more than a simple collection of brainteasers.

Your puzzling experience begins with the introduction of the unusual Professor Layton and his faithful young assistant Luke as they travel to the curious village of St. Mystere, a place where puzzles and brainteasers are as commonplace as a controller in a gamer’s hand. You’ll find that mystery is always afoot in village of St. Mystere. Following the death of a wealthy baron, his will has revealed that a secret treasure is stashed away in a secret location within the picturesque village. To track down the mysterious treasure, the Baron’s family must solve a variety of riddles, or as it turns out, hire Professor Layton and Luke to do the job for them, and from there, the story takes many twists and turns that will make you curious how will all the events will tie together at the end.

While it’s all good and well to include a storyline to add some meat to the gameplay, the greatest strength of the title is within its puzzles. At its core, Professor Layton and the Curious Village features over one hundred and twenty puzzles, but most gamers will find that only 80 or 90 are required to complete the story mode. For those times when you just feel like having a quick puzzle session, the game also allows you to play through the story mode puzzles without having to play through the game’s story mode. If you manage to work your way through all of the puzzles, Nintendo is also offering players a new set of puzzles each week, which are available as free downloadable content via your Nintendo Wi-Fi connection. The free downloadables are reportedly only going to be available for a limited time.

The types of puzzles on offer are quite varied and ultimately keep boredom from creeping in, as you will be able to solve such problems as: completing a maze, solving math problems, answering riddles and moving objects from point A to point B in a certain number of moves. The difficulty of the puzzles varies, ranging from too easy to fairly difficult, but the game’s built-in hint system (which you can access by collecting hint coins that are spread throughout the game) will soon put you on the right track. Best of all, while the puzzles can prove difficult in certain sections of the game, they are rarely ever frustrating thanks to both the hint system and the fact that none of the puzzles are timed, allowing you to sit down and ponder the answer away from the DS.

As you sit through the animated cut scenes, you’ll notice that the game’s visuals are quite reminiscent of the popular Howl’s Moving Castle and Spirited Away animated films. Cut scenes aside, this also translates wonderfully to the in-game action. The hand drawn characters, the attractive air of St. Mystere gives off with its 19th Century setting coupled with the soundtrack of music with a mysterious lilt to it, leaves you feeling like St. Mystere is a living, breathing town of old world charm on your DS, something that has been severely lacking in other third-party developed DS titles. The game is also fully voiced with excellent performance that truly adds more life into the game than any other DS titles around.

As a whole, Professor Layton and the Curious Village is a game that will keep you occupied for hours. Whether you choose to play in short spurts or a marathon session, you’ll find that its delightful combination of adventure, mystery and brain teasing fun will be worth every cent. So what are you waiting for? Hurry up and buy it!

Overall Score

9.3 out of 10

The Finals Finale

Huzzah! I’m finally done with this semester and all the nightmares it brought along. I can gladly confirm that I’ve done well with the finales so no need to worry about that. Of course, waiting for the grades to be posted is probably one of the most stomach-churning experiences a student has to go through in life. For the time being, I just want to relax and take some time to rejuvenate my brain and body. Right now, I’m waiting for my ticket allowance so I can book a ticket to return to Kuwait for the summer. I also have tons of graduation ceremonies I have to attend this year and that’s something to be excited about.

I guess…