Route guide

Well, next time you wanna go out to a new place, of which you have no idea on how to reach, try this out.

http://www.kw.map24.com/search/

Just enter your start and destination location, and the site will guide you via the route map on how to reach to your destination. It also shows what landmarks you will come across, so that you know you are headed in the right direction.

The 3D Route flight is an excellent feature, almost like riding in your car and taking a virtual drive to the destination. It shows the buildings on the route.

Plus many more options. So go ahead and explore.

Unfriend – Word of the year 2009

Unfriend has been named the word of the year by the New Oxford American Dictionary , chosen from a list of finalists with a tech-savvy bent.
Unfriend was defined as a verb that means to remove someone as a friend on a social networking site such as Facebook.
Other words

Hashtag - the hash sign added to a word or phrase that lets Twitter users search for tweets similarly tagged;

Intexticated –  when people are distracted by texting while driving ,

Sexting – the sending of sexually explicit SMSes and pictures by cellphone.

Freemium –  meaning a business model in which some basic services are provided for free

Funemployed – referring to people taking advantage of newly unemployed status to have fun or pursue other interests

Birther – meaning conspiracy theorists challenging President Barack Obamas US birth certificate,

Choice Mom – a person who chooses to be a single mother.

Deleb – meaning a dead celebrity,

Tramp stamp – referring to a tattoo on the lower back, usually on a woman.

Journalism & Print Media in Kuwait

Journalism in Kuwait is pity shameful at time, especially the events (of all sorts – incidental, planned or others) reports.
Many a times the English language is also pathetic. What I have observed, is that they do a literal translation from the Arabic content, without any creative or grammatic touchup to the content.
Kuwait is a small country and not much of it happens here. Hence there is nothing of substance you can find in terms of local news (except for Internet calling and vice dens) in the Kuwait newspapers.
Have you seen the size of the newspapers? Well, they are never less than 50 pages. It seems newsprint is pretty cheap here, that’s why you find over a dozen of newspapers and over 2 dozens of advertising tabloids (of course Free of not only cost, but also free of content of substance – thats why they are 90% of the time found in garbage bins unopened).
Having tons of money, does not give you the liberty to  waste, but instead should give the consciousness to utilize resources judiciously.

Musipedia lets u search by song by the music

Everyone has had a tune stuck in their head but have been unable to find the name of the song. Maybe it was on a commercial, in a TV show or just playing in a café – there is nothing more frustrating than loving a song and not being able to listen to it.

Musipedia is an online service (which self proclaims to be inspired by Wikipedia) that helps users find songs and compositions without knowing their names or words. It gives people a set of online tools to find the song by whistling, tapping, using piano keyboard or drawing notes.

For those who are musically minded, you can play out the tune using provided keyboard (comes in both Flash and Java versions) or drawing notes. The system will then compare the tune against its database to find your song. Don’t worry – it doesn’t have to be perfect; just recognizable.

Now me, I cant even read music let alone replicate it so I went for the easier option; whistling. Using a microphone (most laptops have them built in these days) you can whistle the tune for a few seconds so that Musipedia can recognize the song and give you the results. Just make sure your microphone is set up correctly and you’re not too close as this will distort the sound.

So go ahead and search for the song  www.musipedia.org

Chi Kung (Work Energy) Makes You Feel Good

Chi Kung, pronounced chee gung, literally means energy work . Chi Kung is about cultivating an expanded awareness. It helps your mind gain control over the movement of the life force. It is the practice of learning how to concentrate, circulate and focus chi . It is considered to be the granddaddy of many internal and mindful arts, including Tai Chi. Many have at least heard of Tai Chi but not Chi Kung, which is an older form of exercise. Taoist Chi Kung, believed to be the progenitor of all the different forms of Chi Kung and Tai Chi, was created by meditation adepts 3,000 years ago. It was created through deep insight about how the bodys energy flows. Through inner awareness, they gained an understanding of energy channels, points, and the intricate relationship between internal energy systems of the body and its tissues. Feng Shui – literally wind-water – takes chi into account as it explores how the energies of the earth, sun, sky, landscape, colour , and time affect people, animals , and possible events. This promotes harmony and helps overcome, or at times prevent, natural and manmade disasters . Chi Kung incorporates many ancient Chinese techniques for escalating the flow of life-energy in a series of dynamic postures or forms that flow from one into the other.
The practice includes standing meditations, self-massage from standing or seated positions , and breathing exercises. Although physical movements may be utilised, Chi Kung practice can also be still.
In Chi Kung, there are three basics: smooth, even, silent breathing, total utilisation of effort but without creating internal strain, and performing soft, fluid, circular movements with a sense of ease and comfort.
Its peaceful and chi-stimulating nature complements any Tai Chi practice. The effects you experience from the practice of Chi Kung are very different from those of Tai Chi, but both are interconnected. Some say that Tai Chi itself is a complex form of Chi Kung. However, others believe that they are distinct mindful arts. From improved physical health to greater mental clarity and spiritual awakening , increased life-energy can be felt in a wide variety of ways. Regular practice of these exercises will lead to a body and mind that are functionally younger, so that life becomes a joy. The best way to cultivate chi for health is to put the mind inside the body and make it conscious of the way the chi naturally flows and then change your internal environment to maximise that flow. For example, while practising either Tai Chi or Chi Kung, become conscious of the gross and subtle movements of energy and also blockages if there are any. Then, let go, and the softness and relaxation frees up the energy hose. Whether providing robust physical health, emotional well-being or peace of mind, Chi Kung enriches your life in surprising ways. The result You feel healthier and happier. To help us endure the strain of living up to a number of commitments , the need for something revitalising such as Chi Kung exercises is felt today even more acutely than before.

This probably, explains why the Chinese are ahead than Kuwaitis in terms of productivity. Well, does any enterpreneur in Kuwait want to start Chi Kung classes?

Oasis of the Sea – a cruise worth experiencing

Facts

Weight – 220,000 gross tons
Capacity – 5400 passengers (double occupancy)
Rooms – 2700 staterooms
Crew – 2000 crewmembers
Speed – 22 knot cruising speed
Decks – 16 passenger decks
Staff – Norwegian officers and international crew
Registry – Bahamas registry
Entering service: December 2009

The layout itself is unique. The ship will be divided into seven neighborhoods, each with its own distinct theme.

• Youth Zone, for the tots;
• Boardwalk, with its Coney Island vibe;
• Royal Promenade, a bigger, bolder version of Royal Caribbean’s traditional indoor shopping mall; Entertainment Place, for the nighttime activities;
• Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center;
• Pool and Sports Zone;
• Central Park, an indoor/outdoor space with real grass and trees.
• Dining-wise, there are over 20 options

Space resort @ $4.4 mn for 3 nights

A Spanish company plans to open the first hotel in space. It says it is on target to accept its first paying guests in 2012 despite critics questioning the investment and time frame for the multibillion dollar project.
The Barcelona-based architects of The Galactic Suite Space Resort say it will cost $4.4 million for a three-night stay at the hotel, with this price including an eight-week training course on a tropical island.
During their stay, guests would see the sun rise 15 times a day and travel around the world every 80 minutes. They would wear velcro suits so they can crawl around their pod rooms by sticking themselves to the walls like Spiderman.
Galactic Suite Ltds CEO Xavier Claramunt, a former aerospace engineer, said the project will put his company at the forefront of an infant industry with a huge future ahead of it, and forecast space travel will become common in the future. Its normal to think that your children, possibly within 15 years, could spend a weekend in space, he said.
Galactic Suite Ltd, set up in 2007, hopes to start its project with a single pod in orbit 450km above the earth,with the capacity to hold four guests and two astronaut-pilots .
It will take a day and a half to reach the pod which Claramunt compared to a mountain retreat, with no staff to greet the traveller. When the passengers arrive in the rocket, they will join it for 3 days, rocket and capsule. After that the passenger returns to earth, he said.

Nice place for a Honeymoon – whether First or Second. Book now.

Don’t u worry about the budget.

New Net-trend – Communicating with the dead

A new wave is fast catching up to become a trend, i.e. communicating with the dead.

Tweeters are being invited to submit questions for the spirits of departed celebrities including Michael Jackson and William Shakespeare as part of the worlds first Twitter seance.
A psychic medium will then try to contact the stars who were chosen along with actor River Phoenix and Nirvanas Kurt Cobain from nominations sent in by the public at the London-based seance on Friday, the day before Halloween.
Other prominent dead figures nominated by tweeters keen to pose questions during the tweance included John Lennon, Marilyn Monroe, Abraham Lincoln and Houdini.
Twitter users will be able to follow the seance live on the micro-blogging site, which psychic Jayne Wallace will use to relay any responses she receives from the spirits.

Who would you want to communicate with among passed away Kuwaitis? And what would ask them?

Tweet your questions amongst the Kuwaiti tweeters and lets find a psychic to commuicate with the spirits.

“I Wear Your Shirt” – advertising campaign

Damn! Can it be really this simple to make thousands of dollars by wearing a t-shirt? Yes, if only one could have been as innovative as Jason Sadler. Jason started a unique social media drive known as “I Wear Your Shirt” this year. In this campaign, he is wearing one shirt from one company per day and will be posting his image on YouTube, Twitter, Ustream etc. and at one go the brands would have a poster cum social media campaign through Jason. Interesting, but more interesting is his pricing strategy which varies upon the day of the calendar. For the 1st day of year, he would be charging $1 and for the last day $365. Ustream.tv gave him 1 dollar to wear its shirt on 1st Jan & on Jan 29th he was paid 29 dollars to wear Zappos.com shirt. And this is no joke, his 2009 calendar is already sold out and this means that he has made $66,795 this year by just wearing these shirts. To add to that he charges extra for contests & deals etc.

His idea has been so successful that he has extended it for another year and that too with twice the earlier price, as quoted on his website:

I’ve had so much fun wearing shirts this year that I’m going to keep wearing them in 2010, but with a twist… 2 guys in your shirt, 2 time zones, 2x the exposure and January 1 starts at $2! Reserve your day now on the 2010 calendar and meet the person who will also be wearing your shirt next year.

As I’m writing this post, his 2010 calendar is already sold out up till May’10! Now this definitely speaks for the popularity of the idea clearly! I don’t remember any media property in recent times being booked so well in advance by any brand. And the way in just one year there are already takers for this property with double exposure at double rates, I’m wondering if Jason will soon make this a full-fledged promotion company where he will have promoters across the globe working for him as walking-talking media properties and he can offer clients customized exposure at customized rates! How about Jason or likes of Jason doing this in Kuwait? Well, I think this idea is expandable & undoubtedly one of the most innovative utilization of social media to promote a brand.

Global crisis effects on the past American presidents

The global crisis has affected us all. Even the dollar is affected (also the US presidents gracing them are not spared.)

Do you recognize them? Something fishy?

Only the creativity has to taken seriously. No bad feelings.