Autumninny

La Vie En Rose

2007-07-01T00:14:00.000-07:00

Been in NY for a week or so now.. be doing lots of walking and seeing movies.. mostly independent and forign (since we dont get the in Kuwait), last night I went to angelica and saw this french movie.. was little long but very interesting.. its a true story of Edith Piaf and the actress did a great job!

Volver

2007-04-15T12:54:00.000-07:00

I have been traveling for a while and when I came back..I was so not in the mood to work..its been 2 weeks!! so I was late everyday.. and being around 50% productive if not less!! until today where I stayed at work until 8 P.M. and try to finish most of my work..
came home and watched Volver.. its really been a while since I have watched an independent movie..i think th last one I watched was Motorcycle Diaries!!
I was hooked to these movies when I was living in NY.. Thanks to Angelika on Houston!!
Vovler was a good.. not just because Penelope Cruz is cute (which is why I always buy her movies!!) .. If you havent seen it yet..you should see it..

You Think Starbucks Is Everywhere? Try Bank Branches.

2007-04-09T20:36:00.000-07:00

I wish we have the same problem in Kuwait.. you always have to drive to the ATM!!!

Branched Out
The curse of the high-street bank.
By Daniel Gross
Posted Friday, April 6, 2007, at 2:58 PM ET
www.slate.com
People seem to think that every street corner in yuppified, gentrified, or commercialized areas has been taken over by Starbucks. That's only half true. The rest are being taken over by banks. The Web site that covers my hometown notes that Westport, Conn., already has 26 banks in operation or approved for construction. This in a town that had a population of about 26,000 in 2000. It's almost as bad in Manhattan. On a single Midtown block between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue, there is a Bank of America, a TD Banknorth, a Banco Popular, a Wachovia, and two—count 'em, two—Chase banks.* According to the Federal Reserve, even as the number of banking companies falls each year, the number of branches rises steadily. Nationwide, there were 75,121 branches in 2006, up 10.4 percent since 2002, about one for every 4,000 Americans.
Those numbers don't sound huge. But as has been the case with income growth, bank-branch growth has been concentrated in what an American Bankers Association official referred to as "special ZIP codes." That explains the proliferation of bank branches in tony suburbs and gentrifying urban areas like Park Slope, Brooklyn. Just as there are two Americas shopping, there are two Americas banking. (Go here to check out how many bank branches have opened in your city, county, or state.)
Banks are clean, environmentally friendly businesses. They provide good service jobs, generally with benefits, at good wages. They dispense money freely, and, in the case of HSBC, without asking too many questions. The credit they provide allows consumers to spend with abandon, and they've been reliable stewards of capital. Greater competition brings a range of consumer benefits, from longer hours to higher interest rates on deposits. And yet these signs of prosperity are troubling to many. Suburban reporters in the New York Times have covered the revolt against bank branches in suburban New Jersey and Bronxville, N.Y. ($ required), which in 2004 banned new branches from its main commercial drags.
What's not to like? At least three things:
They crowd out cool shops. Landlords generally prefer banks, with their superior credit and long operating histories, over many of the tenants that help give shopping districts a distinctive flavor, like restaurants, or funky clothes shops, or art galleries. In the town where I live, a large Brookstone store was replaced by a Commerce Bank, and the venerable old hot-dog stand Swanky Frank's is slated to be replaced by an HSBC. The ground floor of Slate's New York headquarters, the Newsweek Building, which once housed the beloved Coliseum Books, now hosts a typically antiseptic Bank of America branch. (Insert your own plaint about the way financial services and money are supplanting old media and love of the printed word.)
They're black holes. Bankers' hours are notoriously short. Most banks are closed all day Sunday, most of Saturday, and shut their doors by 6 p.m. on weekdays. In other words, they do comparatively little to draw consumers to retailing districts during peak shopping periods. The hot new thing in urban design is to create zones of 24-hour living. But a high street populated by banks becomes desolate in the evening. In his new memoir, mall developer Alfred Taubman argues that the most robust retailing areas are filled with stores that draw walk-in traffic and impulse buyers, not services like banks and travel agencies. "In struggling downtowns, as opposed to healthy ones, you tend to see those secondary uses, especially banks, occupying prime locations better suited for retail."
Banking is a cyclical business. No functioning downtown would place all, or most, of its eggs in one retailing basket. During bubble periods—in this case, a bubble in credit—the bubbling sectors always swell to occupy an outsized role in the economy. And when the bubble pops, or when a boom ends, that sector contracts quickly. When the banking business goes south, or if the economy slips into recession , branches, with their high fixed costs, quickly become a liability. In 1993, for example, the number of bank branches fell by nearly 1,000, according to the Federal Reserve. In 2000, a net 1,859 branches were closed. (The number of branches didn't regain the 1999 peak until 2002.) Indeed, the ability to save money by shuttering overlapping branch networks is one of the factors that helps drive bank mergers during periods of sluggish economic growth. Bank branches that are closed all the time are worse eyesores than bank branches that are closed on weekends and at night.
Correction, April 9, 2007: The article originally misidentified TD Banknorth as TD Northbank. (Return to the corrected sentence.)Daniel Gross (http://www.danielgross.net/) writes Slate's "Moneybox" column. You can e-mail him at moneybox@slate.com.Article URL: http://www.slate.com/id/2163663/

شركة كويتية يملكها نائب اسلامي تتاجر بالاقامات

2007-04-09T07:20:00.000-07:00

شركة كويتية يملكها نائب اسلامي تتاجر بالاقامات
فهد العامر
GMT 12:00:00 2007 الإثنين 9 أبريل
elaph.com
فهد العامر من الكويت : القت قوات الامن الكويتية على شركة تتاجر بالاقامات غير المشروعة ويملكها نائب اسلامي ينتمي للحركة الدستورية الاسلامية وهي الغطاء السياسي لتنظيم الاخوان المسلمين.
والشركة تعود ملكيتها الى نائب في مجلس الامة الكويتي وتتاجر بالاقامات، ووفق البيانات التي صدرت عن وزارة الداخلية بلغ عدد الاقامات التي تتاجر بها الشركة 19 الف عامل!! وهو رقم كبير جدا، يذكر ان مجلس الامة ناقش على مدى سنوات طلبا قدمة نواب ليبراليون "للحد من تجارة الاقامات" وقد اسماها بعضهم"تجارة الرقيق الابيض" واعتبروها تسئ الى سمعة الكويت في المحافل الدولية ولدى منظمات حقوق الانسان والمجتمع المدني.
وفور شيوع خبر الجريمة سارع الاسلاميون في الكويت الى القيام بحملة مضادة تهدف الى اقناع الشارع بانهم "حريصون علي المال العام ، وان ماحدث هو خطا وسوء تقدير"، اذ قام وزير الكهرباء والماء محمد العليم (اخوان مسلمين) "بصناعة"خبر نشرته جريدة "الوطن" اليوم علي صدر صفحتها الاولى هذا نصه:"انهى وزير الكهرباء والماء محمد العليم خدمات مستشار قانوني في ادارة العقود والمناقصات والمشتريات حامت حوله شبهات رشوة وتنفيع، وصادفه يوم الخميس الماضي في مقر الوزارة يزوره احد اصحاب الشركات المتنفعة من مناقصات الوزارة ويقدم اليه هدايا" ويضيف الخبر:" وكان العليم في مقر الوزارة مساء الخميس الماضي عندما لاحظ شخصا عند مصعد الوزارة فساله عن سبب وجوده في هذا المكان، غير ان هذا الشخص الذي لم يعرف الوزير قال له انه في زيارة لاحد اقاربه، وهو ماجعل العليم يتبعه حتى جلس معه في مكتب المستشار القانوني الذي لم يكن قد وصل بعد"، ويضيف الخير:" وبعد فترة بسيطة وصل المستشار وساله الوزير:الست فلانا؟ فقال نعم.. وعاد الوزير فساله: هذا الشخص اليس من شركة لها مناقصات في الوزارة؟ فرد المستشار بالايجاب بعدما ارتبك كثيرا" ويضيف:" وصباح امس اتخذ الوزير قرارا بانهاء خدماته"
ويعلق مراقب سياسي على ذلك بقوله ان "هذا الامر يدعو للسخرية لانه لايمكن تصديق هذا الخبر الا انسان "ساذج"،مشيرا الى ان الخبر واضح انه تم"تصنيعه" في غرف مغلقة لتحقيق اهداف واضحه منها التغطية علي موضوع الشركة التي تتاجر بالاقامات التي يمكلها عضو في نفس التنظيم الذي ينتمي له الوزير، وثانيا يريدون ان يقولوا ان الوزير يداوم يوم العطلة، وهي متاجره لاترقي الى العمل السياسي المحترف الذي يفترض ان يحترم عقول الناس، وتساء المراقب: كيف يمكن لوزير ان يسال شخصا هل لديك مناقصات دون تشكيل لجان تحيق؟ ، ويتابع: واذا كان هذا الامر معيبا لماذا دافع العليم وتنظيم الاخوان المسلمين عن وزير الكهرباء والماء الاسبق عادل الصبيح الذي كان يراس مجلس ادارة شركه حصلت علي مناقصات من وزارة الكهرباء والماء التي يتقلد حقيبتها!!!
ويكشف هذا الخبر الذي تناولته الصحف الكويتية على نطاق ضيق بسبب القوة والنفوذ المالي الذي يحظى به تنظيم الاخوان المسلمين عن سلسلة من الاجراءات غير القانونية اتبعتها التنظيمات الدينية في الكويت خلال العقدين الماضيين من اجل جمع الثروات، وقد تطرق لذلك مرارا كتاب زوايا يومية في الصحف الكويتية منهم عبداللطيف الدعيج الذي اطلق اسم"الاستحواذيون"عليهم، والدكتور احمد البغدادي الذي كتب مئات المقالات التي تتطرق الى الطرائق المتبعة لدى الفكر الديني لجمع الاموال وبطرق مشبوهة وغير مشروعة.
http://www.elaph.com/ElaphWeb/Politics/2007/4/224963.htm

For Men Only!

2007-01-03T09:00:00.000-08:00

http://www.shaveeverywhere.com/

MoMA

2005-10-07T15:37:00.000-07:00

Just to add few pictures from MoMA (if you looked at the pictures that were posted at NYChick Blog http://nydaily.blogspot.com/ ).

Napa Valley..

2005-08-20T16:09:00.000-07:00

Mark Twain once said "the coldest winter I had, was a summer in SF"..i like it and i beleive it :) interesting enough an hour away in Napa Valley the weather is amazing..just like Kuwait in Feb.
It reminded me of Wafra!! actually it didnt remind of Wafra..i imagine Wafra will be similar to that in 50 years!!!

on Wooster in Soho!

2005-08-19T23:56:00.000-07:00

Shawafel $4.99 !!

2005-07-12T07:35:00.000-07:00

لسّا فاكـــر؟

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

Last Night!

2005-07-07T13:33:00.000-07:00

Last night you fell asleep on me!
And tonight you toss and turn
only pretending to be asleep
We will be together until the Day of Resurrection.
So let me hear those words again__
the ones you told me last night in your sleep!

RUMI

Windows 98 Brooklyn Edition

2005-05-04T14:22:00.000-07:00

Its an old one but i still laugh at it!

Windows 98 Brooklyn Edition

Dear Consumas:

It has come ta our attention dat a coupola copies ofda WINDOWS 98/BROOKLYN EDITION may have accidentallybin shipped outsida Brooklyn. If ya got one a dese,you may need some help understandin' da commands. DaBrooklyn edition may be recognized by da uniqueopenin' screen. It reads: "WINDAS 98," wit abackground picture of Grand Army Plaza. When you start da program, instead of da usual "harpy,stringy" music, you hear da teme from da Godfadda. Itis also shipped wit a Sopranos screen sava. Please also note:

* Recycle Bin is labeled "Staten Island."

* My Computer is called "My Friggin' Computa."

* The Inbox is referred to as "Da Trunk."

* Deleted Items are referred to as "Wacked," "Erased,"or "Rubbed Out."

* Dial up Networking is called "Da Bar."

* Control Panel is known as the "Da Bosses."

* Performin' an "illegal operation" is known as"enhancin' the family business" and will actuallymaximize da program instead of shuttin' it down.

* Hard Drive is referred to as "Da BQE Rush Hour."

* Instead of an error message, a "You ain't gonnafriggin' believe dis!" pops up.

CHANGES IN TERMINOLOGY IN DA BROOKLYN EDITION:

* OK................Sure ting

* Cancel...........Fugetaboutit

* Reset.............Start Ova

* Yes...............Yeah

* No................Nah

* Find..............Put a contract out on

* Browse............Get a looksee

* Back..............U toin

* Help..............(Help ain't available - yous don'tneed no stinkin' help)

* Stop..............Knock it off

* Start.............Move it!

* Settings..........Here's d' Rules Also note dat any voice recognition software run on daBROOKLYN EDITION platform don't recognize da letter"R." Some programs and udder accessories dat areexclusive to WINDAS 98:

* Typa..................A word processin' program

* Printa................Printer

* Calculata.............Calculator

* Solitare..............Seven Card Stud We regret any inconvenience it may have caused if youreceived a copy of da BROOKLYN EDITION.

You may returnit to Microsoft for a replacement version. Yous got a problem wit dat? BILL ("4 eyes") GATES

Windows 98 Brooklyn Edition

2005-05-04T08:08:00.000-07:00

This is an old one..but i still laugh at it!

Windows 98 Brooklyn Edition

Dear Consumas:

It has come ta our attention dat a coupola copies ofda WINDOWS 98/BROOKLYN EDITION may have accidentallybin shipped outsida Brooklyn. If ya got one a dese,you may need some help understandin' da commands. DaBrooklyn edition may be recognized by da uniqueopenin' screen. It reads: "WINDAS 98," wit abackground picture of Grand Army Plaza. When you start da program, instead of da usual "harpy,stringy" music, you hear da teme from da Godfadda. Itis also shipped wit a Sopranos screen sava.
Please also note:
* Recycle Bin is labeled "Staten Island."
* My Computer is called "My Friggin' Computa."
* The Inbox is referred to as "Da Trunk."
* Deleted Items are referred to as "Wacked," "Erased,"or "Rubbed Out."
* Dial up Networking is called "Da Bar."
* Control Panel is known as the "Da Bosses."
* Performin' an "illegal operation" is known as"enhancin' the family business" and will actuallymaximize da program instead of shuttin' it down.
* Hard Drive is referred to as "Da BQE Rush Hour."
* Instead of an error message, a "You ain't gonnafriggin' believe dis!" pops up.
CHANGES IN TERMINOLOGY IN DA BROOKLYN EDITION:
* OK................Sure ting
* Cancel...........Fugetaboutit
* Reset.............Start Ova
* Yes...............Yeah
* No................Nah
* Find..............Put a contract out on
* Browse............Get a looksee
* Back..............U toin
* Help..............(Help ain't available - yous don'tneed no stinkin' help)
* Stop..............Knock it off
* Start.............Move it!
* Settings..........Here's d' Rules Also note dat any voice recognition software run on daBROOKLYN EDITION platform don't recognize da letter"R." Some programs and udder accessories dat areexclusive to WINDAS 98:
* Typa..................A word processin' program
* Printa................Printer
* Calculata.............Calculator
* Solitare..............Seven Card Stud We regret any inconvenience it may have caused if youreceived a copy of da BROOKLYN EDITION. You may returnit to Microsoft for a replacement version.
Yous got a problem wit dat? BILL ("4 eyes") GATES

Lies of the '90s

2005-04-27T01:50:00.000-07:00

I have been collecting postcards for almost 9 years..some with pictures, some with product adds and some with funny jokes. (I will try to post some of them when i know how to attach a picture to my blog!)
I will share one of my favorate ones with you today.

Lies of the '90s

1."I did not have sexual relations with that women"

2. "I've never been to a porn site"

3. "I didnt inhale"

4. "I'll devote my life to finding her killer"

5. "I buy it for the articles"

6. "I invented the Internet"

7. "Nicotine is not addictive"

8. "Your table will be ready soon"

9. "I didnt play PC Games"

10. "I dont play video games"

You

2005-04-20T02:22:00.000-07:00

Every question I ask is about you.
Every step I take is toward you.

I slept well last night.
but I woke up drunk.

I must have dreamt about you.

RUMI