Saturday 28 April 2012

شكراً كاريبو - Thank you Caribou

It all started with what Caribou had on their paper cup, I love them, filled with funny inspirational scribbles!


I posted the picture above in a tweet @ 11.12PM , I had 6 thank you's to learn in order for me to complete the 10, by 12.48 I did! with the help of 4 tweeps





:D annnnd by 1.12PM two more tweeps



Added 5 more! So I ended up knowing how to say "Thank you" in 15 languages! :> #iHappy




I didn't include the Indian "Shukria - شكريا" because its like the Arabic one and very common to me :p but just to brag about it, I practically know how to say thank you in 16 languages :}

شكراً
شكريا
Thank you
Merci
Gratias
Grazie
Danke
تشكرات
Gracias
Arigatou
Sheshe
Spaseeba
Tack
Salamat
Keetos
Obrigado
 
goes to Caribou, tweeps mentioned above and twitter!

Friday 20 April 2012

Where have I been?!

In the era of Twitter and Instagram, the tools to publish on the go, blogging seems is a bit time consuming, but has a greater joy to me :} This post will sum up most of the highlights in the past two weeks....



A banner @ The Sultan Center, if your into Jazz, check out the Gulf Jazz festival, coming up next week!


Reuse 5.0 is on now till 22nd of April, check out en.v website & follow them on twitter @env_initiative for more information, I will go in a few days inshallah & might post about it. I still have last year's pictures that I blame a lot my self for not sharing them! I need to find a solution for the boredom in blogging pictures, due to the long process I take in resizing them & adding the blog URL stamp.

Final note, go to reuse, support "REUSEing" :}

"REUSE is an annual exposition that serves as an opportunity for non-profit organizations, companies, professionals and aspiring creative talents to showcase their accomplishments in the fields of social responsibility and sustainability via a range of artistic mediums and interactive activities for the general public." via FB event page


احب الطيور و بالذات الزرازيير ،، هالزرزور كان مونسني كل صبح في كورس جدا ممل و موضوعه جدا جميل! مشكلة المحاضر ان اسلوبه هادي و على وتيرة وحدة و الموضوع جدا ممتع و يحتاج شخص عملي و متحرك اكثر، ذكرني باهم دروس حياتي ان المادة العلمية تعتمد على المرسل بقدر اعتمادها على المتلقي.

و على مدى ٤ ايام و انا اصوّر هالزرزور (او زرازير مادري لو تغير ، كلهم يتشابهون) و اخيرا باحد الايام عبرني و طالعني! من وناستي بنظرته سيدا انستاجرااااام :> 

ممتع انك تلقى اشياء بسيطة حولك تونسك ، عندكم شي يونسكم بالطبيعة او الناس اللي حولكم مثل وناستي بشوفة للزرزور؟ اذا لأجربوا تلقون لكم شي / شخص / مكان


Was an amazing NIGHT organized by DAI in collaboration with the USA Embassy in Kuwait , I have never heard Coco York before , what a strong beautiful voice she has mashallah! Mike del Ferro was on the Piano, his reactions while playing killed me, he was funny, however, when you listen to him play, you go to another world see this video for them in "My funny valentine"


Now the CHERRY on top, or shall I say cherries started off with ... Salman AlAmmari , a very famous Kuwaiti singer of old Kuwaiti songs. A huge shift in the mood, Mike tried to go along with some piano tunes but I am biased to "AlSout" art, to get a feel listen to this songs in youtube, this is one of my favorites by him called "إذا المرء - ّIf a person" based on a lovely old Arabic poem by AlShafe'i.

و عقب العماري دشت بنية "نسيت اسمها، يمكن بشاير؟" كانت تسمع يوكو تغني اليوم اللي قبل حفلتها في مركز الامريكاني ، فقالت لها تعالي غني! و رافقتها عازفة جاز سويدية :) ونسونا و بعدين شاب نسيت هم اسمه للاسف، و غنا لنا، بس بالنسبة لي فاصل العماري كان جميل. انا جديدة على فن الصوت و قام يطربني حديثا من سنتين تقريبا، العماري يعجبني و صلاح حمد خليفة بس اللي فعلا صوته عجبني سلطان مفتاح، و اهو اللي حببني في حسنها شل روحي
 


A really nice event, fototalks it was a 2 day event, included a general presentations, discussions and workshops. I mostly liked the live photographer's challenge where they gave 2 photographers 15 minutes to take a picture and edit "if needed" for a certain object, none knew what before the competition started :}

I'm looking forward for next year's fototalks , I think it was a great event, lacked publicity especially on twitter, I wished if it had a designated hashtag where participants shared their view of the event. All in all it was a great 1st time {:


Last but not least, attended this cine-concert for 4 cellos by "the musinema cello quartet" more info in Kuwait-music. In short its 4 cello performers who put a sound track for a silent movie, the performance was somewhat boring to me BUT when they made extra sounds "vocals" that added effects to the music, I took a pause and started to see the big picture! At the beginning of the performance  I either focused on the musicians or the movie, then kept watching the movie and forgot they were there, although I have a very wide view of the stage, here it hit me, the importance of sounds (music / voices) in a movie, how they are the hidden solders that might make a great performance, story and direction fail or succeed :}

Then it became more interesting, as I focused on the big picture, where really important factors of success are hidden and how you have to look very carefully into details to appreciate every bit was put in ANY effort. It was a nice experience.

Saturday 14 April 2012

Random thoughts on picks

Pick your fights

In life time is limited, life it self is limited by time, time has the upper hand, if we don't pick our fights well, we can become very good time waters. Main things to consider before entering a fight:

Can I see my aim out of it's circle, is it avoidable?
Is it repeated?
Value of the outcome, is it really worth it?

A dear friend used to ask me after every discussion "So who won? you or me?" my answer then, now, and forever will remain, BOTH! A fight is not a win-lose issue only, this is the proposal made by the general mentality people have, but a win-win situation is always a gain :}

If your side doesn't make it, find out why it didn't and that's your gain, even if some might consider you a "loser" you actually won!

If your side makes it, you gained someone else that considers your way/idea/mentality (will use idea for ease onwards) is right! BUT if you didn't get any gaps on your side, be very aware, nothing is perfect, perfection to us human beings is subjective.

I consider exposing your idea to different mentalities is a gain in all forms (typical: winning/losing), if its not right and didn't spread you should know why, and improve it. If you find gaps about it or in it, try closing them and look to your idea from that prospective "the gap finding one".

Don't repeat your fights, don't go through fights with the same mentalities they have with the same mentality you have! Do it smarter or simply don't. Finally do not focus on hearing "YES YOU WON" rather than winning on actual grounds :} Winning people's respect and tolerance is also important.

Pick your view

Instagram the latest addiction of mine, is a perfect example of how people "see" things, out of the least noticeable angles comes beauty. All over the accounts in that application you see how people interact with photography! By documentation, advertisement, spreading of Art or ideas, you name it.. In a way, more than writing in twitter or a blog, instgram or image publishing all in all, shows you really how people see life. So you can see beauty in almost everything, lower the bad or ugly and increase the pretty and good :}


Tuesday 3 April 2012

Violet Concept Store

No I wont turn this blog into an AD page :p BUT a dear person invited me to this store "Violet Concept Store" she and her partner were there, welcoming, lovely spirits and with a unique concept!


Jugglers outside holding jewelery by Ingenious, they have a few pieces but that is not the juicy part that made me LOVE and write about them


They make custom made leather goods! Phone covers, leather straps for watches, wallets and boxes for jewelery & watches. The leather good made for you can be marked with your name, price? VERY affordable and compared to the leather and making quality VERY REASONABLE. Its actually cheaper than what brand names offer and is more personalized 


Ingenious pieces fall under simple chic, the type of everyday jewellery that will not cost you and arm & leg!


I decided to take this bracelet and matching necklace , the picture above is edited through my latest addiction, Instagram! I'm crazy about it, love easy publishing and editing, although I try to not use editing on pictures, love raw natural ones.

Violet concept store is located in Waqf Al-Babtain "Sababel" - Opposite to Al-Ameeri hospital on Ahmad Al Abdullah Street