March 2007 Archives

Update: I have been informed by several friends who have seen the film in Kuwait that the violence is practically intact and that censorship was kept to a minimum, thankfully.

I was looking forward to seeing Zack Snyder's hit '300' but I doubt I'll watch it in Kuwait (Dubai, yes, but not Kuwait). The film is rated R by the MPAA:

MPAA RATING
R, for graphic battle sequences throughout, some sexuality and nudity.

The R-rated '300' is rated '15' in Kuwait. The relatively harmless NORBIT, on the other hand, is PG-13 in the U.S. and rated '18' in Kuwait.

'300' will probably be slaughtered by Ministry of Information censors (no pun intended).

Families will probably bring in their children to the theatres.

I think I'll pass and wait for the DVD.

No folks, I have not quit blogging.

Just been a very busy last couple of weeks including three business trips; I just returned from a great 'Developing Management Skills' training course in Sharjah, have been swamped with business meetings, but the MOC 'Arab Times' article I managed to squeeze in did garner great reaction (including positive Letters to the Editor) - a hearty thanks to all for the positive feedback and emails.

A CALL TO WEB CALLS
by Amer Al-Hilal
Reprinted from Arab Times (10th March, 2007)

The Kuwait Ministry of Communications apparently is not familiar with globalization, the shrinking 'world village' and the communications revolution sweeping the world. The bureaucratic, backward MOC mentality is stuck in a 1985 time warp. As reported the last few days, the Ministry of Communications has blocked Internet Telephony Services. One could see this particular train wreck coming ever since one of the MOC Under-Secretaries complained a few months ago of losing "20 million KD" in revenue per year due to the Net services.

But let us ponder the issue at hand what is KD 20 million to the MOC? Is this amount more important than allowing our expatriates and businesses to communicate in a swifter, less expensive manner via the net? The majority of citizens in Kuwait are expatriates, and many of them rely on services like Net To Phone because they cannot pay the exorbitant prices by the MOC. These tactics by the MOC are akin to Mafia extortion tactics (arrests, intimidation, blocked sites), forcing citizens to use high cost, sub par services. We are dealing with basic human rights here, the right to communicate with family and friends and not pay outrageous prices.

I am positive tens of millions more get wasted due to corruption and mismanagement at the MOC. The Kuwait international rates are among the highest in the Middle East and the world, technology is catching up; internet telephony services are one day going to make charges obsolete, so the MOC needs to 'get with the program' : preparing itself for its essential and eventual transformation from a traditional, bloated, pedantic government bureaucracy to an "Authority" that provides services and quality control.

Thousands of people are moving away from landlines (part of a global trend) and obtaining mobile numbers (they are the real MOC revenue-killer) - does the MOC intend to sue Wataniya and MTC as well?

Former MOC Minister Masouma Mubarak should have spent more time attempting to 'fix' Kuwait Airways (which is now being sued by 17 stranded passengers in Thailand) than trying to milk every last cent out of poor expatriates and citizens attempting to communicate with others via the Net (I sincerely look forward to a high-tech, pioneering technocrat being offered the MOC portfolio, not Ms. Mubarak again). I also hope expatriates and their representatives in Kuwait help pressure the MOC to revers its course.

For a ministry that has proclaimed its willingness to 'reform,' 'modernize' and avail Kuwait of the latest technological developments in the Communications field, it has failed miserably to keep up with modern trends, limit ISP charges and upgrade its digital and broadband services to be on par with most modern states. The MOC needs to move away from its bureaucratic, inefficient and intrusive Orwellian world into the 21st century.

Back from a one week trip (hence the dead blog - apologies to my regulars).

I decided during my trip this time to avoid wireless spots, avoid checking emails (work and personal) and to basically just shut everything out.

I recharged my batteries: watched decent unedited movies in plush, state of the art theatres; enjoyed ethnic food at a multitude of establishments; stocked up on books and DVDs and enjoyed the casual coffee and a good read at places like "Borders." (I used to take this stuff for granted when I lived in the West).

I arrive in Kuwait and find out we have Bird Flu cases and all hell is breaking loose (It doesn't surprise me knowing how lax we are and how 'wasta' can facilitate the import of practically any type of bird).

I find out the government intends to resign.

I then encounter 350 emails, 85% of which deal with viagra, breast augmentation and enlarging cobblers.

I'm like...what else is new?