We're in Qatar now!

I don’t know if he likes that name, but I’m almost positive he doesn’t. Anyways Brent is a fellow exchange student, a fellow VCU Ram, a fellow Graphic Designer, and an all around good Fellow. He makes a frequent appearance in this blog so I thought is just about time I give him an “official” (like that really means anything here) shout-out.

Anyways, “Silver Fingers” here is an extremly talented musician and what shout-out is complete without a showcase.

You can check out his music here!

As far as I know its all original work, but you may find a few covers thrown in there.

A few weeks ago, Brent and I went grocery shopping and just HAD to check out the toy section. Amongst the knock off spider-man 2-pocket folders Brent found a gem: Table Top Tennis.

This tipple “T” terror (“this tipple table top tennis terror”, oh c’mon you wouldn’t pass that up either) ended up being one of the best 10 rials (about 2.75 US) that I have spent yet. We brought the set back to his apartment and set it up on his nearly clean dining room table. The net it came with ended up be a little to big so we folded it over. I go back to play just about once a week and each time I go, the arena has gotten a upgrade.

At first the net was replaced by a series of overlapped tape strips (this may not sound like an “upgrade” but compared to a loose net this tight one makes it much more…”authentic”? Anyways, its really easy to tell if your opponent hit the net because the ball stick to it…) I pulled focus just so you can see the tape-net.

Don’t hate.

I went back the following week and the table had been moved from its original position and now was oriented to optimize the space of the room. There is now no hope for studying or relaxing. Now, there is only Pong!

The next week, the seating that was placed (or shoved) in the opposite side of the room was arranged around the table. We have a stadium.

To answer a future questions. Yes, I am still very awful at Ping Pong.

A lot of the stores and brands that we are used to in the States have their own Arabic version here in the Gulf. Stores like SUBWAY and COKEACOLA (pictured) often use their existing logo type and transform it into Arabic.

Check it out:

I may end up doing a whole series of these, so heads up for that in the future… I may also not end up doing that, so don’t be upset if I don’t. No promises. But I’ll tell you what regardless if I take many photos, if you want one of these products (as long as its not to difficult to travel with, i.e. Subway sandwich) Id love to bring you back one.

Added 15-3-10:

I know you all are dealing with some heavy snow right now, but rest assured we are dealing with our own environmental catastrophe. Rain! Rain, like many local have never seen before!

To be honest, I’m told it usually only rains twice a year here and I was lucky enough to catch one. I almost completely missed it. I was sitting in the living room with a few friends and I heard some thunder and some rain hitting the ground, being used to this in Richmond I almost dismissed it. I ran outside saw it, ran inside to grab my camera, ran back outside and it was just about over.

While outside I snapped this photo and kept trying to shoot a photo of some lightning. I kept missing the lightning if not just bearly. When I finnaly turned to go back in there what a huge crash and a bolt of lightning that lit up the sky like day light…

I guess thats just how it works sometimes.