DISQUS

Man I hated my years in Fresno State. I spent years after graduation telling people I went to college in California without every specifying where. If I'm asked for specifics I'd say "California State University" without saying which one.
I think one of my main motivators to go through grad school in Scotland is so that when I'm asked where I went to college I can say Glasgow and never have to mention Fresno.

Wow, I went to Fresno State University. I spent two years hating that fact that I had traveled half way across the world to end up in a town like that. Accepted the fact later and learned to enjoy it much as possible.

Strangely, I spent a couple hours yesterday morning on Google Earth and Google Maps looking at Fresno. For the first time in 13 years I was actually thinking of going back for a visit.

I think I got on Twitter a few months ago but I just registered and didn't do anything. It didn't interest me except as a mobile application. At work, my internet access is monitored and all social networking sites are blocked. Anything that's blocked on the bank's web server wouldn't be accessible from my BlackBerry either because it goes through the same server. The only way around it would be to get to Twitter via the BlackBerry's WAP browser, but that's not very efficient either. TwitterBerry meets my mobile Tweeting needs :)

I'm trying out TweetDeck right now. Liking it so far.

Some companies aren't really advertising online to gain new customers or to even promote their brand. Take BankMuscat for example, they have recently sponsored Sablat Oman (omania.net). It is no different than sponsoring an event. It is a misguided attempt to show that they are "with it", I guess. The bank's new head of corporate communications used to head the same function at Nawras. Maybe that's why there will be more of an emphasis on online advertising in the future.

This is an Omantel project. Since Omantel is majority government owned, they still do their tendering through the tender board.

Chili's isn't cheaper when it comes to food. It's the cost of drinks in those new restaurants that gets the bills so high. If you go to Chili's and have a starter and a main course, your bill can easily be 10 rials per person. But people in Oman love Chili's because they order starters which they split among them. I know many people who go to Chili's and never order a main course. They just split one order of nachos, one Triple Play, one Texas Fries, and maybe one Boneless Buffalo Wings. That's four platters of starters which are enought o feed maybe 4 or 5 people. No need for a main course. And if you order soft drinks you get unlimited refills.

When you go to Noodle House, a soft drink is 700 baisas and it's not even a full can.

D'arcy's now open in Madinat Qaboos next to Muscat Pharmacy.