Yousef Tuqan Tuqan

2008-09-04T19:39:00.001+04:00

test

2008-09-04T14:51:00.001+04:00

For once, a clever advertising analogy that doesn't suck

What well-known identity is most desperately in need of a redesign?
America. The whole message is wrong. The creative brief—The Constitution—is great, but the execution is horrible. Today, its reputation is almost beyond repair (we may even need a new name and flag). Hopefully we’ll be getting a new managing team in soon.

2008-09-03T10:26:00.002+04:00

John Travolta's House
John Travolta, apart from being an occasionally awesome actor and a Scientology nut, also has the dubious distinction of having one of the world's only noncommercial airports...in his backyard. John Travolta moved to Jumbolair, the world's only "fly-in living community."

Apparently, he used to have an airstrip near his old house, but was sued by his neighbors and then moved to Jumbolair.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration pilot database, Travolta is qualified in several types of single and multi-engine aircraft, and has the highest pilot medical certification possible. “We know that Travolta's an accomplished pilot. A lot of people fly for the pleasure of it, and he's one of them,” said John Clabes, an FAA spokesman. “If you have this many ratings on these types of high-performance aircraft, you're obviously a good pilot.”

Here's a link to an Architectural Digest article with lots of imagery, and an air trip video over his house.

How long before they build one in Dubai?

2008-08-17T11:14:00.001+04:00

Volleyball: why does one player wear a different color?
I've been agonizing over this question for a while. I used to play a lot of competitive volleyball when I was younger, but I never understood this recent development in the game. It turns out that the person with the different color is a "libero."

The libero is a player specialized in defensive skills: the libero must wear a contrasting jersey color from his or her teammates and cannot block or attack the ball when it is entirely above net height. When the ball is not in play, the libero can replace any back-row player, without prior notice to the officials.

This replacement does not count against the substitution limit each team is allowed per set, although the libero may be replaced only by the player whom they replaced.

The libero may function as a setter only under certain restrictions. If she/he makes an overhand set, she/he must be standing behind (and not stepping on) the 3-meter line; otherwise, the ball cannot be attacked above the net in front of the 3-meter line. An underhand pass is allowed from any part of the court.

You can read the full answer here.

2008-08-16T14:53:00.002+04:00

When cakes go bad.
I stumbled onto this cake website today full of the worst cakes in the world. Truly awesome stuff. I especially liked "Olympic Rings", Kermit's Gash, and the tartan special.

2008-08-12T17:06:00.003+04:00

Spanish racism, continued
From Luis Aragones calling Thierry Henry a "black shit" to "Hamilton's family" at last year's Spanish GP, no one does institutional racism in sport quite like the Spanish.

And now, they've gone and done it again.

2008-08-11T20:00:00.002+04:00

Derek Redmond - emotional sports moment

I saw this video again today while farting around for Olympics videos. This is really such a beautiful and emotional Olympic video. I challenge you to watch it and not get a tear in your eye...

2008-08-11T19:55:00.002+04:00

YTT on the TV
I was interviewed by Al Aan TV last week about my trip to Kilimanjaro. It was a very good interview but what I love is how I am made out to be a great sports personality that conquered such a terrifying mountain. I was even asked what message I might have for all the Arabic children out there who look up to me.

You can watch the video here.

2008-08-11T19:48:00.000+04:00

Rest in Peace, Isaac Hayes

2008-01-22T09:07:00.000+04:00

Flags of the world - graded
Yay! I found it! I had linked to this on my blog years ago, but the original link disappeared. I found it again. This website is one person's attempt to grade all the flags of the world, with points deducted for such things as "graven images", "colonial nonsense" or "weapons". (via kottke)

2007-11-23T23:00:00.000+04:00

"The match was played on a surface similar to those used by Sunday footballers on council pitches.."

Here's a great rant by Roger Godsiff, UK Member of Parliament for Birmingham Sparkbrook and Small Heath, about how rubbish England were on Wednesday. This is a proper motion that was tabled in the House of Commons.

Fucking love it.

2007-06-25T20:30:00.000+04:00

Rabbit: The Movie
This looks absolutely hilarious. If someone's on their way back from London, can you pick one up for me? The DVD, that is..

2007-06-25T20:11:00.001+04:00

My article in Khaleej Times
I've got an article in Saturday's Khaleej Times. They've even got a picture of me on the cover. Nice one.

2007-05-25T18:41:00.000+04:00

Emma's dilemma
There's a Big Brother Australia contestant who's father recently died of cancer. A media shit-storm has now erupted over her family (and Big Brother's) decision to not inform her of his death until she's out of the Big Brother house.

It's an interesting debate, and I was originally quite offended by the media storm and the fact that Big Brother's producers were going to keep the information from her. However, a letter from her family has been published that states her dying father's wish was that no one informed Anna of the death so as to not influence her Big Brother experience.

2007-05-21T10:25:00.000+04:00

Middle East Conflict Intensifies As Blah Blah Blah, Etc. Etc.

2007-05-19T12:08:00.000+04:00

John Bracken is your man!
He's a member of the Mentally Handicapped Association, and he's got a cracking theme tune. If I lived in the Laois / Offaly constituency (whatever that is), I would totally vote for you John!

via b3ta

2007-05-19T11:50:00.000+04:00

The Economist's cover this week is brilliant.

2007-05-18T12:24:00.000+04:00

We're in!
Martin and I have both been accepted to run in the 2007 New York Marathon in November. The chances of us both getting accepted were really slim, but we're both in. Had we not been accepted at this point, we'd both have had to join through a charity team and raise over 5,000 AED to run.

Overall, the UAE applicants did fairly well. I recognize some of the names on the list, including Faye Marchant, who's coming to Borneo with us in July for the Mount Kinabalu Challenge.

2005-08-03T13:24:00.000+04:00

Guardian Unlimited Politics | Special Reports | Britons tell of torture in Dubai
Now here's an article you're not going to read in Gulf News or 7Days.

-YTT

2005-04-13T17:31:00.000+04:00

Sheikh Mo's yacht
This is big. 525 feet long, and estimated to cost $300 million. It's so big, just to put it into context - it's longer than a US Navy destroyer like the USS John Paul Jones, which holds 23 officers, 24 chief petty officers and 291 enslited men, as well as Tomahawak and Harpoon missiles, and torpedoes.

2005-03-24T11:51:00.000+04:00

Wing Music
Fuck me, this woman is something else! I've never heard anything like it - she sounds like a parody of someone trying to sound like an Asian in a Karaoke bar, but she's the real deal, and she's released 9 albums (all cover versions - Mama Mia, Let It Be, Don't Cry For Me Argentina). So worth a listen..

2005-03-21T20:29:00.000+04:00

North55 on the BBC
I've been interviewed for the show "Middle East Business Report", which is reporting on the state of the Internet in the region. It's showing at the following times this week:

Saturday, March 26
0430 GMT (8:30 am Dubai time)
1830 GMT (10:30 pm Dubai time)
2230 GMT (2:30 am Dubai time on Sunday)

Sunday, March 27
1130 GMT (3:30 pm Dubai time)

2005-03-21T20:24:00.000+04:00

Firestarting satanic turtle
Satan has a goatee and everything....

2005-03-16T11:05:00.000+04:00

TV Ads, The X show at Kontraband
Have you been cheese nachos?

2005-02-24T12:09:00.000+04:00

Dubai 10K
Here's two pictures from the 10K race I ran in January. Martin and I ran together, and completed the race in a respectable 52:26. I also managed to raise AED 3260.25 for Medicins Sans Frontieres, which will go their Emergency Relief Fund. The money will support their emergency work in the areas hit by the tsunami in December as well as other areas like Darfur.

A very special thank-you to everyone who contributed to my fundraising.