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	<title>Comments on: Hand Scanner at Kuwait Airport</title>
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	<link>http://www.248am.com/mark/interesting/hand-scanner-at-kuwait-airport/</link>
	<description>Mark and Nat, a married Lebanese couple who are living in Kuwait. Both are creatives, Mark works in Advertising while Nat in TV.</description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:42:31 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>By: Pissed Off</title>
		<link>http://www.248am.com/mark/interesting/hand-scanner-at-kuwait-airport/#comment-440956</link>
		<dc:creator>Pissed Off</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:59:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.248am.com/?p=4614#comment-440956</guid>
		<description>Yup... Thats a DIU ( Digital Identification Unit) :-) . Its quite common in some of the high end corporate offices here that pay great attention to security. Basically one has to be authorized to enter.. period.  Also used on all US Military bases here where I work only diff is along with scanning your hand you have to swipe an ID card to verify authenticity. 

Frankly I am quite surprised that Kuwait took so long considering the fact the MOI has been experiencing a rise in so many of the a fore mentioned criminal activities. 

As for mentioning specific nationalites this has pissed me off.... Like zig mentioned earlier WASTA...what about wasta??....thats what gets the criminals in and out of the country. I mean come on people wake up and smell the BS..The Kuwaiti Customs / Passport Control have to be either fucking blind or so very well greased up aka. BRIBED not to notice a fake passport !!!!

Here in Kuwait wasta equals cash and who has a whole load of extra cash to bribe ahem take care of an official? :-) A laborer /poor ass worker  from the Indian Subcontinent, Asia, Bangladesh?? Or a filthy rich local who has made his cash from bringing these poor souls into the country and then screwing them by not paying them , holding them hostage by keeping their passports &#38; forcing them to pay him great amounts of cash each year  so that they keep their residence permit??

How do you expect these people to pay him ?? Lord knows a Taxi driver aint earning  a KD 400 salary.. Nor a maid who hardly even makes KD50 that also if she is lucky enough to be hired by a decent family..other wise its a flat rate of KD 20 cause she just happens to be staying under THEIR roof , eating THEIR food and breathing THEIR air !!

Is it any wonder then as Mind your finger print so casually said quote un quote " these workers/drivers become pimps and their country women become prostitutes??" How else are they expected to pay to stay in this country??   DIVINE INTERVENTION PERHAPS??

Dont mean to preach ...just am pissed at the way everyone generalises Asians or Arabs to be criminals. I mean damn.... DOES ANY ONE READ THE LOCAL PAPERS?? Who the hell do you think is sodomising little boys out in the deserts?? Who  do you think is grabbing innocent maids and boys in the middle of the streets and taking them to desolate areas to rape them ??  Which Asian or Arab do you know here in Kuwait has access to a fire arm?? Kinda makes you wonder huh??


PEACE OUT......</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Yup&#8230; Thats a DIU ( Digital Identification Unit) :-) . Its quite common in some of the high end corporate offices here that pay great attention to security. Basically one has to be authorized to enter.. period.  Also used on all US Military bases here where I work only diff is along with scanning your hand you have to swipe an ID card to verify authenticity. </p>
<p>Frankly I am quite surprised that Kuwait took so long considering the fact the MOI has been experiencing a rise in so many of the a fore mentioned criminal activities. </p>
<p>As for mentioning specific nationalites this has pissed me off&#8230;. Like zig mentioned earlier WASTA&#8230;what about wasta??&#8230;.thats what gets the criminals in and out of the country. I mean come on people wake up and smell the BS..The Kuwaiti Customs / Passport Control have to be either fucking blind or so very well greased up aka. BRIBED not to notice a fake passport !!!!</p>
<p>Here in Kuwait wasta equals cash and who has a whole load of extra cash to bribe ahem take care of an official? :-) A laborer /poor ass worker  from the Indian Subcontinent, Asia, Bangladesh?? Or a filthy rich local who has made his cash from bringing these poor souls into the country and then screwing them by not paying them , holding them hostage by keeping their passports &amp; forcing them to pay him great amounts of cash each year  so that they keep their residence permit??</p>
<p>How do you expect these people to pay him ?? Lord knows a Taxi driver aint earning  a KD 400 salary.. Nor a maid who hardly even makes KD50 that also if she is lucky enough to be hired by a decent family..other wise its a flat rate of KD 20 cause she just happens to be staying under THEIR roof , eating THEIR food and breathing THEIR air !!</p>
<p>Is it any wonder then as Mind your finger print so casually said quote un quote &#8221; these workers/drivers become pimps and their country women become prostitutes??&#8221; How else are they expected to pay to stay in this country??   DIVINE INTERVENTION PERHAPS??</p>
<p>Dont mean to preach &#8230;just am pissed at the way everyone generalises Asians or Arabs to be criminals. I mean damn&#8230;. DOES ANY ONE READ THE LOCAL PAPERS?? Who the hell do you think is sodomising little boys out in the deserts?? Who  do you think is grabbing innocent maids and boys in the middle of the streets and taking them to desolate areas to rape them ??  Which Asian or Arab do you know here in Kuwait has access to a fire arm?? Kinda makes you wonder huh??</p>
<p>PEACE OUT&#8230;&#8230;</p>
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		<title>By: Nour</title>
		<link>http://www.248am.com/mark/interesting/hand-scanner-at-kuwait-airport/#comment-440026</link>
		<dc:creator>Nour</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Jun 2008 06:44:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.248am.com/?p=4614#comment-440026</guid>
		<description>International information exchange database to detect illegals/criminal activities.

Hey, Big Brother.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>International information exchange database to detect illegals/criminal activities.</p>
<p>Hey, Big Brother.</p>
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		<title>By: Burhan</title>
		<link>http://www.248am.com/mark/interesting/hand-scanner-at-kuwait-airport/#comment-436422</link>
		<dc:creator>Burhan</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:48:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.248am.com/?p=4614#comment-436422</guid>
		<description>This is also part of ongoing efforts across the world to digitize travel documents; largely due to a diplomatic shove from the US.

Essentially --

  All travelers should have e-readable passports/travel documents. To know if your passport is e-readable (yes, kill me now grammar police, but that's what they call it) look at the page with your name on it. If it is written in portrait and has a bunch of &#62;&#62;&#62; at the bottom with your name, then its e-readable (this is the old form -- the newer passports have a different format). If you have any kind of visa to the US; have a look at it to know its e-readable; also I believe UK passports are e-readable. This is to both stop offenders and to improve transit -- ahem -- "experience" for legitimate travelers (read: not being strip searched).

  Its not only Kuwait, on a recent trip to Pakistan I had my photo taken at the immigration counter (from a Logitech web cam) and my passport information updated; I know these machines have been installed at Dubai since I started taking regular trips there which was about a year ago.

  Good stuff if you ask me. Oh and Mark -- "hand scanners .... I wonder what they are for..." -- hrmm, I don't know? Scanning fingerprints maybe? :)</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This is also part of ongoing efforts across the world to digitize travel documents; largely due to a diplomatic shove from the US.</p>
<p>Essentially &#8211;</p>
<p>  All travelers should have e-readable passports/travel documents. To know if your passport is e-readable (yes, kill me now grammar police, but that&#8217;s what they call it) look at the page with your name on it. If it is written in portrait and has a bunch of &gt;&gt;&gt; at the bottom with your name, then its e-readable (this is the old form &#8212; the newer passports have a different format). If you have any kind of visa to the US; have a look at it to know its e-readable; also I believe UK passports are e-readable. This is to both stop offenders and to improve transit &#8212; ahem &#8212; &#8220;experience&#8221; for legitimate travelers (read: not being strip searched).</p>
<p>  Its not only Kuwait, on a recent trip to Pakistan I had my photo taken at the immigration counter (from a Logitech web cam) and my passport information updated; I know these machines have been installed at Dubai since I started taking regular trips there which was about a year ago.</p>
<p>  Good stuff if you ask me. Oh and Mark &#8212; &#8220;hand scanners &#8230;. I wonder what they are for&#8230;&#8221; &#8212; hrmm, I don&#8217;t know? Scanning fingerprints maybe? :)</p>
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		<title>By: Q80Warlock</title>
		<link>http://www.248am.com/mark/interesting/hand-scanner-at-kuwait-airport/#comment-436356</link>
		<dc:creator>Q80Warlock</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 Apr 2008 05:20:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.248am.com/?p=4614#comment-436356</guid>
		<description>They installed it to scan deported foreigners, most of them actually cheat by changing their names and comeback with new passports. 

And by the way it not just the Indians and Bangladishi's, some arab nationalities are also doing it now (mostly Syrians).</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>They installed it to scan deported foreigners, most of them actually cheat by changing their names and comeback with new passports. </p>
<p>And by the way it not just the Indians and Bangladishi&#8217;s, some arab nationalities are also doing it now (mostly Syrians).</p>
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		<title>By: Qutaiba</title>
		<link>http://www.248am.com/mark/interesting/hand-scanner-at-kuwait-airport/#comment-436349</link>
		<dc:creator>Qutaiba</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 27 Apr 2008 22:46:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.248am.com/?p=4614#comment-436349</guid>
		<description>I was not singling out certain nationality, i was just explaining the reasons behind such a decision. I do not make the rules, I was just explaining it. Also, according to the MOI the workers from Bangladish (not all of them) are the ones who make most of the crimes ! thats why sometimes you hear about the MOI stop giving visa to domestic workers from Bangladish. This is based on their experience with this particular nationality</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I was not singling out certain nationality, i was just explaining the reasons behind such a decision. I do not make the rules, I was just explaining it. Also, according to the MOI the workers from Bangladish (not all of them) are the ones who make most of the crimes ! thats why sometimes you hear about the MOI stop giving visa to domestic workers from Bangladish. This is based on their experience with this particular nationality</p>
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		<title>By: Mind your finger print</title>
		<link>http://www.248am.com/mark/interesting/hand-scanner-at-kuwait-airport/#comment-436300</link>
		<dc:creator>Mind your finger print</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 27 Apr 2008 13:49:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.248am.com/?p=4614#comment-436300</guid>
		<description>If Kuwait has got it now then surely, Dubai must  have had it eons ago.
I am sub-continental and  have to say that the most visa offenders into Kuwait are from the subcontinent -  Bangladeshis, Pakis and Afghans ( in that order ).
I am happy if this machine can keep away those Bangladeshi cabbies who like to moonlight as pimps in Kuwait. It's a pity the machine can do nothing about some of the locals, though who also like to earn their corn through  visa trading. Maybe some just don't take to commodities trading too well! No probs there's always visa trading for them</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If Kuwait has got it now then surely, Dubai must  have had it eons ago.<br />
I am sub-continental and  have to say that the most visa offenders into Kuwait are from the subcontinent -  Bangladeshis, Pakis and Afghans ( in that order ).<br />
I am happy if this machine can keep away those Bangladeshi cabbies who like to moonlight as pimps in Kuwait. It&#8217;s a pity the machine can do nothing about some of the locals, though who also like to earn their corn through  visa trading. Maybe some just don&#8217;t take to commodities trading too well! No probs there&#8217;s always visa trading for them</p>
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		<title>By: zig</title>
		<link>http://www.248am.com/mark/interesting/hand-scanner-at-kuwait-airport/#comment-436295</link>
		<dc:creator>zig</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:13:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.248am.com/?p=4614#comment-436295</guid>
		<description>i just remembered seeing these machines at the British Visa Office. 
They scan finger prints of visa applicants. Maybe this is the new way to get the fingerprints of expats, instead of messy ink. You arrive at the airport, they scan your prints...</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>i just remembered seeing these machines at the British Visa Office.<br />
They scan finger prints of visa applicants. Maybe this is the new way to get the fingerprints of expats, instead of messy ink. You arrive at the airport, they scan your prints&#8230;</p>
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		<title>By: Anonymous</title>
		<link>http://www.248am.com/mark/interesting/hand-scanner-at-kuwait-airport/#comment-436293</link>
		<dc:creator>Anonymous</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 27 Apr 2008 11:03:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.248am.com/?p=4614#comment-436293</guid>
		<description>Twaif and Qutaiba : Why are you specifying only Bangladeshis and Indians? Open your eyes and read the newspapers. It not only the above said nationalities. In every country, there are criminals. Its not defined to a particular place. C'mon guys NO RACISMS &#38; DISCRIMINATIONS!!!
There is a saying that “Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes."</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Twaif and Qutaiba : Why are you specifying only Bangladeshis and Indians? Open your eyes and read the newspapers. It not only the above said nationalities. In every country, there are criminals. Its not defined to a particular place. C&#8217;mon guys NO RACISMS &amp; DISCRIMINATIONS!!!<br />
There is a saying that “Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes.&#8221;</p>
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		<title>By: Desert Girl</title>
		<link>http://www.248am.com/mark/interesting/hand-scanner-at-kuwait-airport/#comment-436286</link>
		<dc:creator>Desert Girl</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 27 Apr 2008 08:15:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.248am.com/?p=4614#comment-436286</guid>
		<description>Can you use just one finger? ;)</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Can you use just one finger? ;)</p>
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		<title>By: Mark</title>
		<link>http://www.248am.com/mark/interesting/hand-scanner-at-kuwait-airport/#comment-436283</link>
		<dc:creator>Mark</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 27 Apr 2008 08:03:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.248am.com/?p=4614#comment-436283</guid>
		<description>Zaydoun, your comment was "Mark… I can’t believe you just called it “France Airport”!"

Until this day I don't know what was grammatically wrong with that title...</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Zaydoun, your comment was &#8220;Mark… I can’t believe you just called it “France Airport”!&#8221;</p>
<p>Until this day I don&#8217;t know what was grammatically wrong with that title&#8230;</p>
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		<title>By: zaydoun</title>
		<link>http://www.248am.com/mark/interesting/hand-scanner-at-kuwait-airport/#comment-436282</link>
		<dc:creator>zaydoun</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 27 Apr 2008 07:54:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.248am.com/?p=4614#comment-436282</guid>
		<description>So the grammar police are welcome now?? I remember when I called you out on "France Airport" and you never fixed it

:-P</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>So the grammar police are welcome now?? I remember when I called you out on &#8220;France Airport&#8221; and you never fixed it</p>
<p>:-P</p>
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		<title>By: holla</title>
		<link>http://www.248am.com/mark/interesting/hand-scanner-at-kuwait-airport/#comment-436279</link>
		<dc:creator>holla</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 27 Apr 2008 06:48:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.248am.com/?p=4614#comment-436279</guid>
		<description>so like zig said, what happens when they skip the machine with wasta?</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>so like zig said, what happens when they skip the machine with wasta?</p>
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		<title>By: Amjad</title>
		<link>http://www.248am.com/mark/interesting/hand-scanner-at-kuwait-airport/#comment-436271</link>
		<dc:creator>Amjad</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 27 Apr 2008 01:00:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.248am.com/?p=4614#comment-436271</guid>
		<description>irishlassy: eye prints are then used ...</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>irishlassy: eye prints are then used &#8230;</p>
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		<title>By: irishlassy</title>
		<link>http://www.248am.com/mark/interesting/hand-scanner-at-kuwait-airport/#comment-436264</link>
		<dc:creator>irishlassy</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 26 Apr 2008 22:33:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.248am.com/?p=4614#comment-436264</guid>
		<description>what happens if u have no hands or fingers?</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>what happens if u have no hands or fingers?</p>
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		<title>By: hammoodee</title>
		<link>http://www.248am.com/mark/interesting/hand-scanner-at-kuwait-airport/#comment-436263</link>
		<dc:creator>hammoodee</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:53:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.248am.com/?p=4614#comment-436263</guid>
		<description>what if their fingertips are covered with crumps and dead skin? :X</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>what if their fingertips are covered with crumps and dead skin? :X</p>
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