Parallel lines are so 2011! Israeli pilots are flying with style this year.
Photo via ramla8
Month: January 2012
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Costco in Beirut
I’m pretty sure it’s not the real Costco, but it does exist, and it has the major American products you might be looking for.
The place is located in Jnah, and I went there last Sunday after a friend told me about it. They have a variety of products ranging between clothing, food and home goods. Part of these available products (especially food) can be found at other large supermarkets like Spinneys, at almost the same price if not lower, while other stuff cannot be found anywhere else and are a bit pricey.
Note that Costco is not the only store of its kind there in the area. There’s another place called “Amtrag” located just next to Costco, in addition to a store called “Brands for less” known for importing the German brand “Tchibo” located 100 meters down the road from TSC Jnah. I believe they’re all worth a visit!
Below is a map showing where Costco is in case you want to check it out.
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Lebanese arrested for hacking e-mail accounts
I actually found this news a bit surprising because it’s the first time for me to read about people getting arrested for hacking e-mail and Facebook accounts in Lebanon.
The department of Public Relations at the ISF General Directorate announced that investigations were carried out by the Cyber Crime and Intellectual Property Rights Bureau Unit based on more than 70 complaints filed by citizens regarding stolen and hacked electronic accounts (e-mail and Facebook among others). The hackers blackmail the account owners and steal their identity to get large sums of money.
During inquiries, the first man admitted to having carried out acts of piracy and stolen around 600 emails, blackmailing their owners and stealing their identity to get large sums of money by transferring recharge card dollars to cellphones and selling them. These amounts reached around $200.000 and all the electronic equipment used was seized. Source
Still, the police might have chased these two because they went so far with the blackmailing they did.
Anyway, I personally know some people who do such things just for the fun of it. They go to some cafe offering wireless internet for the purpose of “stealing” Facebook session. Some tools to use in the process are widely available and are pretty easy to use if you have enough IT knowledge.
These people better know that things can turn really bad now that the Cyber Crime unit out and about. So unless you know how to really cover your tracks, just keep away from these stuff!
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$105,000 Receipt from Dubai’s Cavalli Club
Are the Emirati people aware that this receipt can get many Lebanese “VIP clubbers” jealous?
What’s the maximum amount one can pay for a similar wild night at Beirut’s most prestigious clubs?
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Bringing Central Park to the roofs of Beirut
I was complaining to a friend of mine a while ago that wherever you plan to buy an apartment in Beirut, and no matter how good your view over the sea or the mountains might be, it will always be ruined with the ugly rooftops all around you! They’re all crowded with rusty water tanks, satellite dishes, and even pigeon houses sometimes!
And today I came across this cool idea by Wassim Melki who is proposing to start growing trees on the rooftops of Beirut’s building to compensate for the lack of green spaces in the city.
It definitely needs lot of work to be implemented, and most importantly needs commitment and support from the municipality of Beirut which is as efficient as any governmental institution in Lebanon. That unfortunately leads us to the ugly conclusion that this project will never be destined to become a reality.
You can stay up to date with the project’s news via their Facebook page.
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The Queens gas station in Saida
I’m surprised this story didn’t make it to the Lebanese TVs yet. The Queens gas station in Saida is one of a kind in Lebanon since everything in this station is run by women. From pumping gas, to the small supermarket, and even the car washing.
Dressed in pink sweaters and jeans, with some wearing headscarves, the young women greet customers as they fill up tanks.
At least a dozen women are employed at the station, and the popularity for this particular niche service is growing.
The owner of the station hopes the concept helps the status of women in Lebanese society. One worker says that some people may find it odd to see women working in a traditionally male job, but that their demands for equality are a legitimate goal. Source
I have mixed feeling about this initiative… I mean it does deliver the message that women are able to succeed at something practiced exclusively by men around here. But is this the kind of stuff that women are looking to be equal at? Pumping gas is easy, I would have preferred to read a similar article on women in leading positions around Lebanon.
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Happy New Year!
That’s how the new year’s eve looked like in downtown Beirut, if you’re curious about the rest of the world you can check this nice collection here.
Wishing you all the best of life in 2012!
