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A Lebanese Blog

  • AUB students demonstrate against Donna Shalala during commencement

    Several dozen people disrupted the Master’s graduation ceremony at AUB Friday evening to protest against the awarding of an honorary degree to Donna Shalala due to her support for engagement with Israel.

    Shalala, president of the University of Miami in Florida and a former U.S. secretary of health, has three honorary degrees from universities in Israel, and does not support a cultural boycott of the country.

    Around 40 protesters heckled Shalala as she began her speech of thanks, shouting “boycott Israel.” Some held a large banner that read “Boycott Zionist Shalala.” Source

  • BBM Taxi

    Missed call me, I call you
    Message me, I reply to you
    Chat with me, I answer you

    via Rudy Chidiac

  • Giveaway: 4 Tickets to Wickerpark Festival 2012

    The awesome people behind Wickerpark Festival 2012 granted me 4 tickets to the two-day event happening on June 29 & 30, and I’ll be giving them all away to two of you guys!

    All you have to do is leave a comment on this post and I’ll be randomly selecting two lucky winners on Sunday night to get 2 tickets each. Just make sure to use a valid e-mail address when commenting to receive how to claim your tickets.

    As I mentioned in an earlier post, the event will include short film screenings, fairs, and exhibitions on the first day, and a music festival to follow on the second day. As for the tickets, they’re available for $30 at Librairie Antoine.

    Update:

    Congrtulations Joseph & Cynthia, I’ll be sending you an e-mail shortly.

  • BLC women’s empowerment ad

    Below is one of BLC’s new ads promoting an initiative they started a while ago to support women entrepreneurs by making it easier on them to get loans to start or expand their business.

    It’s a great initiative indeed, but couldn’t they think of a business women can start other than a bakery as it shows in the ad?

  • Antar – Acoustic guitar cover

    Sounds pretty nice!

    And since we’re mentioning Myriam Klink again, check also this 8-bit version of her Antar video!

  • Fete De La Musique 2012 – Beirut

    This year’s edition of Fete De La Musique is happening in a couple of days on June 21st  and will span over 9 locations across Beirut, featuring as usual both amateur and professional musicians.

    Check below the festival schedule and start choosing which artists to watch!

    Fete De La Musique 2012- Roman Baths

    The Roman Baths venue will feature seven different artists, all performing varying genres.

    • 20:00-20:30 Marc Nader (Folk)
    • 20:40-21:10 Dida’s (Acoustic Music)
    • 21:20-21:50 Les Artistes (Folk, Acoustic Rock)
    • 22:00-23:00 Les Fils Du Calvaire (Electro-Rock)
    • 23:10-23:30 Segundo Bloco (Samba, Brazillian Percussions)
    • 23:40-00:10 Poly (Pop)
    • 00:20-00:50 The Passive Standouts (Rock)

    Fete De La Musique 2012- Beirut Souks

    The Beirut Souks venue will feature seventeen different artists, all performing varying genres on two different locations, the Platform and Ajami Square.

    Beirut Souks Platform Venue:

    • 19:00-20:00 Chorale Tania Kassis (Choral, Chants)
    • 20:10-20:30 Nachaz (Rock, Blues)
    • 20:40-21:10 Silverage (Pop, Alternative Rock)
    • 21:20-21:50 Life Line (Rock)
    • 22:00-22:20 Beirut Blues Brothers (Blues, Rock)
    • 22:30-23:00 Soul Sister (Soul, Funk)
    • 23:10-23:40 Butterfly (Rock)
    • 23:50-00:20 The Locals (Rock, Blues)
    • 00:30-1:00 The Fan Dolls (Rock)

    Beirut Souks Ajami Square Venue:

    • 20:00-20:20 Elie Sawaya (Variety)
    • 20:30-20:45 Tina Fish (Slam Poetry)
    • 20:50-21:20 Nour Yammouni (Pop)
    • 21:30-22:00 Blue Yeast (Blues Jazz)
    • 22:10-22:50 The Missing Pixels (Folk)
    • 23:00-23:20 Snowslash (Rock)
    • 23:30-23:50 Ashekman (Rap)
    • 23:55-00:15 Zeinedin (Rap)
    • 00:20-00:40 Banely (Rap)

    Fete De La Musique 2012- Samir Kassir Square

    The Samir Kassir Gardens venue will feature eight different artists, all performing varying genres.

    • 19:30-19:50 IQEWS (Alternative Rock)
    • 20:00-20:20 Point of View & Bob Arja (Rap)
    • 20:30-20:50 7ta2at (Rap)
    • 21:00-21:20 What’s Your Story (Rock, Pop)
    • 21:30-22:00 Homemade (Alt Rock, Pop)
    • 22:10-22:30 Srai (Rock)
    • 22:40-23:10 Jammit the Band (Reggae)
    • 23:30-23:50 Bandage Group (Pop, Rock)
    • 00:00-00:30 Wata El Lounge (Trip-rock, Dub)
    • 00:20-00:50 The Passive Standouts (Rock)

    Fete De La Musique 2012- Martyrs’ Square

    The Martyrs’ Square venue will feature eight different artists, all performing varying genres.

    • 19:00-20:00 Gabriel Abdel Nour (Arabic Pop)
    • 20:10-20:40 The Coolcumbers (Alternative Rock)
    • 20:50-21:30 Episode (Prog Rock)
    • 21:40-22:20 Lazzy Lung (Indie Rock)
    • 22:30-22:50 Anixa (Rock)
    • 23:00-23:40 Epic (Rock)
    • 23:50-00:10 The Rakans (Pop, Electro)
    • 00:20-01:20 DJ Andre Rizzo (Electro)

    Fete De La Musique 2012- Zaitunay Bay

    The Zaitunay Bay venue will feature eight different artists, all performing varying genres.

    • 20:00-20:20 Abdel Harb (Flamenco Guitar)
    • 20:30-21:00 Rojo Del Libano (Flamenco)
    • 21:10-21:40 Bruno Tabbal (Rock, Pop)
    • 21:50-22:10 Beirut Vocal Point (A capella)
    • 22:20-22:50 Band Audi (Rock, Blues)
    • 23:00-23:30 Blue Band LB (Rock, Reggae)
    • 23:40-00:05 Gilbert Simon and Jebebara (Pop, Arabic)
    • 00:15-00:35 Maher Salame (Electro Oriental, House)

    Fete De La Musique 2012- Saint Louis Capuchin Church

    The Saint Louis Capuchin Church venue will feature two performing groups.

    • 18:00-19:00 Chorale Du College Protestant
    • 19:00-20:00 Pastorale De L’USJ

    Fete De La Musique 2012- National Evangelical Church of Beirut

    The National Evangelical Church of Beirut venue will feature two performing groups.

    • 18:30-19:15 Chamber Music
    • 19:15-20:00 Classical Chants

    Fete De La Musique 2012 – Beirut New Waterfront

    The Beirut Waterfront Venue will feature performances by ten different DJs.

    • 8:00 pm- Alterra (Deep House)
    • 9:00 pm- Tavarish (Dubstep)
    • 10:00 pm- Ryan K (Deep House)
    • 11:00 pm- The Middle Beast (House)
    • 12:00 am- Jade (House)
    • 1:00 am- Dop [Paris] (Tech-House)
    • 2:00 am- Diamond Setter (Tech-House)
    • 3:00 am- Trix (Deep House)

    Supported by Vanclode Jandam
    VJ’s: Mosig / TM / Beirut Visuals

    via evention

  • Paint Up – Making Beirut brighter!

    I’m really loving what this group of artists and designers are doing to Beirut. Equipped with colors and skills, these guys are painting staircases around the city with cool designs.


    Bliss Street


    Mar Mkhayel


    Sakiet El Janzir

    I hope their work won’t be limited to painting up staircases only, and maybe push it further to make walls brighter even.

    Anyway, you can check their Facebook page here.

  • Beirut then and now

    via Facebook

  • 24 hours to kill in Beirut

    Check out this cool find posted by Tarek from Beirut/NTSC a couple of days ago.

    I stumbled upon the movie “In Beirut sind die Nächte lang” or “24 hours to kill”… A German movie shot in 1965 in Beirut. Here’s the synopsis:

    “When engine trouble forces an airliner into a 24 hour layover in Beirut, the plane’s pilot finds himself in the crosshairs of crime thanks to his duplicitous purser. Lex Barker assays the hero pilot role with ease, while Mickey Rooney thoroughly enjoys his turn as the seemingly hapless criminal. Walter Slezak rounds out the caper as a deadly smuggler.”

    Pity embedding the original trailer is forbidden…. But watching it is a must! You can find it HERE (above are some of the snapshots taken from that trailer)… Basically, it’s the usual mishmash of the epitomized image of Beirut: Lust, intrigue, modernist architecture, Phoenicia Hotel (and yes, there is a scene where the pool which gives way to the bar is seen!), Nadia Jamal (the belly dance), the nightclubs and get this – at the time private helicopters could land right next to Baalbeck ruins with no “yellow t-shirts” in sight…

    I also heard a while ago about another movie called “Embassy” that was shot in Lebanon back in 1973, but unfortunately failed to find any trailer or footage related to it on the internet.

  • LBCI falls victim to the Facebook Inshallah button joke

    You probably have heard in the last few days the joke about a new button being unveiled by Facebook to the Arabic market to allow the users in the region to respond with “Inshallah” to event invitation they receive. The joke was started by a parody website The Pan-Arabia Enquirer, and unfortunately the LBCI website fell for it! Check the article they posted here. (I expect them to delete it soon)

    Following the opening of its office in Dubai, Facebook has revealed the first of what it claims will be many alterations to the social media site tailored to the local Arabic market. As of next week, users across the Middle East and North Africa will have to opportunity to respond with ‘Insha’Allah’ to an event invitation, along with the usual ‘Join’, ‘Maybe’ and ‘Decline’.

    “This was the result of several focus groups across the region,” said Facebook Arabia’s Regional Solutions Manager, Majid Johnson. “Adding an ‘Insha’Allah’ button for Facebook events was by far and away the most popular request.”

    Facebook Arabia also announced plans to introduce a ‘Platinum Upgrade’ specifically for GCC markets.

    “This was another big winner in our focus groups,” claimed Johnson. “Facebook Platinum is going to be our premium option for the more exclusive social media user. It’s going to come with a significant signing on fee, but will offer five-star services, such as a bespoke wall and 24-hour status concierge facility, along with space for just 50 members at one time.”

    Facebook Platinum is expected to launch this November.

    Absolutely priceless!

    Thank you @tinkeyeh

    Update:

    The article was removed from LBCI’s website.