Finkbine Ln

Hymne à l'amour

2009-07-07T00:07:00.002-05:00

A part of me died tonight. A part that she conceived and nurtured, bit by bit, kiss by kiss, hug by hug.
You can't hate love. All I have for you is love.

Q&A

2009-04-21T23:39:00.001-05:00

Q: sir, do you want us to resuscitate you, in case?

A: if I die, my son, I want to stay dead.

well

2009-04-13T13:56:00.002-05:00

Hey Doc, I have been smoking 2 packs a day for 50 years. and what do I get?

...Prostate cancer.

hit

2009-02-10T19:52:00.002-06:00

I told her I am sorry he was dead.
She smiled and said: thank you for your help.
She struck me with her placidity.

irony

2009-02-08T02:19:00.004-06:00

life is so ironic. let me rephrase that. there is nothing more ironic than life itself. I saw her every day for a month, and we only talked on the night she was leaving. don't tell me that irony is not prevailing. my god. is there a god after all. if so, where was he? is this what every day should be about? was she the one to satisfy me? or are we never satisfied? we all want to be free.

statelessness

2008-05-24T12:15:00.003-05:00

"where are you from?
I am from planet Earth, how about you?"

stairway to wherever

2008-04-27T00:21:00.004-05:00

a lebanese
drinking french wine
driving a german car
using a chinese laptop
eating swiss cheese
wondring if this is the american dream.

weather lethal hazards

2008-04-11T15:20:00.002-05:00

Tornadoes sweeping across the Midwest.

"Outdoor warning systems or sirens are intended to make us seek shelter immediately; preferably in rooms and corridors in the innermost part of a building, at the lowest level".

I would rather have a normal death. In Lebanon, it's being shot accidentally during a political speech.

Intruders.

2008-02-21T16:49:00.008-06:00

Reserved, for the coming few weeks.

Fisk is making me Sick

2008-02-02T17:03:00.000-06:00

Robert Fisk: Eight dead, and echoes of Beirut's bloody history reverberate around its streets

Mr.Fisk, is again hitting us with another one of his propaganda, full of lies, and obviously skewed and cliché pieces. He is starting to sound like someone who has been living in Lebanon for a long time; and this is making him less of an objective journalist.

Needless to say, he is very knowledgeable about Lebanese politics, and is very eloquent. It is a deadly combination, but that stops there.

Like every one else, we are all concerned that we are at the verge of a civil war. However, making early (and apparently wrong) assumptions, or even insinuating that "Christian snipers east of Mar Mikael?...in the darkness around the Maronite church" is the kind of propaganda that can ignite a civil war.
And then saying that "there were hundreds of civilians on the streets around Mar Mikael – Christians and Muslims alike – carrying weapons" is wrong. Thanks to technology, television is bringing images from the street to your bedroom. This is false propaganda. This does not mean that some chrisitan fractions don't have weapons; I am sure some do, but at least it is not being used. Over the last couple of years, it was very clear to everyone that only certain fractions, namely hizballa and Amal, were the ones who had no problem showing off their weapons. They did so on numerous occasions: Nasralla speech, funerals, fights.

He needs to go on vacation.

open your eyes (if they have not blinded you already).

2008-01-27T23:36:00.000-06:00

A long list of anti-Syrian politicians murdered.
A government crippled by the resignation of all Shiites ministers.
A house of parliament made ineffective and closed down by its president.
A head of state, not elected for almost 2 months now, because of blind and reckless opposition.

Lebanese army dragged into a war against elements supported by Syria, to say the least.
The whole country forced to face the 5th strongest military in the world because Hizballa needed more bargaining power.

Army general and Internal Security Forces lieutenant liquidated.

Multiple attempts at rioting and inducing civil unrest. This is aimed at making the Lebanese army (last unifying symbol of this nation) involved in the conflict, instead of being immune to the political dilemma. It also makes Michel Sleiman (who ironically is now a compromize candidate) even him, look like he is siding with M14, against the opposition.

You should by now recognize a trend. It is time for everyone to realize that is not about the president, it is not about one or two seats, this is a plan to topple the current regime and eliminate Lebanon as we know it.

On going back and forth.

2008-01-11T16:48:00.000-06:00

My biggest fear every time I go back home, is this feeling I get when I know that pretty soon I will have to leave everything and everyone behind, again. And go there, where I don't belong.

Sometimes I wonder if it is not easier to never go back, forget about it, and move on.
But it won't work.

And we suffer. Every day, in every way.
And I miss them.

Pierre Gemayel, R.I.P

2007-11-21T20:53:00.001-06:00

Pierre Gemayel, September 24, 1972 – November 21, 2006
We should never forget; we shall push forawrd.

"I call them my babies"

2007-11-11T22:10:00.000-06:00

So do you have kids?

No, I have a couple of dogs.

Interesting.

In rainbows (in fact, it's in black)

2007-11-10T10:55:00.000-06:00

Addictive is what it is.

It is not as loud as The Bends.
It is not as electronic as Kid A.
It is not one piece, like OK computer.

But it is as dark as all of them. It's mellow, yellow and makes you feel frail.
It makes you vulnerable, it makes you realize that you are so close to the edge.

Sigh.

But you enjoy every second of it. and you enjoy what they have accomplished.
A bunch of unreleased B sides, re-united to produce a masterpiece.
It opens your mind to new dimensions. It captivates you and makes you aware of all your senses. it makes you feel naked. Tom is great on nude.

I can't wait for the full album in december. and merry xmas.

It's time to wake up

2007-10-16T15:30:00.000-05:00

At a time when all the Lebanese are debating their mundane small details, hizballa is minding its own business.
We talk about disarming them, when they are accumulating more weapons.
We talk about "containing" them, when they seem to be expanding day by day. Now they have more land, even their own phone network.
We talk about electing a president according to the current rules and regulations, when they call for a radical change in our electoral law.
We get into televised debates, they go into secretive talks and swaps with Israel.

It's time for us to wake up. Maybe not, we are living in another dimension (called outer space).

GeaGea for president

2007-09-08T23:25:00.000-05:00

Yes. Geagea for president.

Nayla Mouawad is too sweet.

Boutros Harb is too diplomatic. "Yes, we want the best relations with Syria but they should respect our independence". Let's cut the crap, they don't even aknowledge our existence. they have been killing us like instects, every day, for the past 30 years. No, we don't want the best relations with them. Let's stop polishing and bullshiting.

WE DON'T WANT A "COMPROMISE" PRESIDENT".

We need someone who can stand up for us. Someone who has balls.

Ryad Salemeh is too much of a gentleman. He cannot face "people" like Berri. They will eat him alive.

Nassib Lahoud is not charismatic or strong enough. He should work on his tone.

We need someone like Geagea who can tell Nasralla. We DON'T AGREE WITH WHAT YOU ARE DOING, AND WE ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. He belongs to the same category of people like Berri, Joumblat or Nasralla.

Please, don't tell me we need to move on. Look around, nobody did. Why should we?

Dormant syrian unit

2007-08-18T10:53:00.001-05:00

Name: Michel Sleiman

He was nominated during the peak of Syrian influence, in 1998.

He was appointed by a Syrian puppet, called Lahoud.

He holds the Syrian Order of Merit, grade of excellence (check Lebanese army website)
Ironically, him and Lahoud belong to the same school that produced people such as Michel (again) Aoun.

A week ago he complained that the army did not get enough military support. Yesterday, after meeting with members of American congress, he thanked the US for all its help. I get confused, 2 opposing messages in one week?

Patriarch Sfeir did not notice that amendments never worked before, but he would ok it if it were to save the country?

Now, didn't we get it the first time with Aoun?
Didn't we get it the second time, with Lahoud?
Now Sleiman?

Amendments, army generals and presidents don't mix. Don't try this at home.

Flight of ideas

2007-07-19T23:26:00.000-05:00

Rather flight of stairs, leading to one conclusion.

So the glorious Sawsan Safa darwish is back on air. NBN, National Broadcasting Network, but really Nabih Berry Netwrok, has shown how much integrity it has.
There is a minimum of respect for human lives. What she said is a clear example of the quality of people she represents.
What I find controversial is all those double standards people like Berri adopt. Ya Khaye, if he is so much anti-american, why does he own half of Dearborn. why is it another Dahye-land?

At least, La Celle-Saint-Cloud had lebanese fractions. But Nasralla meeting with Ahmadinajd in Damascus...Aoun was jealous he was not invited.

Speaking of the devil, let me rephrase it, the devil at least has a brain,I find it hilarious that tayyar website did not mention Darwish's reinstatement or Nasrallah-Ahmadinajd meeting.
Orange Tv, it's all about objectivity!

I believe...in UFO's

2007-07-04T23:39:00.000-05:00

Lunatic, in the sky

Who does he think he is?

2007-05-27T12:08:00.000-05:00

According to Hasin, an international trial of murderers of journalists and politicians is a definite no no.
Electing a president from the assembly of representatives he is a part of is a definite no no.
Entering palestinian camps, haven for terrorists is a definite no no.

{Along the same lines, those people (although with their ideologies, I wonder to what species they belong to) don't deserve to have the luxury of negotiations. They should be arrested and put on trial. Everything else is not an option).

Nothing but red lines, who does hasin think he is?

Neekna.

Do or Die

2007-05-22T22:57:00.000-05:00

We have to start somewhere.
No more of the same mistakes.
We should prove to everyone, including ourselves, that we will not, and we should not compromise, again.
War is not always the answer, but sometimes it is the only way out.
People die, that's sad. Accept it. Keep in mind that otherwise a country can sink.

I can hear Explosions in the Sky

2007-05-10T21:36:00.000-05:00

Most of the bands are completely dependent on a lead singer, a voice, a charismatic performer on stage.

There are exceptions to the rule. and many times, they almost negate the rule.

Very few bands can function without a vocalist. Yes,it's basically a band without a singer. And it works. They are called Mogwai, they are called explosions in the sky. Their lyrics lie in the atmosphere they create. they can talk to you, without words. The rhythm rhymes with each heartbeat. You can sense despair and joy, but they leave up to you to formulate.

they talk to the senses in a different language.

Six days at the bottom of the ocean
First breath after coma
Welcome ghosts

The only time we were alone
your hand in mine.

Written UI

2007-04-20T23:17:00.000-05:00

Cigarette burning in my hand
uncertainties raging in my head

smoke intoxicating my lungs
with me not knowing where I belong

and we struggle everyday
when life is offered on a tray

and we waste our time
when every day should be prime time

and we do the same mistakes
as if we don't know what is at stake

and I close my eyes
but it's only to realize
that this life is full of lies

...freedom from all that's holding us back
nowadays even god is wearing black...

Television Documentaries: Polemic with a touch of rock'n'roll

2007-03-19T06:40:00.000-05:00

I have been wanting to talk about System of a down for quite some time.
Composed of guitarist/singer Daron Malakian, singer Serj Tankian, bass player Shavo Odadjian and drummer John Dolmayan, Malakian and Tankian were born in Bourj Hammoud before moving to LA. That's a band, with a cause.
SOAD's first album, Toxicity (2001), was spin's magazine album of the year in 2001. Hailed as the creators of nu-metal, their music goes beyond being just metal. It has an oriental touch and a political edge, to say the least. Tankian is usually all over the place. not with his hair, but with his voice, low then high pitched, fast and then slow. you can never predict what's gonna happen next.
Tankian, along with Tom Morello (Rage against the machine's former guitar player, and currently with Audioslave), started Axis of Justice. "Our purpose is to bring together musicians, fans of music, and grassroots political organizations to fight for social justice.We aim to build a bridge between fans of music around the world and local political organizations to effectively organize around issues of peace, human rights, and economic justice".

System of a down new documentary, Screamers, discusses the armenian genocide.
A couple of interesting articles
One from the independent, and another one from Armenian public radio

Art still has it

2007-03-04T11:04:00.000-06:00

"Everyday's an endless stream
Of cigarettes and magazines
And each town looks the same to me
The movies and the factories
And every strangers face I see
Reminds me that I long to be

Homeward bound
I wish I was
Homeward bound
Home, where my thoughts escaping
Home, where my musics playing
Home, where my love lies waiting
Silently for me"
(Simon & Garfunkel).

A string of hits over 2 hours, enough to sweep you off your feet and make you dream. Yes, this was Garfunkel from Simon and Garfunkel. Yes he was singing, again, "Mrs.Robinson, "the rock", "homeward bound", "Cecilia", "bridge over troubled water" and many more. These are not merely songs. They are poems and lullabies.

Art still has it. I don't know how can he do it, but his voice sounds as warm and angelic as 30 years ago.

1 objective

2007-02-22T23:17:00.000-06:00

We should not forget what our objectives are.

As much as finding out who killed the 14+politicians/journalists & 40+innocent civilians is important. No wait, let me rephrase that. As much as proving that the Syrians are behind most of the murders over the last 30 years, there is something bigger than the international tribune. It is called Lebanon.

Although the international tribune remains an objective we would like to achieve, there is something more urgent that needs to be taken care of. It is a threat to the freedom, independence and democracy of Lebanon. It is parasite, a blood sucker. It is called Hizballa.

While people are debating whether the best formula is 20-10 or 19-10-1 or whatever combination you like, this "party of god" (God please help his god) is piling up weapons. and don't be surprised if Israel decides to strike again, destroy again and kill again. What we can do to prevent that is to disarm Hizballa and send Nasralla to Iran, or maybe Syria (although I am sure el Assad would not welcome him).

They are manipulating us like pieces of chess. We are lost in a bottomless abyss.
We need to wake up and re-focus.
We should look at the bigger picture.
They are the real threat.
They are gaining time and time is not on our side.

Anna

2007-02-20T19:22:00.000-06:00

I am sick and tired of watching, hearing and reading about Anna Nicole Smith.

Not that her life, and her achievements are not important. From being on the cover of playboy magazine, to the billboards wearing Guess jeans, to marrying a 90 year old oil tycoon. What a life. Impressive.
Actually, what an after life. She is more on TV, dead than alive. People fighting over money she does not own (yet).

Doesn't the American media have something better to talk about and dissect other than this fruitful and productive fcuked up life? Maybe Britney's new haircut?

Damn.

I am calling for an urgent meeting

2007-02-17T00:24:00.000-06:00

I want to leave it up to them, because we, as humans, are doing a lousy job.

We should have Jesus Christ, Mohamed, and David sit at the same table, and discuss the current world situation. They don't know the mess they have left us in.

I don't care what you believe in. And you should not care what I believe in. Hell, I can believe in hell, or onions. but you should not even care because my beliefs do not, and should not, interfere with your life.

We get carried away with meaningless details. In the meantime, our life is passing by. And by the time we realize that, we are too old to enjoy it.

Until then, good night and good luck.

(written under the influence)

Le vagabond éternel

2007-02-14T23:48:00.000-06:00

It has not been two years since I did my interviews.
And now I see myself, on the road again. Exploring new options, new places, new people. I might have to leave "everything" (or whatever I have) behind and start all over again.

Le vagabond éternel. Et je sais que je ne suis pas le seul.

As soon as we feel that wherever we are, is starting to become like home, look like home and smell like home, we find ourselves wandering again. As if we are not allowed to stand still, and grow.
And I look around me, and people actually have "the option of going back home", wherever home is. But not for us.

We are doomed, to roam, away from home, family and friends. I want to be myself and live my life. home, where I belong.

Deraciné, jusqu'a quand?

Hypocrisy

2007-02-10T11:18:00.000-06:00

This is slightly confusing to me, to say the least. And maybe someone can help me figure it out.

If I were to teach a kid about hypocrisy, there is no better example than Nasralla.

For years and years, he disregarded the existence of a nation or a government. He built his own state, within a state. Him, and Mr.Berri, mislead the people in the South. Instead of education and construction, they invested in wars and weapons. Go and ask Berri about the funds that were destined to the reconstruction of the South.

Recently Nasralla decided to join the government. It was obvious that he is only used to an autocracy. Well, that is not the case when there are many players. Decisions are not one sided, whether it is war, reconstruction or economy.

The swiftness and rapidity with which they acknowledged that the truck filled with weapons was theirs was phenomenal, really. They knew that they were the prime suspects. But to ask for it back, this is hilarious, shocking.
They resigned from the current government and called it unconstitutional. Fine. But they cannot now say that this same "illegitimate" government allowed them to arm and fight. Isn't there an obvious contradiction? You cannot embrace one side and reject the other.

Tayyar website, great in making up stories, and quoting journals such as Al-akhbar, ASS-afir and addyar hardly talked about this incident, phenomenal. They are busy talking about Michel Platini and Miriam Fares on MTV Europe.

Elias el Murr kept a low profile in the recent turmoil, avoiding major confrontation with either sides. He even distanced himself from his father (good for him). His stances and governmental decisions are pretty smart: "if Israel carries out another violation, we will use these weapons to confront it". Fighting fire with fire.

HYPOCRISY, Mr.Nasralla.

And happy Mar Maroun, although I am sure He is not happy.

"Luxe, calme et volupté"

2007-02-07T00:22:00.000-06:00

Un poème de Baudelaire (Invitation au voyage).

Mais aussi un tableau de Matisse. Un tableau de la vie, la famille, du soleil et du beau temps.

Adolescence

2007-01-25T23:43:00.000-06:00

We go through different phases of growth in life.

Adolescence is characterized by social interaction and personality changes. We become defiant, we question all that we have learned. We are opposed to figures of authority. We want to be different, no matter what. Luckily, we outgrow it.

Elderly, once they hit a certain age, go backwards. They become more demanding, requiring more attention. I am sure you have noticed it within your own family. In a way, they become like kids. You can blame it on Alzheimer's disease.

Do you remember pipo? the character from S.L.Chi? well, he is the young version of Aoun.

I feel Aoun is either:
1) stuck at one of the early stages of psychosocial development (Freud would have been amazed with such a rare regressive model).

or

2) has an advanced form of dementia. An elderly, acting more childish than any kid.

He insists on being in the opposition, no matter what. Luckily, he chose the right camp in 1989 (although now, his real initial intentions are becoming questionable) . He should have noticed that things were different in 2006, in the opposition camp.
He loves being the victim. Just reading his website, it is all about: Lebanese forces did this for me, or the government did that for me.

I mean, come on man, get a f%@$ grip. Grow up.or quit.

(I am in no way, holding him responsible for what has happened over the last few days. That would be giving him too much credit. which he does not deserve. he is a puppet. and a bad one. pas plus).

Not too long ago

2007-01-25T19:47:00.000-06:00

We spend hours discussing politics.
I think this 13 min documentary is worth it.

Reminds us of how things were, not too long ago.
And how we were able to rise, live and love what we have become. and cherish what we have.

Maybe then, we will not live the war again.

"it's about time"

Deep sleep

2007-01-12T23:33:00.000-06:00

Taken from Al-anwar.

Did the Lebanese judiciary system just wake up? or is this a gift? to smooth the moods?
4-0 for the Gemayel family is a bit too much, maybe? Pierre's case, diluted among 15 other unfortunate, Maya and Aswad, taken away by the late social parasite known as Arafat. At least Bachir, then.

For the record, Habib Tannous el Chartouni (from the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, SSNP) admitted putting the bomb in Kataeb HQ in Saifi on September 14, 1982. He was freed by the syrians around October 13, 1990 from Roumieh Jail after they invaded Baabda.

وفي خطوة ملفتة، امهل رئيس المجلس العدلي في لبنان القاضي انطوان خير المتهمين باغتيال الشيخ بشير الجميل عام 1982 لتسليم انفسهم الى المجلس في مقره في قصر العدل في بيروت، في مهلة اقصاها اربعا وعشرين ساعة قبل موعد الاستجواب التمهيدي الذي تحدد يوم الخميس في 1/2/2007 ، الساعة العاشرة صباحا.
وتشمل المهلة المتهم الرئيسي حبيب طانيوس الشرتوني (1958) المنسوب اليه تنفيذ الاغتيال بواسطة التفجير، والمتهم نبيل فرج العلم(1945) المنسوب اليه التحريض والاشتراك بالجريمة.
وقال قرار صادر عن القاضي خير، انه في حال تمنع المتهم عن تسليم نفسه ضمن المهلة المقررة، يصار الى اعتباره فارا من وجه العدالة، وتقرير انفاذ مذكرة القاء القبض الصادرة بحقه بالاضافة الى التدابير الاخرى المنصوص عنها بموجب القانون

Is he serious?

2007-01-11T17:33:00.000-06:00

I am saying "is he" and not "are they" because, at this stage, it should be clear to everyone that Aoun has single handedly taken many of FPM's decisions. However, this is not the point.

What's wrong with the colors? I mean, Aoun (who should be elected Man of the year, by far and for all the great alignments and enemies he has made along the way), is not gay, right? or maybe he "shot the sheriff"? and did Nasralla see those? I am not sure he would agree. But then again, it is not clear who is what in this frail front called opposition. Maybe it is time for Aoun to grow up, act like a responsible politician, like a leader and stop squirming around in this puddle of mud (to say the least) called opposition.

Jeremy

2007-01-08T23:48:00.000-06:00

She sits and wonders. about life, when life should be fun and simple.

She shrug her shoulders, as she walked away. aimlessly.
She nodded, she agreed. not to people, but to herself and to her misery.
She smiled. not because of happiness but to feel she belongs. where she never did.
and she lies to herself, and to others.
She took a deep breath. a sigh to keep her tears away.

She talked, but no one would listen.and who would or should?
Silence but she could hear, her own footsteps. and voices, in her head.
She wrestled with her thoughts and illusions to get herself to bed.

..but life should be fun and simple.

and she realizes that every day that passes away, like that, is a lost day.
and she cannot tolerate more losses.

and she thinks tomorrow will be a brighter day. but she can't see.

She is Jeremy, and she likes Pearl Jam.

fitter happier more productive

2007-01-06T16:18:00.001-06:00

No one is better than Tom York in summarizing what the new year's resolutions should be.
Taken from "Ok computer", track #7, fitter happier and yes more productive. Same resolutions, over and over again, year after year.

Blurry Chic-A-Go

2007-01-02T09:56:00.000-06:00

Dead silence after a storm.
Post orgasmic chill.
Black after white.

Loneliness, with people.
Alcohol, to fool yourself.

Search, but still lost

Happy New year.

Lars ulrich just turned 43!

2006-12-28T08:13:00.000-06:00

Their self entitled album (or what is known as the black album, 1991), was at peak at their career. Since then, I don't even recall listening to any of their new stuff.
But Kill'em all (1983), and Justice for all (1988), and ride the lightening (1984), hell this is some really good shit!

It was Ulrich's birthday a couple of days ago. He was born December 26, 1963 in Gentofte, Denmark. He founded Metallica, along with James Hetfield, wrote some of the songs and is the band's spokesman.

A lot of energy, sweat, adrenaline, head banging (and palpitations!)

DeBakey, and yes it is about aortic dissections.

2006-12-25T20:31:00.000-06:00

"In late afternoon last Dec. 31, Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, then 97, was alone at home in Houston in his study preparing a lecture when a sharp pain ripped through his upper chest and between his shoulder blades, then moved into his neck."

From Lebanese immigrants, Debakey (pronounced Dabaghi) is renown for many procedures and contributions to the world of cardiothoracic surgery. Ironically, he pioneered surgical treatment and classification of aortic dissection. and he suffered from one himself.

La suite is here!

Scorsese, at his best!

2006-12-24T01:26:00.000-06:00

Ok if you think "Reservoir dogs" is one of the best plots or one of the finest Mafia movies, well think again.
I couldn't help but draw similarities to QT's movie, but honestly "The departed" is just too good. In so many aspects.
It starts with a great performance from Matt Damon, a la "good will hunting", great face expressions from Jack Nicholson, a la "shining" and yes ladies and gentlemen, a perfect performance of DiCaprio. I was never a big fan of him, but honestly, his acting skills in this movie were phenomenal.
I won't talk about the plot, I would let you discover that.
Great director in Scorsese, great performances from Nicholson (who would only compete with DiCaprio for an Oscar), Damon and DiCaprio.
Don't miss that movie. A lot of blood, a lot shooting in the forehead, a lot of suspense, a lot of cheap worthless killing, all tainted with some red. and love.

Paul Hewson, honorary knight

2006-12-23T13:40:00.000-06:00

Please can I play "one" one more time? or maybe "with or without you"?
2 or 3 in the morning.
2 or 3 bottles of wine.
1 song. One.

Thank you Bono for keeping us company so many times.
Thank you Bono for keeping me company so many times.

Thank you for "ultraviolet", Thank you for "bullet the blue sky".

a knight, you are.

Pneumothorax

2006-12-15T19:01:00.000-06:00

I guess that's it for me.
Fellowship application was sent.
I know what I will be doing for the rest of my life.
Application process is going to be long, and boring. But it's a relief, in a way to start this process.
a sigh, and a smile.

Miscellaneous

2006-12-07T23:44:00.000-06:00

Under the middle eastern section in many prestigious journals, they discuss 2 main topics:
1) Death and destruction in Beirut
2) Prosperity and development in Dubai

Not a long time ago, discussions were taking place on how Beirut is getting closer to competing with Dubai; whether it is through architecture, information technology or the health sector. That was in June, although now it feels it was 20 years ago.

People who pretend that the alliance hizballa/Aoun is "secular" make me want to throw up. This leftist trait is bullshit. The party of "god" or Aoun's continuous reminder to the Christians that they are screwed cannot be more fake than that.

Supertramp - Crime Of The Century (live)

2006-12-05T22:39:00.001-06:00

Released in 1974, classic album, classic song, Supertramp at their best.
Excellent solo, piano and Sax.
The lyrics are timeless.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Now they're planning the crime of the century

Well what will it be?

Read all about their schemes and adventuring

It's well worth a fee

So roll up and see

And they rape the universe

How they've gone from bad to worse

Who are these men of lust, greed, and glory?

Rip off the masks and let's see.

But that's no right - oh no, what's the story?

There's you and there's me

That can't be right

The Flaming Lips - The Gash (live)

2006-12-04T19:09:00.001-06:00

Is that gash in your leg
Really why you have stopped?
‘Cause I’ve noticed all the others
Though they’re gashed, they’re still going
‘Cause I feel like the real reason
That you’re quitting, that you’re admitting
That you’ve lost all the will to battle on

Will the fight for our sanity
Be the fight of our lives?
Now that we’ve lost all the reasons
That we thought that we had

Still the battle that we’re in
Rages on till the end
With explosions, wounds are open
Sights and smells, eyes and noses
But the thought that went unspoken
Was understanding that you’re broken
Still the last volunteer battles on

Battles on
Battles on

fake plastic tree

2006-12-03T03:41:00.000-06:00

Almost 4 in the morning.
Loaded with Stolichanya and Jose Cuervo Tequila.
This goes out to you, Nando, Hooba hooba man. Although you will never read this.
This goes out to you, Chuck D, the eternal fighter, the one who refuses to give up.
This goes out to you, jaT. You have made it. you have proven to me that we can make it in life.
This goes out to you captain, to your logic and brain and to all the human emotions you have deep inside. you are me, I am you and I love you for that.
This goes out to you Dot. A dot you are not. at least not for me. and you know it. and I miss you. and I wish you the best. and happiness and smiles and tears of joy.

And I might regret this in the morning (actually in the afternoon), but what the hell, life it too short. and should be full of love.

LOVE and LIFE go together. They even rhyme.

And Thom yorke is wrong. Life is not always like a fake plastic tree.

It takes balls

2006-11-30T22:38:00.000-06:00

Ok, so what does March 14 have to do now?

They need to move forward, they need to produce some change. They have the momentum, they have popular support, but they haven't done anything about it. And this is very weak from them, and very disappointing.
The way I see it is very simple. Things have been going downhill since Lahoud's term was extended. Things got worse because our president is non-existent on the political and international scene. Moreover, he has given Hizballa the support and protection it needed.
A president is a leader, a role model. We have none.

LAHOUD HAS TO COME DOWN, SIMPLY. Now is the time, now is when everyone is ready to march to Baabda and bring him down. March 14 should have the balls to call for everyone to walk to the presidential palace. What are they afraid of?

INSTEAD, MARCH 8 is taking the initiative and trying to bring the government down. They saw a window of opporunity and they didn't lose it. They hardly waited enough for Gemyal's mourning period to end.

March 14, rise to the expectations. Bring him down.

I am against Hizballa

2006-11-26T11:27:00.000-06:00

I am against hizballa for the following reasons:
1- They run a state within a state, while the others are trying to build a country.
2- They run an Islamic state.
3- Let's say that they did in fact beat Israel. Do I want someone who calls this a "divine" victory to be in charge? What does god have to do with politics? It is all about god and Islam?
5- Their goals go beyond Lebanon. I feel for the Palestinians being killed everyday, but we cannot take this anymore. A constant state of war, a culture of resistance. We need to focus on our internal conflicts first. I want to live, I want to be able to go back one day and find a job. I want peace. They want more wars.
4- I don't care about El assad and Ahmadenajad. They have brought death and destruction to Lebanon. Nasralla thanks them on every occasion. What do you need more?
5- We are a democracy. They cannot decide to resign or not show up to work at any time, at their leisure. They cannot say that they have to be included in governmental decisions. Minor detail, but what about starting a war? Is that democracy?
6- All of the above is minor in face of their weapons. If they are simply a political part, they would have to be involved in discussions, like everyone else. The problem is that they have weapons. Which gives them a considerable advantage. and huge disadvantage for all the Lebanese.

Most importantly, we are stuck on details. We have to look at the bigger picture. Irrespective of whether they are with or against an international tribunal, they want more power (and how, in fact, can any Lebanese, be against investigations targeting young politicians and journalists?).

Funeral martyrs Pierre el Gemayel and Samir el Chartouni

2006-11-24T21:09:00.000-06:00

From the BBC

Jumblat

2006-11-24T14:31:00.000-06:00

Jumblat used to be described as a chameleon for changing sides frequently. He did so, many times, in the 90's. But he has been very consistent, for the last 2 years. His views simply make sense. and they are poetic and make you dream. and I have faith in him.
and my friend meeps, you saw that a long time ago

لن ينالوا من عزمنا للحياة ولن ينالوا،
لن ينالوا من ارادتنا في الصمود ولن ينالوا،
لن ينالوا من تمسكنا بالاستقلال ولن ينالوا،
لن ينالوا من عشقنا للحرية والتنوع والتعدد ولن ينالوا،
لن ينالوا من حبنا للفرح والحياة والامل ورفضنا لثقافة الموت والحزن ولن ينالوا،
لن ينالوا من رفضنا للمحاور، محاور السواد والظلام والقرون الوسطى والجاهلية ولن ينالوا،
لن ينالوا من رفضنا للشمولية والديكتاتورية ولن ينالوا،
لن ينالوا من حظر السلاح، كل السلاح في أمرة الدولة لحماية الجنوب ودولة الطائف ولن ينالوا،
لن ينالوا من مطلبنا للحقيقة والعدالة والمحكمة الدولية ولن ينالوا،
لن ينالوا من تمسكنا بلبنان، لبنان اولا.
وفوق كل هذا اقول لم اقرأ ولن أقرأ، لم أسمع ولن أسمع بيانات الفتنة في هذه اللحظة. وفوق الألم والجروح نحن مع الحوار".
اما انت يا شهيد لبنان، يا شهيد الاستقلال، يا شهيد الحرية والكرامة والعنفوان، يا شيخ بيار امين الجميل، فها انت تلتحق اليوم بقافلة الشهداء مع رفيقك سمير شرتوني، شهداء حزب الكتاب وشهداء آل الجميل وانسبائهم في قافلة شهداء الرابع عشر من آذار، شهداء الاستقلال الذين رفضوا التمديد ونظام الوصاية ونظام القهر والاستبداد، نظام القتل والاغتيال ولا يزال. تحية لك يا شيخ امين الجميل، يا فخامة الرئيس، ولعائلتك ولآل الجميل الكرام. تحية للرجال الرجال، ستبقى فينا يا شيخ بيار الجميل وسننتصر

Where to?

2006-11-23T00:02:00.000-06:00

The first reaction I had was why is another young Christian politician being murdered? Shot in bright daylight like a dog?

After Kassir and Tueni, we lose another one.

But the we, is not only the maronite from Ashrafieh or Bsharreh. The we is not only the greek orthodox from el Metn.
The we is also the sunnite from beirut, the shiite from the south and the druze from the jabal.

We, as Lebanese, are losing, every minute, every day.

This is not about Aoun, seniora or hizballa. This is about Lebanon.

And I listen to Amin el Gemayel and to Jumblat, and I am amazed on how much they have evolved. They have paid their dues, they have learned from the mistakes of the past. And I listen to Seniora. He cried before, but his latest speech made people cry. "Pierre, send our regards to Gebran, Samir, George and Rafik".

Ghassan lost Gebran. Amin, lost another one. After his brother, he loses his son.

The young is dead, the hope is gone.

Pierre, rest in peace.

2006-11-21T21:38:00.000-06:00

Pierre Amin Gemayel, 1972-2006

Monopoly

2006-11-13T21:50:00.000-06:00

According to hizballa/Aoun, the current government is monopolizing the political decisions.
Can anyone explain to me what hizballa just did few months ago? Didn't they monopolize everyone's decision? I mean, they dragged everyone into a war that cost us 20 years of investment and hard work.
Now tell me, who is wrong here?
I can't believe how some people can still defend Nasralla. Him, his extremism, his nonchalance and the fact that he thinks he is always right.

What is even more disappointing, is that people follow him like sheep. yes, sheep.

And this alliance Nasralla/Aoun/Lahoud is a disgrace. Not only to the maronites, but to all the lebanese.

From Paris to Beirut

2006-11-12T21:25:00.000-06:00

good for them, and us.

2006-11-11T13:38:00.000-06:00

So hizballa resigned from the government. Big deal, they don't belong there anyway. The government is where decisions are made, and from our recent experience, they think they are entitled to do whatever suits them.

Fcuk them, they don't belong to the government anyway. At least now, portfolios such as foreign affairs, agriculture, health, energy and labour would go to someone else.

Not a long time ago, they decided not to attend the sessions and kept on doing what suited them from their offices. Obviously, they are not responsible people.

But what is disappointing, is the fact that Amal ministers resigned as well. Berri was acting all nice and democratic recently, calling for a national dialogue. Fcuk him too, maybe Ahmadinajad will be tell him what to do next week, when he goes to Iran, his motherland. "the meeting was stopped partly because Speaker Nabih Berri was scheduled to leave for Iran*". Fcuk him, and them.

"The resignations also came after PM Saniora called for a cabinet meeting Monday to endorse the U.N. draft text of the international tribunal to try former PM Rafik Hariri's killers*", not that I liked Harriri that much, but what happened should not go unpunished.

"President Lahoud opposed the meeting, saying he needed more time to study the draft*". Look who's talking now.

Frustrating, simply because hizballa has weapons, otherwise I would not give 2 shits.

* from naharnet.

Press Release - Courage Acceptance Speech -- May Chidiac

2006-11-10T23:43:00.000-06:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I still remember every single detail of the explosion that almost killed me: the sound of the blast, the heat of the smoke, the taste of blood in my mouth. On this particular day, some cold-blooded criminals decided to eliminate me, but I survived, and it is not a secret anymore that my survival was a miracle.

"I will drink from your blood.”

Those words that I will never forget were said by a Syrian officer.

One year after the agression, I am more convinced that the agressors wanted to eliminate me, for I have spoken my mind, for I believed in a free democratic Lebanon, for I never asked myself, as President Kennedy once said, what my country can do for me but what I can do for my country, and I did much.

Yes, I lost my left hand. Yes , I lost my left leg. I have burns. I lived nine month in hospitals. I had 26 surgeries.

Moreover, I gave my country a hand to fight with, and a leg to kick all the enemies with, and they are not few.

The worst is that I can assure you that even now I am still threatened, but I kept on doing my job with no fear, ready for any danger I might face.

La suite is here

Enough is enough

2006-11-09T21:40:00.000-06:00

It would be insane that after
1) a 1000 kg bomb in the middle of downtown that took away the lives of close to 30 people, including a prime minister
2) one month long of destruction triggered by the recklessness of Nasralla & Co

He is asking for one third of the cabinet to gain veto power and he is protecting Lahoud.

If that were to happen, all of march 14 should be washed away from the face of the earth.

Zahi el Boustani

2006-11-08T22:03:00.000-06:00

He passed away on October 26, 2006.

Popular, he was not. Famous, he was not.

His death did not make the news. But he is someone who had an impact during the civil war.

A couple of articles about him.

Viviane Dagher

Antoine Najm

Elie el Hajj

Blogosphere sees healthy growth

2006-11-08T21:49:00.000-06:00

Taken from the BBC, about the blogosphere:

"Postings intensify around significant events such as the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in the summer".

Without You I'm Nothing

2006-11-03T23:45:00.001-06:00

The answer to Radiohead's creep.
Brian molko, with all the make up in the world.
and all the agony and mal de vivre...
Wihtout you, I'm nothing. you cannot get lower than that.

Miss sarajevo

2006-10-31T22:41:00.001-06:00

A message of peace.
A song for us to dream...
(u2 and luciano pavarotti)

The rabbits who caused all the trouble

2006-10-19T23:18:00.000-05:00

He, who kept me company at Starbucks (Hamra) for hours and hours.
He, who used to bear with me during happy hours on Fridays.
He, who speaks words of wisdom, sent me this email.

Any resemblane to our current situation?

"Within the memory of the youngest child, there was a family of rabbits who lived near a pack of wolves. The wolves announced that they did not like the way the rabbits were living. One night, several wolves were killed in an earthquake and this was blamed on the rabbits, for it is well known that rabbits pound on the ground with their hind legs and cause earthquakes. On another night, one of the wolves was killed by a bolt of lightening and this was also blamed on the rabbits, for it is well known that lettuce-eaters cause lightening. The wolves threatened to civilize the rabbits if they didn't behave, and the rabbits decided to run away to a desert island. But the other animals, who lived a great distance, shamed them saying, "You must stay where you are and be brave. This is no world for escapists. If the wolves attack you, we will come to your aid in all probability." So the rabbits continued to live near the wolves and one day there was a terrible flood which drowned a great many wolves. This was blamed on the rabbits, for it is well known that carrot-nibblers with long ears cause floods. The wolves descended on the rabbits for their own good, and imprisoned them in a dark cave for their own protection.

When nothing was heard about the rabbits for some weeks, the other animals demanded to know what had happened to them. The wolves replied that the rabbits had been eaten and since they had been eaten, the affair was purely an internal matter. But the other animals warned that they might possible unite against the wolves unless some reason was given for the destruction of the rabbits. So the wolves gave them one. "They were trying to escape," said the wolves, "and as you know, this is no world for escapists".

(c) Captain meeps

Anthony Bourdain in Beirut

2006-10-16T22:16:00.000-05:00

I was hoping to watch something funny, something that will make me think less, feel less, and make me forget where I am and who I am.

Instead, I got Anthony Bourdain describing his few days in Beirut during the last war (I hope this will be our last war...)

"We went to Beirut to film a TV show about the city's newly vibrant culinary and cultural scene. Then the bombs started falling, and we could only stand on the barricades of our hotel balcony and watch it all disappear -- again".

Cafe soleil

2006-10-12T20:49:00.000-05:00

Soleil est notre chef pour ce soir. Vous allez etre servis par Esperance.
Et l'ambiance est congolaise, par excellence.

Toutes les couleurs de l'arc en ciel, toutes les langues du monde.

Et je me sentais au Liban avec toutes les divergences possibles. Et c'etait calme, beau et tranquille.

...Et c'est ainsi que la vie est supposee etre.

Cody

2006-10-01T04:26:00.000-05:00

Old songs, stay till the end.
Sad songs, remind me of friends.
And the way it is, I could leave it all
And I ask myself, would you care at all

De Prague, good friends, good times, in good old Beirut - 2004

One of the few Mogwai tracks with lyrics. Cody(song and album), Mogwai, 1999

Save the district of Gemayze from more than 10 residential towers projects!

2006-09-30T10:38:00.000-05:00

To some, Gemayze is nothing more than Torino express and Le Rouge. And although these small pubs that flourished on that old straight street gave it a certain flavor and brought it back to Life, Gemayze has much more to offer.
It is a blend of old high ceiled houses, schools, churches and pubs.

This is on-line petition against the building of new towers in that city.

No more cement please. Please preserve what is already there.

Bruce Lee vs Jet Li

2006-09-29T17:16:00.000-05:00

vs.

Place your bets.
One was a kung fu master. The other one is a Wushu master.
I know where my money is going.

Jet li has revolutionized the martial arts world with wushu expanding to over 55 countries in the last few years. Bruce Lee did the same with kung fu in the 70's and he should be accredited with introducing this fine art to the west.

However, Jet Li's impact goes beyond that. "Hero" and his recent "Fearless", are not just about martial arts. It is about Chinese traditions, amazing scenery, natural beauty and cultural heritage. It is about values, love and hate, instincts and discipline.

Of note, Hero is the best selling Chinese movie. It was re-produced by Quentin Tarantino for the US audience. Fearless, well, I am sure, will beat Hero, by far.

Fearless, unfortunately, might be Jet Li's last martial arts movie. He is 43, after all.

Ghassan Tueni for the 2006 Sakharov prize

2006-09-27T18:10:00.000-05:00

"I would like to bury here, with him, all forms of hatred and resentment" is what he said as he made his farewell to his son.

Many times children succeed to their fathers.

Except in Lebanon.Where even this natural chains of events is disrupted.

Tribute to the Tueni's.

Aoun - Help

2006-09-23T19:24:00.000-05:00

So Aoun should stop using those double standards.

He cannot on the one hand, keep on repeating that the Christians are not well represented (which is actually true) creating more sectarian tension while on the other hand, he is trying to look secular by pleasing Nasralla (especially since the presidential elections are getting closer).

And it is not because a Christian leader cannot get along with Nasralla. But simply because Hezbollah is not "Lebanese". I mean, we should listen to his speech. He thanked el Assad and Ahmadinajad for their support. Thank el Assad? for what? 30 years of assassinations of politicians, kidnapping and torture of political activists?30 years of occupation? (to say the least).

Aoun had balls when everyone had none (now he only has waffles). He launched the liberation war in 1990 against the Syrian occupiers. And now what? He aligns himself with people like Karami and Wahab?
What a major disappointment. Not just for him, as a person, but for the young people around him, those who fought and resisted for 15 years. I don't know how people like Ne3metalla Abi Nasr and Farid el Khazen still stick to him.

It is very ironic that Geagea, a strong believer and fighter for federalism in the late 80's makes more sense than Aoun nowadays. Maybe those 15 years in prison did give him the opportunity to reflect on the civil war.

Chadi

2006-09-22T01:31:00.000-05:00

and I look around, but i can't recognize the faces.
and I turn around and want to hide my traces.

and I want to run, and never come back.
and I lost track... of days and friends.
and it is all black.

outside and inside.

and it rains.

and I wonder.

and then I wander.

Les femmes, c'est comme les poupees russes.

2006-09-14T23:55:00.000-05:00

Xavier est de retour. Et il a peut etre raison.
On passe sa vie a chercher la femme ideale. Et quand on la trouve, on se demande si c'est sa l'amour. Avec un grand A. Et au fait, c'est quoi l'amour?est-ce ce qu'on lit dans les bouquins ou qu'on voit dans les films?
Les femmes, c'est comme les poupees russes. On entasse l'une apres l'autre en se demandant si c'est elle la derniere...et on ne saura jamais.

Captain, you were right. It was a great movie!

Bay-Geen

2006-09-13T23:51:00.000-05:00

Bachir Gemayel. Nov 10, 1947- Sep 14, 1982.
It has been 24 years ya bach.

"Lebanon First" and "not less than 10452". Where are we from that?

Born in bifkaya, BG was the son of Pierre gemayel, founder of the Phalanges party.
He completed his education at "L'institut moderne" and graduated from "L'universite St Joseph" with degrees in Law and political science. He joined the bar association in Texas in 1973.
He created the Lebanese forces which became the military branch of the phalanges party.
He led the LF during the 100 day war. As the name implies, the Syrian army closed off and bombarded ashrafieh non stop for 100 days. He also led the LF for close to a year when again, the Syrian army closed off Zahle.
He became head of the military activities for the phalanges when William Hawi was killed in Tel el Zaatar.
He was abducted by the Palestinian PLO, and then released. An event that impacted his political ideas.
His first child, Maya, was killed in 1980 in a car bomb that targeted him. He was killed during a regular session at the HQ of the phalanges at Saifi-Ashrafieh, along with 26 other members. The perpetrator, Habib Shartouni was a member of the Syrian Socialist Nationalist Party. He was set free in 1990 when the Syrian army invaded Baabda to dethrone Aoun. He was occasionally seen walking free in Ashrafieh.
He was elected president in one of the closest votes for a Lebanese president. Which was to be expected with all the political divisions at that time.
He is survived by his wife, Solange toutounji-gemayel (who unfortunately was elected to the parliament 2 years ago), his son Nadim (a local political activist) and his daughter youmna.
A charismatic leader and a staunch believer in Lebanon.

Ignorance is NOT bliss

2006-09-11T19:37:00.000-05:00

According to a recent CNN poll, more than 50% of the US population think that Saddam Hussein was personally involved in the 9/11 attacks.

Doesn't that leave you speechless? I mean, after all that has happened, shouldn't people be reading more and be more politically aware of what is happening around the world? But then again, maybe following up on Tom Cruise's kid and J Lo's love life are more important.

This is PURE IGNORANCE, to say the least.

It leaves me speechless. What a grim future for this world.

Les retrouvailles, avec Yann.

2006-09-08T18:12:00.000-05:00

Amelie poulain, en tant que film, te fait vivre dans un reve.

Un reve ou tout le monde est beau, le ciel est bleu, et des gens comme Amelie font tout pour que les gens soient heureux.

5 ans apres avoir vu ce film pour la premiere fois, et grace a la musique, je n'arrive toujours pas a oublier certaines scenes. Yann, un expert en ce qu'on appelle "film score" a reussi a capturer toutes les emotions du film en musique. En ecoutant aujourd'hui la band originale du film, j'arrive a visualiser Amelie courant avec un grand sourire sur son visage.
Et ca ne s'arrete pas la. La musique de Goodbye lenin est beaucoup mieux que ca. Les differents tons du film; l'amour, la joie et la tristesse sont transformes en notes de piano. Juste un piano. Et c'est un vrain succes
Les retrouvailles, son dernier album ne decoit pas. Au fait, en l'ecoutant, tu te sens dans un film. Un film a la Hollywood ou on est tous epanouis et radieux.
Tu peux l'appeller de la "cheap thrill" mais ca marche; mieux qu'autres choses.
ca marche; pour mois au moins (et c'est suffisant).

Merci Yann.

Syd

2006-09-01T23:52:00.000-05:00

(January 6, 1946 – July 7, 2006)

"A genius is a person with distinguished mental abilities".
And Syd Barret was definitely such a guy. You can't help but draw a resemblance to pink, the wall's main character. and this is no surprise.
Syd, a great inspirational musician, started what came down in history as one of the best bands of all time, Pink Floyd.
It is no wonder that they dedicated a whole album just for him, the crazy diamond. and we wish he was still here.

PS: He passed away during the craziness of last month, so I saved this until the tribute does not go unnoticed.

UNIFL

2006-08-17T00:19:00.000-05:00

The Tashnak, the main Armenian political party in Lebanon, expressed concerns on possible contribution of Turkey to the international peace keeping troops.
There were also objections to Germany's presence, in view of its past history with the Jewish community.
Israel also made it clear that it did not support the presence of soldiers from Islamic countries.
So who is left!?

Looking back

2006-08-16T23:28:00.000-05:00

Not going far away, many questions were raised on who and why Harriri was killed? and what was the significance of that timing?

The Syrian plot was the obvious answer, the easy way out.
Many questions remain unanswered. But after what just happened, I am having my own doubts.
Harriri, irrespective of his many criticizers (and I am one of them), would have been able to manage this crisis differently. And that is for many reasons:
- He had close personal ties to both Chirac and Bush.
- His presence on the world political scene is quite impressive, from the US, France, Saudi Arabia to mention the least.
- He had his say and would have had a greater influence on Nasralla and hizballa.

Moreover, he is a world leader in re-construction. He helped rebuild Lebanon, once in the past. "been there, done that". The amount of funds (and loans) he would have been able to generate and secure would definitely beat what can be collected now.

For all of these reasons, if he were still around when the crisis first started, its course could have been quite different.

Which makes me think again on who would benefit the most from his absence. It is not only the Axis of Iran-Syria- and hizballa (hizb being at the bottom, our first axis of evil) but also the second axis US-UK-Israel ( which is not any better than the first axis).
A different perspective we ought to keep in mind.

2006-08-14T21:47:00.001-05:00

So what would Samir Kassir and Gebran Tueni say about all of this mess?
Now is when we miss such people the most.

Facts

2006-08-13T22:38:00.000-05:00

Few hours from a ceasefire, where do we stand? What did this war accomplish?

According to different standards, one side or the other is terrorist. Nowadays, this word, terrorist, is being over used, and misused.

Israel has proven to the world, that it is a terrorist country, par excellence.
30 civilians killed on average, per day, over more than 30 days.
Bombing human convoys, milk manufacturing companies, historical sites, shelters for children. and the list goes on and on. I will not talk about thousands of Palestinians who disappeared from the face of the earth. Isn't this enough?
Hizballa is not better, targeting humans as well. Actually, with Ketiocha rockets you cannot "target" anything. It is a very primitive rocket launcher.
Hizballa decided to ignite this war without consulting other lebanese. They cannot drag the Lebanese into this war. Most of the Lebanese did not want this war. Unfortunately, with them being the only fraction with weapons, they emerged as the savors. unfortunately, whoever thinks they are ready to lay down their weapons simply because the US said so, is a dreamer. and I am a dreamer.
They also proved to the world that they only obey Iran. And Iran has its own agenda, which goes way beyond Lebanon, Beirut, Tyre or Baalabeck. Although they are "lebanese", their loyalty is not to their nation. They would obey their leaders, lebanese, Iranians and Syrians. And the Lebanese have to deal with this, once and for all, somehow, someway.
It proved again the biased and unjust support of America to Israel. It also showed Britain as being a mere follower of US foreign policy, without any kind of initiative, Blair a prisoner of Bush's stupidity and near sightedness.
This war proved more and more the conflict of civilizations. The huge gap created by the western civilization and the Muslim world. Voices everywhere in the middle east viewed Nasralla as a Muslim hero, able to stand in front of Israel, and its strongest ally, the US.
And this is an issue which is gaining momentum. A problem that goes beyond Lebanon and Israel.
Israel, hizballa Lebanon, US, Muslim, Jews.
A cease fire comes first, but what next?

schizophrenia

2006-08-09T11:40:00.000-05:00

On one hand:
Israeli Cabinet approves to deepen the military offensive, expecting it to last for at least another month.
US urges Israel not to use excessive force during the conflict.

On the other hand:
The Lebanese government, for the first time in more than 25 years, adopted a resolution to send 15000 troops to the South. First time in many many years.

Obviously, this is not going to work.
Obviously, the 2 sides are going in different directions.
obviously, Israel does not care about finding a political solution. When every one is trying to find a way out, Israel wants to kill more and more. Hungry for blood, hungry for death.

We should stop fooling ourselves. This is not going to end anywhere soon.

a dream

2006-08-05T22:29:00.000-05:00

So what is it about Lebanon that makes it so unstable? a series of assassinations last year (intellectuals, journalists, politicians, human beings), total destruction this year? Why do we have to go through this cycle of violence every year? Why can't we live in peace? Don't we deserve it?

I refuse to give up. I refuse to see in hizbolla the savor of Lebanon.

I will go back, we will go back. and rebuild. not just the bridges, but our hopes, homes and dreams.

I go to bed everyday dreaming that I will wake up at home.
and they will never take this dream away.

Dead. Do Not Rescucitate

2006-08-04T23:46:00.000-05:00

Killed, wounded, phosphorus bombs, burnt, blood shed. Death.
women, children, elderly.
infrastructure, hospitals, environment.

when will this craziness stop?

Are we so much used to people dying in Iraq that we don't react anymore?
Dont we make the association between what we see on TV and our hearts and minds?
Sitting in the comfort of our home, watching live pictures of ungoing bombing and death.

small break, time for advertisments.

Is the world blind?

Discussions are under way for a cease fire. underway? few days? few weeks? How can the world sit and wait?
There have been so much death in the last few years in this world, so much hatred, so much suffering.
Life should be about love and happiness.

What is happening now is not compatible with life.

Cuba...doomed

2006-08-04T23:10:00.000-05:00

These are the own words of Condoleezza Rice

"All Cubans who desire peaceful democratic change can count on the support of the United States".

Been there, done that. Democracy, the american way. Scary for Cuba.

Relief activities in Lebanon

2006-07-27T08:45:00.000-05:00

I remember this guy doing great things back in AUB.
I think he is doing it again.
And my opinion has nothing to do with the fact that I have known him for many years :)

I believe people like him can really make a difference.

Visit his blog, and donate!

Lebanon Solidarity 2006

What really scares me

2006-07-27T08:40:00.000-05:00

What really scares me is not the amount of damage inflicted to Lebanon.
It is not about the lost billions of dollars this summer from tourism.
It is not about destroyed bridges, airports and buildings.

My biggest fear came from conversations and discussions I had with friends who were still in Lebanon.
One family is going back to Canada, another one is heading back to France, Australia...and the list goes on and on.
Another friend who finally "established" himself in Lebanon, is now waiting for his visa.

We can rebuild bridges and buildings. We can gain back our "pearl of the middle east" title.

But the people who travel, we lose them forever. And it's the people who make Lebanon so special. It is their spirit, their enthusiasm, their vision and determination.

And this is what scares me. These people will leave, and only those who were prepared for the war ( ie Hizbolla and its supporters) will stay. And then Lebanon will never be the same again.

KEY INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGED IN ISRAELI BOMBING

2006-07-26T21:40:00.000-05:00

Summary of the main Lebanese infrastructure damaged by Israeli bombing in the two weeks since the conflict began on 12 July, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs:

Airports
Beirut International
Qaleiat domestic
Rayak military

Ports
Beirut
Tripoli
Jounieh

Other transport
Lighthouse, Beirut
Bridges: 62
Fuel stations: 22
Overpasses: 72
Dams: 3
Roads: 600km

Military
Radar installations: 4
Army barracks: 1

Civilian
Private homes: 5,000
Commercial
Tissue paper factory, Bekaa
Bottle factory, Bekaa
Other businesses: 150
Communications
Hezbollah's al-Manar TV station, Haret Hreik, Beirut
MTC mobile phone antenna, Dahr al-Baidar

Utilities
Jiyeh power plant
Sibline power station
Sewage plant, Dair al-Zahrani

but they will not destroy the people, their strength, or their will to survive and prosper. time proved us right in the past, and we will prove it again.

Rice & Co

2006-07-24T22:21:00.000-05:00

Dr.Condoleezza Rice should go back to teaching. This is what made her famous, to start with.
Or maybe to playing the piano, and practicing her French. This is what I remember most about her when she went into the political arena. So far, she had no other accomplishment, despite having many opportunities.

And the current crisis in the middle east was one of them; which she missed again.
It took a US representative 2 weeks of ferocious fighting to visit the area. Only to come up with statements to allow and legtimize more killing and more destruction.
I will not comment on Bush's statements. Some things are just too obvious. Some things are just not expected from someone like him.

When people are in power, when a nation is able to make a difference, but fails, this failure counts as double and triple.

When the UN is calling on the world to send food and money for refugees on urgent basis, the US is sending new weapons to Israel, on urgent basis as well. and Blair, reduced to the role of confirming and adopting any US stance on the situation in the middle east is not better.
It is unfortunate to see people with power fail to step up and make a positive difference in the world.

and we pay for their ignorance.

We should have understood a long time ago, not to depend on anyone except ourselves. history repeating itself.

And we pay for our mistakes.

Paradise lost: Robert fisk

2006-07-21T23:17:00.000-05:00

This article has been circulating.

Paradise Lost: Robert Fisk

Elegant buildings lie in ruins. The heady scent of gardenias gives way
to the acrid stench of bombed-out oil installations. And everywhere
terrified people are scrambling to get out of a city that seems tragically
doomed to chaos and destruction. As Beirut - 'the Paris of the East' - is
defiled yet again, Robert Fisk, a resident for 30 years, asks: how much more
punishment can it take? * *Published: 19 July 2006 *

In the year 551, the magnificent, wealthy city of Berytus - headquarters
of the imperial East Mediterranean Roman fleet - was struck by a massive
earthquake. In its aftermath, the sea withdrew several miles and the
survivors - ancestors of the present-day Lebanese - walked out on the sands
to loot the long-sunken merchant ships revealed in front of them.

That was when a tidal wall higher than a tsunami returned to swamp the
city and kill them all. So savagely was the old Beirut damaged that the
Emperor Justinian sent gold from Constantinople as compensation to every
family left alive.

Some cities seem forever doomed. When the Crusaders arrived at Beirut on
their way to Jerusalem in the 11th century, they slaughtered every man,
woman and child in the city. In the First World War, Ottoman Beirut suffered
a terrible famine; the Turkish army had commandeered all the grain and the
Allied powers blockaded the coast. I still have some ancient postcards I
bought here 30 years ago of stick-like children standing in an orphanage,
naked and abandoned.

An American woman living in Beirut in 1916 described how she "passed women
and children lying by the roadside with closed eyes and ghastly, pale faces.
It was a common thing to find people searching the garbage heaps for orange
peel, old bones or other refuse, and eating them greedily when found.
Everywhere women could be seen seeking eatable weeds among the grass along
the roads..."

How does this happen to Beirut? For 30 years, I've watched this place die
and then rise from the grave and then die again, its apartment blocks pitted
with so many bullets they looked like Irish lace, its people massacring each
other.

I lived here through 15 years of civil war that took 150,000 lives, and
two Israeli invasions and years of Israeli bombardments that cost the lives
of a further 20,000 of its people. I have seen them armless, legless,
headless, knifed, bombed and splashed across the walls of houses. Yet they
are a fine, educated, moral people whose generosity amazes every foreigner,
whose gentleness puts any Westerner to shame, and whose suffering we almost
always ignore.

They look like us, the people of Beirut. They have light-coloured skin and
speak beautiful English and French. They travel the world. Their women are
gorgeous and their food exquisite. But what are we saying of their fate
today as the Israelis - in some of their cruellest attacks on this city and
the surrounding countryside - tear them from their homes, bomb them on river
bridges, cut them off from food and water and electricity? We say that they
started this latest war, and we compare their appalling casualties - 240 in
all of Lebanon by last night - with Israel's 24 dead, as if the figures are
the same.

And then, most disgraceful of all, we leave the Lebanese to their fate
like a diseased people and spend our time evacuating our precious foreigners
while tut-tutting about Israel's "disproportionate" response to the capture
of its soldiers by Hizbollah.

I walked through the deserted city centre of Beirut yesterday and it
reminded more than ever of a film lot, a place of dreams too beautiful to
last, a phoenix from the ashes of civil war whose plumage was so brightly
coloured that it blinded its own people. This part of the city - once a
Dresden of ruins - was rebuilt by Rafiq Hariri, the prime minister who was
murdered scarcely a mile away on 14 February last year.

The wreckage of that bomb blast, an awful precursor to the present war in
which his inheritance is being vandalised by the Israelis, still stands
beside the Mediterranean, waiting for the last UN investigator to look for
clues to the assassination - an investigator who has long ago abandoned this
besieged city for the safety of Cyprus.

At the empty Etoile restaurant - best snails and cappuccino in Beirut,
where Hariri once dined Jacques Chirac - I sat on the pavement and watched
the parliamentary guard still patrolling the faÃ§ade of the French-built
emporium that houses what is left of Lebanon's democracy. So many of these
streets were built by Parisians under the French mandate and they have been
exquisitely restored, their mock Arabian doorways bejewelled with marble
Roman columns dug from the ancient Via Maxima a few metres away.

Hariri loved this place and, taking Chirac for a beer one day, he caught
sight of me sitting at a table. "Ah Robert, come over here," he roared and
then turned to Chirac like a cat that was about to eat a canary. "I want to
introduce you, Jacques, to the reporter who said I couldn't rebuild Beirut!"

And now it is being un-built. The Martyr Rafiq Hariri International
Airport has been attacked three times by the Israelis, its glistening halls
and shopping malls vibrating to the missiles that thunder into the runways
and fuel depots. Hariri's wonderful transnational highway viaduct has been
broken by Israeli bombers. Most of his motorway bridges have been destroyed.
The Roman-style lighthouse has been smashed by a missile from an Apache
helicopter. Only this small jewel of a restaurant in the centre of Beirut
has been spared. So far.

It is the slums of Haret Hreik and Ghobeiri and Shiyah that have been
levelled and "rubble-ised" and pounded to dust, sending a quarter of a
million Shia Muslims to seek sanctuary in schools and abandoned parks across
the city. Here, indeed, was the headquarters of Hizbollah, another of those
"centres of world terror" which the West keeps discovering in Muslim lands.
Here lived Sayed Hassan Nasrallah, the Party of God's leader, a ruthless,
caustic, calculating man; and Sayad Mohamed Fadlallah, among the wisest and
most eloquent of clerics; and many of Hizbollah's top military planners -
including, no doubt, the men who planned over many months the capture of the
two Israeli soldiers last Wednesday.

But did the tens of thousands of poor who live here deserve this act of
mass punishment? For a country that boasts of its pin-point accuracy - a
doubtful notion in any case, but that's not the issue - what does this act
of destruction tell us about Israel? Or about ourselves?

In a modern building in an undamaged part of Beirut, I come, quite by
chance, across a well known and prominent Hizbollah figure, open-neck white
shirt, dark suit, clean shoes. "We will go on if we have to for days or
weeks or months or..." And he counts these awful statistics off on the
fingers of his left hand. "Believe me, we have bigger surprises still to
come for the Israelis - much bigger, you will see. Then we will get our
prisoners and it will take just a few small concessions.

I walk outside, feeling as if I have been beaten over the head. Over the
wall opposite there is purple bougainvillaea and white jasmine and a swamp
of gardenias. The Lebanese love flowers, their colour and scent, and Beirut
is draped in trees and bushes that smell like paradise.

As for the huddled masses from the powder of the bombed-out southern slums
of Haret Hreik, I found hundreds of them yesterday, sitting under trees and
lying on the parched grass beside an ancient fountain donated to the city of
Beirut by the Ottoman Sultan Abdul-Hamid. How empires fall.

Far away, across the Mediterranean, two American helicopters from the USS
Iwo Jima could be seen, heading through the mist and smoke towards the US
embassy bunker complex at Awkar to evacuate more citizens of the American
Empire. There was not a word from that same empire to help the people lying
in the park, to offer them food or medical aid.

And across them all has spread a dark grey smoke that works its way
through the entire city, the fires of oil terminals and burning buildings
turning into a cocktail of sulphurous air that moves below our doors and
through our windows. I smell it when I wake in the morning. Half the people
of Beirut are coughing in this filth, breathing their own destruction as
they contemplate their dead.

The anger that any human soul should feel at such suffering and loss was
expressed so well by Lebanon's greatest poet, the mystic Khalil Gibran, when
he wrote of the half million Lebanese who died in the 1916 famine, most of
them residents of Beirut:

My people died of hunger, and he who
Did not perish from starvation was
Butchered with the sword;
They perished from hunger
In a land rich with milk and honey.
They died because the vipers and
Sons of vipers spat out poison into
The space where the Holy Cedars and
The roses and the jasmine breathe
Their fragrance.

And the sword continues to cut its way through Beirut. When part of an
aircraft - perhaps the wing-tip of an F-16 hit by a missile, although the
Israelis deny this - came streaking out of the sky over the eastern suburbs
at the weekend, I raced to the scene to find a partly decapitated driver in
his car and three Lebanese soldiers from the army's logistics unit. These
are the tough, brave non-combat soldiers of Kfar Chim, who have been mending
power and water lines these past six days to keep Beirut alive.

I knew one of them. "Hello Robert, be quick because I think the Israelis
will bomb again but we'll show you everything we can." And they took me
through the fires to show me what they could of the wreckage, standing
around me to protect me.

And a few hours later, the Israelis did come back, as the men of the small
logistics unit were going to bed, and they bombed the barracks and killed 10
soldiers, including those three kind men who looked after me amid the fires
of Kfar Chim.

And why? Be sure - the Israelis know what they are hitting. That's why
they killed nine soldiers near Tripoli when they bombed the military radio
antennas. But a logistics unit? Men whose sole job was to mend electricity
lines? And then it dawns on me. Beirut is to die. It is to be starved of
electricity now that the power station in Jiyeh is on fire. No one is to be
allowed to keep Beirut alive. So those poor men had to be liquidated.

Beirutis are tough people and are not easily moved. But at the end of last
week, many of them were overcome by a photograph in their daily papers of a
small girl, discarded like a broken flower in a field near Ter Harfa, her
feet curled up, her hand resting on her torn blue pyjamas, her eyes -
beneath long, soft hair - closed, turned away from the camera. She had been
another "terrorist" target of Israel and several people, myself among them,
saw a frightening similarity between this picture and the photograph of a
Polish girl lying dead in a field beside her weeping sister in 1939.

I go home and flick through my files, old pictures of the Israeli invasion
of 1982. There are more photographs of dead children, of broken bridges.
"Israelis Threaten to Storm Beirut", says one headline. "Israelis
Retaliate". "Lebanon At War". "Beirut Under Siege". "Massacre at Sabra and
Chatila".

Yes, how easily we forget these earlier slaughters. Up to 1,700
Palestinians were butchered at Sabra and Chatila by Israel's proxy Christian
militia allies in September of 1982 while Israeli troops - as they later
testified to Israel's own court of inquiry - watched the killings. I was
there. I stopped counting the corpses when I reached 100. Many of the women
had been raped before being knifed or shot.

Yet when I was fleeing the bombing of Ghobeiri with my driver Abed last
week, we swept right past the entrance of the camp, the very spot where I
saw the first murdered Palestinians. And we did not think of them. We did
not remember them. They were dead in Beirut and we were trying to stay alive
in Beirut, as I have been trying to stay alive here for 30 years.

I am back on the sea coast when my mobile phone rings. It is an Israeli
woman calling me from the United States, the author of a fine novel about
the Palestinians. "Robert, please take care," she says. "I am so, so sorry
about what is being done to the Lebanese. It is unforgivable. I pray for the
Lebanese people, and the Palestinians, and the Israelis." I thank her for
her thoughtfulness and the graceful, generous way she condemned this
slaughter.

Then, on my balcony - a glance to check the location of the Israeli
gunboat far out in the sea-smog - I find older clippings. This is from an
English paper in 1840, when Beirut was a great Ottoman city. "Beyrouth" was
the dateline. "Anarchy is now the order of the day, our properties and
personal safety are endangered, no satisfaction can be obtained, and crimes
are committed with impunity. Several Europeans have quitted their houses and
suspended their affairs, in order to find protection in more peaceable
countries."

On my dining-room wall, I remember, there is a hand-painted lithograph of
French troops arriving in Beirut in 1842 to protect the Christian Maronites
from the Druze. They are camping in the Jardin des Pins, which will later
become the site of the French embassy where, only a few hours ago, I saw
French men and women registering for their evacuation. And outside the
window, I hear again the whisper of Israeli jets, hidden behind the smoke
that now drifts 20 miles out to sea.

Fairouz, the most popular of Lebanese singers, was to have performed at
this year's Baalbek festival, cancelled now like all Lebanon's festivals of
music, dance, theatre and painting. One of her most popular songs is
dedicated to her native city:

To Beirut - peace to Beirut with all my heart
And kisses - to the sea and clouds,
To the rock of a city that looks like an old sailor's face.
From the soul of her people she makes wine,
From their sweat, she makes bread and jasmine.
So how did it come to taste of smoke and fire?

Ministry of finance

2006-07-21T10:19:00.000-05:00

July 21, 2006

ACCOUNT INFORMATION FOR DONATIONS

Since July 12, 2006, Lebanon has been subjected to a savage aggression that has so far led to the loss of around 350 human lives, the injury of more than 600, the displacement of around 20 percent of the Lebanese population, the isolation of almost half the country due to severe damage to essential infrastructure and the continuing threat of aerial bombardment. A humanitarian crisis is looming over Lebanon as the living conditions, particularly in South Lebanon, are worsening with the unavailability of shelter, food or medicine for inhabitants and the refugees. In hardly hit areas, there is a serious threat of chemical intoxication and health hazards. The toll of loss of life and property is growing by the minute.
To express your solidarity with the plight of Lebanese people and aid Lebanon in its hour of need, please send your donations to the one of the following:
US$:

Federal Reserve Bank of New York, New YorkBic code FRNYUS33 Routing Number 021084694
Favor Banque du Liban account number 021084694
Euros:
Deutsche Bank, Frankfurt
Bic code DEUTDEFF
Favor Banque du Liban account number 021084694
Lebanese Lira:
Banque du Liban Account Number 01700362123

We thank you for your care and support.

LBC on CNN pipeline

2006-07-17T08:34:00.000-05:00

LBC is one of the channels on CNN pipeline.
it is a good deal, 2.95$ a month ( 0.99 $ a day or 25$ for the whole year).
As much as I don't like CNN with its skewed information, it looks like a good deal.
I haven't tried it yet. Cant wait to go home.

haaretz article

2006-07-16T17:57:00.000-05:00

well, reading this makes you feel there might be hope. or maybe not hope, but someone on the other side who is not being lead blindly but who actually thinks and understands what is going on.

On line petitions

2006-07-16T14:51:00.000-05:00

I don't know if signing petitions or participating in peaceful rallies can make such a huge difference, but that is the least we can do. at least from here, at least for now.
A couple of online petitions:

http://www.petitiononline.com/Jul06Leb/petition.html

http://epetitions.net/julywar/

from LeMSIC

2006-07-16T14:45:00.000-05:00

Many of you might remember LeMSIC, the Lebanese Medical Students' Internaltional Committee. Message from them

On behalf of a Lebanese Citizen:

Dear friends,

I am writing to you as a helpless human being praying in a country slowly being erased from the surface of life for my salvation, that of my fellow Lebanese brothers and that of my country.

A brief summary from the perspective of a citizen: half of Lebanon is isolated with more than 40 main bridges destroyed, my family in the south has no food to eat, no meat, no bread and the vegetables are very highly priced because of the danger to bring them in, missiles are fired every day and night on many villages in the south. Beirut is harshly being bombarded, a lot of bridges were pulverized even in the capital, the airport is devastatingly damaged as well as all the roads linking Lebanon to the neighboring country Syria. Today all the sea ports were bombarded and we are imprisoned while many Lebanese are compelled to stay outside Lebanon and many non-Lebanese from all nationalities are compelled to remain in. No food, gas, fuel, or post can reach us. Villages all over the Bekaa and the north are also bombarded and this all has happened in only 3 days!!!

The situation is escalating around the clock! We are now under the threat of chemical intoxication since many fuel storage tanks all over the coastline are being targeted. There is much worst! Kafarshooba and Hetta, two villages in the south are being shelled with prohibited chemical weapons and toxic substances. Villagers who are seeking refuge in occasional shelters, completely isolated with no minimum fundamental supplies, are asked now to inhale through wet textiles, sniff onions and to grind charcoal then put it in wet tissues to protect themselves from intoxication!

Hundreds of civilians were cold-bloodedly targeted and killed on purpose in such a way never seen or imagined before! The most appalling and shocking massacre was when a bus carrying about 25 villagers from Marwaheen was hit by a rocket. They were fleeing their village following an Israeli threat and the UNIFL refused to shelter them! No one of them remained alive! The region of Dahieh (Beirut southern suburb) was completely devastated like HiroshimaÂ Its inhabitants, or those who are still alive, are fleeing to other regions where public and private schools establishments opened their door to give them refugeÂ

In light of the foregoing, I feel that words are useless or have lost their meaningÂ.

I am not sure what I am asking for exactly...I don't know if you are aware that the UN meeting on Thursday did not lead to a decision to a cease-fire, which I perceive as contradictory with the very definition of the UN.

All I want is my rights as a human being. What I am asking for is that no matter what the problem is, it should be solved outside the scope of a war.

Is there anything our community of young people can do? Would the governments of the world listen to the voices of the next generation? I really don't know what I am asking for, but I know I am asking for help.

Thank you for reading this, it would already mean a lot to me.

The Lebanese Medical Students' International Committee, has prepared a petition, to be sent to the UN, UN Security Council, EU, and other NGOs, institutions and councils working in the field of Human Rights and Peace.

To access and sign the petition, please click on http://www.petitiononline.com/Jul06Leb/petition.html

Let's make a stand for humanity, let's make a stand against war, let's make a stand against crimes..
Please forward to all your members, friends, and families..

God Bless Lebanon
L.

Lara M.N. El-Zahabi, MD
President - LeMSIC
Lebanese Medical Students' International Committee
Vice-President - IFMSA
International Federation of Medical Students' Associations

CNN vote

2006-07-16T12:00:00.000-05:00

CNN vote
so far 62 % think that what isreal is doing is justified.

Peaceful rallies

2006-07-15T17:32:00.000-05:00

From Mononoke's blog
Peaceful rally in Boston, MA this upcoming Wednesday July 19th.
Please forward this and inform anyone in the area who might be interested to attend or who might inform anyone living in or around Boston.

Location: City Hall Plaza, 1 City Hall Plz, Boston, MA 02201
Cross Street: Cambridge Street

Time: 7-9 pm

please try to make it. our country needs us, we have to take a stand. no one else will.

From _z's blog:
Montreal / Canada:

URGENT RELEASE: CALL FOR DEMONSTRATION SUNDAY JULY 16, 11AM – PEEL AND RENE LEVESQUE

Other areas in the workd. From moghtarebeen website.

The lesser of 2 evils

2006-07-15T17:14:00.000-05:00

This is not a political statement.

when the death toll is that high.
when innocent people are dying, around the clock.
when Beirut makes the news, again.
when people watch from the comfort of their home Lebanon burning.
when we make excellent viewing material, again.
when my folks back home haven't slept in days.
when they go to bed, knowing that they might never wake up again.
when our chances of going back HOME, yes HOME, one day are close to nill.
when people who have survived the war for over 25 years, go through this again.

when all of that happens, discussing who is right and who is wrong makes no sense at all.
Destruction has to stop. This killing has to stop.

this is not a decent life, for anyone. life should be " LIFE", not death.

and this is death. this is standing in line, waiting for your turn to go down.

ooops he did it again!

2006-07-12T14:15:00.000-05:00

No matter what, Zizou is probably one of the best players in the history of football.

The Italians deserve an OSCAR

2006-07-09T17:31:00.000-05:00

...AND NOT THE WORLD CUP.

Football is a physical game.
Football is an aggressive game.

The Italians, with their tight shirts, deserve an Oscar for their performance at the world cup. They fell whenever anyone hardly touched them. They complained to the referee for any loose ball. Sometimes they would complain first and then fall to the ground in pain. They would even point to the wrong leg.

And this is not what football is all about.

This happened with France, Germany and most of the other teams they played against.

Best actor (male and female), best supporting actor, best direction, best production, best costumes.

Excellent performance, bravo!