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Among the most important Lebanon Spots, Beirut is the capital and greatest urban center of Lebanon with a population starting from some 1 million to more than 2 million as of 2007. Positioned on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's seacoast with the Mediterranean sea, it functions as the state's primary and chief seaport, and at the same time forms the Beirut City Region, which involves the metropolis and its suburbs. The earliest reference to this urban center is noticed in the early Egyptian Tell el Amarna notes, dating to the 15th century B . C ., and the urban center has been steadily inhabited ever since.

Lebanon Cities - Beirut at present times...

Beirut has Lebanon's seat of state, and works a foremost place in the Lebanese country's economy with its area heart, Hamra, Verdun, and Ashrafieh-established commercial enterprises and banking companies. The urban center is the center of attention of the community's societal existence, known for its media, cinemas, societal recreation, and nightlife.

Lebanon Cities - Beirut recent highlights...

Subsequent to the damaging Lebanese civil war, Beirut experienced primary renovation, and the renovated old city heart, marina, discos and nightlife zones have one more time made it a travellers magnet. Beirut was branded the top rated destination to head to in 2009 by The New York Times. It was basically at the same time ranked as 1 of the 10 liveliest places in the entire world by Lonely Planet in 2009.

In 2011, MasterCard Directory mentioned that Beirut has the 2nd largest visiting paying values in the Middle East and Africa. Dubai emerged in first with $7. 8 billion, followed by Beirut with $6. 5 billion, Tel Aviv with $3. 8 billion, Cairo at $3. 7 billion and Johannesburg with $3. 3 billion. In addition it was mentioned as the 9th most frequented and so it's still thought of as a "high-end" vacation spot.

Lebanon Cities - Beirut Origins...

Beirut's heritage dates back a lot more than 5000 years. Based on the Britannica Encyclopedia, the antiquity of Beirut is pointed by its label, taken from the Canaanite label of Be'erot (water wells), with reference to the subterranean waters platform which remains utilized by the native locals for broad usage. Excavations in the town center section have unearthed tiers of Phoenician, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Arabic, Crusader and Ottoman remains. The earliest past reference to Beirut dates from the fourteenth century B . C ., when it is stated in the tablets of the "Amarna notes ". Ammunira of Biruta (Beirut) posted two to three letters to the pharaoh of Egypt. Biruta is moreover referenced in the letters from Rib-Hadda of Byblos. The most early settlement was first on an island in the water that slowly silted up. The place was referred to in antiquity as Berytus, this label was used in 1934 for the archaeological publication produced by the School of Arts and Sciences at the American University of Beirut.

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Things to do in Lebanon in 3 days

2011-08-02T01:51:00.001-07:00

Things to do do in Lebanon in 3 Days

Lebanon is a little state, still it has a significant number of details to supply to its tourists. That is not a revelation in itself considering the the past of Lebanon, 1000's of years old, the point that tens of cultures passed through the Lebanon Spots and Territories. It is believed that every single sq meter of the Lebanon terrain carries a lot of historical past, a lot of artifacts, and numerous memories.

As to the Lebanon vacationer who basically has 3 days and nights to pass in Lebanon, and who desires to experience an understanding of the place, and afterward get out of the nation having a unique experience, and the awareness that he has personally seen much of Lebanon, we would suggest the next tracks, applied from natives and recent sightseers feedback and ideas.

Consistent with those assessments, which in reality rely on the moment of the calendar year the visit is done, based upon the age of the vacationer and his or her heritage, and choosing the fall as the benchmark time of year, a 3 days and nights Lebanese Trip could quite possibly comprise:

For the purpose of a enjoyable pathway:

- Just one daytime in Beirut

- A day in Sidon (towards the south)

- A day in Byblos (to the north)

Meant for a less casual pathway:

- A day in Byblos, in addition to a visit to Jeita Grotto

- A day journey to Baalbeck, also a visit to Anjar

- A day to Sidon and Beirut with evening in Beirut

To get a much less used pathway:

- A day in Byblos, also a visit to Jeita Grotto and Batroun and evening out in Beirut

- A day in Sidon (Saida), seeing the sea castle, the temple of Echmoun, visiting the soap manufacturing and walking around the souk, exploring the ancient Mosque, and ending on the new corniche waterfront.

- A day touring Chtaura, Baalbeck, Zahle, Ksara (vineyard)

All the interviewees that delivered the preceding tracks all believed that 3 days and nights are actually a very short length of time for a place such as Lebanon, featuring more than 7 1, 000 years of story and civilization, but a large number of them promised that subsequent to these 3 days visit, any vacationer to Lebanon will possibly come back for an extensive Lebanese feel afterwards, the year following or at some later instance in his or her lifetime.

To get further tips about things to attend to in Lebanon, take a look at the report “Things to do in Lebanon in a summer day” at Things to do in Lebanon, and to get knowledge about Lebanon Terminal Transfer System, check Guide to Beirut Airport Transfers

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Travel to Lebanon - 3 days in Lebanon

2011-08-01T02:10:00.001-07:00

Beirut Airport

As featured in the article Beirut Airport Transfers

Arrival at Beirut Airport

If you arrive to Lebanon by air, you will certainly arrive at Beirut International Airport (Rafik Hariri International Airport).

Beirut Airport Service

At your arrival, enjoy the rapid service of the Internal Security System, and watch how fast you pass the airport formalities. It’s in the Lebanese blood to be impatient, and you feel the officers waiting to print the “arrival” stamp on your passport more impatient than you are.

Beirut Airport Taxis

If you have booked a taxi agency to pick you up at the airport, they will most certainly be waiting for you with your name outside. If you have rented a car, the car rental agency personnel will be waiting for you in the same fashion. As an alternative, if you are on your own, you can take one of the airport taxis (taxis with airport logo on the side) which are parked next to the terminal at the arrival gate. These are regulated by the airport authorities, and they have a unified official rate. If you want to be completely on your own, and you go out of the airport, tens of taxis will be passing by at each step, waiting for a sign to ask you if you want a ride. If you decide to take one of these, you will most probably have to convene with the taxi driver on the appropriate fare that he will charge you for the ride.

Beirut Airport Taxi Transfer Prices

There are no set prices for taxi transfers that you pick up out of the airport, and there are no taxi meters, so the tariff that you will be charged depends on you and on the taxi driver, thus you have to tell the taxi driver where you are going, and ask him how much he will charge you for the ride, but another alternative is to tell him where you are going and give him the price you expect to pay, and as an alternative in the middle, he can give you a price and you can bargain. As a rough estimate, if you’re going inside Beirut, begin your bargaining with 10$ and reach 15$ as a maximum, and if you’re going within a range of 25km from the capital, begin your bargaining with 20$ and reach 30$ as a maximum.

Taxi Service Alternative

An alternative to taxis is what is called “service” which are shared taxi cars. These charge 1$ per passenger for the ride, but they operate within fixed perimeters, thus if you’re going much farther from your initial departure point, you may have to take 2 or more taxi “service” rides. Service Taxis usually do not operate directly outside of the airport, and you will have to walk a distance of 300 to 500 meters before you can find anyone, or better said, before they can find you. If you’re travelling alone, and if you’re going anywhere inside Beirut, this could be a viable solution for your transfer since they cost much less than taxis, but they do not deposit you exactly where you’re going, and you may have to walk some distance after they deposit you. The way to proceed with service taxis is to first make it clear for the taxi driver that you are not hiring him as a taxi, but as a service. They usually approach you when they see you waiting on the street, and you have to tell them where you’re going, they either ask you to jump in, or they go their way without further looking at you. Another way to make sure that you’re dealing with a service taxi is to make sure there is at least another passenger in the car when they pick you up, and pay him directly when you jump in the car, this way you will avoid unpleasant surprises and discussions at your destination.

Beirut Airport Public Transportation

A final alternative is to take a public transportation bus, but this alternative will be discussed in another article “Public Transportation at your arrival in Lebanon”.

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Beirut Airport Transportation

2011-07-30T01:21:00.001-07:00

Beirut Airport Transportation

As featured in the Article Beirut Airport Transportation published at Hotels in Lebanon website

Arrival at Beirut Airport

If you arrive to Lebanon by air, you will certainly arrive at Beirut International Airport (Rafik Hariri International Airport).

Beirut Airport Service

Beirut Airport Taxis

Beirut Airport Taxi Transfer Prices

Taxi Service Alternative

Beirut Airport Public Transportation

A final alternative is to take a public transportation bus, but this alternative will be discussed in another article “Public Transportation at your arrival in Lebanon”.

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Hotels in Lebanon Website Objectives

2011-07-29T02:05:00.001-07:00

Hotels in Lebanon – Website Objectives

Hotels in Lebanon – Overview

Hotels in Lebanon Reputation

Lebanon Coast

Traditionally, Lebanese hotels enjoy good reputation and they are of the best world standards. If you compare Lebanon hotels with any European or American hotel in the world, you won’t notice a difference as to the adhering standards or to the hotel classification. Thus if you happen to be in a 3 stars hotel in Lebanon, the 3 star Lebanese hotel will be similar to or better than any 3 star hotel around the world. Likewise, if you choose a 5 stars Lebanese hotel and you compare it to a 5 stars hotel in the United States or in Europe, the difference will be minimal, and will tend more to be to the advantage of the Lebanese hotel because of the additional service, treatment, and hospitality you will get in the Lebanese Hotel.

Hotels in Lebanon Reviews

Our website will soon be offering reviews about all categories of Lebanese Hotels. These reviews will be independent ones, not intended for advertising purposes or in agreement with the establishments. Of course, we need to take pictures, media materials, and some documentation from the establishments themselves, but the written review will be independent, and based upon our judgment and upon the judgment of previous residents in the hotel.

Hotels in Lebanon Websites

Before engaging in this endeavor, we have scanned Hotels in Lebanon sites to find the above information, and we were unable to find any suitable source of information, except the traditional hotels descriptions provided by the hotels themselves, and the traditional pictures featuring the hotels on their best days. This is not to say that these descriptions or pictures are wrong or inappropriate, but in the end, the objective of any person looking for hotels in Lebanon is to get the real image about the hotel, about its location, advantages and disadvantages, and this information is not available.

Hotels in Lebanon International Sites

We have also scanned international travel and hotels engines, the ones people rely on to choose their hotels when they travel, and the information featured there concerning Lebanon is very poor and it covers only a limited number of Lebanese establishments.

Hotels in Lebanon Website Objective

For all the above reasons, we have decided to create our own blog, where we will be featuring Hotels in Lebanon in a unique way, the way the visitor wants to see them, and because helping the visitor to Lebanon is our main objective, we will be providing him with additional information, not only about Lebanon Hotels, but also about places of interest to visit in Lebanon, possible tracks he can undertake, where he should go, what he should eat, what he should do, etc.

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Facts about Lebanon

2011-07-28T00:55:00.001-07:00

Facts regarding Lebanon
(Originally published at www.ehotelsinlebanon.com under <a href=http://www.ehotelsinlebanon.com/hotels-in-lebanon-presents-facts-about-lebanon/>Facts about Lebanon</a>)

CAPITAL: Beirut

INHABITANTS: Close to 3. 8 million

LANGUAGES: Arabic (standard), French, English, Armenian

AREA: 10, 452 sq kms

WEATHER FACTORS: Mediterranean weather, with cool, humid winters and warm, dry summers.

ELEVATIONS: Top place - Qornet Es-Saouda (3, 090m). Minimum point - Mediterranean Sea (0m).

FLAG: The Lebanese banner is split into three broad horizontal lines, with red on the top and bottom and a broader white stripe in the middle. In the middle of the white stripe is a green cedar tree, the logo of the nation.

ECONOMY: Lebanon capitalizes on the effort of its individuals and its geographical position to make up for a deficiency of natural assets. Typically, a considerable ratio of the state's source of income derives from remittances provided by the large numbers of Lebanese located abroad. A services-structured economy, its investing, banking, and budgetary facilities, along with its cost-free money market, made Lebanon the region's professional and vacation heart just before the conflict. With calm established and renovation underway, Lebanon is once again serving as the business oriented and holidays capital in the region.

Approximately thirty sevenper cent of the state is using farming, with rice, greens, fruits, tobacco, and olives the primary harvest types. There is substantial animals farming at the same time. Industry ranges from bare cement to materials, outfits, household furniture, processed products, and light metals. Travel and leisure, one of the mainstays of the pre-war country's economy, is getting improved.
To aid tone the economy, the federal government has begun a low income taxation agenda to offer funding benefits, maximize disposable revenue, and broaden the tax base.

MONEY AND BANKING: Circulation of money towards and away from the state and all swap deals are entirely free of any type of management. Gold and silver coins can be freely exchanged, brought in, and exported. The standard money unit is the Lebanese pound released in LL50, LL100, LL250, LL500, LL1, 000, LL5, 000, LL10, 000, LL20, 000, LL50, 000, and LL100, 000 denominations.
Banking is a primary enterprise in Lebanon with rigorous banking secrecy one of its fundamental characteristics. More than 72 banking companies work in the state, and trades are executed competently and at low price.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: Lebanon is democratic republic with a parliamentary procedure of administration and a cabinet lead by a prime minister. Its structure is primarily based on the splitting up of executive, legislative, and judicial power, with a president selected for a 6-yr duration. The 128 members of parliament are chosen by universal person of legal age suffrage for a 4-yr duration.

ADMINISTRATIVE PARTITIONS: The Lebanese Republic is split into 6 local administrative zones, or Mohafazaat: Beirut, Mnt Lebanon, Northern Lebanon, Békaa, Southern Lebanon, and Nabatiyé.

EDUCATION AND LEARNING: There is a countrywide system of primary and secondary public institutions, that is supplemented by a number of private academic institutions. Education is offered in a minimum of 2 languages. The typical academic soul of Lebanon looks outwards, at the same time to the East and West. Numerous Lebanese individuals follow higher certification in European countries, the usa, and Arabic states.

At present, Lebanon has 7 leading colleges and several professional universities and faculties:
· St. Joseph College, established and operated by Jesuit Fathers, has for more than a hundred years and a 1 / 4 contributed to the Lebanese and Arab intelligentsia.
· The American University of Beirut, established in 1866, delivers a liberal schooling that has coached many of the region's leaders, tutors, and researchers.
· A Lebanese state university was established in 1967, composed of faculties of law, medicine, arts and sciences, together with a instructor training faculty.
· Later, the Beirut Arab University, with faculties of arts, law, marketing, and engineering was launched.
· The venerable Lebanese American University (formerly Beirut University College) has also had a critical impact.
· In recent yrs, numerous innovative universities and colleges have sprung up across the region, particularly Haigazian University in Beirut; the Holy Spirit University and Notre Dame University, both north of Beirut; University of Balamand, south of Tripoli; the Islamic University in Khaldé; and various others.

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Ironique!

2011-07-23T00:02:00.000-07:00

J'étais en train de penser à l'ironie des choses de la vie, du moins selon les termes des différentes religions et de la définition du bien et du mal, à travers les différentes religions et les différentes sociétés et cultures.

Le fait que les riches et les puissants du monde, qui exercent leur pouvoir, et souvent leur injustice sur les autres, sans le vouloir rapprochent les autres de Dieu et du paradis, alors qu'ils s'en éloignent eux. Ironique non! Et ça ne s'applique pas uniquement à ceux qui exercent un pouvoir, mais à toute personne qui agit mal envers une autre, ou qui pense mal, etc. C'est un peu une intervention indirecte de Dieu dans le monde, mais avec un effet qui aura lieu dans le futur.

Va jouer devant ta maison!

2011-06-01T00:27:00.000-07:00

Va jouer mon fils! Et si tu ne veux pas jouer tout seul, appelle les voisins, mais pour cela, il faudrait que tu sois en bon terme avec eux!

Si on veut savoir ce qu'il y a en Italie, il faut qu'on sache ce qu'il y a au Brésil... Est-ce que ça vous rappelle quelque chose? Est-ce que ça sonne des cloches dans votre esprit brumeux? Non?

Mmmmh, vous dites être de quelle génération?

Bon, il suffit maintenant! Si je continue comme ça, on va croire que je n'ai rien à foutre, et c'est injuste hein? C'est juste que je "procrastine"...

Adios... C'est mon dernier message aujourd'hui... Alors profitez-en hein, tant que ça dure...

Yplon! Oh Non!

Hajj Nkoula

2011-06-01T00:07:00.000-07:00

Allez, envoyez! Vous savez c'est qui Hajj Nkoula hein?

Zicco el Beit

2011-05-31T23:53:00.001-07:00

Bon, je vais faire un autre essai là.

Cette fois ça va être un peu plus compliqué, un tout petit peu plus!

Ce que je vise maintenant, c'est le terme Zicco el Beit! Bon, pour ceux qui ne savent pas, c'est qui Zicco el Beit, je leur dis "Si vous ne savez pas c'est qui Zicco el Beit, vous ne savez rien!"

Allez ouste, au résultat. Rendez-vous dans une ou deux minutes sur google, faites vos recherches. Zicco el Beit, Kaak b zeit!

Salocin Succarieh

2011-05-31T23:37:00.000-07:00

ça fait longtemps hé?

ça fait bizarre aussi?

Mais entretemps, est-ce que quelque chose a changé? Mmmh je doute...

Bon je vais essayer de faire quelque chose, je vais écrire quelque chose "un keyword", et je vais voir combien de temps ça va prendre pour que ça aparaisse sur google en première position.

Eh oui, je vise la première position, pas la première page ok?

Bon, voyons voir, quel terme on va choisir... Je vais choisir un terme en français... Les premières idées qui me viennent à l'esprit sont idiotes. Bon, je crois que je vais choisir un nom propre... Voila, j'ai trouvé, non seulement ça va être en position numéro 1 sur Google, mais ça va donner un résultat unique...

Salocin Succarieh

Vous vous demandez c'est qui Salocin? Essayer un peu de renverser les lettres de Salocin... Vous ne trouvez toujours pas? bon, qui suis-je?

Alternative to Punishment: Ask a Question

2011-01-26T21:37:00.000-08:00

Don't you just hate it when your child pushes you to the point where

you feel you need to discipline him or her at any cost?

Now, when your child pushes you to your limit,
you'll be able to use one or several of these effective
alternatives to punishment to do the right thing.

Before we jump into explaining this alternative,
we just want to let you know that we hope you've
been noticing some positive response
from your child by using these alternatives.

Did you notice any changes in your child's behavior
when you didn't react in the same old way?
Did they look at you funny, wonder what's going on?

We're happy for you. Making big changes and even
bigger progress towards becoming the parent you want to be.

Now that you know what it feels like to stop, evaluate
and empathize, there is another step...

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Alternative to Punishment: Ask a Question
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

It's critical to always ask questions to get clear on your child's motives.
I will use a real-life example to demonstrate.
But you want to frame your questions in the way that will help you provide
the solution to your child's problem.

So if your child is lacking affection - you can ask a question like:
"do you want mommy to just hold you, or listen to you, or sing to you?"

If your child responds positively, then this question addresses their true needs.

Here's a story where we can use a different type of question...

My son was scratching paint off the wall with a spoon and I asked the question:
"What are you doing?"

Instead of immediately jumping to a conclusion, I asked a question.
In this way I'm able to quickly discover why my son was doing that
in order to provide a better solution so as to prevent it from happening
again.

By asking and listening I'm gaining vital information
about my son as well as myself.

So, after asking my son what he was doing
when he was scratching paint off the wall...
He looked at me as if he couldn't believe I
was asking such a rediculous question, and said:

"I'm taking the snow off my spaceship."

Now my first thought was he was trying to drive me nuts.
But when I saw that he really truly believed with all his heart
in what he was doing, I understood him better. I was better able to
empathize and in turn not react in an "old way".

When I understood the situation I could then explain to him that I
don't want paint coming off the wall but would be happy to provide
something else to do of a similar nature.

Things that seem absurd to us can be perfectly normal to our
children. Their doing something that makes sense to them, but
it may not always make sense to us.

So instead of just assuming that your child is purposely making a
mess, or bothering you, stop and ask a question first.

You may be surprised at what they tell you and gain a better
understanding of their motives. Children have wild and vivid
imaginations. The more we understand and respect our child,
the more they will respect us, and in turn become more cooperative.

We've seen this work for countless of families who've used this approach.
The more children are given space and respect, the more they want to help out.

Here's another good example of when I asked a question....

We were at a restaurant with my son. And like most children,
he sometimes doesn't eat his vegetables. At the table he took the
soy sauce and poured some in his water..

"oh oh!" I thought "this could get messy..."

But before reacting, I evaluated the situation and observed...
Then I could see that he was going to pour his water in his
food bowl...
I was considering objecting and offering him an alternative,
but instead I asked him what he was doing...

He then told me he was enjoying his broccoli in a "certain way".
By dipping it in the soy sauce water and eating it. It wasn't an
appetizing recipe for myself...

But he was happy eating his vegetables that way
- so who am I to try and stop him?

Try it for yourself and see. If you start asking questions
instead of jumping to conclusions you will notice a
marked difference in your child.

Try this the next time your child does something that upsets you...

First empathize with your child and practice "non-reaction."
Then ask them what they're doing.
Once they tell you what they are up to,
try to understand what they are doing from their point of view.
From here you can offer them something else to do
(which we will talk about in great detail next week).

Also, pay close attention to see if they act differently.

What if my child is too young, or doesn't answer me?

If your child is four or under,
here's something handy to keep in mind...
Everything your child does is out of pure innocence and zest.
They are not doing it to upset you.
They may try to get your attention by defying you if
they need your attention,
but they are not deliberately trying to hurt you.

What if my child ignores me?

If your child blatantly ignores you
or doesn't want to speak with
you about what they are doing, that's ok.

Ask them again and explain to them what's going on for you.

"Mommy is wondering what you're doing,
and I'm concerned about the paint on the carpet.
Could you tell me what your idea is so
that I can better understand and help you."

You see, most children are used to being punished,
so they will hide what they are doing at all costs.
So if you have punished your child before, it may
take some time to get your child to openly communicate
with you without being afraid of the punishment.

If you want to have a cooperative and respectful relationship with
your child, you need to teach your child that it's safe for them to be
open and honest with you, even when they make mistakes.

They need to know it's safe to trust you. So have patience
while you practice this with your child, and be persistent. Let
them know that they can trust you and that you want to
understand them.

Remember, authoritatian punishment may make the child "behave"
in the short term, but the long term effects of this may backfire.

"Children from Authoritarian parenting lack social competence as

the parent generally predicts what the child should do instead of
allowing the child to choose by him or herself. The children
also rarely take initiatives. They are socially withdrawn and look
to others to decide what's right. These children lack spontaneity
and lack curiosity."

"These children are often the most vulnerable to enter into
relationships with or marry equally abusive and controlling
partners or develop mental illness when they enter adulthood.
(Although arguably this may be genetic as mental illness sometimes
might be the reason behind some of the more extreme cases of
authoritarian parents.)"

"On the opposite side of the spectrum some children might also
rebel by openly defying the parents by leaving home at a younger
age, partaking in drugs, alcohol, and sexual behavior at a much
younger age than some of their peers as well, dating and/or
marrying a partner whom they know their parents would disapprove
of, and often might be estranged from their parents during
adulthood."

Prévisions Météorologiques!

2011-01-18T22:22:00.000-08:00

... Le soir, on attend les prévisions météorologiques du lendemain, sinon de la semaine! Et... c'est vraiment drôle. Il y a deux jours, une tempête sans précédant était prévue...

Le lendemain, rien du tout, un beau soleil...

Le soir du lendemain "On avait prévu une tempête, mais elle a dévié...", hehe ça arrive...

Autre bourde, hier, on prévoyait "Beau temps pour toute la semaine". Toute la nuit on entendait des orages, et ce matin, beaucoup de pluie. Wow, à voir absolument les explications ce soir... Hehe, on dirait que les prévisions sont axées sur un autre pays, voire une autre planète?

Happy Child: Know How

2011-01-12T04:27:00.001-08:00

Do you know what the secret to a happy child is?

LISTENING.

And there are two ingredients to real listening: Love and Non-Reaction

Let me explain, love alone is not enough to raise a happy child...
If it was that there would be a lot fewer defiant and disobedient children.
If you're reading this then it's not love you're lacking, but Non-Reaction.

The secret key that parents need to cultivate is "Non-Reaction".
What this means is that you do not "react"?

Webster's dictionary defines reaction as: "resistance or opposition to a force, influence, or movement"

Here's another definition that reminds me of what happens to many parents...
"bodily response to or activity aroused by a stimulus:
an action induced by vital resistance to another action;
...depression or exhaustion due to excessive exertion or stimulation"

Does this last line sound familiar to any mothers and fathers you know?

Reaction is basically what happens when two forces collide.

In this case the two forces are often Parent vs. Child.

The end result is usually an exhausted parent and an unhappy child.

Instead of reacting to your child's defiance - be like water.

Instead of reacting to your child when he or she is suddenly testing you,
STOP and become aware of what's really behind your child's actions.

Once you do, you'll usually see that your child has no malicious intent to bother you,
but instead their actions are due to one of three reasons:

3 Reasons Why Kids Mis-Behave

1) They're lacking information - like a toddler doesn't have the knowledge and
forethought that they should not track muddy boots on the carpet.

2) They have some tension in their body due to some stress - like a child who
gets stressed from being scolded and acts out afterwards by hurting a sibling.

3) They have a genuine need - like they're hungry, tired, or maybe they haven't had
enough physical affection that day.

Cultivate Non-Reaction
Not only will you feel much more peaceful and

less stressed in your life -
but you'll find that you'll have a much more cooperative and happy child,
by listening instead of reacting.

Children don't listen, they model.

Your child will show you the same respect you show your child.
If you "tell" them to listen, but don't listen to them yourself, they will defy you.
But if you listen to your child, he or she will if you listen to you too.

This information is taken from the Guide to a Happy Child, for more information or to buy the Happy Child Guide, go to www.childrens-audiobooks.net

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Galette des Rois

2011-01-05T03:56:00.000-08:00

La première fois que j'ai entendu parler de la galette des rois, c'était dans un album de Boule et Bill, il y a de cela plus de 30 ans. Hier, pour la première fois, j'ai goûté à une galette des rois, et dans le morceau que je me suis servi, il y avait... La vierge? Cela veut dire que je suis le roi? A Christina, je lui disais depuis toujours que j'étais le roi, et elle, elle le répétait à qui voulait l'entendre, mais... voila au moins quelque chose de fixé...

Je croyais qu'on mettait plutôt une alliance ou quelque chose du genre dans la galette. Mais c'est intéressant de goûter à quelque chose qu'on connait sans avoir approché depuis si longtemps. Pour le goût, c'est bon, un peu sec, du genre mille-feuilles avec amandes et sucre, sans crème patissière, mais j'ai demandé à Angie de préparer de la crème patissière pour mon second morceau (s'il reste un second morceau pour moi pour ce soir). Angie, c'est la reine de la patisserie, quand il s'agit de manger des gateaux...

Hotel Occupancy Rate for December 2010

2011-01-05T02:52:00.001-08:00

- Lebanon Hotels Occupancy Rate for December 2010 across Lebanon Cities have reached 90 to 100%

- Additional 2000 to 3000 hotel rooms needed for 2011or are there alternate accommodation possibilities?

http://www.lebanonpackages.org/hotel-in-lebanon/hotel-in-lebanon-occupancy-rate

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Egg Yolk v/s Egg White

2011-01-03T03:30:00.000-08:00

A lot of us love to eat eggs for breakfast, especially after finding they could help with weight loss. You may be throwing away the yolks to cut calories and reduce cholesterol, which is fine but did you know that most of an egg's nutrients are found in the yolk? Take a look at the comparison below to see what you may be missing.

Want to see how an egg white and yolk compare head-to-head? Then read more

	Egg White	Egg Yolk
Calories	17	59
Fat (g)	.06	4.51
Saturated Fat (g)	0	1.6
Carbs (g)	.24	.61
Protein (g)	3.6	2.7
Cholesterol (mg)	0	210
Sodium (mg)	55	8
Calcium (mg)	2.3	21.9
Vitamin D (IU)	0	18
Folate (mcg)	1.3	24.8

Good to know: Powerfoods That Shrink Your Belly!

2011-01-03T03:25:00.000-08:00

Who says you need to buy fancy foods to flatten your belly? These 9 stealth superfoods will help you cut calories, strip away fat, and reveal your six-pack

Hate to break it to you, but loading up on coconut water, acai berries, or any other so-called wonderfood probably isn’t going to melt your gut any more effectively than the Taco Bell diet. The good news: You don’t need lots of money or even a specialty store to get a hold of foods that actually do fight belly fat. Turns out, everyday foods such as eggs, beans, and milk may serve as your best defense against extra chub. They make you feel full, not fat, and can help you cut calories without even knowing it. So forget the gimmicks. Stock up your kitchen with these nine staples and watch the pounds drop.
Milk and Dairy

Maybe it’s time to consider trading in your slim-down shake for a tall glass of milk. A 2010 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study found that drinking milk can nearly double your weight loss efforts. People who downed about two glasses of milk a day while on a diet lost 12 pounds over 6 months, as compared to non-milk drinkers who only dropped 7 pounds. Another study found that dieters who ate three servings of yogurt a day lost 81 percent more belly fat than once-a-day yogurt eaters. Why? Researchers think that calcium doesn’t just build strong bones—it also breaks down stomach fat and interferes with fat formation.

Oatmeal

A bowl of mush may not sound impressive, but a half of a cup of this powerful whole grain contains 15 grams of hunger-quenching fiber at only 150 calories. Unlike more processed and enriched alternatives, whole grains don’t cause wild swings in blood-glucose levels, so you aren’t hit by rebound food cravings an hour after your breakfast. That probably explains why people who eat a diet rich in whole grains can lose 2.4 times more fat from their bellies than those who munch on refined grains. For an extra kick of fiber, dress up your oatmeal with a tablespoon of flaxseed—it’ll add a nutty flavor to your breakfast while boosting the belly-fat fighting powers of oats.

Macadamia Nuts

Research shows that people who eat a handful of nuts two or more times a week are less likely to gain weight than those who don’t nosh on the healthy snack, and macadamia nuts are one of the best choices of the bunch. A single serving (about 10 to 12 pieces) contains 16.7 grams of monounsaturated fats (MUFAs)—a good-for-you fat that’s been shown to increase feelings of satiety, decrease belly fat, and lower bad cholesterol. That’s even higher than what’s found in other popular MUFAs, including avocados and almonds. Just be sure to keep your serving sizes in check. While loaded with healthy fats, macadamia nuts are also calorie dense. Eat too many and the extra calories can contribute to an expanding waistline.

Broccoli, Kale, and Other Leafy Greens

Beat back your bulge by loading up on leafy greens. Cruciferous veggies are rich in folate, a vitamin that helps augment weight loss. A British Journal of Nutrition study found that people with the highest folate levels lost 8.5 times more weight while on a diet. To get your daily amount of folate, choose vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, and bok choy.

Eggs

Eggs might be nature’s perfect protein. A recent International Journal of Obesity study found that people who ate a 340-calorie egg breakfast 5 days a week for 8 weeks lost 65 percent more weight than those who fueled up on a bagel breakfast that contained the same number of calories. What’s more, the egg eaters saw no change in their cholesterol or triglyceride levels. Eggs are a great source of protein and are, calorie-for-calorie, more effective at building muscle than beef and milk. Whether you like them scrambled, boiled, or fried, make sure to eat the yolk—that’s where the majority of the protein is stored.

Meat (Pasture-Raised and Free Range)

It’s been pounded into our heads to pick lean meats over fattier kinds, but this doesn’t mean chicken is always superior to beef. To cut calories and trim your waistline, opt for free-range and pasture-raised cuts of meat—whether red or white. Grass-fed beef contains about 30 percent less fat than grain-fed versions (about the same amount of fat found in regular skinless chicken breasts); free-range chicken can contain 25 percent less fat than conventionally raised kinds. Free-range foods also pack higher levels of metabolism-boosting omega-3s and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a proven belly-fat fighter.

Dark Chocolate

The good news about dark chocolate keeps getting better. Snacking on a little bit of the treat may help curb your appetite and cut cravings for other fatty, salty, or sweet foods, say researchers from the University of Copenhagen. They found that those who ate dark chocolate before a pizza lunch consumed about 15 percent fewer calories when they sat down to eat, compared to those who ate a milk chocolate bar. Dark chocolate is also a source of belly-fat fighting MUFAs, so go ahead, indulge a little.

Beans and Other Legumes

Here’s a tune everyone can dance to: All evidence points to the fact that stocking up on the “musical fruit” can help whittle your middle. A 2008Journal of the American College of Nutrition study found that people who regularly include beans in their diets have smaller waists and weigh about 6.6 pounds less (even though they eat 199 calories more per day) than those who forgo the food. Low in fat and cholesterol, but high in fiber and protein, beans fill you up without weighing you down. An added bonus: Bean eaters tend to have lower blood pressure levels.

Pistachios

If you want to give your daily handful of almonds a rest, try eating pistachios for a change. A UCLA study found that people who ate pistachios as part of their diet for 3 months lost 10 to 12 pounds on average. Like almonds, pistachios are a good source of MUFAs and fiber, and snacking on them is a great way to get part of your daily dose of vitamin B6, copper, and manganese. In addition to helping you flatten your belly, pistachios have also been shown to help lower triglyceride levels.

Non, elle n'a toujours pas compris :D

2010-12-29T04:52:00.000-08:00

Beit Chabeb, one of the 7 most beautiful Lebanon Villages

2010-10-12T03:17:00.001-07:00

Good to know!

Visit Beit Chabeb

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Lebanese Recipes: Falafel

2010-10-04T04:26:00.001-07:00

You can find here the Lebanese Falafel Recipe (as opposed to the other available Falafel Recipes)

Lebanese Recipes: Falafel

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Travel to Lebanon - Visit Baalbeck

2010-09-28T03:15:00.001-07:00

Travel to Lebanon - Visit Baalbeck

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Dream Lebanon

2010-09-27T22:17:00.001-07:00

Very nice pictures and music - enjoy

from Travel to Lebanon

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Billet | Gaby Nasr | Vapeurs de poisse | L'Orient-Le Jour

2010-09-23T21:57:00.000-07:00

Billet | Gaby Nasr | Vapeurs de poisse | L'Orient-Le Jour

Lebanon Cities Photos

2010-09-23T02:09:00.001-07:00

Sidon bakers's unique collection of photos tells tales of city's varied past Lebanese Photos

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Tripoli Sea Festival

2010-09-20T05:14:00.001-07:00

Interesting Lebanon Tours (Walking and biking and islands visit) for the discovery of the Mina Region in Tripoli as part of the Tripoli Sea Festival during your travel to Lebanon

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Lebanese Recipes: Mehche Selek

2010-09-16T02:47:00.001-07:00

Lebanese Recipes Weekly: Mehche Selek at

Lebanese Recipes

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Learn to prepare Garlic Sauce

2010-09-15T04:27:00.001-07:00

Lebanese Recipes

After you prepare this http://www.5min.com/Video/Lebanese-Garlic-Sauce-Recipe-153623252

do not forget to invite me

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Lebanon Cities Festivities for Eid el Fitr

2010-09-13T04:21:00.001-07:00

Thousands flock to Hamra and Sidon for Eid al-Fitr festivities

By Mohammed Zaatari and Carol Rizk

SIDON/BEIRUT: Two of Lebanon’s most popular destinations were transformed into massive theaters of live performances during the weekend, as thousands of people celebrated Eid al-Fitr in Hamra and the coastal city of Sidon.

In the capital, the busy and cosmopolitan street of Hamra was filled with music, decorations, circus performances and other fun events, as the Maraya 2010 festival was held from Friday to Sunday.

Hamra Street, which usually witnesses bumper-to-bumper traffic, was packed with people walking, dancing, singing and enjoying the parade.

On the first day of the festival, a convoy of Harley Davidson motorbikes rode through the crowd, accompanied by a car transporting Miss Lebanon 2010 Rahaf Abdallah, a married couple in a horse carriage, entertainers on stilts, and dancers performing a traditional sword fight.

The traditional Lebanese dance, the dabke, was also performed, while children flew balloons and rushed to gather as much candy as possible. Girls were dressed as gypsies, musical instruments were everywhere and the flashes of cameras were going off faster that anyone could say “cheese.”

The three-day celebration also included performances by jazz artist Arthur Satyan, oud player Charbel Rouhana, Beirut’s Hip-Hop band, Fareeq al-Atrash and Cirque du Liban. Sports activities were also present, with the contribution of Hoops basketball club and Lebanese Rally champion Jean-Pierre Nasrallah, in addition to a food market, poetry recitals, plays and shops.

The organizers described the event as the first of its kind in Hamra since 1998 and enjoyed seeing the famous street live up to its pre-war reputation of being the most cosmopolitan and most popular street in Beirut.

Maraya 2010 was launched by Hamra Street’s Merchants Association, under the patronage of Premier Saad Hariri.

Also over the weekend, the coastal city of Sidon in the south of Lebanon marked the end of Ramadan with busy and joyous Eid al-Fitr festivities.

Sidon held its annual “City Wedding” festival, organized by the Hariri Foundation, and its sea front was transformed into a venue for many interesting local and international shows, as visitors from all over Lebanon flocked to the corniche and seaside cafes.

Sidon’s boulevard was closed for cars and the streets were decorated in a fairytale-like fashion with bright lights escorting visitors as they walked past the cafes, clowns, air balloons and entertaining performances.

Over 50 artists were featured in the celebration, such as the French companies Remue-Menage and Motus Modules, which held extravagant shows mixing dance, theater, aerobics and music. Clowns entertained children with face painting and fun activities, while giant animal-shaped balloons were released into the sky.

Read more about Lebanon Cities and Lebanon Vacations

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From Israel to Lebanon and Syria - 3 weeks vacations wow!

2010-09-13T03:49:00.001-07:00

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g294004-i2871-k3923705-l28511946-Family_vacation_from_Israel_to_Lebanon_and_Syria_and_back-Lebanon.html#28511946

Family travel to Lebanon from Israel - direct flight! Lebanon Vacations

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Castania - Funny Ad

2010-09-08T10:26:00.001-07:00

Love this ad

Travel to Lebanon

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Barouk Cedars - Interesting

2010-09-07T21:49:00.001-07:00

From a foreigner's eyes http://britinbeirut.blogspot.com/2010/09/national-pride.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+blogspot/FWvMt+(BritinBeirut+(New))

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Did you know?

2010-09-07T21:36:00.001-07:00

One of the most popular recording artists on the planet right now is Lady Gaga. It's a pretty safe bet that she would not be enjoying the level of success she's having right now by using her real name of Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta.

Michael Keaton's real name is Michael Douglas, but there was already a famous Michael Douglas in the Actors Guild. So instead he chose the surname of an actress he admired, Diane Keaton.

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Tripoli Soap Factory

2010-09-07T00:44:00.001-07:00

Traditional Tripoli soap factory makes comeback

TRIPOLI: Like various traditional products, which were once considered essential and basic, old-fashioned health and hygiene items have today become forgotten.

However, the traditional Lebanese soap – commonly known as saboon baladi – is regaining some of its former glory, as people are rediscovering its therapeutic benefits.

The comeback falls into a worldwide trend of returning to traditional and natural products, especially when it comes to cosmetics and medicine.

Lebanon’s northern coastal city of Tripoli has particularly profited from this resurgence and its famous soap factory is currently witnessing very prosperous days.

The factory, known as Khan al-Saboon, flourished in the Mamluk era and was built in a neighborhood filled with perfume makers, chemists and physicians. The Khan was able to turn Tripoli into a “Soap Kingdom,” with a number of families leading the business.

Among these families was the Hassoun family, which passed down its secret recipes from generation to generation and is still managing the factory today.

Bader Hassoun explained that soap making has been a family trade for about eight centuries. “The women used to create the herbal combinations to make the products, which were later sold near the factory … As for the men, they were scattered in different levels of the manufacturing process,” he said, noting that the most important part of the procedure was the mixture of herbs and scents.

History records show that soap products in Tripoli were in great demand and the rate of their exportation could be compared to that of silk and sugar.

Books also show that Europeans were introduced to soap and to its health benefits after the crusades campaigns. The product played such a significant role in Lebanon and the region that it was present in mythological tales. It was said that Adonis used to offer soaps scented with herbs to his lover Ishtar, the Babylonian goddess of love.

Nonetheless, with the arrival of the industrial revolution and after the end of World War I, the traditional Lebanese soap was no longer able to compete with the mass production of industrial soap, which was cheap and came in various scents.

At the time, Lebanese soap makers were only able to produce 21 different types of soaps, perfumes and creams, all based on three main combinations known as the Trabulsiya, the Sultaniya and the Malakiya.

Today more than 2,000 products can be found at the Tripoli soap factory in Lebanon and at its branches in the Arab Gulf, Europe and America.

“The new products have new therapeutic functions. Throughout the past years we’ve gathered recipes from Arab and foreign soap factories, including China and India, where soap manufacturing has a long history,” said Hassoun.

He added that some of the new soaps could be used to cure certain skin diseases. “I give out free samples to costumers. They can try them and see for themselves,” he noted.

However, Khan al-Saboon is still facing some difficulties and might encounter more trouble in the future.

Hassoun said he was still trying to make the production process completely Lebanese and was working on replacing any foreign material with local ones. He added that a contract would soon be signed with a Lebanese cardboard firm, which will provide the factory with all its soap-wrapping material.

But even if such an obstacle could be overcome, another hindrance may lie ahead as the Tripoli municipality and the Culture Ministry are trying to acquire the factory.

Details of the possible acquisition remain unclear and the economic benefits to come from it are also ambiguous, but Hassoun fears that shifting the factory’s ownership toward a collective property might lead to instability. “I am afraid that Khan al-Saboon would become soulless without its soap,” he said.

You can visit the Tripoli Khan al Saboon as part of you Lebanon Packages or your Lebanon Vacations

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Lebanese Recipes: Mujadara

2010-09-03T04:25:00.001-07:00

Lebanese Recipes Weekly: Mujadara at Lebanon Packages

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Lebanon Restaurants Alcohol Free during Ramadan

2010-09-02T08:52:00.001-07:00

No wineing, it's Ramadan

Paige Kollock

, September 2, 2010

Lebanese men and women gather at a restaurant in Beirut for a suhur meal just before sunrise, which marks the start of the daylong fast for Ramadan. (AFP photo)

A recent article in the Lebanese daily An-Nahar has sparked a debate about the possibility of the eventual presence of mutawa in Lebanon. Mutawa is the singular of mutaween (Arabic for "volunteers"), which are government-authorized religious police, commonly seen in conservative Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia. Their job is to enforce proper Islamic behavior.

Lebanon, a country built on its religious and ethnic diversity, has largely steered clear of government-imposed morality, and as such, has gained a reputation for being a bastion of tolerance in the Arab world, with Muslims and Christians living side by side. So when the author of the An-Nahar article, who is a Lebanese Christian, went to a high-end hotel in downtown Beirut, she was surprised to find that the waiter did not want to serve her wine, due to the fact that it is the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. When she insisted, saying that she was Christian and that the restaurant should respect her beliefs too, the waiter offered to disguise the wine by putting it in an opaque glass. In the end, she left the restaurant, but to her and to many other Lebanese, the incident was just one indication of how the country is becoming less tolerant, or at least appearing to be so, in order to cater to business interests.

For restaurant and hotel managers and owners, making a decision about serving alcohol during Ramadan based on financial concerns is a tricky one. Alcohol sales bring in a lot of cash, but if many customers are Muslim (Lebanese or tourists from Gulf countries), they won't be drinking it anyway, and owners may turn off potential diners.

An unscientific survey of the hotels and restaurants in Beirut revealed mixed policies when it comes to serving alcohol during Ramadan. Many of the top-tier hotels, such as The Four Seasons, the Mövenpick, Le Gray and the Phoenicia have at least one restaurant that is dry during the Iftar dinner period, from 7 to 9 p.m. Other hotels, such as the Hotel Bristol, the Riviera and the Bay View Hotel, have some areas where they serve alcohol, some without. The Monroe in Ain Mreisseh and the Crown Plaza in Hamra serve alcohol at all hours.

The Sheraton Four Points in Verdun serves no alcohol at all during the month of Ramadan, despite the fact that it is an international chain. In many "dry" hotels and restaurants, it is often the owner who makes the call.

"The owner decided. It is his will. He is Muslim," said Sheraton manager Fahed Dayeth, who claims the policy started in 2006, when the hotel opened. "It doesn't affect our customer levels," he said, although many customers may not know the policy until after they have booked, and those desperately seeking a drink can still order one from their rooms.

Along the Beirut waterfront, which is full of touristy restaurants, one would have no problem finding an Iftar dinner special, but a hard time finding a beer. Popular tourist spots such as the Petit Cafe and the Grand Cafe in Raouche do not serve any alcohol during Ramadan, not even at the customers' insistence. Grand Cafe Manager Abou Hassan says it's been that way for 10 years, since they opened.

However, just down the waterfront at Cafe Rawda, the no-alcohol policy is relatively new.

“All the customers are Muslim, and when they see the alcohol, they don't like it," said manager Mohammad Chatilla, who noted that the establishment is alcohol free year round. "Some people see that we have no alcohol and they leave, but it’s ok; business is good. We don’t like the alcohol."

He says the policy changed because "the big boss is hajj.”

A group of Lebanese Christians drinking coffee outside Dunkin' Donuts in downtown Beirut told NOW Lebanon they think local restaurants are getting stricter.

"It wasn't like this before. We always lived together, and there were not these kinds of problems. This is the first year they've really cracked down," said Michel H, who chose to keep his last name anonymous.

"It bothers me because, when we are fasting for 40 days during our holy time, we don't mind if others drink and eat. If I'm fasting, I'm doing it for myself and for God. Part of fasting is controlling yourself. Besides, this is a Christian country, and we never bother anyone from the Arab countries when they come to visit," he said.

"We're a mixed country, so they have to respect us," added Dali Geagea. "We drink alcohol during this period of time, so why do the restaurants stop serving? They should respect that we're not fasting. They are ignoring us."

Meters away at the Place d'Etoile clock tower, Fatima Al-Agha says she respects Christians, but does not want to be around anyone who drinks...ever.

"I don't go to a restaurant where there is alcohol. If somebody was drinking alcohol, I would leave immediately," she said.

At Lebanese restaurant Karamna, across the street from Dunkin' Donuts in downtown, manager Jad Bandakji says they stopped serving alcohol during Ramadan just last year, after 10 years. "The owner made the policy. He's a hajj," he said. Besides, he added, "nobody asks for it during Ramadan," as they serve mostly Lebanese Muslims and customers from the Gulf.

While some may argue that Karamna's change in policy is symbolic of the Islamification of Lebanon, others say it's just plain economics.

"The economic revenue of the country is because of the Arabs, not like before when there were English, American and Italian tourists,” said Michel H. "And so the Lebanese have to cater to them, and pretend they care, so they can get business."

More on Lebanon Vacations and Lebanon Tourists

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Lebanon at the top of travel guide to-do lists

2010-09-02T08:37:00.001-07:00

The Lebanon is a loose cannon of a country and, as its capital, Beirut is fittingly fast-paced, colourful and raw. It is a window on the innumerable faces of the original phoenix which spouts folklore and capitalism in the same breath, where the rousing song of the minaret competes with the clamour of church bells, where faith meets hedonism, and where first world meets third world.

The history of Beirut is not relegated to museums and dusty libraries like a venerated but useless grandpa stowed out the way on a comfy chair in the back room. Its past is chronicled on the walls of the capital, from the Roman baths to the damage of the civil war in the eighties. It neither worships nor denies its past, perhaps because it is never over. The business of making history thrives in the Middle East, though the storyline loops and the actors merely change masks.

Even after the civil war ended in 1990, this esteemed undertaking has punctuated life for the Lebanese with almost monotonous regularity and repeatedly punctured the bubble of hope that swells each spring as Beirut’s businesses look gingerly forward to that elusive thing – a tourist season. Year after year, a new boil burst from an old infection, scuppering any likelihood of a return to the heady summers of the early seventies when the city was awash with visitors.

But in 2009, at long last, there was no war, and revenue from tourism soared 80% while the number of tourists jumped 39% to an all-time record of 1.85mn, beating the previous record of 1.4mn set in 1974, the year before civil war broke out. The term “tourists” requires some clarification: the vast majority of incoming visitors in 2009 were first or second generation Lebanese expatriates returning to their homeland or visitors from the Gulf, preferring the hospitality of Lebanon to the increasingly equivocal reception of another old favourite, the US. A full year without major conflict, and the accolades and recommendations came raining down, shunting Beirut out of nowhere to the top of travel guide to-do lists.

The Lebanese, for their part, remain wary of the future and weary of the past. Above all Beirut lives its golden age in the present.

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بحبك يا لبنان

2010-08-31T03:48:00.001-07:00

بحبك يا لبنان

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U.S. State Department warns against travel to North Korea

2010-08-26T21:08:00.001-07:00

© Copyright 2010 WireUpdate - All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Advertising | About WireUpdate

via wireupdate.com

Interesting how a country government or politics can set the country population against another country or population with a single click, with or without a reason?

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Macaulay Culkin turns 30

2010-08-26T20:54:00.001-07:00

Wow... 21 years have passed... He was 9 in Home Alone... http://omg.yahoo.com/photos/child-stars-turning-30/4156/1#OmgPhoid=1

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Fairuz - How often you should visit Lebanon

2010-08-26T01:31:00.001-07:00

Have great Lebanon Vacations

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Lebanon Vacations

2010-08-25T10:36:00.001-07:00

Again, talk about Lebanon Vacations at http://paradizo.com/lebanon

Lebanon Vacations

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On Lebanon attractions…

2010-08-23T08:52:00.001-07:00

via feedproxy.google.com

From a Lebanon Tourist's point of view (http://www.lebanonpackages.org)

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Kadri Hotel in Lebanon

2010-08-23T04:10:00.001-07:00

Going there soon :)

Hotel in Lebanon

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My new “childhood memories” blanket…

2010-08-21T12:10:00.001-07:00

Pas mal hein? http://www.lemondedesucrette.com

My new “childhood memories” blanket…

via Le monde de Sucrette's blog by Sucrette on 8/18/10

Good morning to you all,

I’ve been planning lately in my head a new blanket with 7 yummi colors…

and turning and turning and turning the whole idea with many patterns on my mind etc…

and I was not doing anything about it because I have many projects still working on…

But now, that the romance shawl is done, I still have to finish my country flowers blanket which is 65% done:

and my zigzagy blanket (granny stripes blanket)

which is 65% done also :)

So, I promised myself to finish one of these two before I even think of beginning a new blanket which will be my “Childhood memories” blanket.

I know, I’m gonna finish the country flowers first, but I could not help myself trying 2 patterns with these beautiful colors.

Aren’t they lovely together?

The first pattern: It is a granny simple one with the 7 colors. The border will be with this red color I adore…and I’ll be mixing the colors differently in each square:

And this is the second pattern: Smaller flower squares. In each square I use 3 of the 7 colors and the white one. Here also the border will be in red.

I think I will make the final border for the whole blanket in white.

So, what do you think? which pattern do you prefer? the first one or the second?

I’m gonna think about it while I’m finishing my country flowers blanket which is becoming bigger and really really nice.

Have a lovely day!

Sucrette.

Filed under: Blankets, colors, crochet, granny squares

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Eres todo en mí

2010-08-20T04:25:00.001-07:00

Travel to Lebanon

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Lo eres todo!

2010-08-20T04:22:00.001-07:00

Cada vez que veo tu fotografía
descubro algo nuevo
que antes no veía
y me hace sentir lo que nunca creí.
Siempre te he mirado indiferente,
eras tan solo un amigo
y de repente lo eres todo, todo para mí,
mi principio y mi fín.
Mi norte y mi guía, mi perdición,
mi acierto y mi suerte, mi equivocación,
eres mi muerte y mi resurrección,
eres mi aliento y mi agonía
de noche y de día,
te lo pido por favor,
que me des tu compañía
de noche y de día... lo eres todo.
Dame tu alegría, tu buen humor,
dame tu melancolía,
tu pena y dolor,
dame tu aroma, dame tu sabor
dame tu mundo interior,
dame tu sonrisa y tu calor,
dame la muerte y la vida,
tu frío y tu ardor,
dame tu calma, dame tu furor,
dame tu oculto rencor.

Viaje Líbano

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Are you inventing things to do to avoid the important?

2010-08-19T03:48:00.001-07:00

Interesting website to set deadlines while working:

If doing work online or near an online computer, http://e.ggtimer.com/ is a

convenient countdown timer. Just type the desired time limit directly into the URL

field and hit enter. The http:// can often be omitted. For example:

http://e.ggtimer.com/5minutes (or just “e.ggtimer.com/5min”insomebrowsers)

http://e.ggtimer.com/1hour30minutes30seconds

http://e.ggtimer.com/30 (if you just put in a number, it assumes seconds)

Lebanon Tips

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Internet Speed in Lebanon

2010-08-19T01:09:00.001-07:00

This is the sad truth, but let's say that we Lebanese are not Internet People, we are more social people

Speed

via BritinBeirut by BritinBeirut on 8/17/10

I was just sent this via a friend in Korea:
Korean Internet - Faster than Usain Bolt on speed...
After compressing it by a factor of 10, I’m showing it to you.
Yes, that’s download speeds of 61.18 MB/s (for 40 USD a month).
I've got 512k at 50 USD a month... but it's OK, it doubles at night.
I’m crying into my coffee here.

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Haifa Wehbe and Ragheb Alameh sexy dance

2010-08-18T21:25:00.001-07:00

Maybe you can catch this =wL9Rswe3STI&feature=related during your Travel to Lebanon

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Birds singing

2010-08-18T21:14:00.001-07:00

Birds singing during Lebanon vacations

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Lebanon - A piece of sky

2010-08-17T23:42:00.001-07:00

This is Lebanon - Eso es Líbano

Lebanon Vacations for a piece of sky

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Very funny

2010-08-17T23:27:00.001-07:00

This wouldn't happen on a Lebanon beach (Lebanon Beaches - Lebanon Vacations)

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Become a Micro-Blogging Professional with Twitter - Free Ebook

2010-08-17T10:44:00.001-07:00

Download now or preview on posterous

Twitter Fast Start_Rebranded.pdf (1377 KB)

Free report to get you started and performing on Twitter, the number 1 micro-blogging platform, brought to you by Lebanon Packages

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Lebanon Dating and Relationships

2010-08-17T10:18:00.001-07:00

According to a US Study, adults with internet access have more chances of having a love relationship than those that don't.

The study shows that more than 82% of adults with internet access at home end up married in comparison with 63% for adults that have no internet access at home.

In Lebanon, multiple international sites are used for dating, but sites specific to Lebanese are mostly Lebanon Hearts, Lebanese Match Maker, Lebanon singles (.com) and Rencontres Francophones (.net).

If you're single, coming to Lebanon and you want to have the best Lebanon Vacations where you can enjoy great Lebanon Packages and meet people from the opposite sex for dating or for a serious relationship, now you know where to go first.

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What happened to the best tourism season ever?

2010-08-17T02:54:00.001-07:00

What happened to the best Lebanon Vacations season ever?

Lebanese hopes for tourism bounty dented
By Abigail Fielding-Smith
Financial Times

Published: August 16 2010 17:41

This year’s tourist season in Lebanon has been even more hyped than most. Fadi Abboud, the tourism minister, predicted a 20 per cent increase on last year’s nearly 2m visitors, and pitched this summer as “probably the best in our history”.

True, hotel occupancy rates were up more than 20 per cent in the first six months of this year. Yet anecdotal evidence suggests the summer season – when the bulk of tourism revenue, which is an estimated 25 per cent of Lebanon’s gross domestic product, is generated – may prove disappointing.

Nizar Alouf, a board member of the Hotel Owners Association, says summer bookings have risen only 5-7 per cent, compared to the predicted 15 per cent.

“We have mixed signals, strong in the first half and feeble in the second,” says Elie Namoor from travel agency Rida International. “The number of rooms booked is almost the same [as last year], but this in itself is somehow disappointing as there are more additional incoming flights from Europe and from Arab countries.”

“So many things interfered,” says Mr Alouf. He cites the football World Cup, the fact that Ramadan falls mostly during August this year, and the political situation.

The rhetoric from both Israel and Hizbollah, the Lebanese militant group, has grown increasingly bellicose in recent months, and a deadly exchange of fire between Lebanese and Israeli soldiers at the border this month has raised fears.

Internal tensions have also increased as Hizbollah fears a United Nations tribunal may accuse it of assassinating Rafik Hariri, a former prime minister.

“Definitely everyone in the Arab world is listening to every single bit of speech by our politicians,” says Mr Alouf.

The border incident does not appear to have provoked mass cancellations, but all eyes are on Eid al-Fitr, the holiday after Ramadan when Lebanon hopes to recoup revenue from Arab tourists who stayed at home for the month of fasting. Bookings are said to be high but, says Ms Namoor, “it is highly likely that [the political situation] might trigger a negative effect”.

There are other checks on the promised boom that are unrelated to politics.

According to one hotel manager in Bhamdoun, a mountain resort, the main thing deterring visitors is the traffic. Lebanon’s roads are in critical need of development and are increasingly unable to cope with the summer influxes. “The journey from Bhamdoum to Jounieh [a coastal resort] should take 20 minutes, but it takes three hours,” the manager says.

Value for money is another issue. Jad Chaaban, president of the Lebanon Economic Association, says the country has pursued a niche tourism strategy, focused on attracting a relatively small number of visitors, mainly from the Gulf states, who are willing to pay high prices.

This does not mean, however, that they are insensitive to value. The costs of accommodation, food and transport in resort areas are high even for better-off visitors. For example, a standard double room for the Eid holiday in the Four Seasons hotel in downtown Beirut costs $350 a night, excluding taxes and breakfast.

The average Beirut hotel room rate has increased by nearly 16 per cent since last year, more than anywhere else in the region, says Byblos Bank.

“I hear people saying they regret coming here,” says the Bhamdoun hotel manager, whose guests are mainly from the Gulf. “The Lebanese people are trying to steal from them. If I were a Kuwaiti or from the UAE, I would go to Syria or Jordan.”

For Ms Namoor, price inflation partly explains the poor bookings for the second half of the year. “My impression is that the chain of supply readied itself for a record summer by increasing the costs, without perfecting the equation of quality to cost,” she says.

The number of non-Arab visitors is reported by the industry to be growing. However, to turn Beirut into a popular destination for European tourists would require the availability of cheap package deals; at present, these account for a tiny proportion of tourists. Mr Abboud says he is keen to develop such products, but there are significant impediments.

Jean Beyrouthy, head of the Federation of Touristic Syndicates, says that the political situation needs “four to five years to stabilise” before advance block-booking and charter flights become commercially viable, and there would have to be more investment in building hotels and resorts outside Beirut.

As the mixture of languages being spoken on Beirut streets indicate, 2010 is far from a disaster. But there is a sense of missed opportunities.

The sporadic outbursts of tension, congested roads and lack of a co-ordinated development strategy look set to continue. “We are losing things because of the lack of unified vision of where we want the country to go,” says Mr Chaaban.

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New weekly Lebanon Packages

2010-08-16T11:01:00.001-07:00

Interesting new weekly Lebanon Vacations deals at
http://www.lebanonpackages.org

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Lebanon in the voice of Fairuz

2010-08-15T22:06:00.001-07:00

Lebanon Vacations at Lebanon Packages

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What a beautiful day...

2010-08-15T01:24:00.001-07:00

Feels like heaven

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Interesting Kola nuts

2010-08-14T01:15:00.001-07:00

My hairdresser gave me 4 Kola Nuts lately. Being unable to find anything particular about them from a taste point of view, I googled the term, and I found the following definition in Wikipedia: Quite interesting

Kola Nut (Cola) is a genus of trees native to the tropical rain forest of Africa. It is related to the South American cocoa. It is an evergreen tree, growing up to 20 m tall (about 60 feet), with glossy ovoid leaves up to 30 cm long and star shaped fruit.

Uses

Cola acuminata

The kola nut has a bitter flavor and contains caffeine. It is chewed in many West African cultures, individually or in a group setting. It is often used ceremonially, presented to tribal chiefs or presented to guests. It is preferred among African Muslims, who are forbidden to drink alcohol. Chewing kola nut can ease hunger pangs. Frequent chewing of the kola nut can also lead to stained teeth. Among the urban youth of West Africa, kola nut is becoming less popular.

Kola nuts are often used to treat whooping cough and asthma. The caffeine present acts as a bronchodilator, expanding the bronchial air passages.

Kola nuts are perhaps best known to Western culture as a flavouring ingredient and the source of caffeine in cola and other similarly flavoured beverages. The "Cola" in Coca Cola itself references the use of the Kola nut.

Pharmacological effects

Kola nuts are used mainly for their stimulant qualities. They were once commonly used in soft drinks such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi, but have now been replaced with artificial ingredients. They have effects similar to other xanthine-containing plant products such as chocolate, tea, coffee, guarana and yerba mate. They have stimulant effects on the central nervous system and heart. Animal experiments indicate that kola nuts have analeptic and lipolytic (fat-burning) properties, and stimulate the secretion of gastric juices. Human studies show kola nuts have positive chronotropic and weak diuretic effects. In humans it enhances alertness and physical energy, elevates mood, increases tactile sensitivity and suppresses the appetite. Autonomic changes include increased body temperature, increased blood pressure and increased respiratory rate. Effects may last up to 6 hours after ingestion.In medicine the refined extract is used as a cardiac and central-nervous-system stimulant

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Voyage Liban

2010-08-13T22:06:00.001-07:00

Voyage Liban

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Lebanon Packages - The Lebanon Tourism Reference

2010-08-13T03:12:00.001-07:00

Lebanon Packages and Vacations up and running for the best deals about Lebanon Hotels, Lebanon Tours, and all you need for your travel to Lebanon, all combined within an easy package.

Need to reserve a flight or a hotel in Lebanon, these can be already included in one of the available Lebanon Packages, or you can custom create all your trip from the flight, to the hotel reservation, to the activities, transportation, food, etc.

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Kids who think outside the box!

2010-07-22T04:25:00.000-07:00

It’s twilight, soccer season, my older son,
my eight year old is on the field, and he’s the
goalie. It’s a practice game in the evening.
The score is tied. The field is well lit, almost
glowing, against the chilly November sky. This
is what it is all about. I’m a soccer mom; he’s
a soccer kid. Oh my gosh . . . the ball is coming
to him. I’m so glad I pushed him to all
those practices. I know it wasn’t easy for him,
he wasn’t that athletic, but I thought no pain,
no gain.

“Morgen, you can do it honey, look alive,
the ball is coming right to you,” I yelled in a
voice filled with support and hope for both
him and me. Whew! He’s in position, ready
to get that ball. “What’s going on,” I thought
to myself. He’s looking at the sky, not the ball.
Maybe at eight years old he has his own strategy.
“Morgen, look at the ball . . . look at the
ball . . . look at the ball.” I yelled as I clapped
my hands, cheering him on. The ball was moving
down the field, right toward my son the
goalie. Morgen again looked up to the sky and
not at the ball. Maybe at the age of eight he was
spiritual and was praying to God for a win.
With one last kick from the other team, the ball
was coming directly at him. “Easy recovery,” I
thought to myself. Then to my horror, while
my eight year old was engrossed in something
celestial, the ball went right through his legs
and the other side had scored a goal.
“What were you doing?” I yelled from the
sidelines. With a gleam in his eye, he turned
and looked at me as he pointed to the sky.
“Look Mom, I think I spotted a double star.” I
wanted to cry. Not because we lost the game
and not because he missed the goal. I wanted
to cry because I was trying to make my
wonderful, bright, scientific child something
he was not and never could be. Now it was
time for him to feel good about what he was
about. From that day on, we didn’t look back;
we located programs and activities that utilized
the intellect, insights, talents, and wisdom.
We didn’t stop at go, didn’t push him to
be something he was not, and once we knew
we had a “kid who thought outside the box,”
our family hit the ground running.

Traveling to Lebanon - Ecotourism

2010-07-13T04:16:00.000-07:00

Traveling to Lebanon: Don't miss La Reserve, Afqa

CONCEPT. La Réserve, the premier ecotourism resort in the mountains of Lebanon, offers all nature-lovers and adventure-seekers the opportunity to live thrilling moments, performing unique outdoors activities and sports, in a green and friendly environment.

LOCATION. Located at Mnaitra, at the heights of the caza of Jbeil, the resort spreads over millions of sqm, full of apple and cherries trees gardens and ever-green juniper, pine and oak trees. The surroundings nestle archeological remains, fabulous grottos, numerous valleys and plateaus with breathtaking sceneries, and natural water springs.

Lebanon SUMMER CAMPS. Every summer since 1998, boys and girls of 6 till 15 years old, meet at La Réserve and join all together in a harmonious team to spend unforgettable summer vacations. During each session of 12 days, kids and teenagers perform, in teams and individually, unique creative activities and sports aimed at stimulating their minds and bodies.

Lebanon Hiking programs are available at La Réserve for beginners and experienced hikers aged 12 till 65 years old. A welcoming Nature, pure fresh air, and zero pollution!

Lebanon ROPES COURSE. The Ropes course is a series of 'bridges' constructed of treated wooden poles, stainless steel cables, and ropes. They are desi-gned to be fun, but also are one of our newest and most useful tools in outdoors experimental education. They are set in beautiful woods overlooking the Adonis Valley.

Lebanon CAMPING. Feeling the need for a night or two in the wilderness? La Réserve's camping site wel-comes you from May till October. Every tent is equipped with four beds, mattresses, pillows and lighting. W.C.'s and showers are individual prefabricated units.

www.travel.lebanonchoices.com

LA GARE PARAIT SI LOIN QUAND ON A DU CHAGRIN

2010-07-12T04:40:00.000-07:00

Que viva España!

2010-07-11T21:28:00.000-07:00

Ya son campeónes! Y lo merecen.

Puesto a parte el hecho que jugaron mejor que los demas, y que buscaron la victoria en todos sus encuentros, hay que decir que la victoria les queda mejor que a los demas, mucho mejor:

1- Porque son humildes
2- Porque se echan adelante para buscar cualquier ocasion y cualquier posibilidad
3- Porque saben celebrar y saben vivir la felicidad

Así que felicidades para el futbol Español, y para adelante en el futuro!

Appetite Suppression or Regulation Tricks

2010-07-11T21:19:00.000-07:00

I've came across an interesting article about appetite suppression. Actually it goes with my view of eating healthy and well being, that's why I am reproducing its basic ideas here.

As a matter of fact, one doesn't need to suppress his or her appetite in the first place, all one has to to is to increase his or her metabolism: the rate at which the body uses food for fuel. Then being hungry is a good thing... as long as one is eating the right foods at the right time.

But let's say you want to curb your appetite at night.... that's the time most people
really lose it on a dietplan. Even on a plan that ASKS you to eat frequently, there are times where night-time cravings need to be put to sleep.

So use these tips to ease the urge to eat at night:

1. Protein First: "Rise and shine with protein." But what does this have to do with night-time cravings?

Everything.

Set the body up to use your own fat-stores for fuel by eating protein in the morning and your appetite FOR fatty foods goes way down during the day and the night. Protein is "thermogenic", meaning it helps increase your metabolism. It also acts as a natural appetite regulator.

Notice I said "regulator" and not "suppressant." That's because you only need to regulate your appetite, no matter how much bodyfat you desire to drop.

Cool, right?

2. Go For The Grapefruit

In a study at the Nutrition and Metabolic Research Center at the Scripps Clinic in San Diego, people who ate half a grapefruit with each meal lost an average of 3.6 pounds in three months. That doesn't sound like a lot (and it isn't) but that's ALL they changed.

It doesn't matter for our purposes... we want to lower insulin at night. Why? Insulin is not only dangerous for your health in excess but it also can cause a LOT of fat storage if secreted too much at night. Enter the lowly grapefruit.

A great snack, especially if you have a few bites of lean protein with it.

3. Smell This! This is a trick I didn't know about until recently.

Smelling food can trick your brain into thinking you've eaten.

A recent study found that those who inhaled peppermint in scent form every 2 hours at (get this) 2700 calories LESS per week than they normally did.

Let me put that in perspective: That's a fat loss of more than half a pound a week...
from sniffing peppermint! Vanilla also works. You can keep vanilla-scented drops or even candles around the office and take a wiff every few hours.

How easy is that?

Professional Children Audio Books with parents voice!

2010-06-16T23:55:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have come across a website that is promoting a method for parents to read and record audio books for their own children. The concept is nice, even though in my opinion, it would be much richer and entertaining if these kids audio books recorded by some parents can be made available and shared with others. Maybe, contributing parents can have free access to titles, and others would have to pay some small charge for downloading the children audio books.

Read more at Children Audio books Club

Lots of people know what to do, but they don't do what they know ;)

2010-05-28T03:38:00.001-07:00

Now you know!

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Anybody looking for work?

2010-05-25T22:15:00.000-07:00

Even though usually I advise people not to get employed, to try to be creative and get themselves to generate some income by directly creating value themselves, and not by creating value to someone, some people still want to get employed, and still prefer to go the hard way in life. They don't respond positively to wise advice. For these, I have come across the following book that may give them some edge in their cover letters and job interviews.

Cinema Théatre Vendôme

2010-05-23T22:54:00.000-07:00

Quand j'avais 7 ou 8 ans, là où on attendait l'autocar, sur un des murs d'une vieille batisse qu'on appelait Station Abou Arbid, il y avait chaque semaine une nouvelle affiche, l'affiche d'un nouveau film qu courait sur les écrans de Cinéma Vendôme. En ce temps, je ne savais peut-être pas ce que c'était un cinéma, ou je le savais? Un des copains qui attendait l'autocar avec moi essayait à chaque fois de décoller l'affiche sans la déchirer, parce qu'il faisait une collection d'affiches. Je me rappelle aussi le titre d'un film "Le Coup de Parapluie" de Pierre Richard, parce que ce type était particulièrement excité le jour où on avait collé cette affiche, sous prétexte qu'il s'appelait Richard, et que son frère s'appelait Pierre.

Plus tard, du temps de mon adolescence, cinéma Vendôme perdit un peu de sa superbe, surtout avec l'avènement des cinémas Empire qui monopolisaient peu à peu l'industrie dans tout le pays. Néanmoins de temps en temps, on allait cinéma Vendôme. Certes on ne prenait pas autant de plaisir que dans les salles Empire plus modernes, mais les salles n'étaient pas mauvaises après tout, et on pouvait voir l'écran sans gêne de la tête du spectateur devant nous. Puis encore et surtout, on référençait l'escalier Geara par l'escalier au milieu duquel il y a l'entrée d'un ciné.

Plus tard encore, peut-être un an ou deux auparavant, comme je travaillais quelque part dans la région, je passais parfois devant ciné Vendôme qui n'était plus qu'une vielle batisse sans aucune entrée, pour monter l'escalier Geara et aboutir de Nahr à Geitawi. Je ne manquais pas à chaque fois de regarder l'entrée condamnée par des blocs de bois ou de béton, et je me demandais si cette entrée rouvrirait un jour?

Aujourd'hui, en passant par la rue Nahr, et comme je voulais monter l'escalier Geara, je cherchais la demeure du ciné pour localiser l'escalier, et je ne le trouvais pas. Le panneau où on colle les affiches est toujours là, mais à côté, un chantier commence à se creuser. Un centre commercial ou un immeuble résidentiel se prépare rue du fleuve, et une autre page de la région et des habitants de la région se tourne. Dans l'espoir que ce soit une belle page, on peut voir dans la photo ci-jointe, les ruines de Ciné Vendôme.

Semsom - Lebanese Cuisine with a twist?

2010-05-23T10:59:00.000-07:00

We finally went to Semsom at City Mall. Ever since it opened, we wanted to go, and it happened this Sunday.

The concept is quite original. It's strange to see the colored hommos, and the other varieties, and since our first thought is that it is a Lebanese Restaurant in the end, we have the impulse to make our orders in the old fashioned way. This is what should be avoided. The Semsom restaurant concept according to me is a kind of occidental way of presenting Lebanese cuisine, with the option to go the old way.

Each plate order comes with an option of 3 small mezzas, which come in the same plate, and make the table less chaotic than other Lebanese restaurant tables, and lets each person eat the mezza he or she likes the most without over eating. This is why I said above ordering the traditional way would be a mistake.

The food we ordered was good, except the cheese rolls (r'a'at el jibneh). The service was very good also, and each 10 minutes by the end of our lunch, we had someone of the uniform persons in the restaurant come and ask us if we were satisfied with everything. Usually this happens only once (if ever) in other places, and the manager does it, so we wondered if there were many managers?

The only thing we missed were the dessert, because we were so full we couldn't eat anymore. Even the kids enjoyed the meal, and stayed long part of the meal on their chairs, which is rare.

Overall, it was a good experience, and the restaurant location inside Citymall is a location of choice, overlooking the sea.

Les enfants vont faire dodo...

2010-05-21T09:10:00.000-07:00

Les filles essaient de dormir... C'est le moment des batailles, des cris et de l'exercice du pouvoir, ainsi que de l'abus du pouvoir, comme cela finit par être tous les jours.

Comme chaque soir avant de dormir, et une fois au lit, les filles trouvent toutes les excuses du monde pour jouer, bavarder, se chamailler, se jeter les doudous, et j'en passe. La maman ayant présenté sa démission depuis quelque jours, c'est le papa qui se charge dorénavent du dodo.

La première nuit, depuis deux jours, le papa a pris le pouvoir par coup de règle. Paff, un seul coup, et le silence a reigné. Le papa n'a plus eu qu'à s'asseoir sur la chaise, et à lire son courrier sur son ordinateur portable. Hier, un autre coup de règle beaucoup moins fort que le premier et le silence a reigné. Aujourd'hui, les choses semblent plus simples, pas de coups de règle, seulement quelques shhhhhhhh... Espérons que ça passe.

C'est bizarre ce côté oriental et impatient chez nous, qui nous donne tous les droits pour utiliser tantôt la règle, tantot le sabot, tantot la main tout court, tantot les cheveux, et on assume cette sauvagerie qui nous fait taper nos enfants sans aucune vergogne, et sans aucun état d'ame, alors que tous les manuels de l'éducation, tous les principes interdisent cette pratique du moyen-age. Et on s'en vante.

Mais c'est bizarre aussi ces enfants qui n'écoutent personne et rien, qui ne comprennent que la menace de la force, et qui tiennent tête jusqu'au bout. Est-ce que c'est nous qui les avons menés jusque là, est-ce que c'est leur caractère d'origine, est-ce la fréquentation de gens mal éduqués ou est-ce leur école qui n'est pas en train de leur instiguer les principes d'obéissance, ou encore les grands-parents qui gatent?

Bon voila, les ronflements se font entendre. Je peux m'éclipser tranquillement.

How to lose fat: Two foods to avoid

2010-05-20T02:32:00.000-07:00

One of the main problems with nutrition nowadays is that every person gives you a different insight about what should and what should not be eaten, about what is good for your health and what is not. It is a problem because rare are the people who really know what they are talking about, including doctors, and the problem of some people that don’t know is that they do not shut up and leave their ignorance for them, but they communicate it to others.

Some people even generalize and distribute their ignorance in the form of diet books, that become widespread and that a lot of people begin to follow blindly, only to discover later that all their efforts to lose weight or fat were in vain because they didn’t understand some rules.

Among these rules is one of utmost importance because it is among the most ignored ones. It is about 2 kinds of unsuspected foods that are to be reduced or deleted from your diet. These are 2 items that most people have always considered as healthy. These are the following:

- Wheat products: By wheat product, I mean all wheat, including all kinds of breads, complete or whole or brown, cereals, pasta and so on. In addition to the fact that a large number of people has some degree of intolerance to gluten, sometimes without suspecting it, the human body in general was never meant to eat large quantities of wheat, and never adapted to that as well.
Until 100 years ago, the wheat in bread and products didn’t constitute a major part of the human diet. This consisted more in meats, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.

- Fruit Juices: Even though fruits in themselves are very good and very healthy for the body, when the juice is separated from the rest of the fruit, the fiber and other beneficial components of the fruit are left and not absorbed, which makes the fruit juice at best a high calorie sugary mixture.
Moreover, drinking the fruit juice alone doesn’t satisfy your appetite needs, and you are left with the same hunger feeling you were feeling before drinking, craving more carbohydrates, whereas the whole fruit slows down the blood sugar response.

From the above, two points are to be retained, especially for people looking to lose weight or fat and feel better:

- Stop or reduce wheat from your diet. Try it to begin for 2 or 3 weeks, and notice how you will feel better and lose weight. If you feel you cannot resist your carbohydrates cravings, realize that it is only in your head, and that this need is more psychological than physical. Soon without even realizing this need will disappear by itself, if you persist. In addition to feeling better, you will start losing body fat much faster, and you will get rid of migraines and other indigestion related ailments that has plagued you for so long

- Stop or reduce drinking fruit juices. These make you fat. Instead eat the whole fruit and take benefit from the full fiber and energy boost that these give you

Living healthy is not a theory, it is a practice. Unfortunately, we are not educated enough, we have been misinformed, and we have been taken into a vicious circle of bad habits, either by our parents or by the society around. Still, if we engage in learning about the truth of the matter, we can get back to the right track. This is not an easy task, but believing is achieving.

They buy our kids for life for 10 cents

2010-05-19T03:02:00.000-07:00

I was sitting there working when suddenly I felt like a Big Burger with a lot of fries from one of the fast food chains around. While talking to my wife, I told her about my craving, and she told me that she felt exactly the same. Having been both of us following some good eating practices lately, the fact that we both felt like eating that crap struck me.

The images of the fast food chain setting full of colors, with big pictures of Burger and fries, and the soda counters where you can fill all you can drink are so appealing. But being health wary, and knowing about all the unhealthy stuff that is wrapped in their meals, we cannot but ask ourselves where does that appeal come from? Why is it that we feel the need to indulge in eating that zero benefit, all fat meal that has disastrous effects both on our health, body and morale?

While thinking about that, I came across the fact that children adore these fast food chains. Everything is done there to attract families, and children ask to go there, both because there are playgrounds where they can play all they want, because they get their meal in nice flashy boxes, and because they get that extra toy with every meal. They even become collectors of these cheap 10 cents items, and sometimes just for the sake of getting that extra item that is missing in their collection, they make the whole family go to a fast food chain.

Parents want their kids to be happy and entertained. Their choices are dictated by those of their children. The children choices are in turn dictated by their attraction towards places where there are playgrounds, and where they give them extra stuff, even if that stuff only costs 10 cents for the piece, even if these same places sell crap for 10 dollars a piece, and most importantly even if they load you with fat and long term health problems and diseases.

So, the answer is there. No wonder if we crave these fast food chains as adults. We have grown up as children with pleasurable feelings towards these places. No wonder that we like these salty fries, we have come to accept them as the standard of good fries from our young age.

With this in mind, our reaction today should be not only to fight the craving feelings we have towards eating a big burger accompanied with crispy fries, it should be to instill in our children some good sense about eating good stuff and not eating bad stuff. We should from now on educate our kids to know what is good for them and what is not. We shouldn't allow these fast food chains to buy our children with 10 cents for their life to come, like they bought us years ago.

Citizen Protection Rights: Trash

2010-05-16T22:03:00.000-07:00

At the old days of school, some students used to throw things in the playing field, either voluntarily or involuntarily. Teachers used to ask us then "At home, do you throw tissues on the floor after using them?" and we used to answer that of course not, but at that young age of ours (seven or eight years), we used not to perceive the full meaning of throwing things around, especially that there were janitors. Sometimes, students who were seen throwing matters were punished by being assigned to clean the whole playing ground, some other times, students were asked to volunteer to clean the playing ground. I don't know if that had any effect on me, and I don't even remember if I have followed this rule everywhere, at all times in my life.

Still, nowadays when I see people throwing trash out of their cars, or in the street, or I see long alleys by the sea full of trash, I cannot but ask myself why is it so impulsive for people to throw their stuff on the road. Is it because they don't want to go through the pain of collecting the trash in a bag and throwing it later where it should, or because of lack of education or because of lack of knowledge? Whatever the answer, and since every human action can always be reduced to one of the two governing emotions of Pain and Pleasure or to a mix of both, it should necessarily be that people throw their trash on the street because they feel more pleasure doing it than collecting their trash for later disposal, and more pain in holding that impulse. Maybe they feel proud about it?

Anyhow, and things being what they are, these untidy people are affecting a whole country, so in my opinion, the only solution to this issue is to enforce the pain related to throwing trash in the street in these people and also the pleasure related to not doing it. This can be executed in the following way: Whenever someone is seen throwing garbage in the street, he should be convicted, he should be made to pay some penalty and in the same time to execute some cleaning task. Very easy to track, easy to execute, and easy to set as an example, especially that people that are throwing all their trash on us are not hiding to do it. They are doing it proudly in public places, and the worst thing is that they do it in places they go to themselves. So it's only logical that they do the cleaning themselves.

This is part of what the citizen protection rights should consist of!

Lundi, bof!

2010-05-10T22:07:00.000-07:00

Et voila, ça redémarre... Lundi passé, la machine se remet en marche. C'est bizarre combien le lundi est tout négatif de connotations, de pensées, et combien on se sent déjà mieux le lundi soir, en buvant le café au lait dans le bain :) Sérieusement, on se sent déjà mieux tout court.

Le dimanche après-midi, soudain, on se sent toute chose. C'est comme si on prévoit les 24 mauvaises heures à venir. Mardi, c'est autre chose, c'est le boom de nouveau. Autant que je puisse revenir en arrière en mémoire, je ne me souviens d'aucun lundi qui ait été agréable. Bon, enfin, je généralise un peu, mais c'est juste pour dire que la connotation négative du lundi est ancrée dans nos têtes.

Et ce qui est le plus étrange, c'est que objectivement, lundi est un jour comme un autre. Est-ce que ce sens négatif qu'on lui donne revient du temps de l'école? Est-ce que ça nous rappelle la peine de se lever le matin dans le froid, pour prendre l'autocar alors qu'il ne fait pas encore jour?

Bon, dans tous les cas, il faut trouver un moyen pour changer cela, et je crois que le meilleur moyen serait de prendre congé tous les lundis!

Mmmmh délicieux, à répéter sans modération!

2010-05-07T10:31:00.000-07:00

Ce matin, j'ai eu envie d'un plat de "foul mudammas" de chez Foul Iyyem Zamen.

Plus tard, tout en me gavant sur mon bureau, je priais pour que personne ne vienne me rendre visite, et que personne ne m'interrompe, parce que j'avais fait un étalage devant moi de menthe, d'oignons, de tomates, etc.

Avec chaque bouchée, délicieuse comme tout, je songeais à l'importance de ce plat du point de vue nutritionnel, surtout s'il est mangé (j'ai bien dit mangé, pas dévoré) de bon matin. Il faut dire qu'il contient tout, et l'ail qui est inclus dans le mélange, avec les oignons, les olives, les tomates et la menthe qui accompagnent, tout de bonnes choses autant sur le plan gustatif que sur le plan anti-inflammatoire.

Je vous conseille vivement ce plat délicieux, même si vous ne devez rien manger de toute la journée, car ce plat seul suffit à vous faire le plein, et vous pouvez être sur qu'en même temps, vous ne manquez d'aucun élément nutritionnel.

Feux d'artifice ou tête d'artifice?

2010-05-04T23:58:00.000-07:00

C'est beau à regarder les feux d'artifice, surtout quand ce n'est pas toi qui en fais les frais. Toutes ces couleurs, ces formes, ce rêve, notre visuel est epoustouflé.

Et puis quoi? Et puis c'est parti, pffft, c'est du mirage, c'est de l'instantané, on oublie 1 minute après ce qu'on a vu ou senti, même les caméras ne peuvent capter la beauté et l'immensité du moment, c'est tout simplement du virtuel, de la fumée et quand on se réveille on n'est même pas sonné.

On se demande d'où vient cette odeur de plomb, toute cette pollution? Soudain nos oreilles bourdonnent des éclats qu'on n'avait pas entendus alors qu'on observait, et le visuel parti, tous nos autres sens se demandent et réfléchissent au sens de tout le spectacle.

Et le sens, c'est justement ça qui manque, autant au spectacle, qu'au but du spectacle, qu'à la cervelle des instigateurs du spectacle. Les feux partis, l'artificiel apparait, l'artificiel brûle et réveille. Le rêve d'un instant sombre devant le vide des moments qui suivent, des cervelles brulées qui manquent de substance et qui nous polluent de leur présence.

Alors, qu'ils aillent ailleurs ces fous d'artifice, qu'ils nous délivrent de leur présence et de la beauté de leurs feux qui cachent la pollution de leur existence.

Kids in the street - You are killing their future

2010-05-03T22:45:00.001-07:00

They go in the street, asking for money and playing on people's feelings to get a pound or two. You encounter them all day long, each time in a different place, always dirty, always trying to sound miserable, they are a plague in each society, and they are barely 5 or 6 years old.

The truth is they are miserable, not because of themselves, but because of their parents, because there is no applicable law to protect them, and also because of the people that give them money

While you in the car cannot do anything to change their parents, you may do little to get the children protection law to be applied, but what you can surely do is NOT TO ENCOURAGE THESE KIDS TO STAY THE WAY THEY ARE. What you are doing when you give them money is a crime, because you are encouraging them to stay where they are, and you are encouraging their parents to keep exploiting them.

So open your eyes, and do not feel guilty if they stick at the window of your car and you do not give them anything. They need to learn that in life we do not get anything for nothing, and their parents need to know that by exploiting their kids, they are not getting any return. You have a mission to accomplish, and this mission is to improve your society. So stop being stupid, and instead of encouraging negative behavior, put your money where it encourages good behavior. There are a lot of associations working to improve kids life and on educating children that have no parents, you can go there if you are so kind.

Very well thought :)

2010-05-01T02:43:00.001-07:00

So true!

Posted via email from nicolaze's posterous

Twisted Human Thoughts

2010-04-29T22:11:00.000-07:00

We live in a paradise all our life long, without having the vision to see it or the wisdom to perceive it.

We get drown in our day to day narrow life paths. We do not take time to look at the beautiful things around, these exquisite flowers that grew by themselves on the border of the road, this beautiful sun so bright that we can not face it directly, this beautiful music we listen to without perceiving the notes, these charming creatures that surround us and that we take for granted.

Instead of concentrating on all the enchanting matters around, we let our thoughts lead us to the dark corridors of negativity and pessimism. We negate all the beauty God created and we get ourselves into a state of denial. We concentrate on the small black spots and with practice, we teach ourselves to take pleasure in doing so.

The truth is it's not easy to learn pessimism. It's even an elaborate complicated process. It involves a lot of thinking and processing, and instead of taking things as they are, turning them again and again in our spirit and reaching to conclusions that have minimal probability to happen, then taking these conclusions as starting points for other endings that based on these have acceptable chances of happening, and repeat the process over till we get to a dark spot where the probability to get is high, but how? Based on the conclusions of the conclusions of the conclusions of the tiny probability that we based ourselves upon in the first place.

How's that for a twisted process? While all it takes to go the other path is a nice song hymn in the morning or a 5 minute walk in the sun or a beautiful word to a neighbor? Why not try the easiest process from time to time? Why not learn to be happy when it's so easy?

My Social Bookmarks

2010-04-28T22:29:00.000-07:00

At Delicious View Here

Internet, a matter of performance!

2010-04-28T22:11:00.000-07:00

More than a decade ago, the World Wide Web came into existence. At that time, it was curious and entertaining, and a little bit informative. It was a tool, that someone could avoid altogether without remaining aback.

Today, I don't think it's possible to anyone with good sense to stay away from the World Wide Web. It has become something indispensable, not for the social aspect, which is important in itself since it keeps people in contact in a seamless way, and not for the virtual world, which is entertaining but nothing else, but for the availability and richness of information that you get each and everyday at your fingertips.

Today, I cannot imagine myself for example not using google (or any other search tool) 10 times a day to look for almost anything, concerning my work or my leisure or my activities, which makes me wonder how people still negative to the technology and the web are performing?

A wonderful day!

2010-04-27T23:05:00.000-07:00

Do you want to have a great day? Follow this advice:

For a day to begin on a positive note, and thus for you to put all chances on your side for having a good day, it must begin with a walk in the morning. Motion is essential. If you don't like walking, how about swimming? If swimming is not possible for you, try jumping, trampoline, anything as long as it involves motion, a lot of motion.

Motion sets you up, and boosts your emotions for the coming day, the effect could be even doubled if you listen to nice vigorous, energizing music while moving.

Next on the list is a nice cup of coffee. If you're against caffeine intake (even though caffeine is good for the heart on low doses), an orange juice can do the trick. The important thing is that you feed yourself with that extra energy boost.

Then it's time for goal setting or goal review. If you've never been into goal setting, now is the time to begin. This need not be a one in a year activity. It should become a daily routine. Each day before you do anything else, you should spend 5 minutes to fix your goals, according to your needs and wants. In my opinion, these change every day, even by a tiny portion, and if you take the habit to review your goals and objectives each and every day, you will set yourself for ultimate success because each day, you will know what needs to come next on your list, and what you need to do to stay on the track.

Next, you should translate your goals list into daily tasks. Things you have to do in order to eventually reach your goals. Reaching your goals could be immediate or it could be on the long term, but what you need to do here is divide your goals into daily actions.

Next, what you need to do is obvious: The actions related to your number one goal. Nothing less! If you work on a job that doesn't fit with your goals priority, change it so that it fits or change your job. If you think you cannot, then you need to change something in your head, not because there is something wrong with your head, but you need to change how your head is programmed.

OK? Your next activity would then be what's next on your actions list, and then what's next, and so forth.

At the end of the day, you will not only have passed a wonderful day, but you will have a wonderful night as well, with the feeling that you have done something worthy during your day, and in expectation of the wonderful day coming ahead.

Positive Thinking and success

2010-04-26T21:27:00.000-07:00

Do you believe in positive thinking? Well for it having an effect on your mind and spirit for the short term, absolutely. It does have an effect, but the problem with positive thinking is that it gets you to sit and dream, to mask realities and substitute your dreams to the reality.

For instance, I can feel positive about myself, the work I have done, the education I have undertaken, and this will make me feel good, and feeling good can either lead me to do something good out of self-confidence, or to sit and relax and do nothing :) Still, if I do not get my feet on the ground and evaluate myself, work and education pragmatically, I may become as fat as a pig, I may lose my job, and I can end up broke or jobless. This doesn't mean that I should be negative either. I neither need to be positive nor negative, I can be just normal thinking and outcome and action driven... This in my opinion what can lead to success, and not positive thinking. And when I say action, I mean motion, trial and error, because I believe in making mistakes and correcting them. I even believe that learning = 0 if one makes no mistakes.

There is no such thing as having a skill or knowing something without making mistakes and learning from these, and obviously our education (school and family) puts us in the wrong direction when it comes to making mistakes. We grow up and we become adults while developing the feeling that mistakes are wrong, that we should avoid them at all costs, and thus we grow up unable to take risks, unable to do anything, immobilized by our fears, and waiting at anytime for failure to show its head. Positive thinking while it can deliver us from this fear feeling, cannot by itself lead us to make change, to take action or to be outcome driven, we need other tools for that.

For one of these tools, check the Ultimate Success Formula, it's amazing!

Los jovenes de la edad de la informacion

2010-04-26T10:12:00.000-07:00

Vivimos hoy en el mundo de la informacion. La informacion hoy es disponible facilmente, no cuesta mucho (sino nada) y viene en formas multiples, de manera que uno solo tiene que decidir que quiere adquirir cierta informacion, y ya. Tiempos atras, las cosas no eran tan faciles... Cuando estaba yo en la universidad por ejemplo, buscabamos a la informacion en los libros que estaban carisimos, y en las enciclopedias que no eran al alcanze de todos.

Y a pesar de todo, los jovenes de hoy en la universidad y la escuela no hacen el minimo esfuerzo para buscar la informacion. Desde hace 6 anos que enseno en la universidad, los estudiantes estan cada vez mas perezosos, cada ano menos educados, y cada vez mas ausentes durante los cursos. Avanzan el pretexto que la informacion es disponible y al alcanze y que pueden adquirirla cuando quieren, pero no suelen levantar la mano o hacer el mas minimo esfuerzo para hacerlo, o asi parece.

Aun mas, es cierto que la informacion es facil de adquirir, pero cuando un profesor como yo (modestia puesta a parte) con mas de 15 anos de experiencia, viene a dar un curso, es porque tiene ciertas cosas que decir o dar, que no existen en otra parte, porque si la informacion existe y es disponible, la experiencia no lo es. Cuando un profesor como yo intenta dar a esos alumnos un tanto de su saber, los alumnos tienen que ponerse listos y estar atentos al 100 por ciento porque esa informacion no es del dominio publico, y puede ahorrarles horas y horas de errores y de problemas.

Me pregunto hoy, dos horas despues de haber terminado de dar a mi curso, a donde van las cosas, y que credibilidad van a tener los alumnos de hoy en el mundo del trabajo y da las empresas, viendo lo poco atentos que estan en clase, y la poca importancia que dan a los esfuerzos de sus padres que trabajan dia y noche para proveerles educacion y informacion. Es una verdadera pena!

Soif de verdure!

2010-04-23T08:55:00.000-07:00

Les gens qui aiment Beyrouth sont nombreux. Les gens qui habitent Beyrouth sont également nombreux. Les uns et les autres sont unanimes. Ce qui manque à Beyrouth, c'est l'espace vert.

Vue d'en haut ou vue d'en bas, la capitale du Liban n'a que 0.5% d'espaces verts publics répartis sur 49 parcs, dont le Horch de Beyrouth (photo ci-haut). Personnellement, j'en connais 4 ou 5 pour m'y être promené à différentes époques de ma vie, et ils restent très agréables malgré leur taille réduite, leur entretien qui laisse à désirer, et le peu de verdure qu'ils offrent.

Et si on sort de Beyrouth, ce n'est pas non plus le paradis. Loin de là! Certes on trouve plus d'espace, il y a plus de verdure, mais des parcs publics, les municipalités n'en comprennent pas l'intérêt.

Pour revenir à Beyrouth, on ne peut qu'applaudir et attendre avec impatience les projets de verdure annoncés qu'ils soient encore sur papier ou dans l'imagination de certaines personnes. Que ce soient les 72,000 mètres carrés de jardins publics annoncés par Solidere près de la côte, ou les autres 23,000 mètres carrés de jardin du pardon annoncés par la même compagnie. Il faut dire que la compagnie a acquis une grande partie du centre-ville de Beyrouth selon des méthodes qualifiées parfois de non catholiques, alors la moindre des choses serait d'en faire bon usage au profit des Beyrouthins.

Autre projet intéressant, et sur un plan plus large sortant du cadre de Beyrouth, celui annoncé par le parti vert d'exploiter 8.5 kilomètres longeant le fleuve d'ordures de Beyrouth pour en faire un espace vert public.

Espérons enfin que dans l'avenir au lieu de se battre pour une position dans la municipalité sur base politique, les aspirants aux titres nous présentent un plan de reforestration du pauvre Liban qui tourne aujourd'hui du marron clair au noir aride.

toute rouge, toute rouge, oui c'est la maison rouge...

2010-04-23T07:52:00.001-07:00

Posted via email from nicolaze's posterous

TV v/s Silence - Moi je préfère le second

2010-04-21T11:03:00.000-07:00

Et si elle arrêtait de débiter ses idioties, la Mireille Mazraani sur la MTV? Ou mieux si on arrêtait cette émission à la con?

M'énervent tous avec ces blagues que je connais depuis mon enfance! Et ce qui m'énerve plus, c'est le rire idiot de la Mireille, à la culture tellement sous-développée que ça rend le spectacle plus écoeurant que comique. Comment se fait-il encore de nos jours que des gens pareils aient le culot de se montrer à la télé, bikell 3ein bal'a comme on dit... à Achrafieh!

Une demi heure déjà de ces insanités que ma femme semble aprécier particulièrement, et qui ont le don de m'irriter. Et si j'éteignais la télé d'un coup? Je vais essayer un peu pour voir ce que ça va donner?

Et hop, j'ai éteint... Silence... 1 2 3 elle n'a rien dit... Wallah wallah ma femme elle connait. Enfin... Khayyyyyy le silence! Au diable la télé, si seulement je pouvais m'en débarasser une fois pour toutes!

Attitude and where it can lead!

2010-04-21T05:03:00.000-07:00

If you watch a successful guy, you can undeniably see his success through his attitude, right? But do you think that his attitude is dictated by his success? Think about it before you answer.

On the other hand, watch an unsuccessful guy, and also check that his attitude is congruent with his lack of success. Same question: Do you think that due to his lack of success, he has developed this kind of attitude?

Well, the truth is that things work the other way. It's a person's attitude that dictates his results in life Shut your mouth - End of the story!

Actually, this is not to say that attitude cannot be influenced by what happens to someone (whether it is success or failure), but in turn IT WILL INFLUENCE WHAT WILL COME LATER, so the best thing for someone who wants to take charge and control his future is to take hold of his attitude and work and model it so that it only gives him better results.

Yes my friend, you should take care of your attitude, and yes this includes the tiny little things, and the small little 'foolish' habits that you have acquired over time, like if you smile or not, like if you stand upright with your head up or with shallow shoulders and evasive look.

If you don't believe me, try something now, NOW...

Stand up with your head up, a nice confident look in your eyes, your shoulders back and breathe deeply, done? Ok put a silly smile on your face, and make the following sound with your lips "Tchuk Tchuk Tchuk".

Now try and feel depressed or sad. Can you?

Of course you can't, unless you change one of the elements above, that I told you to do, right?

Now that you understand the power of Attitude, you can model your attitude to do whatever you can think of, instead of playing the victim role. Go and do the right thing, and give me your feedback.