Mind Soup

Happy 3rd Birthday to Mind Soup!

2012-02-26T14:06:00.000+02:00

Who's gonna get me a cupcake?

This week, Mind Soup turns three, though it seems that I have been blogging for a much longer time. It has been a great year for the blog; featured several times in print and on Al Jazeera as well as cited in several studies and MBA thesis projects so I'm proud :')

I'd love to thank all my readers especially my friends who have always shown great support in my blog and kept it going even when I had absolutely no time to update it. At the beginning of this year, I was thinking that this would be the last year for the blog but with all this encouragement and exposure, I just couldn't retire it.

Yesterday, Mind Soup's facebook page received its 1000th like, and that is possibly the best birthday present :)

So here's to many years to come and may you always come back and find fresh posts!

Illegal Shelf Prices in Lebanese Supermarkets

2012-02-21T16:46:00.002+02:00

source

I was in TSC Signature (Beirut Souks) this week. If you don't know already, I'm a tea addict and I like to go to that branch because they have different types of tea not available anywhere else.

In the tea section, there was a whole column for premium Lipton tea (not the regular yellow box ones). All of the Lipton premium teas were at priced 6490LL so I decided to buy the Vanilla Caramel Truffle one (among other things). I made sure that the price is correct and that the shelf label is correct and that it matched the item that I bought.

I paid at the cashier and just before leaving I checked the receipt and saw that I was charged more for that item (7990LL to be exact, that's $1.00 more). I went back to check with the manager and told him that the pricing is not right.

He went to the stand to check the label. After acting puzzled and confused, he tells me that this label is for a different product. Does he really think I'm that stupid? I gave him a mean look and told him "No, read the label, it's exactly the same as the product". He checks the barcode and admits that it is indeed the same product. Then he asked me if I wanted to return the product without any further explanation. He didn't even apologize for the mistake or offer to check if the system pricing is wrong (if I was indeed over-charged).

This is not the first time I encounter wrong shelf prices at Lebanese supermarkets. It always occurs at big supermarkets such as Spinneys, COOP and TSC. Usually the differences are small (like 100LL or 150LL); so I don't bother complaining. But I'm pretty sure that either way, it is illegal to play with the shelving prices. Small or big differences add up which result in illegal profits.

Don't even get me started about the price discrepancies between supermarkets. Do I really have to go to 5 different ones to get all the products that I need? For example, you can buy a Campbell soup can from TSC for under 2000LL while at COOP its 3500LL!

Personally, I don't have time to report every incident that I encounter to Consumer Protection. Isn't it their job to check big supermarkets for scams like this? It just pisses me off that I have to be extra careful when shopping for the simplest things.

AUB Carpooling: a campaign worth supporting

2012-02-20T18:12:00.001+02:00

AUB Carpooling is a very impressive campaign by the Greenpeace club at AUB. (Facebook event)

The AUB Carpooling activity allows students, faculty and staff the ability to conserve energy while making new friends.

Stuck in traffic jams and not finding a parking space?

Paying a lot for fuel and parking?

Bored of driving alone to and from AUB?

Tired of coming and leaving by taxi?

Carpooling is what you need!

Not only is this a good idea and helps reduce pollution, it also reduces traffic, saves money and possibly creates friendships. I really hope that AUB helps in investing and promoting this project (but they probably won't until media start talking about it as usual.)

You can read more details about this in The Daily Star, excerpt below:

Erik Zakhia, a third year mechanical engineering student and president of the Greenpeace AUB Club, which is independent from the national branch of the global environmental NGO, came up with the idea when he saw that the faculty of engineers at the University of Saint Joseph were trying a similar thing, on a smaller scale.

Working with the founder of goaub.com, an online portal for students, Zakhia created a system whereby the AUB community can log in securely, either to offer to be a driver, or to look for rides. Users can view a Google map of available rides that day, and contact the driver through the site to ask for a lift, or arrange journeys.

I urge my AUB readers to try out this service by signing up to the website. All you have to do is "become a driver", if you have a car and usually come to AUB with it, and then add trips.

Photo from Facebook

I will always love you

2012-02-12T14:59:00.000+02:00

Whitney Houston, one of the best female vocalists and great artists of modern music, passed away last night (February 11, 2012) at the age of 48. Cause of death is still unknown.

The world has lost a legend and indeed it was too early for this loss. We will always love you Whitney. May your soul rest in peace :'(

He will legally rape you!

2012-02-08T00:26:00.004+02:00

The “Coalition for the Protection of Women,” is a group of Lebanese citizens who refuse the perpetuation of the violence against women under the protection of existing antiquated laws. They stand by the women of their country, who have been raped, beaten and those who have decided that oppression and discrimination under the guise of law is no longer acceptable.

As such, they are calling on the parliamentary subcommittee chaired by MP Samir El-Gisr to halt its subversive activity related to amending a draft law to protect women from conjugal violence originally proposed by the Kafa Association in 2007. The committee has come under significant political pressure from special interest groups who seek to amend the law to ensure that it is ineffective and inapplicable. These amendments have rid the original text of its specificity by expanding it to the rights of children, elderly, men thus maintaining the imbalance of the Lebanese legal code vis-à-vis women.

In light of this grave danger to the rights of at least half of the Lebanese population, and based on their commitment to justice, human rights as well as need to modernize the penal laws, they have decided to organize a sit-in on Saturday, February 18th 2012, from 11am until 2pm, at the Samir Kassir Square. The goal of the demonstration is to pressure the parliamentary committee to stop undermining the original draft law that provides women with sufficient legal and enforceable protection when faced with conjugal violence.

I will personally follow up on this issue and you can expect updates here or on Mind Soup's facebook page. I will also be joining the sit-in along with a group of Lebanon's prominent bloggers and I expect my readers, males and females, to join the sit-in.

It's not enough that Lebanese women cannot pass the nationality to their children, but now they are getting their most basic civil rights violated. And you know what else is funny? The Lebanese government rejected the below advertisement (to go public on billboards) because it contains the word "rape"! It seems that we don't have the right to protest against rape in this country! SHAME! Shame on these politicians who only care about their pockets. What would it take them to reconsider their shameless amendments? What if their sisters or wives or mothers or daughters got raped? Would they stand up then?

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"دافِع حقك"

تزوّجها، وكأنه اشترى غرضًا يلبّي شهواته وغرائزه. تزوّجها، وكأنه استعبدها. لا إرادة لها ولا رأي. يقتصر دورها على تلبية رغباته الجنسية، حيثما يشاء، وعندما يريد.

بدأت حياة "سهى" (إسم مستعار) مع زوجها بالأوجاع الجسدية التي كانت تتحمّلها حفاظا على زواجها. كان يضربها لأتفه الأسباب، فقررت عدم الإنجاب منه، لأنها استبقت العذاب الذي سيعاني منه أولادها، مع رجل كزوجها.

ولكنّه واظب على إجبارها على منحه "حقوقه الزوجية" بالقوة، فهو، على حدّ تعبيره، "دافع حقها". كان يكبّلها عندما تستفيق شهوته ليشلّ مقاومتها ويضعف جسدها أمام "رجولته" الوهمية. ولم يكتفِ بذلك، بل كان يوقظها من النوم لتشهد على خياناته لها في عقر دارها!

وبعدما أثبت مرارًا عجز "سهى" أمام "رجولته"، شهوته الجنسية لم توفّر بناته! فاغتصبهنّ ولم تقف أبوّته حاجزًا أمام غرائزه.

ويوم قررت الأم اللجوء إلى القانون لحماية نفسها وبناتها من زوجها، قوبلت بالإستهتار لأن الأجهزة المختصة لا تريد التدخّل في العلاقات العائلية.

"لأنو من حق سهى يكون في قانون يحميلها حقها!

شاركوا تجمع "لحماية المرأة" في التحرك يوم السبت ۱۸ شباط ۲۰۱۲، من الساعة الحادية عشرة صباحًا حتى الثانية ظهرًا في ساحة سمير قصير، لدعم مشروع قانون حماية النساء من العنف الأسري، ليكون الحماية للنساء في لبنان من كافة أشكال العنف الذي يتعرّضن له داخل الأسرة.

Why the world hates America

2012-02-05T21:32:00.002+02:00

Below is an excerpt from a post entitled “We came, We saw, We destroyed, We forgot” by William Blum.

An updated summary of the charming record of US foreign policy. Since the end of the Second World War, the United States of America has …

Attempted to overthrow more than 50 governments, most of which were democratically-elected.
Attempted to suppress a populist or nationalist movement in 20 countries.
Grossly interfered in democratic elections in at least 30 countries.
Dropped bombs on the people of more than 30 countries.
Attempted to assassinate more than 50 foreign leaders.

In total: Since 1945, the United States has carried out one or more of the above actions, on one or more occasions, in 69 countries (more than one-third of the countries of the world!

If you’re American and wonder why the rest of the world hates your guts, why Jihadists are out there after you, or why your government is despised, you better read more about this issue.

Best Three Burgers in Beirut?

2012-02-04T21:53:00.000+02:00

Since Gino is looking for Beirut's Favorite Burger, I thought I would share with you three burgers that I believe are the best I've had in Beirut (aside from my mom's homemade burger of course!). Let me know what you think and do suggest some good burgers for me to try!

Roadster Diner's Cheese-at-Heart burger
Roadster Diner have recently launched their new menu (read more about it by Pearl's Powder). A new addition is the "Rd Cheese-at-Heart" burger which is made of a special patty stuffed with Swiss and Cheddar cheese (yes! the meat patty is stuffed with cheese!). It also contains lettuce, crispy chips sprinkles (which gives the burger and absolutely lovely crunchy flavor) and the amazing Rd classic sauce (which is the reason why I used to order the Classic Burger before).

It's definitely recommended that you try this burger in-store so that you can indulge in the melted cheese and crispy chips. The price is not expensive as well! (I've had this burger four times in the last week!)

Loulwa, myself, Darine and Walid enjoying the Cheese-at-Heart burger at Rd's New Menu Tasting!

Deek Duke's Chicken Press Burger

My favorite burger since last year has to be Deek Duke's Chicken Press burger. What's unique about this burger is that it contains a big breaded ball of mixed cheese (a mega edition of Deek Duke’s famous cheese balls). The burger comes with a tiny flag stuck on stop that says "Press me". Once you press the burger, the cheese ball bursts and the burger oozes out delicious thick cheese that covers the grilled chicken patty. The burger also contains lettuce, tomato, pickles and Deek Duke's cocktail sauce. You can also order the burger with a meat patty instead.

Check out the short video below of my friend Weam talking about Deek Duke's Chicken Press Burger. A must-try if you haven't had it yet!

Lord of the Wings's Make-Your-Own Burger
Lord of the Wings is probably the last place you would consider going to for a burger (and I find it largely ironic). They do have good wings, but I don't remember the last time I went there to have wings because they have the best burgers I've had. The service is usually slow (even when there is no one else at the place), but that is a sign that they are cooking everything fresh. I usually make my own burger that includes a white or brown bun, beef paty, delicious blue cheese, lettuce, grilled tomato and onions, mushrooms and pickles (or jalapenos if I am feeling spicy) with honey mustard sauce and blue cheese sauce on the side. And it is absolutely delicious (and definitely beats Classic Burger Joint's Blue Cheese Burger). Every part of the burger is freshly chopped and cooked and put together perfectly as if I have done it myself at home. They also have the best fries according to Zoozel so make sure you try them out!

Misho indulging in his burger at Lord of The Wings

Arabnet Digital Summit 2012

2012-02-04T20:28:00.000+02:00

ArabNet Digital Summit 2012, the biggest event for web and mobile in the region, is less than 2 months away. Last year’s summit brought over 1000 attendees, 100 speakers, featured 18 panels and 17 talks, in addition to 20 entrepreneurs pitching their ideas and startups.

This year’s event is even bigger! Cutting-edge panel discussions, specialized workshops, exciting competitions, focused networking sessions, social activities and more, spread over 5 action packed days including:

Two Developer Days with technical discussions and workshops for programmers
An Industry Day about how web and mobile are transforming traditional industries like healthcare, travel, education and banking
Two Forum Days, the largest gathering of digital business leaders in the region featuring over 100 globally renowned speakers covering the latest trends and technologies in web and mobile
A Community Day raising public awareness about the the power of digital

The Digital Summit will also include ArabNet’s annual competitions: the Ideathon and Startup Demo. The Ideathon aims at turning bright ideas into functional products will introduce the top 20 entrepreneurs and startups in the region, exposing the latest in digital entrepreneurship and giving entrants the chance to win big cash prizes and the attention of investors, incubators, and developers.

I will be an official blogger for the summit and you will be reading more about the event on Mind Soup!

Review of the Nokia N9

2012-02-01T15:47:00.004+02:00

A while back, the generous people from Impact BBDO and Nokia sent me a Nokia N9 phone. It was exciting because it was my first non-Symbian phone and I was looking forward to trying something new.

It is perhaps one of the most beautifully designed phones that I've ever seen. Nokia have outdone themselves with product development this time. The finishing is perfect, especially the way the screen is embedded as part of the device making it unified and beautiful. The curving on the edges also make it sleek and stylish.

In addition to that, the minimalistic design adds to its beauty and makes it very simple to use. The device has only three buttons (two for volume control and a lock-screen button). It fits very comfortably in a person's palm and doesn't feel as big as it is mainly due to the curves on the sides.

I will not be covering the all the phone specifications in detail, but if you are interested in the full specifications, check out this link.

Below, I will explain the pros & cons of using the device for my personal needs and this might vary according to different users.

Aside from the design, there are many things that I loved about the Nokia N9:

The scratch resistant Gorilla glass display with anti-glare polarizer. Very few phones can be used in direct sunlight and this is a huge plus for me since I'm always on the move. In addition to that, my phone usually ends up stacked in my pocket with my keys, pens, and coins. Any other phone would have been scratched easily but I loved that the screen is scratch resistant and I didn't have to worry about what the screen is touching all the time.
The 8 megapixel auto-focus camera with dual LED flash, 720p@27fps video recording and fast f/2.2 lens. The photos that I took with the N9 were by far the best that I've taken (or seen) from any mobile phone. In addition to that, it is probably the fastest lens I've seen used and takes the photo almost instantly without delays.
1GHz Cortex A8 CPU, PowerVR SGX530 GPU, TI OMAP 3630 chipset, 1GB of RAM. I'm probably not used to having this much RAM on a phone before, but the ability to navigate between different applications, make calls, take photos and use applications is very smooth and was never laggy.
The Audio Quality was excellent. I usually rely on my phone as my main source for music and I usually have music on whenever I'm working, so this was a huge plus for me.
I'm usually not a gamer (mainly because I don't have time) but I just loved how games run on the phone. The depth of the colors is just beautiful, the graphics are amazing and the phone sensors work perfectly to ensure hours of gaming.
The three home screens and how twitter and facebook and directly integrated into all the applications of the phone. The notification and feed screen shows new messages, missed calls and feeds from facebook, twitter, RSS and news website. The second screen shows all the apps while the third is a task manager where you can see all open applications, easily switch between them and close ones that you're no longer using.
I usually hate touch screen keyboards as I am a big fan of physical phone keyboards, but the Nokia N9 keyboard works very smoothly and is easy to get used to, especially if you enable the SWYPE functionality which allows you to swipe your words rather than typing with key strokes. Eventually, you will be faster in typing than a physical keyboard.
I also loved that the phone came with its own protective cover that is customized to match the curved design of the phone.

However, there are a few minor things that I did not like about the phone and for the sake of objectivity, they are explained below:

MeeGo is not a leading operating system, and even though it was very easy to learn and get used to, it is missing many essential key features a phone should have. It reminded me of Symbian a lot because it wasn't very customizable. For example: I did not have the ability to create folders and group the applications accordingly. Moreover, I was unable to customize any of the home screens and that is a big disadvantage if comparing to the iPhone or Samsung Galaxy SII.
The phone comes with 16/64GB internal memory but there is no memory card (SD) slot to expand the memory or include removable storage on the device.
The device is basically one piece. Therefore, there are no removable parts (aside from the MicroSIM slot). This means that the battery is not replaceable and this is an important issue for me since phone batteries usually wear out quickly.
The Nokia Store for MeeGo is very limited and production of new apps is very slow since developers are not very interested in creating apps or translating their apps to a "dying" platform. Most of the basic applications are available (and pre-downloaded on the phone), but essential ones like WhatsApp and Viber are not supported. Since the introduction of 3G in Lebanon, free calling and messaging apps have become my main source of communication.
The earphones that come in the box are not the rubber ones that I prefer, especially that I have small ear lobes, so I had to buy earphones to use the music player comfortably.

All in all, I have to say that using the N9 is a pleasant experience and it is a recommended phone especially if you love simplicity and great design. It is also a great buy if you are a phone collector because it is one of the few phones that run MeeGo.

Kudos for Nokia on the great product development and impressive sleek design. If you are worried about the MeeGo system but loved the design, it is probably a good idea to check out the Nokia Lumia 800 which has similar design but runs Windows Phone 7.5 Mango instead.

Social Media Changing Lives

2011-11-29T19:46:00.001+02:00

After the success of “Blogging Lebanon” last December, Online Collaborative at the American University of Beirut proudly announces its annual conference for this year “Social Media Changing Lives”.

There is no doubt that social media is expanding drastically in the world, and especially in the Middle East, yet this change is not only related to technology and the internet. Social Media is revolutionizing every aspect of our lives. The aim of this conference is to discuss how social media is changing fields such as education, culture, business, media and journalism, music and art, NGOs, politics, religion, human rights, science, the environment and the personal lives of everyone who is using them.

This conference will be taking place on December 16, 2011 at 12:00 PM at Issam Fares Hall at the American University of Beirut.

The conference is open to the general public, and is free of charge. However, due to the limited capacity, it is required that you register beforehand so you can guarantee a spot. Click here to register.

Check the schedule and speakers list below and don't forget to join the event on Facebook.

Nokia “App Patrol” takes to the streets and lay the smack down on Smartphone application violators.

2011-11-29T10:00:00.000+02:00

Beirut, Lebanon - Nokia thinks that way too many phones are being held hostage in the wrong hands by users who own the latest Nokia devices yet are not installing the applications that make these devices thrive the way they were meant to. So Nokia have unleashed an “App Patrol”, a group of dedicated “Smartphone law” vigilantes who don’t take application matters lightly.

These patrols will be on the lookout for the most serious Nokia application offenders, ready at the drop of an app to arrest and fine these violators!

Keep an eye out for the App Patrol as they have planned raids at universities, malls, cafés, cinemas and other application offender hotspots in Beirut.

The App Patrol has issued a public warning on their YouTube channel to notify all the application criminals in Beirut to take heed and make sure they get the right applications for their Smartphones in order to avoid being prosecuted by the Nokia App Patrol.

Patrol warnings and the right thing to do:

Four videos have been posted to the App Patrol YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/apppatrol describing the situation the App Patrol is dealing with. It’s not pretty but it’s the best way to announce to all the smartphone law breakers that the Nokia App Patrol is coming.

The Nokia Smartphone laws are clearly stated on the Nokia Lebanon page (http://www.facebook.com/NokiaLebanon), explaining what people are risking in case they are not in line with the basic application standards. The video warnings and fines that you can receive, can be averted by going to store.nokia.com and downloading your apps. The snitches in Beirut can even tell us about those that break the smartphone law and if he/she goes to the store.nokia.com, he/she earns them an extra point and gets them closer to winning a new Nokia 700.

You have been warned!

Social media to change the Arab world? Probably not.

2011-10-31T22:11:00.000+02:00

(Photo Source: Time.com Cartoon of the Week ending Feb 25)

It is without doubt that when people look back at the political events of the year 2011, the highlight of the year would be the civil revolutions and uprisings of the Arab world, or what is commonly refereed to as the 'Arab Spring'.

The Arab Spring has been associated with one of the most booming means of communication till now: Social Media. It is a common misconception, though, that the revolutions were caused by social media, since they would have started with or without the internet. However, what kept the revolutionary flame burning was the ability of citizens to easily and quickly share news, photos and videos of what is actually happening on the ground using social media. All reputable news sources were relying on amateurs to deliver the news. For the first time of the history of the Arab World, the news was made and delivered by citizens. Citizen journalism has never been so popular.

And it is still going on. In Syria, where hundreds are being killed each week for voicing their opinions, everything is being documented. Yet, the excruciating power that the Syrian regime possesses is limiting the effective coverage. The Syrian government monitors every single move its citizens do on the internet. Any wrong move can lead instant execution or decapitation.

Yet, there is great potential for social media in the Arab world.

Users from around the world are using social media to free Palestine, to raise awareness about the Palestinian issue and to falsify rumors that the Western media spread about it. This is possibly the greatest Arab issue that can benefit from social media. Creating and broadcasting viral videos of the massacres the Israelis are implementing every day will reach those eyes that are blind-folded by the Western Zionist media. Yet, this is not being done effectively. The Arab governments and filthy rich princes and rulers should invest in seeding such campaigns instead of wasting their citizens money on buying themselves luxury cars and summer ~~houses~~ castles in Europe.

Have you heard? The Arabs have built the first ATM machine that dispenses gold bars (more info). But they fail to utilize free or cheap services that can potentially change their lives to the better; services that help them communicate directly to their masses, create engaging channels to discover the real needs and wants of their population and eventually have a happier well-balanced community.

But they would never do that. Why, you ask?,

There is not ONE politician in the Arab world that cares about improving the well-being of his/her country's citizens. Why would they care about what social media can help improve their lives? It is just one of those missed opportunities that pass by without them making the most of. Besides, why use something that can potentially uncover their scandalous secrets?

In fact, I do have a pessimistic view of social media in the Arab world, not just in politics. In an era where technology is dominant, the Arabs are, as usual, behind in realizing the importance of social media. Governments, companies and even universities block or monitor these means of communication. PhD professors at universities mock their students for studying social media. Restaurants sue their customers over a bad review on their blogs (which they should take as an opportunity to improve instead). Parents yell at their children when they use the internet in their spare time. Media agencies abuse and exhaust social media to make profit of their clients' and customers' backs. Employees get fired for expressing legitimate opinions about topics unrelated to their jobs.

Yes, the situation of social media in the Arab world is messed up, and it will continue to be. As long as books and intellectual material are getting banned from Arab countries for a stupid reasons, journalists getting kidnapped for expressing their values and beliefs, and citizens getting harassed because they tried to go against a government or a company, social media is the least of our worries.

But that is not even the funny part. Last year, I was attending a conference in Lebanon that was discussing social media. All the speakers were 50+ year old filthy rich CEOs and princes who have never even experienced social media. They were discussing how important it is to the Arab world. Here comes the funny part: they were blaming the Arab youth for all the problems that we are facing. They claimed that our youth are lazy, have no initiative, and do not aspire to become better than the West.

That was the biggest load of hypocrisy I have ever heard in my life. But I believe they have been proven wrong during all the uprisings that they witnessed while clutching to their chairs and hiding behind shadows of other governments.

As I said, social media in the Arab world (as the case on most aspects) has a lot of potential and needs a great deal of improvement. But I fear, or more realistically, I know that things are not going to get better any time soon.

I sure hope I'm wrong.

For the love of our country

2011-09-30T14:36:00.000+03:00

When you hear “Lebanon” and “government” in the same sentence, what comes to mind first?

Sectarianism, money wasting, no electricity, no water, no jobs, bad internet, expensive living, taxes, wasta? The list goes on and on…

Lebanon does not only have a beautiful landscape, it’s not only a touristic destination, it’s not only a clubbing hub, but it is also rich in resources that can help the Lebanese stand on their own feet. Lebanese are proud of that and are ready to fight for Lebanon, that’s the only thing they all agree on.

But are we fighting for the right reasons? Do we participate in protests and political gatherings to improve our current state of living or just because our leaders tell us to?

A couple of years back, Israel tried to claim the traditional Lebanese Hommos (Chickpeas) dish with tahini as their own. The whole Lebanese community from different sects and religions stood together and defended the Lebanese-born dish by breaking the Guinness Book of records for the largest Hommos plate ever made.

If you think about it, the Lebanese were united over something as silly as an appetizer dish and it made them forget their religious and sectarian divisions. They united over something that’s so silly, it’s nothing!

Yet it’s everything.

Now Israel is claiming something more important: our natural gas wells, our biggest resource that can take Lebanon back to the days of flourishing economic-stability.

“Israeli companies have announced two important natural gas finds in the past 18 months that may hold 24 trillion cubic feet of gas, but the offshore discoveries are a potential source of friction between Israel, Lebanon and Greek Cyprus. Lebanese officials say the gas may extend into their waters, urging their own prospecting” claims an Israeli online newspaper (source). And if Israel confessed that the gas “may” extend to Lebanese waters, then it is more like a fact.

This discovery was made in 2003. Eight years later, we are still gas-less while Israel plans to suck all that gas out from the sea. Geological expert Dr. Ali Haidar claims that "Lebanon is losing half of the natural gas taken by Israel" (source).

"The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that the area, which includes the coastal
areas near Israel, Lebanon and Syria, harbors resources that can be recovered
using currently available technology."
Source: Ya Libnan

I am not trying to blame Israel for utilizing their shared resources. On the contrary, they would be foolish if they wait for us to sort our political conflicts and agree on a plan for gas extraction. Instead, I am urging you to learn from them and take advantage of what's rightfully ours.

We are not protesting for our resources. We are not burning tires and blocking roads for the government to take on this project. We just complain that gas prices have gone up. We burn tires to feud political or religious conflicts. But when it comes to what really matters, we do nothing!

Why?

Because we are worried that it will be privatized by a Muslim or a Christian.

Because we know that the government will need 10 times more money than the project really needs because of politicians who are sucking the budget dry.

Because we are worried an American (Western/Pro-14) company or an Iranian (Pro-8) company will benefit from it.

Because politicians are blocking the project since they cannot gain personal profit from it.

Because we are not united, we do not live in one Lebanon.

We live in 18 Lebanons. One for each sect that we proudly belong to.

When are we going to burn tires for our benefit and not for our political leaders? When are we going to block the roads to benefit all of the Lebanese community instead of just one sect or one political party? When are we going to get out of the mentality of “either my sect takes on this project or no one does”?

Why don’t we all take on this project?

Yes, it is possible. Regular citizens like you and me can invest in such a project. Engineers and scientists from all sects and political affiliations can join forces to work on this project. This project can mutually benefit everyone. Why doesn’t this project get privatized to the public? The Lebanese population, the “service” drivers and hair-dressers who know how this country should be run, the brilliant minds that are travelling abroad for jobs, the university graduates who are sitting at home or peeling potatoes at their local McDonald’s?

When are we going to actually learn to love and trust each other rather than just teaching it in theory to our children? Can we just agree on a way to split the wealth and take it before letting the neighbors take it all?

What are we waiting for? Do we deserve this country? This sun? This air? This gas? This earth? This sea? This water?

I have made my move. Now it’s time for you to do the same!

UPDATE: While researching for this post, I came across this book by on facebook Farid Chehab that I found to be a good resource for the Lebanese situation and proposed solutions.

Derwiches Cultural event

2011-08-23T14:43:00.003+03:00

After it has sent its first delegation to the United Nations 9th Youth Assembly and set a system of representation to the UN HQ, UNYA Lebanon is launching on August 26 2011 the Lebanese Youth Mobility Fund, a leading project to facilitate traveling of young Lebanese artists, activists and researchers around the Arab world in the purpose of circulating their knowledge.

This fund will be managed by professionals on a volunteer basis. It is 100% self funded, and this is where your support is very much appreciated.

As a fundraising activity and within the enchanting spirit of Ramadan, UNYA Lebanon is organizing "Darawiches" a concert for the Derwiches whirling band of Tripoli, on Friday 26 August 2011, starting 9:30pm, Sunflower Theater -Tayouneh, Beirut.

Tickets are for 20,000 L.L.
And all profits go to the Lebanese Youth Mobility Fund.

More info can be found:
On the event Facebook Page.
Or by calling 71 717859

Tickets are sold by phone (71 717859), at UNYA Lebanon office or at the door of Sunflower Theater.

تقدم جمعية شباب الامم المتحدة في لبنان، ضمن برامجها الثقافية لعام 2011 "دراويش"؛ حفلة حية لفرقة الدراويش الراقصة الطرابلسية في ال26 من شهر أغسطس، الساعة ال9:30 مساء، على خشبة مسرح دوار الشمس، الطيونة بيروت.

تباع البطاقات عند الدخول أو في مكتب الجمعية بقيمة 20000 ل ل.

للحجز أو المزيد من المعلومات الرجاء الاتصال على الرقم 71717859

كل الأرباح سوف تعود الى صندوق تجوال الشباب اللبناني.

سجلوا دعمكم للنشاط الشبابي اللبناني، وسجلوا حضوركم!

Smoking banned in public places in Lebanon

2011-08-17T14:09:00.004+03:00

photo source

Today, the Lebanese Parliament endorsed a law that bans smoking in public or closed spaces. After years of debate on whether this law should be implemented, it has finally become a reality. Non-smokers have been overjoyed today with the news filling up the social timelines with their expressions of approval.

The law also bans any sort of tobacco advertising and promotions and considers them as an illegal act. These include all sorts of advertising media such as billboards, magazine ads, and TV commercials. The law also prevents any tobacco companies from sponsoring events and concerts.

In addition to that, all tobacco packs should now depict a pictorial warning of the dangers of smoking that should cover at least 40% of the package.

Fines will be imposed on citizens who are caught smoking in public or individuals who violate the smoking ban. Hotels, however, will be able to assign 10-20% of their rooms to smokers. Companies will be expected to start implementing the law very shortly.

Even though I am a non-smoker and prefer non-smoking areas over smoking ones, I believe that this law will be unfair to some companies, especially cafes whose major profits come from selling the traditional Narjileh (Arguileh, Hookah, Hubble Bubble, etc..) and will put many employees out of jobs. I really hope there will be a clause that exempts cafes from the smoking ban or at least give them special licenses to keep selling this service.

UPDATE: Unconfirmed sources: Implementation will start immediately in government buildings and for other public places a year from the law's approval.

What do you think about this ban?

Crisis in the Horn of Africa

2011-07-29T14:27:00.000+03:00

You may have seen the pictures of starving people in the Horn of Africa on your TV screens. We are all asking: how can this be happening again? Parts of Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia are facing one of the worst droughts for 60 years, and around 10 million people are desperately in need of food, clean water and basic sanitation.

Join me in calling on world leaders to save millions of lives - today and tomorrow:

http://act.one.org/sign/horn_of_africa/?source=horncrisistafem

Despite the urgency of the situation, most world leaders are responding too slowly. Immediate aid is essential. Yet at the same time we must not let them drop the ball on long term solutions as has too often happened in the past.

Take action right now at:

http://act.one.org/sign/horn_of_africa/?source=horncrisistafem

We can help stop starvation now - and stop the causes of starvation. Firstly, we need to make sure funding is provided to pay for urgent help that will prevent people from dying. Secondly, the promises that world leaders made to invest in long term solutions must be kept, so that the people of this region can feed themselves and will not need food aid in the future.

But time is running out. Please ask your friends, family and co-workers to join you as well. And while spreading the word is critical, please only pass this message along to those who know you -- spam hurts our campaign.

Thanks so much for your support!

Welcome Ramadan this year with Istibaneh in Beirut

2011-07-22T13:28:00.001+03:00

What is the "Istibaneh"?

On the 29th of Sha’aban, the people of Beirut and the people of the heights surrounding the city used to gather on the shores of Al-Awzai, Ramla Al-Bayda, Al-Rawsheh, Al-Manara and Al-Somteya, with the purpose of identifying the al-Hilal, which is the inaugural sign of the Holy month of Ramadan. They took with them to these shores some food to spend the time while waiting for the sunset in order to spot the Hilal. Once they would spot the emergence of the crescent, canons would be fired on the hilltop of the seraglio (al-Sarai) declaring the start of the Holy month of Ramadan.

What's happening this year?
"Istibaneh" is taking place this year on July 30th, 2011 at Ein El Mraysseh Corniche facing the Mosque. The event is organized by three NGOs:

Kitaf El Kheir Association (President Dr. Abla Bsat Jumaa)
Sinno Family League: (President Mhamad Khales Sinno)
Moultaka Chabab Beirut: (President Cheick Omar Chebaro)

The event, which will begin at 6:30 PM on, will have several entertainment shows and activities taking place as well as kite flying and a kite flying competition and even a Imshrati! During the event, children from Dr. Mohammad Khaled's Social Foundation will be joining you and your children at the Istibaneh event.

The music during the event will be a combination of Ramadan music and music presented by the Muslim Scout Association of Lebanon. Also, food and beverages will be sold so that you can quench your hunger and thirst while enjoying a traditional family outing, before the Holy month of Ramadan commences.

Entertainment Shows:

Clowns
Mimes
Jugglers
Balloon Modeling expert
Stills
Face Painting

Kite Flying, Kite Competition & Rewards

The children of Beirut and their families are encouraged to take part in the kite flying as well as in the kite flying competitions. A panel of judges will evaluate the competition and the rewards will be distributed to the participants with the winning kites according to several set categories. For example, a reward will be given to the participant with the highest kite flown; another reward will be given to the participant with the most beautiful kite etc. The purpose of the kite flying and the kite flying competition is to have the participants in the event look up as older generations used to in order to spot the crescent (al-Hilal).

Praising session for the Prophet (PBUH)
The Istibaneh event will be concluded with a praising session for the Prophet (PBUH) at 8:30 pm by the musical band Mouzarza’a.

The July 2006 Lebanon/Israel War: My Story

2011-07-20T12:11:00.003+03:00

This is a repost guest post by a good friend Hala Hassan which was originally posted at A Seperate State of Mind, a recommended blog by another great friend Elie Fares.

Hear it from those who were there.

A neighboring country at war, you sympathize.

Innocent civilians torn into pieces under the wreckage of their houses, you shed a couple of tears.

Frightened children and sick elderly begging for international intervention, you pray deaf ears listen somehow.

But what if you were that citizen in that country, held up in your house, scared like you’ve never been, reciting every single prayer that ever crossed your mind for those bombshells to stop and those warplanes hovering in the sky to go away…

Yes, it’s been 5 years since “July war”, “the 33 days war”, “the 6th Lebanese/Israeli war” or whatever they want to call it. But for that traumatized girl, it still feels like yesterday…

To survive a war is one supposedly satisfying ending. Not to have lost a family member is considered a blessing. But for a 17 year old, survival was not enough to overcome such an altering experience: A slamming door, a blowing wind, even fireworks… any sound still triggers her fearful memories and is capable of causing her a panic attack.

She still remembers each day and date in the intricate details of their events. She still remembers that Wednesday July 12th when her father called asking her not to be alarmed if she hears distant explosions. She remembers how he came back that afternoon ‘whistling’ trying to make her and her sisters feel like everything was just fine. She remembers how she had to share a bed with her older sister that night, freezing at instances and suffocating at others out of fear. The warplanes had started violating her sky that day. They wouldn’t leave till late August.

She still remembers the following two days she spent in the supposedly “safest room” of the house – back then “safe” meant having a double ceiling, no glass windows and least furniture – and how she kept on squeezing her mom’s hand relentlessly all night like a 2 year old.

She still remembers the voice that emanated from the radio, her only way of communication with the world, asking her and other Southern residents to leave their villages. Or else. That radio also conveyed news about those innocent civilians, who got betrayed by their naïve expectations, upon leaving their houses thinking that a white flag would save them from being savagely murdered.

She still remembers that shelter in her grandparents’ house: a tight narrow tunnel lacking light and at some points oxygen in which she sought mistaken safety with other family members and neighbors. She still remembers the smell of those sweaty fearful souls and the cries of those frightened hungry kids.

She still remembers July 19th when her peaceful village was attacked by deadly showers of cluster bombs, those internationally banned bombs that kept on dropping like rain for hours during which she felt the epitome of fear, leaving behind a dead woman and many serious injuries. She still remembers that awful silence following the disaster, a silence which was not broken until a few of hours later by the siren of an ambulance that waited a long time to be given permission to come for rescue.

She still remembers July 21st when a vehicle of the Lebanese army was bombarded in her village leaving behind severely burnt soldiers, even though the army was left outside the equation back then.

She still remembers her 8-year-old sister hugging her physician father as he was leaving them to help in rescue efforts, begging him not to leave as everyone watched the scene and wept.

That day was her last in her beloved village because the citizens whose cars “survived” the attacks decided to leave. Food, water and medication had become scarce. And most importantly it had become obvious to them that they were targeted to be killed.

That day she saw her father covering their car with a big white piece of fabric. She saw frightened people struggling for seats in the leaving cars, which got stuffed with traumatized flesh and blood seeking refuge…. The last face she saw was that of her grandfather at the house gate. He refused to leave because for him life does not exist beyond that gate.

She still remembers that cursed journey to the Bekaa, every moment she spent looking through her window praying for that Apache not to show up in the sky and turn her and her family into pieces. She still remembers those endless days she spent crying and thinking of the life she left behind, wondering if she’ll ever be back.

Who said time makes people forget their previous fears and overcome past sufferings? Well, here is something that girl has come to learn: child or elderly, woman or man, illiterate or educated, everyone who survived that war has suffered and still is. They are all hidden victims that no one ever bothered to soothe their psychological needs and problems.

That 17 year old is turning 22 soon. She is a graduate of the American University of Beirut and planning a medical degree, which makes her someone who supposedly has been provided with the best education and environment to overcome whatever distress she has been through. And yet that girl is still held up in that summer. As a friend of hers always suggests, therapy might be the best solution for her condition. Therapy might put an end to the nightmares. It might alleviate the effects of the past pain… but the scar will always remain, carved with blood and tears in her memory.

They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. For that girl, this saying has become a belief. 4 days after the battles stopped, there she was, back in her village along with most of those who left, challenging all the difficulties and threats. Everyone had one common goal: rebuild the destruction, heal the wounds and restore life in their beloved South. After all, it’s Lebanese determination that was being tested. Who is better at acing such a test than those who have endured vicious wars throughout the years, one after the other? History will probably keep on telling their stories of glory and courage until the end of days.

DRM fails at marketing

2011-07-15T16:56:00.000+03:00

Following up to my earlier "What's missing in Hamra" post and after the awaited reveler for the unfortunate teaser campaign (online and offline), it became apparent that this campaign is for a "clubbing" experience by the Democratic Republic of Music having free-entrance clubbing parties every Saturday.

After getting reaction from many people online and in my office, everyone agreed that the "What's missing in Hanra" teaser campaign was inadequate for this campaign for many reason, primarily because Hamra is not lacking such "parties" especially that it is slowly becoming a new Gemmayze, Everyone was expecting something more meaningful from such a campaign like a public library, public garden or something that would benefit the general public.

But this is not the bad part.

After being criticized by many on facebook, they have failed to respond positively to criticism. In a facebook message sent to the attendees of the facebook event, they wrote:

"To the clubbers I say see you on the 23rd.
To the pooh pooh crowd I say pooh pooh to you too..."

In other words, they mean "yalle mesh 3ejbo, la tize." I'm not gonna even speak about the importance of having manners while marketing for your brand.

Screenshot from their facebook event page

I'm gonna point out, however, how badly this campaign has back-fired for them. Instead of improving their brand image, it has successfully devalued it and made them look extremely unprofessional.

Add to that their poor knowledge in social media where they have created a closed facebook group for their campaign (not a public facebook PAGE), after "the event page's purpose has been served".

It pisses me off to see that whoever thinks he came up with a 'great drunken idea' also thinks that they are masters in marketing as well.

Feast for Change

2011-07-15T15:51:00.007+03:00

On Wednesday July 13th, a bunch of tweeps and I had the pleasure of attending Feast for Change, the first official food & wine event in Lebanon by the Syndicate of Owners of Restaurants, Cafes, Night-Clubs & Pastries in Lebanon that took place at Sursock Palace Gardens. The event was hosted under the patronage of Lady Sursock Cochrane who will donate a percentage of proceeds to her foundation for protecting natural sites and old buildings in Lebanon APSAD.

The event featured around forty restaurants and drink vendors including attractions such as a live grill, chocolate fountain, ice-cream cart, cotton candy machine, and many other food and drink stops. The event also featured live performances with singers, opera vocalists and bands that made the event very light-hearted and interesting. I'm not going to express my admiration to the beauty of the venue, it was simple gorgeous.

With more that 1400 invitees, the event was highly organized and the food was extremely delicious. My personal favorites were Salmontini, Couqley, and Cro Magnon. Below are just a few photos from the event.

@weam_al, @dashkoun, @supermhanna, @mhijazi, @mishoricha and @sam_lb
(Photo credits: Malakeh Hijazi)

The stage (Photo credits: Malakeh Hijazi)

Cotton candy! (Photo credits: Malakeh Hijazi)

The live grill (Photo credits: Malakeh Hijazi)

Wall of fame (photo credits: Rita Kamel)

@supermhanna, @mhijazi, @sawsanarja, @nadorazouk
(photo credits: Malakeh Hijazi)

Upper view of the event (photo credits: Ziad Kamel)

Chocolate *drools* (photo credits: Cyril Rouhana)

Group Photo (Photo credits: Weam El Awar)

Summary of Related Links:

#FeastForChange Review by Hisham Assad
Feast For Change – An Official Food and Wine vent in Lebanon by BeirutNightLife
Delightful Feast For Change by Paty M
IVY Feasts, For A Change by Ivy Says
Feast For Change: The Review by Cyril Rouhana
Feast For Change by Mohammad Hijazi
My take on the Feast For Change by Rita Kamel
Feast For Change by Leb Reviewed

Photo Albums:

If I missed a post or photo album, let me know and I'll add it to the list :)

What is missing in Hamra?

2011-07-13T12:14:00.004+03:00

I have been seeing these posters all over Hamra and I am really curious to what they are about! Everyone knows how much I love Hamra so I am really excited to know what it is about.

The event page on facebook says:

There has never been something like this in Hamra.
You will definitely want to experience it...
HINT #1: There's no entrance fee
HINT #2: It's not outdoors
HINT #3: It's a nocturnal activity

Some people are guessing a public library, a theater or a cinema, free parking, a concert, etc... What do you think it is?

Update: HINT #4: "Many of you expressed very valid hopes and wishes we all share for our home, cocoon, first and last love; our Hamra. But seriously, who'd campaign for parks/freedom of speech/benches/free parking/public bathrooms/etc etc... with an event on a Saturday night that starts at 10:00 pm and ends at 6:00 am Sunday morning? That was clear from the start, and we make no apologies to the misled. We all want our Hamra to be a constantly improving place. We can and will do our utmost to achieve that, but that won't stop us from having a lot of fun in the meantime. In Hamra!"

Meh. It seems like a lame concert. I was hoping for something much better. Marketing #Fail

Mind Soup on paper again!

2011-07-05T12:55:00.001+03:00

Mind Soup was featured again in this month's Communicate Magazine for the "What Lebanese brands need to know about social media" post.

The magazine says:

Just in case Lebanese brands might forget (and they usually need reminders in that matter), Mohammad again goes through the basic rules of how to smartly use social media. "Whenever the Lebanese get their hands on a new toy, they become very 'creative' and try to abuse that tool until it cannot breathe any more," he says. Too true.

Thanks to @FunkyOzzi for the photo :)

Lebanese TV Channels failing at Social Media

2011-06-28T12:17:00.005+03:00

Screenshot of OTV's twitter page

I just stumbled upon OTV's account on twitter. Not surprisingly, they fail at the first rule of social media: Social Media is an INTERACTION between a company and its customers (fans, followers, etc..), i.e. there should be TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION between the brand and the fans.

If you check OTV's twitter account, they have almost 2000 followers but they are following ZERO people. If you look closely at their tweets, they are basically regurgitating news headlines in their tweets, no interaction, no responding to replies, no nothing.

This totally beats the purpose of social media. If you think being on twitter will get you more viewers, then you are wrong. THE WHOLE POINT IS FOR YOU TO DIRECTLY INTERACT WITH YOUR FANS. By not following anyone, it not only shows you as an egocentric company who only cares about blasting your opinions to everyone, but you are also not creating any value for yourself or your customers.

If you decide to go social, or if you are already online and your doing the same thing, I advise you to either do it right or get off social media.

Update: This above post doesn't only apply to OTV, but also all the other Lebanese television stations who are on twitter such as @MTVLebanon @ALJADEEDNEWS @LBC_Group and @futuretvleb

James Blunt and I are supporting Tamanna, this is why you should too...

2011-06-15T14:52:00.001+03:00

What is Tamanna?

Tamanna is an NGO in Lebanon that grants wishes of children with critical illnesses to give them joy, strength and hope.

Fulfilling a child's wish provides an escape from a difficult reality, restoring time for laughter. It allows the child to live a magical experience and to share unforgettable moments with his family.

Any child between 3 and 18 years with a critical illness may be eligible for a wish. Tamanna currently grants an average of three wishes a week.

Some granted wishes

A boy's wish to be a fire fighter for the day

A gitl's wish to be a princess.

A boy's wish to own a play station portable

The above photos are just a glimpse of what wishes Tamanna has granted. From having a wedding for a young couple at the Children Cancer Center of Lebanon, to introducing the children to celebrities (such as President Suleiman, PM Hariri, basketball teams) and unforgettable trips to Rome, Istanbul, Paris and Disney land to owning laptops and becoming a pilot, they have fulfilled many wishes for these children.

How you can help
There are several was you can help, most directly by donating on the Tamanna website. You can also help spreading the word about Tamanna to your friends and family by following and re-tweeting their twitter account @TamannaLeb and liking their page on facebook in hopes of raising awareness and getting donations to fulfill the dreams of children with critical or terminal illnesses.

James Blunt in Lebanon
During his world tour, 5-time Grammy Award nominee English singer and songwriter James Blunt has agreed to fulfill a child's wish by performing in Lebanon on 27th of June. Not only that, all the profits from the concert will go to Tamanna to help fulfill even more wishes. This is a great way to support the cause while enjoying great music as well. To show your support at the concert, you can wear a white T-shirt or top. Check out the event page on facebook for more details.

You can buy the tickets from all Virgin Box Office branches at the following rates: VIP: 300,000 LBP, Zone A: 225,000 LBP, Zone B: 150,000 LBP, Zone C: 90,000 LBP, and Zone D: 45,000 LBP. Tickets also available online.

You can also help spread the word using a #tamanna hashtag on twitter and you might be a lucky winner of a few free tickets for the concert.

I will be there showing my support in white and live-tweeting the event, so I hope I see you there!

Related posts:
Make a wish... Tamanna by Marie Nakhle

Italy to Witness a Social Revolution Soon?

2011-06-15T13:07:00.001+03:00

This is a guest post by Di Kar. Di is a Sudanese political science undergrad at the American University of Beirut. Follow her on twitter @D3akar

Politics and what not.

The Arab Spring has been the highlight of everything I have read over the past few days from twitter, aside from numerous newspapers and Italian politics. Your probably wondering why I am mentioning Italy, right? Hold that thought.

The Arab Spring, that started with a man in Tunis and sparked mass protests in countries from the Maghreb to Yemen, has now shifted the whole scope of the Middle East and North Africa region. It is, to me, a much needed breeze of change for a region that has been stagnant under the fists of despotism and western influences. For the first time, I feel optimistic about the region. Egypt is pulling weight, and heading towards democratizing its system of government - despite all the challenges - nevertheless, the sleeping giant has awoken. Perhaps the Palestinian diaspora might be resolved or Sudan be more stabilized, these are but distant thought buts the Arab spring has opened a new chapter in history.

Italy - the Arabs of Europe.

Italy, a country of just 150 years, has not been as fortunate with its economy or politics like its neighbors in Europe. It has suffered from economical stagnation, political hegemony of a political party - Lega Nord (Northern League) - known for it xenophobic traits, not only against immigrants but also other regions south of Padania (everything South of the Po river). I dub Italians as the the Arabs of Europe because simple they are much like us in regards to holding on to traditions: they stay in contact with immediate and extended family but also live in a society that is predominantly patriarchal - (that’s my next piece).

But this is not the point. The point is that the Arab Spring has reached the shores of Europe.

The past two days in Italy have been history for a country of only 150, having voted for a referendum against nuclear power - the first after the earthquake in Japan - and against privatizing water. More then 50% of the population voted against introducing these two measures. The total tally was a staggering 95% which was revolutionary in a country like Italy since its politics is dominated by the tycoon and owner of Media giant Mediaset and also the residing PM Silvio Berlosconi from the early 1990’s. Belusconism is a term that the youth have coined up to describes the effect the PM has on the country with a national debt of 120% , rising living cost, privatizing education, high levels of corruption, Mafia overtake of business in northern Italy and last but not least the growing immigrant influx.

Hence, Italian politics has been stagnant and dominated by a xenophobic party that has put in place a man more know globally known for his sex themed parties rather then his politics. Moreover, this man and his supporting political parties boycotted the referendum in protest against the rising negative allegation against the governments unpopular policies. Therefore, instead of demonstrating the very essence of democracy by voting and not forfeiting ones’ right to vote, he abstained . A great leader he is, a leader who will soon join the ranks of Bin Ali, and Mubarak and will (hopefully) be trailed for corruption, statuary rape and money laundering amongst other things like them.

Why, you ask? Why does it matter? This matters because Italians were inspired to bring change to their country, to twitter, to blog and to use every social media available to them. They realized how fortunate they are to have the kind of freedom to change their government with out any blood shed.

The moral of this story is that, events from the region were revolutionary for this time and age and was fueled by social media. I urge you to keep writing what the voice in your head is telling you if your a tweep, blogger or social media fanatic... It is people like you who are the ray of light in this unforeseen future.

Remember, hope is the last to die.